The Joy of Faith, Epilogue
THE Epilogue Or Concluſion, in ſome Corollaries or Deductions from the precedent Diſcourſe: tho cut ſhort in a great meaſure, contrary to my deſire and intention.
THe main Body of this Treatiſe being finiſhed, I thought meet to draw ſome uſeful deductions for profit and delight.
1. The firſt that may ariſe is, That if true Faith be the only means to Salvation thru' Chriſt, then natural reaſon is inſufficient to guid us in the way to Heaven. Not that the true uſe of reaſon ſhould be laid aſide in drawing Logical or Rational conſequences from Scripture Aſſertions: but we muſt not uſe it to lay down Principles, and Axioms founded and grounded only upon the light of nature: which is not furniſht with ability to dive into the wonders of Gods love, or the deep myſteries of his Goſpel in order to Salvation. If it were (ſince the Ship-wrack of humane nature) capable to work ſuch effects; what then needed the Revelation of a Saviour; and why hath the Church of God thought meet to comprehend the Doctrine of life in Creeds or ſhort Syſtems of points purely and meerly to be believed. Farewell all Articles and Confeſſions of Faith, and in truth all our Bibles: if reaſon were the only Cynoſure or Poleſtar to direct us to the haven of happineſs. But bleſſed be God, he hath infuſed better thoughts into us, and beſtowed better things upon us, and which do accompany true ſalvation. Ʋpon many accounts therefore do we reject humane reaſon in the ſenſe forementioned, as a true means to diſcover God in the new Covenant, or to open a way for reconciliation to him, and peace with him, or to hold any ſaving communion with him in grace and glory.
1. Becauſe natural reaſon (as ſuch) in its nobleſt and moſt ſublime eſtate, is but a finite Agent, and therefore cannot drink in things of infinite depth. There's no proportion between finite and infinite, the organ and the object.John 3.11. The cockleſhell of mans brain cannot contain the immenſe and ſuperlative knowledg of heavenly things: who can expound the Trinity, the union of the two natures, the incarnation of our Lord from a Virgin: the union of the Members of the myſtical body by the ſpirit: the reſurrection of the dead, and the true nature of Eternity, and ſeveral other. Its therefore neceſſary to act Faith upon the Doctrines revealed by God in holy Scripture. Nay how can Naturalliſts with any face hope to meaſure theſe deep counſels and wayes of God: when there are ſo many things both in Mathematicks, and natural Philoſophy, and Phyſick that poſe the moſt acute Philoſophers in the world, and ſet them together by the ears, and ſo are like, to the end of the world. As about the progreſſion of two parallel lines,Mr. Boyle in a late Tract in 8 vo. 1685. the quadrature of the circle, the extimous convexity of the heavens: the wonderful motion of the fixed Stars, that a fixt Star ſhould move in the aequator 52555 miles in a minute; that one of the firſt magnitude is a hundred times bigger than the Earth, and that ſo many thouſands of them keep their conſtant mutual diſtance ſince the Creation, and yet move in a liquid aether. Who can determine the motion of Mars or the Moon exactly: or expound the Load-ſtone in all its variations, or clearly reaſon out all difficulties of the Tides, or ſaltneſs of the Sea; or can by calculation ſet down that or the like appearances of the Sun and Moon both above the Horizon and in the meridian when they are in oppoſition partile: ſo as to determine them exactly to a point of time,M. Na Revel as they appeared to a Relation of mine at the Cape of Norway? who can open and diſcover the vertues and the reaſons of Specificks, and occult qualities called by the Greeks foreign, unſpeakable properties. Nay to go much lower; who among the Learned in Chronology can truly ſtate the age of the world, conſidering the years of the Antediluvian Fathers are ſet down in round numbers, and yet how poſitive are many weak pretenders?
What the admirable ſagacity of future ages may compaſs as to thouſands of problems within the circle of Sciences, or in that moſt noble Art of Chymiſtry, or the analyſis of the three kingdoms of nature: the tubes and glaſſes of our preſent inventions give us no ſufficient proſpect. We and our Fathers pitty Auſtin and Lactantius, and others for denying the Antipodes, and (which makes the jeſt) for deriding thoſe that held that opinion,Philaſter Brix…enſis. and ſome ſo zealous as Pope Zachary, to Excommunicate Bp Virgilius for holding it. And ſome of the Antients put down very odd hereſies of the like kind. The learned of this age wonder at the denial of the motion of the Earth, tho now the truth of it appears clear to all the generality of the ingenious of Europe, and might be eaſily demonſtrated by the tranſition of the Moon conſtantly eaſtward by the fixed Stars in the Zodiack, by the ſix-fold bigneſs of Mars at his oppoſition to the Sun, and by other invincible reaſons mentioned by Gallaeo and others.
Indeed ſo may poſterity deride at theſe our ages, and the more ingenious of future times, may ſtand amazed at our dulneſs and ſtupidity about minerals, meteors and the cure of diſeaſes, and many thouſand things boſides, about the luſtre of ſtars and precious ſtones, which may be as eaſy to them as letters to us: which was ſo wonderful a myſtery at firſt, and is ſo ſtill to the American Heathens, to form the fleeting breath of our lips into painted ſcrawles upon paper. To them the longitude may be as eaſy as the Latitude to us, and that by methods, we yet do not dream off. Such rare inventions may be given in of God to beautifie the glory of the latter days. All our writings in Divinity, will be like inſipid water, to what ſhall then appear upon the Stage, when the Jews come in; and the Artiſts that ſhall then be born, may diſcover more things in the works of God to be diſcuſt and endeavoured to be explained, then they themſelves ſhall arrive to. The ſup…erflne Wiſdom and Learned Wits of thoſe acute times will diſcover vaſt regions of darkneſs and ignorance. There will be a plus ultra to the end of the world. The ſcope for which I mention theſe or the like curioſities, is, that if nature can poſ… all men in the matter and compoſition of the heavenly bodies, and in the various mixtures of all things under the Moon, and puts forth new riddles continually to vex and torture mens brains in making water malleable, or to meaſure mineral winds, &c. to find the weight of fire, or to make artificial carbuncles to ſhine and burn in the night, or exuberate Mercury: yea and malleable glaſs too;Rev. 21.18. Pers. Stat 1. which ſome boaſters pretend to: if in millions of things we are ſtunted and fooled at every turn, that we may cry out with the Satyriſt. — Auriculas Aſini quis non habet? What fearful ſots are we in the things before us? Then what ſhall dull reaſon do in the great ſublimities and ſolemnities of faith, and the doctrines ſet forth by Infinite Wiſdom. What long ears had Socius and many others that will admit little or nothing but what muſt come to this ſcale, that will ſcarce turn at an hundred weight. Nay things that the glorious Angels do ſtrain at, and makes their wiſdoms to bend like an Ozier in a ſtorm, and can never feel the bottom of theſe deeps without drowning:Mat. 18.10. though they ſtand always beholding the face of God.
