The State of True Happiness, Text (4 of 4)

The State of True Happiness · Text (4 of 4)

p. 118And as the word of God is planted and rooted in the conscience of Gods child, for his direction and constancie in the waies of godlinesse: so is it also there fastned for his forbearance of sinnes; by these three properties, which are not to be found in the formall hypocrite:

1Remorse for sinnes past, by which he is saued from relapses and backslidings.

2A present sensiblenesse of al manner of sinnes, whereby his present integritie and vnblameablenes, is happily preserued.

3An habituall tendernesse, by which he is armed and senced against the corruptions of the time, vnconscionable courses, and commission of sinnes to come.

1In remorse for sins past, I comprise a more ful knowledge, an vniuersall reuelation of his sinnes, by the light of Gods word, and power of his spirit: and that both in extension and intension, both in number and grieuousnesse: a sense and feeling of them in their true waight, as they are able to sinke him downe into the bottom of hell. Much sorrow and anguish, for the staine and guiltinesse they hauehave left behind them, and for that they prouoke to iust wrath, so louing and gratious a God. And lastly, a loathing of them, so that hee neuer casts his eies backe vponupon them, but with an addition, of a new and particular detestation. He neuer enters meditation p. 119of the soule & hainous passages of his former life, but with shame and horror. EueryEvery solemne reuiew of his time of darknes and vnregeneration, makes the wound of his remorse to bleed afresh.

By sensiblenes I vnderstand a quicke and present apprehension 2and feeling of eueryevery sin, whether it bee publicke or priuate, open or secret, in our selues or others, as well in our thoughts and affections, as in our words and actions, in our generall or particular calling, more grosse and infamous, or slips and stumblings, scandals, and appearances of euill.

Habituall tendernes is a gracious temper & disposition of 3the conscience, wherby it is apt to be gauled & smart, at the first enteruiew with the iniquities of the time; and at eueryevery occurrence of corruptions and all vnconscionable attempts.

These properties of tendernesse, aptnesse to smart, easines to bleed at the apprehension and approch of sinne, are peculiar to a conscience illightened, sanctified, and purged by the blood of Christ; neuer incident to the best naturall conscience, or furnished with the choysest notions and perfections of ciuill honesty and formalitie: for these are neuer so straite laced, but can let downe at the least without distaste or checke, common sinnes, lesser euils, the gainefull and honourable errors and obliquities of the time.

Hence it is that all prophane and vnregenerate men, wanting the curbe of a sober and sanctified conscience, hauehave euer infinite aduantage, for getting the start and precedencie, in compassing the comforts, glory, and preferments of the world. For they, when the atchieuement of any honour, happinesse or high place is on foot, aduise presently with th… ordinarie informers, and counsellers of their conscience, custome, example, multitude, worldly wisedome, the sway of the times and such like: but with the word of God and godly Christians, onelyonly so farre as they doe not crosse their ends, and contradict those plots and contriuances which they hauehave laid for their aduancement vntounto high roomes. And thus they may passe with reasonable quietnes, without grudging or grieuing of a conscience so guided, thorow a p. 120a thousand corruptions and indirections, basenesse, flatteries, sinfull engagements, vnwarrantable courses. Any of which, if it should meete with a conscience once soundly frighted with horrour of former sinnes, softned and sanctified by the blood of the Lambe, would not onelyonly rubbe off the skin and gaule it, but make it bleed to death. But worldly men are at a point, they must and will enioy the world; for here they hauehave their portion and heauen. They esteeme it their greatest happines to bee admired and adored aboue others; and therefore venture vponupon whatsoeuer vnlawfull and indirect procurements, which may bring them to high places: rather then they will be defeated and disappointed in the pursuit of worldly happinesse, they will thorow, whether it be thicke or thinne, right or wrong, force or fraud, staine of reputation, or wound of conscience; Simonie or flatterie, friend or foe all is one: though in the meane time they strike their owne poore soules thorow with many sorrowes; though when they are most glorious in their owne conceit, & in the …ie of the world; in the iust censure of God, Angels, and sound Christians they be most vile & contemptible: and indeed in this seeming sun-shine of worldly prosperitie, they treasure vp vntounto themselues strange feares and astonishments, snares, fire and brimstone, and stormie tempests against their latter end.

It is otherwise with Gods child in such affaires: He still takes counsell and direction at the oracle of God; with Cornelius resolution, to heare or forbeare whatsoeuer is there commanded or forbidden; and so followes the comforts of this world onelyonly so farre as it will giuegive him leaue, warrant and assistance. But if he be to enter any corrupt course, or to passe thorow any vniustifiable meanes, for the attainement of his purpose and preferment; there presently comes into his mind such considerations as these: Hee conceiues with himselfe, that the passage into any place of office, or honour by corruption, is euer attended with the curse of God; and so no true comfort to be expected in the enioyment and execution: That the restlesse humor, and proud spirit of ambition p. 121euer haunts and possesses men of least worth, and worst conscience: That he which truely feares God neuer desires height of place for the glory or gaine; but onelyonly with a sobor indifferencie, thither enclines and caries his affections and hopes, and that with trembling at the waightinesse of the charge, where it pleaseth diuine prouidence by honest and lawfull meanes to plant or transplant him, for the imployment of his talent; and where hee may most glorifie God, benefit the Church, and keepe a good conscience. He thinkes vponupon the vanitie and miserie of all things we enioy in this world; of that strict and great account hee must very shortly make vntounto the Lord, and Iudge of all the world; of the length of that eternity, thorow all which is vnauoidably to be endured an euerlasting estate, either in the ioyes of heauen, or paines of hell. Out of such thoughts as these springs his truely noble & Christian resolution; that he had rather want preferment while the world stands, and end his daies in a retired and innocent obscuritie, then by casting himselfe into the common fashions and corruptions of the world, forfeit the fruit and comfort of his former integrity, wound his conscience, and serue the time: That he is farre more willing to endure any affliction or disgrace with Gods children, then to enioy the pleasures of sin, and glory of the world for a season.

I now come in the third place, to tell you that the word IIIof God is not rooted in the thoughts of the formall hypocrite; which is the hearer resembled vntounto the stonie ground; and thence riseth a very notable and most speciall difference betwixt him and the child of God, truely possest of the glorious state of Grace.

And I beseech you marke mee in this point. For the thoughts of a man doe farre more cleerely, and impartially distinguish the power of sanctification from the state of formality, then words, actions, and all outwardnesse of cariage. For in these many times is much cunning and enforcement, artificiall and fained behauiours; counterfeit and formall conueiances, disguisements, and hypocrisies. They p. 122are liable to the lawes of men, open and obuious to the eye and iudgement of all; and therefore feare of punishment, reproch, and base reputation, shame, & speech of the world, hope of reward and rising; desire of maintaining a good opinion for honesty and religion; of holding some gainfull coherence with Gods children; are of great power to restraine them, and to keepe them within good compasse and moderation. So that a mans words and actions, may be faire, ingenuous, and honourable; whose thoughts are base, prophane and abominable. But thoughts are the free, immedi… and inuisible productions of the heart, neuer taken within the walke of humane iustice, by their naturall secrecie exempted from mans most priuie search, and all executions of State. Their aberrations are onelyonly censurable by the searcher of all hearts; no eye pries into these secrets; but that which is ten thousand times brighter then the Sunne: And therefore millions of thoughts, many thousand formes of imagination spring continually out of the harts of men, which without feare or maske, without restraint or reseruation doe vndissemblingly resemble and represent the true state and disposition of the heart: So that from them we may be euer sure to take infallible notice, whether the heart as yet onelyonly worke naturally, in framing them, in it owne sinfull mould, and feeding them with consent and delight; or else be taught and guided by a supernaturall power, to compose them according to the light of Gods word, and holy motions of his sanctifying spirit.

Let vsus then consider what deepe roote the word of God doth take, and what speciall soueraignty it doth exercise in the thoughts of a sanctified man; whereby hee is cleerely differenced from all states of vnregeneration; euen that of formall hypocrisie, which I place in a degree aboue ciuill honesty, and in the highest perfection attainable by an vnregenerate man. We will then for our present purpose conceiue these differences betwixt the child of God, and the formall hypocrite in this point of thoughts.

1First, in respect of their nature, forms, & maner of working.

p. 123Streames doe resemble and expresse the nature and propertie of those fountaines whence they spring: so ordinarily, thoughts and imaginations follow the temper and constitution of the heart, wherein they are moulded. I say, ordinarily; for as wee doe not passe our iudgements of the depth of a riuer, or quality of the water, when by suddennesse of inundation, or incursion of neighbor brooks, it is growne into a torrent, and becomne muddie for a while: so neither are we to censure, or take measure of our thoughts by some vncouth motions, and extraordinarie stirrings, we somtimes feele in them, but according to the ordinarie current, and generall sway, they commonly hold and exercise in our hearts. For sometimes, euen the vnregenerate may hauehave good purposes and inclinations towards sinceritie, earnest longings for the happinesse of the Saints, and the heauenlinesse of their latter end; some flashes of comfort and perswasion, though from false grounds, that the spirituall state of their soule is safe and sound: but such thoughts as these in such men, spend their life in their birth; as they rise, so they glide and passe away without all fruit, true comfort, or profit to their owne soules. On the otherside, the calmnesse and serenitie of sanctified thoughts in a good Christian, may sometimes be fouly disquieted and interrupted, either by some sudden eruption of the relikes of our owne sinfull nature, by violent inuasion of some enticing obiect from abroad, or by the malicious, and immediate iniections of Satan. But because such thoughts as these oppose against the general and settled purpose of Gods child; hee well knowes, out of his spirituall wisdom and holy experience, how to repell and bridle them, how to repent of them, and pray against them, how to bee humbled, and bettered by them, in setting a stronger guard, and more narrow watch ouer his heart for afterward, left he be vnawares surprized the second time.

