The Travels of True Godliness, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Shewing how Godlineſs coming to one Thoughtful's Houſe, found there his Friend Conſideration, whom he had a long time ſought for, alſo the great oppoſition Conſideration met withal.
GOdlineſs peing not without hopes of finding Serious Conſideration (for ſo ſometimes he is called) in or near this place, chanc'd to knock (as you heard before) at a mans door, who was newly come to dwell in the Town Religion. Now this perſon formerly (as it appears) had been a very great Enemy to True Godlineſs, having liv'd a grievous looſe and profuſe Life, and like the poor Prodigal, waſted all his chiefeſt Subſtance. Godlineſs had not long knock'd and called at his door, before he liſtned to him, and ſpake within himſelf to this purpoſe; Who is this that is come to my door? ſure, ſaid he, this is a voice different from any I ever heard in all my life; and he doth not knock alſo as others uſe to do; at laſt he cried out, Who is there? who is it that is at my door? your Name Sir.
Godli.
Soul. Chriſt is at the door; and I his noble and renowned Off-ſpring True Godlineſs. Rev. 3.20.Doſt not remember that Word, Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, &c. Sir, now I will aſk you the like queſtion, pray what is your Name? I hope I am come to the right door.
He told him his Name might very well be called looſe and ungodly Prodigal; for (ſaid he) I have hitherto lived a very wicked life; but ſome call me of late Thoughtful, becauſe I am (bleſſed be God) newly come to my ſelf, by thinking upon my latter end, and the evil of my former waies.
Godli.
But why doſt thou chuſe to take up thy dwelling in this Village now, when ſo many are going out?
Thoughtful, Sir, 'tis becauſe I hear it is the beſt Town in all the Country to ſecure a man from danger in evil times, provided I can but get a place in one of its ſtrong holds in the heart of the Town; for I have heard there is no ſafe dwelling at the Towns-end, no nor any where in the Subburbs.
Beſides, I was told lately that Babylon, where I have dwelt till now of late, wil ſuddenly be deſtroyed: I do it indeed to ſave my own Soul; I am Sir, deſirous to find out (if it may be) where true peace, happineſs and eternal felicity is to be had; for I ſee they are not to be found in thoſe paths I formerly walked; I mean, in the waies of Riches, Honour, and the Pleaſures of this World.
Godli.
I commend thee honeſt Thoughtful; thou haſt done wiſely, and like a conſiderate man; prithee let me come in and dwell with thee, and thou wilt find this poor Town the ſafeſt and moſt ſecure place in theſe dangerous times, in all the world. Sir, I have wandred about a long time, travelling from place to place to ſeek for one whom I bear much good will to but hitherto I have not found him; his Name is Conſideration; and many things more he ſaid to make him in love with True Godlineſs.
Upon this, Conſideration, who, it ſeems was within, whiſpered Thoughtful in his ear, and ſaid, This is he that can alone make thee happy, if he be readily, ſincerely and heartily embraced and entertained. Is it not good for thee to muſe upon the worth and Excellent Nature of thy Soul; thou art made a man, and therefore for a nobler and higher end and employment (ſure) than eating and drinking, ſleeping and playing, and wholly to mind thy Trade and ſeculiar Affairs, and to enjoy ſenſual pleaſures (a happineſs which Beaſts arrives to as well as thee) for this glorious Soul which lies in thy Boſom, is capable of knowing God, and of enjoying Union and Communion with him for ever, ſo that all thoſe who ſuffer the Honours, Profits and pleaſures of this World to take up and engroſs their hearts, go aſtray, and err from the great end of their Creation. Alas there is nothing doubtleſs can fill the deſires of thy Soul, or be its Summum Bonum, but God himſelf: Thou haſt hitherto ſuffered thy affections and deſires to run after whatſoever thou couldeſt think might yeild thee true Felicity; but it is evident there is nothing thou canſt find here below, that can ſatisfie thy thirſty and ever-craving Soul. Riches, which ſometimes thy heart hath been ſo much ſet upon, cannot be thy Summum Bonum, or chief happineſs; for they are uncertain, fleeting, and variable things; and let a man have never ſo much of them, yet he is ſtill craving and deſiring more, ſo that 'tis as Solomon ſaies, He that deſireth Silver, ſhall not be ſatisfied with Silver.
