The Heavenly Trade, Tract · Application 4 · Part 2 · Subpart 1

The Heavenly Trade · Tract · Application 4 · Part 2 · Subpart 1

p. 248Now there are ten rules which heavenly Merchants muſt obſerve in the management of their earthly affairs.

Rule 1. Firſt, Be ſure the matter of your employments be good, that your Callings be lawful, and the things you do be juſt and honeſt in the ſight of God: Evil things can never be well done: meddle not with prohibited goods; do nothing that either in its nature, uſe, or by divine Law becomes evil, 2 Cor. 13. 7. Phil. 4. 8. Eph. 4. 28. Let your Callings be aaVerſetur circa id quod licitum eſt in ſe utire generi humano & famae bonae. Ames.lawful, of good report, and uſeful in your generation, not onelyonly for your own intereſt and p. 249advantage, but for the ſervice and good of others: For no man liveth to himſelf, Rom. 14. 7. Such a calling as hath God for its Author mmOpera Deo placere non poſſunt ſi vitae suae inſtitutum non eſt a Deo. Frid. Baldm.being according to Scripture; and hath God for its Teacher nnThe works of that calling cannot pleaſe God, where the calling it ſelf is not of God.(ſaith Fenner) Iſa. 28. 26. And as a man can manage with peace of conſcience, and be aſſur'd his work doth pleaſe God, and he can pray for a bleſſing upon it; which they cannot do who ſet on employments that tend to nouriſh vice and wickedneſs, Rom. 13. 14.

That your Recreations alſo be lawful; ſuch as are free from ſcandal and temptation, uſed by, and with perſons fearing God, and ſuch as have a tendency to refreſh the mind and body, the better diſpoſing it to its neceſſary duties, being ſparingly and wiſely uſed, ſo as to be no occaſion of evil to others, and religiouſly entred on by ſeeking to God for a right management of it, and bleſſing on it. Such actions as come not under theſe characters, are not becoming Chriſtians, who muſt give an account to God for every vain word, much more for idle actions, Mat. 12. 36. 'Tis part of that which will trouble ſouls when their ſins are bearing on them; that they have inherited lies, vanities, and things wherein is no profit, Jer. 16. 19. Saints ſhould be working nothing but what hath a good in it: Working with his hands the things that are good, Epheſ. 4. 28. and which can bring ſome glory to God: Whatſoever you do (of which Recreations p. 250is a part) do all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10, 31. But what good to the body, foul or eſtate; what glory to God; what peace to conſcience in the day of Chriſt, can be found in carnal ſports, ſcandalous plaies, cards, dice, laſcivious dancings, and the like? which are the offſpring of chambering and wantonneſs, things wherein is little praiſe, virtue, or good report; but rather the ſpots of Chriſtianity, and bane of piety, which tend to debauch the affections, to deaden the conſcience, to nouriſh wantonneſs, and ſeed a fleſhly carnal mind, the end of which is death, Rom. 13. 13. Phil. 4. 8. Jude v. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 18. Rom. 8. 6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be ſpiritually minded is life and peace. It is a double content to a generous and well diſpoſed nature, when he doth good for his pleaſure. Games of hazard (ſaithDu Moulin of Contentment. a worthy Divine) do very much diſcompoſe the mind; they alſo provoke paſſion, and cauſe much diſturbance in the ſoul for things of nothing. Games that conſiſt in dexterity of body or mind, are much to be preferred before theſe: Cheſs will ſharpen the wit, but buſie it over much, and toil the ſpirits, inſtead of recreating them, which is the proper uſe of play: Of all gaming, the leſs the better; and when it diſorders the paſſions, the leaſt is too much. He that ventures much money at play, ventures with it not onelyonly the tranquillity of his mind; but makes a certain loſs of it whatever becomes of the money—Squandring away of money in play, is not the way to make friends of that unrighteous Mammon, that receive a man into everlaſting habitations, p. 251but an enemy rather that will turn him out of his temporal habitation; it is the way to loſe both Earth and Heaven: So then, whether we win or loſe, we commit robbery; for if we rob not our adverſaries, we rob our ſelves, our families, and God: We may add this alſo; ſuch unprofitable Recreations devour that precious treaſure of irrecoverable, unvaluable, yea ſalvation-time; and uſeth thoſe hours in poſting to Hell, which are too much neglected for haſtening to Heaven. O how careful then ſhould ſouls that profeſs heavenly hopes be of their earthly work, that it be ſuch as may conduce to their accompliſhment of them!

Rule 2. Secondly, Set upon earthly things in their proper place and order: Seek firſt the Kingdom of God, and the righteouſneſs thereof, and all theſe things ſhall be added to you, aaCaetera aut aderunt, aut certe non oberunt.Mat. 6. 33. Let God have the uppermoſt Throne in your hearts, the fore-foot in your walk, the firſt ſtroke in your work; give heavenly things the precedency, both in eſtimation, affection and time, as things of greateſt worth, and to which you are chiefly obliged: That's the due order and method of heavenly Traders, to begin every day and work with God; ſerve God firſt, and then your ſelves: Set apart ſome time for religious duties, before you ſet upon earthly employments. Men will not go abroad into unwholſom air faſting: The things of this world have a contagious breath in them: Break your faſt with God every morning, before you adventure on heart-enſnaring buſineſſes: Labour with God p. 252firſt for his preſence with you, his wiſdom to direct you, his grace and ſtrength to help, ſecure and bleſs you in your earthly labours. Antidote your hearts with divine cordials every morning, before you get into the Peſt-houſe of this world, and let ſomething of Scripture lye neareſt thy ſoul for counſel, comfort, quickening every day: He (ſaith Auguſtine) that hath taſted the ſweetneſs of Divine love, will not care for temporal ſweetneſs. Meddle not with the thorns of this world, till you have fenced your hearts and hands by prayer, and the ſword of the Spirit: 'Tis more haſte than good ſpeed to run into the world before you have ſpoken with God: The lawful way to earthly employments lies by Heavens gates. Chriſtians, God will ſue you for treſpaſſes if you take any other way to your trades and employments in the world, than his preſcribed way of religious duties. Beſides, you have need of God's eye and hand in every thing you do: You know not the ſnares and deaths that lye in your employments, and the dangers you are ſubject to in every ſtep you go, and in every thing you do: You may go forth in the morning, and never return more; ſome have died as Iſrael did, with meat in their mouths; others have fal'n down dead in their work, broke their necks in a journey, been found dead in the way: O ſet on earthly work in God's way; go not about the world till you have been with God, and ſecur'd your All in his hands.

