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

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

p. 283There are nine things eſpecially which Chriſtians ſhould be careful to manage to ſome ſoul-advantage, to be getting good from them, to the furtherance of their inſtruction, meditation, mortification to ſin, the world, and ſelf; to the ſtrengthening of their graces, raiſing their affections, quickning to duty, preparation for death, and every trial in the way to it; and for furthering their meetneſs for glory.

Firſt, Priviledges are one thing which Believers ſhould be getting good from, to theſe great and noble ends of ſpiritual good. Every heavenly Trader hath ſome priviledges which may afford ſoul-profit.

There are Natural Priviledges.

There are Providential Priviledges.

There are Spiritual Priviledges.

All which may contribute ſome profit to the improvers of them; Parts, Youth, Health, Strength, are part of Nature's treaſure, and to be husbanded to the uſe and ſervice of the ſoul: Theſe are ſome of thoſe talents the great Houſholder gives to his Family, (though in different meaſures) for improvement, and ſingular mercies they are, if well uſed to the Donor's ends and directions. A humble uſe of Parts to the good of others, and ſetting of wit, memory, reaſon, with the choiceſt intellectuals, and richeſt endowments of the rational mind, on the ſervice of the ſoul, 3 Epiſt. Joh. 2. making them p. 284hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the ſanctuary of the Lord: A ſhaving and paring off of the excrements and froth of wit, that they may become Iſraelites, and devoted to the God of Iſrael, and ſpiritual uſes, Deut. 21. 12. keeping them under the government of the ſpirit, is a good improvement of them in this heavenly Trade.

You that have Parts and habilliments of Mind, do not proſtitute them to the pleaſure of the fleſh, and the ſervice of ſin, but reſign them to the uſe of the ſpirit; towards your enrichings with true wiſdom, and encreaſes in the knowledg of God, which brings ſalvation. When ſprightly Parts and ſparkling Wit are inlaid with grace, then are they as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver, Prov. 25. 11. O how amiable are theſe endowments of nature, when ſeaſoned with grade, when perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincenſe, and beſprinkled with the Powders of the Merchant, Cant. 3. 6.

Youthful time is another priviledg for ſouladvantage; 'tis the morning of the ſoul's day, the beſt and moſt uſeful part of time, when appropriated to God and divine uſes: what advantage have ſuch for warmth of affection, and diſpatches of duty? whereas decrepit age, like an emerited Souldier, hath worn out its ſerviceable capacities; and as the ſetting-Sun, is attended with evening cold, and ſhadows, and the cloſe of working uſeful time. O how unſerviceable is old age for tranſacting the work of the new-birth, when Conſcience is ſunk down into the deeps of guilt! when the affections p. 285are clogg'd with the dirty things of this world, and preengaged to other Lovers; and when the marrow of natures ſtrength has been eaten out by the waſting ſervice of ſin. So great and amazing a work is the ſalvation of a ſinner, that it deſerves a ſubject of the choiceſt capacities to be compleated in, and tranſacted by: And then is youth profitably ſpent, when devoted to God, and taken up in the great matters of ſalvation. You that are yet in your youth and morning-time, let God have the ſpring of your time, the firſt-born of your ſtrength, and firſt ripe fruits of your capacities; let not youthful pleaſures have the flower of your time and abilities, leaving the bran for God and your ſouls.

You that have ſtrength of body, and a healthful temper, put it to the beſt uſe for your heavenly intereſt. Are you ſtrong to labour? work out your ſalvation; labour for the bread that endureth; you that have legs, uſe them while you have them, to carry you up and down after God. If you muſt eat bread in the ſweat of your brows, let it be the bread of your Father's houſe. If you muſt riſe up early, ſit up late, break your reſt, exhauſt your ſtrength, let it not be all for the world, let Chriſt have ſome of your ſtrength, before all be gone; yea, if you have any, let Chriſt have all.

As there are natural priviledges, ſo are there providential priviledges alſo, which are the capacities that providence diſpenſeth to ſome, of doing and receiving good beyond others, as liberty, peace, plenty, with other outward mercies, p. 286all which are to be husbanded to the beſt advantage of your ſouls.

Have you Peace with men? improve it towards the obtaining and ſecuring your Peace with God: Your firmeſt leagues with men will hold but a little while, if your covenant with God be broken; what can favour with men profit you, if you have frowns from God? If men ſheath up their ſwords, and God's be drawn, thy caſe is dangerous, and full of trouble. Make this uſe alſo of thy preſent Peace, to prepare for future trouble, and to be the better arm'd when trials come; ſpend not all thy ſtore upon thy preſent Peace and Comfort, but ſave ſome fragments for times of need. God gives thee a breathing-time, that thou mayeſt hold out the better in thy race; and ſpares thee a little reſt, that thou mayeſt be the fitter for approaching trouble.

