Diary of a Thankful Christian, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
More rules of the ſame kinde, that concern our practice.
10. IN the tenth place, when you have read over your Journall, and made ſuch uſe of it as hitherto I have ſhewed you; ask your owne hearts theſe three queſtions: The firſt concerns God; the ſecond, our neighbour; and the third, our ſelves.
1. Ask your own hearts this queſtion, What honor do I bring to God for all this? Do herein as Ahaſhueroſh did, when he hadEſt. 6. 3. read in the Chronicles of his time, what good ſervice Mordecai had done him, in diſcovering a treaſon; he asked thoſe about him, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for all this? So do you, upon a ſurvey of all the good things God hath vouch ſafed to you and yours: Hitherto the Lord hath holpen me; he hath preſerved me from many dangers, ſupplyed me with many comforts, aſſiſted me in many ſtraights, afforded me many friends: But what honor hath God from me for all this? I live upon him, but do I live to him? I have all from him, but do I anything for him? My …lmes are in his hands, but are his prai… in my mouth? He is never weary I ſee of doing me good, but am not I weary of doing him ſervice? Can I ſay with St. Paul, His Act. 27. 23.I am, and him I ſerve? He is the alpha of all my happineſſe, why ſhould not he be the omega of all my thankfulneſſe? But may not my conſcience anſwer as thoſe Servants about Ahaſhueroſh did concerning Mordecai, There hath been nothing done for him? Nay, have I not requited him evill for the good he hath doneme? If any ſpirit be grieved, it ſhall be his; if any day be neglected, it ſhall be his; if any commandements be broken, they ſhall be his; if my honor be called for, and I be reproached; if my liberty be threatned, and I be impriſoned; if my wealth or eaſe be required, and I be endamaged or troubled: How hardly comes any thing from me for God, that hath done all for me? So that God may ſay to me, as David ſometimes complained of Nabal, the unthankful churle,1 Sam. 25. 21. In vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderneſſe, ſo that nothing was miſſed of all that pertained to him; and he hath requited me evill for good. In vain have I kept your houſe from firing at ſuch a time, your family from infection at another time; your perſon from danger, in ſuch a journey; your eyes from tears, and your feet from falling, many atime; and you have requited me evill for good. Say rather to God, as Eliſha to the good Shunamite, who had provided a chamber, and all things convenient for him;2 Kin. 4. 13. Thou haſt been carefull for us with all this … what is to be done for thee? Thou Lord ha… been carefull of my health, that it might not be impaired; of mine eſtate, that it might not be waſted; of my name, that it might not be reproached; of my ſoul, that it might not be damned: Lord, what is now to be done for thee? Is there any thing too great, too good to part with to ſuch a God?
It was a brave ſpeech of Lewis the 13. a late King of France, in a journey neer Paw, in his owne Kingdome. The inhabitants underſtanding that he was coming, ſent to know how he would be received into the Towne, and what honor they ſhould do to him. He asked the meſſengers, whether there were ever a Church in the Towne; if there were, he would enter as their King, in ſtate; if not, he would receive no honour in that place, where Almighty God had no houſe, and therefore no honor given him. A gracious heart would think all ill beſtowed on him, if he had no ſpirit at all to glorifie God.
Boleſtaus, a King of Poland, when he was to ſpeak or do any thing of concernment, would take out a little picture of his Fathers, that he carried about him; and kiſſing it, would ſay, I wiſh I may do nothing at this time unworthy thy name. Say you as much, that can ſee God in every mercy, and enjoy him with every favour; I wiſh that I who every day have taſted ſo much of Gods … may do nothing this day to the … of his name; but may bleſſe him, not onelyonly with my lips, but honor him alſo with my life.
To give the ſame thing we receive from a friend, back again, is rudeneſſe amongſt men; but with God, is true Religion. Hannah, after many prayers and tears, received a Son1 Sam. 1. 27, 28. from the Lord, and ſhe returned him back again to the Lord, as long as he lived. What health, ſtrength, peace, liberty, parts, gifts, we receive from God, are beſt uſed, when they are beſtowed on▪ God in his ſervice. And there is nothing loſt this way; For he that offereth God praiſe, glorifieth him; and to him that ordereth his converſation aright, he will ſhew the ſalvation of God; that is, mighty and wonderfull ſalvation. Which made Cardinall Wolſey, once King Henry the Eight his Favourite, to ſay at his death, Had I been as carefull to ſerve the God of heaven, as I was to pleaſe the King of England, he would not have left me in my old age, as this man hath done.