Rule 3. Thirdly, Keep your earthly buſineſs within the bounds of due time. He that hath p. 253allotted you your work, hath allotted you your time for it: it conſiſts not with man's ſtate, relation and intereſt, to be arbitrary in any thing, but to walk by rule. There is a time for every thing under the Sun, Eccleſ. 3. 1. A time for every purpoſe, and for every work, verſe 17. Job 7. 1. As there is an appointed time to man on earth; ſo there is an appointed time to man for earthly things: He that hath ſet bounds to the world, hath not left worldly employments without bounds, but hath fixed mens earthly affairs within their proper ſeaſon. Pſal. 104. 23. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening. The Pſalmiſt acknowledges here the power and providence of God in ſetting bounds to his creatures; bounds to the Sun and Moon. Verſe 19. He appointed the Moon for ſeaſons, and the Sun knoweth his going down: Bounds to the day and night. Verſe 20. Thou makeſt darkneſs, and it is night: he limits the labours of wild beaſts and men; the beaſts have their preyingtime confined to the night. Verſe 20. 22. And it is night wherein all the beaſts of the foreſt do creep forth; the Sun riſeth, they gather themſelves together, and lay them down in their dens. Men have their working-time allotted in the day: Man goeth forth to his work and labour until the evening; that is, to the end of their working-day, which conſiſted among the Jews of twelve hours. John 11. 9. Are there not twelve hours in the day? the uſual time for men to diſpatch their earthly work in. The Lord would not ppProvidentia ergo Dei noluit ſic prolixam operandi continuationem ut hominum vires nimium atteret, ſed modum conſtituit.(ſaith p. 254Muſculus) have mens labours drawn out ſo far as to wear out their ſtrength, but hath ſet bounds to it. As the Lord would not have the world to take up mens hearts; ſo he would not have it to eat out their time, or encroach on theſe ſeaſons that are due to greater concerns. God, Nature, Grace, thy own ſoul, and the ſpiritual good of others, have their claims, as well as thy earthly calings, to this little inch of this time. O conſume not thy precious day on things that are temporal, and neglect thy opportunities for things eternal: do not enſlave thy body beyond thy beaſts, which have their times of reſt; nor exhauſt that ſtrength which better things call for, upon an empty periſhing world. Exceſſive labours beyond their due time, do argue either too much deſire of theſe things, or too little faith in God, and are reprov'd by the Lord as the vanity and practice of them, who are not his beloved ones, Pſal. 127. 2. 'Tis lamentable to ſee ſuch as would be thought the heirs of Heaven, ſo exceſſively taken up in enlarging their poſſeſſions on earth; engroſſing all their time early and late, about their earthly affairs, leaving nothing but a few unſerviceable minutes for God and their ſouls. O Chriſtians! Keep the ſtream of your earthly affections and labours within the banks of allowed time; rob not God of his time of ſpecial ſervice; nor nature of her time of needful reſt and refreſhment: nor thy own or others ſouls of time for their ſpiritual concerns, for ſuch poor periſhing things: Shew charity to thy redeemed body; make it not a drudge to thy earthly luſts: Man is too p. 255noble a creature to be a vaſſal to this world: 'Tis a ſad ſpectacle to ſee the Nazarites of Heaven, like Sampſon, with their heads ſhaven, and their eyes pluckt out to grind in the world's mill, till they pluck down the houſe about their ears, Judg. 16. 21. How do men macerate their bodies, and ſtarve their ſouls, onelyonly to help them with ſupplies in their paſſage to the grave, and all the while neglect the work of God, and their ſouls, leaving the reliques of their waſted ſtrength, and the world's refuſe, for the ſervice of an immortal God. This is not to follow earthly things by heavenly Rule.

Rule 4. Fourthly, Be diligent in the uſe of your working time: take heed you waſte it not upon impertinencies, or by needleſs diverſions, or by idleneſs, and unfaithfulneſs in your work: this is a ſin againſt both Law and Goſpel, which requires diligence and faithfulneſs in mens earthly callings: Labour and calling-work was man's duty before his fall. Gen. 2. 15, The Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden, to dreſs it, and to keep it: And after the fall, painful labour was injoyn'd and inflicted as a puniſhment of his ſin. Gen. 3. 19, In the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground. This duty of bodily labour in mens Callings, is of equal ſanction and regard with the duties of Gods Worſhip, being inſerted in a poſitive Law, and as that which is neceſſary to the ſanctifying of God in Sabbaths. Exod. 29. 9, 10, Six days ſhalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but on the ſeventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou ſhalt not do any work: p. 256The injunction of working in ſix days foreign(ſaith Mayer) is given in the ſame commanding terms in the Original, that the injunction of not working in the ſeventh is: and the ſame reaſon is given for both: the one is taken from Gods resting on the ſeventh day: and the other from his working the ſix days: So that not to labour faithfully in thy Calling the ſix days, is a breach of the fourth command, as well as the working on the Sabbath-day: Not as if the ſix days labour were to exclude all religious Worſhip of God on either of theſe days when the Lord calls to it by extraordinary Providences, as to mourning or rejoycing, or by ordinary tenders of Goſpel-mercy, in Week-day Lectures, or the like; for this would croſs his other commands, Preaching in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and labouring for the bread that endures to eternal life: This diligent labour doth not exclude private worſhip every day, and publick worſhip on week-days; ſo far as it conſiſts with faithfulneſs in mens Callings, for which time muſt be redeemed, Eph. 5. 16. but it requires diligent attendance on mens Callings, on the week-days (as oppoſed to ſloath and ſinful waſte of time) without which God is not duely ſerved on the Sabbath: This diligence in mens Callings is alſo required in the Goſpel, 1 Theſſ. 3. 10. Idleneſs is a Goſpel-ſcandal, and renders Chriſtians worthy to be abſtained from, as not obeying the Word of God; and ſuch muſt not eat, 1 Theſſ. 4. 11. ſuch are unprofitable ſervants, who improve not their talents for God, and the good of others, Matth. 25. 30. p. 257and are worſe than Infidels, who do not by diligence in their Calling provide for their own, 1 Tim. 5. 8.

