Seven Treatises, Treatise 6 · Chapter 14
CHAP. 14. Of the tenth and laſt priuiledge, inioied perfectly in the life to come, but begunne heere.
SO that when we hauehave had our part in all theſe, then commeth the greateſt, and that which maketh all theſe great: and that is, the pleaſures at Gods right hand for euermore,What this priuiledge is. Pſ. 16.11. Math. 25. and the glory, the vnſpeakeable glory, which was prepared and laid vp for vsus before the beginning of the world. And amongſt all the other although this be by many degrees the chiefeſt, yet I confeſſe, that for the excellency thereof, and for that I cannot ſee into the bewty of it, as I doe ſomewhat into the other,It cannot be conceiued how great. whereof I hauehave ſome experience: I confeſſe (I ſay) that I cannot expreſſe to my contentation, my minde about the ſame; and do feare that in ſpeaking of it, I ſhall rather make it ſeeme leſſe, then if I ſaid nothing: yet ſomewhat, ſeeing this place doth ſo require.
This eſtate therefore of the faithfull after this life, the ſcripture ſetteth out by earthly compariſons and ſimilitudes, to our capacity, for that we are not able to conceiue the ſame,It is ſhadowed out by earthly compariſons. if in it owne nature, it were deſcribed vntounto vsus: and eſpecially, by the reſemblances of thoſe things which we doe moſt affect and delight in, as honour, treaſure, riches, bewty, friends, pleaſure, ioy, inheritance and poſſeſſion of our owne.Hebr. 13.14. 1. Pet. 1.18. Behold therefore heere prepared for thee (ô happy Chriſtian) an habitation, not made with hands, but euerlaſting in heauen: an inheritance immortall, vndefiled, &c. not purchaſed with gold and ſiluer, but with a farre more excellent price; for what is more deſired then to liue with our friends? But lift vp thine eies, and ſee how God hath prepared for thee the company of the celeſtiall ſpirits,With whom their fellowſhip ſhall be. namely, his holy angels, and elect people, to eat and drinke with at his table for euermore: I meane to hauehave fellowſhip with them, and to dwell with Ieſus Chriſt and his bleſſed Apoſtles, Prophets, Martyrs, friends, kinred and acquaintance: which is the higheſt degree of the communion of Saints.What ioy they ſhall hauehave in heauen. Pleaſure and ioy how is it ſought after? yea, what is welcome without them? And that thou maiſt know, that the Lord hath liberally prouided for thee this way: know and vnderſtand, that the ioy which there is poſſeſſed, is ſuch, as it cauſeth a continuall ſinging and thankſgiuing.
Their honour.And what honour can be greater, then to be the kings ſonnes and daughters; yea to raigne triumphantly after we hauehave ouercome death, ſinne, hell & the deuill, the greateſt enemies that euer were conquered? The like I might ſay of the reſt.An amplifying of theſe prerogatiues. A further commending of thē. 1. Cor. 2.9. Farre greater then princes. And all theſe priuiledges are ſo much the greater, becauſe as their habitation it ſelfe is permanent and euerlaſting: ſo are all the treaſures which are inioied therein, euerlaſting alſo. And therefore the precious things of the kingdome of heauen are ſaid to be ſuch, as no eie hath ſeene, no eare hath heard, neither is the heart of man able to conceiue. The happineſſe of princes hath beene inioied, and therefore is knowen what and how great it is; which prooueth, that it is in no ſort to be compared to this. Neither is it any maruell, ſeeing one day in the courts of the Lord, euen in this life, is better then a thouſand elſe-where, euen in a princes palace: therefore, in the eſtate of glory after this life how much more? And yet further, this is not to be neglected, that when the wicked ſhall be at their wits end, and ſmitten with horror, weeping, wailing and gnaſhing of teeth; euen then ſhall the faithfull inioy this infinite varietie of heauenly bleſſings, which (if it were poſſible for them to hauehave) a dreadfull feare and perſwaſion of loſing and forgoing, would be an exceding and intolerable torment vntounto them.
Beſides, we that liue now in this corrupt eſtate of the world (for it was not ſo in the beginning) and behold the varietie of Gods creatures repleniſhing the world, the beaſts of the field, the fiſhes of the ſea, the fowles of the aire, the Sunne, Moone and ſtarres furniſhing the vpper parts aboue vsus; the trees, corne and graſſe, beautifying theſe inferiour parts of the earth beneath vsus:The pure estate and vncorrupt of things in Adams innocency, but a ſhadow of heauen. if we might hauehave ſeene all theſe in their perfection with him which was made Lord of them, euen man when he was yet without ſinne in the world, what a glorious habitation ſhould it hauehave beene? And yet, but as a court-yard or entrie into a kings palace ſhould it hauehave beene, in reſpect of the heauenly manſion, which is the celeſtiall Ieruſalem: for this is called but his footſtoole, but heauen is his throne.
And therfore if the Lord did ſo adorne this earth, as that it is yet full of admiration to ſee but the prints of his glory, his power and wiſedome therein; and yet it is but for a ſeaſon, euen a while to be a place of refreſhing for vsus: who can thinke how magnificent the kingdome of heauen is, which with all the infinite commodities he hath made to be a perpetuall habitation and dwelling place for all his beloued ones? And ſo likewiſe it is an high degree of proſperitie, to be inlightned to ſee by faith but in this world the ſweet life of a Chriſtian; yet is this but a taſte of heauen, and a day there, Pſ. 84.10. & 87.3.is better then a thouſand elſewhere: and the prerogatiues of a Chriſtian are admirable. When Paule was wrapt into the third heauen, & had heard things that were not to be vttered; it is ſaid, that he was lift vp with the aboundance of reuelation:2. Cor. 12.5. Mat. 17.2. and, When Chriſt was but transformed, that his garments did ſhine as the ſunne, Peter was aſtoniſhed: how much more then with this glory? which in the former are but dimly repreſented?
As for the further deſcribing of it by the particular kindes of pleaſures and delights to the body and eueryevery part of it and eueryevery ſenſe partaining to it; and to the ſoule likewiſe: (which ſome hauehave taken vponupon them to affirme and ſet out, the Lord hauing ſaid no ſuch thing himſelfe of the kinds of pleaſures which are to be inioied there:) I leaue it as a bold coniecture of mans braine:Of things vncertaine we may not ſpeake boldly. and fitter for the popiſh cleargy to teach to their ſuperſtious company: who as their whole forme of their worſhipping of God is outward, groſſe and carnall, with Sonnets and ſounds to pleaſe the eare, and praier-like ſights to delight the eie; but that worſhip which is in ſpirit and truth, is not in vſe with them: ſo they imagine as groſly of the delights which are in heauen; that part of them are in the exceeding ſweetneſſe to the ſenſe of ſmelling, maruellous pleaſure to the ſenſe of taſting, and ſo of handling they ſpeake anſwerably. I will not (I ſay) wade further then I may wade ſafely; what the kindes and varietie of pleaſures are particularly which the righteous are partakers of, the Lord hath not reuealed vntounto me, and therefore I am not aſhamed to ſay,The ioyes of heauen cannot be conceiued. I know not: It is enough, that I am ſure they are ſo great and many, that they cannot be once thought of according to their woorthineſſe, no not of the wiſeſt, who can ſee furtheſt and enter moſt deepely into matters.
OnelyOnly this I will ſay, and with this I will end: That the Lord ſhall there wipe away eueryevery teare from the eies of his children; and they which ſowed in teares before heere on earth, ſhall there reape in ioy; death ſhall no more raigne, neither ſhall there be any more lamentation, nor crying, nor ſorrow: and for the glory, beautie, pleaſure and eternitie which ſhall be found there, it is compared vntounto a goodly citie; whoſe ſhining is like vntounto a ſtone, moſt precious as a Iaſper ſtone,Reu. 21.11. &c. cleere as chryſtall, &c. And after the ſoule in paradiſe ſhall in her kinde hauehave inioied the pleaſures there, then ſhall the bodie (for inioying the fulneſſe thereof) be adioined to it,Phil. 3.20. 1. Cor. 15.43. 1. Theſſ. 4.18. 2. Theſſ. 3.5. and made like to the glorious body of Ieſus Chriſt: and be glorious it ſelfe alſo. The vſe is comfort, and ſuch a waiting for the comming of the ſonne of God for our laſt and full deliuerance, that we may well teſtifie, that in theſe our houſes of clay we are but ſtrangers. So that if we lay this priuiledge with the reſt which I hauehave mentioned in this treatiſe, (all which are, and properly belong to the true beleeuers) who can deny but that their part and porcion is great? But oh, that it were ſo accounted of, euen among ſuch; and yet when I, or any hauehave ſaid what we can, we hauehave ſaid but a little: for it is farre greater then we can ſet it out to be. For as the Queene of Sheba ſaid to Salomon when ſhe had heard his wiſdome:It may be ſaid of the priuiledges, as the Queene of Sheba ſaid of Salomon. It was a true word that I heard in mine owne land of thine eſtate and wiſdome; howbeit I beleeued not this report, till I came and had ſeene it with mine eies: but loe, the one halfe was not tolde me; for thou haſt more wiſdome and and proſperity, then I hauehave heard by report: So it may be ſaid by Gods people (who hauehave already in heauen a taſte of the glory of the kingdome:) It was a true report which we heard by the mouth of his preachers, concerning the tidings of ſaluation & their other prerogatiues; yet the one halfe of our proſperitie & happineſſe was not declared and made knowen: for we hauehave greater then was reported in their meſſage. And if they find it ſo great in heauen, can the taſte thereof chooſe but be ſweet and great which we hauehave heere on earth?Numb. 23.5. euen as Balaam by the ſpirit of God, prophecied of his people the Iſraelites, when he looked vponupon them dwelling according to their tribes: How goodly are thy tents, ô Iacob; and thy habitations, ô Iſrael? as the valleies are they ſtretched foorth, and as gardens by the riuers ſide, &c.
And as all theſe priuiledges are great, and we hauehave good proofe that God hath giuen his deare children liberty to inioy them: ſo this further commends their happy condition, that they may know that all theſe belong to them, and they hauehave the word of God among them, and they may alſo approoue of, imbrace, and delight in the ſame; and be able to ſee thereby, how they are made partakers of them all by faith, and how thereby they hauehave moſt ſweet communion with him and with Chriſt by his ſpirit,Ioh. 14.17. (which the world cannot hauehave) and moſt heauenly comfort and peace thereby; and hauing learned experience for the time to come, may get wiſdome to carry themſelues in eueryevery eſtate and condition after the beſt maner of Chriſtians: all this (I ſay) they hauehave giuen them of God.
And concerning the effectuall knowing of the will of God out of his word, to beleeue all the forementioned priuiledges, that it is a peculiar gift of God to his elect, and that no other (no, not the greateſt and moſt iudiciall clarkes & diuines) hauehave it; that ſaying of our Sauiour, is a plaine and cleere proofe to his diſciples: To you it is giuen to know the myſteries of the kingdome, Mat. 13.11. & 11 25. 1. Cor 1.26. Eſai. 6.9.but vntounto others not; that the prophecy of Eſay may be fulfilled, In hearing they ſhall heare and not vnderſtand, and ſeeing they ſhall ſee and not perceiue; leſt they ſhould turne & I ſhould ſaue them. Whereby we may vnderſtand, that it is a ſingular prerogatiue to Gods children to hauehave the effectuall knowledge of the word of God, whereby they may ſee their liberties: which others cannot hauehave.
And therefore the Lord ſaith in Ezekiell, that he will take away from his children their old hearts and giuegive them new; and write his law in them, that they may ſee the excellent things and wonderful which are contained therein: which others do not. So that, although the vnbeleeuers and vnregenerate may hauehave knowledge in the letter;Rom. 2.28. yet are they not led after it by the ſpirit which is the life of it. For what will not hope of promotion, liuing and credite doe, euen with naturall men, in drawing them to take paines to ſeeke for knowledge; as experience in all ages hath and doth teach? when yet, for any great matter of ſound practiſe & comfort that many of them hauehave by the ſcriptures beſides, it is not worth the ſpeaking of. For when by ſtudy and learning they hauehave gotten the wealth and glory of this world, they hauehave that which they ſought: and as for the ſcriptures and the power of godlineſſe,Pſ. 50.16. 2. Tim. 3.5. though they hauehave a ſhew of it, their hearts tell them, that they are not the matters which take them vp in the delight of them, for they hate to be reformed by them; neither are they ſo precious in their eies, as that which they hauehave gotten by them, though it be but baſe and temporary.
Whereas the word of God that reuealeth his will about all theſe,Pſ. 19.10. Pſ. 119.35. is more ſweet to his ſeruants, then the hony combe; yea, all the pleaſures of the world are not in their account to be compared to the wiſdome thereof:Pſ. 119. part 2. but that which is ſaid of the man of God, That he had more pleaſure in the word of god then in al maner of riches, and that they were the ioy of his hart, his matter of ſong and his companions to talke & ſolace himſelfe with; it is far from them.Pſ. 1.2. Rom. 7.22. Iob. 21.14. Therefore when the bleſſed of the Lord are ſet forth in the ſcriptures, to delight in the law of God: the wicked on the contrary, are deſcribed to ſpeake thus: Depart from vsus (ô Lord); we deſire not, nor are delighted in the knowledge of thy waies.
And is not this a roiall gift then, that whereas mens hearts naturally can take no pleaſure in the heauenly Manna of Gods word, but ſoone loath and waxe weary of it; that Gods people who know the price of it,Pſ. 119 54. Pſ. 119.77. & Pſ. 16.3. may make the ſame their ſong, their ioy and their delight: that ſo they may draw out of it all good things as they hauehave opportunity? Which ſeeing others cannot doe, therefore they ſeeke vaine delights to pleaſure in, and that which miniſtreth found delight indeed, they can in their greateſt need and heauineſſe hauehave no benefit by it.
And through this knowledge and delight that they hauehave in the ſcriptures, which certify them of all theſe heauenly prerogatiues, they get experience in themſelues of the things which they leame therein, what is the happieſt eſtate of life that heere can be inioied,1. Tim. 6.8. euen that, which hath the promiſes of this life and of that which is to come.Mat. 5.18. They grow wiſe in obſeruing, that God verifieth indeed all that he hath ſpoken in his word, and not a iotte thereof doth faile; and therefore they become more reſolute eueryevery day againſt all euill and ſinne,Pſ. 119.101. becauſe they ſee that God will be reuenged vponupon eueryevery euill way; and that it is certaine, if they ſinne as others doe, he ſmiteth: and they grow to ſee,Pſ. 89.31. that he keepeth promiſe towards his, who reſt on him, euen in their greateſt ſtreights. Which how great a benefite it is, may be gathered by this, that it bringeth moſt neare communion with God by his ſpirit, which worketh in them (and which the world cannot receiue) as our Sauiour ſaith: He that loueth me, Iohn. 14.21.ſhall be loued of my father, and I will louelove him, and will ſhew my ſelfe vntounto him: Verſ. 23.He that keepeth my word, as he ſhall be loued of my father, ſo we will come to him, and abide with him: whereby he meaneth, that he will make knowen his minde and will to them as familiarly, as they which vſe to conuerſe one with another, and eate and drinke together: for the which cauſe alſo he calleth them his friends, which doe the things which he commandeth them, as to whom he will open euen his ſecret, as men vſe to doe to their friends,Pſ. 87.2. and not to ſeruants. For he loueth Zion (his militant church which he hath choſen, and will dwell there and delight in her) more then all the habitations of Iacob, that is, then all other beſide it.
And what fruite this neare communion with God doth bring, which his faithfull ſeruants hauehave offered them, it may eaſily be coniectured; becauſe, as Salomon ſaith:Prou. 18.24. The heart of a friend resteth in his friend; and a friend is neerer than a brother: and if the perfection of louelove be ioy, there muſt needs be great ioy to Gods faithfull people, when they are ſo deare to the Lord and he beloued of them ſo intirely. Therefore, as God giueth to his, many comforts, and that alſo he doth many waies,Luc. 10.20. Iohn. 16.24. 2. Cor. 1.12. and in many reſpects, through the hope of eternall life, through true praier, and by a good conſcience (as hath beene ſaid:) ſo, in that they know his will and hauehave proofe of his familiarity with them, (as it pleaſeth him to call it) their ioy is yet more increaſed, eſpecially after a longer continued acquaintance with the Lord in his word. And what is happineſſe (ſuch I meane as in this preſent life may be inioied) if this be not; namely, to partake all theſe with him? thus to goe in and out before the Lord, and to hauehave him thus the ſtaffe of our comfort in al eſtates? Which maketh ready to die and fit to liue, and giueth greater gaine in both, then in any other condition or courſe can be found and inioied: yea this maketh the inioiers of it happy heere, and certaine, that afterwards they ſhall be happy for euer; and though ſathan doth much quaile this by occaſion of troubles and our frailties, yet it is certaine, that it ſhall be recouered againe.
This in few words is that which I wiſh the true Chriſtian reader to meditate on and conſider, which all Gods people hauehave ſo great need to inioy and partake by faith, as it muſt needs grieue all that doe vnderſtand and louelove the excellency of it, to ſee ſo many to be void thereof, to whom yet the Lord hath graciouſly and freely bequeathed it. And I pray God in moſt feruent maner, to inlarge the hearts of all his good ſeruants, that ſeeing many mourne in Sion, and are holden downe with ſundry and ſore afflictions till they faint againe, (as though there were no comfort to be found for them, to the eaſing of their heauy hearts) that they may conſider what the Lord hath prouided for the eaſing of them, euen this: to beleeue, that all the forementioned priuiledges belong vntounto them: that though their ſorrowes be many and great, yet they may not driue them from hope in God, but ſend them more earneſtly to grone to him by praier, that they may receiue and take theſe things to their comfort, which he for that very cauſe hath committed to writing; that thoſe his children which are brought low, and into diſtreſſe, and almoſt to vtter deſpaire, may lift vp their heads, and reioice for ſo great hope of redemption and deliuerance at hand comming towards them.
And this will recompence, aboundantly all the labour that hath beene taken, and need no more be loſt when it is once inioied. And therefore if the beleeuers may know by Gods word, that they hauehave a part in all the forementioned prerogatiues, and therefore delight in his word which bringeth ſuch tidings to them; if they may thereby be made acquainted with that maner of conuerſation which pleaſeth God beſt, and maketh moſt for their owne comfort, and by his ſpirit may hauehave communion with him (which the world cannot hauehave:) I cōclude (I ſay) that the beleeuers hauehave great prerogatiues bequeathed them, and that the priuiledges which God hath granted out vntounto his beloued, are moſt precious, and worthy all labour and trauell to be come by.
And that I ſay no more of this, it is no hard matter to conceiue, what ſweet conſolation a beleeuing heart inioyeth which hath experience of this: for he beleeuing the promiſes of theſe things, from day to day, and hauing moſt ſweet peace of conſcience with confidence, as a fruite of beleeuing them already, how great muſt his comfort needs be, which ariſeth from both, and eſpecially for the hope which he hath of that which is yet to come?
Oh that all who feare God did beleeue this, as they may boldly and ought confidently to doe, that they might inrich themſelues by hauing their part in it from time to time.All theſe excellent priuiledges as they may, ſo they ſhould be knowen by experience. So that nothing is more to be lamented in the world then this: that God hauing called men to be partakers of ſo excellent priuiledges, and appointed for them ſuch varietie of bleſſings, (whereof I hauehave mentioned but ſome part) that they ſhould be ſo ignorant, as not to deſire to know them; ſo careleſſe as to reiect them; ſo obſtinate as to tread them vnderunder foote: and ſo to lead a life (I may truely ſay) full of miſery for want of them.
But whiles I ſet downe this, me thinkes I heare ſome obiecting thus:Obiection. How can we be perſwaded that God hath prouided this liberty for his in this world,Pſ. 126.5. when both Scripture calleth our life heere (when we be in greateſt proſperity) a wandring vp and downe heauily, as in a pilgrimage or wilderneſſe? and a ſowing in teares, that is to ſay, full of griefe? and Chriſt telleth his, that in the world they ſhall finde tribulation, and that by many afflictions and perſecutions we muſt enter into his kingdom? And experience alſo teacheth, that theſe things are euen ſo?Anſwer. To the which I anſwer, affirming all that is ſaid to be moſt true: and therefore ſeeing our troubles and ſorrowes are many and great, through the deuils malice, whiles we ſeeke to keepe our ſelues vnſtained in this wretched world, we hauehave the more need of the greater comfort: neither were it poſſible for any godly man to goe through them, if he were not fully reſolued, that God is with him to helpe him, and comfort his ſoule many waies,Pſ. 34.19. Pſ. 130.7. Afflictions vntounto the children of God, prooue the trueth of his promiſes when they are made to goe vnderunder them. and namely in this, wherein he feeleth his need greateſt. And therefore theſe afflictions which our gracious God hath appointed and promiſed to bring vsus through, are a moſt ſure proofe of this which I ſay: namely, that he hath giuen moſt precious promiſes and prerogatiues to vsus, by the which only we can be able to goe vnderunder them. For all of vsus muſt needs faint, if we did not confidently beleeue, that he ſetleth our hearts in moſt ſound ioy and gladneſſe; partly by the teſtimony of a good conſcience, which is a continuall feaſt, and an experience of his fatherly louelove towards vsus; and partly through the daily ſucceſſe and bleſſing which we looke for from him, the hope whereof maketh vsus not aſhamed.
Therefore ſeeing God of his vnſpeakable louelove hath bequeathed to his children ſo large a portion, euen a taſte of the heauenly ioies in this life, which maketh his chaſtiſements ſweet, and the yoke of his commandements eaſie vntounto them, and all difficulties to be ouercome of them, and poureth ſuch great peace and comfort into their hearts that louelove him, and this from day to day, reſtrayning them of it at no time (except it be more expedient for them to want it:) what ſhall I ſay more, but bewaile that ſo few finde it; and pray God to inlarge their hearts, that they may be able to comprehend, and ſo inioy it, and to giuegive all praiſe to his maieſtie, who hath thought no heauenly comfort too good for his, euen in this world, which is a vale of miſery?
Afflictions accompany the deare children of God, not that they can or doe extinguiſh this ioy, but to keepe them from all vaine and deceitfull reioicing.And as for ſuch as thinke, that it is weake reioicing, that is and may be accompanied with ſo many afflictions, as our life is ſubiect to: they muſt know, that ſuch corrections are ſeene by our heauenly father to be meete for vsus, and to keepe vsus from vaine and deceitfull reioicings; and that theſe fatherly chaſtiſements doe not take away this heauenly comfort from vsus, but they rather cauſe it to be ſeene a greater benefit, then without them we could eaſily be able to perceiue.
Others obiect thus: Are there ſo many commodities in the chriſtian life? How commeth it to paſſe then,Obiection. that they ſhew it not foorth, and that the godly of all ſorts, poore and rich, one and other, doe not let their light ſo ſhine among men, that they may cauſe them by ſeeing ſuch admirable things in them as are not to be found commonly in the world beſide, to aske & haſte after them? For where are they (ſay theſe Obiecters) which hauehave ſo much grace appearing in them aboue other men? In their dealings we finde it not: in their liues we ſee it not: neither are any parts that we behold in them ſuch, as deſerue ſo great cōmendation.Anſwer. To whom I anſwer, that al theſe things are true, which hauehave beene ſaid of the great priuiledges and prerogatiues of the people of God,Pſ. 87.3. and much more according to that which is written in the Pſalme: Wonderfull things are ſpoken of thee, ô thou city of God: but yet not ſo eaſily deſcried nor perceiued in the perſons who inioy them; and that for theſe cauſes:
Firſt,Spirituall things are not eaſily diſcerned. Pſ. 45.14. ſeeing their moſt precious gifts are ſpirituall and inward (according to that which is written; The kings daughter is all glorious within) and therefore not eaſily ſeene and beheld of ſuch as hauehave but outward and bodily eies: their comelineſſe and beauty is like the curtaines of the tabernacle, the outward and vpper couerings whereof were of goats haire, rammes skinnes,The beautie and happineſſe of Gods children is ſpecially inward. and badgers; but the inward were of fine twined linnen, blew ſilke, purple and ſcarlet, with the moſt exquiſite imbroidering of the Cherubins vponupon them: So is the outward eſtate of Gods ſeruants in this world, ill fauoured and deformed in the eies of men; but inwardly, beautifull as the lilie,Note. and ſweet and pleaſant as the roſe. Their graces therefore which God hath giuen them,What the inward beauty of a Chriſtian is. as faith, hope, confidence, a pure heart, a good conſcience, a well gouerning of themſelues; and with theſe, meekeneſſe, patience, mercifulneſſe, louelove, &c. being not perceiued of them who neither know them, nor hauehave them, nor louelove them: what maruell is it, though they aske for that in them, which yet is before their eies,Ioh. 18.5. (as the ſouldiers that ſought Chriſt euen when they ſpake to him) & though they ſay, They behold no ſuch grace in them; which they can not diſcerne? The ſame may be ſaid of the inward comfort and ioy in the holy Ghoſt, which is more worth than the world.
The ſecond cauſe why theſe Obiecters ſee nothing worthy the following in a maner, or commendable in them, is:The children of light contrarie to the children of darkneſſe, can not ſeeme louely in their eyes. becauſe the gifts of God which appeare outwardly in their liues, do the more prouoke them to wrath and rage, becauſe they ſee their courſe is not like their owne, but contrary vntounto it: for they thinke themſelues diſgraced by them, ſeeing they walke not after the ſame exceſſe of riot that they themſelues do; and therefore ſpeake they euill of them.1. Pet. 4.4. Their innocency and harmeleſſe liuing in the world, and that they will hauehave no fellowſhip with the vnfruitfull works of darkneſſe, but rebuke them rather, and their Chriſtian carrying of themſelues in their waies with moderation, wiſdome and conſtancie; is charged to be hypocriſie, preciſeneſſe, and new-fangled ſingularitie.
Furthermore, the comfort which they hauehave in their liues,A third cauſe why the happineſſe of Chriſtians is not knowen. Pro. 14.9. being rather felt in their owne hearts than ſeene of ſtrangers, and their reproch in the world great, and their condition counted vnfortunate: how can the happineſſe of them be knowen, as I hauehave ſaid, although it be no leſſe, yea rather farre greater, than I hauehave ſet it downe to be? No, no, they muſt hauehave eyes as cleere as chryſtall, who can ſee and beholde this.
And that I may leaue no doubt in any mans minde about this matter,A fourth cauſe why the godly ſeeme not beautifull in the eies of the wicked, is becauſe of ſome infirmities which they eſpie in them. I muſt deſire them to thinke, that my meaning is not, that Gods children, for all the priuiledges wherewith God honoureth them, both heere, and eſpecially will do in the life to come, are therefore without their ſeuerall infirmities and blots alſo, (ſome of them) vntounto the which the reſt (through their owne corruption yet remaining in them, and the deuils malice) are ſubiect: which (though they debarre them not of the forenamed prerogatiues, ſeeing they are willingly brought to repent of them) is one great cauſe, why theſe obiecters ſee ſo little in the godly life, as either to commend it, or to be themſelues incouraged to imbrace it. But yet while theſe marke not theſe things, but only beholde the ſlips and blemiſhes in the men themſelues, though in ſome more than other, and do not beleeue nor regard the doctrine of the Scripture, which teacheth the trueth more ſoundly than it can be ſeene in the holieſt perſons and perfecteſt patternes; therefore they grow to theſe abſurdities. And yet when their infirmities appeare, and afflictions take holde of them, God ſeeing it expedient that it be ſo for a ſeaſon;1. Pet. 1.6. euen then is their eſtate more to be deſired, than the other in their greateſt flouriſhing. For they are beloued of the Lord*Read I ſay 63.9. Cant. 1.4. Why the Lord ſuffereth the godly to fall. yet ſtill for all that, and moſt deare vntounto him, as it is written: I am blacke, ye daughters of Ieruſalem, yet comly, &c. And of their falles and infirmities, I ſay, that therefore they departed from the good and perfect way for a moment, that they might thereby ſee and bewaile their vileneſſe, and ſo returne againe to ſtand more conſtantly after. Yet this watch-word I would giuegive to many which are of good hope, that diuers groſſe and ranke corruptions do ſo broadly appeare and ſo mightily preuaile in ſundry (as frowardneſſe, vncharitableneſſe, conceitedneſſe, raſh iudgements, breach of promiſe,The fruit of the infirmities of profeſſors, what it is. and other heat and intemperancy of heart, &c.) to the offence of many, that they do exceedingly abate the beautie & glorie of their profeſſion. And it muſt needs be confeſſed and granted, that few Chriſtians are as they might and ought to be: but goodneſſe is too ſparing, and grace is too ſore dimmed and darkened in moſt, euen of the beſt and forwardeſt: and few carie themſelues as they might and ought to doe in their courſe, by giuing good example. And this maketh the Goſpell to be leſſe honoured and imbraced of many:The fruit of the godly conuerſation of profeſſors, what it is. whereas if it were a more common thing, that the well-willers of the Goſpell were more faithfull, wiſe, watchfull, louing, harmeleſſe, fruitfull, &c. it would cut and wound the hearts and conſciences of the bad, and alſo incourage many of the weaker ſort vntounto their duties. But yet ſhall the liues of them be glorious before God, and ſhining lights to ſuch as can ſee and diſcerne; whiles they that carpe at them, and ſeeke to diſgrace them, ſhall be as the miſts and clouds, that ſhine not but hinder the light rather. And whereas it may be ſaid, that ſome of them hauehave excellent gifts of God in them: yet the trueth is, where ſanctification, euen the ſalt of grace, is not to ſeaſon them, they are but as a pleaſant and beautifull flower growing on a dunghill; and (as Salomon ſaith) like a ring in a ſwines ſnout. And thus much of the priuiledges of the true beleeuers.
The end of the ſixth Treatiſe.