Right Thoughts, Part 2 · Section 9 – Section 14
Sect. IX.
IN thinking of TEMPTATIONS,Of Temptations. 1 Pet. 4.12. 1 Cor. 10.13. Heb. 11.37. Beſt tempted. Heb. 3.18. Chap. 4.15. Chriſt himſelf in all points. Luſt of the eye. Mat. 4.2, 3. Verſe 9. Pride of life. Verſe 3. Verſe 6. not as ſtrange (or as though ſome ſtrange thing had happened) but as common to men; yea the beſt of men, They were tempted (ſaith the Apoſtle) yea the worſt of them to him that was more then MAN, who himſelf ſuffered being tempted (and that in all points as we are,) that he might know how to ſuccour them that are tempted. In all points; To the Luſts of the Fleſh, Thou art Hungry, Make theſe ſtones Bread; To the luſt of the Eyes, thou art poor, (Thou haſt not a hole where to lay thy head) All theſe will I give thee; To the Pride of Life, Thou pretendeſt high, prove what thou pretendeſt; ſhew thine Authority, Command Stones to be made Bread; If thou be a King, let us ſee thy Court, thy Heavenly Guard, and that the Angels are indeed but thy Miniſters, If thou be the Son of God, do ſomething or other, that ordinary men either cannot, or at leaſt dare not do, never fear to die like a man, Caſt thy ſelf down, and let us ſee whether Angels will bear thee up. Now All that is in the World, 1 John 2.16.is the Luſt of the Fleſh, and of the Eye, and pride of Life. And as the wind of Temptation thus blew all the points of the Worlds Compaſs, Chriſt tempted with temptations, baſe and forbid. Bloody and unnatural. Helliſh and blaſphemous.ſo alſo all the points of higheſt and moſt hideous aggravations; moſt baſe and ſorbid, tranſgreſs for a morſel of Bread, ſell thy Birth-right for a meals meat, break thy Faith with God, that thou mayeſt break thy Faſt with the Devil; Moſt bloody and unnatural, if thou wilt not break thy Faſt, break thy Neck, Caſt thy ſelf down; Moſt Helliſh and Horrid, If thou wilt not, or canſt not prove thy ſelf to be the Son of God, diſown God, and own me for thy God, Fall down and Worſhip me; Math. 4.9.and is the Nature of Man capable of any thought more hideous, injections more black and blaſphemous then ſuch as theſe? And yet for all this,Highly ſubtil and deceiptful. Profit and pleaſure. Verſe 8. Wreſted Scripture. Verſe 6. Gods ends pretended. All points too of higheſt ſubtilty and helliſh deceipt that ſpiritual wickedneſs could poſſibly hatch or imagine: This Hell of Temptations muſt not only be covered over with a Paradiſe of Pleaſures, the World and all the Glory of it, but alſo with an Heaven of Scripture-warranty, Caſt thy ſelf down, for It is written, &c. and ſo thou mayſt ſhew thy Faith, without hazard of thy Life; nay of moſt High, Glorious, Good ends, the Manifeſtation of his Divinity, the Credit of his Miniſtry, the Glory of God in having ſuch a Son, the Glory of Chriſt in having ſuch a Father, (And all this in a ſeaſonable point of time, when all this was challenged, and called boldly in queſtion by the great Goliah, that at the very firſt word,Verſe 3. defyeth the Living God,) If thou be the Son of God, &c. which is as much as prove it if thou canſt. Thus was Chriſt Tempted in all points, therefore well may the Tempted think thus of his ſoreſt Temptations,2 Cor. 12.7. Theſe are thornes in my Fleſh, but no other then what were platted together by Satan, and worn as a Crown by my head and Saviour; Saints tempted only, if need be. 1 Pet. 1.6. 1 Cor. 12.7. 1 Pet. 1.7. Revel. 3.10. Rom. 5.4. 1 Pet. 5.8. … Cor. 12.8. Gal. 6.1. And for excellent ende.And now ordered by his hand that they cannot touch me ſooner or longer then need is for the Pricking of my puffing Pride, the tryal of my Faith, the exerciſing of my Patience, and experiencing of me by it; the exciting of my watchfulneſs, the ſpirit of Prayer in my ſelf, and the Spirit of meekneſs in the reſtoring of others (when they are overtaken in a fault, conſidering my ſelf leaſt I alſo be tempted.) The teaching of me to know more throughly both my ſelf and my Saviour; both where my weakneſs, and where my ſtrength lyeth; That I am but a Reed ſhaken with the wind, that Chriſt is the Rock, higher then I; yea higher then the higheſt; that when the proudeſt Temptations daſh againſt it,Shall be carried through all. they are broken by it, that is Grace is only ſufficient for me, and that his ſtrength ſhall be made perfect in my weakneſs,2 Cor. 12.9. 1 Cor. 10.13. and that God is faithful, who will not ſuffer me to be tempted above what I am able, but with the temptation will make a way to eſcape;1 Pet. 2.9. May triumph over all. For the Lord knowes how to deliver our of Temptations; And therefore, though now in my m…nority, I may think of the day when I ſhall be at Age, the time appointed of the Father;Gal. 4.2. Though now in my Apprentiſhip, that I ſhall be one day made Free from mine infirmities, and Temptations,2 Cor. 1….9. and therefore I will even now Glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me; for when I am weak then am I ſtrong, nay, in theſe things, I am more then Conqueror,Verſe 10. through Chriſt ſtrengthening me.