Rule 5. Fifthly, while your hands are about the world, ſet a guard about your hearts: The Believers heart is Chriſt's royal Fort, ſecure that, and all is ſafe: If riches increaſe, ſet not your hearts upon them, Pſal. 62. 10. 'tis the Nature of earthly things, like a Malignant Diſeaſe, to get to the heart, O how hard is it to meddle with theſe, and the heart not become earthy too! when a gracious Soul hath been with God, and got his heart warm'd, quicken'd, and drawn out to things above; no ſooner doth he return to the world, but all is gone again: ſuch dangerous damps doth this earth ſend unto heavenly hearts: ſecure thy heart with God every day, make a new ſurrender of it to him, before thou get into the ſnares of thy earthly buſineſs: Set a vigilant watch upon thy heart every moment, leſt the things of the world ſteal in and take it captive.

Rule 6. Sixthly, Attend your earthly affairs with a calm and quiet ſpirit, whatever occurrence you meet with in the world; let your ſpirits be compoſed and fixed on God: wonder not at changes in an unſteddy world, which is onelyonly conſtant in unconſtancy. rrOmnia verſantur in perpetuo aſcenſa & deſcenſ….Here have we no continuing City, Heb. 13. 14. All things here are moving, aſcending or deſcending: Things below are compared to the Moon, Rev. 12. 1. which is never at a ſtay, but hath its conſtant changes; and like the Sea that ebbs and p. 258flows every day; and as the fountain of the Sun, which Pliny ssPlin. Lib. 2. C. 103.writes of, that the waters are extream cold and ſweet at noon, but boiling hot and bitter at midnight: So mutable are the comforts of this world, then going when they ſeem moſt likely to ſtay. Man's condition in this world at the beſt, is like the mountain Potoſi, over which there alwaies hangs a cloud even in the cleareſt day. And as 'tis written of a Meer or ttDeſc. of Scotland.Salt Marſh in Scotland, called Pochlowland, where there are tempeſtuous waves raging without wind, yea in the greateſt calm. Chriſtians, be not troubled at the tides you ſee in theſe waters of Marah. Riches make themſelves wings and fly away, Prov. 23. 5. Let none of theſe lower things trouble you when gone, which cannot content you when preſent: but one moment of time can make them ceaſe to be yours. There is but one daies difference uuƲna dies intereſt inter magnam civitatem & nullam. Et quos faelices Cinthia vidit, vidit miſeros abitura dies.(ſaith Seneca, upon the burning of a City) between a great City, and no City: So there may be but one day, nay but one hour, between a Father, and no Father; a Husband, and no Husband; a man of pleaſure, and a man of ſorrows; a rich man, and a poor man. Set not that at your hearts which ſhould be at your heels: Men do not uſe to ſigh, look pale, and cry, when ſervants leave them: Earthly things are no more; they are given you as handmaids to wait on you, not as a Spouſe to lye in your boſoms; as ſervants that come and go, not as children that abide in the p. 259houſe for ever. When thou haſt loſt an earthly comfort, ſay, A ſervant is gone from me to day. Keep up a contentation of mind with the portion God gives you here. Heb. 13. 5. Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with thoſe things that you have: Let them ſuffice you, as 'tis in the Greek; count them enough. If an Eſau can be ſatisfied with his crumbs, how much more ſhould a Jacob with the childrens bread What this and Heaven too! (ſaith one.) A little of the world, and much of Heaven, will well agree. I have enough, and enough, and enough, ſaid precious Mr. Ball, who yet was very low in the world. When the Earl of Leiceſter offered Mr. Cartwright the Provoſtſhip of Eaton Colledge, ſaying, 'twas an hundred pound more than enough, he anſwered, the hundred pound more than enough was enough for him. Pſal. 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath, is better than the revenues of the wicked. There are two diminutives in the Original (a little little of the righteous man's) let it be never ſo foreign little, with righteouſneſs, it weight down all the abundance of the worldly man's intereſt; be it more or leſs, it is enough. O thrice fools are we, like new born Princes weeping in the cradle, knowing not that there is a Kingdom before them, Rutherford. I have often thought on that providence concerning Iſrael in the wilderneſs. Exod. 16. 8. He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had no lack. Chriſtian, why ſo troubled about thy proportion of theſe things of the footſtool? as if your Father knew not what you wanted, or cared p. 260not for you, or could not maintain you: You ſhall have enough to carry you to your graves, and you can abſolutely need no more. And ſeekeſt thou great things for thy ſelf? ſeek them not, for behold I will bring evil upon all fleſh, but thy life will I give thee as a prey in all places whither thou goeſt, Jer. 45. 4, 5. You know not what God is doing in the world: Have you but little now? you may ſhortly have leſs: Be content with what you have: A little in Bethel, if it be but a pillow of ſtones, with bread and water, is better than the rich Plains of Sodom: A piece of bleſt bread in Immanuel's Land, is ſweeter, and will go farther than all the Garlick and Fleſh-pots of Egypt. than a great deal of unſanctified comforts: A ſmall portion of the world, with ſoul-advantage, is better than a great eſtate with ſpiritual loſſes and temptations. God can multiply a few loaves; make the barrel of meal, and cruſe of oyl, to hold out, and your cloaths not to wax old, rather than you ſhall want enough to carry you through your wilderneſs, if you will be believing and obedient. Be contented with the talent God gives you to trade upon: Have others more than you? envy them not; aaWhen a man grows rich (ſaith Mr. Dod) he does but go out of a little boat into a greater barge, but he is ſtill on the Sea.they have the more to reckon for; and it may be they need more, or they can bear more than you. That (ſaith one) would ſink a ſmall veſſel which is but an ordinary burden to a great ſhip. Some can better manage a large eſtate with leſs p. 261trouble and temptation than others: Poſſibly that would puff up thy heart with pride, and catch thy feet in ſnares that never ſtirs anothers affections, to whom God hath given a braver ſpirit, or greater mortifiedneſs to this world. Subſcribe to God's wiſdom and pleaſure, believe his promiſes, wonder at his mercy, be thankfull for what you have above many; ſee your All in God, and hope to be ſhortly with him; and you cannot but be content with your allowance in the world.

