Three Treatises, Part 1
THE PILGRIMS PROFESSION.
PSAL. 39. 12.
I am a stranger with thee, and a soiourner, as all my Fathers.
THis holy Prophet being by great distresse of mind, and disease of bodie, brought very low, (as appeareth in the whole Psalme) and so low as he was ready to breake patience, and to offend with his tongne; Verse 3.yet after a doubtfull combat betweene faith and frailty; his Faith steps aboue flesh, and leads him out of himselfe, to wait vponupon God with holy silence: Verse 7.and lifteth him vp to God in feruent and earnest Prayers, (which are the breath of Faith) both for pardon of sin, Verse 8.the cause, and for release from the affliction and plague, the effect of it. And because the sense of misery was deepe;Verse 10. hee striues with God, with great, vehement, and earnestnesse of spirit, ingeminating his petition in this twelfth vers. Rising vp in his requests by degrees, as one that meaneth to preuaile with God (as another Iacob) and not let him goe till he hauehave blessed him; and therefore first he desireth the Lord to heare his Prayer. But because the prayers of the Saints are often faint and feeble, and without any strong motion, he desires the Lord to hearken to his cry: the sense of his need vrged strong cryes, feruency, and importunity. And further, because eueryevery strong cry is not heard, vnlesse it proceed from a broken and contrite spirit. He prayeth the LORD not to keepe silence at his teares: well hee knew that prayers of faith, watered with teares of godly sorrow, are eloquent perswaders, to dray a comfortable answer from God; they cannot suffer him to sit silent long; who hath prepared both a bottle to reserue them in, and an handkerchiefe to wipe them away from the eyes of his children. Try it after holy Dauid; who will, or can, make eueryevery day a spring to sowe… thy prayers in heauen; and water them sometimes with an Aprill showre of mournfull teares for thy sinne, and misery, and …hon hast preuailed aganist Gods silence; thou shalt heare a sweete and comfortable▪ Answere in due season.
Now the words read are a reason of his earnest request, drawne from the acknowledgement of the frailty, vanity, and breuity of his life, laid downe by a comparison taken from strangers or Pilgrims, of which number he professeth himselfe to be; and may well be called, The Pilgrims profession.
In tying which words with the former, it may be asked, first, what force can there bee in this reason, to moue or incline God to mercy, because he was a stranger with him; it might rather imply, that God should the more estrange himselfe from him, and stand further from his helpe.Quis dubi tat q…od hie psaltes posu … gnimca, tecum, idem esse quod Liphneca, id est, ocrum te Buc…r.
I answer: 1. The Hebrew phrase I am a stranger with thee, signifieth as much as to say, I am a stranger before thee: or in thy sight. And not that he was a stranger in affection, or conuersation from God, as the wicked, who are said to be strange childred, Psal. 58. 3and strangers from the wombe. For how could Dauid be such a stranger, who set the Lord euer before him, Psal. 16. 8.and at his right hand, that hee might not sinne against him?
2. As it is a confession and testimony of his owne humility and sense of his misery, it is a motiue to mercy: as if he had said, I am a stranger and need helpe, because as a stranger, I lye open to many iniuries and inconueniences: but thou art the God of the abiect; & thy property is as to cast down the proud, so to raise vp such deiected soules as I am, and therefore heare my prayers, cryes and teares.
3. As it ascribeth vntounto the Lord the honour of mercy, it is a motiue to mercy; for holy Dauid puts the Lord in mind of his own gracious inclination and affection to strangers;Exo. 22. 11 for he hath commanded vsus to be kinde to strangers;Leui. 19. 33 and hath in speciall manner vndertaken the protection of strangers.Deu. 10. 19. Ps. 146. 6. The Lord keepeth the strangers: and therefore his faith binding God after a sort to his owne law and promise, assureth himselfe of Gods mercy, because he is a stranger.
4. As it is an acknowledgement of his own impotency, and the misery of his life, it pleadeth strongly for mercy: as if hee had said; Thou knowest, Lord, that I am a stranger here, and so long as I am so, I cannot but carry a burden of flesh, and a body of sinne, and daily thereby deserue thy most heauy displeasure: and therefore I beseech thee, be not so extreame against me, as in iustice thou mayest; but considering my frailty, mingle my corrections with mercy. And wheras I discerne also by my bodily weaknesse and infirmity, that I am a stranger here, and of short continuance, I pray thee remoue thy hand, and let not all my life be miserable, but stay thine anger from me, Verse 13.that I may recouer my strength, before I goe hence, and bee no more. And vponupon the same ground, Iob makes the same request: Let him cease and leaue off from mee, Iob 10. 21.that I may take a little comfort, before I goe and shall not returne, &c.
Secondly, it may bee asked, How can Dauid vse this as a reason for his recouery, which hee vsed before, vers. 4. for the hastening of his death; for because his life was short and miserable, therefore he desires he might die in all haste.
To which I snswer, That great difference there is between Dauid foiled by flesh, and Dauid supported by the Spirit, for wee hauehave in him lying vnderunder the temptation, an instance of our owne strong-hearted corruption; which out of a good proposition, can draw most dangerous and wicked conclusions; For, out of the consideration of the the shortnesse of his life, he could draw conclusions of murmuring, impatience, and almost of desperation. But now Dauid is another man, and the Spirit of grace hath conquered those assaults, & now he can out of the same premises, draw the cleane contrary conclusions, to support his faith, patience and dependance vponupon God. For such is the wisedome of the Spirit, that he can draw holy, sweet, & comfortable conclusions from those principles and grounds, from which flesh and corruption vseth to sucke sinne and poyson; and teacheth the Saints so to doe.
