and Heav'n may grope and creep Christians with joyful hope believe run But will Christ to such Sinners Saviour be Who long and wilfully contemn'd his Grace Yes if they have but hearts to him to come He excepts none Hee 'l all their Sins deface The Prodigal now hopefully resolves In Christ I 'le trust and to my Father go When there 's but one way who should stand doubt The Vanity of all things else I know If in his House I may the lowest be His wonderous Grace I will with thanks proclaim My Sin and Misery I will confess And in Repentance take deserved Shame And when repenting Souls are thus resolv'd And with design do towards their Father come They are surpriz'd with unexpected love Grace feasts forgiv's them bids them welcom home Now the returned Soul doth dwell with God And God in him for there his Spirit dwells God hath his highest Love Heaven his chief hope Christ is his Life he trusteth to none else O how much better is it with him now How wise how safe to what he was before What hee 's yet short of Faith hath in its view Hee 'l choose the way of Sin and Hell no more Now farewel mortal Sin stoop bruitish Flesh Now Pride Lust come down submit to Faith Farewel ensnaring Sports and Company Farewel Deceit I 'le hear what Scripture saith Now all is New new Judgments Love and Life New Hopes Delights a new intended End The means then must be new or better us'd New friends new thoughts all that to it tend But yet though out of Aegypt he be come Through the Red Sea he 's in a Wilderness Faith must be try'd by many Enemies Hard Journeys Wants delayed Hopes Distress And Flesh still strives Satan still busie is The World will tempt Sin 's not quite overcome Dark Fears and Unbelief do yet hang on We are in hope but are not yet at home But yet we have the leading Fire and Cloud The Law the Angels presence as we pass Moses fell in the Wilderness but there The Tempter by our Saviour vanquisht was The Law was weak and nothing perfect made Grace giveth light and life love and strength And though it long and oft assaulted be It Conquereth and Triumpheth at length It is the work of God who knows his own And makes them Christs beloved interest All that are given him he loves and keeps And brings them to the promis'd Land of Rest. Grace suited is to every Time and State To Childhood Manhood and decrepid Age An Antidote against contagious Pleasures Yet grief wrath fear and suffering doth asswage It useth every State for the true end It sanctifies Prosperity and VVealth Still doing good and doth to Godward tend To him devoteth time life wit and health It useth Friends and Enemies for God Improveth kindness easily bears wrong Loves others as our selves doth Right to all Hopes for a blessed end when sufferings long It takes not too much part with pained Flesh It ruleth Reason Appetite and Sense Conquers Temptation keepeth inward Peace Keeps neer to God who is our sure Defence It all the way foresees the blessed end Motives to Duty Comfort in all Grief It fetcheth more from God Heav'n than Earth In every Case from Christ it finds Relief It spendeth Health and Life in Preparation For foreseen Death and the Souls final change It s not surprized without expectation It trusteth Christ when things unseen seem strange All this Grace doth in various degrees In most but weak Imperfect in the best Clog'd here with Flesh and contradicting Sin But ends in Glory and Eternal Rest. It s whole work is to bring Mans VVill to God As our Original our Guid and End Thankfully take his Grace obey his Word And wholly love him as our chiefest Friend And more than so to love him for himself The final Object of Created Love This only perfect ones perfectly do VVho see Gods Glory in the world above Amen Ian. 6. 1682 3. II. Wisdom HE that by Faith sees not the World of Spirits Which Christ with his blest Family Inherits The Sense of Providence can never know Nor Judge aright of any thing below Things seem confused and neglected here Because in broken parcels they appear Who knows a Work in Arras by one Piece Small parcels shew not Workmens Artifice The Beauty of a Picture is not known When one small part or Limb alone is shewn They that on some few Letters only look Can never know the meaning of Gods Book Who knows a stately Building by one Post â—ts but short scraps that one Age sees at most Heav'n seeth all and therefore knows the Sense Of the whole beauteous frame of Providence His Judgment of Gods Kingdom needs must fail Who knows no more of it than this dark Goal If Heaven and Hell were open to mens sight Most Men of present things would judge aright Who would be griev'd at prosperous sinners reign Who did foresee their everlasting pain Who would grudge pride rage so short a pow'r Who did foresee its fall and dismal hour who 'd grudg Gods Patience to the greatest crime Which will scape Vengeance for so short a time who 'd grudge at any wrong or