The Nonsuch Professor in his Meridian Splendor, Text (5 of 5)

The Nonsuch Professor in his Meridian Splendor · Text (5 of 5)

p. 353When thou art cloathing of thy body with variety, reflect how the eternall word put on the ſuit of thy humanity, how mercy undreſt it ſelf to cover thee with its garments.

When you are caſting off your cloaths, think of the putting off your Tabernacles; be going to your beds as if you were going to your graves, and ſo cloſe your eyes in one world, as you would open them in another; when you are creeping between the ſheets, then think of▪ your winding ſheet.

When you view the plants that are in your orchards, then think of the p. 354plants that are in Chriſts Orchard. It's not more delightſome to ſee plants bearing of fruits to us, then it is to ſee Saints bearing of fruits to him.

When thou beholdeſt the ſtately buildings, the ſhady groves, the Criſtal brooks, the pleaſant meddows of wicked men, then think with thy ſelf, if ſinners goes away with ſuch large meſſes, what ſhall be the Benjamin's portion! If the children of the concubines have ſo great a gift, what ſhall be the inheritance of the children of promiſe! if the dogs fair ſo well under the Table, how are the children feaſted that ſit at the Table! Give me that eye that can ſee God in all, and that hand that can ſerve God with all. That's the thirteenth.

14. Principle that we are to walk by, is this; That we are to ſpeak well of God, whatſoever ill we bear from God. The mud whilſt the water is quiet lyes at the bottome, but when it is ſtirred creeps up to the top.

Every Cock-boate can ſwim in a ſhallow River, but it muſt be a ſtrong p. 355Veſſel that ploughs the curled ocean.Job nihil attendens proprium, ſolam domini reſpicit, et commemorat voluntatem, talem ſuae gratiarum actioni terminum ponens; ſit nomen domin? benedictum. Titeiman. in loc. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, and bleſſed be the name of the Lord, Job 1. 21. He gives before he takes, and he takes but what he gives: The hourglaſſe of outward happineſs is ſoon run out; to day Job is the richeſt man in all the eaſt, to morrow Job is the pooreſt man in all the world; yet his heart was like a fruitfull Paradiſe, when his eſtate was like a barren wilderneſſe; though God burnt up his out-houſe, yet he left him his pallace ſtanding.

Outward mercies they are like the Sea that have their flowing tides and their ebbing waters; or like the skie that ſometimes is full of clearneſs, and at another time is overcaſt with cloudings; or like a budding flower in the ſpring, which a warm day opens a little, and a cold day ſhuts again; if God bleſſes us in taking as well as in giving, let us bleſſe him for taking, as well as for giving.

That is a rare Artiſt that can play well upon a broken inſtrument. Ah ſoule, view the ſin for which thou art p. 356laſhed, and thou wilt never complain of the rod with which thou art laſhed; To be impatient with thy affliction, and patient with thy corruption, what's this but to be angry with the medicine which ſhould heal thee, and in love with the poyſon which will kill thee.

There are two things very hard to fleſh and blood; One is the foregoing of ſinful pleaſures, And another the undergoing of ſorrowful pains. BelovedAvibus alas praeſecamus, ne altiùs longiuſvè evolent; et Deus opes, & vires imminuit, et nobis aufert ne inſolenter nos propter dona ejus efferamus, Sibel: Conc: 6. p. 118. it is in mercy to us, that God removes mercy from us. He doth not wound a Saint to kill him, but he wounds a Saint to heal him.

'Twas the Commendation of a gracious perſon▪ that though he was ſometimes full of pains yet he was at all times full of patience, he was often found mourning under his corruption, but never found murmuring under his affliction ſome can rejoyce in any thing but in Chriſt, and grieve for any thing but for luſt.

Miſpriſion is that which heightens affliction; O doe not think that God is a plucking up of the tree by the p. 357roots, when he is but lopping off its lu xuriant bowes; that he is demolliſhing of the ſuperſtruction, when he is but laying of a right foundation;Deus in ardentem calamitatum fornacem nos mittit, ut peccatorum noſtrorum, ſordes expurget. Id. in limine ejuſdem, Conc. that he is nipping of the flowers, when he is but plucking up the weeds; that he is laying fallow of the land, when he is plowing of the field; that he is putting out the light, when he is but ſnuffing of the candle.

Providence hath a beautifull face when it puts on a black mask; God hath the faireſt ends in the fowleſt wayes. The bottle may be dipped in the water, when it is not drowned in the water; though the earth be dirty under your feet, yet the heavens are not cloudy over your heads.

You may read the marks of a father in the ſtripes of his children: Every twig of the black rod is but to draw his Image upon you. Could we but bury our friends alive, we ſhould not mourn ſo much for them when they are dead; did not the having of riches take our hearts, the loſing of riches could not break our hearts.

p. 358Son of man, behold, I take away the deſire of thine eyes with a ſtroak. What though he take a wife out of your boſom, ſo he take her into his boſom? You may hug a creature with ſo much hardneſs as to kill it with kindneſle, and wither your ſweeteſt flowers by ſmelling too often at them. God doth but take that out of the hands of his people, that keepes him out of the hearts of his people.

He that mingles his paſſions with his afflictions, is like a fooliſh patient that chews the pills he ſhould ſwallow down. He that carnally diſturbs his ſoul for the loſſe of his ſubſtance, caſts away the kernell becauſe God hath taken away the ſhell: If the tree ſtand and yield us fruits, let the wind blow away it's leaves.

To bleſſe God for mercies is the way to increaſe them, to bleſſe God for miſeries is the way to remove them; No good lives ſo long as that which is thankfully improved, no evill dyes ſo ſoone as that which is patiently indured.

p. 359He that praiſes God under proſperity hath paid his debt, but he that praiſes him under adverſity hath made him a debtor. God can make a plaiſter of a diſeaſe, and bring ſoundneſs to the inward man, by the ſickneſſe of the outward man.

If he ſtops up all your light, it is but to make you fairer windows. When the ſtarrs ſhine not the Sun appeares; repairing the loſs of leſſer lights with brighter beams.

In the loſſe of a withered noſegay you may ſmell at flowers freſh on the ſtalke: Beleevers when their candles are put out, they can fetch their light from the Sun; and when their ſtreames are cut off, they can drink their waters at the ſpring.Animus, vari is coarctatus aerumnis, ſubtiliſſimè ad altiſſumum Deum alâ invocationis ardenti… elevatur. Id. Ibid.

The birds of Paradiſe make the ſwifteſt flights, when they have the ſmalleſt feathers: Theſe Nightingals warble out their pleaſanteſt tunes, when they ſet their breaſt againſt the thornes.

It's ſaid of Ruben that he went up to his fathers bed. How many times doth the creature intercept the reſpects p. 360which we do owe to our Creator; and then no wonder if he break the Ciſterne to bring us unto the fountain. Under all your loſſes be you found bleſſing of God, and after all your loſſes God will be found bleſſing of you.

15. Principle that you ſhould walk by, is this; The longer God for bears not finding amendment, the ſoarer he ſtrikes when he comes to judgment. Divine patience is a thing that is to be adored, but divine patience is not a thing that is to be abuſed.

We uſually take his forbearance for our acquittance; becauſe we ſin unpuniſhed, we think there is no puniſhment for ſin; it is one thing to for bear a debt, but it's another thing to forgive a debt. Becauſe ſentence againſt Homines plerum que in ſceleratiora proruunt vitia, et impudentiùs aſſueſcunt malis, quòd non ſubitò contra illos divina proferatur ſententia, tardiuſ que illorum flagitiis iraſcatur Deus. Arbor: in loc.an evill worke is not executed ſpeedily; therefore the heart of the ſons of men is fully ſet in them to do evill, Eccl. 8. 11. Becauſe he goes on to ſpare them, p. 361they go on to provoke him; As he adds to their lives, they adde to their luſts. What's this but for a man to break his bones, becauſe he thinks to have them ſet by a ſkilful Chyrurgion.

You are in debt to Juſtice, but mercy ſtops the Arreſt of vengeance. Many other have been taken from the earth by a ſudden Arrow darted from Heaven, as Zimry and Cosby unloaded their luſts and their lives together.

Becauſe Juſtice winks, men think it's blind; becauſe it is delayed, they imagine it is denied; becauſe he doth not reprove them for their ſins, therefore they think he doth approve them in theirſins. But know that the ſilent Arrow doth more miſchief then the roaring Cannon. The patience of God, though it be laſting, yet it is not everlaſting.

The Sword of Juſtice its dipt in the Oyle of Mercy, but its better ſome parts ſhould be diſmembred, then that the whole body ſhould be deſtroyed: He that being often reproved hardens p. 362his neck, ſhall ſuddenly be deſtroyed, and that without remedy, Proverbs 29. 1.

God loves all men, ſo as to forbear them, but few men ſo as to forgive them. He was but ſix dayes in making the whole World, and yet was ſeaven dayes in deſtroying of one City. If by the Warning peeces of God you be not amended, by the Murthering peeces of God you ſhall be conſumed.Bern.

Deus non expectabat Angelos, non expectabat Adamum, God did not wait for the Angels, nor for Adam; but our Garriſons are fairly ſummoned, before they be furiouſly ſtormed. It's ill forNos cae leſtu irae ignem aſſendimuset excitamus incendia quibus ardeainus. Salvde Gub. Deil. 8. p. 288. the Iron to gather ruſt under the File. Remember if you be corrected, the ſcourges that God uſes, are taken out of your own houſes. I gave her ſpace to repent of her fornication, but ſhe repented not. Many have the ſpace of repentance, who have not the grace of repentance: What follows? Behold I will caſt her into a Bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of p. 363their deeds, Revel. 2. 21, 22. Juſtice caſt her not upon a bed of feathers, but upon a bed of flames.

I have a long time holden my peace, I have been ſtill and refrained my ſelf, now will I cry like a travelling woman, I will deſtroy and devour at once, Iſa. 42. 14. The longer God is a fetching about his hand, the heavier will be the blow; as a child the longer it ſtayes in the body, the greater it is at the birth.

Security its but like a flaſh of Lightning that uſhers in a clap of Thunder, or like a calme that is the fore runner of an earthquake.

