the earth and did reverence to the King and said Let my Lord King David live for ever Adore the Lord God if he hath made your Children by his Grace Heirs of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken Give me leave by the way to bewail the great and common sin found among us That many children are sooner taught what Jupiter Mars and such Pagan Gods were than what Father Son and Spirit is Josiah when he was young 2 Chron. 34.3 enquired after the God of David his Father but many now when young after Heathen Gods Augustine of old complained of this Aug. Confes lib. 6. of hearing in Schools Joves Thundering and Adulteries and for giving an account of such things saith he Et ob hoc bonae spei puer appellabar I was called a hopeful Lad. Luther also complained that our Schools were more Pagan than Christian I referr the unsatisfied Reader to Pasors Preface to his Lexicon he observeth of Pythagoras his golden verses so much esteemed of and I fear accounted more golden by too many than our Saviours Sayings on the Mount how they begin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honour the Immortal Gods c. And as I have observed worse after I knew an Aged Famous Schoolmaster that after he had kept School about fifty years said with a very sad countenance That it was a great trouble to him that he had spent so much time in reading Pagan Authors to his Scholars and wisht it were customary to read such a Book as Duports Greek Verses upon Job rather than Homer and such Books I beseech School-masters if they must read such Authors do as they do that eat Mushromes or such dangerous meats use strong Correctives Shew Youth the vanity of the Pagan Religion and the excellency of the Christian Religion Perswade them above all things to be acquainted with the Holy Scriptures which alone can make them wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 when many vain books make many wise to Damnation If Children die what doth it signifie to say they were ingenious if they be graceless will Ingenuity save them They are as Thales Milesius that was gazing on the Stars minding their magnitude situation and influences when he should have been minding his way and so fell into the water and was drowned I pray God put it in the hearts of a wise Parliament to purge our Schools that instead of learning vain Fictions and filthy stories they may be acquainted with the VVord of God with Books containing Grave Sayings And learn in Prose or Verse the Histories of the Kings of England the chief Passages in their Reigns and some Maxims in Law and things that may make them truly wise and useful in the world I know I shall offend not a few in thus writing But let such remember my Authors before named Austin Luther Pasor and others that I might name and if I must have a Reprimand I am glad that I have such good company It is storied of the old Waldenses in France in the dark times of Popery R. his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they so instructed their Children in the great things of God that some Popish Doctors said that they learned more of the Doctrine of Salvation by talking with those Children than they did by the Disputations of great men There is another fault among us to be condemned the early and unnecessary sending of young men beyond Sea to see Countreys speak Languages before they have studied the grounds of our Religion and so are infected with Popery or Atheism I desire such before they send their Children away or the Children before they go to read Bishop Hall his Quo vadis a Book to which little can be added And then I hope they may be willing to stay at home How sad is it in most houses where the fear of God is not Of which it may be said what is said of Babylon Rev. 18.2 that they are a Habitation of Devils and the hold of every foul Spiriâ—â— and the cage of every unclean and hateful Bird so many wicked persons and so much wickedness is in them that the serious Christian may sometimes say in the beholding of it what Job said in another case O that my grief were thorougly weighed and that my sorrow were laid in the ballance for then would it be heavier than the sand of the Sea That there is so much Lying Prophaning the Name of God and so much of unsavoury rotten communications in most families and among Children that when they are men and women these things become common to them That if it be then asked what Christ asked the Father about his Childs disease how long ago this happened to them the same answer may be given even from a Child 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 9.21 I now come to a few Directions DIRECTIONS 1. Cry to God for Bowels of Compassion toward Souls and for Dexterity in this work of Reproving and Counseling that you may say with Paul Rom. 9.1 2 3. I say the Truth in Christ I lye not my Conscience also bearing me Witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual Sorrow in my Heart for I could wish that my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren my Kinsmen according to the flesh As if he had said I could almost be willing to perish for their sakes say with David Psal 119.158 I beheld the Transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy Word You Parents that are so tender of the Bodies of your Children be much more concerned for their Souls You that desire great Estates for them much more desire Heaven for them How many mind their Oxen Sheep and Swine more than the Souls of their Children Sauls Father Kish 1 Sam. 10.2 Gave over caring for the Asses saying What shall I do for my Son So be less concerned about the things of the World and say What shall I do for the Souls of my Children that it may be said of you as in Prov. 10.20 The Mouth of the Righteous is as choice Silver when you speak with tender Bowels of Compassion It is not you that speak but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Mat. 10.20 When God bad Moses to speak to Pharaoh and Moses Objected want of Eloquence said God Exod. 4.12 Now therefore go and I will be thy mouth and I will teach thee what thou shalt say That you may by your good Counsel overcome Satan as David by playing with his Musical Instrument made the evil Spirit to depart from Saul 1 Sam. 16.23 I know for some audacious Sinners it is better to be silent than reprove Hezekiah his command was prudent when Rabshakeh Blasphemed Isa 36.21 But the People held their peace and answered him not a Word for the Kings Commandment was saying Answer him not Let Prayer accompany the work of Exhorting Neh. 2.4 stand before the man as Nehemiah before the King and Queen praying to the God of
Beasts be not men or why I was not Christs Humane Nature is not for us to ask so he Ephes 1.4 You that were chosen that you might be holy not because he foresaw you would be holy so you were chosen to Grace as well as to Glory Blessed are the eyes that see the things that you see You are kept by the mighty power of God through Faith unto Salvation No man shall be able to pluck you out of Christs hand If any say then let the Sincere do what they will they cannot be damned Though they shall not be damned yet they may be severely scourged God can take away their peace of Conscience deprive them of much Communion with himself cross them in their enjoyments and make them to go weeping to their Graves If any reading our Statute-Law say The breaking of such a Law is only the loss of my liberty not of my life or of my hand not of my head and therefore I fear not Law every one would deride him 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in Grace is Gods Command to them that have Grace and they do so though the change at first be more sensible Let a white cloath be died black the first dip makes a sensible wonderful change dip it again it is more black but the change not so sensible as before So it is with the first and after acts of Grace first and after Duties 5. Let us learn more to enquire into the state and condition of our own Souls and less into the state and condition of other mens Souls