Works, Chapter 1 · Section
A Good Wish of a Christian in Relation to his dealings with all men, wherein the former Heads are applied.
THe Living and Eternal God,The Introduction. whose I am, and whom I am infinitely bound to serve; whose unquestionable dominion over me, calleth for universal subjection from me; having commanded me in his word, to be holy as he is holy, in all manner of conversation, and to walk by rule in my commerce with men, as well as in my immediate converses with his glorious Majesty; I wish in general, that I may make Religion my business, not onelyonly in my sacred duties, but also in my civil dealings; that I may trade with God in divine performances, as if men saw me, and traffique with men in humane affairs, as knowing that God beholdeth me, and herein dayly exercise my self to keep a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards all men. Act. 24. 16.I Wish in particular, that my earthly actions may never clash with, or incroach upon my heavenly calling, that I may not endanger the loss of Religion in the throng and crowd of outward dealings; but may be so limitted and directed therein by Gods Law, that all my works may be …orship, and when I am labouring for my body and family, I may be furthering the good of my soul, and my eternal felicity; that as my chief natural quality, Reason, commandeth in my lower actions of eating and drinking; so my supernatural excellency, Religion, may bear sway in every passage of my life. Lord, who hast given me a perfect rule, and appointed me to order my life in all things according to it; be pleased to write all thy laws in my heart, that I may be tender of both Tables; love thee with all my soul and strength, and love my Neighbour as my self, for thy sake. If one link of the golden chain of thy commands be broken, the whole is dissolved; they love one another too well to part company; where one precept is wilfully despised, all are disobeyed; Thou hast said it, He that breaks one, is guilty of all. O enable me to be as universal in my conformity and duty, as thou art in thy mercy and bounty; for then shall I not be ashamed, when I shall have respect to all thy Commandements.Psa. 119.
Motives to mind Religion in civil dealings. 1. Its a sign of hypocrisie to be careless herein.I Wish that the soundness and integrity of my heart, may appear in the cleaneness and purity of my hands; The sound will speak what Mettal the Bell is of; the Flowers that shew themselves above ground, will declare the nature of the root, which lieth hid; How often doth the face discover the faults of the vital parts? If my tongue and speech be double, my spirit cannot be single; If my actions be unrighteous, my inward man must needs be irreligious; How grossely do I delude my self, if I presume that I am holy, because I mind the first Table, if I be dishonest, and live in the breach of the second? when there is so much Religion in the duties of the second Table, that there can be no Religion without them; My deceitful heart is apt to suggest that its but a small matter, If I should supplant my Brother, and that there is no such need of care in my ordinary outward carriage: But my Soveraign, to whom I have sworn Allegiance, hath told me in the word of truth (Mat. 23. 23.) that justice and mercy are the weighty matters of the Law, and hath commanded me, (Micah. 6. 8.) to do justly, and to love mercy throughout my whole life. O that I might never allow my self in the breach of those precepts, which in the worlds blind judgment are the least of his commands; and by my pattern teach men so, lest I be found at last, the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, thou hast enjoyned me, to keep thy Law as the Apple of mine eye (Prov. 7.) I know, a small thing will pain, a little dust will offend mine eye; but thy Law is infinitely more tender; thy Word forbids and condemneth the smallest wandring, the very conception of sin, in a vain thought; much more its birth in an unrighteous action, is abominable and odious to it; Thou hast commanded me to keep thy Precepts diligently; O that my ways were directed to keep all thy Commandements! Though I abound, and am never so strict in thine Ordinances, if I be careless and loose in my Contracts with men, thou canst espie the evil constitution of my soul, notwithstanding such painting; Thou canst see the rottenness of my heart, in the rottenness of my wares, under the false gloss I put upon them; And if thy moral precept find not obedience with me, my spiritual performances will never find acceptance with thee. The Pie, a speckled Bird, whose Feathers were white and black, was unclean. Should I seem pious in those duties which concern thy worship, and yet be perverse in my dealings with men, I am in thy judgement a wicked person. Thou hast said of such, Shall I count them pure with the wicked ballances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? Micah. 6. 11. If there be iniquity in my hands, there is hypocrisie in my heart; How clearly doth a person that picketh and chooseth his food, (liking this, and loathing that, though ne…er so wholsom) prove a foul stomach; and how fully do I demonstrate secret filth in my inward parts, if I pick and choose amongst (the food of my soul) the precepts! When the soul is clean and sound, every command will be sweet; if my heart be sincere, all my dealings will be square. O let me never be like those Pharises, who made long prayers for a cover, that they might prey the more closely upon their Neighbours; but let thy spirit in my heart, send up the sap of grace into every branch of my life, that all the passages thereof may abound in the fruits of righteousness, and I may esteem all thy precepts, concerning all things, to be right.