suffering here Who saw the World of happiness so neer If that one Sun a Thousand Fold excel This Earth in bigness where we Sinners dwell And what 's one Sun to all the Heav'n beside Is not Gods Kingdom Glorious and wide Who then dare say Gods work is not well done Because an Ant-hill is not made a Sun Or because Sin and devillish Rage do dwell In this vile Prison which is next to Hell who 'd measure Gods great Kingdom or his Love By us poor Prisners who in Fetters move God placed Man in Earthly Paradise Heav'ns outward Court the way to highest bliss And Man himself doing what God forbade His House a Bedlam and a Bridewel made Man turn'd it by his sinful base defection Into Gods Prison and House of Correction Gods wondrous Mercies which do never fail Fetch many Sons to Heav'n out of this Goal If the rest finally neglect Gods Grace And choose no better than this sinful place The Dream of Pleasure which will end in shame They had their choice and whom else can they blame who 'd censure God for one poor Bedlams sake But such as of his Madness do partake And though he rage and sober Men disdains Who loves his Case or longeth for his Chains Who envy wicked Men their hurting Power Who do believe their sad approaching hour VVho the Toads hurtful Venom envieth VVho'd have the Basalisks pernicious Breath VVho longs to be a Serpent for the Sting It s worse to be a Great but hurtful King Christians by Patience win a better Crown Than all the Bloody Conquerors Renown True Christian Kings who Rule in Peace Love A better Kingdom have with Christ above Our King may with more peace and safety Rule Than the
Heav'n for this is lost And this is all for which they sell their Souls A fools cap purchas'd at the dearest cost All this is done in the known way to Death They have not the least hope but die they must They are not sure to fetch another breath They know their pamper'd Flesh will soon be dust Their pomp wealth for which they God forsake Yea though their Streets with Slver they could pave All the vexations strife stir they make They know is but in passing to the Grave Were they but following anothers Course Such going towards a Grave would be a shame But when it s towards their own it is far worse A Madness which doth want a proper name Sheep know not when Death 's neer yet live in peace Birds feed sing in peace together got Man always knows his Life will shortly cease Yet madly lives as if he knew it not But when Death comes they are surpriz'd with fear As if till then they knew not they must die Departing wealth and life their hearts then tear O how the Case is chang'd when death seems nigh How sad doth Dives look how deep he groans His Mammon God now will not hear his cries Money and Friends now answer not his moans For all his wealth he trembles faints and dies The greatest Lord and Prince must now submit Crowns Titles Money will not ease his pain Forced repentance seems to have some wit Preachers may speak now without proud disdain He calls for Mercy he forgiveth all Instead of Fire and Sword he speaks for Peace His wit revives as Flesh and Strength do fall Not from a Holy change but for his ease Now he talks how he 'd live when life 's nere gone He seemeth wise and promiseth to mend He thinks what Time is for when time is done Begins to think of living at his end Might he be sav'd now for a frightned wish VVhen guilt and terrour cause his heart to faint VVhen worldly pleasures all forsake his flesh He 'd have the end and portion of a Saint Now take an Inventory of his VVealth This Corps was once the Body of a Man It liv'd in Pleasure Honour Ease and Health Goes Naked hence as Naked Life began That frightful Earthly Face was wont to smile And with proud Scorn on hated Persons frown It Comely seem'd which now is Black and Vile That its the same can hardly now be known Those closed Eyes the Casements were of Lust There enter'd VVorldly Vanity and Sin That Mouth those Lips that now must Rot to Dust Have taken many a pleasant Morsel in That Throat his Fellow-Creatures did Devour Made Sumptuous Feasts his Body to maintain With pleasant Liquors many a merry Hour He did exhilerate both Heart and Brain Those Ears have heard Jests Plays and Melody Mens flattering Praise and many a merry Song The welcome news of their Calamity Whom Wrath and Malice did delight to Wrong That Mouth hath utter'd many a merry Jeast Vain Worldly talk Strife News feigned Story Oaths Lies and wanton Speeches were its Feast Threats and proud Boasts Scorning were its Glory That Nose delighted was with pleasant smell That Black Sallow Skin was smooth white On Eyes and Countenance did Grandure dwell The Just did flie the Poor crowch'd at his sight Those Limbs could move those Hands had nimble Joints The Corps which now lies Dead did Ride Run All did perform what Lust and Pride appoints Many successful Actions he hath done Many deep Plodding Thoughts that