Secondly, Honours are of like nature; and beſides their vanity, they depend on the minds, will and humors of men, who are changeable and unconſtant.
Thirdly, Pleaſures and Voluptuouſneſs, they are common (as I told thee) with Beaſts as well as men, and alſo have annexed their ſting and diſcontentation when they are paſt.
Beſides all this, Conſideration, to induce him to open to True Godlineſs, bid him aſk his Soul where it was, what it was a doing, and whither it was a going?
Firſt, He endeavoured to ſhew him where his Soul now was, and made it out by the help of Gods Word, that it was in the gall of bitterneſs, and in the bond of iniquity, being under the Law, and Curſe of God, both in reſpect of Original and Actual Sin; he having not yet clos'd with Chriſt, nor received True Godlineſs.
Secondly, Then as to what he was a doing; he bid him ſee if he did not neglect that one thing needful. Have you, ſaid Conſideration, made Religion your chief buſineſs ſince you come to live in this place? Have you not rather ſpent too much of your time about Notions and airy Speculations?
Thirdly, Whither are you a going? ſaid he: Are you fit (being well prepared) to die? Are you a going the way to Heaven? Sure that cannot be, unleſs you receive True Godlineſs; for I have heard that he conſiſts in a right Faith, as well as in a holy Life. Oh what Coſt, Labour, Pains, Means, Motives and Arguments hath God uſed to make men ſenſible of the everlaſting intereſt of their Souls, and to engage them to a ſerious preparation for another World.
And this ſerious preparation muſt neceſſarily be a through Work of Regeneration, Faith and ſpotleſs converſation; for the Nature of the Means (ſaith he) muſt ever be ſuitable and agreeable to the Nature of the End. And Heaven being a holy place, nothing but perfect Holineſs reigning there, ſo it was impoſſible to enter into it hereafter, without a conſiderable progreſs was made in Holineſs here; and that it was not to be thought a man could reach to the higheſt ſtep of a Ladder without aſcending the lowermoſt firſt. Who (ſaid he) ever hoped for a Crop of Corn without ſowing any) or expected to reap Wheat, and ſowed nothing but Tares?
He laid alſo before him the Nature and Holineſs of God, his infinite hatred of ſin, and great ſeverity againſt all unbelieving and impenitent Souls, together with the perfect knowledge he had of the hearts, thoughts and waies of the Children of men; together with his dreadful Judgments, Commands, Threats, and precious Promiſes.
He brought to his mind alſo the evil of Sin, ſhewing him what an abominable thing it was for men to ſeek to pleaſe, obey, and do the will of the Devil, and offend, diſobey, and croſs the will of God. Nay and he began to ſpeak of the Excellency of True Godlineſs alſo, and what he ſhould gain by embracing him, and letting Chriſt, and the Spirit of Chriſt, Chriſt and the Grace of Chriſt, Chriſt and True Godlineſs reign in his heart. Nay, he had ſo much to ſay, that had he not been oppoſed and baſely obſtructed (with ſome other help) Thoughtful had preſently opened the door to True Godlineſs: But alas, on a ſudden there was great Diſturbance in the Houſe, and poor Conſideration went to the walls, and was almoſt utterly expelled his Tabernacle.
Now the Enemies he met with, were theſe; Difficulty, Sloth, The chiefeſt Enemies of ConſiderationDeficiency, Security, Danger, Worldly Cares, and Carnal Company: Theſe and many other Enemies appeared to obſtruct and hinder Conſideration about this great and importunate buſineſs of opening to True Godlineſs.
Firſt Difficulty ſpake after this manner; Sir;Difficulty Do not trouble your ſelf to ſtudy to find out theſe great Myſteries of Religion and Godlineſs; for it is a Work too hard and difficult for you to underſtand; there is nothing in the World that is more abſtruſe and myſterious; therefore to muſe upon them, would be loſt labour.
Sloth told him,Sloth. it was a laborious and toilſom Work, and 'twould be great weariſomneſs to him, if the Difficulty did not make it impoſſible.