Sith therefore the heart of a notorious sinner is hardnesse 1it selfe; for besides naturall obduration, it is yet further, and more fearefully hardned by a desperate extinguishment of those lesser sparkes of a generall inclination to ciuil… honesty, p. 124by a long custome in a dissolute course, by the contagious company of leaud and gracelesse companions, by the curse of God vponupon his wilfull continuance in sinne; therefore I say, his thoughts are all continually, and resoluedly sinne, and that in a high and horrible degree: Wickednesse hath so enwoouen it selfe into his heart, that within he is very corruption. And whereas amongst all other comforts of life, sleepe doth most sweetly feed and refresh nature; yet the humour of sinning is farre more naturall vntounto him, and more dominant in his affections,Prou. 4.16.Prov 4:16 then desire of sleep. For he cannot sleepe, except hee hath done euill; and his sleepe departeth, except hee cause some to fall. He imagineth mischiefe vponupon his bed: Psal. 36.4. When he is encompassed with the feares and darknes of the night, an image and representation of his graue, and of the horror of that great day; when his mind is retired from worldly affaires, the noise and tumult of men; when it is most actiue, powerfull, and fitted for diuine contemplation; euen then are his thoughts as blacke as hell, and deepest in the works of darkenesse; then is he plotting and contriuing mischiefe: How to compasse his pleasures, and accomplish the lusts of his heart, where to crowne himselfe with fresh Rose-buds; by what meanes to set forward the trade of drunkennesse, and to enlarge the number of Satans reuellers, that with more contentment and companie he may leaue some tokens of his pleasures and swaggering in eueryevery place: how to supplant his brother, oppresse his neighbour, grieue and disgrace Gods seruants; indeed how to become an absolut… villaine vponupon earth, and the foulest fiend in hell.

You see what are the thoughts of the notorious sinners obdurate heart, which is as full of hardnesse, as the Moone of light; and therefore inforced, as it were, to emptie and discharge it selfe of some stonines,Isal. 48.4. by transfusing an iron sinew into the necke, and a brasen brow into the face. Neither iudgement nor merciemercy will bend and encline him to grace: no admonition or ministery of the word, wil make him blush at his open and profest impietie: So that his heart doth not onelyonly greedily entertaine, what leaudnesse doth ordinarilie p. 125spring from corruption of nature, and is suggested by others; but being past all sense, both of shame and sinne, becomes one of the diuels new inuentours, and sets the thoughts busily on work for the deuice of strange villanies and mischiefs, and for addition of new formes, fashions, and circumstances of sinning.

No better are the thoughts of the grosse hypocrite, another 2kind of sinner, but fully as soule and abominable. For if we could look into his heart, though his outward life be ordered smoothly and ciuilly; yet we should see within a bloody slaughter-house of malice, crueltie and reuenge, an hateful stewes of impure imaginations and adulteries of the heart, a forge of much mischiefe, of furious and fierie rage against the power of grace, an insatiable gulfe of greedie desires for wealth and riches, for vndeserued respect and reuerence in the world; indeed a cage of all vncleane and rauenous birds. Here is only the differēce; the notorious sinner dares act and execute the abominations of his hart in the sight of the Sun: but the grosse hypocrite would gladly sinne vnseene, and go to hell with as little noise and notice of the world as may be; and therefore he drawes a curtaine of cosenage and hypocrisie betwixt the sight of the world and foulenesse of his sinne.1. Kings. 21.1 Kgs 21 In the hearts of Ahab and Iezebel was nothing but blood and murder, couetousnesse, oppression, and mercilesse enclosure; onelyonly vponupon the vgly visages of these soule fiends, they put a vizard of a fast, formall witnesses, and legall proceeding. The ordinarie thoughts then of the grosse hypocrite are the same, as vile and hellish, as those of the notorious sinner. Nay he doubles his iniquitie, and addes waight …o the vengeance preparing for him; in that he straines the vtmost veine of his wit, and founds the depth of his damned policie, to clothe them with faire pretences, and colourable shifts, as they passe and present themselues vntounto the world in words and actions, and in that he labours to seeme a Saint, while he is in truth an incarnat diuell.

But the thoughts of the formall hypocrite; for with him I 3am specially to deale, (I hauehave onelyonly added in this point, the p. 126notorious sinner, and grosse hypocrite, for further distinction and illustration) I say his thoughts, as they come certainly short of true sanctification, so they are farre better then these now mentioned. For we suppose his heart to be seasoned with goodnesse of nature and ciuill honesty, to hauehave tasted of the generall graces of Gods spirit, and in some sort of the powers of the world to come; and therefore his thoughts are more faire, ingenuous, sober and moderate, then those soule and hateful ones of the notorious sinner, and grosse hypocrite. His heart will rise, and be affrighted with suggestions of infamous consequence and markeable horror; as those of Atheisme, Crueltie, Drunkennesse, Adulterie, Her…sie and such like: but notwithstanding, because it is not softned and sanctified by speciall grace, without much scruple or conscience, it will let the imaginations loose to much idlenesse and vanitie, to many fruitlesse conceits, impertinencies and prophane wandrings; but especially into the endlesse maze of worldly cares & earthlymindednes. For he doth in some sort in his practise approue and iustifie that wicked and pestilent prouerb: Thoughts are free. They are free indeed, in respect of obnoxiousnes to humane iustice, in respect of discouerie and danger from any creature; but the eie and vengeance of heauen takes first and speciall notice of them, and holds them punishable, as the principals, and chiefe plotters of al transgressions. Words and actions are as it were sinnes at second hand, the very first life and freshest vigour of all ill is immediately receiued, and inspired into the thoughts. Hence it is, that Peter aduiseth Simon Magus, to pray God, if it were possible, that the thought of his heart might be forgiuen him: as though there lay the greatest guilt, and deepest staine before God. By the way before I passe to the thoughts of Gods child, obserue one speciall marke of difference in this point, betwixt the true Christian, and formall hypocrite. The formall hypocrite doth euer harbour and maintaine in himselfe▪ one sweet pleasing bosome sinne or other, as voluptuousnes, worldlinesse, a greedy pursuit of temporall felicitie, an excessiue desire of greatnesse, and note in the world, an opposition p. 127to sinceritie, a delight in good fellowship, or some such like carnall contentment or secret sinne: on which his mind most runs; whereupon the best and the flower, the feruency and dearenes of his thoughts are spent. Gods word, honor, and seruice, checkes of conscience, motions of the spirit, ministrie of the word, admonition of friends, saluation of soule, by an vnreasonable and inconsequent discourse of his sensuall reason, are all made subordinate and seruiceable to this Idoll: To which with much delight he daily sacrificeth the noblest and immediate workes and issues of his soule. As for the state of his conscience, spirituall affaires, care of heauen, that One necessarie thing; these things take vp his thoughts but at reuersion, by starts, by accident; and when they come into the heart, their entertainement is very cold and strange, their abode short; and while they stay, they are apprehended and enioyed with much wearinesse and weaknesse. I conceiue this to be the reason: Hee hath a full taste and present feeling of the pleasures of his sweet sinne; hee hath sensible and certaine possession of worldly contentments, but no reall and sound assurance by sauing faith, and his forsaking all sinne, of the ioyes and comforts aboue; and therefore doth greedily follow and feed vponupon the present, with consent of his erring iudgement, delight of heart, the best of his affections, and most of his thoughts. And as for hereafter, sith he is conscious to himselfe, of an honest ciuill life, of a sober formall cariage in the affaires of religion, and that he is not infamous with any notoriousnesse in the world, but as good as the best, a few precise fellowes of purer straine onelyonly excepted, whose pretence and profession of extraordinary sanctity, is nothing (in his conceit) but humour and hypocrisie; he therefore, I say, for hereafter, referres himselfe at all aduentures vntounto the mercy of God, and to the lot and condition of many thousands which are in the same case and state with himselfe. But it is otherwise with Gods child: For by the power of sanctifying grace, as hee hath also mortified all other: so specially he hath broke the very heart of the sweete sinne of his vnregeneration. And as p. 128in a besieged citie, where the greatest and most dangerous breach is made, there the inhabitants concurre with chiefest care, and highest resolution, to fortifie and make resistance: euen so sith he knowes and feeles, that before his calling his delightfull and darling sinne most fearefully wasted his soule, and wounded his conscience, hee makes sure to imploy his thoughts with speciall edge and indignation, to countermine, preuent, resist, abominate and abandon all thought of that sinne: And now by the grace of God, sit… the heart, the fountaine, is purged and sanctified, the streame and heate of their intention and delight is caried another way. For he hath found that rich and inestimable Treasure in the Gospell; and therfore he sels all that he hath; he parts with eueryevery pleasure; he casts out of his conceit whatsoeuer hath beene formerly deare and pretious vntounto him, and lets all his thoughts, with loose raines, greatest ioyfulnesse and oftenest meditation run after it, and sweetly refresh themselues with the glory and comfort of it. If a man vponupon the way should find some pretious orient pearle, hardly could he keepe his eyes from gazing vponupon it; his excesse of ioy would eas…ly command and confine the sight to so rare and hopefull an object, vntill hee meet with some skilfull Lapidarie, or come where hee might thorowly bee acquainted with the worth, and fully enioy the wealth of it. Euen so, after a man by the illightened eye of his soule, and the hand of sauing faith, once seaze and lay sure hold vponupon the pearle of great price, the graces of Gods spirit and eternall life, the heart is presently so filled with louelove and admiration, that for euer after it spends the most, the dearest, and the noblest thoughts vponupon it: and they once set on foot, are so cheered and rauished with the heauenly beautie thereof, that they follow with continuall increase of feruencie and longing, vntill they come vntounto the cleere vision and full possession of it, at the right hand of God, in the endlesse ioyes of the world aboue.

