wherein they basely languish and lose their soules and leaue the successe issue and euent of all thy labours and vndertakings vnto the Lord whatsoeuer it may bee resting sweetly and euer relying vpon that gracious promise Heb. 13. 5. I will neuer faile thee nor forsake thee In ordering and guiding the affaires of thy family depend by faith vpon Gods blessing the strength and sinew of all sound comfort and true contentation that way See Psal. 127. In the losse of outward things for thy loue and seruice vnto God by beleeuing that Man of God 2. Chron. 25. 9. The Lord is able to giue thee much more then this Nay in the losse of all earthly things in euery kind see Habac. 3. 17 18. Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Oliue shall faile and the fields shall yeeld no meate the flocke shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalles yet I will reioyce in the Lord I will ioy in the God of my saluation Consider also for this purpose Iobs patient blessing of God vpon the surprize and concurrence of an vniuersall misery Iob 1. 21. In pangs of the New-birth spirituall infancy weakenesses of faith prayer godly sorrow and other graces by those cordiall refreshing promises Reu. 21. 6. Math. 5. 6. Isa. 42. 3. and 40. 11. and 57. 15. In oppositions against the raising or restauration of spirituall buildings by the Ministery of the Word or in temptations against a mans personall progresse and holding out against Gods waies vnto the end by renouncing our owne strength disclaiming the arme of flesh and crying in euery encounter Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hoasts What art thou O great mountaine c In languishings and tremblings after relapse into some old or fall into some new sinne by such precious places as these 1. Ioh. 2. 1. Luk. 17. 4. 1. Sam. 12. 20. 1. Iohn 1. 9. From this last place a reuerend Diuine collects this comfort If we see our vnworthinesse and with broken hearts acknowledge it God is faithfull and iust to forgiue it bee it neuer so great But this is a iewell fit onely for the eare of a sincere Christian when out of the fearefulnesse of his distrustfull spirit he puts off all comfort though truely humbled after ensnarement in some more speciall affrighting sinne Let no swine trample vpon it In all kindes of temptations by the power of that promise 1. Cor. 10. 13. Nay euen amidst varietie of them by obeying that precept Iam. 1. 2. My brethren count it all ioy when you fall into diuers temptations In spirituall desertion by refreshing and resting thy sinking soule in the meane time vntill the Lord returne vpon that surest Rocke Isa. 30. 18. Blessed are all they that waite for him Most blessed deare and sweetest Sanctuary If the Christian die in that waiting state he shall be certainely saued For the holy Ghost pronounceth him blessed In the deepe and almost despairing apprehensions of thine extreme vilenesse and as it were nothingnesse in grace by apprehending that most mercifull promise from Gods owne mouth Isa. 43. 25. In thy perplexed and troubled thoughts about returne after backsliding by those comfortable encouragements Ier. 3. 1 12 13 14 22. Hos. 14. 1 2 4. In doubts of losing the loue of God and life of Grace by consideration of those passages in Gods Booke where it appeares that the loue of God vnto his child in respect of tendernesse and constancy is infinitely dearer then that of a most louing mother to her little one Isai. 49. 15. stronger then the stony Mountaines and Rocks of flint Isa. 54. 10. as constant as the courses of the Sunne and of the Moone and of the Starres and of the day and of the night Ier. 31. 36. and 33. 20. nay as sure as God himselfe Psal. 89. 33 34 35. In the Haile stormes of slanderous arrowes and empoysoned darts of disgrace by cleauing to most glorious promises 1. Pet. 4. 14. Mat. 5. 11. In the valley of the shadow of death by an assurance of Gods mercifull omnipotent presence Psal. 23. 4. In the extremitie depth of such desperate distresses and perplexities wherein in thy present feeling thou canst see and find no possibilitie of helpe from Heauen or Earth God or Man but art both helpelesse and hopelesse as the Church complaines Lam. 3. 18. by such like places as those Isai. 33. 9 10. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Gen. 22. 14. Exod. 14. 13. Psal. 78. 65. In euery thing or any thing that shall or can possibly befall thee prosperitie or pouertie crosse or comfort calmnesse of conscience or tempests of terror life or death c. by extracting abundance of vnconquerable patience and peace of soule from those three heauenly golden conduits of sweetest comfort Rom. 8. ver 18 28 32. Thus in any trouble of soule body good name outward state present or to come thou mayest by the soueraigne power of faith working vpon the Word not onely draw out the sting and expell the poison of it but also create a great deale of comfort to thy truly-humbled soule and maintaine it in despite of all mortall or infernall opposition in a constant spirituall gladnesse For all those promises whereupon thy heauy heart in such cases may repose and refresh it selfe haue their being from the blessed name Iehoua see Exo. 6. 3. and therefore are as sure as God himselfe they are sealed with the bloody sufferings of his onely Sonne and therefore as true as truth it selfe and if thou be in Christ are all as certainely thine as the heart in thy body or blood that runnes in thy veines Nay and a little more for thy comfort the glory of Gods truth is mightily aduanced and himselfe extraordinarily pleased by thy more resolute stedfast and triumphant cleauing vnto them What a blessed sweete and heauenly life then is the life of faith V. Apprehend in thy minde and settle in thine heart a true estimate and right conceit of the substance and power marrow and materials of Christianitie Which doth not consist as too many suppose In outward shewes profession talking in holding strict points defending precise opinions contesting against the corruptions of the times in the worke wrought externall formes of religious exercises set-taskes of hearing reading conference and the like in some solemne outward extraordinarie abstinences and forbearances censuring others c. But in righteousnesse peace ioy in the holy Ghost in meekenesse tender-heartednesse loue in patience humilitie contentednesse in mortification of sinne moderation of passion holy guidance of the tongue in workes of mercy iustice and truth in fidelitie painfulnesse in our Callings conscionable conuersing with men in reuerence vnto superiours loue of our enemies an open-hearted reall fruitfull affectionatenesse and bounty to Gods people in heauenly-mindednesse selfe-deniall the life of faith in dis-esteeme of earthly things
euen Bellarmine himselfe speakes proportionably in another case Vpon a passage in Austin acknowledging the interior efficacy of Gods Spirit giuing testimony to our hearts concerning the truth of that which is contained in the Scriptures saith he This light of faith is a certaine testimonie of God by which it is said to the secret cogitations of our hearts That is true thou needest not to doubt thereof Here is an immediate testimony of the Spirit granted for the confirmation of the truth of the Word why may not the like bee expected for an assurance of the worke of the Word Mighty and remarkeable was the worke of the Spirit this way vpon the heart of that Noble Martyr Robert Glouer vpon the first sight and representation of the Stake so sweetely seasonable is God in all his refreshings For two or three dayes before his death hee was full heauily oppressed with the spirituall miseries of a dead heart and spirituall desertion In which time no doubt hee cried mightily vnto God and often reflected the eye of his renewed conscience vpon a truly beleeuing penitent humble holy and heauenly heart resolued to sacrifice its warmest blood in the mercilesse fire for the testimony of Iesus and yet no comfort would come But in the very nicke and needfull time as you may see in the Story the blessed Spirit did suddenly shine into his darke and desolate soule with the glorious beames of his owne immediate comfort and so sensibly filled it with such ouerflowing Riuers of spirituall ioyes that no doubt they mightily abated and quencht the ragefull fury of those Popish flames wherein hee sweetely fell asleepe It was a speciall and immediate springing of the holy Ghost in his heart which made Master Peacock after many dayes of extremest horrour professe that The ioy which be felt in his conscience was incredible We feele and acknowledge by daily experience that Satan doth immediately iniect and shall not the blessed Spirit after his holy and heauenly manner immediately also suggest sometimes Neither is this to bee reputed an extraordinary reuelation or Enthusiasme without or beside the Word of God I heartily abominate all Anabaptisticall fooleries and phrensies For that which the Spirit so reueiles vnto our consciences we our selues may collect and conclude out of Gods Word vpon the conscience of our faith repentance other sauing endowments and holy graces shining in our soules and vprightly exercised in our whole conuersation When wee by these meanes haue assured our soules that we are the children of God which is the testimony of our owne renewed spirits the Spirit of God as another witnesse secondeth and confirmeth this assurance by diuine inspiration and by sweet motions and feelings of Gods speciall goodnesse and glorious sauing presence and so acording to the Apostles phrase Rom. 8. 16. beareth witnesse with our spirits Wherefore if any man presume vpon or pretend any immediate suggestion or reuelation for his spirituall safetie and euerlasting well-beeing and yet want vtterly the testimony of 〈◊〉 renewed conscience to the same purpose the testimony of vniuersall obedience of not lying willingly and delightfully in any one knowne sin of crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts c. I can giue him none but this cold comfort hee is cursedly coozened by the Deuils counterfeit glory of an Angell casting into his abused imagination such groundlesse conceits which in time of triall will vanish into nothing and flye away as a dreame By the way let me tell you that though this last manner of assurance bee more immediately from the Spirit yet conceiue that the other also are not effectuall vpon the heart without the excitation illumination and assistance of the same blessed Spirit For the first consider that forecited place 1. Corinth 2. 12. For the second when the conscience through the ministrie of the Law doth testifie to a man his state in sinne and vnder the curse it is through the spirit of bondage that it doth testifie then when it doth testifie to him his state of grace and freedome from the curse it is much rather from the Spirit of Adoption No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost For the third I doubt not but the blessed Spirit as a comfortable Remembrancer refreshed Hezekias memory when he cryed to the Lord Remember now O Lord c. Isai. 38. 3. But how shall a man discerne and difference a true perswasion and the testimony of the Spirit from a groundlesse presumptuous conceit and the Deuils delusion If Bellarmine aske me I will easily stop his mouth First by demanding him how his Saint Francis and S. Antony knew assuredly that their reuelations of the certaine remission of their sinnes were from the Spirit of God especially sith with him they were reuelations quite besides and without the Word For he holds that this proposition Francis is truly iustified Antony hath his sinnes forgiuen and so of other particular men is not to be found in the Word either immediately or by euident consequence which we vpon good ground contradict if the particular men be true beleeuers Secondly by that saying of Ambrose vrged by Catarinus in the Councell of Trent The holy Ghost doth neuer speake vnto vs but doth make vs know that it is Hee that speaketh But if the doubtfull Christian truly troubled about it would be taught and informed in the point or if it be possible that the Pharise the deluded One should heartily desire to be illightened I aduise that they would consider vpon these following markes of difference 1. A sound perswasion vpon good ground by the Spirit is euer agreeable and answerable exactly to the Word The inward testimony of the Spirit and outward testimony of the Word doe alway sweetely accord and one answeres to the other as face to face in water And therefore if that thy present state wherein thou conceiuest thy selfe to bee sure and safe inough for saluation bee disabled and condemned by Gods Word thy confidence is vaine and Satan deludes thee The Scripture tels vs That whosoeuer is borne of God doth not commit sin 1. Ioh. 1. 3 9. which is not to be vnderstood simply of the act of sinning For who can say My heart is cleane But in this sence He makes not a trade of sinning he sinneth not with purpose pleasure and perseuerance he doth not liue lie and delight in sinne he suffers it not to reigne in him If then thou allowest any lust in thy heart or goe on in the willing practise of any one knowne sinne or sensuall course and yet bee well conceited of thy selfe for comfort in the World to come the Deuill coozens thee God will not heare the prayers but wound the hairie scalpe of euery such a one For instance If thou lyest in lying for it s one thing to be ouertaken that way out of feare or ere thou be aware another thing to continue in
A sound and vndeceiuing perswasion that thou art euerlastingly lockt in the armes of Gods mercy and loue grounded vpon the Word seconded and set on by the Spirit is a most rare and rich Iewell which doth infinitely out-shine and ouerweigh in sweetenesse and worth any rocke of Diamond Cristall Mountaine or this great Creation were it all conuerted into one vnualuable Pearle and therefore is infinitely enuied and assaulted mightily on all sides It is continually hunted like a Partridge on the Mountaines by naturall distrust the policy of Satan and all the powers of darkenesse There is not a wicked spirit but is transported with implacable indignation against that heauen vpon earth and therefore rages and roares about thee still to rob and bereaue thy humble brest of such an heauenly Iemme Besides the two maine ends and generall aimes of all the malice and machinations of those apostated angels 1. the dishonour of God and 2. the discomfort of mens soules In this poynt they are peculiarly enraged with extreme hellish anger to see a mortall man a childe of Adam crowned by Gods mercifull hand euen in this life with right and interest and as it were an earnest penny of the Inheritance with the Saints in light and of those blessed Mansions of glory and rest of which by their Apostacy and pride they haue vnhappily and euerlastingly depriued themselues Neither onely so but they imploy also their Agents enuious to the grace of God and thine owne fearefull heart to charge falsely many times vpon thee Hypocrisie and delusion left that white stone giuen thee by the holy Ghost the splendor and sweetnesse whereof none knoweth but hee that hath it should fairely shine vpon thy sad soule with that lightsomenesse and comfort as it both may and ought Whereupon it must needes follow that if thy perswasion be well grounded and assurance true it will be accompanied and often exercised with feares iealousies doubts distrusts varieties of temptations Satans firiest darts iniected scruples contradictions of flesh and blood cauils of carnall reasons want of comfortable feelign c. which will many times necessarily driue thee to cry mightily to God and complaine at the Throne of grace against all this hellish ordnance and assaults of thy vnbeleeuing heart by the wrastling of faith to warme thy â—…oule with meditation vpon the promises to re examine and reuise thy grounds to confirme thy watch to resort for counsell strength and comfort to the quickening meanes experience of former sweet feelings and motions of the Spirit to truly iudicious Diuines experienced Christians dayes of humiliation bookes of best rellish to a spirituall taste c. But now on the contrary side his presumptuous confidence and groundlesse conceit lyes in the Pharises bosome with much quietnesse and security without doubting difficulty contradiction or any such adoe The reason is his carnall heart is well enough content and meddles not because it still feedes vpon the delights of his darling sinne without disturbance Satan is too subtill to interpose tempt or interrupt in such a case For he well knoweth that his foundation is falsehood his hope of heauen but a golden dreame and therefore in policy he holds his peace that hee may hold him the faster Take notice by the way that that very thing which makes many a truehearted Christian to doubt of himselfe and of the soundnesse of his spirituall state should put him out of all doubt euen often exercise with doubts temptations multiplyed attempts against his faith and assurance of Gods loue prayed against humbly resisted and opposed with cleauing vnto the tenderheartednes of Christ truth of his promises though for the present he hath little or no feeling no such ioy and peace in so beleeuing And that very thing vpon which the deluded Ones doe build and many times boast themselues to wit that they are vntroubled vntempted in point of faith and pretended assurance may returne an infallible remonstrance to their own consciences that they are certainely deceiued For doubtlesse that faith which is neuer assaulted with doubting is but a fancy Assuredly that assurance which is euer secure is but a dreame Many a Pharise stands by the bedside of the sincere Professor visited with affliction of conscience and many heauy temptations secretly and sinfully pleasing himselfe in the vnblessed calmenesse of a groundlesse confidence and in his freedome from such terrors and spirituall troubles when as himselfe is like an Oxe fatting in the greene pastures of impunity and outward prosperity for the day of slaughter But the afflicted party is as precious gold purifying in the Lords refining furnace that hee may afterward come out and shine more gloriously 4. In that heart to which the Spirit of God testifies that we are His children Ro. 8. 16. doth the same Spirit create many feruent eiaculations strong cryes vnutterable groanings verse 26. The testimony of the Spirit is euer attended with the Spirit of prayer That glorious glimpse shining into the soule and assuring it of saluation is so sweete so heauenly so rauishing so transcendent and incomparably aboue all earthly ioy that it warmes the spirit of a man with quickning life liberty to powre out it selfe in the presence of his Lord and his God before the Throne of Grace sometimes in more hearty triumphant and as it were winged prayers at other times in those which are more faint and cold yet edged with infinite desires that they were more feruent and therefore by the way as it were mingled and perfumed with the soueraigne satisfactory incense in the Golden Censer which the Angell of the Couenant holds in his hand are graciously accepted of him which by an excellency and title of highest honour is stiled the Hearer of Prayers or at least with vnexpressable groanes and inward wrastlings for preseruation recouery enlargement of that same comfortable assurance it selfe and of all other holy graces and fruits of the Spirit purity of heart conquest ouer corruption neerer communion with God spirituallmindednesse and such other heauenly guests amongst whom it is woont to dwell with delight and represent it selfe more comfortably But now on the other side euery deluded Pharise is a meere stranger to the power of Prayer His presumption and groundlesse confidence is but a weede which will grow of its owne accord and therefore is not sensible of any necessity neither feeles any want of constant prayer from a broken heart vniuersall obedience or the holy precisenesse of the Saints to support it 5 An assurance of Gods Loue vpon sure ground doth mightily quicken keene and spurre forward the ingenuous Christian to more holinesse hatred of sinne resolution in good causes watchfulnesse ouer his heart walking with God Hauing these promises saith he let me cleanse my selfe from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the feare of God Hauing this hope I will labour to purifie my selfe euen as He is pure To
Fatlings ready prepared and now reuealed to the Beleeuer by the Spirit For the third Heare the voice of sweetenesse and peace Esa. 27. 2. Sing vnto her A Vineyard of red Wine Sing sounds nothing but ioy lightsomnesse and mirth Unto her the sexe of more amiablenesse tendernesse and loue A Vineyard Vineyards Orchards Gardens and such inclosed Plots are as it were the flowers starres and Paradises of the earth Of Wine as though the Vine-trees of this Inclosure brought not foorth the grosser and vncrushed Grapes but more immediately the refined and pure blood of the Grape Red The most generous sparkling delicious wine A Vineyard is as it were the Diamond of the Ring wine the sparkle red the splendour of the sparkle all excellencies sweetenesses transcendencies where God opens expresses his heart and loue to his Church or any of his Chosen For the fourth Let thy faith peruse with enlarged Meditations those precious passages of gracious inuitation and bountifull entertainement Mat. 22. 3 4. Isa. 55. 1 2. Pro. 9. 2 3. Cant. 2. 3 4. Thou shalt sucke and be satisfied euen with the brests of consolations Thy dearest and most glorious Mother which is clothed with the Sunne treads vpon the Moone and weares on her head a Crowne of twelue Starres shall sweetly and tenderly beare thee vpon her sides and handle thee vpon her knees Isa. 66. 11 12. For the fifth It is compared to a wedding Feast and that of a Kings sonne which is woont to be honoured and crowned with height and variety of all magnificence and Maiestie ioy and triumph mirth and musicke When an humbled soule is first made sure to the Sonne of God the ioyfull harmony of all good hearts that heare of it and the triumphant Halleluiahs of the blessed Angels in heauen concurre in consort as it were of congratulation for so happy a match in gladnesse and ioy for so holy a change This Feast begins at thy first betrothing when thou receiuing a Ring as it were beset with fiue precious stones 1. Righteousnesse 2. Iudgement 3. Louing kindnesse 4. Mercies 5. Faithfulnesse It is afterward continued with many gracious passages of loue and sweetest entertainements on both sides euen in this life as appeares in Solomons Spirituall Loue-song It shall at last be crowned with an euerlasting Iubilee and pleasures moe then the Starres of the firmament in number when the Lambe receiues his wife into his neerest and dearest embracements euen into full possession of the most blessed neuer-ending Kingdome of heauen bought for her full dearely with his owne hearts blood Then our Feast of grace ends in the endlesse fruition of Glory How merry then ought wee to be in the meane time who are admitted and enrighted to this gracious and glorious Feast Of expressing which to the life the finest fare and most exquisite delicates of all earthly feasts come as farre short as the dull earth comes short of the glistering heauen a grosse mortall body of the preciousnesse of an euerliuing soule An inch of time of the length of eternity For corporall dainties fat a fraile body for a span of time with earthly food accompanied with a little poore vanishing delight of sence But spirituall food fills an immortall soule with heauenly Maâ—…na out of the mysterie of Christ attended with purest ioy and sincerest pleasures through all eternity 6. As thou doest honour Gods Iustice in trembling at his threats and throwing thy selfe into the dust as extremely vile and fewell for hell vnder his mighty hand and the piercing Maiesty of his pure Word representing clearely vnto thy conscience and pressing terribly vpon it the hainousnesse of all thy lusts iniquities abominable prouocations of the eyes of his glory and diuine indignation flaming against them so when thou findest and feelest thy heart truly wounded by the sword of the Spirit with remorse and sorrow for thy sinnes weary with the heauy weight and burthen of them possessed with sincere hatred and lothing of euery euill way thou oughtest and are bound in conscience and by the commandement of the holy Ghost to glorifie Gods truth in his promises of mercy by throwing thy selfe into the blessed armes and bleeding embracements of the Lord Iesus dying vpon the Crosse in whom they are all yea and Amen with much assurance and peace with vnspeakeable and glorious ioy And the rather because the speciall season and onely opportunity of thy magnifying and honouring the sweet influence of Gods dearest mercies tender-heartednesse and truth vpon humble soules through the precious promises of life is in this life In the world to come they shall all bee accomplished vpon thee to the vtmost and crowned with a cleere vision and full fruition of that euer-blessed and most glorious Maiesty Then faith for euer expires and we see face to face These things being so and most sure let euery true-hearted Nathaneel be heartily intreated nay iustly charged in the name of Iesus Christ by the blessed Spirit the fountaine of all comfort as hee will answer it at the glorious Throne of Mercy erected in heauen vpon purpose to make him euerlastingly merry that hee henceforth most resolutely and for euer cast out of his conscience sprinkled with the Blood of the Lambe and out of the Kingdome of Christ ouerflowing with Peace and Ioy now comfortably established in his soule those intruding vsurpers Tyrants onely naturall Lords ouer naturall men I meane horrours of guiltinesse false feares slauish terrours damps and droopings all vncomfortable pensiuenesse deiections and feare And leauing such Harpies as these and heart-eaters onely to the grumbling and guilty consciences of all those that hate to be reformed and Satans slaues as their proper furies let him with an holy violence against the deuils cruell assaults and contradictions of his owne distrustfull heart and with a cheerefull spirit lay hold vpon his iust inheritance and euerlasting portion purchased for him by the bitter and painefull sufferings of the Sonne of God euen floods and fresh successions of sweetest ioyes shed and showred downe continually from the Throne of Grace vpon his vpright heart in great abundance if hee will but onely vouchsafe to open the doore by the hand of faith that the blessed beames of such lightsomnesse and comfort shining from the face of Christ may come in Let his soule full fairely arayed with its heauenly roabes to which the beauty of the morning brightnesse of the Moone and glory of the Sunne are but a shadow and listning sweetly to that melodious Song composed all of Peace and Ioy Pleasures and Pardon of finne which the mercy of God makes in the eare of its faith fall to and fill it selfe at the Wedding Feast of the Kings Sonne with those euer-springing riuers of spirituall refreshing out of the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue reuealed in the mysterie of Christ by the ministery of the Word and Sacramentall grace as with marrow and fatnesse Let it sucke aboundantly and be satisfied with the
assistance and exercise of Faith an vnutterable sweete communion and humble familiarity with his holy Maiestie In a word to liue in Heauen vpon earth Proofes Gods Couenant and commandement to Abraeham and in him to all the faithfull vnto the Worlds end requires it Gen. 17. 1. The practise and protestations of the Saints and seruants of God seale vnto it Enochs walking with God chap. 5. was an happy preparatiue to his extraordinary translating to glory The Lord before whom I walk saith Abraham chap. 24. 40. will doe thus and thus I will walke before the Lord in the Land of the liuing saith Dauid Psal. 116. 9. O Lord God of Israel saith Salomon 2. Chron. 6. 14. There is no God like thee in the Heauen nor in the Earth which keepest couenant and shewest mercy vnto thy seruants that walke before thee with all their hearts I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart saith Hezechiah 2. King 20. 3. And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwaies a conscience voyde of offence toward God and toward men saith Paul Acts 24. 16. which sounds the same way Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the gold in the World worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit said that Noble Marquesse of Vico well skilled and experienced in an heauenly conuersing with his God Reas. 1. And it must needs be so For howsoeuer naturall men and worldlings out of their obnoxiousnesse and secret terrors slauishly retyre doe not willingly neither dare they draw neere to that God which to them is a consuming fire yet all those who haue truly tasted how gracious and glorious he is shall find their hearts out of a secret sence of Gods loue vnto them first kindlily inflamed with infinite desire to liue vnder the comfortable influence of his pleased countenance to enioy his holy Maiestie with constant peace and an humble spirituall accesse and acquaintance continually His spirit of Prayer infinite loue exercise of repentance temptations and troubles from Satan pressures and oppressions from the World losse of inward peace faintnesse of Faith want of spirituall strength assault of some speciall sinne sweetnesse of meditation daily fauours showred downe vpon him without number and aboue measure sore-thought of the great and last Account motions of the blessed Spirit spirituall desertion c. but aboue all the inexplicable blessâ—…dnesse goodnesse and excellency of that highest Maiestie it selfe driues him to his God many times a day 2. All Gods loues vnto vs His louing kindnesses protections preseruations bounty patience diuine illuminations spirituall blessings in a word euery linke of that golden chaine of Mercy Grace and Glory farre thicker set with sweetest blessings in all kinds then the Heauen with Starres which our happy Soules haue doe or shall enioy from the first springing of it vp if euerlasting could haue any beginning out of the adored Fountaine of his free Grace to the last moment of eternitie in highest heauenly blisse if eternitie could possibly euer determine should be so many keene spurres deepest oblâ—…gations strongest chaines to draw our hearts most greedily to this infinite delight in him and thus with an humble familiaritie to conuerse with his holy Maiestie 3. Consciousnesse of our former walking comfortably with God sanctified by the life of Faith will mightily and incredibly support our spirits and courage in the times of confusions and feare The hearts of sensuall worldlings for want of reconcilement and acquaintance with God in calme and comfortable times sinke and tremble in the Day of distresse and Gods dreadfull visitations as the heart of a woman in her pangs and fall asunder in their brests like drops of water But that happy One who in his prosperity hath made God his portion and walked humbly in his presence shall in the time of trouble stand like a strong vnmoueable mountaine impregnable against the rage of wind and weather against the cruell incursions of all aduersarie power when the wicked shall tire the Mountaines with bootelesse cries to couer them he shall be able to say with Dauid The Lord is my refuge and my strength c. therefore will I not feare though the earth be moued and the Mountaines fall into the midst of the Sea He shall by the mercies of God and humble dependance vpon his omnipotent Arme encounter and entertaine the terrours euen of the euill day of the houre of temptation of the King of feare and last Iudgement with confidence and peace 4. Thy walking with God will make thee extraordinarily powerfull and mightily preuaile in prayer one of the greatest blessings and sweetest comforts which can be named or enioyed in this life As the Kings Fauourite who stands still in his presence and vnder the immediate and gracious influence of his Royall eye doth farre sooner and much more easily obtaine both his owne and friends suites then those who are more estranged from the Court So it is in this case 5. But aboue all that which should most quicken and keene vs to this duty is that particular interest we haue by Iesus Christ in Iehoua himselfe blessed for euer A mysterie which if I should offer to open and enlarge I should be endlesse and yet come infinitely short Oh then let vs infinitely loue and learne exactly the most sweete and heauenly Art of walking with God! For a more comfortable illightning and guiding vs wherein before I come to giue some generall instructions giue mee leaue to premise these quickning preparatiues 1. Looke that thou lyest not in any one knowne sinne against thy conscience hating to be reformed do not cherish allow or goe on in any lust corruption or lewd way in thine heart life or calling suffer not any worke of darknesse or seruice of Satan to reigne and domineere in thee For if so thou art so farre from abilitie or possibilitie of walking with God or delighting in him that thou wearest the Diuels brand and art yet most certainely one of his See and search the true meaning of such places as these 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 6 8 9. Iames 2. 10. Ezech. 18. 21. Psalm 66. 18. and 119. 6 101. Ezech. 18. 30. Matth. 18. 8 9. 2. Cor. 7. 1. Sutable hereunto is the concurrent iudgement and doctrine of our best Diuines and worthiest Writers graciously instructed vnto the Kingdome of Heauen These are their seuerall assertions to the same sense in their owne words 1. A man can haue no peace in his conscience that fauoureth and retaineth any one sinne in himselfe against his conscience 2. A man is in a damnable state whatsoeuer good deeds seeme to be in him if he yeeld not to the worke of the holy Ghost for the leauing but of any one knowne sinne which fighteth against peace of conscience 3. So long as the power of mortification destroyeth thy sinfull affections and so long as thou art vnfainedly displeased with all sinne and doest
neuer come neere the requitall of the least inch of His infinite loue towards thee which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting 1. He bore thee in the bosome of this His free loue from all eternitie and that so dearely that from the same eternity He decreed that His owne deare Sonne should die for thee 2. Hee brought thee out of the abhorred state of being nothing into the ranke of his reasonable and noblest creatures 3. Hee bought thee againe when thou hadst wilfully lost thy selfe with the hearts-blood of His onely Sonne 4. He preserues thee euery day from a thousand dangers a thousand deaths which might seize vpon thee both from within and from without 5 He will shortly crowne thee with euerlasting life fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore 3. Thirdly confider the vnquenchable impatiencie of Christs inflamed loue vnto thee now washed with His Blood and beautified with His grace Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast rauished my heart saith He to the Church and by consequent to euery true Christian my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke Now loue is of that alluring nature that many times it will draw loue from a man when there is no louely part in the partie louing What a deale of loue then doth the Soueraigne Lord of all goodnesse the well-spring of all beauty excellencie and sweetnesse exact at our hands especially sith wee are his meere creatures in respect both of our naturall being outward state gracious state and state of glory See how His spirituall amiablenesse is shadowed by outward beauties Cant. 5. 10. VIII Prize the fruition of Gods pleased face a neerer communion and acquaintance with His blessed Maiestie the loue and light of His countenance and thereupon a free and frequent accesse with an humble boldnes vnto the throne of Grace at a far higher and more vnualuable rate than heauen and earth as a very reall fruitfull fore-taste of eternall ioyes For to say no more at this time If thou hold an holy familiaritie with thy God and He looke pleasedly vpon thee thou shalt graspe Iesus Christ more sweetly and feelingly in the armes of thy Faith partake more plentifully of the ioyfull freedome presence and communication of His comforting Spirit be garded more strongly and narrowly by His glorious Angels sucke more sweetnesse and heauenly Manna out of the Ministerie and other His blessed Ordinances walke in safetie amongst the creatures like an vnconquerable Lyon Thou shalt bee in a league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee when thou goest thy gate shall not be straite and when thou runnest thou shalt not fall when thou sleepest thy sleepe shall be sweet thou shalt dwell safely and none shall make thee afraid Thou shalt neuer more be afraid of any euill tidings or of destruction when it commeth when thou passest thorow the waters thy God shall bee with thee and thorow riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. And if at any time thou bee seized vpon with any crosse or calamitie from any of the creatures any trouble or temptation from man or Deuill any lowring or crueltie from the iniquitie of the times or persecuters of the Truth yet the refreshing beames of Gods pleased face shining vpon thy heart through the darknesse of such discomforts will sweetly mitigate reuiue and infinitely make amends for all The poyson and curse of them shall neuer come neere thy soule The Lord in the meane time like an Eagle flutttering about her nest will most tenderly defend and protect thee Esa. 31. 5. and at length most certainly come like a yong Lyon roaring on his prey for thy rescue and glorious enlargement Isa. 31. 4. IX Labour by a constant watch to keepe thy heart in a spirituall temper still and still sweetly content and fruitfully conuersant in the Mystery of Christ and Secrets of His Kingdome which thou shalt more easily doe If thou first reioyce in God his Word Graces as thy chiefest ioy and greatest aduantage 2. By all earthly things be drawne to the loue of heauenly For though God hath appointed but one Sabbath in seuen dayes for his more solemne publike worship yet to a Christian euery day is sanctified to be a rest from all the deeds of the flesh wherein he is to walke with his God and shew forth the religious keeping of his heart and good conscience in euery action of his whole life so making euery passage of his particular Calling a part of Christian obedience and dutie vnto God 3. Let the noblenesse of thine inlarged Spirit as infinitely disdaine to be any wayes vpon any termes in bondage to the corruptions of the times so finde a farre sweeter rellish and take incomparably more contentment in the seruices of thy Lord and his holy Ordinances then in all his outward benefits and fauours of this life For as the best of these abused will most certainly at the Barre of God turne scourges and Scorpions to the worldling conscience and in the meane time there is no man so assured of his honour of his riches health or life but that hee may be depriued of either or all the very next houre or day to come so the other will prooue vnto the Christian hauing beene conscionably and constantly exercised in them as a rich stocke to bring in comfort patience and inward peace in his most neede and greatest extremity 4. Assoone as thou discouerest any spirituall weakenesse or decay any extraordinarie assault temptation deadnesse c. complaine betime cry mightily vnto God giue him no rest neither giue ouer seeking vntill hee returne vnto thy soule with power and life againe If ordinarie meanes will not preuaile presse vpon him with extraordinary if then he doe not reuiue thee with woonted quickning vigour waite with a patient wakefull longing of all the powers of thy soule and then all this while thy soule is still in its true spirituall temper and a most blessed state See Isa. 30. 18. 5. Decline watchfully all occasions of falling from thy first loue feruencie and heauenly-mindednesse as spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie desire to be rich discontinuance of thine intimatenesse with the godly neglect of thy particular Calling or dayly watch ouer thy heart vngodly company forme in religious duties coldnesse and customarinesse in the vse of the meanes c. 6. Suffer not thine affections to bee chained downe and set too much vpon those things which the common sort and greatest part of men seeke after insatiably and slauishly sinke vnder praise profit credit acceptation with the world fauour of great Ones mirth pleasures ease feare sorrow earthly contentment preferment wealth long life or any worldly thing but debase and dis-esteeme all other delights in respect of doing Gods will
which should euer bee vnto thee meate and drinke thy chiefest and choisest recreation and onely Paradise vpon earth X. Let thy soule full often so are aloft vpon the wings of faith vnto the glory of the Empyrean Heauen where God dwelleth and bathe it selfe before-hand with many a sweet meditation in that euerlasting blisse aboue Oh thinke with thy selfe though it farre passe the reach of any mortall thought what an infinite inexplicable sweetnesse it will be to looke for euer vpon the glorious Bodie of Iesus Christ shining with incomprehensible beautie and to consider that euen euery veine of that blessed Bodie bled to bring thee to heauen and that it being with such excesse of glory hypostatically vnited vnto the second person in the Trinity hath honoured and aduanced thy nature in that respect far aboue the brightest Cherub To say nothing of the beauty and brightnesse of that euer-blessed Place that vnapprochable Light which besets Gods dreadfull Throne the walking arme in arme with the Angels of God that euerlasting ioyfull communion and conuersing with the dearest Christian friends and all the crowned Saints and innumerable felicities moe which infinitely surpasse in excellencie and sweetenesse the comprehension of the largest heart and expression of any Angels tongue contemplate principally the Fountaine of all thy blisse how the mighty IEHOVAH God blessed for euer will powre out of Himselfe by the influence of Beatificall Vision as they call it perpetuall riuers of vnutterable ioyes and pleasures vpon thy glorified Body and Soule thorow all eternity euen as the Sunne powres out his beames and shining euery day afâ—…esh vpon the world without emptinesse or end and with such variety for hee is infinite that they shall bee vnto thee as fresh as new as sweete as rauishing millions of yeeres after thou hast dwelt in those Mansions of rest as they were the very first moment thou enteredst that blisfull Place Such fixed considerations as these of things aboue will serue as notable helpes to draw and keepe thy heart Heauen-ward and may mightily moue thee to delight in God and to hold it the sweetest life vpon earth to walke with him in the wayes of Puritie and Peace Methinkes if a man doe but once a day seriously and solemnly thus cast vp the eye of his Faith vpon that neuer-fading Crowne of Life which after an inch of time shall eternally rest vpon his head the goodly splendour thereof and beames of that incomparable ioy should be able to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dung-hill of the World heated by the fire of inordinate lust doth euaporate and interpose betweene the sight of the soule and celestiall Blisse So that hee might with more affectionate freedome and contempt of earth haue his conuersation aboue and turne the current of all his delights loue and longings with more resolution and constancie towards his heauenly home These Preparatiues thus premised I proceed to some generall directions for a more comfortable walking in the way that is called Holy 1. First and before all other things haue a speciall eye and attendance to a sincere constant and fruitfull performance of holy duties Gods seruices And to say nothing punctually and particularly at this time of priuate reading the Scriptures publike hearing the Word personall Prayer and with thy yoke-fellow if thou liue in that estate singing of Psalmes Meditation Conference dayes of humiliation c. of which thou must proportionably make conscience in their due place obseruing also in them the ensuing Cautions for a knowne grosse customary neglect of any holy dutie religious exercise diuine Ordinance in its season may bring a dampe vpon the rest and a consumption vpon the whole bodie of Christianitie I say to leaue these and the like in their courses and turnes to bee performed also with all good conscience and following Cautions I onely at this time purposely aduise for the better sanctifying thy selfe and all about thee to a more comfortable and successefull managing of all affaires businesses and vnder-takings either spirituall or ciuill that thou beeing Master of a Family for I single out such an one for instance bee euer sure to glorifie God amidst thy people by Morning and Euening sacrifice of Prayers and praises to his heauenly Highnesse In the discharge of which maine dutie of Christianitie vtterly neglected by the most and empoysoned to many by their resting only in the worke wrought take heed of growing into forme customarinesse perfunctorinesse which will most certainely draw the very life-blood and breathing out of those holy businesses being euer the canker and cut-throate of all true godlinesse and gracious acceptation with God Labour therefore by a reuerent recollecting all the powers of thy soule and fresh renewing and strengthening thy watch at euery seuerall time to preserue heart and spirit in those daily deuotions and family-duties Which thou shalt the better doe if thou looke to 1. A right disposition before 2. A spirituall behauiour in the doing 3. An holy carriage afterward 1. For the first 1. Come not before God with any sinne lying vpon thy conscience vnrepented of or delighted in see Psal. 66. 18. 2. Neither with passion wrath or heart-burning against any 3. Stirre vp and quicken the actiuenesse and particular apprehensions of thy Faith about the things desired and deprecated In a word in the Apostles words for that is my meaning Lift vp holy hands without wrath and doubting Bring 1. Resolution against all sinne in respect of God 2. Peace and appeased passions in respect of men 3. Assurance to be heard in respect of thy selfe Or thus Before thou fall vpon thy knees shake off three empoysoning and heauy hindrances which will clog and clip the wings of thy prayers that they will neuer be able to ascend vp vnto Heauen sinne anger distrust And possesse thy heart of three excellent helpes and inflaming furtherances 1. A right apprehension of Gods dreadfulnesse puritie power c. 2. A true sence of thy owne vilenesse abominablenesse nothingnesse c. 3. A heartie suruay of the infinitenesse and vnexpressablenesse of Gods bountie blessings and many compassionate forbearances towards thee 2. For the second 1. Repell with an vndaunted spirit and resolute contempt Satans blasphemous iniections if he be busie that way and he is ordinarily most spitefull against the best businesses and the rather because if they be heartily abominated and abandoned with heart-rising and loathing they are put vpon the Deuils score and are onely thy crosses not thy sinnes 2. Watch ouer the World with all care and timely opposition that if it be possible not an earthly thought may creepe into thy heart all the while 3. Striue to hold thy heart in heate as well in confession as deprecation in deprecation as petition in intercession as for personall blessings as well for puritie of heart as pardon of