In the profession it selfe,Meaning. consider for the meaning 4. things:
1. What a stranger is.1. What is this stranger.
2. Who is this stranger.
3. Where he is a stranger.
4. The community of this condition; as all my Fathers were.
1. A stranger is he, that being absent from his owne Country, is trauelling homewards vntounto it: for these two conditions are proper to a stranger: First, that he is absent from his natiue soyle, absent from his naturall friends, absent from his Fathers house, and absent from his owne home an… inheritance; thus was Abraham a stranger in Canaan. Secondly, that he is trauelling home as a Pilgrim to his owne Country; Thus was Iacob a stranger, whose whole life was a trauel in forrain Countries, out of any certaine and settled dwelling, as himselfe professeth, Gen. 47. 9. The whole time of my pilgrimage is an hundred and thirty yeeres.
2. Who is this stranger? Dauid saith, I am a stranger, which may seemestrange, if we consider that Dauid was a King, and that in his own Country, and that the Country of Iudea; in comparison of whose inhabitants all the world besides were strangers, as Mat. 27 7.2 Sam 21. 23. For Dauid was not now in flight before Saul, as when hee plaid the foole in the Philistims Countrey before Achish to saue his life; nor in likelihood, in chase before Absalom, as when being driuen from home, hee went vp to the mount of Oliues and wept. Neither vndertooke hee any meritorious iourney in a Pilgrims weed. For besides that, he was King of Ierusalem, and needed not make any tedious Pilgrimage thither. Popish Pilgrims were not borne some thousands of yeares after his Age.Peregrina ti…ad Imagines nulla funt ante 600. a…nos a Christo nato Perk. Prob. There was now no Sepulcher of our Lord to visit, nor no Image of our Lady, and yet hee professeth himselfe a stranger.
3. But where was Dauid a stranger? Himselfe saith, Before thee: that is, wheresoeuer hee is before God, there he is a stranger: not in another mans kingdome or Countrey, as of Moabits or Philistims, but in his owne Country, in Canaan he is a stranger; yea, at Bethlem in the City of Dauid, and in Sion, the Fort of Dauid, hee is a stranger. This hee expresseth, Psalme 119. 19. I am a stranger vponupon earth: that is, in eueryevery part of the earth, euen in mine owne house, in mine owne bed, in mine owne body and bosome I am a stranger with thee. Wherein the holy Prophet both acknowledgeth the Lord the proprietary,Leu 25. 23. of whom he held his Countrey and Kingdome. For it is as if he had said, I am a stranger in thy Countrey: my Countrey is thy Countrey, and thy Countrey is my Countrey: and now I doe but soiourne a while with thee in thy Countrey, till I returne home and dwell with thee in my Country. As also hee infoldeth a motiue, why the LORD should incline his eare to his Prayer, and shew him fauour, because hee is a stranger in the Lords Countrey: and therefore committing himselfe to the protection and safe conduct of the Lord of the country, he doubteth not, but to finde grace in his eyes, & by his means a comfortable passage, til he come happily to the end of his way. For who should heare the complaints of a soiourner, but he with whom he soiourneth?
4. But is it otherwise with Dauid now, than with other men? no surely, but he beareth part in the common condition of his fathers. Although he was deare to God, & the King of Gods people; yet he is no better than his Fathers; he is a stranger as all his Fathers were. He meaneth not the fathers of his flesh only, who were all dead, and gone to their iournies end, but the Fathers of his faith also; these holy Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, & their posterity, which were the holy seed; who in their times accounted themselues strangers, Heb 11. 13 14& declared themselues so to be, both in that they chused to dwell in tents, Heb. 11. 9.& not in houses or Cities, as the posterity of Cain did, for they held themselues strangers on earth, and expecting eueryevery day the word of God to call them hither or thither, at his pleasure, they would not cumber thēselues with buildings or purchases; but betooke themselues to poore and portable tents, which were soone pitched vp, and as soone taken downe. As also in that they were contented to wander vp & down as Pilgrims; restlesly from place to place, insomuch as the iourneyes and trauels of Abraham recorded in Stoty, amounts to 1794. miles; Iacobs little lesse, whose posterity was a stranger in Egypt foure hundred yeeres; & from thence were taken into the terrible Wildernesse; where they wandred forty yeeres, and all the rest of them in the wide wildernes of this world and vale of Baca, onelyonly passed thorow as Pilgrims vntounto the hea…ly Canaan. All which our holy …ophet reuoluing in his minde, subscribes the same schedule, that he is a stranger a…so as they were.
Hence we learne,Doct. 1. That all the Saints of God, & true beleeuers, are strangers vponupon earth: for so was Dauid, and all his Fathers of his flesh, and of his faith, as himselfe not only here in sense of his affliction professeth, but elsewhere stirred vp by the sight and sense of Gods abundant mercy towards him, and in the … of his solemne ioy & festiuity, vttereth the same words,foreign. 1 Chro. 29. 15. All things come of thee, and of thine owne hand wee hauehave giuen thee: for we are strangers before thee, & soiourners like all our Fathers. 2 Cor. 5. 6. while we are at home in the body, we are … from the Lord. And indeed eueryevery Christian is a Gershom: that is, a stranger, and in a strange land: in respect, first of the place, for they are absent from heauenly Canaan, their owne home and Countrey: here is not their Fathers house, nor their brethren and sisters, nor their treasure: they are Citizens with Saints, Ephe. 2. 19& heauen their home, where our Lord Iesus is preparing Mansions for them, Joh. 14. Secondly, as for the world, it is but a way to their Cou…try, & as a wildernesse thorow which the Israel of God passe towards their Canaan. They are indeed in the world, but not of it: for they are called out of the world, 1. by Christs separation, Ioh. 15. 19. I hauehave chosen you out of the world. 2. Christ interdiction, 1 Joh. 2. 15. LoueLove not the world, nor the things of the world. 3. Christs operation,Commorandi deuers… rium, non habita… di Cicero do Senect. Gal. 6. 14. The world is crucified to me, and I vntounto the world. The very light of nature saw and said, that nature hath afforded vsus in this world only an Inne, and not a dwelling: and should not grace much more acquaint vsus with Gods decree and ordinance, which is, that man should be a while in the world, as in a way to passe him vntounto his finall estate elsewhere, or at most, but a traueller in an Inne, which hee is ready to leaue the next morrow.
