by speciall manifestations of his love and goodnesse there more than in other places When God purposed to make the Land of Canaan his dwelling place he cast out the inhabitants of the Land and planted his own people and his worship there as we see at large in the History This Moses foretold Exod. 15.17 Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance in the place O Lord which thou hast made for thee to dwell in and Exod 29.45 I will dwell amongst the children of Issrael and will be their God When God had Mercy on Israel after a long time of trouble and desolation and comes to dwell among them againe then he brings downe and casts out their enemies and oppressors and gives his owne people authority and power over them as we see Esay 14.2 They shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their oppressors It is God that putteth down one and setteth up another Psal 75.7 I the Lord have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree have dryed up the green tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Ezek. 17.20 when God roots up or cuts down high green flourishing trees but barren of good fruits and plants choice trees in their stead though low and despised in the eyes of the world this is that he may dwell among them and walke among them 2 Cor. 6.16 he sets his Tabernacle there Levit. 23.12 and takes pleasure in them Ps 149 4. for the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation and saith This is my rest for ever here will I dwel for I have a delight therein Ps 132.13 14. Vse 1 This being so that when God beginnes to reforme a Nation or place it s a signe he intends to dwell there this is a ground of great consolation to the people of God in England and other parts where God hath begun his great worke of Reformation notwithstanding many things are yet amisse but especially to some particular places * Universities and some other places where more remarkable evidences of his presence are manifest in removing fruitlesse unprofitable Trees and planting in their stead many fruitful trees not only in a private capacity but also in a Publique many godly Magistrates for the execution of Justice and taking part with those that fear God in stead of curbing and discouraging of them in well doing And also in respect of many faithfull ministers of the Gospell who preach Jesus Christ and declare the glorious mysteries of the Gospell in stead of blockish ignorance or els doubing with untempered morter Though all are not thus through the Nation yet it may be so said of many more now than in former times Are not such as are put in Authority and Power in the Nation of the best men is not the Magistracy of the Land of choice Persons such as are most fit and capable of the godly party at least it is the endeavour of those in supream power that it may be so And as for the Ministry of the Nation though it have beene in the generall very corrupt is so st ll in many place yet hath there not been in this a great reformation of late yeares which is still going on among us And as the Magistracy and Ministry of the Land are much changed and reformed so also are * By whom God hath wrought of late yeares even wonders in these three Nations Not to be paraleld in any Histories of former ages unlesse by the Wars of Canaan God hath eminently most remarkably appeared for us and that in a course scries of his providences not only in the sight of his people but even the enemies themselves being Judges Military men heretofore in corrupt times the souldiery were of the worst of men the most notorious desperatly wicked men under the sun whereas now they are of the best men fearing God very many of them not only Commanders and Officers but also common souldiers have been and are men of saith prayer as well as courage such as the good souldier the Centurion was mentioned Matt 8.5 whom Christ himself commended and as Cornelius another Centurion of a band of whom it is said that he was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house Act. 10.2 And as the Magistracy Ministry Souldiery are very much reformed good men amongst them all are set up encouraged and evill men removed discouraged so also persons fearing God of all rankâ— and conditions are countenanced by the Authority of the Nation having liberty freedome in the worke of the Lord whereby the Gospell the kingdome of Christ is enlarged notwithstanding all opposition or any thing that is yet amisse among us Are not all these things evidences of Gods presence among us that he is a coming neerer to us that the husbandman intends to dwell and delight himselfe in his Garden where he is thus at worke so remarkably Rejoice therefore and let all the Trees of the field clap their hands for in stead of the Thorne is come up the firetree and in stead of the Brier is come up the Mirtle tree Esay 55.12.13 Solomon saies When the righteous are in Authority the people rejoice Prov. 29.2 Certainly such as feare God do so And this by the way may serve for a tryall and touchstone of mens spirituall estates whether they are in the flesh or in the spirit Ob. But it may be Objected Do we not see rather signes of Gods departure from us than of his coming neerer to us for do we not see Errors Heresies and Blasphemies abound among us divisions and contentions in every place It is answered Answ do we not also see the Truths of the Gospell more fully and generally manifested and known than they have been formerly the Kingdome of Christ is enlarged and growes daily There are more Professors of Religion in these daies than in former times Not only Professors in Hypocrisy but also in truth and sincerity And as Errors and Heresies are more awakened so also are the Truths of God more cleared and its certaine Truth will at length prevaile silence Error Truth will suppresse Errors devoure them as Aarons Rod did the Rods of the Magicians of Egypt Exo. 7.12 And as for divisions and contentions among us let none think Vse 2 that strange for where Christ comes to take possession of a Nation or City or Family where he was not before there will certainly be divisions Matth. 