2. Put this interrogatory to your owne hearts. What good do I to my neighbour? It is true, God hath done all this for me, and he hath dealt bountifully with me; but what good do others reap by me; either my Prince or Countrey, the Church or State? What good do I in the Town where I dwell, to the family where I live? to my relations, wife, children, ſervants, with whom I converſe; are any of theſe the better for me? Even Seneca could ſay, Malle… mihi malè eſſe quàm mollitèr: I had rather be ſick then idle, and do no good. But it is the greateſt affliction to a gracious heart, to be wholly unuſefull; he had rather not bee, then be idle and unprofitable. If Moſes the Servant of the Lord, can do no good in Aegypt, he will go to Midian. Every man therefore ſhall do well to put this Querie often to his owne heart. Of what uſe are my parts and gifts of body, minde, or eſtate? Yea, is my very life and example ſufficient to others? How do I promote the good of my neigbour, by my alm…, prayers, counſels, labours? It is not ſufficient to ſay, I do no body harm. With which plea, ſome are well enough ſatisfied: But remember what queſtion Chriſt askt his auditors; not, What are you; or, What know Mat. 5. 47.you more then others? but, What do you? Hezekiah could make a good anſwer to ſuch aIſa. 38. 3. queſtion, Lord remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and have done that which is Neh. 13. 14.good in thy ſight. So could Nehemiah, Remember me, O Lord, for good; and wipe not out the good deeds that I have done for the houſe of God and the offices thereof. Our charity ſhould be as a running ſpring at our owne dores, that will not onelyonly ſupply our own wants, but run through our neighbours paſtures, and water the field of a ſtranger; yea, ſometimes croſſe the high-way, and run into a common ditch. Whileſt we have opportunity, we ſhould do good to all, but eſpecially Gal. 6. 10.to the houſhold of faith. Yea, if our enemy hunger, give him food; if he thirſt, give him Rom. 12. 26drink; for in ſo doing we ſhall heap coals of fire upon his head.
This indeed is to have the Spirit of Chriſt; and, if ye have not the Spirit of Chriſt, & 8. 9.ye are none of his. Chriſt was a friend to his enemies, and kinde to the unkinde. Jonathan 1 Sam. 18. 4.was ſo friendly to David, that he ſtript himſelf of his robe that was upon him, and gave it him; and his garments, even to his ſword and his bow. But Chriſt was a better friend, who did not only lay aſide his robe of majeſty, but laid down his life for us. Greater love hath no man then this, that Joh. 15. 12.he lay down his life for his friends. Chriſt did more, for he laid down his life for his enemies. Ebedmeleck was very mercifull to Jeremiah, that would let down cords, andJer. 38. 11. old clouts and rags into the dungeon where he was, and ſo lift him out. Chriſt did more, who would himſelf go down into the grave, that he might deliver us who were dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, and thereby free us from the bottomleſſe pit.
It is reported of Trajan the Emperour, that he rent off a piece of his robe to binde up the wound of a common Souldier. Chriſt did more, who ſhed his blood to heal our wounds. Pompey the Great, that noble Romane Generall, being ready to undertake a piece of Service for the State, and adviſed by one to deſiſt, becauſe the deſigne was full of danger, anſwered; Neceſſe eſt …t …am, non ut vivam: It is neceſſary that I go, not that I live. Chriſt did more, for being perſwaded by Peter not to go up to Jeruſalem, where he was to ſuffer, but to favour himſelf, he was angry with him, and ſaid, Get Mat. 16. 23.thee behinde me Satan, thou art an offence unto me, thou ſavoureſt not the things that are of God, but of Gen. 44. 33.men. Judah was a dutiful Son to his Father, and a loving friend to his Brother Benjamin, who was content to ſtay behinde in Aegypt, and be a bondman to Joſeph, upon condition his Brother might be ſent home to his Father. Chriſt did more, who would not onelyonly be a Servant, but he would die, that we might live, and be reconciled unto his Father.
