to the Lord Jesus A flock of Sheep whereof every one beareth twins and not one is barren Cant. 4. 12 13 14 16. Ch. 4. 2. 'T is compared to the Palm-tree the Cedar the Vine the Fig-tree a green Olive plants famous for flourishing growth clusters of fruit constant fruitfulness 't is said of the Fig-tree it bears fruit all the year long and in many places they shall always find green figs on it Such is the Spouse of Christ compared with the world and hypocrites fruitful and flourishing A good tree bringeth forth good fruit Mat. 7. 17. The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit Prov. 12. 12. Where-ever the grace of God is received in truth there it brings forth fruit Col. 1. 6. As sin brings forth fruit unto death so doth grace unto life Rom. 6. 22. No sooner doth the Lord Jesus espouse a Soul but he heals it of its barrenness He maketh the barren Woman to keep house Psal 113. 9. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away Joh. 15. 2. A barren Christian is a monster in Religion no living member of Christ's body indeed there are Winter-seasons when fruit may not appear but even then 't is in the seed and sap and there is a preparative for fruit which appears in the season but to be always without the fruits of the Spirit love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Gal. 5. 22 23. is a sign of one that never had marriage-union and intimate communion with Jesus Christ but is the certain mark of a fruitless Fig-tree in danger of cutting down and the character of that ground which is cursed and nigh to burning Luke 13. 7. 9. Heb. 6. 8. Souls try your state 't is for your lives your All depends upon your marriage-union with Christ Had you never any special acquaintance with Christ Have you no conjugal love to Christ Cannot you consent to leave all for Christ Do you usually live and stay on other things for life and salvation and not on Christ Have you been ever barren souls that never brought forth the fruits of the Spirit unto God then were you never married to Christ nor have any true title to heavenly treasures Mark 2. Secondly your interest in heavenly things is known by the naturalness and supremacy of your love to them Where the treasure is there will the heart be Mat. 6. 21. If heavenly things be yours your heart is there worldly men have the World set in their hearts Eccl. 3. 11. Their heart is but the World copied out so heavenly souls have Heaven set in their hearts which are but the counterpane of Heaven every thing hath a natural love to his own the World will love his own Joh. 15. 19. No man ever hated his own flesh Eph. 5. 29. What affections have brute beasts for their young and will venture their lives to defend and maintain them 'T is storied of the Storks when the Town of Delph in the low Countreys was on fire and the Storks perceived the fire to come near their nests they endeavoured to carry away their young but when they could not remove them they flutter'd over them with their wings covering them from the flames till they all perished together Belg. Com. wealth So strong is natural affection to its interest and the natural issues of it self much stronger should gracious affections be to their interests O how I love thy Law saith David 't is my meditation all the day long Psal 119. 97. Whence came this affection it was from his interest in those great and lovely truths Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I chosen as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart Souls risen with Christ and born to the inheritance above will set their affections on things above Col. 3. 1 2. Where is thy heart Christian in Heaven or Earth what things are dearest to thee and sweetest to thy taste canst thou prize the light of God's countenance better than life had'st thou rather be a door-keeper in God's House than dwell in the Pavilions of this World Is a little of Heaven better than a great deal of Earth and can thy heart consent to be at any loss in the World to enjoy God in his Ordinances and to be enriched with spiritual blessings in heavenly places Then heavenly things are thine Mark 3. Thirdly if heavenly things be yours it will appear by your heart-cares for them and vigorous pursuits of them how careful are men of their interests to secure and enlarge them Phil. 2. 21. All men seek their own If the things of Heaven be yours your greatest care will be to get and keep them when Kish thought his Son Saul was lost he left caring for the Asses sorrowing for him saying What shall I do for my Son 1 Sam. 10. 2 Christians if heavenly things be yours they will lie nearer your hearts than all the World besides the sense or fear of losing them will more trouble you than all losses besides the world relations creature-comforts will be forgotten when you apprehend a death on your heavenly interests you will do more and part with more to get Heaven than the World and dearest comforts of it Many will pretend desires for Heaven as the young man in the Gospel but Christ will say to them as to his Hearers Mat. 5. 47. What do you more than others Souls you would have Christ here and Heaven hereafter but what do you for it what do you more than hypocrites and common professors whose portion is in this life can you leave the world for God can you deny your self for the pleasing of Christ and part with your right eye and right hand throw away your Idols of gold and silver the world and fleshly lusts and honour God with your time strength and substance Can you let your Plough stand still to follow God's and stick at no pains and hardships to enjoy the least spiritual good Then are heavenly things yours Mark 4. Fourthly Then are you interested in Heavenly Treasures when your hearts and spirits are suited to them when the Lord hath let in a heavenly tincture on your hearts and inlaid your spirits with heavenliness and a mind that answers to heavenly things as face answers face in the water When God intends men for Heaven he doth in time fit them for it and where he gives a title to mercy he gives a capacity also where he makes over the riches of glory he makes that soul a vessel fit for glory Men do not purchase Pearls for Swine and build Schools for brute beasts God did not make the Heavens for fishes and the Sea for beasts but suited every creature to its element They that are his Adoption are his new Creation also Ephes 2. 10. and when they are designed to a blessed end they are principled for it and have a disposition put into them to move towards it They that are set apart for Heaven hereafter do
are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace The Word of God yields out but half its sweetness until it becomes the way and walks of men Psal 10. 11. In keeping them there is great reward My witness is in Heaven saith Mr. William Cooper upon his death-bed That the love of Jesus and his peoples souls made preaching my pleasure and I had no such joy as in doing God's work They are blessed that do his Commandment not onely in that they have right to the tree of life but in that they eat the pleasant fruits of it and feed upon that hidden Manna unto which bare hearers are strangers Thirdly Get all the good you can from Providences from favourable Providences and from frowning Providences These are the North and the South winds which the Beloved causes to blow upon his garden Cant. 4. 16. that the spices might flow forth Providences whether prosperous or afflictive are to saved souls but the fulfilling of Divine Purposes and the accomplishment of precious promise which are designed for the good of Believers Observe the Providences of God if you would get good from thence Observable things saith worthy Mr. Blair do follow them that are given to observation Doth God bring thee under smiling Providences get some good from them In these the Lord writes legible characters of his Covenant-love to his people O read the tenderness love bounty and faithfulness of God in them and be affected Get thy heart to write back letters of love and thankfulness to God again entertain giving Providences with thanksgiving hearts and the sacrifice of praise 2 Chron. 29. 31. Let the Lord communicate with you concerning receiving as well as giving Phil. 4. 15. If left-hand mercies flow in upon you take heed lest those floods break their bounds and carry away the banks of your affections and circumspection Christians 't is a safe rule to fear your mercies as well as afflictions There is usually less fear and therefore more danger of professing friends than professed enemies 'T was the prayer of Queen Elizabeth To be delivered from her friends as for her enemies she would take care of them Further if you have now a spring-tide of outward mercies prepare for low-waters The comforts of this world are not standing pools but running streams and rolling Seas that ebb and flow expect not too much from them entertain your comming mercies as strangers who have their time to go as well as come The Lord gives and the Lord takes Job 1. 21. Get good also from taking as well as giving Providences be blessing God for them There is more self-denial and pure love to God expressed in such acknowledgments than in praises for bestowing mercy Job 1. 2. Besides divine grace runs as well through the empty chanels as broad streams of outward comforts 'T is the same hand of the Father that uncloaths which dresses his children the Fork as well as the Rake belongs to the Covenant of Grace and Peace neither is love or hatred known by these things Eccles 9. 1. Some have never found more than when they have lost all The Lord oft-times makes mens losses their gains and their gain of earthly things their losses Saul lost his Asses and found a Kingdom Shimei found his servants and lost his life Place not then your happiness no nor your comforts in these things How many prick their fingers to get a few fading Roses which as soon wither as they are pluck'd Think well of God under scattering Providences and believe he loves you as much when he removes your mercies as when he gives them Look to God in Providences see whence those winds come that blow down your houses and scatter your comforts enquire wherefore God contends with you Job 10. 2. Doth not that worm which devours your gourd breed in your security pride unthankfulness and abuse of them while you had them search out the cause of God's displeasure justifie God in it and bear his indignation humbly come down at his feet kiss his rod and hear the voice of it This is to get good from the worst of Providences Fourthly Get good from the world and things thereof by seeing its wiles and deceitfulness its vanity and emptiness Mark 4. 19. The world is a fading thing the fashion of it passeth away and it is gone Trades-men care not for over-much of those goods that are soon out of fashion Eccles 1. 2. O care not for the world the fashion whereof soon passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world is a dirty thing 't is hard to touch it and not be defiled Christians be not like Swine who love to run into the dirt and if you would keep your selves unspotted take heed of the world The world is a heavy ponderous thing by faith make it portable and more easie to be born 2 Cor. 4. 17. that it may not clog your feet and stop your race towards glory Faith will soon lessen your burden and mend your pace it will turn brass yea clay into gold and make it light in carriage The world is a strange Countrey to the Citizens of Heaven get good from it by living as strangers in the world by making you long the more for your own home by converting it to the service of your souls and interest in glory The Scorpions in Caria when they sting kill home-bred people not strangers Apollon Be a stranger to the world and it will not hurt thee The world is a subtle Strumpet shun her embraces lye not in her bosom stop your ears against her charms and shut your eyes from her allurements The world is an enemy beware of it when it promises believe it not when it kisses you take heed of the sword in its hand 2 Sam. 20. 9 10. when it cries peace peace then fear swift destruction set thy feet on its fair neck to keep it down get it nailed to the Cross of Christ and pierced to death with the sword and spear of the Spirit Get good from every state and condition God puts you into whether high or low rich or poor If you are above others in place be above them in grace if you enjoy more than others labour to do more than others Matth. 5. 47. The higher you are in the world be so much the lower in your own eyes The tallest Cedars bow most Ships of the greatest burden draw most water and go deepest Exalted Angels rejoyce to be ministring spirits Yea the Son of God delighted in being the servant of men Israel was a Prince and prevailed with God and yet counted himself beneath the least of all God's mercies Gen. 32. 10. By how much the greater I am saith Maximinus so much the more I labour and the more I labour the greater I am Paul the chiefest Apostle and yet in his own eyes less than the least of all Saints Ephes 3. 8. Humble your selves when God exalts you and when you humble your selves God will exalt you Have you
World But now 't is dead and quiet it can bear the sharpest strokes of the two edged Sword and not feel it or bleed it makes little or no bones of sin against knowledg and mercy sins that were before troublesome now go down easily it can digest threatnings and terrors with little trouble and sleep while the arrows of the Lord's wrath flie about its ears it can let go mercies without regarding and truths to pass away without entertainment this is Soul-poverty This thou can'st say too there was formerly an activity in thy Soul for God and the spring of thy heart was strong and it set every wheel a going thou couldst run and not be weary walk and not be faint no religious duty was tiresome to thee no commands of God were grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. no journeys seem'd long that led to God nor Sermons tedious that spake of God thy spirit was all life when in holy company and work did any say Come let us go up to the mountain of the house of the Lord Zech. 8. 21. thou wouldst say I will go also If God did but say Seek thou my face Psal 27. 8. thy heart would presently answer thy face Lord will I seek But now a deadness seizeth upon thee and slothfulness gathers in over thy whole Soul thou art soon weary of well-doing and canst not hold out with God in conflicts and difficulties as heretofore thou art not so diligent to prepare thy meat in Summer Prov. 30. 25. nor to lay in provision for a Winter spending-season thou turnest on thy bed as a door on its hinges and takest little pains with thy heart and conversation thou losest many an opportunity and advantage for thy Soul through thy deadness and indisposition to good works And doth not this bespeak Soul-languishing and poverty There are decays and poverty in thy life also as well as spirit how unprofitable is now thy conversation to what it was there was a time when thy bow did abide in strength thy lips did disperse knowledg Prov. 15. 7. thy steps did drop fatness it was good to be in thy company few came from thee but were better'd But alas now how dwindling is thy light how jejune and sapless is thy converse thy company little lovely thy communications little profitable thy words eat as doth a Canker it sears as a hot Iron and deadens those that hear it thy breath freezes all that come hear it so unprofitable a burden is thy company We turn all Religion Mr. Sedgwick ' s Christ's counsel to his languishing Church saith one into a discourse censure or dispute We can eat and drink and talk and sin as freely This is a sad case indeed and bespeaks great decays of godliness when persons become more poor and impotent in their Souls Fifthly Small adventures in Traders do usually bespeak bad Trading when times are hard and Goods go not off Sellers buy but little and drive a less Trade when improvements fail men are loath to adventure the principal but presently contract their Trade and lessen their dealings So 't is in this spiritual Trade when Souls begin to decay in it and Trading is bad they narrow up their Trade and lay out less of their heart and strength about it little of their Soul goes out after God and things above they cannot adventure for God as formerly nor spare time for prayer hearing reading holy conference as once they could the stream of their affections begins to run another way now they are all for the world self and vanity business and interest eats up all their time or at least they say to Christ as David did to Mephibosheth Thou and Zibah divide the Land So thou and the world thou and pleasures thou and reputation divide my heart time and strength this is too evident God hath not so much of mens hearts desires love delight faith hope zeal as heretofore 't is low waters all the year long with many no heart to duty as the Prophet complains Whoredom and Wine take away the heart Hos 4. 11. So lust sloth the world and self take away the heart few breathings after God when absent or delight when present indisposed to duty cold formal in duty put off God with any thing keep the best of the flock the prime of their strength for themselves and the world and turn off the Lord with a corrupt thing the residue of their wasted affections and strength Mal. 1. 14. Sixthly Breaking shews bad Trading when men can hold it no longer but are forc'd to give over they go back and waste so fast that at last they shut up shop and are gone The times we live in are a manifest instance of this truth men breaking ever and anon now one then another declares plainly Trading is bad And thus 't is with Wisdom's Merchants this day how many that have driven a brave trade of Profession made a great shew of Religion were famous in their generation for Parts and seeming Piety but are now come to nothing quite fallen and gone great apostasies from the truth sad shipwracks of Faith and Conscience can these late times speak of Men that seem'd like Stars to give a blaze for a while and then turn'd to falling Meteors at last or with the Sun that riseth in a splendour and sets in a cloud The visible apostacy and gross debauchery of men professing God in these latter times is great but the secret degeneracy and backslidings of heart are much more many break but more do warp 'T is far easier to observe than to be affected with mens great declensions in Religion some in principle but most in practice some with the fallen Angels have left their habitation and fallen from their first state others faulter in their profession and are fallen in their station some with stormy winds are shaken down others fully ripe and gotten to the height of their profession loosen by degrees and drop away some fall from the tree others rot where they hang some trees have lost their fruit others their very leaves and are become twice dead where can you cast your eye and not see fallings away either from Faith or faithfulness Men take up notions and as easily leave them most build upon the sand little rootings in the truth how easy is it to draw men from their opinions little stedfastness in love how soon doth the labours thereof cease a little trouble makes men let go their profession others lose their strictness in Religion and grow more remiss and lame in duty leaving their first love and close walks with Gods And are not these such manifest symptomes of decaying godliness that he who runs may read and see that the Heavenly Trade is almost come to nothing this day 2 And this is cause of mourning and to be greatly laid to heart who can see these things and not be affected If there be any quick flesh how can it but bleed if any waters are left surely
glory of God yea in pursuance of it thy own Salvation is thy chief concern What will it profit a man to gain the whole World and to lose his own Soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul What is left if the Soul be lost and what is done if after all the Soul be undone To look after others Souls and neglect thy own and to secure all things else and leave destruction on thy self is folly like to hers that saved her goods from the fire but left her child to perish in the flames Salvation is your chiefest work committed to your care and to be accounted for in the day of Christ Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling And 't is great work also many things must be attended too and several things dispatch'd if ever Souls be saved First You must carry on heart-work every day and that 's great work they that are acquainted with their own hearts know there is much to do in and about them There is nothing more out of order than man's heart and nothing in man of greater concernment than the heart Hence 't is the strict charge the Lord gives his people to keep their hearts Prov. 4. v. 23. Above all keeping as 't is in the Hebrew keep thy heart Proz 23. 2. Ephes 3. 17. Prov. 4. v. 4. The heart is the one thing Christ looks for the chief room he dwells in his warehouse where he laies up his goods his work-house where he cuts out and prepares his work Prov. 16. 1. A great part of salvation-work is done in the secret chambers of the heart The heart is the root and spring in man whence all aceptable duties flow Ephes 6. 6. doing the will of God from the heart and to be especially looked after A Christian finds a great deal of work to do about his heart every day There is Heart-searching work Psal 64. 6. The heart of man is deep and not easily fathom'd 't is a long journey to the farthest end of the heart which no man ever yet reached in this life The Sea is deep and yet it hath a bottom The World is large and yet it hath been compassed but who hath ever travelled through his own heart to set up his non ultra and say Hitherto its wickedness goes and no farther 'T is deceitful also above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. A man hath no such cheater to deal with as his own heart it hath such Cameleon colours Maeander windings such labyrinth turnings subtle shifts false pretences close designs fair promises smooth excuses rhetorical pleas seeming integrity deep-rooted hypocrisie that a man cannot tell what to make of his heart or how to find it out and this calls for constant searchings and observings of the heart Besides the Lord gives his people the ballance of the Sanctuary on purpose to weigh it in and casts out a line of providence every day to try it by Men meet with occasional providences temptations employments companies changes mercies afflictions all which help to discover the heart the issue of which is to be observed in order to the finding out of thy heart Heart-judging work When Christians have found out the evil of their hearts their pride hypocrisie c. seen the proof and evidence clear and how contrary to Law and Gospel to Equity and Mercy to Light Experience Warnings Patience Profession and Promises they are then to charge these things upon the heart to set home the evil with all the aggravations of it from its nature and effects from the quality of the person the time place continuance in it attempts and means of cure compared with others beneath them for light profession means and mercies and having by these arguments convinced the heart of its exceeding evil then to pass sentence against and condemn it as unworthy of any mercy and deserving of all the threatnings in the Word against it until the heart come to bear its iniquity and feel its exceeding sinfulness and cry out with the Apostle O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24. This would be of wonderful use to clear up your sincerity to preserve the tenderness of your spirits to cut off all excuses false hopes and security in sin and make it more abominable when it appears with its most taking allurements 2 Cor. 7. 11. 1 Cor. 11. 31. and this would evidence your interest in pardon and freedom from Divine condemnation Heart-humbling work O the pride that lodges yea lives in and incorporates with this little piece the heart of man how unsearchable is it and past finding out like leaven in the lump and poyson in the cup which cannot be separated by a humane hand as rottenness in the bones that cannot be fetched out Pride is as that lofty mountain before Zerubbabel which must become a plain Zach. 4. 7. as deeply rooted trees whose Mores are not easily plucked up One compares spiritual pride to the shirt or inmost garment which the Saints last of all put off and which like the Ivy will not be pluckt out till the wall in which it is comes down also O the tuggings a child of God hath with his proud heart to get and keep it low As the Spider whatever it feeds on it turns to poison So is it with the proud heart of man it turns all it does hath meets with and sees to the nourishment of pride proud of its sins proud of his graces proud under afflictions and proud of mercies proud of honour and proud of humility proud of God's favour and proud under his frowns O what a strange disease is pride that feeds upon the means which the Lord gives to cure it and gets strength from the remedy to nourish the disease like Ephraim's wound when God would have healed one another appeared And this helps to make a Christian's work great work indeed which is never done till his day be done and his Tabernacle pulled down Heart-purging work The heart of man naturally is a very sink and kennel of uncleanness a fountain of pollution a running Issue full of filthiness of flesh and spirit Mat. 18. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies these are the things that defile the man 'T is not accidental and adventitious filthiness for that may more easily be washt away Jer. 6. 7. but 't is innate and connatural and never ceases bubling forth till the fountain be cleansed and the root be changed Sin in the heart is the root and spring of all the wickedness that defiles the thoughts words and actions Christians complain of their thoughts they are pestred with vain unclean distracting thoughts in duty and out of duty whereas the distemper lies in the heart Thoughts are but the ebullitions and swarmings of the heart He that will cure his thoughts must first