Secondly, in their owne account and confession they are strangers, Heb. 11. 13. All these confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims vponupon earth. And in the account of the world also they are strangers, which vseth them strangely & coursly, as Dauid was a stranger to his brethren, Ps. 69. 8. And wheras, were they of the world, it would know them, louelove them, and hug them in their lap: they being strangers, it is another Egypt to Gods first borne, and knoweth them not but to vexe and oppresse them.
Thirdly, in respect of the short time of thier continuance, for as a stranger abides not in a strange place (as the natiues do) but hastneth through his way, and so with his time cutteth & shortneth his iourney; so the godly hauehave here no abiding city,Heb. 13 14 neither is this their resting place. For this cause the whole militant Church is called a Tabernacle: & the Saints cal the time of their life for the shortnesse & discontinuance of it,Psal. 15… ▪ 1… but a being in this tabernacle, because first,2 Pet. 1. 13 as a tabernacle is but a soiorning place, set vp for a shift to hide our selues for a small while, as the souldier hides himselfe in a sconce or tent onelyonly for the time of a siege at the longest: so is it with the tabernacle of the body, set vp for a small time, not so much for it self as for the inmate, the soule which is contained in it. Secondly, as a tabernacle is a moueable tent, pitched for a day; ouer night is set vp, and perhaps the next day the stakes are pulled vp, and the cords are slacked, and the conering is folded vp: no otherwise is it with the tabernacle of the body, which no man knoweth, whether it shall stand vnmoued till the next morrow, no, nor till the next houre.
Thirdly, as a Tabernacle is only a couering, but hath no foundation to settle vponupon… so Iob speaketh of our bodies, as houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust: Iob. 4. 19.that if God did not fasten the siluer cords of them to his appointed time, eueryevery blast would ouerthrow them eueryevery moment.
Fourthly, the godly are strangers here below in respect of their businesse, & imployment; a stranger is vnacquainted with the affairs of the place where he takes vp his Inne, he meddles not with the gouernment, the offices, the passages of causes in the towne where he lyeth as a stranger; but intendeth his iourney, & only careth how he may passe through: and if he hauehave any busines there, it is only to aduance his estate at home in his own country. And so it is with the godly; they estrange themselues as much as may bee from the world, & the common courses of it: their callings they cast not off, because they are cō manded to abide in them with moderate care, to prouide for themselues, and theirs. And for earthly things they cannot bee without them, while they hauehave a life to maintain by them; but yet they meddle no more with them than needs must, and in the midst of their earthly businesse are not earthly minded.Col 3. 10. They are Burgesses of another Corporation, & all their trading and traffick here is to make themselues a rich and sure estate there. They hauehave a chiefe businesse to doe, which they principally intend, namely, to seeke the kingdome of God, and the righteousnes of it; to repent of their sinnes, to beleeue in the Son of God, & to make their election sure: whereto they giuegive all diligence, as they are exhorted, 2 Pet. 1. 10.
Fiftly, the godly are strangers in respect of their affection: for, as strangers long after home, and where euer their bodies be, their hearts and mindes are not there, but at home where their deare friends and estates are: So is it with the Saints, whose mindes, and meditations, and conuersation are in heauen before-hand: for there is their Fathers house, and there is their inheritance, there is Iesus Christ their treasure, and no maruel if their hearts be there where their treasure is. The worldling hath his whole portion in this life, and therefore hee bestowes all his heart, his thoughts, his cares, his desires aud indeuors vponupon the world; he runs after it with a full desire. But it cannot be so with the godly man who is minded as was good Nehemiah, 2. 3. Who although his person was in the King of Persia his Court, and was a neere attendant at the Kings Table, yet his heart was at Jerusalem. And as Daniel, who while he was in the land of his captiuity, yet he opened his windowes eueryevery day towards Ierusalem.
Quest. But are not wicked men strangers here vponupon earth, as well as the godly?
Ans. Wicked men and worldlings are indeed strangers here, if we looke towards God, they are strangers with him, strangers from the Couenant of God; and stranhers from the life and waies of God. Or if wee consider the time of their continuance here, they hauehave no more continuance here than others: they hauehave no Leases of their liues, nor no surer holds of their estates than others hauehave. The rich Glutton heard, Thon foole, this night shall they take away thy soule, and all. Or if we consider the place in which they liue, they are strangers; for the East winde takes away and hurls them out of their place as easily as any other.Iob 27. 21▪ And the mighty dye suddenly, & are taken away without hand. Iob 33. 20.And their houses & possessions which knew them once, shall know them no more, but take in other strangers for a terme of dayes, as they took in them.
But wicked men are not strangers as the godly are, in 4 respects
1. In their owne account, or conceit; for, though their estate be as vnstable as any others, yet hauehave they a strong cōceit of continuance, and of taking their rest for many yeares. They are described to be such as put off the euill day, & make leagues with death, & are hardly brought to confesse themselues to bee pilgrims and strangers.
2. In the worlds account they be not strangers, but neighbors & Towne-dwellers. The world knowes them, & loueth them as her own: yea, …ulleth them in her lap as her children, shee graceth them, enricheth them, & aduanceth them as men of best deserts. In a word, she thinketh nothing she hath too good for such fast friends, and diligent seruants.
3. In their owne affection they be no strangers; for how can they considering they hauehave no other portion but here? Ps. 17. 14. How can they but mind earthly things,Phil. 3. 19. to whom God hath shewed no better? How can they but giuegive away their affections, & bury their hearts in earth, & drowne themselues in the delights of it, that hauehave no other God, no other heauen? What man wil be willing to giuegive ouer a broken title, till he be assured and seated in a better? which because they are not, like profane Esaus, they hunger after pottage, let the blessing goe where it will.
4. In their course and conuersation they doe not declare themselues to be strangers. Al their study, their paines, their sweat & indeuour, is to get a sure & contented estate in earth: they treasure all in earth; If they can encrease their corn, their wine, their oyle, their coyne, their commodities, they rest as in a good portion; seldome or neuer seeking in earnest that good part which should neuer be taken from them, nor they from it, if once they could attain it. Thus much of the Doctrine, & this question. The Vse followeth.