Rule 7. Seventhly, Follow your duty, but caſt your care on God, abide in your callings, but live above them. 1 Pet. 5. 17. Caſting all your care on God, for he careth for you. Depend not on your wiſdom, labour or ſucceſs in your employments, but upon the promiſe, love and care of God for you: If the Lord bleſſeth your ſubſtance, don't you bleſs your ſelves in it: See an emptineſs in all your abundance, and ſhortneſs in theſe to anſwer your many wants. God can ſoon make a hole in your money-bags, blow on your encreaſe, turn your proſperity into contempt, and make your expected comforts as the dream of a night viſion. Live not on large barns, but on the full breaſts of promiſes, for the good of what you do enjoy, or for the ſupply of what you want. The poor Chriſtian hath the keeping of his purſe in his Father's hand, the rich in his own hand. If ſight fail, live by faith: Faith aſſures you of the good iſſue of all difficulties in your way, and gets advantage from the worſt condition, and ſweetneſs to mingle with every bitter providence you meet with. It may p. 262be thou haſt a great family, and little to live on; lyeſt in debt, and haſt nothing to pay it; hadſt a little th'other day, but the Caterpiller and the Cankerworm hath devour'd it; this loſs, and th'other ſtroak hath waſted it. In this caſe thy duty is to live on God by faith, for a ſanctified fruit of his hand upon thee, and for making up this lack by his abundance: When thou canſt ſee no way out of thy perplexing trouble, let thine eye be unto God for help, 2 Chron. 20. 12. 2 Chron. 25. 8. Go not out of God's way for relief: He that wounds muſt heal; he onelyonly that caſteth down can raiſe up, Deut. 32. 30. Neither faint thou in the day of adverſity, or way of thy duty, Prov. 24. 10. Prov. 16. 3. but commit thy way to the Lord, and he will bring it to paſs, Pſal. 37. 5. Mat. 6. v. 25. 1 Cor. 7. 32. Phil. 4. 6. Take heed of carking cares, and fretful vexings; theſe cannot leſſen thy trouble, but will greaten thy ſins; a provident care is thy duty, but a diſtruſtful vexing care, both thy ſin and affliction.

Rule 8. Eightly, In all your labours pray for a bleſſing: If you would live well, you muſt beg as well as work; add duty to thy diligence, prayer to thy provident care, calling on God, to thy calling in the world: As every creature, ſo every condition and work is ſanctified by the word and prayer, 1 Tim. 4. 15. In every undertaking ſeek to God for counſel. Prov. 3. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy paths. Chriſtians ſhould not ſet upon the ſmalleſt matters without enquiring the will of God; not to go to this or that place, to buy or p. 263ſell to do this or that work without ſeeking to God for direction, Jam. 4. 13, 14, 15. Our journeys (ſaith one) muſt not be undertaken without asking God's leave, Dr. Mant. on Jam. This would evidence a life of dependance on God, and bring all thy affairs under divine care and bleſſing; Abraham's ſervant begins his journey with prayer, Gen. 24. 12. 27. and concluded it with praiſe, Gen. 28. 20. And ſo Jacob; Iſrael's folly in concluding with the Gibeonites contrary to the command of God, was laid on their not asking counſel of God. Joſh. 9. 14. The men took of their victuals, and asked not counſel at the mouth of the Lord. O the ſnares and diſadvantages men are expoſed to in their earthly concerns, for not taking counſel from God, and engaging his hand and bleſſing with them: Prayer will further your work, ſweeten your pains and difficulties in it, and ſecure the comfort and good of it: When you want mercy, ſeek God for it; when you receive mercy, ſee God in it, and return praiſe to God for it.

Rule 9. Ninthly, Though you live in the World, yet be dead to the World: Heavenborn ſouls, though in the World, yet are not of the World, but choſen out of it, Joh. 15. 19. and crucified to it. Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I ſhould glory, ſave in the Croſs of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom the World is crucified to me, and I unto the World. This crucifiedneſs to the World **Se mundum cum omni ſuo faſtu pompa gloria aſpernari contemnere, quaſi rem nihili, vanam, mortuam.(ſaith Paraeus) ſignifies the contempt and deſpiſing of this World; he intimates hereby, p. 264that the World with all its ſcorn, pride, pomp and glory are deſpiſed by him, as a nothing, empty, dead thing. A ſoul crucified to the World ſees nothing lovely and deſirable in this World but God, his Word and Works: there's nothing in earthly things that can be taking with ſpiritual hearts, if God be not enjoyed in them: all the glory of the World is no more to them than a dead carkaſs, if the love of God breath not through it on their hearts; nay the very Garden of the Lord is a Wilderneſs to them, if the Roſe of Sharon be not in it. A mortified Saint wonders that a rational immortal Soul can ſee ſuch worth in riches, pleaſures, honours, and poor periſhing things of this life, which to him are nothing; he can eaſily part with all at the Lord's bidding. And he feels no ſuch evil neither in the bad things of this World, as to make men ſtartle at them; wants, loſſes, reproaches, torments for Chriſt, loſe their frightfulneſs to them whoſe hearts love to the Lord Jeſus hath reconciled unto the bittereſt affliction that can befall them for his ſake. If Chriſt ſtand, and do not periſh, (ſaith Luther) what matter is it if Wife and Children periſh? If liberty, eſtate, life and all go, ſo he ſtay: Such ſhould thy heart be in purſuit of theſe things, as one that is dead to the World, and ſits looſe from all its glory, and above all its threatnings; content to have, or not to have; to uſe, or want; to enjoy, or be denied, or deprived of it, as God pleaſeth.

Rule 10. Laſtly, Do all your work within the view of death, judgment, and eternity: tranſact p. 265the employments of every day, as dying perſons, who are leaving this World, and liable to a remove every moment: How would frequent and ſerious thoughts of a near approaching end wonderfully check mens greedy purſuits of this World, and help to keep their actions in a conſiſtency with their accounts. King Philip would have it proclaim'd before him every morning, Remember that thou art mortal: And when falling upon the Sand he afterward ſaw the print of his body, ſaid, O how litle a parcel of earth will hold us when we are dead, who ambitiouſly ſeek after the World while we are living. When Severus was old, he called for an Urn or Pitcher in which the aſhes of a dead perſon were put, and looking a while on it, ſaid, aaTu virum capies quem orbis terrae non capit? Lipſ.Wilt thou contain that man whom the whole World cannot contain? Alas, what will the whole World be to thee when thou comeſt to die? let it ſeem no more to thee now, who art dying every day: do every thing as ſtrangers and pilgrims here, Heb. 11. 9. 13. and as if you heard a voice every day ſaying, Awake, and come to judgment: Jerome thought whatever he did, he ſtill heard that voice; Surgite mortui, & venite ad judicium; Ariſe ye dead, and come to judgment. When you are travelling to this Market, and the other Fair; think, Sure I am journeying to the grave, and I know not what duſt I ſhall ſhortly be ſhovell'd into: when you are about your work, think, I am haſtening to eternity, and ſhortly theſe hands muſt rot in the grave: p. 266When you promiſe your ſelves great things, as the fruit of your labours, and hope for this gain and the other comfort, ſay, Death may come between me and my enjoyments, and crop off the hopes of all my labours. What can be great to him that accounts the World nothing? or long to him that counts his life but a ſpan? Mr. Dod, When thou findeſt thy heart running out too greedily after this World, ready to lye, cheat, oppreſs, undermine others to greaten thy intereſt: think on this; For all theſe things God will bring thee to judgment, and render to thee according to all thy works.