Charls the fifth, in a great ſtorm neer Algiers, cauſed many brave Horſes to be thrown over-board, that the lives of a few Slaves might be ſaved. Jonah the Prophet was aJon. 1. 12. better friend to the Mariners, who was content to be thrown into the Sea, that the waves might be ſtilled, and their lives might be ſecured. But Chriſt was the beſt friend of all, who was willing to be caſt into the Ocean of his Fathers fury, that we might be …et on ſhore, and ſo paſſe from death to1 Cor. 6. 17. life. Now certainly, he that is joyned unto the Lord, is one ſpirit. Ask your owne … therefore often this queſtion, What good do I for others, for whom God hath done ſo much?
It is reported of Mr. Fox, who wrote the Book of Martyrs, that he never denyed any man that asked an alms for Jeſus ſake, and that he never refuſed anything that was given him; not that he might enrich himſelf, but might relieve others, for he gave it all away to the poor. A Student that was in want, asking Luther ſome money, he bad his Wife give him ſome; ſhe pleading her owne neceſſities, he took up a ſilver bowle, and gave it him. When you have an opportunity of doing good, never plead you have many children. Gyprian had wont to ſay, The more children, the more charity. And our SavioureLuk. 12. 33. counſell was to ſell what we have, rather then neglect this duty of doing good. Let him that ſtole, steal no more (ſaith the Apoſtle)Eph. 4. 28. but rather let him labour with his hands, the thing that is good. But for what end? That he may have to ſupply his own wants only? No, but rather that he may have to give to him that needeth: So that there is no man under heaven, from the higheſt Prince to the loweſt Peſant, that may plead an immunity from this duty of giving. The omiſſion whereof hath been as prejudiciall to ſome, as the performance of it hath been profitable to others.
Mauritius the Emperor refuſing to redeem a few captive ſlaves from Saladine the Aegyptian Sultan, which he might have done for a ſmall matter, upon which they were all ſlain; was afterward puniſhed by Phocas, who in a ſedition being proclaimed Emperor by the Souldiers, cauſed his wife and children to be put to death before his face, himſelf all the while crying out, Juſtus es Domine, & recta judicia tua. But on the other ſide, memorable is the ſtory of Pyrhias, a Merchant of Ithaca, who at Sea eſpying an aged man a captive in a Pirates ſhip, took compaſſion of him, and redeemed him, and with his perſon bought his commodities which the Pirate had taken from him, which were certain barrels of pitch. The old man perceiving, that not for any good ſervice he could do him, nor for the gain of that commodity, but meerly out of charity he had done this, diſcovered a great maſſe of treaſure hidden in the pitch. Whereby the Merchant in a very ſhort time became very rich. At which time that Scripture was fulfilled,Pro. 28. 27. He that giveth to the poor, ſhall not lack. And that other Scripture, He that ſoweth liberally, … Cor. 9. 6.ſhall reap liberally. Such giving is like the pouring of a pale of water into a dry pump, that will fetch abundance. Let us give that which we cannot keep, that we may have that in a time of need that we cannot loſe.
3. Ask your own hearts often what good you your ſelves get by all that God hath done for you. If thou be wiſe (ſaith Solo…) Prov. 9. 12.thou ſhalt be wiſe for thy ſelf. As a wicked fool hath no foe like himſelf, ſo a wiſe Chriſtian hath no friend like himſelfe; who will be a gainer by every loſſe, and a ſaver by every comfort. Phyſitians and Chirurgions make much of their probatum's, and ſo ſhould every Chriſtian of his experiments. Let every man therefore ask his owne heart upon a ſerious ſurvey of his Journall, thus much: Am I bettered by all this health, and wealth, and good dayes; this Goſpel of peace, and this peace of the Goſpel that I have enjoyed ſo long? It is with theſe things as with the phyſick or dyet of the body, they will leave you better or worſe then they finde you. But by all theſe good dayes, rich mercies, or ſharp afflictions, do I grow into more acquaintance with God, the world, and mine own heart; with God, and his holineſſe; with the world, and its vanity; with mine owne heart, and its deceitfulneſſe; that I may truſt him more, and the world and my heart leſſe? All grace in truth hath growth. Ʋlterius was Charls the fifth his Motto; by which he ſignified, that greater periections, more noble enterpriſes, were yet daily to be endevoured after by Princes. Chriſtians muſt not ſtand at a ſtay, but with the Apoſtle, forgetting thoſe things that are behind, reach forth unto Phil. 3. 