Know it ſinners that God can dip his hands into your blood, and yet fetch out the ſtains. God is pleaſed ſometimes to ſhake this Clayey Cottage before he throws it down, he makes it totter before he makes it tumble. Sinners it may be a fair Sunſhine with you for a ſeaſon, and yet ere long ſuch a ſtorm will ariſe, as ſhall daſh you all to pieces.

We pity a body that's going to the Block, ſhall we not pity a ſoal that's p. 364going to the Pit? He dyes the moſt comfortably, that lives the moſt vertuouſly. Its eaſier for the Bird to keep out of the ſnare, then it is for the Bird toget out of the ſnare. Even beaſts wil avoid the places where they ſee their fellows have miſcarried.

The riſing of the Sun in the Morning was no ſign that Sodom ſhould not be intombed in their own aſhes before the Evening; That day that begins in mercy, may end in judgement. Theſe things haſt thou done, and I kept ſilence, thou thoughteſt I was altogether ſuch a one as thy ſelf, but I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thee, Pſal. 50. 21. What follows? Conſider this ye that forget God, leaſt I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Juſtice proportions the ſmart of man according to the fault of man, ſo thatDeus omnia ſemper habet parata, et quaſi inprecinctu, ad impios impaenitentes perdendos. Ameſ. in locum. you may behold the greatneſs of the ſin in the puniſhment, and the fitneſſe of the puniſhment in the ſin: If he turn not, he will whet his ſword, he hath bent his bow and made it ready, Pſal. 7. 12. The whetting of the ſword is but p. 365a putting on a ſharper edge to give a deeper wound.

God is ſilent as long as our ſins will let him be quiet, but when the ſword is whet, it is for cutting, and when the Bow is bent, it is for ſhooting.

Inraged Juſtice will avenge the quarrel of abuſed Mercy. Its a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Heb. 10. 31. The ſtronger the arm, the greater the blow. Never any weary Traveller complained that he was too ſoon at his journeys end; but a ſinner, if he dyes ſoon its but to march to Hell the quicker, if he lives long, its but to make Hell the hotter.

What a ſad viſion is that where the black Horſe of death goes before, and the red Horſe of wrath follows after; needs muſt one fear come upon the neck of another, when one death comes upon the neck of another.

Sinners they are preſerved from a leſſer, but reſerved for a greater ruin. Tolluntur in altum, ut lapſu graviore ruant, They are hoiſted up the higher, that their fall may be the ſoarer.

p. 366You may wonder more at Gods indulgence that you are ſo long reprieved, then at Gods vengeance by which you are ſo ſoon ſurprized; you were fit fuel for ſcorching flames, when you were wrapt up in your ſwadling cloaths. What a mercy is it that we who drew our firſt breath in corruption, ſhould not draw our ſecond breath in damnation! that he ſhould adde to our dayes, who have added to our ſins!

But know that God hath Vials of wrath filled with indignation, for Veſſels of wrath fitted for deſtruction: If Gods clemency do not draw you to repenting, Gods ſeverity will drive you to deſpairing.

Sinners either ſeek out a Saviour to deliver you from the wrath of God, or elſe find out a ſhoulder to bear you up under the wrath of God; That's the Fifteenth.

16. Principle that you are to walk by, is this; That there's no meaſuring of the inward conditions of men, by the outward diſpenſations of God. The p. 367greatneſſe of our eſtates, is no argument of the goodneſſe of our hearts.

To prize thy ſelf by what thou haſt and not by what thou doſt, is to vallew the Jewel by the golden frame. Health and wealth doth wel together, as good no meat, as no ſtomack to eat it, and as good no ſtomack, as no meat to feed it. A dram of grace within the heart, is better then a chain of gold about the neck.

That old complaint may juſtly be renewed, Bonis male, malis bene. Here it's well with the bad, and ill with the good; They that live the beſt, fair the worſt, and they that live the worſt, and they that live the worſt, beſt. Amongſt the Jews the Dove and the Turtle were ſacrificed, when the Swine and the unclean creatures were exempted. Riches are called thick clay, by which the back is ſooner weakned, then the heart is lightned.Quicun que adverſa ſuſtinent, utrùm per amorem Dei ſuſtineant, an per odium, nunc habotur incertum. Arbor. in loc.

No man knows love or hatred by any thing that is before him, Eccl: 9. 1. You cannot read the wrath of God in the black lines of adverſity, nor the p. 368love of God in the white lines of proſperity.

God often wrings out the waters of a full Cup to wicked men, though there be dregs at the bottom: They may be flouriſhing Vines that are laden with ſowr Grapes. It's ſeldome that the ſparkling Diamond of a great eſtate, is ſet in the golden Ring of a gracious heart.

Riches have made many good men worſer, but they never made any bad man better; Hence it is that if we obſerve but a little ſparke of piety in great perſons, we are ready to behold it as a blazing Commet, and to cry it up in the Superlative degree.

Though a Chriſtian be made happy in the world, yet a Chriſtian is not made happy by the world. Give me thoſe judgements that are the births of mercy, rather then thoſe mercies that are the births of judgement. There are many that are temporally miſerable, that are eternally happy; and there are many that are temporally happy, that ſhall be eternally miſerable.

p. 369If want could bring a man to Heaven, how many poor men would then be ſaved! And if wealth could free a man from Hell, how few rich men would then be damned! Beleevers they are the common Buts, at which the world doth ſhoot its poyſoned Arrowes.

They that go about to pull the Croſs out of theRegnum Chriſti, eſtregnum crucis; ipſius ſubditi inſignes ſunt duobus coloribus, rubr…, et candido in ſcutis ſuis oftentant crucem rub…am, conſpicuam in areâ candidâ, hoc eſt, laeta pura que conſcientia. Sibel. Conc: 25. in cap: 16. Matth. p. 324. Chriſtians Arms ſpoyl the whole Court, if I have any diſcovery of Scripture Heraldry. He makes his ſun to ſhine upon the evil, and upon the good, and his rain to fall on the juſt, and upon the unjuſt, Matth. 5. 45. The Sun of proſperity ſhines upon the Dunghil, as well as upon the Bed of Spices; and the rain of adverſity falls upon the fruitful garden, as well as upon the barren wilderneſſe. The mercies of the one are but golden chains to bind them on earth, and the miſeries of the other are but fiery Chariots to carry them to Heaven. Ye have called the proud happy, yea, they that work wickedneſs p. 370are ſet up; yea, they that tempt God are delivered, Malacha 3. 15. Gods Jewels are here trampled under feet.

If you look for a Saint you may ſooner find him caſt on a heap of duſt, then lapt in a bed of Down: Poor Lazarus gets to Heaven, when rich Dives goes to Hell. For outward bleſſings whileſt wiſe men beat the Buſh, fools catch the Bird; and whileſt valiant minds crack the Nuts, Cowards eat the Kirnels.

Benjamin was not leſs regarded by Joſeph becauſe the ſilver Cup was found in the mouth of his Sack. We muſt not infer the abſence of Gods affections, from the preſence of our afflictions. When the cold wind blows the Sun beams ſhines. Thoſe ſtones which are deſigned for building are hewn and ſquared, whileſt others lye in neglected heaps.

A Saint is as glorious in his greateſtAttende duos (de divite, et Lazaro loquitur) unum in divitiis, et ſanitate miſorum, alterum in ageſtate, et vulnere multùm beatum. Fulgent. Epiſt 2. ad Galla p. 642. miſery, as a ſinner is miſerable in his greateſt glory; The curiouſeſt pearls are here incloſed in the ruggedſt ſhels. You may ſee a Joſeph in Priſon whileſt p. 371Pharoah keeps the Court, and a Julian on the Throne ſwaying the Scepter, when a Job is on a Dunghil bewayling his Ulcers: Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement. They who judge according to appearance do not judge according to righteouſneſs.

How apt is the Candle of God ſhining upon a ſinners Tabernacle to offend a Saints eyes; as if we envied them a little light, that are to be ſhrouded up in everlaſting darkneſs; every man can find ſticks to caſt at laden boughs. Will you read a peice of Davids Letany, Pſal. 17. 14. From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, whoſe belly thou ſilleſt with thy hid treaſure. The things of the world are all the happineſſe of the men of the world, all their flowers grows out of Paradice.

They live not without thoſe creatures by which their bodies are ſuccoured, but they dye without that Chriſt by whom their ſouls ſhould be ſaved.

p. 372Sirs, A mans condition in this life may be honourable, and yet his ſtate as to another life may be damnable, For this purpoſe have I raiſed thee up; that I might ſhew my power upon thee. The Sun of outward ſplendor caſt its Rayes upon him, only to warm his head againſt a ſtorm. The ſtalled Ox would not ſet ſo high a rate upon his Paſture, did he know that it was but to fit him for the Butcher.

The ſame hand that now powres out his mercies on wicked men like Oyle, will pou… down his wrath upon them like Water; Under all their wealth their hearts are ſinful, and after all their wealth their ſtates are doleful. It's better through the valley of Baca to go to Zion, then to pitch our Tents in the Plains of Sodom.

It's an expreſſion of Luther, That Mica quam Pater familias canibus projicit.the great Turkiſh Empire was but a Cruſt that God throws unto the Dogs. It was a ſweet ſaying of a holy man, I had rather have St. Pauls Coat with his Heavenly graces, then the Purple Robes of Princes with all their Kingdoms. God ſometimes leaſt riches p. 373ſhould be counted evil in themſelves,Per ſe nec miſeros homines poſſunt facere, nec beatos Fulg: ubi priús. gives them to thoſ… that are good; and ſometimes leaſt they ſhould be counted the chiefeſt good gives them to … that are evil; They are oftner the portion of his enemies, then they …re of his friends.

What is it to receive, and not to be received? To have no other dews of bleſſing, but ſuch as may be followed with ſhowers of Brimſtone? They may fleet the Cream of earthly enjoyment, that did never taſte of the Milk of Heavenly refreſhment.

I have heard that there is in Scotland a floating Iſland, which if the Sea man caſt Anchor there, the Land will probably carry away the Ship; this is true of this world, it's a floating Iſland, and never any caſt Anchor here, but it carryed away their ſoules.