in this heavenly Trade Religion is much advanc'd by a spiritual improvement of mens talk and converses this way did the searers of God keep alive Religion in evil times when other helps were wanting Mal. 3. 16. Prov. 10. 21. By this souls come to be fed and nourished in their holy Faith 1 Tim. 4. 6. A great deal of good or hurt comes by mens discourses O the mischief Christians do to each other by their vain carnal and earthly communications when they come together Evil communications corrupt good manners 1 Cor. 15. 33. Whose word doth eat as doth a canker 2 Tim. 2. 17. This way does Satan put off much of his wares even by Wisdom's Merchants making them to weaken cool deaden and corrupt one anothers spirits stir up feed and strengthen each others corruptions become temptations and provocations to one another to sin by their sinful corruptions 'T is sad to think how the work of God ceases and the work of Satan prospers this way Persons come warm sometimes from a Sermon and are soon cool'd by impertinent and vain discourses come from secret duty when their hearts are quickned and raised and presently deadned again by spirit-quenching discourses O how many labours of the Saints and Servants of Christ and how many strivings of the Spirit are overturned and come to nothing by vain and rotten discourses no wonder the Apostle tells us The tongue is a fire a world of iniquity it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of hell Jam. 3. 6. Through the organ of an unsanctified tongue doth Satan shoot his fire-balls of temptation into the hearts of hearers are you afraid of that fire which burns down your houses beware of that fire that burns down souls to hell 'T is no small part of a Christian's wisdom to speak a word in season and to order as his conversation so his converses to edification When the Apostle presses the Ephesians to wisdom Eph. 5. 17. the next thing he advises to is holy conference ver 19. by mens language are they known of what Countrey they are so are persons discover'd whether Citizens of Heaven or the World by their ordinary and desir'd language 'T is said of Augustine he went not so willingly to a feast as to a conference to reduce any that erred He that is of the Earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth he that cometh from Heaven is above all and what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth Joh. 3. 31. He will be speaking of heavenly things which he learnt of God A good man out of the abundance of his heart bringeth out good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh The tongue is but the index and bucket of the heart that tells men what things are within and draws out of those deeps to others men use to find out what metals are hid in the earth by the colour of the sand which the waters wash away from the mountains if the streams be low the spring is weak an empty heart yields empty discourses By your words you shall be justified or condemned The tongue of the just is as choice silver Prov. 10. 20. in that it is enriching to those that are near it The tongue of the wise is health Prov. 12. 18. It sendeth out sound and wholsome words to the strengthning of hearers 't is said of the Spouse that her lips did drop as the honey-comb honey and milk are under her tongue Cant. 4. 11. And the roof of her mouth like the best Wine that goeth down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Cant. 7. 9. This doubtless is one reason of the little thrivings of Christians in communion this day 't is from their barren and carnal communications this starves Religion both in thy own soul and in those thou conversest with 't is not maintained by gracious converses and soul-edifying discourses Christians lay this to heart how can you bear the charge of all that decay in godliness this day upon your non-improvement of this part of your heavenly Trade Lastly Then do you carry on the heavenly Trade when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages getting good from every thing you meet with do or enjoy 'T is so in earthly Trades all men seek their gain from their quarters Isa 56. 11. endeavour to turn every thing to some profit And so should heavenly Traders be getting some spiritual good from every thing that comes under their hand and in their way if ever they intend to thrive this comports with the great design of God in all his administrations to his people which is to do them good Who fed thee in the Wilderness with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at the latter end Deut. 8. 16. To this end are his providences directed The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him Ezra 8. 22. And this leads to the accomplishment of the promises towards Believers I will set mine eyes upon them for good Jer. 24. 6. I will not turn away from them to do them good Jer. 32. 40. All their occurrences are brought under a promise of working for good All things the best and worst things of providence shall work for good to them that love God Rom. 8. 28. And why is this but that gracious souls should be expecting good from every thing every affliction as well as mercy that doth befall them and be comporting in all their capacities with this design of God by an improvement of all to this great end of soul-advantage What more good O Lord was the usual saying of a godly man when the Lord brought any new affliction upon him with which he was much exercised and from which he ever got some spiritual advantage For this end are gracious souls made capable to use their mercies to bear and improve their afflictions to some spiritual good they have a principle of grace planted in their hearts and of divine light into their minds and have received rules and instructions of purpose that they might be able to reach this end They are made men of wisdom for this end that they might hear God in affliction Mic. 6. 9. and see God in mercies and are skill'd in divine Chymistry that they might extract the spirit of providences and good of every condition duty and mercy 'T was said of pious Mr. Dod that he used to turn Earth into Heaven by a wise and spiritual improvement of all earthly affairs A blessed metamorphosis and an argument of excellent skill and high attainment in this heavenly Trade to turn Copper and Brass into Gold and to convert every thing the worst things to some good This Christians is your priviledg duty and interest so to manage every affair condition occurrence and experience as to help on your soul-enrichings There
that strive with him shall perish there is no contending with God bow we must or break return or be ruined Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings Isa 1. 16. Get washt away your blood by sound Repentance get into Christ's blood by saving Faith set upon a thorough reformation personal family publick each one in his place help to carry out the uncleanness of thy heart hand house and land to the Brook Kidron 2 Chron. 29. 16. Get tradingsins removed if you would have trading mercies enjoy'd Take every man his Censer and stand in the gap pour out strong cries for returning-returning-mercy that the Lord would cease from his fierce wrath and turn again and heal our Land and bless our substance accept the work of our hand and dwell in our Land Counsel 5. Fifthly Get advantage from decaies in your Earthly Trade to further your Heavenly Trade gather materials from your earthly ruines for your heavenly building Christians there 's a great deal of good you may get from these evil things in the world to quicken your pursuit after the things of Heaven First By your earthly losses you may be convinced of the vanity and uncertainty of all things below God Men are apt to take up too much pleasure in their booths till God sends a devouring worm and consumes them and to sit down under their shadows with great delight and therefore doth God make them like shadows to fly away what expectations do men raise from their swelling-comforts thinking their mountains are made so strong they shall not be moved till the Lord by some levelling providence soon corrects their fond opinion and what dependencies do we usually take up on those uncertainties leaning so hard on our reeds till they break under us and send splinters into the arm which staies upon them O the contentment pleasure profit men fancy to be in creatures friends relations honours estates before by some killing stroak they see themselves to be deceived What mercy is it then to meet with disappointments in these groundless hopes that we may come to see before it be too late what poor empty perishing things all the wares of this lower world are This way David came to have his errour seasonably corrected And Solomon by a serious review of past enjoyments comes to see that all was vanity and vexation of spirit Eccles 2. 1. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew they are disquieted in vain he heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Psal 39. 6. Secondly Divine rebukes on mens earthly interests help them to a discovery of those sins that procure them Deut. 31. 17. Afflictions are Christ's clay and spittle to open his peoples eyes and to bring them to see those evils that have brought those deaths upon their comforts and breed those worms that have destroyed their substance Times of correction are times of instruction Job 36. 8 9. When Jacob's Sons were cut short of their provisions reduced to great distress and plunged in sore dangers then they thought upon their sin and wrong done to their brother Joseph Gen. 42. 21. Then they said one to another verily we are guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us and would not hear therefore is this distress come upon us Whence one hath this note Affliction is a dark condition yet it brings much light into the soul Men come to read their miscarriages best by the fire-light of affliction then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God 2 Chron. 33. 13. Now the soul comes to see his abuse of these mercies he hath lost his inordinate love to them and wandrings from God and this helps to after-wisdom and greater freedom from these entanglements for the time to come which is no small advantage to future godliness Thirdly By this loss of earthly things the soul comes to see a necessity of looking after and ensuring better treasures Heb. 13. 14. Here have we no continuing City but we seek one that is to come Uncertainties on Earth should put souls the more to look after Heaven The Prodigal never thought of returning till all was gone Luke 15. 14. to verse 18. The Steward never considered how to secure his future state till goods were wasted and Stewardship in danger of removal Luke 16. 1 2 3 4. Think of swiming ashore said Mr. Rutherford after a shipwrack 'T is a mercy in this stormy Sea to get a second wind for none of the Saints get a first This is advantage indeed when having nothing you seek to enjoy all things and when the world flies from you to pursue Heaven the faster Could a Heathen say I never gain'd mere than when I lost all because his shipwrack became the occasion of obtaining knowledge and will not you Christians by your earthly losses be provoked to make after heavenly interests Fourthly Losses in the world have an advantage through grace to loosen the heart from the world Afflictions on mens estates are like wormwood on the breast that tends to wean the hearts of God's children from them Love of the world hath been the sin of this Age and the shipwrack of worldly things is the likeliest way to cure it this disease is best conquered by fasting Absence of Lovers is sometimes the way to starve affections and poverty with distress is God's usual method to chastise mens wanton affections to this world Afflictions when sanctified are Sanctuary-fire to purge away the dross of our affections Mal. 3. 3. 5ly Soul-enlargement is another fruit of sanctified straits and so a help to the heavenly trade Christians are never fit to make any speed in the way to Heaven until their hearts be enlarged Psal 119. 32. Enlargements in the world are oft-times bonds to the soul He that hath most of the Earth hath usually least liberty for Heaven When the Lord cuts short the interest of his people he doth but knock off golden fetters from their feet that he may bring their soul out of prison Afflicting Providences are God's dieting his racers that they may be more long-breath'd and swift in their run towards glory O how imprison'd are redeemed souls in the many things of this world they cannot have time to pray read hear confer for the entangling-affairs of this life till God by some deaths upon their employments sets them at liberty Removes of worldly treasures are but the taking off of a heavy cloak-bag from the shoulders of Sion's Travellers that they may the more comfortably travel to their journeys end Good souls whiles crouded with earthly businesses are like persons in the midst of a thicket and thorny grove when they would be going forward one briar hangs in their skirts and another thorn stops their way so that when God takes off their interests he doth but cut out a way for his children to pass the more comfortably and swiftly through the brakes of this world and lighten the vessel that it
when you meet with company what goods do you put off to them Do you labour in every society to vend something of heavenly wares to put off some holy counsel and instruction some gracious experience and observation to leave something behind you in every place and company you come that may fasten a savour of God on them then is it good Trading and you are in a soul-thriving way Thirdly Men count it good Trading when they are richer in stock when they have more goods more variety greater quantity of wares than first they had and that clear too and paid for their shops and warehouses are fuller than they were and the goods their own also this men reckon good Trading And can you say 't is thus with your souls also Are you increased with spiritual goods your graces are more as well as gifts your faith love hope fear are more grown and stronger than they were 2 Thes 1. 3. Can you trust God more than you could and hang upon a naked promise more strongly than you could when sight fails 2 Cor. 5. 7. Can you think well of God when he frowns upon you Can you love him when he corrects you Isa 39. 8 Can you stay on him when he strips you of your visible comforts and cleave to him when he seems to reject you Job 13. v. 15. Then are you richer in stock Is your Faith more cleansing and quickening your Love more warming your Zeal more fervent your Hope more adventurous your Patience more bearing your Joy more delighting your Humility more self-abasing then are you encreased with goods Have you more of every grace it may be at first you had much affection but little sincerity great desires but little faith much comfort but little patience and self-denial you could pray talk rejoyce do some duties but could not bear trials want comforts live by faith when sight failed you were much it may be in some duties but negligent in others but now you have more variety of graces enlargement in duties and more universal respect to all God's commands Psal 119. 6. And if you are less in the bulk of duty you are more in the spirit of it when 't is thus there 's a thriving Trade in Christianity Fourthly Are you less in debt than you were that 's another sign of good Trading Do you make conscience of rendring to God again for all his benefits Psal 116. 12 13. Is it your trouble when you are behind-hand with grace and fall in arreer to the mercy of God by your unthankfulness Dan. 9. 10. Indeed in compensation of the grace of God you are defective to make requitals of mercies you cannot you see possibly an infinite shortness in your performances of the meanest favour that the Lord bestows upon you but such as you have you give to the Lord you render all possible praises though not all praises due Exod. 15. 2. This you are careful of and charge upon your hearts every day to walk as becometh the grace that brings salvation and the mercies bestowed on you 't is the desire of your heart and labour to walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing and to answer the end of mercy in which you are willing beyond your ability and grieve at your falling short herein Now this doth the Lord count for the deed and accept at his peoples hands as full pay through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 8. 12. And where 't is thus that persons live in the daily sense of Divine Grace and grateful acknowledgment of every mercy there is a thriving Trade in spirituals Fifthly Have you much owed you and is it secure This also bespeaks a thriving Trade Men count sure debts as good as ready money though they have little in bags yet if they have the more in book and good debt too they rate themselves accordingly and reckon themselves worth so much as is due as well as to what is in hand And is it so with you Christians are you rich in promises is much coming to you upon a new-covenant score It may be you have little in hand little comfort peace and sweetness you meet with from day to day You sow much but reap little you ask but have not and yet seek with your whole heart Goods are received but no money returned if so you have good grounds of hope for a plentiful harvest because you sow store of good seed are much in holy duties and sincere in them many a prayer upon the file many a tear droped into God's bottle much grace laid out in duty and time spent in it a daily care to please God and upon Scripture-grounds can lay claim to many a promise on the account of Christ What you sow you shall reap Gal. 6. 8. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord 2 Cor. 15. v. 58. Say unto the righteous it shall be well with them for they shall eat the fruit of their doings Isa 3. 10. And the less is received the more is behind Improvements of grace do book down many a mercy for Believers which possibly they may not receive all their life and yet be sure and turns to account in the Inheritance prepared for them and this is good Trading which brings in bonds and bills that are sure and shall be paid to Heavenly Traders in their own Countrey Sixthly That 's good Trading where the present incomes maintain the Trader and so much is got by it as they may live by when a person can live comfortably upon his gettings without impairing the stock If it be so with the Believer in thy Heavenly Trade then hast thou good Trading Try Christians your thriving by your livelihood can you live comfortably upon the fruits of Religion Cant. 2. 3. Isa 40. 31. doth your Religion maintain your Souls and Graces well Joh. 4. 30. at what rate do you live Men that thrive in the world usually live well have good fare and good cloathing Diet Apparel Expences do soon shew mens gettings Indeed Prodigals may spend high live well for a time but then they cannot hold it they soon break but when men can bear liberal expences and their Estates not impaired it argues such do thrive apace and get well in their Trades so 't is with thriving Christians they ordinarily live at a higher rate of peace and comfort than others Ps 119. 165. Ps 80. 19. their fare is better unless the health of their Souls do sometimes call to fasting and affliction strong Christians overcoming Souls have better Provisions promis'd them than others such feed on hidden Manna Rev. 2. 17. and marrowy bits milk is for babes but strong meat for strong men Prov. 21. 15. 'T is joy to the just to do judgment Joy and Pleasure saith Mercer is the fruit of wel-doing to such h Laetitia obvenit ci ex juste factis suis Such can expend more than others who have larger proportion of Blessings on their Souls A person
may be truly gracious and yet live uncomfortably in his Soul and in the wayes of God but he that thrives in Godliness hath larger incomes of sweetness and peace and makes many a merry meal on the review of his integrity and the grace of God in and towards him Psal 112. 2. Seventhly Layings up as well as layings out bespeaks good Trading when men fill their bags and enlarge their possessions turn Purchasers and begin to join house to house and field to field then they manifestly shew their thrivings So when Souls thrive in their Heavenly Trade they begin to lay up for Heaven and to be preparing for another world they lay up Treasure in Heaven Mat. 6. 21. get bags that wax not old weak Christians are all for their comforts here how they may maintain their peace and pleasure in the way but strong Christians thriving Souls they have their thoughts upon their journeys end and to make provisions for their future state Bread and Water contents them here Gen. 28. 20. a little spending Money in the way to help them home is all they indent for But their chiefest care is to lay up for Heaven When shall I provide for mine own house saith Jacob Gen. 30. 30 So the thriving Christian is thoughtful about his house in Heaven to make all the provisions he can for that he will lay up in store a good foundation to lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6. 19. he is for securing all he can for Heaven and for such works as will follow him he will turn all he may into moveables that he may transmit them into his Countrey The interests of this world are stak'd down to the earth and cannot be removed but thriving Christians are for such goods as they can knock up and carry with them to their own home They strive to pray hear think speak do suffer and all for eternity their affections are gone before to Heaven while their bodies are imprison'd in the World As 't is said of the Athenians when besieged by Sylla their hearts were with him without the walls whiles their bodies were forc'd to serve within a Animos extra moenia corpora necessitati servientes intra muros habuerint Paterc So 't is with enriched Christians the World is a Prison to them a strange Countrey where they have been sent to trade and when they have fill'd their sacks and got all they can they long to depart into their own Countrey By these things Christians may you know what kind of Trade you drive for Heaven and what share you have in this great engagement to thanksgiving Object All this makes against me and confirms my just fears that I am a stranger to spiritual thrivings I now see 't is a pittiful Trade I drive in godliness I profess hear pray perform duties enjoy priviledges but am never the better O how may I write lost labour on all my performances I need no greater proof than these evidences nor other judge than my own conscience to convince my languishing soul of daily wastes and poverty in my heavenly Trade What shall I do to get my case mended and once attain to true thrivings in this holy Calling Sol. There are four things which usually make men thriving in their earthly Trades which do also contribute to prosperity in this heavenly Merchandise 1 A provident care 2 A diligent hand 3 A secret trade 4 A divine blessing First Men that are thriving in the World are provident and careful to prevent their dangers to secure their interests and proportion means to their advantage And so must Christians that think ever to flourish in godliness what losses and miscarriages in Religion might a provident care prevent were temptations way-laid and corruptions timely guarded against souls might escape many surprisals of sin and abatements in grace Never think to prosper in holiness till you are provident to prevent its weaknings and contribute all you may towards its strength and enlargement One enjoys a good frame of soul much peace and joy in believing and for want of watchfulness loseth all again Another hath got a little power over his corruptions for a time and for want of a provident care to avoid ensnaring occasions is overcome again Another hath a choice advantage put into his hand for spiritual good but not exercising a timely care and preparation to improve it miscarries in all his hopes and labours and by these changes and interruptions their spiritual welfare is impeded Go learn of the Ant she provideth her meat in Summer Prov. 6. 6 8. Be wise as Serpents they decline danger as soon as seen and guard their noblest part though with the hazard of their All Matth. 19. 16. Walk circumspectly as wise Eph. 5. 15. O how happy might Christians be were they as provident for their souls as they are for their bodies and did exercise their reason care and fore-sight to further their spiritual interests and without this provident care never think to prosper in this heavenly Merchandise Take heed of grace-wasting sins of any secret lust allowed or sweet morsel rouled under your tongue that will prove a moth in your spiritual estate and keep you low in your heavenly interests Souls under some perplexing lust are like Israel under the prevailing hand of Midian against them Judg. 6. 3 4 6. When Israel had sown the Midianites came up and the Amalekites and the children of the East and they encamped against them and destroyed the encrease of the earth and left no sustenance for Israel neither Sheep nor Ox nor Ass and Israel was greatly impoverished So 't is with such no sooner have they got any mercy frame experience hope or soul-advantage but presently a prevailing lust riseth up and destroys all Cry unto the Lord as Israel did until he deliver you from every iniquity make no peace with any corruption never let it rest till wholly destroyed if you think to prosper in your souls and conversations Be provident also to take all advantages for godliness watching your opportunities for every duty keeping every soul-market and fair and taking the best season to lay out grace and get in profit Prov. 8. 34. Be careful to get some good from every thing and to keep and save what you have and this will tend to soul-thriving Acts 2. 46. Secondly A diligent hand tends to thriving men that prosper in the World take pains and follow their employments rising early sitting up late neglecting no business that may help on to profiting So must you that intend to thrive in Religion you must make it your business you must be labourers in God's Vineyard Joh. 6. 27. and workmen indeed that need not be ashamed 2 Tim. 2. 15. Christians for the most part are too slothful in their spiritual business to have their profiting appear it will cost you more striving to enter into the strait-gate and get ground in the narrow way that leads to life more blows must pass
