the Promise which is both infinite and incomprehensible 14. PARAGRAPH THus I have in some measure made it evident how advantageous the day of dissolution is to the Children of God and therefore cannot but wonder how any upon solid grounds can desire a continuance in this valley of tears especially if they consider also the many miseries and inconveniencies that aâ— incident both to soul and body iâ— this life and the irreconcileable enmity that is betwixt them in theâ— Conjunction As the Apostle Paul of serves in his Epistle to the Galation * Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusts against the spirit and 〈◊〉 spirit against the flesh and these 〈◊〉 contrary one to the other so that 〈◊〉 cannot do the things we would such and so many continued jarrâ—â— are betwixt them that they are evâ—â— prone to exhibit Articles of impeachment against each other The soul it complaines of that Original guilt and corruption which was translated upon humane nature through Adams transgression wherewith it was not tainted nor defiled as it came only from the Immaculate hands of its pure Creator And then again the soul saies had it been single without this earthly Partner it had never had that propension to sin nor that inclination to rebellious actings against the Majesty of Heaven nor that aversnes and indisposition to good Nor had its understanding as to those spiritual things which pertain to God been so eclipsed and benighted at the noon-day of such Glorious Dispensations Nor had it been lyable to such distracting cares and such discomposing passions which bring forth stormes and terrible Tempests that dayly threaten its ruine and destruction These such like complaints hath the soul against the body the spirit against the flesh There is amongst many more another particular which we have just cause to resent with much reluctancy This burden of flesh this house of clay retards our glory and for a time secludes us from our Celestiall Mansion * 2 Co. 5.1 6. For we know saies that Great Apostle that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of GOD an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens And a little after that saies While we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord from that Lord which inhabites that Celestiall house before mentioned to all eternity O! Of what excellent use it would be if we seriously considered that word ETERNITY It is of that extent that no men nor Angels are able to expresse being so farre beyond the reach of all conception For if all men in the world were exact Arithmeticeans and were imploied all their lives to adde number to number and multiply years the product of all their labours and the total summe of all their Accounts in respect of time would not carry the least proportion to ETERNITY Or if the mighty masse of whole earth were contracted into one heap all that translated into such sand as lies by the sea-shore one single small Bird would remove it all grain by grain before ETERNITY lookes towards an end Having already taken notice of those disadvantages that unavoidably attend us during the time that our souls and bodies are conjoined that is our pilgrimage in this world We have so little cause to keep our desires at a distance from our dissolution especially if we have any comfortable assurance of an interest in heaven that on the contrary we may justly rejoice when that day approaches and the houre drawes nigh wherein we shall be happily freed not onely from the guilt but also which to a good soul is fingular comfort the temptations and occasions of sinne Then shall that interposing veile be either made transparent or drawn quite from our eyes that we may with clearnesse and perspicuity discern the glorious sunshine of God's favour and passe under the tender appellation of dear Children and * Rom. 8.17 if children then heires heires of God and joint-heirs with Christ being freed from the spirit of bondage again to fear and filled with the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 15. PARAGRAPH ANd that we may be capable of such a Celestiall Estate It concernes us first to be truly humble to harbour a mean esteem of our selves and to set a rich value upon every mercy we receive and let the leat mercy which is more then we deserve be an engagement upon our soules to walke in a more constant course of Holynesse to the Glory oâ— HIM that is the Author of all ouâ— good That spirit is far from Christian that stands upon termes with his maker that dare look upon the least blessing with a disdainful aspect or upon the greatest crosse with indignation It is an humble soul and a meek spirit that are highly acceptable to God and where these dwell Grace ever attends them and that in a full measure He that hath a sense of his own unworthynesse and considers sinne as it offends the mercifull God of Heaven lookes upon every exemption from evil as a mighty mercy and every chastisement for sinne as a blessing And if precept will not engage us to be humble we have the most powerful and prevailing example that ever was exposed to imitation and that 's our Saviour Christ with what abundance of humility HE endured all HIS suffering Holy Writ makes plentiful mention Who then would not be willing to tread in his Saviours steps as knowing that it is the surest way to glory He that humbles himself shall undoubtedly be exalted as in the General Epistle of St. James * Jam. 4.10 Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and HE shall lift you up And again God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble And that which will further conduce to our happinesse is a state of self-resignation He that in the midst of all adverse conditions can cast himselfe into the hands of his God shall not faile to find support and comfort HE best knowes how to dispose of us Natural men in their exigences are prone to make application and have recourse to those which have greater Authority and power then themselves though they have no assurance of relief from them but certainly they have no sense of their own happinesse that will not trust themselves with the Lord who does not only allow but sollicit their relyance on him Witnesse that Text in the Epistle to the Philippians * Phi. 4.6 Be careful saies the spirit of God for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God There is no affliction can possibly seize on us whereof our heavenly Father takes not strict notice and weighs every dramme thereof in the scale of his Divine Providence which I have before more particularly insisted on which consideration alone is sufficient to preserve our spirits from sinking He that can steadfastly believe needs not fear for he shall have deliverance