I Wish that the glory of Religion may be so dear to my heart,2Motive, the honour of Religion. that I may render it amiable to the eyes of others, by walking every way sutable to my profession; The name of my God is holy and reverend, and shall I offer it to reproach? Some write that the Iews would not foul their mouths with that unclean word of blaspeming God, but always expressed it by a contrary word of blessing God; If it were so execrable that they hated to speak it, shall I be so vile as to act it? It were a sin to wrong a man of his good name; what is it then to rob my God? If I dress my self in the livery of Christ, and in that habit wallow in the mire of unrighteous dealings, I give up the blessed Redeemer to the scorn and derision of the world. Every one that nameth the name of Christ, should depart from iniquity. The colours of Christ which I wear, cause many to look upon me; Every professor is like a City on an Hill, visible to all; Spots are sooner seen in scarlet, then in sackcloth; Blots appear fouler in a strict professour, then in a loose and prophane person. None wonders to see swine dirty; but to see the Ermins beautiful skin bemired, is prodigious. How watchful are the wicked to observe my wandrings! All my familiars watch for my halting, they mark my steps when they watch for my soul, If they can sinde the least tincture of falseness in my words, or colour of unfaithfulness in my works, they soon make it much greater, looking on it through the Spectacles of malice. How quick do they post it abroad, and publish it amongst their companions! I hear the defaming of many, fear on every side; Report, say they, and we will report it. What a shame was it, that the Great Turk should take the violated Covenant of the Hungarian King, out of his boso…e, and present it to the blessed God, as the act of those that wore his livery, and prosest them selves his servants? When those that should be the beauty of Israel, are slain in the high places, and (those that by their profession are) the mighty, fall in the streets, they soon tell it in Gath, and publish it in Askelon; the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce, the Sons of the uncircumcised triumph; then the banks of blasphemy are broken down, and the floods of scoffs and scorns come pouring in. And when they went among the Heathen, they prophaned my holy name, when they said to them;Ezek. 36. 20. These are the people of the Lord. How doth the World conclude, Surely the Parents are very bad, whom their own Children discommend so much! Certainly there is little love or power, or faithfulness in their Father, when his own Sons dare not trust him for a little food, but go up and down to steal and filch from others! O how ordinary is it for the prophane to throw the dirt of professours sins on the face of their profession! None give such wounds to the credit of the blessed God, as some who pretend to be his own children. The higher the place is whence a stone fals, the deeper it pierceth… No blows more mortal then those of a Thunder-bolt. My profession is high; if my practices be vile and base, I strike religion to the very heart; O let me never be so vile a Traytor, as by my sordid courses (like Judas) to betray the holy Iesus to the buffetings and mockings of his adversaries; Why should I harden the bad by my sinful shifts in their wickedness? Shall I be the Divels broker to put off those rotten wares for him, of cozening and cheating, which otherwise might lie upon his hands? Why should I sadden the good? Shall I cause them to hang down their heads with sorrow as the Patriarchs did theirs, when the cup was found in Benjamins sack? Lord, thou art tender of the Reputation of thy chosen, and hast many a time wrought wonderfully for their renown and credit; When the wicked world hath blown upon their names, endeavouring to blast them and make them unsavoury, thou hast magnified thy power to vindicate their honour; And shall I make thy glorious name contemptible, when thou makest my vile name honourable? Can I be so void of love to thy Majesty, as to tread upon that name of thine, that is more worth then Heaven and Earth? Besides, Many a season I have pleaded thy name in prayer, and that with success. My voice hath been in the behalf of my own soul;Psa. 25. and 31. 13. For thy names sake pardon mine iniquity, for it is great; Thou art my Rock and my Fortress, therefore for thy names sake, lead me and guide me: When thou haste answered me,Isa. 48. 9. Behold I, even I am he that blotteth out thine iniquities, for my names sake; I will defer my anger for mine names sake, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. O how many a blessing hath thy name been, both the Oratour to procure, and the Messenger to bring! when many others have treated to little purpose, that, that hath been the undeniable Ambassadour to prevail for peace and pardon. Thy name hath been by shelter in many a storm, and my supply in many a straight; and shall I be an enemy to that which is so great a friend to me? Can I be so unworthy as to cause others to trample this great favourite at heavens Court under their feet? Hath not the polluting thy name been the argument which I have sometimes used for the perdition of thine enemies! I have cried to thee, Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name; and shall I be guilty of that which I plead as a reason for others ruine! Again, My dayly prayer is, Hallowed be thy name, and shall my practices give my prayer the lye, and prophane it! Should I cheat and cozen as the men of the world, my great profession would cause my sin, like a Cart heavy laden, to make deep furrows, into which many might trip and fall. How ordinary is it for Egyptians to follow the dark side of the Israelites Pillar to their perdition? Foolish man that I am, is not the burthen of my own sins already intolerable, and shall I add to them by being partaker of other mens sins! Is the River of wrath due to me, so low, so little, that I must invite streams from every place to swell it into an Ocean! O that for my own sake, for the sake of other men, and especially for thy sake, I may order all my ways by thy word! Lord, preserve me by thy Spirit, that I may never lay a stumbling block before the wicked, nor as the unbeleiving spies, by my distrust of thy providence, and using indirect courses to releive my family, bring an ill report upon the good Land. Assist me that I may look not onelyonly to the power of Religion, but also the honour of Religion; Let thy grace ever accompany me, and enable me to keep a conscience void of guile before thee, and a conversation so void of guilt before men, that whereas they speak against me as an evil doer, they may be ashamed at this day, and may by my good works, which they shall behold, glorifie God in the day of visitation.