Have you Liberty? take heed of yokes of bondage, Gal. 5. 1. and ſoul-ſtraitnings. If God ſet you at large, do not impriſon your ſelves to the world and carnal luſts: Is thy body out of priſon? labour to get out thy ſoul alſo, Pſal. 142. 7. Are thy feet enlarged? get thy heart enlarged alſo, and run the waies of his commandments, Pſal. 119. 132. Make the moſt of your Lilberty in doing ſervice to God, in attending on his appointments, and in taking all opportunities of doing ſalvation-work, and enjoying ſalvationhelps: Be like your Lord, going up and down doing good, while you have opportunity, Joh. 12. v. 35. If you have ſpare time, or can redeem it by double diligence from your earthly buſineſs, p. 287lay it out for God and his people in religious duties, Chriſtian viſits, holy conferences: The time may come you may wiſh for ſuch a priviledge, and long to ſee one of theſe daies of the Son of man.

Have you yet a liberal portion of the good things of this life? is your garner full, your table ſpread, your cup overflowing? lay in the ſenſe of theſe mercies now, as winter-proviſion to warm your hearts then, when you may not have them to warm and refreſh your bodies, and lay them out to refreſh thoſe that want them, that they may bleſs God for you, glorifie God in you, and procure mercy for you in the day of need: Make not thy ſelf a ſlave to thy abundance, but make thy plenteous comforts ſerviceable unto thee.

There are Spiritual Priviledges too, the lot of ſome, and calls for great improvements. There are Perſonal Priviledges, the State and Spirit of Adoption, juſtification of perſons, purchaſed right to pardon and peace with God, freedom from condemnation, aſſurance of preſervation in grace unto glory, with many gifts of grace and ſpiritual favours which thouſands enjoy not. And there are Publick Priviledges of acceſs to God, communion of Saints, a place within the walls of God's Houſe, with variety of ſoul-proviſions, an intereſt in the promiſes of God, the prayers and graces of his people, things of infinite worth, and purchaſed at no lower rate than the blood of Chriſt: You that are intereſted in thoſe, come under great obligations to behold them with wonder, to p. 288hold them with trembling, and to uſe them with diligence and faithfulneſs. You that are planted in the Courts of the Lord, Pſal. 92. 13, 14. be fat and flouriſhing; content not your ſelves with bare priviledges, with dogs to feed on dry bones, but get the marrow, juice, and fattening vertue of all your advantages. Do not with Lazarus, lye at the door of your rich Lord, the Dogs licking your ſores, when you may go in and be healed.

Secondly, Ordinances are another thing which Believers ſhould be getting ſpiritual good from: Theſe are the golden pipes through which the Lord pours in the Oyl of grace into his golden Candleſticks, and Goſpel-Churches, Zach. 4. 12. Showres of Manna to feed his people in the wilderneſs, and on this ſide their own Countrey, Deut. 8. 16. Theſe are the Churches breaſts to fill and nouriſh her children unto life eternal, Iſa. 66. 11. Gen. 2. 6. 10. Ordinances are the Miſt, the River of Eden, by which God waters his Garden; Scriptures are the Mines, Ordinances are the opening of them, to ſuch as dig for Wiſdom. A conſiderable part of this Heavenly Trade is driven about theſe commodities; ply them well, that you may get large incomes of ſpiritual bleſſings through them: Take heed of ſleeping at theſe breaſts, or playing with them, leſt the Lord put them up, or put you off; lie at the pool ſide, wait at the wells of ſalvation, and not onelyonly come, but draw out waters of life thence for your needy ſouls: For which four things are needful.

p. 289Preparation.

Attention.

Retention.

Obedience.

Firſt, Prepare before you hear, get the room emptied, ſwept and garniſhed: For thoſe proviſions of Chriſt you are called to, bring your pitchers empty and clean, that God may fill them: Come not to clean food with a ſoul ſtomach, but get your hearts purged by ſound repentance, and waſh'd from an evil conſcience, and renewed by the Spirit; for the new wine of the Goſpel, 1 Pet. 2. 1, 2, 3. They muſt be new born babes, that receive the ſincere milk of the Word, ſo as to grow thereby, Mat. 9. 17. If a dead Chriſt muſt be laid in a new tomb; Mat. 27. 60. ſurely a living Jeſus will not come into an old heart, and rotten ſepulchre. Spend ſome time before you go to hear, in ſearching your hearts, and reviewing your waies, in geting a deep ſenſe of their vileneſs, and the exceeding ſinfulneſs of your ſins, that the fallow field of your hearts may be plowed up, and you ſow not among thorns: Take heed you bring not a hard heart to hearing. When Thraſamund the Arrian read Fulgentius's defence of the truth, he praiſed his wiſdom, wondered at his eloquence, commended his humility; yet had his heart ſo hardened, that he could not ſubmit to the truth. To help you herein, ſet prayer on work to beg down the Spirit's of aſſiſtance; bring your hearts to Chriſt by prayer, that he would p. 290make them clean: If he ſay, I will, be thou clean, thy Leproſie ſhall be cleanſed. Prayer alſo helps you to ſuitable proviſion, and a bleſſing on it: Hearers prayers help Miniſters to preach, and themſelves to hear, 2 Theſ. 3. 1. Souls never thrive better than when Miniſters and Hearers be much in prayer for the Word of the Spirit, and Spirit with the Word. To pray well, is to ſtudy well aaBene oraſſe eſt bene ſtudiiſſe.Prayer (ſaies one) is a meſſenger to fetch that holy ſeed out of the garner above: Prayer is the former and latter rain to make it grow beneath; pray continually if thou would'ſt grow continually. After Chriſt had fed the multitude, he went up into a Mountain apart to pray. Matth. 14. v. 23. Secret prayer (ſaith Mr. Trap) fats the ſoul, as ſecret morſels feed the body; therefore it is ſaid to be the banquet of grace, where the ſoul may ſolace her ſelf with God, as Eſther did with Ahaſhuerus at the banquet of wine, and have whatſoever heart can wiſh, or need require.