Grievances and perplexities that are apt to distract us in our lives and also taken notice how fraile and fading all sublunary things are And likewise having endeavoured to raise some matter for satisfaction in our deepest exigences from the consideration of those nobler things that are of a more durable and heavenly concernment I shall next survey that condition which of all other seemes most terrible and is therefore termed the KING of Fear and that is Death it self whose very name is attended with trembling in respect of which all the afflictive incidences of mans life carry little or no proportion And so it is indeed more formidable then I can expresse to those that have not some assurance of a better life that are not furnished with spiritual Armour for this last encounter But I shall make it appear it 's much otherwise to those that have an interest in CHRIST who consider the unavoidable necessity of it grounded upon that unalterable Eternal Decree of Heaven And that * Heb. 9.27 all men are appointed once to dy They are so farre from desiring an exemption from that condition that they are said in Scripture to wait and long for it There are two especial daies for which the Children of GOD are said to wait The first is the day of death wherein they go to the LORD The second is the day of appearing wherein the LORD shall come to them They sojourne in the body more weary of it then David was of his dwelling in the Tents of KEDAR they waite with patient * Job 14.14 Job till the day of their change come and desire with the Apostle to be * Phil. 1.23 dissolved and be with CHRIST yea they pray for it so often as they mention that petition * Mat. 6.10 Lu. 11.3 Let thy Kingdome come They labour after death so far as it may be a meanes to abolish sin that CHRIST their KING may alone reign in and over them It is neverthelesse true that wicked and irreligious persons put the remembrance of death far from them yet for all that it comes upon them suddenly as * 2 Kings 23.24 Jehu furiously came upon Jehoram though they run to their Chariots that is their Refuges of vanity Death's dart surely overtakes them But the good Israelites of GOD desire to be ever prepared with their * Exod. 12.11 loines girded and their staves in their hands ready to take their journey from EGYPT to CANAAN whensoever the Majesty of the Most High GOD shall command them As fowles desirous to fly stretch forth their wings so do these extend their affections towards HEAVEN * Gen. 18.1 Abraham sate in the dore of his Tabernacle when the Angell appeared to him * 1 Kings 19.9 Elias came out to the mouth of his Cave when the LORD appeared to him so should we rejoice and be glad to come oâ—â— of the Cave and Tabernacle of thâ—â— wretched body that we may meâ—â— with the LORD of Glory This Messenger DEATH cures all our Maladies and rescues us from all our fears and dangers This is that Cherub that stands Centinell at the Gate of Paradise There 's no entrance but under his hand Thereâ— no passage to those glories above but through the Gates of Death here below But that which renders death yet more desirous to the Godly is the second day which they are said to wait for And that 's CHRISTS second coming The Apostle gives this as a Token of the rich Grace of GOD bestowed on the Gorinthians * 1 Cor. 1.7 that they waited for the appearance of CHRIST yea he gives it out as a mark of all those that shall be glorifyed when he saies * 2 Tim. 4.8 There is laid up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse and not for me only but all those that love Christs second appearing And again * Heb. 9.28 CHRIST was offered to take away the sins of Many and unto them that look for HIM shall HE appear without sin unto salvation Amongst the Jewes as the day of * Lev. 25.10 Jubilee drew nigh so the joy of those that were in prison encreased for that it brought them an assurance of relief Much more cause have we to rejoice the neerer the day of our Eternall Jubilee approaches when all teares shall be wiped from our eyes and sorrow and mourning shall fly away for ever But to encounter a little further with this great Combatant first I say that Death which the righteous suffer is not total for it can never strike the whole man but onely the weakest part his body the more excellent part the soul is partaker of Eternal Life Nor secondly is it perpetual for our soules shall not abide under the Bonds of Death the spirit of Christ that dwells in us shall raise us up and cloath us with Immortality There is begun in the Children 〈◊〉 Light a life which no death is eveâ— able to exstinguish though it maâ— invade the vital natural powers 〈◊〉 the body and suppress them one after another and at last break in upon this lodging of clay and demolish it to the ground yet that man 〈◊〉 GOD which dwells in the Body shall escape with his life Though the Tabernacle is cast down which is the worst our enemy can do yeâ— he that dwelt in it is removed to better As the Bird escapes out oâ— the snare of the Fowler so the soul