The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 44
CHAP. LXIV.
IT will be therefore very requiſite, and no leſſe pertinent to the preſent buſineſſe wee have in hand, to take a more ſtrict view of ſome ſpeciall parts and paſſages of his life, wherein the gifts of Gods grace, the vertues of Chriſt, and the fruits of the ſpirit, did more evidently and eminently appear, to the farther beautifying and adorning of his perſon, and profeſſion of the Goſpel of Chriſt Jeſus.
Now to this end, for our better, and more orderly proceeding herein,All to bee ſaid drawn to 3. heads we will draw into a narrow compaſſe, and reduce unto three generall heads, all ſuch ſpecialties, or particulars, as may be worthy our obſervation in the ſame.
1. As firſt, His Converſing with God.1 His converſing with God
2. His Converſation in the World.2 His converſation in the world.
3. His Deputure out of the World.3 His departure out of the world. Exod 31.1, 2.3, 4, 5.
When the Lord called Bezaliel by name, to worke in the building of the Tabernacle, it is recorded, that he filled him with the Spirit of God, in wiſedome, and in underſtanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanſhip, to work in gold, and in ſilver, and in braſſe, in cutting and ſetting of ſtones, and carving of timber, &c.
It was even ſo, or not much otherwiſe, with this worthy Gentleman, when the Lord did (as it were) call him out by name, to worke, for the building of a ſpirituall tabernacle in himſelfe, and in others: He filled him (in good meaſure) with the Spirit of grace, in ſpirituall wiſedome, holy underſtanding, and heavenly knowledge,God gave him wiſedome and Ʋnderſtanding. 1 Tim. 12 14 1 Cor. 15.10. Ier. 23.22.28. Alſo courage and ſtrength. Eph. 6.10, 11, 12, 13 14. to worke cunning and curious workes by faith in love, whether it were in Chriſtians of better rancke, as in gold and ſilver, or in ſuch as were of meaner place, as in braſſe and timber. So doth the Lord ever furniſh thoſe whom he will ſet a worke and imploy in his ſervice, with all ſufficient gifts and graces, for the accompliſhing of the worke whereunto he ſets, or ſends them.
And as he gave him wiſdome and knowledge, ſo did he alſo courage and ſtrength to mannage a Chriſtian life, and to fight valiantly the battels of the Lord, againſt all the aſſaults of Satan, and of ſinfull men, of the fleſh and of the world, and to breake through all difficulties and dangers that might ſtand or riſe up againſt him in his way.
The Lord dealing herein as mercifully with him as hee did with Ioſhua, Ioſh. 1.5.6 9. As he did to Ioſhua.when he |ſent him to fight againſt the Canaanites, and to put his people in poſſeſſion of the holy land (ſpeaking unto him in theſe words of comfort and encouragement) Have not I commanded thee? be ſtrong and of a good courage, be not affraid, neither be thou diſmaied, for the Lord thy God is with thee whitherſoever thou goeſt: I will not faile thee, nor forſake thee.
And now having found this acceptance,Ro 5.1, 2.1 Pet. 2.3. 1 His converſing with God Gen. 5.22. Num 12.8. 1 loh. 1.3. and acquaintance with God, and taſted how ſweete and gracious the Lord was in all his mercies: It was the deſire and delight of his ſoule to walke with God, and to converſe with him more frequently, and (as it were) more familiarly, that ſo he might the better nouriſh and maintaine that holy and heavenly communion, whereunto hee had called him in his ſon Chriſt Jeſus.
And this hee did moſt carefully and diligently endeavour,In 4 ſpeciall duties and labour to effect, by the conſcionable performance of foure ſpirituall and ſpeciall duties every day, and his more abundant offering of theſe, and other his holy ſervices, and ſacrifices unto the Lord, upon the Lords day.
His daily duties were theſe,1. Meditation. Firſt, Meditation, for increaſe of knowledge, and good affections towards God and good things.2. Obſervation. Secondly, Obſervation of Gods wayes and workes, his mercies and judgements, to gather and gaine experience for himſelfe and others,3. Invocation. of his mercifull and rightetous dealing with us. The third, invocation of Gods name, in prayer, and praiſe, for continuance and increaſe of mercy and grace, and this for his conſtant perſeverance in the profeſſion of the Goſpel in uprightneſſe and ſincerity. The fourth,4 Imitation. imitation of his heavenly father, becauſe we are commanded to be followers of God as deare children, and this to renew his obedience, by his conformity to Gods image, and to his Fathers will. Now for the firſt.