The Last Battle of the Soul, Religious tract 1 · Part 4 · Section 1

The Last Battle of the Soul · Religious tract 1 · Part 4 · Section 1

p. 412THE FOVRTH DAYES Conference.

The Pastour.

ACcording to your desire, Sir, I am come againe this morning for to visite you, and for also to reape the fruites of yesterdayes conference.

This is the sweete fruits of a godlieProu. 14. 32Prov 14:32 life, It hath, saith Solomon, hope in the end: I pray God to blesse you with such an hope, whereby in hope against hope, yee may cleaue fast vntountoRom. 4. 18Rom 4:18 your God, finde yee the storme of your temptations alayed? hath the Spirit of God giuen edge and vigour to these comfortes which yee heard yesterday? HaueHave yee put p. 413on a Christian courage with a resolute and contented patience to abid the blessed will of your God?

The sicke Man.

Well is the man and blessed, yea, thrise blessed is hee whose transgressions Psal. 32, 1Ps 32:1is forgiuen, whose sinne is couered, for hee is free from that sting of Conscience that will for euer torment the Soule of the vngodlie.

All this night I hauehave beene sore cumbered with manie spirituall temptations as yee hauehave heard: My Soule for a space hath beene wonderfully perplexed: The spirit of mā alas, is but too ingenious to debar it selfe from glorie: **NoteIt is a wonder how this shuld be in such a glorious Noonetyde of the Gospel hitherto, Glorie bee to God, yee hauehave comforted mee much; ye hauehave handled my sores with the soft and smooth hand of a most wise and charitable discretion, wiselie hauehave yee singled out comfortes most expedient for p. 414the cure of my Soule: Now seeing by your former discourse I hauehave reaped comfort, let mee bee so bold as to intreate you to declare breaflie how a man may know by the workings of the Spirit within, whether he be a Reprobate or one of Gods chosen Ones:**Note It is no time for me now to bee beguiled: Men which looke to die, hauehave neede to looke well what they doe.

I desire earnestlie to be instructed touching the diuerse workinges of the Spirit into the wicked and the godlie: My chiefe desire is to make my Saluation sure.

The Pastour,

I shall doe what I can to giuegive you contentment in that point. The matter indeede is not without difficultie: But yet the Lord God will doe Amos. 3. 7Amos 3:7nothing which hee will not reueale vntounto his seruants the Prophets, so farre as is needfull for his glorie & the well of his People: Mine helpe is in the p. 415Name of the Lord, that made Heauen Psal. 124. 8Ps 124:8and Earth.

The Spirit of God in man hath two sortes of operations: One generall another speciall: As for the generall common to all men, by the Spirit the wicked will say, Iesus is the Lord, I know Iesus. said the Deuill to theAct. 19. 15Acts 19:15 sonnes of Sceuah: * By this Spirite also the wicked will refraine from outward scandals yea, they may preach, yea, prophecie with Saul, Cajaphas, and Iudas, so that they will1 Sam. 10 111 Sam 10:11 bee wondered at, like Soul among the Prophets, or lik Simō magus, to whomAct. 8. 10.Acts 8:10 the world for a space gaue heede from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God: Manie hauing but this superficiall glistering of grace applaud and content themselues thinking that they are wise, while they indeede are fooles.

By this Spirit also they will taste the good gift of God but an one they spite it out againe: * Meate tasted in the p. 416mouth onelie, and not let downe to bee digested in the stomacke, is vnprofitable for nourishment.

**NoteBy this same Spirit also they will bee inlightened, so that they will louelove the deare Sainctes of God, and will reuerence them as King Herod Matth. 14. 3Matt 14:3did Iohn: **NoteBut heere is their stay, they hauehave euer an Herodias, which they will not forsake: Some one reigning sinne or other like pestilent canker cleaueth fast vntounto them and beareth rule into their mortall bodies: Either one sinne or other, secret or publicke must be their Darling: **NoteAnd this againe, like a mother, sinne must hauehave a dancing daughter, called, Hatered of reproue, whose chiefest sute is, that the preacher, were he an Iohn, either want the head, or else bee silenced.

This is the verie border of the wicked mās progresse with all his might and maine in the way to glorie: Further I cannot see that hee can winne p. 417but onelie to a taste in the mouth of the goodnesse of Gods giftes and to a certaine or rather incertaine, liking of that which is good, which at last shall losse the head with the Baptiste, before hee losse his pleasures with Herod: Thus as ye see manie are deceiued with the false flashes of an euil grounded assurance, that they are in the readie and right way to Heauen, when as indeede they are but faggots prepared for euer lasting burnings.

The sicke Man.

There bee one passage in Scripture which hath often affrighted my Soule, in it I see a Reprobate to ma… such a progresse in the way to Hearen, that hardlie can I thinke that euer I did match him: **NoteThe Apostle saith, 1. That hee will bee inlightened. Heb. 6. 4.Heb 6:42. That hee will taste of the heauēlie gift. 3. That he will be made partaker of the holie Ghost. 4. That hee will taste the good word of GOD. 5. That he will taste the powers of the p. 418world to come: And yet for all that hee shall fall away, so that hee can not bee renewed by Repentance, and so shall die a Reprobate, and last after death, shall bee caried with the wicked into the same streame, till he fall downe into the gulfe and poole of perdition.

I intreat you Sir, to giuegive mee some light for the clearing of these wordes, for often hauehave they troubled my Soule, and dryuine it deepe into the dumps, * At the first view of these wordes it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen, and yet thereafter bee diss…ised by some sinnes and iniquities and depriued of all hope of eternitie.

The Pastour.

The Lord inlighten my mislie minde that I may cleare these your doubts to your well and contentment.

I confesse that at the first sight of these words I my selfe was amazed; p. 419so y^t I did wonder how all that could bee: Indeede at the first view as ye say, it would seeme that a man may get seisin of Heauen and yet thereafter bee diss…ised by one sinne or other, whereby all his former vert…es shall losse their grace: **NoteBut let a man lift vp his heart to God in prayer, and thereafter consider well the words and weigh them in the Ballance of the Sanctuarie, hee shall easilie perceiue that a Reprobate may bee endewed with all these giftes, and after all bee debarred from entering into glorie.

In the words ye hauehave obserued fiue difficulties, vntounto which God willing I shall make answere seuerallie. First of all, it is said that the Reprobate who is but a Bellie blind, will bee inlightened: For to stād vnderunder this, yee must first cōsider that into that place of Scripture the Apostle speaketh of Apostats, that is, of men that hauehave forsaken the true Religion, which once p. 420they did professe, for to become professors of lyes, mē who hauehave reuolted from the Trueth after that the windowes of their Soule were shute close, for to barreout the Light and that willinglie and of set purpose.

**NoteFirst then it is said, That they were inlightned, that is, once they knew the Trueth: For knowledge is light: **NoteBut because that hauing light, they wanted louelove, God sent them strong delusions to belieue lyes: **NoteS. Paul speaking of these that had but the light of nature, the twilight of reason, said, That they were inlightened in such a sort that thereby they knew God. But because that when they knew God, they Rom. 1. 21Rom 1:21glorified him not as God, neither were thankefull, but became vaine in their imaginations, how grieuous was their punishment? **NoteA little after, both their sinne and their punishment is more plainely ser downe: Euen, saīth hee, as they did not like to retaine God vers. 28.in their knowledge, God gaue them p. 421ouer in a Reprobate minde: **NoteThat is, hee put out and quenshed that little light of Nature which once theyMatth. 16. 28Matt 16:28 had, as hee tooke the Talent from the idle man that rolled it vp into a napkin: **NoteThe greater that light bee within a mā if it be abused, the greater is the punishment which is for to ensue: But to come to that Light wherewith a Reprobate brought vp in the Church may be inlightened: **NoteThe Light of knowledge within a man who hath not the louelove of the Trueth, is but like the light of a blazing Comet, which shortlie dyeth out, and filleth the world with a pestiferous stinke: **NoteAn Apostate on earth is lik a Comet in the heauens, a star but in appearance: Such men with all their apparent eminences of zeale and dazeling shewes bee but blazing starres, such as the Dragon is said to sweepe downe with his taile. * S. Iude calleth them wandering Iud. v. 13.Judg 5:13starres, they keepe not their Station,