iâ— death flies away with joy to her Maker The dissolving of the body to the Children of GOD is but the unfolding of the net and breaking open the Prison wherein they have been detained that so they may be delivered from that Captivity Here 's comfort in abundance for all those whose consciences can give evidence of their well-led lives And for those also whose peace is made with GOD through CHRIST by meanes of those two powerful Mediatours steadfast faith and unfained repentance The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romanes gives us this assurance * Ro. 5.1 That being Justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ The efficacy of whose death effectually applyed to our souls will sufficiently season and sanctify death unto us For how can we possibly fear that enemy whom our Redeemer hath already conquered As in the battel betwixt our * Gen. 3. Saviour and Satan Satan's head was bruised and he did no more then tread on the heele of our Saviour so shall it be in the conflict of all his members By the power of the Lord Jesus we shall be more then Conquerours The * Ro. 16.20 God of our peace shall tread downe Satan under our feet There is a seed of immortal life in our soules which no power of the Enemy is ever able to overcome So soon as we lanch forth of this life we arrive at the blessed Haven of everlasting happynesse where there is a Glory for all those that are heires of
he macerates himself through his own distemper the preaching of thâ— Word the performance of Prayer oâ— the administration of any Divine Ordinance to him is little available A Lecture to a distracted I had aâ— most said to a dead man is attended with as much efficacy ‖ Prov. 15.13 For through a vexatious sorrow of heaâ—â— the spirit is broken saies the wâ—â— man and so long as that continuâ— as it were disjointed and in piecâ— it 's altogether improbable that should receive an impression of gooâ— and bring forth fruit proportionably Now herein I would not be â—â—staken for it is not a Godly pentential sorrow that I speak of but a petulent vexatious trouble that brings such a discomposure and barrenness with it in respect of Good For by the first it must be confessed that the spirit becomes more maleable and of a more Divine and affable Temper whereby the seed of the Word may take deeper root and produce fruits answerably In this case though the spirit may seem to be broken yet no otherwise then the superficies of the earth is when the Husband-man intends to cast in grain And as that by the influence of seasonable distilling showers is again compacted and consolidated without any prejudice to the crop so a Christians spirit when softned with a pious sorrow through the sunshine of divine dispensations becomes more firmly cemented and more fruitful then ever being then in a better capacity to conform and yield obedience to the Apostles rule in * 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8. adding to Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience and to patience Godlinesse and to Godlinesse brotherly Kindnesse and to brotherly Kindnesse Charity and those in whom these things are and abound shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Apostle observes Thus having cleared my sense in this partticular I shall wade further towards the discovery of those inconveniences that attend discontent And as I said before it workes an indisposition to Good so it also layes Men open and leaves them lyable to much evil it 's deplorable to think how many through the violence of that passion have wilfully contracted the spanne of their life by an untimely death and made themselves more miserable by their distemper then the Almighty haâ— done by crosses Alas how apt â— that destroying enemy of Mankinâ— Satan who watcheth every oâ— casion and attends every oportuâ—ty to advance his kingdome of daâ—nesse to seize upon a discontent spirit as being then most likely work its overthrow either by aggravation of its misery or some other insinuating suggestions And on the other hand How do those insnaring subtilties and deceitful allurements of the world make it their advantage to encounter a spirit in distraction as then supposing it to have cast off the protection of the meek spirit of patience the best armour against such assaults Nor will a third dangerous enemy the flesh be idle at such a time but fly out into rebellion and leavy war against the Law of the mind and so subject it to the law of sinne Thus we see what a conspiracy of evil Instruments there is to destroy poor souls that are involved in this malady Oh! then what a madnesse is it for contemptible clay to contend with the Potter that can fashion and mould it as he pleaseth Oh! What a senceles thing is it for a man to torment himself and harraze his own soul with the vexatious thoughts of those evils that are beyond all remedy He that spurnnes against pikes of Iron can in reason expect to gain nothing but wounds He that willingly runs against a rock not only dashes the vessel in pieces but loses all the fraught for he that entertaines or gives way to discontent not only torments the body but also casts the soules welfare into extremity of hazard What will not a man do in the midst of this passion He 'le create quarrels with men and sometimes with those of neerest Relation to him without any colour of cause and so both betray his folly and run himself into a guilt of grosse enormities And which is more sad he 'le not stick to quarrel and contend with God himself if any thing be presented contrary to his liking or offer to thwart his humour What an hanious crime was it in that discont ented Prophet so vainly and furiously to contest with his Maker about such a trivial thing as a withered Gourd And it could not but afflict good Jacob more then the sterility of his wife to hear her queratously cry out ‖ Gen. 30.1 Give