Heart Treasure, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. General Directions, to help Chriſtians how to get a Treaſure of holy Thoughts.
MY principal deſign is to lay down a Directorie for the people of God, and becauſe this is a buſineſs of great moment, conſequence, and concernment, to have, keep, uſe, improve, and encreaſe an Heart-treaſure. I ſhall be the larger upon it, and rank what I have to ſay under theſe four Topicks or Heads, Viz.
1. How ſhall a ſoul be furniſhed with a Treaſure of good thoughts.
2. How ſhall a Chriſtian lay up Truths, Graces, Comforts, and Experiences?
3. How may a Chriſtian preſerve and increaſe this Treaſure?
4. How muſt a treaſured Soul draw out, and make uſe of his Treaſure.
To begin with the firſt, which is this: What courſe ſhall a Chriſtian take to hoard up a treaſure of holy thoughts? This is the good treaſure chiefly intended in the Text, and I ſhal be the larger upon this Head. To this end I ſhal propound theſe ten Directions:
1. Work upon your hearts the reality & rarity of the things of God: get throughly convinced that there are ſuch things to be had, & that they are worth laying up; You muſt look upon Divine things as infallibly certain, and incomparably excellent: thoſe were accounted ſenſual and bruitiſh Philoſophers, that (following Epicurus) placed mans chief happineſs in matters of ſenſe, as profit, pleaſure, honour—But thoſe were the moſt ſublime, and (in aſort) Divine, that placed the (ſummum bonum, or) chief good, in what is above, or oppoſite to ſenſe, as in the good things of the minde, and moral vertue; Can Heathens by the light of nature and reaſon ſee a reality & excellency in things inviſible to ſenſe, & ſhal not Chriſtians much more? it is a ſhame for a Saint, inlightned by the Spirit, to be ſo blear-eyed, 1 Cor. 2.10.as not to ſee afar off, or view ſpiritual objects:2 Pet. 1.9. 'tis the duty and property of a Chriſtian to over-look things that are ſeen, and intently to behold things not ſeen, 2 Cor. 4.18. O Sirs, could you as really ſee with a ſpiritual eye ſpiritual goods, as you can with your natural eyes behold corporal objects, what an advantage would it be to you? Could you make Goſpel-myſteries, and mercies as ſenſual to your ſelves, as a rich mans Bags and Lands are to him, what an exceeding help would it be? This made Moſes forſake the viſible glory of Aegypt, and endure intollerable things in the Wilderneſſe, for he ſaw him that was inviſible, Heb. 11.27. Thus Chriſtians are to realize Divine Things, and account highly of them, for no man will treaſure up that which he accounts not as moſt excellent, the making light of Goſpel-grace, is the great reaſon why ſo many go without it, ſo 'tis ſaid in Matth. 22.5. the bidden gueſts made light of it,foreign. curam non habentes. or as the word ſignifies, they would not take it into their care and thoughts, they lookt upon it as not worth looking after: I am perſwaded unbelief, or want of a through, ſetled and effectual perſwaſion of the truth of the Goſpel, and reality of what good is contained in the promiſes, is the root of that groſs Atheiſme, and wilful neglect in the World; you are to give your ful aſſent to the things of God, to venture your ſouls upon Scripture-principles, Gods ipſe dixit muſt be in ſtead of all the demonſtrations in the World, you muſt center and anchor your ſelves upon that impregnable Rock (Scriptum eſt) It is written, and though you cannot finde a reaſon of the things believed, yet this is to be accounted a ſufficient reaſon of your belief, viz. God hath ſpoken them, and you may ſafelie truſt your ſouls upon his word, for he cannot lie, he is wiſer than to be deceived, and he is more righteous than to deceive: you may ſafelie lay the ſtreſs of your ſouls upon his word: O that I could perſwade you to this, do not put off theſe things with a ſlight no…on and conjectural opinion,Col. 2.2. but advance to the riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, that's an high word, but you cannot be too ſure about theſe things, your ſtrongeſt confidence may be battered, your perſwaſion may ſtagger, and therefore get as well rooted as you can, for according to the degrees of your affiance, wil your graces and duties ebb and flow, riſe or fall: And you muſt not only believe the truth of them,Rom. 8.31. but urge them upon your own hearts, as Paul ſaith, ſo ſay you, What ſhall I ſay to theſe things? are they true, or are they not? are they worth thinking of, or are they not? have I an intereſt in them, or have I not? O my ſoul let me preſs thee to the ſerious view of heavenly objects, they are choice things, and deſerve our ſtudy, rare wherein few have intereſt, yet abſolutelie neceſſarie wherin all muſt have a ſhare, or they are undone for ever: That's the firſt direction.
