The Triumph of Mercy in the Chariot of Praise, Treatise · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. The Beneficial Improvement of ſudden and unexpected Mercies.
WOnderful Mercies ſpeak wonderful Language, and call aloud for admirable and joyful returns. Leſſons ſung to Shoshannims, the ſeven-ſtring'd Inſtruments of Adoration and Honour. Let's hear the raviſhing Muſick in theſe ſeven ſucceeding Chapters, that may be cordial to the very Hearts of Angels.
1. Of the excellency of Love under the fenſe of Mercies.
2. The Honourable Duty of Gratitude.
3. The Exaltation of the Divine Name for his Munificence.
4. The Anatomy and Ʋnbowelling of Secret Mercies.
5. The Ingenuous meltings for ſudden Sins.
6. The ſoftning Leniment of ſudden Sorrows.
7. The Contemplation of the permanent Mercies in Heaven.
I ſhall begin with the Firſt, and treat it as the Subject of this Chapter, what an excellent Frame of Spirit is kindled by the ſenſe of Mercies.
The moſt noble and generous love is that which ſtreams from Heaven, to ingratiate the hearts of Enemies by Springs of munificence, to ſweeten the tarteſt and ſowreſt tempers; to break Flints upon Pillows, to melt adamantine hearts in the warm blood of affection, to lead Lyons in Chains of Gold, and tame Hyrcanian Tygers into Doves. Maſculine and Heroick Love changes the frame, and alters the conſtitution and texture of hoſtile Hearts. Suſpicion,Suſpicions. which is the very Bane and Poyſon of Love, is by this Art fermented into a brisk, volatile, and balſamick Liquor. To ſtand upon the Guard and watch, to eye and try, is but a feminine and childiſh trifling; to ſubdue others by kindneſs, is God-like; to melt the Rocks of Caucaſus by flames from Heaven. Weak and low-ſtatur'd Love inſiſts upon the catch, and ſo becomes touchy and waſpiſh, puts forth its captious ſting at every buzz of falſe Flatterers and Backbiters: Noble Love is like the Ointment of the right hand,Pr. 27.16. which bewrays it ſelf; like a ſoft River of Oyl that runs down ſpeedily in a direct Chanel of inclination into the Ocean of enjoyment. He that can command his Love when attracted by the Magnetick Influence of genuine Friendſhip, has but little true love under his Obedience.
Suſpicion and Diſtruſt grows upon the Root of a weak Love: Generous and Noble Spirits had rather be deceived than diſtruſt. True Love is not eaſily provoked and thinks no evil;1 Cor. 15.5. it beareth, believeth, hopeth, and endureth all things. To lay heavy load, upon ſudden conjectures, is to tread upon quick ſands, and walk among the Iriſh Bogs. Such a Friend did not ſo courteouſly ſalute me in the ſtreet, did not invite me among others, brake off his ſpeech abruptly, lookt not ſo pleaſantly, and turn'd ſuddenly out of my company.
Suſpicion blinds the underſtanding, and is a Cloud that an evil temper turn'd upon the Sun of affection. It caſt Eve out of Paradiſe, and leads fretful perſons into deſarts full of Bryars and Thorns: It miſchieves the owner, and preſents to himſelf a Cup, to drink up his own Poyſon.Pro. 5.22. That Perſon is held with the cords of ſin, and may complain with Eve, The Serpent within hath deceived me. When Men can out-wit the Devil in Policy, and be too ſtrong for Divine Juſtice, then they may walk in the ſhades of this Fools Paradiſe. Men never gain by the ill bargain of Suſpicion, but at laſt their very thoughts will upbraid them with weakneſs and folly. Deaw not long Arguments from the ſlender twine-thread of Suſpicion: We need a Dove-like ſimplicity, and a benign eſtimate of every Accident. Words miſplac'd muſt not hurry our raw conjectures into Paſſions. It's the ſign of an evil temper to conſtrue the worſt, when a fair Gloſs may be more ſweetly, truly, and decently given. Believe nothing but what's manifeſt; uſe both your ears and your heart too, before you whet your tongue; and when ſuggeſtions once appear to be vain, chide your too frequent credulity. Be not haſty to conceive an injury, leſt you bring forth a lye; the frequency of ſelf-rebuke through experience will pare away ſudden reflections. Let not little touches and ſmall ſcratches ſet you in a flame of anger. Becauſe your drink is not warm enough, or your ſervant ſlow, or the Table totters a little at Meat, or the Door is not preſently ſhut, to be in a ſcurvy Feaver of wrath, betrays dirty blood and ſordid ſpirits within. Becauſe a Flea or a Fly troubles you, or a pot falls, or a pipkin boyls over, or a glaſs broken, or children make a noiſe, or a thing is miſplac'd, or ancient people cough, or (as Myndyrides) becauſe the roſes in his bed were a little doubled, to be in a rage; ſhews a proud, weak, and effeminate Spirit, deſerves the rebukes of ſilence, on deſerting their company as unfit for humane converſe. Some perſons have Souls good for little but to ſalt their bodies, and exerciſe the graces of others, and are alive by providence for increaſe of wiſdom, patience, and pardoning mercy in their Alliances: Like Vermine ſubtile to do miſchief, and whet mens fancies to deviſe traps and gins to catch them; ſpend their days in trifles to ſpin periſhing Webs, catch Flies, and ſpit their Venom.
Let's turn our eyes from miſerable deplorable forlorn Creatures, to him whoſe Throne is in the Heavens, and counts it a condeſcending humility to behold the Angels.Pſ. 113.6. All his works praiſe him,Pſ. 145.10. and his Saints bleſs him. Lets ſet out the glory of his Excellency, and admire the operation of his hands with heart and tongue. We are too like the poor Diſciples that wondered at the Marble-buildings of the Temple;Mark 13.2. are theſe things fit for a Saints wonder? Lets adorn our time by comparing Precepts with Providence. The rule of his Wiſdom with its product and iſſue, and narrowly eſpy how God glorifies every Attribute in the management of Heaven and Earth. Providence comments on the Text of Prudence, and delights in Mercy and Love as the Iſſue of his own glorious Bowels. What ſtirred up Divine Wiſdom to plot the mutual kiſſings of Righteouſneſs and Peace together; but rowling bowels of compaſſion towards periſhing man? when Angels fell from Heaven without recovery, yet according to the Multitude of his tender Mercies, [Wombs full of Mercies] hath blotted out our tranſgreſſions.Pſ. 51.1. Hebr. Let us be inflamed with Love to God, that ſweetly provides for our bodies out of his Store houſe from the Air and Woods, from Seas and Rivers, from Hills and Plains; not only for neceſſity, but delight and ornament, withholding nothing from us that's good for grace or glory. But the Maſterpiece, the Top, the Flower of love ſhines forth in the beauty of Goſpel-Mercy. Lets dwell in the Temple of Meditation upon the infinite Love of God in Chriſt, till our hearts he enlarged and amplified with flames of affection, ſervice and praiſe; when Divine Love is the Fountain of ours, we ſhall need no other arguments of bounty to Saints, than the ſweet apprehenſion of his Love to us. We need no motives from Plato, Tully, or Seneca, who range up and down the Mountains of Fancy, and tire their Pens to inforce particular Duties. That one Topick of Paul ſuffices us,2 Cor. 5.14. The Love of Chriſt conſtraineth me. That love which is called by Solomon, Cant. 8.6.the Flame of God.
I ſhall enlarge no further than a few points from theſe 3 Springs of conſideration; Whence we are, what we are doing, and whether tending.
1. We came (ſay ſome) from the red clay in the Valley of Damaſcus, and tend toward the pale earth in the caves of Hebron. Nay, we crept out of the boſom of nothing, & are leſs than nothing and vanity, to compare with the Holy one that form'd us,Iſ. 40.17. and are able to do nothing without his Aid in whom we live, move, and have our being;Act. 17.28. and ſhall ſuch nothings be proud of any thing? What have we that is not received? and what's received, muſt be returned to the account of the Heavenly Donor in Joy and Praiſe.
2. We are the Pictures of Old Adam drawn to the life by the Pencil of Satan, and ſin is inſpired into us by his venemous breath, and inflam'd to luſt after every red-cheek'd apple of Sodom; proud of every Fig-leaf, and jet it about in Aprons made of the skins of Sacrifices, ſporting in our own ſhame, caſt down at the wagging of every Leaf: Guilt makes us tremble at every buſh. Rejoyce not ſpiritually in any mercies, can neither act good nor bear evil; ſtumble at ſtraws, and ſhrink at every ſilly taunt againſt God and Holineſs, quake at the loſs of a few ſhillings for any pure Ordinance or truth of Chriſt. O miſerable Man, who ſhall deliver us! Had not the Day-ſpring from on high viſited us, we had ſunk into the bottom of wo and miſery.
3. We are paſſing creatures, and whether tend all our glittering ſhows but to duſt and rotteneſs? The Scheme and Pageantry of this World it whirls away in a moment, and at judgement are ſtript of all, but ſhame and confuſion; what ſhould puff us up and blow this bladder of pride, which is prickt with the leaſt pin of Divine diſpleaſure, and we vaniſh away. Let's admire and adore free grace, that hath opened a way through the blood of ſprinkling into the Holy of Holies, and always contemplate and apply the magnificent Gift of Righteouſneſs, which infinite Love hath conſigned to us, that Mercy and Truth may follow us all our days,Pſ. 23.6. and we dwell in the Houſe of the Lord for ever.