4The thoughts then of a true Christian are of a farre more heauenly temper, diuine nature, and higher straine, then the p. 129largest heart of the best vnregenerate man, can or doth possiblie comprehend. The formall hypocrit may hauehave his mind worthily busied in points of deepest learning, in the mysteries of State, & affaires of kingdomes, in the best and highest considerations which nature, art, moralitie, or policy can afford, nay, he may sometimes entertaine into his thoughts with ioy, the promises of grace, the happinesse of the Saints, the ioyes of heauen and the like; though these hauehave neuer any root or long residence in him. But that the word of grace should so emplant it selfe into the inner man, that the thoughts should neuer be so well or welcome to the heart, as when they are wading in the great mysterie of godlines, and with an holy wisedome plotting for the inlargement of Christs glorious kingdome in himselfe and others: That it should make all other discourses of the mind subordinate and contributarie to such heauenly meditations; and to this end set bounds and limits to the millions of imaginations that daily arise, and erect an holy regiment amongst them; I say, this is the speciall prerogatiue of a sanctified man. For he alone, because of his truth, sincerity and vprightnesse in the inner parts, makes conscience of idle, vaine, and wandring thoughts, (of which the formall hypocrite, either takes no notice at all, or not much to heart.) Hee is as much cast downe, vext and grieued with their disorder and exorbitancie, as with the errors and infirmities of his words and actions; and therefore establisheth as it were a gratious gouernment amongst them, to keepe out confusion, idlenes, and rebellion. He confines them to a reuerent and feeling meditation vponupon Gods word and workes, to a care of conscionable managing the affaires of his calling; onelyonly sometimes, but sparingly with many cautions, exceptions, and seasonablenes, letting them out to honest recreations. Whatsoeuer thought is wandring without this compasse or within it vnsincere, is sinful: so that if he take any stragling, without these limits, any enticers to vanities and impertinencies, any obtruders and disturbers of so happie inward peace; he presently apprehends them, by the watchfull eye of his p. 130spirituall wisedome; examines them by the law of God, arraignes them in the consistorie of an illightened conscience, and so cuts them off in time by the power of grace, and sword of the spirit; that is, by opposing against them at the first rising in the heart, by present repentance, prayer, and after-watchfulnesse; he blessedly rids himselfe of the miseries, and distraction of prophane and troublesome thoughts. That this is no Idea, I now propose vntounto you▪ howsoeuer it so be to eueryevery vnregenerate man, and so when hee heares it he conceiues of it; for little knowes hee what adoe eueryevery child of God hath with his thoughts; I say that this is no Idea, or idle abstraction, appeares pregnantly and plentifully in Dauids practise; who for all the strong enticements, ordinarilie incident to the pleasures of a Court, and naturall libertie of Princes, although the cares and waight of a kingdome lay vponupon him, and that his Royall innocencie was still haunted and assailed with such indignities and vexations, which might almost hauehave swayed the blessed and quiet thoughts of a glorious Angell to distraction and discontentment; yet for all this the law of God did still principally take vp his heart, and that day and night. Gods word and workes, his statutes and iudgements, were meate and drinke vntounto his mind, and his meditation continually, as is more then plaine in many places of the 119. Psalm. Oh, saith he in the 13. portion, how louelove I thy law! it is my meditation continually. So vnexpresseable here was his pang of holy louelove vntounto Gods law, that hee prefixeth a particle of zeale, and extraordinarie passion; Oh, saith hee: And where the heart hath once truely and sixedly set it louelove, there all the thoughts feast themselues with dearest apprehensions, and with greatest impatiencie of all other imployment. This is the verie case then of all Gods seruants, they meditate on the word of God most contentedly and continually, because they louelove it farre before and aboue all earthly things; and so dearely doe they louelove it; because in it with speciall security are conueied vntounto them all the rich treasures of mercy, remission of sinnes, spirituall comfort, and eternall life, and p. 131particularly sealed vntounto them by … Spirit of the same word. Salomon confirmes this worthie … of his Father, by his testimony, Prou. 12.5. The thoughts of the iust are right, iudgement, or iustice; for so the word signifies in the Originall; but the suttle deuices of the wicked are deceit. The thoughts of all vnregenerate men are commonly, either rooting in the earth, or drowned in pleasures, or running after preferment, or ranging vp and downe idly and prophanely, or fruitleslie melancholike; or if sometimes they glance, or settle themselues vponupon good things, they are still as a menstruous clout, and abomination to the Lord: because their consciences are not renewed, their hearts purged, their persons sanctified and accepted. But the thoughts of eueryevery child of God are ordinarily working, for the maintenance and furthering of Gods glory and good causes, for procuring true good to their brethren, especially in spirituall things, for increasing grace in themselues, and their store of comfort against the day of triall. And if so be (which sometimes befals the best) they be crost by sinful motions in themselues, or suggestions of Satan, yet by their surprizing, and suppressing them at the very first rising and assault, and by present repentance, they are vndoubtedly euer pardoned vntounto them in Christ Iesus.

GiueGive me leaue, I pray you, to illustrate this varietie and difference of thoughts, which I hauehave now largely laid downe vntounto you; in our selues, for the neerer pressing of our consciences, and that in the matter of Elections.

Let vsus imagine a notorious sinner to hauehave a voice and hand in such businesse. His very first thoughts would bee to hauehave no thought at all of Oath or Statute, of conscience or honestie, of honour of his Colledge, or good of the Church: but would resolue out of the prophane principles of his vast conscience, and by the benefit of a large acception of charitie, to bee indifferent for all commers. Only in his cho…ce, h…e would hauehave an eie to the maine, that the state of good-fellowship should take no disparagement or diminution; and therefore he would most carefully cast about with himselfe by all meanes, to defeate and preuent the purposes, and to stoppe the passage especially of all p. 132Puritanes. You must know by the way, that these are a very dangerous kind of men, able to blow vp whole Houses, by their too fierie zeale against idlenesse, drunkennesse, other shamefull corruptions, close and politike cariages of many rotten and vnconscionable causes and the like. For by **The world is come to that wretched passe, and height of prophanenesse, that euen honestie and sanctification, is many times odiouslie branded by the nick-name of Puritanisme.Puritanes in this place, I only vnderstand them, (for euen such are so branded) who make conscience of studie, and religious education of Schollers, who are readie euer, and resolute to vphold goodnesse in a House, though they be crusht, disgraced and disoffic'd; who out of a gracious and ingenuous freedom of Spirit, wil be their owne men in Elections, and other Collegiate seruices; and not suffer their consciences to be led hood-winkt to serue other mens humours and priuate ends; who chuse rather in a neglected state, sweetly to enioy the continuall feast and perpetuall paradise of a sincere heart, true and inward comfort, the societie of Gods seruants, then for many times full dearely bought fauours and offices, to enthrall and violence both their iudgements and affections, to liue reseruedly, vnderunder a maske, and at a haires breadth for all occasions and obseruances, so wearing out a little miserable time in a glorious and countenanced slauery: In a word, who of the two would rather saue their soules, then prosper in the world. Now such fellowes as these, thinks he with himselfe, which seeme, as it were, by an hypocriticall Monopoly, to hauehave engrost all sinceritie, honestie and good conscience, must be kept out; or if by some dysaster, they creep in amōgst vsus, be curbd and kept vnderunder, else shal not we sway and domineere. Hereupon all the labour of his wit, and toile of his thoughts would bee, to plant a thorne, where a vine should grow, and to burden these sacred and honourable Mansions, designed onelyonly for gracious and golden wits, with leaden drones, and swarmes of worthlesse and witlesse creatures.