me children or else I die as though Providence were confined either to grant her desire or accomplish her ruine The latter is often true if the first be inordinately sought after or unseasonably sued for and this is very observeable that those who are excessively given up to the bent of their own wills When they see it disproportionable to the Will of the most High do not only meet with grievous Troubles from within themselves but for the most part heavy Judgements from God and thus it was with the murmuring and repining Israelites who because they had not every thing they desired esteemed slightly of what they had and because they were not exactly humoured became wilfully ingrateful and therefore were justly pursued with multiplyed judgements What a detestable humour was that in Ahab who within the confines of all Israel could not sind matter enough to feed his hungry desire nor satisfy his discontented craving mind unlesse he might enjoy Naboths poor Vineyard What an high contempt of the Almighties Munificence and bounty was this that he could not content himselfe with a Kingdome but labour with so much vehemency to gratifie his corrupt pleasure with such an inconsiderable trifle And to proceed yet further discontent is the mother of disorder it devides and subdevides not onely the senses but the faculties and sets them at an irreconcileable distance and enmity one with another and through this fewd and opposition they debilitate and weaken each other whereby that naturall and inherent life and vigour whence there should proceed lively and perfect Issues being thus decayed produceth little but obliquities and effect of decrepit nature Moreover he that is perplext iâ— mind seldome acts any thing that either pleaseth himself or another those actions and carriages that â—â— late to his own particular are for the most part looked upon with an evil eye as carrying along with them direful troubles doubts and disquieting Molestations and so being discomposed and out of frame it cannot be expected that those actings which refer to others should be any waies proportioned to their desires or suited to their pleasures But alas this is not the worst although bad enough to be opposed both to ones own and others advantage for he that discontentedly troubles himself for outward things either in respect of their miscarryage
destroying distemper of discontent 3. PARAGRAPH ANd because there may be some in the world that are more apt to be deterred from what they encline to by an apprehension of danger then any other consideration I shall therefore now shew how perillous it is to overprize earthly comforts and that will appear fâ—â— in regard it affronts the majesty 〈◊〉 the most High for we lessen thâ— esteem which we ought to entertain of the Almighty when wâ— overvalue those things which aâ— subordinate then consequentâ— this error must be acknowledged to be exceeding dangerous Oh! How can that God endure whose bounty freely diâ—penseth it self to the relief of aâ— those that have interest and affiance in him to see his creatures value above himself It will vex a natural man to see his favours feasted oâ— and his person contemned to bâ— beaten with his own weapon Hoâ— may it much more provoke the fieâ— anger of the Omnipotent God to breaâ— forth and consume those that creaâ— to themselves an heaven on Earth who though they live and subsist upon mercy yet under value the Grâ— Giver and Author of it For this 〈◊〉 undenyable that where the creatuâ— is overvalued the Creator is under valued and to speak it with reverence we do then as much as in us lies to degrade the Deity and debase the Majesty of our heavenly Father we ought to be very circumspect in this particular and armed with abundance of caution against the insinuations and attempts of our subtile and deceitful enemies who ly in waite and are ever ready to prompt us to enormities of this nature Satan seeks all advantages to withdraw our affections from God and to that end presents us with the world laid forth in all its variety and in its most amiable dresse and if that take us he hath gained great part of his designe for by the next degree he thinks to make us his own And then the World though a seeming friend becomes a reall enemy and contributes to Satans Design and like a cheating Gamester suffers us to win at first that at last he may go away with all He courts us with smiling flateries and pleasing pretences untill he hath engaged us and then he makes us vassals Nor are our corruptions idle but ready to entertain the worlds 〈◊〉 braces and like Tinder fly inâ—â— flame upon the first touch In 〈◊〉 regard we ought to be very carâ—â— how and upon what termes we 〈◊〉 verse with the world that we 〈◊〉 not be involved in danger 〈◊〉 fulnesse of the earth is made uâ—â— many ingredients and though tâ—â— are for the most part of a gross natâ—â— and therefore lesse taking yet 〈◊〉 are mixt with some that have aâ—â— ring baits and so attract our affeâ—â—ons when alas in the end they 〈◊〉 into emptines and can never satâ—â— the better part of man the soâ—â— but many times hazard the lossâ—â— that most precious Jewel that 〈◊〉 so dearly purchased with an Inâ—â—mable Price the Innocent blâ—â— of the Lord Jesus to recover which the powers on earth cannot lend 〈◊〉 least assistance And that which yet brings mâ—â— danger the fulnesse of the world tainted with poison with sinne 〈◊〉 the curse of God And what plâ—â—sure can any man take to drink that cup that 's mixt with poison though it be never so sweet and delicious to the taste Besides it 's a most defiling substance for whatsoever the heart converses with that's worse then it self it receives pollution thence and so becomes corrupted And though we have never so great a share of this fulnesse it falls below our expectation sinck it as lowe as we can And that which is yet more dangerous It costs us many thousand times more then it is worth our precious time which was a lotâ—d us for a better improvement our â—ar and daily thoughts that were given us to feed on higher things and often takes up our Immortal souls which should not fix on finite objects that here 's a large stock laid out 〈◊〉 it abundance of care to get it extremity of fear to keep it and many times exceeding much grief to â—â—se it And being obtained and â—â—held with all this difficulty it â—ay make us miserable but dever truâ—â— make us happy Oh! Then â—hat man alive unlesse he be given over to act his own ruin that haâ—â— a God to serve and a soul to saâ—â— an heaven to hope for and an hâ—â— to fear sins to avoid and Graâ—â— to acquire will imploy his tisâ—â— his thoughts his interest to becoâ—â— the world's Favourite when the 〈◊〉 fruition of earthly things in thâ—â— highest felicity appears so dangerous Let 's rather be willing to pâ—â— with all that 's dear and delight to us in this life then run so gâ—â— an hazard as the displeasure of Gâ—â— and the losse of our own souls Lâ—â— be ready upon every occasion to 〈◊〉 off these incumbrances that impâ—â— our progresse in our spiritual couâ—â— and chearfully embrace those helâ—â— and advantages that may direct 〈◊〉 further us in our way to heaâ—â— ward where we shall enjoy honâ—â— without envy sollace without 〈◊〉 row felicity without frailty 〈◊〉 comfort without end 4. PARAGRAPH HAving laid down the danger that involves all those whose hearts are let forth to an over-high valuing of creature-comforts I shall next examine what a perplexity and distemper is usually wrought both in the bodies and souls of those that have over-full estates and also what a torment it is to them when they are forced to part with them or otherwise suffer a declension in their honour and greatnesse especially if they be such as are meerly morall Experience tells us that excess is attended with sickness and superfluity produces a world of diseases neither of which are ordinarily attained to without over-plentifull estates Observe that man whose curious and craving palate is such that he cannot endure to satisfy himself with some dishes that are choice but will extend his command to 〈◊〉 superfluous variety of them anâ— after he hath fed so long as naturâ— will admit him many times quarreâ— with himself because his stomaâ—â— will not receive another course oâ—â— choicer morsels but becomes gluâ—â— upon the very sight of them so thaâ— hence proceed surfets feavouriâ—â— distempers and abundance of otheâ— maladies that cry out for the Physician who shall now be in more requeâ—â— then the Cook and a second sicknesâ—â— must endeavour to cure the first Thâ—â— health which is one of the greateâ— of sublunary mercies must be wantonly destroyed or at least be sâ— impaired as will render such a person in a decaying sickly condition so long as his life lasts When oâ— the contrary he to whom provident hath allowed a small portion in thiâ— world eats and drinks proportionably and so lives at a comfortable distance from such distempers Besides so great are the troubles thaâ— for the most part waite on a fulâ— estate that me thinks a due conside ration of them might
enduce us to rest satisfyed with a little First Envy is an unavoidable companion of Greatnesse this body can never walk without that shadow they are inseparable when on the contrary it scarce ever looks at a mean Condition low shrubs are seldome struck with lightning It is the lofty proud Cedars that are most lyable to those devouring flames David while he tended his fathers flocks lived merrily and without disturbance but when he once approaches the Court though by Sacred Election and Appointment and becomes arrested with applause and greatnesse then emulation and envy despight and malice pursue him close at the heels and though he forsake the Court and wander in the Wildernesse thither these blood-hounds follow him If he fly to the land of the Philistines they 'le find him out and chase him to Ziklag and though at last he arrive at his just Throne and there hopes to breath a little after all these tedious Encounters yet still he 's accosted with unquietnesse and forced in a most patheticall and sensible manner to cry out * Psa 132.1 Lord remember David and all his troubles Thus many are betrayed by their wealth and their very greatnesse creates a Judge to condemne them as malefactors He that falls from an high precipice cannot probably avoid bruises but he that suffers a fall on even ground is lyable to little or no harm Is it not then much better to be safe in a lowe condition then mounted high and subject to so much peril And then further greatness can never continue without vexatious and disquieting cares that are ever ready to perplex both bed and board to distract our sleep disgust our meat embitter our pleasures and shorten our daies Nor are the holyest of men free or exempted from these perturbations By how much the higher they are advanced in outward things so much the more trouble and vexation they shall meet with either in respect of instruments or otherwise in the managery of those affaires For where earthly promotion is distraction in some degree inseparably attends it That made Gregory none of the worst Bishops of Rome passionately complain of the clog of his high preferment confessing though he was outwardly advanced he was inwardly debased and that the burthen of his honour did insufferably depresse him and his innumerable cares disquiet him on all sides It was observed by the Jewish Doctors that Joseph the Patriarch was of a shorter life then the rest of his brethren And this reason they render of it that his cares were so much the more and greater as his place and imployment was higher And further sad experience tells us that Honour is rarely upheld without sinne and that grievous temptations follow great Estates