Paradise Opened, Title page – To the reader
Paradice opened, OR THE SECREETS, MYSTERIES, AND RARITIES Of Divine Love, of Infinite Wiſdom, and of Wonderful Counſel, laid open to Publick View.
ALSO The Covenant of Grace, and the high and glorious Tranſactions of the Father and the Son in the Covenant of Redemption opened, and improved at large, with the Reſolution of divers important Queſtions and Caſes concerning both Covenants.
YOU HAVE FURTHER, Several ſingular Pleas, that all ſincere Chriſtians may ſafely and groundedly make to thoſe Ten Scriptures in the Old and New Teſtament, that ſpeak of the general Judgment, and of that particular Judgment, that muſt certainly paſs upon them all after Death.
With ſome other Points of high Importance, that tend to the Peace, Comfort, Settlement and Satisfaction of all ſerious ſincere Chriſtians.
To which is added a ſober and ſerious Diſcourſe, about the Favourable, Signal and Eminent Preſence of the Lord with his People in their greateſt Troubles, deepeſt Diſtreſſes, and moſt deadly Dangers.
Being the Second and Laſt Part of the Golden Key.
By Thomas Brooks, late Preacher of the Goſpel, at Margarets New-Fiſhſtreet.
LONDON, Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry and at the Ship and Anchor at the Bridg-foot on Southwark-ſide, 1675.
To his honoured Friends, Sir John More, Knight and Alderman of the City of London, and to his good Lady, Mary More, his moſt affectionate Conſort.
The Father of all mercies, and the God of all bleſſings, bleſs you both with Grace and Peace here, and Glory hereafter.
Honoured Friends:
CHriſtian Friendſhip makes ſuch a knot, that greatIts the ſaying of Euripides, that a faithful Friend is better than a calm Sea to a weather beaten Mariner. Alexander cannot cut. It was well obſerved by Sir Francis Bacon, That old wood is beſt to burn, and old Books beſt to read, and old Friends beſt to truſt. It was a witty ſaying of the Duke of Buckingham to Biſhop Monton, in Richard the III. his time, Faithful Friends (ſaith he) are in this age for the moſt part gone all in pilgrimage, & their return is uncertain. They ſeem to take away the Sun out of the World (ſaid the Heathen Oratour) who take away friendſhip from the life of men, and we do not more need fire and water then true Friendſhip. In this Epiſtle I ſhall endeavour ſo to acquit my ſelf, as becomes a real Friend, a cordial Friend, a faithful▪ Friend, and a Soul-friend, as to your great and everlaſting concernments, that it may go well with you for ever and ever.
Sir, the points that are handled in this following Treatiſe (and in the firſt part) are of as high, choice, neceſſary, noble, uſeful and comfortable a nature, as any that can be treated on by mortal man. The four things which God minds moſt and loves moſt, are, 1. His honour. 2. His worſhip. 3. His People. 4. His truth. Surely their ſouls muſt needs be of a very ſad complexion, who can read the great truths that are here opened and applyed, and not, 1. Dearly love them. 2. Highly prize them. 3. Cordially bleſs God for them. 4. Seriouſly ponder and meditate upon them. 5. And not frequently and diligently ſtudy them, and make a gracious and dayly improvement of them.
The Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Redemption are a rich Armory, out of which you may furniſh your ſelves with all ſorts of ſpiritual weapons, wherewith you may encounter Satans temptations, wiles, devices, methods, depths, ſtratagems. Nothing of SatansEph. 6. 11. 2 Cor. 2. 11. Revel. 2. 24. can ſtand before the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Redemption, well underſtood and well applyed.
In the Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Redemption,2 Sam. 23. 5. Iſa. 54. 9, 10. Jer. 32. 38, 39, 40, 41. Zach. 9. 11. Heb. 13. 20. that is paſt betwixt God the Father and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, you will find many rich and rare cordials, which have a ſtrong tendency to preſerve all gracious ſouls from deſponding and fainting, 1. In times of afflictions. 2. In times of temptations. 3. In times of deſertion 4. In times of ſufferings for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpels ſake. 5. In times of oppoſition. 6. And at the time of death and diſſolution; There are no comforts nor cordials that can reach the ſouls of Chriſtians in their deep diſtreſſes, but ſuch as flow from theſe two Covenants, the more it concerns all ſuch Chriſtians to ſtudy theſe two Covenants, and to be well acquainted with them, that ſo they may the more readily have recourſe to ſuch cordials, as their preſent eſtate and condition calls for.
In theſe two Covenants you will find much matter, which has a ſtrong tendency, 1. To inflame your▪ love to God and Chriſt, and all in the Covenant of Grace.Pſal. 116. 1. 9. 16. Pſalm 3. 2 Sam. 23. 5. Pſal. 103. 17, 8. Pſal. 111. 5, 9, 17. Gen. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 2. 14. Galat. 6. 14. 2. To ſtrengthen your faith. 3. To raiſe your hopes. 4. To cheer your ſouls. 5. To quiet and ſatisfy your conſciences. 6. To engage you to a cloſe and holy walking with God. 7. To provoke you to triumph in free grace, and in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. 8. To ſit looſe from this world. The riches and Treaſures that are wrapt up in both theſe Covenants, are ſo great, ſo ſure, ſo durable, and ſo ſutable to all believers, as may well deaden theirRevt 12. 1. hearts, to all the riches and glories of this lower world.
In theſe two Covenants every ſincere Chriſtian will find, 1. A ſpecial ſalve for every ſpiritual ſore. 2. A ſpecial remedy againſt every ſpiritual malady. 3. A ſpecial plaſter againſt every ſpiritual wound. 4. A ſpiritual magazene to ſupply all their ſpiritual wants, and 5. A ſpiritual ſhelter under every ſpiritual ſtorm. In theſe two Covenants you will find food to nouriſh you, a ſtaff to ſupport you, a guid to lead you, a fire to warm you, and ſprings of life to cheer and refreſh you.
In this Covenant of Grace and the Covenant of Redemption,'Twas the ſaying of an eminent Saint on his Death-bed, that he had much peace, and quietneſs not ſo much, from a greater meaſure of grace than other Chriſtians had, or from any immediat witneſs of the ſpirit, but becauſe, he had a more clear underſtanding of the Covenant of Grace than many others, having ſtudied it, and preacht it ſo many years as he had done. you may clearly ſee the wiſdom, counſel, love and tranſactions between the Father and the Son ſparkling and ſhining, there being nothing under Heaven that contributes more to the peace, comfort, aſſurance, ſettlement and ſatisfaction of ſincere Chriſtians than ſuch a ſight, the main reaſon why ſo many gracious ſouls are ſo full of fears, doubts, darkneſs and diſputes about their internal and eternal eſtates, is becauſe they have no more clear and full underſtanding of theſe two Covenants; and if ſuch Chriſtians would but more ſeriouſly buckle to the ſtudy of thoſe two covenants, as they are opened and applyed in the following Treatiſe, their fears and doubts, &c. would quickly vaniſh, and they would have their triumphant ſongs, their mourning would ſoon be turned into rejoycing, & their complaints into Hallelujahs. Neither do I know any thing in all this world that would contribute more to ſeriouſneſs, ſpiritualneſs, heavenlyneſs, humbleneſs, holyneſs and fruitfulneſs, then a right underſtanding of theſe two Covenants, and a Divine improvement of them. There are many choice Chriſtians, who have alwayes either tears in their eyes, complaints in their mouths, or ſighs in their breaſts; and O, that theſe above all others would make theſe two Covenants their daily Companions! Let theſe few kinds ſuffice concerning the following Treatiſe.