p. 422**NoteThey are Planets in their motion▪ and Comets in their substance, not fixed in the heauens, but kindled meteores in the aire which seeme to bee in the heauens, and therefore they losse at last their light, so that as S. Iude saith, To them is reserued blacknesse of darknesse: Such may hauehave the spirit of illumination, for the good of others, without the Spirit of Sanctification for the good of their own Soules. **NoteThough they hauehave some light of knowledge, yet in louelove and life they walke by the darke side of the cloude with the Egyptians: **NoteThere is LoueLove and Light in the life of all true Israelites, ▪whose course is by the light side of the fierie Pillar: **NoteThe wicked for the most parte are with the Sodomites, either stricken with Gen. 19. 11Gen 19:11blindnesse, or if they see, they see as these Syrians saw that came to apprehend2 Kin. 6. 192 Kgs 6:19 Elishah at Dothan, they saw indeede, but their judgement was so troubled, that though they saw, yet they could not perceiue, till out p. 423of Dothan they were entered into Samariah, the citie of their enemies: **NoteThat was the figure whereof this is the substance, Heare yee indeede, but Isa. 6. 9.Isa 6:9vnderstand not, and see yee indeede, but perceiue not: O how the eyes of the Soule of man are dimmed with the mistie vapours of vanitie; thorow which it is hard euen for the godlie often to see anie glimmerings of grace.

But to the purpose obserue well what I say: **NoteThe godlie and the wicked will both be inlightned: But the godlie is inlightned like a starre fixed into the heauens, whose light is firme and constant. But the wicked inlightned is but lik a blazing Comet, which for a space will hauehave a greater glaunce, than a true starre into the eyes of the ignorants: **NoteBut the learned Philosopher knoweth it to bee nothing but a bundle of filthie matter kindled into the Aire, which shall shortlie bee quenched: **NoteThus as ye see the wicked like a Comet will bee kindled with some strange fire, p. 424hee will bee so inlightened, that he will giuegive light▪ vntounto others for a space with his hoarie beames: **NoteBut this Siella crinita, hoarie starre, because hee is not fixed into the hea uens by faith, hee not beeing in the same Firmament with the Sunne of Mal. 4. 3.Mal 4:3righteousnesse, within some fewe Moneths hee dyeth out, leauing nothing behind him but the pestiferous smoke and stinke of an euill name, and of filthie scandales, a cause pest, where▪ with many are infected: **NoteThus as yee see many like a Comet or a Candle, will for a time blaze with beautiefull brightnesse, beeing full of godlie shewes, without any life of grace, but at last dye out with a filthie smell: The twilight of Nature is no light but darkenesse.

**NoteLet therefore euerie man trie his Light, by his louelove: **NoteThough a man should know Christ neuer so well, if hee cannot say to him, as Peter said, Lord, thou knowest that I louelove p. 425Ioh. 21. 17John 21:17Thee, the light of that man shall not continue, but soone or since with one sinne or other it shall be put out as with a dampe: **NoteThen many shall wonder what can bee worde of such a blazing professour, when they shall see all his rootlesse graces withered and wasted.

Now Sir, examine well your selfe: **NoteIf yee finde a louelove in your hearte with your light, a louelove of God, not so much for his benefites as for himselfe, who is most louelove worthie, be not affrighted to heare that Reprobates may bee inlightened: **NoteAll their graces at the best are rootlesse, glorious glances, foolish flashes euanishing in a moment.

Let mee yet a little illustrate the matter, that it may appeare how Reprobates are said to bee inlightened?

The Godlie & the Reprobates are both said to bee inlightened, but diuerslie: the Godlie are inlightened like the Sun, but the wicked are like p. 426the Moone: In the Sunne as all know the Light, is rooted and fixed, so that not onelie doeth it shew light vntounto others, but also it hath light within it selfe: **NoteAs for the Wicked, they are inlightened like the Moone, which sheweth light vntounto others beeing darke within, like a Glasse which in the sight of the Sunne will glance with some beames, vntounto others hàuing no light within it selfe: **NoteIn this the wicked also are like the Moone, that while they are in plenilunio, in their fullest light, in y^e midst appeareth some blacke spottes: In the greatest light of the wicked, if men can looke vp, and behold, they shall perceiue often one grosse sinne or other, where the light hauehave no reflexe, which is like the blacke spot of the Moone.

Thus as yee see all the light of the Wicked, is but in an outward reflexe, whileas they are darke within: But the Godlie are like Iohn p. 427the Baptist, whom Christ called a burning and a shinning light: Not onlieIoh. 5. 35John 5:35 shine they outwardlie vntounto others, but also they burne within themselues, like these Disciples, whose heartes while Christ spake, did burne within Luk. 24. 32.Luke 24:32them in going to Emaus, these were their words, Did not our hearts burne within vsus, while hee talked with vsus by the way?

**NoteThe Wicked may well blaze without, but neuer burne within: God may so dispence, that like a burning Glasse they may make others to burne, while like the burning Glasse they remaine themselues cold, or at the best but lake warme: Now I thinke that all men may easilie perceiue how the wicked are said to bee inlightened.

Such men I confesse are hard to bee knowne at the first: **NoteA man at least for a month must be acquanted with the Moone before he can know that it is but a dark bodie, which hath p. 428no light in it selfe, but borrowed and outward: A life-time is not often sufficient for to trye Hypocrites transformed, like Sathan, into Angels 2 Cor. 11. 142 Cor 11:14of light: Such Moon-men beguile many with outward reflexes.

Though these which are outwardlie adorned with such colours, blesse themselues with Laodicea, as hauingReuel. 3. 14Rev 3:14 neede of nothing, yet their sins by the hand of Gods Iustice are written in the Register of their Conscience, yea, deepelie ingrauen as with the penne of a Dyamond.

Thus Reprobates cannot now vnderstand because their Conscience… are seared & sensles: they are in such a Slumber & benummednes of Cōscience, that they cannot consider nor make a sound search into the state of their Soules: **NoteNay, though they could, they would not for feare, that there by they should bee enchained to melancholie, a marr mirth of all their carnall delights.

p. 429**NoteOf such I will say some-thing, (I pray God that it may chasse them to seeke sinceritie) Except that such who care onelie for colours & shews of godlinesse, for to be well thought of among men, except, say I, they turne to God with true sound and timelie Repentance, in my judgement hardlie shall they escape some fearefull and remarkable judgement, euen in this life: Cannot God appoint them to bee his owne executioners for to bee Burriors to themselues? After that, in his wrath hee hath kept an assise in their Conscience, and hath made them with Iudas to cry out guiltie against them selues, hee can make them hang vp themselues in the loupe of a corde, for to bee spectacles of his wrath before the world: Hee can mak them poyson themselues, or powre out their life with their blood by sword or by knife: **NoteThis judgement shall cry to the liuing, Thus shall it bee done with him who dallies with his God.

p. 430If hee escape that: **NoteWoe, woe, woe vntounto him on his death-bed, where Sathan with hellish malice & bloody cruelty shall woūd him with his empoysoned darts, which hee shall fasten deeplie in his Soule: Then with many a sore sigh shall hee cry, that he is enthralled in the snaires & fetters of the deuill: Some I know will win out of this world without any seene blot or blow for secret blo…s, they will die also with some formall & perfūctory appearance of repentance: Others will die in a quiet drousinesse and so poore like Nabal: Many a…ye see may die without any seene sign… of Gods wrath: But in the day of the Lord, God shall pull that painted vizard off their face, for the discouering of all their abominations, and that before the face of all Sainctes and Angels, who shall wonder to see all the filthinesse which they in their life could so cunninglie colour and couer, with most painefull painting: p. 431Then mens applause and the worlds praise, which they did once vnderunder the colour of vnhallowed zeale moste eagerlie pursue, shall by no meanes auaile them; for the righteous Lord with a gloume of his justice shall banish them to the loathsome dungeon of the bottemlesse pit.

Thus after they hauehave carried the matter smoothlie for a time by jugling dissimulation, at last all their abominations are set in open view.