Deficiency ſaid,Deficiency. he was a man of a weak underſtanding, and thoſe things were matters for the Learned and moſt knowing men of all to ſtudy; nay, and that many of them too, notwithſtanding all their profound Learning, Proficiency and ſkill in the Tongues, could hardly attain to the right knowledge of them.
Security endeavoured to make it appear his Condition was very good and ſafe now,Security. and that he had Religion and Godlineſs enough, without troubling himſelf further, and that he exceeded in holineſs many men that had lived long in that Town. Moreover he told him that he had followed the Counſel of Conſideration too much already.
Danger ſpake to ſeveral things: 1. That to give place to him,Danger. would let in his Enemy Melancholy, which might endanger his Life. Do you not ſee (ſaith he) how uncomfortable this Fellow Conſideration hath made many brave men, cauſing them by thinking upon their latter Ends, to hang down their heads like a Bullruſh, fold their Arms, and ſpend their daies in Tears and Weeping; hearken not to him, for he will certainly infuſe ſad thoughts into your Mind, and give you nothing but Gall and Vinegar to drink.
2. He ſaid moreover, Conſideration had made many men go beſides themſelves; and if he did adhere to him about this Affair, he would be diſtracted.
3. He inſinuated alſo, that if he did ſeriouſly muſe upon this Matter, or give place to Conſideration, ſo that Godlineſs came to be let in, he would be undone, and utterly ruin'd, the Times were ſuch.
Worldly Cares proved as great an Enemy to Conſideration, Worldly Cares.as any of them; for he could not ſeriouſly muſe or think upon Eternity, or the preſent condition his poor Soul was in; he was ſo hurried in his Mind about the affairs of this Life; nay, no ſooner at any ſeaſon that he ſet himſelf to ruminate or ponder them in his mind, but Worldly Cares would expel and drive ſuch thoughts away.
Old Companions, Evil Companions.and Carnal Company did greatly abuſe Conſideration, by endeavouring to make him out of love with a virtuous Life: Theſe labour'd to fawn him into Miſery, and tickle him into an eternity of Torment; they turn'd Religion and Godlineſs into a Jeſt, and made the Precepts of the Goſpel matter for Railery, and told him that thoſe men that ſeemed moſt ſerious, were the moſt ſeditious, and that their Profeſſion ſavoured of nothing but of Pride Singularity and Hypocriſie.
Now after they had ſpoke their Pleaſure, and almoſt ſilenced, nay quite routed poor Conſideration; his Mind was ſo fill'd and hurried about many things; which Godlineſs, though not yet let in, overheard, and preſently took them all up, and anſwered them one by one.
And firſt, he ſpake to this purpoſe; Honeſt Thoughtful, I would not have thee to be diſcouraged by thoſe ill-bred Fellows thou haſt within to ſlight poor Conſideration; for he is thy very good Friend, and as able a Counſellor as moſt in this Town. Moreover, very great Inconveniences alſo have alwaies followed thoſe who have unadviſedly gone about to ſlight and contemn him. Nay, I muſt tell thee, moſt of all thoſe great Miſeries and heavy Judgments that have befallen Nations, Cities, Towns, Churches, and particular Souls, hath been occaſioned through their great neglect to hearken to Conſideration: This was the cauſe of Iſraels ruine of old: God by his merciful Providence ſent to them by his Prophets, to advertiſe and warn them of their perilous eſtate and condition by reaſon of their ſins, and not only told them of their imminent danger thereby, but alſo revealed the true Cauſes thereof, and how they might eaſily provide Remedies for the prevention of it; but they refuſed to lay it to heart, or give way to Conſideration about it, which made Jehovah to bewail their future miſery after this manner; O that they were wiſe, that they underſtood this, Deut. 32.29.that they would conſider their latter end! Among other Cauſes of their diſmal Calamities, none is more general, or often alledged than the lack of