2. Reaſon, beſides its finiteneſs being leſs then the dwindle of a ruſh candle to pierce into the concameration of the heavens: its alſo very corrupt ſince the fall of man, polluted with many ſtains and filthy contagions. The pia mater is now grown impia. The ſtrongeſt brain is now ſhrunk into a cerebellum, and that ſtayned with yellow poyſon. The pure ſpirits in the nerves are now grown thick, and corporeal with many feculencies. The ey's chryſtalline humour has a thouſand black motes ſwimming in it: that we can difcern nothing, but whats confuſed, inverted, diſtorted. The moſt ſerend and ſhning intellect that ever was in meer man,Schotti iter E…ſ…aticum. Sch…iner. Kircher. is now become more cloudy and ſmoky than thofe Mountainous ſpots ſaid to be found of late in the body of the Sun by the Teleſcope. It is moſt deplorable to think how imperfect and obſcure the minds of men appear, and yet thru' the obſtinate perverſeneſs of their wills, how deſperately tenacious of old fond and fooliſh notions. So that not only the ſtupid Country… an who is immerſt in the dungil of conceitedneſs, and will not alter his old cuſtoms: … But alſo many that ſacrifice to Minerva in the School of Philoſophy can hardly ſtride one ſtep beyond Ariſtotle, but are mockt and traduced by ignorant Capriſios. How much more blind (then the very Moles and Beetles are in diſcerning the motions of the heavenly bodies) are natural men as to ſpiritual objects, they are ſtark and ſtone blind, and ſee not one ſpark of light. The nature of man as truly ſays the Apoſtle, perceiveth not the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.14.neither indeed can do, for they are ſpiritually diſcerned. He hath no eyes ſuitable and proper for ſuch excellencies.
3. Becauſe reaſon (as ſuch) was never appointed to obtain thoſe ſublime ends. God never deſigned the great matters of eternity and the other world, and the tremendous iſſues of his glorious D…cre…s to be ſcanned and examined by the weak brains of ſilly worms, that crawl at his foot-ſtool: but has ordained them to be believed and received for ſupreme truth upon his ſoveraign authority. Our bodily hands can ſooner ſpan the viſible heavens, th…n our ſhallow: and ſhort reaſon the inviſible myſteries within the heavens. And who is that bold ſceptick that dares to enter the liſts, and contend with his Maker.Iſai. 45.9. Let pot-ſherds ſtrive with their fellow potſherds, and not with the Almighty potter himſelf. A proud uſurpation, and a ſawcy intruſion, no ways fit for ſuch atomes of being as we are, to meddle with. Theſe myſteries ſurpaſs the ingeny of the moſt intuitive Angels: their morning or evening ſcience is blacker than the deepeſt midnight, neither can they know theſe things but by Revelation from heaven.
4. Beſides all this,Eph. 3.10. man is ſubject to a thouſand tentations, and preſtigiating infatuations from Satan: if God permit; and lies under many doubtful uncertainties from other ſtrange Emergencies and Events of Providence: which fall like ſo many …iſts and fogs upon his underſtanding: till the light of the Goſpel ſhine out more clearly. Ʋnder what fearful bondage did all the fallen poſterity of Adam grovel and groan, and knew not whence their miſery ſprang; till God ſent his Word and healed them. Nay, if Gerſon hit it right, the Devils themſelves (that do ſo uſurp over the diſmal world) thru' their evil works, are daily more intangled and darkened ſince the Fall If ſo,Pſal. 107.20. then how much more may poor man thru' his own corruption, & others fettering inſinuations become uncapable of theſe noble objects: ſo that we may look upon that as a proud conceited ſaying, let fall in the cloſe of a Sermon. My Religion is my Reaſon, and my Reaſon is my Religion. If this be not cnm ratione inſanire, to dote upon that withered hag of corrupt reaſon and its dangerous fables: then commend me from theſe giddy chriſtians, to the more noble Heathens of former ages: who both ſaw and inſtructed the world with better precepts, and acted upon more generous principles wrought out by the dim light of nature, whoſo reads many of the Platonicks, and ſeveral of the Stoick and Epicurean Philoſophers, before and after the coming of our bleſſed Lord, will find their arguings to have ſuggeſted by the conduct of providence ſome preparations for the world not to think ſo ſtrange of matters of Faith. When the Septuagint in their tranſlation of the Hebrew Bible (or the pentateuch at leaſt) into Greek at the command of King Philadelphus did ſpread the ſaving knowledg of the God of Iſrael wherever Alexanders conquering ſword, and his greek tongue together had obtained.
As to the preſent point, I ſhall recite a few teſtimonies, and then turn off to further inferences.
The firſt ſhall be of Plato in his Epiſtle to Dionyſius, who adviſes to [ſhun ſuch as a foreign, a gulf or dark pit: who eypect and require punctual demonſtrations in the things of God: as if they could be apprehended and held in by our hands] and again in his Gorgias he ſays, that Socrates did rather give credence to the things which he received from the Propheteſs Diotima: then inſiſt upon a conviction by reaſon Theophraſtus alſo the Scholar of Ariſtotle affirms concerning natu…al things that whoever ſeeks to find a reaſon of all things by their (affected) reaſon take away knowledg it ſelf:Gaien. de uſu. part. l. 15. and Galen one of the Princes of Phyſitians expreffes of ſome things. [If thou endeavour to find out, by what means ſuch a thing was made: its plain, thou doſt neither underſtand thy own weakneſs, nor the power of the (great) Maker: and therefore Pliny in his natural hiſtory cuts it ſhort:Plin. l. 2. c, 1. that a man cannot take right meaſures of other things, ſince he knows not himſelf: and to end, I may recal an obſervation of Capivaccius: that experience in Phyſick manifeſts many errors, which reaſon did not reveal.
The truth is, that in moſt Arts and Sciences, many argute reaſonings and fine-ſpun diſtinctions of Scotus and Occam and others, vaniſh into ſmoke: when they come to the touchſtone of ſome ſolid experiments: wherefore now the Learneder part of the world have left off their old muſty maxims, and ſophiſtical cavils of the Schools whereby pure Philoſophy has been intangled and obſcured; and are reſolved to ſpend ſome ages, and ſet all Europe a work to write volumns of faithful experiments before they will preſume upon more Syſtems of natural Philoſophy, to gull the world: and then call a Council out of the learned nations in ſome center place, and ſo make ſhort and pithy and uncontroulable axioms for the Schools: I might mention many things that have made a great noiſe, but upon tryal have ſunk down into emptineſs and ſhame: I ſhall only touch the notion of managing a flying chariot, when once by the force of ſprings raiſed above the gravitation of the Atmoſphere: But alas the wheels, when they come to action, flew in pieces or ſtopt quickly in the current, looking for better Workmen. Yet ſuch was the ingenuity of ſome, and their imagination towred ſo ſtrongly, that they procured a Merchant to make ſome tryal of the Torricellian experiment of quickſilver at the peak of Teneriff in order to determine how high the air might gravitate: But alas to little purpoſe: as all automata, eſpecially as to durability and perpetuation of motion do as yet poſe and abaſh the greateſt pretenders: but their ingenuous endeavours are moſt highly commendable, and ſeem to be reſerved as bleſſings for better ages. When Bellona and Erinnis ſhall be baniſht out of the earth, and Pallas ſhall teach Athens with an head-piece of iron no more. When holineſ and integrity ſhall beautifie the world, and divine grace ſhall raiſe new Bezaleels and Aholiabs to make thoſe ſweet and candid perſons happy in their generations, by exquiſite and curious inventions: which theſe bloody and treacherous days ſhall never ſee, thru' the righteous judgment of God.
