The Happiness of a Quiet Mind, Title page – Dedication

The Happiness of a Quiet Mind · Title page – Dedication

THE HAPPINESS OF A Quiet Mind BOTH In Youth and Old Age, With the way to Attain It.

In a DISCOURSE occaſioned by the Death of Mrs. Martha Haſſelborn, who died March 13th, 1695/6. in the 95th year of her Age.

By TIMOTHY ROGERS, M.A.

LONDON: Printed for Iohn Salusbury at the Riſing Sun in Cornhill, MDCXCVI.

THE Epiſtle Dedicatory. TO Mr. Jacob Haſſelborn, Merchant.

THere is nothing Men are more apt to value themſelves upon, than the being deſcended from Great and Honourable Perſons; who have either had Noble Blood running in their Veins, or have ſignalized themſelves by a ſeries of Heroical Actions for the good of their Countrey; and by this means have delivered their names down to Poſterity, Crowned with thoſe Garlands, which the thirſt of Glory made them to deſire: And yet many thus deſcended, ſtain the Memory of their Predeceſſors; and as far as in them lies, make all their Laurels wither, by Lives led according to their own humour and fancy, and the contagious Examples of a depraved Age.

But you have the Honour to be akin to one who was on earth related to the family of Heaven. Your Good Mother after having with continued Patience, ſuſtained the troubles of her weary Pilgrimage calmly at length arrived at her deareſt home, where ſhe longed to be.

The Remembrance of her, I doubt not, is a great help to you in your Chriſtian Race, ſuch an example of goodneſs, ſo unaffected and ſincere, whilſt it is always brightly ſhining before your Eyes, gives you both light and ſtrength to follow her, in the ſame happy path wherein ſhe went: The frequent thinking on the Holineſs of her Life, will be a great Motive to quicken you to be like her in every commendable and praiſe worthy thing. To think of her Faith, and Meekneſs and Patience, will make you flouriſh in the ſame Vertues: As young Painters encreaſe their skill, by frequently Copying old and excellent Originals. In your pious Mother you have ſeen living and exemplified Religion, a quiet Mind, not as repreſented in the coldneſs of Precepts, but as warmed and animated by the bleſſed Spirit, and Patient holding out to the Concluſion of a great Age; ſuch a Patience as is to be admired, but not to be deſcribed; for no Colours can be ſoft enough to draw this Admirable Grace.

St. Paul rejoyced in his beloved Timothy, and expreſſed a very lively pleaſure upon the thought of one that had very good Parents, and was himſelf vevery good: When (ſays he) I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith that is in thee, which dwelt firſt in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice; and I am perſwaded in thee alſo, wherefore I put thee in remembrance, &c. I hope that the pure and conſtant Faith that was in your Mother is paſſed into you; not by a propagation of Blood, but of Spirit; not of Nature, but of Grace. That you and your Relations may meet her and all the bleſſed Saints with comfort at the Great Day; live together in that place where there will be no Sin nor Pain, nor Old Age, but an Eternal Holineſs, Spring and Youth; and where our preſent Weakneſs ſhall be ſwallowed up of Strength, is the hearty Prayer of

Your Real Friend And Servant T. Rogers.

p. 1Pſal. XL. Verſe 1.