chargeable not only for violating the royal righteous law of Christ but for being guilty of subverting his Government Crown and Dignity and endeavouring in his measure the ruining his interest of hindering the conversion and edification of souls and whatever damage hereby comes to the spiritual or eternal welfare of souls it will be laid on their heads in the day of the righteous judgment of Christ Another greatly concerning duty contain'd in this Scripture is charitable communications feed the poor feed the hungry clothe the naked relieve the oppressed Bede Alapid This is to honour God with your substance not to spend it on your lusts to live high to fare deliciously to build your nests on high but to make your abundance a supply for the good of those that are in wants 2 Cor. 8. 14. Isa 58. 7. 10. Mat. 5. 42. Jam. 1. 27. Heb. 13. 16. Luke 14. 12 13. Otherwise First All your Religion is in vain James 1. v. 26 27. Your knowledge desires affections frames tasts enjoyments marks experiences seeming graces duties are all nothing and can never prove the truth of your grace the safety of your estates and goodness of your religion if you are found defective in this great duty of Charity Psal 112. 4 5. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness he is gracious and full of compassion and righteous A good man sheweth favour and lendeth Let men say what they will if they be covetous hard-hearted have no compassion to them that are in wants have no heart to give or lend to needy ones they have no true grace in them Verse 9. He hath dispersed he hath given to the poor his righteousness endureth for ever Men may talk and pray and seem to be eminent Christians profess love to God and their neighbours and yet all the while be deceived and have not a jot of grace in them while their hearts are cruel their hands shut to their poor Brethren Remember the young man in the Gospel and fear thine own estate if thy heart be glued to thy possessions How dwelleth the Love of God in him 1 Joh. 3. 17. He loves not God and God loves not him that shuts up the bowels of his compassion from his poor and afflicted Brother That 's pure Religion and undefiled before God to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 27. Shew me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2. 18. Religion saith one is not onely contemplative but the greatest part of it like the Mathematick's bargains how will they stand for a penny in chacharity how cold are they how hard is it to screw an alms out of their hands if this be Religion the Lord keep me from such Religon This begets an odium in the men of the world against Religion and the waies of God But woe to that man by whom offences come it had been better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drown'd in the midst of the Sea Mat. 18. 6 7. Fourthly Acts of Charity purely done will evidence your right to glory Mat. 25. 34 35. 36. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came to me The enquiry in that great day will not be after mens profession light frames and duties of Worship but after the fruits of their faith and love as evidential not causal of their right to glory Here is held out saith one not the b Non causa salutis sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testimonium credentius his verbis innuitur cause of their salvation but the sign and testimony of them that believe c. c Opera quae Christus praedicaturus est non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunt sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 respectu fidei finis ejus vitae aeternae Glass The Kingdom is obtained by way of Inheritance Come inherit the Kingdom aad prepared for them as a portion for children not purchased by them as the procurements of their works The reward is freely bestowed on all interested in Adoption-grace of which title the bearing proof in that day will be the fruits of love to those that are Christ's words will not be sufficient to demonstrate this love then it will not serve mens turn to say they loved Saints except it were extended to all yea the least of Saints and proved by acts of love and communications to all their necessities and that not some small pittance of their abundance which they valued not but it must be such portions and kinds of relief which their necessities call for in visiting feeding cloathing owning comforting receiving into their houses and whatever help they were capable to express and this as readily and heartily expended to them as they would lay them out to themselves and theirs that being the rule of Charity Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Matt. 22. 39. The want of this evidence whatever else may be pretended will finally and eternally cast souls in that last and terrible day Mat. 25. 41. to the end Do not deceive thy soul with false hopes of glory not one mark will pass for Heaven where there is a hard heart and close hands towards poor and distressed Saints For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy Jam. 2. 13. There is no room for you in Divine bowels if you shut up your own bowels against them that are in misery See in that Parable Mat. 18. 33 34 35. the dreadful end of those who are any way cruel to their fellow-servants having themselves tasted the mercy of their Lord. The liberal distributions of your estates to the poor is the onely way to make them truly serviceable to your souls whiles this becomes the occasion of your reception into everlasting habitations Luke 16. 9. Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations d Opus hoc receptionis in aeterna habitacula solius Dei est tribuitur autem pauperibus quia ipsi sententiam Christi Judicis de salvatione piorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 approbabunt beneficentiae quae fidei fructus est testes erunt Glas The mammon or riches of this world is called the riches of unrighteousness because they are unrighteously gotten or unrighteously kept to the detriment of those that need them or unrighteously spent to the hurt of those that have them but the way to change their nature and to make them profitable is to lay them out to the poor who will receive you or witness for you in that day to prove the truth of your love by
of his mouth more than your necessary food Can you be content to let your own things sit that you may seek the things that are Christ's and sit at his feet when others are in the market-place and abroad in the croud of their earthly affairs Are you alone with Christ in a corner If so your Mercy is singular and your Obligations strong to be entirely the Lords to be no more your own but wholly devoted to his fear to live a life of praise and welpleasingness uno God to think well of Christ and bear his pleasure to be patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer to long for the Well-head of your mercies and to be beginning a life of glory while you are here in a life of grace I shall close up this Discourse with a few words of general Advice to you all First lay the foundation sure on which you build all your Temporary labours and your Eternal hopes You cannot be too certain in that on which depends your all Consider how often Satan hath battered down yea your own hearts have disputed away those Evidences on which you could sometimes have adventured your Souls and yet the strongest Assaults are to come and the greatest Forces of Hell reserved for the last Battel Bottom not your hopes on any thing short of a Crucified Christ not on your Frames but on his Favour not upon your Duties but his Righteousness nor upon any kindnesses received from him short of a saving union with him rest not till your Convictions be clear deep and distressing such as discover sin to be the greatest evil in its nature and fruits and its residence and indwelling in you a burden intolerable such Convictions as will not admit of after favour or reconciliation to the least known or most beloved sin that can make your heart to bleed afresh upon every new touch of it and never at rest till the whole kind of it be destroyed out of your Souls Labour to see such a Beauty in Christ as may render all Created Glory as dross and dung in your Eye stop not till you come to the Excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as your Lord till you can discern such a worth in the Person as well as Purchase of Christ as will make you content to throw all over board to take in him and be sick of love till you enjoy him be sure your close with Christ be right with his whole Person Will and Designs to be one with him upon all his own terms And that this union be not in Judgment and Consent onely but in Heart and Will from your whole Souls finding an inward likeness and love to him in your renewed nature 2ly Go on towards perfection press after nearer and more compleat Conformity to the Nature and Will of Christ every day Think how short your highest measures do come of perfect holiness in the sight of God set the Pattern before you every day that you may be the more ashamed at your present attainments in Grace and more provoked to higher Aims and Atchievements compare your selves with them that are above you with the Rule of Righteousness and with all your Obligations Time Means and Mercies to keep you humble in your own eyes look upon your Wants as well as Enjoyments that you may be as poor in spirit as in condition that which is wanting in you cannot be numbred Who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort 1 Chron. 19. 14. Keep low thoughts in your selves under the greatest services you do for God and the highest honour you receive from God Alas said the Lord Du-Plessis to one that commended him for the improvemt of his Talent What is there of mine in that Work say not that it was I but God in me I know more saith another by my self to abase me than any man could know to extol me So much humility a man hath so much grace he hath and worth and no more Dr. Har. 3ly Keep up a life of faith upon Christ in the promises As the first quickening of a Christian is by faith so his whole life is maintained by believing no longer than you believe can you live Gal. 2. 20. Your life is hid with Christ in God Draw fresh Influence thence by faith upon your Hopes Comforts and Graces under every want fears and deaths within you make not your graces or duties the grounds of believing but encouragements to Faith study more the nature freeness fulness and unchangeableness of redemption grace and get acquaintance with the promise and perswasions of the truth of them in Christ To live onely by faith saith Dr. Harris and a bare Promise without a pawn and to give all to free grace and to Christ alone are mighty works and some of those things he found most difficult 4ly Walk in Love as Christ hath loved you This is the life of Heaven and beginning of that Excellent glory which shall never be removed there is nothing does make thee more like to God more near and dear to him and more fit for his use than this Grace of Love Let your Affections be extended as large as the objects of them unto God his Word Ways and People love God to obey him his Ways to walk in them his People to delight in them to sympathize with them to mourn over them in their sufferings to help them in their necessities to rejoyce with them in their consolations counting their mercies your own which is no easie part of your duty It is far harder saith one to adopt anothers Comforts than his Sorrows and to hold ones self exalted in anothers exaltation 5ly In the enjoyment of the World get above it and while you live in it be daily dying to it so much as you get above the World so near are you to God and Glory and no nearer Covet not anothers Goods the World is none of your Portion if God be your part Oh how much beneath the Extraction Dignity and Duty of Saints is the love to and life upon this low and dirty World leave not Childrens bread to feed on such Carrion doggs-meat and filthy excrements with which Satan feeds his Labourers But having spoke largely of this matter in the Book I advise your Eye and Heart thither for Conviction and Counsel herein 6ly Make much of the Time and Means of Grace while you have them your Glass runs your Sun hastens and the Wind blows when and where it listeth O make use of Time while you have it God who made nothing in vain hath work for every hour of your short Day work as hard as you can you will find something to do when you come to die Loss of time saith Dr. Harris on his Death-bed sits very near upon me work work apace assure your selves nothing will more trouble you when you come to die than that you have done no more for that God which hath
that is dear to them Men promise one thing and do another affirm a thing that is not and this undoes many the unfaithfulness of those they deal with but it is not so with Christ you may trust on his fidelity Heaven and Earth shall sooner fail than one tittle of all that he hath spoken And therefore excellent is that Trade which is carried on with so excellent a Jesus Reas 3. Thirdly Weigh the terms on which this Trade is offered unto souls and it will appear to be incomparably the best Trade For to such as will set upon this Trade 1 Goods to trade upon shall be freely given 2 Wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted 3 A blessing on the due improvement of them shall be ensured 4 To him shall the glory of all be rendred First Wisdome's wares are freely tendered to all that will receive them without money and without price Come buy wine and milk without money and without price Isa 55. 1. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the waters of life freely Rev. 21. 6. Here Merchants cannot get or put off goods at that rate there 's no going to the world's markets without money or credit they that will have mens goods must pay for them and many times have deat bargains but the Lord Jesus imparts his treasures freely he paid dear for them they cost his heart blood but he spares them freely no silver or gold will pass in those bargains Simon Magus had his offered gold for the Holy Ghost thrown back with detestation and destruction to boot Acts 8. 18 19 20. The terms on which this trade is driven are free it cannot stand with the design of redemption grace which is to advance the praise of the glory of grace and to cut off all boasting that every mouth may be stopped to admit of any thing from fallen man that might look like a compensation of salvation mercies neither is there any thing beneath Christ's merits that can equalize the worth of heavenly things and alas what have they to part with who have lost themselves and to give to God who have nothing but what they receive from him It must needs therefore be altogether freely given whatever is received in order to salvation O blessed news to poor traders that their poverty is no bar to this employment the poorest may receive of Wisdome's wares as well as the rich seeing it is a free trade and whatever makes a difference on the creatures part is laid aside in the dispensation of spiritual mercies Here are no Monopolies or hard impositions upon this trade no restraint from setting up or selling out of Wisdome's goods in any parts of the world Cities have their enclosures Corporations their bars to keep out strangers from their priviledges but in this trade all persons be they who they will that will come over to Wisdome's Merchandise have right to carry on this work of godliness in all places whereever they are The heavenly trade is a free trade goods freely given and liberty to set up in all places and to all persons Secondly As goods to trade upon are freely given so wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted This is a priviledge which sellers on earth will not afford you may have their goods at their price but not instructions how to dispose them to your advantage but this great Merchant in Heaven with his wares gives skill to use them I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go Isa 48. 17. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding He layeth up sound wisdome for the righteous Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgement and equity yea every good path Prov. 2. 4 5 6 9. The soul that seeketh for Wisdome's wares shall with it find instruction how to use them I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shouldest go I will guide thee with my eyes Psal 32. 8. He will be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame Job 29. 15. The Lord Jesus will find all in this heavenly trade goods and tools and skill and strength and all Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength Thirdly A blessing on the due improvement of these shall be ensured to all his traders The wayfaring man shall not erre Isa 35. 8. His workmen shall not labour in vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. For his blessing is upon his people Psal 3. 8. Thou shalt decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon thy waies Job 22. 28. The book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein this is the heavenly trade to fulfill after God and such shall prosper for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success Josh 1. 8. No Merchant will undertake to make their dealers prosperous they must trade at great uncertainties and run the adventure as to the issue of all Blessings come not out of earthly shops but from a divine hand let come what will in the way Blessings will surely come at the end to those that cast out at Christ's biding and trade by his instruction in Wisdome's Merchandise let men curse let devils vex let North-winds blow and blow down too their earthly comforts yet God will bless them that fear him every one Psal 115. 13. He will bless them in life and bless them in death and is not this good trading to be sure of blessings in the way and blessedness at the end 1 Pet. 1. 9. Fourthly Another Condition in this Trade is That God shall have all the glory but they that trade with and for him shall have all the good that comes by it This is the head Rent which the great Lord reserves to himself and will not part with to another My glory will I not give to another Isa 48. 11. This is his great design in all works of his hands and gifts of grace that he may be glorified The people shall be all righteous the branch of my planting the work of my hand that I may be glorified This is God's great end in bestowing redemption mercies to have all the glory to himself who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory Ephes 1. 12. Christians the Rent must be the Lords the fruit shall be yours Whose keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof Prov. 27. 18. All the sweetness of the Vine is for those that possess it and the herbs of the earth for them by whom it is
and grief Oh the distractions and distressing thoughts that straits commonly beget and no straits like to soul-straits Christians you your selves be my Judges Thirdly Neglect of Trading for Heaven will blast all other Trading and breed a moth to consume even your temporal substance When Israel began to let down their Heavenly Trade and to mind their own concerns and houses above God's presently God blasts their temporal interests he makes holes in their money-bags and blows upon their encrease All their tuggings in the world with neglect of God and his Worship came to nothing they sowed much and it brought in little looked for much and it came to little wrought hard earned great wages laid up money but it fell out again through some secret hole in their bags which divine jealousie opened consuming their substance to let them know that men may make more haste than good speed and they that reckon without God must reckon twice And may not this be one thing that cuts this Nation short in their outward interest this day because they have forsaken God neglected his service lost the power of godliness certainly though outward prosperity be no token of God's favour nor any Gospel-promise to his people yet when the Lord does fight against a people by successive rebukes and send in a secret mildew wasting and consumption on their interests and this becomes general and national it shews displeasure in God and should be laid to heart the want of which is set forth as an additional aggravation to such a peoples sin Who gave Jacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers did not he against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his waies neither were they obedient unto his Laws Therefore he poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battel and hath set him on fire round about yet he knew not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart Isa 42. 24 25. It was the not walking in the way of God neglect of obedience and practical holiness a letting down the Heavenly Trade that brought those ruining judgments on Israel losses on their interests vers 21. They were robbed and spoiled firing their houses vers 25. It hath set him on fire round it burned him Now in this miserable case there was yet a greater judgement on them a strange stupefaction and insensibleness of spirit they did not see God's anger in it yet Yet he knew it not viz. Whence it came and who did all this they looked to Chaldeans and enemies but 't was God did it and yet they laid it not to heart they were not rightly affected with all these desolations and their near approach to ruine And is not this our case God hath warned us by his Word this many years threatened us by prodigious signs in Heaven and Earth begun to execute them already by Plague Sword and Fire dreadful wastes in the great City and many other places to the undoing of many families made a breach upon the Trade of the Nation to the impoverishing of the whole Land and yet we are as insensible as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were as if the Lord had sent the spirit of slumber upon us impoverished yet fell it not This should be for a lamentation Fourthly The decay of this Heavenly Trade if not cured is the ready and certain way to ruine The destruction of the poor is poverty Prov. 10. 15. Mens poverty fills them with consternation and dejecting fears and does also expose them to many evils and take down their external defence from injuries being made a prey to their oppressours The rich man's wealth is his strong City Prov. 18. 11. Rich men protect themselves from injuries their riches are Advocates for them to men but poor men lye open to all invasions when men grow poor every man treads upon them So is it when the Heavenly Trade decaies and soul-poverty springs out of its ruine then destruction makes haste to such places and persons For this the Lord Jesus threatens to take the Kingdom from a people because they bring not forth the fruit of it Matth. 21. 43. they did not render to God the fruit of all his dressings and waitings on them Barrenness and decaies in Religion uncured are a certain forerunner of Desolation Luke 13. 7 9. Before the Lord brought in that cruel Nation the Vandals on Africa the Christians in Spain were much degenerated from their former purity as Salvian complains and the power of godliness was much decayed he tells us they had nothing left but the name of Christianity to which their conversation was most unlike a Quid est in quo nobis de Christiano nomine blandiamur Cum utique hoc ipso magis per nomen sacratiffimum rei simus qui a sancto nomine discrepamus Salvi de Gubern lib. 3. pag. 95. What is it saith he to please our selves with the name of Christian when the very name does greaten our guilt in that we are so unlike to it Before the Massacre at Paris saith Mr. Clark in his Martyrol such a general stupidity seized upon the Protestants that their minds were very wavering and few there were that shewed themselves zealously bent to Religion but all both great and small were intent upon worldly matters building to themselves goodly Castles in the air It was observed by some that before the change of Religion and Martyrdom in Queen Mary's daies there was great unprofitableness under the Means of Grace What the issues of these great decaies in Religion may be amongst us we know not but such symptomes have usually foregone great changes and severe stroaks on such persons and places And is not this matter of lamentation Physitians use to cure a Lethargy by a Fever the one hath been our disease O that the other if no means else will do may be our cure Fifthly At the best decaies in this Heavenly Trade will render the Traders account heavy in the day of Christ Into what straits did the sense of an abused trust put the Prodigal Steward Luke 16. 13 He had been unfaithful in his place wasted his Masters goods and now was in danger of being turned out a reckoning was call'd for and he unable to render it and in perplexing thoughts how to give in his accounts and to secure his future welfare And this will be the case of such as are negligent and unfaithful in their Heavenly Trade it will expose them to soul-trouble one day how to answer it before God First or last God will call for an account how his goods have been improved He hath given you a stock to trade upon for him Light Grace Parts Capacities Gospel-priviledges and Opportunities Liberty Peace Experiences with many mercies and afflictions which are all your Lord's goods and must be accounted for upon the passing of which depends your eternal state or much of your soul's peace The Lord Jesus hath a double audit or accounting with