I may know my self but not so easily another man some great Professors prove vile some weak ones serious that Dr. Sibs saith that Bucer after long experience of this said he would not exclude from the Lords Supper that man that had Aliquid Christi any thing of Christ I have heard of that holy man of God Mr. Cotton of New-England that he once said to his Congregation who were not pleased with it That if any Indian or other should step forth and say I love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth and should testifie his willingness to walk according to the Gospel though his defects were great for Ignorance c. that he would admit him to the Lords Table We all are of the mind of the Church of England that no scandalous person c. should be admitted and therefore by the way many Ministers are Non-conformists to their own Canons and Orders I would admit any man that by converse with him I had reason to believe to be sincere though I had great fears to the contrary Whilst I am writing of this blessed Ordinance this binding Ordinance this Ordinance God so much blesseth for the carrying on a work of Grace Remember we there receive the Body of Christ Mat. 26.26 The Elements though not changed in nature yet are changed in use As Wax in Writings of great use differs from common Wax One thus expresseth himself A Prince sends an Ambassadour and offers a Woman his Son and gives the Effigies or Picture of him the young Prince in Person not the bare Effigies of him is now given In Person how Not in present personal physical possession but in the true right of Relation as a Husband So is Christ given how Not by any transubstantiation but as a Saviour In this Ordinance God reviveth the decaying Graces of his People and gives them more strength It is with our Souls as with our Bodies they are sometimes sick and out of Order As sometimes when the body is sick the eyes cannot see well nor the mouth taste well nor the hands work well nor the feet go well by Physick Cordials or some means we are revived and all is well Some temptations corruptions cares of the world bring our Souls out of order that the Eye of Faith waxeth dim the hands of good Works grow weak and hang down the feet of affections are feeble But Gods Ordinances and especially this of the Sacrament revives us and sets us right again Sincerity then is the chief thing and above all gettings we should get it the Price of it is above Gold above all Treasures He that gets it not gets nothing in the world worth the having Solomon saith Fearing God keeping his Commandements which is the same with being sincere is the whole of man Eccles 12.13 for he had proved all other things to be Vanities But of that in the next Chapter CHAP. IX Of the Vanity of the World MEDITATIONS ALL things are Vanity All our Enjoyments pass away like our dreams We sometimes have really eaten drunken and diverted our selves with our Friends which time we desired before it came delighted in it when it came We have sometimes dreamt we have eaten drunken and diverted our selves with our Friend and we had then pleasure in our imaginations What difference is there now in respect of delight between the using these things and the dreaming of them So omon saith it often in his Ecclesiastes that all things are vanity but who thinks of it O Death when thou whisperest this truth in the ear of a vain ungodly man thou wilt make him to tremble though the often hearing of it now will not make him thoughtfull Whatever in matters of Religion men may deny this they cannot deny Take the Goliahs of their Camp the Giants in all Acts of wickedness they cannot gainsay this such a place as this cuts to the heart Job 14.20 Thou prevailest for ever against him and he passeth thou changest his countenance and sendest him away All the poor shift is that they will put these things out of their Minds Oh but they cannot put them out of the Bible Here we are but for a moment and we are all hastening to a place where we shall be for ever O Eternity thou that hast made so many stout hearts to quake and tremble let all men ever remember thee When we were Children we thought we should never forget the Servants that we loved the delights that we took up with and now all is nothing to us within a little time all our present enjoyments will signifie no more to us than those do now Above five thousand years were gone in the world before ever we were seen or thought of and here we look about the world and are gone out of it DIRECTIONS 1. Call to mind how uncertain the things of the world have been to many of our fellow-Creatures before us Exod. 14.2 Pharaoh King of Egypt was drowned in the Red Sea Dan. 4.33 Nebuchadnezar was made as a Beast in the field for seven year Acts 12.2 Herod that glittered in his Royal Robes was eaten of Worms Antonius Heliogabalus Emperour of the Romans his Garments were very costly and yet he would never wear one Garment twice his Shoes were embellished with Pearls and Diamonds his way was strewed with Powder of Gold and Silver his Vessels of baser sort were all of Gold his Rings
if you reprove not you are the cause of their damnation I have read in the dreadful Tragedy of the destruction of the English by the Dutch at Amboyna that one Dunchin who had falsely accused them one day passing by the Pit where sixteen of them were cast in that he fell on it raging and was distracted considering there lay so many men he had ruined How many go into Eternity whose Souls you have betrayed into the Infernal Pit by your sinful discourse or by your sinful silence Stop the mouth of the Swearer and Blasphemer as much as you can James 3.4 5 6. Behold also the Ships which though they be so great and are driven with fierce winds yet are they turned about with a very small Helm whithersoever the Governour listeth Even so the Tongue is a little member and boasteth great things Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth The tongue is a fire a world of iniquity And it is set on fire of Hell I wish you Moses's Blessing Deut. 33.18 19. Rejoice Zebulon in thy going out Suck of the abundance of the Seas and hid treasures in the Sands Have you been as those Mariners Jon. 1.15.16 When Seas have raged and ceased made Vows to the Lord Keep your Vows Instruct poor Pagans in the way to God Consider the worth of your Souls and theirs The better your Cargo is the more you fear Ship-wrack O man thou art richly laden that Vessel thy Body carryes a Soul of greater value than all the Treasures upon earth Let it never be said of it what was said of that Ship and men in it Acts 27.20 That all hope of being saved was taken away S. Y. THE PREFACE ALcinous the Platonist tells us That Plato thought that the work of a Philosopher consisted in three things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which I think taking the liberty the Poet speaks of Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus Interpres Herat. de Art Poet. I may tâ—uâ— English In thinking well in doing well and in speaking well What their Philosophy which was much of their Natural Religion taught them doth Christianity which is our supernatural Religion teach us but in a different way and in a fuller manner The design of the following discourse is to help in this work There are many things for Meditation of God his Word c. many practical Directions for a holy useful life several helps to speak to God and for God I know dangerous it is for a man in my circumstances to be a Writer But I care not if my counsel be accepted what becomes of my person I am perswading the World to play the Christian to play the Man As Solomon brings in Wisdom speaking so do I Unto you O men do I call and my voice is unto the Sons of men Are you men learn to act according to the excellency and dignity of your natures Let me beseech those into whose hands this Book may come if they have given up themselves to the Immoralities of the Age Drunkenness Adultery Swearing Oppression c. that have all vices that may make their lives a full Systeme of wickedness