The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 11

The Parable of the Ten Virgins · Part 1 · Chapter 11

p. 99CHAP. XI.

That Believers do long and desire for the appearance and Second Coming of Christ.

SECT. I.

THat all those that are espoused to Christ,Doct. 3. and beloved of Christ, they ought not only to look, but to long for the coming of, and their everlasting communion with the Lord Christ Iesus. For the consummation of their marriage with him, that though he be gone, our hearts may be with him, before our souls be, or before our souls and bodies be; that though we may die, and lie down in the dust, our desires may live and lie in Heaven, and cry come Lord. Now do not think this point true, and so far good if we could reach it, but this is a high pitch, for you must long for it. God forbid a Christian espoused to Christ, should plead that work too much, which Hypocrites, the five foolish Virgins in their kind attained to. See Presidents for this in all ages: Abraham, and those in his time, who was Father of the Faithful, Heb. 11. 15, 16. A better Countrey, where they might have fellowship with the Lord, and hence God is not ashamed, &c. As if the Lord were ashamed of all them to be his people, that professe themselves so, but desire not this. In Christ's time, Simeon, Luke 2. 29. with 25. Where he waited for the consolation of Israel, &c. to enjoy more of him. In the Apostles time, 'tis also that which they all felt, 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly, &c. But you will say, It may be this was because of miseries, and want of Ordinances, &c. Therefore see in the last age of the Church, when the new Ierusalem was built, and when peace, and when Christ's face was seen in his House, yet then the Spirit and the Bride say come, Rev. 22. 17. They are the last p. 100breathings of Iohn and the Spirit in him. Lord Iesus come quickly. But Cent. 8. 14. The Church there intreats her Beloved to fly away to the Mountains of Spices, that she might enjoy him out of this world.

SECT. II.

1 BEcause they are bound to love Christ and his appearing:Reas. 1. to love his looks when he shall appear to the world, 2 Tim. 4. 8. The Crown of Glory comes as it were by succession, not only to me, but to all them that love his appearing. Now can there be any love of him and his appearing; and not so much as any desire after him and after it? Certainly there is no love, or if there be any, it lies languishing: For answerable to our love to any thing, is our desire, what we love only, we desire only; what we love not at all, or but little, we desire not at all, or but little; so here. Now therefore to question, May a Christian desire it? is to question whether a Christian ought to love the Lord Jesus or no. We are bound not to love earth, hence bound to love Christ and his fellowship in Heaven. Let him be Anathema that doth not so.

2. Because the Lord Jesus longs for them,Reas. 2. Iohn 17. 24. Throughout which Chapter he prays as if in Heaven already. Hence I am no more in this world, and where I am, let them be also. He was on earth, but looks on himself as in Heaven. That as it was with the High Priest, he carries the Names of the twelve Tribes on his heart, bese… with precious Stones; very dear to him, … the Holy of Holies, so Christ. Not that he sees any beauty in them of their own, why he should desire them, but because he freely loves them, and dearly loves them, as being given him of the Father, and as having cost him dear; and hence if he loves them, he longs for them: Now if he longs for them, ought not they much more to long for him? Psal. 27. 8. Thou saidst seek my face, thy face Lord will I seek.

1. He longs for thee now in Glory, when one would think his thoughts and heart should be swallowed up with it, and shall not we long for him here in the valley of Myrtle trees, in misery, on the dunghill?

2. He longs for thee when thou hast nothing to make him desire thee, he hath all that thy heart can desire, being the very bosom-delight of God himself, Rev. 22. penult. He did but say he would come, and Iohn desires, Oh come. But doth he long for thee? Now not to long for him. If this love be not worth longing for, truly 'tis worth nothing.

3. Because this is our last and ultimate end that we are made for,Reas. 3. chosen for, bought for, called for, sealed for, that at last we might be with the Lord, and be made perfect in one, 2 Cor. 5. 5. He that hath made us for this is God, &c. For the whole Trinity enjoying infinite sweet fellowship with himself, hence desire it might be communicated, in Christ 'tis so, and now the last end is attained. Now if this be our last end, ought we not to desire it? Then we ought not to desire to be blessed, nor to desire the Lord may be glorified. Nay you know that whatever we make our last end, it will swallow up all our desires after any other thing. This is the Center and rest and journies end of our tired weary spirits. And the truth is, when we make it our last end, we cannot but desire it.

p. 101SECT. III.

BUT ought not a man to desire to live here in this world as David and Hezekiah did.Object. May not one sin in this desire?

1. 'Tis true, precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, Answ.not only in regard that they are as precious to him when they come to die, as while they live, as Gold when 'tis melting is as precious to the Goldsmith, as when whole, and it may be more too, because 'tis then made better; but also because he will not lightly cast away their lives. He that bottles their tears, and will not let them be lost, will not easily let go their lives, and if God will not, they ought not upon every slight occasion to desire their death, and losse of their lives to be with the Lord.

Now there are two cases Gods own people may not desire to remove hence, where though there be some fire I confesse, yet there is more smoak than fire, more sin than Grace.

1. In case they meet with much unkindnesse from, and many sorrows in the world, and behold the sins of it. Thus it was with Elias, 1 Kings 19. 4. Who when Iezabel threatned his life, fled, and would needs set sail presently and be gone; so 'tis with Gods people, when they see enemies without, the universal rot of Profession, that they think they are almost left alone; when God hath begun to do good by them, as by Elijah, but they think their best daies are past, there is all they shall do, and God himself it may be meeting them with some crosses in this world; now presently they grow weary of their lives, and desire to die, which is nothing else but a pang of discontent, truly God will not suffer it, nor you ought not to desire it, to die away in such a snuffe: No, the Lord hath work for them to do, and a journey to go. This desire is naught, and 'tis but a weed, and to be pulled up, that growes out of such a root as a discontented heart for crosses. I confesse God useth sorrows as means to smoak us out of our Hive, and we may use them for that end, but not only or chiefly them, nor from a pang or moody fit of discontent.

2. In case they desire death, and not life, before they be ripe for death. Husbandmen desire their Corn in, but 'tis folly to desire it before it be ripe, and then they may. I confesse 'tis the commendation of some trees, if not only good, but if ripe betimes, and 'tis the honour of a Christian, to be ripe for death betimes; yet still before he is ripe he is not to desire it.

Now when is this?Quest.