In our dealings; we must exercise our selves to godliness. First, In regard of the manner. 1. Act Righteously. Jer. 22. 12.I Wish that I may look to the righteousness of my actions, as well as to the righteousness of my person, and never think that my house can be firm, if it be built upon the rotten foundation of injustice. My God hath said, Wo be to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his Chambers by wrong. As high as my house is raised, and as sure as it is seated, the breath of this curse will blow it down. Though my estate seem never so fair, yet how easily and how speedily may this scorching curse cause it to fade, In thy works.and to wither in my hand as a flower! Have not mine eyes beheld the ruines of some stately dwellings, which have been built upon rapine! Unrighteousness, like Rabbits in some Countrys, hath undermined the foundations, and overturned the buildings; and shall mine escape? Whether I will believe it or no … My God hath spoken, that unjust gain will prove my own loss, and he will see it accomplished. Whatsoever fine terms I may call my cheating by, as an Art in my Trade, or the Mystery of my Calling, yet my God counts it Theft, and me for it but a Thief. Though I may put a fair colour upon my false dealing, yet he forbids it under the plain censure of stealing; Thou shalt not steal. And O how great a Theif am I, if I be guilty of this in my ordinary dealings! I wrong my Neighbours that trade with me, and that most Hypocritically, under the pretence of doing them right. To kill a man in the field by force is wicked; but to poison him at my Table by fraud is worse, because in this latter I pretend friendship. To rob on the High-way by open power is greivous; but to rob in my Shop by this hellish policy is more odious, for I wrong one that is my friend, and in such a way, that he hath no means to help himself. The Righteous God saith,Isa. 1. 15. My hands are full of blood, not onelyonly when I murther a mans person, and take away his life, but also when I injure a mans portion and take away his lively-hood. Such unjust persons must expect sore punishments; The Law of man punisheth Cheats in some measure; but the Law of the jealous God, is more severe to such Iuglers as endeavour to unglue the whole worlds frame, knit together onelyonly by commerce and contracts.
I rob my own family as well as my Neighbours. He that is greedy of gain, troubleth his own house. False dealing like Fire consumes what comes near it. My Children were better be left beggars, then heirs of those riches which I have got by robbery. What is well gotten, will fa…e the worse for the Neighbourhood of my ill gotten wealth. This as a rotten sheep will infect the sound flock. Whilst I am digging deep, to lay the foundation of my house sure, I do but lay in barrels of powder to blow it up.
I rob my own soul most of all by my unrighteousness; How ill is that gain which causeth the loss of my God! How cheap do I sell those wares with which I buy endless and intollerable wo! How dear do I buy that silver, for which I sell my inestimable soul and salvation! Ah what an ill Market doth he make; that puts off his soul at any price! If it be unprofitable to gain the whole world and lose my own soul, what a fool, what a mad man am I to set my soul to sale for a very small part of the world! Into what a miserable Dilemma doth my deceitful dealing bring me! Either I must repent and vomit it up, which will tear and wrack my very heart, or else I must burn for ever in hell! O that I might never …e so bereaved of my wits, as to touch or meddle with such distracting wealth. Psa. 37. 16. Prov. 16. 8.Lord, thou hast informed me, that, A little which the righteous man hath, is better then the possessions of many wicked; that better is a little with righteousness, then great revenues without right. I know that the comfort of my life doth not depend upon a confluence of outward good things, but upon thy love and good-will towards me; Let me rather choose the greatest want, then riches from Satans hands and in Hells way; Be thou pleased to sparkle my little with the precious diamond of thy love, and then twill be better indeed then the riches of many wicked; yea, more worth then all the World.