Now, Sir John, I ſhall crave leave to put you and your Lady a little, in mind of your deceaſed and glorified Father. He is a true Friend (ſaith the Smyrnean Poet ofPonder upon that Deut. 13. 6. Thy friend which is as thine own ſoul. old) who continueth the memory of his deceaſed Friend. When a Friend of Auſtin's dyed, he profeſſed he was put into a great ſtreight, whether he himſelf ſhould be willing to live or willing to dye: he was unwilling to live, becauſe one half of himſelf was dead, yet he was not willing to dye, becauſe his Friend did partly live in him, though he was dead. Let you and I make the application as we ſee cauſe; your glorified Fathers Name and Memory remains to this day as freſh and fragant as the Roſe of Sharon, among all thoſe that fear the Lord, andCant. 2. …. had the happineſs of inward acquaintance with him. The memory of the juſt is bleſſed, but the name of the wicked ſhall not; In the Original it is, The memory of the juſt Prov. 10. 7. M…moria juſt …, So Bat…. … benam … ſervaſſo, …, Plant. If I may but keep a good Name, I have wealth e…, ſaith the Heathen.foreign in benedictionem, ſhall be for a bleſſing; the very remembring of them ſhall bring a bleſſing to ſuch as do remember them. The Moraliſts ſay of Fame, or of a mans good Name:
Omnia ſi perdas famam ſervare memento,
Quâ ſemel amiſsâ poſtea nullus eris.
i. e. Whatſoever commodity you loſe, be ſure yet to preſerve that Heb. 11. 1…, 39. A good renown is better than a golden Girdle, ſaith the French Proverb.jewel of a good Name. This jewel among others, your honoured Father carried with him to the Grave, yea to Heaven. There is nothing raiſes a mans Name & Fame in the World like holyneſs: The ſeven Deacons that the Church choſe, were holy men, Act. 6. 5. and they were men of good report, V. 3. They were men well witneſſed unto, well teſtified off, as the Greek word imports.The Perſians ſeldom write their Kings Name but in characters of gold, throughout the Old and New Teſtament: God has written the Names of juſt men in golden characters, as I may ſpeak. Cornelius was a holy man, Act. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4. and he was a man of good report among all the Nation of the Jews, V. 22. Ananias was a holy man, Act. 9. 10, 20. and he was a man of a good report: Act. 22. 12. Gajus and Demetrius were both holy men, and of a good report, witneſs that third Epiſtle of John. The Patriarchs and Prophets were holy men, and they were men of a good report, Heb. 11. 1, 2. For by it the Elders obtained a good report, their holyneſs did eternalize their Names. The Apoſtles were holy men, 1 Theſ. 2. 10. and they were men of good report, 2 Cor. 6. 8. Now certainly it is none of the leaſt of mercies to be well reputed and reported of: next to a good God, and a good conſcience, a good report, a good name is the nobleſt bleſſing. It is no great matter, if a man be great and rich in the world, to obtain a great report, but without holyneſs you can never obtain a good report. Holyneſs, uprightneſs, righteouſneſs, will imbalm your names, it will make them immortal. Pſalm 112. 6 The righteous ſhall be in everlaſting remembrance. Wicked men many times out live their names, but the names of the righteous out live them. Holy Abel hath been dead above this five thouſand years, & yet his name is as freſh & fragrant as it1 John 3. 12. was the firſt day he was made a Martyr▪ When a ſincere Chriſtian dyes, he leaves his name as a ſweet and as a laſting ſcent behind him, his Fame ſhall live when he is dead: This is verified in your precious Father, who is now a ſleep in Jeſus, 1 Theſſ. 4. 14.
Now you both very well know, that there was no Chriſtian Friend, that had ſo great a room in his heart, in his affections, as I had, and you can eaſily gueſs at the reaſons of it; neither can you forget, how frequently, both in his health, ſickneſs and before his death, he would be pr…ſſing of me to be a Soul-friend to you, and to improve all the intereſt I had in Heaven for your internalMat. 25. 33. and eternal good, that he might meet you both in that upper world, and that you might both be found with him, at the right hand of Chriſt in the great day of the Lord. I know that your glorified Father, whil'ſt he was on earth, did lay up many a prayer for you in Heaven. My deſire and prayer is, that thoſe prayers of his may return in mighty power upon both your hearts, and having a fair opportunity now before me, I ſhall endeavour to improve it for the everlaſting advantage of both your ſouls; and therefore let my following counſel be not only accepted, but carefully, faithfully and diligently followed by you, that ſo you may be happy here, and bleſſed hereafter.
The firſt word of counſel is this: Let it be the principal care of both of you, to look after the welfare of your precious and immortal ſouls. If your ſouls are ſafe, all is ſafe; if they are well, all is well; but if they are loſt, allMat. 16. 26. The Soul is a greater mir…cle in man, than all the miracles wrought amongſt men, ſaith Auguſtine. is loſt, and you loſt and undone in both worlds. Chriſt that only went to the price of ſouls, hath told us, That one Soul is more worth than all the world. Chryſoſtom well obſerveth, That whereas God hath given us many other things double, viz. two eyes to ſee with, two ears to hear with, two hands to work with, and two feet to walk with, to the intent that the failing of the one might be ſupplyed with the other; he hath given us but one ſoul, if that be loſt, haſt thou (ſaith he) another ſoul to give in recompenſe for it? Ah Friends, Chriſt left his Fathers boſom and all the glory of Heaven for the good of ſouls, he aſſumed the nature of men for the happyneſs of the ſoul of man, he trod the wine-preſs ofIſa. 63. 3. John 17. Luke 23. 34. Math. …6. 28. his Fathers wrath for ſouls, he prayed for ſouls, he payd for ſouls, and he bled out his heart-blood for ſouls; The ſoul is the breath of God, the beauty of man, the wonder of Angels, and the envie of Devils; 'Tis of an Angelical1 Pet. 5. 8. nature, 'tis a heavenly ſpark, a celeſtial plant, and of a Divine off-ſpring. Again weigh well the foreign, the incomparable price, which Chriſt payed for the redemption of the ſoul; what are the riches of the Eaſt or Weſt-Indies, the ſpoil of the richeſt Nations, rocks of1 Pet. 1▪ 18, 19. Diamonds, mountains of gold, or the price of Cleopatra's draught, to the price that Chriſt laid down for ſouls?1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 1 John 1. 4, 12. Heb. 22. 23. The ſoul is a ſpiritual ſubſtance, capable of the knowledge of God, of union with God, of communion with God, and of an eternal fruition of God. There is nothing can ſuit the ſoul below God, nor nothing that can ſatisfie the ſoul without God, nor nothing that can ſave the ſoul but God. The ſoul is ſo choice, ſo high and ſo noble a piece, that it Divinely ſcorns all the world in point of acceptation, juſtification, ſatisfaction, dilectation and ſalvation; Chriſt made himſelf an offering forHeb. 9. 11, 12, 13 14. Cap. 10 10, 14 Ga. 4 4, 5, 6. Heb. 2. 8. ſin, that ſouls might not be undone by ſin; The Lord dyed, that ſlaves might live; The Son dyed, that ſervants might live, The natural Son dyed, that adopted ſons might live; The only begotten Son dyed, that baſtards might live; Yea the Judge dyed, that malefactors might live. Ah Friends, as there was never ſorrow likeIſa. 53 3. Gal. 2. 20. Chriſts ſorrow, ſo there was never love like Chriſts love, and of all his love none to that of ſoul-love, to ſay much in a little room. The ſpiritual enemies, which daily warEph 6. 11, 12. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Heb. ult. Rom. 1…. 17. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 27. againſt the ſoul; the glorious Angels, which hourly guard the ſoul, and the precious ordinances, which God hath appointed as means both to convert, and nouriſh the ſoul. The ſoul is capable of a Crown of life; Rev. 2. 10. Of a Crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5 4. Of a Crown of righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4. 8. Of an incorruptible Crown, 1 Cor. 9. 25. The Crowns of earthly Princes ſtand asQueen Eliſabeth is ſaid to ſwin to her Crown through a Sea of ſorrow. a Sophiſters cap, on one ſide of the head. Many may ſay of their Crowns as that King ſaid of …is, O Crown more noble than happy! In the time of Galienus the Emperour, Anno Chriſti 260. there were thirty Competitors on foot for the Roman Crown and Throne, who confounded and deſtroyed one another. A Princely Crown is oftentimes the mark for envy and ambition to ſhoot at: Henry the VI. was honoured with the Crowns of two Kingdoms, France & England, the firſt was loſt through the faction of his Nobles, the other was twice plucked from his head. Earthly Crowns have ſo many cares, fears, vexations and dangers, that daily attend them that oftentimes they make the heads and hearts of MonarchsProv. 27. 4. Doth the Crown endure to all generations. Heb. To generation and generation. ake, which made Cyrus ſay, You look upon my Crown and my purple robes, but did you but know how they were lined with thorns, you would not ſtoop to take them up. But the Crowns that immortal ſouls are capable of, are Crowns without croſſes, they are not attended with care of keeping, or fear of loſing; there are no evil perſons, nor evil ſpirits, that haunt thoſe Crowns. Darius that great Monarch, fleeing from his enemies, he threw away the Crown of gold from his head, that he might run the faſter: but a ſincere Chriſtian1 Pet. 1. 