2. Reſerve thy heart for, and reſign up thy heart whollie to God: he calls for it, My Son give me thy heart, Prov. 23.26. Let not thy deareſt comforts, relations or companions have a ſhare in thy ſoul, this is the chief tribute that's due to God, rob not God of any part of it, clip not the King of Heavens coin, but you may and muſt let out your hearts ſolelie and whollie to God, and things above, as the lines go to the center;1 Chr. 29.3 David had ſet his affections to the houſe of his God, and therefore his thoughts were vehemently carried out after thoſe things, that made him offer ſo much, and offer ſo willingly: the ſame man of God praies,foreign Unicum fa…. Pſal. 86.11. Ʋnite my heart to fear thy Name, the word imports a making his heart one, he would not have an heart, and an heart; a divided heart is no God-fearing heart: He that would patch up a contentment both of God, and the Creature, ſhall go without a ſolid treaſure, for the Creature cannot, and God will not fill ſuch an heartleſs heart: Beſides, love, ſaith one, is for one object, like a Piramid, it ends in a point, affection is weakened by diſperſion, as a River by being turned into many Channels: You cannot ſerve two Maſters, he that would have a treaſure of any thing intends that onlie, he contracts his affaires into a narrow compaſs, and makes that his [foreign] his onlie work: So muſt you knit your thoughts together, and fix them upon this onlie object: 'tis a dangerous thing to divide the affections betwixt God and the World, like Iudah that ſware by the Lord,Zeph. 1.5 and by Malcham, or their King: But God doth make account, that, that ſoul is not at all for him, that is not altogether for him, and not for another: thoſe Nations feared not the Lord that joined their ſerving Idols, with fearing the true God, 2 Kings 17.33, 34. There can no more be two chief delights in one heart, than two Suns in one Firmament; thoſe ſpirits are winding and crooked, that are like that haven we read of Act. 27.12.Mr. Burrough's heart-divi. Page 7. Hoſ. 10.2. Lying directlie towards two oppoſite points of Heaven: Cyrus took Babylon, by dividing the River, the Devil ſoon ſurprizeth us, if he can but divide out hearts: if our hearts be divided, we ſhall be found faultie: O lets take heed of being voluntarie Cripples, to halt between two opinions, let us not diſmember our ſelves by being half, and hollow-hearted: God is infinite, Chriſt is compleat,1 King. 18.21. ſpiritual things are moſt excellent, and theſe deſerve the whole heart: therefore reſign up your ſelves unto God reſolvedlie, unreſervedlie and univerſallie:Ed conditione te accipio, ut te tibi reddam meliorem. Socrat. fear not, as he findeth his life, that loſeth it for God: ſo he onlie receiveth his heart as good, and worth having that giveth it to God: for he takes it to make it better, as even an Heathen could ſay to his Schollar, that had nothing to give him but himſelf: give God your hearts, and he wil furniſh them with a treaſure, commit your ſouls into his hands, and he wil both commit a treaſure to you, and wil alſo keep that which you commit to him,2 Tim. 1.12. til the great day of his illuſtrious appearing: he wil preſerve both the caſe and the jewel, ſoul and bodie, the leaſt attome of duſt ſhal not be loſt; how much more wil he graciouſlie preſerve that good work of grace, and fruits of the ſpirit, that he hath committed to you: therefore I beſeech you take my councel in this, keep no corner of your heart for a ſtranger,Iſai. 6. i. Heb. 3.6. 1 Cor. 6.…9. Verum Chriſti …mplum anima credentis eſt, illam exor…, illam vesti, illi oſ…r don…ric, in… illa Chriſtum ſuſei…. Hi…om. a… pauli…. Tom. 1. Pag. 105. but yield your ſelves to the Lord, deliver the keyes of your hearts into his hands, let the King of Glorie enter in, and his glorious train wil fil the Temple of your ſouls: he is a treaſure where ever he comes; Chriſtians are called Gods houſe, his Temple, its therefore groſs ſacriledge to rob him of his houſe, or to keep him out of doors; the ſoul of a believer, ſaith an ancient, is the true Temple of Chriſt, adorn and cloath that, offer gifts to that, receive Chriſt into it: herin conſiſts the ſumme and marrow of our religion, viz. an heart totally dedicated unto God, and that's the ſecond help to get a treaſure in the heart.