10.34.35 Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth I came not to send peace but a sword For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her Mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law c. Flesh and spirit even in and amongst the people of God will oppose
great duties of love and charity towards our fellow members what do we wher 's our Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before God even the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their afflictions c. James 1.27 See what our Saviour saies of these duties Matth. 25.36 Magistrater ought not only to restraine and punish what is to Gods dishonour but also to contrive stand for and uphold what is acceptable to him Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell in the publique congregation but also to take all occasions in private to exhort rebuke instruct and encourage the people in the things of God to be instant in season and out of season inquiring how the worke of grace goes on in the hearts of their people and to know their state which Paul so much enquired after in his owne person and by others that he might speak and write more sutable to their conditions Phil. 2.19 Col. 4.8 how Sathan works what dispensations they have from God and to learne experiences from them studying men as they study books by which course they may become wise and skillfull workmen and know those waies and workings of God of Sathan of Grace and Corruption which otherwise they can never know Pastors of congregations have a strict charge Acts 20.28 Take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Now to oversee the Church imports more than only to Preach in publique that is but a part of their worke A speciall care should be had of the different state of particular persons Vse This should put us upon Examination what works and duties God requires of us in our generall and particular Callings that knowing them we may observe one as well as another and have respect to all Gods Commands Let us not suffer one duty to justle out another which is frequent among Christians Many think if they are still doing what is good and about the worke of God they look not so much about them nor consider what is necessary besides or what is more necessary and profitable and so many times neglect the maine worke They let some branches of duties wither and dye while the sap and strength of the Tree presseth forth and spends it selfe in other branches lesse fruitfull The eightie fifth Observation in Nature WHile fruit-trees remaine ungrafted all the labour and culture the husbandman can bestow upon them will not make them bring forth good fruits though they grow in the best place of the Garden and be watred pruned and ordered never so well yet because they are ungrafted and wild trees they will beare sower and noughty fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them Proposition shadowed Many make a profession who yet have nothing of the power of godlinesse they attend the Ordinances they heare the word pray have priviledges among the Saints yet bring forth no good fruit Judgments Mercies favours outward providences inward workings of the spirit by reproofes counsells inlightnings c. all is in vaine to them they cannot receive these things nor profit by them because not engrafted they reject the word Psal 50.17 Thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee And Heb. 4 2. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it And as they reject the word so also they resist the spirit Acts 7.51 Ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee Yea Judgments and punishments are ineffectuall to them Esay 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord I have sent amoung you pestilence and ye have not returned unto me And vers 11. I have overthrowne some of you c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord. So we see all that God doth for or against persons out of Christ all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them they neglect the mercies of God reject the word spirit Judgments of God and all the reproofes admonitions Counsels Exhortations and Examples of his people Hence we see the miserable condition of persons out of Christ Vse 1 seeing nothing will do good upon them would it not be accompted a heavy curse if the Lands of some men should bring forth nothing but bryers thorns and weeds with all the good husbandry that could be bestowed on them with raine sunne and dewes when by the same meanes other mens grounds are made fruitfull this spirituall curse upon the