Conſideration; and 'tis through this means, as by a common ſnare and deceit of the Adverſary, moſt men fall into ſin, and reject me, and are holden alſo perpetually in Satans Bonds, to their deſtruction and perdition, men go on in their abominable Luſts, Pride, Oppreſſion, Exceſs of Riot, Drunkenneſs, and all manner of Debauchery, without conſidering what the end of theſe things will be: Wo unto them (ſaith the Lord) that riſe up early in the morning, that they may follow ſtrong drink, and continue until night till Wine inflame them;Iſa. 5.11. and the Harp and Viol, the Tabret and Pipe, and Wine are in their Feaſts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither Conſider the operation of his hands. Their curſed Luſts, and beaſtly Senſuality brought them to neglect Conſideration, and Inconſideration brought them to the pit ſide or brink of Hell. Propterea captivus ductus eſt populus meus, quia non habuit ſcientiam, ſaith God in the ſame place, by the Prophet; therefore, and for this cauſe is my people led away captive, &c. for they have no knowledge, no underſtanding of the time to come, no Conſideration of their danger. He that will not lend an ear to Conſideration, renders himſelf little better than a Brute; and what follows this folly and madneſs? Therefore (ſaith the Holy Ghoſt) Hell hath enlarged her ſelf, Iſa. 5.13.14.and opened her mouth without meaſure, and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoyceth ſhall deſcend into it. A brutiſh man knoweth not, Pſal. 92.6.7.neither doth a fool underſtand this, when they wicked ſpring as the graſs, and when all the workers of Iniquity do flouriſh: it is that they ſhould be deſtroyed for ever. The Oxe knoweth his Owner, and the Aſs his Maſters Crib, Iſa. 1.3.but Iſrael doth not know, my people doth not conſider.
Negligence, Careleſneſs, Ignorance, and want of Conſideration, as it brought Jeruſalem down wonderfully,Lam. 1, 9. ſo it hath been the bane and common perdition of unthinking and wretched man from time to time, and will be yours, if you hearken to theſe evil enemies of your Soul, and ſuffer Conſideration to be expelled your Tabernacle: Why at this day are there ſo many people who drink up iniquity as the Fiſh drinks Water? that commit all manner of Sin, all outrages, all injuſtice, all turpitude, treading down the poor, and contemning (me.) True Godlineſs, without remorſe of Conſcience, or dread of God's wrath and fearful vengeance that doth purſue them; but for the lack of Conſideration of that which is like to be their reward and puniſhment for all their abominable doings in the end? Thus ſaith the Lord, Conſider your waies; Conſider your doings. Haggai. 1. Pſal. 50.Conſider this ye that forget God, leaſt he tear you in pieces, and there be none to diliver you. I but they will not conſider it, nor lay it to heart, they will not know in this their day the things that belong to their peace, but inconſiderately put the evil day far away, and harden their hearts againſt God, provoking▪ him to draw his Sword, and cauſe his hand to take hold of Judgment; for nothing doubtleſs can be more intolerable in the preſence of the Almighty, than this iniquity; ſith he hath publiſhed his Law, declared his pleaſure againſt ungodlineſs, charging all to bear it in their minds, to ponder it in their hearts, to ſtudy and meditate upon it both day and night, at home and abroad, when they riſe up, and when they lie down, to make it their cogitation and rumination continually, &c. And O that men ſhould ever, notwithſtanding all this, contemn it, and make it no part of their thoughts, but rather flee the knowledg thereof: God makes his complaint and denounceth Judgment, but no man (as the Prophet Jeremiah ſheweth) will enter into Conſideration, nor mind why the Land mourns; none cry out, What have I done? All men, alas! are ſet upon their own courſes, and run on in the ſame with as great vehemency and fierce obſtinacy, as a fierce Armed Horſe into the Battel, when he hears the Trumpet ſound.