furious and filthy proiects in outward acts and vpon obiects abroad their abominable desires rebounding as it were with an impetuous and vnsatisfied rage vpon their heated and enuenomed passions act and execute any kinde of villany vpon the inuisible forge of a cursed contemplation It is strange to consider how many who carry a counterfeit heauen in their outward behauiour should harbour such execrable hells in their hearts 3. Let not passe such a golden opportunitie for thy spirituall good without some sweet comfortable conference with thy God in secret Call and cry out towards Heauen for some speciall Graces by which thou mayest bee most inabled to glorifie God most and to keepe in thy brest a chearefull and heauenly spirit as for precious and incomparable iewels to be purchased with the losse of ten thousand Worlds but not to bee parted with for as many Worlds as thou hast haires vpon thy head Begge with greatest earnestnesse and extraordinarie intention of spirit mortifying grace and spirituall strength for the crushing and conquering of those speciall lusts and vnruly passions that most hant thee and hurt the peace of thy conscience Let a sorrowfull suruay of all thy sinnes draw from thee some hearty groane and feruent eiaculations for mercy and pardon or a summary view of Gods blessings and fauours towards thee fill thy heart with many ioyfull lowly and most thankfull thoughts c. Thus or in the like manner let some part of thy solitarie time be sure to be seasoned with holy musings and talke with God IV. Concerning company I aduise I. That thou neuer cast thy selfe into wicked company or presse amongst the profane especially vpon choice voluntarily and delightfully and abide no longer with them at any time vpon any occasion then thou hast sound warrant and a calling thereunto It is vncomely and incompatible with good conscience it is not for the honour or comfort of Gods children to keepe company or familiarly conuerse with gracelesse men In which point to preuent misconceits and mistakings consider there is a double fellowship 1. Common cold and more generall In treading bargayning buying selling saluting eating and drinking together and in other passages of humanity and entercourse of ciuill society to which charity nature necessity or the exigents of our generall or particular calling doe warrantably lead vs. 2. Speciall deare intimate In consultations and counsels about matters of speciall secrecy greatest weight and highest consequence In spirituall refreshments religious conferences prayer marriage all manner of neerest engagements In a free vnreserued communication of their soules mutuall exchange of the thoughts of their hearts faithfull reuelations of the spirituall state of their consciences one vnto another and in such like blissefull pangs and passages of Christian loue and ardent sanctified affection The former of these the Christian must of necessitie entertaine and exercise sometimes with the men of this world except he will goe out of the world 1. Cor. 5. 10. But the second fellowship is the Saints peculiar The Christian is bound out by the Booke of God the Law of heauen vpon his alleageance to his Lord and Soueraigne and by the common Charter of Gods children from conuersing with delightfull intimatenesse and from the exchange and exercise of those speciall passages of dearest acquaintance with profane men children of darkenesse and enemies of God For these and the like reasons 1. He thereby incurres a double hazard The one of infection with sinne the other of infliction of punishment 1. He that toucheth Pitch saith the Wise man shall be defiled therewith and hee that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like vnto him Can a man take fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt Can a man goe vpon hot coales and his feete not be burnt Prou. 6. 27 28. Neither can any familiarly and intimately conuerse with a profane man but he shall be corrupted There is a strange attractiue and imperious power in ill company to empoyson and peruert euen the best dispositions 1. By holding familiar correspondence with lewd companions there first steales vpon a man a secret and insensible dislike of his former sober courses Hee begins within himselfe to censure and renounce his former wayes of innocency and harmelesse conuersation as too restrayning and distastfull to the ordinary liberty of youth and common frailty of flesh and blood and as too much dissweetned and straitned with vnnecessary strictnesse and abridgement 2. Secondly there slyly insinuates into his heart a pleasing approbation and delightfull assent to the sensuall courses and sinfull pleasures of his lewd companions 3. Thirdly there followes a resolued and habituall change of affections and conuersation a transformation into the manners and conditions of those with whom he doth so familiarly conuerse 4. Fourthly he growes ill-affected and disconceited towards good men and godly exercises because in their prophane boysterous and furious conuenticles of good-fellowship hee heares them dayly rayled vpon iested at belyed and slandered and not a man amongst them to take their parts and to stand on Gods side And therefore by little and little hee himselfe is also transformed into a scoffing Ishmael a breathing-Deuill and so becomes at last as much the child of hell as any of that gracelesse company and damned crew Thus and by such steps and degrees as these many many times especially in the Uniuersities and Innes of Court of good nature honest disposition and perhaps religious education are by little and little caught and fearefully corrupted and at length brought to horrible and vtter confusion both of reputation and outward state both of soule and body by the infectious villanies of lewd and naughty companions But ordinarily Gods children are not in such danger from notorious sinners and from men of such desperate and reprobate conuersation For who in his right wits will runne vpon a man which he cleerely sees hath the plague sore running vpon him What Christian in his right minde spiritually hauing any feare of God in his heart life in his soule or tendernesse in his conscience will delightfully thrust himselfe into the company of swearers drunkards scorners filthy talkers prophane iesters or any fellowes of such infamous ranke especially sith the soule is a thousand times more capable of the contagion of sin then the body of any infectious disease The hurt which the Christian doth take in this regard is most from meerely ciuill men as such as onely professe in forme who being more tolerable and plausible comp anons and yet disacquainted with the great Mystery of Godlinesse vnseasoned with the power of inward sanctification and vnpractised in the wayes of sincerity doe secretly and insensibly infuse if not a notorious infection with some scandalous sinne yet many times a fearefull defection from zeale forwardnesse and feruencie in the wayes and seruices of God Throw a blazing fire-brand into the snow or raine and its brightnesse and heate will bee quickly put out
confine his thoughts the workings and agitations of his spirit to the managing of the affaires and mastering the miseries of the present day The strongest minde and best composed is weake enough to sustaine the brunt and encounter of euery dayes crosses Temporall troubles or spirituall temptations fightings without or terrours within are the certaine portion of the Saints in this vale of teares And what day so faire comes ouer the Christians head wherin he scapes Scot-free as they say herein Sith therefore euery day brings foorth sorrow sufficient for the exercise of the retiredst presence of the most recollected spirit and the heartiest man shall haue his handfull in passing patiently and profitably thorow present troubles which many times fall as thicke vpon him as one waue in the necke of another what a base and vnworthy weakenesse is it to vnfit and disable our already too weake minds for a comfortable dispatch and digesting of dayly vncomfortable occurrents by such needlesse sencelesse fruitlesse distractions vagaries of vanity and Vtopian peregrinations As either 1. To loose them in the endlesse maze of imaginary afflictions 2. Or to waste them by vntimely wrastling with certaine euils to come 3. Or wound them with a painefull remembrance of sorrowes already past For some there are so ouer-greedie of grieuing themselues and transported with the tyrannicall vanity of their owne mindes that besides their trouble with present fained and future miseries collect also matter of mournefulnesse from time past For instance Thou hast lost thy dearest child which is one of the extremest earthly crosses and goes neerest the heart but long since so that if reasons from reason and Religion asswaged not the immoderation and excesse of thy sorrow yet time hath worne out and wiped away thy teares and made thee weary of weeping but notwithstanding thy vaine minde will not suffer that griefe which euen length of time hath buried long agoe to lie quietly in the graue but drawes into consideration and remembers for the nonce its speeches fauour pretty behauiour and other louely circumstances to make thy heart bleed afresh and wring from thine eyes new torrents of teares c. Soueraigne therefore against these Harpies and deuourers of the heart is that counsell of Christ which I haue commended vnto you from his owne mouth seconded also by the Apostle Philip. 4. 6. Be carefull for nothing That is with tearing and torturing the heart with carking thoughtfulnesse anxiety fretting impatiencie Doe not waste and weaken thy minde immoderately vnseasonably imaginarily vntimelily with distrustfull anguish pensiuenesse and base prostitution of the flower and sinew of thine immortall spirit to fruitlesse and endlesse impertinencies and mis-imployments For by the way we must take notice and acknowledge notwithstanding what hath beene said against carking and other needlesse distractions and exorbitancies of vaine mindes that a moderate Christian prouident care and fore-cast is both conuenient and commanded both for prouision of things necessary and preuention of dangers But this is not distressefull but delightfull because enioyned by God See 1. Timoth. 5. 8. For performance of Gods Commandement and the very act of Obedience with sincerity should beget much spirituall sweetnesse delight and ioy in the heart And a faire easie vnangry prouidence for things needfull and time to come sweetned with the life of Faith and a patient relyance vpon Gods wise and mercifull disposing all our affaires and their successe is one thing and a restlesse carking and pursuite after things vnnecessary imaginary and sometimes impossible embittered with many slauish feares of fained or future euils is another It is profitable also to gather matter from time past by contemplation of youthfull pollutions crosses and corrections for sinfull courses companions in iniquity or any other aggrauating circumstance for the increase of godly sorrow and hatred of sinne But this is ioyfull and easeth the heart for howsoeuer carnall ioy and sorrow can neuer consist together at the same time yet that which is Christian sweetly ought and may of what sort soeuer the sorrow be For first causes of it from without as reproches persecutions shame crowne the Christians head with aboundance of glory his heart with ioy his soule with blessednesse 1. Pet. 4. 14. Acts 5. 41. Matth. 5. 10. Secondly if it bee inward for sinne and corruption there is great matter of much ioy for it sweetly signifies the sofâ—…ning and melting of the heart and by consequent the presence of Gods sanctifying Spirit Such teares as burst out of a heart opprest with griefe for sinne are like an Aprill showre which though it wet a little yet it begets a great deale of sweetnesse in the herbes flowers and fruites of the earth A great man guiltie of high Treason comes to the Blocke to loose his head In the very nicke when hee is ready to lay downe his necke a gracious Pardon is shewne from the King whereupon he bursts out abundantly into teares springing partly from an angry indignation against himselfe for his trayterous carriage towards so tender-hearted a Prince partly from an inexplicable ioyfull sence of his owne safety It is proportionably so when wee mourne for Him whom wee haue pierced and in Euangelicall repentance God hath so mercifully ordered all things for his that if they be not wanting to themselues they may be euer merry and finde continuall matter of reioycing See 1. Thes. 5. 10. For he well knowes what great need their poore hearts haue of this ioyfull affection both to sweeten their outward sufferings and bitternesse from the world and also to season their spirituall sacrifices and seruices vnto himselfe And besides it is one thing to rake with our remembrance into the graue of buried griefes for sharpning the teeth of worldly sorrow to eate our hearts Another thing to make our memories minister matter from former times of more humiliation vnder Gods mighty hand deeper detestation of our abominable vilenesse and to make our hearts many and many a time melt againe and bleed afresh with comfortable softnesse and godly sorrow for youthfull sinnes VII Prize and ply as a most sweet excellency and comfortable perfection in Christianitie a right and religious ordering of thy tongue It is very materiall and of speciall importance for preseruation both of outward and inward peace Originall corruption hath naturally put vpon euery mans tongue an empoysoned fierie edge whereby like a sword in a Bedlams hand it kils and slayes on all sides wofully wounds his owne conscience infects and enuenomes mortally the soules of the present mangles the good names of the absent with deadly malice and so bathes it selfe remorselesly in continuall bloodshed for there is heart-murther and tongue-murther as well as hand-murther vntill the attainment of this grace and mortifying circumcision of such an vnruly euill That it may therefore neither be vnseasonably idle nor sinfully exercised besides many other caueats and constant watchfulnesse take notice of and to heart and practise
heare and digest with patience and silence the oathes and rotten speeches of their seruants and perhaps their sonnes without any contradiction or correction In their owne families some perhaps sweare others talke filthily some raile against the Ministry others iest vpon the sinceritie of the Saints c. and yet the wicked Gouernor ◅ayes neuer a word But in this point my purpose is principally to counsel Christians I meddle not at this time with such Synagogues of Satan and dennes of Atheists 2. Some others it may be but they are not neere so many may runne into the other extreme and out of a spirituall foole-hardinesse as it were and furious zeale with an imperious and vnwarrantable boysterousnes flie in the face of some desperate Swaggerer with an vndigested and vnseasonable reproofe whereby they both incurre the guilt of giuing an holy thing vnto a Dog and vnnecessary danger from the gracelesse fury of the partie Or else for want of spirituall wisedome and an holy discretion of circumstances they may tender an admonition to some such contemptuous swinish wretch which will passe ouer and put by the precious seuerity of the Word of Truth with a scurrill iest or with a dull and scornefull sottishnesse trample vnderfoote that sacred Pearle Though it be no constant character of Dogs and Swine yet commonly those desperate wretches to whō by Christ s commandement we must giue no holy things are fellowes of dogged sowre and contracted countenances especially towards true Christians and haue a kinde of desperate furiousnesse impressed vpon their foreheads which is then most visible when they are crost in their villanies and heare of any contradiction or condemnation of their gracelesse courses and contemptuous carriages And those Swinish Gadarens before whom we must cast no Pearles are fellowes of a ◅leering gibing and scornefull carriage especially towards good men and godly exercises they are so drowned in sensualitie and glued to the earth that they doe not onely despise but also deride the precious things of Heauen As I take it sensualitie and earthly mindednesse mingled with a great deale of Atheisme begetteth in men this sottish swinishnesse and brutish contempt of the blessings of Grace and directions to euerlasting blisse These premonitions and cautions premised and obserued euery Christian ought to addresse himselfe with resolution and conscience to discharge this Christian duty of reproouing when a iust occasion and a calling thereunto doe require and exact it at his hands For these reasons First in respect of the party offending 1. A seasonable reproofe mingled and sanctified with the spirit of inuocation and compassion may by the blessing of God be an occasion of conuersion to the offender And let him know that he which conuerteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall sa◅e a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And it is the most glorious worke in the World and the noblest imployment vnder the Sunne to haue an hand in the holy businesse of sauing a soule Let hope then of doing spirituall good to thy brothers soule be the speciall aime and a principall motiue of performing this dutie There is a Law Exod. 23. 4 5. that if a man meete his enemies Oxe or Asse going astray he must bring him againe If he see his enemies Asse lying vnder his burden hee must helpe him vp againe How much more deare and precious in our eies should the immortall soule of our Brother be then the Asse of our enemie If we must turne backe the straying Oxe of our enemie and lift vp his Asse when he is crusht vnder his burden with what eagernesse and zeale ought wee to labour to stop the furious course of a reasonable creature towards the pit of Hell and to put our helping hand to raise vp that silly foule which by reason of the heauy weight of its finne is full sorely bruised and bleeding ready euen to breathe out it last and sinke into the misery of endlesse horrour Speake then boldly in the cause of God when thou hearest thy brother blaspheme his Name iest with his Word talke filthily raile against holines slander good men pleade for prophane pastimes c. for they are so many mortall stabs into his owne poore soule besides the naturall infectiousnesse of rotten speeches which may doe much mischiefe to the standers by Though thy reproofe preuaile not at the present yet thou knowest not what impression and working it may haue afterward vpon his hard heart whereby perhaps he may happily thinke vpon a new course and of conuersion to God and so thou be a blessed instrument of sauing a soule 2. But if it haue not so happy a successe vpon his soule yet it may be thou mayest thereby tame and take downe his insolency so cut his combe by a seasonable contradiction that he doe not carry it away brauely so coole and confound his swaggering humour that he doe not glory in his villany that hee doe not pride himselfe in his blasphemies and bloody oathes in his contempt of Grace and other outragious carriages Answer a foole saith Salomon according to his foolishnesse lest he be wise in his owne conceit lest hee bee too proud If a desperate and prophane wretch will needs sweare and swagger and raile against the seruants and seruices of God yet let him know that all the while hee fights against God damnes his owne soule and pleases none but Deuils Drunkards and deuilish men If he will needs labour to be famous by a surious opposition to the Ministery and wayes of God let him know that his name shall rot after him as vilely as his carkeise in the graue and himselfe burne in Hell euerlastingly if hee hold on in that humour without timely repentance and reformation 3. Thirdly at the least thou shouldst thereby increase and aggrauate his inexcuseablenesse and so glorifie the Tribunall of Gods Iustice when it shall there appeare that besides many other meanes afforded and offered vnto him by Gods mercies thou also diddest lend him thine hand to haue puld him out of the fire gauest him one call to haue stayed him in the furious and wilfull pursuit of his owne damnation But because he still hated to be reformed because varietie of meanes for his amendment made him more malicious and obstinate in his owne wayes and that contradiction and counsell to the contrary inflamed and set on fire the lustfull viciousnesse of his corrupt nature to hunt more greedily after forbidden pleasures therefore I say hee will bee more and more fearefully ashamed and confounded at that great and fearefull Day and the moe occasions he hath had of his conuersion the iuster cause then will he see of his deserued confusion and by consequent more glory will accrew vnto the glorious Tribunall of Gods Iustice. Secondly in such cases the Christian must speake in respect of himselfe 1. When the aire is impoysoned with any infectious vapour men vse to fill their
in all corners of the Christian world the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus as greedily and with as furious thirst as euer hee did since the Dragon first gaue him his power But I hope in the strong God of our saluation For strong is the Lord God who iudgeth the Whore that this is the last draught and that vpon his next health as it were begun to the Deuill in this cup of fierie crueltie against the seruants of Christ the Vial of Gods vnquenchable wrath wil choake him for euer Blood he shal haue enough but from the reuenging hand of the Lord God of recompences in fury and iealousie 2. Besides that thus the rage of vnsatiablenesse and restlesnesse of pursuit doth still boyle in euery carnall heart that is carried immoderately after its owne wayes or inordinately vpon any earthly thing it is also thereby in Gods iust iudgement extraordinarily hardened and estranged from God For the deepelier our affections are drowned in the World and endeared to any sensuall delight the more desperately are they diuorced from God and deaded to heauenly things It is iust with God to suffer that heart to be turned first into earth and mud and after to freeze and congeale into steele and Adamant which preferres Earth before Heauen a dunghill before Paradise broken cisternes which can hold no water before the euer-springing Fountaine of glory and blâ—…sse a few bitter-sweet pleasures for an inch of time in this vale of teares before vnmixed and immeasurable ioyes through all eternity in those glorious mansions aboue Our hearts are originally hard by the curse of Nature Ezek. 11. 19. afterward by a wilfull course and continuance in sin we adde Adamant of our owne Isai. 48. 4. Zech. 7. 12. and by not suffering the Sword of the Spirit to search and sunder our minion-delights from our bosoms Heb. 4. 7. Then Satan is let loose to put to his iron sinewes Luk. 22. 3. Lastly God himselfe hardeneth by an act of Iustice as wee may see Exod. 9. 12. Thus the heart which hates to be reformed being glued to a sensuall obiect or worldly lust by its owne inbred corruption infusion of hellish poyson and iust curse of God growes into such a prodigious rocke That no crosse or created power not the softest eloquence or seuerest course nay not the waight of the whole World were it all prest vpon it can possibly mollifie or reclaime it It will neuer yeeld or relent or be rent from its darling delight but dye in its deadnesse and be desperately hardened for the very depth of Hell except the Almightie Spirit take the hammer of the Word into his owne hand that by his speciall vnresistable power and mercifull violence he may first breake it in pieces with legall remorse and after by the sprinkling and powerfull application of Christs blood resolue it into teares of true Euangelicall repentance that so onely by a gracious miracle of diuine mercy it may be softned sanctified and saued The stubborne Iewes were heauily loaden with an extraordinary variety of most grieuous crosses and afflictions There was nothing wanting to make them outwardly miserable and no misery inflicted vpon them but vpon purpose to humble and take downe their rebellious hearts The Prophet Isaiah Chap. 1. paints out to the life the rufull state of their fresh bleeding desolations The whole head saith he is sicke and the whole heart is heauie c. for the place is meant not as some take it of their sinnes but of their sorrowes But all these blowes and pressures were so farre from melting them that they made them harder Wherefore should you be smitten anymore for yee fall away more and more What created power can possibly haue more power vpon the soules of men then the sacred Sermons of the Sonne of God who spake as neuer man spake And yet His deare intreaties and melting inuitations which sweetely and tenderly flowed from that heart which was resolued to spill its warmest and inmost blood for their sakes moued those stiffe-necked Iewes neuer a iot Hierusalem Hierusalem how often would I and you would not Matth. 23. 37. Isaiah that Noble Prophet whose matchlesse stile incomparably surpasseth the vtmost possibility of all humane inuention and to which the choicest elegancies of prophane Writers are pure barbarisme shed many and many a gracious showre of most heauenly piercing sweetest eloquence vpon a sinfull Nation and rebellious people which were fruitlesly spilt as water vpon the ground or lost as vpon the hardest flint His many heauenly soule-searching Sermons which breathed nothing but spirit and life yet to them hardened in their sinnes and hating to be reformed were but as an idle and empty breath vanishing into nothing and scattered in the ayre The Lord as he saith made his mouth like a sharpe sword and himselfe a chosen shaft and yet that two-edged sword was full often blunted vpon their hardest hearts and his keene arrowes discharged by a skilful hand rebounded from their flinty bosomes as shafts shut against a stone-wall Which made that Seraphicall Orator cry out I haue laboured in vaine I haue spent my strength for naught and in vaine A course of extraordinary seuerity and terrour was taken with the Tyrant Pharaoh he was not onely chastised with rods but euen scourged with Scorpions and yet all the plagues of Egypt were so farre from taming and taking downe his proud heart that euery particular plague added vnto it a seuerall iron sinew so farre they were from softning it that they seared it more No materiall weight can more crush the heart of a man into pieces then braying in a morter and yet saith Salomon Though thou shouldest bray a foole an old obstinate sinner in a morter among wheate with a pestle yet will not his foolishnes his wilfull cruelty in killing his owne soule and Bedlam madnesse in exchanging a little transitorie pleasure with endlesse paine depart from him Prou. 27. 22. Now what an horrible hardnesse and hellish stone is that which no ministery or misery nay nor miracles See Exod. 10. 27. 1. King 13. 33. 2. King 1. 11. Ioh. 18. 12. nor mercies Isai. 26. 10. can possibly mollifie Here now should I haue passed out of this point did I not conceiue that of all the waightiest ciuill affaires incident to humane deliberation there is none more materiall important or of greater consequence either for extremest outward vexation and hearts-griefe or extraordinary sweete contentment and continuall peace then matter of marriage A word or two therefore of 1. conuenient entrance into and 2. comfortable enioyment of that honourable estate For the first 1. Let thy choyce be in the Lord according to blessed Saint Pauls Rule 1. Cor. 7. 39. onely in the Lord. Let pietie bee the first moouer of thine affection the prime and principall ponderation in this greatest affaire and then conceiue of personage parentage and portion as they say and such outward things and
let the principall motiue passe it is impossible but that the feeling consciousnesse that Gods free loue through Christ hath freed vs from eternity of torments one houre wherein is infinitely more stinging and terrible then all the tortures that all mankind hath doth or shall endure from the Creation to the end of the world and certainely interessed vs to eternity of ioyes one houre wherein doth incomparably surpasse all the delights of this wide world were they collected into one lumpe of pleasure I say it cannot be but that such an assurance should stirre vp the blessed soule to do or suffer any thing for Christs sake rather to die then turne Papist to doe worthily in Ephrata and bee famous in Bethlehem But now the other groundlesse confidence being in truth but a fancie must needes bee powerlesse fruitlesse vnactiue and makes the deluded rather secure carelesse presumptuous onely formall 6. The blessed Spirit is woont to spring in our hearts with heauenly refreshing and his sweetest testimonie especially at such times as these When wee retire and recollect our selues to conuerse with God in a more solemne and solitary manner opening our consciences breaking our hearts and powring out our soules into his bosome when wee are preparedly and fruitfully exercised in the ordinances in our innocent patient sufferings for good causes and conscience sake when we feele that wee haue conquered or well curbed some corruption by the power of Prayer in the beleeuing contemplation and reuise of our change and the infallible markes thereof when we meditate effectually vpon the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto vs with which hee hath loued vs from euerlasting to euerlasting vpon dayes of humiliation c. But that other counterfeit flash keepes a deluded Pharise in a fooles Paradise continually he is ordinarily at all times alike peremptory in the point of assurance You shall not take him any weeke in the yeere any day in the weeke any houre in the day without a bold perswasion and protestation if neede be That he hopes to bee saued as well as the precisest Hee is as confident this way when he is cauilling against the purity of the Saints and power of Godlinesse as when he is the deepest in his Pharisaicall deuotions 7. The presumption of the Pharise is ordinarily at the height in his height of outward prosperity and when Gods Candle shineth faireliest vpon his head with worldly blessings But the perswasion of the Christian is for the most part then strongest when the world most frowneth vpon him for his forwardnesse and in heate of persecution 8. Those that are deluded with a groundlesse confidence haue ordinarily beene so conceited of themselues euer since they may remember or had any thoughts of heauen and that without consciousnesse of any conuersion change or supernaturall sauing worke vpon their soules at all For though the deuill seales it with more security vpon their hearts by his counterfeit Angelicall glory yet hee findes matter enough in our corrupt nature ministred originally for such a golden dreame and imaginary castle in the aire But the testimony of the Spirit and that other true perswasion is supernaturall and neuer felt before conuersion nor euer to be found but in a regenerate soule I doubt not but many Christians to their singular comfort further assurance can tell their experiēce of both Their bold peremptory ill grounded presumption in their vnregenerate time and their now true kindly sweet perswasion so much enuied and assaulted by Satan accompanying their conuersion 9. Naturall presumption guilded ouer with the deuils delusion euer shrinkes in the wetting Troubles of conscience fiery tryals heauy crosses the face of the Prince of terrour disastrous and dismall times dissolue it into nothing But the oher true testimony holds out like armour of proofe against thickest haileshot of all aduersary power Nay it is woont to shine and shew it selfe with vnited vigor and more lightsomnesse within in the greatest dampe of outward discomforts and most confusions abroad 10. The Christian can giue sound reasons for his resolution in the point of assurance from his conuersion holy conuersation loue of the brethren vniuersal obedience c. those meanes I mentioned before proper to the Child of God But put the Pharise to prooue in this case and perhaps hee will not bee able to say so much as his formall deluded brother Luk. 18. 11 12. Sure I am all that hee can produce for that purpose being tryed by the Touchstone of Gods Truth will prooue too light and inconsequent Reuise the false mediums and insufficient grounds discouered before and you shall perceiue that none of them can possibly inferre a comfortable conclusion 11. The Laodicean longs farre more for gold then growth in grace thinkes himselfe already rich enough in Religion and that he hath attained that very temper which euery wise man should rest vpon without any more medling that if hee should stirre forward he should be too precise if he should grow any worse he should be too prophane and therefore concludes I haue need of nothing But the illightened Christian hauing truely tasted of the assurance of Gods loue is infinitely greedy of growing in grace of conquering corruptions of neerer communion with his Christ of doing his God all the most glorious sincere seruice hee can possibly before hee goe downe into the pit and be seene no more His performances by the grace of God are many his endeauours moe but his desires endlesse and euer vnsatisfied with his degree of well-doing his present pitch of grace and measure of obedience Thus hauing premised a discouery of spiritual self-deceit whereby many so ouervalew themselues in point of their spiritual estate that they conceiue they are very right whereas in truth and tryall they are starke rotten at the root Their case herein is like that mans who lying fast asleepe vpon the edge of a steepe Rocke dreames merrily of Crownes Kingdomes and the very confluence of all earthly contentments conceiuing that hee wallowes himselfe in the ouerflowings of all worldly felicities but vpon the sudden starting for ioy breakes his necke and tumbles into the bottome of the Sea They are lulled asleepe by the deluding charmes of the Deuill vpon their beds of presumptuous security all their life long dreaming of no danger at all but euer confident their case is good enough to God-ward but their consciences being awaked vpon their beds of death or at farthest at Gods Tribunall they are suddenly swallowed vp of despaire and drowned in euerlasting perdition I come now to forewarne and forearme the true Christian that with all watchfulnesse and constancie hee would euer labour to preuent and defeate the secret assaults and insinuations of that white Deuill as a worthy Diuine calls it Spirituall pride A guilded poyson which Satan that cunning Alchymist and hellish Spider doth first extract out of the very sweetest and fairest flowers in Christs Garden I meane the most holy vertues and
his owne worth doth aboue all other passions blast our minds as it were with lightning and make vs reflect our thoughts vpon our owne seeming inherent goodnesse forgetting the whilest Him to whom we are indebted for our very Being and besides it blowes vpon our gifts with such a malignant humour that they also become vnfruitfull and vnprofitable to others Thus much concerning the first extreme and errour in managing our spirituall estate to wit a proud ouerprizing of our owne graces with a conceited ouer-weening selfe-estimation I come now to the second which is A deiected distrustfull vndervaluing of Gods mercies the promises of life and graces which we possesse And here I cannot hold but must euen with some indignation expostulate and contest with many of Gods hidden Ones about their heauy pensiue and vncomfortable walking for that they are so farre from entertaining and expressing that vnspeakable glorious ioy which vpon their new birth is their natiue portion and patrimonie their iust and due inheritance as certainely theirs by an euerlasting proprietie and right if they would but open their eyes to see it and enlarge their hearts to graspe it being a fruit of that holy Spirit which dwels in them and a price of Christs Kingdome established in their soules as their cloathes vpon their backes their hearts in their bodies and blood that runnes in their veines I say they are so farre from walking in the strength and light of this ioy that they wickedly I dare say if not wilfully abandon and expose their spirits freed for euer by the Lambs blood from the hellish fangs of any slauish horrour to the vnnecessarie racke of much fruitlesse vnworthy and slauish sadnesse Whereby besides their owne needlesse sinfull selfe-created torment 1. They most vnworthily vndervalue abridge and disparage the infinitenesse of Gods dearest and tender mercy who is a thousand times more ready and forward to binde vp any broken heart then it to bleed before him 2. They vnnecessarily disable and indispose themselues for the duties and comfortable discharge of both their Callings 3. They gratifie Satan and satisfie his cruell humor who if hee cannot haue a mans company in Hell hereafter for if he were sure of that he would make him liue as ioyfully and Iouially as hee could possibly he labours might and maine to hold him vpon the racke of slauish distrustfull terrours all the dayes of his life 4. They are thereby many times occasions of discouragement and disheartning to those which are without that they are more loth to enter into the wayes of life preiudging them to be thorny and rough darke and deepe full of dumps and drooping of heauinesse and horrour whereas indeed and truth they are all paued with mercy and loue strowed with Violets and Roses full of fresh springs of spiritual comforts and sweetly illightned euen in the darkest passages with heauenly and healing beames of the Sunne of righteousnesse For whether it bee fit to beleeue the Spirit of all truth and comfort or the scornefull spirit of impure drunkards and Satans Reuellers iudge you This precise and strict walking say they which is pressed vpon vs with such importunatenesse and confidence would not leade vs to mopishnesse and melancholy would enchaine vs to that abridgement of our pleasure restraint from company from crowning our selues with Rose-buds and former courses of good fellowship and mirth of which our generous and Iouiall spirits are most impatient and vtterly vncapable But what saith the blessed Spirit Her wayes are wayes of pleasantnesse and all her paths are peace They giue them occasion to mis-conceiue that the yoke of Christ is burdensome and will gaule their necks whereas in truth and tryall it is easie and light and would prooue a chaine of heauenly Pearles to adorne their soules that after they haue giuen their names to profession they shall neuer haue merry day but must necessarily bid adieu to all delight whereas their ioyes should not be taken away but onely changed as one of the Ancients speakes and that most happily and with an vnualuable aduantage For the filth and froth of their sensuall bitter-sweet pleasures fugitiue follies furious delights which passe away in the act as the taste of pleasant drinke dyeth in the draught should bee turned into that true vnconquerable spirituall ioy which the World cannot giue nor man nor deuill take away Their crashes of loud laughter amid their pots and pastimes which are but as the cracking of thornes vnder a pot the Deuils Wakes and Musicke for Hell should be conuerted into a sweet constant habituall contentment of minde Nay more whereas before in the very height and ruffe of their maddest meetings most roaring outrages and reuellings their hearts vpon remembrance of death their secret impenitent guiltinesse that strict account at Gods dreadfull Tribunall at which they may bee arraigned the next houre c. were full often twitcht and stung with many inward bitter gripings and slauish foretastes of hellish terrour yet vpon their change and change of ioyes euen in the highest tide and torrent of their penitent teares and sorrow for sinne and they should be sad for nothing else their spirits shall be refreshed and rauisht with a Paradise of sweetest peace and heauenly glimpses of eternall light In a word if they would in earnest abandon the Deuils seruice come out of Hell giue their names vnto Christ in truth and try I dare assure them in the Word of life and truth they would not exchange the saddest houre of all their life afterward with the prime and flower of all their former sensuall pleasures might they haue ten thousand Worlds to boot Here then is no losse in the change But in the meane time much to blame are they who being truly Gods yet out of weakenesse want of wisdome wilfull listning vnto the father of lyes will not giue way to the counsell of the Prophets that they may prosper in spirituall hearts-ease and so preuent such occasions Let those that hate to bee reformed hang downe their heads let swaggering Belshazzars countenance bee changed let his thoughts trouble him let the ioynts of his loynes bee loosed and his knees smite one against another let the hearts of all ambitious Nimrods couetous Worldlings swinish Drunkards filthy Whoremasters cruell Vsurers louers of pleasures or whosoeuer liue and lye in any beloued sin against an illightned conscience tremble as the leaues of the Forrest that are shaken with the wind Let a sound of feare be euer in their eares and sorrow seize vpon their hearts as the pangs of a woman in trauaile euen as the torture of her that bringeth forth her first child Let trouble and anguish and the cup of trembling in the hand of the Lord make them afraid and let them euery houre looke to meete their angry God as a Beare bereaued of her Whelps to rent the very cawle of their hearts and to deuoure them