God You are also maintained by God and that obliges you to him 'T was the argument the Apostle urged to the Masters of Reason in that age why they should seek the Lord because 't was from him they had their subsistence Acts 17. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being If God maintains you 't is rational he should have the use of you 'T was the reason Moses used to prove God's right to Israels all Deut. 32. 9 to 15. The Lord's portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance why He found him in the desert Land in the waste howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye As an Eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth them on her wings so the Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him And therefore no reason they should leave him for strangers He made him ride upon the high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the field and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock and oyl out of the flinty Rock Butter of Kine and milk of Sheep with fat of Lambs and Rams of the breed of Bashan and Goats with the fat of kidnies of wheat and thou didst drink the pure blood of the Grape Mercies are cords and bands by which the Lord obligeth men to himself I drew them with cords of a man and with bands of love Hos 11. 4. All thy life sinner hath been full of these constraints of mercy and love to take the Lord to be thy God The Gospel of Grace which you profess to own and receive binds you to seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof Matth. 6. 33. to do the work of God to labour for that bread which endures to eternal life to work the works of God Joh. 6. 27 28. to be no more your own but the Lord's 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. Cease to call or think your selves Christians tell the world you do not believe or hope to be saved by a crucified Christ or else come over to him and be disposed by his sacred Will This is your duty Arg. 4. Fourthly Weigh the unspeakable gain that will surely accrew to you if you set up this Trade of Godliness I have already shewn in the demonstration of this point the great profit that this Heavenly Trade will turn unto to all that deal thoroughly in it to which I advise you to cast back your eye and take three or four considerations more to convince your understandings that Religion is eligible on grounds of greatest interest For First Religion will maintain you in the hardest times So will not other Trades there may be seasons when earthly employments will turn to no accounts You have heard that riches profit not in the day of wrath and some of you have seen the time when they that work could yet scarcely eat but God's work is meat and drink when daily bread fails Joh. 4. 30. I have meat to eat that you know not of Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. God careth for the righteous and when the Lions lack and are hunger-bit they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing Psal 34. 10. They shall be sure to be provided for whoever wants God hath past his word for it All things are theirs by purchase who are Christ's by choice that is saith Piscator o Omnes res terrenae vestris usious vestrae saluti a Deo destinatae sunt All earthly things are designed of God for your use and the furtherance of your salvation Not as if the Saints had a right to other mens interests The Apostle doth not speak here saith Pareus of civil possessions but of that divine order by which all things ought to serve the good and advantage of the Church of God The Earth is the Lord's the fulness thereof all which is given into the hands of Christ for the good of his people And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church Ephes 1. 22. The whole Earth is but God's Kitchin for the maintenance of his house and if he will feed his servants and slaves much more his children He gives to all their meat in due season and satisfies the desires of every living thing Much more will he care for and give food convenient to his living in Jerusalem Indeed Believers are not of the world and therefore have not their portions in the world they are the Heirs of Heaven and have no promise of more on Earth than will comfortably carry them home and suffice for the discharge of those offices assigned to them here They are Servants not Heirs who carry the cloak-bags in their journey Persons of grandeur bear no more about them than for present use Surely were earthly treasures good for heaven-born souls he that gives better things would not deny these But God knows enough is as good as a feast and so much the Saints shall have in their passage home No man sends his servants a journey but he allows them enough to carry them thorough and so will God to his If he maintains idlers and enemies much more will he feed his faithful servants and labourers He hath promised to supply all their wants Phil. 4. 19. and is able to make it good If he thinks it not much to give them a Crown he will not deny them Crumbs If God should let his work-men want his work would cease his own interest as well as his promise obliges him to look after such his Love Truth Glory with all his Attributes are concerned to maintain his people in his work and therefore nothing more sure than daily bread and sufficiency in all things to such as serve and obey him Secondly Godliness will secure you in dangerous times Prov. 3. 23. Thou shalt then walk in thy way safely and thy foot shall not stumble when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid yea thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet v. 24. For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken The way of duty is the way of safety whatever men think the greatest security is in the boldest Adventures for God if regular where his Sun does guide you there his shadow will cover you who shall harm you if you are followers of that which is good 1 Pet. 3. 13. Men may threaten you but cannot injure you they may spoil your estates imprison your bodies but cannot do you any real harm while men keep with God God will abide with them his presence shall fence them his favour shall shield them his Angels shall encamp about them all his Attributes shall guard and secure them God's people that cleave to him in
and prepared b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fashioned as a Vessel the meaning is saith Dr. Preston that then a man is good when his heart is fitted to good works to every good work 2 Tim. 2. 21. Labour to get your natures changed and hearts quickened you must be born again or cannot see the Kingdom of God Be looking to Jesus to create in you a new heart a renewed mind will and affections to have a saving principle put into your hearts and a disposition of Soul towards the whole will of God Cry mightily for the Spirit and wait for his movings upon the face of Sanctuary-waters and for a mighty power of God in the Gospel upon your Souls Get under the healing-wings of Christ and rest not looking unto Jesus till virtue go out from him to heal your Souls If this be thy restless desire thou can'st not let Christ alone running after him crying Jesu thou Son of David have mercy upon me he will turn again and have compassion and give the holy Spirit to them that unfeignedly and incessantly ask him Mark 10. 47 48 49. Luke 11. 13. Direct 2. Secondly cease from your own works Isa 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy The first step in returning to God is departing from sin and self c Nihil nobis cum Deo esse potest nisi a nobis discedamus Calv. Neither can we saith Calvin hold converse with a holy God till we be estranged from our unholy self When the Apostle advises the Ephesians to put on the new man Eph. 4. 24. He first exhorts them to put off the old with his whole conversation vers 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt Grace builds not on an old foundation neither does it adorn but reform the former conversation of called Saints there is no cloathing upon in regeneration-work the old garments must off before the new will come on Religion is not a covering for but a stripping off a sinful life neither can you be free to set on God's work till you leave your old works Rom. 6. 20. For when you were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness You had nothing to do with holiness you had no freedom to do God's work while you were Sins servants He speaks of their actual liberty from grace not their legal freedom d Libertas hic de facto non de jure intelligatur saith Paraeus you are not at liberty to do the work of holiness while under the command of sin No man can serve two Masters Mat. 6. 24. that is two contrary Lords How can the same man e Quomodo poterit unus idemque homo pietati se quantum opus est impendere simul circa divitias quaerendas servandasque perpetua solicitudine distrahi Grot. saith Grotius follow godliness as his work and at the same time be distracted with cares about getting and keeping earthly things 'T is a vanity for persons to dream of a compliance between sin and holiness whose work is too inconsistent for one Soul at one time ruling iniquity and grace are two contrary states which cannot meet in one person and time Never think of setting up on the Heavenly Trade till you are freed from hellish servitude and invested with the liberty of the Sons of God a freedom from the love and service of every sin Godliness calls for the whole of a man's heart strength and time and requires a person void of any inconsistent obligations resolve to break from every way of death if ever you think to enter into the way of life Direct 3. Thirdly Make over your selves to the Lord in an Everlasting Covenant they that will be Masters of a Trade must first be bound to the service of it and resign up their persons wills capacities and time to the instruction and government of another in order to their fitness for such a calling And so must souls that will learn Wisdom's Merchandise they must bind themselves to the Trade and make over themselves and their all to God in Christ to be taught and enabled to set up this excellent work Jer. 50. 5. They shall ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward saying Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that cannot be forgotten Sin had made a separation between their God and them and brought a death upon their mercies and Templeenjoyments but now the Spirit of Prophecy breathing on these dry bones moves them to a vital union with the fountain of life the onely regular way to their new work and mercies they must first be joyned to the Lord before they can be rejoyned to one another and re-enjoy their lost priviledges and this union lies in a hearty acceptance of offered grace a taking hold of God in Christ and a Covenant-surrender of the whole soul and its All to him again O for arms to embrace him saith Mr. Rutherford This is called a giving up of ones self to the Lord 2 Corinth 8. 5. But this they did not as we hoped but first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God They exceeded our hope We onely expected some part of what was theirs but they gave themselves first to God and to us to be directed and governed by the will of God to be placed in the fellowship of his Gospel as well as their interests to the service of his people 'T is also a giving away of ones self to the Lord wholly unreservedly and perpetually to be no more his own 1 Cor. 6. 19. And ye are not your own This surrender of your selves to God souls must be in judgment understandingly and ariseth freely on choice universally without the least reservation absolutely without any limitation or conditions of our own eternally without any expiration and term of this grant and to be attested by all overt acts within your power Isa 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lord's another shall call himself by the name of Jacob another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and surname himself by the name of Jacob. Whatever may most fully ensure and express an absolute devotedness unto God must be done by those that ever expect to thrive in grace and godliness Verse 3 4. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy off-spring and they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water-courses When once this implantation into Christ is dispatched then will the Lord give prosperity to that soul then are you in a sure way to success in all your holy undertakings and like to speed well in this Heavenly Trade when you become entirely the Lord 's in order to it O be not
professing Christians which draw down their lofty meditations when they are in chase of things above as the Fowler allures down the towring Lark when hovering aloft in the gentle air The Devil deals with earthly men as Naturalists say men do with Bees when they swarm and are flying away they throw up dust and they scatter again So doth Satan when their thoughts are up upon heavenly things he casts in the dusty thoughts of this world and they scatter them again Demas hath forsaken us having loved this present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. Earthly things draw away the heart from God his work and interest How often do those interrupt if not countermand the most serious thoughts of gracious souls and where they cannot as a Master command they will as neighbours be often coming in and hinder the soul in its most weighty business if the door be not lockt against their unseasonable visits Worldly lusts must be denied as well as ungodliness by those that intend to live righteously soberly and godly in this present world Tit. cap. 2. v. 11 12. Earthly things are good servants but bad Masters useful in their place as fire in the hearth is profitable but in the thatch dangerous and as unruly Servants and untamed Colts are serviceable when reduced to their place and kept under government Worldly thoughts are as some roots that must be often trod down or they will spill up and seed in our hearts Christians have a special strong guard against the encroachments of your earthly affairs if ever you will secure the thrivings of a heavenly spirit Take heed also of grieving the Spirit of Grace which maintains and relieves this heavenly spirit As the spring is to the streams so is the holy Spirit to this heavenly spirit in Believers that feeds and supplies it from his own nature Now to grieve this Spirit is to provoke him to withhold his gracious communications to the soul Ephes 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption Which implies that this Spirit of Grace being grieved suspends its comforting sealing influences towards the souls of Believers This Scripture is taken from Isa 63. 10. But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them They grieved his Spirit as the word signifies and this broke that amicable accord between the Spirit and them that he became their enemy and cut off all succours from them yea comes forth against them And that which grieved the Spirit of God was the the abuse of its kindness V. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his pity he redeemed them and he bare them and carried them all the daies of old Nothing does more grieve the Spirit of God than the abuse of his kindness and tender mercy to his people when the Lord hath been opening the bowels of his pity to souls in saving and redeeming-mercy and hath been shedding abroad his love upon them bearing with and carrying of them for a long time and all this is slighted and contemned and the soul takes no notice of all this grace but still perseveres in its evil course this grieves the Spirit and causeth him to withhold his tender mercy and quickening influence from the soul and it becomes weak as water and withers in all the leaves of her spring Ezek. 17. 9. Psa 104. 29. As the member languishes when it can no longer receive influences from the head and the branch withers when the root communicates no sap to it so is it with the soul when the spirit ceases from all its gracious communications as it does when grieved by those he loves and labours with not as if the Divine Spirit could be capable of passions and perturbations as creatures are But then may the holy Spirit be said to be grieved when gracious souls do that which is enough to grieve one that tenderly affects us and by all means seeks our eternal good Now two things usually grieve such a one First Injuries from a friend Secondly The sufferings of a friend Unkindness from those we love does usually sit nearer our hearts than any injuries from strangers or enemies we usually expect more regard from such and therefore are more troubled at disappointments And such is the tenderness of the Spirit to Believers that want of love or injurie from such is more abusive and carries in it all that which in its nature is grieving Again we usually grieve at the evils of those we love and such are the sins of Believers they are injurious to themselves and enemies to their own souls This the Spirit of God sees that gracious souls by their carnal affections and sensual passions by their corrupt communications and fleshly lusts do not onely resist him and frustrate his work in them but these also injure and endanger their own souls by these they lose many a mercy and draw upon them many afflictions and fatherly displeasure from God against them and this grieves the Spirit to see and this removes his presence and hinders his comforting quickening operations by reason of which their spirits fail and become cold and weak to every heavenly action Your work Christians is to be tender of the Spirit to take heed you be not unkind to his person that you do not undervalue his gracious communications or resist his internal operations Take heed of unthankfulness for his kindnesses of slighting his counsels of unsuitable walking to his rules and mercies if you would not grieve him and so deprive your selves of his quickening influences on your spirits That 's the first Beware of those things that weaken this heavenly Spirit Secondly If you would maintain a Heavenly Spirit get all the nourishment you can for it As the body is nourished by food and the animal spirits by contributions of joy and contentment so is this Heavenly Spirit by all the means and helps God hath appointed to this end 1 Tim. 4. 6. nourished up in the word of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith and of good doctrine whereunto thou hast attained The Word and Ordinances are to the inner-man as nourishing food to the outward which strengthens the spiritual part and maintains its vigour and activity Timothy had imbibed the Doctrine of the Gospel together with his milk saith Calvin and had made continual progresses in the same to that day which did so greatly strengthen and nourish him in his faith and graces The Word of God is suited sent and commissioned to the service and advantage of your graces 't is the way by which the Lord Jesus maintains and encreases spiritual life and growth in the new-born soul 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Attend upon all the Ordinances of God where they are purely