God and all that he hath made, is not more then God without all that he hath made; and he can never want treaſure that hath ſuch a golden Mine God is enough to us without the creature, but the creature is not enough p. 374to us without God: It's better to be a Wooden Veſſel filled with Wine, then a Golden Veſſel filled with Water: That's the Sixteenth.

17. Principle that Saints ſhould walk by, is this; That we ſhould cleave the cloſeſt, to that good which is the choiceſt. Do they beleeve it's worth the while to ſell all for the Pearl of price, who when they have done think themſelves miſerable after the bargain? Then ſaid Jeſus to the twelve, will ye alſo go away? John 6. 67. Peter as the mouth of all the reſt, ſpeaks the mind of all the reſt; Lord to whom ſhall we go? thou haſt the words of eternal life. A ſoule that's changed, is not for changing; there cannot be a better being for us, then for us to be with thee: What we that have left all to follow thee, ſhould we follow all to leave thee!

You cannot tread in the ſteps of Chriſt, but you will taſte of the Cups of Chriſt; The nearer you are to ſuch a ſpring, the clearer will be your ſtreams; yea, when every Gourd is p. 375withered, here's a ſhaddow that will yeeld you ſhelter. How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God; how great is the ſum of them? If I ſhould count them, they are more in number then the ſand; when I awake, I am ſtill with thee, Pſal. 139. 18.

As ſoon as ever he crept out of his warm Bed, he crept into Gods warm boſome. Beleevers are wont to leave their hearts with God in the evening, that they may find them with him in the morning. David he was leaſt alone, when he was moſt alone; his heart was like the Needle in the Compaſſe, that ſtill points to the NorthernTotus in te (Deus optime) tranſit affectus cordis mei, ad eo ut nihil prorſus ſit in univerſâ Coelorum amplitudine, quod ipſum poſſit oblectare, vel … reficere, niſ… tù &c. Titelm… in locum. Pole. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth which I deſire beſides thee, Pſal. 73. 25. Let a Beleever ſearch Heaven and Earth, yet he will find nothing comparable with God: as Judah ſaid of Jacob, His life is bound up in the life of the Lad; ſo may I ſay of a Chriſtian, His life is bound up in the life of God. To be neer to him is our happineſſe, and to draw neere to him is our holineſſe.

p. 376I cannot but ſadly reflect on the unſtableneſs of rotten Profeſſors: An applauded Chriſt ſhall have many Hoſanahs, when a condemned Chriſt hath many Crucifiges; but a true Chriſtian can as well go with Chriſt to the Croſs where he is to be crucified, as he can go with Chriſt to the Throne where he is to be glorified; He will not turn like a ſhadow from him, in whom there is no ſhaddow of turning.

Tell me ſoul, was there nothing within thee that could draw thee to him? and is there any thing without thee that ſhall draw thee from him? Who would leave a ſubſtance to court a ſhaddow? Or prize the Picture to the diſdain of the perſon? Can any thing do you ſo much good as his preſence, or ſo much hurt as his abſence?

What a dreadfull darkneſs muſt needs be expected, when the beams of ſo bright a Sun are eclipſed! It's better to part with a thouſand worlds (were there ſo many) for one Chriſt, then it's to part with one Chriſt for a thouſand worlds.

p. 377Every ſtep that you take to him, is a ſtep to Heaven, and every ſtep that you take from him is a ſtep to Hell. And he was ſad at that ſaying, and went away grieved, for he had great poſſeſſions, Mark 10. 22. This poor rich man, or this rich poor man, which you will call him, for both you may call him; As he came haſtily to Chriſt, ſo he goes heavily from Chriſt; why what's the matter? Goe ſell all that thou haſt, and give it to the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in Heaven.

Chriſt was for the ſelling of all, and he was for the ſaving of all; If he may not have God and Mammon, he will leave God for Mammon. Thus will ſuch as make a God of nothing, make nothing of a God. When he caſt his weights into the carnal Scales, his corruptible ſilver did weigh down an incorruptible Saviour.

Obſerve the policy ofDiabolus quando decipere quenquam quaerit, in varias ſeſe tranſmutat formas, jam in leoninam, jam in vulpinam; aliquando ſaevit, ut terreat; Nonnunquam blanditur, ut fallat. Sibel: in cap. 16. Matt. conc: 20. p. 256. the Prince of darkneſs; that makes uſe of the men of the world as inſtruments to drive us from God, and of the things of the world as p. 378inticements to draw us from God: The Lord is with you whileſt you are are with him; and if you ſeek him, he will be found of you, but if you forſake him, he will forſake you; Never was man forſaken of God, till God was forſaken of man, he ſticks cloſe to us whileſt we ſtick cloſe to him.

Truly that good was never worth the getting, which was never worth the keeping. Thus ſaith the Lord, what iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, Jeremy 2. 5. Corruption is a good ground for declenſion; if we ſaw iniquity in him, we might make an apoſtacy from him, for its ill being where ſin hath a being, but if you can find no fault in God, why will you commit ſuch a fault as to depart from God.

Can any rational man deem it good to ſhake hands with goodneſſe? Let me ſay to ſuch ſinners, as Saul ſaid unto his ſervants, Hear now ye Benjamites; will the ſon of Jeſſe give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all Captains of thouſands, and Captains … in p. 379of hundreds? 1 Sam. 22. 7. Thus ſay I to you, Can ſin, Satan, or the world doe that for you that God can? It's only the beſt of beings, that can beſtow the beſt of bleſſings: He that hath the Keyes of Heaven, can only open the doors of Heaven, its through him that we have an admittance into our choiceſt inheritance.

What's our life but a war-fare, and what's the world but a thorow-fare; can the world do more for you without God, then God can do for you without the world: If that be moſt potent then leave God for the worlds ſake, but if he be more potent then leave the world for Gods ſake. Know it ſinner in forſaking of a Saviour thou looſeſt grace which is the brighteſt Star on earth, and glory which is the faireſt Sun in Heaven.

No men are in more danger of looſing what they have, then thoſe men who are contented with what they have. A drop is eaſier dried up then a River, and a ſpark ſooner extinct then the fire: I will never leave you nor forſake you, Heb. 13. 6. Better p. 380our goods ſhould goe and leave God behind them, then that our God ſhould goe and leave our goods behind him.

It's not the brighteſt Stars that can make it day, when the Sun is ſetting; nor the thickeſt clouds that can make it night whileſt the Sun is ſhining: That's the ſeventeenth.

18. Principle that you ſhould walk by, is this; That it is our preſent buſineſſe to make ſure of our future bleſſedneſſe. It's the Wiſemans expreſſion, Eccle: 6. 7. That all the labour of a man is for his mouth. This is not for Heathens to turn Chriſtians, but for Chriſtians to turn Heathens.

That Hawke that flies after the worlds prey, will hardly ſtoop to Gods lure. Why ſhould I lay out that for a Pibble, with the price of which I can purchaſe a Jewell: That which the bountious hand of God gives for a Penſion, that the covetous heart of man takes for a Portion; Theſe fooliſh Travellers are ſo taken with their p. 381Inn, that they forget their home. Well you ſow the ſeeds of induſtry, to reap the Harveſt of vanity.

(I confeſſe) God hath not made all the Trees in his Garden forbidden fruit; Doe you thinke he would ſpread a Table before us and bind us up with a touch not, taſt not, handle not? Godlineſſe will allow us to taſte of the world as ſawce, but not to feed on the world as meat.

Outward mercies are not ſo low as to be peremptorily deſerted, nor ſo high as to be primarily deſired; If they be ſeducements from the Mercyſeat, they will be indictments at the Judgement-ſeat.

I may ſay of the earth, as the Philoſopher ſaid of the City of Athens, that it was a City Ad peregrinandum jucunda, but ad in habitandum non tuta, Pleaſant for journying, but not ſafe for dwelling: Outward plenty it may be a comfortable Ship for indigence to ſail in, but a dangerous Rock for confidence to truſt in.

Many ſo they may have but ſomething of earth in their hands, care for p. 382nothing of Heaven in their hearts. Ah what fools are they that are ſo diligent about what is temporal, and ſo negligent about what is ſpiritual, ſo careful about decaying vanities, and ſo ſloathful about enduring excellencies.

When Crates threw his Gold into the Sea, he cryed out, Ego…perdam te, ne tu perdas me; I will deſtroy thee, that thou mayſt not deſtroy me; If men do not put the love of the world to death, the love of the world will put men to death; Then thou wilt ſay as Cardinal Woolſey when he was caſt out of his Princes favour, and left to his enemies fury; If I had ſerved my God as faithfully as I have ſerved my King, he would not have left me thus. O how many men are there that drops into perdition, meerly for a Poſy to ſmell on in their Road to Execution.

It was a notable ſpeech of Eraſmus, That he deſired wealth and honour, no more then a feeble beaſt deſired a heavy burden. How are cares bound to crowns? anxiety diſfigures the face of p. 383proſperity, and makes it like a Chriſtall glaſſe blown on by an impure breath, that retains little or nothing of its native luſtre.

How far may a man goe before he can ſee the ſilver picture of a comely body, ſet into the Golden frame of a gracious ſoul! Work out your ſalvation with fear and trembling, or elſe you will both fear and tremble for not working out of your ſalvation.

Moſt men are like that ſilly woman, that when her houſe was on fire ſo minded the ſaving of her goods, that ſhe left her child roſting in the flames, at laſt being put in remembrance of it, ſhe cryes out, O my child, my child.

Thus ſottiſh ſinners whileſt they are ſcraping for a little ſubſtance their ſoules are conſumed in flames, and being in Hell they cry out, O my ſoul, my ſoul. What got Siſera by his Milk and his Butter, when he taſted of the Nail and the Hammer?

O how curious are men of their Out-wards, and how careleſſe are they of their In-wards; What pains p. 384do they take to cover their fleſh from nakedneſſe, when their Spirits are not cloathed with the Robes of righteouſneſſe. In a vigorous, well complexioned, flouriſhing body, there's a feeble languiſhing and conſuming ſoul; The evil diſpoſition of the latter, ſpoils the good compoſition of the former.