Sect. X.
IN thinking of PERSECUTIONS for Chriſt,Of Perſecution, our Patrimony. Mark 10.30. Honour. Acts 5.41. Phil. 1.29. Gods gift, therefore cannot merit. Loſs, gain. Heb. 10.34. Diſgrace, riches. Heb. 11.26. Verſe 24. Perſecuted happy. Verſe, 25. Mal. 3.15. Proſperous miſerable. Pſal. 73.12. Pſal. 4.9, 6. Verſe 18. The diſpiſed excellent. 1 Cor. 4.13. Pſal. 16.3. Heb. 11.38. Acts 20.24. Perſecution not enough without love. 1 Cor. 13 3. as part of a Chriſtians Patrimony (Ye ſhall receive an hundred fold in this life with Perſecutions.) An Honour to be counted worthy to ſuffer, a Gift to be able to ſuffer, as well as to believe, (to you it is given.) And therefore he is ſo far from thinking, that he merits by it as that he is but ſo much the more beholding to God and to Chriſt for it. He thinks loſſes for Chriſt and the Goſpel to be gain, the ſpoiling of his Goods to be joyfully taken, As knowing in himſelf that he hath in Heaven a better and more induring ſubſtance. He eſteems diſgrace for Chriſt, the higheſt Honour in the World, and the Reproach of Chriſt greater Riches then the Treaſures of Aegypt. He refuſeth to dwell in the Tents of Wickedneſs, to have his portion in this life, He chooſeth rather to ſuffer Affliction with the People of God, then to enjoy the Pleaſures of …in for a ſeaſon. Thoſe whom men think to be the happy men, (who call the proud happy,) having ONLY their portion in this life. Thoſe that proſper in the World, that increaſe in Riches, that boaſt of their Wealth, that ſay they are rich and poſſeſſed with goods, &c. Such He thinks Poor, and Wretched, and Miſerable, and Blind and Naked. And thoſe whom ſuch men think the off-ſcouring of the World, He thinks the Excellent of the Earth; And whom they think unworthy to live in the World, He thinks that the World is not worthy of them. He thinks his Life not too much, nor too dear for Chriſt, nay not enough, if it want the ſincerity of his Love, and therefore labours as much that his heart and love be found ſtaming towards him, as (if he call for it) to give his body to be burnt for him.
Sect. XI.
Right thoughts of the outward condition of life. Prov. 13.8. As fitteſt for us, 2 Sam. 15.4. Hebr. 13.5. Contentment, without covetouſneſs. Thinking of the promiſe. Pſal. 23.5. For ſupply. Pſal. 17.3.IN thinking of his preſent CONDITION of Life, that his lines are fallen in the beſt place for him, that his own food is moſt convenient for him, That Sauls Armour would not ſuit him, That anothers Condition would not fit him; not as Abſolom, O that I were Judge in the Land. He thinks it is his duty to be contented with ſuch things as he hath, without coveting anothers: And thinks it his Relief, that the leſſe money he hath, he may go the more upon truſt; The leſs he finds in his purſe, ſeek the more in the promiſe of him that hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee; The Lord is his Shepheard, and he thinks he ſhall not want; And therefore he will truſt in the Lord, and do good, And he thinks verily he ſhall be fed, or Truth ſhall be his feeding; (as ſome read) ſo that he thinks no man can take away his livelihood, unleſs he can firſt take away Gods truth.
Sect. XII.