who can know it none but he who searcheth the deep things of God can reach this bottom and bring to light the hidden things thereof The work of grace is a secret full of mysteries that none can open and fully know but the eternal Spirit that formed it in the womb of a Believer's heart Seeming grace hath so near a resemblance to saving grace that it puzzles the most curious and searching eye if not enlighten'd with a beam from Heaven to discern the difference besides the slender measures of the Spirit that most have attained to in this life with the subtil insinuations the false representations and treacherous prevarications of that bloody and irreconcilable enemy of mankind all which conspire to put a cheat upon the professing Christian and render his Salvation exceeding doubtful And suppose thy state should be safe yet how perplexing and full of anxiety is it to have the least suspition of thy unsoundness To have the life of thy precious soul hang in suspence and to be unresolv'd in that great case whether thou must live or die to all eternity O! how tormenting and heart-sinking is this An awakened Soul that cannot rest in sin nor yet hope in grace or upon any Scripture-warrant come to a determination about his real interest in God and things eternal is like a troubled Sea that cannot rest Instruments of Musick cannot allay its disquietude no Creature-comforts can charm its heart to a peaceful composure who does in reallity but suspect his eternal welfare and but think he reads this hand-writing on the wall Mene mene tekel upharsin Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting Dan. 5. 25. 27. Nothing in all the World can be a Plaister broad enough for such a wound no Cordial can cheer that heart till Grace decides the controversy and assures the Soul of an unquestionable title to the Heir of all things and to the inheritance with the Saints in light And have you not reason then to be restless till your propriety in these glorious treasures be attested which though difficult yet is possible and feasible to all that follow Wisdom's counsel in order to it The eternal truth hath opened a way to the decision of this question whether I have eternal life or no and laid down certain marks of a Soul entitled to things above 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life Vers 12. 19. Chap. 3. 14. The Lord hath charged this to be the duty of all that profess their hopes of glory to make their Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. To examine themselves whether they be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. To prove their own work that they may have rejoycing in themselves Gal. 6. 4. which he would never have done were it impossible He hath also promised the Spirit to help them in this work and to lead them into all truth bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Lords Joh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 16. And upon this very account exhorts them to holiness that they might not impede this sealing work of the Spirit Eph. 4. 30. And upon the arrival to this certainty hath ensured great consolation and advantage 2 Pet. 1. 8. 10 11. All which words signify nothing and reflect unrighteousness on the spirit of truth were not an evidence of right to these heavenly things obtainable Quest But how may I come to the knowledg of this desirable truth that Heavenly Treasures are surely mine and that I may make a warrantable claim to God to Christ and these things of the other World Sol. 1. First By your conjugal union with the Heir of Heaven All things in Heaven and Earth are Christ's he is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom he hath appointed Heir of all things All things in Heaven and Earth are his by donation purchase and inheritance juridically conferred over to him in the new covenant and actually put into his hand upon the finishing of his meritorious work and victory over death Matt. 28. 18. All power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is given to me in Heaven and Earth Lawful power right priviledg and authority as the word imports and with this is the Lord Jesus invested and hath all things put into his hands and all creatures under his feet Heb. 2. 7 8. And all right to true riches is derived from him through union with him 1 Cor. 3. 21. 23. All things are yours and you are Christ's and Christ is God's If you are Christ's then all things are yours not else your title is founded on your marriage-relation to him Gal. 3. 29. And if you are Christ's then are you Abraham ' s seed and Heirs according to the promise A title to these glorious treasures is made over in the new covenant which covenant is confirm'd in Christ and made in him and through him to all that are his He is the way there 's no coming to these treasures but by him he is the door no entring into them but through him He is the treasury it self in whom all the riches of grace all the fulness of pleasures and satisfaction lies you must have the treasury before you can have the treasures the well it self before the waters are yours He that hath the Son hath life hath him by way of possession as an owner and proprietor If you have Christ you have all that is his his person and purchase go together Rebekah must consent to go and marry Isaac before she could be invested with that substance and wealth which was his This new covenant which interests a soul in the Lord Jesus and his unsearchable riches is a marriage-covenant Hos 2. 19 20. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies I will even betroth thee to me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. Ezek. 16. 8. I entred into covenant with thee saith the Lord and thou becamest mine this was a marriage-covenant Jer. 3. 14. Turn O back sliding children saith the Lord for I am married to you If you would see your title to heavenly treasures try your conjugal union to the Lord Jesus the Heir of Heaven Every relation to Christ is not a conjugal relation There is a general relation as dead branches to the tree Joh. 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away A person may be in Christ as the luxuriant branch or sucker is in the tree that sucks the sap of priviledges and gets some nourishment of frames and comforts but brings not forth fruit it sprouts out of the stock as proud-flesh grows on the wound but hath no right union with the root or nourishment from the head Such are obtruders and hang-bies which take
signification his judgment may see the evidence of the argument and force of reason in them and yet the Commentary on Christ's last Prayer reality and spiritualness of that Divine good never apprehended The world by wisdom knew not God 1 Cor. 1. 21. There 's no proportion between a spiritual object and a caanal eye The carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit of God neither can they know them for they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Labour to see the beauty and amiableness of Truth to see your propriety in Truth to taste an inward sweetness and ravishing pleasure in Truth to feel the sense of special love to your souls in discovery of light and to find a mightiness going out in every Truth on your souls changing you into the very Spirit and Image of Truth To grow in knowledge extensively into all Truth and intensively in deeper and more sensible spiritual powerful apprehensions of truth the want of which right knowledge makes so many cold dead hypocrites and barren professours in this day of light and parts Get also your Consciences stor'd with the Peace of God which passeth understanding This is the salt that seasons every thing condition and duty Mark 9. 50. This will shoe your feet to travel through the rough and tiresome waies of affliction temptation and persecution you must meet with in the pursuit of your Heavenly Trade Ephes 6. 15. This will calm your hearts in storms and maintain a Summer within when 't is Winter without and nothing but tempests and troubles in the world John 16. 33. This will preserve you when all is going and keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Phil. 4. 7. This will guard your hearts from those slavish fears darksom doubts and dreadful troubles that many are filled with this day and make you triumph over sin trample upon the world and smile in the midst of all the frowns of men and Devils O get and keep this rare Jewel of inward Peace which will help you to draw near to God with boldness and chearful serenity in every duty Heb. 10. 22. Get your consciences bath'd in the blood of Christ and the evidences of your sincerity cleared up every day this will help to maintain a feast of inward peace under the temptations of Satan and the view of your daily failings and stumblings Get your hearts warm'd and affections quicken'd with the sense of divine love to your Souls this is a choice part of heavenly treasures and will abundantly conduce to the lively carrying on of this divine Trade affections raised by the application of redemption-grace will be to your Souls as spread sails to the Ship to carry you strongly along against wind and storm and fill you with pleasant gales within and give you a speedy and comfortable passage through the waves of this World 2 Cor. 5. 12. 'T is the Soul's wing that mounts it up towards God and carries it aloft above the entanglements of sin the world and flesh in the warm pursuit of God's commandments 2 Cor. 5. 14. His commands will not be thought grievous or his yoke heavy where this love of God hath left a savour on the heart Psal 119. 32. Rom. 13. 10. It will exceedingly sweeten the bitter waters of Marah to you and make the paths of God's Providences as well as his Precepts pleasantness and peace Take in also the consolations of the Spirit and the joys of the Holy Ghost these will be useful to chear your hearts under tribulation and strengthen and cordial you under heart-faintings and qualms you may meet with from those ill vapours of this lower World and want of creature-comforts 2 Cor. 7. 4. Rom. 15. 4. This spiriturl comfort will also help to drown your carnal joys and to prevent a surfeit with the pleasures of this World another danger that Wisdom's Merchants are sometimes liable to Acts 2. 28. Make me full of joy with the light of thy countenance Spiritual joy where it is fills the heart and leaves no room for carnal delights as the heat of the Sun puts out the fire so will spiritual consolation extinguish carnal joy 'T was the comfort which Moses by Faith fetch'd in from the views of an invisible God that made him choose reproaches with the people of God before the pleasures of sin that were but for a season Heb. 11. 21. 25. This spiritual comfort is a notable way to stability in every good work 2 Thes 2. 16 17. to help on your Souls edification and growth in grace and holiness Acts 9. 31. O! what work have Christians to do besides the World and minding their own things were Religion followed to the purpose persons would have no leisure for sin and vanity O! what need have gracious Souls of a diligent hand to make them rich and to be taking in spiritual goods every day Quest But how should I do to get my Soul furnish'd with these heavenly goods If my heart deceive me not I would fain be enriched with every grace capacity and accomplishment for the discharge of my duty the pleasing honouring and enjoying of God and for the welfare of my immortal Soul But how to attain this longed for mercy I know not Sol. 1. If you would be enriched with heavenly treasures and get in those goods Then 1. First maintain a constant sense of your own wants and emptiness That which is wanting cannot be numbred Eccles 1. 15. Look over your souls every day and see your poverty look into your understandings and see how little light is there into your minds and consider how little spirituality lies there how little warmth and heavenly heat in your affections little truth and sincerity in your spirits little tenderness in your consciences little flexibleness in your wills to divine things little faith love humility meekness fear zeal life strength faithfulness stedfastness in your souls were this really seen and felt and the excellency of these spiritual perfections discern'd and the soul 's great concern and interest that lies wrapt up in them with the absolute necessity of having every grace in order to duty peace comfort prosperity and salvation persons that had any life at all could not lie still or be content till utmost means were us'd to obtain supplies 't was a false conceit of a self-fulness that kept back Laodicea from seeking after Christ's treasures Rev. 3. 17 18. And that blind opinion the Pharisees had of their good estate that so prejudic'd them against the convictions and counsels of Christ towards their cure Joh. 8. 33. 39. 41. 48. Had not the Corinthian Saints been so full and rich in their apprehensions they would not have had such sleighty thoughts of instituted means towards their Souls good 1 Cor. 1. 12. And have been contentious with one another when they should have been contending for higher measures of grace and godliness vers 11. 'T is the poor are the labourers in God's Vineyard Zech. 11. 11.
And they that feel their daily need of soul-relief that will be at any pains to enjoy it Isa 41. 17. Secondly Get a believing sight of Christ's grace and fulness that he is able to enrich you and willing to help you Heb. 11. 6. This brought Naaman to the Prophet Elisha for cure of his leprosy he believed his servants report that he was able and cherished hopes that he was willing to heal him 2 Kin. 5. 3. And she said to her Mistress would God my Master were with the Prophet that is in Samaria for he would recover him of his leprosy One told this to her Lord and hereupon he goes and adventures ver 5. And he departed A perswasion of Christ's ability brought the Leper to him for cleansing Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou can'st make me clean He was perswaded that Christ was able and had hopes that he was willing or would never have come to him A thorough belief of Christ's ability to help will make a soul to cherish hopes of his willingness also So the blind men Mat. 9. they believed Christ's ability to help them ver 28. And they had hopes of his mercy too that he would do it ver 27. Thou Son of David have mercy upon us and this hope made them not only to come to Christ but to follow after him whatever persons pretend to a believing in Christ's ability to save and sanctify them they have not this faith who question his willingness to satisfy the longing soul and save all that come to God by him you confess he is able to furnish you with all you can want or desire believe his willingness also to supply all your wants who sincerely wait upon him Quest But how may I know that Christ will furnish me if I come for these heavenly treasures there are many come and go without their errand Some ask and have not Jam. 4. 3. run and receive not strive to enter in and are not able 1 Cor. 9. 24. Luke 13. 24. There are some the Lord threatens he will not hear Prov. 1. 28. Isa 1. 15. Zech. 7. 13. And I have sought these spiritual blessings many a time and God hath not answered How may I be sure Christ is willing to give these treasures unto me Sol. The Lord Jesus hath made an offer of grace to all sensible Sinners who feel their need and thirst for supply Isa 55. 1. Joh. 7. 37. and called upon them to come and receive it without exception Matth. 11. 28. Now it cannot stand with his divine goodness and truth to offer mercy and not intend to give it he cannot deceive or be deceived who is the faithful one nor invite his creatures to an expectation and then fail them Now he hath called all to come and required no other condition but their coming and receiving him and the things he hath offered He hath also promised as well as offered to give to him that thirsteth Rev. 20. 6. I will give to him that is a-thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely I will give not sell or let out on any terms of self-worthiness for if there be any thing to make the creature worthy 't is not a gift but debt Rom. 4. 4. To him that is a-thirst nothing else is required but a pinching sense of souls need and an unsatisfied desire of supply I will give freely out of no respect to any thing in the creature but his necessity and misery the moving cause is his own grace and free mercy to Sinners as Sinners I will give liberally too let him drink freely take as much as he needs or is capable to receive I will give sutably such things as you desire and need and such things as are capable of satisfying you of the fountain of the waters of life Matth. 7. 7. Psal 36. 7 8. Joh. 6. 37. Isa 41. 17. You will find nothing in these Scriptures required in the person but sense of his need seeking satisfaction coming believing and a real subjection to all God's terms and a pure designing of his ends I disclaim all the Port I would be in at is redemption and forgiveness through his blood Ruth Now if he hath promised to give to them that seek he must be willing to give For the holy one of Israel cannot lye Numb 23. 19. He hath received all his Mediatory fulness of purpose for the giving out to those that come unto him Joh. 1. 12. Psal 68. 18. Thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell amongst them He is the Angel Messenger and Mediator of the new Covenant the Trustee and Feoffee entrusted with that great estate for the use of his people that need it and come unto him for it Mal. 3. 1. Heb. 9. 15. And therefore is said to appear in Heaven in the presence of God for them as an Advocate to follow their cause The Lord Jesus is wonderfully pleased too in giving to his needy seeking ones Mic. 7. 18. He delighteth in mercy Psal 35. 27. He hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants the more he gives the more he sees of the travel of his soul and is satisfied Isa 53. 11. The more he gives the more he receives The gifts and graces of God are as the rivers that flow from the Sea and return to the Sea again 1 Chron. 29. 14. Of thine own have we given thee The more Christ gives to his people the more he receives his talents come in again with improvements Mat. 25. 27. The more he gives the more he is glorified Joh. 14. 13. Answer these questions before you doubt Christ's willingness to part with spiritual goods freely to all that truly seek them Do you think really that Christ can dissemble offer mercy and have no mind to give it Do you think that the Lord Jesus can break his word or become false to his promise Can you imagine he will be unfaithful to his trust Can he delight in giving and yet not willing Doth he gain by giving and yet not willing to give Is he glorified by giving and yet be loth to give then would he not care for his own name Suspect your willingness to receive not Christ's to give you all that grace you need and seek of him Fourthly Another thing wherein this heavenly Trade lies is to carry on heavenly work and to be daily driving on the great business of godliness Religion hath its work as well as the world every Trade hath its employment and so has godliness Christianity is not a notion or opinion a name to live and no more 'T is a miserable vanity and cheat for a person to think a bare Lamp will light him to Heaven and a few lazy wishes bring him to glory though he travel not the way to it Alas to espouse the principles of Piety without the practice of it to get over to priviledges and be strangers to Purity to profess Faith
in the subject that 's contrary to it But spiritual mortification is not purely privative but while we live there 's something left that is of a contrary nature to holiness which must be daily opposed and destroyed Sin in Believers is driven from the royal fort of the heart upon Christ's entrance into it but possesses the suburbs and out-works of the soul from whence it must be gradually expell'd also by the mortifying influence of the spirit like the Canaanites which were remov'd from the Mountains but could not be wholly driven out of the Valleys that Israel might by them be prov'd and taught to war Judg. 1. 19. ch 3. 1 2. So the Lord Jesus Christ doth not presently destroy corruptions from the people that by them their sincerity may be proved their graces exercised and the mighty power of his spirit manifested This makes a Christian's work busy and constant having to do with potent enemies within and without Eph. 6. 4. which must be fought every day and a continual war maintained with them during life without fighting no conquering without striving no crowning 2 Tim. 2. 5. 'T is with a child of God as with Israel when fighting with Amalek if the hands of Faith and Prayer be not held up no conquest when these are down spiritual Amalek prevails O the losses that Christians sustain for want of mortification by reason of which their foil'd corruptions rally up and take their graces captive Let men neglect the constant practice of mortification b Si neglexerint perpetuam praxim mortificationis vitia conculcata subacta resumunt vires corruptio abstensa repullulat suffocata gratia spiritus sancti redit homo ad ingenium suum Dav. saith Davenant and their vices that were trod down and subdued will soon resume their strength their corruption that was lopt off will bud out again and the graces of the Spirit in them being almost strangled man returns to his former temper Hence come those dreadful fears of good souls that the grace of God was never in truth in them but that they are still in a carnal state and shall perish at last and all this for want of carrying on the work of mortification in them As a lively Faith overcomes sin so prevailing lust weakens Faith 1 Joh. 5. 4. Eph. 4. 2. 30. withstands the sealing-work of the Spirit and overthrows the work of the Soul's hopes filling it with fears about the unsoundness of his estate and the miserable issue of all his profession experience and labour By this ladder of unmortified sin the Devil scales the royal fort of Faith throws down its Towers and mans it against the Soul's peace comfort and holiness O the mischief that Christians do to themselves by indulging sin and for want of a vigorous pursuit of this great duty of mortification which makes them like to Israel who being once upon the borders of Canaan were by their unbelief and unsubdued lusts brought back near the confines of Egypt again and after a wearying unconstant life were consum'd in the wilderness at last So 't is with gracious Souls by their unmortified lusts after some accesses to grace tastes of divine love hopes of glory and fairness for Heaven they are brought back to the borders of Hell again and made to spend their life in an uncomfortable and souldistressing wilderness Christians 't is not security enough for your peace and spiritual welfare that sin hath lost its dominion unless its strength and life be impaired also dethroned sin may bid you many a battel and give you sore foils and though it may not recover the Scepter yet it may keep the Sword and when it cannot mount the Throne may get into some strong hold and put the soul to much trouble e're it be beaten out again Neither is it safe to acquiesce in some temporary truce with thy corruptions bloody overthrows have been oft-times the events of a cessation of war for a season Joab blew the Trumpet and all the people stood still and pursued after Israel no more neither fought they any more i. e. for that time 2 Sam. 2. 28. And yet 't is said ch 3. 1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David but the house of David waxed stronger and stronger and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker Sin may seem to yield and trouble thy soul no more for a time but carry it quietly with thee as Joab did to Abner and on a sudden smite thee to the ground though not to death 2 Sam. 3. 27. Nor is it enough that sin be in chains and under restraint through the present strength of overcoming grace unless it be hang'd up in chains as a dead malefactor Secured lust may break prison and escape from under thy hand as Benhadab did from Ahab to thy greater hurt 1 King 20. 42. What mischief have chained Bears and Lions done when broken loose Believer thy condition is not safe till thy sin be dead what Saul said to Jonathan 1 Sam. 20. 31. may be applied to thy case As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy Kingdom wherefore now send and fetch him to me for he shall surely dye So can thy Soul obtain no stability in grace but be always full of ups and downs and have wars and changes against thee till thy corruptions be subdued Quest But how shall I do to get sin mortified I am convinced 't is my duty but find it not my capacity After all my strivings prayers and hopes I am still foiled and fear I shall one day perish by the hand of these Sauls O when shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel When shall the deliverer come to my soul What shall I do to get these mountains a plain before Zerubbabel and these Thieves crucified with my Lord Christ Sol. If ever thou meanest to get the death of thy sins take these directions Direct 1. First Do nothing that might tend to strengthen sin Rom. 13. 14. Make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no provision for the flesh to fulfil the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lusts thereof the word signifies a provident care of the flesh as men do to maintain themselves and families Don't take up your thoughts about it how to feed and please your lusts Never think to kill your corruptions while you secretly feed and maintain them Many complain of their corruptions and yet all the while feed and strengthen them There are several things that do contribute maintenance to mens lusts First Delightful Remembrance of former sins do wonderfully please a carnal heart and stir up desires to future sins As the remembrance of former mercies is food to present faith Psal 74. 14. Thou brakest the head of the Leviathan in pieces and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness Israel's deliverance out of Egypt and the breaking of Pharaoh's power seriously thought on was