Come Thoughtful, Conſideration, if thou adhere to him, will learn thee to know God and thy ſelf, and to find out the miſerable condition thou and all men are in by nature: he is the Key that openeth the door for me to enter the innermoſt Room of thy Heart; though it is true, he cannot open it without help: Nay furthermore, he is the Looking Glaſs, or rather the very eye of thy Soul, whereby thou maiſt veiw thy ſelf, and ſee what a condition thy Soul is in; hereby thou maiſt eſpie thy Debts, thy Danger, thy Duties, thy Defects, thy Safety, the courſe thou doſt follow, the Company thou doſt keep; finally the place and End whereunto thou draweſt; nay he will give thee a view of all Gods proceedings and dealings with men ever ſince the Creation of the World, the reaſon why God ſent his Son, his Goſpel, his Spirit, his Servants, and takes ſo much pains to bring men to Salvation. Nay, and thou alſo by his help maiſt find that all the means God uſes, to bring thee to a true ſight and ſence of Sin and Wrath, and to recover thee out of thy fallen eſtate, will prove vain and ineffectual to thee; let therefore the Conſideration of the danger thou maiſt eſcape through harkening to him on the one hand, and the great advantage thou maiſt receive on the other, together with the abſolute neceſſity of nouriſhing and cheriſhing of him, and ſtanding up for him; if thou wouldſt be happy, engage thee not to be diſcouraged to incline to him, nor regard what any ſpeak againſt him, for he will cauſe thee to hear glad tidings; nay, and be in part an inſtrument to let me in; which if thou doſt, I will bring thee acquainted with God and Jeſus Chriſt, nay help thee to a room in his heart, and lead thee into union and communion with him, and give thee much glorious Light, yea, and help thee to pardon of Sin, peace of Conſcience, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and make thee a Son of God, give thee a place in the heavenly Family, feed thee with the Bread of Life, cloath thee with glorious Robes, which ſparkle like Diamonds, yea, make thee rich, rich in Faith, in Knowledg, in Experiences, truly rich, alwaies rich, eternally rich; yea and ſet a Crown of Glory upon thy head, make thee an Heir of Heaven and Earth; thy renown alſo hereby will be great, thou ſhalt have Angels to guard thee, Chriſt to ſerve thee, God to honour thee. O love me, who would lead thee into Chriſt's boſome, and cauſe thee to ſit in heavenly places, make thee to triumph with Seraphims, and ſit down with thy glorified Redeemer upon the Throne of God for evermore. Is it poſſible ſuch a friend ſhould fare no better than my great Maſter, have no place where to lay his head? Is it poſſible men ſhould deal with me and my poor Friend Conſideration as the Inhabitants of Sodom did deal with the three heavenly Meſſengers that entred into Lot's houſe, viz. quarrel with us, abuſe us, and offer violence to us, ſhew their ſpleen againſt us, who ſeek to preſerve them from being conſumed, and who whilſt we are with them, ſtay the hand of Heaven from falling upon them, the hand of the deſtroying Angel, that they periſh not, and endeavour to make them for ever happy, poſſeſſing all true felicity, and free them from all miſery. Does not every man deſire after that which is good? Was ever any man in love with Torment? Is it not every ones Intereſt to ſtudy how to prevent it? Why then ſure, Thoughtful, Conſideration cannot but have thy affection, unleſs thou doſt contemn Rivers of Pleaſure, inconceivable Glory, even the inexhauſtible Riches of both Worlds, and chuſeſt rather Anguiſh, Death, Hell, and ſulphurous Smoke and Flames for thy Portion.The Difficulty of Conſideration anſwered. And now to take off what Difficulty ſaies againſt entertaining of Conſideration, he baſely inſinuates, that to muſe and ponder upon the great concerns of Godlineſs, and another World, is a hard and difficult Work.
Whereas to undertake great and hazardous, and dangerous Atchievements, for worldly advantages, this is notwithſtanding preſently undertook; men do not care how difficult the work is if it be but profitable; and ſhall this be a ſtumbling block in thy way? What will not men call difficult, if they have no mind to it? How ſhould ſome Houſes be built, Bridges over great Rivers be made, Fields be ſowed, and dangerous Voyages to Sea be undertaken? Shall the Carpenter ſay, O 'tis difficult; and the Husbandman ſay, O 'tis difficult; and the Mariner ſay, 'tis difficult, and ſo lay it all aſide? Nay, Is it not ſad that bloody Papiſts, and other wicked enemies of the Goſpel, ſhould not think any thing too hard and difficult to undertake to ſuppreſs and deſtroy Godlineſs? And yet many who profeſs a love to me, do not care to encounter with ſmall difficulties about Conſideration, how to entertain and embrace me, though it be their only buſineſs and chief intereſt in all the World.
Were a man's Houſe on fire over his head, and he like to be burn'd, would not he think of wayes to get out, becauſe it was a difficult work to do?