Secondly, Take heed how you hear, hear as for your lives, with holy attention, with fear and trembling. Miniſters (ſaith Mr. Latimer) ſhould preach as if Hell were at their backs, and hearers ſhould hear as if life or death were in every word. Hear with holy affection; many were given up to believe a lye, becauſe they loved not the truth, nor received the word in the love thereof, 2 Theſ. 2. 10. Hear believingly; the Word preached did not profit, being not mixed with faith in them that heard it, Heb. 4. 2. 'Tis by faith the Goſpel becomes the power of p. 291God to ſalvation, Rom. 1. 17. The Arm of God was not revealed on Iſrael, becauſe his report was not believed by them, Iſa. 53. 1. The Spirit is given out through the hearing of faith: Never expect to profit by hearing, till you joyn faith with hearing.

Thirdly, Keep the Word you do hear; take heed of letting ſlip the things you have received, Heb. 2. 1. Hold faſt the truth that no man take your Crown, Rev. 3. 11. Be not forgetful hearers, but doers of the Word, Jam. 1. 25. Forgetful hearers will never be doers: Iſrael's diſobedience was the fruit of their forgetfulneſs, Pſal. 78. 10, 11. The reaſon of the Diſciples trouble at the ſepulchre of Chriſt, was ſaid to be their forgetfulneſs; they had forgotten what he had ſaid to them when he was in Galilee, Luke 24. 6. Bad memories have many times barren lives: Be much in after-prayer for the Comforter's help to keep the Word for you, and bring it to your remembrance: Prayer opens the heart to take in the Word; and prayer ſhuts the heart to keep in the Word: keep up meditation of the Word, Pſal. 111. 91. This chews the cud, and gets out the ſweetneſs and nutritive virtue of it unto the heart and life: This way the godly come to be as trees planted by the waters ſide, that bring forth much fruit in their ſeaſon, Pſal. 1. 3.

Fourthly, Obedience of the Word helps to profiting. The worth of Divine Truths is never fully known until they are liv'd upon; nor its virtue felt till we cleave to it in our converſation. Prov. 4. 6. Forſake her not, and ſhe ſhall preſerve(problem) p. 292love her, and ſhe ſhall keep thee. Verſ. 12. When thou goeſt, thy ſteps ſhall not be ſtraitned, and when thou runneſt thou ſhalt not ſtumble. O the ſweetneſs, the pleaſure, the ſtrength, the bleſſedneſs that they loſe who onelyonly look on truth, but do not live it! Strangers to a holy life meddle not with the joy that is wrapt up in the Word and Waies of God, Prov. 3. 17. Her waies are waies of pleaſantneſs, and all her paths are peace. The Word of God yields out but half its ſweetneſs, until it becomes the way and walks of men, Pſal. 10. 11. In keeping them there is great reward. My witneſs is in Heaven, ſaith Mr. William Cooper, upon his death-bed, That the love of Jeſus, and his peoples ſouls, made preaching my pleaſure; and I had no ſuch joy as in doing God's work. They are bleſſed that do his Commandment; not onelyonly in that they have right to the tree of life, but in that they eat the pleaſant fruits of it, and feed upon that hidden Manna unto which bare hearers are ſtrangers.

Thirdly, Get all the good you can from Providences; from favourable Providences, and from frowning Providences: Theſe are the North and the South winds, which the Beloved cauſes to blow upon his garden, Cant. 4. 16. that the ſpices might flow forth. Providences, whether proſperous or afflictive, are to ſaved ſouls but the fulfilling of Divine Purpoſes, and the accompliſhment of precious promiſe, which are deſigned for the good of Believers. Obſerve the Providences of God if you would get good from thence. Obſervable things (ſaith worthy Mr. Blair) do follow them that are given to obſervation. p. 293Doth God bring thee under ſmiling Providences? get ſome good from them: In theſe the Lord writes legible characters of his Covenant-love to his people. O read the tenderneſs, love, bounty and faithfulneſs of God in them, and be affected! Get thy heart to write back letters of love and thankfulneſs to God again; entertain giving Providences with thankſgiving hearts, and the ſacrifice of praiſe, 2 Chron. 29. 31. Let the Lord communicate with you concerning receiving as well as giving, Phil. 4. 15. If left-hand mercies flow in upon you, take heed leſt thoſe floods break their bounds, and carry away the banks of your affections and circumſpection. Chriſtians, 'tis a ſafe rule to fear your mercies as well as afflictions: There is uſually leſs fear, and therefore more danger of profeſſing friends, than profeſſed enemies. 'Twas the prayer of Queen Elizabeth, To be delivered from her friends, as for her enemies ſhe would take care of them. Further, if you have now a ſpring-tide of outward mercies, prepare for low-waters: The comforts of this world are not ſtanding pools, but running ſtreams, and rolling Seas, that ebb and flow; expect not too much from them; entertain your comming mercies as ſtrangers, who have their time to go as well as come: The Lord gives, and the Lord takes, Job 1. 21.

