A Glimpse of Gospel Glory, Sermon (2 of 2)

A Glimpse of Gospel Glory · Sermon (2 of 2)

p. 82Fifthly, The largeneſs of the time, or continuance allotted for this work, above all the other excellent illuſtrations of it. Firſt, Creatio fit in inſtanti, ſo the Learned, Creation is done in an inſtant; the whole work was finiſhed and celebrated in a weeks ſpace at firſt, ſuſtentation is the continuance of that for a limited time; and Gubernation here, is but while this courſe of nature, or Creatures, or rather ſupportation in their rankes from God, is ſo variouſly diſpoſed of in ſuch wonderful manner, after the good pleaſure of his will, but the time allotted for the contriving, effecting, applying, confirming, carrying on and perfecting this moſt glorious work of Goſpel grace, is not only a long time, but all time, and not only time, but eternity too, yea, all eternity in reference to the eternal and coequal Trinity of perſons, in the unity of the divine nature: Now this illuſtration of the length of time, for rayſing a work, may more clearly appear from a threefold evidence; Firſt, of nature, the baſer ſort of creatures ſoon come to their height of ſtature, as is obſervable in p. 83varieties of ſorts of plants, and beaſts, and fowls. Secondly, in Reaſon, the more excellent the nature of a work, and the more accurately it is to be wrought, the longer time is required to provide for it, to accompliſh it. Thirdly, in experience, both of Nature & Art; by all which, the long continuance for the rayſing of this work, may be manifeſt above all the reſt, which is an other of its excellencies; unto which let us now adde the

Sixt, Namely, in regard of the way and manner of the rayſing of this work, by the conſtant ſhining out of the wonderful glory of the Father, Son, and Holy ghoſt, all the time it is in rayſing. Oh the unſpeakeable ſplendor of the wiſdome and power, of the grace and goodneſs, of the mercy and truth, in reference to all the holy perſons in that undivided Trinity, made evident therein, from the beginning of the world, and ſhall be to the end thereof, in ſuch glorious mnnifeſtations, continually, breaking forth through all ſucceſſions of Ages, as can never be ſufficiently admired, nor much leſs celebrated with praiſes both from men and Angels, in all things that concern the way and manner of the revealing & exhibiting, as p. 84will be of the perfecting of that moſt precious grace, from and by thoſe ſacred perſons derived. Whether we reſpect the ſufficiency, the ſureneſs, the efficacy, the happineſs in ſuch way and manner continually held out, and communicated unto the world; Firſt, ſufficient to make up all the Creatures wants, to anſwer all their doubts. Secondly, Sure to remove all their fears, & ſettle all deſirable ſecurity to them. Thirdly, Effectually to carry on againſt all obſtacles, and to accompliſh all and more then they could hope for or deſire. Fourthly, To adminiſter what ever good they are capable of receiving, to make them perfectly bleſſed; let your thoughts be inlarged upon theſe particulars, I muſt leave them as the dry bones in Ezekiels Propheſie, till the Spirit cauſeth fleſh to come upon them, to cover them; for I feare to be tedious, even in a ſubject ſo precious and pleaſant, to ſuch as have intereſt in it, but therefore not pleaſant unto others, becauſe they find not any to themſelves, yea, they know it not, and therefore they deſire it not, yea, they are not willing to know it, leaſt they muſt looſe thoſe Idols wherein they take more pleaſure: But thus much at preſen…, p. 85of Gods own undertaking, in the moſt ſutable manner to all his own moſt bleſſed purpoſes, reſpecting both himſelf and his creatures, according to his own good pleaſure, as we ſhall indeavour afterwards to ſhew, and is evident from all paſſages to this purpoſe in holy writ, unſpeakeably above what is to be found in any other his great and glorious works, here being a way for the magnifying of the riches of his free grace, only revealed in his word, which is therefore magnifyed above all his name, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith remarkably, Pſ. 138. in ſuch a concurrence of all Divine excellencies as is no where elſe to be found, ſince there and there only, we have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4. 6.

Seaventhly, In regard of the ſubordinate meanes of raiſing up this work, [not here to ſpeak of the chief, the holy Spirit as proceeding from the Father and the Son] for we ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak of him afterwards, as the Lord the Spirit, the prime efficient cauſe of the efficaciouſneſs of all other meanes; but only of his inferior means, ſuch as Angels, men extraordinarily inſpired, ordinarily qualified, ordinances ſanctified, p. 86and providences, and many other means o… Creatures, ſometime at his pleaſure bleſſed, to be in ſome ſort inſtrumental in this work; For ſometimes to uſe Angels in it, was an honour to it, but to have uſed them alwayes, would have been terrible to weak and fraile Creatures, beſides otherwiſe incommodious to them; when as to uſe mans miniſtry is natural, familiar, affecting, as being of the ſame nature, and lyable to the ſame miſerie, capable of the ſame happineſs, provided for by the ſame God, tendred in the ſame way, concluded in the ſame concernments, obliged by the ſame ingagements, and yet at his pleaſure to uſe other wayes and inſtruments, ſhewes the freneſs of all that grace; any of theſe [pro hio & nunc] in any particular caſe, he can uſe at his pleaſure, but [ex inſtituto] by his appointment, the preaching of the word by men, is ordinarily his means, Ro. 10. 14. efficaciouſly to work this Spiritual grace in the Soul, yet natural, occaſional, providential, morral means, he likewiſe ſometime uſeth as helps thereunto, as natural affection, good examples, good inſtitutions, good ſociety, afflictions, judgements, dangers, troubles, as bleſſed by him to advance the ſame, and p. 87beſides extraordinary working by men, what he doth ordinarily by them, he doth with great variety, to manifeſt himſelfe a free and voluntary agent therein, and that means cannot do it alone; and therefore ſometimes by babes and ſucklings, by mean and unlikely inſtruments, in this kind, he ſets forth his own praiſe, Pſ. 8. 2. An other time he will uſe more eminent inſtruments, a Moſes in the Law, an Eſay amongſt the Prophets, a Paul amongſt the Apoſtles, learned, noble, eminent perſons in gifts, in parts, in reputation with men, as better helps, that they may the better advance the grace or glory of this work of the Lord; and yet again, ſometimes he denies the ſucceſs to them, he gives to meaner perſons, becauſe he is bound to none; the Sacraments are likewiſe means to confirme and increaſe that grace, which yet is neither tied to them, nor yet cannot be had without them, yet not to be neglected, or much leſs contemned by men, becauſe they are inſtituted and appointed by him: Again, prayer likewiſe is his own ordinary general means to be uſed by all perſons, at all times, upon all occaſions; Pray continually, Acts 6. 4. Pray without ceaſing, p. 881 Theſ. 5. 17. To which thanksgiving is to be annexed, and ſometime faſting, vowes, and the like; but prayer, I ſay, is his general means to promote the end of all the reſt, and make them uſeful in his own work, the better to make all men to know and remember, that the efficacy of all the other, is only to be expected from himſelf, in the humble, faithful, and obedient uſeing of them all; ſo that all theſe meanes in their ſeveral times and kinds, are glorious, in reference unto the end of their chief Author, but all, and only, freely and voluntarily, according to his own good pleaſure; and as all the means are his, ſo the effects muſt ever be acknowledged his, becauſe they are not like other inferior means, meerly natural, but altogether voluntary to him, and all their ſucceſs from his free grace.