Secondly, Then do you your earthly work in an heavenly manner, when you do it with an heavenly heart: As is the heart, ſo is the action in God's account: the Lord was much pleaſed that it was in David's heart to build him an Houſe, though he never did it, 1 Kin. 8. 18. and diſpleaſed with all that Iſrael did in his ſervice, becauſe their heart was not right with him, Pſal. 78. 37. Iſrael did many good works, they ſought him, they returned and enquired early after God, they remembred that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer, ver. 34, 35. but all this was nothing in God's eſteem, becauſe their heart was not upright in it; they had an earthly, carnal, ſelfiſh, backſliding heart in all they did. If thy heart be heavenly, though thy work be earthly, yet it puts an excellency on it; but if thy work be heavenly, and thy heart earthly, God doth reject and deſpiſe it: the heart is the root of every action, and if the root be good, the fruit will be good alſo, Mat. p. 26712. 33. Rom. 11. 16. If the fountain be ſweet, the ſtreams will be ſweet alſo; and if thy heart be heavenly, thy work is heavenly: A heavenly heart, like the Bee, turns all it doth to heavenly uſes: when the Lord Jeſus had put his hand upon the Spouſes heart, and left ſome myrrh upon her bowels, preſently her hands dropped myrrh, and her fingers ſweet ſmelling myrrh, Cant. 5. 4, 5. A heavenly heart perfumes thy earthly work, and makes it wonderfully taking with the heart of Chriſt.

Queſt. How might I know when my heart is heavenly in my earthly work?

Sol. Firſt, A heavenly heart is a heart enlightned to ſee heavenly things; a heart beam'd over with heavenly light, to diſcern things inviſible: An earthly heart is a dark heart, it ſees nothing in God, his Word and Works, ſo as to draw up his heart to Heaven: an earthly heart ſees nothing but earth in heavenly things; and an heavenly heart ſees Heaven in earthly things. The Patriarchs ſaw the heavenly City in their earthly Countrey, Heb. 11. 13, 14, 16. They ſaw the promiſes (that is, the things promiſed) afar off, and confeſſed that they were ſtrangers on earth, they ſought a Countrey, deſired a better Countrey, that is an heavenly; and all that as the product of their heavenly ſight, they ſaw heavenly things in earthly: Abraham had an heavenly eye to ſee Chriſt's day, Joh. 8. 5, 6. and Moſes a heavenly eye to ſee him who is inviſible, Heb. 11. 27. A heavenly heart doth p. 268not only ſee heavenly things, but ſees an infinite worth and excellency in them: it ſees them to be the beſt things; it ſees a greater glory and deſirableneſs in things above, in one glance of his eye, in one day within his Courts, in one hours communion with him, than in all the World beſides: Mary ſaw more advantage in ſitting at Chriſt's feet, than in the many things Martha's heart was taken up about, Luke 10. 41, 42. Curſed be that man (ſaith the noble Marqueſs Galeacius) that accounts not one hours communion with Chriſt above all the World.

Secondly, A heavenly heart is a heart that ſavours heavenly things, Rom. 8. 5. Nothing goes down ſo ſweet with a heavenly heart as heavenly things, every thing rejoyces in its like: An earthly heart delights in earthly things; the Merchant in his Trade, the Husband-man in his Field, Houſes, Husbandry, and fruits of the earth; the voluptuous man in his pleaſures; as he that ſold his City for a draught of water; crying out when he had done, O that for ſo ſhort a pleaſure, of a King I ſhould be made a Slave! The proud man in his greatneſs, Is not this great Babylon that I have built, for the houſe of the Kingdom? Dan. 4. 30. So doth the heavenly heart reliſh greateſt ſweetneſs in heavenly things: How ſweet are thy words to my taſte? yea ſweeter than honey to my mouth, Pſal. 119. 103. His fruit was ſweet to my taſte; his mouth is moſt ſweet, Cant. 2. 3. and 5. 16. My meditation of him ſhall be ſweet, Pſal. 104. 34. We took ſweet counſel together, Pſal. 55. 14. We talked of the myſteries of godlineſs (ſaith Ainſworth) of the p. 269exerciſes of Religion; (ſaith another) which I ſuppoſe the Prophet meaneth by going into the Houſe of God, as companions conſulting (as it were) how they might prepare themſelves to his ſervice.

Thirdly, A heavenly heart is a heart that longs and deſires after heavenly things: Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none that I can deſire on Earth in compariſon of thee, Pſal. 73. 25. When ſhall I come and appear before God? My ſoul thirſteth for thee; my fleſh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirſty land where no water is, to ſee thy power and glory, as I have ſeen thee in the Sanctuary, Pſal. 43. 2. Pſal. 63. 1, 2. My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord; my heart and my fleſh cryeth out for the living God, Pſal. 84. 2. Deſires are the natural motions of the heart, and the beſt character, and trueſt lineaments (ſaith one (y))Reynold's Treatiſe of Paſſion. that can be drawn of the minds of men. Practices may be overrul'd by ends; but deſires are alwaies genuine and natural: Hence good men have had moſt confidence in approving themſelves to God, by their affections, and the inward longings of their ſouls after him, as being the pureſt and moſt unfeigned iſſues of love, and ſuch as have leaſt proximity and danger from forein and ſecular ends. It is an unqueſtionable evidence of ſouls riſen with Chriſt, and receiving the ſtamp of Heaven on the heart, to ſet their affections on things above: Heavenly deſires are the natural breathings of a gracious heart, which can as well live without them, as a man without breathing; a ceſſation of ſpiritual p. 270deſires, argues ſoul-ſwooning, or ſpiritual death.