But to draw to an end: ſince the Majeſty of God is not nor can be known, ſo neither can his works and ways:Bradward p. 2… not the leaſt of his admirable operations can be found out to any perfection:Job 11.7. Meditat. Devotiſs. let me conclude with a ſtory in a treatiſe aſcribed to Bernard, of one that was laving the Ocean with a little ſhell, and being askt what he meant: anſwered, Thus do they who think to exhauſt the knowledge of the Eſſence or Works of God (or to that purpoſe) and then breaks out into a ſober ejaculation, though in barbarous Latine, Quomodo te capere poſſem, cum non poſſum capere meipſum] How can I comprehend thee, whereas I cannot underſtand my ſelf?
Now lets deſcend to another inference.
2. A ſecond induction from the fore-diſcovery may be, that the ſtudy of the Holy Scriptures is moſt excellent, neceſſary and profitable, being given by inſpiration from God to make us wiſe to ſalvation. Thence we may extract, what is the perfect will of God as to doctrine,2 Tim. 3 16. ver. 15. worſhip and government for the World in the conduct of providence, and in the Church by the ſcepter of Chriſt. They being the only true directors as to eternal life, ought to be diligently ſearched by us.John 17.3.5.39. Dig in their mines for for ſpiritual underſtanding of things that will enrich you to all eternity. The Diamond Rocks of Gulcondah or any Indian, or China or Japan treaſures are baubles and trifles to humour crying children with,2 Pet. 3.10. in compariſon of theſe. The Day of Judgment will turn all them to aſhes: when thoſe ſhall adorn and ſtand thee in ſtead at the Dreadful Bar, where all the great Dons of the World ſhall tremble to appear, and none but Sain…s ſhall lift up their heads in that great morning of their Redemption.
3. Since this treatiſe concerns a happy preparation for our ſtate in the world to come: it ſtrongly incites to an impartial examination, Whether we be in the Faith or no? to enquire what graces or what degrees are yet deficient?2 Cor. 13.5. 1 Theſſ. 3.10. and eſpecially to work at the main or fundamental grace of all, to ſearch what's lacking there.2 Pet. 1.10. For when the defects are ſupplied it will give you an abundant entrance into the heavenly Kingdom, and certifie you that you have a bleſſed right and title to that incorruptible inheritance.ver. 5. Your holy Faith will work ſweetly by the help of love; and unfeigned Faith is ever co…comitant with unfeigned Repentance, to purge and cleanſe continually both heart and life, and then comes thankfulneſs riding into the heart in the Chariot of love and helps to conduct us into higher meaſures of ſervice, and ſweeter degrees of joy,Song 3.10. as a prodromus and fore-runner of the eternal happineſs.
4. This Treatiſe may ſerve as a powerful motive to fervent and unceſſant love to the Lord Jeſus: who has done all for us, yea more than we can think. It cannot enter into our hearts to conceive what he hath purchaſed and prepared for thoſe that love him.Iſai. 64.4. Oh what delight ſhould we take in him? Oh what thankfulneſs can we expreſs or render to him. He has planted his graces in and upon us as ſo many pearls and jewels to adorn us.Prov. 4.9. & 1.9. Song 7.12. Joh. 14.2. His love is advanced as a Banner and Shield to protect us He is aſcended far above all heavens to fit a place for us, and then will come again and take us thither. Let us give forth all our love to him, till we come to the full enjoyment of his. Here I would beg a little leave to pour out a complaint, and weep over our want of love to Chriſt: for we ſee and find that we are all too apt by the ſad inclination of the old Adam within us, to love and embrace any temporary comfort above and beyond him, and then to few the old fig-leaf excuſes to hide our nakedneſs from his all-ſearching eye: ſometimes we make Idols of Relations, if ſweet tempered and pleaſant like Jonathan and David, and ſo incite God to take them away in diſpleaſure, and to plant ſower, dirty and crabbed tempers in their room; and yet 'tis in a mixture of mercy to wean us more to himſelf: for very few have the wit and grace to ſet God on the Throne in the midſt of their hearts,Rev. 3.20. and let all others wait and tend while he ſups with us. Let's pray our heavenly Father, and beg it earneſtly, that if he will pleaſe to purge away our former miſcarriages, and indulge ſuch mercies to us in our pilgrimage; that he would pleaſe alſo to teach, help and incite our hearts to love him beſt, and above all, and love none but as foot-ſtools to advance our hearts the more to him, and to improve all in order to him. Then are we more likely to keep and enjoy our mercies, and taſt more of God in them all, till the bleſſed time of our aſcention to his boſom.
There be multitudes of a far more inferiour orb, ſtamp and form; that inſtead of perſons which ſometimes have an excellency, when holy, meek and chearful; fit to converſe with man,Prov. 5.19. & 1.10. and ordained of God to be his ſolace: but their price is far above Rubies. I lament over thoſe that value not perſons gracious and rare-tempered: which are the very ornaments of the Creation; but being of a low and ſordid frame fall down and worſhip fine houſes, green Gardens, fleet Ships, bags of Guynnies, and ſuch like traſh, with many other dumb Idols, that will not profit in the day of wrath; and yet continue dancing in the plains of Dura, Dan. 3.1.at the ſound of the Organ, Flute and Sackbut; and in a moment ſlip down into the Grave. I have read of a good Woman that after her converſion, having flung away her fooliſh trifles: once upon the opening her Cheſt, and ſeeing them ly there: cries out: Oh ſayes ſhe, theſe were (once) my Idols: but now ſhe had left her idolatry: and minded nobler Objects.