5. is in no danger of loſing his Crown, 2 Tim. 4. 8. His Crown is laid up in a ſafe hand, in an omnipotent hand. Now what do all theſe things ſpeak out, but the preciouſneſs and excellency of the ſoul? Once more, the excellency of the caſe or cabinet, viz. the body, intimates a more than ordinary excellency of this Jewel; the body is of all materials the moſt excellent; how does David admire the rare texture and workmanſhip of his body! I am wonderfully made, I was curiouſly wrought in Pſal. 139. 13, 15.the loweſt parts of the earth. When curious workmen have ſome choice piece in hand, they perfect it in private, and then bring it forth to the light, for men to gaze at, ſo here: The greateſt miracle in the World is Man, in whoſe very body (how much more in his ſoul) are miracles enow (betwixt head and feet) to fill a volume. One complains, that men much wonder at the highAuſtin. The Stoick thought, it was better to be a fool in the form of a man, than wiſe in the ſhape of a beaſt. mountains of the Earth, the huge waves of the Sea, the deep falls of Rivers, the vaſtneſs of the Ocean, and at the motions of the Stars, &c. but wonder not at all at their wonderful ſelves. Galen, a prophane Phyſician and a great Atheiſt, writing of the excellent parts of mans body, he could not chuſe but ſing an Hymn to that God, whoſoever he were, that was the Author of ſo excellent and admirable a piece of work; he could not but cry out, Now I adore the God of Nature. Now if the Cabinet be ſo curiouſly wrought, what is the Jewel that is contained in it? O how richly and gloriouſly is the ſoul embroydered! How Divinely inlaid and enamel'd is that! Princes impreſs their images or effigies upon the choiceſt mettals, viz. gold and ſilver: God hath engraven his own Image with his own hand uponGen. 1. 26. Dama…cen. Angels and Men. The ſoul is the glory of the Creation, a beam of God, a ſpark of celeſtial brightneſs, a veſſel of honour, a bird of Paradiſe, a habitation for God. The ſoul is ſpiritual in its eſſence, God breathed it in, God hath inveſted it with many noble endowments, he hath made it a mirrour of beauty, and printed upon it aGen. 2. 7. Heb. 12 9. Eccleſ. 12. 7. Zach. 12. 1. ſurpaſſing excellency. The ſoul is ſpiritual in its object, it contemplaces God and Heaven; God is the orb and center where the ſoul doth fix, God is the Terminus ad quem, the ſoul moves to him as to his reſt: Return to thy reſt, O my ſoul; this Dove can find no reſt but in this heavenly Ark, nothing can fill the ſoul but God, nothing can quiet the ſoul but God, nothing can ſatisfie the ſoul but God, nothing can ſecure the ſoul but God, nothing can ſave the ſoul but God: The ſoul being ſpiritual God only can be the adequate object of it; The ſoul is ſpiritual in its operations, it being immaterial doth not depend upon the body in its working; the rich and rare endowments, and the noble operations of the ſoul ſpeak out the excellency of the ſoul. The ſoul (ſaith one) hathAriſtotle. a nature diſtinct from the body, it moves and operates of it ſelf, though the body be dead, and hath no dependence upon, or coexiſtence with the body; The ſoul hath an intrinſecal principle of life and motion, though it be ſeparate from the body. And doth not the immortality of the ſoul ſpeak out the excellency of the ſoul, againſt that dangerous notion of the ſouls mortality? Conſult the Scriptures in the margin; and ſeriouſly andLuke 23. 43. 1 Theſſ. 4. ult. Phil. 1. 23. Acts 7. 59. frequently think of this one argument (among a multitude of arguments that might be produced, to prove the immortality of the ſoul) That which is not capable of killing, is not capable of dying; but the ſoul is not capable of killing, ergo. Our Lord Jeſus proves the minor propoſition, that it is not capable of killing, Fear not Luke 12. 4.them them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Therefore the ſoul not being capable of killing, is not in a poſſibility of dying; the eſſence of the ſoul is Metaphyſical, it hath a beginning but no end, it is Eternal à parte poſt, it runs parallel with Eternity; the ſoul doth not wax old, it lives for ever, which we cannot affirm of any ſublunary created glory. To conclude this firſt word of counſel, what Job ſaith of wiſdom, I may fitly apply to the ſoul; Man knows not the price thereof, Job 28. 13, 16, 17.it cannot be valued with the Gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx, or the Saphir, the Gold and Chryſtal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it ſhall not be for Jewels of ſine Gold. O my Friends! it is the greateſt wiſdom, policy, equity, and Juſtice, to provide for your precious ſouls, to ſecure your precious ſouls, for they are Jewels of more worth than ten thouſand worlds, all the honours, riches, greatneſs, and glory of this world are but chips, toyes, and pibbles to theſe glorious pearls. But
The ſecond word of counſel is this, as you would be ſafe here, and ſaved in the great day of the Lord; asAct… 2. 20. … 22. 21. … …poth. 1. 15. Jo… 13. 15. 2 Cor. 2. 11. you would be happy here, and bleſſed hereafter, take up in nothing below a gracious acquaintance with Chriſt, a choice acceptation of Chriſt, a holy relyance upon Chriſt, a full reſignation of your ſelves to Chriſt, and a real and glorious union with Chriſt; If you do you are loſt and undone in both worlds.
Firſt, Some take up in a name to live, when they are dead, dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, dead God-wards, andRevel. 3 1. Epheſ. 2. 1. dead Chriſt-wards, and dead Heaven-wards, and dead holyneſs-wards. The Sadducees derive their name from Zeduchim or Zadducaeus, a juſt man: But the worſt Men, ſaith the Hiſtorian, got the beſt names. The Alcoran of the Turks hath its name from brightneſs (Al in the Arabick, being as much as Kazan in the Hebrew, to ſhine or caſt forth in brightneſs) when it is full of darkneſs and fraught with falſhoods. It will be but a poor comfort to any, for the world to commend them as gracious, if
God condemn them as graceleſs; for the world to commend them as pious, if God condemn them as impious; for the world to commend them as ſincere, if God condemn them as hypocrites. But
Secondly, Some take up in a form Godlineſs, when2 Timoth. 3. 5. they are ſtrangers to the power, when they deny, yea when they oppoſe and perſecute the power; ſuch Monſters this Age has abounded with, but their ſeemingActs 13. 45, 50 goodneſs is but a Religious cheat.
Thirdly, There are ſome that take up in their ReligiousMatth. 9. 22. Luke 18. 12. Cap. 13. 26. Matth. 6. cap. 23. Luke 36. 15. Ezeck. 33. 31, 32. duties and ſervices, in their praying, faſting, propheſying, hearing, receiving; they make a God, a Chriſt, a Saviour of their own duties & ſervices; this was the undoing and damning ſin of the Scribes and Phariſees, and is the undoing and damning ſin of many thouſands in our dayes.
Fourthly, There are many that take up in their common gifts and parts, in a gift of knowledge, and in a giftMath. …. 22. Rom. 2. 17. 21. 1 Cor. 12. …eb. 6. 4…5. of teaching, and in a gift of knowledge, and in a gift of teaching, and in a gift of utterance, and in a gift of memory, and in a gift of prayer, and this proves ruinous and deſtructive to them.
Fifthly, There are many that take up in their riches,Prov. 10. 15. Pſalm 73. 19. Matth. 20.—26. Divi…bus i… … qui… …, Rich mens wealth proves an hinderance to their happineſs. Eccleſ. 5. 13. James 5. 1, 2. proſperity and worldly grandure and glory. Prov. 18. 11. The rich mans wealth is his ſtrong City; it is hard to have wealth and not truſt to it. Mat. 19. 24. Wealth was never true to thoſe that truſted it. There is an utter uncertainty in riches, 1 Timoth. 6. 17. A non entity, Prov. 23. 5, 6. An impotency to help in an evil day, Zephan. 1. 18. An impoſſibility to ſtretch to Eternity, unleſs it be to deſtroy the owner for ever: There is nothing more clear in Scripture and Hiſtory, than that riches, proſperity, and worldy glory hath been commonly their portion, who never have had a God for their portion.Luke 16. 25. Ric…es are called thi…k clay, Hal. 2. 6. which will ſooner break the back than lighten the heart. It was an excellent ſaying of Lewis of Bavaria, Emperour of Germany: Hujuſmodi comparandae ſunt opes, quae cum naufragio ſimul enatent, Such goods are worth getting, and owning, as will not ſink or waſh away, if a ſhip-wrack happen. Solus ſapiens dives, Only the Wiſe man is the rich man, ſaith the Philoſopher. Another ſaith, Divitiae Auſtin.corporales paupertatis plenae ſunt, That earthly riches are full of poverty, they cannot enrich the ſoul; for oftentimes under ſilken Apparel there is a thred-bare ſoul.
He that is rich in conſcience ſleeps more ſoundly, than he that is richly clothed in purple.
No man is rich which cannot carry hence, that whichAmbroſ. lib. 8. Ep. 10. he hath; that which we muſt leave behind us, is not ours but ſome others.
The ſhorteſt cut to riches is by their contempt; it isSeneca. great riches not to deſire riches, and he hath moſt that covets leaſt. If there were any happineſs in riches, the Gods would not want them, ſaith the ſame Author.