Brain hath hatch'd How to grow Rich Great have his VVill For Means and Seasons he hath wisely watch'd All his Desires and Pleasure to fulfil And now what 's left To keep him from Mens sight A Shrowd and Coffin's all that he must have And these unknown afford him no delight But serve their turn who bring him to a Grave But where 's his Money Honours Lands Treasures Left to his Heirs lest they should wiser be That the strong Snare of fleshly worldly pleasures May tempt them all to Live and Die as he But where is Dives Soul Christ saith In Hell But his Five Brethren will not this believe Christ will not lie And who can better tell But Satan thus Successors doth deceive What hath he taken hence of all his Gains Gods Wrath The Guilt Conscience of his Sin But not one drop to ease Tormenting Pains Will all his Honours Lands and Riches win A Preacher tells his Brethren what Christ saith He 's charg'd of Slandering so great a Man A Goal and Scorn is the success he hath Convince proud wilful Sinners no one can And is not this a doleful Bedlam-Case When all a Rich Mans pleasure with him Dies His Brethren madly follow the same Chase At the same time while he in Torment lies He 's paying for his long Contempt of Grace They build his Tomb and celebrate his Fame He 'd have them warn'd not come to that place They praise his Doings and keep up his Name Could one at once but see them their Brother Him in his Torment them in their Delight How unlike are their Thoughts to one another One Groans for that for which the others fight Faith sees all this But Flesh and Sense is blind These Bruits believe no more than what they see One from the Dead sent could not change their mind But it by sense too late will changed be God gives Men Life They 'l not consider why Time's short Fools know not what they have to do Nor think why they were Born till they must Die Nor whither their departing Souls must go They Live as if they thought that Heaven Hell VVere the only places of Consideration And to be Drunk or Mad were to be well And fool away this Life of Preparation IV. Hypocrisie BUt none are worse than Learned Reverend Fools Who vend their folly under wisdomes name And are Abaddons keenest hurtful Tools By Usurp'd Grandure and Religious Fame Who Teach Untruths or Live not as they Teach Pretend to watch for other Mens Salvation And hate the Holy Life for which they Preach And as a Trade Preach their own Condemnation Who against Christ do fight with Sacred Arms His Name Words Church-order forg'd Commissions And Reverend Titles are made potent Charms To win the Ignorant to their Conditions They praise Gods word but make it first their own The words are Gods the Church must make the sense It s no Law till their Sentence make it known Not their meer Teaching by Truths Evidence Religion they corrupt by forg'd Traditions They think Gods Laws too big yet make more All 's not enough without their vain Additions Religion was an Infant-thing before And under Christ the Churches only Head Th' have found one King or one Church-Parliament Whose Soveraign Rule the Christian World must dread And all that will be Saved must Consent This Soveraigns Kingdom is the whole round Earth The Lands where they
thing God now is all Love makes all Common for it makes all One Zeal for good Works Patience in bearing wrong Were the true Marks by which Christs flock was known Had not Christ added this convincing Seal Tongues Miracles and Sanctifying Grace The Wonder of Redemption is so great That Faith to unbelief must needs give place Apostles Mortal were before they Die For future Ages they Christs sacred word His Deeds Laws Doctrine by the promis'd Spirit To guide the Church infallibly record As Moses gave the Iews the only Law Which following Priests and Prophets were to Teach So th' Holy Ghost by the Apostles wrote The word which after Ages were to Preach As Moses Law was Seal'd with Miracles When such the following Ages did not need So Christs Apostles did by Wonders Seal Those Records which the after Ages read The Spirit promis'd to the Apostles was To lead them to all needful saving Truth And bring Christs words to their rememberance What they by his Commission did Christ doth Their Writings are the Holy Ghosts own Book Though human Imperfection do appear In Modes and Phrases it 's no just offence But leaves the Truth and Use still sure and clear Words but the Vehicle of matter be Gods Spirit owns not the Translators words But if as signs they with his Words agree The Sense and Matter of them is the Lords This Spirit helps the Church but not to bring Another Gospel Law or Word from Heav'n Nor mend or change Gods Laws in word or sense But to preach and obey the word once given To bring new Laws or Messages from God A Prophets Office is and not a Priests To forge such or make Laws for all the Church The Authors prove false Prophets or false Christs Christian