are about the world set a guard about your hearts The Believers heart is Christ's royal Fort secure that and all is safe If riches increase set not your hearts upon them Psal 62. 10. 't is the Nature of earthly things like a Malignant Disease to get to the heart O how hard is it to meddle with these and the heart not become earthy too when a gracious Soul hath been with God and got his heart warm'd quicken'd and drawn out to things above no sooner doth he return to the world but all is gone again such dangerous damps doth this earth send unto heavenly hearts secure thy heart with God every day make a new surrender of it to him before thou get into the snares of thy earthly business Set a vigilant watch upon thy heart every moment lest the things of the world steal in and take it captive Rule 6. Sixthly Attend your earthly affairs with a calm and quiet spirit whatever occurrence you meet with in the world let your spirits be composed and fixed on God wonder not at changes in an unsteddy world which is onely constant in unconstancy r Omnia versantur in perpetuo ascensa descensâ—â— Here have we no continuing City Heb. 13. 14. All things here are moving ascending or descending Things below are compared to the Moon Rev. 12. 1. which is never at a stay but hath its constant changes and like the Sea that ebbs and flows every day and as the fountain of the Sun which Pliny s Plin. Lib. 2. C. 103. writes of that the waters are extream cold and sweet at noon but boiling hot and bitter at midnight So mutable are the comforts of this world then going when they seem most likely to stay Man's condition in this world at the best is like the mountain Potosi over which there alwaies hangs a cloud even in the clearest day And as 't is written of a Meer or t Desc of Scotland Salt Marsh in Scotland called Pochlowland where there are tempestuous waves raging without wind yea in the greatest calm Christians be not troubled at the tides you see in these waters of Marah Riches make themselves wings and fly away Prov. 23. 5. Let none of these lower things trouble you when gone which cannot content you when present but one moment of time can make them cease to be yours There is but one daies difference u Vna dies interest inter magnam civitatem nullam Et quos faelices Cinthia vidit vidit miseros abitura dies saith Seneca upon the burning of a City between a great City and no City So there may be but one day nay but one hour between a Father and no Father a Husband and no Husband a man of pleasure and a man of sorrows a rich man and a poor man Set not that at your hearts which should be at your heels Men do not use to sigh look pale and cry when servants leave them Earthly things are no more they are given you as handmaids to wait on you not as a Spouse to lye in your bosoms as servants that come and go not as children that abide in the house for ever When thou hast lost an earthly comfort say A servant is gone from me to day Keep up a contentation of mind with the portion God gives you here Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with those things that you have Let them suffice you as 't is in the Greek count them enough If an Esau can be satisfied with his crumbs how much more should a Jacob with the childrens bread What this and Heaven too saith one A little of the world and much of Heaven will well agree I have enough and enough and enough said precious Mr. Ball who yet was very low in the world When the Earl of Leicester offered Mr. Cartwright the Provostship of Eaton Colledge saying 't was an hundred pound more than enough he answered the hundred pound more than enough was enough for him Psal 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath is better than the revenues of the wicked There are two diminutives in the Original a little little of the righteous man's let it be never so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little with righteousness it weight down all the abundance of the worldly man's interest be it more or less it is enough O thrice fools are we like new born Princes weeping in the cradle knowing not that there is a Kingdom before them Rutherford I have often thought on that providence concerning Israel in the wilderness Exod. 16. 8. He that gathered much had nothing over and he that gathered little had no lack Christian why so troubled about thy proportion of these things of the footstool as if your Father knew not what you wanted or cared not for you or could not maintain you You shall have enough to carry you to your graves and you can absolutely need no more And seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh but thy life will I give thee as a prey in all places whither thou goest Jer. 45. 4 5. You know not what God is doing in the world Have you but little now you may shortly have less Be content with what you have A little in Bethel if it be but a pillow of stones with bread and water is better than the rich Plains of Sodom A piece of blest bread in Immanuel's Land is sweeter and will go farther than all the Garlick and Flesh-pots of Egypt than a great deal of unsanctified comforts A small portion of the world with soul-advantage is better than a great estate with spiritual losses and temptations God can multiply a few loaves make the barrel of meal and cruse of oyl to hold out and your cloaths not to wax old rather than you shall want enough to carry you through your wilderness if you will be believing and obedient Be contented with the talent God gives you to trade upon Have others more than you envy them not a When a man grows rich saith Mr. Dod he does but go out of a little boat into a greater barge but he is still on the Sea they have the more to reckon for and it may be they need more or they can bear more than you That saith one would sink a small vessel which is but an ordinary burden to a great ship Some can better manage a large estate with less trouble and temptation than others Possibly that would puff up thy heart with pride and catch thy feet in snares that never stirs anothers affections to whom God hath given a braver spirit or greater mortifiedness to this world Subscribe to God's wisdom and pleasure believe his promises wonder at his mercy be thankfull for what you have above many see your All in God and hope to be shortly with him and you cannot but be content with your allowance in the
are nine things especially which Christians should be careful to manage to some soul-advantage to be getting good from them to the furtherance of their instruction meditation mortification to sin the world and self to the strengthening of their graces raising their affections quickning to duty preparation for death and every trial in the way to it and for furthering their meetness for glory First Priviledges are one thing which Believers should be getting good from to these great and noble ends of spiritual good Every heavenly Trader hath some priviledges which may afford soul-profit There are Natural Priviledges There are Providential Priviledges There are Spiritual Priviledges All which may contribute some profit to the improvers of them Parts Youth Health Strength are part of Nature's treasure and to be husbanded to the use and service of the soul These are some of those talents the great Housholder gives to his Family though in different measures for improvement and singular mercies they are if well used to the Donor's ends and directions A humble use of Parts to the good of others and setting of wit memory reason with the choicest intellectuals and richest endowments of the rational mind on the service of the soul 3 Epist Joh. 2. making them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the sanctuary of the Lord A shaving and paring off of the excrements and froth of wit that they may become Israelites and devoted to the God of Israel and spiritual uses Deut. 21. 12. keeping them under the government of the spirit is a good improvement of them in this heavenly Trade You that have Parts and habilliments of Mind do not prostitute them to the pleasure of the flesh and the service of sin but resign them to the use of the spirit towards your enrichings with true wisdom and encreases in the knowledg of God which brings salvation When sprightly Parts and sparkling Wit are inlaid with grace then are they as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver Prov. 25. 11. O how amiable are these endowments of nature when seasoned with grade when perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincense and besprinkled with the Powders of the Merchant Cant. 3. 6. Youthful time is another priviledg for soul-advantage 't is the morning of the soul's day the best and most useful part of time when appropriated to God and divine uses what advantage have such for warmth of affection and dispatches of duty whereas decrepit age like an emerited Souldier hath worn out its serviceable capacities and as the setting-Sun is attended with evening cold and shadows and the close of working useful time O how unserviceable is old age for transacting the work of the new-birth when Conscience is sunk down into the deeps of guilt when the affections are clogg'd with the dirty things of this world and preengaged to other Lovers and when the marrow of natures strength has been eaten out by the wasting service of sin So great and amazing a work is the salvation of a sinner that it deserves a subject of the choicest capacities to be compleated in and transacted by And then is youth profitably spent when devoted to God and taken up in the great matters of salvation You that are yet in your youth and morning-time let God have the spring of your time the first-born of your strength and first ripe fruits of your capacities let not youthful pleasures have the flower of your time and abilities leaving the bran for God and your souls You that have strength of body and a healthful temper put it to the best use for your heavenly interest Are you strong to labour work out your salvation labour for the bread that endureth you that have legs use them while you have them to carry you up and down after God If you must eat bread in the sweat of your brows let it be the bread of your Father's house If you must rise up early sit up late break your rest exhaust your strength let it not be all for the world let Christ have some of your strength before all be gone yea if you have any let Christ have all As there are natural priviledges so are there providential priviledges also which are the capacities that providence dispenseth to some of doing and receiving good beyond others as liberty peace plenty with other outward mercies all which are to be husbanded to the best advantage of your souls Have you Peace with men improve it towards the obtaining and securing your Peace with God Your firmest leagues with men will hold but a little while if your covenant with God be broken what can favour with men profit you if you have frowns from God If men sheath up their swords and God's be drawn thy case is dangerous and full of trouble Make this use also of thy present Peace to prepare for future trouble and to be the better arm'd when trials come spend not all thy store upon thy present Peace and Comfort but save some fragments for times of need God gives thee a breathing-time that thou mayest hold out the better in thy race and spares thee a little rest that thou mayest be the fitter for approaching trouble Have you Liberty take heed of yokes of bondage Gal. 5. 1. and soul-straitnings If God set you at large do not imprison your selves to the world and carnal lusts Is thy body out of prison labour to get out thy soul also Psal 142. 7. Are thy feet enlarged get thy heart enlarged also and run the waies of his commandments Psal 119. 132. Make the most of your Lilberty in doing service to God in attending on his appointments and in taking all opportunities of doing salvation-work and enjoying salvationhelps Be like your Lord going up and down doing good while you have opportunity Joh. 12. v. 35. If you have spare time or can redeem it by double diligence from your earthly business lay it out for God and his people in religious duties Christian visits holy conferences The time may come you may wish for such a priviledge and long to see one of these daies of the Son of man Have you yet a liberal portion of the good things of this life is your garner full your table spread your cup overflowing lay in the sense of these mercies now as winter-provision to warm your hearts then when you may not have them to warm and refresh your bodies and lay them out to refresh those that want them that they may bless God for you glorifie God in you and procure mercy for you in the day of need Make not thy self a slave to thy abundance but make thy plenteous comforts serviceable unto thee There are Spiritual Priviledges too the lot of some and calls for great improvements There are Personal Priviledges the State and Spirit of Adoption justification of persons purchased right to pardon and peace with God freedom from condemnation assurance of preservation in grace unto glory with many gifts of grace and spiritual favours which
much of the world take heed of puffings up the more you have the more you owe the more you have of Earth the less you may have of Heaven The poor in the world may be rich in faith and the rich in the world may be oft-times poor in faith If God give you much here be fearful lest he give you your All here When one offered Luther much gold he protested God should not put him off with these things 'T is said of Gregory the Great he could never read these words Son remember thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things without horrour and astonishment lest having such dignities he should be excluded his portion in Heaven Have you little in the world you have the less to reckon for you have the lesser temptations the fewer bryars and thorns to go through Are you mean in reputation you are so much the safer and the more beneath envy 'T is more to you said Mr. Rutherford to the Lord-Keeper to win Heaven being ships of great burden and in the main Sea than for little vessels that are not so much in the mercy and reverence of the storm Are you low in the world the more reason you have to lie low in your own spirits a Prince's heart and a beggar's purse do not well agree Are you in want make more use of Christ's fulness 'T is blessed misery that brings souls to Christ for mercy Had it not been for affliction Christ would have had but little company whiles in the world The whole need not the Physician the sick the blind the deaf dumb and possessed of Devils might bless God for their maladies which were the occasions of bringing them to the Physician of their souls as well as bodies 'T was well for the poor Canaanite that her daughter was ill for by that means she was put upon seeking crumbs and while she asked for them got the childrens bread to boot Matth. 15. 27 28. Fifthly Get good from your Callings and Employments in the world by preserving a sense of the snares and dangers that lie in the management of them If men would take a strict survey of their Calling-carriages and be true to their observations they must needs confess there are many evils they are guilty of in the management of them every day either idleness or excess of labours deceitfulness earthliness lying cheating selfishness covetousness carnal-mindedness vain discourses multitude of words murmuring unthankfulness with many other sins of omission and commission which they are exposed to in the pursuit of their Employments Now when the experience and sense of this do keep them more humble and watchful against the occasions and appearances of such evils when this helps to break and melt the heart before the Lord in prayer fly to Christ in the sense of their weaknesses and inability to hold up under their temptations for all their help and grace to stand Ephes 5. 15 16. And when they labour to keep a tender spirit in all their dealings and a holy jealousie of their hearts in every thing they do exercising self-denyal and mortifiedness to the world and things below then they get profit from their Callings Prov. 41. 3. Psal 141. 3. When they make their particular Callings to comport with and subserve their general when mens businesses in the world do not unfit them for but are helpful in their religious duties to keep their hearts in a meetness for spiritual service even while they are in their earthly Employments maintaining a walk with God in them then they get good from their earthly Callings Ephes 6. 18. Titus 3. 1. Sometimes God blesseth your Callings and makes your basket and store to encrease then to be enlarg'd in thankfulness and preserve the memory of God's goodness is not onely your duty but will sweeten the enjoyment of your mercies With my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 32. 10. To love him more and serve him better with more chearfulness and gladness of heart this is profiting by your Callings Sometimes God blasts your labours and crosseth your hopes makes a breach upon your Trade follows you with losses one after another In this case to look to the hand of God to search out God's end in all to get good by it to be the more weaned from the world and to cease from earthly stays is a profitable use of your Callings Sixthly Be getting some good from your company you reside amongst meet or converse with The Lord offers and souls may get much good this way O the mercies that God deals out through mens company 'T was well for Rahab that ever the spies came to her house for by that means she obtained the salvation of her self and family What a mercy 't was to the woman of Samaria when she came to the Well that she found Christ there who instead of filing her pitcher with perishing water by this means got her heart filled with the waters of life John 4. 15 What good did the Disciples get by company in the way to Emmaus who by that means had their cold hearts warmed their weak faith strengthened Luke 25. 15. to the 32. Others have had company fatal to them Had it not been for Potiphar's house Joseph might have escaped temptation to uncleanness Gen. 39. 7. And had it not been for Pharaoh's house he had not learn'd to swear by the life of Pharaoh Gen. 42. 15. As long as Peter kept with the Disciples he was faithful and couragious but when once he fell into evil company and got into the High Priest's Hall he presently fell into that fearful sin of denying his Lord and Master Luke 22. 55. When they sate down together Peter sate down amongst them Christians beware what company you come into for the peace and welfare if not the life of your souls is much concerned in it Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Ephes 5. 11. Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14 15. Chuse not wicked company for advantage sake as Lot did with the loss of his goods and hazard of his life and a dreadfull fall to boot Gen. 19. 15. 36. Advantage was his end why he chose the Plains of Sodom but loss was the issue of his choice So Balaam for Balacks goods run himself into those temptations that cost him his life Gen. 31. 8. Go not into wicked company except duty call you if you have God's warrant you have his protection and if by providence or in the way of obedience you meet with evil men be good with them The Sun saith Diogenes visits kennels and is not defiled either by taking an occasion to do them good as the Israelitish Maid did to her Master Naaman directing him to the Prophet Elisha for cure 2 King 5. 2 3. Or by putting a stop to their sin as David did Psal 75. 4 5. I said unto the fools deal not foolishly and to the
as it were removed from the body for a time saith Beza that he might converse with God c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi se moto ad tempus a corpore animo cum Deo colloqui Elijah was alone in secret prayer when the Angel brought him that refreshing feast in the strength of which he travell'd in the wilderness forty days 1 King 19. 4. to v. 9. O what am I said Mr. Patrick Simpson after he had been many hours in his Garden alone wrestling with God for his deserted Wife being dust and ashes that the holy ministring Spirits should be sent by the Lord to deliver a message to me telling one that over-heard him that he had had a vision of Angels who did with audible voice give him an answer from the Lord of his Wive's condition this Woman also to whom upon importunity he delivered these words as she was approaching to the place where he lay on the ground heard an affrighting noise of a great rushing of multitudes together and with it a melodious sound Such a welcome doth the Lord Jesus give his children sometimes when he gets them alone into his Chambers and Wine-cellar O the sweetness persons may find in their solitudes with Christ Sampson turn'd aside when he saw a swarm of Bees and Honey in the carkass of the Lion Judg. 14. 8. 'T is said of Jerome that living in the wilderness he seemed to converse with Angels Contemplation saith Gregory is the clearest day of internal light then are their discoveries most when in a holy silence with God alone Retirement Christian is an opportunity put into thy hand of in-door work 't is God's call into the Mount Exod. 34. 2 3. Be ready in the morning and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai and present thy self there to me in the top of the Mount and no man shall come up with thee 'T is his command to a holy silence and cessation from other work that thou may'st attend the most secret concerns of thy soul Improve this time wholly in converse with God and attending the affairs of thy soul This is a season to take an estimate of thy soul-state to try the grounds of thy hope for eternity to be searching into the secrets of thy heart and taking a full review of thy past life and former carriages Psal 4. 4. Then is the time to weigh thy mercies and duties to call to mind God's dealings with thee and thy carriages towards him to be studying the wiles of Satan and the ways of thy duty the worth of godliness the danger of miscarrying and the blessedness of overcoming and such like meditations When you are riding or walking or sitting alone invite the Lord Jesus to keep you company to walk and converse with you fill up your vacant hours with secret prayer and meditation take heed of being at leisure from duty-employment either in your general or particular Calling or lawful Employments lest being too much alone the Devil strike in for company no greater temptation can Satan find than times of solitude not improved Eighthly Get good from occasional objects and occurrences which are not chance and fortune as the blind world calls it but the products of divine wisdom and pleasure towards Believers for their good Albane receiving a persecuted Christian into his house and seeing his holy devotion and sweet carriage he was so much affected with his good example that he became both a Professor and Martyr Bede It was not by accident but divine intention that Melchisedeck should meet Abraham to bless him and Shimei meet David to curse him that Moses should meet Jethro's Daughter at the well in Midian and that David should meet the Egyptian in pursuing the Amalekites It was God put it into the thoughts of Saul's servant to advise his Master to speak with the Prophet by which means he obtain'd a Kingdom 'T was by divine disposal that when Joseph was cast into the pit the Midianites should pass by and lift him up and sell him to the Ishmaelites and they to Potiphar The Lord is carrying on some part of his work some piece of mercy or justice comfort or affliction by all these occurrences in which his people should be co-workers with him and be learning something from every passage of providence they meet with and object they occasionally behold in their journeyings and pursuits of their occasions in the World What fruitful meditations had Sampson from beholding the carkass of the Lion and swarm of Bees in it in his journey to Timnah Judg. 14. 8. 14. And our Saviour from seeing the wither'd Fig-tree in his passage from Bethany to Jerusalem Mat. 21. 19 to 23. What a lecture did Christ read to his Disciples upon viewing the goodly Buildings of the Temple Luke 21. 5 to the end He beheld the City and wept over it and improved it to some instruction to his Disciples Luke 19. 41. He beheld people casting in gifts into the treasury and makes improvement of it Mark 12. 4. Some told him of the blood of the Galileans which Pilate had mingled with their sacrifice and he makes a profitable use of it for his Disciples instruction Luke 13. 1 2. What Sermons hath Christ preached when he took his Text from the waters of Samaria Joh. 4. 9 10. from the Manna given to Israel in the wilderness Joh. 6. 26 27 31 32. from the multitudes flocking after him for loaves Christians if you would grow rich in Spirituals make some spiritual improvement of all you see hear meet with in your journeys dealings converses in the World Thou walkest into thy Garden get some instruction from the objects that thou castest thy eyes upon Every herb in thy Garden preaches God to thee b Qualibet herba monstrar Deum Thou walkest into the Field go with Isaac's heart to meditate upon the creatures and providences of God thou beholdest there Thou lookest to the Heavens let it not be only as the Pharisees to discern the face of the Skie Matth. 16. 3. but to see the glory of God and his handy-work Psal 19. 1. with the Chymist extract some good from every thing thou meetest with 'T was said of Jerome he knew how to gather gold out of the dunghill and honey out of weeds leaving the poison for spiders How will men dig into the bowels of the earth rack the creatures spend themselves to get a few shadows and all the while do nothing to get the substance that endures and this doubtless is one reason of soul-poverty this day we trade not with creatures and occurrences that fall in our way to spiritual advantages Beg spiritual skill and faithfulness to be improving all you see hear do or enjoy to soul-profit Ninthly Get good from your falls and miscarriages Physicians do sometimes make poysons medicinal and so doth the Physician of of value make the diseases of his people turn to their health Sin is the greatest evil and yet redemption-grace