'Tis not becauſe Conſiderations about Heaven and Happineſs are ſo hard and difficult; but becauſe men have no will nor love to theſe things, other things are more in their affections. Beſides, the rareſt things are not obtained but through great difficulty. What hazzards do men often run for honour and worldly riches? Oh! what projects and contrivances do they find out? And wilt thou deſiſt this work becauſe it is difficult.
Conſideration (ſaith one) that ſpotleſs Virgin,D. Horneck. that joy of Angels, that envy of Devils, that Off-ſpring of God; the Ladder whereby men climb to Heaven, is thought hard, though nothing be more eaſie; 'tis a thing portable, and 'tis alwaies to be had; its alwaies in ſeason, alwaies at hand, alwaies in call, no burden in a Journey, no Load in a Voyage; men may carry it with them where ever they go, when they travel abroad, when they ſtay at home, when they ſit down, when they riſe up, they need not go beyond Sea to fetch, or envolve many Books to be Maſters of it; they need not ſail to the Antipodes to compaſs it, nor dig under ground to find it; they need not to ranſack the Indies to inrich themſelves with it; they need not ſell their Lands and Houſes to purchaſe it, nor run the hazzard of Sword and Fire to ſecure it; they need not clamber Mountains to poſſeſs it, nor wade through Rivers to inherit it —Strong Stupidity! Men do not think it hard to carry talents of Lead, or mountains of ſin on their backs, and yet they think Conſideration difficult, who like a faithful friend, would tell them how to be rid of that load that will, except they get faith in Chriſt, or receive True Godlineſs into their hearts, ſink them down into the loweſt pit; they do not think it hard to dig into Hell, yet they think Conſideration hard, who would teach them a way to quench that fire; they do not think it hard to be oppreſſed by a bloody Uſurper, and yet they think Conſideration hard, which would help them to ſhake him off. O fools and ſlow of heart! they that have courage to meet an Army in the Field, and have confidence to laugh at the glittering Spear and Shield, they that have courage to plow the Sea, to face the mouth of a Canon, to ſtand a volley of Shot, to fight Duels, to endure the noiſe of Guns, to hear the claſhing of Swords and Spears, and lie on the cold ground many nights together, to have an Arm or Leg cut off; have they courage to do all this, and ſhalt thou think Conſideration about theſe great things too hard for thee? Contemn the thoughts of being overcome by this deceitful and timerous fellow Difficulty.
Secondly, As to what Deficiency ſays,Deficiency. that thou art a man of a weak underſtanding; alas, thou canſt perceive that Gold is better than Glaſs or Rattles, and that Pearls are better than Pebbles; thou art able to perceive thou art mortal and muſt die, and doſt know when a Bone is broke, 'tis good to have it ſet; and that Food is good for thee when thou art hungry; and that 'tis good to get Clothes on to hide thy nakedneſs, and art not able to conſider the need there is of food to feed thy Soul, and Clothes to cover the nakedneſs of thy Soul; and that it is good to get Grace to enrich thy Soul. Art able to find out how grievous 'tis to be caſt into a furnace of fire; and canſt not think that 'tis worſe to be caſt into a fire that cannot be quenched? Nay, and have not weak and ſimple ones in their own eyes, and in the eyes of others too, attained to the ſkill of Conſideration about their eternal ſtate, nay and have wonderfully outdone the wiſe and learned ones of the World in it too; Knowledge is easie unto him that hath Ʋnderſtanding. Prov. 14.16. Prov. 1.4.Wiſdom gives ſubtilty to the ſimple, and young Men Knowledg and Diſcretion. When Wiſdom entreth into thine Heart, and Knowledg is pleaſant to thy Feet;Prov. 2.10.11. Diſcretion ſhall preſerve thee, and Underſtanding ſhall keep thee.