When one was a commending the riches and wealth of Merchants: I do not love that wealth, ſaid a poor Heathen, which hangs upon ropes; for if they break, the ſhip miſcarrieth, and then where is the Merchants riches?
If I had an Enemy (ſaith one) whom it was lawfulLatimer. to wiſh evil unto, I would chiefly wiſh him great ſtore of riches, for then he ſhould never enjoy quiet.
The Hiſtorian obſerves, that the riches of Cyprus invitedTacitus. the Romans to hazard many dangerous fights, for the conquering of it.
Earthly riches, ſaith one, are an evil Maſter, a treacherousAuguſtine. Servant, Fathers of flattery, Sons of grief, a cauſe of fear to thoſe that have them, and a cauſe of ſorrow to thoſe that want them.
I have read a famous ſtory of Zelimus, Emperour ofThe Turkiſh Hiſtory. The Poets feigned Pluto to be the God of Riches, and Hell, as if they were inſeparable, Homer. Conſtantinople, that after he had taken Egypt, he found a great deal of treaſure there; and the Souldiers coming to him, and asking of him what they ſhould do with the Citizens of Egypt, for that they had found great Treaſure among them, and had taken their riches? O, ſaith the Emperour, hang them all up, for they are too rich to be made ſlaves; and this was all the thanks they had for the riches they were ſpoiled off. What more contemptible than a rich Fool, a golden Beaſt, as Caligula called his Father in law Syllanius? Not but that ſome are great and gracious, rich and righteous; As Abraham, Lot, Job, David, Hezekiah, &c.
It is ſaid of Shuſa in Perſia, that it was ſo rich that theSaith Caſſiederus. ſtones were joyned together with gold; and that in it Alexander found ſeventy thouſand Talents of gold. If you can take this City (ſaith Ariſtagorus to his Souldiers) you may vie with Jove himſelf for riches; the riches of Shufa did but make the Souldiers the more deſperate in their attempt to take it.
By theſe ſhort hints you may ſee the folly and vanity of thoſe men, who take up in their riches. But
Sixthly, Many there are that take up in their ownIſa. 64. 6. righteouſneſs, which at beſt is but as filthy rags; thisRom. 10. 2, 3. Matth. 5. 20. was the damning ſin of the Jews, and of the Scribes and Phariſees; and is the undoing ſin of many of the Profeſſors of this Age.
Seventhly, Many there are that take up in their external Church priviledges, crying out, the Temple of Jer. 7. 4, 8, 9, 10, 11.the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, when they have no union nor communion with the Lord of the Temple. Theſe forget that there will come a day, when the Children Matth. 8. 12.of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out. It would be very good for ſuch Perſons, to make theſe five Scriptures their daily companions, Matth. 22. 10, 12, 13, 14. Luke 13. 25, 26, 27 28. Rom. 2. 28, 29. Gal. 6. 15. Jer. 9. 25, 26. That they may never dare to take up in their outward Church priviledges, which can neither ſecure them from hell, nor ſecure them of heaven. But
Eightly, Many there be that take up in common convictions: Judas had mighty convictions of his ſin, butMatth. 27. 4, 5. Numb. 23. and Numb. 24. they iſſued in deſperation. Balaam was mightily enlightned and convinced, in ſo much that he deſired to dye the death of the righteous; but under all his convictions he dyed Chriſtleſs and graceleſs. Nebuchadnezzar had great convictions, yet we do not read thatDan. 4. 3 1, 32 ever he was converted, before he was driven from the ſociety of men▪ to be a companion with the beaſts of the field; he had ſtrong convictions, 1. by Daniels interpretingDan. 4. 31, 32. of his dream. Dan. 2. 47. 2. He told Daniel, That his God was the God of Gods, and a Lord of Kings, and a reveiler of ſecrets; and yet preſently he fell into groſs Idolatry, Dan. 3. and ſtrictly commanded to worſhip the golden Image that he had ſet up; and as if he had loſt all his former convictions, he was ſo ſwelled up with pride and impudence, as to ſay to the three Children, when they Divinely ſcorned to worſhip the Image he had ſet up, What God is there that can deliver you out of my hand? Verſe 15. Saul had great convictions, I have 1 Sam. 26. 21, 25.ſinned, return my ſon David, I will no more do thee harm, &c. And Saul lift up his voice and wept; and he ſaid unto David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou haſt 1 Sam. 24. 16, 17, 18, 19.rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil: But theſe convictions iſſued in no ſaving change, for after theſe he lived and died in the heigth of his ſins. Pharaoh had great convictions: And Pharaoh ſent, and called Exod. 9. 27. Cap. 10. 16.for Moſes and Aaron, and ſaid unto them, I have ſinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. And again, Then Pharaoh called for Moſes and Aaron in haſte; and he ſaid; I have ſinned againſt the Lord your God, and againſt you: But theſe convictions iſſued in no reformation, in no ſound converſion, and therefore drowning and damning followed. Cain was under convictions, but went and built a City, and loſtGeneſ. 4. his convictions in a crowd of worldly buſineſs. Herod and Felix were under convictions, but they went of,Mark 6. 20. Acts 24. 25. and never iſſued in any ſaving work upon their ſouls. O how many men and women have fallen under ſuch deep convictions, that they have day and night cryed out of their ſins, and of their loſt and undone Eſtates, and that they ſhould certainly go to hell, and be damned for ever, ſo that many good People have hoped, that theſe were the pangs of the new birth; and yet either merry company, or carnal pleaſures and delights, or much worldly buſineſs, or elſe length of time have wrought off all their convictions, and they have grown more prophane and wicked then ever they were before. As water heated, if taken off the fire, will ſoon return toAriſt…tle. its natural coldneſs, yea becomes colder after heating than before, this hath been the caſe of many under convictions: I ſhall forbear giving of particular inſtances. But
Ninthly, Many take up in an outward change and reformation, they have left ſome old courſes and ſinful practices, which formerly they walked in &c. and therefore they conclude and hope, that their condition is good, and that all is well, and ſhall be for ever well with them; they were wont to ſwear, whore, be drunk, prophane Sabbaths, reproach Saints, &c. but now they have left all theſe practices, and therefore the main work is done, and they are made for ever. I confeſs ſin is that abominableJer. 41. 4. Matth. 1…. 2…. thing which God hates, and therefore it is a very great mercy to turn from it; to leave one ſin is a greater mercy, than to win the whole world; and it is certain that he that doth not outwardly reform, ſhall never go to heaven; he that doth not leave his ſins heJob 22. 23, 26. can never be happy here, nor bleſſed hereafter, and yet it is poſſible for a man with Herod to reform many thingsMark … 2…. Mat. 26. 20, 21. 22 1 The…ſ. 5. 23. and yet be a loſt and undone man for ever as he was. Judas was a very reformed man, but he was never inwardly changed, nor throughout ſanctified. The Scribes and Phariſees were outwardly reformed, but they were not inwardly renewed. A man may be another man than what once he was, and yet not be a new man, a new creature. When a ſinner is ſermon-ſick, O! then he will2 Cor. 5. 17. 2 P…t. 2. 20, 22. D…ſt. 5. 5, 6, 7, 8. leave his ſins, but when that ſickneſs is off, he returns with the dog to his vomit, and with the ſow to her wallowing in the mire. Sometimes conſcience is like the hand-writing upon the wall, it makes the ſinners countenance to change, and his thoughts to be troubled, and the joints of his loins to be looſed, and his knees to ſmite one againſt another; and now the ſinner is all for reforming, and turning over a new leaf, but when theſe agonies of conſcience are over, the ſinner returns to his old courſes again, and often times is twofold more a Child of Hell than before. There was aMatth. 23. 15. man in this City, who was given up to the higheſt wickedneſſes, on his ſick bed conſcience made an Arreſt of him, and he was filled with ſuch wonderful, horrour and terrour, that he cryed out day and night, that he was damned, he was damned, he was damned; and when he had ſome ſmall intervals, O what large promiſes did he make! what a new man, a reformed man he would be! but when in time his terrors and ſickneſs wrought off, he was ſeven-fold worſe than before. Sometimes the awakened Sinner parts with ſome ſins, to make room for others; and ſometimes the Sinner ſeems to give a Bill of divorce to this ſin and that, but it is only becauſe his bodily ſtrength fails him, or becauſe he wants an opportunity, or becauſe there is a more ſtrict eye and watch upon him, or becauſe the ſword of the Magiſtrate is more ſharpned againſt him, or becauſeJames 4. 3. he wants fuel, he wants a purſe to bear it out, or becauſe ſome Company, or ſome Relations, or ſome Friends lye between him and his ſins, ſo that he muſt either tread over them, or elſe keep from his ſins; or becauſe he has deeply ſmarted for this ſin, and that his name has been blotted, his credit and reputation ſtained,Prov. 6. 32, 33, 34, 35. his Trade decayed, his health empaired, his body waſted, &c. By theſe ſhort hints it is evident, that men may attain to ſome outward reformation, whoſe ſtates and hearts were never changed, and who were never taken into marriage union with Chriſt. But