like a Lion Let sadnesse sit vpon their foreheads as its proper seate and furies of conscience affright their spirits still with cryes of blood Let no voyce of ioy or gladnesse bee heard in their habitations but the most griezly apparitions of damned horrour dwell for euer in the eye of their guilty consciences For without repentance this is their lot and this is their euerlasting portion And most happy were they if any thing would fright and fire them out of the armes of darkenesse and snares of the deuill I say let the aspiring Lucifers looke heauily vpon foresight of their dreadfull downfall for though they exalt themselues as the Eagle and though they set their nests among the starres yet thence will I bring them downe saith the Lord. Though their excellencie mount vp to the heauens and their head reach vnto the clouds yet they shall perish for euer like their owne dung Let all couetous worldlings cry out for so the holy Ghost commands them Goe to now ye rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you your riches are corrupted and your garments motheaten your gold and siluer is cankered and the rust of them shall bee a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire ye haue heaped treasure together for the last dayes Let all impure goodfellow-drunkards hold downe their heads and howle for the horrible Woe which dogs them at heeles Woe to the Crowne of Pride to the Drunkards of Ephraim Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong One which as a tempest of haile and a destroying storme as a flood of mighty waters ouerflowing shall cast downe to the earth with the hand the Crowne of Pride the Drunkards of Ephraim shall be troden downe vnder feete Let the very heartstrings of all lasciuious wantons tremble at the terrour of that cutting commination Heb. 13. 4. Whoremongers and Adulterers God will iudge Let that stinging But Eccles. 11. 9. strike cold to the hearts of all sensuall Gallants and sonnes of pleasure Reioyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into iudgement Nay let the heart of euery man whosoeuer he be of what cloth soeuer his coat be made that goes on in the willing allowed practise of any one knowne sinne fall asunder in his brest like drops of water for the day of horrour that is at hand and the sword of vengeance which hangs ouer his head For certainly at length the Lord will wound the hairy scalpe of euery one that goeth on still in his trespasses In a word wayling and wringing of hands woe and alas is the merriest song that any wicked man vpon earth can sing vpon good ground while hee yet abides in his vnregenerate state Who doth not see and acknowledge it except he wilfully shut his eyes or be grosly hood-winkt by the Deuill or a ranke Atheist For there is a cup which is called a cup of Gods fury and a cup of trembling in the hand of the Lord whose little finger is able to beate the greatest mountaine to powder and rent the hardest Rocke in pieces and the wine is red which intimates vnto vs the sharpenesse and fiercenesse of Gods fiery indignation it is full of mixture brimfull of stinging ingredients and he powreth out of the same to stirre vp and quicken as it were the bitternesse and very bottome and all the wicked of the earth shall will they nill they wring out the dregs thereof and drinke them Psal. 75. 8. But now on the other side Let all those of the Brotherhood I vse the phrase of the holy Ghost all those who haue giuen their names to Christ in truth and are true of heart in his holy seruice vpon whose heads euerlasting light doth rest lift vp their heads Let the amiable aspect of sweetnesse and peace euer dwell vpon their foreheads Let heauenly beames of spirituall lightsomnesse and mirth shine fresh in their faces Let neuer vncomfortable dampe of any slauish sadnesse or touch of hellish terrour vexe their blessed hearts Let them neuer more be afraid of any euill tydings or of destruction when it commeth In a word Let them be infinitely and for euer merry and sweetly glad at the very heart roote And good cause why It is the charge and command of the Spirit of all truth and comfort Bee glad in the Lord and reioyce ye righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart Psal. 32. 11. Oh therefore that the Lord would bee pleased so to perfume and sweeten the ensuing passages with the refreshing glimpses of his glorious face and deare infusions of Diuine Ioy that I might bee vouchsafed that honour of being his humble Instrument to raise vp and quicken the drooping spirits of all that are true of heart of all that beare a sincere inuincible affection to the Gospel of Iesus Christ and power of Godlinesse that they would be euerlastingly merry that they would arise and shake themselues from the dust and put on their beautifull garments that they would for euer with a resolution neuer to bee shaken with all the powers of hell banish and barre out of their happy soules all their vnnecessary scruples distrusts deiections sad thoughts and heauinesse of heart that they would out of sensiblenesse of their present vnutterable felicity and strength of their truly Heroicall spirits beare and behaue themselues as heires of heauen indeed and as the Fauourites of the King of Kings So should they infinitely more honour the sweetnesse of Gods mercifull disposition the dearenesse of his loue the tendernesse of his compassionate bowels the bottomlesse mysterie of his free grace the preciousnesse and truth of his promises the vnualuablenesse of his Sonnes Blood the pleasantnesse of the wayes of grace and the glorious worke of the holy Ghost vpon their owne blessed soules Let them euer keepe fresh and strong in their mindes for this purpose such causefull considerations as these 1. True ioy the most noble sweet and amiable affection that euer warmed the heart of man is by warrantable proprietie and rightfull interest onely peculiar and proper to honest humble and holy hearts Such gracious and golden Cabinets are onely fit for this heauenly Iewell The beauty and deliciousnesse of it are confined onely to the communion of Saints the sealed Fountaine the Spouse of Christ. The Brotherhood alone is blessed with its refreshments and rauishing influence It neuer did or euer will shine or sparkle out the least glimpse vpon the world or to any earthly heart The most ambitious eager hunters after pleasures the worlds greatest Fauourites and dearest minions haue onely but ingrost and graspt a Bedlam counterseit of it I said of laughter saith Salemon It is mad For the truth is
and scorne from the World for thy profession which naturally much nettles a noble spirit doe crowne thy head and should fill thy heart with abundance of glory blessednesse and ioy If ye be reproched for the Name of Christ happy are yee saith Peter for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth vpon you 1. Pet. 4. 14. Blessed are yee saith Christ himselfe when men shall reuile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of euill against you falsely for my sake reioyce and be exceeding glad Math. 5. 11. 12. Scurrilities and scoffes all spitefull speeches odious nick-names lying imputations cast vpon thee in this kind by tongues which cut like a sharpe rasor are in their due estimate and true account as so many honorable badges Let no cowardly Christian then decline them with wounding of his conscience of thy Christian magnanimitie and resolute standing on the Lords side and at the Throne of Christ will be certainely reputed as characters of speciall honour and remembrancers of thy worthy seruice whereby thou shalt appeare more acceptable and amiable in the eyes of Almightie God and all that glorious triumphant Church aboue 5. If thou rightly temper and well weigh euen thy sorest sorrow and the very bleeding of thy heart for sinne it should bee so farre from damping the lightsomnesse of thy spirit that it ought to open vnto thee a well-spring of purest ioy For the penitent melting of our affections and kindly mourning ouer Him whom we haue pierced with our sinnes argues infallibly and sweetely assures the presence and sanctifying power of the holy Spirit And what greater comfort or sweeter delight then that which ariseth from a well grounded euidence that the Fountaine of all comfort dwels in our soules Such teares as burst out of a heart opprest with griefe for sinne are like an April showre which though it wet a little yet it begets a great deale of sweetnesse in the herbes flowers and fruits of the earth As euen in laughing the heart of the wicked is sorrowfull so contrarily euen in such mourning the heart of the true penitent is lightsome and comfortable For habituall ioy may not onely consist with actuall sorrow and contrarily but also euen actuall ioy with actuall sorrow This is no strange thing in other cases when wee see a good man persecuted for a good cause stand to it nobly wee grieue for his troubles but reioyce in his resolution and vndauntednes As wee ought then to grieue bitterly for our sinnes so let vs reioyce immeasurably for such ingenuous grieuing Let vs lament heartily ouer him whom we haue wounded with our abominable lusts but let vs also bee infinitely glad at the very heart roote that they are all pardoned by the powring out of his blood Not the most exquisite quintessence and extraction of all manner of Musicke Sets or Consorts vocall or instrumentall can possibly conuey so delicious a touch and rellish to the outward eare of a man as a certificate brought from the Throne of mercy by the blessed Spirit sealed with Christs blood to the bruised heart and grieued soule of an humble sinner in the very depth of his sorrow 6. If thou be troubled with temptations and exercised euen with varietie of them heare the holy Ghost Count it all ioy when yee fall into diuers temptations To let other particulars passe From the very foulest and most griesly suggestions of Satan thou mayst collect this common glorious comfort That thou art none of his For as hee is wont to keepe vnconuerted men in as merry a moode and faire a calme of outward contentment and inward securitie as he can possibly retiring and reseruing his most fiery darts and hideous temptations vntill hee haue them at some dead lift and vnauoidable strait so all that are broke out of his hellish prison by the help of the holy Ghost he ordinarily pursues with deadly rage and all the powers of darknesse Hee hunts them in his fittest seasons like a Partridge in the Mountaines with troubles without and terrours within The lesse peace thou hast therefore from him the more pleasure mayst thou take in thine escape out of his clutches The more restlessely he followes thee with the fury and variety of his temptations the more sweetly and securely if thou wilt giue way to the counsell of the Prophets and the worke of â—…aith mayst thou repose thy wearied soule vpon the comfortable assurance of being certainly Gods 5. Euery one that hath part in Christs death is bound in conscience and bidden by the blessed Spirit to leade a most merry life euen to keepe a Feast a spirituall Holyday as it were from all seruile terrours slauish sadnesse vncomfortable deiections of spirit For euen Christour Passeouer is sacrificed for vs therefore let vs keepe the Feast 1. Cor. 5. 7. The sweetnesse and excellency of this Feast is notably set out and amplified by 1. the beautifull garments wee put on and weare when we are admitted vnto it 2. The matter and magnificent prouision 3. The musicke 4. The franke and bountifull entertainment and plenty 5. The extraordinarie pompe and princelinesse 1. For the first meditate ioyfully vpon that rich attire and those Royall attributes glorifying and crowning Christs blessed Spouse with most admirable and rauishing beauty Cant. 6. 10. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning faire as the Moone pure as the Sunne terrible as an army with Banners And know that all the essentiall glory and fairenesse which is to be found in the whole Church the Woman clothed with the Sunne as that of iustification and sanctification c. belongs to euery member thereof to euery faithfull Christian. As the morning 1. The morning springs out of the greatest darknesse the night is most darke as they say a little before day the illuminated soule arises out of the most darksome and damned graue of ignorance and sinne 2. The beauty of the morning is principally seene in her ruddinesse The soule that is newly deliuered out of the horror of Egyptian darknesse and hands of the hellish Pharaoh is all ruddy with passing thorow the red Sea of Christs blood that is the ground vpon which all its beauty and blessednesse is built 2. The glory of the morning after its first peeping in the East spreads fairer and fairer in all beauty and brightnesse vntill the mid-day and full illustration of the World Grace in the soule after the first plantation growes stronger and stronger shines fairer and fairer vntil it set in the bottomlesse Ocean of endlesse Glory See Prou. 4. 18. Faire as the Moone 1. The Moone receiues all her light and lustre from the Sunne all the graces holinesse inherent righteousnesse shining in a sanctified soule are the image and impressions of the Sunne of righteousnesse 2. The Moone hath some spots in her face but yet is a very beautifull creature by her borrowed light The Christian is somewhat blacke with the remnants of
brests of euerlasting consolations And sith hee is incorporated into Iesus Christ and vpon all assayes hath the wings of faith in a readinesse to outsoare the height of all humane miseries let him for euer stand like Mount Zion inexpugnable and vnshaken with the most furious incursions of the floods and tempests of all worldly troubles pressures and persecutions Let all those monstrous and most abhorred iniections filthy temptations and fiery darts pointed with the very malice of hell ordinarily offered to the imagination of the best bee resolutely repelled by the shield of faith and retorted as dung vpon the Tempters face Let all vngodly oppositions from man or deuill or fearefull distrust be but as so many proud and swelling waues dashing against a mighty Rocke which the more boisterously they beate vpon it the more are they broken and turned into a vaine foame and froth But to descend with thee more punctually to some particulars Tell mee truly thou which hast giuen thy name to Christ in truth what it is that troubles thee what is it that still detaines thine heauy heart in the chaines and fetters of horrour and sadnesse and lockes it vp so long from the entrance and entertainement of spirituall lightsomenesse and ioy And if I bee not able to confront and confound it by some well-grounded counter-comfort and Antidote out of the Oracle of truth if I be not able to discouer it to bee a selfe-created crosse and to dissolue it into an imaginary and groundlesse fancie by the light of the Word then walke heauily still Onely beleeue the Prophets and thou shalt prosper Thou must then bee contented to be counselled by the faithfull Physicions of thy soule who can shew vnto man his vprightnesse and are instructed vnto the kingdome of heauen especially fetching all their prescriptions receits and counterpoysons out of the rich Treasurie of the Booke of Life Thou must learne 1. To put a difference betweene nullity of grace and imperfection of grace Many good soules desire sincerely that their hearts were broken in pieces and bled at the root for their many and hainous sinnes grieuing much that they can grieue no more They hunger and thirst for Christs righteousnesse more then for the wealth of the whole world They groane mightily in spirit for Gods fauour pardon of sinne power ouer their corruptions ability to pray better c. But yet because they feele not that measure of sensible smart and anguish of heart in lamenting their former life as they desire because they haue not their wished ioy and peace in beleeuing because they cannot now pray as feruently and feelingly as they perhaps were formerly woont not with that freedome and heartinesse as they would in a word because they are yet but smoaking flaxe and bruised reedes not full shining lampes and strong Pillars in the House of God they will needs haue all to be nought Whereby they I will not say belie the Spirit but most vnworthily deny and in their conceites nullifie his already wonderfull glorious worke vpon their soules to their I know not how great spirituall hurt and hinderance For such intolerable vnthankefulnesse may bee iustly punished and paide home with longer detainement vpon the Racke of distrustfull slauish feare and vnder the bondage of Legall terrours It is a speciall point then of spirituall wisedome and of singular consequence for the soules quiet and welfare to discerne weakenesse of grace from want of grace Christ Iesus declaring in his heauenly Sermon who are blessed doth not instance in the perfections excellencies and heights of Christianity though all that are true of heart sincerely pray for and presse after them but in the least and lowest degrees lest the smoking flaxe should bee quenched and bruised reedes bee broken He doeth not say Blessed are the stong in Faith the full assured Blessed are those that take on for their sinnes as for their onely sonne and for their first borne but Blessed are they which doe hunger and thirst after righteousnesse Blessed are the poore in spirit c. 2. Not alwayes to make sence and feeling the Touchstone for the truth of thy spirituall state A man in a swoone or a sleepe feeles not his life and yet is a liuing man It is one thing to haue grace another to feele grace One thing the life of faith another the life of sence 3. Not to disgrace thy owne graces by casting thine eye too deiectedly vpon other Christians perfections and precedencies Let it not fare with thee in this case as it doth with one gazing too much vpon the Sunne who looking downewards againe can see iust nothing whereas before he cleerely discerned all colours about him Looke vpon them for imitation and quickning not for slauish deiection and selfe-blinding 4. To acknowledge and expect that heauenly graces as Faith c. while they inhabite these earthly houses ebbe and flow waxe and wane faint and flourish by reason of the combate betweene the flesh and the Spirit So that if a man should tell mee that he hath euer prayed alike without temptation or dampes without any sence at any time of deadnesse or spirituall distempers that he hath euer beleeued alike without those doubts and scruples that faintnesse and feare of which most Christians so much complaine I durst confidently reply that then he neuer either prayed acceptably or beleeued sauingly The Fathers fitly resemble the state of the Church to the variable condition of the Moone which sometimes shines more gloriously sometimes not so It is so also with euery true member thereof in respect of the exercise of grace comfort in holy duties sence of Gods fauour spirituall feeling 5. To beleeue the Spirit of Truth the Word of God and voice of Christ before the father of lies dictates of naturall distrust and suggestions of flesh and blood To which methinks thou shouldest be easily perswaded and then all the mists of thy spirituall miseries would be quickly dispersed It is a mighty worke if not a great miracle to get any softnesse at all or true remorse for sinne into the heart of a man it is naturally so stony and impatient of griefe and the deuill such a stirrer against it so that the most are meere strangers vnto it yet for all that when this penitent sorrow is once sincerely on foote in an afflicted soule so endlessely and on euery side are wee prest with the policies of Hell it is too often too forward to feede vpon teares still and still too wilfull in refusing to bee comforted Satan then will bee ready to say Thou seest now thy conscience being illightened thy sinnes are so horrible and haiâ—…ous that they are too heauy a burden for thee to beare there is no way with thee but to sinke into horrour and despaire But what saith Christ Nay now is the season Come vnto me thus weary and heauy laden with thy sinne and I will refresh thee Here now if thou wilt beleeue the
place of Dragons This alone stings desperately keepes mee from Christ and cuts mee off from all hope of Heauen I am afraid my wilfull wallowing in it heretofore hath so reprobated my mind seared my conscience and hardened my heart that I shall neuer be able to repent with any hope of pardon And why so Is this sinne of thine greater then Manassehs familiaritie with wicked spirits Then Pauls drinking vp the blood of Saints Then any of theirs in that blacke Bill 1. Cor. 6. 10. 11. who notwithstanding were afterward vpon repentance washed sanctified and iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God Then Eâ—…s transgression who opened the floodgate to al the sins which shall bee committed from the Creation to the end of the World and to all those torments which shall flame in Hell thorow all eternitie Then that horrible sin of killing Christ Iesus And yet the murderers of that Iust and holy One vpon their true compunction of heart were saued by that precious blood which they had cruelly spilt as water vpon the ground But be it what it will a scarlet sinne a crimsin sinne a crying sinne and adde vnto it Satans malicious aggrauations and all that horrour which the deiectednesse of thy present afflicted spirit and darkenesse of thy melancholike imagination can put vpon it yet Pauls precious Antidote Rom. 5. 20 holds triumphantly Soueraigne aswell against the hainousnesse of any one sinne as the confluence of many Where sinne abounded grace ouer-abounded It is indeed a very heauy case and to bee deplored euen with teares of blood that thou shouldest euer haue so highly dishonoured thy gracious God with such an horrible sinne in the dayes of thy vanitie and thou oughtest rather chuse to bee â—…orne in pieces with wilde Horses then commit it againe yet if thy heart now truely wounded with horrour and hate of it will but cleaue to the truth and tenderheartednesse of Iesus Christ in his promises and fall into his blessed and bleeding armes stretched out most louingly to â—…ase and refresh thee as the hainousnesse of it hath abounded heretofore His grace will now abound to the same proportion and much more Nay I will shew thee a Pearle In this case by accident Gods mercies shal be extraordinarily honoured in pardoning such a prodigious prouocation because they are thereby as it were put into it and their dearenesse sweetnesse and infinitenesse improoued to the greater height and excellency and the blood of Christ made as it were more orient and illustrious and the honour and preciousnesse of it aduanced by washing away such an hainous hellish spot If we bring broken beleeuing hearts towards his Mercy-seate it is the Lords Name to forgiue all sorts of offences iniquitie transgression and sinne Exod. 34. 7. It is His Couenant to sprinkle cleane water vpon vs that we may be cleane and to cleanse vs from all our filthinesse and from all our Idols Exek 36. 25. euen from Idolatry the highest villany against the Maiestie of Heauen So that a Papist vpon repentance may be saued It is His promise not onely to pardon ordinary sinnes but those also which be as scarlet and red like crimsin Isai. 1. 18. It is his free compassion to cast all our sinnes into the depths of the sea Mich. 7. 19. Now the sea by reason of his vastnesse can drowne as well Mountaines as Molehills the boundlesse Ocean of Gods mercies can swallow vp our mightiest sinnes much more It is his mercifull power to blot out our sinnes as a cloud Isai. 44. 22. Now the strength of the Summers Sunne is able to scatter the thickest Fog as well as the thinnest Mist nay to driue away the darkest midnight the vnresistable heate of Gods free loue shining thorow the Sun of Righteousnes vpon a penitent soule to dissolue to nothing the desperatest worke of darkenesse and most horrible sinne farre more easily But this mysterie of mercy and miracle of Gods free loue is a Iewell onely for truely humbled soules and the sealed Fountaine Let no stranger to the life of godlinesse meddle with it Let no Swine trample it vnder his feete FINIS a Haec iustorum simplicitas deridetur quia ab hâ—…ius mundi sapientibus puritatis virtus â—…atuitas câ—…editur Greg. in â—…ap 12. Iob cap. 16. b Et quid diuitiae perâ—…untes transitoriae facultates nisi 〈◊〉 aeter na diligentibus sunt â—… Greg. in 1 Reg. cap. 2. c Non debet pro magno habeâ—…i honor humanus quia nullius est ponderis fumus August de Ciâ—…it Dei lib. 5. cap. 17. d Cùm coeperit Deo quisque viâ—…ere mundum contemnere iniurias suas nolle vlcisci nolle hîc diultias non hîc quaerere foelicitatem terrenam contemnere omnia Dominum solùm cogitare viam Christi non deserere non solùm à Paganis dicitur insanus sed quod magis dolendum est quia intus multi dormiunt vigilare nolunt à suis à Christianis audiunt Dictum est de ipso Domino quod insaniret August in Psal. 84. e Nobilitas Heroica est eminentia quaedam notabilis c. per quam homo fiâ—… per adoptionem Filius Dei fit Sponsa Christi sit Templum Spiritus Sancti sine quâ nobilitates caetâ—…rae nihil sunt nhiil proficiunt Gers. Tractat. De nobilitate Psal. 11. 6. f Cùm coeperit homo Christianus cogitare proficere incipit pati linguas aduersaâ—…tium Quicunque illas nondum passus est nondum proficit quicunque illas non patitut nec conatur proficere August in Psal. 119. g Heb. 11. 36 38. h Isa. 6. 2 3. i Ezech. 16. 14. zech 13. 11. g Lib. 5. Sect. 1. Prou. 3. 17. a Câ—…los 1. 1â—… b Rom. 12. 11. c 1. Iob. 3. 3. d Phil. 3. 20. Colos. 3. 2. e Ephes. 5. 15. f Iob 30. 8 9. Psal. 35. 15 16. and 69. 12. I am verò illud quale quà m sanctum quòd si quis ex Nobilibus ad Deum conuerti coeperit statim hâ—…norem nobilitatis amittit aut quantus in Christiano populo honor Christi est vbi religio ignobilem facit Statim enim vt quis melior esse tentauerit de eâ—…ioris abiectione calcatur ac per hoc omnes quodammodo mali esse coguntur ne vises habeantur Ita seculum totum iniquitatibus plenum est vt aut mali sint qui sunt in illo aut qui boni sunt multotum persecutione crucientur Si honoratior quispiam religioni se applicueâ—…it illicò honoratus esse defistit Si fuerit splendidissimus fit vilissimus Si fuerit totus honoris fit totus iniuriae Si bonus est quispiam quasi malus spernitur Si est maluâ—… quasi bonus honoratur Nihil itaque mirum si deteriora quotidâ—…è patimur qui deteriores quotidiè fumus Saluianus De verâ—… iudicio prouidâ—… tia Dei Lib 4. pag. 128 129. g
SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALKING with God DELIVERED IN THE LECTVRE AT KETTERING IN NORTHhamptonshire with enlargement By Robert Bolton Preacherof Gods Word at Broughton in the same County The second Edition corrected and amended with a Table thereunto annexed AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Edmund Weauer and are to be sold at his shop at the great North doore of Pauls Church 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND TRVLY NOBLE EDWARD Lord Mountague of Boughton a fruitfull increase of all heauenly graces and all watchfull preparation for the Glory that shall be reuealed Much Honored and Noble Lord ALthough the eminency of your other personall worth great Wisdome and noble parts a sufficient attractiue to euery honest heart by reason of the particular interest it hath in the common state of goodnes or your speciall bounty to my selfe which ought to stir vp an ingenuous minde to apprehend any opportunity of due and deserued acknowledgement or your publike deportment in the face of our Country so worthy and Honorable and managed with such true honesty graue moderation and noblenesse of spirit which cannot but draw from euery heart truely sound to our great Lord in Heauen and His Royall Deputy our highest Soueraigne vpon earth a great deale of reuerence loue I say though any of these seuerally might exact from me a more exact and able demonstration of the thankefull deuotions of my heart yet my Lord and you may beleeue mee there is another thing besides all these which was the strongest and most predominant motiue to quicken mee to this Duty and Dedication euen your sincere and inuincible affection to the Gospell of Iesus Christ His faithfull Ministers and most precious Wayes And this to tell you the truth is farre the fairest and most orient flower in the Garland of all your goodnesse and incomparably aboue all your Greatnesse were you aduanced euen to desert nay to the highest top of all earthly felicities and mortall honour For howsoeuer the world euer beside it selfe in point of faluation and starke blind in the right apprehension of Heauenly things doth ◅ote vpon guilded miseries stinging vanities golden setters and wickedly deemes pursuite of purity the height of folly yet I can assure you in the Word of life and truth the richest and rarest con◅luence of all humane happinesses the most exquisite excellencie and variety of the greatest worldly pompe and splendour that euer the Sunne saw since the first moment of its creation or shall looke vpon while it shines in Heauen is but dust in the ballance to one graine of grace it is but dung to an humble minde sauingly illightened with a forecast but of the least glimpse of that incomprehensible endlesse glory which shall shortly be reuealed It is all in the true valuation but as a vaine smoake which doth not onely vanish as it riseth and vtterly looseth it selfe at the highest but also drawes teares frō a mans eyes nay at last wrings the very heart-strings of euery impenitent soule with that extremest euerlasting horrour which would burst ten thousand hearts seriously and sensibly to thinke vpon before-hand It is not onely vanity but also vexation of spirit Let worldly wisdome say what it will and hold them melancholike and madde who by the helpe of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter-motion to the course of the world and corruptions of the time that they may keep a good conscience the richest treasure and dearest Iewell that euer the heart of man was acquainted with who infinitely desire rather to be religious then rich to bee good then great to enioy the fauour of God then the soueraignty and pleasures of all the kingdomes of the earth yet assuredly when all is said and truely summed vp it is onely the true feare of Gods blessed Name a zealous forwardnesse for his glory goodnesse and good causes at this day vnhappily and to the ruine of infinite soules called by the world pragmaticalnesse and Too much precisenesse which can truely beautifie and adorne both all other personall sufficiencies and indeed sanctifie and blesse all publike imployments and seruices of State For the first A Professor euen something Popish doth yet truely teach that Heroicall nobilitie is an illustrious eminency shining in a man by the heauenly infusions of supernaturall grace whereby he is made by adoption the sonne of God the Spouse of Christ the Temple of the holy Ghost without which all other Nobilities are nothing not worth a button Suppose a faire and goodly horse to the eye as exquisitely featured colourd paced as that fained by Bartas to be managed by Cain yet if he wāted mettle he were worth nothing to a man of spirit Giue me the most magnificent glorious Worldling that euer trod vpō earthly mould richly crowned with all the ornaments and excellencies of nature art policy preferment or what heart can wish besides yet without the life of grace to animate and ennoble them hee were to the eye of heauenly Wisdome but as a rotten carkasse stucke ouer with flowers magnified dung guilded rottennesse golden damnation And that which is more dreadfull when the sunne of his short Summers day is set the hot gleame of transitorie prosperity past and the bitter tempestuous winters night of death approacheth from which all the Gold and Pearle of East West can no more deliuer him then can an handfull of dust I say then shall bee powred vpon his head that terrible showre of snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest His soule sinkes immediatly in a moment into the depth of remedilesse misery and is desperately plunged for euer into the bottome of the burning Lake His body descends into the graue as into a dungeon of rottennesse horror arrested as it were by the second death in the deuils name and at length haled and dragged vnto the terror of that great and last Day where no creature can rescue him no mountaine couer him from that vnquenchable wrath neuer-dying Worme which shall euer lastingly day and night feed vpon his soule and flesh Wheras now on the other side that poore neglected One who hath in truth giuen his name vnto Christ and his gainefull seruice perhaps by the World most disdainfully and contemptuously trampled vpon euen into the dust with the feet of cruelty and pride at least most certainly euer made extremely vile and contemptible by the villany of tongues and cruell mockings yet is such an One as the World is not worthy of in the meane time in the meaning of the holy Ghost a Crowne of glory in the hand of Iehouah as beautifull and amiable as the bloud of Christ and his righteous roabe can make him crowned full gloriously with Gods owne comelinesse which hee hath put vpon him designed from all eternitie in due time for so his sanctification now assures him to weare an euerlasting Crowne of blisse And when his pilgrimage is past
contempt all the vile raylings and contradictions of Satans Reuellers and Popish insolencie For vainely to affect the acclamations and applause of worthlesse men or to bee deiected vnmanlily with their vniust accusations and anger are both equally ignoble and most vnworthy a man of Honour and vertuous resolution Yours shall bee the Crowne and comfort when all Popery and prophanenesse shall lye buried in the dust and dungeon of Hell In a word the thirstie longing of my heart and heartiest prayer shall euer be That you may shine euery day more and more gloriously in all personall sanctitie plantation of godlinesse in your owne Family and where you haue any thing to doe and in an holy zeale for setting forward the affaires of God when and wheresoeuer you haue any power or Calling That when the last period of your mortall abode in this Vale of teares which drawes on apace shall present it selfe You may looke death in the face without dread the graue without feare the Lord Iesus with comfort and Iehouah blessed for euer with euerlasting Ioy. Thus let all the sauing blessings of our most bountifull heauenly Father through Iesus Christ by the Holy Ghost be plentifully and for euer vpon your Honourable Selfe and all your sweet and Noble Children Your Honours most truely in all seruices for the saluation of your Soule ROBERT BOLTON A Table of the generall heads as they lye in order in the Booke SEruants of God singular from others in Sanctitie Puritie c. pag. 2 Gods free grace the 〈◊〉 of all our good p. 9 His wonderfull mercies to vs our horrible ingratitude p. 12 Personall goodnesse brings comfort and blessings vpon posteritie p. 18 True sauing grace neuer lost p. 22 Câ—…tions and meanes of perseuerance 25. 27 Gods seruants must noâ—… sâ—…ue the times p. 28 Euery Christians duty to walke with God p. 29. The reasons 30 To the performing of this there are 1. Generall preparatiues 1. Abandon resoluedly thy beloued sinne See 1. What it is 35 2. What thine is 36 3. Thine owne imposture in exchanging it 38 2. Hatâ—… Hypocrisie 43. Many here guilty meere pretenders to Religion ibid. Particular calling not to be left 48 3. Build thy resolutions on that maiâ—… principle Selfe-dâ—…iall 51 4. Liue the life of faith 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 53 5. Settle in thine heart a right conceit of the substance power and materials of Christianitie 157 6. Fortifie thy Spirit against the canker of worldly-mindednesse 60 7. Be infinitely rauisht with the loue of God The motiues 61 8. Prize inualuably the fruition of Gods pleased face 62 9. Watch ouer thy heart and keepe it in a spirituall temper 63 10. Meditate on thy future blisse 64 1. Obserâ—…e 〈◊〉 duties and our Carriage after them 69 3. Vse well thy solitariâ—… seasons of Meditation 71 4. And thy company 73. Here Danger of propâ—… company 74 How to conuerse with friends vnconuerted 86 5. Continually ply thy heart by 1. Captiuating it to grace 88 2. Watchfull guard ouer it 9â—… 3 〈◊〉 it toward Heauen 9â—… 6. Labour to represse thy raging passions as Anger the 〈◊〉 Morall 95 Religious 100 feare the Vanity tyraâ—…y of it 104 〈◊〉 10â—… 7. Order religiously thy tongue by Christian reproofe A duty 112 Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 114. who dogs 〈◊〉 115 Directioâ—… iâ—… it 118 Extremes fainthearted silence 119 〈◊〉 Zeale 119 Reasons eâ—…orcing it 120 Holding silence 1. From vncharitable 〈◊〉 differenced from the censures of holy men 130 2. Sâ—…dering false accusing 137 3. Vnsauourie communication Hereof Heaâ—…enly discourse 146 8. Manage conscâ—…bly eâ—…ry action thou vndertakest Circumstances requisite iâ—… a comfortable action â—…b particularly 149 1. Thy Recreations See they be not Costly 154 Cruell 155 Wasting of time most precious 157 Incrâ—…aching vpon heauenly comforts 168 Differences betweene ioy spirituall and carnall 170 2. Visitations of great Ones vnsanctified Dangerous 181 Herein cautions 185 3. Naturall actions thus against Gluttony 195 Drunkennesse 200 Excessiue sleepe 205 4. Ciuill affaires Generall Here Doe as thou wouldest be done by 207 Abhorre wrongfull and vnconscionable dealing 210 Desire not delight not immoderately in any earthly thing For This is thy bosome sinnes parent 225 Thou wilt finde thy selfe insatiable vnsatisfiable 219 Particular for Marriage 1. Enter vpon it conueniently 234 2. Vse it comfortably here are duties Common to both 237 Peculiar to the Husband 244 Wife 250 5. Workes of mercy as well Spirituall as 257 Corporall Motiues to almes-deeds 261 Gods children often falsly charged with coâ—…etousnesse worldlinesse occasions of this imputation 276 Earthly mindednesse infinitely vnbecomming an heire of heauen 289 6. Spirituallestate where carefully auoide two extreames 1. Self-admiration proud oâ—…er-prizing of our owne graces 294 Here 1. The mysterie of selfe-deceit opened 299 2. Worke of Grace in the true Conuert 308 3. Sanctified men may be assured of their spirituall safety 317. and how 4. Sound perswasion distinguished from delusion 329 5. Preseruatiues against ouerweening 341 2. Deiected distrustfull vndervaluing of Gods mercies our graces the promises of life Here Against the heauy sad pensiue walking of some Saints 354 Reall causes and motiues of their ioy 359 Conceits and occasions of discomforts remoued 380 FINIS SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALking with God GEN. 6. 8 9. 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a iust man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God IN this dreadfull and dismall story of the old Worlds degeneration and destruction falling away and final ruine here stands in my Text a right orient and illustrious Starre shining full faire with singularitie of heauenly light spiritual goodnes and Gods sincerer seruice in the darkest midnight of Satans vniuersall raigne and amidst the horriblest hell of the strangest confusions idolatrous corruptions cruelties oppressions and lust that euer the earth bore Noah I meane a very precious Man and Preacher of Righteousnesse to whose Family alone the true worship of God was confinde when all the world besides lay drowned in Idolatrie and Paganisme ready to bee swallowed vp into an vniuersall graue of Waters which was already fashioned in the clouds by the angry vnresistable hand of the all-powerfull God who was now so implacably but most iustly prouoked by those rebellious and cruell generations that Hee would not suffer His Spirit to striue any more with them but inexorably resolued to open the windowes or floudgates of heauen giuing extraordinarie strength of influence to the Stars abundance to the Fountaines of the great deepe commanding them to cast out the whole treasure and heape of their waters taking away the retentiue power from the clouds that they might powre downe immeasurably for the burying of all liuing creatures which breathed in the ayre Noah and his family excepted From whence by the way before I breake into my text take this Note Doctr. The seruants of God are men of
singularitie I meane it not in respect of any fantasticalnesse of opinion furiousnesse of zeale or turbulencie of faction truely so called but in respect of abstinence from sinne puritie of heart and holinesse of life Reasons 1. Gods holy Word exacts and expects from all that are new-borne and heires of Heauen an excellency aboue ordinary Pro. 12. 26. Matth. 5. 20. 47. Being taken forth as the precious from the vile Ierem. 15. 19. by the power of the Ministerie they must not onely goe beyond the hiest ciuill perfections of the exactest morall Puritane amongst the most honest Heathens Heb. 12. 14. but also exceed the righteousnesse and all the outward religious conformities of the deuoutest Pharises whose sufficiencies Luk. 18. 11 12. many thousands in these times come short of and yet hope to be saued or they can in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heauen But lest any bee proudly puft vp with sence of this singularitie and excellencie aboue his neighbour let him know that humilitie is euer one of the fairest flowers in the whole garland of his supernaturall and diuine worth and that selfe-conceitednesse would impoyson euen Angelicall perfection 2. They must vpon necessitie differ from a world of wicked men by a sincere singularitie of abstinence from the course of this world the lusts of men the corruptions of the times familiaritie with gracelesse companions the worldlings language prophane sports all wicked wayes of thriuing rising and growing great in the world c. 3. They make conscience of those duties and diuine commands which the greatest part of men euen in the noonetide of the Gospell are so farre from taking to heart that their hearts rise against them As to bee hot in Religion Reu. 3. 16. To be zealous of good workes Tit. 2. 14. To walke precisely Ephes. 5. 15. To bee feruent in spirit Rom. 12. 11. To striue to enter in at the straite gate Luke 13. 24. To plucke out their right eyes that is to abandon their bosome delights Matth. 5. 29. To make the Sabbath a delight Isa. 58. 13. To loue the Brotherhood 1. Pet. 2. 17. With an holy violence to lay hold vpon the Kingdome of Heauen Matth. 11. 12. 4. Experience and examples of all ages from the creation downeward clearely prooue the point At this time as you see the Saints of God were all harboured vnder one roofe and yet not all sound there Suruey the ages afterward The time of Abraham who was as a brand taken out of the fire of the Chaldeans The time of Elijah when none appeared to that blessed man of God The time of Esaiah who cryed chap. 53. 1. Who hath beleeued our report The time of Manasseh who built altars for all the host of Heauen in the two Courts of the House of the Lord The time of Antiochus when he commanded the Sanctuarie and holy people to bee polluted with Swines-flesh and vncleane beasts to be sacrificed the abomination of desolation to bee set vp vpon the Altar That darksome time when the glorious Day-Star Christ Iesus himselfe came downe from Heauen to illighten the earth The time of Antichrist when all the world wondred after the Beast Our times wherein of sixe parts of the earth scarce one of the least is Christian. And what a deale of Christendome is still ouer-growne with Popery and other exorbitant distempers in point of Religion And where the Truth of Christ is purely and powerfully taught how few giue their names vnto it And of those who professe how many are false-hearted or meerely formall 5. Me thinks worldly wisdome should rather wonder that any one is wonne vnto God then cry out and complaine Is it possible there should be so few Sith all the powers of darknesse and euery diuell in hell oppose might and maine the plantation of grace in any soule sith there are moc snares vpon earth to keepe vs still in the inuisible chaines of darknesse and sinne then there are starres in heauen sith euery inch euery little artery of our bodies if it could would swell with hellish venome to the bignesse of the greatest Goliah the mightiest Gyant that it might make resistance to the sanctifying worke of the holy Ghost sith our soules naturally would rather die and put off their immortality and euerlasting being then put on the Lord Iesus In a word sith the new creation of a man is holden a greater worke of wonder then the creation of the world 6. Lastly let vs set aside in any Country Citie Towne Family First all Atheists Papists and distempered exorbirants from the blessed Truth of doctrine taught in our Church Secondly all Whoremongers Drunkards Swearers Lyers Reuellers Worldlings Vsurers and fellowes of such infamous ranke Thirdly all meerely ciuill men who come short of Cato Fabricius and other honest Heathens and wanting holinesse shall neuer see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. Fourthly all grosse Hypocrites whose outsides are painted with superficial flourishes of holinesse and honesty but their inward parts filled with rottennesse and lust who haue their hands in godly exercises when their hearts are in hell Fiftly all formall Hypocrites who are deluded in point of Saluation as were the foolish Virgins and that proud Pharise Luk. 18. 11. Sixthly all finall back-sliders of which some turne sensuall Epicures and plunge themselues into worldly pleasures with farre more rage and greedinesse by reason of former restraint by a temporarie profession others become scurrill deriders of the holyway some bloody goads in the sides of those with whom they haue formerly walked into the house of God as friends Seuenthly all vnsound Professors for the present of which you would little thinke what a number there is I say let these and all other strangers to the purity and power of godlinesse be set apart and tell mee how many true-hearted Nathaneels wee are like to finde Vses 1. Trie then the truth of thy spirituall state by this marke of a sober and sincere singularitie If thou still holdest correspondence with the world and conformitie to the fashions thereof if still thou swimmest downe the current of the times and shiftest thy sailes to the sitting of euery Winde if thine heart hanker still after the tastlesse fooleries of goodfellowship and follow the multitude to doe ill if thou be carried with the swinge and sway of the place where thou liuest to vphold by a boisterous combination lewdnesse and vanity to prophane the Lords day to scorne Profession oppose the Ministerie and walke in the broad Way In a word if thou doest as the most doe thou art vtterly vndone for euer But if with a mercifull violence thou bee pulled out of the world by the power of the Word and happily weaned from the sensuall insensible poison of all bitter-sweet pleasures and fellowship with vnfruitfull workes of darknesse If by standing on Gods side and hatred of all false wayes thou art become the Drunkards song as Dauid
mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit thy case is the case of saluation 4. A good conscience stands not with a purpose of sinning no not with an irresolution against sinne 5. The rich and precious boxe of a good conscience is polluted and made impure if but one dead Flie be suffered in it He meanes any one knowne sinne lyen and delighted in impenitently 6. Where there is but any one sinne nourished and fostered all other our graces are not onely blemished but abolished they are no graces 7. Most true is that saying of Aquinas That all sinnes are coupled together though not in regard of conuersion to temporall good for some looke to the good of gaine some of glory some of pleasure c. yet in regard of auersion from eternall Good that is God So that he that lookes but toward one sinne is as much auerted and turned backe from God as if he looked to all In which respect Saint Iames sayes He that offendeth in one is guiltie of all 8. Euery Christian should carry in his heart a constant and resolute purpose not to sinne in anything for faith and the purpose of sinning can neuer stand together Thou seest then if Satan keep possession but by one reigning sinne it will be thine euerlasting ruine Thou shalt then bee so farre from euer enioying any humble holy acquaintance with our God that thou art gone body and soule for euer One breach in the walles of a Citie exposeth it to the surprize of the enemy one leake in a ship neglected will sinke it at length into the bottome of the Sea the stab of a penknife to the heart will as well speed a man as all the daggers that kild Caesar in the Senate-house If thou hedge thy Close as high as the middle Region of the Aire in all other places and leaue but one gap all thy grasse will bee gone If the Fowler catch the bird either by the head or the foote or the wing she is sure his owne It is so in the present case If thou liue and lye with allowance and delight in any one knowne sinne without particular remorse or resolution to part with it thou as yet carriest the Diuels brand he hath thereby markt thee out for his owne As obedience is vniuersall and Catholike if sincere so repentance if true is also generall It sâ—…rips vs starke naked as a worthy Diuine saies well of all the garments of the old Adam and leaues not so much as the shirt behind in this rotten building it leaues not a stone vpon a stone As the flood drowned Noahs owne friends and seruants so must the flood of repenting teares drowne our sweetest and most profitable sinnes The premonition therefore I tender in the first place is this Thou canst neuer possibly be fitly qualified either for the right vnderstanding or sauing practise of this sacred and sweetest Art of walking with God except thou resolue to stand for euer sincerely at the swords point against all sinne Euen thy bosome sinne must be abandoned if thou look for any blessing in this kinde Thou must put off the shirt from thy sinfull soule for as the shirt is to the body so is the beloued sinne to the soule it sticks closest and neerest and is done off with most adoe And because this darling-pleasure minion-delight Peccatum in delicijs as the Fathers call it is Satans strongest Hold his Tower of greatest confidence and securitie when he is driuen out elsewhere and so by consequent most powerfull and peremptorie to keepe a mans heart estranged with largest distance and incompatible auersion from all holy acquaintance with God I will in short labour to illighten and dis-intangle any one who vnfainedly desires an vtter diuorce from this bosome-deuill by telling him first what it is secondly what his is thirdly how he may be deceiued about it 1. As in euery man there is one element one humour and ordinarily one passion predominant so also one worke of darknesse and way of death And it is that which his corrupt and originall crookednesse vpon the first electiue suruay and prospect ouer the fooles Paradise of worldly pleasures fleshly lusts and vanities of this life by a secret sensuall inclination and bewitching infusion of Satan singles out and makes speciall choice of to follow and feede vpon with greatest delight and predominant sweetnesse afterward by custome and continuance growes so powerfull and attractiue that it extraordinarily endeares and drawes vnto it the heate of all his desires and strongest workings of his heart with much affectionate impatiencie and headlongnesse and at the height by an vnresistable tyranny it makes all occasions and occurrences friends and followers the deepest reach of policie and vtmost proiects of wit Religion conscience credit with the world the vniuersall possibilitie of body soule outward state seruiceable and contributarie vnto it as the Captaine and commanding sin as to the Deuils vice-roy domineering in the wasted conscience In some it is worldlinesse wantonnesse ambition opposicion to godlinesse vsurie pride reuenge or the like In others it may bee drunkennesse the swaggering vanitie of good fellowship gluttony pleasures of Play-house hanting gaming scurrill iesting c. obstinate insatiablenesse in allowed recreations idlenesse or such like 2. Thou mayest discouer it by such markes as these 1. It is that which thy truest friends thine owne conscience and the finger of God in the Ministerie many times finds out meetes with and chiefely checks thee for 2. It is that which if it breake out into act and be visible to the eye of the world thine enemies most eagerly obserue and obiect as matter of their most insultation and thy greatest disgrace 3. That which thou art lothest to leaue art oftenest tempted vnto hast least power to resist and which most hinders the resignation and submission of soule and body of all thy courses and carriage heartily and vnreseruedly to the Word and will of God 4. It is that which God oftnest corrects in thee euen in the interpretation and guiltie acknowledgement of thy selfe-accusing heart It may be at seuerall times thou hast bin afflicted with some heauy crosse in thine outward state losse of a child some fits and pangs of bodily paine terrours and troubles of mind or some such proportionable visitations now in all these and like afflictions vpon the first smarting apprehension thy conscience if any whit awaked on its owne accord seized vpon that sinne we now seeke for as the principall Achan and author of all thy misery 5. If euer thou wast so sicke as out of extremitie to receiue sentence of death against thy selfe and despaire of recouerie if thy conscience was stirring this sinne afrighted thee most and gaue the deadliest blow to driue thee to finall despaire And if thou shouldest die in it without repentance which God forbid it would infuse most hellish vigor and venome into the neuer-dying worme which would thereby more mightily gnaw vpon thy
and cunning traine of Satan may bee haled backe to commit his sweete sinne againe especially if it bee of some nature though it be a very heauy case and to bee lamented if it were possible with teares of blood yet hee neuer doth nor can returne to wallow in it againe or allow it After such a dreadfull relapse his heart bleeds afresh with extraordinarie bitternesse of penitent remorse hee abhors himselfe in dust and ashes as exceedingly vile cries more mightily vnto God in a day of humiliation for the returne of his pleased countenance repaires and fortifies the breach with stronger resolution and more inuincible watchfulnesse against future assaults and all assayes of re-entry But now the temporarie I talke of after his formall enforced forbearance engulphs himselfe againe with more greedinesse into the pleasures and sensualitie of his bosome sinne lies and delights in it againe as the very life of his life and hardens himselfe more obstinately in it as a thing impossible to leaue and liue with any comfort Vpon his returne the vncleane spirit râ—…ges more then before Thus to lend thee some light for a more full discouerie and thorow disintanglement out of its pleasing snares I haue intimated briefly what a beloued sinne is what thine may bee and how thou mayest bee deceiued about it For if thou wouldest truely taste how gracious and glorious the Lord is in a sweet communion with His blessed Maiestie if thou wouldest be intimately acquainted with the mystery of Christ wherein are hid infinite heauenly treasures and such pleasures as neither eye hath seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man if thou wouldest euer bee fitly qualified to walke humbly with thy God in the way which is called Holy as thou must fall out for euer with all finne so must thou principally and impartially improoue all thy spirituall forces and aide from heauen vtterly to demolish and beate to the ground the deuils Castle to dethrone and depose from its hellish tyrannie ouer thee that grand impoisoner of thy soule and strongest barre to keepe out grace all acquaintance and sweetest entercourse with God thy bosome sinne Take notice by the way that sith wee concurrently and constantly teach that iustifying Faith doth purifie the heart from the raigne allowance of any lust or lewd course and plants by the power of the holy Ghost a sincere vniuersall new obedience and regular respect to all Gods commandements to all good workes of Iustice Mercy and Truth and that wee neither doe nor dare giue any comfort to any man of his being iustified and assured of Gods loue that goes on impenitently in any one knowne sinne against his conscience hating to be reformed I say sith it is thus take notice how vnworthily wrongfully the Antichristian Doctors hauing receiued foreheads from the Whore of Babylon deale with vs in this point Heare them speake So that their iustification meaning ours saith Fitzhâ—…rbert may according to their opinion stand with all wickednesse These words saith Arnoux meaning of the French Confession are set downe to assure the wickedst man that is of the righteousnesse of the Sonne of God By the application of Christs satisfaction by faith saith Lessius he meaning the Protestant is reputed iust before God though he finde no change of will at all within The skarlet Fathers in the Trentish Conuenticle say that Luther from iustification by faith alone collected not onely that good workes are not necessarie but also that a dissolute libertie in obseruing the Law of God and of the Church will serue the turne Bellar. also comes in with his videntur They seeme saith he altogether to thinke that a man may be saued although hee doe no good workes nor obserue Gods Commandements Which hee there onely seemes and assayes to proue but indeed playes the calumniating Sophister The iustifying faith of the Aduersaries saith hee in another place takes clearely away Prayer Sacraments Good workes and whatsoeuer God hath instituted for our saluation The Protestants saith Stapleton will haue certainty of grace to be in a man not onely without any respect necessitie consequence presence or conueniencie of good workes but also whatsoeuer sinnes being present The Rhemists also most slanderously affirme that wee condemne Good workes as vncleane sinfull hypocriticall Arnoldus also swels with malicious Popish poison and the rancour of a slanderous spirit when hee fathers vpon vs such falshoods as these as though we should teach that all men are bound to beleeue that they are elected to eternall life that we bid all wicked men be secure as those who can fall from saluation by no villanies Now the Lord rebuke thee Satan who â—…ittest with such extreme malice falshood in the foule mouthes of the Popish Proctours and Rabshakehs of Rome that they should with such prodigious lies and villanous slanders reuile the Lords Champions and traduce the glorious heauenly truth of our most holy and righteous Religion But to my purpose and to conclude the point Thou must either with a resolute and euerlasting diuorce abandon and abominate thy bosome sinne thy darling delight to the pit of hell whence it hath formerly receiued much enraged sensuall poison to the wofull wasting of thy conscience and the stronger and longer barring thee from grace or else thou must continue an euerlasting stranger from all communion and conuersing with God thou shalt neuer be able to meet him in his Ordinances with true reuerence and delight or looke him in the face with comfort at the last day II. Scorne with an infinite and triumphant disdaine to serue the mighty Lord of heauen and earth seruilely slauishly or formally for by-respects priuate ends or any thing saue his owne sweet gracious glorious Selfe Hate hypocrisie from the very heart-roote Which foule fiend painting her selfe more vnobseruedly in the warme Sun and shining prosperitie of the Gospels flourishing estate with an outward gilt and superficiall tincture doth with greater varietie and stronger imposture deceiue both mens owne soules and others in the glorious noone-tide thereof Nay this great Agent for the Prince of darknesse is so politicke and pragmatical that he preuailes too much many times euen in the declination of that glorious Sunne in the disacceptation and dampe of profession and forwardnesse For though at this day Professours of the gracious Way bee in greatest disgrace with the most and a drunkard a swaggering Good-fellow an Vsurer a sonne or daughter of Belial shall finde more fauour applause and approbation with the world then a man which makes conscience of his wayes so that it may seeme the greatest madnesse that may bee to make profession of Religion hypocritically yet euen in these times there are some causes in which the deuill takes occasion to cause some to play the Hypocrites notoriously 1. Some there may be who being weake and worthlesse yet vaine-glorious and ouer-greedy of reputation finding
and rare felicitie in pitching iust vpon the golden meane as they conceiue betweene prophanenesse and precisenesse infamous notoriousnesse and persecuted strictnesse But that Prouerbe in the meane time falls pat vpon their pates There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse And at length most certainely the iust execution of that terrible commination Reuel 3. 16. will crush their hearts with euerlasting horrour confusion and woe But I should be endlesse in the discouery of this hidden and hellish gulph of hypocrisie wherein thousands are swallowed vp euen in this glorious Mid-day of the Gospell For a man may assoone find out the way of an Eagle in the Ayre the way of a Serpent vpon a Rocke the way of a Ship in the midst of the Sea and the way of a man with a maid as to tracke the cunning and crooked footsteps of this foule fiend in the false hearts of Satans followers Only take notice that thou canst neuer possibly delight in God or euer comfortably come neere him if thou giue any entertainment vnto it in what forme soeuer it represent it selfe or whatsoeuer vizor it offers vnto thee though neuer so fairely varnished and guilded ouer with the Deuils angelicall glory III. Build and erect all thy resolutions and conclusions for Heauen and Gods seruice vpon that strong and purest pillar that maine and most precious Principle of Christianitie Selfe-deniall No walking with God no sweete communion and sound peace at his Mercy-Seate except for his sake and keeping a good conscience thou be content to denie thy selfe thy worldly wisdome naturall wit carnall reason acceptation with the world excellencie of learning fauour of great Ones credit and applause with the most thy passions profit pleasures preferment neerest friends ease libertie life euery thing any thing And feare no losse for all things else are nothing to the least comfortable glimpse of Gods pleased face From this Principle sprung all those noble resolutions and replies of Gods worthiest Saints and Souldiers That of Hester for the preseruation of the people of God Well saith she I wil goe in vnto the King which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish That of Micaiah sollicited strongly by the messenger to temporize in managing his Ministery with sutablenesse and conformity to the Kings pleasure and plausiblenesse of the false prophets As the Lord liueth what the Lord saith vnto mee that will I speake That of Nehemiah Should such a man as I flee As if he should haue said Tell not mee of fleeing my resolution was pitcht long agoe if need require to lay downe my life and lose my blood in the Lords battels That of Paul when his friends were weeping and wailing about him What meane you to weepe said hee and to breake mine heart For I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus That of Ierome If my father stood weeping on his knees before mee and my mother hanging on my necke behind me and all my brethren sisters children kinsfolke howling on euery side to retaine me in sinfull life with them I would fling my mother to the ground despise all my kinred run ouer my father and tread him vnder my feet thereby to run to Christ when hee calleth me That of Luther dealt with earnestly and eagerly not to venture himselfe amongst a number of perfidious and blood-thirstie Papists As touching me saith he since I am sent for I am resolued and certainely determined to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ yea although I knew there were so many Deuils to resist me as there are tiles to couer the houses in Wormes That of a most renowned Italian Marquesse Galeacius Carracciolus tempted by a Iesuite with a great sum of money to returne from Gods Blessing at Geneua to the warme Sunne in Italy Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the Gold in the world worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit That of George Carpenter Martyr My wife and my children are so dearely beloued vnto me that they cannot bee bought from mee for all the riches and possessions of the Duke of Bauaria but for the loue of my Lord God I will willingly forsake them That of Kilian a Dutch Schoole-master to such as asked him if he loued not his wife and children Yes said he If the world were Gold and were mine to dispose of I would giue it to liue with them though it were but in prison yet my soule and Christ are dearer to me then all IV. Exercise thy selfe continually and bee excellent in that onely Heauen vpon Earth and sweetest Sanctuarie to an hunted soule the Life of faith Which to liue in some good measure is the duty and property of euery liuing member of Christ Iesus Loue therefore and labour to liue by the power of faith the life of saluation sanctification preseruation 1. Of saluation thus Let thy truely-humbled soule grieued and groaning vnder the burden of sinne throw it self into the meritorious and merciful armes of Iesus Christ wounded broken and bleeding vpon the Crosse and there let it hold and hide it selfe for euer in full assurance of eternall life by vertue of that promise Ioh. 3. 36. Hee that beleeueth on the Son hath euerlasting life For hauing thus laid hold vpon him He by his Spirit doth communicate first himselfe vnto thee then both the merit of his death for remission of thy sinnes and of his actiue obedience for thy right to saluation and happinesse and withall the power of his Spirit to quicken thee to the life of grace in this World and to raise vp thy body to the life of glory at the last day 2. Of sanctification If thou keepe thy faith the fountaine roote and heart as it were from which all thine other graces spring in life and vigour thou shalt pray more comfortably bee more couragiously patient heare the Word more fruitfully receiue the Sacraments more ioyfully passe the Sabbaths more delightfully conferre more cheerefully meditate more heauenly walke in all the wayes of new obedience with more strength and conquest ouer corruptions For ordinarily euery Christian shall finde the exercise of other graces to bee comfortable or cold according to the liuelinesse or languishing of his faith 3. Of preseruation both temporall and spirituall In crosses afflictions and all Gods outward angry visitations by the power of such promises as those Psal. 89. 33. and 50. 15. Heb. 12. 7 8 11. 1. Thes. 3. 3. Act. 14. 22. Luke 9. 23. Isai. 63. 9. In the course and carriage of thy particular Calling the duties and workes whereof if thou discharge with conscience diligence and prayer thou mayest goe on with comfort contentment and freedome from that torturing and racking thoughtfulnesse from those restlesse and cursed carkings of carnal worldlings
contempt of the world resolute hatred of sinne in approouing our hearts in Gods presence a sweete communion with him comfortable longing for the comming of the Lord Iesus c. Yet mistake me not thou must make a shew professe and talke if thou wouldest haue Christ Iesus to owne thee at that last and dreadfull Day Mark 8. 38. It is therefore an idle and brainelesse cauill of some lewd ignorant Lozels to say We can by no meanes endure these shewes Cannot a man bee religious to himselfe except he hang out his flag and let all the world know it For where the power of Religion is there will bee the shew also Painted fire shines not ascends not heates not but true fire is euer inseparably attended with these properties We cannot put a Candle in a Lanthorne but the light will shew it selfe thorow the hornes if true grace bee planted in the heart it will shine forth in our words gestures actions all carriages and our whole conuersation He that will take shewes from the substance of Religion let him take brightnesse from the Sunne glistering from Gold breathing from a liue-body Shew and profession of Christ before men is commanded as well as the substance and soundnesse of heart Rom. 10. 9 10. Thou must bee a patrone and in some good measure a practiser of precise points if euer thou wilt haue true peace and assurance of walking in the narrow path that leades vnto life as of walking precisely Ephes. 5. 15. Being feruent in spirit Rom. 12. 11. Striuing to enter in at the strait gate Luke 13. 24. Selfe-deniall 14. 26. Surpassing the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharises Mat. 5. 20. Laying violent hands and hold vpon the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 11. 12. In a word of the way which is called holy and yet so spoken against euery where Act. 28. 22. For I meane only that precisenesse which is commended vnto vs and commanded by the blessed Spirit in Gods pure and holy Word I know all passages of sanctification are too precise and paradoxes intolerable and burdensome to flesh and blood and in the interpretation of worldly wisedome which notwithstanding are easie and sweet to mortified men Thou must stand at the staues end against the sinnes of the times and like the Eagle prune vp thy selfe against a storme or else thou art a temporizer Outward exercises of Religion are as it were the bodie without which the soule of Christianitie hath no existence Thou must be content to abridge and confine thy Christian liberty at any time according to opportunities and exigents for the enlargement of Gods glory the building vp of thy brother and snaffling thine owne rebellious nature Thou mayest and must iudge by the fruits It is Christs Rule Matth. 7 16. If therefore thou seest the abominable and vnsauory fruits of lying swearing drunkennesse Sabbath-breaking vsury scoffing at Religion c. hanging out in the fight of the Sunne thou mayest iustly censure the tree to be rotten and for the present fewell for the fire of Hell Thou mayest iudge no man rashly nor of his finall estate If we see a malefactour cast and condemned for some grieuous crime yet reprieued vnto the next Assize no man can say he shall be certainely hanged because a pardon may be procured and come from the King in the meane time it is so in the present case But thou mayest call a spade a spade a drunkard a drunkard an vsurer an vsurer Otherwise if thou dawbe and dissemble how shalt thou euer be able to escape liablenesse to that abomination Prou. 17. 15. He that iustifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the iust euen they both are abomination to the Lord And to the sting of that woe Isai. 5. 20. Woe vnto them that call euill good and good euill that put darkenesse for light and light for darkenesse that put bitter for sweete and sweete for bitter Yet know that speaking the euill thou certainely knowest by another must be seasonable charitable and discreete not out of humour spleene imperiousnesse at thy pleasure but for Gods honour the good of the party thine owne discharge vpon a warrantable calling c. according to those Rules I shall hereafter deliuer for guiding the tongue My meaning then in this point is that those greater matters be dearliest prized and principally plied proportionably to their worth and waight and yet these lesser things not neglected It is too true that those who are more fierce and forward about the ceremonials and circumstantials then truly hot and zealous in the essentials and substantials of Christianity prooue too often vaine-gloriously and proudly mounted vpon that foule hellish fiend Hypocrisie and posting apace towards some fearefull Apostacy or Anabaptisticall phrensie VI. Let thy spirit mindfull of its owne heauenly birth immortall nature and euerlasting home euer generously fortifie it selfe with victorious resolution against worldlinesse the canker and cut-throate of all heauenly-mindednes and hearty conuersation aboue Of all the foule fiends that haunt the hearts of carnall men there is none that holds a stronger opposition and counter-motion to walking with God then couetousnesse Ambition sensualitie and other wayes of death cut off their slaues with an accursed disacquaintance and estrangement farre enough from all comfortable accesse vnto the Throne of Grace but affections nailed and glued to the Earth haue this pestilent precedency that they hold the remotest point of declination from the warmth and influence of any sweete communion with the Sunne of righteousnesse and Gods glorious face All earthly-minded men ordinarily howsoeuer they may be outwardly restrained and reserued are secret deriders of the power of godlinesse holy strictnesse of the Saints and mysteries of Grace And the Pharises also saith Luke chap. 16. 14. who were couetous heard all these things and they derided him euen mockt and made themselues merry with the searching and heart-piercing Sermons of the Sonne of God Their hearts and hopes are wholly anchored vpon the Earth and lockt vp in their chests and therefore they dreame of no other heauen then their golden hoards heapes of wealth and present temporall happinesse Whereas notwithstanding one refreshing glimpse shining and shed into our hearts from Gods pleased face and well-grounded assurance of being His is infinitely more worth then all the Gold that euer the Sunne made or shall make while it stands in Heauen VII Let thy holy affections bee euer thorowly warmed and rauisht extraordinarily with the loue of God To which there are infinite inflaming motiues and Obligations 1 Hee being absolutely considered is immeasurably louely The most attractiue obiects of insatiable loue and al amiable excellencies are eminently and transcendently triumphant in him eternally Beauty Glory Worth Wisedome Greatnesse Goodnesse Holinesse Puritie any thing euery thing that is any wayes admirable and loue-worthy 2. Or consider Him in relation to thy selfe and shouldest thou euery moment thorow an interminable time lay down ten thousand liues for His sake thou couldest
and quenched let a Christian but for a while abandon his holy conference and comfortable communion with Gods children and plunge himselfe into the company of those who are but cold and carelesse lazie and luke-warme Professors and he shall in very short time find his zeale to be very much cooled his forwardnesse abated the tendernesse of his conscience too much qualified with worldly wisedome much dulnesse of heart deadnesse of spirit drowzinesse and heartlesnesse in his affections to holy things and an vniuersall decay of his graces insensibly to grow vpon him In this respect many Christians doe themselues much wrong and afflict their soules with many vnnecessary spirituall miseries For they doe sometimes vnaduisedly by reason of kindred for old acquaintance aduantage and carnall contentment because of the worldly wisedome immunity from grosse sinnes and other good parts of the parties hold a too neere intimate and delightfull correspondence with such as are but onely ciuill men or Pharises at the best with whom spending most of their time and they wanting both heart and skill to vphold any holy conferences or to affoord any reciprocall or mutuall helpe in the feeling passages of sanctification are occasions to put Gods Children out of vse and vre with the language of Canaan from the embracement of many ioyfull considerations and exercise of those comfortable Meditations and holy conuersation aboue which Christian company would occasionally and seasonably put into them and keepe fresh and working in their mindes and by consequent bereaue them thereby of much zeale comfort feelings of Gods fauour ioyfull springings of heart boldnesse in their wayes cheerefulnesse in the exercises of Religion and that comfortable fruition of other prerogatiues of Christianity which many other of their brethren doe and they by the benefit of religious companions and delightfull conuersing with the Saints might plentifully enioy Apprehend this passage aright I say a Christian may be much worsened and weakened in his graces by companying too much and conuersing delightfully with the meere ciuill man or Whited Tombes For he may spend with such men whole weekes nay moneths and yeeres and haue not one word of sanctified discourse and holy talke ministred vnto him Scarce a word to bee had from them of the Word of God and way to heauen no conference of the secrets of Sanctification of perplexities of conscience of their euerlasting abode together in the Mansions of heauen Motions that way would bee very irkesome and tedious vnto them such talke would quickly beget silence melancholy sadnesse and a desire to breake off company Now the Christian by this meanes neither hauing his tongue exercised nor his eares much acquainted with edifying Christian discourse growes neglectiue of storing his memory with holy things vnzealous and cold in the apprehensions of heauen dull and heartlesse to godly duties If thus what infection then from notorious and lewd companions But aboue all in this point the fellowship of the Papist is most pernicious for by him a man is in danger both of hauing his vnderstanding and iudgement corrupted with heresie and his life and conuersation infected with impiety There are two steps and passages as it were out of the state of prophanenesse into the Paradise of Christianitie 1. Illumination of the vnderstanding with sauing knowledge 2. Sanctification of the heart with speciall grace Now the Papist labours to peruert and impoyson both For commonly you shall finde the Papist to be stigmatized and branded with a double marke Hee receiues one immediately from the Beast a brand of Idolatry And Satan commonly fastens vpon him another speciall marke some notorious and scandalous sinne in his conuersation as swearing lying vncleannesse the vanities of good-fellowship Sabbath-breaking or such like For we must know that Antichristianisme cannot produce sanctification and therefore you shall commonly finde euery Papist to lye in some raigning sinne howsoeuer formall deuotion is the highest perfection attainable in that Antichristian state By Popish company then a man is in danger of corruption both in his vnderstanding and conuersation By the lewd which yet make profession of Gods Trueth of infection with notoriousnesse in conditions By meere ciuill honest men and formall Professors of defection from zeale and forwardnesse at the least 2. As the Christian incurres by the company of prophane men euident hazard either of infection with their sinnes if they bee notorious or defection from zeale and forwardnesse if they be something more tolerable and formall so he is euery houre which hee is in their company without a warrantable calling and iust dispensation out of the Word and from a good conscience in great danger of being inuolued within the flames of the iust confusions and inwrapt within the compasse of those outward curses and plagues which Gods indignation inkindles and inflicts vpon wicked men All prophane men being vnreconciled to God are euery moment liable to all those miseries and fearefull iudgements which either man or deuill any of Gods creatures or his owne immediate hand can bring vpon them They are onely respited and reserued by Gods mercy and deferred onely vnto those opportunities and seasons which seeme best and fittest to his holy Wisedome Now if when they light vpon them as they may iustly at any time any of Gods Children bee found amongst them vnwarrantably and delightfully it is righteous with God that he receiue his portion amongst them at that time and bee fearefully infolded within the fury of the greatest temporall visitation It is righteous with God that if his owne Child will needs bee vnwarrantably familiar with his enemy that he also bee partaker of any temporall plague especially with his enemy euen to the losse sometimes of his naturall life Take then I beseech you the holy counsell of the blessed Apostle Eph. 5. 7. Bee not therefore companions with them And let his reason fright you out of their company Let no man deceiue you saith he with vaine words for for such things commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience For such things to wit fornication vncleannesse couetousnesse filthinesse foolish talking iesting and such like Take heed therefore of conuersing with the practisers of these vncomely things 2. Secondly there must very shortly bee an euerlasting separation betweene the Christian and prophane men at the farthest they must part vpon their death-beds and neuer see one another againe vnto the day of Iudgement and then they must shake hands for world without end For there is set betwixt them by Gods immutable and irreuocable Decree a vast and immeasurable gulfe which stands as fast and vnremooueable as God Almightie in his Throne of Maiestie so that they can neuer possibly meete Betweene vs and you saith Abraham to the rich man in hell there is a great gulfe fixed so that they which would passe from hence to you cannot neither can they passe to vs that would come from thence If it be so then that after an inch of
All-seeing Eye the curbe of the last Commandement and checke of a tender conscience to range thy thoughts into order to confine and keepe them within a holy compasse from their vaine and impertinent vagaries 2. That thou must be accountable and answerable for euery wandring thought as well as for idle words and wicked actions Now consider what numberlesse swarmes of imaginations passe the Forge of thy phantasie euery day and therefore if thou be not extraordinarily and exactly vigilant eye-full ouer thy heart thou mayest iustly feare that vpon the opening and illightning of the booke of thy conscience at those two dreadfull dayes of Death and the last Iudgement innumerable armies of exorbitant thoughts which haue lyen in ambush as it were in the secret corners of thy deceitfull heart will charge vpon thee with a farre heauier account then perhaps thou art aware of or hast seriously thought vpon heretofore 3. That Gods glory must aswell shine in thy thoughts in the inuisible workings intentions desires and eleuatious of the heart as in thine outward conuersation As God exacts and expects honour and seruice from his Children in words and workes so there is also a Thought-seruice a Thought-worship that I may so call it which is very pleasing and precious in his eyes as springing more immediately from the heart wherein he principally delights and because the secrecie of it is attended with more sincerity Remember therfore to render with all reuerence and zeale vnto the Father of Spirits and Lord of thy soule the dayly tribute of thy Thought-seruice as well as the Tongue-seruice and Handseruice And the rather and more plentifully 1. Because opportunities abilities and meanes may faile for outward performancee but the heart is euer at leasure and libertie to thinke nobly No times no tyrants no wants or restraint can hinder it from an inuisible fruition of Gods owne Selfe with thoughts of sweetest rapture and reuerence of loue and lowliest adoration from bathing it selfe in the meritorious Blood of the Immaculate Lambe with thoughts of inexplicable peace ioy and triumph from cleauing to the promises of life and diuing into the Mysterie of Grace with extraordinary dearenesse purest delight victorious faith from being as a mountaine of Myrrh and Incense sending vp a spirituall Sacrifice of praise-full thoughts infinitely admiring and magnifying the glory and goodnesse of that mercifull Hand which writ thy name with the golden Characters of his endlesse loue in the Booke of Life from all beginnings suffered the dearest and warmest Blood in His Sonnes Heart to be spilt as water vpon the ground for the washing of thy body and soule from sinne and after a span of time will set a Crowne of Eternitie vpon thy head composed of all comfort rest and peace ioyes pleasures and felicities c. And also because besides Gods more speciall acceptation and more certaine sinceritie of this inward inuisible seruice it is ordinarily full of more spiritualnesse intention and life by reason that it is neerest and most immediate to the obiect of Adoration The best man though he may labour to doe his best euery way yet he shall find a difference and degrees in his ability to discharge and the executions of his Duties Deuotions and seruices towards God His workes doe not euer answere with that exactnesse to his words His words cannot expresse so to the life the thoughts of his heart The thoughts of his heart come infinitely short of the excellency of God Those streames which are next to the well-head are strongest and purest The thoughts of a sanctified heart laying hold vpon with immediate apprehension and neerest imbracements that most amiable holy and glorious Obiect God Himselfe blessed for euer and his sweetest Attributes giue Him His due and reuerent Attributions with more heartinesse life and heauenlinesse then his words or Actions are woont though all a mans best and vtmost in thought word and deed falls too fearefully short of that which we owe and ought to doe 2. A continuall excubation and narrow watchfull guard ouer thy heart It is like a Citie liable euery moment both to inward commotion and outward assault The fountaine of Originall impuritie though its mayne streame and bloodie issue bee stayed and in some good measure stopt by the sanctifying power of Christs sauing Blood yet it doth still lesse or more bubble vp rebelliously The world doth labour continually with her three great battering Engines of Pleasures Riches and Honours to lay it waste and rob it of all heauenly treasures The Deuill watches euery opportunity to hurle in his fiery darts to cast all into combustion and thereby further to enuenome and inrage the already too much impoysoned viciousnesse and impetuousnesse of our corrupt nature Precious therefore and worthy all practise is that Precept of Salomon Keepe thy heart aboue all keeping Prou. 4. 23. which thou mayest doe with more successe and comfort if first thou watch ouer the windowes of thy soule the sences as the Worthies of old were woont with extraordinarie ward See Iob 31. 1. Psal. 119. 37. It is incredible what a deale of pollution and ill the Deuill conueyes insensibly through these Flood gates of sinne into their bosomes who are carelesse and watchlesse this way To instance in the eare and eye What balles of Wild-fire as it were doth many an obscene and filthy tongue set on fire of hel throw thorow their eares into mens hearts with rotten and ribald talke which after begets within worlds of speculatiue wantonnesse and flames of Lust Many false reports drop from the slanderers mouth into the eare which after in the heart becomes the cursed seed of heart-burning spite and mentall murder at the least And such wicked weeds cannot but fructifie very rankely in such a naturally sinfull soile A Tale-bearer tells thee that such an one said of thee so and so when as in truth it was neither so nor so Thou presently thereupon conceiuest thoughts of vnkindnesse displeasure and it may be of rage against that man that neuer thought the ill Heere thou spillest innocent blood for thy heart may kill as well as thy tongue and hand It is fit therefore for euery honest face to furnish and fill it selfe with frownes of distaste and indignation at the approach of any Tale-teller As the North wind driueth away raine so doth an angry countenance a back-biting tongue Pro. 25. 23. Concerning the Eye Dauids wofull example may warne the holiest men to the worlds end to bee very watchfull with a most restlesse and eye-full iealousie ouer that wandring sence An idle glance vpon Bathsheba was like a theeuish boy thrust in at a rich mans window which lets in a number of villanous desperate Cut-throats to ransacke and robbe the house it being not resisted at the first drew after it such a blacke and bloody traine that robbed his royall heart of much heauenly wealth and wounded his soule as deepely and dangerously as perhaps any of Gods seruants