The sicke Man.

I finde my selfe satisfied concerning that doubt of the inlightening of the Wicked, who as I see are starke blind, grossie and palpablie ignorant in the mysteries of Saluation. Now teach mee what this is, that he will taste of the heauenlie gift: How can vnsanctified mortalitie bee capable of celestiall benefites?

The Pastour.

By the heauenlie gift I vnderstand the fauour of God and eternall life▪

p. 432**NoteThe wicked man, whose portion is only in this life, will taste these things, that is betimes hee will finde a certaine sweetnesse in God: **NoteThe most wicked man that is will at one time or other lift vp his eyes to God, yea; and thinke himselfe much beholden vntounto God: But all this goodnesse is but lik the morning dew; it hath none abiding, a sound of feare is euer into the wicked mans eares: * As a manHos. 6. 4.Hos 6:4 may taste poyson and yet not bee the worse, because incontinent he spitteth it out againe; so a wicked man may taste good things; and yet not be the better because that after he hath tasted them, hee letteth them not ouer his throat, but spitteth them out againe: **NoteThat which hee hath tasted with the one eare, he spitteth out at the other care: **NoteThe good words may flow a litle into his braine and rinne into his memorie, so that there of hee may prattle like a Paroquet, but nothing goeth down to his p. 433heart, which I may call the stomacke of the Soule: **NoteIf a man should but taste food, were it neuer so fitte of it selfe for to feed he shuld not be able to liue thereby: It is euen so of the wicked spiritualy: They cannot liue by tasting of graces, where God hath not opened the heart as hee opened the heart of Lydea, there is nothingAct. 16 14Acts 16:14 but a tasted grace: Let me yet cleare the matter.

**NoteThe wicked will get a taste of heauen, as the godlie w…ll get a taste of hell: **NoteIn this doing, I obserue a secret Iustice, and a secret merciemercy of God: It is a merciemercy for the godlie that they taste the bitternesse of wrath heere, that they may esteeme the more of heauens glorie heere after. **NoteThe baser our estate be before we he exalted, we shal thinke the more of honour whē it commeth: What am I, said Dauid, being but a shepheard, that I should marrie a Kings Daughter? Who am I? said hee, and what p. 434is my life, or my fathers familie in Israel, 1 Sam. 18. 181 Sam 18:18that I should bee Son in law to the King **NoteIf Dauid had beene a Kings Sonne, hee could hauehave well thought himselfe an equall match for a Kings Daughter: But while hee considered his owne base estate and the basenes of his fathers family, he thought himselfe so ouermatcht, that hee wondered at such honour, which made him say, Who am I? What am I, said2 Sam. 9 82 Sam 9:8 lamed Mephibosheth, that I a d…ad dogge should sitte at the Table of a King?**Note The greater aduersitie a man bee come out of, the more sweete is his prosperitie when it cōmeth:**Note The tempestuous by past blasts of Winter commend the beautie of the Spring: * Bring me a man who is daylie accustomed to good cheare, to a Banquet, and little shall hee thinke of it, because such is his ordinarie fare: But, O if bread was not sweete to that hunger bitten forlorne, when hee came home from his p. 435husks!* I think that the godly in heauē Luk. 15. 16.Luke 15:16shall remember of the bitter taste of wrath they felt on earth, which shall so rauish them with joy of their chā ged estate, that no tongue shall bee able to expresse: **NoteBut againe, heere is Iustice and wrath for the wicked: God in this life giueth vntounto them a taste of his sweete thing: Some common spirituall confections he putteth into their mouth, whereof they find some heauenlie relish; **NoteI am of this opinion, that while they shall be in hell, the remembrance of that sweete taste shall neuer goe out of their heart, which shall bee a most powerfull meanes for the increasing of their smart:**Note What a sting was this vntounto the gl…tton in hell, when Abraham, Luk. 16. 25Luke 16:25said to him, Sonne remember that thou in thy life-time receiuedst thy good thinges? **NoteYee may see heere that the wicked hauehave remembrance in hell of what good thinges they hauehave receiued on earth, which is an hell in hell.

p. 436Thus as ye see God in Iustice and and in wrath will let the Wicked heere on earth taste his good thinges, for the increase of their woe thereafter: **NoteBy the sweete taste they had of God on earth while they liued, they know now in Hell, which is a* Note part of their torment, what joye the godlie hauehave in Heauen: **NoteAnd againe the godly by that bitter taste of wrath which once they felt on earth, shall know, which shall wonderfullie increase their joye, what torments the wicked suffer in hell, from which the Lord in his vnspeakable merciemercy hath made them free.

By this as yee perceiue both the godlie & the wicked taste here both of Hell & of Heauen: The godly taste of Hell, that Heauen, may be to them y^e sweeter: The wicked taste of Heauen y^t Hell may be to them y^e sower: God loueth not the wicked, but hateth them as hee hated Esau: **NoteFor this cause, while hee giueth them a p. 437taste of his good thinges, it is that while they shall bee in easlesse and endlesse torments, they may remember how sweete a God they hauehave despised, and how sowre a Sathan they hauehave serued.

**NoteAll these good things which are jointly in the wicked man, are but lik faire attyre vponupon a leperous bodie, or like jewels about the necke of an hanged man: Hee hath nothing but the dead portraiture of an Israelite indeede.Ioh. 1. 47.John 1:47

**NoteBut in all this time while vnderunder the shewes of godlinesse, he is drinking in iniquitie like water, a dreadfull sound is in his eares, for he knoweth that the day of darknesse is ready at his Ioh. 15. 16John 15:16hand: God at last in great wrath shall runne vponupon him, euen on his necke, vponupon vers. 23.the thicke bosses of his buckler, because he did couer his face with fatnesse, and made collops of fatte on his flankes, not caring for the leannesse of his poore Soule: * Woe to p. 438these who content with bare tasting of graces, in wrappe themselues i… cloudes of hypocrisie.

The sicke Man.

My Soule Sir, rejoyceth to heare you speake: **NoteI perceiue now by your speach that the wicked will get a taste of spirituall good thinges into their mouth, but that from thence nothing commeth downe to their heart, because the passage is stopped.

The Pastour.

It is euen so: **NoteQuod non deglutiunt multo minus concoquunt, That which they cannot swallow downe, lesse can they disgest: **NoteThe hearts of all men are naturallie fast shute for to hold out God. Christ foundCant. 5. 2Song 5:2 the doore of his Spouse barred, whē hee came, neither would shee open it, till the fauour of his Mirre hadvers. 5. wrought vponupon her heart: At the best of mens hearts hee must often stand and knocke, againe, and againe: But as for the wicked mans hearte, it p. 439hath no entrie for grace, not in all his Psal. 10. 4.Ps 10:4thoughts: The heart of a Reprobate is like a Pest-house, closed vp: Lidiahs Act, 16. 14heart was closed, till God opened it: **NoteThus as ye see the wicked may for to speake so, get a mouthfull of Gods good thinges, which they will taste as it were roll vp and downe with their tongue lik a sweete morfell with some sort of pleasure: **NoteBut at once they loth that which they loued, and spit out these heauenly confections: Thus doing they are said to doe despite Heb. 10. 29. …Heb 10:29vntounto the Spirit of Grace. O but the hollow heart of man barboureth many close corruptions.

The sicke Man.

Now Sir, I pray you proceede: Let mee heare some thing concerning the third difficultie, which is that a Reprobate may be made partaker of the holie Ghost: How can this bee? **NoteThis seemeth to bee verie hard and knottie, that a man can be a Reprobate, a limbe of Sathan, and p. 440one of the familie of hell, and yet … made partaker of the holie Ghost: Let mee vnderstand what is that to say.

The Pastour.

**NoteBy the holie Ghost in Scripture are often vnderstood the giftes and graces of the holie Ghost: According to this it is said, that these of Samariah receiued the holie Ghost, afterAct. 8. 17Acts 8:17 that Peter and Iohn had prayed for them, and laide hands vponupon them, they receiued the holy Ghost, that is spiritual gifts: it was for to hauehave a power to giuegive such gifts that Simon Magus Act. 8. 18Acts 8:18offered money to the Apostles▪ **NoteWhereas then it is said that Reprobates are partakers of the holie Ghost, it is to bee vnderstood of such giftes that are common both to the Godlie and Wicked: The best temper of their religion, and the highest pitch of all their holinesse, is nothing but outwardnesse and formall Christianitie.

p. 441The sicke Man.