1. While the Lord hides his face and denies full assurance of his love,Answ. in this case as a Christian cannot, so he ought not (if it were the Lords will) desire to be gone as yet, and this is one reason why David and Hezekiah desired life, not death as yet, God had broken their bones, and his arrowes were yet in their hearts; now a man is to desire he may stay a little while longer, that he may sing the Song of the Lamb, and tell the world what the Lord hath done for him, and that he may not set in a cloud and die in horrour. Mariners long to be on shore, but before they come there, they would not venture in a mist, but see Land first, so should we desire to see the Lord in the Land of the living. Nay though the Lord gives his people a promise, which staies their hearts and is a twig to keep them from sinking, nay when he gives them some joy, yet still God hath promised to reveal more of himself and his Christ in the promise, seeing him but darkly now: Now they ought not to desire but wait, as in Simeons case, now let thy Servant depart in peace, having long waited for the consolation of Israel. Children that will be up before 'tis day must be whipt, a rod is most fit for them, stay till 'tis day.

2. While their work remains unfinished, and the Lord hath got little or no p. 102Glory from them, though they may have clear evidence of the Lords love: Christ himself desired it not till now, Iohn 17. 5. If thou couldest scale Heaven before thy work was done, the Lord would send thee down from thence again, as he did the soul of L…zarus, and truly to do the work of Christ one moment here, is better than to have a thousand years felicity in Heaven, nakedly considered in it self, in as much as the Honour of Christ is a thousand times better than our own good. It may be there is much work within doors, many odd distempers to be cashierd, spirituall decaies, &c. It may be there is work without, Christ hath many enemies in the world, many prayers are yet to be spent against them, much good to do for his Church, many tears to be shed for them, for praying trade is past in Heaven. It may be some friends yet to be converted, thou hast been a scandal to them, it may be as yet few have been, or can say they be the warmer or better for thee; that work is yet to be done: It may be God hath some secrets to reveal by thee before thou diest, stay therefore a while, while your work is done; 'Tis true, thou hast but one Talent, but little thou hast or canst do; yet God looks you should improve it whilst he is gone. A man that will needs to bed at noon-day, before night comes, what deserves he but a cudgel? So he that will die before his night comes, and while 'tis light to see and work by. When therefore you apprehend your work even done, then as not only Christ, but Pa…l, not only Paul, but Gods watchful servants have secret warnings of death. And as Mariners when they can see no Land, yet by their soundings can tell they are near Land or Sands, then you may desire it, for then you are ripe, but its sin to do it otherwise. And verily happy is that man that accounts not his life dear, but only the finishing of his course with joy. To conclude all, we are to desire our fellowship with Christ, as a man desires his last end, which desire doth not exclude but include desire after all the means and the means first, before the end. Now many things are to be done by God upon us, and by us for the Lord again, before we appear before Christ, which we may desire firstly for this our last end.

SECT. IV.

HEnce we see the vilenesse of the great,Use. 1. yet hidden secret sin of the whole world, which may be in part also in Gods dearest Saints, viz. in their hungry lustings and dropsie desires after the sweet of the things of this world. You shall have many a man that amends his life, reformes his course, forsakes his own righteousnesse, no mans tongue can tell him, his own Conscience cannot bear witnesse against him that he lives in any unlawful course; and I believe it is so, and may be and will be so. Shall I tell you therefore what hurts them? They are inordinate lustings after lawful things in themselves, and these they serve, Tit. 3. 3. Partly they grieve them if they do not satisfie and serve them, partly because they pay them with pleasures and delights if they do. Hence serving lusts and pleasures too, these like tops of mountains are seen, now when floods of wickednesse begin to abate, these will continue while the life lasts.

I intend not to shew you at large, but according to my Text the vilenesse of them.

1. They eat out all desire after the Lord Jesus and his fellowship, that he cannot long for the Lord Jesus. For a man can …ay out no more than he hath, now when his desires are lavisht and let out to other things, How can he lay out any on Christ? And thus the Lord of Glory comes to bear most horrible contempt, that he is not worth desiring in such a mans Books. Thus it was with them, Luke 14. 18. Every one refused. Why? Because of their Oxen, and Wives, and Farms, Lawful things, but they lasted too much after these. When a Harlot p. 103seeks to satisfie her lusts, she cares not how fat her Husband be off, never desires his coming home; so here: Many a one complains he cannot desire the Lord Jesus, which I confesse is in mercy to some. But where is the cause of it? Oh they are running in another channel, and spent on other things: What a heavy curse is this? Some never think of death once in a Moon, much lesse long for Christ; desire not his fellowship here, much lesse there. And why? Because of their lusts that eat out all.

2. Suppose they do not thus, but your heart is divided, so that you long for these things now, and preserve your longing for him against you come to die; yet these will make you lose his sweet fellows…ip. For a mans affections are precious things, and 'tis pity any else should have them, they are all little enough for Christ, and Christ is worth desiring and longing for, and he stands upon it, and will make them know that have him, that all is too little for him, and they shall give him all before he give himself to their comfort. Hence deny him these, and never think to have himself, and his fellowship, Psal. 73. 25, 26. Its good for me to draw nigh, How? By desiring, not Earth nor Heaven, but him. Hence he saith, Thou destroyest all them that go a whoring from thee, v. 27.

3. Suppo…e thou shouldst have hi… at last, yet he will never desire thee, never take any delight in thee, until that you come to get your affections unloosed here, Psal. 45. 10, 11. Dost not find a strangenesse between Christ and thy soul? Doth he not hide his face? Doth he not soon depart from thee, though he appears somtimes to thee? Doth he not let thee lie like a Broom behind the door? And doth little by thee either within or without. And is not this a sad and heavy thing? Why saist thou, doth the Lord deal thus with me? Oh thy heart is yet after thy Fathers house, if thou didst forget it, then he would take pleasure in thy beauty. What pleasure can earth give thee, when the Lord takes no pleasure in thee?

But may not a man desire these things?Object. If we may, how far?

1. A man may lawfully desire them,Answ. provided his desires are not …w…llowed up in them, but run through them to Christ himself. For 'tis not lu…t properly to desire a creature, or any pleasure in it; but to desire it for it self, and forpleasures sake. For now a man makes a god of it. Thus it was with the Israelites, Exod. 17. Give us water that we may drink; so give me sleep that I may rest, give me cloaths that I may be warm, give me estate that I may be rich, &c. Now when a heart desires them, but his desires end not there, but run through them to Christ, that he flings down all comforts, and saith what is this to fellowship with Christ: Thus far a man may desire and rejoyce in them, and 'tis a sin to do otherwise. Nehem. 9. 35. A man may be content to have a Spring run through his ground to the Sea, to be swallowed up there, but to swell, and rise, and overslow his ground and house, that's not safe, he may be drowned so: So men come to be drowned in their lusts, that let them swell within doors.