Get good alſo from taking as well as giving Providences; be bleſſing God for them: There is more ſelf-denial and pure love to God expreſſed in ſuch acknowledgments, than in praiſes for beſtowing mercy, Job 1. 2. Beſides, divine p. 294grace runs as well through the empty chanels, as broad ſtreams of outward comforts: 'Tis the ſame hand of the Father that uncloaths, which dreſſes his children; the Fork as well as the Rake belongs to the Covenant of Grace and Peace; neither is love or hatred known by theſe things, Eccleſ. 9. 1. Some have never found more than when they have loſt all: The Lord oft-times makes mens loſſes their gains, and their gain of earthly things their loſſes: Saul loſt his Aſſes, and found a Kingdom: Shimei found his ſervants, and loſt his life: Place not then your happineſs, no nor your comforts in theſe things: How many prick their fingers to get a few fading Roſes, which as ſoon wither as they are pluck'd: Think well of God under ſcattering Providences, and believe he loves you as much when he removes your mercies, as when he gives them: Look to God in Providences; ſee whence thoſe winds come that blow down your houſes, and ſcatter your comforts; enquire wherefore God contends with you, Job 10. 2. Doth not that worm which devours your gourd, breed in your ſecurity, pride, unthankfulneſs, and abuſe of them, while you had them? ſearch out the cauſe of God's diſpleaſure; juſtifie God in it, and bear his indignation humbly; come down at his feet, kiſs his rod, and hear the voice of it: This is to get good from the worſt of Providences.

Fourthly, Get good from the world, and things thereof; by ſeeing its wiles and deceitfulneſs, its vanity and emptineſs, Mark 4. 19. The world is a fading thing, the faſhion of it p. 295paſſeth away and it is gone. Trades-men care not for over-much of thoſe goods that are ſoon out of faſhion, Eccleſ. 1. 2. O care not for the world, the faſhion whereof ſoon paſſeth away! 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world is a dirty thing, 'tis hard to touch it, and not be defiled. Chriſtians, be not like Swine, who love to run into the dirt; and if you would keep your ſelves unſpotted, take heed of the world. The world is a heavy ponderous thing; by faith make it portable, and more eaſie to be born, 2 Cor. 4. 17. that it may not clog your feet, and ſtop your race towards glory: Faith will ſoon leſſen your burden, and mend your pace; it will turn braſs, yea clay into gold, and make it light in carriage. The world is a ſtrange Countrey to the Citizens of Heaven, get good from it, by living as ſtrangers in the world, by making you long the more for your own home, by converting it to the ſervice of your ſouls, and intereſt in glory. The Scorpions in Caria, when they ſting, kill home-bred people, not ſtrangers. Apollon. Be a ſtranger to the world, and it will not hurt thee. The world is a ſubtle Strumpet, ſhun her embraces, lye not in her boſom, ſtop your ears againſt her charms, and ſhut your eyes from her allurements. The world is an enemy, beware of it; when it promiſes, believe it not; when it kiſſes you, take heed of the ſword in its hand, 2 Sam. 20. 9, 10. when it cries peace, peace, then fear ſwift deſtruction; ſet thy feet on its fair neck to keep it down; get it nailed to the Croſs of Chriſt, and pierced to death with the ſword and ſpear of the Spirit. Get good from every ſtate and condition p. 296God puts you into, whether high or low, rich or poor: If you are above others in place, be above them in grace; if you enjoy more than others, labour to do more than others, Matth. 5. 47. The higher you are in the world, be ſo much the lower in your own eyes: The talleſt Cedars bow moſt: Ships of the greateſt burden draw moſt water, and go deepeſt: Exalted Angels rejoyce to be miniſtring ſpirits: Yea the Son of God delighted in being the ſervant of men: Iſrael was a Prince, and prevailed with God, and yet counted himſelf beneath the leaſt of all God's mercies, Gen. 32. 10. By how much the greater I am (ſaith Maximinus) ſo much the more I labour; and the more I labour, the greater I am. Paul the chiefeſt Apoſtle, and yet in his own eyes leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, Epheſ. 3. 8. Humble your ſelves when God exalts you; and when you humble your ſelves, God will exalt you.

Have you much of the world? take heed of puffings up; the more you have, the more you owe; the more you have of Earth, the leſs you may have of Heaven: The poor in the world may be rich in faith; and the rich in the world may be oft-times poor in faith: If God give you much here, be fearful leſt he give you your All here. When one offered Luther much gold, he proteſted God ſhould not put him off with theſe things. 'Tis ſaid of Gregory the Great, he could never read theſe words, Son, remember thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, without horrour and aſtoniſhment, leſt having ſuch dignities he ſhould be excluded his portion p. 297in Heaven. Have you little in the world? you have the leſs to reckon for; you have the leſſer temptations, the fewer bryars and thorns to go through. Are you mean in reputation? you are ſo much the ſafer, and the more beneath envy. 'Tis more to you (ſaid Mr. Rutherford to the Lord-Keeper) to win Heaven, being ſhips of great burden, and in the main Sea, than for little veſſels that are not ſo much in the mercy and reverence of the ſtorm. Are you low in the world? the more reaſon you have to lie low in your own ſpirits; a Prince's heart, and a beggar's purſe do not well agree. Are you in want? make more uſe of Chriſt's fulneſs: 'Tis bleſſed miſery that brings ſouls to Chriſt for mercy: Had it not been for affliction, Chriſt would have had but little company whiles in the world: The whole need not the Phyſician; the ſick, the blind, the deaf, dumb, and poſſeſſed of Devils might bleſs God for their maladies, which were the occaſions of bringing them to the Phyſician of their ſouls as well as bodies: 'Twas well for the poor Canaanite that her daughter was ill, for by that means ſhe was put upon ſeeking crumbs, and while ſhe asked for them, got the childrens bread to boot, Matth. 15. 27, 28.