For a man to be true to that part that is without him, and falſe to that part that is within him; what's this but as if a Huſband-man ſhould gather in his ſtubble, and leave out his corn; or as if a Gold-ſmith ſhould weigh his droſſe and diſregard his gold.

Wilt thou trim up the Scabbard, and let the Blade of admirable Mettal to gather Ruſt; this is Jacob like, to lay the right hand upon the younger, and the left hand upon his elder child. If there be nothing done by your ſouls on earth, there will be nothing done for your ſouls in Heaven.

There's ſuch an eagerneſſe in contending for the wealth that's given to the ſons of men, that there is no earneſtneſſe in contending for the faith that's delivered to the Saints of God: p. 385Ah, what pity is it to ſee thoſe ſpirits that came down from Heaven, to looſe their way up to heaven! that ever that ſhould go down to miſery, that came down from glory: That's the Eighteenth.

19. Principle that beleevers ſhould walk by, is this; That integrity is the beſt ſecurity. Dogs that have no teeth may bark, but cannot bite; and Serpents that have no ſtings may hiſs, but they cannot hurt.

A naked man with innocency, isInteger vitae, ſceleriſque purus Non eget Mauri jaculis nec arcu, Nec venenatis gravida ſagittis fuſce pharetrâ, &c. Hor. lib. 1. Ode 22. better armed then Goliah in braſſe and Iron. And who is he that will harme you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 1 Pet. 3. 13. As no flattery can heale a bad conſcience, ſo no cruelty can hurt a good conſcience. As ſteps in the wayes of righteouſneſs are the moſt gracious, ſo ſtripes for the works of righteouſneſſe are the moſt glorious.

A pious Martyr is more renowned then a bloody perſecutor. Righteouſneſſe is a breſt plate to a man in doing, and it's a Crowne to a man in ſuffering.

p. 386Our integrity will not ſecure usFalſa crimina piis objectat, et impingit Diabolus, eoſ que ſuſpicione, et infamiâ aſpergit. Abel. ubi prius. pag, 259. from infamy; the choiceſt profeſſors have had black markes in the worlds Calenders; but though it do not keep us from being ſhot, yet it will keep us from being hurt. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me; therefore ſhall I ſee my deſire upon them that hate me, Pſal. 118. 7. God will either find a hand to hold off ſuffering, or an arme to uphold in ſuffering.

Though you be as ſheep amongſt wolves, he will keep you from rending; and though you be as Ships amongſt waves, he will keep you from drowning: be not too quick to buryChriſtus quidem, rex ille gloriae, magnificum palatium, ſcil. Eccleſiam in p… trâ▪ firmiſſimâ aedificavit, et circuit muro divinae protectionis. Idem pag. 252. a church before ſhe be dead, it's time enough to dreſſe your ſelves in ſables when you are invited to her funeralls.

Conſult that ſaying, Iſa. 43. 3. For I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Iſrael, thy Saviour: I gave Aegypt for thy ranſome, Aethiopia and Seba for thee. God will pluck up the tares to preſerve the wheat; as he ript up the womb of Egypt, to ſecure the fruit of Iſrael; as Conſtantine impoveriſhed p. 387all his Empire to enrich Conſtantinople.

Noah was ſound alone, when the world was polluted, and Noah was ſaved alone when the world was deſtroyed. Ʋpon all the glory there ſhall be a defence, Iſa. 4. 5. There's nothing but the glory that's worthy to be kept, and there's nothing of the glory but it ſhall be kept.

The ſhields of ſalvation they hang not in the paths of tranſgreſſion: Kept by the power of God, by faith unto ſalvation. All the wiles of the Devill cannot conquer a ſingle Souldier in Chriſts Camp, much leſſe ſhall he rout the whole Army. The name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, the righteous fly to it, and are ſafe.

The name of the Lord is a Tower for its ſublimity, and it's a ſtrong Tower for its ſecurity: Thy ſhip O Chriſtian may put as boldly into ſuch a harbour, as a man may ſtep into a houſe that is overtaken with a ſhower. A Garden incloſed is my Siſter, my Spouſe, a ſpring ſhut up, and a Fountain ſealed, Cant. 4. 12. God as p. 388he hath a hedge of affliction to keepe his people from wandring, ſo he hath a hedge of protection to keep his people from waſting; he that numbers their hairs, ſecures their heads.

Sincerity is the only Sanctuary. Pſal. 84. 11. The Lord God is a Sun and a Shield. What darkneſs can obſcure them who have a Sun above them, or what dangers can injure them who have a Shield about them? When thou paſſeſt thorow the waters, I will be with thee, and thorow the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee; when thou walkeſt thorow the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon thee, Iſa. 43. 2. Here is a dangerous voyage, but a ſafe convoy. God doth not deale with his friends, as we doe with ours: We do with our friends as we do with Dialls, only looke upon them when the Sun of proſperity ſhines upon them; or as women doe with flowers, whilſt they are flouriſhing ſtick them in their boſomes, but when once they wither caſt them to the Dunghill: But when our want is greateſt his help is neareſt; the more p. 389grievous our oppreſſions, the more gracious his redemptions.

When the night is at the darkeſt it'sTyranni premunt, ſed non opprimunt oppugnant, ſed non expugnant. Id. conc. 21. pag. 269. neareſt morning, and when the tide is at the loweſt, it is neareſt turning.

A man that hath been for many yeares in a dark dungeon, will rejoyce exceedingly at the leſt appearance of light, though it ſhine thorow a priſongrate. When mans miſery is moſt dolefull, Gods mercy is moſt helpfull.

When our calamity is moſt indured, his benignity is moſt admired: Behold he that keeps Iſrael neither ſlumbers nor ſleeps, though Iſrael ſo kept doe both ſleep and ſlumber, Pſal. 121. 4.

It was the ſaying of Alexander, Tuto dormirinam Antipater vigilavit, I ſlept ſecurely whilſt Antipater watcht. Our ſafety ſleepes when our Keeper ſleepes when our Keeper ſleeps. Sometimes God doth houſe his Corn before a ſtorme, but however he keeps it in the ſtorme. If God be for us, who can be againſt us? Rom. 8. 31. Againſt us they may be to hate us, but againſt us they cannot be to hurt us.

p. 390Noah rides ſafely in a well pitched Ark, when the old world was covered with the waters of the Deluge; when Iſrael was led into captivity, then was Jeremy ſet at liberty: The Prophet found more favour from the Princes of Babel, then he found from the people of Iſrael.

Gideons Fleece was dry when all the earth was wet. When the ſhaddows of the Evening were ſtretched over Aſia, the day dawned to us in Europe: That's the Nineteenth.

20. Principle that beleevers are to walk by, is this; That the ſweetneſs of the Crown which ſhall be received, will make amends for the bitterneſſe of the Croſſe that may be endured. The laſt Wine that Chriſt draws, is the beſt Wine that a Chriſtian drinks.

When the waters cover the earth, whither ſhould ſuch a Dove-like ſpirit flye but to the Ark? He that came on earth to make us righteous, will come from Heaven to make us glorious. For ye had compaſſion on me in my bonds, and took joyfully the ſpoiling p. 391of your goods, knowing in your ſelves Haec eſt omnium verè in Chriſto fideliū, vera et ſolida, et efficaciſſima conſolatio contra omnia hujus mundi adverſa. Stap: in Dom: 2. Quadr: text. 2.that ye have in Heaven a better and a more enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10. 34. Who would look for ſo fair a Jewel to lye upon ſo foul a Dunghil; But the gain of theſe Heavenly Manſions, drowned the loſſe of their earthly Mammon.

Chriſtians you are now on a ſtorming Sea, do not ſay you ſhall never arrive at a quiet Harbour: What hath he pluckt thee out of the fire of damnation, and will he leave thee in the water of affliction? It is not long before you ſhall Trumpet out that ſaying; For lo the Winter is paſt, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of ſinging of Birds is come, Cant. 2. 11, 12.

O how clear will the Sun of righteouſneſſe ſhine, when ſuch dark clouds are blown over! If there be ſo much Liquor in a ſingle Grape, what is there in the whole Cluſter! The waters of Life glide the ſmootheſt, when the wind blows the higheſt.

Take a beleever whileſt he lives, and God hath a ſervant the more on p. 392earth for him, take a beleever when he dyes, and God hath a Saint the more in Heaven with him.

If there be a fiery exhalation wrapt up in a cloud, we muſt look for Thunder and Lightning to follow it: Never look for an end of your ſorrows, till there be an end of your ſins; As ſufferings came not a day before them, ſo they ſtay not a day behind them.

God had one Son without corruption, but he had never a Son without affliction. As many as I love, I rebuke and chaſten. Well may we bear the Rod, when love makes the Rod: a beleever when he lyes under that hand that doth afflict him, he lyes in that heart that doth affect him. Dunghils when they are raked up, ſend forth a filthy ſteame; but oyntment when its powred forth, yeilds a ſweet perfume.

It's reported of Tiberius that paſſing by a place where he ſaw a Croſs lying on the ground, upon a Marble ſtone, he cauſed it to be digged up, and found a great deale of Treaſure under it. Chriſtians ſhould you but p. 393dig up the ſtones where lyes your croſſes, under your greateſt torments, you might find your greateſt treaſures.

I have read of a fountain that's cold at Mid-day, andAmonis nemus in medio habet fontem; aquam ſolis vecant) ſub lucis ortum tepidier manat; medio diei, cùm vehementiſſimu… eſt calor, frigida eadem fluit: inclinato in veſperam, caleſcit; mediâ nocte, fervida exaeſtuat. Quint. Curt: Lib. 4. Sect: 7: hot at Mid-night; thus are many Chriſtians cooled in the mid-day of proſperity, that are heated in the Mid-night of adverſity.