13.thoſe things that are before. This being a cleer difference betwixt the firſt Adam and the ſecond; The old creature in the beginning, and the new under the Goſpel. The firſt Adam was made a man, and a holy man, all at once; but the Lord Chriſt was conceived in the wombe, and at the fulneſſe ofLuk. 2. 52. time was born of the Virgin Mary, and increaſed in wiſdome, and in ſtature, and in favour both with God and man. In the beginning all the creatures were made in their full growth and ſtrength, which made ſome to be of opinion, that Mundus conditu… ſuit in Autumno: That the creation of the world was in Harveſt, when all things are in their full beauty. But now we muſt have an egge before a bird, a ſeed before a plant; a birth, and then a growth: So now every Chriſtian muſt in time grow in grace, and the knowledge of the Jeſus Chriſt, and proceed by degrees from ſaith to ſaith, from babes to grown men in Chriſt; and therefore where there is no growth, we may fear there is no grace. Ask your hearts then, Do I grow? At ſuch a time, I had a great affliction, a long ſickneſſe; Am I more humble ſince? Where there is a rod of correction, there ſhould be a word of correction.Judg. 8. 16. God teacheth by his rods; as Gideon taught the men of Succoth, with briars and thorns;Pſal. 94. 12. and bleſſed is that man whom God correcteth, and teacheth out of his law. Oh that I could hear the rod, as well as feel it! A man of wiſdome, ſhall ſee Gods Name; hear the rod,Mic. 6. 9▪ and who hath appointed it. At ſuch a time God vouchſafed me great proſperity, much ſucceſſe in my calling; a long time of health, with comfort in my relations: Am I more holy, more humble, more heavenly, more meek, more mercifull, more faithfull, more fruitfull in my place? Or, am I not rather worſe; more rich, and more covetous; more honorable, and more proud; more healthfull, and more wanton? But if you finde that the houſe of David growes ſtronger and ſtronger, and the houſe of Saul weaker and weaker; that your corruptions are abated, and your graces encreaſed, happy are you. And indeed the higher the Sun riſeth, the ſhorter are the ſhadows; as in a Pyramide, the higher you go, the leſſe compaſſe you finde; like a flame of fire, the higher it aſcends, the purer and thinner is the flame; ſo the elder you grow, the better you ſhould be. If ſo, it is well. Theſe things 1 Joh. 5. 13.(ſaith St. John) I have written to you that beleeve, that you may beleeve; that is, that you grow more and more in that grace of faith. Faith is not like Jonah's gourd, up in one night, and down in another; but like the ſound of the trumpet on the Mount, lowder and lowder; or like a great bell that is long in raiſing, and ſtrikes but a while on one ſide; but at laſt is up, and makes a great ſound, and is heard a…ar off. Such was the faith of the Romanes, ſmall at the firſt, but Rom. 1. 8.afterwards it grew to that height, that it was ſpoken of throughout the world.
When Grave William the Prince of Orange died, his Son Maurice was but young; whereupon the States were doubtfull whether they ſhould chooſe him their Generall or no. Maurice perceiving it by his friends, wrote a Letter to them, and in it onelyonly theſe foure words, Tandem fit ſurculus arbor: A young plant at laſt becomes a tree. Upon which they made choyce of him; and he made his Motto good, for he grew a brave Souldier, and proved not onelyonly a happy inſtrument of their good, but a great ornament to himſelf and family.
I ſhall conclude this paſſage with a ſaying of St. Auguſtine. Si vis pervenire ad id quod non es, ſemper diſpliceat tibi quod es: Si dixeris, ſufficit, periiſti. If you would attain to what you are not, let it grieve you that you are as you are; that is, no better: You are undone if you think that what you are is ſufficient.
11. In the eleventh place, Be ſure that after all theſe queſtions be ſtrictly asked▪ and ſeriouſly anſwered, you make it your foreign, your very work to be thankfull for all Gods mercies; otherwiſe, why do you keep ſuch a Journall? In every thing give thanks (ſaith1 Theſſ. 5. 18. the Apoſtle) for this is the will of God in Chriſt Jeſus concerning you. It is ordained by the Rabbins, (as ſome obſerve, who write the Hiſtory of the Jews) that they ſhould ſay a benediction, and render particular praiſe and thanks to God for every benefit they receive; not onelyonly for every extraordinary mercy that befalls them, but in every action that they do; for their meat, drink, and every good ſmell; for all the precepts of the Law, and of the Rabbins; for every new thing, and every ſtrange thing that befalls them. And certainly, where God is never weary of giving, his people ſhould never be weary of thankſgiving. God delights much in the praiſe of his ſervants. He loves a cheerfull giver, but much more a cheerful thankſgiver.