The * 1 Tim. 6.9 10. holy Apostle Paul brands wealth with deceitfulnesse for that it cheates many men of their soules and so robbes them of those everlasting treasures that are preserved from all corruption and decay whereof they might have been made partakers 〈◊〉 not their hearts been inordinately 〈◊〉 on this thick clay this mammon of thâ— world And it is incredible to think witâ— what torment earthly men part wiâ—â— this trash How many men have loâ—â— their lives rather then they woulâ— lose their bagges or at least runnâ— themselves into such extremity 〈◊〉 danger to preserve them that they have ever after lived miserably Bâ—â— that which is yet more in sufferably grievous and lamemtable is the greaâ—â— Account that will inevitably succeeâ— these large entertainements at thâ— last and General day of Judgement when every one shall be summoneâ— to answer for what hath been donâ— in the flesh and how they have imployed or rather improved those Talents they have been intrusted with Oh! How terrible will it be then for those to appear before the Majesty of Heaven that have made Gold their God That in this life have doated upon a moment of time and so much sleighted the vast spaces of eternity Sure it must be very difficult if not impossible for such to make a faire reckoning in the failing whereof they become perpetually miserable And that conscience that before seemed dead will contribute to the soules affliction and sorrow and bring fresh to mind those evils it hath formerly delighted in Now if these several particulars be summed up as first those tedious indispositions and distempers of body occasioned through an Excesse Then those extraordinary troubles and perplexities of mind raised by inordinate and sollicitous cares for the support of greatnesse together with that Mortall hatred and sinful emulation incident to a full Estate besides the vexation in parting with and torment in accounting for this worldly pelfe and that which is most dreadful the hazard of losing our Immortall souls certainly these considerations duely weighed and seriously thought on have sufficient force to deterre any sober minded Christian from running on to a delight of these drossey and perplexing vanities these rotten earthly treasures Therefore steadfastly eyeing these many Inconveniences we ought rather earnestly to pray that we may be freed from the occasions of them which appears by what hath been said to be outward pompe and secular greatnesse then in the least measure to be afflicted for the want of them when at best and in their highest capacity they may perplex us but never really content us Object It may be objected that it 's a farre easier thing to say we may be happily contented and satisfyed in the want of these worldly advantages then to be truly so indeed and that the practise is farre more difficult then the profession Answ I confesse it is so and that all have not learned that Divine Art they must be diligent disciples in the school of Christ before they can take forth this lesson and become proficients Neverthelesse if these particulars I have already insisted on be well considered as the unstable and momentany condition of all things here belowe and how unsatisfying they are in their greatest confluence and abundance together with that exceeding danger that arises by an over-high estimation of them and also the many and great distempers and distractions that attend both body and soul in the fruition of them and parting with them and likewise the terrour in accounting for them These with such circumstances and enlargements as our hearts will be ready to find out and suggest will in some degree learne us how to want 5. PARAGRAPH But in regard all are not thus qualifyed I will endeavour to shew the difference betwixt those that know how to dispence with the want of creature-comforts and those that do not The first sort are principally such as have learned to frame their mindes with as much exactnesse as may be to their estates All satisfaction and contentment arises from this very conjunction of suitables a convenient with a convenient he that hath never so vaâ—â— an estate if his heart be not framed to it cannot be satisfyed And on the other hand if his
arrive at the approved Antidote and Soveraign Remedy for all our Evils and that 's devouâ—â— praier Nothing under Heaven will state us in a peacable quiet condition if this fail us without which all our possible endeavours and actings for relief are perfunctory vaiâ—â— and fruitlesse It must be the fervent and faithful supplications of ouâ— soules presented to the Majesty oâ— the Most High God through the precious merits of Jesus Christ together with the inoperation of that Hâ—ly Spirit * Ja. 1.17 from whom every good gift and every perfect giving proceedeth thaâ— can alone both settle our inwarâ— and outward peace and free us froâ— those disturbing perplexities and distractions wherewith the world is apt to encounter us Are we environed with temptations Praier repels their violent assaults Are we faint and feeble and compassed about with infirmities The * Ro. 8.26 spirit of God in prayer helpes our infirmities and makes request for us with sighs that cannot be expressed It is that spirit of Adoption that instructs us how to pray Prayer is like that * 2 Ki. 2. Fiery Chariot wherein Elijah was carryed from earth to heaven For by it we poor Mortals are transported to have conversation with God and to speak with him in a familiar manner and being in the body we are carryed out of the body This praying spirit presents our sighs enflames our affections and whispers words that we are not able to repeat Whoever speakes against us it becomes our Advocate and makes request for us is a meanes to infatuate the Counsels of all our adversaries and to remove every prejudice that is cast upon us All the imaginable malice off men and devils