euer since 2. Resist and crush euery exorbitant thought which drawes to sinne at the very first rising Encounter it with this dreadfull Dilemma Say vnto thy selfe If I commit this sinne it will cost mee vnvaluably more heart-breake and spirituall smart before I can purchase assurance of pardon and peace of conscience then the sensuall pleasure is worth If I neuer repent it will bee the death and damnation of my soule See what a world of misery man brings vpon himselfe by giuing way to the first wicked thought Disc. of true Happinesse pag. 150. 3. Entertaine euer with all holy greedinesse and make exceedingly much of all good motions put into thy heart by the blessed Spirit howsoeuer occasioned whether by the Ministery of the Word mindfulnesse of death Christian admonition reading some good Booke some speciall crosse extraordinary mercy any way at any time Feede enlarge and improoue them to the vtmost with Meditation Prayer and Practise So thou shalt preserue thine heart in a soft holy comfortable temper and heauenward which is a singular happinesse 3. Eleuation and often lifting vp of the heart towards heauen What Christian heart can indure to discontinue its sweet familiaritie and humble entercourse with God for one day Let thy broken heart therefore euery day besides solemne and ordinarie eiaculations Euening and Morning and vpon other speciall occasions bee sure 1. To bathe it selfe deliciously in the blisfull depths of Gods boundlesse mercies in Christ that it may bee happily kept spiritually merry thankefull and in heart to all holy duties 2. To kisse sweetly the glorified Body of our crucified Lord with the lips of infinitely dearest and vnexpressably affectionate loue though the distance bee great yet the hand of Faith will bring them easily together that it may be preserued in peace puritie and reuengefull opposition vnto sinne for as the application of his meritorious Blood is a soueraigne Plaister to heale the wounded conscience to turne Crimsin and Scarlet into snow and wooll so me-thinkes a serious and compassionate commemoration of the deare effusion thereof should bee both a precious corrosiue to eate out the heart of corruption and a speciall preseruatiue to keepe from sinne sith sinne was the principall in slaughtering the Lord of life 3. To cast the eye of hope vpon the glory euerlastingnesse and vnutterable excellencies of that immortall shining Crowne aboue which after this life and this life is but a bubble a smoake a shadow a thought shall be set vpon thy head by the hand of God a very glimpse of the goodly splendour and rauishing beauty whereof is able both to sweeten the bitterest villanies and basest wrongs from the world and wicked men and to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dunghil of the world heated by the fire of inordinate lusts is wont to euaporate and interpose betwixt the sight of mens soules and the blisse of Heauen VI. Be very watchfull ouer thy most predominant and troublesome passion whether it be feare sorrow loue anger c. All of them are vnruly and raging enough but yet commonly one ouer-rules all the rest and playes Rex as they say in the vnregenerate man nay too often offers to rise in rebellion euen against the most sanctified soule Whatsoeuer it be 1. In thy priuate morning sacrifice be sure to lay on loade of deepest groanes and strongest cries for mortifying grace against it and comfortable conquest ouer it Let that period and passage of thy prayers bee enforced and enlarged with an extraordinarie pang of feruencie and feelingly sealed as it were with the most Seraphicall Selah 2. Cut off all occasions whatsoeuer it cost thee which may any wayes stirre awaken and kindle it Withdraw the fewel that ministers food vnto that passionate flame though it should bee as painefull vnto thee as the plucking out of thy right eye or the cutting off of thy right hand Assuredly the pleasures of inward quiet and sweet spirituall calmnesse of thy so vnderstanding Soule will infinitely recompence any paines in oppositions and resistances in that nature 3. Consider seriously before-hand what a deale of disturbance and vnsettlednesse the visible exorbitancy and breaking of it out will breede and bring vpon thy inward man It will be like a dead Flie in a boxe of precious oyntment disgrace all thy graces and full foully darken the glory of thy profession It will be like fire in the Thatch and for the while cast into combustion as it were the whole frame of thy spiritual building and turne the heauenly peace of thy appeased conscience into a bitter tempest Tell mee whether after a lawlesse transgression of those bonds of moderation to which thy Christian resolution hath confinde it and that it hath preuailed against thee with any notorious excesse I say whether at night thou finde not thy spirit quite downe and much deaded to the exercise of prayer or any other euening duty And if vpon thy waking in the night there should be any terrible winde dreadfull thunder or other affrighting accident whether thy heart would not smite thee vpon that occasion with much more feare and apprehensions of horrour I will suppose thy raigning or rather rebelling passion for I speake to the Christian to be choler and anger and then first listen to the counsell which the very morall Sages minister against this spirituall maladie and to the rules and remedies which the light of reason leades vs vnto 1. Cut off say they the causes and the effect wil vanish Quench the firebrands which enrage this fury and thou shalt be at quiet They are such as these 1. Weakenesse of spirit vnmanlinesse of minde Hence it is that old men infantâ—… and sicke folkes are commonly more cholericke then others Impotency and excesse of passion euer argues the disgrace and inferiority of the vnderstanding part the noblest power of the soule And therefore if we would be armed against the sallies and assaults of this domineering raging distemper we must suffer the hiest and heauenliest part of our soule to know and exercise its place and strength Wee must not make our vnderstandings vnder-lings but giue reason his right and regiment 2. Selfe-loue a foolish doting vpon and adoring our selues which springs from the cursed root of Selfe-ignorance and quite puts out that light of Natures law in our consciences Doe as thou wouldest be done by If before thou lose the reines to that short phrensie thou wouldst suppose and set thy selfe in the place of the party with whom thou art angry and then say and doe no more then if thine owne person were the patient it would bee a notable meanes to curbe thy choler and keepe the credit of dipassionatenesse and moderation and make thee patiently suffer that which perhaps thou hast often confidently offered to others 3. An ouertendernesse and delicate nicenesse in bearing wrongs an impetuous impatiencie for being abused Whereas insensibilitie and
contempt would better become a great spirit an effeminate facilitie to bee mooued and toucht with euery trifle A spot or wrinkle vpon their garment a dish misplaced vpon their table some errour in their dressing a Bird a Dogge a Glasse c. or some lesser toy will turne some kinde of people quite out of tune and put them out of their humour into a pelting chafe as they say Great mindes and victorious ouer this furious Arch-Rebell are not moued but with great matters It is a speciall point of manly wisedome to passe by many petty prouocations to wrath without notice or acknowledgement without wound or passion and to digest many times the brawlings and indiscretions of hasty men with the same patience that Surgeons do the iniuries and blowes of mad men when they let them blood 4. Credulitie lightnesse in beleeuing whatsoeuer comes first to the eare That is the high way to hold choler still in combustion For so the tongues of slanderers Tale-bearers Whisperers Pick-thanks will prooue as so many Bellowes blowne by the Deuill himselfe to keepe this fire in height and fulnesse of flame 5. Curiositie an itching humour and needlesse inquisitiuenesse to know euery thing that is done or said If a man will needs bee so meddling he shall finde matter inough to fill his gall Some men out of this humour are eager to know what is said against them in such and such company listen to heare what their seruants talke concerning them and if a letter fall into their hands wherein they thinke themselues to bee mentioned they will make no bones against the lawes of humanitie to breake it open Busie-bodies in this kind neuer want wrath and woe Antigonus as it is said of him was wise to abandon this vanitie For when he heard two of his subiects speaking ill of him in the night neere his Tent willed them to goe further off lest the King should heare them 6. Couetousnesse the Cut-throate of Grace and canker of the soule like an eating insatiable Wolfe will either still feede vpon gaine or else gnaw vpon the heart with fretting and therefore the very losse of a penny sometimes the omission of a good bargaine the miscarriage of some domesticall trifle the death of a beast c. will presently put a couetous man into choler for his eyes are so earthly that they looke onely vpon the secondary not vpon the supreme cause 7. A conceit of being contemned by others in word deed countenance Many are so weake this way that if they spy but any secret smiling two whispering together in the company or any talking especially with their eyes now and then cast towards them they presently thinke that themselues certainely are their aime and obiect of their scornefull obseruation and so grow sowre out of tune and vnfit for company all the while after Such as these are extremely troubled and take on to themselues if they haue not the chiefe place and vpper hand at meetings respect and resalutation from those that they salute exact obseruance and obeisance from their inferiours the wall from all commers if they be not begun vnto in matters of complement and seruices of humanitie c. A riddance and restraint of these and the like maladies of the minde will bee a notable meanes to preuent and hinder the assaults and surpriz all of this furious and foule fiend 2. But if at any time thou feele this Viper to receiue heate in thy bosome and that occasions of choler are offered then say they 1. Containe thy bodie in quiet and tongue in silence The stirring and agitation of thy bodie by stamping or flinging about inflames the blood and humours and the walking of thy tongue keepes both the passionate heate in thine owne heart and many times sets on fire those that thou art angry with The barking of one Dogge sets all the curres in a towne a bawling Thy breaking forth into raging termes may raise the spirit of rauing in others And therefore silence is a singular cooler to this cholericke distemper If the swelling and boisterous waues rebound from the soft and euen sands there is no great adoe but if they encounter a Rocke they returne with great turbulencie and turne into foame Silence or a soft answer stops the ouer-flowing of the gall on both sides but if fury be set vpon with rage they grow both almost starke mad for the time 2. Giue reason leaue to interpose and resolue It was good counsell which was giuen to Augustus That when the obiect and occasions of choler were in his eye hee should not bee moued before hee had pronounced ouer the letters of the Alphabet It is as absurd for a passion to vsurpe and domineere ouer iudgement as for an intemperate Scold to iustle a reuerend Iudge out of his place and there to take on in her talkatiue and scurrill manner If thou giue the swinge and reines vnto it at the first rising it will presently quite banish reason and iudgement and bee like a man that puts the Master out of the house and sets it on fire and burnes himselfe aliue within or like a Ship that hath neither Sterne nor Pilot nor Sailes nor Oares exposed to the mercy of the waues windes and tempest in the midst of a furious Sea 3. Diuert to some other businesse company place pleasant imployment thoughts of content c. These are notable coolers and very conuenient to flake this passionate fire when it first begins to burne in thy bosome 3. Habituate thy heart and keepe it exercised and seasoned with considerations 1. Not onely of melancholy a ferall passion and other bodily distempers which it naturally breeds by stirring choler heating the bloud and the vitall spirits but also euen of the brutish deformities and vgly distortions with which this rage disfigures those which are transported with it as the fierinesse of the eyes inflamation of the face furiousnesse of the lookes extraordinary panting of the heart beating of the pulse swelling of the veines stammering of the tongue gnashing of the teeth a very harsh and hatefull intention of the voice many other extremely impotent and vnmanly behauiours Hence it was that angry men were anciently counselled in the heate of their fit to looke themselues in a Glasse The monstrous representations of that deformed Fury were able for euer to fright them out of their cholericke humour 2. Of the sweete louelinesse and amiable acceptation of a milde vnpassionate spirit It is the sinew as it were and cyment of all delightfull society the flower of humanity the very sweetenesse of ciuill conuersation As it is a singular preseruatiue to keepe a mans owne heart in much calmnesse and quiet so it s also an attractiue Load-stone to draw vnto him the hearts and loues of others 3. Of the aime and aspirations of morall wisedome which labours to draw a mans heart to that vnshaken constant and comfortable temper that beautifull and noble disposition which
desireable things in this life they must be taken from thee or thou from them In this case then if thou giue way and forth vnto this faint-hearted tyrant and malicious passion it will wound thine heart many and many a time with sence of their losse before thou loose them and mingle amidst thy dearest and most doting apprehensions of their sweetnesse and worth many bitter thoughts of the day of diuorce and stings of much worldly griefe for such onely I meane from a torturing preconceit of painefull heart-breake at parting But the most tormenting racke in this kind vpon which this tyrannicall passion doth much terrifie and teare the hearts of carnall men specially is death It is called the Prince of terror by reason of its owne extreme ineuitable pangs and to them also it is a certaine passage to torments without end and past imagination and therefore if their consciences be not desperately seared and sealed vp securely with the spirit of slumber against the Day of vengeance they are woont to dye almost euery day by a slauish feare of death see Heb. 2. 15. O death saith the wise man how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liueth at rest in his possessions vnto the man that hath nothing to vexe him and that hath prosperitie in all things Oh how the heart of such a man doth shrug together for horrour quake like an Aspen leafe and die all the while when this feare doth represent vnto it in the glasse of his imagination the griesly formes and ougly face of death with those other dreadfull circumstances as the wailings and out-cries of wife children and friends about his last bed parting from all worldly pleasures for euer rotting in the graue dragging to the Tribunall and terror of the last Day c Besides these imaginarie sufferings and vntimely sorrowes take notice of three other base pestilent effects and mischiefes which this naturall slauish distrustfull feare for that I onely meane in the whole point puts vpon a man 1. It may bring vpon him the thing which he feares by fearing to become miserable he may become that he feares and so turne his vaine feare into certaine miseries according to that of Salomon Prou. 10. 24. That which the wicked feareth shall come vpon him And that of Isai. 66. 4. I will bring their feares vpon them Thou hast a wife a child an outward state an hie place which thou art immoderately afraid to loose now this very distrustfull feare derogating from the glory of Gods mercifull prouidence which sweetly and wisely disposeth all things may iustly prouoke him to depriue thee of them whereas other wise thou mightst haue enioyed them still 2. It robs and bereaues thee of the kindly rellish and comfortable inioyment euen of good things A man can take no delight in the fruition of that good which hee feareth to loose Life it selfe is loathsome if a man slauishly feare to dye That good breeds the truest present contentment against the losse whereof we are alwayes prepared And therefore those who liue in continuall feare to loose their child goods libertie life or any other thing that is deare vnto them loose a great deale of that honest ioy and allowed pleasure they maight haue euen in these outward things 3. It deiects and debases his noble nature below the miseries and basenesse of beasts in this point for they are fenced from this folly and vanitie by the benefit of their weakenesse and want of reason neuer re-afflicting themselues with euils past or fearing any to come but thorow their whole life enioy intirely and with full securitie all contentments and pleasures incident to their natures saue onely when they are pinched with sence of present paine What a shame then is it to man who being honoured with the excellencie of an vnderstanding reasonable and prouident spirit whereby hee out-shines all other creatures like an Angell vpon earth should by the abuse and mis-imployment thereof make it a meanes vnto himselfe to become more miserable in this respect then a brute beast Now many and sweete are the places and promises in Gods Booke which may serue as precious counter-poisons and cordials against this carking venome which haunts with too often insinuations euen the most heauenly minde but eates continually like a Canker into the carnall heart They are such as these I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. Shouldest thou fall into the fiery tryall assuredly thy mercifull God would either supply thee with a supernaturall and extraordinary power and patience ouer that most exquisite paine or else abate lessen the rage of the flames for thy sake All things worke together for good to them that loue God Rom. 8. 28. Sin in it own nature is the deadliest and rankest poyson to the soule and in it selfe the greatest euill that is or can be yet Gods infinite Power and Wisedome which at first drew light out of darknesse as a skilfull Apothecary deales with poyson so orders and tempers it to his that by accident it proues medicinable much more doth He turn to their good crosses disgraces losses of earthly things pouertie want life death any thing euery thing God is faithfull who will not suffer you to bee tempted aboue that you are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to beare it 1. Cor. 10. 13. It is Gods Childs peculiar in the case of afflictions and all future troubles to expect supportation in them benefit by them deliuerance out of them He that spared not his owne Sonne how shall hee not with him also freely giue vs all things Rom. 8. 32 If Iesus Christ be ours it is infinitely absurd to feare slauishly either hurt by ill or want of good Hee is incomparably more worth then ten thousand worlds were they all extant If thou enioyest then such a Iewell what a cursed vanity is it to torture and teare thy heart with feare of any earthly losse or of euer being preuailed against by any created power Take yet more spirituall armour and Heroicall resolution against the assaults of this cowardly Tyrant which doth so vnworthily afflict the spirits of men not onely with imminent ills but also with those which are not and perhaps shall neuer be nay sometimes which cannot possibly bee out of those two sweetest Psalmes for promises of future protection 91. and 121. Esa. 43. 2. But the speciall preseruatiue which at this time I would commend vnto you against this distrustfull hearts-poyson may bee extracted from Christs owne words Mat. 6. 34. After many strong and precious Arguments against thoughtfulnesse and carking our heauenly Doctor concludes Take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of it selfe sufficient vnto the day is the euill thereof Whence I collect and counsell that the Christian ought in respect of any torturing care or carking forecast to vnite and
bee cast in their way I meane a seasonable reproofe ministred vnto them they trample it in the mire and with a bruitish basenesse tread it vnder foote because indeed they hate to be reformed and are sottishly and stubbornly resolued not to exchange these worldly pleasures which they haue in present possession and pursuite for the glory of an hundred heauens which Preachers so much talke of but they cannot taste of or tell when to come thither 2. Other Swine there are as it were both in practise and profession who besides their hating to bee reformed and obstinate resolution not to forgoe their present pleasures or forsake their former wayes are also possessed with a spirit of scoffing These are rather wild Boares for with a furious and Giant-like insolency and outrage they prouoke and challenge the mighty Lord of heauen about the truth of his Iudgements and Promises making a mocke of them Let all sensuall and Swinish wretches consider this and tr◅mble who with sinnefull greedinesse feed vpon earthlinesse and Epicurisme and hate to be reformed who wilfully wallow in the mud and filth of vanishing pleasures and will not be washed who many and many times come vnto continue at and depart from the house of God with a settled purpose and resolution not to suffer their hearts to bee mastered by the power of the Ministery or to change their old fashions say the Preacher what he will but to liue and end their dayes in their ordinary former courses of prophanenes and good-fellowship They may reade their doome and vengeance that dogs them at the heeles Psalm 50. 21 22. Cursed also is the condition of all you that are scoffers at godlinesse and good men You haue wearied your selues so long in walking and standing in wicked wayes that you are not set downe at rest in the chaire of scorners And therefore all those that stand on the Lords side are commanded by Christ there to leaue you in your damned case and to disquiet you no further And what an horrible depth of spirituall misery is this That you runne furiously towards the pit of hell and must haue no body to stay you not a man to call and cry vnto you to tell you that the fiery Lake is a little before you Though we haue thus much light from the natural properties of Dogs and Swine to descrie and delineate those fellows to whom by Christs commandement Pearles and holy things admonitions and reproofes are not to be vouchsafed yet Christians are sore troubled many times how to behaue themselues whē to speake when to hold their peace whom to repute Dogs and Swine whom not when vpon some vnauoidable necessitie or by the exigency of their Calling they are vnwillingly and vnawares plunged into the company of prophane wretches whose ordinary talke is the language of Hell oathes scurrill iests iesting vpon the holy conuersation of the Saints slandering good men disgracing the wayes of sinceritie and such other base and Bedlam-discourse But I do not see how any constant rules or immutable direction can be giuen for Christian carriage in this case it is so variable and clothed with such varietie of circumstances and constancy of alterations The aduice which I would giue in this point to the Christian is this when he is perplext what to do in this regard amongst prophane company let him consult with these bosome counsellours looke vnto his spirituall wisedome to his heart and to his conscience These must bee his guides and informers in these cases and they are counsellors euer at hand he carries thē in his bosom 1. His spirituall wisedome is to guide him in a right apprehension and discretion of circumstances and to define the opportunitie and seasonablenesse when hee is to interpose and in what manner to oppose against their furious and rotten speeches It must tell him secretly and suggest vnto him when the cause of God or the innocency of a good man calls specially vpon him for an apologie and at what time he hath a calling thereunto It must informe him how he must reprooue whether directly and downe-right or by intimation and indirectly whether personally or in the generall whether in a faire and milder manner or with a more bold and resolute spirit whether presently vpon it and in hot blood as it were or afterward to take occasion to censure the same sinne with aggrauation of the odiousnes and damnation of it whether only by discountenance or discourse by a silent disapplause which I think may be sufficient for some men at some times in some companies or with solemne protestation a professed opposition and dislike c. 2. Let him also looke to his heart That his reproofe spring not from any imperious humour of censuring and medling with his brethren from a proud veine of contradicting and controlling others out of a Scoical sowrenesse and commanding surlinesse from any purpose to disgrace and grieuethe partie from a formall affectation of Pharisaicall seuerity from a secret ambitious desire of purchasing an opinion and reputation of forwardnesse by being forward in finding faults or from any other by-respect but from an heart truly humbled with ◅ight and sence of its owne infirmities zealously thankfull vnto God for preseruing him from the like outrage and excesse in sinne graciously resolued into compassion and commiseration of the offender lifted vp in a secret supplication for the pardon of its owne sinne successe of the reproofe and saluation of the party all at once vnto the Throne of Grace c. 3. His conscience must guide and hold him in the right path and golden meane betweene two extremes which ordinarily in these cases men are very apt to incurre I meane faint-hearted silence and furious zeale 1. Men many times by reason of a sinfull irresolution and vnchristian cowardlinesse would gladly make all such offenders Dogs and Swine that thereby they might challenge the priuiledge of exemption from the discharge of that Christian dutie of reproofe Though their eares be filled with the oathes and blasphemies of those that are about them and grated vpon with gracelesse raylings against good men and foule disgracements of the wayes of God yet they neuer open their mouth as though there could bee any nobler obiect or exercise of their best eloquence and greatest courage then the iust defence of Gods glory and Christians innocency Oh! these are vile cowards in good causes and a kind of traitors to the state of Christianitie By such sinfull silence they labour to purchase a name of No-meddlers in other mens matters of mercifull men to their Brethrens infirmities of plausible companions of wiser and more moderete Christians But let them know that such No-medling is a kind of soule-murthering such mercifulnesse is crueltie such plausiblenesse is pernicious such wisedome is not that of the Serpent commended by Christ but the wilynesse of that great red Dragon suggested by Hell Nay some men are so strangely lewd and gracelesse that they can
sense with some Pomander or other sweete perfume and so they may declaime noysomnesse of the smell and repell the contagious insinuation so when any prophane wretch hath let fall any rotten speech the Christian with a present counter-poyson as it were of a seasonable reproofe should stop his owne apprehension lest any baser infection insinuate staine the soule and to preserue in heat and life a fresh and strong opposition of the heart and affections to all such lewdnes and scuâ—…ility 2. Silence at such a time will seeme to bewray either thy cowardlinesse in the cause of God or hypocrisy in thy profession For it will seeme strange that thou which makest shew of standing on the Lords side and professest thy selfe to bee a party in that glorious Communion of Saints shouldst heare the name of God prophaned in a base and blasphemous manner and the innocency sometimes of a good man carried in triumph by the slanderous tongues of wretches and trampled vpon as it were euen vnto dust by the feete of pride and malice and yet neuer open thy mouth As thou therefore desirest to preserue the glory of thy Christian reputation entire and shining and hold it thy crowne and honour to bee Champion vnto the mighty Lord of heauen a Proctor in his Spirituall Causes and the protector of the good names of good men be euer ready to open thy mouth when a iust apologie in any of these respects is needefull and required at thy hands 3. If thy conscience be inlightened awake tender and rightly informed it will smite and checke thee after the omission of such a duty when afterwards thou considerest with thy selfe that by thy cowardly vnseasonable silence thy soule is entangled in the guiltinesse and hath incurred an accountablenesse for that sinne As thou then wouldest keepe all in quiet at home in thine owne bosome and still possesse the paradise of a peacefull heart suffer not blasphemies obscenities raylings and other such ribald and rotten talke passe vncensured and vnsorrowed for Nay and in so doing besides the vnualuable comfort of a peacefull conscience thou shalt also purchase vnto thine heart a sound testimony of that gracious tender-heartednesse which is wont to melt and resolue the hearts of Gods children into compassion and commiseration in such cases and which they vse to expresse and exercise euen towards the lewdest wretches and such as haue no pitty vpon the spirituall miseries of their owne poore and wofull soules See 1. Sam. 15. 35. and 16. 1. Ier. 9. 1. Phil. 3. 18 19. 2. Cor. 12. 21. Luk. 19. 41 42 c. It was the dogged and damned voyce of cruell and cursed Cain to say Am I my brothers keeper But euery true and tender-hearted Christian doth grieue to see so many of his brethren sticke fast in the clutches of that roring Lyon and betweene the teeth of that Red Dragon and therefore labours by all meanes hee can to rescue them to see so many about him runne as fast and furious as they can to drowne themselues in the pit of endlesse perdition and therefore as occasion serues cals and cryes vnto them to stay their course before the hellish Gulfe of confusion and horrour hath shut her mouth vpon them Thirdly in respect of those which be present 1. By thy speaking in such a case thou mayest lay as it were the spirit of profanenesse for that time so that it doe not rage and ouer-rule in the rest as otherwise it would For wee may sometimes obserue that a seasonable reproofe passing from a man of vnderstanding with resolution and authority vpon a fellow that so behaues himselfe as though swearing were his profession and traducing the Saints his Trade doth so quell and confound the swaggering humour of the rest of the same crue in the company that they are quite put out of their humour as they say perhaps hang downe their heads all the while and thinke in their hearts if once they get out they will come no more amongst such precise fellowes which cannot abide an oath or where they cannot haue their fling and forth in their profane villanies and cursed reuelling 2. Thou mayest hereby hold in the weake that they be not scandalized 3. Thou mayest hold vp the hearts of stronger Christians that they be not grieued and cast downe with the domineering of prophanenesse and out-swaggering rage of Satans Reuellers Fourthly in respect of God Himselfe 1. That though the dayes wherein we liue be strangely prophane and desperately naught for this old age of the world is pestred with all the pollutions and abominations which the course and current of all former ages haue conueied and carried into it though iniquity mightily abound with much tyranny and triumph and fearefully preuaile in all places yet I say that it may appeare that God hath some to speake for Him That though Satan more is the pitty hath innumerable swarmes of knights of the Post as they say that are ready at a becke to doe him any desperate seruice yet notwithstanding heere there God hath a Champion who fearelesse of the face of man dare with an vndaunted and holy resolution defend His wayes and stand on His side 2. But aboue all let that strict charge from Gods owne mouth Leuit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sinne vpon him fright and fire euery one of vs out of our sinfull silence and cowardlinesse this way and keene vs with resolution and forwardnesse to a seasonable discharge of this holy duty Take notice of a three-fold duty which lies vpon euery Christian in his carriage towards men in their presence and before their faces 1. Christian admonition 2. Christian reproofe 3. Christian silence and forbearance in such cases 1. If a brother bee ouertaken with a fault or some lesse offence we are to admonish him in the spirit of meekenesse Gal. 6. 1. 2. If hee offend more grieuously wee are freely to reprooue him and not to suffer sinne to rest vpon him Leu. 19. 17. 3. If hee be a sonne of Belial a scoffing Ishmael a dog or a swine wee are commanded by Christ to say nothing Matth. 7. 6. Neither priuate admonition nor brotherly reproofe is to be vouchsafed to desperate sinners or prophane Ruffians who would entertaine it with crueltie or scurrilitie II. Obserue a sanctified silence from 1. Rash censuring which is seuerely censured by Christ Himselfe and set as a visible Brand vpon the face of the Hypocrite Let it euer bee onely the peeuish property of those who are naught and most obnoxious themselues of Pharises and false-hearts to bee the greatest finde-faults vncharitably to entertaine causlesse disconceits and to passe rash censures against those who are farre better then themselues Which they will ordinarily doe because 1. They were neuer truely humbled with sight and sence of their owne sinfull and accursed state They neuer trembled nor
making Gods people as Musike at Feasts merry meetings and cursed conuenticles of Good-fellowship and such other rotten ribald and Bedlam talke which because they are the knowne and proper language of the sonnes of Belial the dung froth and damned euaporations of drunken wits Christians whom alone I labour to direct in this poynt are not in such danger of and therefore I haue nothing to doe with them at this time III. Pray for and practise an holy and discreete dexteritie to diuert and draw from prophane and wicked or too much worldly and ordinarie talke to more sauoury conference and heauenly discourse Me thinks it is great pitty that Professours should euer meete without some talke of their meeting in heauen or of the blessed meanes and wayes that leade thereunto before they part Yet many times such a deadnesse and dampe of zeale and heauenly-mindednesse haunts euen the holiest hearts in these vnhappie dayes of securitie and forme worldly matters Talke of others or some more remarkeable accidents and affaires abroad speculatiue curiosities some ceremoniall vnseasonable controuersies or other such like impertinencies in one kinde or other take vp and ingrosse euen from Gods children too much of many golden seasons which might preciously serue by their mutuall diuing with more Christian edifying discourse into the great mysterie of godlinesse and walkes of Christianitie to nourish and increase amongst them much spirituall warmth comfort and resolution against all vngodly oppositions and to build vp one another in their most holy Faith acquaintance with temptations experimentall knowledge more comfortable walking with God c. To confront this common mischiefe and Mar-conference at Christian meetings come vnto them prepared as I aduised before page 86 87. But if the company bee contrary-minded and vn-inured to the language of Canaan exercise and interpose all thy wit courage authoritie and eloquence to draw them from the dunghill of rotten talke and by a wise plausible diuersion and modestly ouer-ruling transition carry the current of their present discourse all thou canst towards some Heauenly good and spirituall end 1. To which end obserue and apprehend all opportunities and occurrences which may minister matter of digression into diuine talke and acquaint thy selfe with the Arte of abstracting sacred instructions from the booke of the Creatures and businesses in hand It was the practise of our blessed Sauiour Vpon mention of bread Matth. 16. hee prest vpon his Disciples a disswasion from the Leauen of the Pharises when he obserued Iohn 6. a number of people to throng about him for more miraculous bread hee digressed into a most heauenly discourse of the food of life Vpon occasion of drinke being denied him by the Samaritane woman Iohn 4. hee forgetting his wearinesse hunger and thirst labours to allure her to the well head of euerlasting happinesse 2. Haue euer in a readinesse some common heads of more stirring and quickening motiues to minde heauenly things as the cursed condition of our naturall state the incomparable sweetnesse of Christian wayes the vanity and vexations of all earthly things the vncertainty and miseries of this short life the euerlastingnesse of our second state in another world the sudden executions of Gods fierce wrath vpon some notorious ones euen in this life especially those which are freshest in memory and lateliest done the terrors of death the dreadfulnesse of that last and great Day drawing on apace the horrors of a damned soule c. Mention of these things many times will strike full cold to the heart of the most swaggering and sensuall Belshazzar the most raging and roaring companions and driue the most confident and domineering worldling into his dumps Talke then of these terrible things may by Gods blessing prepare and soften sometimes the hardest hearts for some thoughts of remorse and more heauenly impressions 3. But aboue all get into thine own heart an habit of heauenly-mindednesse by much exercise entercourse and acquaintance with God in powring out of thy soule euer and anon before him in renuing and recouering thy peace and comfortable accesse vnto him vpon euery fall and checke of conscience in often contemplation and foretaste of the inexplicable sweetnesse glorie and eternitie of those Mansions aboue in diuing into the secrets of his Kingdome by the helpe of humblenesse and godly feare vpon the most sweet and soule-fatting dayes of humiliation mortifying visitations of troubled and afflicted consciences often conferences with humblest and best experienced Christians c. By priuate imployment of thy soule in solemne reflections vpon it selfe fruitfully recounting with what varietie of traines it was long detained in the state of darknesse with what delayes and tergiuersations lets and assaults it met in its way to light what bitternesse and terrors it passed thorow in the pangs of its new-birth the tentations incident to its infancie in grace progresse and growth in seuerall graces and the whole body of Christianitie relapses desertions their discoueries recoueries with all the meanes and circumstances In a word by a punctuall obseruing how God deales with it euery day Be I say thus blessedly busied at home in thine owne heart and thou shalt finde thy selfe much more pregnant and plentifull in holy talke when thou commest abroad Wee are most apt and readiest to powre out our selues in publike according to our priuate prouisions and the most predominant discourses and contemplations of the minde The conferences of free and vnreserued spirits are ordinarily nothing else but the cloathing of their ordinarie mentall conceptions and heart-secrets with familiar formes of speech Men for the most part speake most and most willingly of those things they minde most I aduise thus in this point that thou mayst be habituated and heartened with resolution and delight in the art and exercise of putting forward good talke or of diuerting and drawing towards better in case of the contrarie Otherwise thou shalt neuer bee able to hold out with constancie and courage to crosse many times the generall mirth of the company to put worldly-wisemen out of their element of all earthly talke to draw worldlings which goes most against the haire to heare of heauenly things VIII Suruey thorowly before hand with the glorious Lampe of the Word of Life and Truth watch ouer narrowly with the illightened eye of a tender conscience and euer punctually manage and conduct with the particular light of spirituall prudence euery action thou vndertakest or that shall at any time passe thorow thy hand of what kinde soeuer it be whether naturall recreatiue ciuill of mercy Religion c. To which particulars before I descend let me commend vnto thee and premise this Principle concerning actions in generall Euery truly commendable and comfortable action consists of an absolute integritie of all concurrents and requisites Or thus That which is good and lawfull must be entire I meane it in that sence as our Diuines speake of sanctification which if sauing say they must be perfect and entire though
the most worthy Saints are wofully haunted with too many distractions and violent intrusion of idle vaine and impertinent thoughts euen in holy duties religious exercises and solemne vse of the ordinances which without extraordinarie watchfulnesse and wrastling on their parts would vtterly bereaue and robbe them of all the sweetnesse power and profit of those blessed meanes and by little and little quite transforme them into forme and perfunctorinesse If in the best then and heauenliest businesses the vanity of our owne mindes and malice of the Deuill presse vpon vs with such importunitie and restlesse assaults with what furious and impetuous incursions and vastations of conscience are they like to oppresse vs in our idle houres ill spent time and pursuit of pleasures Consideration whereof me thinkes should cause Christians who alone are truely sensible of the interruption and discontinuance of their sweet communion and societie with Christ and smart many times for the estrangement of their thoughts and affections from God onely to haue recourse to recreations in case of true neede for necessitie I say and seasonably euen as they vse physicke so may they expect Gods gracious protection from the hurtfull preuailing of those sensuall distempers and licentious ranging of their thoughts which are wont to enrage and empoyson the mindes and affections of carnall men all the while and to make account so often as they are haled by the cunning ensnarement of old companions the tyrannie of former custome or vnmortified yeeldingnesse of their owne deceitfull hearts to immoderation and excesse in this kinde so often to expose their hearts by Gods iust permission as a prey to temptation and vanitie Whereby they may bee in continuall danger either by little and little to bee drawne backe and drowned againe in the froth and fooleries of their disauowed pleasures which were an horrible thing or else at least to bring vpon themselues from time to time as they transgresse in this kinde much vnnecessarie discomfort and dissettlednesse in their Christian course dis-rellish in Religious exercises deadnesse of heart disacquaintance with heauenly comforts losse of that dearest Thing and earthly Paradise peace of Conscience which perhaps they shall hardly with much adoe recouer a long time after 6. Sixthly consider Chrysostomes precisenesse against wasting time this way The present time saith he is not for melting into 〈◊〉 but for lamentation and mourning And yet doest thou vainely mis-spend it in merry conceits The Deuill gnasheth the teeth roares and foames and flashes out fire against thy saluation and doest thou sit still and Iouially iest it out Doe wee play and sport our selues Beloued Wilt thou learne the conuersation of the Saints Heare what Paul saies Act. 20. 31. By the space of three yeeres I ceased not to warne euery one night and day with teares 2. Cor. 2. 4. Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote vnto you with many teares 2. Cor. 11. 29. Who is weake and I am not weake Who is offended and I burne not 2. Cor. 5. 4. For we that are in this Tabernacle doe groane being burdened And the Apostle desiring that I may so speake euery day to depart this life Doest thou laugh and play Our time here is a time of warre of fight of watch and ward of harnessing of standing in the face and fury of the enemy and doest thou demeane thy selfe like a dauncer Doest thou not see the faces of Souldiers in the fight how sad they are how contracted how terrible with frownes how full of horrour Doest thou not behold the austore piercing intention of their eyes an extraordinarie excitation of heart leaping and panting in their brests c. His meaning imports thus much Doth an ordinarie Souldier in the field against a mortal man earthly enemy recollect and vnite all the spirits and powers of body and soule with all efficacie and earnestnesse for the encounter And shall a Christian Souldier that wrastles not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesses in high places who is euery moment furiously assaulted and hunted euen like a Partridge in the Mountaines by the deuils open rage the ambushment of the World and the endlesse treacheries of his owne false heart trifle away his time and turne aside to toyes 4. No incrochers vpon heauenly comforts no diminishers of our delight in God no deuourers of spirituall ioy For this is a very deare and diuine thing to bee prized and preserued as a sweet and celestiall Iewell far more worth then heauen and earth which the world can neither giue nor take from vs neither must any stranger meddle with it Wee may take an estimate of its excellency by casting our eyes vpon 1. The intolerable bitternesse of the contrary I meane spirituall horrour which we see sometimes by wofull experience doth enrage the guilty consciences of some forlorne wretches with such restlesse furies and vnutterable anguish that at length extremest I know not whether madnesse or cruelty they lay violent and villanous hands vpon themselues In which case such an hell vpon earth is horrour of conscience they care not a button for the sweetnesse of life the rufull cries of their owne deare children the heauy lookes of their yoke-fellowes the abhorred infamy they bring vpon their owne names families kindred buriall posteritie Oh how they spurne at with a vile disdainefull contempt Pleasures Riches Honours Crownes Kingdomes Worlds of gold any thing euery thing as miserable comforters Nay it is so stinging that they will rather venture vpon that other Hell to which they are posting in a Coffin of blood a thousand thousand times more horrible then endure it any longer If sence then of diuine indignation taking secret vengeance vpon the guilty conscience of an impenitent Rebell puts him as it were into hellish flames aboue ground what an heauen vpon earth is a sweet feeling of Gods reconciled face and his euerlasting mercies through Christ sealed and set on by the holy Ghost and testimonie of a good conscience And how deliciously doth an humble soule so honoured with a foretaste and first-fruits as it were of eternall ioyes graspe the Lord Iesus in his ordinances and blisfully sunne it selfe in the loue and light of His countenance 2. The practise of the prophane in their insatiable restlesse pursuite of false ioyes and painefull pleasures which at best are but as crackling of thornes vnder a pot and flashes of lightning before euerlasting fire They hunt after them euen into hell and light a candle at the Deuill for lightsoâ—…nesse of heart by haunting Ale-houses Tauerneâ—… Brothel-houses Play-houses Conuenticles of good-fellowship sinfull and vnseasonable sports a thousand kinds of vanities and fooleries which are nothing but the Deuils Wakes and reuellings of Hell And all this little poore carnall mirth is purchased many times with much shame losse misery beggery rottennesse of body discredit damnation At what an high