Give God thanks for all things, but eſpecially for theſe foure:
1. For Jeſus Chriſt, and the unſearchable riches of Gods grace in him; which is the fountain of all the good we enjoy, or hope to enjoy; who was by God made ſin for 1 Cor. 5. 2.us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the righteouſneſſe of God in him. He that knew no ſin in the act, knew all ſin in the weight. He that knew no ſin by commiſſion, knew all by imputation. The chaſtiſement of our Iſa. 53. 5.peace was upon him, and by his ſtripes we are healed. Who made peace for his people by his death, and maintains this peace for them by his interceſſion; he died once, but he prays ever; his paſſion is over, but not his compaſſion; for he ſtands between us, and all our harms, and will at laſt reward every one according to his works.
Cyrus in a great expedition againſt his enemies, the better to encourage his Souldiers to fight, in an oration that he made at the head of his Army, promiſed upon the victory to make every Foot-ſouldier an Horſeman, and every Horſeman a Commander; and that no Officer that did valiantly ſhould go unrewarded. But Chriſt our GenerallRev. 3. 21. doth promiſe more: He that overcometh ſhall ſit with me in my throne; as I overcame, and am ſet with my Father in his throne. He will make us all Kings. Oh therefore be thankful for Jeſus Chriſt. It is our ſorrow, or ſhould be our ſhame, that we cannot be thankful for Chriſt as we ought: It is our comfort, and ſhall be our happineſſe, that one day we ſhal be. Eternity of time I confeſſe is little enough to be thankful in for Chriſt, & all the rich incomes we have with him; but endevour whileſt you are here to be thankfull for him; and certainly, he that cannot be thankful for Jeſus Chriſt, can never be thankfull for any mercy.
2. Be thankfull for afflictions. Bleſſe God for every twig of his rod, every drop in his cup. He holds the rod and the cup in the ſame hand by which he gives you Jeſus Chriſt▪ yea, he afflicts you with the ſame love with which he gives you any good. Afflictions are evill, many and evill (ſaith Father Jacob to Pharaoh) have the dayes of my Gen. 47. 9.life been. But being ſanctified, they are neceſſary. So St. Peter, to thoſe he wrote his1 Pet. 1. 6. Epiſtle; now for a ſeaſon (if need be) you are in … through many tribulations. Even the … … …e are ſometimes like a top, that will … … … …hen it is whipt; we will not mend our pace, and r…n the wayes of Gods … without the rod.
Some ſtories ſay, that there was a King of Scotland, that whileſt he was a priſoner in Mortimer's hole, he ſcraped the Hiſtory of Chriſts paſſion in the ſtone wall; which was more then ever he did in his palace. Afflictions wil make us run to God. In their affliction Hoſ. 5. 15.(ſaith God of his people) they wil ſeek me early, that is▪ ſpeedily and inſtantly. Out of the depths (ſaith David) I cryed unto thee, O Lord. Deep afflictions ſhould raiſe up ſtrong affections. The Ark was neereſt heaven when the waters of the ſtood were higheſt. Afflictions meeting with a gracious temper, will melt the heart, and make it tender and humble; and the loweſt humility is neereſt the higheſt majeſty. A…i…ippus the Cynicke, fell on the ground before Dion…ſius, and kiſſed his feet, when he preſented a Petition to him; and being askt the reaſon, anſwers, Aures habet inpedib…s: He hath his ears in his feet. Never doth a poor proſtrate ſoul, brought down to extremity, ſeek Gods face with prayers and tears in vain, but meets with a gracious anſwer. Now if afflictions ſanctified be ſo good, then ſurely you ſhould be thankfull for them; this being one eminent excellency that praiſe hath above prayer, that we may praiſe God for that for which we may not pray; though we may not pray for afflictions, yet we muſt bleſſe God forJob 1. 21. them. Job did ſo, The Lord hath taken away, Bleſſed be the name of the Lord.