I Wish that in my buying and selling, I might ever have an eye to the ballance of the Sanctuary. My person must be tried by Scripture at the last day, for my everlasting life and death; and shall not my actions be squared by it at this day? How sad a bargain should I make, if I should buy my own bane? What a dreadful trade should I drive, to sell (like that Son of Perdition) the incomparable Saviour for a little corruptible silver? Is that wealth worth getting, which will make way for eternal want? Though my heapes swell never so much by unlawful means, yet tis but like the swelling of the dropsie, a presage of death. O my soul, what will it avail thee to be rich here, and to be a beggar hereafter, and that for ever? Thou pretendest to purity, but thy God tells thee that holiness and righteousness are like Husband and Wife, joyned by him together, and none may part them asunder. Thou art unsound in all thy sacred duties, if thou art unrighteous in thy civil dealings: When the unjust dealer is cast into the unquenchable fire, what will become of the great Professour? What is the hope of the Hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God shall take away his soul? Iob 27. 8. When the Thief is taken and carried to the Goal, all the money he hath stollen is taken from him. When Death seiseth thee, and sendeth thee to the Prison of Hell, all thy ill gotten goods must be left behind. When thou art lost eternally, what will become of thy unjust gains? Thy Children may be ranting with it on Earth, and thou art roaring for it in Hell. Ah! what dear contracts dost thou make, to sell thy present peace, and thy future endless joy, for a little perishing pelfe? The comfort of thy life now consisteth in communion with thy God; but he that saith, He hath fellowship with God, and walketh in darkness, is a lyar? 1 Ioh. 1. 6. Thy God hates to taste of those Waters which run out of such mus…y Vessels; Muchless will he suffer any of such rotten hearts, and stinking breaths, to draw neer to him in Heaven; Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? 1 Cor. 6. 9. No such Cattel shall ever come into the Celestial Court. Unrighteous Heathens shall be shut out of Heaven; and surely then unrighteous Christians shall be cast into the lowest Hell. O let the fear of thy God ever possess thee, that the love of this World may never pollute thee; Manifest thy love to thy Saviour, by loving thy Neighbour as thy self. Blessed God, who lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity, the Scepter of whose Kingdom is a righteous Scepter, who wilt render unto every man his righteousness; and who hast appeared to me by that grace which teacheth me to deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live righteously in this present evil world; Let thy good Spirit fill me with all the fruits of righteousness; Do thou so lead me in the paths of equity, for thy names sake, that I may follow after righteousness, and inherit a …ure reward.
I Wish that I may be righteous in every relation wherein I stand, and towards all persons with whom I deal, that I may give to Superiours the things that are theirs, to Inferiours the things that are theirs, lest by denying either I rob all; My God is no respecter of persons, but just in all his ways, and righteous in all his works. When shall I imitate his blessed Majesty? He tells me, Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doth righteousness at all times;Psa. 106. 3. If I expect the blessing propounded, I must mind the righteousness enjoyned, and that is to be righteous at all seasons. O my soul, what encouragement hast thou to do justly upon all occasions! thy righteousness shall have a large recompence. Thy Children may fare the better; The just man walketh in his integrity, and his Children are blessed after him: Nay, thy whole Family; The voice of joy and Salvation is in the Tabernacle of the righteous;P…ov. 12. 7. Whereas thou mayst fear that thy plain dealing may bring thee and thine to poverty; thou bast his promise, that he will make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous:Job 8. 6. Above all, thou thy self wilt have the greatest solace. Thy righteousness shall answer for thee in time to come; and whereas the dishonest wealth of others is a corroding worm to gnaw their consciences; thy justice will afford thee present comfort. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous doth sing and rejoyce, Prov. 29. 6. Ah! who would not sow righteousness, when he shall certainly reap so much mercy! Though others, as if they had pitchy hands, take to themselves whatsoever they touch, to the defiling of their own souls, and like whirlpools suck in all that comes neer them, to their own destruction; do thou mete out all thy dealings by that royal measure; Whatsoever thou wouldst that men should do to thee, do the same to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. When thou art buying, or selling, or about any bargain with thy Neighbour, reflect upon thy self; Would I be glad to be thus dealt with? Were I in this mans case, would I be willing that he should serve me as I serve him? Am I as plain-hearted, as true, as just in my carriage towards him, as I would desire him to be in his trading with me? Would I be contented to be defrauded? should I take it well to be defamed? Is this action of mine such, as I could be contented to receive the like? Do I in this business love my Neighbour as my self? Lord, who hast promised that the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance in this world, and shall shine as the Sun in the other world;1 Tim. 3. 2. and who hast put the unrighteous and lovers of themselves in the front of that black list, which is for the unquenchable fire; do thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies,Luk. 1. 73. that I may serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life.
Act righteously in thy words.I Wish that I may mind righteousness in my words, as well as in my works, and not dare to hide deceitful and foul intentions under fair and fawning expressions. To say what is true, and to be true to what I say, is the property of a true Christian;Titus 1. 2. My God is a God that cannot lye; his people are a people that will not lye. Isa. 63. 8.If I therefore be found a lyar, how unlike am I both to God and his people;Prov. 12. 22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight; Though lying lips may be perfumed with sweet words to men, yet God smells the stench and loatheth the ill savour of those rotten inwards whence they proceed. And though truth may beget hatred from men, such sweet breath is his love and delight. He is the God of truth; His Law is the truth;Psa. 119. 142. His Gospel is the word of truth; His Son is the true and faithful Witness. O that truth of heart, truth of words, Colos. 1. 5.and truth in deeds, Rev. 3. 14.may be all in me, which are so agreeable to the true God, and so acceptable to the God of truth! Can that tongue lye so loud to men, which even now called so loud on God? Shall those hands be filching in my Neighbours pocket, which were so lately lifted up to Heaven in prayer? Is my speech given me for my glory, and shall it be the driveling of a Divel that father of lyes? Lord, let me in all my dealings chuse rather to be a loser then a lyar; and let that be my character which thou hast given of the Citizens of Sion,Psa. 24. 3. and 15. 2. that I may never lift up my soul to vanity, nor swear deceitfully, but walk uprightly, work righteousness, and speak the truth in my heart.