Fifthly, Get good from your Callings and Employments in the world, by preſerving a ſenſe of the ſnares and dangers that lie in the management of them. If men would take a ſtrict ſurvey of their Calling-carriages, and be true to their obſervations, they muſt needs confeſs p. 298there are many evils they are guilty of in the management of them every day; either idleneſs, or exceſs of labours, deceitfulneſs, earthlineſs, lying, cheating, ſelfiſhneſs, covetouſneſs, carnal-mindedneſs, vain diſcourſes, multitude of words, murmuring, unthankfulneſs, with many other ſins of omiſſion and commiſſion, which they are expoſed to in the purſuit of their Employments: Now when the experience and ſenſe of this do keep them more humble and watchful againſt the occaſions and appearances of ſuch evils; when this helps to break and melt the heart before the Lord in prayer, fly to Chriſt in the ſenſe of their weakneſſes and inability to hold up under their temptations for all their help and grace to ſtand, Epheſ. 5. 15, 16. And when they labour to keep a tender ſpirit in all their dealings, and a holy jealouſie of their hearts in every thing they do; exerciſing ſelf-denyal, and mortifiedneſs to the world, and things below, then they get profit from their Callings, Prov. 41. 3. Pſal. 141. 3.

When they make their particular Callings to comport with, and ſubſerve their general; when mens buſineſſes in the world do not unfit them for, but are helpful in their religious duties, to keep their hearts in a meetneſs for ſpiritual ſervice, even while they are in their earthly Employments, maintaining a walk with God in them, then they get good from their earthly Callings, Epheſ. 6. 18. Titus 3. 1. Sometimes God bleſſeth your Callings, and makes your basket and ſtore to encreaſe; then to be enlarg'd in thankfulneſs, and preſerve the memory of p. 299God's goodneſs, is not onelyonly your duty, but will ſweeten the enjoyment of your mercies: With my ſtaff I paſſed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands, Gen. 32. 10. To love him more, and ſerve him better, with more chearfulneſs and gladneſs of heart; this is profiting by your Callings.

Sometimes God blaſts your labours, and croſſeth your hopes, makes a breach upon your Trade, follows you with loſſes one after another: In this caſe to look to the hand of God, to ſearch out God's end in all, to get good by it, to be the more weaned from the world, and to ceaſe from earthly ſtays, is a profitable uſe of your Callings.

Sixthly, Be getting ſome good from your company you reſide amongſt, meet or converſe with: The Lord offers, and ſouls may get much good this way: O the mercies that God deals out through mens company! 'Twas well for Rahab that ever the ſpies came to her houſe, for by that means ſhe obtained the ſalvation of her ſelf and family. What a mercy 'twas to the woman of Samaria, when ſhe came to the Well, that ſhe found Chriſt there, who inſtead of filing her pitcher with periſhing water, by this means got her heart filled with the waters of life, John 4. 15? What good did the Diſciples get by company in the way to Emmaus, who by that means had their cold hearts warmed, their weak faith ſtrengthened, Luke 25. 15. to the 32. Others have had company fatal to them: Had it not been for Potiphar's houſe Joſeph might have eſcaped temptation to uncleanneſs, p. 300Gen. 39. 7. And had it not been for Pharaoh's houſe, he had not learn'd to ſwear by the life of Pharaoh, Gen. 42. 15. As long as Peter kept with the Diſciples, he was faithful and couragious; but when once he fell into evil company, and got into the High Prieſt's Hall, he preſently fell into that fearful ſin of denying his Lord and Maſter, Luke 22. 55. When they ſate down together, Peter ſate down amongſt them. Chriſtians, beware what company you come into, for the peace and welfare (if not the life) of your ſouls, is much concerned in it: Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Epheſ. 5. 11. Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14, 15. Chuſe not wicked company for advantage ſake, as Lot did with the loſs of his goods, and hazard of his life, and a dreadfull fall to boot, Gen. 19. 15. 36. Advantage was his end why he choſe the Plains of Sodom, but loſs was the iſſue of his choice: So Balaam for Balacks goods, run himſelf into thoſe temptations that coſt him his life, Gen. 31. 8. Go not into wicked company except duty call you; if you have God's warrant, you have his protection; and if by providence, or in the way of obedience, you meet with evil men, be good with them; [The Sun (ſaith Diogenes) viſits kennels, and is not defiled.] either by taking an occaſion to do them good, as the Iſraelitiſh Maid did to her Maſter Naaman, directing him to the Prophet Eliſha for cure, 2 King. 5. 2, 3. Or by putting a ſtop to their ſin, as David did. Pſal. 75. 4, 5. I ſaid unto the fools, deal not fooliſhly, and to the wicked, lift not up your horn. And as Judah ſought to divert his p. 301Brethren from their wicked enterpriſe againſt Joſeph, Gen. 37. 26, 27. Or by reproving their ſin, as Nehemiah did the ſin of the Nobles, Neh. 5. 7. Or by inſtructing them if ignorant, as Paul did the Athenians, Acts 17. 22, 23. But if they be ſuch like Sons of Belial, that the thorns cannot be taken by hand, let them be thruſt away, and get your ſelves fenced that they hurt you not: Take heed of the leaſt compliance with them in their ſin. 1 Tim. 5. 22. Be not partakers of other mens ſins; your own are heavy enough; ſilence in not reproving, with any ſigns of approving others ſins, make them your own.