First, in that the godly man is a stranger and Pilgrim here, wee learne sundry duties. As first to practise Christian sobriety, in the affecting,Christian sob…iety in 1▪ affecting. enioying, and vsing the things of this life. For, 1. a stranger in his way affects not, desires not, lookes not for great things for himselfe in the City he trauelleth thorow; hee lightly regardeth the honours, offices, reuenues, and priuileges of it: his chiefe desires and affections are elsewhere: all the priuilege hee expecteth there, is how to passe quietly and safely through: Enen so ought the Christian Pilgrim by the weaned carriage of himselfe towards things below,Heb. 11. 14 declare plainly (as the Patriarchs did) that he seeketh a Countrey.
Seekest thou great things for thy selfe (saith the Lord to Baruk) seeke them not. Ier. 45. 5.And why must he not? because he was but a stranger in that Land, now presently to bee giuen ouer into the hands of strangers.
Secondly,2. Enioying. A stranger enioyes the things of a strange place as a stranger: hee vseth other mens goods for a night, but hee setteth not his heart on them, nor taketh much delight in them, because he knoweth hee must leaue them next morning, and may take none away with him: Euen so a Christian stranger taketh but a little delight in his iourney, because he thinks not himselfe at home, neither doth he enioy things here as his portiō, nor as his own, because he is to be countable for them: and because he wel knoweth, that too much delight in fleshly and worldly pleasures giueth life to corruption, & weakneth grace in him, he attendeth that wholsome Apostolical exhortation, 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearely beloued, as strangers & Pilgrims abstaine from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soule. Thirdly,3. Vsing the world. a stranger vseth the necessary comforts hee meeteth with in his way as a stranger; hee vseth them rather for necessity than for satiety, onelyonly for present occasion, & that with moderation and sobriety: Euen so a Christian Pilgrim must learne to vse the world as not vsing it: 1 Cor. 7. 31and in the midst of his wealth & abundance, in the f…ition of his greatest delights and pleasures, to take his mind off them, and to lift vp his thoughts to heauen, the place of his abode. Which duty the Apostle strongly enforceth, Phil. 3. 20. Carnall men mind earthly things, and forgetting both heauen, and the God of heauen, Make their belly their God; that is, drowne themselues in the pond & puddle of sensuality. But farre be it from vsus, who professe the teaching of grace, so to doe; Our conuersation is in heauen, from whence wee looke for a Sauiour; they hauehave their portion in this life, Psal. 17. 14but our portion is in another, and contrary courses beseeme men of contrary Countries.
Secondly, In that we are strangers here, we learn another duty, which is, the exercise of Christian patience and contentment in all estates, be it sicknesse, pouerty, reproches, abuses or wrongs in any kind: a stranger is contented to endure the wrongs that meet him in his way; he digesteth, and putteth vp all patiently; he complaineth not, and much lesse seeketh reuenge: for he knowes he shall hauehave little rest or redresse till he come home: Euen so the Christian Pilgrim must learne patiently to endure the afflictions, and course and crosse vsages of this strange Country, 2 Cor. 4. last verse, the blessed Apostle was contented to endure all indignities and wrongs: because he was of another country, the high priuileges & excellencies whereof, Eye hath neuer seen, not care hath euer heard, nor euer entred into the heart of man. …oh. 14. 4.When the Disciples of our Sauior tooke it heauily that Christ said he must leaue them: for now what could they expect but to be exposed and laid open to all the worlds malignity, destitute of their Lords presence and protection? he comforteth them by the same argument, That this is not their place of rest, but hee goeth to prepare a place for them. Heb. 11. 26.Moses chused to suffer afflictions with Gods, people, because he was a stranger here, and looked for a recomp…nce of reward hereafter. A cloud of Martyrs as witnesse seale this truth, who were slaine, hewen a sunder, wandred vp and downe in sheeps skinnes, in goats skinnes, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented; Veis. 35.and would not bee deliuered, (namely, vponupon vnequall conditions) because they saw that God had prepared better things for them.
A stranger turnes not against eueryevery Dog that barketh at him: let Doeg accuse, & Shimei reuile, let Curs barke, there is no hope to still them, the best way is to contemne them, and attend and ride on thy way. A stranger shrinkes not for eueryevery showre of raine, nor is disheartned with the roughnesse,Nu…ee…'a est transibis: and foulnesse of the way, but hee will through thicke and thin, through drops and drout and all because he is going home. Neither must thou that art a Christian Pilgrim, shrinke for the stormes of the world, nor the asperousnesse of the way, which is all strewed with crosses; but hearten thy selfe as the passenger, who vsually saith, it is neuer an ill day that hath a good night; & though many bitter pils of harsh and strange vsages must be swallowed by these strangers, yet the consideration of home is as sugar in their pockets to sweeten them all.
A stranger measures not his owne worth, nor thinketh worse of himselfe for things befalling him in the way; but esteemeth & valueth himselfe, according to his estate at home: So must the Christian stranger, liue by faith, looke vponupon things not seene. Let the world vnderunder-value thee, content thy selfe, that thou hast credit, & reputation at home, where thou art knowne, and thy worth is known, which by no disparagement in the way can be obscured or diminished.