3. Live by Faith upon Jeſus Chriſt: the lively acting of Faith upon the Mediatour of the Covenant wil fill your ſoules with ſaving and ſavoury Incomes: God hath appointed Chriſt to be the Store-houſe of his Church; now Faith is the hand to fetch ſupplies from Chriſt to the heart, by Faith is the ſoul ingrafted into this true Olive,Rom. 11.17, 20. Eph. 3.17. and ſucks fatneſſe from it; Chriſt dwels in the heart by Faith, and ſtil more of Chriſt is fetched in by Faith: all the means of a Chriſtians life is by the exerciſe of Faith: therefore is the righteous ſaid to live by his faith, becauſe it lives, and feeds the ſoul upon Chriſt: Faith empties the heart, and ſo makes room for Jeſus Chriſt, and then layes hold of him, and compels him to turn into the heart. And our dear Saviour is willingly conquered with the ſtrength of Faith; Faith is the key that opens the Cheſt where treaſures lie, and the hand that brings them into the heart: Faith opens the heart to receive riches of grace,Cor clauſum habet, qui clavem fidei non habet: and that man hath a ſhut heart that hath not the Key of Faith: O get a great meaſure of Faith, for the more faith you have the richer you are, for Faith it ſelf is a precious Treaſure: and it doth all for enriching the ſoul; Truths cannot be a treaſure in our minds to profit our hearts,Heb. 4.2. 2 Pet. 1.5. except mixed with this precious ingredient, …aith; all graces of the Spirit attend this Queen and Captain grace of Faith; Experiences cannot be gathered or improved without Faith: and that comfort is but a fancy that's not uſhered in by the aſſurance of Faith: Faith is the great Bucket to draw water out of the wells of Salvation,Quantum illuc fidei capacis afferimus, tantum inde gratiae inundantis haurimus: Cyp. Epiſt. ad Horat. page 108. Rev. 3.7. and the more faith you bring, the more fulneſs you receive. Well then, would you have your hearts ſtored with a treaſure, ſtrive to encreaſe your faith, and let the Lord Jeſus be the direct object of your faith; 'Tis he alone that hath the key of David, that doth both open heaven to us, and an heavenly treaſure for us: Since the fall wee have no converſe with God, or communication from him, but through a Mediatour; It is a terrible thing, ſaith Luther, even to think of God out of Chriſt; You muſt honour the Son as you honour the Father, and as you believe in God, ſo muſt you alſo act faith upon Chriſt God-man; that as our nature in Chriſts Perſon is filled with all that poor ſouls can want, ſo from that fulneſs we may receive all things needful for our being and well-being in grace. O ſtir up and awake your faith, come poor ſoul, reach hither thy hand of faith,Joh. 20.27. and thruſt it into thy Saviours pierced ſide, and there thou maiſt feel, and thence fetch abundant fruits of love: be not faithleſs but believing: do not dam up the channels of grace by unbelief, do not forſake thy own mercies, by being ſhy and fearfull to venture at it, thou canſt loſe nothing, thou maiſt get much by one ſingle act of faith. O Sirs, one pure act of a lively faith will bring you in more treaſure, then many hours tugging and ſtrugling in duties, and performances: Nothing in the world doth [ponere obicem] ſhoot a bar, and bolt the door betwixt Chriſt and the heart, but unbelief: if thou canſt believe all things are poſſible, but unbelief hinders the working of Myracles and operations of grace. Away with all diſtruſt,Mark 6.5. ſet afoot the precious grace of Faith, break through the quarrellings of thy unbelieving heart, lye low under the ſad ſenſe of thine inſufficiency, and ſweet apprehenſion of Chriſts Al-ſufficiency: humbly ſtretch forth the trembling hand of thy weak faith, though thou haſt many miſ-givings of ſpirit, yet ſay with teares, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief: I am no more able of my ſelf to put forth one ſaving act of juſtifying faith, then I am to fulfil all righteouſneſs, and keep the whole Law: but the grace of the Goſpel hath undertaken to do that which it requireth to bee done: Lord, I roul my ſelf upon thee, I come to thee by faith, do not caſt me off, do not caſt me out as a broken Veſſel wherein there is no pleaſure, but fill this empty Veſſel of my broken heart with abundant incomes, which will redound unto thy glory, and my ſoules abundant comfort: this do and proſper, thus believe and be thou filled, poor wanting ſoul, for whatſoever you ask believing, you ſhall receive, Matth. 21.22.