the death are eternal of all which by their backslidings if uncur'd they are depriv'd O who can count the sum and value the worth of those glorious things they fall short of who fall back and go down in Christianity till they come to nothing Fifthly Their case is dangerous also and their wound hardly healed not one of many that fall back in Religion if they go far recover again Joh. 6. 66. From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him When Judas Simon Magus Hymeneus Alexander Demas went off from Christ they returned no more John tells us of some that went out from them and thereby declared that they were not of them 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us The Apostle speaks not of such as fall out of infirmity falling in the way which gracious souls may do both falling into some sin for a time as Peter and fall back by some abatements of grace as the Church of Ephesus yet be recovered such he intends not here but those that fall out of the way both totally and finally these recover no more Quest If persons that fall back in Religion after a high profession may never be recovered again how may one know if he find decaies and falling back in Religion whether he be one of those that shall never be bealed or recovered more This is my case I find great declensions in my soul and conversation and I fear I shall never be restored but wax worse and worse and perish at last Sol. 1. First Are not thy declensions thy choice upon judgment and consent but against the standing bent of thy heart the renewed purposes of thy soul through Christ Thy errour is not thy aim thou dost not deliberately contrive thy departure from God but hast a secret would-not against every backsliding then thy backslidings shall be healed again Psal 119. v. 10. Rom. 7. 19 25. Secondly Are thy backslidings and spiritual decaies thy soul-trouble and restless burden because of thy distance from God as the God of grace and Father of thy mercies and because of the injury thereby done to thy graces and inner man and from an enmity in thy nature against sin Then there is hope in Israel concerning this that thy backslidings shall be healed Rom. 7. 24. Psal 5. 1 7. Luke 15. 21. Gal. 5. 17. Thirdly Are thy backslidings after thy Effectual Calling and thy sincere choice of God to be thy peculiar and alone portion Thou canst appeal to the searcher of hearts that thou hast taken the Lord to be thy God and onely Treasure here and to all eternity to be thy last end and chiefest good and hast taken Christ to be the onely way truth and life thy Lord and righteousness and hast made a full and actual surrender of thy self and thy All to God in exchange to be presently unreservedly and eternally his and not thy own to be led and governed by him onely If so thy after-errours cannot make void this Covenant but are under a promise of healing such cannot sin unto death because the seed of God remaineth in them 1 Joh. 3. 9. They are undertaken to be kept that they should not totally and finally depart from him Jer. 31. 18. Isa 57. 18. Jer. 3. 14 22. Hos 14. 4. Jer. 32. 40. Fourthly Art thou restless in thy backslidings until the Lord doth heal thee thou canst give him no rest till he establish thy soul and be as the dew to thy dry and barren heart When God sets a soul a crying it 's a sign he will hear Jer. 30. 15 17. Isa 19. 22. A man saith Mr. Dod can never be in a bad condition except he hath a hard heart and cannot pray Will he delight himself in the Almighty Will he alwaies call upon God Job 27. 10. Backsliders in heart are heartless in prayer as they decay so do they restrain prayer Job 15. 4. Ye have said it is in vain to serve God Mal. 3. 14. As sin becomes more delightful so duty becomes more burdensom cold and formal but a gracious soul that shall be healed is importunate with God and will not let him alone Exod. 32. 10 11. or let him go until he bless him Gen. 32. 6. The worse his condition is the more fervent his cries are the more his piety goes down the more his prayers go up Psal 6. 2. Such a soul shall be healed who would be healed where he works to will he will work to do Fifthly Are thy vitals sound under all thy decaies then thy consumption is not mortal Is thy heart sincere thou canst not hide or reserve iniquity but walkest before God in truth thy desires after grace are not feigned Psal 17. v. 1. Thy love to God is not pretended lip-love but real thy faith and love are not wholly gone but maintained in the truth thereof though abated thou canst not let God go but hast a secret rest on him and resolved recumbence on his grace and faithfulness There is hope of that tree though it seems to be cut down that it will sprout again and the tender branches thereof will not cease Job 14. 7. Sixthly If under all thy decaies thou findest a humble heart and contrite spirit thy backslidings make thee lie low before God and to become more vile in thy own eyes every day thy soul-poverty makes thee poor in spirit also rating thy self beneath the least mercy and judging thy self unworthy of all that patience priviledge and mercy shewn to thee thou dost not fret at afflicting providences nor charge God foolishly but bearest his indignation justifiest his displeasure and wonderest at his forbearance then will revivings come again and recovery after thy falling back Dan. 9. 7 23 25. Mat. 5. 3. Isa 57. 15. But on the other side There are five dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored First If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ in truth thy decaies before thy quickenings then 't is dangerous If thy building were on the sand and the towring heights of thy frames and profession from which thou art fal'n were onely structures of thy own raising in which the Sanctifying Spirit had no hand then thy decaies are not likely to be repaired Art thou a stranger to the new birth and to any inward change upon thy soul the principle of thy new profession and actions is is still an old heart Thou never didst take the Lord for thy God and onely Treasure nor hadst to this day any heart-union with the Lord Jesus then thy fall is dangerous Mat. 7. 26 27. 1 John 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Secondly A falling off from the foundation is dangerous When men depart from the Faith turn to another Gospel and deny the Lord that bought them fall from the Doctrine of Grace after enlightenings to a Covenant of Works
live above their capacities and proportion that 's casting back when persons have little and yet live high have but a little light and yet spend that too in works of darkness have but a short day and yet so many hours of that one day consumed in vanity this is to live above thy estate and will be soon impoverishing When men have but a little grace and strength and yet adventure upon great temptations and run into soul-ruining dangers rush into vain company set upon entangling affairs and take much business on their hands and yet have but a little portion of Wisdom and Grace to manage them this is to live above thy estate in Christianity To be low of stature and yet high in conceit of little spiritual worth and yet think highly and speak highly of thy self and to expect estimation from others also is to live above thy estate To have nothing to maintain thee but what comes in by thy soul labours no longer work no longer eat thy daily bread depends upon thy daily work so poor and yet in this condition to expect an easie life to lie down to slumber to dwell carelesly and set thy hand but by fits and starts to thy work This is to live above thy spiritual estate and will soon bring thee to breaking in this Heavenly Trade Sixthly Great debts are breaking and will cast men back in Wisdom's Merchandise when men owe more than they are worth and know not how to pay it run further on book every day till their credit will pass no longer they have often promised payment but still fail'd and now their word will not pass they can get no more goods Creditours will not trust them but begin to suspect them and threaten to take them up then men shut up shop and break This also is pernicious to Heavenly Traders when they become unfaithful to God and men run on score for mercy but never pay or render to God again are deep in debt to God for divine goodness receive one mercy after another one talent after another and make no returns of any God sees not principal or interest but they remain fruitless and unthankful under all make promises of better improvements but still break them Come to Sacraments and renew their Covenant with God and go away and break it again make promises to God under affliction that if he will deliver them this once they will never grieve and provoke him more as they have done make large engagements if God will hear this prayer and give that mercy but when their turn is serv'd forget God and break all their vows again be ready to pass their word on every occasion and then look after it no more this begets a jealousie in the Lord of Hosts that he will trust them no more Deut. 32. 21. but hold his hand and part with no more goods but threatens to take them up and to cast their souls into prison begins to sue them in the Court of Conscience and to out-law them at the bar of Justice to seize on what they have then away goes peace joy hope and then comes breaking These are some of those reasons why Christians go back in Religion and decay in their Heavenly Trade O Christians bring the plummet to the line and thy heart and life to the ballance and try from which of these comes thy soul-decaies and then get it to bear upon thy heart till thou art fully convinc'd of thy evil and willing on any terms to obtain remedy Advice 3. Thirdly Compound with your Creditour get your peace made with God through Christ make haste to prevent a seizure on your person and goods by a timely composition Agree with your adversary while you are in the way with him lest at any time he deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into prison Mat. 5. 25. 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an ever-living God who is a consuming fire Heb. 10. 31. ch 12. 29. O tremble in the sense of his righteous Judgment and force not the Lord by thy delaies to commence a suit against thee and to make an entry upon all that thou hast but go humble thy self and make sure thy friend Prov. 6. 3. Fall down before thy Creditour and sue for terms of reconciliation cast thy self at the feet of mercy confessing thy sin Pay the debt thou canst not go beg remission and offer a Surety to discharge the score even such a one as the Father himself is well pleased with Thy Creditour must be satisfied or thou art undone but this you can never do Away to a Mediatour to obtain terms and to procure your peace make Christ your friend who is able to satisfie all the Father's demand to cross the book and send your discharge by the Spirit of Grace who can witness the pardon of all your sins to your consciences Come to him in the sense of your folly bearing your shame Forsake your wasting waies and with the prodigal return from your harlots to your Father's house rating your selves beneath the least of his mercies and consenting to the meanest condition so he would but take you in again Luke 15. 17 18 20 21. Subscribe all his terms and make a new surrender of your self and your All to Christ to be no more your own but more entirely his than ever Jer. 50. 5. Enter into a new Covenant with God in Christ taking him for your Surety and fetching all your abilities to fulfil it from him and get thy soul more firmly bound to the Lord in it by the bond of the Spirit Advice 4. Fourthly Set up no more for your selves but enter your selves Factors for Christ It may be you traded formerly for your selves and that broke you if you would prevent that danger for the future you must be no more for your selves but for him trading as his Factours not your own Now three things are required in a Factor which must be observed also by wisdom's Merchants if ever they will drive a thriving Trade in Godliness 1. To trade upon anothers Stock 2. To be regulated by anothers Advice 3. To drive on anothers Interest First If you will be Christ's Factours you must trade upon his stock you must not onely take all your goods from him but as his not onely fetch in your graces abilities skill success from him but use and improve them as his not as your own Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have all we received grace for grace 'T was not onely part of his fulness before it was received but 't is his grace after reception Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell not onely the fulness of the Divine Nature but the fulness of habitual grace both which are in Christ the latter is chiefly intended here which dwells in Christ as in a head not for himself onely but for his body as beams in
sight having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious this will be your comfort now and your peace in the day of your accounts Thirdly Drive on his interest not your own Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himself God can more justly say what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods These daughters are my daughters and these children are my children and these cattel are my cattel and all that thou seest is mine Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thousand hills are his Psal 50. 10. with the corn wine wooll and flax Hos 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exercise and fruit of your graces and duties with all that you enjoy and do Put Christ's mark on all your goods whatever you gain by his talents put on his account and let your disbursments be expended to his use Seek not your own things your credit peace comfort interest but in subordination to him If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments you must let them go If by his Providence he takes off any comfort murmure not say 't is the Lord Let him do what he will with his own Mat. 20. verse 15. Advice 5. Fifthly Follow your Trade better than you have done remember how former carelesness formality sloth hypocrisie have undone you and amend The slothful soul is as the door on his hinges Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progress in Religion or comes to any excellency in grace No Christian saith Mr. Sedgwick is so able in the habits of grace as he who is conscienciously frequent in the practice or exercise of grace Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church Would you recover your state and come to any eminency in godliness then make Religion your business That sleightiness of spirit in the way of God which lost you at first will never restore you The recovery of a faint soul saith the same Author will never be effected by faint workings You did fall into your decayed state by remissive actings and think you that which was not able to keep up your graces from sinking can now quicken and raise them being sunk Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church p. 148. If negligence did cast you back diligence must help to recover you Take more pains with your hearts follow your work of godliness every day and in every place Be early and late in your shops of duty and in the warehouse of your hearts Beware of spiritual sloth and soul-losses take heed of unfaithfulness with God conscience or others keep touch with your Creditour be tender of your vows to God and men keep from prodigality live not above your condition waste not precious time parts and grace in vain walk strictly in the whole course of your life keeping your selves from iniquity and in the Love of God Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13. 5th Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion Lastly You whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandise and have any good Trading in Religion be you exhorted Advice 1. First To bless God for good trading Is it well with your souls Doth the South-wind blow upon your Garden and the Spices flow out Cant. 4. 16. Doth the Fig-tree put forth her green Figs and the Vine with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2. 13. What reason have you then to be always giving thanks you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage thou canst say 'T is good to draw nigh to God in keeping his commands is great reward The Lord is not a barren wilderness to thy soul but peace is within thy Walls and prosperity within thy Palaces Psal 122. 7. Thy glory is fresh in thee and thy bow renewed in thy hand thy root spreadeth out by the waters and the dew lying all night between thy branches Job 29. 19 His ways are pleasantness and his steps drop fatness to thy soul and he commands his blessing upon thee and thy faith and love do grow Is it thus in any measure with thee O then bless the Lord with thy soul let all that is within thee bless his holy Name Make the Lord thy glory and triumphing praise Thou hast abundant reason to be admiring grace and exalting divine glory Because First Soul-thriving is a great mercy at all times a little spiritual goods is beyond all the World's treasure one piece of Christ's tried Gold weighs down all the Pearls and Diamonds on earth and whatever can be found below grace cannot be compar'd with it Job 28. 11 12 16. or named the same day with it The light of God's countenance pardon of sin participation of the spirit fulfilling of Promises fellowship with the Father Son and Spirit heart-breathings after love to and delight in God are things of inestimable worth if you weigh them in themselves or with other things or if you consider the grace from whence they come or price which they cost Spiritual thrivings are an evidence of sincere love to God Judg. 5. 31. Let them that love thy Name be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might and of special love in God to that soul Tit. 3. 4 6. Eph. 1. 3 5 7. God may prosper in the World those he hates Esau had his fat things here but grace and peace are new-covenant-blessings which spring from eternal love in the heart of God to that soul Heb. 8. 10. Zech. 8. 11 12 15. Secondly 'T is a singular mercy at this time a mercy that few enjoy in the day we live in What a rare thing is it in this long winter to see a green Olive a tender Grape appear or Pomgranate bud Cant. 7. 6. or one Berry in the uppermost branch Isa 24. 13. It was a peculiar glory put upon the head of Thyatira that she was thriving when other Churches were decaying She had works and works and the last were more than the first Rev. 2. 19. Ephesus had lost her first love Sardis had decayed and wasted her first strength and was ready to die Laodicea was luke-warm ready to be spued out by the Lord Jesus Rev. 3. 1 8 16. only Thyatira flourished exceedingly and grew in the winter and this honour she had to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in after-ages 'T is not the lot of every one to thrive in evil times few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow 2 Thes 1. 3. A single Timothy who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ I have no man like minded Phil. 2. 20. One Gaius whose soul out-prospered his body 3 Ep. Joh. v. 2. A flourishing Christian this day is like a flower in winter an Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood Surely if there be a Soul who this day flourishes to any heighth of Christianity who lives in intimacy with
God fares deliciously in his soul feeding on marrow and hidden manna that he or she is greatly beloved of God Thy lot O soul is fal'n in a peculiar plot of mercies ground and should not the Lord Jesus be admir'd of such a one seeing he is come to him in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel O bless God for this unspeakable gift Thirdly 'T is an earnest of eternal mercy They that sow to the spirit shall reap life everlasting Gal. 6. 8. And such as abound in holiness shall have an abundant entrance administred to them into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour 2 Tet. 1. 11. God will never throw away savoury salt to the dunghil nor burn up fruitful branches Trees full of sap are the Lord's trees which he will transplant into his Paradise above Psal 104. 16. The Lord 's ripe fruit shall be gathered not shaken on the ground and safely hous'd in Heaven Grace is too precious seed to be lost Such as sow it now though in tears shall surely come again and bring their sheaves with them Psal 126. 5. Poor troubled Soul God will not despise the day of thy small things much less thy soulenlargements after him he will be tender of thy smallest blossoms and secure them into fruit much more shall thy encreases arrive to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ Eph. 4. 15. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you have shewn towards his name Heb. 6. 10. It may be thou hast forgotten many a duty and hearty testimony of thy love to Christ his name people and ways and canst see nothing in all thou hast done but art ready to say on every turn When saw I thee an hunger'd and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink when saw I thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee or sick and in prison and came to thee Matth. 25. 35. But God cannot be so unrighteous to forget it or let it pass so but keeps a record of all thy meanest duties and will make the most of them in the day of righteous judgment I know thy works and thy labours and thy patience c. Rev. 2. 2. When thou wast under the Fig-tree I saw thee Joh. 1. 48. He takes notice of a Daniel by the river Hiddekel of a Peter on the house-top of Elijah under the Juniper-tree 1 King 19. 4 5. yea of what was but in David's heart to do and requites it 8 King 8. 18. Will not an Ahasuerus let the good deeds of Mordecai go unrewarded and shall not the Judg of all the Earth do right and crown the works of his own hands Your labours shall not be in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. O then be blessing God for the least good he hath wrought in you and for you for any prosperity in your souls There are no offerings come up with that acceptance on God's Altar as thanksgiving-offerings Psal 69. 30 31. What a delightful remark did the Lord Jesus put upon the Lepers return to praise him for cleansing Luke 17. 18. the more spiritual the more rejoyeing Isa 52. 8. No such thriving souls as God-praising souls Jer. 31. 12. Therefore they shall come and sing in the heighth of Sion and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat and for Wine and for Oil and their soul shall be as a watred Garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all Quest How might I know whether I have good trading in Spirituals or no that I might have ground for rejoycing in God Could I find this soul-welfare you speak of I should bless God with my whole soul but I fear 't is otherwise that I am one of those who fall back and decay in my heavenly Trade Sol. There are seven signs of good Trading especially in evil times which men usually reckon to be discoveries of a thriving Trade First When men go not back in the World but hold their own they lose nothing 'T is much in bad times to keep ones ground to be savers in such a season is a piece of gain Try in this how 't is with you do not you go back in your spiritual estate is it not worse with you than heretofore Is not your faith love humility patience less than heretofore If you go not back in grace you go forward there 's no standing at a stay in Religion men go forward or backward in the way of Vertue they that do not decay do thrive in Spirituals Job proves his good estate by his standing fast in shaking times Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lip I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food My foot hath held his steps his way have I kept and not declined Job 23. 10 11 12. and thence concludes a gainful issue When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold And the Apostle reckons it good profit in soul-conflicts to stand ones ground if he cannot gain yet not to lose But having done all to stand is victory Eph. 6. 13. Christians have their winter-seasons when growing is not visible then to keep alive is commendable Do you hold fast your integrity and keep your garments on Do you preserve your conscience pure from the defilements and temptations of the day and place you live in and your hearts unspotted from the World your desires as warm your purposes of cleaving to God as firm and your feet as quick to run the way of God's commandments as heretofore then have you good trading considering the times you live in which is an hour of temptation and an evening of darkness Secondly If wares go off well 't is good trading when goods vend at a good rate men count it thriving Is it so with your souls do your prayers come up to God with acceptance do duties turn to any profit to you what returns have you of your religious services do hearing prayer conference bring you any soul-advantage do not goods lie by you undisposed of but your graces are exercised your talents gifts opportunities improv'd then 't is good Trading If the Lord give you light you lay it out for the good of others if he restore to you the joy of his salvation and uphold you with his free Spirit you teach transgressours his waies and endeavour to convert sinners to him Psal 51. 12 13. When God drops in comfort to you you pour it forth to others that they may be comforted also with the same comforts wherewith you are comforted of God 2 Cor. 1. 4. When you are come to duties publick or private do graces go out in them you shew parts it may be but do you lay out grace as well as gifts spiritual as well as natural affections Do you pray with the Spirit and hear with Faith do hope fear humility holy fervency heavenly breathings sincerity go off in your religions duties