Tenthly and laſtly, many take up in a party, as of old ſome cryed up Paul as the only deep Preacher, and others cryed up Apollos as the only eloquent Preacher, and1 Cor. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13. many cryed up Cephas as the moſt zealous Preacher; We are for the Church of England, ſay ſome, we are for the baptized People, ſay others, we are for the Presbyterian government, cry ſome, we are for the congregational way, cry others. I have ſo much ingenuity and charity, as to judge, that ſome of all theſe ſeveral parties and perſwaſions are really holy and will be eternally happy, are gracious and will be glorious, are ſanctified and will be ſaved, are now governed by Chriſt and will be hereafter glorified with Chriſt. Judas was one of Chriſts party,Mat. 26. 20. to the 26. (if I may ſo ſpeak) and yet he had no part nor portion in Chriſt. Demas was one of Paul's party, and yet he2 Tim. 4. 10. plaid the Apoſtat, and turn'd an idolatrous Prieſt at2 Tim. 1. 15. Theſſalonica, as Dorotheus ſaith; And Phygellus and Hermogenes were of Paul's party, but were only famous for1 Tim. 1. 19, 20. their recidivation and Apoſtaſie. Hymeneus and Alexander were of Paul's party, but they made ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience. The five fooliſh VirginsMat. 25. 1, 2, 12. were in ſociety with the wiſe, and were accounted as members of their aſſociation, and yet the door of Heaven was ſhut againſt them. Many light, ſlight and vain perſons went with the Children of Iſrael out of the LandExod. 1…. 38. Num. 11. 4. of Egypt, even a mixt multitude that imbarkt in the ſame bottom with them, and yet never arrived at the Land of promiſe. O my Friends, it is not a mans being of this party or that, this Church or that, this way or that, this ſociety or that, that will bring him to Heaven without1 Pet. 1. 4. He…. 1. 2. 1 John 5. 12. a ſpiritual conjunction with Chriſt; he that would enjoy the Heavenly inheritance muſt be eſpouſed to Chriſt, the heir of all things: For he that hath the Son, hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life. This marriage union between Chriſt and the ſoul, is ſet forth to the life throughout that Book of Solomon's Song…, though the marriage-union between Chriſt and the ſoul,Cant. …. 16. 1 Cor. 6. 17. Eccl. 11. 6. be imperceptible to the eye of reaſon, yet it is real; things in nature work often inſenſibly, yet really, we do not ſee the hand move on the dial, yet it moves; the Sun exhales and drawes up the vapours of the Earth inſenſibly, yet really. Now this marriage-union between Chriſt and the ſoul includes, and takes in theſe following particulars.
Firſt, This marriage-union between Chriſt and the ſoul does include and take in the ſouls giving a preſent bill of Divorce to all other lovers, Sin, the world andConſult theſe Scriptures: Hoſea 14. 8. Iſa. 2. 20. Cap. 30. 22. Pſalm 45. 10. Exod. 12. 33. Iſa. 59. …o. C. 3. 3. Satan: Are you ſeriouſly and ſincerely willing for ever to renounce theſe, and be divorced from theſe? there is no compounding betwixt Chriſt and them; ſin and your ſouls muſt part, or Chriſt and your ſouls can never meet; ſin and your ſouls muſt be two, or Chriſt and your ſouls can never be one; you muſt in good earneſt fall out with ſins, or elſe you can never in good earneſt fall in with a Saviour; the heart muſt be ſeparated from all other lovers, before Chriſt will take the ſoul into his bed of loves; Chriſt takes none into marriage-union with himſelf, but ſuch as are cordially willing, that all old former leagues with ſin and the world ſhall be for ever broken and diſſolved; your cordial willingneſs to part with ſin, is your parting with ſin in Divine account; you may as ſoon bring Eaſt and Weſt together, light and darkneſs together, Heaven and Hell together, as bring Chriſt to …ſpouſe himſelf to ſuch a ſoul, as has no mind, no will, no heart to be divorced from his former lovers; 'Tis a fooliſh thing for any to think of keeping both Chriſt and their luſts too; it is a vain thing for any to think of ſaving the life of his ſins, and the life of his ſoul too; If ſin eſcape, your ſoul cannot eſcape; if thou art not the death of thy ſins, they will be the death and ruin of thy ſoul. Marriage is a knot or tye, wherein perſons are mutually limitted and bound each to other, in a way of conjugal ſeparation from all others, and this in Scripture isProv. 2. 17. called a Covenant. So when any one marries Chriſt, he doth therein diſcharge himſelf in affection and ſubjection from all that is contrary unto Chriſt, and ſolemnly Covenants, and binds himſelf to Chriſt alone, he will have no Saviour and no Lord but Chriſt, and to him will he cleave for ever, Pſal. 63. 8. Acts 11. 23. But,
Secondly, This marriage-union with Chriſt doth includeJohn 1. 12. Acts 5. 31. Coloſſ: 2. 6. Weigh well theſe Scriptures: Pſalm 1…2. 3. Pſalm▪ 5. 5. Hoſea 2. 7. and take in a hearty willingneſs, to take, to receive the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for your Saviour and Soveraign. Are you willing to conſent to the match; 'tis not enough that Chriſt is willing to enter into a marriage-union with us, but we muſt be willing alſo to enterMany can chuſe Chriſt as a Refuge to hide them from danger, and as a Friend to help them in their need, who yet refuſe him as a Husband. into a marriage-union with him. God will never force a Chriſt, nor force ſalvation upon us, whether we will or no; Many approve of Chriſt, and cry up Chriſt, who yet are not willing to give their conſent, that he, and he alone ſhall be their Prince and Saviour; though knowledge of perſons be neceſſary and fit, yet it is not ſufficient to marriage without conſent, for marriage ought to be a voluntary tranſaction of perſons; in marriage we do in a ſort give away our ſelves, and elect and make choice for our ſelves, and therefore conſent is a neceſſary concurrence to marriage. Now this conſent is nothing elſe but a free and plain act of the will, accepting of Jeſus Chriſt before all others to be its Head and Lord, and in the ſouls choice of him to be its Saviour and Soveraign; Then a man is married to Chriſt, when he doth freely, and abſolutely, and preſently receive the Lord Jeſus; not, I would have Chriſt if it did not prejudice my worldly eſtate, eaſe, friends, relations, &c. or hereafter, I will accept of him when I come to dye, and be in diſtreſs, but now when ſalvation is offered, now while Chriſt tenders himſelf, I now yield up my heart and life unto him. But,
Thirdly, This marriage union with Chriſt includes and takes in an univerſal and perpetual conſent, for all time, and in all ſtates and conditions. There is (you know) a great difference between a wife and a ſtrumpet, a wife takes her husband upon all terms, to have, and to hold, for better and for worſe, for richer and for poorer, in ſickneſs and in health, whereas a ſtrumpet is only for hire and luſt, when the purſe is emptied, or the body waſted and ſtrength conſumed the harlots love is at an end, ſo here: That acceptance and conſent which tyes the marriage knot between Chriſt and the ſoul, muſt be an unlimited and indefinite acceptance and conſent…, when we take the Lord Jeſus Chriſt wholly and entirely, without any ſecret reſervations or exceptions; That ſoul that will have Chriſt, muſt have all Chriſt, or no Chriſt, [For Chriſt is not divided.] That ſoul muſt entertain1 Cor. 1. 13. Rev. 14. 4. Pſal. 66. 12. him to all purpoſes and intents, he muſt follow the Lamb whereſoever he goeth, though it ſhould be through fire and water, over mountans and hills, he muſt take him with his cup of affliction as well as his cup of conſolation, with his ſhameful croſs as well as his gloriousHeb. 2. 3. crown, with his great ſufferings as well as his great ſalvation, with his grace as well as his mercy, with his ſpirit to lead and govern them, as well as his blood to redeem and juſtifie them, to ſuffer for him as well as to2 Tim. 2. 12. Acts 21. 13. Rom. 14. 7, 8. reign with him, to dye for him as well as to live to him. Chriſtianity (like the wind Caecias) doth ever draw clouds & afflictions after it. All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus 2 Tim. 3. 12.