When one came to Mr. Bradford, and told him, that if he would recant, he ſhould have the Queens pardon; he anſwered, If the Queen will let me live, I will thank her; if ſhe will baniſh me, I will thank her; if ſhe will burn me, I will thank her. So a gracious heart will ſay, If the Lord give me health or ſickneſſe, I will thank him; if I have much or little, I will thank him; if I live or dye, I will thank him. Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories report this of one Servulus, who for a long time was grievouſly afflicted with the Palfie, his life was a lingring death, whoſe daily and ordinary ſpeech was, God be thanked.
3. Bleſſe God every day wherein he hath kept you from ſcandall. It is our miſery that our hearts are ſo vile, but it is Gods mercy that they break not out continually to his diſhonor, and the offence of brethren; that he ſets bounds to thoſe waves of our unruly luſts, and ſaith, Hitherto and no further. Eſteem any condition better then a ſinfull, and chooſe rather to ſuffer the worſt,Heb. 11. 25. then ſin in the leaſt. Moſes choſe rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, (and who meet with more ſorrows then they?) then enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon. And where might he ſatiſfie his luſt more to the full, then in the Court of a King? Socra… had ſo vile an eſteem of ſin, that he thought it would be one of the greateſt torments in hell, to be given up to thoſe ſins that men moſt delighted in. Major ſ…n, & … … natus, (ſaith Sēneca) quam ut ſun … corpor… mei: I am greater, and born to greater things then to be a ſlave or drudge to my body. Say to the Tempter, as Joſeph Gen. 39. 9.to his Miſtris, There is none greater in the houſe then I; and ſhall I then commit this great wickedneſſe? Or as Nehemiah; Shall ſuch a Neh. 6. 11▪man as I flee? Shall ſuch a man as I be drunk, or deal unjuſtly, or break my oath? Theſe ſons of Zerviah are ſometimes too hard for us. Theſe unruly corruptions ſometimes prevail over us. Our darling fin like … daughter, comes out with timbrelsJudg. 11. 34, 35. and dances, with many pretty ſmiles and ſubtle reaſons, and ſometimes overcomes in, and brings us low, and troubles us. We all run in a race, how few get to the goal without a fall by the way?
There are two things that I deſire daily to make the matter, not only of my praiſe, but admiration. And the firſt is, that God hath preſerved from the beginning to this day, a little flock of ſheep amongſt a world of Wolves, and Lions, and Bears, that are ſet on miſchief. And the ſecond is, that God maintains a little grace in life, in the midſt of ſo much corruption that the heart is poyſoned with; a little faith, and a little humility, in the midſt of ſo much unbelief and pride. The reaſon why the Church is not waſted, is becauſe the Lord is their God; why this grace is not overwhelmed, and that our corruption breaks not out every moment into moſt notorious ſcandall…, is, becauſe the corruption is ours, but the grace is the Lords. Hath God kept you therefore any day, that your heels have not been tript up? Forget not to bleſſe him for ſuch a mercy. A notable example of ſuch a thankful ſpirit we have in David, who by the humble and prudent counſel of Abigail, being ſtayed from imbruing his hands in the blood of Nabal and his family, bleſſed God1 Sam. 25. 32, 33, 34. and her that he was prevented. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael (ſaith he to her) which ſent thee this day to meet me, and bleſſed be thy advice; and bleſſed be thou that haſt kept me this day from coming to ſhed blood, and from avenging my ſelf with mine own hand, &c. In every affliction forget not to bleſſe God for this. It is mine affliction, not my fin. What ever the croſſe be▪ it might have been worſe, for it might have been my fin. Bleſſe God that either prevented the temptation, as he did for David; or aſſiſted in the temptation, asGen. 39. 10. he did Joſeph, who left his garment, but kept his chaſtity, and choſe rather to ſuffer then to ſin.
4. Bleſſe God not onelyonly for what you have, and for what you want; but for what you hope to have. All is not come that is …mi…ed by the Father, all is not come that is merited by the Son, nor is all come that … aſſured to yon by the Holy Ghoſt; the beſt i… …et to come. Here joy enters into us,Mat. 25. 21▪ there we ſhall enter into joy. Here are promiſes, there performances. Here is faith▪ there is fruition. Here we enjoy God mediately, there immediately. In heaven there is a Kingdome without cares, a throne without a thorn, greatneſſe of ſtate without corruption of manners, a treaſure without mo…s, honour without envy, joy without …ars, love without jealouſie, and dayes without end.