Vices the nanning of which may seem to corrupt the Air we breathe in Vices that need little more to their confutation than to be thought on I say let me perswade you to consider Is Sin an evil thing Grace a desirable thing Is God and your Souls to be minded above all things or not If not why do you say they are If they are why do you not live as those that thus believe I do not despair but that some who are guilty of the unpresidented Sins of the times Sins of the first Edition if they would consider they may yet learn to walk soberly righteously and godly in this present World I know such are ready to say Object Religion is abused to very bad purposes by some Answ I Answer And used to very good purposes by others Is Rhetorick to be despised because by it some bad men learn to colour a bad cause as well as some good men to flourish a good cause Is Logick to be despised because some learn to dispute Sophistically as well as others Topically Is the light of the Sun to be despised because one steals by it as another works in his Calling How many men had lived as Incarnate Devils that now live as Terrestrial Angels had not Religion healed their Natures and regulated their Lives Remember Sin is a great part of the misery and punishment of these men They are out God his Grace and Love and content to be so they serve the Devil and Sin and are glad of the work The Lord bring in such as their Elder Brother in the Gospel that was healed of his distraction and was placed in his right mind at the Feet of Jesus SOME Prison Meditations AND DIRECTIONS ON Several Subjects CHAP. I. Of the Fall of Man MEDITATIONS THat the finding out of our Disease is necessary in order to a Cure is not more true of the Natural Distempers of our Bodies than of the Spiritual Distempers of our Souls The Apostle mentions the Fall of man at large to the Romans to make way for the discovery of the Necessary and Excellency of a Saviour Ron 5. In the Fall of man I shall consider that we all were in the First Man as in Heb. 7.9.10 Levi is said to pay Tithes to Melchisedeck as he was in the loyns of his Father Abraham So we may be said to eat Forbidden Fruit as we were in the loyns of our Father Adam We were in him as a Nation in their King Adam was our Repreâ—â—eâ—â—ative If he had stood we had had the benesit of his obedience though he not we obeyed So he disobeying we are brought under the Curse though he and not we offended It is in vain in war if Subjects be taken to say our King proclaimed and made the War not we we never consented to it If the Posterity of a Traitor be disinherited it is in vain for them to plead Our Father not we conspired the death of the Prince we were not then born Besides the nature of man by the Fall was corrupt and a clean thing cannot come out of an unclean Job 14.4 It is true indeed what God said by Ezekiel The Children shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father Ezek. 19.20 If the Father sin alone it is so but this is not our Case for we find our Principles and so Practices corrupted Adam was but one man personally but he was all men potentially and originally I shall in order consider 1. What we were before the Fall 2. What Sin we were guilty of in the Fall 3. What misery we brought on our selves after the Fall I may sometimes name Adam onely but it must be thus understood that we all were He. 1. What Adam was before he fell Adam and Eve Gen. 5.2 are both called Adam Male and Female created he
them and blessed them and called their name Adam In the day when they were Created they were one though not by a Physical yet by a Conjugal Union they were two distinct persons yet one by nearness of relation and so I may consider them both though sometimes I name one only as I see occasion Before the Fall great were the priviledges they had for their Bodie and Souls Of the first sort 1. Their Bodies were sound and free from all distempers bodies that could not be disturbed by any outward colds or heats or by any inward malignity or humours Gen. 2. ult Ask the sick and unhealthy that are chained by many pains in Head Stomack what this mercy was 2. All the Creatures were in subjection to him Gen. 1.28 29 30. God gave man Dominion over the Birds of the air and over the Beasts of the earth and over the Fish of the sea and over the living things that creep on the earth The Creatures saw such a lustre in the countenance of man that they fear'd him so much majesty yet appears though sin hath lessen'd it that the Beasts fear us not a little For venomous Creatures they either had no venome or that venom could not hurt 3. He was seated in a pleasant Habitation Gen. 2.8 And the Lord God planted a Garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed The Excellency of which place we read in the 10 11 12 13 14. verses Where he was placed or where Eden was a Learned Author hath spent much time to enquire Sir Walt. Rawley Hist of World That Paradise was not the whole world is clear from Gen. 3.24 So he drove out the man not sure out of the world for Adam lived Gen. 5.5 nine Hundred and thirty years For the idle notions that the Rivers signifie virtues c. I will not honour them with a confutation The good things of the Soul were these 1. It was enricht with wonderful knowledge Gen. 2.19 20. When God brought the Creatures to Adam he on the first sight gave names to them that is names significative or expressive of their natures as if we should call a Lion Rage a Lamb Meek a Dove Innocent c. His Knowledge much exceeded ours his was habitual ours acquired his was compleat ours imperfect His knowledg was as much above the knowledg of the wisest man on earth as the knowledg of a wise man above the knowledge of a Child 2. He had a perfection of Holiness not only a perfection of degrees but of parts he was perfect not only if we consider Perfection in opposition to Hypocrisy as Abraham Noah and many Saints in Scripture are said to be perfect But perfect in opposition to any defect or imperfection Adam in Paradise was as an Angel in Heaven was as free from any Sin or contempt of God 3. He had frequent and immediate and full Communion with God Gen. 2.16 17. God speaks to man and man to God without any fear or dread What an honour is it for a mean man to have the ear of a Prince or great man at his pleasure Hence it was that Paradise was a lower Heaven which makes some think if man had not sinned he had there continued for ever 2. We come to consider what Sins we were guilty of in the Fall Man had very bad thoughts of a good God very good thoughts of a bad Devil very high thoughts of low Self Adam and Eve 1. They made God a Lyar and justified the Devil as a Speaker of truth Gen. 2.17 God said In the day you eat thereof you shall die Gen. 3.3 The Devil said You shall not surely die Gen. 3.4 The Woman said Lest you die God affirms the Devil denies and the woman doubts Many Temptations Adam had that we know not Now this was by Interpretation to give God the Lye How tedious is it among men to be called a Lyar and what effusion of blood hath it caused Now the Devil the Father of Lies is believed more than God 2. They lookt on God as unworthy to be their Commander and took the Devil for their Councellour God must stand by the Devil takes place They chose this God or Guide for themselves and Posterity hence it is the Devil is called by the Apostle The God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 3. They thought it unbecoming them to be restrained by any Law They should be as Gods Gen. 3.5 That there was some hidden vertue in the Tree that would make the Eaters of its fruit more like an absolute God than God would have them be and therefore God forbad the touching that Tree This was the Temptation 3. We shall consider what Miseries we brought on our selves after the Fall 1. We were deprived of the Image of the Blessed God According to supernatural endowments it was totally gone there was not one Spark of Grace left nothing of holiness remained in man According to natural endowments this Image was in part gone