II. A man may desire the…, if he doth not spend more desire upon them than they be worth. A man may desire them for a good end as he thinks, but then he laies out too much upon them. A man may spend too much in his Inne, when he takes it up only as a way to his home.

1. They are perishing things, therefore let them have perishing desires. The world passeth away. They are passengers by us, that stay to rest with us for a time, let them have passengers welcome.

2. They are not necessary things, let them have therefore indifferent desires: I must have Christ, and his Spirit, &c. not these things: They are to be sought not in the first, but in the second place. Therefore say first Christ, now let me have Christ: Men say now these things, then Christ. I say now the Lord Jesus, whether ever you have them or no.

III. Now all superfluity of evil desires are to be crucified, Gal. 5. 24. They that p. 104are in Christ, have crucified, &c. Christ was not a dead, but first a crucified Christ before: So no Saint living, but he hath some superfluous desires, but though they live, they do crucifie them, so ought you. There is two things in crucifying.

1. There is extream pain upon the Cross.

2. A looking for death: So then lusts are crucified,

1. When you tast the bitternesse of your lusts, by putting them on Christs Crosse. Oh the wrongs they have done the Son of God! And do this with violence, say, you shall to the Crosse, he that looks to Christ with a frolick heart to kill his lusts, shall never find him.

2. Now looking and longing for their death, by holding them there. Unless the Blood of Christ slay these, I will never have any death for them. For all the reason in the world will never kill a lust, no more than all the reason will perswade the Stomach not to hunger. The Belly hath no ears.

Thus you are to moderate your desires after these things: Which I speak of,

First, Because 'tis a wilderness-sin, Psal. 106. 14, 15. Which it may be you feel brings leannesse on your soul. And

Secondly, Because 'tis the sin of prosperity and peace which God hath given us, which will grow up and choak the Word, that all Ordinances and Truths will in time be saplesse, savourlesse things unto us.

Thirdly, Because I have had strong fears lately of some unexpected trials among us, and I should be glad if it might not be, if the freedom from them might make us better, else I say let them come. But

Fourthly, Because 'tis a rare thing among us to see such burning Lamps as look and long for Christs coming, which when I consider, though there be other causes, yet one great one is this, Oh the heart is gone away by violent lusts after these things here! Oh therefore take heed of them! And therefore consider,

1. You shall have Christ and his fellowship, if indeed you long for him, Iohn 4. 10. That's his love, you are not so desirous, but he is a thousand times more Thou maist desire these things, and if God loves thee misse of them. God will make thee poor when thou wouldst be rich, base when thou wilt be honoured, and when you would have honey, he will give you stings; and cause you have to thank the Lord too, that he will not give you your portion here.

2. If th…u hast them, and dost desire them, and God gives them, and thou lettest Christ go, thou hadst better a thousand times be without them, Psal, 78. 30, 31. The meat was in their mouths, and the wrath of God came upon them. If the Lord gives thee Christ, happy for ever; if these things when thou dost so desire them, oh wo for ever!

3. The Fellowship of the Lord Jesus thou shalt never lose. Death shall not part thee from that, nothing shall rob thee of that; but look after and long for these things, they will perish and die away. All flesh is grasse, the Word of the Lord, and the Lord himself much more endureth for ever.

4. Why dost desire these things? For some sweet in them. Why is not all that in the presence of the Lord Jesus, and enjoying him? It pleaseth the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell, so that thou shalt drink as out of a pure Fountain all that is there. If there be any sweetnesse here, he gave it, 'tis much more eminently in himself, Exod. 24. 11. They saw the God of Israel, and eat and drank. Had they meat up with them? Oh no. But the sight of him was meat and drink and all unto them. As therefore you desire Christs fellowship, Oh long no more after these things here!

Hence see death is not to be feared,Use 2. but desired of all Saints. It was an odd speech of a Heathen, 'Tis ill to desire death, and worse to fear it; he meant not because of any good in it, but because we must die: But death brings us into eternal p. 105Fellowship with the Lord Jesus. It doth Saints more good than all Ordinances, all afflictions, (wherein we complain we can get no good) than all means. It brings us into his Fellowship, 1. Quickly, as Christ was caught up, so the Soul by Christ to himself. 2. Immediatly, for the next thing we shall see is Christ himself, our Husband himself, and then see the Kingdom, and then wonder at the Lord. 3. Everlastingly, never to part more. Oh fear it not therefore, Christ hath sweetned it to you.

SECT. V.

HEnce see a clear foundation and ground-work of longing for fellowship with the Lord Jesus in his Ordinances here.Use 3. This is that I shall exhort to. For

1. You cannot, shall not, must not now go to him in Heaven, nor enjoy fellowship with him, nor meet him in the clouds though you do long for that day; but in his Ordinances you may meet with him now. And truly those whom we love and long for, if we cannot go to their house, or find them at home, we are glad to meet with them abroad. As with those who stand before Princes, if we cannot be with them on the Throne, or at Court, we will desire to be with them in the Countrey, Nay on the Dunghil. Oh the Spirit of David! Psal. 27. 4. One thi…g have I desired, and that I will seek for, though I never have it. What is that David? Is it to wear the Crown in Ierusalem? Is it to have all thine enemies lick the dust of thy feet? Is it to have thy Name spread, and thine Honour great through all the Kingdomes of the world? No, but that I may dwell in the Courts of the Lords House all the daies of my life, and that seeing I cannot, shall not die presently, and so go to see his Glory in Heaven, therefore that I may see his Beauty here, enjoy him here, and that not for some years, but all the daies of my life.

2. Ought you not to long to tast and passe through the sorrows of death, that you may be with him? And are Christs Ordinances more bitter than death, that you are loath to break through the difficulty of them, that in them you may enjoy him? The truth is so 'tis with many a man, that such is the strength of his hidden contempt of Christ, and his love to his sloath, that he had rather die than pray, and be damned eternally than to follow the Lord in an Ordinance till he hath found him graciously. How come Gods own people to lament this, if there were not this?