rate then and with what eagernesse and thirst is that true sweet vnmixed glorious ioy springing out of the Fountaine of comfort in an honest and holy heart to bee set and sought after 3. The differences betweene spirituall and carnall ioy in respect 1. Of Lastingnesse A spiritually merry heart is a continuall feast saith Salomon whereas the ioy of the hypocrite is but for a moment Iob chap. 20. 5. Carnall ioy is like lightning spirituall like the light of the Sunne While the Play lasts the sensualist laughs but hee falls into his dumps when all is done The Drunkard is merry whilest hee reuels it amongst his pot-companions in the Ale-house but when he comes home there is many times wofull worke Whilest the Gamester is at play he is well enough pleased but when hee hath made away all hee is ready to make away himselfe also A cunning and prosperous Worldling I confesse by Gods permission may patch together his pleasures all his life long but at furthest at death comes the deadly and euerlasting dampe whereas hee that walkes with God is contented and comfortable all the day and death is the day-breake to him of euerlasting brightnesse Carnall ioy I say is like lightning a flash and away leaues the minde in more extreme and deeper darknesse blasts the heart and affections with all spirituall deadnesse and desolations with many boyling distempers much raging wild-fire and vnquenchable thirst after sensualitie earthlinesse and Epicurisme and first or last it is euer certainly followed with renting and roaring of the spirit spirituall terrours thunders darknesse and damnation But godly ioy is like the light of the Sunne which though it may for a time bee ouercast with clouds of temptations mists of troubles and persecutions darknesse of melancholy yet it ordinarily breakes out againe with more sweetnesse and splendour when the storme is ouer but howsoeuer it hath euer the Sunne of righteousnesse and Fountaine of all comfort so resident and rooted in the heart that not all the darknesse and gates of Hell shall euer be able to displant or distaine it no more then a mortall man can pull the Sunne out of his Sphere or put out his glorious eye 2. Of puritie The edge and rellish of carnall ioy is euer much rebated and imbittered with many sowre sauces and enuenomed mixtures impatiencie of delay difficulty and danger in attainment vnanswerablenesse to fore-conceits and expectation many secret terrours fretting iealousies discontented indignations against their discontinuance and vanishing c. And besides those three ensuing indiuiduall stings which to an illightned conscience as inseparably and sensibly dogge them at the heeles as a shadow the body in the Sun-shine cut the very throat and burst the heart of all worldly pleasures 1. One of them is as it were naturall immediately attending all earthly mirth more melancholy and heauy-heartednesse afterward For as the Riuers of sweete water runne their course to die in the salt sea so the hony of all earthly pleasure euer endeth in the gall of griefe Voluptuousnesse euen in her dearest minions ordinarily expires with anguish and anger that it is gone The transitorie flashes of sensuall delight are like the light of a candle which leaue at the cloze a noisome vexing snuffe behinde And that sweetenesse which sensualists swallow downe so greedily turnes to grauell in their guts and at farewell fills their spirit with the returne of a more heauy melancholicke humour then before the receite 2. The other I call a temporarie sting for all the wayes of worldly pleasure are strowed also with needles and nettles that I may so speak which euer and anon pricke and sting her darlings as they plucke her fading flowres So that at best they are but like Beares robbing a Waspes nest who rauenously rifle the combes and with much adoe sucke out a little hony but in the meane time are soundly stung and swolne about head for their painefull pleasure In their seuerall walkes of a fooles paradise they hunt both vnreasonably and vnseasonably after transitorie delights but they are euen pained and payed home with a witnesse in the very pursuite For instance The couetous man accounts worldly wealth and an â—…oard of gold his heauen vpon earth but in heaping it together his heart is wofully rent and torne asunder with carking thoughtfulnesse restlesse rooting in the earth anxious and endlesse casting about and forecasting In a word with much care in gathering more feare in keeping and most griefe in parting from it So that for feeding his greedy eye vpon a little vanishing heape of yellow earth his heart is continually haunted with such vexing Harpies I meane wasting cares and false feares that dry vp euen his vitall moisture and cut his very heart-strings in pieces Good-fellow meetings and Ale-house reuellings are the drunkards delight but all the while hee sits at it hee is perhaps in a bodily feare of the Puritane-Constable when towards night he goes grunting homewards hee becomes a gazing and laughing stocke to children in the streets no sooner comes hee reeling into his own house but he wrings fresh cries and teares of shame and griefe from his wife and family for the reproach beggerie and miserie he brings vpon them And as hee goes on in this drunken good-fellowship and takes a pride and pleasure in powring in of strong drinke there many times insensibly grow vpon him many loathsome diseases and deformities of body Rheumes Dropsies Palsies a fearefull face spuing falling and neuer rising againe sometimes not euen out of a little gutter that would scarce choake a child The lasciuious wanton that wanders in the twilight in the euening in the black and darke night after the strange woman besides the dart which sticks fast and ranckles in his Liuer meetes in the meane time with rottennesse in his bones a consumption of his marrow a wound and dishonour and reproach that shall not bee wiped away The boisterous aspiring Nimrod out of a gluttonous desire of grasping offices and honors scrues himselfe vijs modis into some high place as his onely Paradise and when hee is gotten vp dances full merrily in golden fetters vpon his slipperie standing but couldest thou see into his inside thou shouldest behold his heart miserably fretting and vexing it selfe raging with many passionate distempers for the indignation of good men contempt of inferiours thwarting of competitors enuie of compeeres vnderminings of counter-factionists iealousies of Princes c. How many great mens hearts haue burst with the blasting frownes of a Kings forehead Nay and which is a Bedlam misery vpon the ambitious man hee is many times more grieued for an affront of some grand opposite because hee cannot haue his will of this or that man that stands in his way or for the neglect of some expected complementall respect and obseruance then pleased with all the other brauery and iollitie of his high roome This is cleare in Haman though hee was
encompassed and crowned with much vndeserued and extraordinarie precedency and pompe yet this one little thing to wit because Mordecai would not bow the knee and doe reuerence vnto him at the Kings gate did vtterly marre and dissweeten all the other excellencies and extraordinarinesse of the Kings fauour See Hester Chap. 5. Vers. 10 11 12 13. And Haman told his friends and wife of the glory of his riches c. But all this saith hee doth nothing auaile me as long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the Kings gate 3. The third is an eternall sting which to a waking and working conscience ariseth out of a serious consideration and sence of Gods causefull iust and holy indignation reuealed in his Booke against impenitents in such kindes Whereupon it is no maruaile though many times their hearts hating to bee reformed and hearing their seuerall doomes denounced against them from Gods owne mouth in that Word by which they shall be iudged at the last Day be full sorely smitten with inward bitter gripings and secret guilty stings the very hellish flashings and foretasts of that neuer-dying worme which hereafter without timely repentance will gnaw vpon their consciences with full rage and vnquenchable horrour world without end The worldling therefore may iustly tremble and roare when he reades that cutting Commination Iam. 5. 1 2. Goe to now ye rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth eaten your gold and siluer is cankered and the rust of them shall bee a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire ye haue heaped treasure together for the last dayes The wanton when he well weighs that flaming place Heb. 13. 4. so full of vengeance against him But whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge The drunkard when hee finds himselfe in the cursed Catalogue of that damned crue 1. Cor. 6. 9. Be not deceiued neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor drunkards c. shall inherit the Kingdome of God The Ambitionist when he casts his eye from the top of his vsurped honours vpon that dreadful downefall Obadiah 4. Though thou exalt thy selfe as an Eagle and though thou set thy nest among the starres thence I will bring thee downe saith the Lord. But now on the other side spirituall Ioy which springs out of the wells of saluation and is a ray and representation as it were of the Sunne of Righteousnesse and that eternall Fountaine of soundest and lasting comfort is all sweete pure shining calme hearty vnspeakeable vtterly free from those fore-grumblings and reluctations of conscience enuenomed mixtures and slauish apprehensions after-repentings stings and melancholike dumps though it may be assaulted and something dimmed with some doubts distrusts and weakenesse of degree by reason of our vnglorified state of mortalitie yet in respect of its creation substance truth and blissefull issue it is a very glimpse of heauenly glory a pure taste of the riuers of Life and first fruits of euerlasting ioyes Thus the blessing of the Lord maketh the heart spiritually merry with incomparable sweetnesse and he addeth no sorrow with it 3. Of dignitie and diuine temper Carnall ioyes haue for their foundation the fading arme of flesh and the fashion of this world fraile and fleeting as themselues earthly power and policie for their prop and support For their Obiect the Garbage of the earth Gold and Siluer foode for swinish worldlings noble captiuities guilded fetters I meane vndeserued dignities honours offices greatnesse and high roomes the onely ayme of ambitious Shebnaes the filth and froth of brutish pleasures fewell for Sodomiticall flames and such like trash pelfe and vanity For their companions feares iealousies guilty gripings The sences for their seate Time for their limit for their end endlesse griefe and horrour of heart For all earthly pleasure determines in heauinesse as the Sunne sets in darknesse But now on the other side spirituall Ioy is the blessed Spirits sweet and louely Babe grounded vpon the sure Couenant of euerlasting Loue Mercie and Peace in Iesus Christ The matter of it is the light of Gods countenance the Garments of saluation the precious Robe of Christs righteousnesse interest in his dearest Blood and all the rich purchases of his Passion looking vpon our names in heauen through the glasse of sanctification Gods holy Image renued vpon our soules and the illustrious beames of heauenly graces shed from the Throne of Grace shining there euery sweet promise in his blessed Booke In a word Iehoua Isa. 61. 10. Habakkuk 3. 18. Phil. 4 4. And that glorious Name proclaimed Exod. 34. 6 7. a well-spring of vnspeakable refreshing to euery truely broken and bleeding heart being well opened by a feeling and a fruitfull meditation For measure it is immeasurable without bound or stint and passeth all vnderstanding no stranger doth intermeddle with it neither can any man possibly conceiue it but he that enioyes it It is as it were the amiable splendour and sparkle of that white Stone in the Reuelation Chap. 2. 17. which only shines vpon heauenly hearts with delight vnspeakable glorious For seate and certainty It is engrauen by the Finger of God with an heauenly Sun-beame as it were shining from the face of Christ in the very center of the heart which not all the powers of darknesse or hellish mists can finally dimme or dispell the world neither giue nor take from vs neither man nor deuill nor shadow of death euer raze or roote out It is honoured with that supernaturall singularitie and sacred temper that vtterly against nature all naturall possibilitie it extracts sweetnesse and life out of ordinary causes of deiection and sinking Troubles persecutions and reproaches doe fortifie it and serue as fewell to enlarge its lightsomnesse See Act. 5. 41. 16. 25. Acts and Monum pag. 2003. where the glorious Martyr Woodman speakes thus When I haue been in prison wearing otherwhile bolts otherwhiles shackles otherwhile lying on the bare ground somtime sitting in the stocks sometimes bound with cords that all my body hath been swolne much like to be ouercome for the paine that hath been in my flesh sometime faine to lye without in the woods and fields wandring to and fro few I say that durst to keepe my company forâ—…feare of the Rulers sometime brought before the Iustices Sheriffes Lords Doctors and Bishops sometime called Dogge sometime Deuill Heretike Whoremonger Traytor Thiefe Deceiuer with diuers other such like yea and euen they that did eate of my bread that should haue been most my friends by nature haue betrayed meâ—… Yet for all this I praise my Lord God that hath separated mee from my mothers wombe all this that hath happened to me hath beene easie light and most delectable and ioyfull of any treasure that euer I possessed For duration It is a very glimpse of heauenly glory which springing vp in a sanctified heart out of the wells of saluation and
from all stormes of violence oppressions and wrong nay and perhaps by their countenance procure them a great deale of credit and esteeme if not obseruance and awfulnesse from those amongst whom they liue 3. To call to mind out of too many wofull experiences that in the frownes and angry foreheads of great men are infolded many times many secret complots of cunning cruelty and plausible malice which when time serues fall full heauy vpon the hearts and heads of inferiours which are not in all poinis pliable to their humours And out of such carnall considerations as these by a rash vnaduised yeeldingnesse they too often plunge themselues hand ouer head into vnworthy engagements and become instruments of ill offices the basenesse and iniquitie whereof doth afterward in cold blood strike full cold vnto their hearts and leaues a gash and grieuous wound in their consciences comforts and Christian reputations 4. At such entertainments and tables of Great men not friends to the truth thou wilt be ready to vomit thy morsels and shalt loose thy sweet words Thy dainty fare may bee sawced perhaps with many bitter girds much rotten talke enforced healths if not empoisoned with blasphemies obscenities and horrible oathes Thy musicke wil be merry lies fained iests scofs scurrilities against Gods best seruants and the Kings best subiects commonly calumniated as pestilent fellowes For so the Church complaines Lam. 3. 63. I am their musicke Few feasts where the founder is not Gods friend but after his good-fellow guests bee well heated with variety of dishes and strong drinke as their faces are inflamed with fiery reflections one from another so their hearts will be enraged with mutuall infection of furious malice to belch out most prodigious dunghill villanous lies hammered by the very foulest Fiend in the darkest nooke of hell against those that are true of heart Lord thou knowest The complementall formes and flourishes of thy welcome may prooue as a pitfall to plunge thee into some dishonourable imployment or one way or other to betray thee to an vncomfortable entanglement of thy conscience So that if thy generous spirit will nobly rise against such froth and folly ribaldry and railing the vnworthy degenerations of these worst times if it bee sensible of Gods dishonour the disgrace of the Saints and thine owne danger thou canst not choose but be wearie of such good cheere Nay besides the resolution of thy iudgement that in such a case thou wouldest farre rather haue stayed at home with a dinner of greene hearbs then to haue thine eares so grated and heart grieued all the while at a great table euen in nature thou shalt fare worse For thy iust indignation discontentment and sadnesse vpon such ground will naturally contract thine heart thicken thy blood chill thy spirits that naturall heare will faint and faile in the ordinary current and course of concoction No maruaile then though thou be readier to vomit thy morsels then to reioyce in those high entertainments or variety of messes which are dissweetened with such distastfull and bitter mixtures And thou shalt loose thy sweet words both of humanity and Christianity For the first out of the ingenuous simplicitie and honesty of thy heart thou wilt returne reall sincere affectionate demonstrations of thankfulnesse for meere dissembled formall ceremonies of entertainment and welcome For the other thou shalt be so farre from finding a free and comfortable vent and entertainment to any good talke that if thou meddle that way thou marrest all the mirth Mention of heauenly things our last account the life to come iudgements against sinne priuiledges of the Saints happinesse of the holy Ones c. which might sweetly season and as it were sanctifie their meeting and those good creatures of God they so plentifully enioy would presently cast all the company into dumps of melancholy The Word of God writ vpon the wall in the very height and ruffe of their greatest iollitie and reuelling did make the heart ioynts and knees of that mighty King Belshazzer to tremble as the leaues of the forrest when they are shaken with the winde How often may we obserue many goodly and gracious discourses buried in the bosomes of men of vnderstanding and worth placed below by reason of the domineering talkatiuenesse and imperious ignorance of some silken Idoll sitting at the head of the table Horses and Hounds Hawks deuoure full often and eate vp not onely spirituall and holy but euen all morall and manly talke For the more conuenient declining and preuention of any ensnarement and inconuenience in this kinde let mee commend to the Christian such cautions and considerations as these 1. Euer before thou enter out of thy doores vpon any occasion businesse iourney visitation weigh well with due deliberation in the ballance of an holy wisedome all circumstances concurrents company probabilitie of all euents and consequents on both sides of staying at home or going abroad visiting this or that friend vndertaking that or the other businesse and euer constantly encline and resolue that way which in all likelyhood will bring most glory vnto God good vnto others and comfort vnto thine owne conscience Let it onely bee the sinfull libertie of hopelesse worldlings to waste their time and labour for the needlesse expence of euery moment of the one and motion of the other they must very shortly be full dearely accountable at Gods strict Tribunall in those impertinent vagaries and idle visitations which haue no other motiue but a desire to be rid of time and to feede a gadding and restlesse humor no other end but vanity or vaine-glorie no issue but temptation and greater disabilitie to good duties But let euery wisely resolute and truly iudicious Christian disdaine howsoeuer worldly wisdome deride it to step ouer his threshold without a warrantable Calling aime at some honest end probable foresight of some good to come thereon honour to God furtherance of some good cause good vnto our brethren discharge of some dutie of our Calling performance of Christian offices of charitie humanitie naturall affection mutuall comforting confirming refreshing and building vp one another in our most holy faith and the like Otherwise hee shall bee in great danger to returne home farre worse then when he went out laden both with more personall guiltinesse and accessarinesse to others sinne bleeding with some fresh bruise of conscience by falling scandalously or failing in some Christian dutie growne into a further disacquaintance and estrangement from God deepelier sunke perhaps into some sinfull societie and sensuall conformities with men of this World Some actions I confesse and vndertakings in their owne nature and in respect of the obiect as the Schoole men speake are indifferent but cloathed with circumstances and indiuiduated by the actuall working of a particular Agent are not so but necessarily become morally good or euill to the doer And therefore the assertion of Catarinus in the Councell of Trent to this purpose
royall heart by imbruing his hands in his brothers blood and with vnnaturall trayterous violence and villany snatching at the Imperiall Crowne vpon Dauids head Another famous instance to this purpose we find in the story of the Greeke Emperours The old Emperour Andronicus doted with such extreme impotency of partiall affection vpon his Nephew young Andronicus that in comparison of him he did not onely disregard the rest of his Nephewes but also his owne children and as the Storie tels vs was not willing to spare him out of sight either day or night But what were the consequents of this cockering When he was stept further into yeeres besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grandfather in the meane time at length pressing without resistance vpon his Palace with purpose to surprize his person though the old Emperour intreated him with much affectionate Royall eloquence which might haue pierced an heart of steele or Adamant That he would reuerence those hands which had oftentimes most louingly embraced him yet crying in his swathing clothes that he would reuerence those lips which had oftentimes most louingly kissed him and called him his other Soule that he would spare to spill that blood from which himselfe had taken the fountaine of life c. For all this after some kind words and courteous embracement at first indeed premised and in hot blood in conclusion being polled and shauen was made a Monke and the Anuile of much dunghill scorne and vilest indignities vntill the workemanship of death had finished the sorrowfull businesse of a wretched life A third and very remarkeable to fright all Parents from foolish doting heare out of Austin By reason of a terrible dreadfull accident he called his people together as it seemes to a Sermon the third time the same day thinking no doubt out of his watchful spiritual wisdom to work more succesfully and to leaue more strong and lasting impressions in their hearts while the bloody vnnaturall villany was yet fresh in their eyes and eares And when they were met together he relates the dolefull storie Our noble Citizen saith he here of Hippo Cyrillus a man mightie amongst vs both in worke and word and much beloued had as you know one onely sonne and because he had but onely one he loued him immeasurably and aboue God And so being drunke with immoderate doting hee neglected to correct him and gaue him liberty to doe whatsoeuer he list Now this very day this same fellow thus long suffered in his dissolute and riotous courses hath in his drunken humour wickedly offered violence to his mother great with child would haue violated his sister hath killed his father and wounded two of his sisters to death O mightie domination of the Deuill c. But I need not prosecute this point by further illustration out of strange Stories Daily experience presents vnto our eyes and eares the many wofull discomforts vnkind requitales and vnnaturall vsages which Parents receiue at the hands of those children which in their younger yeeres they made wanton with their loue and vndiscreetly doted vpon 2. Or in some other kind for example If thine heart be set vpon riches God may iustly and mercifully too exercise and afflict thee with his heauy hand vpon thy body with sicknesse vpon thy conscience with terror vpon thy reputation with disgrace or the like thereby to vnglue thy noble spirit from the dust and rent it from grouelingnesse vpon the earth If thou be ambitiously enamoured vpon honours and high roomes after wasting thy wealth wounding thy conscience wearying thy selfe with bribery basenesse and irkesome waiting thou mayest bee taken away vntimely in the very pursuite or presently after the attainement of them c. Thus it is not strange or extraordinary with God to preuent or take off our hearts from taking selfe-conceited pleasure or pride in any thing we enioy by crossing and correcting vs in other kindes Euen Paul that blessed Saint and seruant of the Lord lest his heart should be too much pleased and puft vp with abundance of reuelations he was vext and crost with his owne concupiscence there was giuen to him a thorne in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet him 2. Cor. 12. 7. that is as I conceiue hee felt his originall corruption sharpened and eneagered against him and let loose in some sort vpon him which is a terrible cut to a tender conscience 3. For the third howsoeuer it fare with thee otherwise if thou settle thine heart vpon any earthly thing with inordinate desire and delight thou shalt be sure to be haunted with a double curse 1. The rage of vnsatiablenesse vnsatisfiablenesse 2. That greatest plague hardnesse of heart 1. The Father of Spirits hath inspired into our immortall soules a large capacity and such an infinite appetite that no finite excellency created comfort or earthly thing can possibly fill Gold siluer riches honours crownes kingdomes are no fit matter or adequate obiect for such an immateriall and heauenly borne spirit to repose and feed vpon with finall rest and full contentment Nay not this whole materiall world were it beautified and set out with all the amiablenesse splendour and allurements which the deuill by his iugling Alchymy put vpon it when he presented it to the eye of Christ Iesus Math. 4. 8. with addition of the starry and Empyrean heauen shining with all their admirable beauty and glorious inhabitants could by any meanes confine satisfie and content the irke some wandrings vnlimited desire and vast comprehensiuenesse of the soule but it would still bee transported with the passionate disquietnesse of selfe vexation and tortured vpon the racke of restlesse discontent vntill it fasten and fixe vpon an obiect infinite both in excellency and endlesnesse wherin is contained the whole latitude of Entity and goodnesse the euer-blessed and onlyadored Trinity Where and when alone it softly and sweetly with the hight and fulnesse of all desireable contentment rests in the armes of God and bosome of eternall blisse which all blessed soules attaine thus and by these meanes When it pleased God by the mercifull violence of his Almighty hand to turne the sensuall bent and powerfull current of the seduced soule from the creature to the Creator from the painted brauery of this vaine world to the heauenly beautie of his blessed Word from carking encumbrance about many things to pursue and ply that One needfull thing by a sound and vniuersall change of the whole man and translation of him from the darkenesse of naturall ignorance death in sinne and power of the deuill to the light of sauing knowledge the life of sanctifying grace and the liuing God I say then the restlesse wandrings of the vnsatisfied soule begins first to settle with some sweet contentment vpon the flowers of Paradise glimpses of heauenly glory infallible earnests of euerlasting blisse sauing graces and its infinite appetite is well stayed in the meane time with that
satisfaction to its expectation and large capacitie Hence it is that giue Rome to Caesar as they say and he will ambitiously pursue the Soueraigntie of the whole earth Let Alexander conquer the world and he will aske for moe let those be subdued he would climbe vp the staires of his vast desires towards the starres if hee could aspire thither hee would peepe beyond the heauens c. No rest vnto mans soule but in Gods eternall rest 3. That there being no proportion betweene spirits and bodies thou maiest aswell vndertake to fill a bag with wisedome a chest with vertue as thine immortall soule with gold siluer riches high roomes this whole materiall world or any earthly thing See Eccles. 5. 10. 4. I say Besides these three causes of vnsatisfiablenesse God himselfe doth iustly put that property and poyson into all worldly things doted vpon and desired immoderately that they shall plague the heart that pursues them by filling it still with a furious and fresh supply of more greedinesse longings iealousies and many miserable discontentments So that they become vnto it as drinke vnto a drunkard a man in a dropsie or burning feauer serue onely to inflame it with new heate and fierie additions of insatiable thirst and inordinate lust No maruaile then though the working heart of euery naturall man vnreconciled to God be like the raging sea that cānot rest That roaring Element to which the Spirit of God resembles a wicked man must needes bee a much troubled and very restlesse creature sith it is continually tossed turmoyled with variety of contrary and confused motions that of estuation reuolution reflectiō descension and agitation by the windes semblably if thou couldest see the inside of the greatest gracelesse Monopolist and ingrosser of all the most desireable excellencies vnder the Sunne glistering in the highest Emperiall Throne vpon the earth thou shouldest behold his heart for all that rent asunder with many raging distempers and tempestuous whirlewindes of contrary lusts a very hiue of vnnumbred cares sorrowes and passions boyling incessantly with irkesome suspitions false feares insatiable longings secret grumblings of conscience torturing distractions and tumultuations of hell By the way let me tell you that this immoderate desire inordinate delight which I speake of glued to some speciall sensuall obiect which naturall corruption singles out and makes chiefest choice of to follow and feed vpon with greatest contentment and carnall sweetnesse become the parents of euery mans bosome sinne If it fall in loue with honours and greatnesse it breeds and brings forth ambition which is an vnquenchable thirst after visible glory and a gluttonous hunting after high roomes As it inhabiteth the highest and haughtiest spirits and is superlatiue and transcendent in its obiect and aspirations so of all the stormy perturbations which rent and rage in the heart of man it is most tempestuous and desperate Ventrous it is to climbe vp any staires of basenesse bribery blood to tread vpon the ruines of the noblest innocency vpon the mercilesse desolations of dearest friends and neerest kindred to domineere for a while though it be damned euerlastingly afterwards as it is too cleere in the Turkish Emperors and in that great Master of mischiefe and Machiauelisme Richard the third of this Kingdome who with a bloody hand pressed out the breath of those two orient Princes in the Tower his Nephewes and naturall Lords It is victorious ouer all other affections and masters euen the sensuality of lustfull pleasures as appeares in the greatest Warriours and ancient Worthies amongst the Heathen who tempted with the exquisitenesse and variety of choisest beauties yet forbore that villany not for conscience sake and feare of God whom they knew not but lest they should interrupt the course and stop the current of their warlike reputation ambitious designes and atchiuements of state But whatsoeuer other pestilent properties empoyson it it neuer failes to ingender in the heart which harbours it as its proper Thunder-bolt and blasting feares cares iealousies enuies enraged thirst of rising still impatiencie of competition vncapablenesse of satiety which is most for my purpose For the proud and ambitious man enlargeth his desire as hell and is as death and cannot bee satisfied Hab. 2. 5. Who can fill the bottomlesse pit of hell or stop the vnsatiable iawes of death neither can the greedie humour of an haughtie spirit the aspiring insolencie of a boisterous Nimrod be possibly stayed or stinted no not with the top and variety of highest honours though hee should alone and absolutely be crowned with the Soueraignitie of the whole earth and command the felicities of this wide world If it fall in loue with riches it breeds and brings forth couetousnesse the vilest and basest of all the infections of the soule in the most contemptible and dunghill disposition For this kyte-footed corruption wheresoeuer it seizeth and domineeres blasts and banisheth all noblenesse of spirit naturall affection humanity discretion reason wisedome manlinesse mutuall entertainements entercourse of kindnesse and loue and turnes all euen the soule it selfe into earth and mudde It drawes by a cunning reserued basenesse all occasions circumstances aduantages witte policy euen friends and acquaintance nay religion conscience and all to bee seruiceable and contributary to a greedy wolfe and raging gangren of hoarding vp Gold and worldly pelfe In a word it makes a man with a Bedlam cruelty to contemne himselfe body and soule for a little transitory trash wilfully to abandon both the comfortable enioyment of the short time of this present mortality and all hope of the length of that blessed eternity to come And as the obiect of it is most earthly base and incompetent so of all other vile affections it is most sottishly and senselesly vnsatisfiable For how is it possible that earth should feed or fill the immateriall and heauen-borne spirit of a man It can not be and the Spirit of God hath said it shall not be Eccles. 5. 10. 4. 8. He that loueth siluer shall not be satisfied with siluer The eye is not satisfied with riches Hence it is that the deepelier and more eagerly the dropsie heart of the couetous man doth drinke of this golden streame the more furiously still it is inflamed with vnsatiable thirst nay certaine it is that if he should purchase and possesse a Monopoly of all the wealth in the world were he able to empty the Westerne parts of Gold and the East of all her Spices and precious things should hee enclose the whole face of the earth from one end of heauen to another and heape vp his hoard to the starres yet his heart would be as hungry after more riches as if he had neuer a penny and much more If it fall in loue with beauty and the swaggering brauery of good fellowship it begets lust and sensuality which make their minions madde with bitternesse and malice against the very least glimpse of holinesse or any religious restraint enrage them
let her brests satisfie thee at all times be thou rauished alwayes with her loue See also Eph. 5. 25. Methinkes this charge from the holy Ghost being often reuerently remembred should euer beate backe and banish from both their hearts all heart-rising and bitternesse distaste and disaffection all wicked wishes that they had neuer met together that they had neuer seene one anothers faces c. When the knot is once tied euery man should thinke his wife and euery wife her husband the fittest for him of any in the world Otherwise so often as he sees a better he will wish that his choise were to make againe so fall off from respect to this Commandement and from kindnesse and loue to his owne Which is an inexpiable disparagement to Gods prouidence and an execrable empoysoner of Marriage comforts 2. That by the power of the honourable Ordinance of Marriage the two are made one And therefore they ought to be as louingly and tenderly affected one vnto the other as they would be to their owne flesh 3. The compassionate and melting compellations which Christ and his Spouse exchange in the Canticles My faire one my sister my loue my Doue my vndefiled my welbeloued the chiefe of ten thousand c. whose chaste and feruent loue that of married couples should resemble and imitate 4. That these mutuall expressions and exercise of this matrimoniall loue are very powerfull to preserue chastity and purenesse in body and spirit on both sides It is noted of Isaac that he loued Rebekah dearely and this was a speciall preseruatiue that hee fell not to Polygamy or concubines as many of the Patriarkes did II. Faithfulnesse 1. In respect of the Marriage-Bed which they ought on both sides to keepe inuiolable vndefiled and honourable Wherein if they transgresse besides an whole hell of spirituall miseries they strike at the very sinew heart and life of the Marriage Knot and become liable if the Magistrate should doe as God commanded amongst his people to the bloody stroke of a violent death And therefore it behooues all that enter this state to bee humbled and repent for all former wantonnesse or else a thousand to one it will breake out either into a sensuall immoderate abuse of the Marriage which the Fathers call Adultery with a mans owne wife or else into a lustfull hankering after the strange woman 2. In respect of domesticall affaires and businesses of the family The care and burthen whereof is common to them both The Husband that hath a prodigall and slothfull wife doth but draw water with a Siue as the Heathen man said and casts his labours into a bottomlesse sacke And the wife that is maâ—…cht with an idle vnthristy Husband drawes a Cart heauy laden through a sandy way without a Horse By which is intimated an impossibility of thriuing in the world and prospering in their outward state 3. In the concealement of each others secrets It is a very vnnaturall and monstrous treachery to publish one anothers faults and frailties or any thing which in hope of keeping counsell they haue communicated one to another They are ill birds as they say that defile their owne-nests and franticke Bedlams that so throw dirt in each others faces III. Patience Which is as precious and needfull an holy dutie as I can possibly commend in this case for comfortable conuersing together For a more prepared and constant exercise whereof consider 1. That two Angels are not met together in a Matrimoniall state but a sonne and daughter of Adam And therefore they must looke for infirmities frailties imperfections passions and prouocations on both sides 2. That it is a charge giuen to all That the Sunne must not goe downe vpon their wrath much more to Man and Wife linked together in the neerest bond 3. That there neuer did nor euer will come any good by the falling out of Man and Wife Well may they thereby become ridiculous to their seruants a by-word to their neighbours Table-talke to the Countrey troublers of their owne house and as a continuall dropping one vnto another but they shall neuer gaine by their mutuall hastinesse passions and impatiencie What good can come by a mans anger and indignation against his owne flesh What prodigious madnesse is it for them to grow strange whom so many and perpetuall bands haue tyed so fast and who without dearest and most intimate familiarity can neither enioy ciuill contentment or peace of conscience Suppose that the heart should fall out with the head and deny vnto it those spirits which become animall in the braine and serue for exercise both of sence and by consequent of the higher part of the soule What would follow but distemper distraction and madnes Or that the head should fall out with the body and thereupon restraine from it the influence of animall spirits the instruments of the quickning and moouing it What would become of the head when the body were dead Proportionable mischiefes and miseries fall out vpon the Marriage-state by falling out strangenesse bitternesse and angry reseruednesse betweene the parties This grace then will be of excellent vse and must be exercised many wayes 1. In bearing with the wants and weakenesses infirmities and deformities of each other And let the man for the woman is the weaker vessell remember for this purpose how many faults frailties and falls and how many times Christ remits and pardons to his Spouse the Church And hee ought to loue his wife as Christ doth the Church Eph. 5. 25. The body doth not reiect the head because it is bald or but one eyed The head rageth not against the body because it is deformed or diseased but doth rather condole and sympathize 2. About crosse accidents in the family losses in their outward state going backward of businesses c. They must not lay the fault one vpon another to the breaking out into choler impatiencie and stamping but both ioyne with blessed Iob in that sweet and meeke submission to Gods pleasure The Lord hath giuen and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. 3. In waiting for the conuersion of one another if either prooue vnconuerted In which case be patient pray and expect Gods good time We haue God himselfe a sweet Patterne for this purpose See before pag. 102. Or if the one be but a Babe in Christ weake in Christianity deale fairely louingly and meekely Let our Lord Iesus his tender-heartednesse to spirituall younglings teach vs mercy this way See Isa. 40. 11. IV. An holy care and conscience to preserue between themselues for there is a coniugall as well as virginall and viduall chastity the marriage bed vndefiled and in all honour and Christian purity It ought by no meanes to be stained and dishonoured with sensuall excesses wonton speeches foolish dalliance and other vncleane incentiues of lust which marriage should quench not inflame Euen in wedlocke intemperate and vnbridled lust immoderation and excesse is deemed