There be ſome yet worſe: that if you attempt them tho by gentle reproofs are not content with ordinary leaves to cover it, as being decent, comely, faſhionable: but are in mad rave, and cry like Micah: will ye take away my gods,Judg. 18.24. and ask what ailes me? They dote upon a painted trifle, or a ſilly lace, or a dreſs with ſilver hawksbells, as one in the Weſt; or a well-ſet Border of falſe hair:Iſai. 3.24. Tho as Martial reflects Scit te Proſerpina canam, the Goddeſs of Hell knows thee to be but a bald Coot. But yet they will in their Moon-like tires worſhip the Queen of heaven. When will the world be wiſe, nay, when will Chriſtians be modeſt and ſober, remembring they are but duſt, that Paradiſe had no garments, and Heaven will have none, and ſerious chriſtianity and a mortified heart to the vanities of this life (if riſen with Chriſt) ſeeks things that are above,Col. 3.1. and is not only content, but pleaſed with great moderation in all thoſe things,Phil. 4.5. 1 Pet. 3.3. like the holy Women that were of old, and called their Husbands [Lords] & not afraid of any amazement or ſcorn from a vain world, knowing that all muſt ſhortly periſh in the duſt: and clothe red worms with all your Scarlet.Vicus Parmenſis Imag. Auguſtorum P. 142.400. Livia the Empreſs being askt by the Roman Matrons, what art ſhe uſed to render Auguſtus ſo kind and gracious, as to obtain any thing at his hand: Anſwered, I do it by my modeſty, ſince I do all things according to his will and mind. This would rid the world of Serpents, when the Law of kindneſs ſits down in the chair of duty. Let not ſuch as would be thought other perſons, and ſuch as would be highly favoured of God; let not ſuch by an Herodias-attire betray their unacquaintance with him, the ſlightneſs and lowneſs of their ſpirits, and the deformity of their ſouls, and how little of the image of Chriſt is formed in them, that can delight in things that pleaſe him not, & in midſt of their many outward pleaſures forget the afflictions of Joſeph (alluding to the ten Tribes in the rocks and mountains of Media) and lay but little to heart the ſorrows of the Church of Chriſt either abroad or at home.Amos 6.6. If you truly love the Lord Jeſus, remember your vanity and fooliſhneſs is alwayes before him:Pſal. 69.5. beg his pardon, and ſtudy theſe things and walk in the Garden of Gethſemany among his ſorrows and drops of blood, which may inflame your affections to him, and crucifie them to the world more and more. You begin to grow up, and ſome into years: Its high time as the Apoſtle exhorts to put on the Lord Jeſus, and to make no proviſion more for the fleſh and the luſts thereof.Rom. 13.14.
5. Fifthly, The Doctrine of Faith infers it to be great wiſdom and duty to keep your conſciences undefiled. For the myſtery of Faith is held and preſerved in a pure, clean and ſerene conſcience,1 Tim. 3.9. like a chryſtal Venice-glaſs tipt with gold foreign, that runs like a clear ſweet ſtream not conſcious of any ſin wilfully committed.1 Tim. 1.19. Its ſometime termed a good conſcience: whereof wilful ſins make ſorrowful ſhip-wracks: A good conſcience is a continual feaſt, gave Paul a Banquet every night, and compoſed him to a better reſt,2 Cor. 1.12. than in a bed of Roſes. But why is a good conſcience ſuch a golden vial for Faith? Becauſe holineſs of life feeds conſcience with joy, and thereby teſtifies and comforts about the truth of Faith.
6. Sixthly, We may obſerve from the former tract, that Faith is an excellent engine to diſcern and obſerve the wiſe Government of God in the World and in the Church. Its a Teleſcope to diſcern afar off in the heavens, and a Microſcope to pry into minuter accidents in the earth. Had we no other Argument,Heb. 11.3. yet by Faith we may know it, and that more fully and punctually, how the worlds were framed, and by Faith we underſtand the divine dominion and management of the world by Spirits. He maketh his Angels Spirits, Pſal. 104.4.his Miniſters a flaming fire: of ſome whereof lets ſpeak in order.
1. Firſt, God manages many things by the miniſtration of Angels. They are the ſeven eyes of God, that joy to ſee the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel for rebuilding the Temple.Heb. 1.7. Zech. 4.10. Dan. 9.21.10, 13, 20. Gen. 19.1. 2 Kin. 1.9, 15. Deut. 32.8. We read in Scripture of the Prince of Perſia, and Graecia, of Michael and Gabriel, tho the third is judged to be meant of Chriſt: the other of created Angels; which were imployed in divine works and meſſages: and what were the Chariots of Mahanaim, and near Samaria, and at Elijah's rapture, and other times, but the holy▪ Angels of God. There is alſo a place in Deuteronomy, which the Septuagint read thus [When the moſt High divided the inheritance to the Nations, when he ſeparated the Sons of Adam, he ſet the bounds of the people according to the number of the Angels of God.] Tho I do not juſtifie the Tranſlation: yet it ſhews that this notion was current among the antient Jews: And altho the Pſeudodionyſius in his Hierarchy of Angels, ſets down many frivolous fancies and curioſities about their orders; yet that God is pleaſed to execute his pleaſure by the adminiſtration of good, and ſometimes evil Angels, is conſonant to holy Scripture. As in the Pſalmiſt,Pſal. 78.49. he ſent evil Angels among the Egyptians, and ſo made a way to his anger: whom ſome interpreters judg to be good Angels, but called ſo from the evil of puniſhment, which as inſtruments they inflicted. However that be, yet tis a Scripture truth, and an object of Faith, and known by experience in ſeveral ages: And altho the methods be unknown, yet the matter is certain and indeed may be joy and comfort to Saints to know that they encamp about them that fear him, and are the valiant ones about their beds by night;Pſal: 34: 7: they are the holy Watchers in Daniel, and the comforters and aiders of Saints by day, and why may not they ſuggeſt ſome heavenly ill apſes, as well as evil Spirits tempt, when God permits. Its ground of ſweet joy and praiſe for the Saints to have ſuch ſociety and communion with theſe holy Sons of God, theſe Morning Stars that ſang before him.Ioh 38: 7 Zech: 6:8: Its ſaid of them that they quieted the Spirit of God in the North Countrey: that is, Gods wrath was ſatiated by the execution of juſtice upon Babylon in the miniſtry of theſe holy Angels. They fought againſt the Aſſyrian in Sennacharibs Camp:2 King 19: 35 Zech: 1: 8: 2 Chro. 35.21. they were in Battel aray againſt Babylon among the Myrtle Trees. What may we divine of the viſions to Pharaoh Necho, when commanded to go up againſt Carckemiſh the Cercuſium in Ammiano, or of that to Alexander in Joſephus; or of that voice to Totilas, commanding him to go againſt Italy, and making him (the flagellum Dei) Gods Scourge to the Nations: were not they ſecret impulſes and inſtigations of Angels upon their Spirits to do the work of God?