I Desire earnestlie to know what common giftes these bee that the holy Ghost will bestow vponupon a Reprobate.

The Pastour.

A Reprobate may carrie the matter smoothlie for a time: **NoteHee may wonderfullie in wrappe himselfe in godlie glancing shewes, so that hee can not bee espyed for a space, by a juggling dissimulation he will euen bleare the eyes of the Prophetes which are Gods Seers: **NoteWhen hee is cloathed with a coats of formes, men will think that vnderunder such formes be y^e true substance: While he hath that foreign Rom. 2. 20Rom 2:20foreign forme of knowledge, and that foreign forme of godlinesse, 2 Tim. 3. 52 Tim 3:5mē who see not as God seeth, will tak him to be some great Diuine, while indeede all the graces hee hath are but formes and outwardnesse, without any life or roote of sound inward sanctifying grace: All such formes p. 442in end proue starke nought.

**NoteA Reprobate may bee a teacher of Gods worde, a builder of Gods House like Noahs Carpenters, who builded the Arke, and yet drowned into the floode: **NoteHee may blaze like a Comet with colourable pretences of pietie, and shew light vntounto others for a space, yea, so that with most glorious glances hee shall make mens eyes to dazle, and yet shall at last die out, leauing nothing behind but the smoke and stinke of an euill life like the snuffe of a Candle, when there is lothsome reeke without a flamme: **NoteAn Hypocrite may be a mā of a milde & mercifull disposition, yea, zealous in appearance, without any sene blot or blemish: By his hypocrisie hee may doe good to others. Men seeing him, will stand in awe to offend, thinking him to bee a sincere man: **NoteA Reprobate will bee like the man that beareth the Lanterne in the darke night, wherewith while hee p. 443giueth light vntounto others, he is least inlightened himselfe: **NoteWhile others by that light will see the best and cleanest way, hee himselfe and Lanterne together will fal into a mire. **NoteThus after that his light is quenched in some scandalous puddle, the followers know what a man he was:

A Reprobate may hauehave immunitie from grosse and in famous sinnes, he may bee a man of great giftes, wondered at by many as was Simon Magus, Act. 8. 9.Acts 8:9to whom all gaue heede, from the least to the greatest▪ saying, This man is the great power of God: **NoteA whole peoples applause is no sure token of Gods fauour.

**NoteAs Sirion which is Hermon, was called by Moses Sion, so may a godly man both think & call an HypocriteDeut. 8. 48Deut 8:48 a chosen vessell▪ **NoteOf such a mā often may a Godly man say, as Elisha said of the Shunamite lying at his feete, The Lord hath hid it from mee, and hath not tolde mee: **NoteThe godly and p. 444wicked are sibber vntounto other in outward shewes, than Sirion and Sio… are sibbe in syllabes: Nay, in outwardnesse and glorious glances, the vvicked beare the Bell, because their greatest care is cunninglie to manage & eagerlie to catch such vaine applause.

**NoteThe high stature and faire face of Eliab deceiued the Seer: Surelie, 1 Sam. 16. 61 Sam 16:6said hee, the Lords anointed is before him, and yet for all that the voyce come out from God, declaring that God had refused him.vers. 7▪

That which is like vntounto another is not that wherevnto it is lik: There is but an H betweene Sibboleth and Shibboleth, and yet the losse of thatIudg. 12. 6Judg 12:6 Letter cost the Ephramites their liues at the passage of Iordan. The vvant of that note of Aspiration made them to losse their breath with their life: Mā vnderunder a maske of mildnesse may deceiue men with faire vvords, as Ioa… 2 Sam. 20. vers. 9.2 Sam 20:9did Amasa; but God well knoweth p. 445the Gal…lean accent, though Peter should denye with an oath.

The craft of Hypocrites is wonderfull: **NoteWhile they walke in a ploding course of glorious shewes, beeing fast nailed vntounto outward formalitie, they will wonderfullie bleare the eyes of men, so that they will out-steppe the best in low louring and counterfeit cruching, who would not hauehave thought Ahab a true repenting man, while sicke in 1 Kin. 21. 271 Kgs 21:27sacke hee went sof…lie with sacke cloth nearest his skinne? Mans eyes are easilie, easilie jugguled with soddered shewes: But God who seeth not as man 1 Sam. 17 61 Sam 17:6seeth, looketh on the heart: They that see such painted men, as they themselues also, may thinke that they are alreadie possessed of the Kingdome of grace, and also intituled to the Kingdome of glorie, while indeede they are but prophane men of seared Consciences, seeking for nothing but popular appla…ses for the aduancement p. 446either of their profite or preferment or reputation and worth: By some worldlie respect they euer are caried on the by, whereby they euer come short of sinceritie.

**NoteWoe vntounto them euen when all men shall speake good of them: **NoteFor a space they may well thinke in their owne fond conceit, that they are stored with all the riches of Gods graces, like Beggers in their sleepe dreaming that they are tumbling thē selues amid great heapes of gold: O but when such awake they are not onlie emptie of their imagined good, but filled with sorrow for being depriued of that which they had in their imagination, the greatest groūd of their contentment: Thus all comforts shalbe sweepe from them with the besome of vtter desolation.

O the deceitfulnesse of mans heart! Who can know it? said Ieremie: Ier 17. 9.Jer 17:9**NoteWhat eye can pierce and passe thorow all the wyles & windings p. 447of this juggling sinne of Hypocrites, which hauing nothing but foreign a forme of godlinesse, which beare y^t world in hand that they are scalded & burnt with the zeale of Gods House: The best things y^t are in such are nothing but ciuill outwardnesse clothed with colourable pretences of pietie, without any justifying faith in the heart, or renewing power in the Soule, wherin is the practise of pietie.

What shall I say more? a Reprobate as yee see may bee both courtesse and kind, solatious in conuersation, a man beloued of his neighbours, yea, such a man may driue out his dayes without any seene blot, or outward scandale: Hypocrisie may bee so small spunne, that no carnall eye can perceiue it

Such a man also may hauehave some troubles of Conscience, some secrete checkes of remorse for his by-goné folies, euen Iudas his foreign, repenting or forethinking: But his Soule p. 448was neuer acquainted with traueling and hard labour in the newe births which is borne with that foreign euē an vniuersall change of minde, will, and affections which is onelie peculiar to the godlie.

I will yet say more, a Reprobate while hee possesseth a true doctrine though but outwardlie, hee may …aue the gift of prophecie with Saul & Cajaphas yea, of miracles, & also of healings, of helpes in gouernaments and of diuersities of tongues: **NoteBehold, how a wicked man may bee a Preacher, and a Prophet, or among 1 Sam. 10. 121 Sam 10:12the Prophets, and a worker of meracles: HaueHave wee not cast out deuils in Matth. 7. 22.Matt 7:22thy Name? shall many say to Christ at the day of judgement; to whom Christ shall answere, Departe from vers. 32.mee for I know you not.

All these good things may a man hauehave, and yet bee a stranger from the life of God: * Though such outward thinges hauehave a glorious appearance & p. 449bee great in the eye of the world▪ yet they are no sure token of Gods louelove: **NoteDid not Christ call Iudas, Matth. 26 50.Matt 26:50Friend? All the common giftes & graces of the wicked, are nothing but like the friendship that was betweene Christe and Iudas, whome Christ called friend, for to let him know that the greater was his sinne: Such for all their glistring shewes are strangers from the life of God, holden fast vnderunder the power of the first death, and yet none so much as they are puft vp with a conceit of imaginarie perfection, so powerfull is the deuilish influence of pride: The greater Gods gifts shall-be into the wicked, y^t greater shal be their woe.

The sicke Man.

I hau… heard, and am satisfied concerning y^t the vvicked may be made partaker▪ of the holy Ghost: I pray you to discusse the fourth difficultie, which is, That … man may taste the good word of God, and yet bee a Reprobate.

p. 450The Pastour.