for our dealing in the world and ciuill affaires V. Now concerning workes of mercy which springing from an heart melting with sense of Gods euerlasting mercy to it selfe quickened with a liuely faith in the Lord Iesus and shining with sauing graces are an odour of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God Philippians 4. 18. Hebr. 13. 16. Conceiue first there be two sorts of them 1. Spirituall 2. Corporall 1. Spirituall flow from the fountaine of truest mercy and compassion of greatest tendernesse and consequence euen to relieue repaire and refresh the pouerty wants and miseries of the soule 1. By instructing the Ignorant Prou. 10. 21. and 15. 7. 2. By giuing counsell to them that need or seeke it Exod. 18. 19. c. Ruth 3. 1 c. 3. By reducing the erroneous Exo. 23. 4. 4. By labouring the conuersion of others Psalm 51. 13. Luk. 22. 32. 5. By exhorting one another Heb. 3. 13. 6. By reproouing the offendor Leuit. 19. 17. 7. By admonishing them that are out of order 1. Thes. 5. 14. 8. By considering one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes Hebr. 10. 24. 9. By comforting the heauy heart and afflicted spirit 1. Thes. 5. 14. 10. By forgiuing from the heart our brethren their trespasses Matth. 18. 35. 11. By chastising delinquents Prou. 22. 15. 12. By raising those which are fallen by infirmity with much meekenesse and tendernesse of heart Gal. 6. 1. 13. By mutuall encouragements against the cruelty and confusions of the times in the way to Heauen Mal. 3. 16. 14. By supporting and mercifully making much of weake Christians 1. Thes. 5. 11. 15. By patience towards all men 1. Thes. 5. 14. 16. By praying one for another Iam. 5. 16. 2. Corporall spring from a compassionate heart and fellow-feeling affection yerning ouer the temporall wants and necessities of our brethren whereby we are stirred vp as occasion is offered according to our ability to succour and support their outward extremities and distresses To feede the Hungry To giue drinke to the Thirsty To clothe the Naked to entertaine the Stranger To visit the sicke To goe to those that are in Prison Math. 25. 35. To put to an helping hand for raising our Brethren fallen into decay Leuit. 25. 35. To lend hoping for nothing againe c. Luke 6. 35. Thus Christians ought to be ready to distribute willing to communicate in all kindes to the outward necessities also 1. First Of those of the houshold of faith the principall and most moouing obiect to draw bounty from a truly charitable heart Gal. 6. 10. 2. In the next place Of the lame the blind the sicke the aged the trembling hand or any that God hath made poore 3. Thirdly Of any whosoeuer in a case of true necessitie and extremity whatsoeuer the party hath bin before For there thou relieuest not his notoriousnesse but his nature though thou abhorre the man for his former villany yet vpon poynt of perishing doe good vnto the common state of humanity Now of these two kindes Fathers Schoolemen Casuists all concurre and conclude that spirituall almes caeteris paribus as they say are more excellent and acceptable then corporall Because 1. The gift is more noble in its owne nature 2. The obiect more illustrious Mans immortall soule 3. The manner transcendent being spirituall 4. The charity more heauenly which aimes at our brothers endlesse saluation Let then euery Christian conscionably and constantly endeauour to improoue to the vtmost vpon all occasions and seasonable offers all his spirituall abilities heauenly endowments illuminations of learning morall wisedome prouidence discretion c. all his skill in the Mystery of Christ Word and waies of God all his experience in temptations cases of conscience spirituall distempers his spirit of counsell comfort courage or what other gift or grace soeuer he is illightened and endowed with to relieue and refresh euery way the soules to procure and promote by all meanes the eternall saluation of others Let the sauing light of thy diuine knowledge spirituall wisedome heauenly vnderstanding or what other excellencies and perfections of the minde shining in thy soule resemble in all fruitfull improouement and free communicating it selfe that bountifull light in the body of the Sunneâ—… That 1. first illighteneth that goodly Creature wherein iâ—… originally dwels and makes it the fairest and beautifulleâ—… thing in the world 2. Next it illuminates and beautifiâ—… all the Orbes and heauenly bodies about it 3. Thirdly bâ—… the proiection of his beames it begets all the beauty glory sweetnesse wee haue here below on the earth 4. Fourthly it insinuates into euery chinke and crany of the earth and concurres to the making of those precious metals which lye in her bowels 5. Fiftly his beames glide by the sides of the earth and illighten euen the opposite part of Heauen with all those glorious Starres we see shining in the night 6. Sixthly it is so communicatiue and greedy of dooing good in its kinde that it strikes thorow the firmament in the transparent parts and seekes to bestow its brightnesse and beauty euen beyond the Heauens and neuer restraines the free communication of its influence and glory vntill it determine by naturall and necessarie expiration Euen so proportionably let the fruitfull light of thy diuine knowledge and heauenly counsell especially be still working shining spreading to doe all possible good 1. Let it First make thine own soule all glorious within fairely enlighten it with an humble reflection of selfe-knowledge with puritie peace and spirituall prudence to guide constantly thine owne feete with all vprightnesse and patience in the path that is called holy 2. Secondly Let it shine vpon thy family and those that are next about thee with all seasonable instructions in conuincing them of the truth and goodnesse of the wayes of God either for their conuersion or inexcusablenesse 3. Thirdly let it bee spent and imployed vpon thy neighbours kindred friends acquaintance visitants of all sorts when they come towards thee to warme their hearts all thou canst with heauenly talke and to winne their loues to the life of grace 4. Fourthly let it insinuate also amongst strangers and into other companies vpon which any warrantable Calling shall cast thee and intimate vnto them especially if it finde acceptation and entertainment That one thing is necessarie That all impenitents shall bee certainly damned That vpon this moment dependeth eternitie c. 5. Nay let it offer it selfe with all meekenesse of wisedome and patient discretion euen to opposites and labour to conquer if it bee possible the contrarie minded if their scornefull carriage and furious visible hate against the mysterie of Christ hath not set a brand of Dogges and Swine vpon them 6. Lastly when vpon all occasions in all companies by all meanes it hath done all the good it can yet let it still retaine that constant propertie of all Heauenly Graces an edge
through his pouertie might bee rich Shall the onely deare innocent Sonne of the All-powerfull and euer-blessed Lord and King of heauen and earth dis inrich as it were and disrobe his heauenly Highnesse of that Royaltie and Maiestie aboue and become so poore that whereas the Foxes haue holes and the birds of the ayre haue nests yet Hee not where to lay his head that through his pouerty and powring out his hearts blood hee might crowne vs with the inestimable riches of heauenly glory with ioyes and pleasures more then the starres of the firmament euen for euer and euer and shall not we Wormes and wretches most vnworthy the least bit of bread we put into our mouthes part with our superfluities sometimes both in respect of the necessity of nature and exigencie of estate as the Schoolemen speake to relieue the fainting soule of him for whom Christ died and which he would take as done vnto himselfe Matth. 25. 40. were it but a cup of cold water onely Mar. 9. 41. Monstrous vnthankfull cruelty mercilesnesse meriting without Gods singular mercy and turning mercifull our selues the fiercest flame in the dungeon of fire and brimstone 4. The last and euerlasting doome at that great and dreadfull Day must passe vpon vs according to our carriage in this kinde Then shall there be a seuere and sincere search and enquirie made after workes as the signes euidences and outward demonstrations of faith and the roote of grace in the heart or of vnbeliefe and rottennesse at the heart-roote and consequently as arguments of a righteous doome passed vpon the Sheepe and Goates That glorious sentence of absolution Come yee blessed of my Father inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world which sounds out nothing but pleasures ioyes delights glories beauties felicities crownes kingdomes Angelicall entertainments beatificall-visions spirituall rauishments highest perfections vnutterable exultations of spirit sweetest varieties eternities shall be pronounced vpon the godly according to the effects and fruits of their faith to teach vs in the meane time what faith to trust vnto and rest vpon for iustification euen that which works by loue and at that day to let all the world see Angels men and deuils that the kingdome of Heauen is giuen onely to true-hearted Nathaneels honest Professours working beleeuers Now in the text for this purpose there is singled out with special choice an eminent Synechdochicall instance in one of the worthiest effects of faith and noblest fruit of grace euen the point I now presse and labour to perswade an open-hearted reall fruitfull bounty and loue to Gods people and distressed members of Christ Iesus for Christs and their goodnesse sake But that other doome of damnation Depart from me you cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the deuill and his angels which breathes out nothing but fire and brimstone stings and horrours woe and alasse flames of wrath and the Worme that neuer dyeth trembling and gnashing of teeth seas of vengeance torments without end and past imagination shall passe vpon the reprobates for omission and neglect of this noble dutie For mercilesnesse to the poore members of Christ vnkindnesse to Christians hard-heartednesse towards the houshold of faith is one of the ranckest bitterest weeds which growes out of a gracelesse heart a cleare pregnant euidence that all was naught and a notable remembrancer as it were to that high and euerlasting Iudge that his blessed Spirit neuer dwelt there How deeply then doth it concerne euery Christian to practise and ply vpon all opportunities that most gainefull art of almes-giuing which shall be so highly honoured at that great Day before that glorious vniuersall presence when euery mercilesse man shall cry to that Rocke this mountaine to fall vpon him and hide him from the wrath of that iust God which will flame vnquenchably and euerlastingly against all those who in this life haue shut vp their bowels of pitty against His poore and been dogged towards the dearely beloued of his Soule I know Bellarmine labours to empoyson this last passage with his false glosse and Popish sophistry The causall coniunction For Matth. 25. 35. as hee there cauils intimates and implyes workes meritoriousnesse I say no. For is there a Note of consequence and order not of the cause or any meritorious causality The causall coniunction in Grammar doth indeed serue to shew the reason of a former sentence but it doth not necessarily shew a reason from the cause of a thing but many times also from the effect and other kind of arguments And Logick also reacheth that there be diuers kinds of causes principall and lesse principall c. Bellarmine replyes Doth not Christ there speake in the same manner of the rewards of the godly and of the punishments of the wicked But no man can say that in these words Goe ye cursed c. that the cause is not rendred but onely the order and consequence implyed For the wages of sinne is death Rom. 6. 23. I answer By the like fallacy also doe the Popish Impostors pleade for Iustification by Workes Euill workes damne therefore good workes saue Most falsely as appeares by that rule in the Topicks The consequence is of no validitie where there is not a perfect contrarietie Now betweene good and euill workes there is no perfect contrarietie for euill workes are perfectly euill against the Law of God but good workes are not perfectly good according to the Law of God By the same reason neither doth it follow Eternall death is the wages of sinne therefore eternall life is the wages of good workes 5. If thou lay out to the poore cheerefully seasonably liberally and yet but according to thy abilitie thou shalt become which besides the onely course of growing comfortably rich is also a Crowne of infinite honour Creditor euen to thy Creator Hee that hath pitie vpon the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and that which he hath giuen will he pay him againe Prou. 19. 17. And in the meane time for repayment in due time thou hast securitie infinitely aboue all exception a Bill vnder his owne hand euen his owne blessed Booke wherein to faile were to forfeit his Deity if I may so speake which is prodigious blasphemie to imagine Now what a keene spurre and inflaming motiue is this to bee mercifull that wee shall make God himselfe our Debter the euer springing Fountaine of Blisse and Lord of all goodnesse who doth all things like himselfe omnipotently bountifully aboue all expectation as becomes the mighty Soueraigne of Heauen and Earth If he worke he makes a world If he be angry he drownes the whole face of the Earth If he loue the hearts-blood of his dearest Sonne is not too deare If he stand vpon his peoples fide he makes the Sunne to stand still and the Starres to fight If he repay hee giues his owne All-sufficient Selfe with the ouerflowing torrents
day-labour will helpe him to heauen and serue his turne for saluation And if any of these sottish cauillers be questioned challenged for the vnsoundnesse of his spirituall state he will be ready with absurd rudenesse and irkesome clamour to breake out into such brags as these What tell you mee of these high points or trouble mee with this new learning I was neuer asked thus much before in all my life and yet the time is to come that euer our Parson threatned to keepe me from the Communion I doe no man wrong I pay euery man his owne I am neither thiefe nor drunkard nor whoremaster I liue peaceably amongst my neighbours c. I know as much as the Preacher can tell me though he preach out his heart That I must loue God aboue all and my neighbour as my selfe and that I hope I doe c. whereas poore blinded soule hee is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pride ignorance prophanenesse and impenitencie as the skin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is â—…moothly carried hoodwinckt by the diuell to hell without all noyse or any contradiction 7. The worke of Gods restraining Spirit Which sometimes by its power and terrour keepes in and confines a mans inward corruption that it breakes not out into such open outrages and outward villanies as in some other wicked Ones And that for the good and quiet of his owne people or some other secret ends seene and seeming good to his heauenly Highnesse Now this restraint by the delusion of the deuill and deceit of a mans owne heart may bee apprehended as a great conquest ouer corruption and so a conuersion thence vainely concluded 8. Education in a religious family thus Some in such a place being onely outwardly warmed with the heate of holy exercises about them and by custome and for company growne conformable to religious duties with some contentment depart thence with a â—…aineglorious conceit and vnsound perswasion that they are also of the right stampe because they were so long amongst spirituall tooles and at the fire which might indeed haue truly melted their yet too frozen and flinty hearts Put a Sow into a greene medow and shee will keepe her selfe as faire as the Sheepe but let her breake out and she will wallow againe in the mire as filthily as before so it is with too many such 9. Much knowledge and noble defence of that blessed Orthodoxe Truth which wee professe without a kindly sauing impression of goodnesse and grace in the heart Many great men and great Schollers more is the pitie are empoysoned with this conceit they are selfe conceited that if they be zealous Patrones and protectours of true Religion they are safe enough for saluation though alas they be meere strangers nay too many times opposites to the power and practise thereof 10. The benefit of a better nature and a constitution not so precipitant and prone to some corruptions For instance A man hereby may see others lâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most abominable beastly sinne of drunkennesse when his heart riseth against such swinish filth others transported with furious and fiery passions when as his milder temper knowes no such rage others hunting after high roomes with the hazzard of their soules and certaine ship wracke of a good conscience when as his solitary disposition affects retirednesse and home Thus when it is many times the infirmity impotencie or deformity of nature or at best but the naturall moderation of a better complexion that dis-inclines and disables him from the acting of some grosser euils hee fondly conceiues that it is the power and soueraignetie of grace which makes the difference betwixt himselfe and other sons of Belial who by natures impetuousnesse are more prone and prouoked thereunto 11. The heartlesse effects of slauish feare which sometimes will curbe some kinde of men from committing some notorious sinnes and spurre them forward to the outward performance of some holy duties yet they not marking the motiues manner or end nor taking to heart at all the grosse exorbitancy of any of them but onely eying the worke wrought may causlesly bee too well conceited of themselues and so coozen their owne soules But let no true-hearted Nathaneel heere mistake I know some of Gods dearest Children who make conscience of all sinne and to please God in all things yet in darkenesse of their melancholy or heate of temptation may feare all is naught with them because they feare they doe all for slauish feare But their feares iealousies hearty complaints and holy desires to the contrary may minister comfort enough if they will be counselled vntill they come out of temptation 12. Euen the blessed Word of God misunderstood and wretchedly abused to the deuils aduantage and damnation of mens soules For instance Some sucke poyson out of that heauenly flower Rom. 10. 13. Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued collecting and concluding thence that if they can say Lord Lord though they bee meere strangers to the life of Grace yet they shall liue for euer But such should know that euery one who in that sauing sence calleth vpon the Name of the Lord must depart from iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 19. and must sauingly beleeue Rom. 10. 14. Now such a fruitfull faith euer purifies the heart Acts 15. 9. and is inseparably attended with a glorious traine of heauenly graces vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnesse charity 2. Pet. 1. 5 6 7. I haue heard with mine owne eares that place Rom. 12. 1. sottishly peruerted to the maintenance of lukewarmenesse coldnesse in Religion and goodfellowship When purity in heart holinesse of life vniuersall obedience and other requisites to saluation haue beene pressed it hath beene replyed in good earnest I pray you why are you so hote what needs all this what needs so much adoe when a reasonable thing will serue the turne Is it not said which is your reasonable seruice Now I often wonder what such men as these meane who are Proctors and pleaders for this Leodicean reserued mediocritie and politike moderation in matters of heauen what worship and seruice they would proportion out for the All-powerfull God Doth any man of braine conceiue that the mighty dreadfull Lord and Iudge of all the world who offers vnto vs by the Ministerie in the meane time his owne deare Sonne with all the rich purchases of his hearts blood and would giue vs the full fruition of himselfe heereafter with all the glory and endlesse felicities aboue will be bobd off if I may so speake with an heartlesse formall outwardnesse with a cold rotten carkasse of religion It cannot be He is a Spirit and must be worshipped in Spirit and truth If men will needs harden themselues in bitternesse and blasphemies against the purity and power of godlinesse if they will still browbeate and beare downe their brethren for their zeale and feruencie in the affaires of God let them teare those sacred leaues out of Gods blessed Booke that sparkle out vnto vs
of the faithfull For that which the Deuill putting on the glory of an Angell of light puts vpon his followers in this kinde falsely and groundlessely That the blessed Spirit performes to those who are true of heart truely and vpon good ground For it is not the vniuersalitie and excellencie of all naturall ciuill meerely morall politicke and learned endowments and sufficiencies but aboue and besides all these a supernaturall heauenly and speciall worke of the Spirit sanctifying thē all for Gods glorious seruice It is not a bare taske of holy duties religious exercises presence at the ordinances outwardly performed but the soule as it were of sauing grace animating and informing them with spirituall life reuerent heartinesse and fruitful improouement It is not the glistering blaze of a visible forward profession of Religion but the power of godlinesse and sincere practise of workes of iustice mercy and truth It is not a generall participation of the Spirit the Spirit onely of illumination or largest speculatiue cōprehensions of sacred knowledge but an humble fruitfull experimental skill and dexterity in the mystery of Christ and of walking humbly with our God which doth soundly comfort the heart of a man spiritually wise about assurance of his happy estate to Godward And therefore the true Christian when he would refresh his spirits with the sweet contemplation of his spirituall safety and comfortable being in a gracious state causeth his sincere conscience to answer in truth to such like interrogatories as those which I haue proposed for triall in such a case in my Discourse of true happinesse pag. 85. c. Reuiew the place and ponder well vpon them He ordinarily hath recourse vnto and runs ouer in his mind with an humble rauishing commemoration the heauenly footsteps and mighty works of the holy Ghost in his conuersion speciall watchfulnesse ouer his wayes sincere-heartednesse holy strictnesse and sanctified singularities in his conuersation which as they are peculiar to Gods people so are the mysteries and strange things to the best vnregenerate man and that thus or in the like manner Blessed be God saith hee within himselfe that euer it was so yet so it was The holy Ministery of the Word sanctified and guided particularly for that purpose by the finger of God happily seized vpon mee while I did yet abide in the armes of darkenesse and the Deuils snares a most polluted carnall abominable wretch and effectually exercised its sauing power vpon my soule both by the workings of the Law and of the Gospell It was first as an hammer to my heart and broke it in pieces By a terrible cutting piercing power it strooke a shaking and trembling into the very center of my soule by this double effect 1. It first opened the booke of my conscience wherein I read with a most heauy heart ready to fall asunder euen like drops of water for horror of the sight the execrable abominations of my youth the innumerable swarmes of lewd and lawlesse thoughts that all my life long had stained mine inward parts with strange pollutions the continuall wicked walking of my tongue the cursed prophanation of Gods blessed Sabbaths Sacraments and all the meanes of saluation I euer meddled with In a word all the hels sinkes and Sodoms of lusts and sinne of vanities and villanies I had remorselesly wallowed in euer since I was borne I say I looked vpon all these engrauen by Gods angry hand vpon the face of my conscience in bloody and burning lines 2. Whereupon in a second place it opened vpon mee the Armory of Gods flaming wrath and fiery indignations nay and the very mouth of hell ready to empty themselues and execute their vtmost vpon mine amazed and guilty soule In these restlesse and raging perplexities wherewith my poore soule was extremely scorched and parched with penitent paine His wrath who is a consuming fire wringing my very heart-strings with vnspeakeable anguish Iesus Christ blessed for euer was lifted vp vnto me in the Gospell as an Antitype to the erecting of the brazen Serpent in the Wildernesse In whom dying and bleeding vpon the Crosse I beheld an infinite treasurie of mercy and loue a boundlesse and bottomelesse sea of tender-heartednesse and pitie a whole heauen of sweetnesse peace and spirituall pleasures Whereupon there sprung vp and was inkindled in mine heart an extreme thirst ardent desires vehement longings after that soueraigne sauing blood which alone could ease my grieued soule and turne my foulest sinnes into the whitest snow So that in the case I then was had I had in full taste and sole command the pleasures profits ioyes and glory of many worlds willingly would I haue parted with them all and had I had a thousand liues freely would I haue layd them all downe nay with all mine heart would I haue beene content to haue lyen for a season in the very flames of Hell to haue had the present horrour of my confounded spirit comforted from heauen and my spirituall thirst allayed and a little cooled but with one drop of Christs precious blood the darknesse desolations of my wofull heart refresht and reuiued but with the least glimpse of Gods fauourable countenance The edge eagernesse of which inflamed affections made me cast about with infinite care how to compasse so deare a comfort Then came into my minde the holy Spirit being my mercifull Remembrancer those many melting compassionate inuitations more warming and welcome to my heauy heart then many golden worlds more delicious then delight it selfe Matth. 11. 28. Reu. 21. 6. Ioh. 7. 37. Isa. 55. 1. 57. 15 16. Ezek. 18. 30 31 32. 33. 11. So that at last O blessed worke of faith staying my selfe and resting my sinking soule vpon the Rocke of eternity and the impregnable truth of these sweetest promises sealed with the blood of the Lord Iesus and as sure as God himselfe I threw my selfe into the mercifull and meritorious armes of my crucified Lord with this resolution and reply to all terrors and temptations to the contrary that if I must needs be cast away they shall teare and rent me from the tender bowels of Gods dearest compassions vpon which I haue cast my selfe If they will haue me to hell they shall pull and hale me from the bleeding wounds of my blessed Redeemer to which my soule is fled Whereupon I found and felt and I blesse God infinitely and will through all eternity that euer it was so conueied and deriued vpon me from my blessed Iesus the welspring of immortality and life a quickening influence of his mighty Spirit and heauenly vigour of sauing grace wherby I became a new man quite changed new created By this vitall moouing and incubation as it were of the Spirit of Christ vpon the face of my soule all things became new mine heart affections thoughts words actions delights desires sorrowes society c. Old things passed away behold all things become new And I am sure my change is sound
forgerer and murtherer I would little doubt but to get the day It is proportionably so in this present point I meane betweene my regenerate illightned conscience and Satan Nay in this case should all the Deuils in Hell sweare the contrary did carnall reason naturall distrust or any other aduersary power cauill and contradict with neuer such irksome tediousnesse yet by the mercy of God I will not withstand that heauenly light standing in my conscience like an armed man I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe vntill I die But how do you know that you truly beleeue We may know perhaps that we haue some kind of faith but not that we haue the true liuely faith which will serue the turne for saluation I answer Saint Paul bids vs try and prooue our selues whether we haue that Faith by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts which is the faith of such as are accepted with God 2. Cor. 13. 5. Now it were strange if the blessed Spirit should bid vs examine and search for that which could not possibly be found out Againe if a man cannot be certaine that he beleeues with all his heart that is truly and sincerely Philips interrogatorie to the Eunuch Act. 8. 37. had beene in vaine and the Eunuchs reply rash and vnaduised Austin was cleerely of this mind that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith There is saith he a kind of glorying in the conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certaine thy loue without dissembling But many say they beleeue and are deceiued thinking they haue that which they haue not How then can a man be certaine Answer So thousands amongst vs by the false spectacles of presumption making the bridge of Gods mercy broader then it is and larger then his truth which confines it onely to broken hearts are wofully deluded and ready euery moment to be drowned in the dungeon of fire and brimstone must therefore those few who are sincerely humbled for their sinnes truly beleeue and vpon good ground haue part in it be also deceiued Because mad men and men asleepe know not well that they are asleepe and rage must therefore men truly waking and wise not know certainely they are awake and in their wits The common people generally conceiue of the Sunnes magnitude that it is not past a foote round must therefore the certainetie of knowledge that it is many times bigger then the Earth be denied to the skilfull Astronomer Some men dreame that they are rich tumble themselues amongst their golden heapes and it is not so indeed when they awake doth no man therefore certainely know whether he be rich or no Conceiue proportionably of repentance an inseparable companion and effect of true faith which is then sauing when it is serious sincere and without hypocrisie and that may be manifest and cleerely discerneable to the heart that hath it Doe you thinke the seriousnesse of the Niniuites repentance was not certaine vnto them We haue receiued the Spirit of God saith Paul that we might know the things that are freely giuen vs of God which are not onely life euerlasting c. but iustification sanctification and such like I say sauingnesse of repentance as of faith consists not in the measure and muchnesse but in the sincerity and truth of which the true penitent may bee certaine as well as of his sorrow But now whereas the Popish Doctors being blind guides leade their hoodwinkt followers into such perplexed mazes of vncertainties and indeed impossibilities about contrition in respect of extension intension appretiation equiualence to sin no maruell though they pleade pertinaciously for the point and purgatory of doubting 3. By the effects and fruits growing from the roote of grace in the heart But there may be in the hypocrite an exact outward conformity and obedience I answer true it is that for the outside and carkasse as it were the workes of vnsactified men may be like to those of the godly but they are without the soule life and spirit which is in the worke of a true beleeuer to which he is no lesse priuy in his heart then to the outward worke which passeth thorow his hands And wee hold that workes done in vprightnesse of heart onely are they which truly testifie in this case Let euery true-hearted Nathaneel then comfortably conclude pardon and peace vnto his owne soule from all such fruits so qualified For instance in one Wee know that we haue passed from death to life because wee loue the Brethren 1. Ioh. 3. 14. I loue the Brethren therefore I am translated from death to life But is it possible for a man to know that he loues his Brethren as he ought and as the Apostle requires Saint Iohn makes it a signe of our being so translated therfore it may be knowne For signes manifesting other things must themselues be more manifest And Austin tels vs that a man knowes more the loue with which he loues then his brother whom he loues Thus may the Christian infallibly collect the sanctifying Spirit iustifying Faith sauing Grace to dwell in his heart by all good deeds holy duties inward or outward fruits springing from an vpright heart For as it followes and may be inferred infallibly and demonstratiuely from the effect to the proper cause in other things For example It is day therefore the Sunne is risen because day cannot be caused but by the Sunnes rising so in this point also explained as before If wee pursue and ply with true hearts the whole Trade of Christianity If we be sincerely exercised in the workes of holinesse iustice mercy and truth and walke humbly with our God we may build vpon it that we are truly blessed All such sound fruits of Faith are euident signes and demonstrations of our spirituall safety and standing fast for euer If ye doe these things saith Peter yee shall neuer fall 4. By the testimony of the Spirit which sometimes as in the time of more feruent prayer holy retyrednesse of mind heauenly meditation or in some quickning exercises of extraordinary humiliation or after some speciall important seruice done to God and his Church with humble sincerity and in true zeale or vpon the soule-searching passage of some well grounded Sermon of comfort and seasonable application of mercy or in the beginning of spirituall and end of naturall life as most needfull times or in the time of martyrdome and sincere sufferings for the Name of Christ c. I say at such times the Spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified conscience with a secret still hart-rauishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the Child of God Thou art in the number of those that shall be saued Thou shalt inherit life euerlasting And that as certainely and comfortably as if that Angell from Heauen should say to thee as he did to Daniel Greatly beloued And why should any Popish cauiller contradict this sith
bring it downe and into the dust for increase of humiliation and lowlinesse in thine owne eyes as thou holdest out in the one hand the cleare Cristall of Gods pure Law to discouer the crookednesse of thy vile naturall disposition the villanies and skarlet abominations of thine vnregenerate time the daily spots staines which light vpon thy soule c. hold out also in the other hand or rather lay hold vpon Christ Iesus by the hand of faith hanging bleeding and dying vpon the Crosse for those very same sins that thereby thou maist vtterly quench all Satans fiery darts preuent drawing towards despaire nay preserue thy spirit in sweetest peace and vnconquerable comfort against if it be possible the least distrustfull intrusion of any slauish terrour 4. Vpon the holiest men that euer breathed the life of grace vpon earth and the most renowned in the Church thorow all generations for all spirituall sufficiencies and excellencies and thou shalt find them euer most humble in their owne conceits vilest in their own eyes nothing in their owne account Me thinks holy Pauls heauy complaint O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Heauenly Dauids continuall cry I am a worme and no man There is no rest in my bones because of my sinne My sinne is euer before me c. Blessed Bradfords abasing himselfe who was one of the worthiest Martyrs and the Heauenliest minded man that euer breathed out his last in the flames and ascended to heauen in a fiery chariot as himselfe spake at the stake I am as dry as a stone saith hee as dumbe as a nayle as farre from praying as he that neuer knew any taste of it He sometime subscribed in this manner to those Letters which were full of spirituall life diuinest streines and demonstration of the Spirit The most miserable hard-hearted vnthankefull sinner Iohn Bradford A very painted Hypocrite I. B. c. I say Me thinkes the humble deportment of these and all truely holy Ones should rather make thee sinke yet lower in thine owne conceit then swell with the poyson of Pharisaicall selfe-conceitednesse 5. Keepe in a readinesse and in fresh remembrance such considerations and cooling cards as it were as these when thy heart begins to swell vaine-gloriously That thou haddest thine hand in that fire-worke which blew vp all mankind I meane in Adams transgression that brought forth such a bloody sea of sinne and sorrow into the World such a world of miseries and mischiefes vpon all the sonnes and daughters of Adam all tortures vpon earth and torments in Hell thorow all eternity That thou camest into this world a sinke a Sodom a very hell of all filth and impuritie of all corruption and crookednesse euen a little Deuill for darkenesse and damnation That thou wofully lost and mis-spentst many yeeres perhaps the best of thy time strength of youth flowre of thy age in Satans seruice and vpon thy owne abominable lusts That now vpon thy conuersion the meere worke of Gods free grace thou being honored with part in Christs Passion with the presence of the blessed Spirit dwelling in thee with the highest aduancement of being Gods Fauourite the dearely beloued of his soule yet the best Sabbath that thou passest ouer the holyest duty that thou performest is distained and distempered with so many imperfections distractions frailties and failings That while thou yet inhabitest a house of flesh thou hast inherent in thy bowels secret seeds and inbred inclinations to all sinne Blesse the sanctifying Spirit for thy priuiledge and preseruation euen to Atheisme selfe-murder Sodomy despairing of Gods mercy familiarity with wicked spirits sinne against the Holy Ghost c. That whereas thousands about thee goe on in their sinnes and perish euerlastingly thy selfe it may bee before thy change worse then most of them yet now beeing sanctified thou mayest bee assured thy name was writ in Heauen from all eternitie and therefore from euerlasting thou layest in the bosome of Gods loue and from the same euerlasting had the Lord Iesus set apart to shead his blood in the fulnesse of time for the saluation of thy soule and haue patience but a little and euerlasting refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord thou shalt shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euer and euer And in all this who made thee to differ Thou wast framed of the same mould made as it were of the same cloth onely the sheeres going betweene with those that perish It was onely Gods free grace the good pleasure of his will These and the like considerations layde together should infinitely rather mooue thee with all humble reuerence to adore the bottomlesse depth of Gods free loue vnto thee then conceitedly to magnifie thy selfe aboue thy brethren or proudly insult ouer those that are without to praise thy God with a neuer satisfied admiration of his vnconceiueable bounty then to plague thy soule and as it were empoyson thy graces with an humour of pride 6. Thou must shortly bee strictly accountable at the iust Tribunall of God for the vse and imployment of all the good things hee hath giuen vnto thee of thy life and euery moment of it of thy goods and euery farthing of them of euery word thou euer spokest of euery thought that euer sprung out of thy heart of euery Sermon thou euer heardst of euery Sabbath thou hast solemnized of euery line thou hast writ of euery glance of thine eye of euery iourney thou hast made c. of thy wit memory learning of thy strength courage credit of thine honour power and high place In a word of euery benefit or any good thing in any kinde thou euer receiuedst from the bountifull and blessed hand of Almightie God And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments and gracious indulgences haue beene vouchsafed thee from the euer-springing Fountaine of all good the more exactly must thou bee answerable and in proportion accountable for more Wherefore sith the graces of saluation incomparably excell and outshine all other humane abilities all excellencies of nature art policie learning or what else can bee named admirable in the eyes of men God lookes that wee should keepe those heauenly Iewels especially orient bright and shining communicate them most frankely and abundantly to our brethren and with all watchfulnesse and wisdome vpon all opportunities imploy them to our Masters greatest and most glorious aduantage Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitfull improouement of them then Pride Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility A proud man puft vp with an opinion of his good parts doth ordinarily out of an itching ambitious humour single out such seasons for discouerie of himselfe and ostentation of his gifts when hee may winne most applause from men and shew himselfe vaine-gloriously and thereupon is more rare dainty and reserued in exercising his talent But a downeright humble Christian is in this kinde