3. I remember a sweet speech of one with God, That a Christian ought to prepare for a Sacrament as he would prepare to die, for, saith he, there is but this difference, when we die we then go to Christ, in a Sacrament Christ comes to us. What he said of a Sacrament, I say of every Ordinance, in every Ordinance Christ comes to us, when we die we go to him. Now ought you to long when you are absent from him to be with him, and will you not care for him, nor long to see him and enjoy him when he comes to you? And so be worse than poor naked Indians, Christ comes not to them, no dews fall down on their Gilboahs, no Manna at their Tent doors, and hence they live without him, and desire him not; and when he comes to you, do you see no beauty in him now why you should desire him? Will you thus requi…e him for his love, ah foolish children and …wise?

4. Truly Beloved, you can have but little evidence you do desire the Lord Jesus company in Heaven at the last day, that long not vehemently after him in his Ordinances now. You have followed me in the regeneration, saith Christ, Mat. 19. 28. therefore you shall sit with me upon Thrones. If Christs presence here, a little of himself be burdensom, What will it be in Heaven then? Depart from me, saith Christ, I was in prison and you visited me not. Shall you depart for not visiting an imprisoned, persecuted, sick, sorrowful Christ in midst of miseries, and shall p. 106not you depart for rot visiting a comforting Christ, a teaching Christ, an intreating, embracing Christ in the midst of his Ordinances. If the Lord tries you with water, with a little of himself here, and you care not for him, long not after him, and hence let all leak out again, How shall the Lord trust you with wine? with full fruition of himself in Heaven?

5. Oh Beloved have you ever found him in his Ordinances? If not, Oh the heavy wrath of the Lord Jesus upon thee: If you have, if ever he hath comforted thee when sad and sorrowful, if ever quickned thee when death and darknesse did lie upon thee, if ever he did deliver thee when distressed, Oh then take heed of despising him in his Ordinances now, but long for him again, That I may see thee as I have seen thee, Psal.63. 2. Let them that never found him, deal so with him. Peter when he saw Christs Glory on the Mount, Lord saith he, 'tis good for us to be here. Hath the Lord ever transfigured himself before thee, so as he hath appeared in another manner to thee in his Ordinances than ever thou sawest before? Then say, seeing Lord I cannot come to Heaven to thee, 'tis good being in the Mount, in thy Ordinances with thee, its good being here, 1 Pet. 2. 2, 3, 4. I know Brethren you have many employments in the world, and are called away to them, and cannot ever be with the Lord, yet let your longings be there, nay though cast out of Gods sight, yet look to the Temple; this will give you peace.

6. This if I may have leave to speak plainly, is the great sin, one of them, of New-England. Men come over hither for Ordinances, and when they have them neglect them; or if it be too horrible to live in a grosse neglect of them, yet who maintains his Fellowship with Christ? or longing after the Fellowship of Christ in them? And therefore I shall stay a while on this point. Men that are sick of consumptions have somtimes a mighty stomach after meat, and when 'tis brought them, they are weary of the very smell of it, and then say, truly I had thought I could have eaten so much; so men loath Ordinances, nay the Cooks that dresse, and the Dish that brings, and the Ministry of Christ Jesus that provides the meat, because consuming and pining away in their iniquities. I know many use Ordinances, but are they not indifferent whether they find him therein or no? Now,

1. When men had enough by them to live comfortably upon, then God and his Ordinances were desired by them, but here mens removing begetting want, want of the creature joyned with fear and distrust of Gods Providence to provide for them and theirs, either sink their hearts, that Ordinances are not sweet, no more than Moses message to a people in anguish, or meat to a wounded man; or else makes them hungry after the creature, and hence lavishing out their desires, that they have none after the Lord himself.

2. When men are persecuted by enemies, driven into corners, or to Townes six miles off to find a Sacrament, or hear a Sermon, then the Gospel of peace, and them that brought the glad tidings of peace, their feet were beautiful, and then men thought if one Sabbath here so sweet where Ordinances are much corrupted, if some of them be so comfortable in the midst of enemies, Oh how sweet to enjoy them all among Saints, among Friends? And so I know they be to some, and I hope to more than I know; but New-Englands peace and plenty of means breeds strange security; and hence prayer is neglected here: There are no enemies to hunt you to Heaven, nor no chains to make you cry; hence the Gospel and Christ in it is sleighted. Why? Here are no soure herbs to make the Lamb sweet. And if I get no good this Sabbath, this Sermon, this Sacrament, this Prayer, I hope I shall some other time, when my heart is better, and my businesse is over: Not considering that the daies of trouble may be near, or Gods final farewel may be quickly taken.

3. It was a sad speech of a Brother lately, which hath oft affected me, that a p. 107man may pray out, hear out all the Grace of his heart: Meaning this, when God begins to work upon a mans heart at first, then prayer and Word is sweet, stay a while they hear out their hearing, and pray out their praying, so as in praying, they pray not; and in hearing, they hear not! Would to God there were no… a generation of those men among us, that having been so oft Sermon-trod and Prayer-beaten, that now their hearts are hardned, and being used to Ordinances, and being so long ridden under them, I wish they were not tired, and jaded under them before they come half way home, that they had rather lie & die in the high way, than get up and with mighty groans and invincible wrastlings of heart seek after, and so find the Lord in them.

4. There is no place in all the world, where there is such expectation to find the Lord, as here, and hence men blesse the Lord for our rising Sun, when 'tis setting every where else: Here therefore they come and find it not, hence not considering the great and last temptation of this place, whereby God tries his friends before he will trust them with more of himself, viz. deep and frequent desertions, they give in, and therefore care not for, nor desire after those plaisters which they feel heal them not, nor that food which they find nouris… eth them not. 'Tis strange to see what a Faith some men have that can close with Christ as their end, and comfort themselves there; 'tis not means (say they) but Christ, not duties but Christ, and by this Faith can comfort and quiet themselves in the neglect and contempt of Christ in means, as infallible a brand of Gods eternal reprobation of such a soul as any I know. So that this is New-Englands sin. Is not Prayer neglected, wanting place and heart? if not in family, is it not in secret? so that you have none, nor poor servants have none. If any Prayer in secret, yet doth it not die? Didst ever find thy Spirit so straitned? Where are the mighty groans? What is become of meditation? Dost not let Sabbaths, Sermons passe over, which shall be preacht over again at the last day, and find no Christ, no Spirit in them; and thus lie famishing, and …et not cry for bread? If it be not so, I am glad, God, Angels, Saints, and al the world shall call you blessed: If it be so, I dare be bold to prophesie ruine to this place and people, and that you or your pos…erity shall either in woods, or in the Land, or hands of your enemies in this place lament with tears the contempt of means; and you even Disciple; of Christ shall desire to see one of the daies of the Son of man, and shall not see them. Jer. 8. 13, 14. Let us go into strong holds, &c. I know there are many that do meet the Lord, but are you not apt to fall asleep again? Oh therefore let me entreat you, if the Lord hath espoused you to himself, if you have any longings after him in Heaven, seeing those desires cannot be fulfilled presently, Oh long to meet him here, and so long to meet him, as that you may indeed meet with him and with more and more of him.