4. Warm in your hearts the grace of love, that noble grace is of an expatiating and extenſive nature; Heaven is the fitteſt room for its motion, and eternity for its duration; he that loves much will not be content with a little, and God will not put him off with a ſcantling: the more the ſoul is filled with love,1 Joh. 4.8. the more it is filled with God, for God is love; and can a man have a better Treaſure than God himſelf? Now if you love God, he will come in unto you, and make his abode with you, John 14.23. and can you wiſh a better treaſure? Love makes room in the heart for more grace, he that loveth much, becauſe much is forgiven him, ſhal have more given in: indeed that expreſſion in 2 Cor. 5.14. ſeems to denote the contracting nature of Love, the love of God conſtraineth us [foreign] ſtraiteneth, Ut non poſſint non velle extrema quae que pro Chriſto perpeti. Aret. in locum.keeps us in, but that is from other things, that the ſoul may have freer ſcope for God; this Love diverts the affections from running in any other channel, but towards Ieſus Chriſt; it captivates the ſoul for Chriſt, and forceth it to do, and endure any thing for him whom the ſoul loveth. The grace of Love widens the arms to embrace Ieſus Chriſt, inlargeth the heart to entertain him, and ſpiriteth the hands to act for him: Chriſt Ieſus rides in a glorious triumphant Chariot, whether it mean his perſonal,See Ainſworth on the place: Brightman. or myſtical Body, his fleſh and humane nature, or his Church, which he fils with his Preſence, I diſpute not; but ſure I am, the midſt thereof is paved with Love, Cant. 3.10. Certainly, a ſoul beſet with the ſparkling gems of love is the fitteſt receptacle for Ieſus Chriſt: He that is Love it ſelf doth moſt freely commit the largeſt treaſure to a loving Diſciple, as he bequeathed his dear Mother to John, Joh. 19.26.when we was breathing out his laſt upon the bitter Croſs,Rev. 1.1. and after his death entruſted him with the Revelation, yea, him only with a deſcription of the ſtate of the Church to the end of the World: O how freely do a loving Saviour, and loving ſoul open their hearts to each other! like intire an ancient Friends meeting that let out themſelves in ample evidences, and reciprocal acts of Love: So here, the pure flame of a Saints love mounts up to Chriſt, and there meeting with that heavenly Element of perfect Love, brings more down into the Soul, and ſtill theſe continued ſallies of love to God, bring in ſucceſſive incomes and encreaſes of grace: every act of Love exhales ſome corrupt vapours, and dilates the ſoules faculties, that it may be fit for the reception of more grace; Yea, Love ſets the ſoul on edge for more, and makes it as unſatiable as it is unwearied in painful endeavours: Faith worketh by love, i.e. as by its hand to act for God, and indeed love, in a ſort, worketh by faith, as its hand to fetch all from God, Faith ſets Love on to crave, and Love ingageth Faith to derive more grace from God: Love is Faiths Stomach, and Faith is Loves purveyer: And as Love helps the Soul to a treaſure of graces, ſo of truths; Love to Truths makes the ſoul look upon them as a precious Depoſitum, to think much of them, and ſo rivet them and clench them faſt in the heart by meditation; Love makes a man contend for the faith by diſputing and dying, if God call him to it. Hence it is, that Love is one of thoſe hands that hold faſt the form of ſound words, 2 Tim. 1.13. But he that receives not the truth in love, 2 Theſ 12.10.will never make it a Treaſure, but wil ſell it for a luſt, and embrace a lie:See this Subject handled in M. Williams tranſcend. of Chriſt's love, on Eph. 3.19. p. 73. to p. 145. Pluſquam tua, pluſquam tu…s, pluſquam te: vid. ibid p. 114. very fully: Morn. lect. Serm. 9. p. 186. Dr. Rein. on Pſal. 110. Pinks trial. therefore ſirs, I entreat you work up this grace, ſtir up your hearts to think of the love of Chriſt, blow up this ſpark to a flame, content not your ſelves with a low degree of love to God, love him with an intenſive, extenſive, appreciative love, let your meaſure of love to him be beyond meaſure, let your hearts aſcend to him in this holie flame of intire love, love him more than your enjoyments, more than your relations, more than your ſelves: I ſhall ſay no more of this ordinary, yet very neceſſarie ſubject, becauſe many have done ſo worthilie herein: read them.