2. Sometimes by the ſpirits of men: God turned the Egyptians hearts to hate his people, and deal ſubtilly with his Servants: after a while,Pſ. 105.29.37 E…od. 12.36. he gives them favour in the ſight of the ſame nation: ſo that they lent them what they required, both Jewels of gold, ſilver and raiment; ſometimes a Pharaoh, that dealt kindly with them all the days of Joſeph: and then other Pharaohs that were very harſh and cruel to them. Sometimes a Grecian Alexander ſhall favour them, and after him Antiochus, one of his Succeſſors, deal barbarouſly with them. When Iſrael was come into their own land, God promiſed to reſtrain the Spirits of the Neighbouring Heathens at the three times a year, when they went up to worſhip, yea to bridle the inward deſires of the adjacent nations,Exod. 34.24. that not a man of them ſhould ſo much as deſire their Land. In after-ages, the Prophet Daniel treating of the times of the ſilver breaſt,Dan. 11.27. Propheſies, there ſhould ariſe two Princes, ſcil. Antiochus Epiphanes, and Ptolomaeus Philometor, who ſhould ſpeak lies at one table: but it ſhould not proſper: that is, make feigned ſhews of amity, when they feaſted together; but it ſhould not avail them. To name no more, there is a wonderful Praediction in Ezekiel, that in the latter days (not yet fulfilled) things ſhall then come into the mind of Gog… that is the Turk or Tartars (as the learned judg) He ſhall think an evil thought,Ezek. 38.10. even to come into the Land of Iſrael, ver. 18. ver. 22.after the Jews are re-entred into it. But the Lord will plead againſt him to his utter deſtruction, and he ſhall be finally ruined, when the Lord will raiſe up the Sons of Zion againſt the Sons of Greece: Zech. 14.3.9.13.that is againſt the Turk or Tartarian, in that day having fixed his ſeat at Conſtantinople, in the old Imperial Pallace of the Graecian or Eaſtern Empire: and being the Succeſſor of the Graecian Alexander in his Eaſt Dominions.
3. Sometimes by the heavenly bodies, and their influences by the ſpirits of meteors, and many other natural exhalations out of the ſea, and bowels of the earth, as from Veſuvius Aetna, Hecla, and the Vulcanian Iſlands. How did the Stars in their courſes fight againſt Siſera, Judg. 5.20.cauſing great inundations in the River Kiſhon, that ancient River, or River of Antiquities or great battels of old: but now ſwelling to a great overflow, ſwept away the Hoſt of the Canaanites? How did the Lord tame the pride of Egypt by locuſts, hail, fire, and frogs, and darkneſs that might be felt, thick fogs as black as pitch, and many other ways. How did God ſubdue the proud Pope Hadrian by a fly, &c. There's no age but ecchoes and cries aloud to all people, to prove and make all to acknowledg the Soveraign Dominion of the Lord of Hoſts in the Heavens, Earth and Seas, and over all Creatures: nay under the earth, in Mineral Caverns, if Paracelſus and the Learned Agricola write true ſtories, of multitudes of Spirits and living creatures in the bowels of the earth. All teſtimonies trumpeting aloud how God at times, arms what of his Hoſts he pleaſes, for the protection of his Church, and the ruine of his enemies. Famous is that memorial of the cloud which preſented its dark ſide to the Egyptians, but gave light to Iſrael: when the Red-ſea ſtood up in heaps, and the depths were congealed or frozen in the heart or midſt of that ſea;Exod. 15.8.14.22. ſo that the waters became as a wall to his people, which the Egyptians eſſaying to paſs thorough, were drowned. Nay the wonderful motion of the tides, which is ſo great a myſtery,Heb. 11.29. Exod. 15.10 Pſal. 147.18. is managed by Gods Wiſdom: and the inconſiderable ſands are a boundary to the Ocean, determining how far his waves ſhall toſs themſelves, and go no further.Jer. 5.12. They have their ſtated and fixed limits by the laws of Creation, which has ſettled their channels into which they ſhall ſubſide at his command. Some there be (to mention it a little) that would inferr the ſea to be higher than the earth from ſuch a Text. But 'tis a miſtake, and miſapply of Scripture,Jonah 1. Exod. 20.4. Pſal. 24.2. Pſal. 107.23. which expreſly ſets the waters under the earth, and that it is eſtabliſht upon the floods, and mentions mens going down to the ſea in ſhips. If the ſea were not lower comparatively to the ordinary ſurface and globe of the earth beſides the mountains, how can all the Rivers r…n down into the ſea, if the earth out of which they ſpring,Pſal. 42.10. Eccleſ. 1.7. Jer. 51.42. were not higher: wherefore the Prophet alluding to the natural ſituation, foretells that the ſea ſhould come up upon Babylon, and more to that purpoſe. But this belongs not properly to our preſent work, only ſo far, as to ſhew, that God rules the raging ſeas, and the ſtormy winds fullfil his pleaſure.
Let's ſtep to Land, and end our voyage with one note more,Pſal. 1…8, 8, to obſerve, how that God injoyned Iſrael to plow and ſow for ſix years: but muſt truſt him for the ſeventh, and part of the eighth, till the harveſt came: living for the while on the bleſſed providence of God, ſending them the greater plenty in the foregoing years.
4. Fourthly and Laſtly, lets touch a little upon the myſterious government of the Church by his moſt Holy Spirit, ſwaying his golden ſcepter in the hearts of Converts, and ruling them by his rod out of Zion. But this refers to that great point of communion with the Spirit of God:Pſal. 110, 2. which this treatiſe only conſiders in the doctrine of aſſurance, Chapter 8th, and in one further conſequence following, which is the ſeventh.
7. We may learn from the preceding tract, that the knowledg of our Faith and the attainment of aſſurance flow principally from the influences of the Spirit of God. He is the profound teacher of all myſteries, and the worker of Faith, and therefore gives the cleareſt evidence: without the neceſſity of arguing, when he is pleaſed to ſpeak to the heart.Joh 16.13. He ſhall teach you all things (our Lord promiſes) and guide into all truth. He glorifies the Son, receives of his, ſhews it to us, and manifeſts things to come. Where he teaches any doctrine, he works the knowledg and ſenſe of it into the heart, and cauſes us to believe: He is the former of faith, he commands and inclines us to truſt, and imprints the image of Chriſt upon us,Epiſt. Gaſſendi de motu impreſſo, &c as the vis impreſſa ſends out a power from the hand or inſtrument upon the ball arrow or bullet, which together with the air that's gathered by the force into an impulſive vortex behind the body (as in the ignis lambens) carries on the motion to the end of its vigor.
'Tis more abundantly here: when the ſpirit becomes the arm of God to break the ſtone in the heart; he moves & works in the moſt intimate receſſes of the ſoul; he ſhapes and forms the new Adam within us, and inſpires it with fire from the throne between the wheels of the cherubims:Ezek. 10.7. He is the skilful architect of the Temple of the Church, cementing the living ſtones together, which were cut out of the mountain of the divine Decrees to make a glorious Habitation for God by the Spirit.Eph. 2.22.
Let's then never forget to be earneſt in prayer for the gift of the ſpirit: ſince the influx of all grace, and the beautiful enamel of our hearts with heavenly gifts, flows from this holy ſpirit of Ʋrim and Thummim: And the truths in Scripture can only be ſettled and confirmed upon our hearts by him. He is like the maſter of Aſſemblies, that faſtens the nail in a ſure place:Eccleſ. 12.11. like the great ſhepherd that knock's in (the paxilli in caula) the ſtakes about the hurdles of the ſheep-cotes to keep the harmleſs creatures from the Wolves, cloſe and warm together in a dark and ſtormy night.
8. Another deduction from the former treatiſe may be: that the number of true believers is very ſmall: for the generality of the world knows not God in Chriſt. The Turks indeed own him for a great Prophet, but diſdain his banner. The Jews confeſs there was ſuch a perſon at Jeruſalem? but contradict his meſſage, blaſpheme his Deity, and ſtumble at his ſufferings.