A devout Pilgrim travelling to Jeruſalem, and by the way viſiting many brave Cities, with their rare monuments; and meeting with many friendly entertainments; would often ſay, I muſt not ſtay here, this is not Jeruſalem. So do you, in the midſt of all the delicates that the world can afford you, not onelyonly with variety, but plenty; ſay ſtill of every one of them, This is not Jeruſalem, This is not heaven; theſe are but tents and tabernacles, all no better then moveables; our manſions are in heaven, where we ſhall abide for ever. But would you be thankfull … heaven, and do you long to be there? …e truly thankfull then for Jeſus Chriſt. It is Chriſt that makes heaven to be heaven. He that cannot be thankfull for Jeſus Chriſt, cannot be thankfull for heaven; nay, would not go to heaven at the laſt. A wicked man at the day of Judgement, might he have hisLuk. 16. 24, 28. choyce, would not go to heaven. Dives in hell torments, when he diſcourſed with Abraham afar off, did not deſire to go to Abraham, but prayed that Lazarus might come to him, he cared more for …aſe then heaven; nor did he deſire that his five Brethren ſhould go to heaven, but that one might be ſent to them, to teſtifie to them, that they might not come into the place of torment. For certainly, they that could not endure the preſence of Chriſt with his ſervants in his ordinances, will have no deſire to be with him in all his glory.
In, the laſt place, becauſe you may your ſelves come very far ſhort of what you ſhould do in this great duty of thankfulneſſ; declare to others, as occaſion is offered, what the Lord hath done for you, that they may bleſſe God with you. It is an argument of an ingenuous ſpirit, to acknowledge the courtefies of a friend; non amotis arbitris, ſed clarè & ut audiat hoſpes; not in private, but in the preſence of others: Much more is it an argument of a gracious heart to ſpeak of the loving kindneſſe of the Lord before many witneſſes, that they may be provoked alſo to bleſſe God. David was of this mind;Pſal. 40. 10. I have not hid thy righteouſneſſe, O Lord, within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulneſſe, and thy ſalvation; I have not concealed thy loving kindneſſe and thy truth from the great congregation. The Pſalmiſt exhorteth to this duty very much: Sing unto the Lord, ſing Pſalms unto Pſ. 105. 2hi…, … ye of all his wondrous works. It was the Pſalmiſt his practice: Come and hear all ye that & 66. 16.… God, and I will declare unto you what God hath d…e for my ſoul. Moſes the ſervant of the Lord did ſo: He told Jethro his Father in law, all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh, and to the Aegyptians for Iſraels ſake; and all the travell that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them: Which occaſioned much prayſe unto God from a Midianite; who ſaid▪ Bleſſed be the Lord, who hath delivered you Ex. 18. 8, 10.out of the hand of the Aegyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, &c. Chriſt himſelf commandedMar. 5. 19. the man whom he delivered from the legion of Devils, that he ſhould goe home to his friends, and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him, and had compaſſion on him. And indeed, to return thanks unto God for all his mercies, is ſo great a debt, that we alone cannot pay, unleſſe God give us time; (and no leſſe then eternity is enough.) And therefore we had need make collection of praiſes from friends, that the ſumme may be made up the more full. The Pſalmiſt goes to all the creatures both in heaven and earth, and makes a collection. Heavens, Angels, (ſaith he) Sun, Moon, and Stars; Kings and all people, young men Pſal. 148. 1, 2, 3.and maids, old men and babes, praiſe the name of the Lord. Comemmoration Sermons which are in uſe in Colledges, and ſome other places, are excellent: And as there may be good uſe made of them divers wayes, ſo this way eſpecially, that all may be provoked to bleſſe God for their Benefactors.
It is obſervable, that to beg prayers is the common complement of friends at their p…ting, and Ora pro nobis is the concluſion of all our Letters; but we ſeldome beg praiſes. When do we ſay, I beſeech you bleſſe God for me and with me, for ſuch a late deliverance, for ſuch ſucceſſe in mine endevours, for ſuch comfort in my relations? &c. As if we ſerved an hard Maſter, as if God had been a barren heath or a wilderneſſe to our ſouls, as if his ſervice had no profit. Whereas, there is no Matter like the Lord, no ſervice like his; whoſe very work is wages.