2Secondly, the thoughts of the grosse hypocrite in this waightie businesse of Elections, would bee as vtterly void of all conscionable, and ingenuous considerations, as the notorious sinners. First, he would commune with his own couetous heart, (for commonly worldlinesse is the master sinne in p. 133the grosse hypocrite, therefore I follow the thoughts rising thence) he would within himselfe cast a greedy and rauenous eie vponupon the condition of all the competitours for the place, and at length conclude, and be sure to seaze vponupon that party, let his learning or honestie be what it would, where in all likelihood he might make the richest pray, and sucke out the greatest aduantage: Either purchase a great friend, strengthen his faction, gratifie his fauourites, receiue a present bribe, or else, which is a secret, but a sinfull policie, by weighing circumstances, marking insinuations, and former cariages, expect the largest after gratification, close and indirect considerations, and the most liberal New-yeeres gifts, (for in them certainely sometimes lurkes corruption.) These things thus thought vponupon, there followes now in him, an addition to the iniquitie of the notorious sinner. He is not content to be thus starke naught, but he must double his sin by seeming good; it is not enough for him to be thus cursedly pestilent to the place where he liues, but hee must enlarge the mischiefe, by putting on a vizard of piety: He therfore in a second place would beate his braines, how he might varnish ouer this villany, with most probable and fairest pretences. The bribe must come in vponupon other termes, with other circumstances, then the grossenesse of that vile sinne is wont to be conuaied; hee thinkes how he may deale openly, and in the eie of the world with men, without all suspition, while the matter is carried vnderhand by suttle, mediate, and most exercisde Agents in the goodly affaires of abominable corruption. Lastly, he is much troubled in mind, how for all this he may continue a good opinion with good men, and giuegive satisfaction to those, whom he deceiues by his seeming: but by much practise he makes this reasonable easie; for politicke hypocrisie hath so many faces, turnings and euasions, that it can too easily insinuate with, and satisfie vnsuspicious, innocent and charitable sinceritie. Hee can tell them of some depths in the mysterie of gouernment, which eueryevery precise vnderling cannot comprehend; that some libertie and dispensation must be giuen to statute-discretion, p. 134against the bare letter, and strict meaning of the statute; that wee liue not in Platoes common-wealth, or Mores Eutopia, but in corrupt times, in the very confluence of all the sins of former ages; and therfore it is vtterly impossible to keepe a mans selfe so passingly pure from all spice of contagion; that something must needs be yeelded to the times, else there is no liuing, at least no prospering in the world. Thus the grosse hypocrite is euer as thoughtfull for outward plaistering, as secret plotting.

Thirdly, let vsus conceiue what would bee the inward discourse and workings of the heart in the formall hypocrite, about disposing his voice in Elections. His thoughts in these cases perhaps, would not be extremely base, nor grosly wicked: it may be he would be able to cleare euen his conscience and inmost conceit; much more to wash his hands from the hatefull and crying sinne of downe-right briberie. This horriblenes is onelyonly for notorious sinners, and grosse hypocrites. Nay, out of some sudden pang of highest resolution, that ingenuousnesse of nature, or morall honestie can produce, he might take heart to answer and withstand the suites and importunitie of Greatnesse and great meanes: only with this reseruation, so that his present happines be not therby mainly hazarded, nor hope of his future preferment certainely cut off. For we must still hold this principle concerning the formall hypocrite; if hee bee brought to a iumpe, hee will euer make euen Gods holy word, conscience, religion, desires and intreaties of godly men, and all to yeeld and stoope to the worldly comforts hee presently enioies, but vponupon as faire termes, and with as plausible conueiance as may be. It may be, he will be good in many things, and outwardly in all; but say the Prophets what they will, he must into the house of Rimmon, God must be mercifull vntounto him in one thing or other: he is short of the state of grace, and by consequent, hath no sound and reall assurance of heauen aboue; and therefore he will hauehave some sweetnesse in the meane time, he wil inioy some shadow at least of one heauen or other vponupon earth. So that if we suppose such an one, to take a view in his thoughts p. 135of al that stand for a place, he would resolue for goodnes and honesty, so far as the security & safety of his maine contentments would giuegive him leaue, so far as the light of reason, and glimmerings of generall graces were able to leade him: but because he is still too respectiue of his own particular, wants the eie of spiritual discretion, & suffers his conscience to be cooled, and countermanded by worldly wisedome; he may I grant by constraint occasionally or by accident, consent and concur vponupon the worthiest; but ordinarily, for meere louelove of religiousnesse, hee doth not make within his owne heart, a free, vnpassionate, impartiall, sincere and conscionable choice. For let him otherwise bee neuer so wise or honest, yet he is a meere stranger to the mysterie of godlines, vtterly vnapprehensiue of the singular and supernaturall operations of the life of grace; and therefore cannot discerne betwixt resolute sincerity, and true turbulencie: whereupon it may often come to passe, that by a promiscuous confusion of these two most different spirits, he may so much as in him lies, repell farre the best, to the vnsatisfiable wrong of the partie, and the vnualuable losse of the House which should enioy him. There is one point further in deliberations of this nature, in which hee would iumpe with the notorious sinner: In aduising with himselfe for a fit man, if by the way his thoughts should be crossed, with a man of knowne, professed, and practised forwardnesse in religion; hee would passe him ouer with contempt and indignation; for thus would he thinke with himselfe: If such a fellow come in amongst vsus, we shall hauehave all moulded anew after the strict modell of his irregular conscience; wee should be troubled with new tricks and erections, for the encreasement of study and reformation of manners; he would bee stil standing and striuing for an Ideall and abstractiue purity in Elections, and other affaires of the Colledge, so that our former quietnesse and peace would be much dissweetned with his tartnesse, and too much precisenesse. Thus would he bee as hote and heady against the power of grace, as the notorious sinner. For though there bee many different degrees of ilnesse, of p. 136vnregenerate men; some are farre more sober, tolerable, and moderate then others, yet all commonly agree in this, that they are bitter and implacable Opposites to the profession and practise of sound and sauing sinceritie. Gods faithfull Ones euer were, and euer will bee Signes and Wonders euen in Israel: Isa. 8.18. Monsters vntounto the **foreign licet in…erpretari, vel foreign, vel magnos. [Magnis] …eddidis Calumus.great men of the world, as Dauid was, Psalm. 71.7. A scorne, reproch, and derision to them that are round about them: Psalm. 79.4. They shall euer be accounted men of an odde fashion, and singular cariage from other men, Wisd. 2.15. precise, humorous, hypocriticall and the like. Mistake me not; I apologize not for any vnwarrantable opinion tending to Separation; it is onelyonly sanctification, true and vndissembled holinesse, without which none shall euer see the face of God, or glory of heauen, which I stand for, and intend in all my Discourse. But by the way let mee tell you this, in this generall and ioynt-conspiracie of all kinds of naturall men, against the spirituall state of true Christians, and the soueraignty of Gods sanctifying spirit in them; the meere ciuill honest man, and formall hypocrite, as I take it, are transported with more fiercenesse and rage against them, then the grosse hypocrite, and notorious sinner. This I take to be the reason; The grosse hypocrite hee sins against the light of his owne conscience, and with the certaine knowledge of his heart; and therefore doth not much enuie and grudge the righteous man his excellencie aboue his neighbour, and saluation of his soule: The notorious sinner in his more sober mood, and cold blood will confesse himselfe to be out of the way, promise and protest amendment, or at least reserues in his heart a resolution to repent when he is old: but the meere ciuill honest man and the formall hypocrite thinke their owne state to bee as good as the best; and whatsoeuer is more, and besides that which they find in themselues, to be but needlesse precisenes, and affected singularity; and therefore are many times gauld and grieued, that the truely gratious and conscionable cariage of Gods seruants, doth censure and condemne their outwardnes and formalitie in p. 137religion, and make it plainely appeare, that their case without sound conuersion and imbracement of sinceritie, is the very state of wretchednes and of death.