Among the various nations bearing the name of Chriſtian, what wild confuſions and abſurdities are practiſed in Muſcovy: by the teſtimony of the ingenious Olearius, Marriageand what rude mixtures and barbarities are found among the Abyſſins, ſouth of Egypt, as we are taught by that learned Writer Ludolphus, or what ignorances blind Cuſtoms, and perverſe worſhippings are notified among the Armenians, Ludolph. Edit. 1684. Fol.Maronites or Thoma-Indians, as are related by Breerwood Paget, and in the collections of travels in Purchas, and ſeveral others. What ſhall we ſay to the corruptions among the Pontificians, nay in the Reformed Churches of God in the world; and how are the lives of moſt grown degenerate and prophane: inſomuch that one has adventured to pronounce that 'tis hazardable whether above one in a million may be ſaved: I remember alſo to have read ſomewhere,Dr. Mouli… that Chryſoſtome ſhould ſay to the people of Antioch: that among ſo many thouſands in that great City, that ſcarce an hundred would be ſaved, and he doubted of that too.
When we ruminate and conſider of the pride, vanity, luxury, wantonneſs, exceſs, and rioting, pleaſure, and vain-glory, envy, backbiting, and variance both among Miniſters and people: neglect of holy duties, love of the world, and the periſhing traſh and trifles therein: The contempt of the Goſpel and faithful Miniſters: we muſt ſubſcribe to that of our Lord, [foreign] Fear not little, yea very little or diminutive flock (when not only all the wild beaſts and wolves; but the goats alſo are ſeparated) For it is your Fathers good pleaſure to give to you a Kingdom.Luk. 12.32. Since the number then comparatively is ſo very ſmall, and the danger of miſcarrying ſo very great: oh how does it ſtand us in ſtead to make the things of Eternity eſtabliſht and ſure, which uſhers in the next corollary.
9. That the knowledge of our ſincerity and integrity, is of great uſe to gain both peace and joy in believing: which is a principal aim in the foregoing treatiſe. For though the want of Aſſurance doth not prove us to be under the power of unbelief, yet this defect ſhews the weakneſs of our Faith, and keeps the yoke of bondage (in manifold fears, and torments) too ſtrait and pinching upon the necks of ſome that are truly gracious.
It is thy greateſt intereſt then to clear the caſe, and to ſtate thine evidences by anſwering to the queſtions at the end of each chapter, or to the whole in general, or by any ſound way and method to manifeſt a work of true grace and faith in thy heart. Phraſe things, term or call them how thou wilt: but be ſure the work be right between God and thee. Sincerity will clear up all: under various miſpriſions and accuſations of undiſcerning friends, who uſually inſult upon perſons in adverſity (not for want of cenſorious pride and folly, which they ſeldom come to own and behold, but in the glaſs of their own calamities) yet holy Job ſtood his ground: and which was bitter indeed, to conflict with their ſevere animoſities, when under a cloud from God: yet ſtill held faſt his integrity before the Lord. This is ſuch a ſtrong pillar that a Chriſtian may lean the whole ſtrength and ſtreſs of his ſoul upon it in the name and power of God. A dear and intimate conjugal relation (who is mentioned before chapter 8) would ſometimes be upon this point: But am I right indeed, am I ſincere in my heart, and love to Chriſt, if I could but prove that clearly, I know all were well? I anſwered, how do you know, or can prove the truth of your love in the relation wherein you ſtand, but by deſcending into your heart and examining the inward honeſt inclinations and readineſs of ſpirit to any kindneſs and labour of love. For any one may aſſuredly know, that they have true love, or any other natural affection within their bowels, unleſs their ſenſes and brains be deficient. We may tell, whether we mean honeſtly and truly in what we profeſs and do? Whether our tongues agree with our hearts, or whether there be found a ſecret averſation and loathing within, or not: It is ſo, verily, in the caſe between Chriſt and us: ask your ſoul the queſtion, and anſwer it from the integrity of your conſcience, and then pronounce with the Spouſe ſo often mentioned:Song 2.16. I am my Beloveds, and my Beloved is mine, for he feedeth among the Lillies and Spice-beds of graces in my heart.
There are manifold ſigns of true grace ſet down by ſome: moſt whereof might be ſpared, being but like pitch or birdlime to entangle diſcouraging Spirits: uſe but few, and thoſe very pertinent: if thou find a true one, truly wrought in thee, tis enough: for then all are there in ſemine, in the ſeed-plot, tho under ground. As ſuppoſe: unfained love to the Brethren, or conſtant pantings after God, and delight in ſecret communion, or the like: Be but ſure of its true being within you: it will do your buiſineſs, by ſerious pondering and rumination upon it with the aid of Gods Spirit. Some are over-free in multiplying tokens, it ſhews a popular invention, but not very logical and rational becauſe uſually co-incident, and but little comfort (rather ſorrow and perplexity) ariſes thence to mourning ſouls, under the abſence of God, and therefore be adviſed to forbear: becauſe they will not agree to the various forms: eſpecially the loweſt ſtate of Chriſtians, and then theres wiſe work for tentations: when you grieve the generation of the juſt, whom God would not have grieved.Pſal. 73.15:
If then, all your multiplied ſigns do not comfortably agree with thy ſtrict and impartial ſearch: Be not caſt down. For an honeſt heart, having true love to Chriſt, tho mixt with failings, yet all lamented and none allowed:Rom. 7.5. but hated and ſtriven againſt with an inward content of ſoul, and joy, that it can bear up againſt the ſtream of corruption, and with all its care towes the boat up the River toward the Spring of its happineſs, and tho it find much unholineſs, ye… melts and grieves over it, ſtudies amendment in what the word and conſcience ſmites upon, and that with ſome improvement in mortification, and ſome growing in grace or a gracious willingneſs to be and do ſo, mixt with honeſt endeavours: tho it be not ſo lively and flouriſhing as it would: tho the ſoul labours and ſweat in the fire of contention and conflict with its luſts, and corruptions, and feels not that ſucceſs it prayes and thirſts after: yet do not diſcourage nor greive thine own ſpirit, and ſo hinder its elevation to work and ſervice: The root of grace appears to me, to be plainly in thee, and that it will by degrees wax and increaſe like the houſe of David: and if thou canſt perceive ſome growth, tho but little: it is a ſure and certain Index of life. If thou daily dieſt in ſome meaſure to ſin,Pſal. 18. and particularly to that ſin which thou art moſt inclined to, thy peeviſh, froward, curſed, proud & contentious humors and luſts, or any elſe, upon ſudden inroads of Satan which thy heart and faithful Miniſters and Friends check thee for, and beginneſt to live a little more to holineſs, then thou didſt, and groweſt & perſevereſt in grace, and art watchful againſt thy luſts, and humbly and meekly thankful to them that reprove thee: and laboureſt to imitate the holineſs and meekneſs of Chriſt the beloved: I muſt ſay and inſiſt upon it, that ſincerity is the cardo rei, the very hinge of that door that lets thee into life and ſalvation, and if thou doſt truly love him, who pardons all thy fooliſhneſs. I ſay then th… thou fear the work, that it was not right at firſt, at ſuch a time when thou thoughtſt it was a ſound and a true converſion: never ſtand puzling and frighting your ſpirits about the point, what that work was whither then ſound or not: but do as Dr. Thomas Goodwin was wont to counſel troubled conſciences: Begin the work a new, and lay your foundation better, and build the materials of holineſs upon the precious foundation of Faith in Chriſt alone, and never gather your principal and fundamental comfort and hope from works and duties; that will fail you: becauſe of their many and great imperfections: yet having planted your Faith aright on the Doctrine of free grace: then exerciſe daily a more accurate care of pleaſing God, and thereby comfort your conſciences, and beautifie your holy profeſſion in all manner of godly converſation; and this brings me to the tenth and laſt Aſſertion.