cannot cut off the Intelligence of a Christian with the Lord though he be separated from all humane society here below and lock'd up in some unaccessible cave yet can no man hinder his accesse to God and his addresser to Heaven If his tongue should be cut forth of his head yet his very sighs and groanes which trouble may encrease but cannot destroy will eccho forth his humble requests to the Almighty This is singular comfort to the Children of God that when they are cast into that extreamity that neither eye nor hand nor tongue can assist them in prayer they may consider Good King Ezekiah who was so much weak'ned with bodily diseases and infirmities that he could not expresse his mind nor pray distinctly to his heavenly Father yet his * Isa 38.14 mourning like a Dove and chaffering like a Swallow entred into the Lord's ear and brought him back a comfortable answer The least word of God in return of prayer hath power enough to make the blind see the lame walk the dumb to speak the deaf to hear and she that is sick of a Feaver to arise up and minister We cannot want consolation if we can get grace to pray For as our supplications ascend the multiplyed mercies of God descend light comes to resolve our doubts resolution to expel our fears comfort to mitigate our troubles joy to seclude our sorrowes meanes to supply our wants and strength to sustain our weaknesse If we converse with Scripture and Ecclesiastique story we shall find what wonderful things have been accomplished by this incomparable Engine [a] Gen. 20.17.18 Abraham's praier opened the barren wombs of Abimilech's house-hold and [b] Gen. 18. from 22. to 32. closed up the hands of the Angels who went with a purpose to destroy Sodome but could not bring down fire upon it till righteous Lot was removed thence The prayer of [c] Ex. 14.22 23. Mosos parted the Red Sea and was more forceable to overthrow the Army of [d] Ex. 17.11 Amaleck then all the weapons of Israel The prayer of [e] Josh 10.12 Joshua made the sun stand still in the Firmament [f] 1 Sa. 7.9 10 11. Samuell's prayer brought loud thunder and heavy haile-stones upon the Philistines [g] Ja. 5.15 16 17. Eliah's prayer closed the heavens for the space of three years and six moneths opened them again and this Example St. James applies to every Gooly man That we should not think they did these things by the priviledge of their persons rather then the efficacy of their prayers he shews that Eliah was a man subject to the same infirmities whereunto we are subject and that the prayer of any Godly man availes much yea if it be fervent no lesse then his And though we work not by prayer such external miracles as he did yet therby we drawe downe inward grace bringing light to the blind life to the dead and workes an admirable change by repentance It is storyed of Aurelius Antonius that in his expedition against the Germans he had in his Army a Legion of Christians who by their earnest prayer unto God obtained rain for the refreshment of his Army when it was like to perish by thirst and likewise brought down fearful thunderings upon their enemies Insomuch that ever after he called that Legion the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fulminatrix Thundering Band. Thus in all ages prayer hath bin so powerful and efficacious that it hath somtimes altered the very course of nature without and at all times wrought a change of corrupt nature within Nor can it be otherwise if we consider the most effectual intercession of our great * He. 9.11 12. High-Priest Jesus Christ who presents our prayers our praises duties services and all our spiritual performances unto God the Father and procures acceptance of him At the very instant of our praying he perfumes the Mercy-Seat having before sprinkled it with His bloud and mingles our duties with His Intercessions and together carries them upon the Golden Censer into the Holy of Holiest and there presents them to his heavenly Father unto whose sacred presence He takes our persons though not perceived by us as knowing that if they be not accepted our prayers will not for though by the Covenant of workes God did first accept the work and then the person yet in the Covenant of Grace he first accepts our persons in His Son and then our performances And that which is infinite comfort to every Christian because that in our best estate in our most refined Condition here below we are subject to many failings and imperfections in our holyest duties Therefore does our Eternal High-Priest diligently observe what evils or infirmities attend our prayers that may any waies interrupt their accesse to heaven and those he draws out and takes quite away before He present our petitions to His Father Here is mercy in such eminent manner as cannot be sufficiently expressed And this is clearly held forth by that in * Ex. 28 Mal. 3. Exodus where the High-Priest after Moses law who was a Type of Jesus Christ took away the iniquities of the Holy things of God's people To proceed yet further there is not any thing that can be expressed that is so highly