But eighthly, for the object of this gracious work, for whom, and in reference unto whom, immediatly it is by him contrived and raiſed, and that is man, by his defection corrupted in his originall excellency, depraved in his miſerable condition, forlorne, helpleſſe, hopeleſſe, and yet regardleſſe of himſelfe (the Epidemical diſeaſe of all his poſteritie) p. 89and leſſe regarded of any or all other creatures, who if they had regarded his miſerable condition, yet notwithſtanding had been altogether inſufficient for his reſcue or reliefe; he being a creature that had abuſed ſuch precious goodneſſe, ſlighted ſuch precious favour, ſo wickedly caſt away ſuch glorious excellence, fooliſhly loſt ſo great happineſſe both for himſelfe and all his poſteritie; and what muſt he then doe? yea rather what muſt he needs in that caſe deſervedly ſuffer? or whatſoever of wrath, woe, or miſery ſo great a ſin of ingratitude, unfaithfulneſſe, rebellion, pride, emulation, envie, folly, yea ſuch accumulated wickedneſſe againſt a moſt gracious God, and moſt bountifull creator, had made him and all his poſteritie to all eternitie juſtly liable to, namely, the infinite wrath of the infinitely glorious and good Jehovah: Oh where was then ſuch an object of ſo glorious grace in the whole Creation to be found? Angells ſinned in an higher rank and ſtation, and with a more generall and high attempt againſt Gods Crowne and Dignitie, when man that was in a lower condition looked only to be like God in knowing good and evill, not to be equall in dignitie to him; the Angels therefore are in Juſtice caſt down p. 90lower, and ſo are become deſperate damned Devils; Angels ſinned without a tempter, but mans aſſaults were primarily ſet on by Satans malice, ſecretly and ſubtilly carried on by the Serpent and the Woman, his ſubordinate, or at leaſt ſuborned Inſtruments: Angels ſinned but individually, each for himſelfe alone, they had no poſteritie; but man, the roote of all his race hath worthily incurred both [Paenam Damnis & paenam ſenſus,] the puniſhment of loſſe, and the puniſhment of ſenſe, both for himſelfe and all them. How was then the Juſtice and mercy of the infinitely wiſe God, in appearance, at a great conteſt, which ſhould prevaile for or againſt man? Juſtice would be ſatisfied upon him, mercy would be glorified in him; Juſtice looks upon his ſin againſt the infinite God, with all the aggravations of it; mercy looks upon the forlorne helpleſſe ſtate of man, with all ſuch mittigations and extenuations of his fall, as ſhe could diſcover; here were indeed the fire and the wood, wrath and the fit object of it, but where is the burnt offering, as Iſaac once ſaid unto his father, when his father expecting he ſhould be the Lambe, anſwered him more truly then he knew or thought of, God ſhall provide himſelfe a Lamb; p. 91and look what Abraham and Iſaac here were but myſticall types and ſhaddows of, God had from everlaſting really decreed, and in due time fulfilled, concerning that immaculate Lamb his only begotten Sonne, ſlaine in the ſame decree of his Father, before the foundations of the world were layd; In him were Mercy and Truth ſo met together, Righteouſneſſe and Peace ſo kiſſed each other, Pſ: 85. 10. And what from everlaſting he ſo decreed, in fullneſſe of time he accordingly accompliſhed: The true Iſaac beares the full burthen of his fathers wrath, and yet injoyes the fullneſſe of his love, whileſt that he beares it not for himſelfe, but others, not for any the leaſt declining of his own, but to finiſh the work his Father had ſent him for into the world; not ignorantly and unknowingly, as his type, nor with reluctancy, as …eeding to be bound, but willingly and readily yeelding himſelfe, reckoning it even Satans aſſault in a zealous Peter, when out of ſeeming love he adviſeth him againſt it, ſaying, Get thee behinde me Satan; nor was he forcibly conſtrained by his fathers power, but reſolved of himſelfe to lay it down voluntarily, being in his own power; and yet not ſo as to caſt himſelfe away like a deſperate helpleſſe man, p. 92but ſtill retained his power againſt all oppoſition to raiſe himſelfe againe. O wonderfully mercifull Father! O wonderfully gracious Redeemer! how are all the diſcerning abilities of thy moſt excellent creatures ſwallowed up by this bottomleſſe depth of thy infinite grace! When thou ſaweſt there was none to deliver, that there was no Interceſſour, therefore thine own arme brought ſalvation, and thy righteouſneſſe it ſuſtained thee, Iſa: 59. 16. Here, here was an object fit only for the wiſdome, power, and goodneſſe of an infinite God to ſhew it ſelfe, and in a way and means ſuitable to the otherwiſe helpleſſe condition of ſuch a wretched creature, who ſhall therefore have a wonderfull deliverer; but yet his miſery at preſent ſhall not altogether be taken away, but he ſhall yet continue in that world wherein he firſt had ſinned, that ſhall be to him the place of his priſon, where he committed his firſt his late moſt hainous offence, and that the more remarkably, in that his former happy Palace, is now by his ſin become a ſtinking Dungeon to him; his Paradiſe of pleaſure formerly, is now become a very Bridewell for his correction; his painleſſe exerciſe before, is now exchanged for painfull toyle, manifeſt by the ſweat of his browes; p. 93inſtead of his ſucceſsfull labour without wearineſſe, he ſhall be vexed with much loſt labour and wearineſſe therewith, [Aethiopem lavabit, magno conatu magnas nugas aget,] he ſhall often endeavour to no purpoſe, and greatly endeavour to no purpoſe, and greatly endeavour to ſmall purpoſe; but yet worſe than this, in his priſon he ſhall have a Jaylour too, but the worſt of creatures by defection, and his own worſt enemy, his hatefull and firſt murtherer (at leaſt in his hopes and purpoſes,) had not God then in ſuch a caſe ſpeedily, graciouſly, and unexpectedly ſtept in for his reſcue or reprieve: But before ſuch deliverance particularly can come home, by reaſon this curſed Jaylour, having man in ſome ſort in his cuſtody, endeavours to make him his perpetual vaſſal, and when in this he finds he doth prevaile ſometime, ſuch ſhall have the priviledge of his priſonhouſe, but only for this moſt wretched end, to make them the more ſworne ſlaves to himſelfe, to others he will not vouchſafe the like libertie of their priſon, but holds them faſt in hard bondage, and becauſe he would the more harden them for hell-torments hereafter, he begins to plague them with an hell upon earth, but not as men ſometimes put in Bedlam by their friends to regaine p. 94their wits, but to make them ſpiritually the more mad, and eternally the more miſerable; any way to engage them the moſt temporally to his vaſſallage, and eternally to his torments, and the rather, becauſe that enviouſly and ſpitefully, he yet ſurely knowes, there is a yeare of Jubile proclaimed from the moſt Soveraigne and Almightie King, and that there is a Deliverer Come, by whoſe appointment Heralds at Armes, or rather Embaſſadours of peace, are ſent abroad to publiſh the ſame with the conditions thereof, upon abundant teſtimony under his hand and ſeales with ſufficient authoritie and moſt certain evidence for mans ſecuritie therein; but yet I ſay upon his own tearmes alone. But how doth the Devil their Jaylour now play his pranks, to diſappoint the purpoſe of ſuch publiſhed grace, and to keep his priſoners either from hearing (if poſſible) the ſound of this good newes, by ſtopping it from their eares, or if he cannot doe that, to ſtop their eares againſt it by many diverſions of hopes, or eaſe, or pleaſure, or profit, or elſe by prejudice, or danger, or reproach, or feare, or perſecution, or any thing, or all (if it may be) to hinder the ſame, that they may not come neare to hearken to thoſe commiſſionated p. 95Heralds at Armes, or Embaſſadours of peace; but if they muſt needs be within the hearing of them, he will diſparage their termes, as too hard, impoſſible, not ſure, not warrantable, or too damnifying, or the like; he will tell them falſe tales of golden apples, and ſweet and pleaſant grapes, which are growing for them in his Garden, when they are indeed but apples of Sodome, and grapes of Gomorrha, aſhie apples, and bitter grapes; he will tell them much of great treaſures and pleaſures with him to be had, when they are, but as men ſay of Witches feaſts in the caves of the earth, only phantaſticall, but nothing reall; he will tell them of golden mountaines they ſhall have by his ſervice, when there is nothing but fire and flames of brimſtone in the bowells thereof, belching forth continually before-hand their noyſome ſtench, with flames and ſmoake and aſhes of Gods wrathfull diſpleaſure againſt them; Yet all the Devills priſoners will hearken more to his lyes, than unto Gods Embaſſadours, or his truth, all the while they are in his bondage, and knowing nothing better than what they at preſent conceive they find, they will not be perſwaded that there is any thing better than what they think they know; Neither p. 96will they believe that they ſhall finde any thing worſe hereafter, than what they at preſent feele; and ſo what with his charmes and baits on the one hand, and what with his gyves, manacles, and chaines on the other hand, their eares are either ſtopped like the deafe Adders that refuſe to heare, or elſe bored through at his doore, like voluntary ſlaves readily agreeing with him for their own perpetuall bondage. But here the wonder-working God againe appeares, who having ſealed ſome to the day of Redemption, and having given thoſe unto the Redeemer, whom likewiſe the Redeemer hath particularly and fully ranſomed, even thoſe he will reſcue out of that bondage, yea out of that death of ſin and Satan; unto them are his Embaſſadours ſpecially ſent, but they likewiſe will not heare, and therefore while he ſends many times and often for a long continuance, (it may be) and importunately by them in his own name, beſeecheth them to be reconciled to him for their own good, though (happily) they may be rouſed a little ſometimes, yet they are not raiſed from that ſleep, and death, till God the Father, and God the Redeemer, by the Allmightie power of the Lord the Spirit, ſpeaks home to their ſouls, p. 97what outwardly, and only outwardly, they had heard before with their eares, many times (perhaps) only, but not regarded to retaine, till he himſelfe comes in, and ſets on the impreſſion of his grace-revealing truth upon their hearts, with a ſecret quickening ſpirituall life; Upon diſcovery or feare whereof in any of Satans priſoners, their former Jaylour attempts with ſpeed to hinder (if he can) if not to conſent, yet to divert or re…ard, but (if he cannot doe that) he will ſtill endeavour to make them drive on as heavily as may be, that, if at all, they will receive the offers of peace, yet they may doe it, as late as may be, that they may have the leſſe comfort, others the leſſe benefit, and their ſpirituall bleſſed Lord and Soveraigne the leſſe honour or advantage thereby: But if they will, when once marked for Chriſts ſheep, be departing from his Wolves and Goats, range and walk, he will help them to as much bread and water of affliction (if he can) while they are paſſing on in their journey to their new Maſter, as may laſt them all the way thither. And what miſchiefe he is kept any way from doing againſt them, he will ſend Heards of his graceleſſe Wolves, and of his filthy Goats and Swine, to doe for p. 98him, and againſt Chriſts ſheep, to deſtroy or defile them, or rend them for their pearles, or like his wild Boares out of the Woods to deſtroy them: But whilſt they are paſſing a painfull pilgrimage, and often fall into a Wildered condition in this world, the great Shepheard of his ſheep, that will looſe none of them that are of his fould, he readily ſeeks them out, not ſo much for the place where, (for his eye is alwayes toward them, and upon them) as for the condition wherein, and the fit ſeaſon of grace to be uſed for their advantage, they ſhall not then want needfull comfort, or needfull ſupport, or neceſſary ſupply, oft they have all theſe largely allowed them, and if they have not at preſent, they have a ſtore-houſe, a full treaſure of all good to goe unto at need, and in their worſt times they have two good friends at hand that will not fail them then, to wit, a good Conſcience, and the holy Ghoſt, who hath taken poſſeſſion of their ſoules; and theſe are ſtrong helpers againſt the fierce and fiery aſſaults of Men and Devils, yea, they have hereby more help with them, and for them, than they many times themſelves diſcerne; Their God is a God at hand, and not a farre off, Chriſt Jeſus ſtands by them, being the grand Captain p. 99of their ſalvation, the Author and Finiſher of their faith and patience; the holy Angells oft have a charge to keep them in all their wayes, Pſal: 91. 11. The Saints on earth aſſiſt them by their prayers, direct them by their counſells, excite them by their examples, and encourage them by their confidence; And though ſometime they muſt needs forgoe much, endure hard onſets, and combate long, yet this encouragement is inwardly given them, they ſhall have the victory infallibly in the iſſue; and ſo they come by degrees to know there are more with them, than with their enemies, and that therefore they ſhall have more ſtrength to overcome, becauſe their God is the Lord of Hoſts, and commands (when he pleaſeth) the Armies of their Adverſaries, yea, when they leaſt think of it, he then no leſſe doth it, and when it ſeemes the moſt unlikely, he makes them know it the moſt infallibly. But if from the Worlds wilderneſſe, Chriſt at any time calls any of his ſervants particularly, for the exerciſe of any eminent grace he hath ſent (as a love-token) into their ſoules, with Peter to walk towards Chriſt (when he calls them) upon a Sea of troubles, where there is no ſooting, but what faith finds; if at any time p. 100their foote of faith ſhould ſlip, or ſtrength of grace begin to ſtagger, Chriſt is alwayes neere at hand to ſtay them, to hold them up; if they be weak, he will give them ſtrength, if ſick, he will be their Phyſitian, if they miſtake their way, or know it not well, he will ſhew it, he will teach them; if they labour of any want, he will ſupply it; if they are liable to any danger, fall, or hurt, he will ſupport them, he will deliver them, if they be any wayes hardly beſtead in their wo… eſtate, he will reſcue them, and never forſake them, even all the while he is bringing them through a red Sea of adverſitie, unto their everlaſting celeſtiall Canaan; but ſometime likewiſe he dryes up thoſe waters, and when their implacable enemies purſue them moſt furiouſly and confidently, he makes thoſe appearing raging Seas of troubles to become water-walls for their defence, whilſt they ſpeedily and ſafely paſſe through them unto a place of reſt, and makes them inevitable executioners of their enemies ruine; In ſuch tryed tracts of Grace, Chriſt walks on ſecretly but ſecurely, with the Lot of his own inheritance, with the Camp of all his true Iſrael, that fight under his Banner, as with a pillar of a cloud to guide them by p. 101day, and a pillar of fire to enlighten their Camp in the might, all the time they are paſſing from Egypt to Canaan, from Babylonian bondage, to be made free Denizens of the New Jeruſalem.