5. Walk humblie with your God: that's another direction: walk cloſe with God, a hint of that, but I ſhal ſpeak moſt of that ſoul-inriching grace of humilitie: O Chriſtians, the beſt means of edification is an holie converſation, God communicates ſecrets, and ſolace to them that walk with him, a ſoul of a wel-ordered converſation ſhal-ſee God's ſalvation;Pſa. 50 21. a Maſter wil betruſt a faithful, careful,Mat. 25.21. painful ſervant, with a larger Talent; for ſuch an one credits his Maſter, and promotes his deſignes: bringing forth much fruit glorifies God and edifies men, and ſurelie the Lord wil dignifie ſuch fruitful Vines with more care in dreſſing,John 15. and yet more of his bleſſing to help their abundant fruit-bearing: ſuch ſhal have more clear diſcoveries of God's wil,Joh. 7.17. as carefullie do it: and ſuch as do his Commandements have right to the tree of life,Rev 22.14 that they may come to it when they pleaſe and eat abundantly, and live for ever: there's an incomparable advantage in cloſe-walking: in keeping the Commandements there's this reward,Pſal. 19.11 that everie act of obedience doth increaſe abilitie to obey; everie ſtep reneweth ſtrength: Saints go from ſtrength to ſtrength,Pſal. 84.7 for the way of the Lord is ſtrength to the upright:Pro. 10.29 nothing evidenceth and increaſeth grace ſo much as holineſs, therefore as he that hath called you is holie, ſo be you holie; in all manner of converſation; And let me perſwade you to be very humble, God gives more grace to the humble,Jam. 4.6. humilitie is not onlie a grace, but a Veſſel to receive more; the high and holy God fills the humble and lowlie heart;Iſa. 57.15. the King of Heaven loves to walk upon this bleſſed pavement. Bleſſed are the poor in ſpirit,Mat. 5.3. for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven: and ſuch a ſoul is the fitteſt receptacle for the precious riches of this Heavenly Kingdome: Much of the Ancients riches conſiſted in their Garments, and a Chriſtians treaſure lies much in his veſture,foreign humilitatem, animi vobis infixam habete: Eraſ. of foreign a Knot. vid. Leig… Crit. ſome whereof is his larger upper Coa… that's Chriſt's righteouſneſs imputed, which covers all defects and imperfections, ſome are cloſer Garments, girded to the ſoul by the girdle of truth and ſinceritie, theſe are the Garments of ſanctification, one choice part whereof is humilitie, 1 Pet. 5.5. Be cloathed with humility: Some think the word imports that ſtring or ribband that ties together thoſe precious pearles of divine graces, theſe adorn the ſoul, and if this ſpring break they are all ſcattered: humilitie is the knot of everie vertue, the ornament of every grace: hence I read a quotation out of Baſil, who cals humility [foreign] the ſtore-houſe or magazin of all good: would to God we were all humble & holy walkers, & we ſhould quickly have our hearts furniſh'd with a treaſure. Conſecration in the time of the Law was by filling the hand, and he that is conſecrated to the Lord ſhall have his heart filled, eſpecially they that are emptied of all ſelf-conceit, ſhal be filled with much of Gods fulneſs: Vally-Soules are uſually covered over with a rich harveſt of precious fruits:Pſalm 65.13. Jam. 1.21. Humility is likewiſe a fit diſpoſition for entertaining divine Truths, theſe choice grafts will like beſt in a low ground: a meek ſoul will bid truths welcome: for an humble heart looks upon every truth of God as infinitely above it ſelf, and therefore falls down under it, and ſaith, ſpeak Lord, for thy ſervant heareth; an humble ſoul ownes the authority of God in his word, wherever it finds it, whoever brings it, ſo that even a little childe may lead him any whither with a twine-thred of Scripture diſcoveries:Iſa. 11.6. But proud men and truth can never hit it, for they think ſcorn to put their necks under the girdle of Truth, and it will have the victory where it lodgeth; Thoſe were proud men that would not obey truth in Jeremiahs mouth,Jer. 43.2. and therefore muſt that Prophet take down their creſts before they could be right Diſciples of Truth, Jer. 13.15. Hear ye, give ear, be not proud; And obſerve this, a proud man is alwaies of the loſing hand, both in the account of God and man, and in his natural or acquired accompliſhments: the more