soules of unregenerate persons is infinitely greater such without Repentance are nigh unto cursing and everlasting burnings Heb. 6.8 Labour then with all thy might to get this evidence of Regeneration Vse 2 even to thrive and profit by the meanes of grace The eightie sixt Observation in Nature FRuit-trees when they prosper well and grow in a decent comly forme and bring forth much good fruit as they do profit many so also hereby they credit the husbandman they bring some reputation to him who orders them but if they grow poorely and bring forth little they discredit their keeper This teacheth us this Lesson That Christians by walking holily and fruitfully Proposition shadowed they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour Every one of the people of God that professeth Christ is as a City upon a hill as our Saviour said of his disciples and therefore their waies are seen and observed by all sorts of persons so that if they walke wisely circumspectly and fruitfully they bring honour to God and credit to their profession Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven And againe 1 Pet. 2.12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles c. they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation But if on the contrary professors walke loosely and negligently these things reflect upon God to his dishonour As a servant to a great person if he behave himselfe licentiously by drunkenesse swearing and the like it reflects in some sort upon his Master who keeps such a person in his house So it is betweene God and his people if they walke circumspectly in a holy and fruitfull conversation they glorifie the name of God to whom they have relation but if they walke vainely and loosely if they walke in pride minding earthly things the two grand sins of many professours in our times scraping and holding together the trash of the world as though there were no better things to be had in the waies of God then they cause the name of God to be
no man went through thee I will make thee an eternall excellency a joy of many Generations Vers 15.20 The Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the daies of thy mourning shall be ended The twentieth Observation in Nature THe graft and stock of the fruit-tree are so joyned together as that they are the one within the other and so made one intire body The Graft is within the Stock in respect of its substance the stock incloseth some part of it And the Stock is within the Graft by its sap and moisture giving nourishment to it whereby it thrives and brings forth good fruits So they being joyned and one within the other are made one body or substance This Similitude shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That Believers by ingrafting into Christ doe live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him This truth is clearely held forth unto us in Scripture It is a great Mystery not understood or comprehended by any naturall man and better understood in our own spirits by experience than expressed to others The Apostle saies 2 Cor. 4.16 Ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them And 1 Joh. 4.16 He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Believers dwell in God the father and in Christ and in the spirit and God and Christ and the spirit dwell in them As the spirit is in Beleivers so they are in the spirit Gal. 5.25 If we live in the spirit let us also walke in the spirit Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And now 2 Cor. 13.5 by this spirituall or mysticall union between God and his people they are made one with God Not to be understood as some have said That every believer hereby is God and so advance themselves above what is meet It is true believers are made one with Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit and Ephes 4.4 There is one body and one spirit And it is the prayer of our Lord Christ which is certainly heard that his people with his father and himselfe may be one Joh. 17.21 That they all may be one as thou father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us v. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one What a wonderfull mystery is this that Believers should be united to and made one with God as the Father and the Sonne are one Not in respect of partaking of his essentiall and incommunicable properties which Creatures are uncapable of but in respect of reality and truth Believers are as truly and really joyned and united to Christ as the Branches of a Tree are unto the root As the Stock and the Graft are really joyned together and are one within the other and made one body so are Believers really united to God God dwelling in them and they in God and are made one spirit with him through Christ 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit And againe 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are united c. Vse 1 Seeing Believers live in God and God in them and that they are made one with him This shewes us their safe Condition notwithstanding the malice and power of all their enemies They shall never be able to prevaile against Gods people or to hurt them As the hils are about Jerusalem so is the Lord round about his people Psal 125 2. The Mercy he wisdome power love and faithfulnesse of God compasseth them about for they live in God This is the Hedge that