Thirdly, a third duty hence, that we are strangers here, is to learne to estrange our selues from the world, and courses of worldly men. A stranger when euer hee trauels, retaineth the manners, fashions, and customes of his own countrey; a Christian stranger although he be in the world, yet he is not of the world, hee is of another corporation, and therefore though he walke in the flesh, 2 Cor 10▪ 3▪ foreign.yet hee must not warre according to the flesh. He carrieth this body of flesh about him as others doe, but he must fight against flesh and the lusts of it, contrary to the Patrons and defenders of the corruptions that are in the world through lust. The world may and must enioy our presence for a time, but must at no time gaine our conformity to it, Rom. 12. 2. Fashion not your selues according to this world; that is, the customes and guizes of it; because it lyeth in wickednesse, and the Christian is cast into another forme of doctrine and conuersation. Art thou now sollicited to follow the lusts and fashions of this world? thinke with thy selfe, that thou art a stranger here, and of another countrey: thou liuest vnderunder other lawes: thou maist not cast in thy lot with the wicked of the world, nor giuegive voyce or suffrage in their meetings, but be as Lot, who though he were in Sodom, was not of Sodom, but was perpetually vexed with the vncleane conuersation of those wicked men. Art thou prouoked to sweare, to drinke excessiuely, to lye for aduantage, to breake the Sabbath for gaine, to vncleannesse, or any other soule lust? Now say to thy selfe, I am of the kingdome of light, but this is a worke of darknesse; this is an vnlawfull act in my Countrey, and why should I practise it here? seeing my Lord and King must needs know it: if I commit treason here against my King and Countrey; my King hath informers enow, and I shall lose my whole estate there, and bee banished out of my Countrey for euer. Shall I, (saith Joseph) commit this sinne against my God, against my Master? Seeing my Master hath kept nothing from me but sinne, I will not doe this thing, I will not sinne, and commit this high wickednesse.
Fourthly, A fourth duty is, that seeing we are strangers here, to learne to affect our own countrey, and highly to esteeme it. EueryEvery man by nature loueth his natiue country best, neither thinketh himselfe so well in any forraine land: and strangers, especially hauing parents, kindred, and great reuenues in their natiue soyle, and being hardly intreated where they so…ourne, would be glad to returne home, and enioy the sight of those whomu they hauehave long longed to see: Euen so the Christian Pilgrim. Neuer did Israel more affect and extol their owne countrey in their banishment from it, and captiuity in Babylon, than the Christian stranger doth affectedly desire, and prefer his heauenly Countrey aboue this strange land, the Countrey of his captiuity: For, he discerneth that this is not his Country: first, That is a mans Country where he was borne & brought vp; but whence taketh a Christian his spirituall birth, or where is he brought vp but in the Church and kingdome of Christ? Earth giueth him a birth and being as he is man, but as a Christian he is borne of God. Secondly, againe, that is a man… countrey where his parents, his ancestors, & deare kindred dwell and inhabit. Now where dwelleth a Christian mans Father, but in heauen? Where is his elder brother but there? Where are all his brethren and sisters, sons and daughters of the same parents, but there? and therefore heauen is his Country. Thirdly, further, that is a mans Countrey where his principall estate, and goods are, where his patrimony and inheritance lyeth; and where is the chiefe portion, the treasure, the immortall inheri…āce of the Christian, but in heauen? And where else is his Countrey? Now then, a Christian considering on the one hand, that he is in a strange Countrey, and how hardly he hath bin intreated in it, and so likely to be still; and on the other hand, that he hath a home and a father there that loueth him dearely; and that his elder brother Iesus Christ, and all his spiritual kindred, the Saints of God are there: And besides that, he hath a rich portion and a large patrimony, euen an immortall inheritance in heauen; how can he choose but to be reared in his affections, yea, rauished to be there? desiring nothing in the world more than to be dissolued hence, & to be with Christ, which is best of all. A Traueller hath his minde and thoughts still vponupon home, and saith with himselfe, Home is homely. And the Marriner, or Sea-faring man in a storme, or rough Sea, hath his desires on the Shore, and his minde is not where his …ody is. So is it with the Christian Passenger, his minde is not where his body is: and if he cannot get home in the body as soone as he desireth, yet in his spirit, he will mind heauen, and heauenly things: he will get as neere home as he can: if hee cannot get into the heart of the city, hee will be sure to get into the sub…bs, the Church of God. If hee cannot get suddenly into that Jerusalem which is aboue, R…u. 21. 2.he will get into the Ierusalem which is from aboue: and where his person cannot bee for the time, his conuersation and meditation shal be in heauen; Mat. 6. 21.for, where his treasure is, there will his heart be also.
Vse 2. In that wee are strangers with God, we learne diuers things:
1. The soueraignty and power of God, who is the great owner and ruler of the whole earth. Zach. 4. 14.Kings, themselues, who are the highest earthly Lords, and commanders, are but strangers with God,Psal. 24. 1. for the earth is the Lords, and all that therein is: And no man sitteth in his owne, but are Tenants at will vndre this great Land-Lord. The greatest of men, yea, of Kings, are but as Dauid was, soiourners in his sight, Leuit. 15. 23. The Land is his, and we are but strangers and soiourners with him.
2. We must hence gather out our owne duty towards God, in whose Countrey we soiourne; and our duty is manifold:
1. To aske leaue of God, to passe through his Countrey; so did Israel of Edom, a wicked Prince and people, Numb. 20. I pray thee that we may passe thorow thy country, &c. It is fit to ask leaue where no right is. Besides, that by daily prayer for Gods leaue, and fauourable louelove in our way, we both ascribe vntounto God the honour of soueraignty and bounty; as also sweeten his mercies which he giueth vsus leaue to enioy,1 Tim. 4. 5 all which are sanctified to vsus by the word and by prayer.
2 Binde thy selfe from trespassing in the way and Countrey through which thou passest: So did Israel vntounto Edom, We will not goe through the fields, Num. 20. 17nor the vinyards: neitheir will we drinke of the water of the wels: we will goe by the Kings way, and neither turn to the right hand, nor left, til we be past thy borders. So must the Christian be carefull he transgresse not the lawes of the Countrey in which he soiournes, to sturre vp against himselfe the wrath and reuenge of the Lord in whose Country he soiourneth; bu… frame himselfe to please him, by whose leaue he trauelleth through his Countrey. How carefull and digent were Josephs brethren to please their vnknowne brother,Gen. 44. the Lord of that strange Countrey? Much more ought we to please our brother Jesus Christ, the Lord of this strange countrey, through which we passe to our owne Canaan.