Hee vvill indeed Sir, taste the good word God, as I hauehave exponded that he will taste the heauenlie gift: **NoteHee will taste the good word of God, That is, hee will vnderstand the word, he will take pleasure to read it, and to heare it preached, with some flashes of comfort, whereby hee will bee moued to harbour some good meanings and intentions, not onlie that, but also hee will doe many thinges asMar. 6. 20.Mark 6:20 Herod who heard Iohn gladlie, and did also many things: **NoteBut such a mā hatheuer some herodias a darling sinne secret or knowne, vvhichwhich hee vvould preferre to the head of Iohn the Baptiste: **NoteWhile hee is in the Church it may bee hee heare the vvord with some gladnesse, yea, and vveete his cheekes vvith teares at the preaching of Christs passion, but let h…m goe from thence to his Banketing, a dancing of a daughter of this Herodias, viz. Some little tickling p. 451joy of his Mistresse, & predomināt sin vvill make him to forget all that was preached: A small requeast of some dauncing deuil vvill mak such a man, if hee bee of power, to lay the PreachersMar. 6. 28Mark 6:28 head in a platier.

**NoteThere bee many vvho vvhile they heare the Word preached in the Church, are like a Siffe or Riddle into the vvater, so long as they are in hea…ing, they seeme to bee full of Gods word, euen to the brim: But so soone as they are once departed, all that they heard runneth out, and they to their olde by as againe. The best thing that are in the wicked are to God, as vvho for a sacrifice should cut off a Dogs necke, or offer Swynes blood.

The sicke Man.

This is a strange matter, this world as I see, is like Sardis. Thou hast a Reuel. 3. 4.Rev 3:4few names in Sardis▪ which hauehave not defiled their garments: The Godlie are as the shaking of the Oliue, Two p. 452or three Berries in the toppe of the vpper-most Esa. 17. 6.Isa 17:6bough. Christ called them vvell, The little Flocke. Great as ILuk. 12. 32.Luke 12:32 see is the deceitfulnesse of sinne: **NoteI thought when I saw a man or a woman, hearing the word with great attention, and vvhiles vvith teares, that these could not bee but the Lords chosen and dearest Ones: And yet I see that a man may heare the word with greate appearance of godlinesse, yea and thinke the Word most sweete for the time, yea, louelove and reuerence Gods Messengers, and yet for all that bee kept short of the state of Grace.

The Pastour.

All that is true, for Herod reuerenced Iohn for a space, and heard him gladlie: Simon magus belieuedAct. 8. 13.Acts 8:13 with a temporarie faith: And Esau Heb. 12. 17Heb 12:17though hee wept and sought the blessing with many teares, yet could finde no place in his heart vvhere he could lodge true Repentance.

Many are endewed with painted p. 453Graces, which hauing but the face & not y^t heart of grace, are meere hypocrisie: Euen vices masked with y^e appearance of vertues: Such formal holie persons come farre short of being in Christ Iesus, in whom all true goodnesse is most liuelie incorporate.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave heard you Sir, discusse verie pertinentlie foure difficulties, the fift and last, and greatest is behind: Often hauehave I wondered what could bee the true sense & meaning thereof, the words are these, Hee will taste of the powers of the world to come? What can a Reprobate hauehave to doe with the world to come? I vnderstand not well these words.

The Pastour.

Indeed Sir, they want not difficulty: Some of the Learned thinke with S. Chrysostome, That by the powers of the world to come are to bee vnderstood, the powerfull working and miracles vnderunder the Gospel, which in respect p. 454of the Lawe vvas called, The world to come, as if the dayes of the Gospel were the dayes of a new world, since Christ that Day spring from on Luk. 1. 78Luke 1:78high, and most glorious Sunne of Righteousnesse did appeare for to inlightenMal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2 euerie man that commeth into this world: But in my judgement that bee more subtile, than solide: **NoteI had rather thinke that Reprobats are said to taste of the powers of the world to come▪ when they finde some sort of sweetnesse in God with a kind of desire to bee out of this world, for to bee with God into the Heauens: **NoteSuch a desire betimes will make their heartes flutter vp toward these heauenlie Mansions **NoteBut such fluttering desires wanting the feathers of Faith, incontinent come short, and fall downe againe with a jumpe: Hee hath not a settled constancie nor well grounded resolution. God at some times will let the Wicked see some glimpse of his glorie, p. 455as it were a lightning that passeth most swiftlie avvay, vvhichwhich for a little space in the darke night letteth a man see that vvhichwhich is before him: But so soone as it is past, his eyes become more dazeled and darkened, thā they were of before: such powers are but painted powers: They are indeede like the liuing powers as an Image is like a man, but they want the heart of godlinesse.

Thus according to my knowledge in a serious and impartiall search is all the vvicked mans progresse toward the kingdome of glorie. All the best graces that hee hath, are but glances of graces and dreames of glorie, euen extreme pouertie, glorious sinnes, beautifull abominations.

These be Gods limets, who hath said to him, as hee said to the proud vvaues, Hitherto shall yee come and no further: **NoteSuch a man in his best estate and conceit is but an Hypocrite lurking vnderunder the Canopie of a p. 456counterfeit profession: His best estate is both broken and bankerupt in spirituall thinges: **NoteFor a space such a man may goe pleasantlie like a Shippe before the vvind; but at last downe commeth a blast of judgment, and sinketh him downe irrecouerablie into the bottome of hell.

The sicke Man.

I am glad to hauehave heard the solutions of these fiue difficulties, which often did trouble my minde.

By all your discourse I perceiue that the Reprobates at their best, feele but some generall good motions, and that all their perswasions, that they shall at last come to heauē, are nothing but imaginations, and vaine dreames of glorie: **NoteMany in mine opinion are deceiued in this world, who like these that dreame, thinke they awake, while they indeede are fast asleepe: Many in this world as I see, thinke to bee saued, whose thoghts shal proue to be but dreames: Some obscure printes of vnsound p. 457joyes, though for a space they may be of good acceptance with the most godlie, and clappe their owne hands, as if they were in the passage to Paradise: They are in end disappointed, because they want true inward holinesse, without which no man shall see Gods face.

The Pastour.

It is most true Sir, for…s men for the most part desire to bee flattered by others, so tak they delight to flatter themselues, feeding vponupon fond fancies and phantasies, lik Hypochondriackes, or braine sicke, who cannot bee perswaded, but that they are Kings, while indeede they are but Beggers.

The sicke Man.

This is a terrible disease: **NoteBut to leaue the Reprobates, and come to the Elect, I desire now to know of you what bee that speciall spirituall working, which is onelie peculiar to the Elect and chosen Ones of God: I vvish to heare of the proceedings of Gods Spirite working into p. 458the hearts of the godlie vntounto their Saluation: The godlie I am assured are of a more noble and heauenlie temper full of the Spirit of Grace.

The Pastour.

**NoteIn my judgement where the Spirit of God worketh to the Saluation of the Soule of a sinner, before it come to a full perswasion & hight of assurance, there is first a tempest of wrath against sinne going before the comming of God in his merciemercy, viz. A shaking wind, a trembling earthquake, a burning fire, vvhichwhich lik three grimme posts come running before to tell that God is comming into the calme.

**NoteBefore that God shew his presence into the still voyce, hee proceedeth by steps and degrees: First hee rebuketh the sinner of sinne, and wakeneth his Conscience with some sight of his iniquities, & vvith some sense of that vvrath which sin hath deserued: From this ariseth a great p. 459heauinesse into the heart, vvhichwhich breaketh forth both in speach & countenance, so that the vvorlde which know him of before, will vvonder at his change, as if he vvere a creature cast into another mould▪ **NoteAfter that God hath thus prepared the Soule of men with thundering tempests and tremblings with blasts and vvith burnings, and thereby hath made them more afraid of sin, than they were of before of sinne it selfe: At last he commeth vntounto them into the calme of his merciemercy, & first giueth vntounto them grace to flee all occasions of sinne, and after that, to hate the verie garment spotted with the flesh▪ **NoteHeeIud. v. 23.Judg 5:23 vvho in despight can gnash his teeth against that vvherein once hee tooke pleasure to displease his God, is not a sholler of flesh and blood, not a naturall man that is content vvith ciuell outwardnesse. **NoteAfter that the Spirit hath vvrought a detestation and hatered of sinne into the heart, he putteth p. 460a cry into the heart for merciemercy, with sighes and sobbes which cannot bee expressed: **NoteSome times these sighes vvill breake out into such vvords that both speaker and hearer will vvonder vvherefrae they come.