was about Job Chap. 1.10 Thou hast made an hedg about him and about all that he hath so that Sathan could not touch him without leave 2. From hence we may gather That believers shall be sure to Vse 2 presevere in grace unto the end for they live in God and from him they receive all supplies of grace Seeing Christ is risen up and dies no more believers that are in him as really as the graft in the stock they shall be fed and nourished by him continually as the stock feeds and nourishes the Graft the Roote is never dry but still gives sap to the branches both in winter and sommer so Christ is the true and living Vine the Roote and stock filled with all the fulnesse of God out of which we all receive grace for grace and are nourished with this living Sap unto Eternall life Joh. 4.14 Springing up unto Eternall life This Vnion and Onenesse between us and God the father and Vse 3 Christ should make us live a holy and a Gospell Conversation such as becomes our Relation Seeing these things are so what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy Conversation Let us therefore strive to be holy as God is holy and perfect as our heavenly father is perfect Seeing that we are so neere to God and live in God we may by eying and beholding of him be more and more changed into his Image and likenesse from one degree of glory to another 1 Cor. 3.18 and so be more and more partakers of his divine Nature and thereby dayly have more Communion and fellowship with him as two friends bring for the most part together are intimately acquainted and familiar with each other This is the top Priviledg of beleivers on this side heaven we should therefore bring forth fruit answerable to the spirit and sap that we receive from Christ our stock and Roote whereon we grow into which we are implanted The twenty first Observation in Nature FRuit-trees of the same species or kind are all like one another They resemble one another in their Natures and in their shape Colour Leaves Buds Blossomes and fruits So that they are clearely differenced hereby from other kinds men know them to be such or such kinds of trees and of one kind by their likenesse one to another Hence we learne That All Believers have a likenesse Proposition shadowed and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules The Image of God is the same upon all believers and differs not but only in the degrees of it upon some it is more beautifull and glorious then upon others yet the same in respect of the qualities and Nature of it All have a love and liking of all the objects of love as they are discoverd and made manifest And also there is in the soules of all believers an hatred or dislike of what is contrary to God and to that spirituall or divine Nature in them as the spirit of God discovers such objects to their understandings And the Cause of all Controversies and difference in Judgment amongst Gods people is not from any difference in their spirituall nature for that is
blasphemed his waies to be scandalized and the generation of his children to be reproached the name of God is blasphemed through you Rom. 2.24 James 2.7 Vse 1 Let such as professe Christ depart from iniquity and labour after a holy and fruitfull conversation for Joh. 15.8 Herein is my father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit I verily believe God hath more honour Religion and the Gospell more credit by some one of his people meane and despised it may be in the eye of a corrupt mind than by an hundred others who yet may have grace to bring them to heaven therefore let us strive to out go one another in bringing honour to God by a holy and heavenly conversation The eightie seventh Observation in Nature IF a Grafted tree and a wild ungrafted tree grow neere together both of them sucking one and the same juyce of the Earth the one converts it into good sap and nourishment and consequently into good and wholsome fruits the other turnes the same juyce of the Earth into sower bitter and it may be as in some kinds into poysonous fruits and this is from the different Formes and Natures of the Trees Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The same things which are blessings to the Godly are curses to the wicked because of their different Principles The righteous and the wicked dwell together they are mixed as the Wheate and Tares Flowers or Weeds in a Garden and both for the most part are partakers of the same outward priviledges but to them that are in Christ all things worke together for their good Rom. 8.28 To the pure all things are pure but to the unbelieving there is nothing pure Tit. 1.15 A godly man does not only draw sweetnesse out of things that are of themselves sweet out of the word Ordinances Christ and his people but also even out of things that are bitter as Crosses afflictions Temptations Trials to him out of the strongest comes sweetnesse But now a wild ungrafted tree a person out of Christ he is like the spider that sucks poyson out of the sweetest flowers the best things become evill to him blessings become curses his health strength liberty riches honours friends gifts Learning c. all these become snares unto him he makes use of them to his owne hurt drawes nothing out of them but sin and death Their Table becomes a snare to them and that which should have beene for their welfare it becomes a Trap