Fourthly, A heavenly heart is known by its heavenly thoughts; it will be much thinking of heavenly things: As is the heart, ſo are the thoughts uſually. For as he thinketh, ſo is he, Prov. 23. 7. The thoughts are the firſt-born of the heart, and ſtrength of the ſoul, and as natural iſſues of the mind, as beams are of the Sun; if the heart be evil, the thoughts will be evil; if the heart be good, the thoughts will ordinarily be good, Matth. 15. 19. further than corruptions or temptations hinder, Jer. 4. v. 14. If your hearts be heavenly, ſo will your deſigned, habitual and well-pleaſing thoughts be. They that are ſpiritual, will mind the things of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 5. Try your hearts by your ordinary, quiet and delightful thoughts: Are vain, earthly thoughts your trouble, and holy thoughts your delight?

Fifthly, A heavenly heart will be full of heavenly projects; ſuch a heart will be driving deſigns for Heaven; his conſultations, enquiries and ſtudies, will be how to carry on and promote heavenly intereſts. Titus 3. 8. This is a faithful ſaying, and theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works: foreign, cum ratione & concilio exerceri; the word is, might ſtudy, deviſe, and beat their brains how they might do good: That's the temper of earthly hearts alſo; they will be plotting and contriving waies and means how to advance earthly intereſts. Phil. 3. 19. Who mind p. 271earthly things, foreign, Zanchy, whoſe thoughts are in the earth (as the Syriack renders it,) that is, they are wholly taken up about earthly things: So 'tis with a heavenly heart, it is taken up about the things of Heaven; it laies holy plots, how to keep down the world and corruption in the ſoul, and how to make the moſt of all it hath and doth for Heaven, to ſecure his intereſt, and enlarge his poſſeſſion above: So far as the heart is heavenly, ſo far is it deſigning for Heaven.

Sixthly, A heavenly heart is acted and influenced by heavenly motives and arguments; there is nothing ſways more with a heavenly ſpirit than reaſons drawn from heavenly things, heavenly pleaſures, heavenly honours, heavenly treaſures will do more with a heavenly heart than any arguments drawn from things of this life. The nature of the heart is much known by the motives that are moſt potent with it: A carnal heart is byaſſed by carnal things: Who will ſhew us any good? Pſal. 4. 6. But a ſpiritual heart with ſpiritual things: Lord lift up thou the light of thy countenance upon us: Lot will chooſe the plains of Sodom; but Abraham will prefer walks with God, though in a Wilderneſs. David values his lot, by what it hath of God in it, and counts that moſt pleaſant and rich which helps him to moſt of God, Pſal. 16. 5, 6. Tell an heavenly heart how he may be rich, great and comfortable in the World, and it ſignifies nothing: but tell him how he may pitch his Tent neareſt to the Ark and enjoy moſt of God, how he may keep peace and holineſs p. 272within, and order his converſation aright to pleaſe God, and you will ſooner win ſuch a heart, than by all the choiceſt propoſals of this life. Wherewithal ſhall a young man cleanſe his way? Pſal. 119. 9. Who ſhall abide in thy tabernacle? Pſal. 15. 1. Who will riſe up for me againſt evil doers? Pſal. 94. 16. How might I do to get a better heart? to be more rich towards God? Oh that one would give me drink of the waters of the Well of Bethlehem! 2 Sam. 23. 15. How might I do for ſome fore-taſtes of the rivers of pleaſure at the right-hand of God? and to eat of the tree of life in the mid'ſt of the Paradiſe of God, Rev. 2. 7. Theſe are the moſt taking things with an heavenly ſoul; his choice, his delights and tranſcendent intereſts lie on the other ſide of this World, even within the borders of Immanuel's Land.

Seventhly, A heavenly heart is a heart that lives upon heavenly things, and is maintained by proviſions fetch'd from Heaven, nouriſhed up in the words of Faith, 1 Tim. 4. 6. deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Pet. 2. 3. My meat and drink is to do the will of him that ſent me, Joh. 4. 34. Earthly hearts are maintained by earthly comforts; like the Crows, they live on carrion; but heavenly hearts live upon heavenly things, they feed on the fineſt Wheat; and, like the Indian Bird, Ʋle malim, that lives upon the dew, and of the juice of Flowers and Roſes; heavenly ſouls proſper beſt on heavenly pulſe and water: Give me underſtanding and I ſhall live, Pſal. 119. 144.

p. 273Eightly, A heavenly heart walks by heavenly Rules; 'tis led by the Spirit of God, Rom. 8. 14. All the threatnings of men cannot upon choice bow him from his path-way of duty, Dan. 6. 10. nor the reaſon or allurements of men draw him with full conſent into the way of ſin, ch. 3. 18. Whatever comes of it he is at a point to keep the commands of God, Pſal. 119. 106. It chuſes to be governed by heavenly Laws. And we will walk in his paths, Iſa. 2. 3. As for me and my houſe we will ſerve the Lrrd, Joſh. 24. 15. Such a ſoul is eaſily perſwaded by the evidence of truth; and will hear what the Spirit ſaies: A little child ſhall lead him, Iſa. 61. 6.

Thirdly, Then are earthly things done in an heavenly manner, when done to heavenly ends and purpoſes; to obey, pleaſe and honour God; when a perſon can approve his heart to an allſeeing eye, that the great and chief end for which he takes up this or that calling, ſets on any employment, is in ſubordinacy to theſe great ends, not to pleaſe men, to gratifie his own luſts, to grow great in the world, to enjoy pleaſure, eaſe, reputation, and intereſt here, but out of obedience to the Maker, Redeemer and Governour of this world, that God in all things might have his will and glory, 1 Pet. 4. 11. This is the ultimate end of all Gods works, and ſhould be of man's alſo. All employments run out of their proper chanel, if they tend not to this Ocean of divine glory: As God is the Alpha, ſo he muſt be the Omega of every action; the firſt cauſe muſt be the laſt end. God hath made all things for himſelf, Prov. 16. 4. To him belongs the iſſues p. 274(as from death, ſo) of life, Pſal. 68. 20. Nothing is further good, than it anſwers God's end; earthly ends ſpoil heavenly work, and heavenly ends puts an excellency on earthly work. Chriſtians, be careful of your ends in all you do: 'Tis not enough to do things that are right, if you are not upright in them: That's unſanctified work which hath not holy aims, and God for its laſt end. To follow your callings, that you might live honeſtly in the ſight of men; that you might provide for your own, and have a competency in the world to carry you comfortably through it, is lawful, as ſubordinate ſecondary ends, but not as your chief and laſt end, to which all your actions muſt be directed; that muſt be ſingly and ſupremely the pleaſing and honouring of God as your higheſt end.