a man conceits to himſelf ſome imaginary attainments, the more he loſeth: the ſtomach may be ſtuffed with noxious humours, that a man cannot eat, but that's not right fulneſs but a fulſome diſtemper, and proves dangerous, the bellie may be raiſed with a timpanie of wind, but that's not ſolid fatneſs, but a pernicious diſeaſe, and both theſe prejudice health: juſt thus is it with mens ſouls, the ſwelling diſeaſe hinders health by either truths or graces: O therefore be you humble, ſelf-denying ſouls, ſenſible of your own defects, be nothing in your own eies, and you ſhall be the Temple, for the God of all grace to lodge in, and to walk conſtantlie in, yea he wil fil you with abundance of grace here and glorie hereafter.
6. Be much in ſecret prayer: pray much and pray in ſecret, a word of both.1 Theſſ. 5.17. O pray without ceaſing, i.e. keep a continual praying diſpoſition, and lay hold on every fit ſeaſon for that duty: while prayer ſtandeth ſtil, the trade of religion ſtandeth ſtil, and there's nothing got: all comes into the ſoul by this door, 'tis good for a Chriſtian to keep up, ſet and ſtated times of prayer: Daniel and David prayed three times a day,Dan. 6.10. Pſal. 55.17. Pſal. 119.164. in extraordinary caſes ſeven times a day, 'tis not loſt labour to be much on our knees, we cannot go to God too often, I am ſurer not oftner than we ſhall be welcome, if we pray aright, for the holie of holies is ever open, our high Prieſt ever lives to make interceſſion for us, prayer was made morning and evening, and we muſt be conſtant and inſtant in prayer:Rom. 12.12. foreign in oratione perdurantes Beza: continue with strength: a foreign i.e. fortiter tolerare: Leigh. Crit. Sac. as the hunting Dog that wil not ceaſe following the game, til he have got it; ſo muſt we purſue the Lord, and perſevere with ſtrength, til we have obtained what we want: there is a kinde of omnipotencie in prayer, as it was ſaid of Luther, he could do with God, even what he would: At preſent I would adviſe all Chriſtians to keep up a conſtant ſet time of prayer: what if thou getteſt little thereby? yet wait on God ſtil: Tradeſ-men wil go to Markets and Fairs, and ſet open their Shop-doors, and Windows, though there be little to be done or gotten many times: ſo let the Chriſtian keep this market of holie duties, and go upon the Exchange to ſpie what good bargain he can meet with for his ſoul; learn to maintain commerce with heaven ſtil, leſt you loſe your cuſtome: keep canonical hours, (as it were) of prayer, though your hearts be often out of frame, venture upon duty, and trie what the Lord wil do with you: 'tis the folly of our trifling ſpirits to put off duty, when our hearts are not in tune, with expectation that they wil be in a better frame another time, but do we think that one ſin wil excuſe another? or that we ſhal be better fitted by a preſent neglect? no certainly we ought to ſtir up our ſelves to take hold on God, for why ſhould Satan be gratified by a total forbearance? wil not diſuſe make us loather to go to God another time? yea have we not found it in Scripture and experience that a dead and diſcouraged entrance upon duty hath increaſed to ſweet inlargements, and raviſhments of ſpirit? ſearch and ſee, uſually an heart ingagement hath ended in an heart-enlargement, and God-enjoyment: God wil bring an engaged heart neer himſelf, Jer. 30.21. None ever loſt their labour in ſtrugling with their untoward hearts: Oh Chriſtians, be ſure you be found in prayer though you come hardly to it; and have muh ado to keep at it, and have more hazard to get ſomething by it: though with Jonathan and his armour bearer you clamber up the Hil on your hands and knees, and fight when you mount the top; yet you ſhal get the victory, and the ſpoils of ſuch a conflict wil be the moſt inriching: one Piſgah-ſight of Chriſt in a promiſe wil quit the coſt, and hazard a thouſand-fold: the evidence and advantage of ſuch a performance wil be the beſt, and worth all the reſt; yea for ought I know though you meet not with God as you deſire at that time, yet God may own and crown that undertaking as much as the moſt heart-melting exerciſe, becauſe there is moſt of obedience in that, and conſcience of duty is as acceptable a motive to duty as ſenſe of preſent recompence.