But now fourthly and lastly, in Elections the thoughts 4of Gods child, in whose heart alone the word of God doth chiefly rule, and is deepely rooted, would bee these or the like. In the first place there comes into his mind a reuerent feare of that God, who hath mercifully aduanced him to his place, wherein hee expecteth conscience and faithfulnesse; He considers that solemne and sacred oath which hee takes in the sight of him who seeth all hearts and cogitations; for a resolute and vnswayed vprightnesse in the disposing of his voice; that vponupon the integritie or vnconscionablenesse in Election, depends the miserie and confusion, or happinesse and flourishing of an House. Hee further calleth to mind out of his experience, that commonly those fellowes who thrust into societies, offices, and high roomes, by shufling and violence, by faction and preposterous fauour; by cunning, or corruption, become pernicious and dishonorable to the places where they liue; they are still thornes in the sides, and pricks in the eyes of all that louelove grace and goodnesse: they either turne idle, truly factious, or notoriously scandalous, by misspending the vnualuable pretiousnesse of their golden houres, in Tauerns, Ale-houses, or some other course of good-fellowship, to the inexpiable and eternall dishonour of those Houses, of which they should bee ornaments: and when they hauehave done much hurt and mischiefe here, they are the onelyonly men to bargaine for, buy, or compasse by indirect and sinister dealing, Benefices, and spirituall promotions abroad: of which being possest, they either by vnconscionable and cruell negligence, and Non-residence in their charge, betray the soules of their people to wildnesse and barbarisme, to ignorance, prophanenesse, or poperie; or else by a prophane and vnhallowed handling of Gods word, by daubing with vntempered morter, as the Prophet speakes, so strengthen the hands of the wicked, that they cannot returne from their wicked waies and kill p. 138the heart of the righteous,Ezech. 13.22.Ezek 13:22 and make them sad whom the Lord hath not made sad, that the bruised reed is quite broken, and the smoaking flaxe vtterly put out. Now thinkes the child of God with himselfe out of his spirituall wisedome, if such an one as these should bee chosen by my default and faintheartednesse; I should in some sort and measure be iustly guiltie, and answerable before that high and euerlasting Iudge, of the many miseries and mischiefes, which ordinarily ensue vponupon so vnhappie a choice. Hereupon after a mature and impartiall suruay of all circumstances considerable in the partie, the statute and whole businesse; he singles out him with sinceritie and singlenesse of heart, whom in conscience he thinks most sufficient; and there hee stickes with a truely Christian and vnshaken resolution, pitcht by the verie power and strength of heauen: and come what come will, tempests, or faire weather; preferment, or pouertie; threatnings or flatterie; policie, or persuasion; priuate importunities, or frownings of Greatnesse; he is at a point, infinitely rather to keepe a good conscience, and saue his soule, then to enioy the present, and gaine the whole world. For hee well knowes that the day is at hand, euen that great and fearefull Day, when the consciousnesse of one gratious action, performed with vprightnesse of heart, will breed more comfort, then the glory, riches, and soueraignty of the whole earth.

To conclude this point: As vnregenerate and sanctified thoughts differ much in their workings euen about the same Obiects: so there are some, which are Gods childs peculiar, with which the state of vnregeneration is vtterly vnacquainted. They are such as these:

1First, thoughts full of scare and astonishment, all hell and horrour, which rise out of the heart, when it is first stricken with sense of Gods wrath at the sight of his sinnes. These are scorched, in verie manie, euen with the flames of hell in their conuersion: They burne sometimes the verie marrow out of their bones, and turne the best moysture in them into the drought of Summer. No p. 139aaI doe not hereby exempt the state of vnregene a…ion from all tremblings and terrors of conscience for sin…e; but only make it a priuiledge of Gods ch…ldren, to passe quite thorow them into the spirituall pleasures, and paradise of the Kingdom… of grace, and to be able with an holy amazement and thankfulnesse, to looke back vponupon the ska…es and prints of those former wounds, of a truly humbled and broken heart, alreadie healed, and …weethe closed vp with the blood of Christ▪ whereas in others, they commonly either work but a half con…sion, are expell…d with ou…war… mirth, or end in despa…re.print or skarre of these wofull and wounded thoughts, appeare in the heart of the formall hypocrite. This hell vponupon earth, is onelyonly passed thorow by the heires of heauen, while the children of hell hauehave commonlie their heauen vponupon earth.

2 Secondly, thoughts bbI meane those blessed stirrings of the har…, vnspeakable and glorious, vvhen the seale of remission of sinnes, is first set vntounto the soule by t…e Spirit of ad…ption.composed al of pure comfort, ioy, heauen, immortalitie, the sweet and louely issues of the spirit of adoption. These flow onelyonly from the fountaine of grace, and spring vp in that soule alone, which hauing newly passed the strange agonies, and sore pangs of the new-birth, is presently bathed in the blood of Christ, lulled in the bosome of Gods dearest mercies, and secured with the seale, and secret impression of his eternall louelove, and sacred spirit, not only from the rage of hell; but also of an euerlasting and roiall inheritance aboue. O… the heart of the vnregenerate man is farre too narrow, base and earthy to comprehend the vnmixed pleasure…, the glorious Sunshine of those blessed and ioyfull thoughts, which immediatelie follow vponupon the stormes of feares and terrour, ordinarily incident to a sound conuersion.

3 Thirdly, thoughts of spirituall rauishment, and vnutterable rapture, slashes of eternall light, raised sometimes in the hearts of the Saints, and occasionally inspired by the Spirit of all & endlesse comfort; which with vnconceiueable amazement and admiration feed vponupon, and fill themselues with the ioies of the second life, in such an vncouth extasie and excesse, as is farre aboue, and without the compasse and conc…it of all worldly comforts, the tongue of Angels, or heart of man. In this point, I appeale to the conscience of the true Christian, (for I know full well, that all my Discourse is a parable, and paradoxe to the prophane) whether hee hath not sometimes, as it were, a sea of comfort rained vponupon his heart, in a sweet shower from heauen, and such a sensible taste of the euerlasting pleasures, by the glorious presence of inward ioy and peace, as if he had the one foot in heauen alreadie, p. 140and with the one hand had laid hold vponupon the crown of life: especially after a zealous heate, & feeling feruencie in praier, after an entire, gracious, and profitable sanctifictation of the Sabbath, at the time of some great and extraordinarie humiliation entertaind, and exercised with fruit and sinceritie, when he hath freshly with deepest groanes and sighes, and new struglings of spirit, renewed his repentance vponupon occasion of relapse into some old, or fall into some new sin, when the empoisoned arrowes of cruell and fierie tongues, pointed with malice, policy and prophanenesse come thickest vponupon him; and yet retyring into his owne innocent heart, he finds no cause of such mercilesse vexation, but defence of Gods truth, and profession of holinesse. Nay, sometimes vponupon on the deaths-bed, to a soule conscious of an vpright and vnspotted life, the ioies of heauen present themselues before the time; so longing a sympathy is there betwixt the life of grace and endles glory. Such like ioyfull springings, and heauenly eleuations of hart as these which I hauehave now mentioned, are the true Christians peculiar; no stranger can meddle with them, no heart can conceiue them, but that which is the Temple of Gods pure and blessed Spirit.

2Thus farre of the difference of their thoughts, in respect of their nature and manner of working: Now in a second place, Gods child is notably differenced from the formall hypocrite by the seasonablenesse of his thoughts, and their holy seruing the time.

In a body of best and exactest constitution, the senses are quicke and nimble, and sharpliest discerne, with greatest life and vigour apprehend their obiects, and are most sensibly affected, or displeased with their conuenience, or antipathy: Euen so in a hart of a true spiritual temper, seasoned and softned with the dew of grace; the thoughts are actiue, readie, and addrest with zeale & contentment, to encline and apply themselues to the condition of the times, and varietie of occasions offered for some holy vse, to the bettering of the soule, and the enlarging of Gods glory. In the time of fasts & sackcloth; if Gods iudgements be threatned out of the Pulpit, or p. 141executed from heauen; when the Church weares her mourning weed, sincerity droupes, and the godly hang down their heades; in such blacke and dismall daies, they are impatient of all temporall comfort, they willingly put on sadnesse, to entertaine penitencie, humiliation and sorrow: but they are clothed with ioy and lightsomnesse, when merciemercy and saluation are wisely, and seasonably proclaimed out of the booke of life; when religion spreads and prospers, and diuine truth hath free passage, when whole States hauehave escaped the bloodie Papists Gunpowder, and the roiall breasts of Kings their empoisoned kniues, and in such like ioyful and happy times. Thus the thoughts, and inmost affections of Gods child hauehave their changes, their seueral seasons and successions, as it pleaseth the Lord to offer, or execute merciemercy or iudgement out of his word, or in the world abroad. But the thoughts of the formall hypocrite, though they suffer indeed many alterations, and distractions about earthly obiects; they ebbe and flow with discontent or comfort, as his outward state is fauoured or frowned vponupon by the world: yet spirituall occurrents, obseruable with deuotion and reuerence for the good of the soule, hauehave no great power to worke vponupon them; sacred times, or daies of affliction, are not wont to make any such impression, or to breed extraordinary stirrings, and motions in them. Let iudgements blast, or mercies blesse a kingdome; let Gods word find smooth and euen way, or rubs and opposition; let prophanenesse be countenanced, or sinceritie cherished, he takes no thought: so he may sleepe in a whole skinne, and keepe entire his worldly comforts; his thoughts continue heauie, dull and formall. Hee may conforme and consort with the times in his outward gestures, words and actions; but ordinarily his thoughts admit no change, saue onelyonly, so farre as his priuate temporall felicitie is endangered by publicke iudgements, or enlarged by showers of mercies and blessings from heauen. I cannot enlarge this point at this time: only I will giuegive one instance in their difference of thoughts vponupon the Sabbath day.

