An Infallible Way to Fare Well, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Ninthly, Godlinesse hath the Promises not only of this life, but also of that which is to come. The quintessence whereof consists in these two things; freedom from all pain, fruition of all pleasure, which is the purchase of Christ for his followers. For when he sits upon his Throne, he shall say unto them, and only to them: Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, from before the foundation of the world: where are such joyes, as eye hath not seen, nor eat heard, &c. And are there any pleasures, like those at the right hand of God for evermore? Whereas to those, that have not had the grace, nor the wit to serve him: he shall say, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. And is there any pain, like the separation from Christ, into everlasting and ever-flaming fire? Mat. 25. 41. Think of this, you that prefer the service of sinne and Satan, before that of our Saviours. Heaven you will confesse to be best of all; yet for Heaven you will use labour least of all. For I may boldly affirm it, your covetous man, takes more paines to goe to hell; than do the godly to get to Heaven: he riseth early, and resteth late, and eates the course bread of sorrow; and after a great deal of tedious and odious misery, goes to the Devil for his labour. But look to it, this will one day cost men dear: For it will be the very hell of hell, when they shall call to mind, that they have loved their sinnes, more than their Saviour, or their own souls. When they shall remember, what love and mercy, hath been almost enforced upon them; and yet they would by all meanes, and that of free choice perish.
Now I might go on to other Particulars, yea I might alomost be infinite in these things: but having said enough, to be thought too much: I will mention no more, only let me a little apply it. We see that the shadow, does not more inseparably follow the body: than all blessings follow grace. Bodily exercise profiteth little, but godlinesse is profitable unto all things, 1 Tim. 4. 8. as having the Promises of the life present, and of that which is to come. Men talk much of the Philosophers stone, that it turneth copper into gold: of Cornucopia, that it had all things necessary for food in it: of the Herb Pana…e, that it is instead of all purges, and cureth all diseases: of the Herb Nepenthes, that it procureth all delights: of Vulcans Armour, that it was of proof against all thrusts and blows. Yea, Pliny speaks of no lesse, than three hundred and sixty benefits; that may be made of the Palme tree, if we will believe him. But whether these things be so or not, it much matters not: this I am sure of, that what they did vainly attribute to these rarities, for bodily and transitory good; we may with full measure; and without any hyperbole, justly ascribe to grace and Gods favour, for spiritual. So that Religion, Piety, and Holinesse, are Mistresses worthy your service. Yea, all other Artes in the world, are but drudges to these. Fools may contemn them, who cannot judge of true intellectual beauty: but if they had our eyes, they culd not but be ravished with admiration of the same. And men truly wise, have learned to contemn their contempt, and to pity their injurious ignorance.
All which being so apparant, and undeniable: mens wisest and surest way were, as one would think, to become the Servants of God, and be as industrious after grace, as they have been after gold. For in common reason, who would eat huskes with the Prodigal, when if he will but return home, he shall be honourably entertained, by his heavenly Father? have so good cheer and banqueting, hear so great melody, joy and triumph? Generally, men are very eager and industrious to get worldly wealth; yea, no pains is thought too much for it: but where shall we finde men thus eager after spiritual wealth, which alone can make them happy?