Thirdly, As for what Sloth ſaith, thou haſt cauſe to abhor him, for he is a beggerly Villain, and deſerves to be drove not only out of thy Houſe, but out of the Town and World too, for he never did any man the leaſt good; caſt him out as a Vagabond: How now Thoughtful, wouldſt thou not take pains? Remember the ſloathful perſon ſhall beg at Harveſt, and have nothing. Through his means, and Idleneſs his Brother, thy Houſe is ready to fall through, and thy Vineyard is grown all over with Thorns and Nettles; and yet he would not have thee conſider thy danger till 'tis too late to eſcape it. Oh how many have loſt their ſouls by this bloody wretch? What good comes of Idleneſs? Beſides do you not ſee how the men of the World hate him? They will not hearken to him, but will in deſpight of him conſider of fit waies and means to get Bread to eat, and Clothes to put on; nay, and ſeek out through great induſtry rare projects to get ſtore of Riches; and wilt thou be drawn away by him from thinking on the ready way to be made rich, great and renowned for ever? 'Tis the diligent hand that hath the Promiſe:Prov. 2.4. thou muſt ſeek for Wiſdom as for ſilver, and ſearch for her as for hid Treaſure. Nay, and do not think neither, I put too great a burden upon thee, for thou maiſt perceive thou needeſt not to take greater pains about this ineſtimable Jewel, than the men of the World take to get the periſhing things of this Life; nay, if men did beſtow half the labour about the good of their Souls, as they beſtow about getting the World and providing for their bodies, what happy creatures might they be?
Fourthly, As touching what that timorous faint-hearted Fellow Danger laid before thee, in reſpect of letting in Melancholy; this is a meer deceit, for there is a vaſt difference between ſerious Conſideration and deſtructive Melancholly, a man is not therefore ſad becauſe he will not Swear, Rant, Whore and be Drunk. Conſideration will let thee ſee that thoſe men who are taken ſo much with vain ſports and merriment, have the leaſt cauſe to rejoyce of any men in the world.
Jollities are, as one obſerves, much like Attila's Nuptials, whoſe Wedding-Day proved his Funeral. Who would hazzard an Eternity of Joy for a Moments time of vain and empty pleaſure? None can rejoyce ſo heartily as he that hath God for his portion, and hath his Name written in heaven.
Conſideration will let thee ſee that whatſoever vain men may ſay, prate and boaſt of touching Joy and Pleaſures, yet there is no delight and felicity like that which is found in the waies of True Virtue; that Goodneſs is the beſt ſecurity, and that the Joy of the whole Earth is Mount Sion, that in this Garden are the ſweeteſt Roſes, the moſt odoriferous Flowers, the moſt Fragrant Plants, Roſes, which have no Prickles underneath; (not like carnal Delights) whoſe Flowers fade and wither away; nor like the frotthy mirth which the laughter of Fools affords.
Conſideration would let thee ſee that thoſe ſerious perſons who look dejected and melancholly to a carnal eye, have Joys within, which no ſtranger intermeddles with, and as little as they make of chearfulneſs, yet they carry in their Breaſt that which can make their life a perpetual Jubilee.
2. They are Fools that account the life of a Chriſtian Madneſs, and his inward peace an aiery fiction; none is ſuch a Phanatick as he who cheriſhes a Serpent in his boſome, that will certainly ſting him to death, who never ſows, yet thinks to reap a good crop at harveſt; that may have glorious Robes to cloath him, and yet values his own naſty Rags above them, or elſe chuſe to go naked; who hates, and ſeeks to deſtroy his beſt friends, for the ſake of whom he is not deſtroyed; who thinks to go to Heaven, and yet walks the direct way to Hell. Can there be greater Madneſs than to prefer a Stone before Bread, or feed upon Huſks with the Swine, when there is all good things to be had if they would but ſeek out for them; Can there be greater madneſs than to value a baſe Luſt above God, Chriſt, and eternal Glory?
3. Whereas Danger tells thee (to obſtruct Conſideration from opening to me) of the evilneſs of the times, and that if I am let in, thou wilt be undone, know then if I am kept out, there is no way to eſcape, but ruin'd thou wilt be; no danger like Soul-danger; he can never be undone that hath God for his portion, and Heaven for his inheritance; loſe thy Soul, and what haſt thou more? and unleſs thou conſider the ſooner, and open to me, thou canſt not ſave it; for without holineſs no man ſhall ſee the Lord.