I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

AS of all the Ages of the Life of Man, Infancy is the moſt Innocent, and Childhood the moſt Vain, and Youth the moſt Brisk and Daring; ſo Old Age is the moſt clog'd with Pains and Miſeries. In other Stages of our Journey we are annoyed now and then with Trouble and Calamity, with Sickneſs and decayes of Strength; but this laſt part of our Pilgrimage, this feeble part of Life, is its ſelf a Diſeaſe. 'Tis ſo weak, that generally the Powers of the Soul, as well as the Members of the Body, have not the Livelineſs and Vigor that they had in their greener Years; the Evening is much more p. 2Cloudy and Tempeſtuous, more Dark and Frightful then the Morning of their Days. And yet there are found ſome Bleſſed Souls that flouriſh even in Winter; neither the ſharpneſs of the Weather, nor the uncomfortableneſs of the Seaſon hinders their being over Green. Such an one was David, as he was all his Life Muſically given, of an Harmonious Heavenly Temper: in his pleaſant Angelick Airs he had often mounted up to Heaven; and at laſt, with praiſe, he took his Flight thither, to change his Hymns into ſweeter Hallelujahs. 1 Chr. 29.10. He bleſſed the Lord before all the Congregation: v. 20. He ſaid to all the Congregation, Now bleſs the Lord. V. 28. He dyed in a good old Age, full of Days, Riches and Honour. So old Jacob, when the decays of Strength, and the weakneſs of his Age would not allow him to be long in his Devotions; he improved the more eaſie Intervals of his Illneſs to breath after God. Gen 49.18. I have waited for thy Salvation, O Lord: His Expreſſion was ſhort, but his Faith and p. 3Patience were very great. So Moſes prepared his Soul for the Joyes of Heaven, by tuning his Harp below, he Sung before he dyed. Deut. 32. And before his death he bleſſed the Children of Iſrael. Ch. 33. And after this he went up to the Mount, and put off his Body to be Cloathed upon with Life and Immortality, Deut. 34.5. And good old Simeon, who had a Promiſe, that he ſhould not depart till he had ſeen the Lords Chriſt: He did not hide himſelf from the glorious ſight, tho' he knew, that after that he muſt quickly dye; but he came by the Spirit into the Temple, and there he met with the Child Jeſus, that for many paſt years he had long'd to ſee: And having ſeen the Bleſſed Babe, he took him up in his Arms, and was full of Tranſports, ſaying, Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have ſeen thy Salvation, Luke 2.27, 28. I might alledge the Example of Paul the Aged, who was then in Chains, and near his Execution by the Lyon Nero; and yet after having ſerved ſeveral Years under p. 4the Banners of Chriſt, neither the Cruelties of his Impriſonment, nor the proſpect of death, nor all the weight of Age that laid upon him, did abate his hope in God; nay, his hope was ripened to aſſurance, when he ſays, I have fought the good fight: He ſpoke as if he had been in Paradiſe; as if the Crown of Glory had been already on his Head; to all theſe I may joyn, that daughter of Abraham, for whom I Preach this Funeral Sermon, who ſerved God with chearful hope many years, and bore all the advances of Death, as well as her declining Age, with admirable Calmneſs and Reſignation, and long continued Faith and Hope, and dyed near an Hundred Years old; dropping into the Grave like Fruit from the Tree, when 'tis fully Ripe. She had no Clouds and Darkneſs in her Soul; ſhe was all calm and ſerene; ſhe lived in Joy, and ſhe dyed in Light; ſhe ſet in Beams: And that which greatly contributed to the pleaſure of her Life, and the calmneſs of her death, was the quietneſs and p. 5ſtilneſs of her Soul; uſing frequently, upon all occaſions, this very paſſage of the Holy Prophet, I waited patiently for the Lord: From theſe words I obſerve,

Firſt, That is not below the greateſt and moſt honourable Perſons to wait on God. The Grandeur of a King is no barr to his dutiful Attendance on his Maker; and the Crowns of thoſe Princes ſhine with the higheſt Luſtre, that are laid at the Feet of God. Thoſe that honour him he will Honour. The Angels that are the Courtiers and Nobility of Heaven, and in conſtant waiting know their diſtance; and tho' they are of the higheſt rank of Creatures, they remember they are Creatures ſtill; and whilſt they wonder at the Glory of the Divine Majeſty, they know they cannot comprehend it! They do not ſit upon the Throne, but are in poſtures, full of Reverence, employed round about it. They are very humble even in their higheſt extaſies and cover their Faces when they cry to one another, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hoſts, the whole earth is full of his Glory, Iſa. 6.3.

p. 6Secondly, When any affliction or trouble is upon us, it is our moſt becoming and moſt Advantagious Duty, to wait upon God with patience, and to pray for his relief and help.

I. What is implied in this patient waiting?

II. What obligations we are under to it?

III. The Application.

Firſt, In this patient waiting there is included a moſt entire and free ſubmiſſion to the Will of God, as to the nature and duration of our Trouble. That it come and tarry juſt as long as he pleaſes; a waiting Chriſtian looks upon his Fathers Hand, and is not with ſuch a view frighted at the moſt bitter Cup: He is not hurried away with violent Paſſions, with murmuring or uneaſie Thoughts. The Divine Wiſdom that knows when and how to deliver, produces the moſt refreſhing acquieſcence; he is not ſurious and precipitant, no fluctuation of Spirit p. 7diſcovers it ſelf in his Speech or Actions, Iſa. 30.18. When the Storms are high, he is ſtill: In all varieties of Providence, in all the changes of his Health or Life, he is peaceable within; no Bitterneſs, no Thorns, no Canker in his Soul; he leaves the time of his Deliverance to his all-wiſe Creator, and waits in quiet till the time come, without complaining or finding fault with the preſſure of the Croſs, or the ſlow advances of his help. He knows, that uneaſineſs and diſpleaſure at the Proceedings of the Moſt High, is the mark of a fallen Angel, and not the Character of a Saint.

Secondly, This patient waiting upon God, is attended with Faith and Hope. With Faith concerning the reality of good to come, and with Hope concerning the ſeaſonable fulfilling of the Promiſes that he relies upon: What wait I for, my hope is in thee, Pſ. 39. Hope is the lively Spring of Action, infuſes Life and Spirit into the feeble and the moſt humbled, but deſpair cramps and p. 8freezes, and enervates all the Powers of the Soul: It reflects upon the Goodneſs and Mercy of God, and makes us ſink into the loweſt depths with its killing weight: It ſwells our Sorrows, and turns our Sighs into Roarings, and our Tears into Seas of Grief. Whereas he that patiently waits, knows that after the blackeſt Night and moſt Tempeſtuous, the Sun will riſe again, and chear him with his reviving help; he knows that Celeſtial Comforts are many times Neighbours to the moſt doleful fears; and ſometimes the howling Wilderneſs is the way to Canaan, and the Waters may be troubled, when the healing moment comes; the face of the Pooll was not ſo ſmooth when the Charitable Angel deſcended as it was before, but it was more uſeful and medicinal. Never was any Seaſon more gloomy, then when our Saviour was upon the Croſs; never was any bordered with more glorious Events. It was a dark Night when he Suffered, but 'twas a glorious day when he Roſe again. He that patiently waits p. 9remembers that the Church has been moſt dear to God, and moſt fruitful in good Works, when toſt with Storms; it has flouriſhed moſt, when the Devil and his Angels have endeavoured to depreſs it; he waits for help, as they that watch for the Morning, they look and hope for the dawning of the Day, watch the firſt ſtreaks of riſing light, and rejoyces to ſee it, Pſ. 130.6.