Afflictions are not a fire that's conſuming, but a flame that's refining; they are like the prick at the Nightingales breaſt, that awaken her, and put her upon her delightful ſinging. Many Saints are like Topps that goes beſt, when they are laſht moſt. For Ireckon that the ſufferings of this preſent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us, Romans 8. 18. Theſe fall as far ſhort of glory as the ſmalleſt fraction of the greateſt number, or as the leaſt filings of Gold of the riches of the whole Indies. If the early glimmerings p. 394of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhroud ſo much joy and ſtrength within their own beams as over-powers the croſs, what will his Meridian Rayes of glory doe when they are revealed!

Will you caſt them both into the ſcales of the Sanctuary, 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. How light is a dram of reproach to a weight of glory? and how ſhort a Minute of pains to an Eternity of pleaſures.

He ſaid excellently, Bene fertur Calumina, cúm acquiritur Corona. He need not be weary of the Croſſe, that's ſure of the Crown. After the Cup of affliction, comes the cup of ſalvation; The Wine-preſſe prepares for the Wine-cellar; After the pangs and throws comes the child birth. O clear up your intereſt in God; A pardon may be paſt the Princes Seale, that is not put into the Priſoners hand. Things that are exceeding ſharp calls for much Sugar to make them ſweet.

p. 395Death is a thing that hath the moſt ungrateful taſte to the creatures pallate. Now Grace is baptized with a double name; It's called The firſtfruits of the ſpirit, Romans 8. 28. It's called The earneſt of the ſpirit, 2 Cor. 1. 22. It's a taſt to ſhew us the ſweetneſſe of eternal life, and it's a pledge to ſhew us the ſureneſs of eternal life.

Our Heavenly Phyſitian will keep us no longer in Phyſick, but till we are thorowly purged. Our merciful refiner will detain us no longer in the Furnace, but till we are ſufficiently purified.

Patience for ſowing the ſeeds of ſorrow on earth, ſhall reap a golden crop of joy in Heaven. We may talk of the greatneſſe of our future recompence, but we ſhall never know the weight of our Crowns till they be ſet on our heads, nor the worth of our Robes till they be worn on our backs; then the pricking Thorn ſhall be turned into a precious Gem.

As darkneſſe is the abſence of light when the Sun is removed from its Horizon, ſo is death the privation of life p. 396when the ſoul is removed from its Priſon; we have here but jus ad rem, there we ſhall have jus in re; Here we have an expectation of our fruitions, there we ſhall have the fruition of our expectations.

Chear up brave ſpirits, your WilderneſſeNunc deprimuntur, et calcantur; (electi) ut olim aſſurgant, et extollantur, ad inſtar palmarum. Drex. Chriſtian Zod. Sig. 5. p. 42. journeys will ſoon be periodized; The cloth muſt be cut in peeces before it can be made up in garments; The hewing of the timber is for the erecting of the ſtructure; The new corn that lives in Summer, is produced from the old corn that dyed in the Winter.

We ſhould willingly embrace death, though we ſhould not deſperately ruſh upon it; you will be like Civet, that's when it's taken out of the Box leaves a ſweet ſavour behind it.

Shall Chriſt willingly come down from Heaven to earth to dye for us, and ſhall not we willingly go up from earth to Heaven to live with him? A Saints loathneſſe to expire doth not ſpring from this root, becauſe they judge that death is not good enough for them, but it's a ſprig that grows p. 397upon this root, becauſe they judge thēſelves not good enough for death.

But remember the edg of this keen ſword is blunted, ſince the ſides of Chriſt was the ſcabbard in which it was ſheathed.

When the Ship is in the Haven itsErras (mi Chriſtiane) erras ſicogitas te integrum, et non bene contuſum perventurum ad coelum. Drex. loc. citat. paſt all ſtorms, but by induring ſtorms, it at laſt arriveth at the Haven. When we come to Glory there will be no temptations to endure, but its by enduring of temptations that we come to glory. When the body and the ſoul ſhall part aſunder, the ſoul and God ſhall meet together.

The ſharper your ſorrows are here, the ſweeter will be your joyes hereafter; let me allude to that Pſal. 68. 13. Though ye have lien among the Pots, yet ſhall ye be as the wings of a Dove covered with ſilver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

All the Grapes in Chriſts Vineyard muſt paſſe thorow the Wine-preſſe. Health is moſt acceptable after the ſharpeſt ſickneſſe; and liberty moſt ſweet after a rigorous bondage; and the harbour moſt welcome after turbulent ſtorms: How pleaſant ſoever p. 398a ſinners beginning is, his ending is dolorous; how troubleſome ſoever a Saints beginning is, his ending is joyous: The freſh Rivers of carnal pleaſure run into a ſalt Sea of deſpairing tears, when the wet ſeeds-time of a pious life uſhers in the Sun-ſhiny Harveſt of a peacefull death.

When Craeſus aſkt Solon who heDici que beatus ant… obitum nemo ſuprema que funera debet. Horat. thought happy, he told him one Tellus a man that was dead. Happineſſe doth not goe before death, but death goes before happineſſe. It's ſtoried of Adrianus, that ſeeing many Chriſtians put to ſuch cruel and bitter deaths, he aſkt ſome of them what it was that they ſuffered ſuch cruel torments for, to whom they anſwered, Speramus illa bona quae oculus non videt, auras non audivit, in cor hominis non aſcenderunt; We hope for thoſe things which eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, nor ever entred into the heart of man to conceive.

They who are born blind are unable to judg of that glory that dazles the very eyes of the Angels; One ſmile in Gods face will dry up all the p. 399tears in their eyes. When beleevers change earth for Heaven, they do not looſe their bleſſedneſſe, but compleat their bleſſedneſſe; as fiſhes dropping out of the narrow Brook into the wide Ocean, do not leave their Element but are more in it then they were before. A beleevers dying is reſembled to a burnt-offering; now in a burnt-offering when the aſhes falls to the earth, the flame aſcends to Heaven. Thus have I ſet twenty Diamonds in your Golden Ring. And ſo much for the firſt thing; Namely, The erection of ſingular Principles. I come now to the laſt ſtage for the direction of ſingular practiſes. Here I ſhall ſpread but ſix Sails and make to the ſhoar.

1. Would you do more then others, then you muſt know more then others. I may ſay of Divine wiſdome, as they did of that Graecian Lady, No man ever loved her, that never ſaw her; and no man ever ſaw her, that never loved her. We do not firſt come to God that we may be taught, but we are firſt taught that we may come to God.

p. 400A Chriſtian that is moſt intelligent, is a Chriſtian that is moſt excellent. Wiſdom makes the face to ſhine, Eccl. 8. 1. What the Papiſts cry up as the Mother of Devotion, we cry down as the Father of Superſtition. Satan that cruel Jaylor ſecures all his Captives in the dark Dungeons of Ignorance; He deals with them as Faulkners do with their Hawks, that putDiabolus coecâ cupiditate, et falſis conſiliis ita peccatorem excaecavit, ut quietiſſimè cum ſuis compedibus ligatus ſtet, necſe ullo prorſus in periculo conſtitutum putet. Stapl: in Dom: Quin que Tex: 5. Hoods upon their heads that they may carry them more quietly upon their hands. Having the underſtanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſs of their hearts, Eph: 4. 18. The Father of light takes no pleaſure in the children of darkneſſe; he doth not uſe to waft ſouls to Heaven like paſſengers in a Ship, who are ſhut under the Hatches and ſee nothing all the way they are ſailing to their Port: If thou kneweſt the gift of God, and who it is that asks, thou wouldſt have askt of him, and he would have given thee living water, John 4. 10.

p. 401Chriſt doth therefore goe undeſired in the world, becauſe he goes undiſcerned by the world; Did they ſee all in this Pearl of price, they would ſell all for this Pearl of price. An ignorant man he is Satans treaſury for corruption, and he is Gods Armory for indignation. An underſtanding without underſtanding, it's but the ſoul of a beaſt impriſoned in the body of a man. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye if you doe them.

The will of God muſt be known on earth as it is known in Heaven, or elſe the will of God will never be done on earth as it's done in Heaven.

Utter darkneſs is the juſt recompence of inner darkneſs. It's ſtoried of a deformed perſon, that he ſet curious pictures before his wife, that ſeeing of them ſhe might have beautiful children; And Labans ſheep by looking on the Rods which were laid in the Troughes, their Lambs which they produced were party coloured: Shall fancy work ſo ſtrongly in them, and ſhall not faith work as ſtrongly in us! O walk in the face of the Sun p. 402of righteouſneſſe and you will be coloured by the ſhinings of his beams. The patient Chriſtian is the beſt for waiting, but the prudent Chriſtian is beſt for working; Where there is a vail caſt before the eys of knowledg, there is a bar ſet before the hands of practice: An ignorant perſon neither knows what he is doing, nor doth he know whither he is going. The dark corners of the earth are full of the inhabitants of cruelty, Pſal. 74. 20. The Prince of darkneſs ſits upon a Throne of darkneſs; now God hath no birthrights for ſuch prophane Eſaues. Though the earth may keep an ignorant man living, yet Heaven will not take an ignorant man dying; as no man can ſhun the evil he fears not, ſo no man can imbrace the good he knows not. A man may as ſoon draw running ſtreams from burning flames, as he can taſt a drop of mercy from irreconciled Majeſty.

Where ever there is a trade driven for Heaven, the Spirit of Chriſt doth firſt open the Shop windows, I must work the works of him that ſent me, p. 403whileſt it is day, the night cometh wherein no man can work, John 9. 4.Eſt quidem maxima faelicitas a Chriſto cognoſci; ſed eſt ma… ima neceſſitas, ut nos quo que Chriſtū cognoſcamus. Idem in Dom: 2. poſtpaſch… Tex: 5. You cannot do the work of the day unleſſe you have the light of the day; A dim eye may be ſerviceable for the prevention of falls, but a blind eye expoſes to continual hazards. Darkneſs as it is Satans Element, ſo it is a ſinners puniſhment: My people periſh for want of knowledge, Hoſea 4. 6. Men in the miſt of ignorance, are like Ships that ſail deſperately againſt thoſe Rocks that ſplits them eternally. He ſhall come in flaming fire taking vengance on them that know not God, and obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Theſſ. 1. 8. Your want of judgement is a ſin againſt which Chriſt will come to judgement. You that here take no knowledge of him, he will there take no knowledge of you. When the Candle of the ſoul is put out, needs muſt it ſit in the dark. Reaſon though it be the nobleſt Tree in natures garden, yet ſince the fall it hath rotten fruits upon its boughs; It will not receive the Gold of the Sanctuary, unleſſe it be weighed in its own Scales; p. 404as if the guilt of blind obedience, did lye upon them who have the Sun of righteouſneſſe to go before them. Ah how do Owl-eyed ſinners take that for Devotion, which is but Superſtition, and that for a Bethel, which is but a Babel! The weaker light we have of truth, the more eaſily may we be cheated with error in the ſtead of truth.

To keep the underſtanding freeQuanquam multa ſint peccata fragilitatis, multa malitiae, tamen veriſſimū eſt, ignorantiā omnium malorum, et flagitiorum eſſe fundamentum et principium. Stella in Luc. cap. 15. verſ. 12.Luke 15:12 from ignorance is the way to keep it free from error; To preſerve it as a Goſhen from the darkneſſe of Aegypt, is the way to rid it of the Frogs and Locuſts of Aegypt. An arrogant mans will is not more rebellious, then an ignorant mans wit is erronious: He that deſires to ſee the face of holineſſe in its native luſtre, muſt not let his carnal judgement draw its picture.

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveneſs of ſins, and inheritance amongſt them that are ſanctified by faith in me, Acts 26. 18.

p. 405The ſtrength of the Sun-beams can ſcatter the darkeſt Clouds, as well as conſume the thineſt Vapors. In nature there's ſome ſparkles of light, but ſo rak't under the aſhes of diſolute thoughts and practiſes, that though it be not quite ſmother'd yet it's ſcarce diſcerned; The notions of God implanted in innocency, do not ſhine in their genuine and primogenial radiancy. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar is turned a grazing to the beaſts of the field, that he might come to the acknowledging of the God of the world. It's reported of a famous Carver, who making a curious picture of Minerva, did ſecretly ingrave his own upon it; So the Lord of Heaven hath inter-woven his owne Image in us, which remains as a mark whereby we may be known to be his workmanſhip; and although the glorious lineaments of his draught are much defac't, yet there are ſuch reliques and remainders left behind, that as in fullyed Maps we may gueſſe at former lines. Spiritual acts, they require ſpiritual eyes, and the brighter we ſee them, p. 406the better we do them. We cannot come to God with fiducial or juſtifying faith, before we have attained a hiſtorical or dogmatical faith.

What the Papiſts ſay of Images we may juſtly ſay of the creatures, that they are Lay-mens books in which there's no Errata's: The Heavens declares the glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handy work, Pſal. 19. 1. They who could not unclapſe the book of Scripture, have laid before them the volume of nature. The inviſible things of God from the creation of the world are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, Rom. 1. 20. From the ſecond cauſes we may eaſily arrive at the firſt; as you may purſue a River as it runs to the Fountains head from which it flows. If we ſhould ſee a Ship upon the Sea ſailing directly to the Harbor, we might conclude a Pilot in her to ſteer her courſe; They have but a narrow inſpection into the works of nature, that cannot in them diſcover the God of nature, which is Commentum p. 407Dei mirabile, as Lactantius calls it; That's the firſt.

2. If you would do more then others, you muſt love more then others. The love of Chriſt conſtrains us, 2 Cor. 5. 14. There's no ſin ſo ſweet, but the love of Chriſt reſtrains them from it, there's no ſervice ſo great, but the love of Chriſt conſtrains them to it; If once this affection takes fire, the room becomes too hot for any ſin to ſtay in.

The heart is a chamber for Chriſt, but not a harbour for luſt. The Mandrakes give a ſmell, and at our Gates are all manner of pleaſant fruits, new and old which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved, Cant. 7. 13. Love never ſhakes the Boughs, but for Chriſt to eat the fruits. Many pay the performance of duties, as oppreſſed Subjects doe heavy taxes, with ſad complaints; But the Spouſe of ChriſtAmor onus non ſentit, labores non reputat, plus affectat quâ valet. Kempis. looks upon what ſhe is as not great enough for his remembrance, and what ſhe does as not good enough for his acceptance; had ſhe any thing a p. 408thouſand times better then her ſelf, or were her ſelf a thouſand times better, it ſhould be beſtowed upon him: What is that little that he deſires, to that much that he deſerves. When Achilles was demanded what enterprizes he found the moſt eaſie? he anſwered, Thoſe which he undertook for his friends: Seaven years ſervice ſeemed nothing to Jacob, becauſe of the love he did bear to Rachel, Omnia facilia habenti charitatem, ſaith Auſtin; Love as it acts the moſt excellently, ſo it acts the moſt eaſily; If you love me, keep my commandements, John 14. 15. The Chriſtal ſtreams of divine actions, they bubble from the pure ſpring of divine affection. I have heard of a wife that grudged obedience to her huſband, becauſe ſhe thought him unworthy to receive it, to whom it was anſwered, Though he that married her was unworthy of her obſervance; yet he that made her was worthy of her obedience, and whatſoever ſhe had to ſay againſt her huſband, ſhe had nothing to ſay againſt the command of God. In Chriſt Jeſus p. 409neither circumciſion availeth any thing, nor uncircumſion, but faith which worketh by love, Gal. 5. 6. The Chriſtians love advances by equal paces with the Chriſtians faith, as the heat of the day with the ſhining of the Sun; Faith like Mary ſits at the feet of Chriſt to hear his Sermons, and love like Martha, compaſſes him about with ſervices; Faith is the great receiver, and love is the great diſburſer; We take in all by beleeving, and we lay out all by loving; Faith it firſt works love, and then it works by love, as the workman ſets an edge upon his tooles, and then carves and cuts with them; The Scripture hath exceeding high expreſſions of this affection.Nihil dulcius eſt amore, nihil fortius, nihil jucundius, nec melius in Caelo et in terrâ, quia natus eſt ex D…o, &c. Id: lib. 3 cap. 5. de Imit: Chriſti. Chriſt he brings the ten Commandements into two Commandements, Matth. 22. 37, 38. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul, and with all thy mind; this is the firſt and great Commandement, and the ſecond is like unto it, thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelf. Chriſt he brings ten words into two words; but Paul he folds them all up p. 410in one word: For all the law is fulfilled in one word (Gal. 5. 14.) What's that? ſurely it is too big for any mouth to utter, Thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelf. He that is not wanting in this duty, is wanting in no duty. Love its called an old Commandement, and a new Commandement, 1 John 2. 7, 8. It's as old as the Law of Moſes, and yet as new as the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt.

Faith is the grace that at firſt ſeals the conveyance, and love is the grace that at laſt poſſeſſes the inheritance; Faith that unites Chriſt and ſanctified ſouls together on earth, but love that unites God and glorified ſouls together in Heaven.

As the ſpleen groweth, the body decayeth; and as hatred increaſeth, ſo holineſſe abateth. Die aliquid ut duo ſimus, was the Motto of a Heathen, and therefore doth not belong to a Chriſtian. It's beſt that diſſention ſhould never be born among brethren, and next that it ſhould dye preſently after it's birth: When any leak ſprings in the ſhip of Chriſtian ſociety, we p. 411ſhould uſe our indeavours to ſtop it ſpeedily. The nearer the union is, the more dangerous is the breach; Bodies that are glewed together may (if ſevered) be ſet together as beautifully as ever, but members rent and torne cannot be healed without a ſcar.

The love in a hypocrites boſome is juſt like the fire in the Iſraelites buſh, which was not burning all the while it was blazing; His eſtate and relations hath the top and ſtrength of his affections; they admit the world not only into the Suburbs of their ſences, but into the City of their ſouls: But the love of a Saviour in the ſoul of a beleever, is as Oyl put into a Vial with water, in which, though both be never ſo much ſhaken together, the oyl will be uppermoſt; Or if you pleaſe, as one riſing Sun which drowns the light of numberleſs Starres: Should God give his ſubſtance to him, and yet keep himſelf from him, Abſalom's expreſſion would be his, What doth all avail me, ſo long as I ſee not the Kings face? Take a Chriſtian and his Heaven p. 412upon earth is in Gods dwelling with him, yea and his Heaven in Heaven is in his dwelling with God; He is like a ſtone, of which ſome report that if it be thrown into the water whole it ſwims, if broke it ſinks; Or like the Mary-gold that opens with the ſhining, and ſhuts with the ſetting of the Sun of righteouſneſſe.

Love it puts not off its purſuits ofCerte amor Dei tam efficax eſt, ut effectus, potius quam affectus dici debeat; plus enim facit, quam afficit. Stapl: in Dom. Pen. Tex. 1. duty, till it attains the poſſeſſions of glory; There's no rocking this child to ſleep, till it be laid in the Cradle of the Grave: A ſoul that loves much, is a ſoul that works much; The commands of the Goſpel are not grievous to them, but precious to them.

The higheſt graces are fit for the hardeſt duties: As God is not ſo much diſpleaſed at our having of ſin, as he is diſpleaſed at our loving of ſin; ſo he is not ſo well pleaſed at our doing of ſervice, as at our loving of ſervice. Different movings expreſs different beings: When a Chriſtian yields obedience to Chriſt out of a principle of love, he ſo ſerves Chriſt p. 413as none but a Saint can ſerve Chriſt. When thou ſaidſt ſeek ye my face, my heart anſwered, thy face I will ſeeke, Pſal. 27. 8. The heart of obedience, is the obedience of the heart: That's the ſecond.

3. Would you do more then others, then pray more then others. Our daily bread, calls for daily prayers; becauſe new wants are created, when old wants are ſupplyed.

The Garden of the Church is watred by the River of Prayer. Are you called by the name of Chriſt, and will you not call upon the name of Chriſt? Take away ſpiritual breathing, and you take away ſpirituall living; a child that's ſtill born, was never a childe that's new borne.

Who would not ſtretch forth a Beggars hand, to receive a Jewel of greater vallew then the world. With what boldneſſe may they appear at the Court, that are aſſured of the ear of the King.

p. 414We ſhall ſoon give up the Ghoſt, if God doe not give in the Holy Ghoſt: to ſtop our breath is the way to looſe our life.

You may pray alwayes, and yet not allwayes be at prayer: Thou alloweſt thy body daily ſuſtentation, O allow thy ſoule daily ſupplication. Prayer its like Noahs Dove, though it goe forth of the Arke, yet it will return againe with an Olive-branch of peace in its mouth.

In Gods injoyning our ſupplications there's the ſhewing forth of his greatneſſe, in Gods fulfilling our ſupplications there's the ſhining forth of his goodneſſe: Prayer, never did man rightly make it, but God did quickly grant it; It's no more a duty for Saints on earth to give over praying, then it is a duty for Saints in Heaven to give over praiſing.

If you would ſpeed in the injoying of mercy, you muſt ſpeak for the obtaining of mercy; If man lets God goe without any begging, God will let man goe without any bleſſing. I am ſadly ſenſible how many there are p. 415that caſt off this duty; But it is not becauſe the lameneſs of their leggs is cured, but becauſe they are aſhamed to make uſe of crutches: Chriſtians let not your want of accompliſhments create in you any diſcouragements; Dumbe beggars have got almes at Chriſts gates by making of ſignes.

The waters of life are ſweet; O what pity it is, that God ſhould turne the cock for want of pails to ſet under! Take a dry ſpunge and throw it into the river, and it will ſuck it ſelf full of water.

As he prayed the forme of his countenance Chriſtus cum oraret transfigurabatur, ita in oratione magnae fiunt in anima mutationes, quia lumen animae eſt oratio, quae ſaepiu… eum, quem invenit deſperantem, relinquit exultanter▪ Ger. med. 25.was altered, and his rayment was white and gliſtering, Luk. 9. 28, 29. Chriſt had the brighteſt Sunſhine of his fathers affection, when he was moving in the Orbe of ſupplication. Tell me Sirs, is not that mercy worth the breath of a ſinner, which was worth the blood of a Saviour? then to pray we can do no more to the removing of our own miſeries, and we can do no leſs for the obtaining of Gods mercies: methinks man ſhould never ceaſe asking, till God ceaſe granting. Lord, p. 416what wilt thou give me ſeeing I goe childleſs? So ſay you, Lord what wilt thou give me ſeeing I goe graceleſſe? Prayer is the ſouls trading to HeavenOratio juſti clavis eſt caeli, aſcendit precatio, et deſcendit Dei liberatio. Id ibid. for ſuch commodities, as are only locked up in Gods Treaſuries.

By faſting the body learns to obey the ſoul, but by praying the ſoule learns to command the body. Dumbneſs ſhould never ſeize on the lips of man, till deafneſſe ſeize on the ears of God: Shall God in Heaven want a man that is praying, whilſt man on earth wants not a God that is hearing?

Chriſtians though your relations are excellent, yet your conditions are indigent. No Chriſtian hath ſo little of Chriſt but he hath matter for praiſe, and no Chriſtian hath ſo much from Chriſt but he hath matter of prayer; every day we find it a great worke to accompliſh a little work; every new act of obedience, calls for new ſtrength and aſſiſtance: as our receits are greater then our deſarts, ſo our wants are larger then our receits. Ask, and ye ſhall receive, that your joy may be full. p. 417Spirituall ſupplication is the channell of ſpirituall conſolation; you muſt be full of prayers, if you would be full of joyes: now none are more fruitfull in divine labour, then thoſe who are moſt joyfull in divine favour. Death that ſhortens our way on earth, and makes it nearer, but delight that ſweetens our way to heaven, and makes it fairer.

The neglect of the flowers, will but adminiſter advantage unto the growth of the weeds; a little Ship with a ſtrong wind, moves faſter then a greater Veſſell with ſlacker gailes.

I never expect, that a branch which receives no ſap from the Vine, ſhould beare any fruit in the Vine. Si aſcendat oratio deſcendet gratia; when prayer mounts upon the wing to God, then favours come upon the ſpur toNon verbe de precantis deus intendit, ſed orantis cor aſpicit. Bern. de inter. domo. cap. 48. man. The gift of prayer may have praiſe from men, but it is the grace of prayer that hath power with God: a few grapes prove the plant to be a Vine, and not a thorne.

Prayer is Gods due as a Creator, though truly performed to him as a p. 418Father. None can pray aright but thoſe that are new Creatures, but all ought to pray becauſe they are creatures.

Chriſtians can never want a praying time, if they do not want a praying frame; in the morning this is a golden key to open the heart for ſerviſe, and in the evening it is an iron lock to ſhut the heart from ſin.

As the raine comes down from Heaven fruitfully, ſo let prayer go up to Heaven fervently. Peter was kept in priſon, but prayer was made without ceaſing for him, (Act. 12. 5.) And prayer fetcht an Angel out of Heaven, to fetch Peter▪ out of priſon: If the oven be quite cold, it requires more wood to heat it again; there's more ſtrength exerciſed in the raiſing of a Bell, then in the ringing of a Bell; it's not the dog that cryes the loudeſt that catches the haire, but he that follows the Chaſe.

Beleevers ſhould not only pray one with another, but they ſhould pray one for another; next to the breach of piety in Religion, we ſhould abominate p. 419the breach of charity in communion; that's a ſad ſpectacle to ſee men upholding an abominable oftentation, by a more abominable ſeparation.

It's weak conceptions that are the Parents of ſtrong deluſions; that's true, they who cannot know our hearts ſhould not judge them, and they who ſhould not judge our hearts cannot know them; but when ſuch Veſſells gives over ſailing, we may conclude that divine gails hath given over blowing. Chriſtians, He that is omniſcient to ſee your wants, is omnipotent to grant your ſuits; there's no mercies ſo little as to be gotten without prayer, there's no mercies ſo great as not to be given unto prayer. Are you made ſpirituall Prieſts, and will you not offer up ſpirituall ſacrifices?Si fidelis, humilis, et fervens oratio fuerit, caelum ſine dubio penetrabit, unde certum eſt quòd vacu… redire non poterit. Ber Ser. 4. de Quadrag. ult. verb. Our affections ſhould fly like an Eagle when our expreſſions creep like a ſnaile. What's the reaſon there are ſo many empty Casks in Gods Cellar, but for want of prayer: Pray continually, though you be not continually at prayer, 1 Theſ. 5. 17. If the leſſon be not alwayes playing, yet the inſtrument p. 420muſt be kept in tune.

They ſhould never be dying Petitioners, that have an everliving Interceſſor. It matters not how often you carry an empty pitcher to ſo full a River: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he hears us, 1 Joh. 5. 18. That ſoul ſhall have its will of God, that deſires nothing but what God wills.

The interceſſion of Chriſt is a golden Cenſor, and can we deſire him to offer up our droſſy prayer for incenſe? It was an expreſſion of Luthers, Fiat voluntas mea, Domine quia tua; let my will be done, mine Lord, becauſe it is thine; becauſe it fixed in the ſame Center; he was bold to call for the fulfilling of it.

The Covenant of grace without us turns precepts into promiſes, but the ſpirit of grace within us turns promiſes into prayers. Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord; ſay unto him, take away all our iniquity, and receive us graciouſly, Hoſea 14. 2. O how willing is God that we ſhould p. 421hit the mark, when he teaches us how to direct our arrowes! What deſires are there in him that we ſhould prevail, when he ſhews us how we ſhould wreſtle! Spirituall breathings are more potent then carnal roarings; none but ſuch deſires as want good aimes, doe want good iſſues; nothing will get up to Heaven, but that which doth come down from Heaven: Deny not God faith in prayer, and God will not deny a faithfull prayer. That is the Third.

4. Would you do more than others, then beleeve more then others. It's the Lamp of fidelity, that's filled with the oyl of activity: This is a grace that is the moſt needful, and this is a graceƲt ſol radios ſuos longè lare que per totum terrarum orbem diffundit, ſic fides in hominecredente vires ſua efficacitèr exerit. Sibel in Mat. 16. 16. conc. 13. in mi….Matt 16:16 that is the moſt fruitful; If there be life in the body the pulſe will be beating, and if there be faith in the ſoul the man will be working; all other graces thrives in the ſoul, as this grace thrives in the ſoul, as the watering of the roots makes the flouriſhing of the Trees.

p. 422What doth it profit, my Brethren, if a man ſay he hath faith, and hath no works, can faith ſave him; Jam. 2. 14. An idle faith, is an evill faith; yea, a faith that works not, is a faith that ſaves not: This is a faithfull ſaying, and this I will that thou affirme conſtantly; that they which have beleeved in God, might be carefull to maintaine good works, Titus 3. 8. It's reported of the Chriſtall, that there's ſuch a vertue in it, that it will quicken all other ſtones, and put a beauty and luſtre upon them: I am ſure it's true here, there's ſuch a divine virtue and power in faith, that it quickens and caſts a luſtre upon all our other graces.

Perceiving of Chriſt ſpeaks a Chriſtians knowledge, but it's a receiving of Chriſt that ſpeaks a chriſtians faith: To as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the Sons of God, even to as many as believed on his name, Joh. 1. 12. Faith doth not only looke upon Chriſt as a fountain of living water, but layes pipes to convey it to its own Ciſterne.

p. 423The Window irradiates the houſe not by any light of its own, but as a medium to let in the beams of the Sun: without Chriſt faith can doe nothing, and againſt Chriſt faith will do nothing. A true and Scripturall affiance, is as the ſpring in the watch, that moves all the golden wheels of obedience. The father of the child cryed out with tears, I beleeve, help my unbelief, Mark 9. 24. Though his tears dropt down to the earth, yet his faith reacht up to Heaven.

Faith is able to ſwim upon thoſe deep ſeas with delight, which the line of reaſon could never fathom. He that is higheſt in his diffidence, is loweſt in his obedience: he could not do many mighty works there, becauſe of their unbelief: that which hinders Chriſt from working for Chriſtians, that will hinder Chriſtians from working for Chriſt.