ſhall ſuffer perſecution, A man may have many faint wiſhes and cold deſires after godlineſs, & yet eſcape perſecution, yea he may make ſome aſſays & attempts, as if he would be godly, and yet eſcape perſecution, but when a man isThe common cry of Perſecutors hath been Chriſtianes ad I c…n…s, within the firſt 300. years after Chriſt, upon the matter all that made a profeſſion of the Apoſtles Doctrine, were cruelly murdered. thorowly reſolved to be Godly, and ſets himſelf in good earneſt upon purſuing after holyneſs, and living a life of Godlyneſs, then he muſt expect to meet with afflictions and perſecutions, who ever eſcapes, the Godly man ſhall not eſcape perſecution in one kind or another, in one degree or another; He that is peremptorily reſolved to live up to holy rules, and to live out holy principles, muſt prepare for ſufferings; All the Roſes of holyneſs are ſurrounded with pricking Briars: The Hiſtory of the Ten Perſecutions, and that little Book of Martyrs, the 11. of the Hebrews, and Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments, with many other Treatiſes that are extant, do abundantly evidence, that from age to age, and from one generation to another, they that have been born after the fleſh have perſecuted them that hath been born after theGal. 4. 29. ſpirit, and that the ſeed of the Serpent have been ſtill a multiplying of troubles upon the ſeed of the Woman; But a Believers future glory and pleaſure will abundantly recompenſe him for his preſent pain and ignominy: But ſuch as will have Chriſt for their Saviour and Soveraign, but ſtill with ſome proviſo or other, viz. That they may keep ſuch a beloved luſt, or enjoy ſuch carnal pleaſures and delights, or raiſe ſuch an eſtate for them and theirs, or comply with the times and ſuch and ſuch great mens humours, or that they may follow the Lamb only in Sun-ſhine weather, &c. theſe are ſtill Satans bondſlaves, and ſuch as Chriſt can take no pleaſure nor delight to eſpouſe himſelf unto. But,
The third word of Advice and Counſel is this, viz. Put off the old man, and put on the new: Conſult the ScripturesCol. 3. 9, 10. Eph. 4. 22, 23, 24. Gal. 6. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 2. in the margin. You muſt be new Creatures, or elſe it had been better you had been any Creatures than what you are. 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Chriſt he is a n…w Creature, old things are paſt away, behold all things are become new. The new Creature includes a new light, a new ſight, a new underſtanding; Now the ſoul ſeesPſal. 38. 4. Cant. 5. 10. ſin to be the greateſt evil, and Chriſt and holyneſs to be the chiefeſt good: When a man is a new Creature he hasCol. 3. 11. a new judgment and opinion, he looks upon God as his only happyneſs, and Chriſt as his all in all, and uponProv. 3. 17. the wayes of God as wayes of pleaſantneſs. The new man has new cares, new requeſts, new deſires. O that myActs 2. 37. Cap. 16. 30. ſoul may be ſaved; O that my intereſt in Chriſt may be cleared, O that my heart may be adorned with grace, O that my whole man may be ſecured from wrath to1 Theſ. 2. ult. come. The new man is a man of new principles, if you make a ſerious inſpection into his ſoul, you ſhall find a principle of faith, of repentance, of holyneſs, of love,Phil. 1. 20. Acts 11. 18. 1 Theſ. 4, 9. Phil. 4. …1. 1 Cor. 4. 12. of contentment, of patience, &c. There is not any one ſpiritual and heavenly principle reſpecting ſalvation, but may be found in the new Creature; The new man experiences a new combate, and conflict in his ſoul: The Gal. 5. 17. Rom. 7. 2….fleſh luſteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit lu…teth againſt the fleſh. I ſee another law in my members warring againſt the law of my mind. The new man experiences a combate in every faculty; Here is the judgment againſt the judgment, and the will againſt the will, and the affections againſt the affections: And the reaſon is this; becauſe there is fleſh and ſpirit, ſin and grace coexiſtent and cohabiting in every faculty of the ſoul, renewing grace is in every faculty, and remaining corruption is alſo in every faculty, like Jacob and Eſau ſt…ugling in the ſame womb, or like heat and cold in the ſame water, and in every part of it: The new man alſo combates with all ſorts of known ſins, whether they be great or ſmall, inward or outward, whether they be the ſins of the heart, or the ſins of the life; and beſides, the conflict in the new man is a daily conflict, a conſtant conflict; The new Creature can never, the new Creature will never be at peace with ſin, ſin and the new Creature will fight it out to the death, the new. Creature will never be brought into a l…ague of friendſhip with ſin; The new man is a man of a new life and converſation, alwayes a new life attends a new heart, you ſee it in Paul, Mary Magdalen, Zacheus, the Jaylor, and all the others thatSee 1 John 3. 14. 2 Cor. 6. 14. Pſalm 120. 5. Pſalm 139. …1. Pſalm 42. 4. are upon Scripture record. The new man has new ſociety, new company, Pſalm 119. 63. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. Pſalm 16. 3. My goodneſs extends not to thee, but to the Saints that are in the Earth, and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight. Holy ſociety is the only ſociety for perſons of holy hearts, and in that ſociety can no… had rather ha…e no Compani…n than a had one. man delight until God renew his heart by grace. Many men be as the Planet Mercury, good in conjuction with thoſe that are good, and bad with thoſe that are bad, theſe are they that do Virtutis ſtragulam pudefacere, Put honeſty to an open ſhame. Cloaths and Company do oftentimes tell tales in a mute, but ſignificant language. Tell me with whom thou goeſt, and I will tell thee what thou art, ſaith the Spaniſh proverb. Algerius, an Italian Martyr, had rather be in priſon with Cato, than with Caeſar in the Senate-houſe. But to conclude this word of Counſel, the new man walks by a new rule; As ſoon as ever God has made a man, a new creature, he preſently ſets up a new rule of life to walk▪ by, and that is no other but that which God himſelf ſets up for his People to walk by, and that is his written Word, Iſa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the teſtimony. Pſalm 119. 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Verſe 133. Order my ſteps in thy word. Galat. 6. 16. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God. This rule he ſets up for all matters of Faith, and for all matters of fact. The word is like the ſtone Garamantides, that hath drops of Gold within it ſelf, enriching of every ſoul that makes it his Rule to walk by. Alexander kept Homers Iliads in a Cabinet, embroidered with Gold and Pearls; and ſhall not we keep the Word in the Cabin…t of our hearts, that it may be alwayes ready at hand as a Rule for us to walk by? Well Friends, what ever you do forget, be ſure that for ever you remember this, viz. that none can o… ſhall be glorious Creatures, but ſuch as by grace are made new Creatures. But
The fourth word of advice & counſel is this, Labour to be more inwardly ſincere than outwardly glorious. [The Pſalm …5. 13. Re…. 3. 1. 15, 16, 17.Kings daughter is all glorious within.] O labour rather to be good than to be thought to be good, to live than to have a name to live; what ever you let go, be ſure you hold faſt your integrity: A man were better to let Friends go, Relations go, Eſtate go, Liberty go, …ife go, and all go, than let his integrity go. [God forbid that I ſhould Job 27. 5, 6.juſtifie you, till I die I will not remove my integrity from me, my righteouſneſs I will hold faſt, and I will not let it go: my heart ſhall not reproach me ſo long as I live.] Job is highly and fully reſolved to keep his integrity cloſe againſt all aſſaults of Enemies, or ſuſpicions of Friends. Jobs integrity was the beſt Jewel he had in all the world, & this Jewel he was reſolv'd to keep to his dying day. It was n…ither good men, nor bad men, nor devils that ſhould baffle Job out of his integrity; and though they all pulled and pulled hard at his integrity, yet he would not l…t it go, he would hold faſt this pearl of price what ever it coſt him. The ſincere Chriſtian, like John Baptiſt, will hold his integrityMar… 6. though he loſe his head for it. The very Heathens loved a candid and ſincere ſpirit, as he that wiſhed that there was a glaſs in his breaſt, that all the world might ſee what was in his heart. Integrity will be a ſword to defend you, a ſtaff to ſupport you, a ſtar to guide you, and a cordial to chear you; and therefore above all gettings get ſincerity, and above all keepings keep ſincerity as your crown, your comfort, your life. But