Right thoughts of the preſent time of life. 1 Pet. 1.17. Heb. 4.1. To be paſt in fear, that work may be done. Phil. 1.12. Jude 23. 1 Cor. 9.24. Luke 16.2. Before time done. Time for work. Therefore be up and doing. 1 Chro. 22.16. A time for every Work. Eccleſ. 9.4. Therefore hope while time, no room for diſpair. Eccleſ. 3.1. Time for beſt purpoſes. Rom. 13.11. Hoſ. 10.12. 2 Pet. 1.10. But a time, therefore no place for preſumption. Time pretious meaſured by moments. Epheſ. 5.16. Right thoughts of death. Job 18.14. Chap. 11.20. Eccleſ. 11.3. Luke 16.26.IN thinking of his preſent TIME of life, as the time of his ſojourning here, and therefore to be paſſed in fear; in fear, leaſt he ſhould come ſhort, nay or ſeem to come ſhort, at his going out of the World of that which he came into it for, the working out of his own Salvation, and the ſaving of others, pulling them out of the Fire, and both with fear; with fear leaſt his day be done, before his work be done; leaſt his Glaſs be run, before his Race be run; leaſt his accounts be required, before they be ſtated; with fear, and yet in hope, that though his time be little, and his work great, yet if he be up and doing, the Lord will be with him; And therefore as he that plows, plows in hope, ſo he when he prayes, prayes in hope, and repents in hope, &c. For to him that is joyned to all the living, there is hope. So that his fear is a ſpur to his hope, and his hope a bridle to his fear; That deſpair do not run away with him, and Caſt him quite down, for want of hope; Nor preſumption make him loiter, and looſe both his time, and his ſoul for want of Fear. He thinks there is a time for every purpoſe under Heaven; And therefore thinks he, can I find a time for Eating and Drinking, and Sleeping, Buying and Selling, Building and Planting, Marrying and giving in Marriage? and is there not a time, nay a high time to awake out of ſleep? A time to ſeek the Lord, to make my calling and election ſure, &c. ſurely there is a time, therefore there is hope; And no room for deſperation; And but a time, therefore no place for Preſumption: But a time, and therefore that time is moſt pretious, (God meaſuring it, to us only by moments, as we do pretious Liquors by drops,) and therefore to be redeemed, and ſo imployed in looking out for a pretious Chriſt, and in looking after the pretious Soul.
Sect. XIII.
IN thinking of DEATH, to the Unbelievers and Hypocrites, as a King of Terrors, a grave of their hopes, which will then be as the giving up of the Ghoſt, as the falling of the Tree (that muſt lie till judgment, as then it falls: No work there, nor deviſe, no wiſdom, no calling upon God with hope of help, or promiſe of pardon; As the fixing of the gulf, (no paſſing, no returning, from a ſtate of torment, no means of Grace, no hope of Glory any more) as a cruel Jaylor haling the Soul to the dreadful Tribunal of God, and then to the Tormenter and Executioner, even to him that hath the Power of Death, the Devil: Hebr. 2.14.And alas, how many thouſands of black, yea bloody ſelf-murthering mouths ſhall then come to have their woful wiſhes, before they thought of it, when God ſhall damn them, and the Devil take them.
But to the Righteous (that hath hope in his death) … King of Terrors too, Prov. 14.32. To the godly, what.but with a broken Scepter; A Serpent, but without a ſting; A ghaſtly countenance with an open mouth, but without teeth; A ſturdy Porter, yet ſtanding only to open them their Fathers door. The Saints Bed-maker, Iſa. 52.10. Hoſ. 13.4. Col. 3.41.hard-handed, yet that makes their Beds ſoft and eaſy: An Enemy frighted into a Friend by him that is the very Death of Death, but the believers Life. So that their dying is but an entring into peace, Iſa. 57.2.a reſting in their beds, and from their labours of Sins, Sorrows, Cares, Fears, Temptations, Afflictions, Perſecutions, Sickneſſes, Pains, Wants, Weakneſſes, Wearineſſes, Doubts, Difficulties; nay of Duties, of Faſtings, Watchings, Tears, which ſhall then be wiped away, and done away,Revel. 14.13. as to the Labour, not the Reward, for ſo their Works follow them.
Sect. XIV.
Of judgment, Pſal. 49.14. Mat. 25.19.IN thinking of JUDGMENT, As that glorious morning wherein the upright ſhall have Dominion, ſhall ſit with Chriſt on Thrones, judging the World, being openly juſtified themſelves, and ſet as Sheep on the right hand of God, 1 Cor. 6.2.and Proclaimed by Chriſt the Bleſſed of his Father; As that glorious meeting of that ſpiritualized body with its bleſſed Soul, and ſo with Chriſt,Mat. 25.34. To the ſheep. and with Abraham, and Iſaac, and Jacob, and all the Saints, to be diſſolved, divorced, divided, diſſipated, diſperſed no more.
1 Cor. 15.44. Math. 8.11. Mat. 25.33. and 41. To the Goats. Pſal. 1.5.Mean while thoſe Goats on the left hand, that burned with Luſt, ſhall burn with horrour inwardly, ſhall be accuſed, accurſed, ſentenced and condemned openly; And, as they would not indure the Sheep to live by them in the World, they ſhall go by themſelves, ſhall not come into the Congregation of the juſt, and as they loved Curſing, It ſhall now come into their Souls, and like Oyl in their Bones. And ſo their miſerable bodies (made veſſels of wrath, fitted to Deſtruction, …ide to receive it (without ſpilling,Rom. 9.22.) ſtrong to hold it (without breaking,) being re-united to their tormented Souls; ſhall together be partakers of Miſery (as they formerly had been of Sin) unto all Eternity.