much wisdom much power over the Creatures was gone Gen. 3.7 They were as naked in their Souls as in their Bodies As Aaron in the matter of the Golden Calf is said to make the people naked Exod. 32.25 2. We were cast out of Paradise among the rest of the Beasts Gen. 3.24 Cherubims appeared in Shape like an Ox. Now man by Sin had made himself like the Beasts that perish and therefore God sends him to be their companion He is not now in Paradise but in a Wilderness not in a place of pleasure but of toyl and sorrow Gen. 3.19 3. We are naturally inclined to all sin and so exposed to all Judgments The Understanding is clouded with errour the judgment fails both in directing what is to be done and judging of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what is done The affections are carnal In a word the Soul is blinded Gen. 3.19 nay some so blind as hardly to see the Being of God That what once God said to Adam they are ready to say to God Where art thou Gen. 2.17 I know it is enquired what Death was threatned in those words Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die Some think only the death of the Body But I thus argue That Death that followed mans sin was there threatned and the death that followed was the natural death of the Body the spiritual death of the Soul and the eternal death both of Body and Soul and therefore all was threatned in those words Thou shalt die Is it reasonable to think that the great Law-maker put more in the Execution than there was in the Threat In Adam you find no confession of Sin to God but adding Sin to Sin Gen. 3.10 When he fled God calls to him how doth he reply I heard thy voice in the Garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid my self As if he had said I am hid because I heard thy voice it is exceeding
piercing it is the voice of a God and I am but Flesh and Blood and I cannot bear it But did he not hear Gods voice before Gen. 2.16 17. when God gave him a charge not to eat of the Tree in the midst of the Garden I was naked was another Excuse Gen. 2.25 Were they not before both naked and not ashamed When God told Adam plainly of his Sin Gen. 3.11 Hast thou eaten of the Tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat One would think now there is no room for an excuse verse 12. you read The woman thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the Tree and I did eat He layes it on the woman but the woman could not compell though she did tempt Nay rather than take the blame to himself he layes it on God Thou gavest If thou hadst not given me the woman she had not tempted nor I eaten Few know or consider the hardning nature of Sin One might have expected he should have cryed Lord pity me Lord contrive a way to shew mercy if there be any or if none Lord thou art just in all the evil that shall come upon me So was man exposed to all Judgments temporal distempers troubles losses death and at last to eternal Judgments where the Worm dyeth not and the Fire is never quenched And now to these Meditations I shall add a few Directions DIRECTIONS 1. Mourn over your selves and Brethren fallen into sin and misery Complaints against Adam are in vain Complaints against God are worse It was necessary as Calvin sayes that the will of man should be flexibilis in utramque partem God having made man it was convenient he should put him on Tryal of Obedience God gave him but one Law not many an easie one not difficult a negative one not positive no thanks had been to Adam to obey if he could not have disobeyed Consider it and it fell out that he sinned What have we lost in losing Paradise and the blessings there When Ziklag was burnt what an outcry was there 1 Sam. 30.3 4. So David and his men came to the City and behold it was burnt with fire and their Wives and their Sons and their Daughters were taken Captives What follows Then David and the People that were with him lift up their Voice and wept until they had no Power to weep What was Ziklag to Paradise what was the Captivity of the Body to that of the Soul How sadly do men look back on a burnt House and Treasures there and weep bitterly 2. Cry against the Tempter that you may through Grace out-wit him Was he too hard for man in innocency how much more now If any man wants wisdom let him ask it of God James 5. Cry to God against Satan as David against Ahithophel that God would confound the Policy of Ahithophel so Lord 2 Sam. 15.31 confound the Devices of the evil one 3. Strive against all Objections against God in this matter Though the Act Physically considered is of God yet not Morally And though it is true that second Causes cannot act without the first aliquid Positioum yet they may aliquid delinquens We have learnt of Adam to lay all on God To them that deny any thing of Predetermination I humbly offer this to Consideration Whether it be rational to imagine that it depended upon so pitiful and weak and changeable a thing as Adams Will without Gods Determination Whether Christ should come into the World and dye and so be a Saviour Whether the Providences of God in the World should be such as they are Whether the greatest part of Mankind should be in Hell for ever and thousands before the Throne Praising God for a Redeemer However Let every Mouth be stopped before God Luther says I put off questions about Gods Predeterminations with that of Christ to Peter when he asked an unnecessary question about John Joh. 22.23 What is that to thee follow thou me Officium agamus said Melancton Loci Com. disputationes de Predestinatione Seponamus Rom. 11.33 How unsearchable are his Judgments and his ways past finding out Many would search out unsearchable Judgments and find out ways past finding out I will not cut a knot that I cannot untie We that cannot solve the Phoenomena of Nature how can we satisfie our selves about the great Mysteries of Religion We are by Nature Children of wrath Ephes 2.3 and let us not so curiously enquire how Original sin got into our Heart as carefully enquire how to get it out For that Objection against Sin in Infancy Obj. Omne peccatum est voluntarium Every sin is Voluntary Mel. in his Com. Places says that must be understood in civilibus Delictis in civil Offences among men and yet sin is voluntary in Infancy quia saith the same Author eo delectamur because we delight in it As for such foolish Questions Whether if Adam had begotten Children before he fell Sin had been imputed to those Children we will not waste time to consider them Catarinus affirmed Soto denyed Hist of the Council of Trent as F. P. says Run to Christ who by once Suffering can save you as Adam by once sinning hath destroyed you Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made righteous Christ was obedient unto Death Phil. 2.8 even the Death of the Cross The Law is in full force against every ungodly man God hath still his Power of commanding though we have thrown away our Power of obeying God sees more sin in one wrathful thought than we do in actual Murther in one covetous thought than we do in open Theft Oh then run to Jesus that justifieth that sanctifieth that saveth He is our Joseph that hath all the Store-houses of Provision in a time of Famine As the distressed Egyptians said to him let us say to Christ Gen. 47.18 19. We will not hide it from my Lord our money is gone Give us bread let us be Servants unto Pharaoh We will not nay we cannot hide it from our Lord All is gone let us have Grace from him that we may serve our God and all Believers must say to Jesus as they to Joseph v. 25. Thou hast saved our lives let us find Grace in the sight of our Lord. When sin had slain us Christ had Compassion on us as David had on his Son when his own Folly had ruin'd him 2 Sam. 18.33 And the King was much moved and wept and as he went thus he said O my Son Absalom my Son my Son Absalom would God I had dyed for thee O Absalom my Son my Son Yet Absalom sought his Fathers Crown and Life and we would be as Gods Christ feem'd to say over us Would to God I might dye for thee and indeed it pleased the Father to bruise Isa 53.10 I believe that Adam through this Christ was saved Gen. 3.16 God