in love Love constrains the Soul after God makes his commands pleasant and quickens the heart to make hast in the way to Glory the more you love God the more will you prosper in Godliness Thirdly Humility is a Soul-prospering Grace and under a promised Blessing Prov. 29. 23 Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit k Sustentat Munst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall bear him up from falling and bring him unto honour saith Montanus Prov. 15. 33 By humility are riches and honour The humble Soul must needs be a thriving Soul for God giveth Grace to it Jam. 4. 6. yea dwelleth with the humble to revive the Spirit of the humble Isa 57. 15. There 's a great deal of Pride in most Christians and that hinders Soul-thriving proud of Parts and Grace proud under seeming humility proud of humility Low Valleys are fruitful when lofty Mountains are barren The rich sit in a low place Eccl. 10. 6 Such as are rich in wisdom l Divites quibus adsit sapientia saith Mercer they sit in a low place they come down and lie low in themselves m In ipsa abjectione Jun. Trem. folly is set in great dignity Poor foolish empty Creatures they are high in conceit as well as place many times but the most rich and thriving Souls these are poorest in Spirit and lowest in their own eyes the richer the Metal the heavier Gold weighs down Silver and Tin the fuller of fruits branches are the more they bow He sendeth the springs into the valleys Psal 104. 10. Psal 65. 13. They are covered over with Corn Vineyards thrive best in low places One branch of Grapes from the Valley of Eshcol was said to be a burden for two men Numb 13. 23. would you flourish in Grace take heed of Pride Pride in the Soul saith one is like the spleen in the body when that swelleth all the other parts languish 't is poison at the root of the tree which corrupts the sap 'T is so dangerous a poison that of another poison there was confected a counterpoison to preserve Paul from it would you prosper in Godliness be persons of low humble spirits Mr. Adams on 2 Pet. 2 Cor. 12. 7. Exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21. 26. Fourthly Another choice fruit of the Spirit which will further Soul-thriving is sincerity Prov. 14. 11 The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish They shall have good things in possession Prov. 28. 10. they shall not only be preserv'd from evil and escape the pit into which the wicked fall but shall be sure to meet with good Blessings good things shall be given to them as their inheritance as Aquila and Theodosius interpret it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou shewest mercy to thy Servants that walk before thee with all their heart 2 Chron. 6. 14. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his Salvation Psal 24. 4 5. Upright Souls must needs prosper they dwell in the presence of God Psal 140. 13. He will withhold no good thing from them Psal 84. 11. His countenance beholds them Psal 11. 7. God engages his alsufficiency for their good Gen. 17. 1. They shall hold on their way and wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. and shall surely prosper 2 Chron. 31. 21 In every work that he began in the service of the house of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and prospered 't is not thy many Duties before God but the Oneness of thy heart with God nor the bulk of thy Services but the sincerity of thy Soul which will make thee profperous in thy heavenly interests Again Take thriving courses prosperous ways as well as prospering Graces these are under a promised Blessing also Not to multiply particulars There are four thriving ways in which Christians may attain to a prosperous Trade in Christianity The way of 1. Self-Examination 2. Prayer 3. Enjoyment of God 4. Obedience First Be often examining and calling your selves to an account how matters stand with your Souls Traders that would be thriving will be often viewing their Books and trying their Accompts and have some set days when they survey their Goods cast up their Books and try whether they gain or lose and so must Christians that would profit in Religion they must be often judging themselves that they be not judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. they must cast up their accompts and try their state whether they go forward or backward Hag. 1. 5. Consider your ways try how the case stands with you whether you get or lose and what 's the cause of all those blastings that are upon you Psal 4. 4 Commune with your hearts upon your beds and be still 2 Cor. 13. 5 Examine your selves whether you be in the faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates The neglect of this examination is one cause of that great mistake of persons about their Soul-state some thinking themselves better Rev. 3. 17. others judging themselves worse than they are which begets security in some discouragement in others error and floth in all A right estimate of thy spiritual capacity either poverty or riches gain or loss is absolutely needful to regulate thy duty unto a right affecting of thy heart and advance of thy spiritual interests Look over the Day-book of thy heart and life every night posting all thy accompts on the large book of thy Conscience and take some special time for a more full survey of thy Soul and state for Eternity this will be of good use to further Soul-thriving Secondly If you would prosper in your Souls be much and mighty with God in Prayer 'T is said of Vzziah that he sought God in the days of Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper 2 Chron. 26. 5. Right Prayer is a wonderful way to Soulenrichings He saith one can never be poor that can pray well One reason why this King prospered as long as he sought the Lord was by this means he came to the visions of God and that help'd him to take a right way to prospetity By Prayer you advise with God what course to take towards mercy 't is your Ephod by which you ask counsel of God where to go to shun danger and what to do to carry on Duty and obtain Mercy 2 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Chap. 30. 7. and by Prayer you procure and get out the Graces and Supplies you need 1 Chron 4. 10 And Jabesh called on the God of Israel saying O that thou wouldst bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldst keep
that should have relieved thy soul is far from thee Lam. 1. 16. It may be thou hast sinn'd away his warming presence and lost thy first spring hence 't is the flowers do not appear Yet here 's thy comfort though thy winter be not a time of fruit yet God will make it to thee a time toward fruitfulness Advice 2. 2. You that have any good Trading for Heaven be exhorted to enlarge your Trade drive a greater Trade of godliness every day as men that prosper in the world do they build larger barns fairer houses greater shops get more goods buy more land and widen the bounds of their interests So should you Christians if God bless your heavenly substance and prosper your souls if the gain of godliness come in lay it out to greaten godliness as biting Usurers do take use upon use convert your gettings into your Trade put your incomes into bank and your blessings into stock trading on them Think First On the smalness of thy first stock and thy low estate at thy setting up A Syrian ready to perish Deut. 26. 5. thy grace was small a grain of mustard seed Mat. 13. 31. thy capacity is weak a new-born babe 1 Pet. 2. 3. You began with one talent and have you not reason to improve it you were the fewest of all people Deut. 7. 7. I taught Ephraim also to go taking him by the arm Hos 11. 3. as a little weak child a dry tree Psal 56. 3. a tender plant Isa 53. 2. which need addition Secondly Consider what a poor Trade most men drive for Heaven this day few that seek the things that are Christ's and make Religion their business All men seek their own things the multitude of Professours as well as others wonder after this beast the world We may say of Religion as the Prophet did of Sion This is godliness which no man seeketh after Jer. 30. 17. Few Israelites in whom there is no guile few Noahs perfect in their generation walking with God few Calebs who fulfill after God Most mens Religion lies in notion profession talkings frames priviledges going to Meetings getting into Churches but few make conscience of their words and waies their promises and duties few second-table men and women that cause their light to shine before men and as Zachary and Elizabeth walking in all the commands and ordinances of God blameless Luke 1. 6. doing justly shewing mercy and walking humbly with their God Mich. 6. 8. visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction and keeping themselves unspotted from the world Jam. 1. 27. And should not this provoke thy zeal for the Lord of Hosts to see the Altars of Religion down and so few friends of godliness left and stir up thy holy ambition to excel and do more for God than others It would argue a brave spirit and be a worthy attempt to offer a lift at fal'n godliness with thy life as well as lip and by the raised splendour of thy holy conversation as a City on a hill to provoke others to an imitation saying Come up hither Think also what an excellent Trade the Saints and Angels in Heaven drive who have their portion in hand and dwell in the City of the great King who are alwaies receiving and rendering driving a whole Trade for God above all hazards and interruptions They alway behold their Father's face and serve him day and night in his Temple with palms in their hands with songs in their mouths and their Crowns at his feet and how far you are beneath these glorious Merchants Think what a breadth you have yet to fill up in godliness and what advances you must make in holiness before you can get up to their pitch and have a place amongst them that stand by Zach. 3. 7. and is it not time yet to build the house of God Hag. 1. 2. and that you hasten to your work and raise higher stories for God every day pressing after greater measures of grace till you come to the fulness of the stature of Christ and those perfections of glorified Saints and Angels Fourthly When will you be fit for a return into your own Countrey and a comfortable account of your Stewardship if you be so slothful and contracted in your Heavenly Trade When will your ships be loaden and your sacks full for a departure hence if you trade at such a rare and attend your soul-thrivings no better your Treasure is deep and calls for more digging your Crown is afar off and requires faster runing your Reward is large greater enlargements of labours are needful to meeten you for it O think how far glory is above all your proportions of grace and duty and what need you have to press after more enlargedness in your souls and suitableness for your estate above Fifthly The greater Trade you drive for Heaven the less trouble 't is not so in earthly Trades there the more work the more weariness but Religion carries refreshment in its work John 4. 34. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work Prov. 3. 17. Her waies are waies of pleasantness and all her paths are peace O the sweetness and delicate pleasure which vigorous pursuits of holiness afford Cant. 2. 3. I sate under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste If persons intermeddle not with the joy of godliness 't is because they neglect the work of it they eat not the kernel because they break not the shell Christ's myrrh is to be gathered and his honey eaten with the honey-comb which must be squeezed out ere eaten Cant. 5. 1. Rabbi Solomon takes the comb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Cane n Pro canna in qua sit mel quod exugatur abjecta canna Mercer out of which the honey is sucked or the sugar boyled out They that will eat Christ's pleasant bread must work hard for it his idlers have none of his dainties the greater the labour the sweeter is the rest The Lord's way is not tiresom unless to flesh and blood the more you run in it the less weary Isa 40. 31. They shall run but not be weary walk but not faint And though they should be weary in well doing through their carnal sloth yet they are not weary of it Sixthly The greater Trade the richer 't is not alwaies so in worldy employments men may labour in vain and sit down in sorrow but godliness is profitable for all things Isa 55. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 8. And the Heavenly Trade brings in the true Treasure as I have already shewn and the more employment the more profit Seventhly The larger Trade you drive for Heaven the more you have of that honour that comes down from Heaven Rom. 2. 10. Glory and honour and peace to every one that worketh good The greater Trade the greater riches and the greater riches the greater reputation The rich hath many friends Prov. 14. 20. The greater Trade you drive
shall see clearly things it never knew As 't is said of the Mole that it is blind all its time till it comes to die and then it sees So they that would not see shall then see and be ashamed then shall souls see things as they are and find that to be evil which they thought good and that to be good which they thought to be evil Death is the greatest informer and makes the largest discovery of things that ever was it brings to light the hidden things of darkness sins the world never knew and sins it may be the soul it self never saw or thought it self guilty of then will the least flaw error unsoundness neglect failing be fully seen then the things that now seem to be small will then appear to be great and those things that were taken for mountains will be less than one single grain of dust Death is a time also when conscience hath its quickest senses and liveliest acts when it sees hears feels fears all things as they are and without any other witness becomes both Accuser and Judge then Judas needed no Accuser to charge him or Judge to condemn him but his own conscience nor Executioner to dispatch him but his own hand What 's the matter man said Mr. Perkins to a Malefactor going up the ladder and his countenance shewing the inward terrors of his soul art thou afraid to die O no Sir said he but of a worse matter So another upon her death-bed and under a terrible sight of her wicked life when one that was by offered something to comfort her against the fear of death replied Were it but to die it were nothing A world said another upon the border of eternity and under conscienceaffrightings for one inch of time O give me one inch of time Luther speaks of an Eremite who a little before his death stood very sad never stirring out of his place for three days having his eyes fixt towards Heaven and being ask'd the reason of this posture answered he was afraid to die His Scholars began to comfort him telling him he need not to fear death who had been so holy in his life but he replies 't is true I have lived well and been obedient but God's judgments are otherwise than Man's judgment Tom. 4. fol. 50. The time of death is a time of great temptation also then Satan usually brings forth his chiefest strength to weaken the soul's faith 't is his last onset and that is the hottest as men that storm a Garrison in their last assault they usually put forth their utmost strength Then he opposeth us with most armed force In this last assault Å¿ Instructissimis copiis nos impugnat ipsam resistentiam aggreditur de certamine certamen est bellum alio bello defendendum hic pugnandum ut pugnare liceat resistendum ei qui resistere dissuadet Luth. saith Luther 't is not as in other temptations where faith and hope doth fight for here he sets upon the very resistance and the strife is about striving and the war is maintain'd by another war Here the fight is that it may be lawful to fight and to resist him whose greatest policy is then to disswade from resisting laughing at our hope as if it were already vanquished and it were to no purpose to resist This is a critical time and hard to stand the last enemy is death when the soul must have the whole armour of God and be found not in his own righteousness but take sanctuary in the grace of God the righteousness and faithfulness of Christ Death is somewhat driery saith Mr. Cooper and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously but they stand still when the Ark comes let your anchor be cast within the veil and fastned on the rock Jesus let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart so shall ye go through t Claude oculos nihil responde commenda causam Deo Idem When thou art tempted saith Luther and seest no way to escape shut thine eye answer nothing and commit the cause to God This saith he is the chiefest wisdom we should attend to in the hour of death This was Bernard's course and comfort when on the point of death I have lived wickedly saith he but thou Lord Jesus Christ enjoyest Heaven by a double right first because thou art the Son of God then because by thy death and passion thou hast obtained it u Hoc servas pro te jure nativitatis illud largiris mihi non jure operum sed gratiae thou keepest the first thy self by thy birth-right the last thou bestowest on me not for my works but of thy grace Christians you had need be well furnish'd for the hour of death your greatest and most difficult hour laying in all the provisions you can for a sure and comfortable passage to glory Thus you see Wisdom's Merchants have more to do than keep up present life and comfort they must lay in for times to come for times of temptation desertion affliction and the hour of death Advice 4. Fourthly If you have good trading with God then lay out for God This is reasonable work pleasing work honourable work profitable work First 'T is reasonable work to lay out for God he deserves it 't is his due all your mercies are his interest I will return and take away my corn in the time thereof and my wine in the season thereof I will recover my wooll and my flax given to cover her nakedness Hos 2. 9. Though God gives his people the use of mercy yet he keeps the propriety in his own hand God is the Alpha and should be the Omega the Authour and 't is reasonable he should be the end of all our mercies James 1. 17. Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights And as beams from the Sun is derived from his bounty as his peculiar off-spring w Bona mea dona tua Omne bonum nostrum vel ipse vel ab ipso Aug. My goods are thy gifts saith Augustine All our good is either himself or what comes from him Both trading and thriving are from him and should also be for him both principle and interest are God's own Mat. 25. 27. If you lay not out your mercies for God you rob him of his due Your mercies are the Lords not onely by that interest he reserves in them but by your resignation of them unto him Christians when you gave up your selves to the Lord you gave up all your interests and capacities also 2 Cor. 5. 8. To keep back any part of your All from God is to lye to the Holy Ghost Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the Land No lower terms will pass in reconcillation with God than what Ahab yielded to Benhadad 1 Kings 20. 4. My Lord
as one that was near the prize Hope puts strength and activity into the soul in its motion after God and makes it restless and unwearied till it enjoy him This argument the Apostle useth to provoke the Hebrews in their race towards glory Heb. 12. 1. Seeing then we are compassed about with so great a cloud of winesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us The weight of the argument lies in the sure and blessed issue of well-grounded hope attested by so many witnesses in the former Chap. who ran so great adventures sustain'd so great losses underwent such cruel deaths in chase of this eternal Crown and not one of them miscarried all got safe to glory through their many fears and deaths And seeing all that had this true hope hither to have sped well and the same promise is made to us Chap. 11. 40. having provided some better thing for us better priviledges better promises Let 's pluck up our spirits and at it again and if no visible comfort or evidence meet us in our way yet let us hold on with patience till we come to the end of our race Hopes of glory do also guard the soul against discouragements and difficulties 1 Thes 5. 8. Putting on the breast-plate of Faith and for an helmet the hope of Salvation Hope arms head and heart and keeps off the venom'd darts of Satan from ruining the soul while well-grounded hope of a blessed end is kept up Israel prevails and the Believer is kept from being overcome 1 Joh. 5. 4. This is the victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Hope of glory maintains a patient expectation and quiet waiting for the fruition of it Rom. 8. 25. If we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it and this is no small mercy Impatience hath a dangerous influence on a Christian's heart discouraging it and exposing to temptation of giving over saying Wherefore should I wait any longer 2 King 6. 33. which danger Hope secures from Hope settles and stays the heart stilling its fears scattering its doubts and strengthning its confident expectation of glory turning perswasions into the highest certainty even a kind of knowledg 1 Joh. 3. 2. But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is Well-grounded and improved hope in a Christian's life doth usually end in a triumphing confidence at his death I shall shine said a precious servant of God on his death-bed I shall see him as he is and all the fair company with him and shall have my large share it is no easy thing to be a Christian but as for me I have got the victory and Christ is holding forth his arms to embrace me I have had my fears and faintings as another sinful man to be carried through creditably but as sure as ever he spake to me in his word his spirit witnessed to my heart saying fear not he had accepted my sufferings and the out-gate should not be matter of prayer but of praise Mr. Rutherford's last words And a little before his death after some fainting he said Now I feel I believe I enjoy I reâ—oyce I feed on Manna I have Angels food my eyes shall see my Redeemer O what rich cheer will hope of glory find on a death-bed What brightness is that I see said Mr. John Holland the day before his death have you light up a candle a stander by answered no 't is the Sun shines Sun shine saith he nay it is my Saviour shines now farewel World welcome Heaven the day-star from on high hath visited my heart O speak it when I am gone and preach it at my Funeral God dealeth familiarly with men I feel his Mercy I see his Majesty I see things that are unutterable Hopes of glory will make the World seem a very poor thing in a Believer's eye he that by faith can stand on Mount Nebo and get one glance on the promised Land as his feeds on the first ripe Grapes of his own Countrey in comparison of which all the World 's dainties are bitter things Hopes of of glory cheers the heart in the way to glory Rom. 5. 3. And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope patient in tribulation It makes the soul go merrily on like a Ship under sail that hath both wind and tyde whereas the doubting Saint drives heavily on when winds and waves beat against him being unwheel'd of Faith and Hope Sure hope of Heaven gets honey out of the rock and meat out of the eater which makes his rough ways plain and his passage to Heaven pleasant 'T is Christians losing their hopes of Heaven makes them so uncomfortable in their passage through the World Lastly Well-grounded hopes of Heaven have a great influence towards preparation for it while it hath an advantage to further his holiness 1 Joh. 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure When the Apostle speaks of the faith of God's elect which is after godliness Tit. 1. 1. as a furtherance of this holiness lays this hope upon eternal life In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began Expectations of Heaven well laid cannot but constrain a soul to utmost measures of holiness 2 Pet. 3. 14. Seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Heaven is a place of perfect holiness no unclean thing can enter there which the eye of faith seeing and the soul 's right to it puts a person upon perfecting his holiness that he may be ready to enter in O then lay up hopes of glory which have such precious fruits hanging on them Quest But what are those sure hopes of glory which will never fail of glory and from which we may expect such excellent fruit Sol. First Sure hopes of glory which will never fail of glory are issued out of a saving union with the Lord Jesus the Lord of glory Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Christ united to you and dwelling in you by his spirit is this glorious treasure spoken of in the former part of the verse Here are two arguments to endear the Lord Jesus to Believers First That in their union with him they are invested with great and unsearchable treasures he himself being that glorious and hidden riches opened in the Gospel and made over to them in their reception of him into their hearts by faith part of which treasure they have in hand in their present union and communion with him and the blessed fruits and consequents of it here Secondly Another thing that