It is as naturall for a beleeving man to be a working man, as it is for the Sun to ſhine, or the fire to burne. The people of Iſrael ſtood in the outer Court, but the High Prieſt entered p. 424within the Vaile: Thus other gracesSic fides inter virtutes ſure ſuo pri matum obtinet. ſtand but in the outer court, it's faith that enters within the Vaile. The Devill if he can but undermine the foundation he will ſoone overthrow the building; as take away the corner ſtone, and yon indanger all the other ſtones. Bernard hath an excellent ſaying, Increduli timent diabolum quaſi leonem; at qui in ſide fortes, deſpiciunt eum quaſi vermiculum; whilſt unbeleevers fear the Devill as a Lion, the faithfull contemne him as a worme.

Chriſtians, he that here lives by faith which doth admit of doubting, ſhall hereafter live by ſight which doth not admit of clouding: There's no landing at the ſhoare of felicity, without ſailing in the bark of fidelity: there's no grace doth ſo glorifie God as faith, and there's no grace that God doth ſo glorifie as faith.

Will you ſee how two gracious perſons daſh their feet againſt temptations? Lord, if thou hadſt been here, my Brother had not dyed, John 11. 32. As if Chriſt could not have ſaved his p. 425life when he was abſent, as well as when he was preſent, and have ſent him health, as well as have brought him health; But doe they ſtop at the firſt ſtep? no, but march on further in this diſtruſtfull Road; verſ. 9. Lord by this time he ſtinketh; As if the phyſitians potion came too late, and the Grave would not make any ſurrender though Chriſt commands the releaſe of its priſoner; but their unbeliefe ſtunk more in his noſtrills, then their brothers body did in theirs. And being not weak in faith, he conſidered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadneſſe of Sarahs womb, Rom. 4. 19.

Skilfull ſwimmers are not afraid to goe above their depth, whereas young learners grope for the ground and are loth to ſtirre from the bank-ſide,

Faith is not only the inſtrument toFides ſalvifica eſt viva radiae ſanctitatis; ma nus, os, et oculus filiorum dei; vinculum quo ſummo bono, per Chriſtum nobis unitum, unimur. Id. conc. 15. in limine. receive the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt for our juſtification, but it's the inſtrument to receive the holineſs of Chriſt p. 426for our ſanctification: Of his fullneſſe we receive grace for grace, John 1. 16. But how do we receive it? Even by Faith. Faith unites the ſoul to Chriſt, and as by a pipe laid cloſe to the mouth of a fountaine, water is carried to our houſes for the ſupply of the whole family; ſo by faith is derived to the ſoule in abundance, a ſupply for all its exigences: He that beleeves, out of his belly ſhall flow rivers of living waters, Joh. 7. 38. Hence it is, that when the Saints would advance to a high pitch in other graces, they pray for an increaſe of this grace: Lord, increaſe our faith, Luk. 17. 5. What the root ſucks from the earth, it ſoon diſperces amongſt the branches.

In faith there is ſuch an efficacy,Fides eſt armaturamentis et ſicut ſcuto repellimus hoſtiles ictus ſic fidem opponimus falſis diaboli ſuggeſtionibus. Staplet. in Dom. 4. …oſt Epiph. Tex. 2. that it's able to rout the whole body of impiety, that not one luſt ſtands in its unbroken ſtrength: Sin ſhall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the Law, but under grace, Rom. 6. 14. Luſts they may ſtirre like wounded ſouldiers on their knees; they may rally like broken Troops, but ſhall never be Maſters of the field p. 427where faith is ſeene.

Faith it doth not ſhoot paper pellets, but Cannon bullets; mans weakneſs can eaſily build the rotten fabrick of ſin up, but its faiths ſtrength which can only throw it down.

As luſts would not let Chriſt live without us, ſo Chriſt will not let luſts live within us: Holding the Miſtery of faith in a pure conſcience, Tim. 3. 9.Fides eſt cardo ſuper quem vertitur porta Caeli; ſitula per quam hauritur aqua vitae; annulus ille nuptialis quo mens Deo deſponſatur &c. Arrowſin; Tact. ſacr. l. 2. cap. 7. Sect. 13. This heavenly Manna it's laid up in a golden Pot; if faith be a precious pearle, a good conſcience is the Cabinet in which its lockt.

Faith comes out of the warrs a conqueror, when fear is foyled and taken priſoner; it's as potent to keep us from falling under temptations, as to keep us from fainting under afflictions.

The body of Adam it is a Rack for ſufferings, but the boſome of Abraham is an Ark for reſting. A Beleever is like Joſeph, though the Archers ſorely grieved him, and ſhot at him, yet his bow abode in ſtrength, and all his p. 428Arrowes were ſafe in the Quiver.

Chriſtians, never was the Tallent of faithfullneſs wrapped up in the Napkin of idleneſs. He is a rich man that lives upon his wealth, but he is a righteous man that lives upon his faith.

The firſt poyſonous breath which was drawn by Eves lips, was ſent in thoſe words; Yea, hath God ſaid ye ſhall not eat? This was the Traitors gate thorow which all ſin entered into the heart: A Tree is eaſily felled when its root is looſned.

Unbeleef it doth not only choake the bullets of wrath which are ſent out of the fiery mouth of the Law, but it damps all the motions of grace, which comes from the ſtill voyce of the Goſpell. All the offers of reconciliation which are made to unbeleeving perſons, they are like ſparks of fire falling into a river of water, that are extinguiſht by it as ſoon as ever they light upon it.

p. 429Fifthly, Would you do more then others, then reſolve more then others. It is the reſolute Chriſtian, that is the excellent chriſtian: An action that is well reſolved, is an action that is halfe performed: God looks more at our wills then at our works.

The very firſt fruits of converſion, they grow upon the Tree of holy reſolution: I will ariſe, and go to my father, Luke 15. 15. Arrows weakly ſhot fall ſhort of their marks.

Many ſtand watching on what dyall the Sun ſhines, and on what earth the cloud drops; they ſtand as ſpectators on the ſhoare; whilſt the Veſſell is toſſed on the Sea.

Shame is that which ambicious nature abhors, and danger is that which timorous nature declines. Reformation is an Icy path, and cowardly ſpirits love to have it well beaten by others, before they will ſet a foot in it themſelves.

Firme reſolutions are like Rocks, againſt which the waves may beat and ſtrike, but cannot move and alter. As our prayers manifeſt what we deſire p. 430that God ſhould do for us, ſo our purpoſes manifeſt what we our ſelves are deſirous to do for God.

The holineſs of a Saints life, may be reſembled to a babes birth. In every birth there's three things; A Conceiving, a Travelling, and a bringing forth: So there's a conceiving of holineſſe in our underſtandings, by way of illumination; there's a Travelling of holineſſe in our wills, by way of reſolution; and there's a bringing forth of holineſs in our lives by way of operation.

Till you attain to firme reſolutions, you will never be free from great temptations: Look as it is with the ill humours of the body, they flock and reſort to the crazy part; ſo it is with Sathans aſſaults, they will be ever frequent where the heart is ready to imbrace them, or not reſolved to reſiſt them.

The Laws Curſe is the preſs-money to force a ſervile ſpirit, but the love of God is the by as of a Volunteer.

Your purpoſes and reſolutions muſt be like water from a fountaine, that p. 431flowes of it ſelf, and not like water from a pit, that is fetcht forth by artificiall Engines.

Some never take up any reſolutions but when they are under ſharp afflictions; theſe are like thoſe Goates, that never give any milke till they are ſtung: Like children under the rod, they make fair promiſes; but all theſe bloſſomes falls from the Tree without bearing of any fruits: when they are raiſed from their ſick-bed pains, they fall from their ſick-bed vowes; Theſe are like Ice that thaws in the Sun, but freezes in the ſhade: They hang their luſts on the Croſs for a time that they may be curbed, but take them down again that they may not be crucified; what is this but to put a Lion in chains and then let him looſe again.

There muſt be a harmony between your reſolutions and your converſations: What ſhall we vow againſt our ſins, and then ſin againſt our vowes? This were to take the wages of one Maſter, & to do the work of another; to make our promiſes unto God, and our performances to the Devill.

p. 432Sacred vowes bind us to obedience, but ſinfull vowes bind us to repentance. Chriſtians, ſay not that you have noble blood running in your veins, except you can prove your pedigrees by heroick ſpirits: That's the Fifth.

6. Would you do more then others, then deny your ſelves more then others. Either we muſt lay ſelf aſide, or elſe God will lay us aſide: What can any true Iſraelite ſee in this Dagan of the Philiſtins, that the Ark of God ſhould fall before it.

Self ſeeking, ſaith one, was born in heaven, but forgetting by what way ſhe fell from thence, ſhe could never find the road thither again.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs and follow me; This is the baſis or foundation on which we muſt build the whole fabrick of our profeſſion. Sinfull ſelfe is to be deſtroyed, and naturall ſelf is to be denyed.

A little will ſerve a man that is ſtrong in grace, much will but ſerve a p. 433man that is weak in grace, but nothing will ſerve a man that is voyd of grace.

As we muſt lay out all in the Cauſe of God, ſo we muſt lay down all at the call of God.

But to cloſe up all, The Elder Iſraelites they mourned to ſee how ſhort the glory of the ſecond Temple, was of the glory of the firſt: I fear that we have cauſe to mourn, to ſee how far ſhort our profeſſors come in purity of their fore fathers.

Behold, I come quickly, & my reward is with me, to give every man according as his works ſhall be, Revel. 22. 12. This very expreſſion may much excite to eminency in Religion: He that doth moſt, ſhall receive moſt; the more glory you bring to God, the more glory you ſhall have from God.

The clearer the lamp of grace burns on earth, the brighter the Sun of glory ſhall ſhine in Heaven.

Though your pilgrimage may be full of bitterneſſe, yet your heritage will be full of bleſſedneſſe. Let ſuch p. 434golden ſpurs put you upon your full careers.

Mans excellency is to be meaſured by the ſtandard of his uſefullneſſe. The Sun and Moon thoſe fountains of light and guids of time, fulfill their courſes in a ſhorter ſeaſon, when the dimmer planets are longer wheeling. O that it might be ſaid of you, as it was ſaid of her, Prov. 31. 29. Many daughters have done vertuouſly, but thou haſt excelled them all.

FINIS.