immediately on the fall applyed himself to him and promised a Redeemer Paul to the Romans makes Adam a Figure of him that was to come Rom. 5.14 If sin and guilt might have made any man pine away Adam had been the man that opened the Flood-gates of Sin and Wrath to break in upon the World and was the ruine of the greatest part of his Posterity yet hearing of a Saviour he lived almost a thousand years We are not so to mourn for sin as to forget to rejoyce in Christ our Saviour Of this blessed Saviour I shall speak in the next Chapter CHAP. II. Of the Sufferings of Christ MEDITATIONS GOD is more pleased with the Sufferings of Christ than displeased with the Sin of Adam he more loveth us as the Children of Christ than he hated us as the Children of Adam We must often consider the Death of Christ and be affected with it It was Prophesyed of old Zach. 12.10 They shall look on him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for the loss of an only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first-born And O what wringing of hands what deep Groans what doleful Out-cryes are there made oftentimes for the loss of an onely Child or First-born Act 2.37 What made Peters Converts to be prickt at the Heart but the Preaching of a crucified Christ I shall here consider 1. What Crucifying was 2. Who were the Agents in this Work 3. Who and what he was on whom this Cruelty was acted 1. For the manner of Crucifying There was Lignum Geminum as the learned Weems speaks at large in his Christian Synagogue The Cross had four things Arrectarium or Main-tree Scabellum the Tree where the feet were Nailed Lignum transversum whereunto their Arms were fastned with Cords and there Nail'd Vertex the Title with the Inscription above the Head This way of putting to Death was so shameful and so lingring that the Romans inflicted it on none but Slaves or the vilest sort of men Constantine in Honour of Christ took away this Punishment Christ had carryed his own Cross as all Crucified Persons did but they had so weakned him Mat. 27.32 that they made Simon of Cyrene to carry it not out of Kindness to Christ but hatred lest he being so severely handled before should faint by the way and their blood-shot eyes lose the Pleasure of beholding him tormented on the Cross The Romans call'd this Punishment Servile Supplicium for the reason before-named 2. We come to consider the Actors in this woful Tragedy They were not the prophane Gentiles or common Rabble among the Jews that only did this but the High Priest the Scribes the Pharisees 1. They that had so long prayed and waited for his coming Before he came into the world the Devout Jews thought Blessed were the eyes that should see the promised Messiah in the Flesh It was a Petition commonly made by them in their Giving of Thanks at their Tables Let our eyes be made worthy to see the Messiah in the Flesh What cryes were there Isa 64.1 O that he would rend the Heavens and come down Malachi that closed up the Old Testament foretold how though they longed for him yet they could not stand before him Mal. 3.1 2. Behold I will send my Messenger and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his Temple even the Messenger of the covenant in whom ye delight But what follows But who may abide the day of his coming And who shall stand when he appeareth For he is like Refiners Fire and as Fullâ—rs Sope. He dealt too plainly with the world conâ—erning their Sin and Duty to be welcom'd by them They expected a Messias to deliver them from the power of the Romans and God sent a Messias to deliver from the power of the Devil 2. They that were acquainted with the Law and the Prophets That might by Types and Prophesies have known that Christ was the promised Saviour 3. They that heard his Doctrine and saw his Miracles His Doctrine was spitual and Heavenly reaching the Heart and Soul His Miracles were not done in a Corner as feeding many thousands with a few Loaves his raising Lazarus from the Dead 3. We now come to consider who and what he was who thus suffered 1. He that did their Bodies so much good Paul sayes for a good man some would even dare to die Though scarcely for a Righteous man Rom. 5.7 That is consider him as righteous before God and so few love him so well as to die for him but consider him as good to man so some would lose their lives for him But here they were so far from dying for this good man that they contrived his death He cured all sorts of men of all sorts of Distempers he raised the Dead c. 2. He that came to save Souls from endless burnings and to bring them to endless Blessedness 1 Thes 1.10 It is not more true that our Bodies and Souls are now in the world than that they had been in endless misery had not Christ dyed 3. He that was God God suffered in the Person Acts 20.28 though not in the Nature Hence it is that his Temporal Sufferings were as much as our Eternal would have been Christ had his Sonship but not his Substance from the Father who begat him in respect of Personality not of Essence The dignity of his person made the Sin of crucifying him so great I will suppose that all the Saints in Heaven and Earth were met together yea that all the Angels were incarnate and among them and that a man or number of men should murther them all this Sin were no sin in comparison of what I now speak of the Crucifying of the Lord of Glory Christ suffered from first to last In his Birth for the Ancient of Dayes to be born in time for the Eternal God to become a Babe this is soon said but who understands the depth of these things Luke 2.12 And this shall be a sign unto you you shall find the Babe wrapped in swadling-cloaths lying in a Manger yet was all ordered by the infinite wisdom of God Had Christ been the Son of Herod or Caesar then it had been no wonder that all the world went out after him but that one so obscurely born should carry the world before him was wonderful John when in Patmos Rev. 11.15 foresaw That the Kingdoms of the World would become the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ which then was very unlikely in outward appearance He was sorely tempted by the Devil we read at large in Mat. 4. Gods end in all we have Heb. 2.18 Being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Ask the Saints what Suffering this is that often sweat under this Saddle when they are tempted to hate God or distrust him have such suggestions as are not fit
easily take Air or be seen by them in the Family They are one Body and contentions between them are as if there should be a fight between the Members of the Body As if the mouth should bite the hand and the hand strike the mouth A wrathful temper is commonly gotten by conversing with angry men and therefore saith the Wise man Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go lest thou learn his wayes and get a snare to thy Soul Prov. 22.24 25. Beware of men of keen Spirits That man will never live comfortably that hath not learned to slight what others think and say of him that liveth not in the frequent consideration of other mens vertues and his own defects Epictetus in the 48 Chap. of his Morals saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any man tell you that such a man spoke against you do not so much stand in vindication of your self as ingenuously to confess that if that man had known the whole course of your life he had charged you with more faults Few men are so humble as to say The fault was mine though they certainly know it is so Kindness and Love is shewn as in forgiving injuries so in supplying necessities Here we may bewail the disparity that is between many poor mens pains and their wages Though common wages be paid yet the pay is according to custome more than desert Etiamsi stipendia usitata praestentur saith Ames de Consci consuetudini magis quam sufficientiae satisfaciunt Then for Charity to the poor No man that hath loved the world better than his duty or Christ in his