The Sabbath day is, as it were, the faire day of the soule, p. 142wherein it should not onelyonly repaire and furnish it selfe with new spiritual strēgth, with greater store of knowledge, grace and comfort: but also feast with it heauenly friends, the blessed Saints and Angels, vponupon those glorious ioies and happie rest, which neuer shall hauehave end. EueryEvery child of God therefore, which hath alreadie a reall interest in that eternall rest, makes not only conscience of doing his owne waies, seeking his owne will, Esay 58.3.Isa 58:3speaking a vaine word on that day: but also in some good measure makes it the very delight of his heart, the louelove and comfort of his inward thoughts, so that he may consecrate it as glorious to the Lord. He doth not onelyonly giuegive quiet and cessation to his body from worldly businesse▪ and works of his calling; but also empties his head, and disburdens his thoughts of al earthly cares, that so they may wholly and entirely intend the holy motions of Gods Spirit, and spend themselues in godly and extraordinarie meditations, fitting the feast day of the soule, and the Lords holy day. This is the desire, longing and endeuour of his heart, thus to sanctifie the Sabbath; and if at any time he be turned awrie from this vprightnesse by companie, or his owne corruptions, he is after much grieued and vext with it, repents and praies for more zeale, conscience and care for the time to come. But the formall hypocrite, howsoeuer he may on that day forbeare and abstaine from his ordinarie sinnes, labours, sports and idlenes; howsoeuer he may outwardly exercise and execute all duties and seruices of religion; though indeed more of custome and for fashion, then with heartie and true deuotion: nay, he may hauehave other thoughts on that day, but onelyonly so farre, as the bare solemnitie of the time and the greater Presence can alter them: yet I dare boldly say it, no formall hypocrite, no kind of vnregenerate man can possibly make the Sabbath his delight, as is required, Isai. 58.13. And which is presupposed to make vsus capable of the blessings following in the same place: Then shalt thou delite in the Lord, and I will make thee to moun… vponupon the high places of the earth, & feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. He cannot for his life sequester his thoughts p. 143at all, not euen on that day, from worldlinesse and earthly pleasures, to diuine and sacred meditations. Doe what hee can, he cannot beate and keepe them off from worldly Obiects; they will not leaue their former hants, or be restrained from plotting, or pleasing themselues with weeke-day businesses.

Lord, it is strange that the soule of a man, so noblely furnished with powers of highest contemplation; being so strongly and sensiblie possest with consciousnesse, and conceit of it owne immortality, and hauing the restlesse and vnsatisfied desires of it wide capacity, neuer fild but with the Maiestie of God himselfe, and the glory of an immortall crowne, should be such a stranger to heauen, the place of it birth and euerlasting abode; that vponupon that day, whereon, as vponupon the golden spot and pearle of the weeke, the Lord hath stamped his owne sacred Seale of institution, and solemne consecration for his owne particular seruice, and speciall honour; yet, I say, vponupon that day it cannot settle and continue it owne thoughts and motions vponupon those vnmixed and blessed ioyes, and the way vntounto them; without which it shall bee euerlastingly miserable, and burne hereafter in that fierie lake, whose flames are fed with infinite riuers of Brimstone, and the endlesse wrath of God, for euer and euer.

Now I pray you tell mee, when wee shall hauehave raigned hereafter many millions of yeeres in heauen, what thoughts will remaine of this little inch of time vponupon earth? When we hauehave passed thorow a peece of eternitie, where will appeare the minute of this miserable life? and yet our thoughts and affections are so glued vntounto the world, as though eternitie were vponupon earth, and time only in heauen. You are men capable of worthiest and highest eleuations of spirit; I beseech you, resume this meditation at your leisure; methinks it should be able to breed thoughts of a far more noble and heauenly temper, then ordinarilie arise and are nourished in the hearts of men.

But to follow my yurpose. Certaine it is, not the best vn…egenerate p. 144men can endure an entire and exact sanctification of the Sabbath; it is not a Iubilie to their hearts, and the ioy of their thoughts: for they cannot abide to hauehave their minds stay long in a feeling meditation vponupon spirituall affaires, vponupon the examination of their former life, the state of the other world, the sleights and tentations of Satan, the day of death, the tribunall of heauen and such like. For though the best of them may hauehave a persuasion of their being in the state of grace, as I hauehave largely proued heretofore: yet sith it is wrongly and falsely grounded, it cannot abide the search and touchstone: Hence it is, that of all things they louelove not to bee alone. They may please themselues well enough in solitarinesse, vponupon some priuate businesse; for the more profound plotting and contriuing worldly matters; for a more free, but filthie exercise of the adulteries of the heart, and contemplatiue fornication; to feed vponupon dull and fruitles melancholie; to let their thoughts wildly range and runne riot into a world of imaginations, to diue into the mysteries of nature, or depths of State: but to be alone onelyonly for this purpose, that the mind may more fully and immediately worke vponupon the spirituall state of the soule, and impartially inquire into the conscience; they cannot, they will not endure it; and therefore commonly cast themselues into one knot of goodfellowship or other, that they may merrily passe away that time; for an houre of which (the time of grace being once expired) they would giuegive ten thousand worlds, yet shall neuer bee able to purchase it againe. But Gods children when they are alone hauehave inward comfort and heauenly matter enough to worke vponupon: a pleasing contentment and satisfaction, arising from an humble and sober remembrance of a well spent life, doth infinitely more refresh them, then all the reuellings and pleasant deuices of merrie companions: nay, manie times in their seasonable solitarinesse, diuine graces are more operatiue, and stirring, and raise inflamed motions of delight and ioy.

3Now in a third place, we are to consider that the child of p. 145God is yet further very much differenced from the formall hypocrite, by his skill and dexteritie in ruling; by his holy wisedome, and godly iealousie in watching ouer his thoughts.

The heart in which Gods spirit is not resident, with speciall grace and sanctifying power; howsoeuer the words may be watched ouer, and the outward actions reformed, lies commonly still naked and open without speciall guard or settled gouernment. For the best naturall man is too impatient of restraint and seuerity ouer the power of imagination and freedome of his thoughts; they being naturally exempted and priuiledged from all humane and created soueraignty, and the vnc…ssantnesse of their workings and perpetuall presence in the mind would make the abridgement of their libertie more sensible and distastfull. It may be out of the natural grounds of ciuill honesty, & some generall apprehension of the power of the world to come; he may be so farre solicitous about his thoughts, tha… if any start vp of more soule and monstrous shape, enticing him to some grosse and infamous sinne, which would disgrace him in the world, or breed extraordinarie horrour in his conscience: he presently sets against it, disclaimes, abandons and expels it. He may bee of experience and skill to conquer and suppresse thoughts of heauinesse, and melancholie; although in this point he many times fearefully deceiues himselfe; taking the holy motions of Gods spirit enclining him to godly sorrow for his sinnes; to be melancholicke thoughts tending towards too much strictnes and vnnecessarie discomfort: So grieuing the good spirit, and stopping against himselfe the verie first and necessarie passage to saluation. Thus the formall hypocrite may hauehave sometimes and in part, a sleight misguided and generall care and ouersight of his thoughts: But because the depth of his deceitfull heart, and the many corruptions that are daily and hourely hatched in it, were neuer ript vp and reuealed vntounto him by the power and light of sauing grace, he cannot hold that hand ouer his heart as he ought; hee doth not keepe a solemne p. 146particular, and continual watch and ward ouer his thoughts, which is little enough to keepe a Christian in sound comfort and inward peace; he hath no heart with such anxiety, and care to looke vntounto his heart; he doth not so often and seriously thinke vponupon his thoughts, holding it the last and least of a thousand cares. But eueryevery child of God, certainly makes it his chiefest care, and one of his greatest Christian toiles, to guard his heart, and guide his thoughts. Hee followes in some good measure by his practise that holy counsell of Salomon, Prou. 4.23. Aboue all watch and ward keepe thine heart. The word in the Originall is borrowed from the affaires of warre. Let vsus imagine a citie not onelyonly begirt with a strait and dangerous siege of cruel and blood-thirstie enemies, but also within infested with lurking Commotioners, and traitors to the State; how much doe you thinke would it stand that citie vponupon, with all vigilant policie, to stand vponupon it guard for preuention of danger? It is iust so with the heart; not onelyonly Satan is euer waiting opportunitie, to throw in his fierie darts, and sensuall Obiects from abroad, like false Simons to insinuate themselues; but also, it feeles, to it much vexation, many rebellious stirrings within it owne bowels. The tender conscience of a true Christian is verie sensible of all this danger, and by his owne experimentall and practicall knowledge hee is acquainted with the many breaches, and desolations made in the soule, both by these open enemies, and secret rebels; and therefore furnisheth himselfe daily, with much holy wisedome and watchfulnesse; with experience and dexteritie in this great spiritual affaire of guarding and guiding his hart. We may take a view of this his sanctified and Christian wisedome in gouerning his thoughts, in these foure points.