10. In the tenth and laſt place: Labour to keep up the verdure and luſtre of holy walking with God.1 Pet. 1.3. Lively Faith breeds lively hope, and both make a lively Chriſtian: who draws his vertue from the death and riſing of Chriſt for a conformity to him. Imitate holy Abraham under the Oak by Hebron, in teaching thy Family, and keeping up pure Worſhip in it: Its a great piece of a Chriſtians work. Remember the morning and evening Sacrifice: a little Lamb muſt be offered twice a day or elſe the juge Sacrificium, the daily Worſhip will be loſt under the Goſpel times.Walaei comment in N.T. libr. hiſtor. ex Petito. Lug. …at. 1653. 4 to ad Act. 2 16. &, C 3.1. It is judged by their antiquities, that the godly Iſraelites went to Prayer in their Houſes at the times or hours of Prayer and Sacrifices of the Temple. To incline godly Families to this practice, I might call to mind that we are taught in our Lords Prayer, to pray in joint fellowſhip, the words are plural: and I might alſo remember that God hath threatned to curſe the Families that call not on his Name: where tho Families (there) be a comprehenſive term as to Nations and Countries,Jer. 10.25. yet it muſt contain Houſholds within it. If it be preſented as a free-will Offering, 'twill be accepted in mercy, and returned in Family preſervations and rewards.Deut. 6.7. Pſal. 92: 2. Morn & even day & night. Act. 10.2. Teach then thy Children and Relations: when thou lieſt down and riſeſt up, that is evening and morning to whet divine precepts upon their hearts: exerciſing thy ſelf and thine to godlineſs. As Cornelius the Centurion, being a devout man, and ſcared God with all his houſe: gave Alms and prayed to God alway, in which words, if his devoutneſs, or foreign, as tis in the Greek, be explained of Worſhip: then its plainly connexed with all his houſe: but I ſhall not urge it, nor the phraſe of fear for reverence in Worſhip, according to the language of the Old Teſtament. This is certain, that Family mercies call for Family Prayers, and Family praiſes: and whoſo uſeth to wait upon God in ſuch Family addreſſes, will find a holy awe of God to fall upon their inferiors and preſerve their obedience, and ſhall enjoy many a deliverance, and many a bleſſing Beſides, in the conſtant practiſe of holineſs, you'l have need of patience every day in doing and ſubmitting to the Will of God;Heb. 10.36. wicked Neighbours if powerful, will oppreſs you; and falſe pretended Friends, wily Relations, and faithleſs Servants will endeavour to betray your Children and your Daughters to themſelves or theirs: uſe all wiſdom, but eſpecially a quietneſs of Spirit: if you have none good in power to defend or avenge you. Walk on with a humble ſubmiſſive frame to God, till you receive the promiſes, and then your reward will be abundant. In your Family-duties be prudent, becauſe of Servants and Children; render not holy duties burdenſome by tediouſneſs.Eccleſ. 5.2. God is in Heaven and we upon Earth: let your words be weighty, conſiderate and few. There will (ſurrepere) creep on a deſidia or liſtleſsneſs upon our weak and corrupt fleſh, and a too much perfunctory formality in the conſtancy of Duties, eſpecially when growing in years, do what you can, unleſs you be endued with good natural ſtrength and vigor of body, and uſe great watchfulneſs and help from heaven. Which calls to mind that advice in golden Letters upon the outſide of the Pulpit in Pauls, London before the Fire [Concionandi ſatietas ne ſit, erit.] Take heed of too much length in Preaching: ſatiety will come without ſending for. Endeavour, if poſſible, to beautifie and put a gloſs upon all the duties, you engage in; with ſome quickneſs of Spirit, craving Heavens influence and aſſiſtance. They'l be the more delightful, and ſet a pleaſant verdure and verniſh upon Religion with the more luſtre, to intice and allure others into the ſame bleſſed paths of life. Labour alſo to enjoy and improve all thy mercies and bleſſings in a chearful manner,Eccleſ. 9.9. with the pleaſant Wife of thy deſire and delight, and with the precious Olive-plants about thy Table: If the Lord of Heaven ſhall think good to beſtow upon thee ſo great a mercy, as one of a meek and quiet ſpirit,Prov. 5.19. Pſal. 128.3. which is of ſo great price with God. If ſuch a mercy and happineſs be thy portion under the Sun,1 Pet. 3.4. and therein to enjoy the good of thy labour: it is the gift of God, and muſt be ſacrificed in whole hecatombs of Peace-offerings, Services and Praiſes to the Majeſty of Heaven.Hortature
But to draw to a final period: Be exhorted to keep thy accounts even, thy faith vigorous, thy evidences clear. Maintain ſociety among the Excellent in the Earth, pious and fruitful Chriſtians; multiply not relations, nor too much acquaintance, they are burdenſome, and chargeable robbers of time; and if poſſible to be had in the neighbourhood,Pſal. 16.3. ſuch as are of ſweet tempers planted with grace, they are like Pomgranates dipt in ſpiced wine, like diamonds, or rather green Berils, or Emeralds, that moſt lovely of all colours; ſet in gold, the moſt precious of all Mettals. It's better to ſit alone in ſweet contenting ſilence on the top of an houſe, or in the corner of a wilderneſs, then with a ſower and exceptions creature: you may quickly know them, they are forward, malipert, contentious, and imperious, and have all the talk in company: Sweet tempers will ſweeten thy journy to heaven, and make it excceeding amiable. As the Ancient ſaid of ſome Travellers toward Rome [cantantes, minus ut via laedat, eamus] chearfulneſs cuts off the tediouſneſs of the way: and if moderate without vanity, does good like a Cordial Medicine.Prov. 17.22. Above all, let thy love to Chriſt be unſpotted and inflamed: then thou needeſt not be anxious about the fooliſh cenſures of ignorant men, either of the world or amongſt falſe brethren; whoſe perſons or cenſorious judgings and juglings bleſſed Paul weighed not at all. Let's imitate him: They are but the hiſſings of the old Serpent, the ignita jacula, Satans falſe-pious firebrands flung in thy way to moleſt thy journey towards thy Heavenly Country. Mind not their ſupercilious, conceited proud reproofs and ſlanders, ſpurn them away with the foot of faith and courage: know thy duty and ſtudy to do it. When they are in a better mood and humour, and begin to repent and be humbled;1 Cor. 4.3. pity them; if they deſire thy pardon, be as ready to forgive them: elſe remember the divine counſel to Jeremy. Let them return to thee, but return not thou unto them: for they are rebellious againſt God: he will ſave and deliver thee: Truſt in him,Jer. 15.19. and he will bring it to paſs.