SECT. VI.

VVHat is it to meet Christ, and to have Fellowship with him in an Ordinance?Quest.

I have been oft asked this,Answ. and for the sake of them that be weak, I shall give you a tast of it.

1. Therefore look as 'tis with a man that receives any common mercy from God, from Christ, if he sees not the Lord Jesus really giving it, he enjoyes it, but not Christ in it, though he get some good out of the thing: So let a man receive more knowledge of Truths, and more Truth be discovered, more Promises revealed, more affections and life dropt into the heart, which may do a man some good, yet if he sees them as separated from Christ, if he sees not the Truth as it is in Jesus, if he sees not Promises spoken from Heaven by Jesus, if p. 108he l…oks not on all Commands as part of the secret of Jesus, if he receive affections, and by them behold not the Lord Jesus, he doth not at that time enjoy the Lord Jesus. For he now indeed enjoyes his gifts, but by these he doth not enjoy him: And therefore then a man may be said to have fellowship with Christ in an Ordinance, when by all the light and life and comfort there, he comes to see him, and sees them all in him, and seeing a transcendent Glory in him, sees and beholds a hidden Glory in them. This Command is a secret of Jesus, this Promise the sweet voice of Jesus, these Consolations the comforts of Jesus, these Messengers the Ministers of Jesus, these Ordinances the Kingdom of Jesus. And therefore look throughout all the Scriptures, you shall see our Fellowship with Christ both in Heaven and here, 'tis exprest by seeing of the Lord, Iohn 17. 24. Psal. 63. 2. & 27. 4. I have oft said to my friends, the great sin of Christians is to see Scriptures, Ordinances, Truths, Commands, Blowes, Kindnesses, as not flowing from and abiding in the Lord Jesus, to see them separate from Christ, and not Christ and them together. And hence Promises comfort not, because you receive them not as spoken by Jesus: Commands awe not, because not as the voice of Jesus: Every Truth is not dear, because you see it not as the Bridegrooms voice. Parents that have had rude children, have turned them out of doors, they themselves have sent them money and cloaths in pity, but themselves have not been seen, that they might seek for a Fathers face at last: So when God is angry with some of his people, he doth send to them in his Providences and Ordinances, because he pities them, but himself is not seen. Why? That at last they might come home, and seek to see his face again, and say, What good does all this do me, if I see no God? I confesse he that receives gifts from another, ought to be thankful; but a heart that loves and longs after the Lord, will say, here is Blessing, Means, Truth, Warmth, but Lord when wilt thou come thy self? Oh labour for this!

2. When a man feels the power of the Lord Jesus in his Ordinances; this is the second part of Davids desire, Psal. 63. 2, 3. That I may see not only thy Glory, but thy power, for there is never a child of God but feels a strong party within him against Christ, so that he cannot seek Christ, cleave to Christ, live to Christ, now you will find in some Ordinances your hearts shaken and troubled for sin, and some desires and consolations stirred up, and hopes never to be as you have been: But Beloved all dies and falls down again: Now I confesse there is somwhat of Christ in all this; but yet content not your selves with this, because you want a power, or until you find a might power of Christ by little and little subduing sin, for when Christ comes into the heart indeed, he comes with his power, Psal. 24. 7, 8. The Lord of Hosts mighty in Battel. His flesh is meat indeed, Col. 1. 29. Christs power works in a man mightily. If you enjoy never such comfort, but find not a power pulling down thy lusts, there is no Christ. If a man be sick, and he eats his meat, and great care be had to tend him, but the disease is stronger than the strength of nature and food; ask him, Do you eat? Yes, but it doth me no good; So here: Such comfort, such a Christ doth you no good, unlesse you feel a power. Oh long to meet Christ, and enjoy Christ thus!

How shall I do this?Quest.

1. Mourn bitterly for the Lords absence as for one of the greatest evils that can befall thee.Answ. For Christs presence will never be sweet to him that can live without him, and can you look for him then? John 16. 22. You have now sorrow, which he said, filled their hearts, but I will see you again, visit you, come down to you by my Spirit again, and you shall rejoyce, and none shall take it away: And therefore its noted, the first that had comfort was Mary, when she sate at the Sepulcher weeping, Iohn 20. 11, &c. And therefore do but observe your own hearts, when your hearts have been soaked in grief, for want of or for the absence of Christ, Oh I have lived without him, and prayed without him, and heard p. 109without him, and spoke without him, him that hath pitied me, spared me, overcome me, laid down his life, sent his Spirit to me! that then you shall more or lesse see the Lord, and feel the power and presence of the Lord. Oh Beloved, shall not Heaven be sweet to you without him, and shall earth be sweeter than Heaven, that you can live here without him? Beloved, whatever you account of it now, in Hell the sting of all sorrowes shall be this, Oh Christ hides his face? One frown shall be more bitter than death, than a thousand deaths, and shall it be so in Hell, and shall not many frowns, many daies be more bitter than death? Shall it be so to Devils, and not to Saints? Shall the hiding of Christs face from enemies be heavy, and shall not his friends take it to heart? If you do not, then think not to meet him, but that Word and Prayer shall be dead drink to thee; but if you do, I tell thee if he manifests himself to any, he will reveal himself to thee.