Thirdly, This patient waiting upon God, is attended with earneſt deſires and prayers for his merciful Appearance. I waited and I cryed unto the Lord, O for that ſweet and pleaſant Hour, when I ſhall be Saved! that the time to favour me, even the ſet time were come! O that I had the Wings of a Dove, that I might flee away from the windy Storm and Tempeſt! O Lord behold my diſtreſſed Caſe, oh ſend me ſome help for thy mercies ſake; remember my weakneſs, and thy own Promiſe; hear my groans, and perform the word on which thou haſt cauſed me to hope; do not caſt out my Prayer, do not ſuffer me p. 10to Periſh in my low Eſtate: All this earneſtneſs is ſubmiſſive, full of Reſignation and Tranquility: The Sick deſire many times to dye from wearineſs and pain; but a good Chriſtian ſhews that he is ready to depart, but is willing to ſtay till God bid him go; he waits for Chriſt with a longing craving Eye, as for a dear friend from a far Countrey; he bears his abſence with Patience, but would be very glad to ſee him come: Heaven is welcome to ſuch a panting Soul, as the Port, to one that has been frighted and endangered by the Storms; ſuch an one when confined by trouble, longs for a Releaſe, but will not break his Priſon; He waits, till the hand that Bound him ſhall break his Bands aſunder; remembring that God is as Jealous of his word, when he promiſes favours to his Children, as when he threatens puniſhment to his obſtinate and hardned Enemies. The deſires of Perſons in diſtreſs are moſt ſerious and importunate: When Peter was like to ſink, how heartily and with all his force may we p. 11imagine that he cryed out, Maſter ſave me, Matth. 14.30. So our Saviour, in the days of his Fleſh; uſed ſtrong Cries; and the Prayers of the Mariners in Jonas were as loud as the Storms; theſe were not more bluſtering then thoſe were affectionate. People that are juſt like to be Drowned, have no time to Compliment, their danger ſwallows up all other thoughts, but thoſe that relate to their preſent Circumſtances.

Fourthly, This patient waiting directs the quiet Soul in ſuch a manner to God, that he uſes no undue reflections upon the Inſtruments, or more immediate occaſions of trouble. When he is ſick he does not rail at the Phyſician, becauſe he does not give him eaſe; but conſiders, that the Wiſdom of the moſt Wiſe, and the Skill of the moſt Skilful will not avail: When he is Plundered, he does not inveigh againſt the vile Engines of his Miſery, but bewails his Sin that provokes God to turn the Lyons and the Bears looſe upon him; when the Sabeans and Chaldeans had ſpoiled the Patient Job, he calmly ſaid, The Lord hath given, and p. 12the Lord hath taken, ch. 1.21. A quiet Chriſtian, when he is falſly accuſed of things that his Soul abhors; and ſees in ſuch an accuſation the hand of the Devil, uſing weak and malicious People as his Agents to Coyn and Spread his Lyes: He pities their cruel Malice; and in a Contempt of theſe mean Arts of Hell, ſays, The Lord that has choſen Jeruſalem rebuke thee: Or when he hears a Shimei rail, for ſome take delight in railing, they are a Generation of Vipers, Poyſon and Stings are in their Make and Conſtitution; to ſuch he only ſays, It may be the Lord has bid them Curſe us, Pſ. 37.7. When others are planting Thorns and Bryars to vex him, he will not torture and diſtreſs himſelf; when they wound him, hee'll not enrage and multiply the Wounds; ſuch a Chriſtian in every State is calm and quiet: He knows, that God is the Author of all Good, and the Ruler of Evil; that all his Diſeaſes have their Commiſſion from him, as the God of Nature; and all inward Troubles are under his direction, p. 13who is the Father of Spirits, and that in both he will be gracious and merciful.

Fifthly, Patient waiting upon God implies, that a man do not uſe any unlawful methods, to rid himſelf of trouble. If we uſe any ſinful arts, to eſcape from this or that Affliction, it is an argument of exhauſted Patience, and that our ſtrength is gone; 'Tis heinous unbelief, with reference both to the Power and Goodneſs of God, as if he were not able, or not inclined to help us: If we have not the preſence of our Saviour, as formerly, we muſt not with Saul go to the Witch of Eaden, or imagine that the Devil can help us when God has left us; we may in all trouble uſe all the good means for eſcape that we can; providing they be ſuch as are not inconſiſtent with the Wiſdom of a Man, or the Innocence of a Chriſtian, we are to wait on the Lord, and to keep his way. As the Eyes of an Hand-maid are fixed on her Miſtreſs, being ready, with patient attention, to know and do her pleaſure; ſo p. 14muſt our Eyes with the like dutiful regard be fixed on Heaven. The Precepts of the Goſpel are in all theſe caſes quite oppoſite to the Maxims of the Stoical Philoſophy, that gave its wiſe Men leave to end their own Lives, when they found their Pains and Griefs many and inſupportable; this indeed, as ſome obſerve, ſhewed the falſeneſs of their Patience, and this was oppoſite to other Opinions of the ſame; for they ſaid, there was no Grief, how violent ſoever, that could overwhelm a wiſe Man. Zeno the famous Author of their Sect ſtrangled himſelf: A patient attender on God, muſt not do any thing to ſhorten or deſtroy his own Life, by Surfeits, Drunkenneſs, Intemperance, or any other wicked Action whatſoever.

Sixthly, This patient waiting on God includes a conſtant perſeverance in all good Duties, till Relief and Mercy come. We muſt wait during the ſweetneſs of the Spring, and the Rigors of the Winter, when we are at eaſe, and when we are in pain; when we proſper in our Affairs, p. 15and when we meet with unlook'd for ſad Events; we muſt begin to wait in Youth, and not fall till old Age ſhall Snow upon us, Job 14.14. as a Sentinel keeps his Poſt till he be Relieved, if help come not this hour or moment, it may the next: We ſhall never be aſhamed of our hope, if afflictions do nee'r ſo cloſely Beſiege us, our Saviour in due time will march to our aſſiſtance, and reward our Courage and Fidelity, Exod. 14.13. The Husbandman waits for the precious Fruit of the Earth, notwithſtanding he now and then ſees unſeaſonable weather, and very ſharp Seaſons, yet nothing does abate his hope of Harveſt; he knows the joyful day will ſurely come; he does not tarry lazily at home, when the Seaſon does invite him to Sow his Seed; he rouzes himſelf, ſummons his Servants, and all in earneſt go to work together; he is not diſcouraged with a ſtormy day, nor folds his Hands becauſe the Sun does not ſhine, nor the wind blow as he would have it, Ecceſ. 11.14. But alas, how many excuſes do we make, to evade p. 16our Duty and put it off; 'tis too hot or too cold, too ſoon or too late to begin to work; many will not be good, becauſe the days are bad, they'll not travel, becauſe they are afraid of Rain; whereas that Rain they fear might lay the duſt, that affliction they meet with in the Road, might deliver them from thoſe hurrying cares that at other times blind their Eyes, and obſoure their Judgments. Let us take heed leaſt the Patience of the Husbandman condemn our peeviſhneſs, and our fearful haſte, who if we have not help immediately think, we are undone; whereas, that quiet Son of Adam, having Ploughed his Ground and Sown his Seed, takes no further care about it, but leaves the reſt to the Influence of Heaven, and the God of Nature: He quietly waits for the Harveſt; and for the Rain that plumps the Corn; he would not cut it down when it firſt begins to ſpring above the Ground, but ſtays till 'tis fully ripe. Thoſe Chriſtians that are in darkneſs ſhould conſider, that Light is ſown for the Righteous, Pſ. 92.11. p. 17Let us not deſire to reap before the time, not with a vain labour ſtrive to haſten the Months of Harveſt, Jer. 5.24. We ſhall reap in good time, our Salvation is nearer then when we firſt believed, and we may with the Husbandman find a deal of work to do before the Harveſt come. So a Chriſtian knows, if no Salvation from trouble come in this World, yet Death will ſet him free; and then the tedious hours of pain, will return no more for ever: 'Tis very hard indeed long to wait it, very grievous to Fleſh and Blood; but its highly agreeable to the brightneſs of our Faith, and the greatneſs of our Hopes; for what is this poor ſhort Life to a long Eternity? Simeon and Jacob, and the reſt of the waiting Saints, are now at reſt in the full enjoyment of their bleſſed Hopes: Long Attendance upon God, ſhews a firmneſs of uncommon Courage, and a moſt profound Humility. Whereas, to be angry and uneaſie, that we are not delivered juſt when and how we pleaſe, betrays too great an Opinion of our p. 18ſelves; for if we were leſs proud, we ſhould be more patient; if we thought of what we deſerve, we ſhould not murmure at the burden that is laid upon us, 1 Sam. 13.11. The haſtineſs of Saul brought on his Ruine; he could not wait, and ſo he Rebelled; he acted as if he had been bewitched, for the Rebellion of Princes againſt God, as well as of their Subjects againſt them, is as the ſin of Witchcraft; but to ſtay till he that ſends trouble think fit to call it off, ſhews a temper truely Chriſtian, and is an evidence of a ſubdued and a reſigned Will.

Secondly, We are to conſider the Reaſons that ſhould oblige us to this patient Waiting.

Reaſ. 1. We ſhould patiently wait on God for our many miſeries and ſorrows, call for ſuch a frame of Soul. The Thorns in our fleſh, and the troubles of our minds, our pains and our fears call for it; our Voyage to Heaven may prove very full of Storms, and by this p. 19patience we ſhall eſcape Shipwrack, and not be left to the mercy of the Waves, but have a wiſe Pilot to ſteer us, and a ſure Anchor within the veil: God may give the Devil leave to vex us, an Angel of Satan may buffet us, he may torture and diſtreſs us very ſore, tho' he have not leave to kill us. The roaring of the Lyon makes the Beaſt tremble, tho' they are not within his devouring Jaws. The Devil is often inſtrumental to bring ſickneſs and pain upon us: The worſt of Men ſerve for common Executioners, and the baſeſt of Spirits may ſerve to bring Judgments. And beſides, God will have no Creature uſeleſs; even Storms and Vapours, and Lightning and Thunder fulfil his Will: But now by our patient hope in God, the Malice of the Devil will be turned to Good; his buffeting will teach us the need we have of Chriſt, it will make us watchful, it will make us full of gentleneſs and pity, to ſuch as he falls upon, when we are eſcaped our Bowels will earn over them: This waiting upon God will reconcile p. 20us to the moſt painful, and the ſharpeſt methods of his Providence; this diſappoints the Devil, who would have us when the hand of God ſmites us, to torment our own Souls; he will be diſappointed if we are not fretful tho' we be diſeaſed; by patient waiting we pull out the ſting of troubles; we Conquer Sin, that would otherwiſe embitter all our Comforts, and rob us of our Peace and Hope, and make God to be our Enemy, and every frown of his is more frightful and aſtoniſhing then the united threats of Men: Every touch of his hand is heavier then their combined ſtrength; one drop of his Anger will overwhelm us more then the floods of many Waters: Innumerable Evils in this Life will aſſault us, both as we are Men and Chriſtians, and therefore we have need of Patience; Patience to ſteer a right courſe to Heaven; for we ſhall meet with many rough and contrary Winds, that will blow upon us from every quarter: Only by this quietneſs of waiting we ſhall be happy, as to have no Tempeſt within, p. 21though there may be Storms abroad. We have need of Patience, for we may meet with many Tribulations that will ſhake our confidence, and put our ſtrongeſt Faith to a very ſharp Tryal, and make the bruiſed Reed bend very much, though it do not break. If we have never ſo many years of ſmiling ſhining Light, the days of darkneſs will at length come, and the ſhadowes of the Evening be ſtretched out: Our greener Youth knows but little ſorrow, but it hangs with a mighty weight upon decaying age. A thouſand Miſeries come crouding thick upon old folks; and after all theſe, comes the ſhady veil and bitter death. When we ſtand upon the ſhoar, and view the bluſtering Winds and the rough Seas that we are to encounter, ſurely we need a deal of patience of waiting, and of prayer; and our great afflictions will not be well born, with a little Grace: fiery Tryals will conſume us if we are not fortifyed before we are thrown into the Furnace. We need a vaſt Treaſore of Grace, when we conſider, what paint p. 22we may live to feel, and what ſtinging troubles and provocations we may meet withal.

Reaſ. 2. We ſhould patiently wait upon God, for by our moſt painful troubles he deſigns our Welfare; and if we are not wanting to our ſelves in a due improvement of our Croſſes, we may reap unſpeakable advantages: The ruggedneſs of Adverſity may be more uſeful to us, than all the ſmoothneſs of our moſt unclouded and moſt eaſie days, our Souls may thrive with the faireſt and moſt laſting qualities: When our Bodies languiſh and decay, as 'tis commonly obſerved, that the People in cold Northern Climates, are more robuſt and longer lived, than thoſe that are nearer to the South, who are daily broiled with exceſſive heats, which, by quick degrees, melt their Lives away. In our moſt overflowing afflictions, we are like thoſe that are at Sea; Pſ. 107.24. We ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep, a thouſand ſtrange things are diſcovered to them that are in the midſt of p. 23the gaping Waves; that are not ſeen by thoſe that are upon the Land; they ſee the wonders of his Power in their ſupport, the wonders of his Wiſdom, in finding out ways to ſave them in the midſt of danger. We ſhould particularly wait on God in all our ſickneſs, for he then teaches us to know our ſelves, our weakneſs, our ignorance, and the folly of our careleſs unthinking health; he teaches us to ſee, that we and others in our beſt eſtate are altogether Vanity. The ſmartneſs of our pains makes thoſe inſtructions that are given us by the Rod, to be more remembred and more abiding, we cannot after bitter experience forget what a terrible thing Sin is, that makes our Body pine, and our Souls droop. Our troubles that are deep and laſting, teach us to ſee, that none of our fellow Creatures in the very height of their Grandeur and Proſperity are to be the marks of our envy: for they may in one moment be as low as we. We that have been ſcorcht with fiery Tryals, muſt pity thoſe poor Men that have been p. 24ſinged in the Flames: We ſhould not be uneaſie nor grieved at the Croſs, for our pain will ſoon be paſt, and our paſt pain gives a mighty reliſh to our preſent eaſe; and we may hope that in the midſt of thoſe Sorrows that God ſends, he will give us the moſt refreſhing diſcoveries of his Love, and by the Inconveniencies that ſieze our Bodies, remedy and aboliſh the far greater diſorders of our Souls; ſuch as unbelief and ignorance, and ſelf-conceit, and vain glory, and a too great admiration of the world. No Books, nor no Preachers can teach us that which our own painful feeling and ſenſation does; a few days ſickneſs cauſes a mighty alteration in all our thoughts, and apprehenſions; by this we judge of all things, by a different and a truer Light. We look upon this alluring world with other fort of eyes then we did before; all its paint and varniſh does not change its bewitching quality, nor after having ſeen it at the borders of the Grave, can we think it beautiful or doat upon it: And ſuch a p. 25diſcovery we then make of our ſelves and our own evil hearts, as we never had before. We could not have imagined that our Faith had been ſo weak, till the Storms came and made us tremble. While we are in a calm, and on the quiet ſhore, we do not ſo well know our weakneſs; but when we put out to Sea, and have loſt the ſight of Land, and the Wind and Waves roar about us, then we are amazed and aſtoniſhed. All the Medicinal ſtroaks of God to his Servants, are the product of his Love: He could take all their Burdens off in one moment, but he ſees that their Faith and Patience in the midſt of troubles, is beneficial to themſelves and others: Without ſome of the calmneſs that is in their Souls, this World would be an Hell, a Region of blaſphemous diſcontent in their afflictions; his People have a dearer love to Chriſt, and new manifeſtations of his faithfulneſs, and of the wiſdom of his Conduct.

Reaſ. 3. This quiet waiting upon God makes us in all ſickneſs, pain and trouble, p. 26eaſie to our ſelves and others. It makes us poſſeſs our Souls in patience; but to be fretful and peeviſh, and quarrelſome at our burden, makes it more burdenſome, and ſplits one croſs into a thouſand; fills our bitter Cup, and makes that which before was but half full, to run over with Gall and Wormwood; a fore uneaſie temper of mind, makes us that we cannot reſt in any poſture, and no Pillar will be ſoft enough for us, when we Crown our Heads with Thorns, an uneaſie diſquietneſs of Spirit approaches near to the tormenting fury of the damned. Hell is an abode of horrible rage and diſcontent; they are ever angry at God, and at themſelves, continually burnt with Flaming thoughts: But a patient Soul is like the milky way, no Clouds obſcure the brightneſs of his Grace: He ſhines with a croud of graces joined together: His Innocent ſenſe of grief, and his expreſſions of his affliction, fall like the drops of dew in the ſilent Night; they fall very gently: and where-ever they come, they make p. 27all very green and flouriſhing. The words of the patient edify the by ſtanders, and ſhew to them the ſtrength and beauty of Religion. What an attractiveneſs is there in a compoſed quiet Soul. How Serene! how Lovely! 'tis entertained with Muſick, lives and dyes in Harmony. When Storms are without, all is ſtill within; but an impatient man vexes himſelf and others, runs upon the Rocks and ſuffers Shipwrack; he is overloaded with anxious cares, and ſinks beneath the bulky weight, and often in his proſperity he is overſet with too much ſail, his pride and ambition, with too ſtrong a gale, blow him on the ſhelves. Let us therefore ſtrive to keep our Spirits under Government, for the Scorchings of a Feaver, and all the violence with which it preys upon the blood, are not ſurer indications of abated Health, then tumultuous fluctuating paſſions, and diſcontented thoughts, and murmuring expreſſions are of a bad ſtate of Soul.

Reaſ. 4. Becauſe ſuch evil days may come upon us, wherein we ſhall by our decaying p. 28age and trouble be unqualified for active ſervice. We need patiently wait, for it may be long before our Sorrows have a period. Many a weary ſtep may we have to take, and many a burden to bear, before we come to our Journeys end. The time may come, when nothing that offers it ſelf to your Eye, your Ear, or your Taſt, will give you pleaſure; and you'll neither be fit for buſineſs nor recreation; and the motions of your graces will ſhare in the decays of your age. When you are a burden to your ſelf, you'll find no content in other things. Not all the grandeur of preferment could tempt old Barzillai to a Court Life; and you'll be very little capable of Spiritual Improvements, when your faculties are weak. When old age with its pale attendants ſhall ſieze upon us, it will be very well, if in the Winter of our Life there be any vigour in our hope: All the Oyl we have put into our Lamps, will be little enough to ſerve us in our paſſage through the dark and ſhady veil. We p. 29are to take great care, leaſt when the Night comes, our Stock and Treaſure of Grace ſhould be ſpent; and we ſhall find it hard to have inward livelineſs and health, when our outward Man decays. 'Twill be hard to rouze our Courage to new Conflicts, when we come lagging like weary Soldiers from the field of Battle. We can go but a very flow pace towards Heaven, when old age has maimed us, and when our Blood begins to freez and ſtagnate in our Veins. In this nearneſs to the Grave, People are generally ſo very feeble, that they are fit for nothing. They are bleſſed, that in circumſtances ſo afflicted, have learned calmneſs and reſignation, and can patiently wait. For by this means a pleaſant Harveſt, and ſweet and eaſie thoughts will ariſe in thoſe furrows that are Ploughed with Age; and while their Foreheads are wrinkled, the face of their Soul will be very ſmooth: No thorny cares, no weeds nor thiſtles will be growing there. In ſuch a caſe, if you patiently wait, you will have the root of p. 30the matter; and that Root will be fixed like ſome ſtately Cedar, that has taken deep hold and is not eaſily torn up; keeps its Station when its leaves are fallen off. In the withering decays of Age, you cannot indeed run very faſt in the ways of God, but you may travel by ſoft and eaſie Journeys to the Grave, and your Souls be recreated with the bright views of Heaven, whilſt your Bodies ſtoop with the weight of many years. Tho' your hearing fail, you'll be ſaluted by good News from within; Muſick will be in your own breaſt, when the Daughters thereof are brought low. And you'll have this happineſs in the want of that ſenſe, that you'll hear no ſlanders nor ſad tidings. When your guſt and reliſh of other things is gone, you'll feed upon the Bread of Life: When your Eyes are ſunk your heart will be in Heaven: And when your Memory is failed, God will not forget you; His word will be the ſtaff that your tottering Age may lean upon.

p. 31Reaſ. 5. By patient waiting upon God we ſhall have renewed ſtrength, and freſh Experience of his Love; We ſhall have help both for our Bodies and our Souls; a Life of patience tends to its own preſervation; keeps the humours from overflowing their juſt bounds, and the Spirits from irregular fermentation; whereas the peeviſh and impatient chafe themſelves into a continued Fever, and their ſtrength declines and evaporates. It's ſaid, Deut. 12.3. That the man Moſes was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth: And in Ch. 34.7. He was an hundred and twenty years old; when he dyed his eyes were not dim, nor his natural force abated. He had as a man may ſay, a ſpringing Winter, or a youthful Age, a remaining unperiſht vigour in every part. 'Tis moſt certain, that patient waiting upon God, will make him not to ſend thoſe Judgments that waſte and ſhorten Life; ſuch as are thoſe raging Plagues, Famines and Devaſtations, which ſend many thouſands early to the Grave: We p. 32ſhall by this means not paſs our days in his wrath. An aged Chriſtian that has been patient for many years, comes at length, like a Veſſel richly laden home, after a tedious and ſtormy Voyage, full of reviving Experiences of the Divine Goodneſs, from the Morning to the Noon, and to the Evening of his Life. Pſ. 71.17, 18. He calls to mind with joy the various and admirable conduct of his Heavenly Father, and ſleeps in quiet on the lap of Providence. Seeing with what beautiful Wiſdom he had laid the ſoundation of his Happineſs, and carried on the Structure; how he healed his Diſeaſes, and has ſafely brought him to the borders of a perfect cure: How they were planted as Trees of Righteouſneſs, and by various Acts of Love and Power maintained in the Vineyard; how they were in pain, and how they were eaſed with his tender hand; how they wept in agonies, and how he wiped their tears away; new ſupport ariſes to the patient holy Soul, Iſa. 40.31. It haſtens our eſcape from trouble; as the ſtilneſs and p. 33compoſure of any Perſon in a Fever, tends to mitigate its force; but a reſtleſs agitation of the Body, does more and more inflame and fire the Blood. By ſuffering we learn to ſuffer, and patience reconciles us to the Croſs, Pſ. 27.14. No ſtudied arguments, no fine Sentences do ſo fortify the Soul in trouble as its own experience: This is the Lenitive of anxious and unquiet thoughts; gives a ſecret refreſhing, and a mighty ſtrength; this pours balm into thoſe Wounds, that otherwiſe might gangreen and feſter; when clog'd with outward infirmities, and when there are the marks and ſigns of a falling habitation; there will be the proſpect of an houſe not made with hands; and when death is in the windows, there will be ſtrength in the heart.

Reaſ. 6. This patient waiting does moſt excellently prepare for the mercies waited for, and gives them when they come the ſweeteſt reliſh; they are welcome as reſt to weary Travellers, that long to be at home. When God and a waiting p. 34Soul meet together, What tranſports and joys are there? O he is come, he is come, that I long'd to ſee! it revives me to hear his chearing Language, to ſee his ſmiling face. In what an extaſie was Old Simeon, whilſt he embraced his Saviour; many a long year had he waited for the bleſſed ſight. O happy eyes that ſaw that Sun begin his Race! happy Arms that embraced and hugg'd ſo great a Treaſure! Luke 2.36. O what a joy to a Father, to ſee a Prodigal returning home, after he had long ſtayed and waited for his return? With what Muſick, with what Joys, with what Feaſts does he ſolemnize ſuch a pleaſant day? Thus 'tis reported of Auguſtin's mother, what a concern ſhe had for her Son, he was the daily Subject of her Prayers and Tears; that St. Ambroſe often when ſhe mourned, ſent her away with this Anſwer, That it was not poſſible, that a Child of ſo many Prayers ſhould periſh. No ſooner was he Converted, but her Spirit was at eaſe, and ſhe now deſired no more. He tells us in his Canfeſſions, p. 35that when the day approacht that his Mother was to paſs to a better Life, as they were talking together of the joys of Heaven; in the Concluſion of this Conference, which was the moſt agreeable in all the World; ſhe ſaid to me, My Son, I avow to you, that as to what relates to my ſelf, that I have now no further hopes nor pleaſure in this world: I know not what I do here, for I have nothing more to look for. The only thing that made me deſirous to live, was to ſee thee a good Chriſtian before my death; now my good God has granted me ſo great a favour, as to ſee thee become entirely his Servant, by the contempt that thou hast of all the goods and pleaſures of this Life, Why then do I tarry here any longer.