3 Cast thy care vponupon God, and I depend vponupon him for al needfull supplies; so did holy Dauid here, because he was stranger in Gods Countrey, he therefore casteth his burden vponupon the Lord, desiring him to heare his prayer, and to hearken to his cry, and not to be silent at his teares. A stranger ouer-loadeth nor himselfe with cares, and carriages; but carrying a competent viaunce with him, dependeth for all necessaries vponupon them where he soiourneth; so a Christian stranger need be in nothing carefull, Phil▪ 4. 6.but in all things let his request be shwed vntounto God (the King of the Countrey) in prayer. All … exexcessiue carefulnesse is to bee auoyded of a Christian, yea, suppose the care bee about things lawfull, if it be excessiue, it is sinfull, and vnseemely in a Christian Pilgrim.Psal. 37. 5. Let thy chiefe care be, to commit thy way unto the Lord, 1 Pet. 5. 7.and trust in him, and he shal bring it to passe. Psal. 55. 22. Cast thy care vponupon the Lord, and hee shall nourish thee.
4. Bee much in thankfulnesse vntounto God for all the comfortable blessings thou receiuest in thy Pilgrimage: a stranger thankfully accepteth all the fauors shewed him in a strange Countrey: and so did holy Dauid, when God had enabled him to prepare abundantly for the building of the Temple, breake out into abundant praises;1 Chro. 29, 13, 14. We thanke thee our God, and prayse thy glorious name. But who am I? or what is my people, that we should offer vntounto thee? for all is thine, and of thine owne hauehave we giuen thee; for, wee are strangers before thee, and soiourners, as all our Fathers were. And surely, it well beseemeth the iust to be thankfull, seeing they are strangers in the Lords land, and all the comforts they enioy, are his by right and possession, and theirs onelyonly by leaue, and thankfull acceptation.
5. Be contented and patient, if this great Lord deny thee any thing thou wouldst hauehave whilest thou passest through his Countrey;Num. 20. 21 so was Israel when Edom out of a churlish and hurtfull mind, denied them peaceable passage. But the Lord of this Countrey knoweth what is fit for vsus, and neuer denieth any thing out of a churlish minde, neither can deny any thing good in it selfe, and good to vsus; and if he withhold any hurtfull things, we must be not only patient but thankfull.
Vse 3. In that we are strangers, and trauelling to our country, as all our Fathers hauehave done before vsus, it appeareth that our wisedome will be to resolue of paines and trauell all the daies of our life, and not to expect rest till the night of death come, when dying in the Lord we shall rest from our labours: and because this is not our rest, we must arise and depart hence. Mica. 2: 20And seeing we can no more auoid this weary iourney, than any of our Fathers could do; we must rather bestow wise and carefull thoughts, in fitting our selues to our iourney, and in behauing our selues through our way, than to expect to auoid the tediousnesse and difficulties of it.
Quest. How may we fit our selues for our iourney home into our owne Countrey?
Ans. A traueller fitteth himselfe to his iourney two … specially:
1. By casting off … behinde him … burden or … 2. By prouiding for himselfe things fit for his iourney.
Of the former sort there be three especiall encumbrances that the Christian Pilgrim must lighten himselfe of. The first of them is sinne, which as an intollerable burden presseth vsus downe, and hangeth fast on: and therefore the Apostle counselleth to cast it off, Heb. 13. 2.if we meane to run the race before vsus. Now the way to lighten our selues of this weight, is to exercise eueryday the grace of repentance and mortification, and daily to take some sinne or other in hand, and at least to slake and abate the power of it, that if we cannot be rid of the sinne in respect of the presence of it, yet we may be rid of the reigne and command of it.
The second, are earthly cares, profits and pleasures, which are as heauie stones tyed vntounto vsus, and pressing vsus from heauen to earth, making heauie and sadde the soule, and vnweldy in her motions. The way for vsus to lighten our selues of these encumbrances, is daily and continually to eleuate, & raise our thoughts homeward, and heauenward, and exercise our selues in holy meditations, praiers, and praises, sundry times through the day.
For as he that would keepe a Clocke in true motion, must eueryevery day sundry times windevp the plummets, which are still drawing downward; euen so must we doe with our hearts; the cares and pleasures of the world are as plummets of Lead, pressing down the soule incessantly, in her motion towards heauen; and he that would continue his motion must daily winde vp his heart towards God: and by maine strength of grace fetch it vp from earth, that it may be firmly setled on heauenly things, delighting it selfe with the riches of heauen, and with contemplation of those pleasures, that are at the right hand of God for euermore.
The third encumbrance, is the feare of death, which presseth vsus all our life; and the Christian must lighten himselfe of this burden by looking beyond it to his owne home; by longing after the liuing God, whom none can see in the body and liue; by considering that the neerer he is to death, he is so much neerer home: and what stranger feareth to goe home; or is sorry when after a long absence, he is entring into his owne Citie?
Secondly, A wise Christian will furnish and prouide himself with necessaries, and needfull supplies, to helpe him through his iournie.
There be fiue things especially which a traueller must fit himselfe withal, that his iourney may be lesse tedious, and more prosperous to himselfe.