2. Prize and love his presence, his face, the lifting up of the light of his countenance. Princes will not come, or if they do, not stay, if they perceive their company is a burden, and is not esteemed; no more will the Lord Jesus. They that are fallen in love together will find out each other though it be at midnight; prize Christs company, and you will not complain for want of time, and say you cannot, but you will find him out in Word, in prayers, though others be fast asleep, Mat. 13. 44. When the man sells all, now he buyes the field, hath it, and enjoyes it. You would have the Lords company and fellowship, I believe you; But what will you give for it? I will tell you. It may be you will give him the hearing for it, and give him a few good wishes, and a few good words, and a little leisure. But will you turn the whole world behind your back, and whatever you have out of doors, that he may come in: That now 'tis not honour, nor wealth, nor life, nor ease, nor Heaven, but him, and that not only in Heaven, but in his Swadling-clouts, his Ordinances here, beleeve it salvation is at your doors. Zacheus being a low man of stature, gets out of the crowd, stan…s in the way, and the Lord bids him come down. Do thus when you come to any Ordinance, I tell you 'tis better than an host of Angels compassing thee about with praises. Oh that you had the life of experience! Hast not found him better than friends, than means, than thy self? Oh that you would believe expetience!

3. Make it not your task but your trade to seek for him, that you may enjoy him he…e. Make this your businesse. Men make it not their main businesse to seek our Christ, but only some work they must dispatch by the by. They make it not their Trade but their Task which must be done. Esan would have the blessing, but 'tis his hunting that he delights in. You shall have a man that is a close worldling, come and hear, and joy therein, but his trade his heart is after that, Ezek. 33. 31. Look but on a Christian at his first conversion, what great gains gets he then? Oh 'tis his trade to follow the Lord, afterward he is idle, and then feels little, Mat. 13. 46. Li…e a merchant, he ventures all, and then finds. Now you shall find him, Heb. 11. 6. He is the rewarder, not of them that seek him sluggishly, but diligently. What do you else seek for? Why spend you your money for that which is not bread? Or if there be ought else that is necessary, let thy care be for him, and his care shall be for thee.

4. Look before thou comest to an Ordinance, if there be no lust, no stumbling block of iniquity that thou harbourest in thy heart, or sufferest to remain in the sight of God, Isa. 59. 1, 2. I have know in experience, and seen it in Scripture, many of Gods people and others have taken on that God hides his face, &c. And this hath been found to be the cause, either some sin not yet subdued or mortified, or some sin that they have not gone for pardon of to the Blood of Christ, and so unpardoned. When both these have been removed, the Lord hath appeared, Exod. 24. 10. After the Covenant made by Blood, they saw the God of Israel. p. 110Ezek. 14. 3. Should I be enquired of by them that set the stumbling block of their iniquities? &c. Come therefore to an Ordinance that the Lord would take away thy …, do not come to it that you may be comforted in your sin, so that though there be sin in your heart, yet the Lord will not cast that in thy dish, when thou comest to him to take it away. It may be you know none. You know not what Spirit you are of. Get the Lord to discover it to thee.

5. Oh be thankful, and cleave the closer to Christ for a little: For that's the infinite mercy and love of Christ to his people, he lets them see their end, the height of Grace and Glory the Lord will bring them to, but makes them feel the want of it, and tast but a little, but the first-fruits. Now there is Satans policy to make them sleight what they have, because they have not what they would have. Hence Christ estrangeth himself greatly; Do you thus despise my love; Oh therefore cleave close to him for that little, and then see, John 1. 50. Thou shalt see greater things than these, the Son of God, and Angels ascending and descending on him. Think that I feel or have the sense of any want of Grace, and peace, and mercy, and Christ, Oh 'tis mercy! That I have the Star, oh this is mercy, this brought them to Christ himself afterward. Oh unthankfulnesse stops Cods heart! God will never cease pouring out on thee, that art pouring out praises on him; for else mans kindnesse should exceed the Lords.

Thus you see the Means, now use them, and long for the Lord Jesus in them, and so long as that you may meet him; and do it presently, else you may seek and not find him, and die in your sins, Iohn 8. 21. A sad and heavy speech. Hath God singled you out of all people in the world to enjoy him, and will you now forsake him, and be eaten up with your Lots, and buried in the bellies of your Beasts, or sit grieving that your estates are sunk? It may be Hypocrites will forsake the Lord Jesus, but will you also depart? Others care not for him, others long not after him, others give him no meeting, will you depart? Lord to whom shall we go? Oh and long for more of him, forget what is behind, and hear, and pray as if thou never didst so before, as if but new to begin. There is a plot afoot to make you loath Ordinances, that so God may loath you: Men that are sick and like to die, can eat no common wholsom meat, but are now nourished by conserves, and Alchermies, and Spirits of Gold: So when wholsom Truths of God are despised, men are deadly sick, when any new-fangled device shall feed their fancy. The Lord keep you from it. Oh do you love and long for the Lord in them the more, for his Spirit, his love, his Truth, his Christ, his company, his Grace, his consolations, and then when death comes, you shall not need to fear it, but make it welcome, and when Conscience shall ask, Do you think to be with the Lord? Oh it shall be peace in thy bosom! Lord thee have I longed for, thee have I sought for, wept for here, because I could not come to thee presently in Heaven. Now Lord let me come to thee, and so go triumphing to Glory.

SECT. VII.

HEnce we see no Christian ought to content himself with any measure of knowledge or fellowship with the Lord Jesus here.Use 7. For if full, perfect and immediate fellowship with him in Heaven and at last day ought to be the mark he aimes at, and journies end of all his desires, then he is not to sit down in the mid-way, but to breath, and aspire after still more and more of him. Thus Paul, though fully sealed with the Spirit, yet he makes this his mark, Phil. 3. 14, 15, 16. 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13. The Apostle tels them the Prophe…s looked after the Grace given in their times, therefore gird up your loyns, and hope perfectly for Grace to be given you at the revelation of Christ Iesus. Men that have preferment in p. 111their eye, and are to come on by degrees to it, never content themselves with any (though they will not sleight what they have) until they come to their highest: You are born to great hopes, sleight not what you have, but look after more, 2 Pet. 3. 18.

Hence three sorts are to be greatly blamed. For as 'tis with sinful lusts, so 'tis with spiritual, they are endlesse, infinite, and unsatiable, if they want, they are not satisfied; if they have, they are whe… on in their appetites after more. Oh let it be so here!