If you enjoy good company, take heed you miſs not of good, or meet with evil from them: good men have their evils; great men are not alwaies wiſe, Job. 32. 9. And 'tis eaſier to follow them down, than up the hill, and to imitate their vices, than their virtues; diſeaſes are more communicable than health; men may impart their ſickneſs, but cannot their ſoundneſs. O what advantage hath ſin for its propagation, when it falls from the hands of men reputed gracious! The errours of good men are not onelyonly examples, but arguments unto others to ſin alſo: If Peter play the hypocrite, other Jews diſſemble likewiſe with him, Gal. 2. 13. and no leſs a man than Barnabas is carried away with their diſſimulation. If they that are ſtrong do but eat in the Idols Temple, the weak will eat the things offered to Idols, 2 Cor. 8. 10. O take care of the evils of good men, which like books publiſhed cum privilegio, vend the more. An Eſau's garment will make a Jacob's voice to paſs; and p. 302where good in any man is admired, evil is there ſeldom feared: take heed you follow no man further than he follows Chriſt, 1 Cor. 11. 11. Implicit imitation is as dangerous in practice, as implicit faith is in judgment: weigh their actions you intend to walk after; let no mans reputation be your warrant for imitation: Eminent perſons are File-leaders, which way they turn, the File turns with them: The leaders of my people cauſe them to err, Iſa. 9. 16. Men uſually follow thoſe they commend, yyQuos effero, refere.and how much the greater they are with whom we converſe, (ſaith Seneca) zzQuo major eſt populus cum quo converſamur hoc periculi plus eſt.the more is the danger. Get good from good men, elſe their goodneſs is nothing to you: what truth you hear from them, receive; and as Mary did the Angel's words, ſo do you ponder their gracious ſayings in your hearts, Luke 2. 19.

When you are in the company of thoſe that are above you in wiſdom and grace, be more ſwift to hear than to ſpeak: The emptieſt veſſels make the greateſt ſound; and I have often obſerved in company, ſuch as have moſt need to hear and learn, being ſelf-conceitedly wiſe, will take up moſt of the diſcourſe; and inſtead of drawing waters from deeper wells to fill their empty veſſels, they will be pumping out that little they have: This ſurely doth not beſpeak the modeſty of ſuch, and leſs becomes their profit. Origen, when a child, uſed to queſtion with his Father about the ſenſe of the Scriptures, and afterwards became a great Scholar. p. 303'Tis the obſerving attentive Chriſtian is uſually the moſt knowing, thriving Chriſtian; who, with the Bee, gathers in the Summer, and gets honey from every flower it meets with; and in the Winter ſpends it. When you meet with empty veſſels, 'tis your charity to be putting in, but when you come to deep wells, 'tis your duty and intereſt to be drawing out, by asking queſtions, and propoſing doubts, as the young man in the Goſpel did, Mat. 19. 16. and Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria, Joh. 3. 2. 4. ch. 4. 11, 15, 20. to Jeſus Chriſt. The enquiring ſoul, if it be done in truth, and followed with obedience, will be the moſt flouriſhing ſoul.