molestations vnnecessarily causelesly For so might yee roote vp your Rose-trees because a worme sometimes breeds in the sweetest bud So might yee extinguish Monarchies from the face of the earth because they sometimes degenerate into tyrannies So might yee conceiue ill of Peter and the rest of the Apostles because Iudas prooued naught c. 2. Sometime hee suffers him to fall into some grosse sinne in the face of the World and before the watchfull eye of scornefull enemies the infamy and scandall whereof being once on wing flye abroad as swift as the Eagles of the Heauens ouer a whole Countrey ouer a Kingdome the Deuils and their drunken trumpetters are speedy Dromedaries to carry such newes and this concurrent cry resounds from all places with much wicked triumph and insultation You see now what these professors are One so famous for his forwardnesse is fallen into such a grosse sinne and so notoriously They are euen all alike c. Which by accident and in the euent redounds too often to the inexpiable disgrace of our holy profession the strengthening of the stubborne the staggering of the strong the stunting of those which are comming on the hindering of the weake the hardning of the wicked the chaining of the scorner farre faster to his chaire of pestilence Woe vnto him by whom such offence doth come except by a remarkeable repentance and recouery after blessed Dauids example hee reestablish himselfe in the hearts of Gods people and stop the mouthes of the aduersaries who are equally guilty of impenitency as of farre perhaps grosser impieties Austin doth excellently expresse and to the life the wylinesse of the wicked and humour of the world vpon such vnhappie occasions There was as it seemes some such scandalous accident befell in his family Whereupon hee writes an Epistle to the Ministers Seniours and whole Citie of Hippo and heartily intreates them all that themselues would not therefore either faint in that Christian course and holy profession or fall foule with suspicions and censures vpon all for the faults of a few for there is no societie so happy which is not stained with some villany Although saith he discipline be exercised in my family with a watchfull eye yet I am a man and liue amongst men and therefore cannot presume that mine house should bee better then the Arke of Noah then the house of Abraham then the house of Isaac then the house of Iacob then the house of Dauid c. In all which some were naught nay then the family of Iesus Christ in which there was a traitour and a thiefe Lastly then Heauen it selfe from which the Angels fell But that which I would principally haue you take notice of in that Epistle and for which I specially mention it is Austins emphaticall elegant and effectuall expressing the eager itching ambitious humour of the wicked to father and fasten the faults of some vpon the whole generation of the iust Instant saith he Satagunt ambiunt I cannot expresse their full significancy in English but part of his meaning is They euery way and infinitely labour that when some professors of holinesse haue foulely fallen indeed or be only so slandered the World would beleeue That they are all such Doe you not thinke in his time the World did thus insult and exclaime or in the like manner vpon Lots fall Here now you see Puritan Lot who could not indure the good fellowship of the Sodomites he is now himselfe seized vpon by Incest They are all such I will awarrant you In Dauids time What Dauid a man so precise that he professeth a lyer shall not tarry in his sight Psa. 101. Hath he taken away another mans wife You see now what they all are c. Proportionably in these times and it will be the humour of those that hate to be reformed to the worlds end so to calumniate if any who haue giuen their names vnto Christ be detected nay or suspected of any notorious scandalous crime it is a sufficient warrant for the wicked to raise a generall cry and to proclaime euery where They are all alike And good fellowes as they call them will thinke themselues wronged if the World thereupon doe not conceiue the onely difference betweene them and forward Professours to be that these carry things more cunningly and haue an art in concealing their miscarriages We say they are plaine-dealing men and appeare as we are we are flesh and bloud and must haue our pleasures and therefore refresh our selues at many merry and Iouiall meetings we sweare sometimes and drinke and game and to tell you true doe a great deale worse but without hypocrisie whereas these demure holy Ones beare themselues more reseruedly weare a vizor in their visible conuersation but assure your selues sinne in secret as well as we Iust as Austin saith in the forecited place The wicked watch and obserue and if they spie any of the betrer side to fall they would presently haue the World to thinke That the rest are all such onely they are not euer discouered Now the Lord rebuke thee Satan who so infatuatest the iudgements and blindes the vnderstandings of men otherwise of good parts and very worldly wise whom thou wofully hoodwinkest and hardnest to their endlesse ouerthrow 1. That they should wickedly and absurdly condemne all for some whereby they barre themselues euerlastingly from the loue of the Brotherhood 2. That they should erect Tribunals in other mens consciences which is Gods Royall prerogatiue and so miscensure their hearts to their own hardening 3. That they should not be able to discerne betweene being haled and hurried as it were into some sinne against the generall purpose of a mans heart and practise of his life by the violence of some temptation passion or impetuous sudden insnarement which hee after heartily bewailes with much bitternesse of spirit and exemplary repentance willing if God were so pleased to redeeme the scandall of his fall with the shedding of his blood taking occasion thereupon to walke more warily and to doe more nobly in the seruice of his God all the dayes of his life and a resolued delightfull wallowing in variety of lusts pleasures and grosse sinnes without any repentance or reformation at all I conclude the whole point and a good part of my meaning in the words of an excellent Writer not much altered I not onely hold it lawfull to reioyce in those good things wherwith God hath blessed vs in any kind whatsoeuer especially the sauing gifts of the holy Ghost but a note of much vnthankefulnesse to entertaine them with a sullen and vnfeeling disposition Yet all humane affections and endowments wherein due reuerence to God is wanting are no better then obscure clouds hindring the influence of that blessed Light which clarifies the soule of man and predisposeth it vnto the brightnesse of eternall felicitie So that insolent ioy and ouerweening which a man in the pride of his vaine imagination conceiueth of
member They had more store of grace then I but I haue my measure and therefore sure of glory It is strange then that any true-hearted Nathanael hauing such good ground of reioycing sinning in that he doth not reioyce and ioy being so sweet and welcome a guest to the heart of man should weare out a few and wretched dayes in vnnecessarie heauinesse and sinfull sadnesse whereby he highly dishonours Gods free loue hinders others from the wayes of life hurts full sore his owne soule and onely gratifies Satan 3. It is a constant marke of euery regenerate man to make conscience of all Gods Commandements Psal. 119. 6 Now the holy Ghost doth not onely in many seuerall places giue vs charge to reioyce but is very earnest vpon vs in this poynt Nay doth so often double and treble with extraordinary emphasis and elegant gradation his entreatie and importunitie in the same place Let the Saints saith he be ioyfull with glory Psal. 149. 5. Let all those that seeke thee reioyce and be glad in thee Psal. 40. 16. Reioyce in the Lord O ye righteous Psalm 33. 1. Reioyce euermore 1. Thes. 5. 16 Reioyce in the Lord alway and againe I say Reioyce Phil. 4. 4. Let all those that put their trust in thee reioyce let them euer shout for ioy Psalm 5. 11. Let the righteous be glad let them reioyce before God yea let them exceedingly reioyce Psalm 68. 3. Bee glad in the Lord and reioyce yee righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart Psal. 32. 11. It is not an arbitrarie or indifferent thing as some may suppose to reioyce or to be sad But a comfortable commandement is sweetly enforced vpon vs by the fountaine of all comfort to reioyce and we breake a commandement if we reioyce not And therefore we are bound in conscience to shake our selues from the dust to plucke vp our spirits to expostulate and bee angry with our hearts if they grow heauy as Dauid did Why art thou cast downe O my soule and why art thou disquieted within mee For wee must answer as well for not reioycing as for not praying for breaking this commandement Reioyce euermore as that other Thou shalt not kill I know full well there are difference and degrees in sinne But here a weake Professor being pressed to the intertainment and excellency of this ioy may be troubled and tempted vpon the suruey of the definition and nature of it For this spirituall Christian ioy is a delicious motion of the minde stirred vp by the holy Ghost from the presence and possession of Christ Iesus our Soueraigne God dwelling in the soule by faith whereby the heart is extraordinarily rauished and refreshed with a sweet holy vnspeakeable delight Now saith he if it be so I must tell you I find and feele no such sensible grasping of Iesus Christ in the armes of my faith or assured possession of him that I dare admit of this ioy or meddle with it But know that in the time of thy spirituall infancy temptations desertions and other dampes and deiections of soule especially let thy feeling or acknowledgement be what it will thou dost most certainely enioy the Lord Iesus euen by a sincere hunger and thirst after him and his righteousnesse and by thine vpright hearts adhering and cleauing vnto him as thy onely and chiefest ioy and by consequent art vpon good ground and by true right interessed to all that ioy which the blessed Spirit doth so importunately presse vpon thee inso many places Here refresh thy memory with the reuise of my former distinction of assurance of euidence and adherence 4. What canst thou thinke vpon or what can possibly befall thee out of which thou being turned vnto God and true of heart maiest not collect matter of comfort and by the mighty helpe of faith extract some ioyfull meditation 1. If thou suruay thy graces with which the free mercy of God hath glorified thy soule thou shalt see in them a sacred heauenly sun-shine which is able to illighten the darkest midnight of all thine outward miseries to disperse dissolue the blackest and most tempestuous clouds of temporall troubles Thou shalt feele in thē such an inexplicable excessiue sweetnesse which were the world aboue thee a Sea of bitternesse and gall might turne it all into sugar Thou shalt find in them such an impregnable mortall vigour that will most certainly vphold thy spirit vnconquerably at thy dying houre and before that last dreadfull barre when all impenitent wretches shall roare like wilde Bulls in a net full of the terrours of God and cry vpon the Hills and rocks to hide them from his vnquenchable wrath which they shall neuer bee able either to auoide or abide Hence springs that abundant and vnexhausted matter of ioy that the ioy of Haruest of diuiding great spoiles and that which is of such rauishing temper that wee thinke wee are but in a dreame is but a toy and trifle a type and shadow to it and which euer predominates and incomparably transcends all matter of mourning 2. If thou looke out vpon thine outward state vpon thy wife children friends health goods good name Orchards Gardens possessions honours or whatsoeuer thou hast attained or dost enioy with good conscience and sanctifiedly thou art bound to reioyce in them as temporall tokens of Gods eternall loue notable encouragements to doe more nobly in his glorious seruice and comfortable additions to thine hope of heauen but so and in such order that as thy cloathes first receiue heate from thy body before they can comfortably warme it so some inward ioy of reconcilement to the Creator must first warme thine heart before thou canst take any kindly comfort from the creatures 3. Concerning crosses afflictions troubles persecutions which are wont to present themselues to the apprehension of carnall men with much horror euen in the very bitternesse and extremitie of them if thou cast the illightned eye of thy soule vpon such places and promises as these 1. Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 13. 5. Rom. 8. 28. Heb. 12. 6. 2. Cor. 4. 17. Esay 63. 9. and the 43. 2. and then reflect vpon thy afflicted selfe thou mayest by the marueilous worke of faith draw a great deale of ioy from them A patient submission vnto and fruitfull exercise vnder Gods visiting hand is an vnfallible demonstration that thou art a sonne and not a bastard Is there then not more sweetnesse in those afflictions which are euident markes thou art in the right way to Heauen then in worldly pleasures which clearely remonstrate to thy conscience that thou art posting towards Hell Hence it was that the Apostles reioyced being beaten that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Iesus that Paul and Sylas sung in prison at midnight that Ignatius cryed Let Fire Rackes Pullies yea all the torments of Hell come on mee so I may winne Christ. 4. Nay euen contumelies and contempt reproaches
sweete voice of Christ Iesus rather then the murthering sophistry of Satan if in good maners thou wilt come when thou art called and not retire in a sinfull and cruell modesty thou shalt be presently lightened Yea but saith the Tempter thy heart hath been so strangely hardened and soakt in sinne heretofore now such an heâ—…sh cloud of darkenesse hath seized vpon it that there is no hope nor possibility But what saith the Word Seeke him that maketh the seuen starres and Orion and turneth the shadow of death into the morning It is hee alone that can most easily change the dismall midnight of thy present spirituall misery into the glorious midday of sweetest peace and lightsomnesse of heart Yea but saith he further thou hast lien long vpon the Rocke of guilty horrour had much counsell and been vnder the hands of many spirituall physicians and yet no comfort comes And what then Heare what the Spirit of truth tels vs Since the beginning of the world men haue not heard nor perceiued by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God besides thee what Hee hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa. 64. 4. Waiting patiently for the Lords comming to comfort vs either in temporall or spirituall distresses is a right pleasing and acceptable dutie and seruice vnto God which hee is woont to crowne with multiplyed and ouerflowing refreshings when he comes See Isa. 40. 31. Nay and shouldest thou die in this state of waiting if thy heart in the meane time sincerely hate all sinne heartily thirst for the mercy of God in Christ and resolue truely vpon new vniuersall obedience for the time to come thou shalt bee certainely saued because the Holy Ghost saith Isaiah 30. 18. Blessed are all they that waite for him 6. That defects distractions failings in our spirituall exercises and vndertakings groaned vnder grieued for and striuen against by an vpright heart are so farre from nullifying grace that they should not bereaue vs of peace of conscience or interrupt our sweet communion and comfortable walking with our God 7. Not to confine vnderualue and extenuate the mercies of God promises of life the holy Spirits sauing worke vpon thy soule and the present graces thou possessest in truth c. These cautions premised let vs come to the examining and answering of some complaints and counterpleas against entertainement of comfort which are wont to arise in troubled consciences out of ignorance and misconceite of the mercifull wayes of God and the mysterie of his free loue through Christ and doe thou conceiue that proportionable soueraigne Antidotes and counter-comforts may bee collected also in abundance out of Gods blessed Booke against the rest or any reply whatsoeuer And to begin with the first cryes of a Christian in the pangs of his New birth I. A poore soule hauing wallowed long in vanity of villanies and vanities of lust and licentiousnesse is now by diuine blessing at this or â—…e other Sermon struck thorow by the Sword of the Spirit with penitent remorse and his heart broken into pieces by the hammer of the Law In this depth of heauiest distresse and bleeding case he casts his eyes vpon Iesus Christ lifted vp in the Ministerie as an Antitype â—…o the brazen Serpent for his comfortable binding â—…p and euerlasting cure Those Messengers of God who are able to declare vnto Man his vprightnesse assure him in the Word of life and truth and charge him in His name who was anointed by the Lord for that purpose and appointed by the Father of mercies to comfort all Mourners in Sion that now being truly cast downe vnder Gods mighty hand thirsting for the blood of Christ and sincerely resoluing vpon a new course for the time to come He would turne his legall terrours into Euangelicall weeping ioy put on beauty for ashes the garment of praise for the spirit of heauinesse That he might be called a Tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that hee might bee glorified Oh no saies he out of the deepe sence of his bottomelesse vilenesse The newes is too good to be true to wit that now the blessed Sonne of God and all the precious rich purchases of his vnualuable passion should belong vnto mee the sinfullest wretch that the earth beares who haue desperately spent my dayes and strength so long in the furious seruice of Satan and mine own sensuall lusts c. whereupon he refuses comfort and chooses rather to sinke againe and languish vnder the horrours of guiltinesse and feare Whereas he should incomparably more honour and please the God of all comfort by trusting his mercy sealing to his truth then by vnseasonable suspecting his iustice and power Here then hee wofully failes and forgets himselfe in a distrustfull vnder-prizing Gods incomprehensible greatnesse Almightie mercy vnlimited liberalitie and freenesse of his loue He is in this case not so much to consider what is fit for him to receiue as conuenient for the ability and bounty of so great and good a God as the mighty Lord of Heauen and earth to giue who as I told you before vpon other occasion doth all things like Himselfe If hee build he makes a world If he be angry with the world hee sends a floud ouer the face of the whole earth If hee goes out with the Armies of the Saints hee makes the Sunne stand still the Starres to fight the Seas to swallow vp the most dreadfull Armadoes If hee loue the precious hearts blood of his owne Sonne is not too deare If he deliuer any man Hee puls him out of the hand of the Prince of darknesse and frees him from euerlasting flames If any become his Fauourite through Christs mediation He wil make him a King giue him a Paradise and set a Crowne of eternitie vpon his head Earthly Princes at their pleasures ennoble those they loue with Dukedomes Marquesdomes Earledomes What then doe you thinke shall be done vnto the man whom the King of Heauen desires and delights to honour Let vs then I say in such cases consider not so much what is fit for vs silly wormes to receiue as for so great a God to bestow If wee can once bring hearts bruised and broken with the burden of our sinnes bleeding and weeping vnto his Mercy-seate Hee will thinke all the meritorious sufferings of his Sonne all the promises in his Booke all the comforts of his Spirit all the pleasures in his Kingdome little enough for vs. If wee looke vpon our selues sinful wretches we might iustly feare the extremest torments fiercest flames and lowest dungeon in hell infinitely rather then expect a Kingdome But Hee loues vs freely Hos. 14. 4. It is his pleasure to giue vs a Kingdome Feare not little flocke saith Christ for it is your Fathers good pleasure to giue you the Kingdom Luk. 12. 32. If it be the good pleasure of the King of Kings to bestow a Kingdome vpon a truely humbled soule which hee makes in the
meane time his Royall Throne here vpon Earth Isai. 57. 15. what can Man or Deuill or any distrustfull heart say against it And why shouldest thou being such an one be so vnmannerly and vnthankfull nay so vnnecessarily cruell to thine owne heauy heart as not to open the euerlasting doore of thy soule by the key of Faith to let the King of glory knocking with his hand of mercy come in and crowne it with grace and glory with comfort and euerlasting peace II. But alas sayes hee my sinnes are moe then any mans Now when I am searching into the sinke of them I can finde neither banke nor bottome Vnnumbred swarmes of grosse impieties and iniquities thorow my whole life of abominable impurities and pollutions which haue continually defiled my mind heart and affections armed with seuerall stings of terrour doe so restlesly presse vpon my wounded conscience and oppresse it that I cannot I dare not thinke vpon or looke towards any comfort Let them bee what they are and adde thereunto all the sinnes which haue are and shall bee committed by all the sonnes and daughters of Adam from the Creation to the end of the World excepting sinne against the holy Ghost and yet in an hart truly humbled vnder them heartily hating them all cōming with a sincere spirituall hunger at Christs Call to bee disburdened of them they can make no more resistance against the mercies of God then a little sparke of fire against the mighty Sea rhrowne into the midst of it nay infinitely lesse For all these sinnes would still be finite both in nature and number but Gods mercies are euery way infinite Now betweene that which is finite and that which is infinite there is no proportion and so no possibilitie of resistance Whence it is that the Prophet inuiting his people to repentance Esa. 55. 7. by assuring them of Gods sweet mercifull and gracious disposition lest any too fearefull and deiected spirit vndervaluing Gods mercy should thinke thus within it selfe Bee it so yet alas my sinnes are so many and such a sonne of Belial haue I been and so endlesly prouoked the glory of his pure eye that I can expect no mercy the pollutions of my youth haue been so prodigious and infectious that I haue no face to presse vnto his Throne of Grace c. God himselfe doth there purposely preuent the obiection and speaking to our capacitie which cannot comprehend infinity replyes to this sence Oh say not so Stay all such despairefull thoughts doe not cast the incomprehensiblenes of my mercy in the narrow mould of thy finite shallow conceite doe not so vnworthily abridge and confine the vnlimited and boundlesse compassion of the mighty Lord of Heauen and Earth For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes For as the Heauens are higher then the earth so are my wayes higher then your wayes and my thoughts then your thoughts Many a bruised reede would not exchange the comfort which the weakest faith may extract out of this sweetest place for all the Kingdomes of the earth For he saith not that his wayes and thoughts of knowledge and wisdome but his wayes and thoughts of mercy are as farre aboue ours as the Heauens are aboue the Earth Indeed as himselfe is aboue man which is infinitely But take notice by the way that the mercies of God doe exercise this infinite vnresistable power onely in truly humbled beleeuing soules heartily hating and sincerely set against all sinne I say so lest any impenitent should peruert this precious point or trample vpon this Pearle For as in such a soule no sinnes either for number or notoriousnesse can possibly withstand or stand before Gods infinite mercies so not one drop of all those infinite merceis belongs vnto any that goes on willingly and delightfully hating to bee reformed in any one knowne sinne or that he might know and wilfully forbeares to bee informed As the vnualuable blood of Christ turnes the very scarlet sinnes of the truly broken beleeuing heart into whitest snow so it will neuer wash away the least sinfull staine from the proud heart of any vnhumbled Pharise Let none therefore that goes on still in his trespasses take vp any vaine confidence or mis-grounded conclusion of false comfort from hence by misconceiuing thus Is it so that the infinitenesse of Gods mercy cannot bee resisted by the greatnesse or multitude of sinnes being euer finite both in their number and nature how is it possible then that I should misse of those infinites mercies Why may not I comfortably hope that my sinnes also shall be swallowed vp in that bottomlesse Sea I will tell thee why As the power of God though it be infinite yet is limited by his will so the mercies of God though they bee infinite are regulated by his truth He is able to make millions of Worlds moe but yet wee see his Will was but to create one His mercies transcend with immeasurable distance the height of Heauen and depth of Hell and are indeed as Himselfe infinite but his Truth hath told vs that none shall haue part in them but those alone who repent and beleeue Gods Truth reuealed in his Word must euer confine the current of his compassions and is the touchstone to try and qualifie those to whom his mercies belong See then what kind of people are partakers of Gods infinite mercies by the testimony of that Word of Truth by which we must be iudged at the last Day Prou. 28. 13. Luke 4. 18. Isai. 61. 1 2 3. Psal. 15. Ezek. 18. 21. Psal. 147. 3. Isai. 55. 7. Psal. 34. 18. Salomon saith in the cited place Hee that confesseth and forsaketh his sinnes shall haue mercy How then can he expect any mercy who takes them not to heart but lyes in them still III. Of the pardonablenesse of my other sinnes saith another I could bee reasonably well perswaded but alas there is one aboue all the rest which now vpon discouery and remorse I finde to be full of ranke and hellish poyson of such a deepe and damnable die to haue strooke so desperately in the dayes of my lewdnesse at the very face of God himselfe and farre deepelier into the heart of Iesus Christ then the speare that pierced him bleeding vpon the Crosse and thereupon at this present stares in the eye of my newly awaked and wounded conscience with such horror and grieslinesse that I feare mee diuine iustice will thinke it fitter to haue this most loathsome inexpiable staine rather at length fired out of my soule with euerlasting flames if it were possible that eternall fire could expiate the sinfull staines of any impenitent damned soule then to bee fairely washed away in the meane time with His blood whom I so cruelly and cursedly pierced with it Oh! this is it that lies now vpon my heart like a mountaine of Lead farre heauier then Heauen and Earth and enchaines it with inexplicable terrour to the dust and
the holy fire of forwardnesse and heate and presse vpon vs punctually power spirit and quickning in heauenly businesses and the seruices of our most bountifull and euer-blessed God See Luke 13. 24. Rom. 12. 11. Eph. 5. 15. Matth. 5. 29 30. 11. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 24. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Phil. 1. 10. 13. A bare speculatiue opposition and verball contradiction to the corruptions of the times and controuerted ceremonies For I doubt there are some who seeing some of Gods dearest Children both godly Ministers and other Christians onely out of tendernesse of conscience stand vnresolued about these latter are too well perswaded of themselues spiritually for a meere boystrous masterlike partaking with them in that particular when as they haue no part at all in their holy graces and humble sanctification 14. An ouerheady furious zeale in will-worship superstitious formes and selfe-conceited seruices As in Paul yet vnconuerted and many ignorant Papists not so exactly acquainted with Antichristian Schoole-points in the pursuite of some religious distempers and spirituall exorbitancies bred onely in some phantasticall braine giuen ouer for horrible pride to strong delusion yet tendered with many holy pretences and representations of highest perfection nay sometimes seconded with strange reuelations and raptures the meere iugglings of the deuils Angelicall glory in melancholike or otherwise deluded imaginations and so Satan can put a Familist or Anabaptist euen into a trance of imaginary ioy 15. Serious meditation vpon that quickning passage of Christs holy Sermon of the fewnesse of those which shall be saued should properly and naturally keene our desires and endeauours to a singular constant contention after an holy strictnesse forwardnesse and fruitfulnesse in euery good worke and all the waies of God that wee might bee sure to bee in the number of those few yet by accident it may confirme some kind of men not so notorious vnder the meanes yet vnconuerted in a false perswasion of their good estate to Godward and that thus Some there may be of larger capacity and more vnderstanding who out of a contemplation of that great vniuersall deluge of Turcisme Paganisme Iudaisme and Infidelity which at this day doth fearefully ouerflow the face of the Earth scarce the fifth part whereof now professeth Christ and also out of a neerer consideration of the state of Christendome wherein Popery that foule sinke and Hydra of all heresies besides too many other exorbitant giddy deuiations from the sobrietie and analogie of true Religion and the path which is truly called Holy mightily preuaile and damnably empoyson innumerable soules and which is yet more feeing so many amongst those who professe Christ truly I meane in respect of doctrine notoriously lewd and prophanely naught so many Atheists Drunkards Scorners Swearers Worldlings c. And then after this prospect and suruey abroad reflecting a partiall eye vpon themselues and their owne wayes and finding themselues in the bosome of the Church and ciuill men thinke verily out of their extreme blindnesse and spirituall folly that Heauen would be vnfurnished and vnfilled if they should be excluded and that it were a disparagement to the mercies of God to ranke and arraigne them amongst Turks and Pagans at that last great Day But if to their ciuill honesty they adde a formall profession why then they thinke they haue a great deale of wrong if saluation be denied them then already in conceit they knock bounce as it were at the Gates of heauen for entrance with great boldnesse and confidence like the foolish Virgins Matth. 25. 11. and those Matth. 7. 22. and with the Pharise giue God thanks for their good estate to Himward Alas poore soules Let no man deceiue you with vaine words neither delude your owne soules with idle fancies To whomsoeuer the glorious Gospell of Christ shines sauingly and breathes spirituall life they must deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts liue soberly righteously and godlily in this present world Meere ciuill honesty neuer brought any vnto Heauen And euery lukewarme Professor shall certainely bee spued out of the mouth of Christ. 16. But amongst all the vnsound grounds insufficient matter and false mediums vpon which Satan and the deceitfull heart labour to erect their rotten buildings of vaine hopes in the credulous conceits of those who are carried hoodwinkt towards Hell all which in the time of triall and vnder the tempest of Gods visiting wrath will prooue but a Spiders web They shall leane vpon their house but it shall not stand they shall hold it fast but it shall not endure I say amongst them all there is not any that doth set on the counterfeit seale of this false perswasion with more peremptorinesse and confidence then a concurrence of those excellencies perfections endowments incident to Temporaries and attaineable in the state of vnregeneration which I haue touched in my Discourse of true happinesse and may bee collected from such places as these Matth. 27. 3 4. Mark 6. 20. Luk. 13. 26. and 18. 11 12. Matth. 12. 53. 25. 1 c. Heb. 6. 4 5. 2. Pet. 2. 20 22. Now these and the like are the vnsound seeming and vnsufficient grounds whereupon the Deuill workes and doth easily by the aide of naturall presumption and his owne Angelicall flashes insinuate and inferre his soule-coozening conclusions and cunningly infuse the poyson of spirituall selfe-deceit thus or in the like manner I will giue instance onely in the last he is woont also proportionably from the rest to conclude such groundlesse confidence and false perswasions of a good estate towards God Whosoeuer doth with some penitent remorse tremble vnder the reuenging wrath of God for sin and out of that horror confesseth and maketh restitution and yet so did Iudas Mat. 27. Whosoeuer reuerenceth a godly Minister heares him gladly and doth many things after his doctrine and yet so did Herod Mark 6. 20. Whosoeuer doth hold conformitie in profession with the best c. and yet so did the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. Whosoeuer is an hearer of the Word and that with quicknesse and receiues it with ioy and yet so doth the stony ground Matth. 13. 20. Whosoeuer is able to disclaime grosse sinnes giues euery man his due fasteth praieth and giueth almes and yet so did the Pharise Luk. 18. 11. 12. Matth. 6. 1. Whosoeuer is illightned tastes of the heauenly gift c. and yet such may afterward fall away irrecouerably Heb. 6. c. is sure enough to be saued at last But I may the deluded Pharise and formall Professor say finde and feele all or most or many of these in my selfe For what any vnregenerate man hath heretofore attained it is not impossible but that any now or hereafter may attaine the same Therefore doth hee conclude falsely out of Satans Sophistry I am safe enough for saluation And in all this Satan lest hee should be wanting to his labours by a lying resemblance to imitate the worke of the holy Ghost in the hearts
defray the charge Otherwise to beginne and not able to make an end were but to lay a ground-worke of his disgrace and scorne in the losse of his cost and paines A Prince which would wisely make Warre must first haue a true triall of his owne and dexterity to discouer his enemies strength otherwise to bid him battaile were but to incense him more and thrust a title into his hands to defeate him of all hee hath Hee that seriously sets himselfe to seeke God in truth and to saue his soule indeed must cast vp his reckonings before-hand what will be required at his hands and consult with his owne heart whether willing to forgoe all such contentments hopes pleasures preferments worldly comforts which are incompatible with a good conscience and the path that is called holy and to endure all those troubles and indignities from the angry world which ordinarily are wont to crowne the heads of all Christs Souldiers else most certainely he will shrinke in the wetting Hee must resolue by the inuincible noblenesse of his Christian courage to digest the hate and opposition of dearest friends neerest kindred the raylings and reproaches of men most abiect and contemptible in respect of those whom they reuile he must bee content to become the drunkards song table-talk to those that sit in the gate and the byword of basest men viler then the earth c. In a word he must prize and preferre his sweetest Sauiour His truth cause and seruice infinitely before the whole world Now besides my blessed change thus qualified and this glorious worke of the Holy Ghost vpon my soule by the helpe of God I haue stood at the staues end with the darling pleasure and minion delight of my former damned time euer since I was new borne I haue euer since made conscience of all sinne and to performe all holy duties I haue had respect to all Gods Commandements and all his Ordinances I haue loued dearely my blessed Lord and all things that belong vnto him His Titles Attributes creatures workes of Iustice and Mercy His Word Sacraments Sabbaths Ministers Seruices Children Presence Corrections Comming I haue since delighted in the Saints the onely excellent Ones vpon earth whom I heartily hated before I haue dayly with as great earnestnesse and feruency as my poore dull heart could possibly complained and cryed vnto my God in Prayer against mine owne sinnes passionate distempers rebellious risings the malice of Satan the allurements of the world corruptions of the times the cruelties of strange iniections and horrible temptations my many and often faylings frailties and imperfections Vpon due and impartiall examination I haue happily ridde mine hands of all that consuming pelfe which any way crept into mine estate by wicked wrongful meanes in the dayes of mine iniquitie For scarce any man in the state of nature but deales falsly in one kind or other I haue desired and endeauoured to adorne my profession as well with workes of iustice mercy and truth as by the outward acts of pietie Herein I haue exercised my selfe to haue alwayes a good conscience void of offence toward God and toward man c. And in all these passages and particulars both of my conuersion and conuersation had I onely reposed vpon the outward act and rested in the worke wrought I had vtterly fainted and beene quite vndone in the day of aduersitie But truth of heart was the touchstone and sinceritie is the sinew of all my assurance and comfort this way I haue beene I confesse yet full sore against my will and the hearty desire of my soule haunted and hindred in passing thorow the pangs of my new birth and managing my Christian businesses with the violent intrusion and insinuating mixture of many imperfections distractions temptations wants weakenesses infirmities and faylings priuie pride secret hypocrisie distrusts and deadnesse of mine owne naughty heart I was much wanting by reason of the naturall rebellion of mine hard heart to those workings of the Law and Gospell mentioned before I haue come farre short of that sorrow for sinne which I desired and of that heauenly-mindednesse in performing holy duties which was required But then I haue from time to time grieued and groaned vnder those too many frailties and defects as vnder an heauy burthen I haue many a time bitterly bewailed them in secret they haue made mee walke more humbly before my God and towards men I haue continually complained heartily against them at the Throne of Grace I haue sincerely desired and endeauoured after all those meanes which might restraine and mortifie them and made conscience to discouer and decline their vnwelcome insinuations and so I haue gone on still in the holy Path with sincerity of heart and in obedience vnto God still vpholding mine heart with consideration of the sweet and mercifull disposition of my dearest heauenly Father who euer if the heart be vpright and truely humble takes the will for the deed and accepts vs according to that which we haue and not according to that which we haue not And therefore I am most sure neither by the helpe of God shall all the deuils in hell driue me from this hold that they are all buried for euer in the righteous and meritorious blood of my blessed Sauiour And so I hold vp my head still against all contradiction of carnall reason naturall distrust Satans cruell suggestions being well assured That hearty humiliation and grieuing vnder weakenesse in well-doing is as true a fruit of sanctification and marke of true conuersion as spirituall abilitie to doe well It is not so much the muchnesse and quantitie as the truth of grace not so much the exactnesse of the outward act in performing holy duties as sincerity of heart which qualifies a broken hart for comfort in the promises of life and assurance of Gods loue Though I know well there was neuer any who tasted truely grace but hee sincerely thirsted and endeauoured after more Neuer did any man well in the worship and seruices of God who did not bewaile his wants and faylings therein and truely desire and labour to doe better It is the propertie of Pharises and formall professours to conceiue that they are spiritually rich enough already and haue need of nothing but the better the Christian is the more sensible hee is and heartily complaining of his spirituall pouertie naughty heart and manifold imperfections Heere now then may wee see in this Discourse of the true Conuert comforting himselfe in the point of his spirituall estate other kind of stuffe sincere matter sounder grounds more speciall workings of the holy Ghost then any one of the fore-mentioned deluded Ones was euer practically and experimentally acquainted with Neither is this all The true Christian hath yet more noble immediate and demonstratiue euidences to strengthen his heart in the assurance of Gods euerlasting loue vnto him through Christ and present possession of his fauour For with submission to better
iudgements and the spirit of the Prophets I conceiue that a sanctified man may be assured of his spirituall safety and sound estate to Godwards diuers wayes 1. By the euidence and single act of internall Vision Wee haue receiued saith the Apostle not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things that are freely giuen to vs of God that is to say say our Country-men of Rhemes Christs Incarnation Passion presence in the Sacrament and the incomprehensible ioyes of heauen But it is cleare in the Text that the Apostle speakes of all the gifts generally that are giuen vs of God whither serueth the argument of comparison that as a mans spirit teacheth him to know all his thoughts that are in him at the least in some measure so also the Spirit of God teacheth the Beleeuers to know all that God hath giuen them Hee doth not say that we know Gods gifts but that we know the gifts that God hath giuen vnto vs. See further to this point and purpose 1. Ioh. 5. 13. 2. Tim. 1. 12. By a secret and sacred irradiation of the Spirit of faith the sanctified soule is ascertained of its personall and particular dependance and reliance vpon the promises of life and Gods mercies through Christ by which it knowes it hath eternall life Ioh. 3. 36. As certainely as he that hath a corporall eye knoweth that he sees so certainely he that is illuminated with the light of faith knowes that he beleeues The glorious splendour of such an orient and heauenly Iewell cannot but shew it selfe and shine clearely to the heart wherein it dwels Like a bright lampe set vp in the soule it doth not onely manifest other things but also it selfe appeareth by its owne light when I see and rely vpon a man promising me this or that I know I see and rely vpon him shall I by faith behold my blessed Redeemer lifted vp as an Antitype to the brazen Serpent for the euerlasting cure of my wounded conscience and rest vpon him and yet know no such thing Heare how cleare learned Austin is for this internall vision Our faith saith hee is conspicuous to our owne minde Faith it selfe is seene in the minde although that which is beleeued by faith is inuisible A man holds his faith by most certaine knowledge and plaine attestation of conscience Euery man sees his Faith in himselfe c. Euen Durandus taking vpon him to expound one of those passages in the fore-cited place of Austin tels vs That he which hath faith is so certaine that hee hath it as hee is of any other thing for hee that beleeues feeles that hee beleeues and by consequent that hee hath faith and there is nothing more certaine then experience c. * Vegaes words also in the Councell of Trent sound this way As hee that is hote is sure he is so and should want sense if he doubted so he that hath grace in him doth perceiue it and cannot doubt yet it is by the sence of the minde not by diuine reuelation Ob. But if these things be so how comes it to passe that Gods dearest children complaine sometimes that they haue neither sight nor sence of their faith Answ. I speake of that which is ordinary not euer The Sunne in a cleere sky discouers and manifests it selfe with a witnesse though sometimes it bee ouercast with clouds or eclipsed with the Moone This heauenly lampe of Faith shines and shewes it selfe clearely enough to the sanctified heart in the calmenesse of a Christian course and serenitie of the soule especially freshly cleared and purged with showres as it were of penitent teares though in the dampe of spirituall disertion darkenesse of some stronger temptation eclipse of earthly-mindednesse it may lye hid and obscured for a time And yet for all this if Christians would bee counselled and beleeue the Prophets if they would not vnderualue Gods infinite mercie by looking vpon him through a slauishly deiected and melancholike humour which is wont to represent him as terrible fierce and inexorable whereas in his owne nature and sweetest disposition hee is indeed euer most compassionate tenderhearted and melting ouer the bleeding miseries of a truly broken heart I say if they would not thus mistake but conceiue aright of that most adored mystery and bottomlesse depth of his free loue Hos. 14. 4. Ezek. 16. 8. Ier. 31. 3. Cant. 2. 4. Ioh. 3. 16. 17. 23. they might euen in times of desertions temptations spirituall afflictions of soule sweetely vphold their hearts with assurance of Adherence though for the present they want the assurance of Euidence For such an assurance is intimated Psal. 22. 1. 42. 5 11 43. 5. For instance many a faithfull soule making conscience of all sinne sincerely following the best things resolued without reseruation to doe or suffer any thing for Christ would giue a world to be sensibly assured of Gods fauour and fully perswaded that his sinnes were pardoned By reason of the want of sence and feeling whereof hee slauishly languishes vpon the racke of tormenting feares and terrours vtterly without all cause neither onely so but thereby also gratifying the deuill dishonouring Gods free mercy disabling himselfe for a comfortable discharge of both his callings and that which he little thinkes on lying in the sinne of not receiuing comfort and of not accepting his owne proper legacie which Christ left him Ioh. 14. 27. For in the meane time his heart doth cleaue vnto Christ as to the surest rocke Hee cries and longs after him and would not part with him for all the world Hee would infinitely rather haue his body rent from his soule then his soule from his Sauiour Aske his affection and resolution this way and for all his feares and sorrowes he will tell you that he will still rest and relye vpon his Lord and euer-blessed Redeemer let him doe with him as hee please hee will trust in him though he kill him Now the internall vision consciousnesse reflexed act that I may speake in the phrase of the Schooles of this sincere adherence vnto Christ and those exceeding precious promises of life sealed with his Blood might and ought to assure him of the euerlasting safetie and happinesse of his soule and so by consequent to comfort him infinitely more then if hee had the Crowne of the whole worlds soueraigntie set vpon his head Iustifying faith which giues infallible interest to eternall life is not to speake properly and punctually to be assured of pardon but to trust wholly vpon the mercy of God through Christ for pardon If there arise question in thy fearefull heart about thy spirituall state sence and feeling is no substantiall ground whereon to build being a separable accident to the graces of saluation but the truth and tender heartednesse of Christ in the promises which can neuer faile being as sure as God himselfe If some