1In a timely discouerie and wise defeatment of Satans stratagems and policies; whether hee deale by suggestions raised from the occasions, and aduantages of his temper and naturall constitution; of his temporall state, either happinesse, or contempt; of his infancie, or growth; weaknes, or strength in Christianity; of the condition of his calling, companie, p. 147place where hee liues, or the like: Or whether he come addrest with his owne more fearefull immediat Iniections; which he sometimes presents in his owne likenesse: As when he casts into the Christians mind distrusts, and doubts about the truth of heauen, and of diuine and heauenly truth, concerning the certaintie, and being of all that maiestie and glory aboue; for such thoughts as these, are somtimes offered to the most sanctified soule;Lib. de Conscientia. Bernard cals thē terribilia de side, horribilia de diuinitate. But marke here the cariage of Gods child, hee doth not wrastle with these hel-bred thoughts, he sets not his naturall reason vponupon them; for thence perhaps would follow inclinations to Atheisme, desperateness… in sinning, and other fearefull consequents: but at the very first approch, abandons and abominates them to the very pit of hell whence they came; he praies, repents, and is humbled by them, and thence clearely sees they are none of his; and so in despite of such diuellish malice, walkes on comfortably in his way to heauen. If Satan speed not in this blacke shape; he at othertimes puts on the glorie of an Angell: and perhaps may bring into his remembrance euen good things, but out of their due time, that he may hinder him of some greater good. As at the preaching of the word, he may cast into his mind vnseasonably godly meditations, that so he may distract and depriue him of the blessings of a profitable hearer: At the time of prayer, he may fil his head with holy instructions, that so hee may coole his seruencie, and bereaue him of the benefit of so blessed an exercise. With these, and a thousand moe such like vexations in his thoughts, the child of God is sore troubled and much exercised.

Secondly, another branch of spiritual wisdome in watching 2ouer his thoughts, is busied about those sinfull pleasures, which vponupon the remembrance of his former old iniquities may reinfect the soule. For a man may commit the same sin, a thousand times, by renewing the pleasures of it in his thoughts. Though the act be past, yet as often as the mind runnes ouer the passages and circumstances of the same sin, with the same delight, so often the soule is polluted with a new staine, and laden with more guiltinesse. Whereas therfore the sensuall sweetnes of a mans beloued sinnes, hath before his calling, got such strong hold and hant in his affections, that it will be stil afterward with baites and allurements, soliciting euen the renewed heart, if not to the iteration of the grosse act, yet at least to enioy it in thought: it doth very much behooue the child of God, to be warie and watchful in this point. If he remit but a little of his heate of zeale against sinne, and seruencie of his first louelove, or grow regardles of his thoughts, it will presently gather power and opportunitie for reentrie. Here then is the toile and triall of Christian wisdome and watchfulnesse ouer the thoughts. If when the soule pleasures of former sinnes be represented vntounto the mind, hee hath either learned to smother them at their first stealing into the heart, by opposing against them, a consideration of the many wounds, and much waste they hauehave formerly made in his soule: Or else by his growth & strength in grace, be able to looke backe vponupon them without delight, to retaine them onelyonly for renewing repentance, and to dismisse them with loathing and detestation. Full sweet is the comfort, and great the happinesse of that Christian, who hath his corruptions so farre mortified, and the remission of his sinnes so surely sealed vntounto him; that the thoughts of his former pleasing sinnes can neither tickle him with delight and new desire, nor affright him with **I meane horror of iudgement, not detestation.horrour. For the one, Oh, saith blessed Austin in his Confessions, what shal I returne vntounto my gracious God, that I can now looke my sinnes in the face, and not be afraid? But here the wisest Christian may be easily plunged ouer head and eares into one of Satans most deceitfull depths, except he be very warie: For in the solitarie musings vponupon his former sinnes, to this good end, that he may vtterly grow out of louelove with them, and further loath them; Satan is euer readie (for both his craft and malice are endlesse) secretly to adde tinder to the fire of his affection, so to inflame him with fresh louelove and liking of that sinne, which at that time he most labours, and hath euer greatest reason to abhorre. And the tide of affections being once on foot p. 149towards an old pleasing sinne; it is a great measure of grace must stop the torrent of them. In watching therefore ouer the thoughts, the brightest eie of Spirituall wisdome, hath need to intend this point to descrie this depth.

Thirdly, another speciall care the child of God hath in 3guarding the heart, is to banish and keepe out idlenesse, vanitie of mind, melancholie, worldly sorrow, inward fretting, euill desires, wandring lusts, wishes without deliberation and such like. He holds a waking, and iealous eie ouer those many baites and lures, which spring & sprout eftsoones from the fountaine and rootes of originall corruption; which the state of mortalitie neuer suffers to be vtterly plucked vp, and dried away in this life: He knowes full well, if these young Cockatrices be not crushed while they are in hatching; that is, if wandring and wicked thoughts bee not stifled when they begin to stirre first in the mind, they wil first enuenome the vnderstanding, the vnderstanding the will, the will the affections, the affections once enraged, & hauing the raines like wild horses, will carrie a man headlong into a world of wickednesse. Aboue all, hee makes sure euer to hauehave in readinesse and at hand, preseruatiues and counter-poisons against the baites of those three grand empoisoners, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eies, and the pride of life. There are these maine obiects, about which especially, actuall concupiscence is sinfully exercised, riches, pleasures, honours: if he once let his thoughts claspe about any of these with immoderate desire and delight, he is gone. For so riches will bring foorth couetousnesse, and couetousnesse begets vsurie, oppression, enclosure, buying and selling offices and dignities, grinding the faces of the poore, and a thousand moe mischiefes: It deuours all naturall and honest affections, and turnes them into earth, it makes kindred, friends, acquaintance, contentments seruiceable to it greedy humor: Nay it makes a man to contemne himselfe body and soule for this transitorie trash. Pleasures inflame lust, and lust so emasculates all the powers of the soule, that its noblest operations become brutish: it begets a wanton eie, a lasciuious eare, obscene talke, filthie iests, delight in plaies, and hateful pictures, besides many other secret and fearefull abominations not to be conceiued without horrour, much lesse to bee named. Honours breed ambition, and ambition bids the soule speake vntounto a man, in the language of Neroes mother; Occidar modo imperes: Bee some body in the world while thou staiest heere, though I lie in the flames of hell euerlastingly hereafter. Deepely then doth it concerne eueryevery true Christian with iealousie and trembling, narrowly to watch and obserue the first and secret motions of the heart, lest he should vnawares be wofully caught, and ensnared in that blacke and accursed chaine: the first lincke of which, growes out of naturall corruption, and the last reacheth the height of sinne, and depth of hell. Wee may see foure links of it: Iam. 1.14.15. about the breeding of sinne; and other foure, Heb. 3. about it growth and perfection. First, an idle sinfull thought begins to draw, as it were, the heart aside from the presence and consideration of God almightie, to a sight and suruay of the pleasures of sinne. Secondly, it hauing, as it were, the heart by it selfe, puts on a baite, allures and entices, holding a conference and parley with the will, about the sweetnesse of pleasures, riches, honours, glory and such like. Thirdly, the will accepts of the motion, consents, plots and forecasts for the accomplishment, the affections adde heate and strength, the heart trauels with iniquitie; and so at length by the help of opportunitie, sinne is brought forth. If you looke vponupon the Originall in S. Iames, you will easily gather these foure degrees. Now further by often iteration of the act of sinning with delight and custome, the heart is hardned; so that no terrour of iudgement, nor promise of merciemercy will enter. Secondly, it becomes an euill heart, and is wholly turned into sinne, it drinkes vp iniquitie like water, and feedes vponupon it, as the horsleech on corrupt blood. Thirdly, it growes an vnfaithfull heart, and then a man begins to say within himselfe, there is no God, at least in respect of prouidence, and care ouer the world, and executions of iudgement vponupon sinners: he bids him depart from him, and saies to him; I desire not the knowledge of thy waies; who is the Almighty, that I should serue him? Or what profit should I hauehave if I should pray vntounto him? Fourthly followes an vtter falling away from God, grace, and all goodnesse, without all sense, checke, or remorse of sinne, shame, and his most accursed state; and so immediately from this height of sinne, into the fiercest flamea and lowest pit of hell. For if the first degree deserue eternall death, what confusion must befall this Babell? You see in what danger he is that giues way vntounto his first sinfull motions.