Members Mat. 25.35 shall be found at the right hand of Jesus in the great day The saying of Salvian ad Ecclesiam Catholicam hath been of great use to me times without number Opes quas habes in hoc mundo temporarias bene utendo facies sempiternas Charity makes Temporal Riches to be Eternal We have the benefit of them for ever DIRECTIONS 1. Remember what God Commands you to give to the poor that you have no right to and it is theft to detain it as may be made clear by this plain comparison One man by a Carrier sends so much money or goods to another if that Carrier keep all because all came to his hands he is a Thief and is dealt with as such God hath sent so much to the distressed by you if you give not you wrong them Obj. God hath sent so much some may say How much Answ Ask God by Prayer Scripture by reading Conscience by Consideration Prov. 3.97 With-hold not good from him to whom it is due Luke 16.12 If ye have been unfaithful in that which is another mans 2. Conclude on it if the poor die for want of what we are bound to give them we are Manslayers and Murtherers before God He that sees a man in the water and will not help him out when he can with ease he is as really guilty of his death as if he had thrown him in How many poor men good men have perished for want of their right If God should say to some great men rich men as he did to Cain Where is Abel thy Brother So where is the poor man thy Brother It may be he would answer as he Am I my Brothers Keeper But the same reply shall be made by the Lord What hast thou done The Voice of thy Brothers Blood cryeth unto me from the ground and now thou art Cursed Gen. 4.9 10 11. 3. Remember what an honour it is to be Gods Almoner What if God in Scripture had named you as Josiah by name and call'd on you to the work would you not chearfully have set about the work How did Job rejoyce in the performance of this duty Job 29.13 14 15 16. He caused the Widows heart to sing That his Judgment was a Robe and a Diade That he was eyes to the Blind and feet to the lame and a Father to the Poor Some object Times are hard I answer Mens Hearts are so Obj. Money is scarce Answ How is it then you have so much to lay out in unnecessary Attire Dishes at your Tables in Pleasures How comes so much to be spent in Alehouses and Taverns This O vain man is but a Fig-leaf to cover thy nakedness Obj. Others do plead Few of the great Professors of Religion do mind this work Answ I answer But from the Beginning it was not so The Jews under the Old Testament did much Christians in Pauls time did much Do not what most Professors do but what the best do Many in our time have acted worthily The famous Mr. Gouge now in Glory he set up an Hundred and fifty Schools in Wales and went at least once a year to visit them gave away many Bibles and Catechisms and took great pains in instructing Children in the Principles of Religion and would often say That he had two Livings the one in Wales the other in Christ-Church Hospital in London where he had done much good that he would not part with for a world My never to be forgotten Friend the Reverend Mr. Fairclougb of Bristol his Purse was alwayes open for pious uses especially for educating young men in order to the Ministry I might say much of Mr. Henry Stubbes my Father-in-Law were it not that it seems better to become another mans Pen than mine There are yet alive many men that are forward for works of Charity Obj. Some say What shall I do for hereafter Answ If thou hadst Faith as a grain of Mustard-Seed thou wouldst say to this Mountain of Distrust be thou removed and cast into the Sea and it would be done Can you trust God for things eternal and not for things momentary Luk. 16.9 Make you friends with the Mammon of Vnrighteousness Riches are unrighteously gotten by some unrighteously spent by others but unrighteously kept by many more Many get that honestly which they do not honestly keep It is by Gods Law another mans right I say to the Covetous as Christ to that man Stretch forth thy withered hand We read of them Amos 6.4 5 6. That invent instruments of Musick drink wine in Boles and are not grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Let such yet say as David when the Lord gave him rest 2 Sam. 7.1 2. When he sat in his house he said to Nathan the Propet I dwell in a house of Cedar but the Ark of God dwelleth within Curtains So I am at ease but many Saints in trouble Love to the Ungodly is also evidenced in mourning for their Sins 2 Pet. 2.8 would there were more Lots whose Righteous Souls in hearing and seeing are vexed from day to day for the Sins of the Wicked It is not how many tears there are in the eyes but how much sorrow there is in the heart Let your heart bleed because of them who are going merrily to the place of Lamentation Misery and Wo
Like men that should go on singing and dancing and calling for their Cups and Musick to the place of Execution I have spoken of several Duties of reading Scripture Prayer Charity but we must remember all must be done in Sincerity and this is the next thing we shall consider CHAP VIII Of Sincerity MEDITATIONS MAny there are I doubt not whose Sincerity no man questions that will be found formal another day and many that few thought well of will be saved Snow covers Dunghils Gilt makes common Wood and Stones look like Gold So doth a Profession and some attainments make many Unconverted Men look like true Christians When Judas went up and down Preaching the Gospel if any one had said to him Judas thou art now perswading the world to close with Christ within a little time thou thy self wilt betray this Christ to death for thirty pieces of Silver would he have believed it or would he not rather have said as Hazael to Elisha 2 Kings 8.13 Am I a Dog that I should do this thing Many famous Ministers great Preachers men of great Parts and Zeal much followed by all and accounted Angels from Heaven I fear will in a little time Mat. 258. cry Our Lamps are gone out Many forward hearers that have done many things set on Reformation and minded reading and praying in their Families will I fear in a little time be found to be Cakes half baked Hos 7.8 On the other hand there are many Ministers and People that are taken but little notice of for Religion that I hope will be saved Their Heavenly Father sees that in secret hearts broken for Sin and breathing after Christ for which he will reward them openly Many that deceive themselves thus plead I can remember the time when the place where the Minister by whom I was Converted 1 Kings 21.27 28.29 When Ahab heard these words he rent his cloaths he fasted c. God takes notice of it to the Prophet Seest thou not how Ahab humbleth himself before me Then Ahab remembred the time when the place where the Prophet by whom he was terrifyed so as to pray fast and had a Promise from God on the doing this work Acts 8.13 Simon himself believed and was Baptized Verse 21. And yet his heart was not right in the sight of God Philips Doctrine and Miracles Converted seemingly him that had deceived many Simon might say I remember the time when the place where the Minister by whom I was convinced and awakened and yet he was in the gall of Sin and the bond of Iniquity Gal. 4.14 15 16. Once again many of them received Paul as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus high words were ready to have plucked out their eyes and have given them to him and yet at last they accounted him their Enemy because he told them the truth No doubt many of them were but formal to whom he said Where is then the Blessedness you spake of These men could remember the time when the place where the Minister by wom they were reformed Many such men can say but little else but their first Convictions and Terrours Others plead That God hath heard and wonderfully answer'd their Prayers and that they are assured from the Scriptures of Truth John 19.31 That God heareth not Sinners but if any man be a Worshpper of God him he heareth And they will tell you of Extraordinary Providences that