We are then moſt uneaſy and uſually moſt unſucceſsful: when we govern our wayes by the pride of others directions, and their ſayſo's, eſpecially of thoſe that ought to be guided by your ſelf, and to enquire the Law at your lips, if in ſuch a ſtation, 'tis Gods Ordinance: and if they be in the ſtate of inferiors, Caelo deſcendi… foreign.you'l never find ſweet reſt, till you have ſtept over the ſtyle of that fooliſh queſtion: [What will they ſay of you] Make the Word of God your rule, according to the beſt of light, and ſtudy to increaſe it; and that in fine will bring peace and reſt. He that is not Tattle-proof, is ſo far forth in the minority of his wiſdom and judgment.
Every man is allowed [judicium diſcretionis] his judgment of diſcerning upon and above all the world, and ought to guide his own actions by the light of his own conſcience, and to walk by the candle of the Lord within his own Spirit, conjoyned with the light of Gods Holy Word. For according to that muſt he anſwer at the great Tribunal, and not for neglecting what ſome conceited Ʋſurper would impoſe upon his conſcience.Prov. 20.27. Follow the verdict of the honeſt Jury of the vicinage, your own impartial thoughts ſitting in the court of conſcience, illuminated to the beſt of your integrity and knowledg: But never make other mens dictates your laws. For as Solomon ſays, every fool will be medling,Prov. 20.3. and being full of words, his own lips at laſt will enſnare and ſwallow up himſelf. Turn off ſuch proud inſulting ſpirits with a holy diſdain,Eccleſ. 10.14. verſe 12. 1 Theſ. 4.11, and chido them home to look to their own affairs, to ſtudy quietneſs, and do their own buſineſs. Mind them not, turn away thine ears from ſuch viperine mouths, make them not thy compaſs to ſteer by, either in Calms or Storms but let the holy Laws of God be taken in hand.Pſal. 119.24. Let Moſes, David, Paul and John, be thy Counſellers. Turn the Bible, and diſcourſe with thoſe Divine Lawyers, ask counſel at their mouth, and give them thy fee of meditation, and they'l adviſe thee better than Papinian or Juſtinian; and if very difficult caſes riſe, conſult Gods holy Miniſters that are in being, they are the preſent lively Oracles of heaven,Job 33.23. his Interpreters, to whom he reveals his ſecrets, their digeſts and pandects will adviſe thee thorowly, and let the Scriptures dwell richly in thee in all utterance and wiſdom.Col. 3.16.
Thus ſhalt thou gain and maintain peace with God and with Chriſt the Son of God, ſet down in his laſt and bleſſed Legacy, to fortifie thy heart, and compaſs thee with adamantine armour againſt a fooliſh quarlelſome and troubleſome world:Jon. 14 27. and mark ſuch as walk diſorderly, and cauſe diviſions and offences in Churches contrary to ſound doctrine,2 Theſ. 3.6, 11. avoid them and have no fellowſhip with ſuch unfruitful works of darkneſs;Rom. 16.17. Eph. 5.11. that are ſet on by Satan to undermine the peace and comfort of Saint… communion: ſuch ſower and rough tempers, they live and dye undeſired, and are laid in the duſt as a bundle and burden of dung unlamented: but keep ſociety with ſuch, in whoſe hearts the peace of God doth rule, to render them both humble and thankful.
Theſe are the Jewels, wherein God delights (while others continue troublers of Iſrael) the Excellent Ones upon Earth, with ſuch keep thy choiceſt interviews: till thou arrive by his ſafe conduct beyond both the ſtains of ſin,2 Chron. 21.20 Jer. 16.4. and the pains of ſorrow.
If then the bleſſed marks in the foregoing tract be found in thy heart and life, for the main: thou ſhalt find thy graces to bloom and flouriſh in theſe mountains of Spices,Song 4.16.8.14. and in due time thy beloved will come leaping over the fragrant hills, to thine excceeding joy: which was preſented in our Title page as the end and ſcope of all theſe lines, and like a boiling ſpring will aſcend higher and higher, till it run over in the joy of full Aſſurance: which bubbles firſt out of a believing heart, and runs in the current of a well-ſpent life, and flows into the joy of a bleſſed death: and then your ſoul being perfumed with the odoriferous ointments and ſpices, wherewith Joſeph honoured out Lords Funerals:John 19.40. ſhall lye down by his ſacred ſide in the ſame fine linnen, till the day dawns to the joyful marriage of a holy ſoul; to a holy new raiſed body, and t… the joyful marriage of a holy Saint with a moſt holy Saviour, the heavenly Bridegroom of his Church: when all the promiſes ſhall be ſanctified in accompliſhment and compleatly fulfilled in all their circumces.
At this Reſurrection Day the preſent joy of Faith [as Faith] ſhall end,Rev. 14.2. Mat. 24 31. 1 Theſ. 4.16. and welcome the joy of Viſion: when the joyful Angels ſhall ſound their Empyraean trumpets, and the twenty four Elders ſhall ſing melodiouſly to their pleaſant harps made of the Algum trees of Paradiſe,Mat. 13.43, the Song of Moſes, Heb. 2.12.and the ſong of the Lamb: when Chriſt himſelf ſhall ſing in the midſt of that bright conſtellation of the Stars, thoſe Sons of the Morning, in Zion above. And when all the Saints, like Kings with golden Crowns on their heads, and like Prieſts, with pure Linnen Ephods on their ſhoulders, ſhall propheſie with their inſtruments of Muſick before the Lord, ſitting as King and Prieſt upon his Throne for ever and ever.Zeeh: 6: 13: Then the Saints ſhall invent new inſtruments of Muſick like David, and ſhall dance before the Ark of the teſtimony in heaven, and ſometimes Riding in Curule Chairs made of the Cedar of the Caeleſtial Lebanon, ſhall wait upon his triumphal Chariot of Cherubims thru' all the holy Mountains of the heavenly Canaan, 1 Chron: 28: 18 foreign Pſal: 36: 8:and ſhall at pleaſure drink of thoſe Rivers of Eden that ſlide in chryſtal ſtreams from under the threſhold of the Throne of God.
Then ſhall all they who have here thirſted after the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, be filled with it to the brim: and ſhall ever ſing for Joy of heart;Iſai: 65: 14: ſince they are ſweetly and fully arrived at that Eternal, and unſpeakable mercy,
The Joy of Faith in its Glorious Viſion.
June, 11. 1685. Die Jovis, at Abbots Langly in Hartfordſhire.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Lee, The Joy of Faith (1687)