1. The knowledge of the direct way. Now whereas no man knowes the way to the heauenly countrey, without Gods teaching, eueryevery one must go to God himselfe first, and then to such as God hath appointed to be the directors, and instructors in this way. The former we see in holy Dauid, Psalme 119. 19. I am a stranger vponupon earth, therefore hide not thy Commandements from me. He knew well how hardly a blinde man could performe a farre and dangerous iourney, and thus it is onelyonly th… Commandement that shews the way to this heauenly Countrie. Why? was Dauid a blinde man, or did he not know the ten Commandements? Euen Dauid who was not stone blinde, but much enlightned, was blinde in part, and still earnest, that the LORD would further open his eyes, Ps. 119. 18▪ 34▪ 35.to see the way more plainly and clearely than yet he did: And though he knew the words, and true sence of the ten Commandements, yet he desireth still to be led further into the particular vse, application, direction, and obedience of them, and of all other parts of the Word,Vers. 96. which he saith, is exceeding large. And for the latter; As a stranger in an vnknowne Country, and way, wil euer be asking the way of eueryevery one neuer so simple, who knoweth the way better than himselfe; aud will obserue the senerall markes, and statues, by which he may know, whether he be right or no: So must eueryevery Christian Pilgrim be inquisitiue of his way; for which purpose he must frequent the ministry of the word diligētly, which God hath erected to be as A light in a darke plabe; as the Pillar of the Cloude and fire by night and by day, to direct vsus through this dry and desart wildernesse; as Ariadnes threede to helpe vsus through this troublesome Maze and Labyrinth; and as a voyce behinde vsus, saying, This is the way, walke in it. An inquisitiue Christian will be still consulting with Gods Ministers about the way of God: and conferring with priuate Christians, be they neuer so meane in place or appearance, concerning their great iourney betweene heauen and earth; and will take speciall notice of the markes of their way, as whether it be the narrow way, or the broad way; whether it be strewed with crosses, or pleasant to the flesh; whether it be a cleane way, or a foule, dirty, and miry way of lusts; whether it be an old beaten way by the feet of ancient beleeuers, the Prophets, the Apostles, and holy men, yea, of Iesus Christ himselfe; or a new broken and deuised way, vnknowne vntounto them, and the Scriptures; whether it be a right way, Hos. 14. 9.or a crooked path of by-lanes, & turnings to the right hand or to the left; whether it be a lightsome, or a darke way, and the like.Pro. 4. 19. Thus inquisitîue and carefull will a Christian Pilgrim be of the best directions he can get; as the poore iaylor will know of Paul his prisoner, what he may doe to be saued; and it is none of the lightest plagues of God, to hauehave an heart vnwilling to aske about the way of heauen.
A second comfortable helpe in an vnknowne way, is a good guide. The Christian stranger hath need of a guide, and the best guide is God himselfe, yea, and more, God is the onelyonly guide. In any other way or iourney, the natiues or inhabitants can guide a stranger from place to place, but here none but God can be our guide, Psalm. 25. 9. He will guide in Judgement, and teach the humble his way.
Quest. But how then may a m…an get God to be his guide?
Answer. By two speciall meanes:▪
1. By earnest Prayer: Dauid knowing that none but GOD could guide him, prayeth, Psal. 143. 8. Shew mee the way that I shall goe. And verse 10. Let thy good Spirit lead me vntounto the land of righteousnesse.
2. By constant subiection to Gods word; for GOD goeth before vsus by his word, as he did before Israel in the Pillar of the Cloud and fire, and willing obedience to Gods word, maketh God our guide.
Thirdly, A stranger in his way needeth his viance, or prouision for his expēce. The word of God is the Christians viaticum, and supplieth all his needs, it offoords him food in his hunger, being the bread of life, and the Mannah that came down from heauen; it yeeldeth him drink in his thirst, being water of life, & whosoeuer thirsteth, is called to thes sweet waters of consolation, drawne out of the wells of saluation; it affoords him Physicke in his soules sicknesse; strength in his weakenesse, and neuer leaueth him that learneth vponupon it, without sufficient means to helpe him through his iourney.
Fourthly, a traueller hath need of a weapon to defend himselfe, and to wound or keepe off his enemies. The same word of God is a speciall part of our spirituall armour; it is the sword of the Spirit. And as Dauid said of Goliahs sword, Oh, there is none to that, giuegive me that; so there is no sword to this for the repulse of all spiriall enemies, and for the sure defence of him that shall buckle it close vntounto him. Besides that, it directs him to obtaine and fasten vntounto him all the other peeces of Cstristian armour, so as in no part he lye open or naked to danger.
Fifthly, A Treueller hath need of good company, which is pro vehiculo, as good as a Waggon or Coach, to carry him with the more ease through the tediousnesse of the way. The same testimonies of God are sweet companions, and helpe to deceiue, and pas…e ouer our time comfortably; if wee can talke of them in the way, and in the house, and in the field; and if we can whet them vponupon our selues and others, if wee make them The man of our counsell, and meditate on them night and day: hee is neuer alone that hath God and Christ conferring, counselling, and directing him in the Scriptures: neither is hee alone, who when hee is most alone, is in Soliloquie with God: this man wanteth neither company nor comfort.
Now how happily shall this man compasse his iourney, and goe singing through the most tedious wayes of his Pilgrimage, Ps. 119. 14.that hath thus fu…nished himselfe with the vnderstanding of his way, with a faithfull and vnerring guide, with sufficient prouision for his expence, with a seruiceable weapon, and with a sweet and chearfull Companion?
Vse 4. In that we are Pilgrims in the way to our Countrey: In this way we must learne to demeane our selues as way-faring men, and imitate the Pilgrim in these particulars.
1. To be stirring early for our iourney, and take the day before vsus, that we may dispatch our iourney before we be benighted. It is our Lords counsell to worke while the day lasteth, because the night commeth wherein none can worke, Joh. 11. 9. And his owne practise propounded for our imitation, John 9. 4. and imitated by the Saints, whose praises are in the Scriptures. Holy Dauid serued out his time according to the counsell of God; that is, while he liued he was a seruant of God, for the good of the age in which he liued.1 Pet. 4. 2. And the Apostle Peter exhorteth, that henceforth so much time as remaineth in the flesh, wee spend according to the will of God▪ Wel did the holy men consider, what an aduantage it is to set out in the way of God early, euen in the morning of the life: What a sweet comfort it is to be early graced; that we hauehave but a short day passed away in a few houres to trauell in; that this day stayeth not, but hasteneth from vsus; that this day is the onelyonly time to walke in; and that this day being shut in, there is no more time to worke or walke in, and therefore did bestirre themselues lest they should fall short of their intended iourney.