I Wish that I may be Courteous as well as Righteous, towards all with whom I converse;2Manner. Deal Courteously. Humanity is a debt which I owe to all mankind; why should I therefore as some proud men, dam up, and contract my civility into so narrow a compass, that it shall swell into flittery towards my Superiors, and not suffer one drop to descend towards Inferiors! I would not as Formalists in fashion of habits, or outward Vesture, discover the lightness of a carnal mind; Nor like Hypocrites, by composed actions, or artificial gesture, manifest the looseness of a frothy spirit; but as a prudent, yet serious Christian be so affable in my carriage, that I may be the more acceptable in my counsel, for the good of others souls. Humanity doth cast a lustre, to attract the eyes and hearts of others. Courtesie is commendable, and an adorning adjunct to sanctity. Holiness is honoured by the attendance of this Hand-maid. Grace is rendered more lovely, when tis accompanied with a kind nature. Tis pity that Jewel should not ever be in this soft Velvet Cabinet. One end of my trading must be to commend to others the excellency of spiritual wares, and to encourage them to buy the truth; but if my behaviour be morose and unkind, I shall fright men from being my customers; and inflict on my self part of Nebuchadnezars penalty, separate my self from amongst men, by forcing them to withdraw from me. If my language be fierce, and my looks frowning, I may deter men from my company, but shall never allure them to Christ. Where the carriage is sowre and pouting, the Counsel will never be sweet and prevalent. O that I might never disadvantage Religion by any rugged disposition, but by the kindness of my nature may do a real kindness to grace, and become all things to all men, if by any means I might save some. Yet I would not be so courteous to others, as to be discourteous to my self; I mean, be so courteous to sinners, as to comply with them in their sins; Tis far better that the World should count me uncivil, then the Lord should esteem me ungodly. Let me be an enemy to their corruptions, when I shew my self most friendly to their persons, and never be so much a Courtier, as to forget that I am a Christian. Lord, who hast commanded thy people to be kindly affected one towards another, teach me to shew the true affection of my heart, in the kindness of my tongue and hand; courtesie is as salt, and dryeth those ill humours which are distastful to others, and will make my counsel the more savoury; Thine Angels themselves used salutations in their occasional converses with Mortals; give me to do thy will on earth, as it is done by those Noble Courtiers in Heaven; for I believe that they were in Heaven, when they were discoursing with thy chosen on Earth; Grant me so much gracious good manners, as by my prayers to send the next man I meet, even all I deal with, to thee. Let me bestow the almes of some hearty ejaculation, as well as the outward expressions of The Lord be with you, upon them: Yea, let me for thy sake be kind and gentle to all men, that I may draw them to thy self: Yet suffer me not to be so friendly in my words, as to have fellowship with any in their wickedness, but helpe me to dispence even my civilities by a standard measure, least what I intend as shy Net to take others souls, prove Satans trap to catch mine.
I Wish that I may be both so just as not to offer injuries to others, and also so meek as to suffer with patience what others offer to me. 3Manner. Deal meekly.The world will never leave its old haunt of persecuting them that are holy. Its natural for Wolves to hate and devour Sheep; If I were of the world, I should be one of its darlings, for the World loveth its own. My God hath called me from it, and chosen me out of it, therefore it hates me. I need not marvail at its malice, when it did spit its venome at the Author of its being, and took away life from him, who gave life to it. The Servant is not above his Master, nor must the Disciple look to fare better then his Lord. If the soft Pillow of meekness be not laid on my back, I shall never bear the burthens of their calumnies, and cruelties with the least comfort; What pain doth such Vinegar cause, when it meets with the raw wound of an impatient spirit! The more mad the world is, the more meek I had need to be, if I would enjoy my self. Besides, there may be …allings out amongst the best friends. Good men are not all of the same stature, nor all of the same temper. Some are like broken bones, if but toucht they fret and fling. How full are some of jealousies and suspicions, which would soon be increased by my passions; and that spark which might be extinguished by my lenity, is blown into a flame by my fury! Some are sickly and in constant pain, others are under some smarting providence; some offend me upon mistake, and though others should do it out of malice, yet even they also call for my pity, more then my passion: The best have need of pardon from man, as well as God; and shall I, who want it more then others, not allow it to others? Alas, what harme do I get by others heats? The Air when beaten is not injured, no not so much as divided, but returnes to its place, and becomes thicker then before. The sharpest words cannot wound me, if I do not put my hand to the weapon. All those tongue-squibs of reproach which the malevolent world throw at me, will go out alone, and die of themselves if I do not revive them. My well-grounded patience will as a walking staff; preserve me from many a fall, whilst I travail in rugged ways.
The distracted world indeed judgeth him the bravest fellow, that will not pocket up the least affronts; but the wisest man that ever was; nay, the onelyonly wise God, tells me. The patient in spirit is better then the proud in spirit;Eccles. 7. 3. O my soul, whom wilt thou believe? the world that long since hath lost its wits, and must ere long for its phrensie be fettered with the chains of everlasting darkness, Job 4. ….in the Bridewel of the bottomless pit; or that God to whom Angels themselves are comparative fools! O be not hasty to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosome of fools. Eccles. 7.4.What a fool art thou to break thy own bones, to give another a smart blow! A furious man is like Tamar, who to be revenged of her father in Law, defiled him and her self with incest. Revenge is a Thief that steals away a mans estate for the Lawyers. It is of the nature of the Viper, and eats out the bowels of that wealth which gave it birth. What a fool am I to defame my self! That rancour and spleen which I spit at others, is like his that spits against the wind, driven back into my own face, to the besmearing of my credit amongst all that are judicious. What a fool am I to destroy my own grace, my own peace! What flowers of holiness will grow where such locusts abound? What fruits of righteousness can thrive in such a scorching Climate? What good work can be done within doors, if the house be in a flame? How unfit is a man in a passion, to go to God in prayer? surely, no more then a person that comes reaking and sooted from a kell, is for the presence of his Prince. I must not expect to meet God in a duty, if my spirit be in a fury. A righteous man falling down before the wicked, is like a troubled Fountain, Prov. 25. 26. I seldom fall down more fouly before wicked men, then when I render reviling for reviling, and revenge for revenge; but then how unfit am I to fall down in holy duties before my God! for I am as a troubled fountain; and if men will not drink of the water of a fountain, (though in it self pure and wholsom) when it is troubled and muddy; can I think that my God will drink of that vessel that runs thick! O that I might never, because others are my enemies in defaming me, become my own enemy in defiling my own soul, and hindering it of that comfort which it might have in divine communion. Lord, who art the God of peace, let me be known to be one of thine, by being a Son of peace; Enable me to pass on like a wise Travailer, in the way of thy Commandements, and not to be stirred at the barking of those Dogs that pursue me with open mouth. My confident neglect will soonest make them quiet; let me never break the peace, but in the quarrel of truth; Give me for peace sake sometimes to part with my right, but never with my righteousness; Let the same mind be in me, which was in Christ Jesus; Teach me from him to be meek and lowly in heart, and yet to be eaten up with the zeal of thy house. Make me willing to suffer, but not to have thy name suffer. Grant me to follow peace with all men, and holiness. O bestow on me that wisdom from above, which is first Pure, then Peaceable, Gentle, and (though hardly provoked, yet) easie to be intreated.
2The principle must Legr…ciou….I Wish that those beautiful children of righteousness, courtesie, and meekness in my carriage, may have the Spirit of God for their Parent; I mean, that the fear of my God may be the principle from which they flow. I shall lose the race, how well soever I run, if I do not set out at the right place. Men look onelyonly to my practices, and accordingly judge of my principle; if my life be without fault, their charity tells them that my heart is without fraud; but Gods eye is on my principle, and accordingly he judgeth of my practices; if my affections be not gracious, he knoweth that my actions cannot be righteous. My God knoweth me thorough and thorough; He spieth the rottenness and crawling vermine, that are in the bowels of a painted Sepulchre. If I be like a Peach with a craggy stone in my heart, under the cover of a velvet Coat, he understandeth it altogether; I may cozen the dark eyes of men, who when they behold the inoffensiveness of my life, and the height of my profession, are ready to cry out of me, as Samuel of Eliab, when he saw the comeliness of his countenance, and the height of his stature, Surely the Lords annointed is before him;1 Sam: 16.6.7. but I cannot deceive God; he seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Alas, if I have no more to shew for my title to Heaven, then a fair outside, what have I more then an Hypocrite, nay then some Heathen! A few flourishes in a Paper or Parchment, is but a poor evidence for an inheritance. How many be there in the World, who as some revelling Gallants, by their gay cloaths, and gaudy attire, speak that they are worth thousands, when they have not a penny in their pockets; who by their outward conversations seem to be rich in grace, when indeed like Laodicea, they are poor and miserable, and blind and naked! O that all my fruits of righteousness, might grow upon the root of holiness, and spring from a renewed nature! then and not till then, they will be acceptable to my Saviour; then my beloved will come into his Garden, and eat his pleasant fruits; I would be mindful of these moral duties, because my God commandeth them, and as knowing that I ca…not be religious, if I be not righteous. Though the sensitive soul may be without the rational, as in Beasts; yet the rational soul is never without the sensitive; Though righteousness towards men may be without holiness; yet holiness before God is never without righteousness before men. Lord, thou expectest and commandest that I should act both for thee, and from thee; Thou valuest the Vessel, not by the ballast of a few good actions, which an Heathen may gather up at any Port, but by the fraught of a sanctified heart, which is peculiar to thy chosen; Let my obedience to the second Table, arise from my Conscience of the first table; that whilst the righteous, friendly and meek carriage of others, that runneth along amongst those with whom they converse, is little better then puddle water in thine esteem, because it proceedeth from the sinks of their natural and defiled hearts, justice may not onelyonly in my actions run down like water, and meekness in my conversation, like a mighty stream, but be so fed with and flow from the Spring of thy holy Spirit, dwelling in my heart, that it may be delightful, and of worth in thy sight.
I Wish that I may design somewhat for my God in all my dealings with men,3The end in our dealings is to be minded. and carry my self the more sweetly and circumspectly, that I may gain their affections, and thereby win them to the greater love and liking of Religion. Christianity is my calling, and where-ever I go, my duty bindeth me to be always furthering it. It was one Article which I sealed to, when I first entred my self Christs servant, to endeavour the making others Proselytes to his service; and if I neglect it, I am unfaithful to my Master, and forfeit my Indenture. My Pattern may with some be very prevalent. If I shine with a vertuous life, I am as a light-house set by the Seaside, whereby Mariners sail aright, and avoid dangers; but if I pretend high, and walk loosely, as a false Lanthorn, I shipwrack those that trust me. My holy life is a good Lecture of holiness to others, which if written in a fair character, will invite those with whom I converse, both to read it, and to learn it; My advice may to others be very advantagious. If in the morning I s…w the seed of some savoury counsel, and in the evening with-hold not my hand; though carnal reason tells me it is cast away upon barren earth, which will make no return, yet my God can cause it to spring up richly. Possibly other particular callings may depend on mine, and thereby many persons for their lively-hoods, under God on me; Now what an opportunity of doing them good, of serving my Lord, and of furthering my own account is put into my hands! How willing are these who have their dependance on me, to model themselves to such a form as will best suit my temper! Though they are as hard as Rocks to others, they are as soft as Wax to me; and shall not I labour to imprint the Image of my God upon them! O that by those cords which bind their civil interest; I might draw them to a consideration of their spiritual estates, and let them know that there is but one way of approving themselves to God and me? How false am I, if I do not improve the ground I have got in the hearts or hands of any for the honour of my Master? Inlightned souls are all liberal to disperse their rays for the good of others. How busie are most men to propagate that quality which is predominant in them! The Scholar would have his companion learned; the Courtier his associate handsom in his carriage; the Souldier his Comrade Valiant; and shall not I endeavour that my friends be vertuous? Nay, how diligent are the Devils Agents, to spread the poyson of vice amongst all with whom they converse? Though they find sin already thriving, yet they think it not enough to nourish those ill weeds which grow so fast of themselves, but even sow new seeds of oaths and cozening, and prophaness, as if their mutual commerce did oblige them to diffuse their venome to each other, and as if it were a dishonour to the Tradesman, to go to Hell without his Customers and Chapmen, O my soul! dost thou not blush at thy own backwardness in bringing souls to thy God, …hen the Emissaries of Hell are so forward? Do they devise wickedness continually (Prov. 6. 14.) search out iniquity; yea, accomplish a diligent search (Psa. 64. 6.) leave no means untried, no ways unattempted, but study and search narrowly for fit seasons, when they may convey their infections to others, and communicate their plague-sores with the greatest success; and wilt not thou as a liberal man, devise liberal things, sit down and contrive how thou mayst give counsel to poor sinners, administer comfort to poor Saints, to the best advantage of their souls? Shall Satan go about, seeking whom he may devour, and wilt not thou go about seeking whom thou mayst recover out of the snares of the Devil? Though grace sets bounds to thy Conscience, yet it doth not to the Love of thy God. If the love of thy God be without limits, will not thy desires and endeavours to exalt him be as large? Its his favour to trust thee with any Talents for his honour. Opportunities of doing him service (which now and then he affordeth thee) are precious; the stump of time remaineth, when the branches of opportunity are lopt off. In times of scarcity, men pick up all the grains of corn that none be lost; he that in a dearth gives his corn to his beasts, is himself a brute.
Seasons for the advancement of thy Saviour, and the soul advantage of thy brother, are rare, and wilt thou throw them away upon vain talk, and needless toys? David could say, Is there none left of the house of Saul, to whom I may shew kindness for Ionathans sake? And mayst not thou say, Is there none left of the houshold of f…ith, or belonging to it, though now aliens from it, to whom I may shew kindness for Jesus sake? Ah Lord! whence is it that my soul is so backward in sending beggers to thy gate? Am I ashamed to let the World know how much I am indebted, and what bountiful almes I have there received? Art thou so bad a Master, that I should blush to tell others to whom I belong; or affraid that if I should commend thee to them, and send them to thee, they would find me false? Surely to sit at thy feet, and to wait at thy Gate, is infinitely more honourable and comfortable then to sit on the highest worldly throne, and to be waited on by the greatest earthly Princes. What then are the fetters that hinder me from running to invite others to thy Gospel-feast? Do I fear that thy house will not hold us all, or that the inheritance of thy Saints, being divided amongst so many, the lesser share will fall to me? No, I beleive that in my Fathers House are many mansions; that there is room enough and to spare for all thy righteous ones; and that my sight of thee, the true Sun, will never be the less pleasing and refreshing, though millions of worlds should enjoy thee. If ever it be true, twill be there, The more the merrier. An innumerable company, which all thy creatures cannot number, may draw water with joy out of the Well of salvation, and yet there not be one drop the less. Where still is the fault, that I am so unfruitful, and do not encourage others to enter themselves in thy family? Am I the fig-tree which thou hast cursed and said to, Never fruit grow on thee more? Or, Is it not rather my wicked heart of unbeleif that tells me, Godliness is grown with most but a dead commodity, and if I offer to put it into my Chapmans hands, my own wares will go off the worse? How often hath it suggested to me, that to commend truth to my customers, will be the way to lose my trade; that I must not follow holiness too close at the heels, lest it dash out my brains; that it is to no purpose to perswade men to godliness, and that I do but lose my labour in all my counsels and admonitions to others! This unbeleif, Lord, is the traytour which is such an enemy to the Crown and Scepter of thy dear Son; O let it please thy Majesty to execute it speedily. Why should this Worm lye gnawing at the root, and hinder my soul from glorifying thee, by bringing forth much fruit? Is not my soul a Vine of thine own planting? Thou broughtest her out of Egypt, a state of bondage and slavery to Sin and Satan… and she is come up from the Wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved. Why doth this Boar of the Wood waste her, and this Wild Beast of the field devour her, even this evil heart of unbeleif, whereby she departs away from the living God? Return I beseech thee O God of Hosts, look down from Heaven, and behold, and visi… this Vine, fence it by thine Almighty power, prune it by thy providence, water it with the showres of thy grace, and so quicken it with the beams of thy favour, that it may bring forth much fruit to thy glory.
I Wish that I may like Enoch,The conclusion. walk so with my God in all my actions, whilst I walk amongst men, that in thy good time my soul may be translated, and I may not see death, either as the wicked in this World do with terrour, or as the damned in the other World do, in torment to their everlasting woe. Lord, thou art Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord my righteousness; be pleased to cloath my person with the robe of thy Sons imputed righteousness, that my nakedness may not appear before Men and Angels, to my eternal shame; let all my actions be covered with the garment of thy Spirits imparted righteousness, that they may be acceptable and amiable in thine eye. Let thy grace so fill my heart, that godliness may be visible in my hands, and I may thereby draw others towards Heaven. Thou hast said, Behold I make all things new; what wilt thou then do with this old corrupt nature of mine? O Renew that, or nothing will be new to my comfort. O God create a clean heart, and renew a right Spirit within me. I know the time will come that thou wilt create new Heavens and new Earth, wherein shall dwell righteousness. My body is the Earth, and my soul is the Heaven which thou hast already made; but might thy servant prevail with thy Majesty to create my soul thy new Heavens, and my body thy new Earth, wherein may dwell righteousness, how infinitely should I be bound t… thy distinguishing mercy! Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me; O give me understanding, that I may keep thy Commandements; Were my soul bespangled with the glorious stars of thy graces, and my body embroydered and curiously wrought, so as to be the Temple of thy Spirit, then indeed thou mightest re…lect upon what thou hadst made with complacency; for behold it would be very good: Hast thou not made the great World for man, and the little World (Man) for thy self? When shall I be so pure as to invite thy presence, and so sanctified, as to be set apart (from all others, and to be) only for thy service? O make it appear that I am thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which tho… hast before ordained that I should walk in them. If thou pleasest to set forth this Heaven and Earth, this little Epitome of the creation, in a new edition, I know it would be done in so fair a Character, as to delight thine eyes, and to ravi…h the hearts of all that behold it. Tis confest the Copy was perfect when it came out of thy hands; there was no unrighteousness or impatience, not the least blot or blemish in it; but my Parents who transmitted the book to the world, through their unfaithfulness, filled it from the beginning to the end with errors. Adam begat a Son in his own likeness, after his Image. The first sheet went off the press (through his cursed falseness and negligence) imperfect, Gen. 5. 3.and full of faults, and the many millions that followed, have still retained the same defects. Yet Lord, since thy Son was at the cost of a new impression; Let it please thee for his sake to be at the pains of correct…ing this volume so effectually, that those who look into it, may read righteousness, courtesie, meekness, faith, humility, patience, heavenly-mindedness, printed in so large a Letter, free from the former errors, that they may so like it as to embrace and imitate it. O then I shall be assured that at the general Resurrection, when thy last hand shall pass on me, and I shall be published in the newest and last edition, none of those blots and blurs wherewith I have defiled it, shall be found in it; but thy Image shall be printed on me in such a lovely Character, and in so perfect a manner, that thou wilt delight in me, and I in thee, for ever and ever,
Amen.