1. Some there be that are so far from thirsting after more of him, that they have forsaken his fellowship, and lie still content it should be so. Time was while horrour was upon their Consciences, trouble in their minds, and heat of affection lasted, that their prayers were many, their tears abundant, they could not take their rest in the night, but pray they must, they could not hear of a Sermon, but through wet and dry to it; and it may be the Lord drew them with the cords of a man, and laid meat before them, and sweetned their labours with great hopes to them; but the Father not having drawn them with an invincible power, and knit them by an indissolluble union to Christ, they are now fallen off from Christ, Iohn 6. 66. And if you observe it, he looks not after them, speaks not one word to them, because content to be without him. Would to God this were not the temper of Saints that know it was better with you once than now, and God hedgeth your way with thorns, and gives you no rest. But Oh the grievous wracks of Professours! One can see some Boards and Planks at low water, but that's all, Ier.2. 13, 14. The Lord will fetch you home if he loves you, by weeping Crosse.

2. Some there are that fall not to forsake the Lord, but like the door on the hinge, and wheel on the pin, hang and turn about where they did. This Gods own people are very apt to do, and hence the Apostle wisheth them to take heed of it, from a dreadful Argument, Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6, 7.

First, Because the Lord at first conversion drawes his people swee…ly, drives them gently; being weak and young Infants, as yet keeps them in his armes, that they may find a greater good in him than in the world: But afterward he suffers Satan to tempt, himself deserts them, leads through a wildernesse of sinnes and miseries, that they may know what is in their own hearts. Hence now if they will have mercy, they must fetch it, fight for it, and overcome, now hence sloath is apt to prevail for a time, as with the Disciples.

Secondly, Because before they have Christ, they feel a total want, afterward but a partial, & hence apt to be ful & self-confident in what they have, their stomachs are staid by some bits, & hence the Lord is fain to withdraw the feeling of all that which they had before, that they feeling how soon that vanisheth, might hunger after more; as the Disciples could have been content with Christs being upon earth with them, then saith he, the Spirit will not come, hence away he goes, that they might have more of him in the Spirit. But this is too common with many Hypocrites.

1. When men serve their turn of Christ. There is never a Hypocrite living but closeth with Christ for his own ends, for he cannot work beyond his Principle. Now when men have served their own turns out of another man, away they go, and keep that which they have. An Hypocrite closeth with Christ as a man with a rich shop; he will not be at cost to buy all the shop, but so much as serves his turn. Commonly men in horrour seek for so much of Christ as will ease them, and hence professe and hence seek for so much of Christ as will credit them, and hence their desires after Christ are soon satisfied. Appetitus finis est infinitus.

2. No Hypocrite though he closeth with Christ, and for a time grow up in knowledge of, and communion with Christ, but he hath at that time hidden p. 112lusts, and thorns that overgrow his growings, and choakall at last; and in conclusion mediates a League between Christ and his lusts, and seeks to reconcile them together: Christ saith out with every Lust, and let more of my self come in; no saith sin, let me stay here, remember what ease, what honour I bring you, I cannot leave you: Now a man moderates, I'le keep my Lust because I love it, but I'le …eep it as my burden, that I may have Christ with it. Christ calls to seek for more of him, Lust saith no, the work is hard, and duties are difficult. And 'tis it may be to no purpose to seek, you have other irons in the fire, many worldly businesses: Now here men moderate; Do not say thou wilt seek no more after him, nor indeed use means diligently for more of him; be sure only you give him some desires to be better, and this will serve the turn. The Lord Jesus wooes many a soul whom he never matcheth himself; one comes and wins the heart afterward, and makes the match: so here, The l…sts of a mans heart grow sweeter than Christ and his Ordinances, and hence there is no heart to seek after more of Christ, when the Match is once made with the world, and affections won, 2 Tim. 4. 10.

3. Some seek for more of Christ, but 'tis of an idol christ, not as manifesting himself in and by a Word: for look as any act of obedience is an act of willworship and imagery, that we have not a particular command for, or is not directly deducted from some rule in the Word; so that act of Faith is an act of willworship, which sees and chuseth Christ as his own, when he hath not a particular promise for it, 'Tis an imagination of Christ, not Christ; and you have more of your own imagination, not more of the Lord Jesus, 1 Pet. 1. 25. Monks had sublime… contemplations of God, Luther calls them such as looked upon a Deus & Christus absolutus,—not beholding the beams of his love, and glory in the word. Oh therefore labour for more of such a Christ, as the word holds forth. And look as in Heaven,

First, They are all one with him in fellowship, the Father in him, and he in them, and they in him, and so made perfect in one.

Secondly, They have his fellowship only: so do you long for more of his fellowship, so as to be made more one with him, and him with you, so as he may be your strength, and life, and peace, and for his fellowship only, otherwise you may go without him at last, Luke 13. 26, 27. Have we not eat and drank in thy presence, &c. The Jews before Christs coming had Christs presence then, but a greater measure of it is given to the Church since his Resurrection and Glorification, for it was reserved to honour Christ in his first coming. But how many be there that see not the Lord Jesus so as they did under vails? either get more, or say Christ is not risen, Iohn 14. 16. Christ promiseth to send his Disciples another comforter: who was that? the spirit of truth whom the world could not receive, because it knew him not: Why had the Disciples no spirit now? yes, he was in them, but not that full measure, with which though they were not as yet sealed, yet they knew they had him, and that Christ was theirs too. So, hast thou the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, Oh begg for more of it, not miraculous gifts, for that is in vain, but more of the special powerful presence and fulnesse of it, for 'tis this that the world cannot receive. I have oft feared it's the great sin of this last age to comfort and settle christians in their weak beginnings, as though there was no more of Gods Spirit to be poured down in times of the Gospel. But consider,

First, What came you into this wildernesse to see, Reeds shaken with the wind? No, for more of the Lord Jesus, and will you now forget the end for which you come? it may be you never found lesse, no but God is emptying of you that you might seek for more. Herod a long time desired to see Jesus, and then despised him.

Secondly, You have here more means to have fellowship with the Lord, and will you content your self with what you have had. If you do what can you look for, but that the Lord should take away Ordinances, if they do you no more p. 113good, and ease you of the burden of the Lord of Hosts; or send sad and he…vy tryals: It's that I have oft thought of, why are the wicked …, and Saints deb… sed? the worst are not bad enough to receive their plagues, nor the best good enough to partake of blessings. You have had so…e me…n▪ do you so…e good, here you have more, that you may receive more good, more li…e, more of Christ Jesus; if not, then look for fire to purge you if you be Gold, o… flames to devour you if you be but rottennesse and stubble. But is this thus? the Jews did long …o Christ, and when he ca…e they cruci…ied him, they loved the Prophets, they … have Prophets and their b…ood too, to shy the…; you love the Messenger… of Christ, and you would have more of Christ, &c. they have them Lord, but despise them, they have them, but condemn them, they have them, and though they will not cast them out of their place, yet they will so weary the…r spirits, and grieve thy Spirit in them, that they will make the… glad to bury themselves, and leave their places. You shall have Prophe…s, and their Blood too, and their tears and sorrows too. But why do I co…pl…in? Let me perswade: oh labour for more of Christ in his Servants, in his Ordinances, in his Providences, in his Saints, until at last thy desires break thy vessel, and carry thee up to behold the Lord in Heaven. If there were never saving work of Grace wrought, but thou hast only rested in Duties without Christ, now sell thy self out of all for him. If there be any that the Lord hath setled there on his pro…i…e which never can be shaken, hold your stedfa…tness, but yet still grow in Grace, and in the knowledg of the Lord Jesus.

SECT. VIII.

OH long to be with the Lord Jesus. Before a man h…th Christ,Use 5. Of Exhort. now his desires should be to have him; when he hath Christ, now his longings should be to be with him. Do thus in this place, especially in this Age. I have oft thought one great end of Gods bringing his own people into this place is to … them to die, and be with Christ. Men have heard of Christ, and passed th…ugh the waves of death, and stood many a week within six inches of De…th to see Christ here; well, when you come here, God visits you with troubles, temptat…ons, losses, desertions, fears for future times; here it may be you see (as some see) an end of all perfection, Church-builders, Church-ordinances, Church-professors, &c. or if they find the Lord, 'tis soon gone; why all is that you might long to be at home.

The Lord when he called Abraham out of his own Country to his Friends,M…tive 1. he followed the Lord he knew not whither. You live now out of your Fathers house, and from all your Friends that long to see you, nay are left among enemies, and you know whither you are to go, to God the Iudge of all, and to an … able compa…y of Angels, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect.

Look but upon the men of this world, they long for things here,Motive 2. though but te…poral, though they have no Christ. Oh long for this though thou … no world.

When Christ would needs go to Ierusalem, Iohn 11. 16. saith Thomas,Motive 3. Let us go and die with him, and shall not we go to live with him?

Did Moses forsake Egypts honours, treasures, and embraced the reproach of Christ as far better. Oh if God should se… thee up in a Throne,Motive 4. Oh depart from it to enjoy the glory of Christ himself in Glory!

G…ant Death he dreadful,Motive 5. yet when Soldiers see their Captain upon the walls among the enemies, they will presse hard after to follow, though they die in the brea…h. To part with sin is bitter, or to part with Christ, but to part with the body for a …ime, and cast off the clothes, this will be …ound to be exceeding sweet.

p. 114Friends that send to us, and provide for us in a desart place, we … to see them. Now who bath clothed thee, comforted,Motive 6. pardoned, revived, found thee, kep… thee that nothing hath hurt thee? nay that thy sins have humbled thee, and done thee good: Oh '…s Christ! Wilt not say, who and where is he … doth all this?

Oh consider how glad the Lord Jesus will be of thoe, though the world and th… art weary of thy self,Motive 7. Zeph. 3. 17. Luke 10. 21. I thank thee O …: so will the Lord say then.

Labour for assurance that Christ is thine,Means 1. else you will fear Death and … follows it, and such an assurance as doth not only chase away …, but fears, at least in the power of them; for there is many a … find the Proposition true in the word, He that c…mes to … the Spi…it clears Gods work, and his own experience, and saith, … Christ now when he comes to make the conclusion, though …e … not sin against clear light and evidence of the Spirit, and conclude, yet I … yet he dares not, nor …annot for a time conclude fully: why? because of some fears, what if I should be mistaken, and when I die all prove naugh… and while this fe… lasts you will not long (till needs must) to be with … you fear or suspect Christ as an enemy, you will not hear…ly love … long to be with him: therefore get these fears removed.

How may this be?Quest.

…om. 8. 15, 16. By the Spirit of Adoption only;Answ. for though I do not exclude the work of sanctified reason from the witnesse of the Spirit, yet this I say, that all the men in the world, nor all the wisdom and reason of man can never chase away all fears, scatter all mists till the Spirit it self saith peace and be still, and puts its hand and seal to the Evidence: till the Spirit not by an audible, but power… voice shews and …erswades, Acts 12. 13, 14, 15, 16. They had been praying for P…ter, Peter knocks, the Damsel saith, Peter is there; now see their unbelief after such a mighty Spirit of Prayer, 'Tis his Angel, say they, and could not be perswaded till he came in and shewed himself. So the soul is praying a mans own Spirit goes out and sees there is more unbelief and fear, say no '…is a delusion: well the Spirit still knocks, and the soul opens, and then he comes in, and the soul is astonished. And that you may have it,

1. See there he no guilt upon thy conscience, no reservation, love, liking to some lost, Heb. 10. 22. For these fears are commonly the fruit of guilt which is not washed away, but by the blood of sprinkling.

2. Pray for the S…irit, Psalm 8 5. from 4. to 9. say they, 1. T…n us from si…, 2. Turn from thy …rath, when the Father is angry, then no good word. 3. The end, That our hearts may rejoyce … thee. 4. S…ew us mercy. 5. Then they come to listen after it, for many times a Friend speaks not because he hath us not alone.

3. Mo…n heavily for want of it,Means 2. Psal. 51. 8 and so look for it in a word. Labour to partake of the fellowship of Christs Resurrection, else no desires can be raised up, Col. 3, 1. 2.

Quest. What is that?

Ans. Look as we then have fellowship with Christ, and with the Chur…h in miseries, when we from the serious apprehension of their sorrows, condole and … with them, so with Christ in Glory, when from serious deep apprehensions of his Glory, we reign with him, we are risen with him: for let a man be assured Christ is not his if he knows not what the worth and glory of his fellowship is a man will then never long to be with him: Oh therefore labour to comp…ehend this glory of the Lord Jesus, and that by the spi…it of Revelation, Ephes. 1. 17. 18. The word reveals the Glory of Saints, that there is a kingdom, that they shall be p. 115Perfect in one, that they shall have that Glory the Father hath given to Christ, Iohn 17. 22. Oh get the Spirit to shew thee the thing what this means, what this is; else somthing in the world will make you look back. There are false Spies that vilifie Gods Kingdom to his Saints, Oh say 'tis a good God, and countrey, and Christ, and Mercy, and love; let me go up and possesse it. O… get the Lord to give thee but one glimpse of this!

Thus much of the first verse.