Lastly, a principall imployment of holy wisedome in 4guarding the thoughts, is spent in giuing a wise and humble entertainement vntounto the good motions of Gods blessed spirit: and in furnishing and supplying the mind with store of profitable and godly meditations. For as vnregenerate men giuegive commonly easie passage to pleasing worldly thoughts; but suppresse gratious stirrings, & inclinations to godly sorrow, repentance & sincerity; as though they were tentations to precisenes: so contrarily Gods child labours by all meanes to stoppe the way to the first sinfull sensuall thoughts; but alwaies desires with speciall humilitie, and reuerence to imbrace all the motions of Gods spirit, warranted and grounded in his word: Hee deerely and highly esteemes them, cherisheth and feeds them with spirituall ioy, and thankfulnesse of heart, with prayer, meditation and practise. For if a man begin once to be neglectiue of godly motions, by little and little he grieues the spirit; at length he quencheth it, at last he is in danger of despighting it; if not by profession and directly, yet in his practise, and by an indirect opposition, in slandering and persecuting spirituall graces in Gods children. Besides this worthie care of entertaining and nourishing good motions, hee is prouident to gather and treasure vp store of good matter and heauenly businesses for the continuall exercise of his mind: left that noble power of his soule should be taken vp with trisles and vanitie, feede vponupon earth, or weare and wast it selfe with barren and lumpish melancholie. Hee is much grieued and vexed if he find at any time his heart caried away with transitorie delights, carnall and vnprofitable thoughts; or his mind musing impertinently, and gazing vponupon the painted and vanishing glory of the world: Especially sith there is such plentifull and pretious choice of best meditations, obuious to eueryevery Christian, able to fill with endlesse contentment all the vnderstandings of men and Angels for euer. As the incomprehensible gloriousnesse of God, in the infinite beauty of his owne immediate Maiesty, and sacred attributes in his word and workes; in his iudgements and mercies; in his Church and Sacraments. The miraculousnesse of our redemption, and all the comfortable and glorious passages thereof. The great mysterie of godlinesse, the power of grace, trade of Christianity and course of sanctification; matter of sweetest contemplation. Concerning our selues there is to be thought vponupon all the affaires of our calling, the particulars, perplexities, and cases of conscience incident vntounto them. Our present vilenesse, and fearefull infirmities; the miseries and frailtie of this life; the traines of Satan, the terrors of hell; that great iudgement, euen at hand. In our spirituall state, how to preserue our first louelove, escape relapses, grow in grace, keepe a good conscience, come to heauen. And when the …ie of our vnderstanding is dazled with those higher considerations, or wearied with these inferiour; it might refresh it selfe with the speculatiue fruition of many inuisible comforts, with variety of heauenly things, concerning the immortality of our soules, the large promises of euerlasting blessednesse, the glorious rising againe of our bodies, the ioyes and rest of Gods saints aboue, and that which is the crowne and conclusion of all, our owne most certaine blissefull state of happinesse and eternity in the second world. If men had grace and comfort to enlarge their harts to such meditations as these; what roome would there be for earthli-mindednes, vanities and impertinencies, much lesse for proud, ambitious, couetous, lustfull, enuious and reuengefull thoughts.

Thus far of the care and conscience of the true Christian, in p. 153watching ouer and guiding his thoughts; which is a speciall marke of difference from all states of vnregeneration: for the regenerate onelyonly keepe the last commandement; which rectifies the inward motions of the heart.

Now lastly in a fourth place, and in a word; Gods child 4is distinguished from the formall hypocrite, in respect of the issue of his thoughts.

The most comfortable and sanctified soule, is neuer in such perpetuall serenitie, but that it is sometimes as it were ouerclouded with dumps of heauinesse; and inwardly disquieted with it owne motions, or the suggestions of Satan. While this flesh is vponupon it, it shall be sorrowfull; and while it is in this vale of teares, it must mourne. There is not an heart so sweetely and resoluedly composed for heauen; but is sometimes dissetled with thoughts of indignation: And that especially, as appeareth by Dauid, Psalm. 37. and 73. When follie is set in great excellencie; when men neither of worth, conscience, or ingenuitie, are aduanced to high roomes, domineere in the world, and imperiously insult ouer sincerity; when the wicked prosper, and spread themselues in fresh pleasures and honours like greene Bay-trees; when those hauehave their eyes standing out for fatnes, and more then heart can wish; to whom pride and insolencie are as a chaine, and who are couered with prophanenesse and crueltie, as with a garment. But here marke the diff…ence. Discontentfull discourses in the mind of the formall hypocrite either breake out into desperate conclusions, and fearefull horrour, although this be but seldome; (for commonly this kind of vnregenerate man liues flourishingly, and dies fairely in the eye of the world: exemplarie, and irrecouerable despaire in this life, doth oftnest befall either the notorious sinner, the meere ciuill honest man, or especially the grosse hypocri…e;) therefore I would rather say that in him such discontentfull debatements, are either appeased by some opposite conceit of stronger worldly comfort; abandoned by entertainment of outward mirth; diuerted by companie, pleasures, and ioyfull accidents, composed p. 154by worldly wisedome or the like. But heauie-hearted thoughts in Gods child, though for a while not vtterly without some aspersion of distrust, fretting, and discontent; yet commonly at length being mingled with faith, and managed with spirituall wisedom; by the grace of God, breake out into fairer lightening of comfort, greater heate of zeale, more liuely exercise of faith, gratious speeches, and many blessed resolutions. I will but onelyonly giuegive one instance, and that in Dauid, a man of singular experience in spirituall affaires.

Looke the beginnings of the 62. and 73. Psalmes. And you shall find Dauid to hauehave beene in a heauie dumpe, and sore conflict in his owne heart with strong tentations vntounto impatiencie. He recounts the issue, of the dispute with himselfe, in the beginnings of these Psalmes. Yet saith he in the 73. for all this God is good vntounto Israel: euen to the pure in heart. In the 62. Yet let diuels and men rage and combine, yet my soule keepeth silence vntounto God, of him commeth my saluation, &c. His many wrongs, vexations and indignities together with the implacable malice, and impotent insultations of his aduersaries, had no doubt a little before much run in his mind. Let vsus conceiue such as these to hauehave beene his thoughts; and that thus or in the like maner; hee communed and confered with his royall selfe.

Lord, thinks he with himselfe; I hauehave with lowest humilitie, and vprightnesse of heart resigned mine owne soule; nay, I hauehave vowed and resolued that my crowne and scepter, my court and whole kingdome, shall for euer bee seruiceable to my gratious God, and that great maiesty aboue. My mind is neuer truely pleased and ioyfull; but when it is gazing and meditating vponupon the excellent beautie of his glorious Being; vponupon his bottomlesse goodnes, and immeasurable greatnesse. His word and sacred lawes are better and dearer vntounto me, then thousands of gold and siluer. His Saints vponupon earth are onelyonly my solace, and their sincerity the delight of mine heart. For mine innocency, from those imputations which are charged vponupon mee, I dare appeale vntounto the strictest Tribunall of heauen. Why then how comes p. 155it to passe, that I am become a spectacle of disgrace and contempt, to heauen and earth, to men and Angels, to Gods people, and that which grieues me more, to Gath and Askelon? Saul, for all the seruice I hauehave done to hi… ▪ and to the State, hunts me vp and downe like a Partridge in the mountaines. Dogged Doeg, he hath informed against Ahimelech for releeuing me; and so caused the sacred blood of 85. Priests to be spilt as water vponupon the ground. Malice and furie driue me into the wildernesse, (for Lions and Tigers are more mercif…, then madded and enraged prophanenes:) but there the barbarous Ziphims hauehave betraied me to the King. I am railed vponupon, not onelyonly by base and worthlesse companions, by fellowes of prostituted conscience and conuersation, that were tolerable: but euen Princes, and those that sit in the gate speake against me. Not only drunkards make songs and iest vponupon me: but euen great men, with authoritie and imperiousnesse carrie in triumph my distressed, and forsaken innocencie. Nay, & that which is the complement of miserie and discomfort; mine owne familiars, with whom I hauehave many times sweetly and secretly consulted, they hauehave also deceiued me, as a brook; and as the rising of the riuers, they are passed away. But marke now the issue of this conflict, and inward dispute with himself. Had a notorious sinner bin in these straits, perhaps hee would hauehave burst out into desperate conclusions and furious attempts, Had a Papist bin here, he would presently hauehave had recourse vntounto the Iesuits fellowes, which are by definition, refined and sublimated Friers, composed all of fire, bloud and gunpowder, inspired by the powers of darknesse, with a transcendent rage against Gods truth, sworne solemnely in the blackest consistory of hell, to the death of Kings, desolation of States, combustion of the whole Christian world, and destruction of infinite soules. These men would presently hauehave addrest some bloody and prodigious villaine with a kniffe, poyson or gunpowder to hauehave killed the King, and to hauehave blowne vp Saul, and all his court. Had a formall hypocrite bin in this case, seeing these crosses and miseries befall him; he perhaps would hauehave presently recoiled p. 156from these courses of opposition, though in a good cause, closed with some great man in the court, and cast himself into the current of the times. But marke Dauids cariage in this point: his noble … like a glorious Sunne, breaks thorow these clouds, and stormes of inward troubles, these strong temptations to impatiencie and discontent; he puts on more strength of faith and patience, and shines brighter in all spirituall graces, me thinkes hee reacheth the very meridian of all Christian comfort and high resolution. For as you may see in the forecited 62. Psalme: He doth not onelyonly fortifie his owne hart with vnconquerable confidence in God… protection; but also with an holy triumph, insults ouer the insolencies of his aduersaries, and already washeth his princely feete in the blood of the wicked. Hee tels them, they shall bee slaine eueryevery mothers sonne of them, and that in feareful and horrible manner: As if a man should come vponupon the backe of a rotten and tottering wall, and with great strength and furie push it downe: euen so, when they were most swelled with pride and prophanenes, the wrath and vengeance of God, should like a fierce tempest and whirlewind, seaze suddenlie vponupon them, and hurle them out of their place.

FINIS.

End of the text · Robert Bolton, The State of True Happiness (1611)