pleasing to God as the fervent prayers of his Servants He delights to have his Holy Name called on and to be conversed with inan humble supplicatory way We cannot be so ready to expresse our wants as God will be to relieve us If we do in faith and humility implore the throne of Grace Almighty God does most certainly either grant that which we humbly and immediately desire or in lieue thereof something of an higher nature that may more advantage us or else that which is a greater mercy then either of the former he sanctifyes the want of those things to the satisfaction of our souls Seldome or never did any faint under affliction that was attended with a praying spirit It is the most powerful help and surest support that ever Christian was acquainted with Though all the inveterate persons in the world were joined in a confederacy to contrive our ruine and left no probable waies unassayed 〈◊〉 accomplish and effect that end yeâ— such a regard hath the merciful Majesty of our God to the prayers oâ— his Servants that they shall becomâ— a rock to preserve us and split ouâ— enemies such a rock that all the weapons and instruments which aâ—â— can imagine though put into thâ— most dexterous hands shall neveâ— be able to hawe asunder At the voicâ— of prayer the very Gates of heaveâ— fly open to make way for the ascension of our supplications to the moâ—â— High at which all the blessed Angels in that Celestiall Mansion to speakâ— with reverence even leap for joy When we are at the greatest losse either in respect of our spiritual oâ— temporal estate prayer comfortably recovers us renews our acquaintance with God and so enables us to encounter with the greatest difficultiesâ— to repel the fiery darts of Satan and to arme our selves against the destroying influence of his subtile insinuations whereby he dayly endeavours to deceive us It is a meanes to frustrate the sinful contrivances of wicked men and to make discovery of their pernitious intendments and clandestine practises against the righteous and so prevents them It 's a special remedy against the insurrection of evill â—houghts it crushes and destroies â—hem in embrio it strikes them with â—eath before they can fully recover â—â—fe and kills corruptions in the â—â—ud before they be full blown And 〈◊〉 regard the purest gold may not 〈◊〉 altogether free from some drosse 〈◊〉 effectually refines the earthly part â—â—f a regenerate man that he may be â—holly fit for his Masters use Oh! â—hat we could live and die upon this â—bject in reference to which time â—ould rather faile then matter to â—scourse of Therefore since 't is â—ident how excellent a meanes â—ayer is against all our inward and â—â—tward evils and what a comfort 〈◊〉 all distresse let our souls and spiâ—es give up themselves to a constant â—nscientious practise in this saâ—â—ed acceptable duty that God may have the glory and delight in thâ— worke of his own hands so shall 〈◊〉 be happyed to all eternity 20. PARAGRAPH NOW I come to the last particular I shall insist on which 〈◊〉 this That we endeavour by all pâ—â—sible meanes and resolve throuâ—â— Divine assistance to be truly thankâ—â— to God in each condition to reâ—â—praise to His Glorious Name in wâ—â— state soever Providence hath cast 〈◊〉 If there were no other argumenâ—â— the world to engage us to sucâ— course this alone were sufficieâ—â— which the Apostle Paul asserts in 〈◊〉 of his Epistles thus [a] 1 The. 5.18 In eâ—â—thing give thanks for it is the will of 〈◊〉 in Christ Jesus concerning you Who dares upon reading thâ—â— words runne into such a conteâ—â— as to violate the Sacred Will of 〈◊〉 Most High It rather concernes to give up our lives in an absolute conformity thereunto [b] Psa 103.1 Blesse the Lord O my soul saith David and all that is within me blesse his Holy Name And in another place [c] Psa 146.2 While I live will I praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have a being [d] Psa 145.2 Every day will I blesse thee And I will praise thy Name for ever and ever He that peruseth the Psalmes of this Sacred Pen-man shall almost in every page of that book find his earnest and pathetical exhortations to praise God for his Divine love and care his power and mercy his Providence his Word and Ordinances yea also for troubles afflictions and every thing He exhorts all [e] Psa 148. Celestiall Rational and Terrestriall creatures to this Duty and to perform it upon all kinds of [f] Psa 150. Instruments Never was any a greater Scholler in this Schoole nor a greater Proficient in this work then David and hath left it as a Rule to all that â—hall succeed him Job was of an excellent temper too who when he had â—ost his estate lost his children and all Relations that were neer and dear to him could comfortably say [g] Job 1.21 The Lord gives and the Lord take blessed be his name Though his enemiâ— encreased and his friends stood afâ—â—â— off and he himself almost given 〈◊〉 to the hands of Satan yet for all thâ—â— he blesseth the Lord. If we consider thâ—â— excellencies of God we have infinâ—â— cause to praise him if we likewâ—â—â— look upon the mercies and beneâ—â—â— we daily receive we have as muâ—â— cause to give thankes There is 〈◊〉 condition so disconsolated but atteâ—â—ed with some good No darkneâ—â— in that extreamity but hath â—oâ—â— light No affliction so miserable but is mingled with mercy therefore we are engaged to be thankeâ—â—â— Our Saviour Christ could say whâ—â— he had not where to lay his head [h] Ma. 11.25 Faâ—â— I thank thee When he went to his 〈◊〉 gony and sweat drops of bloudâ— There was saies the Text a Psaâ—â— of praise Who would not be willinâ— to follow such a glorious example There is no affliction that can beâ—â— a Christian though never so shaâ—â— and grievous but is usually atteâ—â—ed with this advantage it gives an opportunity to exercise such graces as patience and the like which a prosperous estate seldome or never takes notice of so that if our tribulation seem to deprive us of one mercy it fits us with another which may justly call for our thankfulnesse Though the children of Israel lost their Moses God gave them a Joâ—hua Though he took away Ely he raised up Samuel so that this is but mercy exchanged to the greater benefit of those it respects It is Gods way to examine what stock of grace we have and to make other provision for us accordingly And if he observe that our gifts acquirements and natural parts soar high and grow strong and are unwilling to hold proportion with our stock of Grace then doth he mingle our wine with water and takes us a degree lower yet neverthelesse this losse becomes our gain and this weaknesse makes us strong so that hence we have abundant cause