Psal 69 22. Yea all spirituall things prove for their greater condemnation they despise the riches of Gods grace and turne it into wantonnesse Jude 4. and therefore treasure up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath The very Gospell it selfe which is the power of God to salvation and the savour of life unto life to them who are in Christ these wild Plants suck no sweetnesse out of it but to them it is the savour of death unto death 2 Cor 2.16 Yea the greatest Gift that ever was bestowed on the sonnes of men Jesus Christ out of whom the branches ingrafted into him draw sweetnesse sap and life marrow and fatnesse wine and water of life he is not sweete to them but contrariwise an offence Christ crucified is to them a stumbling block and foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23 Christ his word his Ordinances his people his mercies Judgments all his things are perverted and abused by them Hence we may see and admire the free distinguishing love of God towards his owne people who maketh such a difference betweene Use 1 them and others so that all things even the worst things are good to them they draw virtue from them but all things even the best things are evill to the wicked they draw poyson and death out of them Seeing that by reason of the corrupt nature in the wicked they draw evill out of what is good and that all things are abused by them to their owne destruction this should caution us alwaies to beware of their Opinions Judgments practises though they be never so eminent in parts and learning and bring Scripture to back them yet suspect all for they cannot see nor discerne their minds and consciences are defiled they suck not the marrow of-truth out of the word but they pervert it to their owne destruction 2 Pet. 1.16 they draw poyson corrupt doctrine out of the pure and wholsome wells of salvation Therefore our Saviour warned his disciples to take heede and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces which was their doctrine Mat. 16.6 12. The word which is as the Pillar of fire and discovers to the people of God their way is but a darke Cloud to them Exo. 14.30 they stumble at the word yea at Christ himelfe 1 Pet. 2.8 A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word c. The eightie eighth Observation in Nature THe best fruit-trees have some faults and defects are subject to Cankers Mossinesse and other diseases to luxurious growthes some years they beare but few fruits and many of them small and perhaps spotted or chapt or otherwise imperfect This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed The best of Gods Children are guiltie of many sins and infirmities in their conversations We know there are two Natures continually working and striving in every regenerate person and sometimes the flesh prevailes very much and the graces of the spirit are clouded and obscured by it in the best men Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips Psal 106 33. Aaron made an Idol for the people David fained himselfe mad 1 Sam. 21.13 he numbred the people contrary to the minde of God he committed adultery and murther and sinned in many other respects Paul and Barnabas contended together and parted Acts 13. Job and Jeremiah cursed the day of their birth Jerem. 20.14 Jonah was very angry without cause Chap. 4.1 We need not multiply particulars the Experience of the people of God makes this too manifest who say with Paul Rom. 7.15 that which I doe I allow not for what I would that do I not but what I hate that do I vers 19. The evill which I would not that I do Jam. 3.2 In many things we offend all The consideration of this should humble all the people of God Vse 1 seeing we carry about with us a corrupt Nature and can by no meanes be rid of it This should make every one of us watchfull and circumspect Vse 2 against sin and all enemies for if the tallest Cedars and strongest Oakes have beene bowed and brought downe how shall the weake Plant resist but by drawing continually sap and strength from the Roote and walking closely with God The consideration of this Proposition may be a meanes to stay Vse 3 the spirit of a weake Christian who is discouraged in looking upon his sin and corruption whatsoever is written is written for our learning that we
and Corruptions also of other Natures brake forth from time to time which were a sting to all other Miseries that befell him and which were being improved and strongly set on by Sathan against him grounds and foundations of the most fearfull apprehensions that came into his minde The enemy pleading it against him and that from many grounds of * Such as these Heb. 6.4 It is impossible for these who were once enlightned c. and 2 Pet. 2.20 The later end is worse with them then the beginning Scripture misapplyed that no child of God did ever fall into the like and labouring to perswade him that no one guilty of the like should possibly ever recover out of such a state This was a long and tedious winter in which seldome any sunne or starrs appeared to him and then but dimly and soone clouded againe the soule was for the most part filled with stormes and tempests sad apprehensions of many present evils and feares of more and greater to come upon him The particular passages of which Condition might be related at large were it convenient But the Lord hath said