**NoteAfter that, the Spirit in his motions by a sweete and silent inspiration, goeth forward in his progresse into the heart by little & little, with Life, Light, Libertie, and peace of Conscience, euen that peace vvhichwhich passeth all vnderstanding, and so cannot be expressed in humane words: Now am I come Sir, as yee heare, ad metam non loquendi, that I can say no more: **NoteIt were but folie for mee to dyue so deepe in Gods vvorkings, as for to take vntounto mee to declare vntounto you that vvhichwhich passeth all vnderstanding: **NoteThe new name into the white Stone, is knowne to Reuel. 2▪ 17Rev 2:17none, but to these that hauehave receiued it: Though hee that hath this name know it himselfe, yet hee cannot p. 461vttter it: It is like these wordes of Paradise which S. Paul called vnspeakable.2 Cor. 12. 4.2 Cor 12:4

Now for to sum vp breaflie all that hath beene declared in a more large and ample discourse, I shall obserue three things which are onelie rooted in the godlie heart, & a…e altogether strangers from the Reprobates.

**NoteFirst where true grace is, there is a remorse and painefull griefe with many sore sighes, for all by gone slips: By this as by a Bitte or Bridle the Soule of the godlie man is kept from backesladings and scandalous stumbling relapses.

Secondlie, he hath a present quicke feeling of these sins, which of before hee counted but little and veniel: If it bee sinne▪ hee will say no more, Is it not a little one? **NoteA …ye for luc…, Gen. 19▪ 20Gen 19:20or for sport yea, a light idle worde will checke him at once in the Conscience, though hee were perswaded that it were neuer knowne to anie. p. 462Last of all, by a long practise in well doing hee acquireth in his Soule an habituall tendernesse, whereby the former good motions are so confermed and strengthened, that it is a pleasure to him to doe well: Off this ariseth the gracious and most sweete temper of the good Conscience▪ which is to his Soule a perpetual feast: This is the Christians progresse in true godlinesse, which is neuer so calme in this world▪ y^t it can be said to be without troubles, which maike the way vntounto glorie: Thus much for the proofe of the point in hand.

**NoteOnelie this I desire you to obserue, that such spirituall workinges goe by degrees…, like a Riuer that is waxing, like an Herbe that is growing, like a Day that is but dawning▪ or like a Victorie but beginning: At last commeth nowe full Flood▪ nowe is perfect grouth, nowe is Noone▪day, now hauehave I foughtē the good fight, &2 Tim. 4. 82 Tim 4:8 now I look for the crown of righteous p. 463nesse: This being all finished, therepenting sinner entereth into glorie, the place of ful contentment, where the restlesse eyes of mans desire shall rest from peeping or prying any further for any greater felicitie.

Thus brieflie by waye of compend hauehave I declared vntounto you: But all this is not so soone done as said: B…tter bee the Battels of a Christian before hee can come to this rest: There be bloodie battels against the Deuill, bloodie battels against the World▪ bitter and bloodie battels against the corruptions of his flesh: Many a stroke will hee giuegive vponupon his breast with y^t Publican many astroke will hee giuegive vponupon his thigh, cryingIer 31. 19.Jer 31:19 with Ephraim, …ye, What hauehave I done? **NoteS. Paul was pricked with a thorne in the flesh, and buffeted by a deuill,2 Cor. 12. 72 Cor 12:7 before hee got the Crowne:**Note Christ himselfe speaking of himselfe▪ said, Ought not Christ to hauehave suffred all these Luk. 24. 26Luke 24:26things, and so to enter into his glorie?

p. 464It is easie to heare this short discourse of words: **NoteBut what paines are into the second Birth: The paines of the first Birth are so piercing, that the verie paines of hel are compared vntounto them: And yet I hauehave known women who by their owne confession, hauehave trauelled more into the second birth than euer they did in the first: **NoteManie would bee content to dye for to bee borne againe: This flesh of ours is ill to die, yet it muste die, and bee mortified, at the birth of Ichabod where is the glorie? The first wordes that this new creature learneth to speake is,1 Sam. 4. 21 Sam 4:2 Where is the glorie? **NoteAt the first it seeketh after Gods glorie, as the new borne Babe at the first seeketh after y^t dug with the tongue and the lips: * It is the best foode of a regenerate Soule to sette our Gods glorie, as it was our Sauiours meate to doe his Fathers will.

After all that, the Soule maketh p. 465a procession in well doing, neuer standing at a stand, but euer going forward, though some times more slowlie: The way to glorie is from grace to grace: **NoteMany foullie deceiue themselues, because that they forbeare one sinne or other, wherevnto at other times they hauehave beene most slauishlie addicted, they thinke themselues reformed men, and that if Death should come, incontinent the doores of Heauē shuld goe wide open to the walls, for to let in their… soules with their formes of godlinesse… 2 Tim. 3 52 Tim 3:5Such are so high in their owne conceit, that they thinke to bee after death cannonized Sainctes.

Of this sorte bee so many, that Scripture calleth them a generation:Prou. 30.Prov 30 There is a generation that are pure in their owne conceit, and yet are not washed from their filthinesse.

In him vvho is truelie a childe of God, the strongest corruptions of the flesh must bee snaffled and curbed p. 466by the Law of the Spirit: **NoteIt is not enough to beate downe one sinne, or two, or many, as many will doe, but reserue aye some, one or other▪ for which they must pray with Naaman, In this thing the Lord 2 Kin. 5. 182 Kgs 5:18pardon thy seruant.

**NoteLet no man deceiue himselfe, there is no place in Heauen, but for him or her whose studie is applyed to an vniuersall sinceritie of all their wayes.

Let it be that Cain was not a Theefe: But did not God curse him for his murther? Let it bee that Iudas wasGen. 4. 11.Gen 4:11 free of many sinnes, yet because hee way a Theefe, and a Traitour andIoh, 12. 6. died so, hee was damned. Let it bee that the Pharisee was not an adulterer Luk. 18. ….Luke 18as hee bragged, yet his pride was the bane of his Saluation.

**NoteHee that maketh not conscience of the least sinne, is guiltie of the greatest: According to this God himselfe saith, That who faileth in p. 467one, faileth in all: If for God and for Conscience sake, a man abhorre the great sinnes of murther and adulterie, and such others of not orious rank▪ for these same sakes he will abstaine from lesser sinnes, otherwayes it is but some worldlie respect, either for shame or losse, which like a restraining grace, with-holdeth him from matching the same: Many will neither kill, nor committe adulterie, and yet will make no conscience to slander, or lye either in sport or earnest, or by hooke or crooke catch that which is not their owne. Who euer hee bee, who without controlement looseth the reines to such petit sinnes, hath neuer as yet sette his foote forward in y^e way that leadeth to life: the Spirit of grace as yet hath made no residence into him: The Spirit he hath, is but a sporting Spirit deceiuing him vvith …ies: The surest note of the Spirit of the grace is a sanctified studie, & endeuour to an p. 468vniuersall sinceritie in all our wayes; of thought, worde, and dead, which vvill bee I confesse often with great vveaknesse and failing, for in many Iam. 3. 2.Jas 3:2things wee offend all.

Now Sir, vvhat thinke yee of all that hath beene said? according to the knowledge that God hath giuen mee, I hauehave cleared your doubts: If my discourse hath done you good giuegive God the praise, yet vvould I knowe vvhat all these vvordes hath vvrought in your heart.

The sicke Man.