2. As a man in his iourney, will be glad of any good company that will goe but part of his way with him: So must the Christian in his iourney, be glad of company in his way to heauen; and heartily embrace the fellowship and society of the Saints, which meane to goe through with him. Indeed if a man would choose to sort himselfe with euill men, he might get more company, but they goe the contrary way; but a wise traueller will rather chuse to goe with one, or two, yea or alone in his right way, than goe a cleane contrary way for company. Let vsus be glad to meet our countrey-men in this through-fare, be kinde to them for the same Countrey sake; and as we shall easily know them by their language, habit, and conuersation, so let vsus heartily affect them, and vndiuidedly cleaue vntounto them.
3. In this way be glad (as a stranger in a strange Country) to s…nd home vponupon eueryevery occasion offering it selfe: send home thy prayers, thy daily desires, thy thoughts, thy meditations, thy praises, thy sacrifices, thy louelove-tokens. And because some thing is to be done for thee at home now in thine absence, beseech Christ thy best friend, to set forward thy businesse there, and to looke to thine occasions, lest all goe to wracke, by preparing a mansion for thee; by making intercession for thee; by sending out his Spirit for thy direction and comfort, till thou returnest home vntounto him; eternall praises and thankes for such great fauours, so freely conferred vponupon thee.
4. In this way be content if sometimes thou art weary, as one that goeth vp a steepe hill: if sometimes thou sighest and pantest in thy painefull travell, through a foule way, and stormie weather: Let the tediousnesse of the way make thee desire the wayes end, and to couet to be at home with Christ, which is best of all. But be sure in thy wearinesse thou sit not downe, much lesse looke backe with Lots wi…e;Phil. 3. 13. but presse hard forward to the make, as one resolued to goe through and perseuere to the end: considering that after an hill commeth a valley, after foule way commeth faire, and after a storme a faire shine and gleame againe:Psal. 30. Heauinesse may endure for a night, but ioy returneth in the morning. Heb. 10. 36If wee hauehave neede of patience for a while, it is but to enioy the promises. 2. Cor. 1.If the sufferings for Christ encrease,Psal. 31. so shall also the comforts. And many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord deliuereth them out of all. The end which crowneth all thy labour is worth all thy paines and patience.
Vse 5. Seeing all the Saints are strangers here as all our Fathers hauehave beene: Here are sundry grounds of comfort arising hence to beleeuers.
1. Against the disgraces and open iniuries they perpetually sustaine from the hands of euill men, and the small fauour they finde in the world: for what can they looke for other, being strangers, but strange vsages and entertainments from the world? If they were of the world, the world would louelove them as her owne. EueryEvery Corporation preferreth into offices her owne free men, and inhabitants; and it were folly for a stranger passing but through, …o expect those places, and preferments: he must rather cast to endure wrongs, where his worth is vnknowne, and expect no remedy or release at any of their hands; but herein comfort himselfe that he hath credit, and can hauehave right in his owne countrey; and if he were once at home, he should put vp no such wrongs and indignities.
2. Against the troubles and oppressions of the Saints of God in these heauie times of warres and bloudie persecutions; in which the Captaines of Antichrist chase the godly from their seates, houses, estates, and countries, not suffering the Doue of Christ a rest for the sole of her foot. Here is a ground of comfort:
1. That all the furie of the enemies, exiling and banishing the godly, can but make them strangers, and so were they before, wheresoeuer they dwelt in any place of the earth. It is no great addition of misery to banish him, that was in banishment before; or to driue a man out of one strange place into another: He that is already a stranger vponupon earth in affection, can easily become actually a stranger, if God call him vntounto it.
2. When the enemies hauehave exercised all their rage, they cannot banish them out of GODS Countrey; but they are strangers before GOD, who is equally present with them in one corner of the earth as well as in another, to protect them, to prouide for them, to pittie them, and guide them home to their owne Countrey.
3. Although the enemies would be endlesse in their rage against the Saints: and were they to liue euer, they would euer nou…ish and exercise an immorttall wrath against the people of God, yet can they not inflict so much mischiefe on them as they desire: For besides that themselues are mortall, and besides the justice of God breaking quickly to peeces the roddes of his wrath, and casting them into the fire: the godly themselues are but strangers here, and of short continuance: so as, suppose their sufferings be sharpe, yet they be but short. The roddes of the wicked shall not alwayes lye vponupon the lot of the righteous (as they desire they should) seeing the godly are strangers as well in time as in place, and themselues not continuing, their misery cannot be continuall.
3. In the many losses of these worldly and corruptible things, which take them to their wings, and flye from one master to another, aey meanes of warre, mortality, and many? casualties: a Christian hath comfort, that he being a stranger here, he hath no great estate to loose: some Moueables, such as he carryeth along with him in his iourney, he may loose by the way, but his estate and inheritance is safe enough at home. Nay, in that great and finall destruction of the whole world by the dreadfull fire of the last day; When the heauens shall passe away with a noise, 1 Pet. 3. 10and the elements shal melt with heat, and the earth, with the workes that are▪ therein shall be burnt vp. When all other men shall be loosers of all their whole estates, onelyonly the godly (because they are Strangers here) they shall escape all these things, and be no loosers at all.
If some whole Citie should be consumed by fire, when the whole multitude of Inhabitants sustaine losse, and beggerie, by … Accident; a stranger … but passing through the … and hath his estate and … elsewhere, he … at all: So the … in that day, … nor … who had no other portion but in this life.
4. As his estate is safe, so likewise is the person of the godly Pilgrim: For he not being of the world, he shall not perish wi…h the world. It was happie for Lot that hee was a stranger,Gen. 19. 9 and scorned as a stranger by the Sodomites; for when all they were scalded with a shower of fire and Brimstone, the Lord being mercifull vntounto him, his person was in safetie. Seuer thy selfe from the condition of sinfull men; estrange thy selfe from the condition of sinnefull men: estrange thy selfe from their courses, walke as one deliuered from this euill world, if not yet in respect of place, yet in respect of new qualities▪ thou shalt hauehave GODS protection, and see the sa…uation of the LORD, when all the wicked Inhabitants of the earth shal… call for the hils to couer them, and the mountaines to fall vponupon them, Reu. 6. 16, 17.to hide them from the wrath of the Lambe: for the great day of his wrath is come, and who can stand?
FINIS.