Religion is one stablisht thing Which all the Church from first to last may know It is not human changeable or new Nor doth by Mens decrees increase and grow If Canons no part of Religion be But Laws for Rites and things indifferent Why must all Christians needs in these agree Or not agreeing by Church-Wars be rent The Church hath all one Head one perfect Law All justified be by Christs Blood and Merit All that are true though weak Christ doth receive For all are Sanctified by one Spirit The Holy Ghost in all true Christians dwells He doth illuminate and make them New This is Christs Agent and his Body formes His Witness proving that his Word is true This Spirit did the Gospel first Indite And on it did Gods Image first Ingrave And then by it as his great Instrument That Image Prints on all that he will save Though it be long of their resisting Will That any of this Grace deprived be Yet Scripture and Experience clearly tell That diffrencing electing Grace is free In Children it appears when God doth choose He gives a reachable and willing Mind Good Dispositions and Capacity By Grace their Nature is to good inclin'd Grace chooseth Parents careful of their Souls Helps them to educate them in Gods fear To commend Virtue and disgrace all Vice Teach them Gods word causeth them to hear Gods Seed in such is often early Sowd And as they grow it springs up by degrees As Plants and Fruits by Sun Moisture grow'd Whose present growth and motion no Man sees The first beginnings of the Spirits work Is in a learning Mind and fear of Sin A love and liking of good things and Men 'Gainst Sins for Duty Conscience strives within Grace watcheth over them provides them helps Meet Teachers Books Examples Company Keeps off temptations causeth them to hate Lying bad Words and Deeds and Ribaldry Bad Childrens Hearts are quite averst to good They love not Virtue relish not Gods Law Tempting Discourse Examples Vanities Catch on their Hearts as Fire doth on Straw If early helps Parents and Teachers fail And Sin the childish Mind and Life pervert If Folly Flesh and tempting Baits prevail Yet God his chosen will in time convert Hee 'l either give them better Company Or better helps and Teachers whom hee 'l Bless Or bring some useful Book unto their Eye And make their Snares their Temptations less Or hee 'l some sharp Affliction on them lay Which may awake the hardened sleepy Heart Or Conscience shall some quickning motion feel Tell them their Sins their Danger and Desert O! How the Case with Sinners now is chang'd Things all appear now in another Shape Sin now is Madness Mad he calls himself For loving Death and thinks now how to Scape Now God is Holy Just his Word is True He is in earnest though Sinners be in jest The Face of all his Works and Ways seem New Those things seem worst which formerly seem'd best The common Texts and Truths he daily heard Do now begin to have some Life and Sence He wonders how he past them by before As if they had been of no Consequence That wounds shames and grieves and breaks his heart Which formerly was his Delight and Pleasure That 's Vanity and mortal Poyson now For which he hungred as his Food and Treasure Now the Mad Prodigal comes to himself Perhaps the World doth him its Husks deny Why saith he did I leave a Fathers House There none do want here I must starve and die O that I had not tasted Satans Bait Nor Pampred Flesh and pleas'd vain Appetite Neglected Grace and things of greatest Weight Nor medled with Sins poysonous Delight But the time lost can never be recal'd The works of Madness cannot be undone I have undone my self is there no help I know all else is Vain there is but one A Fathers Love affordeth me some hope The World gives none I must return or die I 'le go and humbly all my Sin confess And cast my self upon his Clemency But God is Just and Holy how can I Defil'd with Sin and Guilt stand in his sight Now the sick Soul a sure Physicion needs There is one Saviour who is Gods Delight He is the Way by whom Men come to God He is the Truth to save the World from Errour He is the Life to save from endless Death Self-Murdering Souls subject to Hellish Terrour And now the Gospel's better understood Redemption seemeth not a needless thing His Thoughts are precious of Christs precious Blood His Mediator Prophet Priest King The Gospel now is Tydings of great Joy Pardon of Sin Adoption Peace with God Freedom from Terrour Satan Sin and Hell Mans self-made and Gods just Revenging Rod. He sees why Love in Mans repair must be As much Admir'd as Power in our Creation Sinners cannot immediatly God see But by a Mediator have Salvation Now all things else seem loss and dung for Christ Wisdom is folly where Christ is left out To know him is the true Philosophy The rest doth teach Men but to prate and doubt Some glimps of God and Heav'n blurd Nature yields But it s but as a Candle to this Sun Others towards God