I blesse God for that vvhichwhich I hauehave heard: **NoteBy Gods Grace I hauehave catcht some hope of a better life: The desires of mine heart beginne to enter the confines of eternitie: I find the motions of the Spirit of Grace vvorking into my Soule the great vvorke of Saluation: I am now refreshed vvith the sweete streames of spirituall comforts: I finde now my Soule lifted vp toward God, and I p. 469finde the louelove of this vvorld falling downe like the Mantle of Elijah: I2 Kin. 2. 132 Kgs 2:13 think that I goe novv more sweetlie and swiftlie to my God, with a more holie and heauenlie desire, than euer I did heeretofore: Your comfortes Sir make mee to hyefaster: **NoteI take this to bee a nevv worke-man-shipe of grace: **NoteI hope shortlie to be at the vp shot of all my troubles: **NoteI finde vvithin mine heart some kindled joye, vvhichwhich I take to bee the pawne of pleasures for euermore: The SpiritePsal. 16. 11Ps 16:11 of God like a Doue hath brought vntounto my Soule a comfort like an Oliue Gen. 8. 11Gen 8:11leaue assuring mee in some vveake measure, that the floode of Gods vvrath is asswadged vponupon my Soule: What shal I say? The best of Gods blessings are behind: Oh that now my Sauiour vvere into the cloudes: I had rather die, than I should liue for to anger the Lord againe: Alas, that mine heart hath beene so gleued to the ground like a shell-Snaile fastened on the wall. p. 470Seeing Sir God hath wrought so well by you in this great worke of my conuersion; I intreat you to continue in some good purpose, that my minde may still bee kept bended vponupon that which is good: **NoteIf yee leaue off to teach mee, my minde will but wander in vanitie. O Lord, worke all my thoughts to holie and heauenlie meditations.

The Pastour.

Blessed bee God who hath giuen you such a resolute and contented minde: See what yee desire me to speake chieflie of at this time.

The sicke Man.

**NoteSeeing I am shortlie for to leaue this world and to goe to the Heauens, for to take out of mine heart* Note the least roote of regret to quite this world: I pray you Sir, to say something of the vanitie of this world, of the last Iudgement, and of the joyes of Heauen, where shortlie I hope to bee: Let mee heare how I shall losse p. 471nothing in the change: Striue Sir, I pray to kindle and blow vp the dying fire of my deuotion, helpe mee to goe from strength to strength▪ till I bee in Zion.

The Pastour.

The Lord put such wordes into my mouth, which may bee able to winne your Soule vp to Heauen, and to weane it from all worldlie pleasures.

First for to speak but a word in generall cōcerning this world. **NoteWhat is it but a peece of earth, made barren with Gods curse, whose fruites without sweatie labours, are butGen 3. 8.Gen 3:8 thistles and thornes?

As for the vanitie of the world, seculum speculum, This world is a glasse wherin a drumlie eye may see its vanitie: Hee who was wisest in it, speaking of it, after that he was tyred with trying its pleasures, preached that it was but vanitie of vanities, aEccles. 1. 2Eccl 1:2 verie Idea, that is the abstract of vanities, p. 472which are the abstracts of things that are vaine: **NoteSo according to Solomons Text all that wee account most substantiall, is but an abstract of an abstract, as if a man shuld dreame that he dreamed, which should bee the dreame of a dreame: **NoteThis is like y^t vanitie which Habak▪ kuke calleth verie vanitie, whereinHeb. 2. 13Heb 2:13 are some few flashes of deceiueable comforts.

Thus as yee see the life of man in this world is nothing but a fardle of vanities, shadowes and dreames, a bundle of displeasing pleasures, vaine in inside and outside too: **NoteOur greatest pleasures here are but a mixture of miserie: They are soone marred like a mistuned song: **NoteThe flees in the plague of flees were not so thicke in Egypt as vanities are in this world, for which the most parte of the world exchange the happinesse of their Soules: These who are most glorious in worldly pompe, are constrained p. 473to say at last with that King in Homer: * The great God hath imprisoned mee with cares: O happie they who are free of such dangers, are secured in cottages of clay.

After that man hath beene vponupon the top of his pompe, and is come to the vertical point of his pleasures after which hee hath hunted with great eagernesse of heart: Hee must come downe and bee curbed with paines of diuerse diseases, distressed till hee bee turned in to dust.

**NoteAll his pleasures, profites, and prefermentes shall slide away like a shadow: They shall passe like a Poast passing by, like water lift vp with a sife, or sand with open fingers. As the shippe passeth ouer the waues, its trace, not beeing able to bee seene on the brim, or as the fowle mounting to the Skye, piercing the Aire, so that no mortall eye can perceiue any token of her passage, though the eare heare the noise of her wings, p. 474so shall it bee of all earthlie things, when once the inch of this life being ended, our mortall Soule shall bee dislodged out of this clay, all earthlie contentments then shall bee like a Bird, of whose flight no token can bee found after for a space by the shaking of her wings, shee hath parted the aire in a greater heminencie of going: In all our greatest pleasures bee lurking sorrowes like serpentes among the grasse, which maketh way to a fairing man to steppe backe or start aside.

Oh, that wee were wise! What shall I say? In this transitorie life we are miserablie blind folded, because wee louelove not the heauens, God letteth vsus dote vponupon the earth: It is righteous with God so to doe: OfPsal. 117. 23.Ps 117:23 all this wee must say, This is the Lords doing, it is marueilous in our eyes: Oh, that wee could consider! in these last dayes of this world, there is come vponupon the world a plague of vanitie, p. 475like a plague of flees, whereof pride is Beelzebub the master flie, which buzzeth in most men & womens heads commanding other legions of vanities full of fretting sorrows, or of false flattering pleasures wherewith the sillie Soule is fettered: **NoteThe whole life of man is inclosed in Mesopotamia betweene two riuers of teares, First wee mourne at our Birth, and last others mourne at our Burial: Nascimur flentes morimur gementes: **NoteThe whole bounds of our life is inclosed betweene weeping and groaning: **NoteAt the first sight of the light we weepe, and last at the closing of our eyes, wee gaspe out our life with a groane: What shall I say? So soone as wee are borne, wee are gone like a shadow when it declineth.Psal. 109. 23Ps 109:23

Oh, that wee could consider that there is nothing heere which is not mixt with some spyce of vanitie. * If wee had eyes to see, wee would say, What is below in this Region p. 476of corruption without corruption or contempt? **NoteWithin vsus, without vsus, aboue, vsus, about. vsus, all is out of order: The powers of the heauens are shaken, the Aire about our heads is full of tempests & flashing meteors! the world is waxed old, and is come to its decrepite age: The last dayes are dayes of diseases, the companions of olde age, all is wrong. The Church is sicke of Sects: The Sea is full of Pyrates, & the Land of Robbers, yea, and of sins and sicknes vnknowne to former ages: The Godly are as sheepe among wolues.Matth. 10 16, Psal. 55. 6Matt 10:16Ps 55:6

O that I had winges like a Doue, for then vould I flee away and bee at rest▪

**NoteHeere is nothing but Mesech & Kedar, where there is nothing butPsal. 102. 5Ps 102:5 w…e for the godlie which dwell therin: **NoteWhere shall a godlie man liue, or in what state shall hee liue? or how shall hee liue? but hee shall bee battered and besieged with much toyle and turmoyle? **NoteIf hee bee p. 477wealthie, hee shall bee enuied: If hee bee poore, hee shall bee despised: If he bee wise, hee shall bee accounted craftie: If hee bee simple, hee shall bee called foolish: **NoteAll that is within vsus, all that is without vsus, yea, and in our selues are readie to betray vsus, & to giuegive vsus vp into the hāds of our enemies: **NoteThe eyes beholde, that vanitie may come in: The eares hearken like open floode gates to lette in streames of vanities for to drowne the Soule: The false heart within, that keepeth the keyes of all the senses, while the Soule is sleeping, bringeth in vponupon it like a Delilah, a numberIudg. 16. 21.Judg 16:21 of cruell Philistims: **NoteThus the strong men of Israel is made a jest and mocke vntounto the vncircumcised that belong not to the couenant.