The fifth word of comfort and counſel is this, Be true to the light of your conſciences, and maintain and keep up a conſtant tenderneſs in your conſciences; a tender conſcience is a mercy more worth than a world: Conſcience is Gods ſpye in our boſoms, keep this clear andActs 21. 16. 2 Cor. 1. 12. tender, and than all is well: Act nothing againſt the dictates of conſcience, rebel not againſt the light of conſcience: You were better that all the world ſhould upbraid you and reproach you, than that your conſciences ſhould upbraid you and reproach you: Beware of ſtiflingJob 27. 5, 6. conſcience, and of ſuppreſſing the warnings of conſcience, leſt a warning conſcience prove a gnawing conſcience, a tormenting conſcience. The blind ManMark 8. in the Goſpel, newly recovering his ſight, imagined Trees to be Men: And the Burgundians, as Comines reports, expecting a Battel, ſuppoſed long Thiſtles to be Lances; thus men under guilt, are apt to conceit every Thiſtle a Tree, and every Tree a Man, and every Man a Devil. Take heed of tongue-tyed conſciences, for when God ſhall unty theſe ſtrings, and unmuzle your conſciences, conſcience will then be heard, and ten conſorts of Muſick ſhall not drown her clamourous cryes. Hearken to the voice of conſcience, obey the voice of conſcience, and when conſcience ſhall whiſper you in the ear, and tell you, there is this and that amiſs in the houſe, in the habit, in the heart, in the life, in the cloſet; don't ſay to conſcience, conſcience be quiet, beActs …. 24, 25. ſtill, make no noiſe now, I will hear thee in a more convenient ſeaſon. The Heathen Oratour could ſay: A recia conſcientia ne latum quidem unguem diſcedendum, …. in Offi….A man may not depart a hairs breadth all his life long from the dictates of a good conſcience. Will not this Heathen one day riſe in judgment, againſt thoſe who daily crucifie the light of their own conſciences. But
The ſixth word of advice and counſel is this, Mak… it the great buſineſs of your lives, to make ſure ſuchSee my Treatiſe on Aſſurance, & there you will find how you may ſecure ſomething that will go with you beyond the grave. things as will go with you beyond the grave. Riche… and honours, and offices, and all worldly grandure won't go with us beyond the grave. Saladin a Turkiſh Emperour, he was the firſt of that Nation that conquered Jeruſalem, lying at the point of death after many glorious victories, commanded that a white ſheet ſhould be born before him to his grave, upon the point of a Spear, with this proclamation: Theſe are the rich ſpoils which Saladin carrieth away with him, of all his triumphs and victories, of all his Riches and Realms that he had, now nothing at all is left for him, to carry with him but this ſheet. It is with us in this world, as it was in the Jewiſh fields and vineyards, pluck and ea… they might what they would while they were there▪ but they might not pocket nor put up ought, to carry with them: Death as a Porter ſtands at the gate, andDeut. 23. 24. 25. ſtrips men of all their worldly wealth and glory. Athenaeus ſpeaks of one, that at the hour of death devoured many pieces of gold, and ſewed the reſt in his coat, commanding that they ſhould be buried with him. Hermocrates being loath that any man ſhould enjoy his goods after him, made himſelf by Will Heir of his own goods: Theſe muck-worms would fain live ſtill on this ſide Jordan, having made their gold their God, they cannot think of parting with it, they would if poſſible carry the world out of the world: But what ſaith the Apoſtle? [We brought nothing with us into this world, 1 Timoth. 6. 7.and it is certain (ſee how he aſſevereth and aſſureth it, as if ſome rich wretches made queſtion of it) we can carry nothing out] nothing but a winding ſheet. O how ſhould this alarm us! to make ſure our calling and election,2 Pet. 1. 1…. 2 Cor. 5. 17. 2 Sa…. 23. 5. 1 Theſſ. 5 …3. 2 Cor. 1. 12. to make ſure our intereſt in Chriſt, to make ſure our Covenant-relation, to make ſure a work of grace in power upon our ſouls, to make ſure the teſtimony of a good conſcience, to make ſure our Son-ſhip,Gal. 4. 5, 6, 7. Rom. 8. 15, 16. our Saint-ſhip, our Heir-ſhip, &c. for theſe are the only things that will go with us into another world. In the Marian perſecution there was a Woman, who being convened before Bonner (then Biſhop of London) upon… Acts and Monuments. the trial of Religion, he threatned her that he would take away her Husband from her: Saith ſhe, Chriſt is my Husband. I will take away thy Child: Chriſt, ſaith ſhe, is better to me than ten ſons. I will ſtrip thee, ſaith he, of all thy outward comfort: Yea, but Chriſt is mine, ſaith ſhe, and you cannot ſtrip me of him. Aſſurance that Chriſt was hers, and that he would go with her beyond the grave, bore her heart up above the threatsHeb. 10. 34. of being ſpoiled of all. When a great Lord had ſhewed a ſober, ſerious, knowing Chriſtian his Riches, his ſtately Habitation, his pleaſant Gardens, his delightful Walks, his rich Grounds, and his various ſorts of pleaſure; the ſerious Chriſtian turning himſelf to this great Lord, ſaid: My Lord, you had need to make ſure Chriſt and Heaven, you had need make ſure ſomething, that will go with you beyond the grave, for elſe when you die you will be a very great loſer. O my Friends, I muſt tell you, it highly concerns you to make ſure ſomething that will go with you beyond the grave, or elſe you will be very great loſers, when you come to die. God having given you an abundance of the good things, and of the great things of this world, beyond what he has given to many thouſands of others. But
The ſeventh word of advice and counſel is this, Look upon all the things of this world, and value all the things of this world now, as you will certainly look upon1 Cor. 7. 29, 30, 31. them and value them when you come to lye upon a ſick bed, a dying bed; when a man is ſick in good earneſt, and when death knocks at the door in good carneſt, O with what a diſdainful eye, with what a weaned eye, with what a ſcornful eye does a man then look upon the honours, riches, dignities, and glories of this world! If men could but thus look upon them now, it would keep them from being fond of them, from truſting in them, from doting upon them, from being proud of them, and from venturing a damning, either in getting or in keeping of them. But
The eight word of advice and counſel is this, In all places and companies carry your ſoul-preſervatives ſtill about you, viz. A holy care, a holy fear, a holy jealouſie,Prov. 4. 23. Cap. 28. 14. Geneſ. 6. 9. Cap. 39. 9, 10. Pſalm 17. 4. Pſalm 18. 23. Pſalm 39. 1, &c. a holy watchfulneſs over your own thoughts, hearts, words, and wayes. You know that in infectious times men and women carry their ſeveral preſervatives about them, that they may be kept from the infection of the times. Never were there more infectious times than now, O the ſnares, the baits, the infections that attend us, at all times, in all places, in all companies, in all employments, and in all enjoyments, ſo that if we do not carry our ſoul-preſervatives about us, we ſhall be in eminent danger of being infected with the pride, ill cuſtomes, and vanities of the times wherein we l…ve. But
The ninth word of advice and counſel is this, Live not at uncertainties as to your ſpiritual and eternal eſtates;See my Box of precious Ointment, in that Glaſs you may read the ſtate of your ſouls. there are none ſo miſerable as thoſe that are ſtrangers to the ſtate of their own ſouls. It is good for a man to know the ſtate of his Flock, the ſtate of his Family, the ſtate of the Nation, the ſtate of his Body; but above all to know the ſtate and condition of his own Soul. How many thouſands are there that can give a better account of their Lands, their Lordſhips, their Riches, their Crops, their Shops, their Trades, their Merchandize, yea of their Hawkes, their Hounds, their Miſſes, than they can of the eſ…ate of their own Souls? O my Friends, your ſouls are more worth than ten thouſandMatth. 16. 26. worlds, and therefore it muſt be the greateſt prudence, and the choiceſt policy in the world, to ſecure their everlaſting welfare, and to know how things ſtands between God and your ſouls, what you are worth for Eternity, and how it is like to go with you in that other world, whilſt a Chriſtian lives at uncertainties as to his ſpiritual and everlaſting eſtate, as whether he has grace or no grace, or whether his grace be true or counterfeit, whether he has an intereſt in Chriſt or not, a work in power upon his ſoul or not, or whether God loves him or loathes him, whether he will bring him to Heaven or throw him to H…ll: How can any Chriſtian who lives at ſo great an uncertainty, delight in God, rejoyceJob 27. 10. Phil. 4. 4. 2 Cor 2. 14. Phil. 1. 23. ever more, triumph in Chriſt Jeſus, be ready to ſuffer and deſirous to die? All men love to be at a certainty in all their outward concernments, and yet how many thouſands are there that are at a marvellous uncertainty, as to the preſent and future ſtate of their precious and immortal ſouls. But