Seventhly, Get good from your retirements as well as company; be never leſs alone, than when alone: Sometimes in purſuance of duty you muſt be alone; when thou prayeſt enter into thy Cloſet, Mat. 6. 6. Retire we muſt ſometimes (ſaith Mr. Trap,) and into fit place to meet with God; ſolacing, and entertaining Soliloquies with him, as Iſaac did in the field, Jacob upon the way, Ezekiel by the river Ulai, Peter upon the leads, Chriſt upon the mountains, Abraham in the grove in Beerſheba, Gen. 21. 33. 'Tis no matter (ſaith the ſame Author) how mean the place be, ſo it be ſecret: where there is a Jeremy, a Daniel, a Jonah; a Dungeon, a Lions-Den, a Whale's-belly, are goodly Oratories. If you will not hear me, (ſaith Peter Moice) ſend me to my priſon again among my toads and frogs, which wilt not interrupt me while I talk with my Lord God; Acts & Mon. 122. O how deſirable is retirement p. 304with God to a ſoul that hath acquaintance with him! Antiſthenes being asked what good he had got by Philoſophy? anſwered, that I can converſe with my ſelf; much more is it thy intereſt to converſe with God. 'Tis ſaid of that pious man Mr. William Sedgwick, that when he was young, while the reſt of the Family were at their Games and Dancings, he would be in a corner mourning. Mr. Greenham, when at any time he was ſick, would ſuffer no body to ſit up with him, that ſo he might more freely converſe with God. Pſal. 119. 62. David would riſe at midnight to enjoy communion with God. O the bleſſed ſeaſons that gracious ſouls have had with Chriſt in their corners! how ſweet have their ſtollen waters of life, and bread eaten in ſecret, been to their hungry ſouls! Prov. 9. 17. If the walls of this houſe could ſpeak (ſaid Mr. Hew Kennedy) they could tell how many ſweet days I have had in ſecret fellowſhip with God, and how familiar he hath been with my ſoul; The fulfilling of Script. p. 442. The Lord doth uſually unboſome himſelf moſt to his friends when he hath them alone. Hoſ. 2. 14. I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſs, and ſpeak comfortably to her, or ſpeak to her heart, (as 'tis in the Hebrew:) Upon which words Stella hath this note, aaƲt Dominus cum anima noſtra loquatur non opus habet teſtibus. Quando Dominus cor noſtrum ſolum invenit ſtatim coenaturus cum illo ſedet—God needs no witneſſes that he might ſpeak to our ſouls; when God finds our heart alone, he preſently comes in, and ſups with it; and when he obſerves our ſoul withdrawn from the cares p. 305and carking thoughts of this World, then is his time to open his great wonders and ſecrets to it. Jacob was never more prevailing with God than when alone; then was the time he got the bleſſing, Gen. 32. 24, 29. Peter was alone in prayer with God when he fell into a trance, Acts 10. 10. His ſoul was as it were removed from the body for a time, (ſaith Beza) that he might converſe with God ccforeign, quaſi ſe moto ad tempus a corpore animo cum Deo colloqui.. Elijah was alone in ſecret prayer, when the Angel brought him that refreſhing feaſt, in the ſtrength of which he travell'd in the wilderneſs forty days, 1 King. 19. 4. to v. 9. O what am I, (ſaid Mr. Patrick Simpſon, after he had been many hours in his Garden alone, wreſtling with God for his deſerted Wife) being duſt and aſhes, that the holy miniſtring Spirits ſhould be ſent by the Lord to deliver a meſſage to me! telling one that overheard him, that he had had a viſion of Angels, who did with audible voice give him an anſwer from the Lord of his Wive's condition; this Woman alſo to whom, upon importunity, he delivered theſe words, as ſhe was approaching to the place where he lay on the ground, heard an affrighting noiſe of a great ruſhing of multitudes together, and with it a melodious ſound: Such a welcome doth the Lord Jeſus give his children ſometimes, when he gets them alone into his Chambers and Wine-cellar. O the ſweetneſs perſons may find in their ſolitudes with Chriſt! Sampſon turn'd aſide when he ſaw a ſwarm of Bees and Honey in the carkaſs of p. 306the Lion, Judg. 14. 8. 'Tis ſaid of Jerome, that living in the wilderneſs, he ſeemed to converſe with Angels. Contemplation (ſaith Gregory) is the cleareſt day of internal light; then are their diſcoveries moſt, when in a holy ſilence with God alone: Retirement (Chriſtian) is an opportunity put into thy hand of in-door work; 'tis God's call into the Mount: Exod. 34. 2, 3. Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and preſent thy ſelf there to me in the top of the Mount, and no man ſhall come up with thee. 'Tis his command to a holy ſilence and ceſſation from other work, that thou may'ſt attend the moſt ſecret concerns of thy ſoul: Improve this time wholly in converſe with God and attending the affairs of thy ſoul: This is a ſeaſon to take an eſtimate of thy ſoul-ſtate, to try the grounds of thy hope for eternity, to be ſearching into the ſecrets of thy heart, and taking a full review of thy paſt life, and former carriages, Pſal. 4. 4. Then is the time to weigh thy mercies and duties, to call to mind God's dealings with thee, and thy carriages towards him; to be ſtudying the wiles of Satan, and the ways of thy duty; the worth of godlineſs, the danger of miſcarrying, and the bleſſedneſs of overcoming, and ſuch like meditations. When you are riding, or walking, or ſitting alone, invite the Lord Jeſus to keep you company, to walk and converſe with you; fill up your vacant hours with ſecret prayer and meditation; take heed of being at leiſure from duty-employment, either in your general or particular Calling, or lawful Employments, leſt p. 307being too much alone, the Devil ſtrike in for company; no greater temptation can Satan find, than times of ſolitude not improved.