This whole world is but a world of vanitie? The wise man Solomon the mirrour of wisedome, and wonder of the world, was sent into this world as a spye: from God for the p. 478well of man: **NoteBy his wisedome his minde ran thorow the world like a Pilgrime from countrie to countrie, yea, like a Bee from herbe to herbe, for to taste them. Hee confidered all the trees from the Cedar to the Hyssope, 1 King. 4. 331 Kgs 4:33for to prye into, and pierce the pith and vertues of all things abroad, for to take thorow notice thereof: After that hee had thus wandered, beeing come home againe from his pilgrimage, the world flocked about him, to search what hee had heard and seene abroad, and what hee thought of the world, and of all the glorie thereof: **NoteWhat newes, Solomon? did the Worldings say, whose hearte is like a Ferret in the earth: What hast thou seene or heard? Solomon contracteth all his Newes into a Line,

Vanitie of vanities, and all is vanitie.

All these thinges which are soloued, I hauehave looked into, would Solomon say, but I hauehave found nothing p. 479but vanitie from the barke to the bone: **NoteIn Trees is vanitie, in Herbes is vanitie, as well in the Cedar as in the Hyssope: In Siluer is vanitie, in Golde is vanitie, in Iewels is vanitie, in Honour is vanitie, in Cloathing is vanitie, in Strength is vanitie, in Wisedome is vanitie, in Beautie is vanitie: In a word, all is full of vanitie, yea, all is vanitie, yea, vanitie of vanities: All the creatures saithRom. 8. 20Rom 8:20 the Apostle, the spye of the New Testament, are subject to vanitie: **NoteFor the sinne of man, all the Creatures hauehave lost that glorie and libertie, which once they had, and are become slaues vnderunder a base bondage, vnderunder which they grone as a woman in trauell: All earthlie comfortes which spring out of sinfull pleasures faile and fad like grasse.

* Alas, what is heere, that should moue a Soule to desire to sojourne heere, but a moment.

**NoteThis world is a Tenise of▪ temptations, p. 480wherein the sillie Soule like a ball without any ceasing is tossed from wall to wall, as one waue of the Sea rusheth vponupon another, beeing carried with a gale of winde, so do… all sortes of sorrowes heere as in a moued sea swell, roll, and rage with most fearefull rushinges vponupon man▪ till hee bee turned into froth.

**NoteIt is a wonder how the eyes of man should be so bleared, or rather juggled, that any thing below… should make him to say as they … on Tabor, who knew not what theyLuk. 9. 33Luke 9:33 said: It is good for vsus to bee heere, and yet who is hee that is not dulled and darkened with the cloudes of folli…

Is not this world a wildernesse… the way's thereof are rough an… crooked, **NoteMans best thinges hee… are like the Hartechoke, whereof the most parte is vnprofitable leaues▪ **NoteOur joyes are joyned with sorrowe… checker worke, white and blacke, lik… Lillies among thornes.

p. 481**NoteOur hopes heere are vaine, the profite is false, the pleasures are passing, the labours are losse, the promises are but lyes: **NoteThe whole state of this Prince of Creatures is heere but a banishment, heere and there he stumbleth, where he thoght best to stand, where hee purposed to take his rest, there hee findeth his ruine: No worldlie comforts are to bee trusted into, they are like the staffe of a broken reede, whereon if a Isa. 36 6.Isa 36:6man leane, it will goe into his hand: Doe what hee can, some painefull splinter or other shall bee fastened in his flesh: **NoteThere is nothing on Earth which can bee managed with such cunning, that it may bee without cumber: The proudest and Ioftiest waues of mens designes, are easilie broken into foame: **NoteGods fauour is the surest Sanctuarie, nothing within the compasse of this created world, can yeelde to man solide comfort or contentment, nothing p. 482can possiblie fill the boundlesse desire of his Soule: **NoteSuch a diuine sparkle can neuer cease rising, til it bejoyned to that great SHADAI,Exod. 6. 3.Exod 6:3 GOD all sufficient, till the Soule bee at Him, it can neuer bee settled, but is euer tossed, whiles to the right hand and whiles to the left: Now it is rauished with joye, and in an instant againe it is surprised with amazement: **NoteWhat euer it enjoyeth heere, it cannot bee content, but is euer foolishlie peeping and prying beyond all that which it hath affecting with a strong straine, greater riches, high honours, and preferments, which I may call, The guilted glorious▪ miseries of mankind▪ Woe, woe, woe dwell into that house where such things are not sanctified to their owners.

O that I could cunninglie rype vp with a Razour this worldes vanitie, that wee might see it within the bowels! O what depth of discomfort p. 483should bee there seene, if wee had eyes to see: All the pregnancie of mans Spirit, all the most rich indue mentes of his minde, without the sanctifying Spirit of Iesus, become but an idole of selfe conceite: **NoteAs for all other outward things, in the very turning of an hand, and closing of an eye, they often remoue insalutato hospite, not taking their good night: Inconstancie is the poison of our pleasures.

Though a man euen now were neuer so happie in his owne conceit, how soone may the Lord send a change? **NoteHe can make the fruite of all his labours to be like an vntimely birth, for whome the Mother hath suffered many woes, and yet could neuer enjoye a sight there of aliue.

The greatest glorie of this world, is like Hills which seeme highest a farre off.

**NoteMen in their solie may sav as Dauid said in his prosperitie, I shall p. 484Psal. 62. 6.Ps 62:6neuer be moued: But, O folie! There is nothing permanent heere: Man is tossed vp and downe as the Locust, either with discountenance or disapointment, breaking into foame his projects vponupon the rocks of disgrace. All is turned about with a continual change: There is no Time but it passeth, there is no Day but it darkneth, there is no Fruite but it rotteth, there is no Flower but it faddeth, there is no Force but it faileth, there is no Strength but it weakeneth, there is no Beautie but it withereth, there is no Garment but it weareth, yea, the Heauens themseluesPsal. 102. 26Ps 102:26 waxe olde, as doeth a garment▪ **NoteBehold, how all that is aboue vsus, beneath vsus, about vsus, is full stuffed vvith vanitie: this at last shall worldlings know to bee true, when their laughter shall be madnesse in their owne eyes: It is a wonder how men are so blind in this glorious Noone tide of the Gospel.

p. 485**NoteAll that is most esteemed in this world, the fooles Paradise, is chieflie of those, 1. Strength, 2. Honour, 3. Riches, 4. Beautie, 5. Pleasure, 6. Wisedome, 7. Children, 8. Long life, of these things may no man say with Niobe.

Excessere metum mea jam bona.

I neede not feare to losse them.

The sicke Man.

I desire to heare you discusse the vanitie of these eight thinges seuerallie, for which men straine the vtmost vaine of their wits, as if in this region of corruption such thinges were able to stretch themselues vntounto eternitie.

The Pastour.

All such thinges are but broken staues of reede; not to be relyed vponupon: **NoteTo naturall eyes indeede such things are so glancing, that they like a starre new created in the Skye, will make them to gaze, yea, often it befalleth that the prosperitie of such p. 486things enjoyed by the wicked, will not onelie drawe the eyes of the Godly vponupon them, but will bee eyefore vntounto them. I was enuious at the Psal. 79. 3.Ps 79:3foolish, said Dauid, when I saw the prosperitie of the wicked.

Let vsus relish these eight thinges a little, and orderly try what is their worth.

1. STRENGTH.

As for Strength, if Samson the strongest now could speak out of his Graue, hee would teach the liuing that it is but a vaine thing.

**NoteWhat a vaine thing is this, which in the highest degree that euer was in man, might bee shauen from himIudg. 16. 19Judg 16:19 with the lockes of his haire?

Let a Feuer but seaze vponupon the strongest that euer breathed, before it leaue him, it shall teach him to know that all the force of flesh is vas nitie: **NoteReuben who was called by his Father, The man of his might, and Gen 49. 3.Gen 49:3the beginning of his strength, and the p. 487excellencie of power, is in the versevers. 4. … following, called, vnstable as water: The Philistims great man, y^e strength of Philistia, the terrour of Israel, was felled downe with a stone out of a Shepheards scrippe and slung.

There is no solide strength in flesh, but hee who is strong in God, of him shall bee said, as was saide ofGen. 49. 24.Gen 49:24 Ioseph, His bow abode in strength, and the armes of his hand were made strong by the hands of the Almightie GOD of Iacob.