Fifthly, Worldly Cares I know hinders my dear Friend Conſideration as much as any thing; he would perſwade thee thou haſt no time to think on God nor Godlineſs, having a Trade to follow, a Family to provide for, &c. But ſhall thoſe things hinder thee from thinking of any thing elſe? Is there not one thing more needful; viz. to make much, or ſeriouſly think on me, and of the concerns of thy Soul, when thou art at work, or about thy ſecular Affairs, when thou goeſt out, and when thou comeſt in, when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up; thy heart may be with God, when thy hand is otherwiſe imployed: True, if the World is got into thy heart, there can be little room for Conſideration nor True Godlineſs; a continual hurry of Buſineſs puts out the Eye whereby it ſhould reflect upon it ſelf: But ſhall the Earth keep out Heaven, and the Prince of Darkneſs ſhut out the Prince of Light, and Briars and Thorns choak the good Seed? Shall Worldly Cares and Buſineſs be thy chiefeſt Gueſts, whom thou biddeſt welcome? and ſhall Chriſt ſtand at thy door as a neglected ſtranger? Shall Thoughts be cheriſhed about getting the World, and ſerious Conſideration be cruſhed, who would put thee in a way how to get Heaven? But remember this, he that has no time to open to Chriſt here, Chriſt will find no time to open to him hereafter. Can the World help thee to Peace and Pardon on a Death-Bed, or Riches deliver thee in the day of Wrath?
Sixthly, As to what thy Old Companions lay before thee to render me odious, if thou mind or regard them, adieu for ever: they that hate ſeriouſneſs themſelves muſt needs diſlike it in others; Theſe are the Devils Agents, whom he ſends abroad into the World to deflowr Virtue; theſe are his Factors, by whom he draws men into eternal Chains of Darkneſs; theſe ſtrive to put me (True Godlineſs) into a Wolves Skin; then ſet all the Dogs in the Town upon me. This Age hath bred more Monſters of wickedneſs than many Ages before it. Shun keeping Company with theſe Scoffers and Contemners of True Godlineſs, for the Lord's ſake. As thou art come into the Town of Religion, ſo let the truly Religious be thy Companions, who will inſtead of hindring, help ſerious Conſideration. What ground is there to think a man ſhould mind the true intereſt of his Soul, that keeps Company with perſons who makes a Sport and Maygame of Serious Conſideration? He that would keep his Garden and precious Flowers ſecurely, muſt be ſure whatever he does to keep out the Hogs. What is he that keeps company with Sinners, but a companion of Sinners? and ſociety in Sin ſtrangely takes off from the heinouſneſs of it: Alſo men may judg of a Perſon by the Company he keeps; as is a man's Company, ſuch is the man, and as is his Company here, ſuch it is like to be hereafter. O how do ſinners harden one another in waies of Wickedneſs! They think there is ſome comfort in having aſſociates in Miſery. They dare to ſin more freely (as one obſerves) when they are in company,D. Horneck. being afraid their ſingle Valour will never be able to duel Gods Wrath; they hope God will not damn a multitude of his Creatures together; as if the number of ſinners could move the Almighty into compaſſion; and if they periſh, they think, nay ſometimes ſpeak it, they ſhall fare as well as their neighbours; 'tis a hard thing indeed, Thoughtful, to be ſerious in ſuch a laſcivious Age as this is; a wicked man as he poiſons the Air in which he breaths, ſo he pollutes the Age in which he lives; 'tis bad lodging in that house where God himſelf refuſes to dwell; with the froward thou wilt ſoon learn frowardneſs: Who can touch Pitch and not be defiled? But 'tis better to be contemned for Virtue by men on earth, than to be condemned for Vice by the God of Heaven?
What ſayſt thou now Thoughtful?Conſideration overcomes all his Enemies. ſhall Conſideration prevail with thee to open the door to me? He ſtood and pauſed a while, and had a great mind to embrace him; Conſcience being quite brought over to joyn in with him; and now Conſideration was hugg'd by Thoughtful with great joy, and all thoſe other Enemies ſeem'd quite vanquiſhed; but lo on a ſudden new Enemies roſe up in his Houſe, and made ſtrong oppoſition, and ſtrove to keep Godlineſs out, though Conſideration was kindly embraced; for he like David, thought on his waies,Pſal. 119.59. and began to turn his feet to keep God's Teſtimonies, and with the Prodigal, being come to himſelf, reſolved to go home to his Fathers Houſe.