Fifthly, Another part of this Heavenly Trade is driven on & maintain'd in heavenly thoughts: Thoughts are the embrio and conception of actions, which alſo come under the cogniſance and government of Religion. 'Tis a common, but carnal principle, and falſe aſſertion, that thoughts are free: They are free indeed from the inſpection of men, but not from the eye and judgment of God, who ſearcheth the hearts, and weigheth the ſpirits, Jer. 17. 10. and will bring every ſecret thing into judgment, Eccleſ. 12. 14. Solomon tells us, The thoughts of fooliſhneſs is ſin, Prov. 16. 2. Prov. 24. 9. And Peter tells us, that the thoughts of the heart need forgiveneſs, Acts 8. 22. not onelyonly ſinful actions, but ſinful thoughts are forbidden, Deut. 15. 9. p. 275and the very thoughts as well as words and lives of Chriſtians, are to be brought under the obedience of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 10. 5. The Idea and platform of every conſiderate action, is firſt drawn in the mind and inward thoughts: No work is rightly done that wants praevious thoughts and conſideration. Prov. 16. 9. A man's heart deviſeth his way; he weighs, conſiders and deliberates about the way he is to go in, and the courſe of life he is to drive; he counts the time, coſt, and every thing that muſt go to his work. Prov. 31. 16. She conſidereth a field and buyeth it. So 'tis in this Heavenly Trade; there muſt be deviſing of the way, ſerious thoughts and conſiderations, how to manage it to beſt advantage; how to get in, and put off wiſdom's goods; how to ſtrengthen grace, to diſpatch duty, to obtain the favour of God, and dwell in his preſence; how to improve mercy, and how to enſure glory. The Heavenly Trade can never be carried on without heavenly thoughts. Inward working thoughts about God and godlineſs, are of wonderful uſe to further a holy life: They warm and chear the heart under troubles, Pſal. 94. 19. engage and fix it on God, and render his preſence deſirable: Heavenly thoughts fire the heart, and inflame it to holy actions, Pſal. 139. 17. Pſal. 39. 3. and are a choice preſervative againſt ſin, Pſal. 4. 4. 'Tis greatly uſeful to encreaſe knowledge, and attain to deep wiſdom and underſtanding. Dan. 14. 4. Many ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall encreaſe: That is, their thoughts ſhall be working on truth, buſily employed to find out the p. 276meaning of the word, looking on one ſide, and on the other ſide (ſaith Mr. Fenner) and by this means ſhall come to a great thriving in knowledge. Men will never be religious to purpoſe, or be their crafts-maſters in this Heavenly Trade, till they be more ſpiritual and heavenly in their thoughts. Chriſtians, make conſcience of your thoughts; they muſt come to judgment; waſh your hearts from whence they come, Jer. 4. 14. and watch your thoughts whither they go; check your thoughts when they begin to wander; quicken your thoughts when flat; fix your thoughts when floating; ſpiritualize them when carnal; exerciſe them when ſlothful; ſet them on their proper and profitable objects, and hold them to their work in divine and heavenly meditation every day, which is part of your Heavenly Trade, and hath a mighty tendency to ſoul-enriching, Pſal. 4. 4. Pſal. 63. 4. Pſal. 104. 34. Gen. 24. 63. Pſal. 1. 2. Pſal. 77. 12. Pſal. 139. 8.

Meditation is a calling in the thoughts from its ſtraglings and undue employments, fixing them on, and holding them to their peculiar work: 'Tis the travel of the mind in the ſearch of ſome ſpiritual good, from ſuch things as duty and providence lay before it; it weighs things and actions in the ballance of truth; it turns things up-ſide down, and looks on both ſides, and through them, that it may take a right eſtimate of them: 'Tis the running to and fro of the cogitations to encreaſe knowledge, Dan. 12. 4. Meditation ſifts things and truths, to divide the flower from the bran, and truth p. 277from errours; it helps to a clearer and more ſenſible view of truth and excellency; with the Chymiſt, it extracts the ſpirits and quinteſſence of things; it warms the heart, and fires the affections, raiſes deſires, engages the will, enlightens and enlivens the conſcience, and helps to feed the ſoul on divine truths, to feaſt it with divine love; it draws nouriſhment from ordinances, ſweetneſs from promiſes, inſtructions from the creature, and good from providences. Without Meditation a perſon cannot receive the good that's offer'd to him, or do the good that is required of him. The Word preached doth not profit hearers, for want of Meditation to digeſt it; threatnings, promiſes, counſels, encouragements, don't affect the ſoul, or effect their errand and meſſage, for want of a ſerious and ſettled conſideration of them. O what profit might Chriſtians get to their ſouls, were more time ſpent every day in right Meditation! Believer, charge thy heart with this duty of daily Meditation, which is as needful as Prayer, Reading, and any acts of holineſs, and allow ſome time conſtantly each day for this holy exerciſe of thy ſerious thoughts and contemplations. To meditate on God, his Word and Works; on the Soul, its being, immortality, duties, evils, and intereſts; on the the World, its vanity and emptineſs; on Sin, its nature and iſſues; on Holineſs, its excellency and bleſſed advantages; on Death, Judgment and Eternity, with whatever might yield inſtruction and profit: Urge thy conſcience with the command of God, the practice of the Saints, the great neceſſity, and p. 278many advantages of this duty; conſider the great and uſual averſneſs of thy heart to it, which doth manifeſtly beſpeak its ſpirituality and excellency; for the more nature is indiſpoſed to a duty, the more of God is uſually in ſuch a duty: think alſo of thy manifold loſſes and diſadvantages thou haſt ſuſtained by thy neglect of it, and pray hard for the ſpirit to help thy ſoul in the due performance of it; which hints I can only leave with thee without further enlargement, leſt it ſhould ſwell this Volume beyond its deſigned bounds.