Reaſ. 7. It cures the frowardneſs of our ſpirits in our laſt ſickneſs, and makes death very happy, and Heaven very ſweet, not an unbecoming thought nor word of God. The Concluſion of ſuch a ſerene Life, is ſtill and fair as the Evening of a Summers day: Such an one is not puſht p. 36or hurryed out of the World; but walks out as from one Room into another; ſleeps in death, with the compoſure of an Infant ſucking at its Mothers Breaſt; they go by a ſmooth deſcent to death: ſome without much pain; tho' but rarely is that exemption from the aſſaults of the laſt Enemy granted. Some are laid down very gently on their bed of duſt, and others with groans and ſighs extinguiſh the dwindgling lamp of Life. A patient Soul is ready, and if God give the word, it gladly flies away; it longs and flutters to be gone; and in the parting moment, ſuch an one ſhall not be left: a Convoy of Angels ſhall wait upon it, to ſee it ſafe through all the Regions of the Air, where the Evil Spirits would diſpute its paſſage to Glory. Oh how welcome is Heaven to a troubled weary Soul! How welcome are Hallelujah's to one, that upon Earth heard the ſlanders and reproaches of many a bitter Tongue; the Clouds of Life are then ſcattered, and there ſucceeds an eternal day: Then patience has no further p. 37work, for there is no pain; there hope is vaniſh't, for the Good that was once deſired is poſſeſt. The calm of that quiet Region into which we enter after death, will make amends for all the Storms we met with in the way thither. How many Bleſſed Souls ſhall we meet that were in Storms as well as we? that were ſick and tempted, and ſcorned and afflicted, that had weak Bodies and fearful Spirits? and to go thither from ſuch a World as this, from the Subburbs of Hell into the New Jeruſalem. Tho' we are in Tempeſts, yet we are not to live upon the Sea. Our Life may be very calamitous, but 'tis alſo very ſhort: Tho' loaded with bitter and uneaſie griefs, yet in Heaven there is no more ſorrow, for there is no ſin: there will be light in our Minds, peace in our Conſciences, and comfort in our Hearts; there will be no more fear in the place of Eternal Love, no trembling doubting Soul in all the vaſt Aſſembly: they cannot queſtion whether they Love Chriſt or not, when they are with him. p. 38All their former ſuſpicions are turned into pleaſant wonder, Iſa. 60.2. Its an Honour to be in Chriſt betimes, an Honour to be Chriſt's Diſciple, and much more Honourable to be in his glorious Temple. Oh Bleſſed are they that are at their Journeys end, after having waited long for God; he ſeeing they could find no durable reſt below, put out his hand, and took them into his Ark above. How can we almoſt forbear congratulating thoſe happy Souls, that have fought the good fight of faith, and have got the Victory. While we ſin they are abſolutely pure; they Rejoyce while we Mourn: tho' thanks be to God we mourn in hope; what we pray for, they enjoy. When we ſee theſe calm and patient Chriſtians going to Heaven; we ſay, O our fathers, our fathers, the Horſmen of Iſrael, and the Chariots thereof, ye were our Defence and our Glory; we can hardly forbear ſaying, Oh that we were with you, why have you left us behind? but you were in Chriſt before us, and are with him ſooner; you entered into p. 39the Vineyard ſooner, and ſo before us are rewarded; we will indeavour to tread in your ſteps; then you and we, nay Jeſus, our deareſt Jeſus and we ſhall meet together! I often think of that place, Eccl. 4.1, 2. becauſe ſo many afflictions and miſeries, and judgments, are the portion of the Living. Bleſſed are they that ſleep in the quiet Grave, no more terrified with Dreams, no more complain of reſtleſs Nights, and of Months of Vanity; no more do they hear the Confuſions and Diſorders of our World. And to the quietneſs of our ſlumbers there, nothing contributes more than patient waiting when we are alive. How did Jacob bleſs his Sons before he dyed? and how ſweetly did he yield his Breath? Gen. 49.3. O happy death to wait for God's Salvation, and to ſee the Salvation that he waited for; Salvation carries a very pleaſant ſound; but the Salvation of a God is very great and glorious. The hope of this ſweetens the lives of the bleſſed Heirs of Heaven; it pulls out the thorns of ſickneſs, and p. 40the ſting of death; it relieves their age; it makes the Grave to loſe its horrour; it makes their Bed of duſt very ſoft; they live in motion, and they reſt in peace: They exhauſt their Spirits in the work of God; but they never come to the dregs of Life, for theirs is clear and pure to the very bottom.