The tenth word of advice and counſel is this, Set the higheſt Scripture examples and patterns before you of grace and holineſs for your Imitation; In the point of1 Cor. 4. 16. Gen. 12. Cap. 21. Numb. 12. 3. Joſhua 1. Pſalm 18. 23. Faith and Obedience ſet an Abraham before you; in the point of meekneſs ſet a Moſes before you; in the point of courage ſet a Joſhua before you; in the point of uprightneſs ſet a David before you; in the point of zeal ſet a Phinehas before you; and in the point of patience ſet a Job before you; make Chriſt your main pattern, [Be ye followers of me as I am of Chriſt.] And next to himJames 5. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 11. 1. ſet the patterns of the choiceſt Saints before you for your Imitation; the nearer you come to thoſe bleſſed copiesPrecepta decent, exempla mov…nt, Precepts may inſtruct, but examples do perſwade that they have-ſet before you, the more will be your joy and comfort, and the more God will be honoured, Chriſt exalted, the Spirit pleaſed, Religion adorned, the mouths of Sinners ſtopped, and the hearts of Saints rejoyced: He that ſhooteth at the Sun, though he ſhoot far ſhort; yet will ſhoot higher than he that aimeth at a ſhrub; it is ſafeſt, it is beſt to eye the higheſt and worthieſt examples. Examples are 1. More awakening than precepts. 2. More convincing than precepts.Heb. 11. 8. 3. More encouraging than precepts; and that becauſe in them we ſee that the exerciſe of Godlineſs, though difficult, yet is poſſible when we ſee men ſubject to like paſſions with our ſelve to be ſo and ſo mortified, ſelfdenying, humble, holy, &c. what ſhould hinder but that it may be ſo with us alſo? Such as begin to work with the needle, look much on their ſampler and pattern; it is ſo in learning to write, and indeed in learning to live alſo. Obſerve the gracious converſations and carriages of the choiceſt Saints, keep a fixed eye upon their wiſe, prudent, humble, holy, and heavenly deportment; write after the faireſt copy you can find, labour to imitate thoſe Chriſtians that are moſt eminent in grace. I ſhall conclude this head with that of the Heathen: Optimum eſt majorum ſequi veſtigia ſi rectè praeceſſe Sences.ri…t, It is beſt to tread in the ſteps of thoſe who are gone in a ſafe and good way before us. But
The eleventh word of advice and counſel is this, Be much in the moſt Spiritual exerciſes of Religion: There are external excerciſes, ſuch as hearing, praying, ſinging,Iſa. 1. 11, 12, 13, 14. 1 Timoth. 4. 8. Matth. 6. receiving, holy conference, &c. Now cuſtom, conviction, education, and a hundred other external conſiderations may lead perſons to theſe external exerciſes: But then there are the more ſpiritual exerciſes of Religion, ſuch as loving of God, delighting in God, prizing of Chriſt, complyance with the motions, counſels, and dictates of the Spirit, living in an exerciſe of grace, triumphing in Chriſt Jeſus, ſetting our affections upon things above, meditation, ſelf-examination, ſelf-judging, &c. Now the more you live in the exerciſe of theſe more ſpiritual duties of Religion, the more you glorifie God, the more you evidence the power of grace, and the indwellings of the Spirit; and the more you difference and diſtinguiſh your ſelves from Hypocrits, and all unſound Profeſſors, and the better foundation you lay for a bright, ſtrong and growing aſſurance. But
The twelfth and laſt word of advice and counſel I ſhall give you, is to make a wiſe, a ſeaſonable, a ſincere, a daily, and a through improvement of all the Talents that God has entruſted you with. There is a Talent of time, of power, of riches, of honour, of greatneſs that ſome are more entruſted with than others are, the improvement of theſe is your great wiſdom, and ſhould be your daily works: You know you are but Stewards,1 Cor. 4. 1, 2. … and that you muſt ſhortly give an account of your Steward-ſhip: And O that you may make ſuch aLuke 16. 1, 2, 3, 4. faithful, and full improvement of all the great Talents that God has intruſted you with, that you may give up your account at laſt with joy and not with grief. Some Princes have wiſhed upon their beds that they had never reigned, becauſe they have not improved their power for God and his People, but againſt God and his People; and ſome Rich men have wiſhed that they had never been rich, becauſe they have not improved their riches for the glory of God, nor for the ſuccour and relief of his ſuffering Saints. A Beggar upon the way asked ſomething of a honourable Lady; ſhe gave him ſix pence, ſaying: This is more than ever God gave me. O ſays the Beggar, Madam you have abundance, and God hath given you all that you have, ſay not ſo good Madam. Well (ſays ſhe) I ſpeak the truth, for God hath not given but lent unto me what I have, that I may beſtow it upon ſuch as thou art: And it is very true indeed, that poor Chriſtians are Chriſts Alms-men, and the Rich are but his Stewards, into whoſe hands God hath put his monies, to diſtribute to them as their neceſſities require. It is credibly reported of Mr. Thomas Sutton (the fole Founder… Church Hiſtory of … tain. of that eminent Hoſpital commonly known by his name) that he uſed often to repair into a private Garden, where he poured forth his prayers unto God, and amongſt other paſſages was frequently over-heard to uſe this expreſſion: Lord thou haſt given me a liberal and large eſtate, give me alſo a heart to make good uſe of it; which was granted to him accordingly. Riches are a great bleſſing, but a heart to uſe them aright is a far greater bleſſing. Every Rich man is not ſo much a Treaſurer as a Steward, whoſe praiſe is more how to lay out well, than to have received much. I know I have tranſgreſſed the bounds of an Epiſtle, but love to your ſouls and theirs, into whoſe hands this Treatiſe may fall, muſt be my Apology.
Sir, If you and your Lady were both my own Children, and my only Children, I could not give you better, nor more faithful counſel, than what I have given you in this Epiſtle, and all out of a ſincere, ſerious, and cordial deſire and deſign, that both of you may be happy here, and found at Chriſts right hand in the great day of Account, Matth. 25. 33, 34.
Now the God of all grace fill both your hearts with1 Pet. 5. 1 Gal. 5. 22, …. 23. Eph. 1. 3. all the fruits of righteouſneſs, and holineſs, and greatly bleſs you both with all ſpiritual bleſſings in Heavenly places, and make you meet helps to each other Heaven-ward, and at laſt crown you both with ineffable glory in the life to come.
So I take leave and reſt, Your aſſured Friend, and Souls Servant, Tho. Brooks:
ERRATA.
PAge 3. l. 20. r. eminent. p. 10. l. 2r. r. 2. p. 36. margin. r. propter. p. 38. l. 6. Hebrew, r. Hebrews. p. 48. l. 23. the, r. this. p. 64. l. 6. for Chriſtian, r. Chriſtians. p. 73. l. 9. for works, r. work. l. 21, 22. put in the margin, Iſa. 6. 13. Cap. 8. 18. p. 120. l. 9. for the, r. he. p. 147. l. 37. r. be. p. 155. l. 3. blot out is. p. 166. l 19. blot out to. l. 31. blot out he. 2. Part. p. 17. l. 11. add as. 2. Part. p. 35. l. 29. r. of f…r or. 2. Part. p. 37. l. 36. r. he for here. 2. Part. p. 55. l. 34. r. her for their. 2 Part. p. 59. l. 15. all for a. 2. Part. p. 62. l. 1. blot out he. 2. Part. p. 67. l. 27. add the. l. 36. blot out the. 2. Part. p. 70. l. 27. exaltations, r. exultations. 2. Part. p. 75. l. 18. add up. r. this for the. 2. Part. p. 82. l. 29. blot out the. 2. Part. p. 87. l. 20. for at, r. as 2. Part. p. 109. l. 36. r. on the growth. 2. Part. p. 146. l. 22. blot out the. 2. Part. p. 122, l. 34. r. her for their. 2. Part. p. 127. l. 36. prenned, r. pened. 2. Part. p. 130. l. 8. for fleſh, r. fleſh. 2. Part. p. 192. l. 28. for giving r. laying. 2. Part. p. 176. for Reboim r. Zeboim. 2. Part. p. 208. l. 6. r. of Chriſt. 2. Part. p. 217. l. 24 bl…t out of. l. 27. add then. 2. Part. p. 219. l. 22. r. Jer. 14. 8. 2. Part. p. 220. l. 30. blot out but.
In the Catalogue. p. 5. l. 37. for matter. r. nature. p. 6. l. 37. for declining r. dealing.
A GENERAL EPISTLE TO ALL SUFFERING SAINTS.
To all afflicted and diſtreſſed Chriſtians all the world over, eſpecially to thoſe that are in bonds, for the teſtimony of Chriſt, in Briſtol; and to thoſe that are ſufferers there; or in any other City, Town, Countrey or Kingdom whatſoever; and to all that have been deep ſufferers in their Names, Perſons, Eſtates or Liberties, upon the account of their faithfulneſs to God, to their Light, to their Conſciences, to their Principles, to their Profeſſion, and to Chriſt the King and Head of his Church, and to all that have been long priſoners to their beds or chambers by reaſon of age and the common infirmities that do attend it, or that are under any other afflictive diſpenſation: And more particularly to my ancient, dear and honoured friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Drinkwater, who has been many years the Lords priſoner, and upon the matter, kept wholly from publick Ordinances, by reaſon of her bodily weakneſſes and infirmities; though Ezek. 11. 16.in the want of a greater Sanctuary, God has been a little Sanctuary to her ſoul.
Grace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied