Lectures Upon the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Part 1 · Lecture 24

Lectures Upon the Epistles to the Thessalonians · Part 1 · Lecture 24

p. 299THE XXIV. LECTVRE VPONUPON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE THESSALONIANS.

1. THESSA. CHAP. 5. verſ. 16. 17.

16 Reioyce euermore.

17 Pray continuallie.

p. 300THERE are three precepts heere, brethren, which the Apoſtle joines together. The firſt is the precept of patience, in ſuffering wrong and not rendering euill for euill, but, doing good for euill. Of this, we heard the laſt day. There is next the precept of joy and peace of conſcience, in the firſt wordes, we hauehave preſentlie red, Laſt, there is the precept of prayer, ſeeking to God, and thanking God, for the benefites reſaued, in the next part of the text. The Apoſtle Paul, not onelyonly in this place joines theſe three together, but, alſo, in the 4. chap. to the Philipp. ye ſhall finde the ſame three precepts joined together, howbeit not in this order. he beginnes there,Patience, ioye and praier ioined together. at joy, and he ſayes, reioice in the Lord alvvaies, againe, I ſay, reioice: then, he commes to patience in ſuffering wrong, let your patient minde, let your moderation be knovvne … all men: for, the Lord is at hand; And laſt, he commes to prayer and ſaies, be not carefull for any thing, but, in all things let your requeſts be ſhovvne to God, in prayer and thankeſ-giuing: Then, he commes to peace of conſcience again, and the peace of God, vvhichwhich paſſes all vnderſtanding ſhall preſerue your harts, &c. Theſe three are joined together: The precept of patience, joy and prayer, becauſe theſe three graces of God, patience, joy and prayer are vnſeparable, euerie one of them joined vnſeparably with another: tak one away, thou ſhalt not get the other; tak praier away, thou ſhalt not hauehave joy; take joy away, thou ſhalt not get patience in ſuffering. So theſe three are ſo vnſeparably lined together, that, if they be not altogether in the hart of a man, none of them can be in the hart; and if one be in the hart, all ſhall be in it. Howbeit patience be ſet down firſt here, yet, it is not the firſt grace, praier is firſt; joy, next, and then, patience: for, praier firſt bringes joy; then, this heauenlie joy being broght forth and entertainde by praier, it bringes patience, in ſuffering troubles. Now, brethren, what ſhal we mak of this, ere we come to the words? Only, this, the graces of God, which are parts of our new-birth called Regeneration are ſo inſeparably locked together, that, they cannot be ſeuered, and therefore, he, that would hauehave any one of them, let him ſeeke them al; he that would hauehave patience, let him ſeeke p. 301joy; and he that would hauehave joy, let him ſeeke praier, let him ſeeke them altogether; either ſeeke them all and get them all, in ſome meaſure, or, it ſhall paſſe thy power to keepe any one of them, either keepe all, or, want all: this is their nature, ye ſaw neuer a chaine ſo linked together, as theſe graces of regeneration are linked. It may be, that, a man hauehave the outward ſhowe of a grace, but, indeed, it ſhall paſſe his power to hauehave a true grace, except he hauehave the whole graces of this new-birth, in ſome meaſure. Many will ſeeme to ſuffer wrong, and yet, they will not hauehave the joy of the holy Spirit; but, they, that wants the joy of the Spirit, albeit they ſeeme to ſuffer many wrongs, yet, they are but hypocrites. Therefore, ſeeke one, ſeeke all; want one, want all; either hauehave all, or, want all.

But, to come to the text and ſpeake of this joy, Reioice, ſayes the Apoſtle, euermore. True rejoicing, or, joy, is that joy, that entertaines patience in ſuffering. Goe to experience and try it. There is none of vsus, that hes taſted of this heauenlie joy, but, we will finde, by experience, it raiſe vp the hart of man and woman aboue all theſe thinges earthlie, in ſome meaſure. It raiſes vp the hart to an higher kingdome, nor all the kingdomes in this earth, this heauenly joy raiſes vsus vp, to the kingdome of God. This kingdome of God, ſaies the Apoſtle, Rom. chap 14. verſ. 17. Is peace and ioy in the holie Ghoſt. So, that, they, who hes this joy, are in another kingdome, as far aboue theſe earthly kingdomes, as the heauen is aboue the earth, and by this joy, they are lifted vp, to heauen, and being vp there, they look downe to all theſe things on the earth, the troubles, afflictions and perſecutions, as thogh they were nothing, and thinkes them nothing: joy being in the hart, it ſwallowes vp the heauieſt diſpleaſure, that, can be (looke this by experience) A little meaſure of it in the hart will ſwalow vp ſadneſſe, ſuffering of wrongs and injuries in this world. This world is but a world of ſuffering. In the 5. chapter of the Acts, verſe 41. ye ſee, the Diſciples of Chriſt after his aſcenſion are drawen in, before the Councell; there, they are ſcourged, manaſſed, and threatned, that they ſhould not ſpeake in the name of Chriſt. But, what doe they, when they are dimitted? They go away with joy: is there matter of joy heere? they are beatten, ſcourged and boaſted, yet, they goe away with joy, reioicing, that, p. 302they vvere counted vvorthi…, to ſuffer, for Christs ſake. Brethren, if joy had not ſwallowed vp ſadneſſe, the Apoſtles had not rejoyced. Reade the Pſalmes of Dauid, He beginnes with ſuch a ſadneſſe in many of them all, that he would appeare to be in Hell, and ere the Pſalme be ended, ye will ſee, that, he burſtes out with exceeding great thankfulnes. This meanes, that, there was a joy, and an exceeding great heauines in the hart, and there was a battell betwixt them, and in the end, joy got the victorie and ſwallowed vp ſadneſſe.

But, now, what is this joy, that he meanes of, when he ſaies, Reioyce euermo…. It is no other thing, but, that, which he calles in the fourth chapter to the Philippians,Deſcription of …oy. The peace of God, that paſſes all vnderſtanding, ſtanding about the hart, as a guard. And to ſpeake the trueth of this, it is the end and crowne of all the graces of God in Ieſus Chriſt, it is that end, whereto all the graces of God tends: and when they come there, they go no further. Wherfore came Chriſt in the world, but that we ſhould hauehave peace and joy in conſcience? Wherefore died he? that we ſhould hauehave joy. Wherefore roſe he? that we ſhould hauehave joy in his reſurrection. Wherfore are we all called to be Chriſtians? that we ſhold rejoice. Wherefore are our ſins remitted? onelyonly to rejoyce. This is the end of all, joy. What is Heauen but joy? What is life euerlaſting, but joy vnſpeakable? What is glorie, but joy? Paul joynes theſe two together, joy and the crowne of glorie. 1. Theſſ. chap. 2. verſ 19. Therefore, in one word, what is true happines? nothing but joy, joy in God, throgh Ieſus Chriſt. What is any thing vnderunder Heauen without joy in the hart? If a man hauehave all the world and all the honour and riches of the world, except he hauehave joy in them, what auaill they? So, joy is the bleſſedneſſe of men and women: And therefore, when the Apoſtle bids vsus rejoice euermore, what craues he, but, that we ſhould preaſe euer forward to our bleſſednes and Heauen; begin thy bleſſednes here, or, thou ſhalt neuer get bleſſednes hereafter Life euerlaſting begins here, in a meaſure of joy, that is not perſite, and ends in the next life, in glory, which ſhall be perfited.

Yet, brethren, the nature of joy would be better ſeene and knowen, that men be not deceiued with it. The joy, that is craued, of what kinde is it? There are ſundrie kindes of joy. Is it a p. 303fleſhly and carnall joy,… that will be in the mouthes of prophaine people; be merie, eat, drinke. Is that this joy? no, no. When Paul bids thee rejoyce, he bids thee not paſſe the time like the Epïcurians, Eate, drinke and be merie: The joy, that he craues, the nature thereof is not fleſhly: but, it is cleane, holie and ſpirituall. To ſpeake the trueth, it is in the hart (all joy is in the hart of a bodïe) but, it is not ſo much the joy, that is of the naturall affection, as it is the motion of the ſpirit of Chriſt within vsus, vſing the affectiones of our hart as a parte to reioyce in, when he is dwelling in vsus. When a man reioyces naturallie, it is his heart, that reioyces, but, this is another kinde of reioycing. It is the Spirite of conſolation, that comforts, the Spirite of Ieſus, that dwelles in the hart, and wakens vp the affection aboue nature, and makes it,It is … and … that was naturall, as ſupernaturall, it cannot be ſo well tolde, as felt. Rom. chap. 8. verſe 26. The Spirite of God requests for vsus, vvith ſighes vnſpeakable. Then, the Spirite ſighes within the heart. If the Spirite of God be within the heart, the ſighe will not be ſo much the ſighe of the bodie, as of the Spirite of God:… It is ſo with that ſpirituall ioy; the ioy in the hart if will not be ſo much the ioy of the heart, as the ioy of the Spirite of God, a ioy vnſpeakable. No, no tongue can tell the greatneſſe of it. And, brethren, if there vvere no more, but, this, that it cannot be toulde, it telles you the nature of it, it is not a naturall ioy, the naturall ioy can be all toulde. the heart of man is comprehenſible, and the affectiones of the hart can be toulde, but, the joy of the Spirite of God is incomprehenſible. The joy of the Spirite of God in the heart of the poore ſinner cannot be toulde by all the Angels of Heauen, let be by the tongue of man. For, no man can re… the infinitneſſe of Gods Spirite. Therefore, put a difference betweene it and all other ioyes.

The property of this ioy is here expreſſed,Properti… of this ioy, It is continuall. it laſtes euermore, it is continuall, it alters not, it is without interruption, it is not broken off▪ proſperitie will not breake it, aduerſitie vvill not breake it, lyfe vvill not breake it, death vvill not breake it, it abydes, in lyfe, it abydes, in death, yea, euen, to the verie poynte of death, vvhen it pleaſes the holie Spirite to vvorke, it vvill be in a greater meaſure in his ſoule than, nor it vvas in p. 304the life-tyme. When we thinke the body ſhould be heauieſt and ſaddeſt, then, it is moſt joyfull. This earthly joy is ſoone broken off. he is now in joy: in the twinkling of an eie, it ſhall be broken off: this houre glade, the next houre, wo. Balthazar was a mery man when he was prophaning the veſſels of the Lord and banketting in the meane tyme of his merineſſe came the hand, writting vponupon the wall and then, he beginnes to ſhake, and his countenance is changed with ſhuddering and ſhaking.…. Ye heard in this ſame chapter, when the wicked ſaies, Peace, all things are ſure, then, a ſudden deſtruction ouertakes them. So, this worldly joy is ay interrupted, it is ay turned in ſorrow; if thou be content with a worldly joy proceeding of a worldly thing, (if it were all the kingdomes of the earth) thy joy ſhall be turned in a weeping for euer; but, the ſpirituall joy is continuall without interruption.

Then, if this be the nature of it, it is ſpirituall, it is cleane and pure, heauenly, not rude, fleſhly, nor, earthly. If this be the property of it,Matter of ſpirituall ioy. it continues ay (for, this propertie muſt follow on the nature of it, a ſpirituall thing muſt euer abide) What can be the matter of it? there muſt be ſome cauſe of this joy. No joy, but there muſt be ſome cauſe and matter, that moues it. Then, what is the matter of it? There are two ſorts of things in the world, that wakens vp joy in the heart of man. The firſt is earthly things; ye know the things, worldlie honor, riches, they waken vp joy in the hart: Another ſort is called ſpritual, heuenly, clean. There is no other, but, theſe two, either things heuenly, or earthlie, to cauſe men to rejoyce. Then, are theſe earthly things the matter of this ſpirituall joy he ſpeaks of? Examine the nature of it, it is ſpirituall, it is the joy of Chriſt. Will theſe worldly things, if there be no further conſideration of them, cauſe the Spirit of Chriſt rejoyce within thee? Will a kingdome make Chriſtes Spirit within the hart of a man, to rejoyce, if there be nothing more, but, as it is a worldly kingdome? No, I ſay, they will not be the matter of this joy: looke to theſe worldly things how thou reſaueſt them, if they be not reſaued out of Gods hand as arleſpennies of heauenlie thinges, and tokens of better benefites and of life euerlaſting, they ſhall neuer make the Spirit of Chriſt to reioyce in thee. Thy hart may be blyth for worldly thinges, becauſe p. 305thou art an earthly bodie. A King may rejoyce in a kingdome, &c. but, if they be not taine out of Gods handes, as arleſpennies of heauenly and ſpirituall benefites, the Spirite of Chriſt ſhall not rejoice in thee. Take heed, if it wer but a morſell of meate, if thou take it out of Gods hand, as a token of that heauenly food to life euerlaſting, the Spirit of Chriſt ſhall rejoyce in thee. Therefore, be neuer content of earthly things, as earthlie things onelyonly, nor, of the naturall joy of the hart of man. A ſow hes a naturall joy,… in filling the bellie. No beaſt in the field, but it hes a ſenſuall joy in the ſelfe, by nature, in the foode thereof. Fy on thee, that cannot hauehave more joy, nor a beaſt. Thou art made for Heauen and not for Kingdomes here: Therefore, rejoyce in heauenly thinges; and I ſay, the Kow and other beaſts are better, nor thou, if thou rejoyce not with that heauenly joy, for the kingdome prepared for thee, in Ieſus Chriſt. Woe to thee, that hes not the joy, that proceeds of the Spirit of Ieſus. Againe, this joy laſts euermore, it is continual, it bides in the night, it bides in the day, it periſhes not. Theſe worldly things are al periſhing. He will be a King the day and will be caſten down to morrow. He is riche the day, and will be begging to morrowe. How can thinges changeable, be matter to me of joy, that ſtandes euermore? No, they cannot. If my joy reſtes on earthly things, when earthly things failes me, of neceſſity my joy muſt faile me. When the ground of joy failes, my joy muſt faile. Worldly things muſt faile, therefore, the joy in worldly things muſt faile, and ſpecially, in death: Either ſhall earthly things faile thee, or, elſe, thou ſhalt faile them; if thou were a King, thou muſt faile in thy kingdome, thou muſt leaue …; either ſhall the worldly things be taine from thee, or, thou from them: What Monarch euer yet ſince the beginning of the world for al their dominions, if they had not God and Chriſt, had euer a ſparke of joy at the houre of his death? A dram weight of this joy is worth all the kingdomes of this earth; and if thou haſt gotten a little peece of this joy, thinke it better, nor thou wert made Monarch of all the world. No queſtion, the leaſt peece of Chriſtes graces and of this regeneration is worth all the Kingdomes of this world. Euen ſo, theſe earthlie thinges cannot bee the matter of this joye. Thou ſhalt neuer get the joy of the holy Spirite, if thou ſeeke it in the p. 306world. Then, wherein ſtandes this joy? Paul 4. chap. to the Philippians verſe 4. ſayes, Reioyce in the Lord. He ſayes not, rejoyce in the world, or, kingdomes of the world, but, he ſayes, rejoyce in the Lord and in all thoſe graces, he hes broght with him, in remiſſion of ſins, in life euerlaſting, &c. Take heed, compare this joy with the matter thereof, This joy is ſpiritual, Ieſus is a Spirit, all his graces are ſpirituall. Then, theſe two agrees very well, a ſpirituall matter, a ſpirituall joy. Then, againe, this joy is continuall, Chriſt is for euer. Heb. 13. 8. His graces ſtandes for euer. Al the mercies of God in Chriſt are eternall and vnchangeable. How well then ſtandes theſe two, a joy continuall, a matter continuall; a joy, that is eternall; a matter, that is eternall. But, thou wilt ſay,…. albeit that matter of my joy, Chriſt Ieſus neuer periſhes, yet, we muſt periſh, and albeit he ſtand, yet, we muſt fall. No, no. Paul, to the Rom. chap. 8. verſ. 35. ſaies, What ſhall ſeparate vsus from the louelove of God, in Christ? No, if thou be once well imped in him by his Spirite and a lyuely faith, all the world ſhall neuer bring thee back againe, thou ſhalt neuer be ſeparate, heauen and earth ſhall firſt periſhe, ere they, who are imped in Chriſt, be ſeparate from him, death ſhall not ſeparate them. Paul ſayes, Chriſt is to me both in life and death aduantage. Philipp. chap. 1. verſ. 21. Theſe earthly thinges may vantage thee in this naturall and tranſitory lyfe,…. riches may vauntage thee in this lyfe, honour may be pleaſant to thee here, but, when death commes, then may thou juſtly ſay, I will get no more vantage of my riches, I will ſhake all off me and go naked to the graue, but, Chriſt will go to the graue with me: yea, euen, to the reſurrection he ſhall accompany thee, and then, ſoule and body ſhall be joined together, and thou ſhalt be with him for euer. In one word, the matter of this joy are not earthly things, but, ſpirituall. It is Chriſt and his graces, that is the ground of all this joy, vntill thou come to that lyfe euerlaſting. And this, for the opening vp of the words.

Learne,Vſe… then. There are none of vsus, that walkes in the light of the Goſpell of Chriſt, and hes taine the name of Chriſtians vponupon vsus, but we are bound and obliſt to rejoyce, and be glade, and that, not for one tyme onelyonly, one day, or, one night, or, one yeere or, one ſeaſon, but, euermore, and at eueryevery occaſion, in proſperitie, in aduerſitie, in life and death, euer rejoyce; and weulde p. 307ye know the paine? all obligations are vnderunder ſome paine, the paine of it, is, vnderunder the paine of baniſhing vsus out of Gods Kingdome, out of heauenly Ieruſalem. He that would not rejoyce vnderunder the hope of heauenly Ieruſalem muſt be baniſhed out thereof. Rom. 14. verſe 17. Gods Kingdome in righteouſneſſe and peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt; if thou preaſe not to rejoyce in Chriſt and his Kingdome, in life and death, proſperity and aduerſitie, thou ſhalt be ſhut out of it. I ſay, they, who neuer felt of this heauenly joy, and neuer rejoyced in Chriſt, in his Redemption of vsus from ſin, in that life purchaſt to vsus, by his bloud, who neuer rejoyces in theſe, but ay is glad when he is exerciſed about theſe earthly things, that man neuer yet ſaw Chriſts Kingdome. And albeit he be outwardly in the Church (the Church is called the Kingdome of God, in the Goſpell) yet, indeede, he is not one of the Kingdome, he is going vp and downe in company with them of the Church, but, he was neuer in the Church, for, thou muſt be ſpiritually in it and not bodily. And if there be a great ſin in the world, this is one, not to rejoyce in ſuch a matter of joy; God offers thee ſaluation in Chriſt; if thou rejoyce not therein, thou cannot doe a greater contempt to the light of the Goſpell, wherein life and ſaluation is offered, no… a greater injury to God, thou bereaues God of his glory▪ for, what ſhall be the chiefe glorifying of God, but a rejoycing in his mercies, through Ieſus Chriſt. Alas, what great bleſſedneſſe we defra…d our ſelfes of, when we rejoyce not in the worke of our Redemption. It is wonder, what joy the Angels hauehave, in looking in, to this worke of the Redemption of man. Peter, in his 1. Epiſtle, chap. 1. verſ. 12. ſayes, The Angels deſires to looke in to this misterie. Were not the Angels preachers to the ſhiephirds, of that joy and bleſſing, that came to the world? Luke chap. 2. verſe 13. 14. Fy on thee, Chriſt is come, to redeeme thee and not the Angels, and yet, they rejoyce, and wilt not thou rejoyce? The earth and heauen leapes and rejoyces for the hearing of their deliuerance by Chriſtes comming againe, and thou cannot rejoyce, fy on thee, When all the dumme creatures, aboue, vnderunder, and about thee, rejoyces, and thou cannot rejoyce. Waken vp that dead hart of thine, and rejoyce in God, or, elſe, the ſpirit of ſorrow and ſadneſſe ſhall waken thee, that thou ſhalt weepe for euer. The tyme of joy is pretious, p. 304if thou rejoyce not heere, thou ſhalt neuer get that joy in Heauen hereafter.