he will not contend for ever neither will he be alwaies wrath lest the spirit faile before him He correcteth in measure At length the sun of righteousnesse began to arise with healing in his wings and to cast some beames of light into his darke soule which increased more and more unto the perfect day As he fell by degrees so by little and little after a time in the use of meanes he was raised up againe and restored to former comforts with great and many additions and advantages The Lord put a new song into his Mouth even praises and thanksgivings unto his God Let the father of mercies and the God of all Comforts be for ever praised for he comforteth those that are cast downe when they cry unto him in their troubles he delivereth them out of their distresse he bringeth them out of darknesse and out of the shaddow of death and breaketh their bonds asunder O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders that he doth for the Children of men Now therefore Seeing that a winter of desertion may come Let Vse 1 us wisely prepare against it by giving all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 To lay up Treasures in heaven Now in the time of plenty to store up against a time of of famine to gather now in Summer against a spending time in Winter Now to gather Evidences and sure grounds of the unchangeable love of God towards us to make sure of our interest in Christ that so we may be able to fight and conquer and to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand Eph. 6.13 This also may comfort all those that are in this case who find Vse 2 that the Sunne is withdrawne and gone a far off Let them in the use of all good meanes wait and tarry the Lords leasure he will certainly come in his time Esay 50.10 Whoso walketh in darknesse and hath no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay himselfe upon his God for the Sunne will againe shine forth and refresh such a soule and though comfort and deliverance tarry yet wait for it it will surely come it will not tarry Hab. 2.3 The word and promises and the Experiences of performance to others are sure grounds of hope Esa 54.7 for a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer The time is at hand when it shall be said to these weather beaten fruit-trees the winter is past the raine is over and gone the Fig-tree putteth forth her greene figgs the Vines with the tender Grape give a good smell Cant. 2.11 13. Then shall they Bud and blossome and bring forth abundance of Fruits pleasant to the husbandman And shall say unto him Let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.15 They shall dayly bring forth the fruits of Praise Love and obedience which he will like and accept of The seventh Observation in Nature FRuit-trees that bring forth the fairest and most beautifull blossomes Leaves and shootes they usually bring forth the fewest and least fruits because where Nature is intent and vigorously pressing to doe one worke spending its strength there it is at the same time weak about other workes but distinct and severall works of Nature in moderate and remisse degrees are all promoted at the same time This is another Similitude c whence we learne that Proposition shadowed Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the Formes of duties have least of the power of godlinesse There are some who wanting sincerity lay out their thoughts and endeavours about the outside of duties they will be as forward it may be as any about the externall parts of worship who have nothing of the truth of Grace in them Much formality little or no sincerity The Pharises were excessively carefull about the outside of Gods worship Mat. 6.2.5.16 In Preaching Praying fasting giving Almes c. their care was mainly to make cleane the outside to carry things fairly to the world that they might have the praise of men broad Phylacteries long Prayers exactnesse in tithing Mynt Annis Cummin Strictnesse in observing the Sabbath and outward Ceremonies but where was sincerity all this while they had the forme but wanted the power of godlinesse These were but Leaves buds or blossomes but no Fruits they were not profitable to them as to Eternall advantages Mat. 5.20 Except your righteousnesse exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises ye shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heaven So it was among us of late yeares bowing at the Name of Iesus and Communion Table Surplesse Common-Prayer c these and such like were pressed with all eagernesse and strictnesse The body of Religion was large and monstrous but without a scule or if any it was Leane and feeble These kind of persons are like the Indian Fig-tree that Pliny speakes of which had Leaves as broad as Targets but fruits no bigger then a Beane Let every one take heed of this and not suffer their spirits and Vse 1 endeavours to runne out and be spent about things of lesser moment and neglect the greater This is a foule fault among us at this day some men stand more about the formes of worship than about the power of it they looke so much after the way manner and circumstances that they almost loose the substance things which are but as husks or shels to the Kernels or as Leaves in respect of fruits Some others labour more for Gifts then for graces for humane Learning than for holinesse All these are guilty of the