Sixthly, If you would drive on this heavenly Trade, you muſt be keeping up heavenly converſes every day, and upon every occaſion: much of earthly Trades is carried on by earthly diſcourſes, this way they drive bargains, and barter away goods: a great many words ofttimes go to chaffering, buying and ſelling: and ſo is it in this heavenly Trade; Religion is much advanc'd by a ſpiritual improvement of mens talk and converſes; this way did the ſearers of God keep alive Religion in evil times, when other helps were wanting, Mal. 3. 16. Prov. 10. 21. By this ſouls come to be fed and nouriſhed in their holy Faith, 1 Tim. 4. 6. A great deal of good or hurt comes by mens diſcourſes. O the miſchief Chriſtians do to each other by their vain, carnal and earthly communications when they come together! Evil communications corrupt good manners, 1 Cor. 15. 33. Whoſe word doth eat as doth a canker, 2 Tim. 2. 17. This way does Satan put off much of his wares, even by Wiſdom's Merchants, p. 279making them to weaken, cool, deaden, and corrupt one anothers ſpirits, ſtir up, feed and ſtrengthen each others corruptions, become temptations and provocations to one another to ſin, by their ſinful corruptions: 'Tis ſad to think how the work of God ceaſes, and the work of Satan proſpers this way: Perſons come warm ſometimes from a Sermon, and are ſoon cool'd by impertinent and vain diſcourſes; come from ſecret duty, when their hearts are quickned, and raiſed, and preſently deadned again by ſpirit-quenching diſcourſes. O how many labours of the Saints and Servants of Chriſt, and how many ſtrivings of the Spirit are overturned, and come to nothing by vain and rotten diſcourſes! no wonder the Apoſtle tells us, The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; it defileth the whole body, and ſetteth on fire the courſe of nature, and is ſet on fire of hell, Jam. 3. 6. Through the organ of an unſanctified tongue doth Satan ſhoot his fire-balls of temptation into the hearts of hearers: are you afraid of that fire which burns down your houſes? beware of that fire that burns down ſouls to hell. 'Tis no ſmall part of a Chriſtian's wiſdom to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon, and to order (as his converſation ſo) his converſes to edification: When the Apoſtle preſſes the Epheſians to wiſdom, Eph. 5. 17. the next thing he adviſes to is holy conference, ver. 19. by mens language are they known of what Countrey they are; ſo are perſons diſcover'd, whether Citizens of Heaven, or the World, by their ordinary and deſir'd language. 'Tis ſaid of Auguſtine, he p. 280went not ſo willingly to a feaſt, as to a conference to reduce any that erred. He that is of the Earth, is earthly, and ſpeaketh of the earth; he that cometh from Heaven is above all; and what he hath ſeen and heard, that he teſtifieth, Joh. 3. 31. He will be ſpeaking of heavenly things, which he learnt of God: A good man out of the abundance of his heart bringeth out good things; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaketh: The tongue is but the index and bucket of the heart, that tells men what things are within, and draws out of thoſe deeps to others; men uſe to find out what metals are hid in the earth by the colour of the ſand which the waters waſh away from the mountains: if the ſtreams be low, the ſpring is weak; an empty heart yields empty diſcourſes; By your words you ſhall be juſtified, or condemned: The tongue of the juſt is as choice ſilver, Prov. 10. 20. in that it is enriching to thoſe that are near it. The tongue of the wiſe is health, Prov. 12. 18. It ſendeth out ſound and wholſome words to the ſtrengthning of hearers: 'tis ſaid of the Spouſe, that her lips did drop as the honey-comb, honey and milk are under her tongue, Cant. 4. 11. And the roof of her mouth like the beſt Wine that goeth down ſweetly, cauſing the lips of thoſe that are aſleep to ſpeak, Cant. 7. 9. This doubtleſs is one reaſon of the little thrivings of Chriſtians in communion this day, 'tis from their barren and carnal communications; this ſtarves Religion both in thy own ſoul, and in thoſe thou converſeſt with; 'tis not maintained by gracious converſes, and ſoul-edifying diſcourſes. p. 281Chriſtians, lay this to heart; how can you bear the charge of all that decay in godlineſs this day upon your non-improvement of this part of your heavenly Trade?

Laſtly, Then do you carry on the heavenly Trade, when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages, getting good from every thing you meet with, do, or enjoy. 'Tis ſo in earthly Trades, all men ſeek their gain from their quarters, Iſa. 56. 11. endeavour to turn every thing to ſome profit: And ſo ſhould heavenly Traders be getting ſome ſpiritual good from every thing that comes under their hand, and in their way, if ever they intend to thrive: this comports with the great deſign of God in all his adminiſtrations to his people, which is to do them good. Who fed thee in the Wilderneſs with Manna, which thy Fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at the latter end, Deut. 8. 16. To this end are his providences directed: The hand of our God is upon all them for good that ſeek him, Ezra 8. 22. And this leads to the accompliſhment of the promiſes towards Believers: I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good, Jer. 24. 6. I will not turn away from them to do them good, Jer. 32. 40. All their occurrences are brought under a promiſe of working for good. All things, the beſt and worſt things of providence, ſhall work for good to them that love God, Rom. 8. 28. And why is this? but that gracious ſouls ſhould be expecting good from every thing, every affliction, as well as mercy, that doth befall them; and be comporting in all p. 282their capacities with this deſign of God, by an improvement of all, to this great end of ſouladvantage: What more good, O Lord? was the uſual ſaying of a godly man, when the Lord brought any new affliction upon him, with which he was much exerciſed, and from which he ever got ſome ſpiritual advantage.

For this end are gracious ſouls made capable to uſe their mercies, to bear and improve their afflictions to ſome ſpiritual good; they have a principle of grace planted in their hearts, and of divine light into their minds; and have received rules and inſtructions of purpoſe, that they might be able to reach this end: They are made men of wiſdom for this end, that they might hear God in affliction, Mic. 6. 9. and ſee God in mercies; and are skill'd in divine Chymiſtry, that they might extract the ſpirit of providences, and good of every condition, duty and mercy. 'Twas ſaid of pious Mr. Dod, that he uſed to turn Earth into Heaven by a wiſe and ſpiritual improvement of all earthly affairs. A bleſſed metamorphoſis! and an argument of excellent skill and high attainment in this heavenly Trade, to turn Copper and Braſs into Gold, and to convert every thing, the worſt things to ſome good. This (Chriſtians) is your priviledg, duty and intereſt, ſo to manage every affair, condition, occurrence and experience, as to help on your ſoul-enrichings.