they have met with as an answer to Prayer I answer It may be God heard not your Prayers but your Murmurings as Numb 11. The Quails came at the peoples request here was a Providence but what was the close of all Some have desired Children Riches c. but unless these things have made them love and serve God they never were given in a way of Mercy but Judgment Or it may be God heard only the Cry of nature in you as he hears the cries of Young Lions and Ravens Gen. 21.17 19 20. God heard Hagar's and Ishmaels Cry When Hagar lift up her voice and wept an Angel calls to her and tells her God had heard the Cry of the Lad and it is said vers 21. God was with the Lad. Hagar and Ishmael might they say God hath heard and wonderfully answered our Prayers and God heareth not Sinners And yet both were cast out I doubt not but God doth work Wonders or Miracles for their Preservation or Deliverance that shall never be saved Some plead But I find I have Repentance I have Faith I yield Obedience to the Gospel c. Amen would to God it may appear to be so Yet hear the Word of the Lord Mat. 8.12 The Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out Conclude on it there is nothing in Art that doth more resemble a thing in nature than Legal Repentance resembles Evangelical Temporary Faith Saving Partial Obedience Universal Never was there the picture or Statua of a man that did more resemble a living man than common Grace doth Saving Never was any Brass Half-Crown more like one of good Silver than the life of a Hypocrite may the life of a Christian Have you so repented of Sin as to loath Sin as Sin for its malignity and evil nature Hath your faith made you to esteem of Christ his Ordinances and People more than of all Treasures Your Obedience unfeigned without reserves In the account we have of the sickness and death of Bellarmine done by C.E. the Jesuite one passage he hath to make him famous to the world which makes me more to hate the name and memory of Bellarmine than any thing recorded of him That when his Confessor came to him Such saith he was the innocency of the man that he could hardly tell what to confess insomuch that his Ghostly Father was in some perplexity wanting matter of Absolution till by recourse to his life past he found some small defects of which he absolved him The Author cryes O Zealous Mind O Noble Bishop but let the Christian poor in spirit that complains with Paul Rom. 7. of a Body of Sin and Death cry O stupid Soul O vile Hypocrite how secure was thy Conscience that at thy death hadst no scruple but the exchanging of one good work for another and that when commanded to it That was his leaving the Archbishoprick of Capua for better preserment What is related of him his lying on his bed with his eyes and hands lift up to Heaven his falling prostrate on the ground to receive the Sacrament his bestowing so much to feed the poor all these things signifie nothing when the heart is so proud so insensible of its own Gailt Then every man must try himself The Famous Divines in the Synod of Dort gave these Marks of Sincerity Dordrehti Synodus Vera in Christum fides filialis Dei timor dolor de peccatis secundum Deum sitis esuries justitiae A True Faith in Christ when a man humbly relies upon him for Life
and Salvation A filial Fear of God when we fear his displeasure as well as his Judgments a sorrow for Sin according to God when we hate Sin so as to fly from it to God a Hungring and Thirsting after Righteousness a desire of Grace more than any thing on earth DIRECTIONS 1. Conclude on the absolute necessity of Sincerity and beg the Prayers of Gods Sincere ones Say then to your Souls we must be upright If it were proclaimed from Heaven that but one man in a Town or City should be saved every man had reason to give all diligence that he might be the man knowing he cannot dwell with Eternal Burnings Are your doubts many beg the Prayers of the Faithful do as God commanded Jobs Friends Go to my Servant Job and he shall pray for you and him will I accept Job 42.8 Go to such a Minister such a Christian be not ashamed to go to them to knock at their doors to speak with them and enquire Acts 16 30. What must I do to be saved Cry as they in the Vision to Paul Acts 16.9 Come over into Macedonia and help us If a man be distempered or wounded in his body away he goes to the Physician or Chirurgeon Be as careful of your Souls as you are of your Bodies If there be any good desires cherish them Cant. 2.3 The Fig-tree putteth forth her Green Figs and the Vines with the tender Grapes give a good Smell Arise my Love my Fair One and come away Thy sincere though weak desires and breathings of Soul are pleasant to God and promise well Can any Babes in Christ say as the poor Indian when first awakened being asked what Sin was Oh said he it is the continual Sickness of my Heart It argues they are alive to God 2. Do not too soon shake off all fears and doubts Some come and tell Ministers how they cannot sleep some nights being terrified about Sin and wrath I am ready to tell them where they awake one night I would they did many They that have been so before them have no reason to wish they had slept the mean while Wounds must smart much before they can be cured Many break their sleep by night about loss of Children of Goods c. and make no great matter of it You may in a little time say of your hearts as Jacob of that place Gen 28.16 The Lord was here and I knew it not The first cry of the New Creature pleaseth God tormenteth the Devil If you are full of fears now the comforts of God will be sweeter to you when they come If you on a Journey were benighted on a Down darkness comes Rain pours down one Clap of Thunder and Flash of Lightning followed another and you were wet to the skin affrighted and every hour seems as long as ten and in the morning when light appeared and the Sun began to shine and you were brought into your Inne and had the comfort of a good Fire warm cloaths good provision and a good bed would you not be the more sensible of the sweetness of these things because of your nights misery O Christian Sorrow may continue for a night Psal 30. Isa 50.10 but joy cometh in the morning Are you in darkness and so see no light Hear you the Thundrings of the Law See you the Flashes of Gods Judgment Do the Terrours of God fall upon your Soul When God shines upon you then his Promises and Comforts will be sweet to your Souls 3. Never stick at any attainments but be alwayes going on Are you weak The strongest in Christ were once so One hath a good meditation upon this The greatest Giant was once a Babe in the Cradle The greatest Oak was once a Twig And the greatest Scholar was once in his Horn-book learning letters So saith he the greatest Christian was once a Babe in Christ and weak in grace All must grow sad it is for any to say if I have so much Grace as will bring me to Heaven I am content But who is content with just so much meat as will kill hunger and save life Or with just so much money as will keep him from debts and so from Goal Strive more and more against Sin Get greater power over Constitution Sins Company Sins and the Sins of your Callings If any should say our hearts are still bad after praying watching and striving remember still to go on If a man went to cut down an Oak the first blow with the Ax tends to the fall of the tree as well as the last if one should see one blow given and another and an hundred and the Oak seems as firm as ever and should say it is but in vain to strike any more what weakness were he guilty of At last down falls the Tree So the first acts of Repentance Faith Obedience tend to the pulling down of Sin as really as the last How many are prone to Pride Covetousness unchast desires revenge have found this to be true they have prayed many years and Fasted and striven against Sin and yet found as they thought but a little change and at last down hath fallen the Sin And God hath made them very humble very mortifyed very chast very patient Then take up the Ax strike strike and spare