Now for ſuch an object, in ſuch a condition, ſo to receive ſuch mercy, from ſuch an holy and glorious Creator, ſo diſhonoured, ſo diſobeyed, ſo provoked, in ſuch a manner, by ſuch a deliverer, ſo applyed, ſo made effectuall, and that againſt ſuch oppoſition, otherwiſe invincible, and otherwiſe inevitably ſinking into deſperate miſery, never to be ended, eaſed, or remedied, and this in a ſetled certain courſe continued and made effectuall through all ſucceſſions of Ages; may well be the wonder of mercy to all the world, and matter of admirable thankſgiving and praiſe, to all glorified Saints and Angels, through all eternitie to render unto his great name; no object therefore of goodneſſe like this to be found in all Gods other works, as man ſo wretchedly miſerable, ſo gloriouſly delivered.

Ninthly, For the ends wherefore it is contrived, carried on, raiſed, and to be perfected in reference both to God and man.

Firſt, The chiefe end is glory, to the God p. 102of all glory, the originall fountaine of it, the end and intendment of it, the diſpencer and beſtower of it, the primary and perpetuall owner of it, which whatſoever Creature aſſumes without his allowance, is therein an highly ſacrilegious robber of God; for no man hath any thing but what he hath received from him, 1 Cor: 4. 7. Now there is no way wherein God hath manifeſted himſelfe unto the world, or in any kinde in the world, comparably glorious unto this, and therefore this moſt excellent ſupreame end of his, muſt neceſſarily in the ſame proportion be advanced therein, to wit, in an higher degree by that work, than by any, or all others beſides.

Secondly, That the revealing and exhibiting the excellency and goodneſſe of this work, unto intelligible creatures, in this way, might afford them alway matter, and occaſion, and the greateſt inforcement to ſet forth his praiſe ſuitably to what is diſcovered to them or received by them; and becauſe the diſcoveries here are ſometimes ſo great and wonderfull unto the Saints, they are therefore ſtrangely carried on with divine and ſpirituall raviſhment of ſoul, to magnifie the ſoul-quickening, ſanctifying, and ſaving grace p. 103of their moſt good God and mercifull Father, and that many times upon renewed returnes of his favours, after not only their troubles and afflictions, but after their manifold failings and ſins, yea, ſometimes after their hainous offences; & to others in the increaſe of ſpirituall indowments, experiences, gracious incomes of Spirit, heavenly communion and manifeſtations of Goſpel glory to their ſouls, to the great dimming and obſcuring of the luſtre of all worldly glory in their eyes, and the beautifying of a very afflicted outward condition, in any way of the faithfull ſervice of their great and good God, and even in their very ſufferings for their moſt bleſſed Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, which they by a gracious inward operation upon their ſouls, are not only inabled to think well of, and to obſerve favourable aſpects of Divine grace in ſuch ſeeming dark times, but much to rejoyce many times and triumph in aſſurance of victory afore-hand, yea, to eſteeme it their great honour, that they are counted by him worthy ſo to doe him ſervice, and ſuffer for his name; yea, to eſteeme it a peculiar favour, and ſometime to finde ſuch ſtrange ſupport, and ſometime to have ſuch inlargement of comfort, to the ſtupifying p. 104(as it were) the ſence of paine (as ſome of the Martyrs in their ſufferings acknowledged) and ſometime by the ſtrong piercing ſight of the eye of faith, through the greateſt and heavieſt Croſſe of Chriſt to diſcover the Crowne; and ſtrangely to beholders, to ſeeme to neglect their contempt, and (with their Saviour Heb. 12. 2.) to deſpiſe their ſhame, and even to forget their ſorrows, yea, and ſometime (with Stephen, Acts 7.) to behold high and heavenly viſions of glory in the loweſt ebbe of their temporal ſufferings, and all this, many times, not only to the aſtoniſhment, but even to the confuſion of the face of perſecuting enemies, according to that promiſe of our Saviour, Luk. 21. 15. I will give you a mouth and wiſdome, which all our adverſaries ſhall not be able to gainſay, nor reſiſt, which is many times fulfilled by mean and contemptible inſtruments, which being the fooliſh of the world, God chuſeth to confound the wiſe, and the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are mighty, and baſe things of the world, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are, 1 Cor. 1. 27, 28. And thus in the manifold varieties of the diſpenſations of God towards his people, as they receive both good p. 105and evill at his hand here, which they willingly with holy Job alwayes acknowledge to be from him, who or whatſoever be the inſtruments, there are continual ſprings and fountains, flowing forth with new matter of prayſe and glory, from the poor deſpiſed flock of Chriſt, in this their uncertain pilgrimage, from the manifold ſtrong diſcoveries of the Goſpel glory of God, in and towards them in all his wayes, and from ſome comfortable apprehenſions, from what a foundation of Free grace, all ſuch diſpenſations toward them are derived, and unto what ends they tend, with frequent obſervations of Gods glorious appearances therein, ſo that they are ſometime at a ſtand, whether they ſhould more wonder at ſuch Gods appearances, and glorious operations, or praiſe him for his grace therein. Oh who is able to ſet forth the fathomleſs depth of Gods miſterious mercy, in ſuch ſort to his faithful ſervants in all ages, that men are ordinarily capable of knowing in this kind? in regard of the innumerable varieties of godly mens experiences in all times, which have been matter of ſuch glory to God in their own perſons, or before others, through all generations in all places, p. 106of all conditions, upon all occaſions, is but the leaſt part [as we ſay of all knowledge] of that which in this kind might be known: but as the Evangeliſt John, chap. the laſt, v. the laſt, ſpeaks in thoſe high expreſſions of Chriſts works upon earth: ſo may we ſay of theſe, the weake underſtandings, and memories of all men upon earth, are not able to reach or remember them; but when thoſe manifold foldings of Divine wiſdome, held out in ſo many great Folioes of undecyphered Characters, in ſuch his diſpenſations of his grace and goodneſs, ſhall be, and before the glorified Saints and Angels fully explained, and opened, and the injoyments of everlaſting fulneſs of glory in clear viſion, ſhall not only reveale the originall ſpring of all ſuch currents of flowing mercy to all ſorts of men, but ſhall hold out in clear manifeſtations, how in all theſe, or what ever the like, or other, or greater actings, which have been towards themſelves, in the wonder of the miſtery of that glorious grace, revealed and exhibited in their temporal and ſpiritual being in the world, and afterward in their eternal happineſs in the Kingdome of heaven, was from God the Father, through God the Son, and by God the holy p. 107Spirit, according to the eternal Goſpel, given to the Saints throughout all Ages; the wonderfull goodneſs whereof, and the glorious excellencies of God therein, and thereby ſhining out unto them in their full glory, in that moſt bleſſed viſion and fruition of him, which all glorified creatures then ſhall obtain, will make them break forth with continual and unexpreſſible praiſes, and glory to the great God, and to the lambe, and to the Lord the Spirit, to all eternity.

And herein, according as they have been appointed and exerciſed by thoſe ſoveraign diſpenſations in the work, in the greater ſervice, they ſhall be glorified accordingly with the greater meaſure of happineſs in the world to come, and ſo much the more largely ſhall they diſcern the excellency of the glorious, and gracious workings of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, for the true Church, through all generations, and accordingly be inlarged with rejoycing therein to the everlaſting praiſe of his, incomprehenſibly glorious grace diſplayed thereby.

So that Gods ends in reſpect of man, is, to have his part in this great ſervice, and to have his portion in the other great happineſs, p. 108and both according to the meaſure and proportion diſpenſed, and conveyed in the way of Goſpel glory, and both, and all to the eternal glory of the author thereof; we will not attempt to trace out here any of the more remarkable pathes of ſuch mercy of God, leaſt even in them, we looſe our ſelves ſo far, as to forget that we have here much other work to do, and eternal viſion will better, yea, perfectly diſcover it, and is allotted for it: but no ſuch excellent end of any other works, ſaving in reference unto this, and ſo the drift of Gods bounty is advanced higher to man hereby, then otherwiſe it could have been, for in ſtead of an earthly Paradiſe, he ſhall now be brought to the poſſeſſion of an heavenly; inſtead of knowing God as a Creator only, he ſhall now both know and injoy him as his Creator and Redeemer; inſtead of an uncertain and temporal happineſs, he ſhall have a moſt certain and eternal happineſs; inſtead of lower matter of praiſe, he ſhal have unſpeakeably higher matter of praiſe, and conſequently (through this free Goſpel grace) the more inlargement of glory therewith: And hence let us paſs to the … Tenth Reſpective conſideration, that p. 109is in reſpect of the many excellent uſes, to be made here of by all men here, but eſpecially by Gods ſervants here and hereafter, above all the conſideration of any other of Gods glorious works in the world.

Firſt, For all men that heare of ſuch a glorious Goſpel diſcovery in the world above the reſt.