But withal, keep up a courſe of ſecret prayer, with-draw your ſelves into a corner according to the Rule, Mat. 6.6. God is wont to diſpenſe his choiceſt bleſſings to ſolitary ſouls; when Iacob was left alone,Gen. 32.24 he wreſtled with the Angel of the Covenant & prevailed: Iohn and Ezekiel had their viſions and revelations, when with-drawn from the World: Salomon ſaith, Wo to him that is alone, but bleſſed is he that being alone hath God to bear him company:John 16.32. Our dear Saviour tels his Diſples, you leave me alone, yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me; and when no creature is with us, we have converſe moſt with God; for obſerve it, when perſons are moſt ſecluded from other Society, they are apteſt to be ſubject to divine impreſſions, or to Sathanical ſuggeſtions: Therefore Chriſtians, learn to get alone, improve ſolitary houres, pour out your ſoules in your Cloſets, and he will pour in grace; think not to ſeek and finde Chriſt in a crowd: the Lord Jeſus and his Spouſe are modeſt, and have the ſweeteſt embraces when they are retired: You muſt invite him into the field—and there give him your loves, Song. 7.11, 12.and he alſo will give you his love-tokens, and fill your hearts with a treaſure: an honeſt intent for retirement to enjoy Chriſt did occaſion a Monaſtick life: but certainly there is much ſweetneſs in ſecret prayer, when the ſoul can freely open its boſome to God, and expoſtulate boldly, yet humbly with him; there the Chriſtian may uſe ſuch poſtures, pauſes, pleadings, as would not be convenient before others: You may tell him your whole heart, and he wil deal with you as with Friends, and open his breaſt to you. Obſerve it Sirs, A Chriſtian hath ſome ſecret errand to God, that the deareſt Friend and neareſt Relation muſt not know of, Caſes that are not to be entruſted with any but God alone; here then comes in the neceſſity, and excellency of ſecret prayer; therefore again, let me earneſtly requeſt you to go alone (as you know Chriſt did often) and tell God your whole neare, hide nothing from him, plead no excuſe from worldly buſineſſe: Satan and your corrupt hearts will finde many occaſions for diverſion: but ſay to them as Abraham to his Servants, ſtay you here whiles I go and worſhip the Lord yonder: ſteal time from the world, and thy work, occaſional Duties are like accidental Bargains, that make the careful Tradeſmen rich: Bread eaten in ſecret is ſweet, and ſuch morſels make the ſoul well liking: Conſult with ſuch Chriſtians as converſe much with God in a corner, and you ſhal ſee their faces to ſhine as Moſes's did after his retired converſings with God in the Mount; 1 King. 17.19, 20.When Elijah to raiſe the Womans dead Son, he took him into the loft, and there prayed; When thou wouldeſt quicken up thy dead heart, take it alone, go into a loft, and fall on thy face or knees and pray, and ſee the bleſſed effects thereof:—Ac n… Eloquium noſtrum arbiter profanus impediat, aut clamor intemperans familiae ſtrepent is obtundat, petamus hanc ſedem: dant ſeceſſum vicina ſecreta, ubi dum erratici palmitum lapſus nexibus pendulis per arundines bajulas repunt, viteam porticum frondea tecta fecerunt:—Et paulo poſt—Accipe quod ſentitur autequam diſcitur, nec per moras temporum long â agnitione colligitur, ſed compendio gratiae maturantis hauritur, & lege totam, Epiſt. lib, 2. ep. 2. ad Donat, pag. (mihi) 105.106. Cyprian notably deſcribes his ſweet and ſolitary Receſſes into a place where no hearer can hinder his Diſcourſe, or intemperate noiſe of the buſie family can obſtruct: there he perceived, and received what he felt, before he learned it, not by a long Series of ſtudy, but by a compendious act of divine Grace: