Beaven without him I had rather saith another be in Hell with a Christ than to be in Heaven without him Heaven is the presence of all Good and the absence of all Evil. Redde mihi vitam aeternam quam debes That Monk died like himself who said Lord pay me Heaven which thou owest me Heaven is a Flower of Salvation blown out the Saint here is in the Suburbs of Heaven Heaven is the Inheritance of those unto whom Christ is Life and unto whom Death shall be gain If Heaven be the Inheritance of these Quest what manner of Inheritance then is Heaven Heaven is a free Inheritance Sol. 1. Would it not puzzle all the Saints on Earth and Angels in Heaven to bring in the worth of Heaven and yet this is a Donatâ—â—e Many Inheritances here below are bought but this Inheritance is given Here men buy Inheritances and pay to the worth of them Luk. 2.32 but Heaven though it cannot be valued to its worth yet it is given 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear not little-little Flook there are two diminitives in the Greek for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom The word translated Flock signifies a little Flock but Christ to shew the exceeding littleness of it adds another word little Fear not little-little Flock Heaven is a full Inheritance Ahasuerus had a large Territory he reigned from India unto Ethiopia over 127 Provinces A man would have thought that 127 Provinces had been enough for 127 persons and yet this large Territory was a poor pittance Many have large Inheritances here below and cannot live upon them but Heaven is an Inheritance thou mayest live upon if possessed of this Inheritance thou shalt never want more Heaven is a perfection of Felicity without intermission and amission If once possessed of this Inheritance then thou wilt say with Jacob It is enought Thou wilt as one reads it make known the way of life satiety of joys before thy face Ainsworth Psa 16.11 pleasures at thy right hand to perpetuity Heaven is a living Inheritance Heaven is not only a living Inheritance but also an Inheritance of Life Death is legible in the face of the Earth but Life is legible in the face of Heaven I am come that ye might have life Life here life hereafter Mutability and Mortality Rev. 2.10 are written upon all things here below but Heaven is called a Crown of Life Be thou faithful unto death there is the precept and I will give thee a Crown of life there 's the promise Heaven is a lasting Inheritance The Inheritance will last so long as the Heir last Into what a time of Debauchery are we fallen and how short-lifed are earthly Inheritances How long soever the Fathers were in getting them the Children are not long in spending them An earthly Inheritance may be spent but this heavenly Inheritance cannot be spent Though those who are actually Christs may lose all at Sea and all 〈◊〉 Land all in the Ship and all in the Shop all within doors and all without doors yet they cannot lose Heaven this is a lasting Inheritance yea this is an everlasting Inheritance The Apostle having imposed a making of the calling and election sure subjoyns this For so an entrance will be ministred unto you abundantly 2 Pet. 1.10 11. into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This Kingdom is the Kingdom of Glory because stiled an everlasting Kingdom It is called the Kingdom of Christ because given to him as a reward of his passions It is an everlasting Kingdom because the Vnion between Christ and a Christian is everlasting As Christ on earth is the Christians Medium of Reconciliation and Communion so Christ in Heaven is the Christians Medium of Vision and Fruition There are among other things these six things which those who are actually Christs can never lose The Soul cannot be lost The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity hath a stamp of Immortality now Death it self though the Mistress of Mortals and Empress of the Vniverse despairs how to kill this Fear not them which kill the body Luk. 12.4 and after that have no more that they can do Men. may kill the Body but they cannot kill the Soul Those who assert without blushing the Mortality of the Soul seem at least to stand upon the Brink of Atheism Though the Body return unto the Dust yet the Soul to Hell or Heaven Luk. 23.43 1 Pet. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peccare not Perire Though the Veins of the penitent Thief were breathed and his Vitals let out yet his Soul goes to Heaven To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise To day is not this emphatical and doth not Christ promise more than the Thief asks Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Who are kept the Greek word is a military word taken from Souldiers they are safely kept kept as a Garrison in time of War against the Enemy Though a Soul actually in Christ may sin 1 Joh. 3.9 and do sin yet not unto Death not unto the second Death He that is born of God sinneth not not to condemnation The Saviour cannot be lost Once and Ever is Christs Motto Though yesterday some were not Semèl Simùl Heb. 13.8 to day some are but to morrow these may not be yet yesterday to day and for ever Christ is the same Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever The same yesterday before his coming in the flesh The same to day while in the flesh The same for ever Heb. 9.24 after his Ascension unto and Admission into the Kingdom of Heaven now to appear in the presence of God for us Art actually Christs then though thou mayest lose thy Lands lose thy Limbs lose thy Liberty lose thy Life yet thou canst not lose thy Love lose thy Christ The Grace of Christ cannot be lost Grace may decay but it cannot die it may be abated but it cannot be abolished it may be shaken in the Soul but it cannot be shaken out of the Soul Grace 1 Pet. 1.13 is incorruptible seed Which were born not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible Grace is the Seed the Heart is the Soil Gold may be lost Goods may be lost Grandeur may be lost but Grace cannot be lost this must go into Glory when Time goeth into Eternity The Spirit of Christ cannot be lost What the Body is without the Soul Lifeless and Loveless that the Soul is without the Spirit and yet this Spirit cannot be lost What Wheels are to the Chariot and Oil to those Wheels that the Spirit is to the Soul and yet this Spirit cannot be lost What Sails are to the Ship and Wind to those Sails that yea infinitely more than that is the Spirit to the Soul Joh. 16.14 and yet this Spirit cannot be lost I will pray the Father and he shall
As God is faithful who hath promised so God hath laid his faithfulness under promise I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail or lie His Counsel As God hath laid his Spirit and Gâ—odness Consilium malum Consultori pessimum and Faithfulness so his Counsel under promise Counsel is the Spirit and Quintessence of Reason Reason drops out and distills it self into Counsel It is an old Adage or Proverb That bad Counsel is worst to the Counsellor Princes formerly used to have learned men about them whom they called Remembrancers Themistocles had his Anaxagoras Alexander his Aristotle Scipio his Panaetius and Polybius but David in all his straights asked counsel of the Lord Psal 119.24 and consulted him as his Oracle Thy Testimonies also are my delight and my Counsellors or the Men of my Counsel The Orator said Men of Counsel are to a Commonwealth Margent as the Mind Reason or Vnderstanding is to any particular man Young mens Counsels Cicero Descriptio are very dangerous Jeroboam lost ten Tribes by following them Counsel is good Advice given and ought to be taken about things to be done The Grecians in matters of great importance did resort in respect of Counsel to the Temple of Apollo Ex. 18.26 The small matters were judged by the Heads of the People but the hard Causes were brought unto Moses God did speak by a Mâ—ses but now he speaks by a Messiah Heb. 1.2 whom he hath appointed Heir of all things Of old also they enquired of Abel 2 Sam. 20.18 They plainly spake in the beginning saying Surely they will ask of Abel and so make an end Abel was a City the Inhabitants thereof in former times being reputed just and pâ—udent were in affairs of weight resorted unto for Counsel whence it grew into a Proverb That they who needed Advice should ask at Abel Others think that this City-Matron puts Joab in mind of the old Law which commanded Deut. 20.10 11. that a City should be summoned before besieged and a Cessation of Arms upon embracing Conditions of Peace But to a Christ should the Soul now go for counsel and him should the Soul now consult as an Oracle who infallibly thus speaks Counsel is mine Prov. 8.14 Luk. 12.10 11 12 and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength The highest and the holiest counsel is laid and left under promise When they bring you unto Synagogues Magistrates and Powers take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer or what ye shall say for the holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say His Conduct As God hath laid his Counsel so his Conduct under promise He shall feed his flock like a shepherd There is feeding but is there all no Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs with his Arm There is gathering but is here all no He shall carry them in his Bosom There is carrying but is here all no there is leading also and that gently those with young or that give suck Oh saith the Soul the way to Hell is so much beaten and the way to Heaven is so little beaten that I know not how to go without leading Oh saith another the way to Hell is down-hill but the way to Heaven is up-hill that I know not how to go without leading But Soul leading is laid and left under promise I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not Isa 42.16 I will lead them in paths that they have not known Himself God hath laid himself under promise Ye shall be my people Ezek. 36.28 and I will be your God Who is able to say what God is One being asked what God was answered He must be a God that can give a Solution to this Question Now God Himself hath laid Himself under promise 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty Thus there are four things recorded and transmitted to Posterity in the preciousness of them There is a precious Soul As the Redemption of the Soul is precious so the Soul that is redeemed is precious The precious sons of Sion comparable to fine gold Lam. 4.2 how are they esteemed as earthen Pitchers the work of the hands of the Potter These are precious in the eyes of God but vile in the eyes of the world There is precious Faith Faith is a precious Plant an outlandish Plant a Plant of God's own planting and of a divine Extract Faith is not a Native but a Donative it is Heaven-born and not a Slip growing in our own Garden 2 Pet. 1.1 To all that have obtained like precious faith There is a precious Christ Pearls are precious Christ is a Pearl yea the Pearl the Pearl of great price of greatest price It would puzzle and pose Lam entius not onely all the Saints but also all the Angels to bring in the worth and the weight of this Pearl He can never dye a Bankrupt worse than nothing nor a Beggar worth nothing that hath this Pearl 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you therefore which believe he is precious Or Honor Greek One thinks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Abstract is put for the Concrete Honor for honorable and precious There is a precious Promise Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises 2 Pet. 1.4 So that here is a precious Saint thorough precious Faith closing with a precious Christ in a precious Promise DIRECT VI. ART actually in Christ Direct 6. Drink then of the Brook by the way and lift up thy head Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord Rev. 14.13 yea from henceforth saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them In this Bundle of Myrrhe in this Text and Truth so sweetly-sweet there is the Subject and the Predicate The Subject This is Blessing Blessed The word seems to signifie greatly blessed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and happy The Predicate Now this is referrible to two Heads the Pronunciation of it and the Amplification of it The Pronunciation of it Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord yea from hencesorth saith the Spirit Wherein there are these things The Persons The Dead The without Heart so the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Primum vivens ultimum morienâ— Arist for as Life beginneth so Death endeth in the Heart One therefore calls the Heart the first living and the last dying The Dead blessed are the Dead or the without Heart A Description of these Persons which dye in the Lord. In Christ Jesus the Lord in the Faith of Christ Jesus the Lord. Which dye in the Lord or for the Lord for the Lord Jesus for the sake of the Lord Jesus so Beza and Mede that pass thorough a violent death that suffer death for Christ and
cry of a Christ was a strong Cry Who in the days of his flesh Heb. 5.7 when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared Thus the Cry of a Christian is 't is a strong Cry when a Cry from the Heart This crying is called wrestling And Rachel said Gen. 30.8 with great wrestlings with wrestlings of God Margent have I wrestled with my Sister and have prevailed They that go unto a Closet Jacobs are like to go from a Closet Israels that go thus praying are like to goe away thus prevailing Jon. 3.8 A crying mightily was imposed upon Niniveh A Cry from the Heart is such a Cry A Desire from the Heart must be a strong desire such a desire as Christ had when he said Luke 22.15 With desire I have desired to eat this Passeover with you before I suffer When the heart is at work the Man is in earnest and heart-desires are earnest-desires Cordial desires are acquiescing desires As these are limited to the Will of God so they acquiesce in the time of God In order to the regulating of desire that it may be right it must be according to the Will of God 1 Joh. 5.14 If we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us We may ask long enough desire long enough pray long enough but not receive if we ask not desire not pray not according to the Will of God The Will of God must be the Boundary for our desires and as this desire is according to the Will of God so it acquiesceth in the dispensement of the things desired as to the manner and time of them The Soul that 's cordial in desire can say thorough Grace Lord what thou pleasest Lord when thou pleasest Lord where thou pleasest Lord how thou pleasest This person looks upon God as the Timer of mercy Psal 31.15 as well as the Author of mercy My times are in thy hand As his times of deliverance so our times of answer are in the hands of God The timing of mercy is equally to be eyed with the giving of it and the Soul is to acquiesce in the one as well as in the other Thus have I cast in my Mite concerning the desires of the Heart and from the Heart but by way of addition suffer of three things a concise and distinct discussion Whether the desires of the Heart shall be answered by Christ Psal 10.17 Psal 145.19 Prov. 10.24 This is evident Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear He will fulfill the desires of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them The fear of the wicked it shall come upon him but the desire of the righteous shall be granted Why the desires of the Heart shall be answered by Christ These desires shall be answered Because imposed Though desire is not answered for desire Ezek. 36.37 yet not without desire Thus saith Jehovah God I will yet for this be inquired of by the House of Israel to do it for them Because promised These desires are laid under promise Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Because encouraged There is an Encouragement Unto these desires Ask what I shall give thee If thou wilt not ask me then I will ask thee Did Ahashuerus say to Esther 1 Kings 3.5 What is thy request and it shall be performed even to the half of the Kingdom Thus God Ask c. After these desires I have given thee that which thou hast not asked even riches and honour 1 Kings 3.13 As there is encouraging unto so after asking How the desires of the Heart shall be answered by Christ. Christ answers two ways in kind in effect In kind Thus Hannah was answered in kind concerning Samuel whose name signifieth Asked of God 1 Sam. 1.27 For this child I prayed and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him In effect Christ doth not always answer in kind but when he answers not in kind he answers in effect if the desire be from the Heart 2 Cor. 12.8 9. and rightly constituted Thus Paul was answered My Grace is sufficient for thee Art actually in Christ Be joyous then Cordial X. for He is the Physician of greatest value That Christ is a Physician is evident that Christ is the Physician is evident yea that Christ is an universal Physician and universally healeth is as evident Who forgiveth all thine iniquities Psal 103.3 who healeth all thy diseases Who without a Christ can heal any disease but who unless a Christ can heal all diseases Here is healing yea healing diseases yea healing all diseases A disease is a malady or a malignant disposition of body or soul and the same in effect with sickness Disease may be reduced to two Heads Corporal and Spiritual To these distinctly Corporal Thus Jehoram is threatned Thou shalt have sickness by disease in thy bowels 2 Chron. 21.15.2 until thy bowels fall out by reason of that sickness day by day Spiritual As there is the plague of the Body so there is the plague of the Soul the plague of the Heart 1 Kings 8.38 When every one shall know the plague of his own heart Now if ye reflect diseases external or internal corporal or spiritual Christ is the Physician of greatest value and the Healer of all Mat. 4.23 He went about healing all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases among the people No sickness or disease came amiss to Christ. Mat. 9.39 He healed every sickness and every disease among the people If any oppose that these diseases are onely corporal it is more than I understand but if it be so it is asserted to my hand that he also healeth all spiritual diseases 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from sin yea from all sin But Quest Sol. 1. what manner of Physician is this Christ Christ is a choice Physician Christ is a great Person The Gods of the world are Gods before men but men before God They are Gods of men but not of consciences of bodies but not of souls Christ Psal 72.10 11. is greater than men The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring Presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer Gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him Christ Hebr. 1.5 is great greater than Angels Vnto which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my Son Christ is a great Person indeed He is God manifested in the flesh There are many who call themselves Physicians but are Mountebanks c. persons of a poor extract and skill but Christ is a great Person
ἜΣΧΑΤΟΣ ἘΧΘΡΟΣ OR THE DEATH of DEATH IN THE DEATH of CHRIST BEING A NARRATIVE of the First DEATH as the MISTRESS of MORTALS and EMPRESS of the UNIVERSE Consisting of various Sections and Directions as appears by the Index in order to a holy LIVING and happy DYING By R. MAYHEW Minister of the Gospel Author of Love to the Life and the Paternal Gift â—ob 30.23 I know that thou wilt bring me to death and â—o the house appointed for all living Cor. 15.26.55 The last Enemy that shall be destroyed is Death O Death where is thy sting Nil sic revocat a peccato quam assidua Mortis meditatio Bern. Quis intelligit se quotidie mori Sen. LONDON Printed by Thomas Snowden for the Author in the Year 1679. TO THE Candid and Cordial READER Reader A Reflection of four things the Immutability of God the Mutability of the World the Immortality of the Soul and the Mortality of the Body have been alaruming unto this Essay and alluring this Narrative of pale Death the Mistress of Mortals and Emperess of the Vniverse To these distinctly The Immutability of God Man is mutable but God is immutable Mal. 3.6 I am Jehovah I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed The most of Men are mutable as the Moon which scarcely abideth two daies in a shape but God is immutable Under all the Changes that are made by Man yea under all the Changes that are made by God there are no Changes made in God He is the Father of Lights with whom is no variableness Jam. 1.17 neither shadow of turning He is the Father of Lights not of Light God is compared to the Sun but his Light is much perfecter The Sun is the Body of Light but God is the Father of Lights of all Light Aethereal Natural Spiritual Coelestial The firmamental Sun hath its Turnings and annual Departures from us it rise and set may be clouded and eclipsed but God in some sense riseth not setteth not Psal 145.18 departeth not He is nigh unto all them that call upon him unto all them that call upon him in truth There is not only no turning in God but also not so much as the Shadow of it nor the least Imagination of a Shadow The Mutability of the World The World is a Mass of Mutabilities every Man every State every Thing is as it were a Planet whose spherical Revolutions are some of a longer and some of a shorter continuance That Cardinal was an Atheist Cardinal as well a Papist who preferred his part in Paris to his part in Paradise The World is a Fools Paradise and its Motto is This Something is Nothing Hoc aliquid nihil Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not for riches certainly make themselves wings they fly away as an Eagle towards Heaven Prov. 23.5 Luther The whole Turkish Empire saith one is but a crum that the Master of the Family casts to a Dog Who but the Alexanders and Caesars of the World the Nebuchadnezzars and Nimrods of the World the Pharoahs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 6.17 and Pompeys of the World that have been ordinarily the Lords of the World Riches are uncertain Trust not in uncertain Riches In the Vncertainty of Riches Eccl. 5.10 so the Greek Riches are unsatisfying He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied therewith Pro. 11.4 nor he that loveth abundance with increase Riches are unprofiting Riches Aut deserunt aut deseruntur profit not in the day of wrath but Righteousness delivereth from death Riches either leave us or are left by us They are not Food but Fewel to Desire They are like Salt-water the more we drink Dulce Venenum Bern. the drier we are Riches are like the Apples of Sodom more in shew than in substance and if touched they crumble to sulphur Riches saith one are a sweet poison The World and the Soul must part or Christ and the Soul will not meet The two Poles will sooner meet than the Love of Christ and the Love of the World The Immortality of the Soul In this World the Body was first and then the Soul but in Heaven the Soul is first and then the Body Origen If the World saith one be the Book of God then the Soul is the Image of God Plato Another calls the Soul the Glass of the Trinity The Soul is worth more Worlds than this world hath Souls in it The Soul is precious The precious Sons of Sion Precious Sons Lam. 4.2 having precious Souls And as the Soul is precious so the Redemption of the Soul is precious Psal 49.8 Oh how highly did Christ prize it when his Veins were breathed and his Vitals let out to redeem it He became obedient to Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 The Soul is the Breath of God the Beauty of Man the Wonder of Angels the Envy of Devils The Body is but the Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel and this is immortal Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the Dust that is the Body return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit that is the Soul unto God who gave it Christ and the converted Thief do go from Cross to Crown from Earth to Heaven To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23.43 Mark 8.37 The loss of the Soul is a considerable loss a comprehensive loss an irreparable loss What can be given in Exchange for the Soul The Loss of the Soul is a kind of an infinite loss for it is the loss of an infinite God Psal 145.9 and this God a God of infinite Love The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works The Soul is a Blossom of Eternity and hath a Stamp of Immortality Man hath a Soul Matth. 10.28 which Death it self despaireth how to kill Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul The Mortality of the Body Man is Mortal and not a Match for Death Zach. 1.5 Our Fathers where are they and the Prophets do they live for ever To be a Man is to be a Sinner and to be a Sinner is to be Mortal As it is true what Man is he that liveth and sinneth not It is as true what Man is he that sinneth and dieth not What man is he that liveth and shall not see death shall he deliver his soul from the power of the grave Man is but a Wink of Life Psal 89.48 Oculus apertus oculus clausus The Heathens Emblem for Life was an eye open and for Death an eye shut as if there were no material difference between the living and the dying Job 30.23 but the Twinkling of an Eye Death is the Circumference of the Vniverse and every mans Line meet in this Circumference May not every Individual say as He did I know that thou wilt bring me
is insatiable It is much the Moad to be in the Optative Mood The most of men are for wishings and wouldings He that is nothing but Desires shall have nothing that he desires but he that addeth good Endeavours unto his good Desires can desire nothing that is good if for his good but he may have it It is a Maxim in Philosophy All things desire good Christ is the Desire of Nations Hag. 2.7 I will shake all Nations and the Desire of all Nations shall come The desire of the Righteous as Righteous is only good Bonum in quo omnia sunt bona and alway good for as they desire Christ above all so they desire Christ in all in whom is all good and nothing but good Ask a convinced Soul a Soul convinced of the exceeding sinfulness of sin and ask a deserted Soul a Soul tossed with tempest and not comforted what they desire above all things in the world and they will tell you a Christ above all a Christ in all a Christ under all a Christ after all Psa 73.25 Gen. 30.1 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee A Child or I die said the woman a Christ or I die say the Soul and am damned too Christ is a delectable Saviour An Hypocrite delights not in God nor the things of God It is an Axiome in Nature that things are so much delightful as they are seasonable This is confirmed by more than humane Authority Marg. Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken spoken upon his wheels is like Apples of gold in pictures of silver Jonathan delighted much in David A Christian of Christs making delights much in Christ the Son of David the Lord of David To delight in Christ is a Christians Duty Psal 37.4 Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart To delight in Christ is a Christians Mercy Psal 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul If we delight notin Christ only we delight not in Christ at all As it is true it is the spirit of sinfulness to delight in sin it is as true it is the spirit of godliness to delight in God As Christ is the Object of the Fathers delight Behold my servant whom I uphold Isa 42.1 mine elect in whom my soul delighteth so Christ is the Object of their delight who are the Fathers Cant. 2.3 As the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood so is my Beloved among the Sons I delighted and sate down under his shadow and his fruit was sweet unto my taste or palat What was said of Titus Vespatian to be the delight of Mankind is infinitely more true of Christ he is a delectable Saviour and the Object of their delight who are actually his Christ is a faithful Saviour Christ Jesus the Lord is the faithful witness Rev. 1.5 One man will be faithful to another so long as the Sun of Peace and Plenty the Sun of Profit and Prosperity shines upon him but when the cold and nipping Frosts of Affliction and Adversity come of Exigency and Indigency come then look to thy self But it is not thus with Christ for he is most near when the Christian hath most need Socrates Plato Oh my Friends saith one I have not a Friend A Friend saith another is a mutable creature Summer-Friends are not worth the owning but Winter-Friends are worth their weight in gold Husband and Wife are one flesh Soul and Body are one person but Friend and Friend are as it were one Soul 1 Sam. 18.1 Prov. 20.6 The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul No flatterer can be a true Friend A faithful friend who can find was the complaint of Israels Sage He was never a Friend that is not ever a Friend A friend loveth at all times Prov. 17 17. and a Brother is born for Adversity Such a Friend and such a Brother Christ is if once a Friend ever a Friend This was the Motto of Valentinian An old Friend is the best Friend Amicus veterimus optimus Prov. 18.24 Matth. 8.24 25 26. Such a Friend Christ is he was thy Friend when thou wast his Foe If Soloman may be credited There is a Friend that sticketh closer than a Brother Such a Friend Christ is Christ was in the Ship when the winds did rise and the waves did roar charming the winds which were prodigious and calming the waves which were impetuous That Bottom is not like to sink where Christ is Dan. 3.24 25. When the three Children were in the fiery Furnace Christ gave a meeting and made up that blessed Mess Christ and the Christian in the Ship together in the Shop together Christ and the Christian in the Field together in the Fire together Oh immence mercy Christ is a fruitful Saviour The Cedar tree hath fruit on it at all times of the year Seneca A Heathen could say I had rather be dead than live dead Christians are to be fruitful and by their bringing forth much fruit God is glorified Joh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples There is no plant in Gods Vineyard but he will have glory from it by its bearing or glory upon it by its burning Psal 1.3 The tree planted by the Rivers of waters bringeth forth fruit in season I have read of an Isle in the Carthaginian Sea scituated between Syria and Cilicia so fruitful that it was called the happy Isle Certainly that Soul is the happy Soul which is fruitful for if the fruit be unto holiness Rom. 6.22 the end is everlasting life To be fruitless is to be useless and to be useless is in a sense to be essenceless We are as if we had no being while we reach not at least while we reach not after the Ends of our Being Job 6.21 Job's Rhetorick goes a degree farther and denies that he hath been for he is as if he had never been a meer nothing For now ye are nothing Hos 14.8 Psal 87.7 The Christians fruit is from Christ From me is thy fruit found A Christians growing depend upon Christs watering All my springs are in Thee A Christians running depend upon Christs drawing Cant. 1.4 Draw me and we will run after Thee A Christians bearing depend upon Christs blessing Joh. 15.4 As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me Christ is an incomparable Saviour Christ is a Saviour without compare Aut Caesar aut Nihil yea a Saviour without a Competitor Caesar would not have a Superiour nor Pompey an Equal Christ hath no Competitor and will endure no Corrival Christ will be All or nothing at all Isa 40.18 To
into a Chamber into a Closet and give vent to thy Soul there and is not this a great mercy when thy Soul hath been like a troubled Sea and thou hast cryed forsaken and forgotten out of the hand of God and out of the heart of God too thou hast gone to thy knees and told Christ of thy sins and sorrows who sends not away sad from his presence and is not this a great mercy Heb. 4.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Leigh The Cherubims or Mercy-seat saith one was a Type of the Throne of Grace unto this Throne of Grace may those actually Christs have Access they may come as the Sons of the New Testament and are not to come as the Servants of the Old If they come believingly they may come boldly or according to the Greek with boldness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with liberty and confidence of speaking all our mind but this Access and obtaining mercy is thorough Christ Jesus the Lord their High-Priest Rom. 5.2 and Intercessor Those actually Christs have a Gospel-Propriety in Audience from God at the Throne of Grace Is it nothing to have mans ear but what is it then to have Gods Ear who is all Ear as well as all Eye hearing all things as if he had but one thing to hear as well as seeing all things as if he had but one thing to see God heareth not Sinners but he heareth Saints I sought the Lord Psal 34.4 6 15. and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears Christ by those actually his may be consulted as an Oracle and have his Ear. This poor man cryed and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles Is it not a great mercy to have Christs Ear especially when thou hast none other Ear to hear thy cryes The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cry Those actually Christs have a Gospel-Propriety in Assistance from God at the Throne of Grace For a poor Soul to go to the Throne of Grace and be ammated there to go to the Throne of Grace and be assisted there is not this a great mercy Oh says the Soul though it is my duty to pray at all times and hath been my mercy to pray many times yet I cannot pray now my heart is like a Wâ—â—derness now like a Desart now my heart is dark and drad and down now that I cannot pray Is it so yet let there be no declining of duty for there shall be assisting in duty Like wise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8.26 for we know not what we shâ—â—ld pray for as we ought but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Is not this a Metaphor taken either 1. from one that lifts a piece of timber which he cannot do alone but as he is at one end so he hath one at the other end that helps him to lift it Thus must the Spirit help thee in Prayer or thy Prayer will never pass thorough the hand of the Son unto the heart of the Father Or 2. from a Norse that takes hold of the Child to assist it in gâ—â—ng and prevent its falling Thus the Spirit must take hold of the Soul in Prayer Prayer being a breathing out that before God which was first breathed in by the Spirit of God Or 3. from an old Man that leans upon his staff and cannot go without it Thus thou mayst go unto duty but thou wilt not go unto God in that duty without the Spirit Those actually Christs have a Gospel-Propriety in Acceptance with God at the Throne of Grace Oh saith the Soul I fear I have lost all my Prayers and all my Tears He hath a Bag for my Sins but I fear he hath not a Book for my Prayers and a Bottle for my Tears But Soul art actually Christs then person and performance then Soul and Service are accepted with God thorough Christ Jesus Eph. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Or according to the Greek wherein he hath freely made us free or freely accepted us Those actually Christs are Heirs of Gospel-Promises Are not the Promises great things Bilney Glover and Spira thought them so yet those actually Christs are Heirs of the Promises Are not the Promises great things when the Soul cryes for a Promise as the Woman for Children Children or I dye A Promise saith the Soul or I dye Christ in a Promise or I dye Does the Soul say I do not know that ever God brought and blessed any Promise to my Soul But Soul hast a Propriety in the Prince of Life then thou hast a Propriety in the Promise of Life for 2 Cor. 1.20 All the Promises of God in Christ are Yea and in Christ Amen to the Glory of God by us But what are those things which are laid under Promise Quest Eternal Life that is laid under Promise Sol. 1. Is Life nothing Natural Life nothing This is Spiritual yea this is Eternal Life Eternal Life is made up of Grace and Glory and yet this is laid under Promise In hope of Eternal Life Tit. 1.2 Non ab aeterno sed ante multa saecula Grotius which God that cannot lye promised before the world began Before the world began not from Eternity saith one but before many Ages Either God decreed from Eternity to promise Eternal Life or he did promise Eternal Life from the beginning of Ages in that famous promise Gen. 3.15 of the blessed Seed Is not Eternal Life worth the hearing worth the heeding worth the having worth the holding and yet this is laid and left under promise Pardon of sin that is laid under promise Ask a desponding doubting drooping Soul and he will tell you that pardon of sin is a singular mercy of the plural number What would not a cast man a condemned man give for a Pardon What would not a Soul cast down with the sight and sense of sin give for a sight and sense of the pardon of it Is not that a sweet word I will be merciful to their unrighteousness Heb. 8.12 their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more Power against sin is laid under promise Oh saith the Soul I am not a match for this Achan for that Goliah of Gath for these sons of Zerviah within Oh saith the Soul I find a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind Oh I find fleshly Lusts warring against the Soul Is it so with thee so it is with me but power against sin is laid under promise As the way of the Lord is strength to the upright so they that wait upon the Lord and keep his way shall renew their strength Isa 40.31
as he loves himself yea he seems to love them above himself for he loves them and lays down his life for them Who loved us Ezek. 18.31 32. and washed us from our sins in his own blood Why will ye dye O house of Israel For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyeth saith Jehovah God Why will ye dye will ye not onely kill your selves but also me Let me dye that ye may live let me have a Cross that ye may have a Crown let me be betrayed that ye may be blessed let me be buffeted that ye may be beautified let me be crucified that ye may be crowned let me be sacrificed that ye may be sanctified and saved Thus Joh. 13.1 a Christ loveth and who but a Christ thus loveth His are loved rather than Himself if not above Himself And having once loved he ever loveth Christ is a living yea ever-living Physician Physicians below may dye must dye yea Rom. 6.10 often dye before the Cure is made but Christ having once dyed dyeth no more but lives for evermore The Physician of the Body is mortal as well as the Patient and may dye before the Patient but Christ the Physician of the Soul having once dyed no more dyeth death Joh. 5.26 hath no more domiaion over him As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Christ is a valuable Physician Job speaking of his Visicors calls them Job 13.4 Physicians of no value but Christ is of value of great value of greatest value Col. 2.9 In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead personally Christ is rarely skilled infinitely qualified he knoweth every Cause to him therefore is easie every Cure Nullus effectus dature sine causa effectus sequitur virtutem causae Causa est prior essecto Faelix qui â—otuit rerum cognoscere causas 1 Kings 4.32 33. Prov. 8.14 Effects cannot be produced without Causes It is a Maxim That where sufficient Causes are in Act there of necessity the Effect must follow The Effect cannot be existent before its Cause Effects must depend upon their Cause as their Base and Principle It is an approved Aphorism That the Cause precedes the Effect in order of Nature and Time and Both every thing resolves into its principle It is usually said They are happy who know the causes of things And in respect of corporal diseases they say That a disease is half cured when the cause of it is discovered Christ knows the cause and therefore can make a cure Solomon was a great Philosopher his Parables prove his divine wisdom He was prodigiously parted greatly read in Trees and Pants in Beasts and Birds in creeping things and Fishes which manifest his humane wisdom But a greater than Solomon is here under discussion One that is not onely understanding in all things but also understanding it self I am understanding Christ is a sudden Physician Some Physicians of the Body are long in curing As some persons are long diseased palsical Eneas kept his Bed eight years The woman whom Christ called a daughter of Abraham had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years There lay also at the Pool of Bethesda a man which had an infirmity thirty and eight years Now as some persons have been long diseased so some Physicians are long in curing such diseases They are long in curing if there be money coming Their Cures are like Chancery-Suits depending several years Isai 107.20 but Christ is quick at curing He sent his word and healed them It is enough to the Centurion if he can but get a word from Christ Speak the word onely Matth. 8.8 13. and my Servant shall be healed And Jesus said unto the Centurion Go thy way and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee And his Servant was healed in the self-same hour Christ is a seasonable Physician The season of a mercy does greatly accent the mercy For a person to be sinking in the Thames and for another to rescue him from those merciless waves is not this in season Mark 5.23 24 c. For the daughter of Jairus who was at the point of death and the woman with her issue of blood of twelve years time to be both healed was not this in season For a person to be arrived near the Gates of Hell by his Sin and for Christ to give him check by his Grace is not this in season Zech. 3.1.2 For Joshua to stand before the Angel of the Lord for Satan also to stand at his right hand to resist him to be his Adversary margent and for God to rescue Joshua being a Brand plucked out of the Fire is not this in season Christ is a sutable Physician All Cures they say are by Sympathy or by Antipathy Both these ways Christ cureth Christ cureth by Sympathy In all their afflictions he was afflicted An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth Isa 63.9 1 Cor. 15.21 for a Tooth Blood for Blood By man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Christ cureth by Antipathy There is Good for Evil Light for Darkness Life for Death Heaven for Hell God hath not appointed us unto wrath 1 Thess 5.9 Non cur atur pars nisi curetur totum 2 Pet. 3.18 but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ Physicians say If ye would cure any unsound part ye must cleanse the whole Body Christ cures by Sympathy and by Antipathy he must needs universally cure that every way cures Christ hath once suffered the just for the unjust A Physician asking a Lacedemonian How he did answered The better that 〈◊〉 meddle not with Thee nor take of thy Physick Certainly no Soul unto whom Christ hath been a Physician will say so of his Physick Christ is an incomparable Physician Christ is incomparably qualified and under an incomparable qualification It is said of a good Chyrurgion or Physician that he must have an Eagles Eye a Lyons Heart and a Ladies Hand Christ with the greatest Reverence be it written hath all these A good Physician must have an Eagles Eye He that is good at healing had need be good at seeing that he may discover where the fault and the failing is Thus Christ is incomparably qualified He is excellent at seeing excelling in seeing so good at seeing Joh. 9.6 7 that he gave sight unto one that was born blind A good Physician must have a Lyons heart He that is a Physician must be strong and stout-hearted for if the Physician fail how will the Patient bear up his courage A Physician must deal freely and plainly with the Patient telling him the disease and the danger if he take not this or that he is a dead man c. Thus Christ deals freely and plainly with the souls of men and women telling them If ye believe not that I am he ye