Firſt, to admoniſh them to learn in the method of young Children, directed by their experienced Teachers, Firſt, to know the letters and ſillables, and then put together the words to know the ſence of what they from time to time may reade in any or all the books of God in this world, ſet forth for their learning, wherin God ſets before all ſorts of men, new leſſons of all kinds, if they would not be ſuch dullards and trewants, that they will not take them out; look then upon the letters of Gods great folioes in the world, the Creation, the upholding, the diſpoſeing and ordering of it, and all things in it; Look firſt to the motions illuminations and influences of the heavens, look upon the ſucceſſions of times, dayes and nights, winter and ſummer, ſeed time, and harveſt; but thou wilt ſay, how ſhall I put theſe together, and make ſillables p. 110and ſentences of them, look unto the 19 Pſalme, and there the word of God ſhall be thy ſchoole-maſter herein, it tells thee, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmaments ſheweth his handy-work; and day unto day uttereth ſpeech, and night unto night ſheweth language, that is, they hold out matter for thy underſtanding, knowledge or experience to work upon ſuch works of God to his praiſe and glory: ſo again Gen. 8. 22. Gods word inſtructs us, that ſeed time, and harveſt, cold and heat, ſummer and winter, day and night ſhall not ceaſe, which is another ſyllable to ſpell the truth of God by in ſuch things, how that he hath ever ſince the deſtruction of the old world fulfilled that his promiſe; in times of plenty, the Pſalmiſt ſhewes how he crowns the earth with his goodneſs, Pſ. 65. 11: when all ſorts of Creatures are full of rejoycing and comfort; the Scriptures informs us to ſpell out thereby, Pſ. 145. 16. That God openeth his hand, and ſatisfieth the deſire of every living thing: and ſo to come to thy own particular caſe and condition in outward things, thou mayeſt ſpell out words and ſentences by the help of many inſtructers which God allows thee; p. 111as thy Reaſon, (if rightly regulated) thy own and others experience, obſervations, examples of others, Gods judgements, providences, mercies, and all ſorts of outward Diſpenſations of God, whereby thy capacity may be raiſed up toward the attainment of higher learning by degrees, upon thy well uſing thy firſt rudiments of Divine knowledge, for they ſhould all diſcover God unto thee; and ſo thou mayeſt by degrees come to attain a good meaſure of skill in the truly liberal ſciences in the ſchoole of ſpiritual and heavenly grace or glory; if the uſe of the former bring thee not neerer to God, they will make thee go further from him, as it was with the Gentiles, Ro. 1. 21. Becauſe when they knew God (by his outward works) they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, therefore he gave them up; if ſuch works of God diſcover him not more unto thee, they will cauſe him the more to hide his face from thee; as is obſerved of ſome skilful experienced Phyſitians, they know and ſee ſo much of the ſecret operations of Nature, that by that means they become more Atheiſtical, forgetting and neglecting the God of Nature; they pore ſo much upon the excellencies of the Creatures, p. 112which they think they know and make uſe of by their own skill & induſtry, for their temporall advantage, that they therefore forget and neglect the Creator, and the glory therefore due unto him; and doth not this Atheiſme grow upon men for the want of ſpelling the words and ſentences of Gods ordinary Books in the world, by the teaching of his Word, whileſt men would chuſe rather to be thought great Naturaliſts and Politicians in the world by others, when without that teaching they become meere naturalls, fooles, and Ideots, rather than ſoundly judicious perſons in that which mainly ought to be knowne, obſerved, and acknowledged by them, to the glory of the all-working God.

Secondly, Let this direct ſuch men as have learned to ſpell out Gods names in his outward works, by the help of his Word, then to ſet themſelves better to reade him in his word of grace, let them know the principles of his Religion, and know the maine foundations of his divine truth; eſpecially, let them take notice of theſe two maine principles of ſuch excellent knowledge.

Firſt▪ That all glory is to be rendred unto p. 113God, as the only true Originall of all good: And

Secondly, That all emptineſſe is ever to be aſcribed to the creature in it ſelfe, further than God makes it any way capable of goodneſſe, and puts ſuch goodneſſe into it, or makes it communicative of that goodneſſe unto others, or of further enlargement or longer injoyment of goodneſſe from himſelfe, even as he pleaſeth, unto whom the praiſe thereof is ever therefore to be aſcribed; and if thou wilt but then take up that teaching word, and uſe thoſe meanes which God thereby directs thee, to improve them, and continue therein, he will then more and more diſcover himſelfe unto thee; yea, when once thou art ſet in ſuch a ſerious ſeeking of him this way, it is evident thou wert ſought of him before, and he hath begun already to make himſelfe knowne unto thee, and ſo thou doſt and wilt ſeek him ſtill, and ſhalt finde him more and more in that way, wherein thou ſhalt behold his glorious grace, which is the ſure way for thee to become acceptable unto him, and ſhalt be truly bleſſed by him.

Thirdly, But for others who have theſe glorious diſcoveries in any good meaſure p. 114already made unto them; Let them hence learne, with the moſt inlarged apprehenſions that may be, to behold them, and with the moſt earneſt bent of their affections to entertaine them, and with the higheſt and fulleſt expreſſions of joy in their inward, and with their outward man, to mainfeſt and declare them to the everlaſting praiſe of the Author of them; let them improve them to his glory, and the good of others; let them more be transformed into the image of them, that they may have the greater meaſure of true comfort, and glory by them.

Againe, Let men wiſely hence obſerve the divine excellency of a truly gracious ſpirit, when once a transfiguration is made in it, what an excellent, yea, heavenly frame is put uponit, what glorious diſcoveries are made unto it, what celeſtiall Joyes are put into it, what everlaſting happineſle is prepared for it: O that theſe things were ſetled upon mens ſouls, and that they could with ſuch divine meditations, and ſpirituall Soliloquies (by the aſſiſtance of the Lord the Spirit) ſo rivet them into their own hearts, and keep them there, that they might ſtill ſoar higher and higher in ſuch heavenly contemplations, till they attaine to the top of moſt p. 115glorious eternitie, to receive in fullneſſe what here in their meaſure only they can but taſte of.

Againe, Let them hence learne to be thankfull, above all things in this world, for ſuch gracious diſcoveries, in any meaſure or degree, by their good God vouchſafed unto them; Let them be humbled in the ſence of their unworthineſſe thereof, as great, as manifold, as continuall (if Divine grace manifeſt towards them, did not otherwiſe order them ſome way or other) as is diſcernable in any others, who have hearts all alike, as face in water anſwers to face, Pro: 27. 19. And there is no difference, but what God himſelfe makes in theſe wayes of his grace, for who makes thee to differ from another, 1 Cor: 4. 7. Let them walk in the light and comfort of ſuch diſcoveries, which amongſt many Chriſtians is often received in varieties of meaſures, and ought to be improved to varieties of purpoſes; Let them long more after them than any other things deſireable; as the Spouſe in Cant: 1. 2. Kiſſe me with the kiſſes of thy Mouth; thy love is better than wine. Let them purſue after them more earneſtly, reſolvedly, indefatigably, than for all things here beſides, and with the due uſe p. 116of all other good meanes beſides, …ith humble, faithfull and importunate prayer before the throne of the heavenly grace, for them; and ever to render the more glory and praiſe unto his divine Majeſtie, in the obtaining of ſuch their requeſt.

Again; Let it be a ſtrong Argument at all times in our ſpiritual approaches unto God, in the due ſenſe and ſight of ſuch gracious diſcoveries, which we have received, to worſhip him in a manner ſuitable the…eunto▪ As Moſes, when he had been with God upon the Mount, the glory of God appeared very bright upon him; ſo in ſuch duties let the glory of thoſe diſcoveries more eminently appear; the heavenly flames kindled in a ſoule, ſet on fire from thoſe divine graces of true faith and fervent love, when they are blown up as it were, by taking up the bellowes of ſuch diſcoveries, will much promote the ſweet odours of ſpiritual inſence aſcending up to heaven, and be a ſpecial means, whereby all the ſoul oblations, ſacrifices, and ſervices in thoſe wayes offered unto God, become very acceptible to him in his beloved Son, as being ſweetly perfumed with his ſpiritual grace, upon his own ſpecial diſpenſations, which he p. 117would not have neglected at any time, yea, which he would have improved at all times, but then eſpecially in his Divine worſhip, when the Soule is chiefly to make her returns to God, for ſuch incomes from him. How free then ſhould the ſoule be in ſuch ſervice, which is ſo various in all mens ſouls, and ſo forcing and prevalent in many mens ſouls, and the chief part of acceptable ſervice to God, conſiſting much therein; yea, and he requires thereby to be ſanctified, as he inſtructed Moſes upon a like occaſion, Lev. 10. 3. But laſtly, in reſpect of glorified Saints and Angels in the world to come. Firſt, for glorified Saints; how will they by and from this glory be fully transformed into the ſame Image? How ſhall they then be filled with the fruition of all that goodneſs of God, which in ſuch wayes of his towards them in the world before, in ſome ſort he had diſcovered himſelf unto them by: And how triumphantly will they rejoyce, and glory in Goſpel grace, in the fulneſs of that fruition, as being that great current, whereby the fulneſs of that fruition is conveyed and continued, yea, perpetuated unto them, ſo largely as no ſoule can ſufficiently conceive of, nor all p. 118glorified Saints ſhall ever be able fully to comprehend: How ſhall ſuch glorified Saints to the uttermoſt then apply themſelves yet moſt delightfully and happily to ſound forth his praiſe, upon this moſt bleſſed advantage, to all eternity, and that the more emergently when they come thither, in that regard; then all former myſteries, and dark proceedings of God in the world before, will be clearly un…oulded, all difficulties reſolved, all obſtacles removed, all evill of ſin, or puniſhment, or miſery, with all the feare thereof, utterly aboliſhed, all miſts and darkneſs diſpelled, all interruptions abandoned, all hoped for injoyments perfected, and moſt ſecurely poſſeſſed.

And what then by glorified Saints will be done to their beſt ability, will be more amply accompliſhed by the glorious Angels who never ſinned, who are of far higher and greater excellency, higher in degree, and therefore more eminent inſtruments of Gods praiſe; they have larger capacities, and therefore fit to receive greater diſcoveries of his glory; they are faithful and ancient (though ſecret) Miniſters of the Almighty, in all ſuch willing and active ſervice, as he hath at any time aſſigned them unto, p. 119even from the beginning, through the carrying on and perfecting of his Goſpel glory; they are of long experience, and throughout all times, have had exceeding excellent diſcoveries thereof: upon all which conſiderations, they may then in many reſpects be happily helpful to ſaved Saints, to afford them their better aſſiſtance, and their more eminent examples, in doing that which is all their happineſs, of which this is but the brief compriſal [All Glory to the God of Glory, and to the Lambe that was ſlain, ſitting upon the Throne, and to the moſt holy Lord the Spirit, for ever and ever.] But what we can but now dimly hint at, in this Goſpel glofirying grace, beleeving ſouls ſhal in their ſeaſon fully and perfectly find by moſt happy experience accompliſhed: we come therefore to the laſt reſpective conſideration, and that is

Eleventhly, The bleſſed effects thereof above all other his works, which how great, how various, how many, how admirable, how ſtrong, how glorious, how invincible, how comfortable, how delightfull, how ſatisfying, even in this preſent pilgrimage, where nothing elſe is either ſure or ſatisfying, how truly and really good in it ſelfe, where nothing p. 120is beſides it, or without it, how largely it extends its force, how infallibly it will ſhew forth its vertue, how prevalently it will carry on againſt all oppoſition, how moſt certainly it will attaine its end, becauſe the power of God, the wiſdome of God, the holy Spirit of God, is alwayes in the wheels of its motion, as in Ezekiels Viſion, Chap: 1. 20. So that time would faile me, ſtrength would faile me, opportunitie would faile me, (and much more able Heralds of the renowne of this glorious grace) in any competent meaſure to diſplay the ſame. I ſhall only adviſe all ſorts of Chriſtians at preſent, by the due uſes (or the like) even now in ſome meaſure pointed out unto them, to labour to finde in themſelves, ſuch effects, which by ſuch due improvement, they may (through grace) in their times and ſeaſons, diſcover or obtaine; Concerning which the holy Prophet of old, and our Apoſtle here, 1 Cor: 2. 9. tells us, Eye hath not ſeene, nor eare, heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, not only what God hath prepared, and will conferre in another life, but what he hath prepared and doth conferre in this life too, according to the good pleaſure of his own holy will, and likewiſe to the p. 121praiſe of his preſent ſo excellent Goſpel grace, manifeſt in all his Saints, in all ſuch varieties of the happy and glorious effects thereof. And ſo without any further inlargement at preſent, in this ſo vaſt a field of conſideration of the manifold excellent effects of Goſpel glory, in regard of men, and Angells, good and bad, here and hereafter, (a ſubject well worth weighing by the beſt mens beſt abilities) for as the contemplation thereof will be a ſpring of comfort and happineſſe to the one ſort, ſo the abundant conviction and experience of the realitie of the ſame, will be the ſting of the miſery of all the other ſorts, it will ſo grinde and gnaw and torment the damned ſpirits and perſons, ſo to finde what they have loſt for a ſhaddow, for nothing, yea, for that which is worſe than nothing, even ſo unconceiveable good, that it is Queſtioned in the Schools (and not without cauſe,) whether [Paena damni or paena ſenſus] that is, whether the puniſhment of the Damned in regard of what they have loſt, or the puniſhment of ſence and feeling, in regard of what ſhall be inflicted on them in Hell, ſhall be (as I may ſay) the greater Hell unto them hereafter: But I ſay at preſent, we ſhall paſſe from this head to the p. 122next, namely, The third demonſtration of this excellent truth, in which, and in the reſt, we purpoſe (if God will) to be more brief, and that is to manifeſt Goſpel Glory to be the great Glory of the Lord, which his people diſcerne in this world, in that regard it is the only and excellent, yet generall meanes for them all, to bring them to the reall participation of true ſpirituall glory here, and the fruition of eternall glory hereafter; and to make indeed grace and glory to be both gracefull and glorious to them.

Something we have ſpoken of this by way of compariſon of its tranſcendent excellency with that which was leſſe: But here we are to take notice, that as it is the efficacious way, and appointed by God unto that high and happy end; ſo it is the only meanes, no other to be expected, none elſe to be uſed directly in reference unto that end; for as there is no name given under heaven whereby we can be ſaved, but by the name of Chriſt; ſo no other meanes to convey that ſalvation to us, but by this Goſpel of grace; If any would be changed from evill to good, Goſpel grace muſt doe it; if any would be freed from the evill One, and owned by him that is only good, Goſpel grace muſt doe it: if p. 123any would be freed from the miſchiefe of ſin, and obtaine the bleſſing of Divine favour, Goſpel grace muſt doe it; If any man would aſcend up to heaven, or deſcend down to hell, or take the wings of the morning, and fly into the utmoſt parts of the earth, as Pſal: 139. 8. Either to eſcape Gods wrath, or obtaine his favour any other way, it were but all in vaine; If any would try all the Mountebank Chyrurgery that Satan hath uſed in all the Ages of the world, all his falſe Religions, all the multitudes of his Hell-deviſed wayes of falſe worſhip, all his ſtrong deluſions, all his heartleſſe, (except of ſeduced deceived hearts) fruitleſſe, bootleſſe ceremonies, conſtitutions, beggarly rudiments, bodily exerciſes, not warranted by the word of God, to cure the feſtered wounds of their ſin-polluted defiled conſciences, and that moſt induſtriouſly all their dayes, they would but miſerably all that time, looſe their own labour, defeat their own hopes, forſake their own mercy, obſtruct their own happineſſe, remedileſly plunge themſelves into eternall miſery. So that by this, men muſt be both ſanctified and ſaved, if at all, and without this, and beſides this, there is no other means to attaine the ſame. All Gods brood of travellers p. 124have paſſed along in this roade, till they came to appeare before God in the heavenly Zion; and none can otherwiſe poſſibly attaine to that only deſireable iſſue of their pilgrimage here upon earth.

I ſhall not here need to ſpeak any thing of the freeneſſe of this now moſt neceſſary means in regard of men, [for there is neither neceſſitie of nature, or of any coaction from creatures in reſpect of God] but only the good pleaſure of his moſt holy Will, is the prime originall of all. I need not touch upon the proportionableneſſe of the meanes, this only ſalve or Balſome ſo prepared by him, to cure the ſouls wounds, being every way fitted and ſuited for its ſoares. I ſhall not need to inſiſt upon the eaſineſſe, the amiableneſſe, the naturallneſſe, the familiarneſſe of the way of diſpencing and beſtowing this Goſpel grace. I ſhall not need to inſiſt upon the efficaciouſneſſe of this moſt gracious diſpenſation by the holy Ghoſt; all which tend to demonſtrate this particular, that it is the excellent and only meanes to bring Gods people to the reall participation both of grace and glory here and here-after; becauſe under the former head we have touched upon divers things bordering upon theſe, and we p. 125likewiſe ſtudy brevitie, though here may be large and excellent matter for Chriſtian meditation; Only in a word, I ſhall endeavour to touch upon the other branch, namely, [that without this diſcovery of Goſpel glory unto the ſoule, grace would neither be rightly gracefull, nor true glory truly glorious in the eyes of men;] even as ſuch men who are guided by ſenſe, mainely live more like beaſts than men, like the mil-horſe in his tract, follow the deſires of their own eyes, and are led on by every vaine deludeing object, and neither regard to know, or purſue better things, but wholly in a manner proceed to proſtitute their reaſonable ſouls, to ſenſitive bruitiſh pleaſures, as if they were capable of no greater good; and as thoſe men, that upon a better improvement of the like (it may be) a leſſe, and yet againe ſometimes a greater abilitie, are raiſed up to an higher attainment; as many of the ancient Philoſophers and Heathens Sages, who by ſtudy, contemplation, and induſtry in the uſe of pertinent means, attained to the diſcovery of an excellencie of morality, in their kind, which they called (vertue) wherein they did ſometime ſeem to behold ſuch lovelyneſs, that it made them not only p. 126to commend it to others, but deemed that men could not know the beauty and comlineſs of it, and not be in love with it: The like, and much more we may ſay of the excellency of Goſpel grace, to ſuch as obtain any competent diſcovery thereof; O how are they inamoured with it! How do their hearts run after it! How highly do they prize it! How earneſtly do they purſue it! How unwilling are they to part with it! yea, what high reſolution do they take up, not to part with it, upon any termes; they will buy the truth, but not ſell it, as Pr. 23. 23. yea, and rather to part with all beſides, then that; but as on the other hand Moralliſts, for all their diſcoveries and commendadations, do not, cannot prevail with ſenſual brutiſh perſons, to forſake their ſwiniſh luſts, to love or like, much leſs to purſue their vertues, and yet thoſe Sages knew the worth thereof, to be incomparably above the other; even ſo it is with that much more excellent diſcovery of Goſpel glory, though a truly regenerate and ſanctified ſoul ſees ſuch beauty, ſuch lovelineſs, ſuch joy and ſollace, yea, true happineſs in thoſe Goſpel gracious diſcoveries, that they not only like it, and commend it, but as ſome Ancients, p. 127concerning ſome amorous perſons, were wont to phraſe it, [perdite amant alias] they love others to the looſeing of themſelves: ſo it may be ſaid of their loving of Goſpel grace, but in a good and neceſſary ſence, as our Saviour ſpeaks, Mat. 10. 5. If any love Father or Mother, Wife or Children, more then me, he is not worthy of me [perdite amant gloriam Evangelicam,] they deſtructively love Goſpel glory, that they will rather looſe friends and credit, eaſe and poſſeſſions, liberty, life and all, then to ſuffer a divorce between that and their own ſoules: But for all other men, or any other man to deſire it, to purſue it, upon a true Goſpel account, as beleeving or ſeeing it to be ſo excellent and glorious, or upon ſuch termes to purſue or retain it, by purchaſing or ſuffering for it; the heathen Sages might much more eaſily have prevailed with any ſuch beaſts in the ſhapes of men, then any ſanctified ſoul or Embaſſador of Chriſt can prevaile with any, to take right notice of, or much leſs to be ſo enamoured, of that moſt excellent object of ſoul ſollacing grace, untill they come to be transformed into the ſame image, by the ſpirit of God.

Fourthly, But this will yet further appear p. 128in the next demonſtration, namely; In that ſuch Goſpel grace in the ſouls of the Saints, differs not in nature from their heavenly glory, but only in degrees: A man that is in any good meaſure in heaven in his ſpiritual part, here upon earth, ſhall certainly inherite the kingdome of Heaven hereafter; and ſuch within: whom (as our Saviour ſpeaks Luk. …7. …1.) the kingdome of heaven is really here ſeated by Goſpel grace, they ſhall infallibly obtain a Crown of glory, which will never fade to all eternity; and indeed heaven would not be heaven unto them then, when they ſhould come to poſſeſs it, if that kingdom of heaven had not taken poſſeſſion of their ſouls before, to fit them for it: a blind man may as ſoon be affected with the meer placeing of pleaſant ſights before him, or a deaf man delighted with the ſound of any muſick which he cannot heare, as men or women truly rejoyce in the glorified Saints and Angels happineſs hereafter, if they have not here their Celeſtial frame of ſpirit wrought upon their ſouls; yea, the very ſociety of glorified Saints, would be a kind of hell to wicked men remaining ſuch, if they had no other hell to ſuffer; for as it cannot be expected the wolfe ſhould lye p. 129down with the Lambe, untill Goſpel grace have wrought the change of nature here, as the ſpirit of God hath foretold, Iſ. 11. 6, 7. 8. ſo until that nature be changed, yea, a contrary put into the ſoule of a man, the Saints perpetual ſongs of prayſe to God, and the Lambe, and the Lord the Spirit, would not only be unſutable and unpleaſant, but a ſenceleſs ſubject to ſuch a ſoule, that never had followed Chriſt in the regeneration, nor ſeen, nor felt, nor rightly known beforehand, the Divine power of Goſpel grace, the miſtery of the goſpel, then the matter of the Saints everlaſting rejoycing would be, ſuch an hidden ſealed miſtery, that ſuch unbeleeving and diſobedient ſouls would not underſtand it, ſaving only ſo far as to have convinced and ſelf-condemned conſciences thereby, little underſtanding what they may ſometime ſeem to pray or hope for here, concerning the kingdom of heaven, who in their diſpoſitions and depraved nature doe [toto caelo deferre] ſtand at the greateſt diſtance from it; but when that nature is once changed, that Lions are at peace with the Lambes, and the hurtful creatures lye down with the harmeleſs, Iſ. 11. 7. then grace ſhall appear glorious unto ſuch, p. 130and as their meaſure thereof ſhall be greater, the more it will appear ſo; and the more they grow in ſuch grace, the more they will delight in it; and the greater meaſure they ſhall obtain of it, the more heavenly glory hereafter will be allotted to them: It is true indeed, our heaven upon earth will have a mixture of vanity and corruption, and weakneſs together with it, till that which is perfect be come, then that which is imperfect ſhall be done away, 1 Cor. 13. 10. I ſhall not ſtand here to inlarge upon the many conſiderations, which might to this purpoſe be produced, in regard of the ſouls incapacity of glory till it be changed, and of its unſutableneſs unto ſuch glory; beſides the ſence of the want of any right, title, or intereſt in ſuch glorified Saints happineſs, with their own ſelf condemnation upon it; and the apprehenſion of that intollerable, eternal, infinite, divine diſpleaſure againſt them; as alſo the utter deteſtation that perfected Saints with Angels, will have of the hateful qualities of all devils and unſanctified ſouls of men or women, and even the very heavens natural repugnancy, and antipathy againſt them, to the utter expulſion of all ſuch, as poyſon, p. 131out of them, ſince into them no unclean thing ſhall enter, Rev. 21, 27. As Chriſtal glaſſes, rather then hold poyſon will break aſunder; even ſo the moſt pure, Chryſtaline heavens would rather break, then any devil or unſanotified perſons ſhould abide or inhabite in them. Here indeed the Hony Bee and the toad or ſpider have both their places and imployments, and their injoyments too, together; the one to gather up its hony, the other to ſuck up their poyſon, the one to lurke in the naſtie corrupted or noyſome corners of the earth, the other in their ſweet and pleaſant hives and hony; the one inrich themſelves or feed upon their own deſtructive poyſon, the other inrich themſelves with, and feed upon their own pleaſant, wholſome, healing, and ſtrengthning hony, which they have by diligent labour acquir'd: But when that woofull, poyſonous, deſtructive nature of ſuch men, is in any good meaſure ſubdued, by the prevalent power of Goſpel grace, O how ſweet will the ſpiritual kingdome of heaven be unto ſuch ſouls? how will the true Citizens of the ſpiritual Zion be owned and imbraced by them? How will their portion, their delicates be deſired above all others? p. 132How will grace and glory be then longed for, ſought for by them above other things, yet theſe [paſſibus aequis (as we may ſay) in their due proportions, when they are in their right frame] not glory more then grace, but grace as the right promoter of glory; and indeed, that which is only truly glorious in its own nature, and which will meet with glory as the conſequent, the reſult, the reward of it; by grace we have the firſt fruits, Ro. 8. 33. the earneſt penny, Eph. 1. 14. of glory and happineſs, in the injoyment of that, we injoy the ſanctifying ſpirits reſidence, the witneſs of our peace, the ſealer of our redemption, the comforter of our ſouls, the teacher of all our ſound wiſdome and knowledge, the guider and orderer and preſerver of our whole ſpirits, ſoules, and bodies in the way of truth, peace, and glory, unto the appearing of Chriſt; and from thence their preſerver, in and unto eternal life, 1 Theſ. 3. 13. So that ſince grace is of ſuch neer conſanguinity, yea, of ſuch Identitie and oneneſs of the ſame eſſence and nature, with glory hereafter, and glory being not only the perfecting and conſummation of grace, but the reſult, recompence and reward of it too, it is no wonder it is p. 133here dignified with the moſt excellent title of Glory in the text, and that as proceeding from the moſt excellent author and fountain of it, the Lord, the glory of the Lord; the greateſt glory he hath manifeſted in this world, or greater, then to all other Creatures in the world, ſave his true Church therein, at leaſt in that inward, ſpiritual, efficacious manner to their transformation into the ſame Image; and even greater then to his true Church under the old Teſtament, though transformed likewiſe, yet in theſe goſpel times, it is more clear, more excellent, (as we formerly declared) and therefore ſuch as now with thoſe primative Saints ſpoken of in the Text, behold it, after the like manner, muſt needs (happily) behold the glory of the Lord, though but as in a glaſs, yet with open face. And thus much briefly of this particular likewiſe.

The Fifth Demonſtration is from the conſideration, that it will be the everlaſting fountain, and never failing ſpring, continually affording matter of the perpetual Halelujahs, bleſſings, and prayſes of the glorified Saints and Angels, unto the Lord God Almighty, & unto the Lambe, and unto the Lord the Spirit for ever and ever; In that perfect p. 134Eſtate of their happineſs, all the greatneſs of this glory, in the particulars we formerly ſet before you, beſides what ever elſe may moſt diſplay it, I ſay, the greatneſs of it above all others, will then be moſt clearly unfolded, moſt largely diſcerned, moſt perfectly manifeſt unto them, to the infinite praiſe and glory of the Author, worker, and diſpenſer of all grace and glory; and their own happineſs and glory will be ſo much the more inlarged, as they know and feel, and canperform this moſt glorious work of praiſe; and as there are ſuch multitudes of ſuch exexcellent companions and conſorts in this ſoule-ſatisfying, celeſtial, divine, and perfectly happy harmony; the profound depth, the miſterious ſecrecy, the otherwiſe, then by an infinite God, inſuperable difficulties, the moſt certain ſureneſs, and moſt ſettled ſecurity, of the laying of that foundation, how will it be known and admired, to the honour of him, that from eternity had ſo laid it? How will the glorious nature, matter and forme thereof be in like manner diſplayed & improved by them? How will all that they ſhall obſerve or diſcern of the time, durance and manner of rayſing ſuch a glorious ſtructure, be celebrated by them p. 135with their due praiſe? How will then the infinite wiſdome, mercy, grace, compaſſion and riches of goodneſs, with the power, truth, holyneſs, juſtice, and all the excellencies of God, ſo gloriouſly ſhining out in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, chap. 4. 6. and by the holy ſpirit diſcovered before unto the Saints, be continually in an happy meaſure obvious to the viſion? How will the knowledge of ſuch poor, yet ſuitable inſtrumental means, that had ſuch treaſure in earthen veſſels, to convey ſuch glorious grace unto ſuch mean and unſutable objects, as men in their loſt Eſtate, ſo wonderfully, powerfully, and graciouſly, throughout all generations in the world, ſpring out unto them, with matter of continued, renewed melodie, in that moſt bleſſed, and glorious, heavenly harmony? How will the uſes then obſerved and improved by them to the uttermoſt, be compleated? How will the bleſſed operations and effects of this glory, then be fully known, noted, declared, celebrated by them, with all due honor to the worker of them to all eternity? Here Gods Saints, according to their diſcoveries in ſuch contemplations; may adore, and admire, in ſome poor meaſure, and by p. 136the eye of faith, diſcerne ſuch things as God hath, both ſo wrought, revealed, and conferred, in and by the Goſpel of his Son. But the moſt happy inlargements, beatifical viſion, and perfect fruition of theſe things, both for their own moſt ſecure and ſatisfying happineſs, and the infinite and eternal praiſe of the Almighty One, will be then the everlaſting imployment of all ſuch glorified Saints and Angels to all eternity; then will the unſpeakable excellencies of this glorious grace fully appear unto ſuch: O that men would therefore labour above all things, to get their part in it here, that they may have their portion in that happy ſociety hereafter, everlaſtingly, by theſe means to praiſe God with them, and in ſo doing to be perfectly bleſſed with them: And thus we have done with the proofe and illuſtration of this glorious truth: Proceed we now to add ſome further improvements, then what we have formerly touched upon, and ſo to draw on to a concluſion of the point.

Ʋſe. Firſt, Let men above all turne their eyes, I meane the eyes of their ſouls and minds to the beholding of Goſpel glory: glorious things are delightful things, to every p. 137diſcerning faculty [provided there be ſuitableneſs, & in a due proportion thereunto.]

Firſt, For the ſenſes; it is a pleaſant thing for the eyes to behold the Sun, ſaith Solomon, Ec. 11. 7.

Secondly, For Reaſon. The contemplation of Moral, Natural, and Metaphyſical objects, and ſubjects, was ſo pleaſing unto the ancient Phyloſophers and Sages amongſt the Heathen, that they were ſo inwardly raviſhed with the excellency thereof, that they conceived happineſs conſiſted therein: but that ſoul that by the eye of faith, and by the efficacious grace of the Spirit of God, comes once to behold, in any good meaſure, this Goſpel glory, finds by this a dim ſhade caſt upon all ſeeming glories in the world beſides; as the ſun ſhining in his glory at noon day, upon the light of many ſmall candles burning in the bright beams thereof.

Qu. But thou wilt ſay, how ſhall I do this? Blind men cannot ſee pleaſing objects, and deaf men cannot here delightful muſick; the Scripture tells me, I am ſuch by nature.

Anſ. And doeſt thou beleeve that is true? If many others did ſo too, they would be much neerer the cure, and ſo art thou like to be; for thou couldeſt not p. 138rightly have acknowledged that, but by the holy Ghoſt: But to help the good work forward, and to point out unto others, what courſe they ſhould take, give me leave to ſet down a few directions.

Firſt, Go to Chriſt the true Phyſitian of ſouls for his Collyrium, his ſpiritual eye ſalve, which he makes proclamation of, Rev. 3. 18. and buy it of him by prayer, by faith, by the uſe of all his means.

Secondly, To cure thy deafneſs, let him put his fingers into thine eares, and ſay, (Mar. 7. 33, 34.) Ephphatha, be ye opened; but it may be thou art dumb too, and canſt not ſpeak unto him, get him to touch the tyed ſtrings of thy tongue likewiſe, that they may be looſed; but being blind, deaf, and dumb too, thou wilt ſay, how ſhall I find him? how ſhall I come at him? how ſhall I make any application to him for his help? Anſ. Call for his embaſſadours, or come to his ſtewards, his meſſengers, make thy caſe known to them, take their direction or advice, and uſe their help, and walk on in all the wayes of Chriſt with them accordingly, they will bring thee to the place where Chriſt keeps his Mart, for the cure of all thy ſpiritual diſeaſes and infirmities; they p. 139are thy brethren, they have love towards thy ſoul; they are compaſſionate, they have a fellow-feeling of thy condition; they are men that have like paſſions as other mens, and therefore know how to ſhew compaſſion towards their brethren; they have had experience many times, both of the ſence of thy condition, and of their own cure; they have ſometimes frequented Chriſts Marts long, and perhaps have much helped off with his commodities unto others; however, they are willing, and ready many times, to conduct thee; and it is their office to inſtruct thee in the way, and to intreate for thee, yea, and to plead for thee too, (if need be) that Chriſt ſhould either take thee in hand, or goe on and perfect his cure, begun upon thy ſoule; and to beſeech the Lord the Spirit to make a right, home, and effectuall application of all Chriſts Phyſick to compleat the cure; And remember that by the way, which even the better part of men in the world, have much forgotten of late yeares, [That they are an Ordinance of Chriſt, appointed by himſelfe to be uſed, by all his people to the end of the world] and they are many times good friends in the Court of heaven, and may much prevaile for thee, if p. 140thou wilt duly uſe them; they have authoritie from Chriſt, and therefore they may be bold and couragious in this worke; beſides the experience, they get and feele more and more of his goodneſſe; Yea, let me tell thee, thou haſt no other meanes, whereby thou mayſt expect to be helped in the buſineſſe of thy ſoules ſound cure, if thou wilt neglect them, and reject them; For how canſt thou heare without a preacher, Rom: 10. 14.

Object: But times and places may not happily afford ſuch, for many may not be qualified with gifts and graces, as ſuch, if ſome have gifts, they may be depraved in their lives, yea ordinances may be diſgraced with mixtures of heaven and earth together, of Gods and mans conſtitutions in the world.

Anſw: The caſe will then indeed be hard; for as the Eunuch in the caſe of his own converſion, ſaid unto Philip, Acts 8. 31. How can I underſtand, except ſome man guide me; yet God can in ſuch a caſe (as he did to him) ſend ſuch a Meſſenger, one of a thouſand, and indeed his grace never brings to the birth, but he will give ſtrength to bring forth; by what ever way or meanes the ſeed thereof hath been ſowne, it will ſurely ſpring up; But for Meſſengers altogether unqualified, p. 141either with gifts, or graces, or both, where any ſuch offer themſelves, they are not Gods: Men will not imploy a Phyſician, or Lawyer, ſo called, when they know they have no skill in their profeſſion; and ſurely men ought to be more choice for the health of their ſoules, than of their bodily health, or the right of their outward eſtate: But if they be outwardly qualified, authorized, and have ſuitable gifts, They ſit (as our Saviour ſaid of the Scribes and Phariſees) in Moſes chaire, all therefore they ſay from Gods authoritie, heare; but if they be depraved in life, then againe doe not after their workes, (as he goes on) if they will binde burthens upon men not to be borne, Mat: 23. 2. as the teachers of the Law, Luk: 11. 46. There is a woe denounced againſt them by Chriſt himſelf for ſo doing. If there be mixtures of Ordinances, whilſt they be but of circumſtantiall things, when all the eſſentialls of Gods inſtitutions ſtand intire, neglect not duties upon ſmall diſcouragements; but if perſons, practiſes, Ordinances be ſo depraved, that Gods rules are ſo infringed, his faithfull ſervants ſo (juſtly) ſcandalized, that they have cauſe with thoſe in the time of the Miniſtration of Elies wicked ſonnes, to loath the offerings p. 142and ſervices of the Lord; the peoples condition is then very grievous, but ſuch Teachers condition is, if not altogether ſo deſperate as Elies ſaid ſonnes, yet at leaſt very dangerous, if reformation be not haſtened; but in this kinde there will be great need many times to ſeek for particular, ſpeciall adviſe and counſell, both from God and his faithfull Embaſſadours, when he affords advantage for it, wherein who ſo humbly and faithfully ſeek unto him, are not like to be diſappointed; For he that will doe the will of God, ſhall know the doctrine, whether it be of him, or whether men ſpeak of themſelves, Jo: 7. 17. But when in Iſrael the contemptible of the people were made Prieſts, and the golden Calves, upon politique conſiderations, were ſet up in Dan & Bethel, ſo to buſie Iſrael with home-ſpunne worſhip, that they might not goe into Judea or unto Jeruſalem, unto the true worſhip, and that they approved and practiſed it, did foreſhew, and juſtly cauſed Iſrael to be led into captivitie by the King of Aſſyria.

But what ever diſcouragements thou meeteſt with from men, never give over thy humble and faithfull addreſſes to Chriſt, to diſcover his Goſpel glory unto thee; and if p. 143men hinder or faile, thou wilt finde he will the more help, he can ſend an extraordinary Meſſenger, as Philip to the Eunuch; he can make a little meanes help much; in mixtures he can make the good profitable, and the mixture of men to vaniſh as nothing; he can ſpeak himſelfe unto thy ſoul, as to Saul in an evill courſe, and ſend thee to an Ananias to help thee, whom thou never kneweſt before; in ſeeking to behold this Glory, God will not reject thee, as he did Moſes, in ſeeking to ſee his eſſentiall glory, Exod: 33. 20, 23. but ſeeking it earneſtly and faithfully, as there is all reaſon thou ſhouldeſt, thou ſhalt be ſure to finde it effectually.

Secondly, This is to diſcover the great condemnation of the world, that then when ſuch light, ſuch glorious Goſpel light is come into the world, men yet love darkneſſe more than light; yea they are ſuch Moules burrowed in the bowells of the earth, that they cannot either ſee or deſire, neither are they willing to ſee the bright beames of this light, ſhine they never ſo clearely, yea the brighter they ſhine, the leſſe they deſire them, the leſſe they diſcerne them; their owle-eyes cannot indure to behold the Sunne, their delight is in darkneſſe, in the wayes of darkneſſe p. 144in the workes of darkneſſe, and for the moſt part chuſe rather to fall (by death) into utter darkneſſe, than to come to this light of life; ſo that ſuch as put this light from themſelves, or ſuch as hinder, and cloud it, or hide it from others, they muſt needs fall into a ſad condemnation; was there not only invincible ignorance, but obſtinacy prevalent upon the ſouls of men? did they not willingly upon their own hearts and conſciences [Callum inducere] draw ſuch a brawniſh hardneſſe, even to ſtand againſt the batteries which God many wayes makes againſt the ſtrong holds of Satan therein? ſo that they are not only Goſpel-proofe, but Lawproofe too, ſo that neither the Boanerges or Barnabae, the ſons of thunder, or the ſons of conſolation that are ſent unto them, can either pierce them, or melt them, bow them or break them, but they will doe as they have done; if they have made cakes for the Queene of heaven, they will doe ſo ſtill; if they have ſerved God out of cuſtome more than conſcience, they will doe ſo ſtill; if they have added drunkenneſſe to thirſt, they will doe ſo ſtill; if they ſacrificed upon the mountaines, they will doe ſo ſtill; if they have hated ſuch as beare the image of God upon p. 145them, they will doe ſo ſtill; yea though the greateſt and forcibleſt of Gods Ordinances play upon the Forts of their Hell-hardened Conſciences, they remaine impenetrable. What cleare light hath ſhined long in this Nation above all her neighbours? how hath God poured his Spirit remarkably, upon many perſons eminent amongſt us for Divine endowments, being greatly inlarged with the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit, and as willing as able to improve their talents, to their Maſters advantage, and the ſalvation of the ſoules of all ſorts of people! But if they come neere the ſoares of their ſoules, how doe men kick and ſpurne againſt them? then they are their enemies, becauſe they tell them the truth; if they would take away the vaile of ignorance from before their eyes, they will anſwer with the Phariſees, thoſe blind leaders of the blind, that they ſee already; and therefore as our Saviour told them, ſo ſuch likewiſe might be told, therefore your ſin remaineth; if they would make them ſencible of their loſt eſtate, they have good hearts and meanings, and make many prayers, and it may be, if they were tryed through the whole Law of God, as Chriſt tryed the young man in the Goſpel, they p. 146would be ready to plead for themſelves not guiltie, all theſe have we kept from our youth, when their plea is as falſe, as miſtaken by them; If Goſpel grace be never ſo much diſcovered to them, if the termes thereof be never ſo often and urgently preſſed upon them, they heare them not, they receive them not, they obſerve them not; if Satan or men will offer any thing elſe, vaine or fooliſh, ſenceleſſe, or frivolous, a little countenance from men, a little ingagement in the world will prevaile for their ſeducement, when Divine truth hath been little regarded for a long time, in reference to their converſion, as our Saviour told the Jewes, when they would not regard his heavenly counſel, If any ſhall come to them in his owne name, him they would heare, Joh: 5. 43. And hath not Satan varieties of deſignes and agents, to Eclypſe, or cloud, or hide, or even to guiſh (if poſſible) Goſpel-glory, now for many yeares brightly ſhining amongſt us? holding out varieties of ſtrong and ſtrange deluſions, ſometimes really groſſe and deſpicable to ordinary capacities, ſometimes more refined, and ſeemingly more ſpirituall, and appearing more neere to perfection, and yet ſtill wandering from the way of truth, yea p. 147ſometime to ſet up iniquirie by Law, and to obſtruct the moſt efficacious wayes and meanes to promote the advancement of Goſpel glory? Have there not been ſad experiments of theſe things in our former and later Popiſh perſecutions? And let all reall and ſound Chriſtians earneſtly pray, there may not be any the like againe amongſt us; for ſhall we Queſtion it, That whilſt with Capernaum we are lifted up unto heaven in Chriſts ſpeciall approaches and intercourſes amongſt us, ſo much neglected, and oppoſed too, by the generalities almoſt of men and women, that we ſhall not be equally with her caſt downe into Hell? Let not any perſons deceive themſelves, God is not mocked, but as each man ſowes, ſo let him look to reape at his hands, Mat: 6. 7. If men weave the Spiders webs, and hatch the Cockatrice eggs, may they not juſtly expect that their webs ſhould faile to become garments, and that their eggs break forth into Vipers, to ſting or deſtroy themſelves or others? Iſa: 59. 5, 6.

Thirdly, To admoniſh all good Chriſtians, as they deſire to have much glory in heaven, to labour much to behold the Goſpel glory of the Lord in his Church upon p. 148earth, and ſo to behold it, as to be ſtill more and more transformed into the ſame image, yea in being ſo exerciſed, heaven will more come down unto them, and enter into their ſoules, there will be ſuch a glory as will make their ſouls truly delightfull, comfortable, happie, ſuch as they would not exchange, or part with for the whole world; let them be much taken up with the contemplation and admiration of ſuch Goſpel grace and glory, and let their hearts and mouthes be filled with the high praiſes of God for it, in all reſpects of the ſhining glory of it, oh to what an height of divine excellency will it raiſe their ſpirits! what large poſſeſſion will it give the Lord the Spirit of their ſoules? what earneſt longings will it cauſe after more of the ſame grace? what rejoycings and triumphings will it cauſe in the Lord of glory? what reſiſtance will it afford againſt worldly diſcouragements, intanglements, ingagements, and all obſtructions and oppoſitions whatſoever againſt it? how will it ſweeten troubles, ſeaſon every condition, and adminiſter unto them the oyle of joy, even with the garments of heavineſſe? oh who would not drinke well of the wine of ſuch ſweet conſolation, to make them in … p. 149good meaſure, to forget their ſorrow, when (by faith) in the depth of ſorrow they ſhall ſo ſee Chriſt a Saviour for them, ſitting gloriouſly and triumphantly at the right hand of God, as Stephen did wonderfully, while he was in ſtoning to death, Acts 7.

Fourthly, Let this incite and ſtirre up all ſuch as have any true ſpirituall diſcoveries of Goſpel glory made unto their ſoules, hence to learne ſpiritually to exult and triumph in the name of the Lord, and in the power of his might, and in the evidence of his divine grace; for as our Saviour ſaid unto his Diſciples in another caſe, the like may be ſaid unto ſuch, Fleſh and blood bath not revealed this unto their ſoules, but the Lord the Spirit, who is from heaven. Doe not the Starres ſtanding in the cleare aſpect of the Sunne, ſend forth their cleare and bright ſhining rayes in the view of the world? Doth not the earth when it receives its ſeaſonable and ſweet ſhowers and influences from the heavens, ſend forth her tender ſprouts and pleaſant fruits; for the uſe of creatures inhabiting upon it? Doe not the Valleys ſtanding thick vvith Corne, laugh and ſing, as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, Pſal: 65. 13. And doe not all living creatures under the materiall heavens, p. 150when God opens his hand, and fills them with his goodneſſe, ſing and rejoyce? and all of them materially praiſe the Lord, as ſhewing forth unto man ſuch ample matter of his praiſe and glory in all ſuch reſpects, continually due unto his divine Majeſtie from Men and Angells? which either doe, or ought to learne, that great leſſon from them? But then above all, when that inward, ſecret, divine grace, and ſpirituall glory, hidden from the eyes of all creatures, which none elſe attaine to know but thoſe to whom ſuch inward ſpirituall diſcovery is made, and none know their own, but they that have it; from whence there is gladneſſe put into the hearts of ſuch, as have this [foreign] prerogative to become the children of God, Joh: 1. 12. To be borne from above, Joh: 3. 3. yea to be borne of God, ver: 8. Being effectually changed into the ſame image, as in the Text, by the Lord the Spirit; not only above that when mens corne and wine and oyle inoreaſeth, as Pſal: 4. 7. But as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, with joy unſpeak able and full of glory; and indeed when the glory of God hath once filled their ſouls, it is no wonder if they triumph in the God of all glory. O how ſhould this true ſight of the ſpirituall heavenly Canaan upon p. 151the top of Mount Nebo, at ſome diſtance, make them with Moſes to be willing to leave a Wilderneſſe-worldly condition, and gladly to goe unto that God, whoſe glittering beames of glory, have not only ſhined upon their countenance, as viſibly once on Moſes, but into their ſoules, ſo ſeaſoning, ſanctifying, ſweetning, ſupporting, comforting them, anſwerably to all that his moſt ſoveraigne, divine, all-guiding and ordering providence ſhall diſpence unto them; That neither life nor death, Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature, ſhall be able to ſeperate them from his love, which is in Chriſt Jeſus their Lord, Rom: 8. 38, 39. or it from them; Yea, upon this advantage, God, Chriſt, ſpirituall and eternall joy, is really and truly here, and perpetually and perfectly hereafter ſhall moſt infallibly be conveyed into, and for ever be continued unto their ſouls, and their whole man to all eternitie: O then know thy worth, (O ſanctified ſoule) that thou mayſt here in ſome meaſure ſuitably praiſe thy God, which, as ſuch, thou canſt not but deſire freely to doe now, and ſhalt moſt certainly and p. 152moſt happily performe hereafter, inceſſantly, unweariedly, and moſt delightfully; Let thy name whereby thou mayeſt remarkably be knowne in the world, be [Barachiah] bleſſe or praiſe the Lord, let his praiſe be ever in thy mouth, ever in thy heart, ever endeavoured after, and aimed at in thy life; ſo will thy name be truly glorious, ſo will thy end be truly bleſſed, but thy portion perfect beatitude, everlaſting felicitie.

Fifthly, and laſtly, Let none content themſelves with an outward profeſſion of Chriſts Religion, unleſſe with the regenerate and truly ſanctified ſouls, they in ſome good meaſure likewiſe ſo behold the glory of the Lord, as to be therewithall changed into the ſame image, without which men may long enough beare the name of Chriſt, and yet never be owned by Chriſt, they may eate and drinke often in his preſence, and have him preached often in their ſtreets, and yet notwithſtanding heare him ſay unto them, Depart from me ye curſed, I never knew you, I never approved of you, nor your ſeeming ſervice; yea, ſome alſo may preach Chriſt unto others, and that in many reſpects well too, and yet they themſelves be meer caſt-awayes, if they p. 153do not aright behold this glory of the Lord. Were ſuch truths well conſidered, owned, believed, applyed, Chriſtians would be leſſe in ſeeming, more in ſubſtance, leſſe in formalitie, more in realitie, leſſe in ſhews, and more in truth, Satan could delude leſſe, grace would prevaile more, the Devil ſhould have fewer ſlaves, Chriſt would have more ſervants, ſin would have fewer Subjects, grace would have more favourites, hell would have fewer everlaſtingly condemned priſoners, heaven would have more eternally enfranchized Citizens, to poſſeſſe or inhabite them.

Now for the better promoting of this great worke, let me offer unto thee theſe enſuing Conſiderations, amongſt many others which might be added.

Firſt, Conſider that the obtaining of this Burgesſhip, or being ſo free-borne unto it, is the firſt thing that ought humbly, faithfully, and conſtantly to be ſought for, by every Wiſe Virgin, and none but the fooliſh neglect it; It is to be ſought for, firſt, in order, by the direction of our beſt Teacher, by the injunction of the beſt and infinitely greateſt King; Firſt ſeeke the Kingdome of heaven, and p. 154the righteouſneſſe thereof, Math: 6. 33.

Firſt, in intention, with the converted Jaylour, What muſt I doe to be ſaved?

Firſt, in value and worth incomparable, What will it profit a man, ſaith our Saviour, (and he knowes beſt that it profits nothing) for a man to gaine the whole world (were it poſſible, as it is not) and to looſe his own ſoule, Mark 8. 36.

Firſt, in neceſſitie; For except (ſaith Chriſt) a man be borne againe, or borne from above, he cannot ſee the kingdome of God, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God, Joh: 3. 3, 5.

Firſt, In dignity or excellency, for it is incomparably more to be borne of God, (as all his Saints are) then to be borne of bloods, or of the will of the fleſh, or of the will of man, Jo. 1. 13.

Firſt, In truly comfortable fruition, without which the ſoule is like the needle in the marriners compaſſe, till it be this way pointed at God for its reſt, will alwayes be in diſturbed motion. It was not only more truly honorable for David, that he was the truly faithful ſervant of the Lord, and the ſweet ſinger of Iſrael, the man after p. 155Gods own heart, then that he was the King of Iſrael, the renowned Conqueror of Gods and his own enemies; but it was more true comfort, ſound ſatisfaction, unſpeakeable and glorious joy, over and above all the reſt that he was, or did, or poſſeſſed in the world.

Secondly, Conſider that this is only the really, true, and the only heaven upon earth, whereas all others (ſuppoſed heavens) without this, are but Phantaſtical conceits, vaniſhing deluſions, ſweet poyſons, putative pleaſures, but intoxicating, and killing rejoycings.

Thirdly, Conſider what a great advancement it is in the world, yea, above the world, and that in reſpect, both of her frownes, and her favours.

Firſt, Saith the Apoſtle, yea are come unto the Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Hieruſalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Aſſembly and Church of the firſt born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, p. 156and to the blood of ſprinkling, which ſpeaks better things then that of Abel, Heb. 12. 22. Hence all things were eſteemed in comparriſon, but droſs and dung, foreign but very loathſome garbidge.

Fourthly, Conſider what an unparralleld match thy ſoul utterly looſeth the opportunity of obtaining; if it be not thus in this life united unto Chriſt, in this Goſpel diſcovery of the glory of the Lord unto her, for ſhe muſt either be married to Chriſt in that way here, or elſe the Devill will carry her as his captive ſlave to his moſt wicked luſt, and loathſome vaſſallage, without any hope of future reſpite, ranſome or reſcue: but if once it be ſo married unto Chriſt, how will ſhe be dignified, not only received into a Royal Eſtate, but be partaker of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4. happy in her own good quality, happy in her manifold intereſts in the Covenant, in all the promiſes of this life and a better, and thereby in Chriſt, in God, in Angels, in the Saints, in the good of both worlds, preſent and to come, happy in the preſent ſociety, union, and communion, with any or many of theſe (at the preſent) as we ſhewed even now, from Heb. 12. 22. p. 157but unſpeakeably more for the future; and happy (above all perſons that are void of this) in the preſent ſatisfaction, reſt, and ſupport they will find in, and from this, above all earthly vanities, which only by this become ſweetned comforts, as the love, care, and goodneſs of this ſpiritual bridegroome is delightfully tendred to his ſpouſe thereby: O what true Saints ſecurity in evill times, in all times, is there in this condition; what health, what wealth, what honor, what pleaſure, what joy, what ſolace, what true contentment if ſuch poore creatures would not unfaithfully, or fooliſhly be deficient to themſelves! O that Chriſtians would ſuffer their poor ſouls, yea, that they would by all good means afford them aſſiſtance, to make large comments upon every particular branch here offered to them, to the manifold advancement of their own good? I being now reſtrained by many circumſtances from inlargeing in theſe, and divers other things, (as it were hinted only) in this ſubject, yet what is ſaid, may point out many pleaſant paths for thy ſoule, to expatiate and walk at large, in to her preſent greate refreſhment in this her earthly Pilgrimage; and I dare p. 158ſay, if ſhe be but once well acquainted with them, ſhe will never be willing to forſake them, and if upon error at any time, ſhe looſe her way, ſhe will never be at reſt, for quiet till ſhe find it again. I can here only now like the Statues uſed in croſs pathes, but point out to thee the right way: if thou be once in it, let it be thy care to keep it, it will be thy ſafety, it will be thy ſecurity, it will by thy ſatisfaction; thou wilt never repent thee of thy walking long or far therein; yea, the further thou goeſt, the more thou gaineſt and advanceſt thy beſt deſignes thereby. O that men would conſider theſe things, and improve their time, their talents, their opportunities, their abilities to this excellent advantage, while time and ſeaſons of Grace continue, that God may have the glory of his Goſpel grace at their hands, their own ſouls and conſciences may thereby receive their ſound peace and true conſolation here, and eternally by the ſame means obtain their perfect happineſs, which he grants of his infinite compaſſion to poor wandring ſouls, through him who hath fully paid the price of their iniquities, and purchaſed for them ſuch a glorious grace, and p. 159ſent his holy ſpirit to make it effectual to them of his own good pleaſure; unto which undivided and moſt holy Trinity of perſons, in the Unity of the divine eſſence, be all the praiſe of all ſuch grace, by all his people, rendred and paid (as is moſt due) both now, henceforth, and for evermore,

Amen. foreign