Now, ye will ſay, ſhould we rejoyce ay? The wiſe man ſayes, Eccleſt. chap. 3. verſ. 4.…. All thinges hes the tyme, there is a tyme of vveeping, a tyme of laughing. How ſhould we ay be glad? I aunſwere, it is true, there is a tyme of mourning, and a tyme of ſadneſſe: and, I trow, this ſame verie tyme is the tyme of ſadneſſe. But, I tell thee, againe, for all this ſadneſſe, rejoyce muſt thou, and when thou art commanded to be ſad, for ſin, thou art commanded to rejoyce in Chriſt, for remiſſion thereof: where nothing is in the hart but ſadneſſe, it will bring a man to diſpare, Sadneſſe would euer be mingled with joy, ſadneſſe, for miſerie, would be mingled with joy, for hope of reliefe, or, elſe, the end ſhal be diſpare. And it is wonderfull, to ſee the Spirit of Ieſus at … tyme to worke joy and ſadneſſe,…. how he wil make the hart ſigh, with ſighes vnſpeakable, and in that moment, with that ſame very ſigh, that ſame very Spirite will make the hart rejoyce with joy vnſpekable: Know ye not this? This ſadneſſe is called contrition and brokennes of hart, it is a ſadneſſe wroght in the hart with ſighes vnſpeakable, conjoyned with joy, that is vnſpeakable, if it be with faith in Ieſus Chriſt. Peter ſaies, 1. Epiſt. 1. cha. 8. verſ. Beleuing in Ieſus Chriſt, vve reioyce vvith ioy vnſpeakable and glorious. So, when thou art ſad, hauehave thy eyes ſet vponupon Chriſt, when thou art ſad, go from the ſight of men, but go not from the ſight of Chriſt, if thou wert in wilderneſſe, if Chriſt be in thy eies, with ſadneſſe, vnſpeakable joy ſhall be mingled. Then weeping is recommended, rejoycing is recommended, and we muſt ſorrow while we are here, but looke, that, Chriſt in thy ſorrowing be in thy eyes, and that joy that is mingled with ſadneſſe, in the end it ſhall ſwallow vp the ſadneſſe, life ſhall ſwallow vp death.

But ye will ſay, the beſt man and moſt faithfull will be ſome tymes ſo eaſten downe, that he cannot get a ſparke of joy, looke to it. Thou wilt ſay, rejoyce thou; he will ſay, I cannot;…. I tell you, if he had all the kingdomes of the world, he would giuegive them for a ſparke of joy, the ſoule of him will be, as it were, bea…ten downe to Hell. How then ſayes he, rejoyce euermore… how can he bid this? The anſwere is eaſie. The Apoſtle ſpeakes of that p. 305thing, that ſhould be indeed: it is true, a Chriſtian ſhould euer rejoyce; and it is as true, at ſome time, there wil not appeare a ſpark of joy in him. But, I ſay, if euer a perſon hes gotten the Spirit of Ieſus, and hes had this ſolide joy, that perſon ſhall neuer altogether leeſe that ſparke of comfort and joy. Yea, brethren, that ſpark of comfort and joy will be lying, as it were, ſmored vnderunder an heap of aſhes, ſo, that, it will not be known by the perſons ſelf, in whom it is, and yet, it will be lurking in this hart; and in ſpite of the deuill and the world (that would driue men to diſpare) it will break out. Dauid felt this, when he had angred the Spirite. and ſaies, Restore to me thy ſpirit againe Pſal. 51. verſ. 12. He had done foull factes, adultery and murther, he lay long in theſe ſins, yet the Spirit leaues him not, but, abode in him, and yet he ſaies, reſtore to me thy Spirit; for, yet, he could ſcarce know, that, he had the Spirit, albeit in the meantime this Spirit was within him. The Lord keep vsus, from angering this Spirit; if thou anger him, he wil anger thee, and wil draw himſelf aſide, in ſuch ſort, that thou wilt not know, thou haſt him; and, in the meantime, he will waken the conſcience of ſin and make it accuſe thee, and as a tortor within thee, to torment thee, as if thou wert in Hell. Therefore, anger not the Spirit of Ieſus. This much for this precept.

Now, as to the precept of Prayer, to touch it ſhortly, When he ſaid, rejoyce euermore. Then, he ſaies, Pray continually. There the third linke of this chui…e,Prayer. Praier, The firſt, patience; The ſecond; Rejoycing; The third; Prayer… Pray continuallie, ſaies he. The Apoſtle, 4. chap. Philipp. 6. 7. verſes. He dravves out the peace of God, out of Prayer: Be … carefull in any thing, but, in all thinges let your requeſts be ſhovven vp to God, by prayer and thankeſ-giuing. Then, he ſayes, The peace of God, that paſſes all vnderſtanding, ſhall be a guard to your my…des and conſciences. As if he had ſaid, when ye are troubled for any worldlie thing, I tell you, if ye can call to God. for all thinges that falles out, ye ſhall get contentment; Gods, Spirite ſhall guard you in all trouble, the peace of God ſhall preſerue you; what haſt thou loſt, when thou haſt loſt the world and gotten that heauenly joy? When thou haſt gotten an heauenly thing for an earthly, what haſt thou loſt? No, neuer man, in the want of an earthly thing praied to God effectually, but, he got cōfort, he got that peace of p. 306conſcience. So, that, if the got not the earthly thing, he got heauenly thinges. Thou wilt finde ſuch joy in the hart, after prayer, that it is vnſpeakable. Then, it is prayer, that foſters joy: For, I tell you, homelines with God in prayer, makes joy, and keepes Gods preſence in our eyes Euer ſeeke from him and euer ſpeake to him, and that will keep the face of Ieſus before vsus. Now, what is it, that keeps joy in the hart? OnelyOnly the keeping of the face of Ieſus in the hart. When thou haſt not the face of Ieſus, no joy. Turne thy hart from the face of Chriſt, and turne thy ſpeache from him, thou ſhalt hauehave no joy in hart. Againe, turne thy hart to the face of Ieſus, hold thy hart before his face, of neceſſitie thou ſhalt hauehave joy. Felt ye euer the ſpirituall joy, when ye felt not Chriſt in the hart? Who euer felt comfort, that felt not Chriſt dwelling in their hart? None. Therefore, Peter ſayes, Beleeuing in him. (What is beleeuing in him, but, keeping him in hart?) vvere ioyce vvith ioy vnſpeakbale. 1. Epiſt. chap. 1. verſe 8. Would to God this were more, nor wordes. Our hart and minde is ſo blinde and ſenſleſſe, that, Chriſt and all his graces is but wordes and winde, that ſtrikes on the eare. Seeke the ſolide feeling of Chriſt in the hart. Thinke it not eneugh, to prattle of him and to hauehave him in thy mouth, but, ſeek to finde him in thy hart. Thou ſhalt neuer finde him, if thou finde him not in thy hart, it is in the hart, he makes his reſidence; and if he be inthy hart, thou ſhalt know: for, thou ſhalt find a ſenſible ioy poſſeſſing thy hart and it ſhall open thy mouth, to ſay, dwel Lord, in my hart: The Lord worke theſe things, that they be not words.

Now, brethren, there are two ſortes of praier. One, in ſeeking to beg and ſeeke at God,tvvo ſorts of prayer. for, we are all beggers. The other is in thanking him, when we hauehave gotten any thing: Seeking muſt come of need and neceſſity: a begger muſt be a miſterfull body, otherwaies,1. Seeking he is a ſhameleſſe begger. He is ſhameleſſe, who can ſtand before God and ſeeke any thing, if he hauehave no ſenſe of his need and miſter? Our neede and miſter is double. For, we miſter ay a new grace, eueryevery moment, a new benefite: we neuer get ſo many graces at once, but, euer there is ſome new grace we ſtand in need of. God giues thee not all benefites at once, but he vvill hauehave thee euer ſeeking: againe, when we hauehave receiued any grace, we hauehave need of a new grace, to keepe it. Alas, we are ſo weake, p. 307that, we cannot but loſe the grace, that, God hes beſtowed on vsus, except the Lords hand follow on and keep it in our hart. There are two needs of praier. One need of grace, another need, to keep the grace, we hauehave receiued. So, there is two ſorts of begging: the firſt is for grace; the next is for keeping of the grace. Neuer wearie to aske. The Lord wold hauehave thee euer begging. Ay, ſay, Lord, giuegive me. Then, ſay, Lord keepe this grace, thou haſt giuen me, otherwaies, I will loſe it. For, I aſſure thee, if the Lords hand be not euerie moment holding grace in thy hart, thou art ay ready to loſe it. Therefore, the Apoſtle ſayes, Pray continually. Alas, if we knew what thing we are bound to, we would diſcharge a better duety to our God, we ſhould not paſſe the time in playing, but, we ſhould pray continually.

Ye vvill thinke it an hard thing to be euer praying; ye vvill ſay, ſhould we do no other thing, but, ay, pray, ſhould this be our exerciſe continually? Take heed: By praying, is vnderſtood, not preceeſly this outward forme of prayer, the falling down on our knees, the lifting vp of our hands and eyes, ſo, that we do not another turne. No, I meane not ſo. Thou haſt a lawfull vocation, go win thy liuing, according to thy calling. He that ſaid, Pray continually, The ſame ſaid, Go labour and win thy liuing, otherwaies, thou ſhalt not eat. Avvay vvith Munkries and Nunries. Then, when continuall prayer is craued, no other thing is craued, but, that, thy hart and minde be euer exerciſed on God. Let thy hart and contemplation of thy mynde be euer on him, be neuer ſo diſtracted with any exerciſe of the world, but, keep God euer, in ſome meaſure, before thy eyes, ſeeking his grace and bleſſing to thy exerciſe. When thou art buſieſt in thy exerciſe, let thy hart be ſeeking bleſſing thereto. Paul ſaies, 1. Cor. 10. chap. 31. verſe, Whether ye eat, or, drinke, or, what euer ye do all to the glory of God. If I eat to the glory of God, my hart muſt be bleſſing & thanking him for the benefit receiued, ſeeking a bleſſing of him, that it may doe me good, deſyring, alſo, that heauenly foode. I tell thee, this earthly foode ſhould be nothing elſe to thee, but, a remembrance of heauenly things, and of Chriſt, that is onelyonly the foode of the ſoule. Then, in all thy exerciſes, euer hold thy hart on God; let thy hart be praying, when thy tongue is ſpeaking of theſe thinges, that concernes thy exerciſe, ſo, thy exerciſe ſhall p. 308be in the Lord. The Apoſtle vſes to ſay, do this, and do that, in the Lord. What means he, but, only, in that doing thy hart ſhold be ſet on the Lord? Ay enterteine Gods Spirit. Thinke not, that, the exerciſing of the hart on Chriſt ſhal hinder thee, in any thing, in thy exerciſe. No, but, by the contrare, the face of God looking on thee it brings bleſſing; keep him in thy eie and think on him, and ſo, thy exerciſe ſhall be ſweete; keepe God in thy eye, and thou ſhalt finde a wonderfull joy, and an helpe in thy exerciſe. Now, I end, with this prayer. Lord, ſeeing there is no bleſſing but, when we keep Ieſus Chriſt in our eyes, Lord, grant, that, the face of Chriſt go neuer out of our eyes let neuer the remembrance of Ieſus depart from vsus. To this Chriſt, be honour and glorie, for euer.

AMEN.