not Sin Sin shall be destroyed 4. If you find you are Sincere give God the glory through Jesus Christ When King Solomon was Crowned what rejoycing was there 1 Kings 1.40 They piped wâ—â—h Pipes and rejoyeed with great joy so that the earth rent with the sound of them Cant. 3.11 Go forth ye Daughters of Zion and see King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother Crowned him in the day of his Espousaels and in the day of the gladness of his heart God that hath sanctifyed you hath Crowned you with a better Crown of Grace and will with a Crown of Glory The Angels rejoyced at your Conversion and therefore you should rejoyce God in heaven and those your friends there are glad for you Luke 15.32 and you should be glad for your selves You once were under the same Condemnation with the wicked God sometimes pardons Sinners of the greatest sort and pardons â—ot some of the lesser sort As if a King seeing two men whom the Law had Condemned the one for Murthering his Child and contriving to Murther him another onely for stealing of a few Cattel or a summ of Money he pardons the Traytor and lets the Thief go to Execution Even so Father Mat. 11 26 for so it seems good in thy Sight Paul runs up all to the Will of God Rom. 9.23 Yet says Calvin Neque tamen ingerinâ—us commentum absolutae potentiae He is not pleased with saying onely That God is a Law to himself It is Gods Will saith he that is true but why God wills is not for us to know why he would wrap up so many men in Adam and they all fell by his Sin Why
and Jewels would he never use but once Who among the voluptuous sort of men would not be Antonius Heliogabalus now yet this man had always about him a silver Cord or golden Knife to dispatch himself if he saw occasion but he did not escape so the Romans took Him and his Mother after he had reigned four years and dragg'd them thorough the streets of Rome and broke their arms and threw them into Tiber Speeds Chron. that they might not be buried or the Air be infected by them Who would be Antonius Heliogabalus now How have many flourishing Nations as well as men been brought to nought Heylins Cosmog The Spaniards in seventeen years destroyed six Millions of men roasted some pluckt out their eyes cut off some mens arms and threw them to be devoured by Wild Beasts This is represented in that dream of Daniel Dan. 4.11 13 15. Of a tree that grew and was strong the heighth of it reached unto Heaven and the sight thereof to the ends of the Earth He that came down from Heaven cryed with a loud voice saying Hew down the Tree and cut off his branches shake off his leaves and scatter his Fruit What is become of the house that Solomon built for Pharaohs Daughter Where are the famous Structures we have read of or the men that dwelt in them 2. Conclude on it the things of the World are but vain else Christ and many good men had never had so few of them and so many of the worst of men had never had such an abundance of them Mat. 17.27 Mat. 27.29 Christ was so poor he could not pay tribute c. had a Crown of Thorns on his head when Tiberius that Idolatrous Pagan had a Crown of Gold on his It is a Priviledge the Saints shall have for ever in Heaven that they shall never see nor use any of these toyes there The vilest of men for Blasphemy Intemperance Uncleanness Oppression they have much of the world when thousands that breath after God and love him above all have Poverty and contempt God would never deny these things if they were not Vanities to the righteous and give them to the wicked 3. Make the thoughts of a time of dying familiar to you Think Must I dye then Lord it is high time for me to begin to live which no man doth till he be dead to the world If you had been made when Adam was and had from that time to this lived in all the delights of the Sons of men and were now to die you would be convinced that all past enjoyments were vanity If you knew for certain where your Graves should be where your Bodies should lie till the Resurrection would you not if you could go often to that Grave and weep there But that Curse seems to come on most men that came on the King of Babylon Dan. 4.16 Let his heart be changed from mans and let a Beasts heart be given to him Hence it is they delight not in God but in brutal beastial Pleasures and though they know they must die yet prepare not for it As if a man playing at Cards were told his house were on fire and desired to hasten away to save his House Goods and Children should say I will end my Game first and by that time he came all were burnt 4. Let the spiritual man the Heaven-born Soul be ashamed that these Vanities have had so much of his time thoughts and desires Epictetus directed his followers when tempted to flattery today 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Art thou a Philosopher So when you are tempted to immoderate delight in Vanity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Art thou a Christian A Disciple of Jesus that was deâ—d to these Gaiâ—ties Trust not you in Men they are Vanity When Isrâ—â—l was in Egypt in cruel Bondage News comes from the Court Pharaoh will let them go You may imagine how glad they were and how they did comfort one another but there comes a Counter word then they are sad Then a Promise again and they had the Word of a King for it and then it is revoked again Trust not to Men nor Things your Treasures your Relations are uncertain Comforts Look oftner to God less to the World yet am I not calling a Christian to any unnecessary sadness He may and ought to take delight in the things of the World seeing they help him to serve his God Meats Drinks Diversions serve the Body the Body serves the Soul the Soul serves God so that there is a high end in common things It is unbecoming a Child of God to be melancholy and casts a blot on his Profession The Turks indeed account their melancholy Men their greatest Saints and keep them as such on a publick Stock They as such as melancholy are sitter for Turks than Christians yet in all our Mirth and Chearfulness we should fear Sin I know Zeal and Langhter may be conversant about the same thing but saith Ames De Consci Non sub eadem ratione Zâ—lus enim respicit 〈◊〉 turpe risus autem inexpectatum aliqâ—â—â— leviter placens absque consideratione vel honesti vel turpis Zeal is conversant about a thing consider it as good or evil but laughter may be occasioned by some unexpected thing that pleaseâ—h a little without the consideration of the thing as holy or prophane Is all vanity then wicked men need not much rejoyce in their abundance not the righteous much trouble themselves for their afflictions Their sanctified tribulations shall do them much good when the unsanctified Prosperity of the wicked shall do them much hurt But the Benefit of Afflictions is the next thing to be considered CHAP. X. Of the Benefit of Afflictions MEDITATIONS THe brightest day hath an approaching Night and the pleasant Summer a sharp Winter Some of the best of men have been taken from their enjoyments and plunged into all manner of miseries Job is a great instance of this In the Morning he had Children in the Evening none in the Morning he was a Rich man in the Evening a Poor man He draws his own Picture as it were when in prosperity in the 29. chapt of Job and also when in adversity in chap. 30. of Job See what a great change a little time made upon him at one time he was as a King in the Army at another time they had him in derision whose Fathers he had disdain'd to set with the Dogs of his Flock We should expect and prepare for the greatest suffering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Fire the Cross or any of the Devils buffetings come saith Ignatius if I mistake not to the Smyrneans for I have him not by me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am saith he meat for beasts and yet was satisfied Some have been driven into Caves and Dens of the Earth Heb. 11.38 So were many of the Primitive Christians What saith one would keep them warm was their cloathing the Ground was