Eighthly, Get good from occaſional objects and occurrences, which are not chance and fortune, as the blind world calls it; but the products of divine wiſdom and pleaſure towards Believers for their good. Albane receiving a perſecuted Chriſtian into his houſe, and ſeeing his holy devotion, and ſweet carriage; he was ſo much affected with his good example, that he became both a Profeſſor and Martyr; Bede. It was not by accident, but divine intention, that Melchiſedeck ſhould meet Abraham to bleſs him, and Shimei meet David to curſe him; that Moſes ſhould meet Jethro's Daughter at the well in Midian, and that David ſhould meet the Egyptian in purſuing the Amalekites: It was God put it into the thoughts of Saul's ſervant to adviſe his Maſter to ſpeak with the Prophet, by which means he obtain'd a Kingdom: 'Twas by divine diſpoſal, that when Joſeph was caſt into the pit, the Midianites ſhould paſs by, and lift him up, and ſell him to the Iſhmaelites, and they to Potiphar. The Lord is carrying on ſome part of his work, ſome piece of mercy or juſtice, comfort or affliction by all theſe occurrences, in which his people ſhould be coworkers with him, and be learning ſomething from every paſſage of providence they meet with, and object they occaſionally behold in their journeyings and purſuits of their occaſions in the World: What fruitful meditations had Sampſon from beholding the carkaſs of the Lion, p. 308and ſwarm of Bees in it in his journey to Timnah? Judg. 14. 8. 14. And our Saviour from ſeeing the wither'd Fig-tree in his paſſage from Bethany to Jeruſalem? Mat. 21. 19, to 23. What a lecture did Chriſt read to his Diſciples upon viewing the goodly Buildings of the Temple? Luke 21. 5, to the end: He beheld the City, and wept over it, and improved it to ſome inſtruction to his Diſciples, Luke 19. 41. He beheld people caſting in gifts into the treaſury, and makes improvement of it, Mark 12. 4. Some told him of the blood of the Galileans which Pilate had mingled with their ſacrifice, and he makes a profitable uſe of it for his Diſciples inſtruction, Luke 13. 1, 2. What Sermons hath Chriſt preached, when he took his Text from the waters of Samaria? Joh. 4. 9, 10. from the Manna given to Iſrael in the wilderneſs? Joh. 6. 26, 27, 31, 32. from the multitudes flocking after him for loaves? Chriſtians, if you would grow rich in Spirituals, make ſome ſpiritual improvement of all you ſee, hear, meet with in your journeys, dealings, converſes in the World: Thou walkeſt into thy Garden, get ſome inſtruction from the objects that thou caſteſt thy eyes upon: Every herb in thy Garden preaches God to thee bbQualibet herba monſtrar Deum.: Thou walkeſt into the Field, go with Iſaac's heart, to meditate upon the creatures and providences of God thou beholdeſt there: Thou lookeſt to the Heavens, let it not be only as the Phariſees, to diſcern the face of the Skie, Matth. 16. 3. but to ſee the glory of God, and his handy-work, p. 309Pſal. 19. 1. with the Chymiſt, extract ſome good from every thing thou meeteſt with. 'Twas ſaid of Jerome, he knew how to gather gold out of the dunghill, and honey out of weeds, leaving the poiſon for ſpiders. How will men dig into the bowels of the earth, rack the creatures, ſpend themſelves to get a few ſhadows, and all the while do nothing to get the ſubſtance that endures! and this doubtleſs is one reaſon of ſoul-poverty this day; we trade not with creatures and occurrences that fall in our way to ſpiritual advantages: Beg ſpiritual skill and faithfulneſs to be improving all you ſee, hear, do or enjoy to ſoul-profit.

Ninthly, Get good from your falls and miſcarriages: Phyſicians do ſometimes make poyſons medicinal, and ſo doth the Phyſician of of value make the diſeaſes of his people turn to their health. Sin is the greateſt evil, and yet redemption-grace works good out of it. David got good by his fall, it made him the more humble and broken in heart; drew out his heart in ſtronger cries after grace; made him more watchful for the future againſt the occaſions of ſin, Pſal. 51. 7, 8. to the 12. Pſal. 39. 1. Pſal. 141. 3. Peter got good from his fall, by keeping an after-ſenſe of the evil of it on his heart. Iſrael by their departure from God came to loath themſelves the more in their own eyes, Ezek. 36. 31. And Epheſus, by a ſenſe of their evil got this advantage, they could not bear evils in others, Rev. 2. 2. As ſin abounds, ſo grace abounds much more, Rom. 5. 20.

p. 310Object. If ſouls may get good from ſin, and where ſin abounds, grace abounds much more: Then why ſhould we be troubled for ſin, and watching againſt it? Why may we not rather ſin, that grace may abound, and do evil that good may come thereof?

Sol. The Apoſtle anſwers this objection, Rom. 6. What ſhall we ſay then, ſhall we continue in ſin that grace may abound? God forbid; and proves by ſeveral Arguments.

Firſt, That it cannot be that ſouls intereſted in Chriſt can live or allow themſelves in ſin; Becauſe

Firſt, They are dead to ſin, and therefore cannot live any longer in ſin, v. 2. dead men while ſo cannot live, but Believers are dead to ſin no longer to live therein, foreign, amplius, never more to live in it; they may fall into it, be overcome by it; but to allow it, to deſign it, to make proviſion for it, and to take up encouragements upon choice in judgment, to continue in it; this cannot conſiſt with men dead to ſin, as all ſouls in Chriſt are; for they are baptized into the likeneſs of Chriſt's death, yea into his death, v. 3. That as Chriſt died for ſin once to die no more, but was raiſed by the glory of the Father, v. 4. ſo they being really dead with Chriſt, ſhould live no more in ſin, but be perpetually dead to it; for this is the very end of Chriſt's death, to deſtroy the old man, the body of ſin, the whole power and Being of ſin in Believers, to be accompliſhed in its time and p. 311waies, v. 6. And Chriſt died in vain, and hath loſt the great end of his death, if they that are in him can live any longer in ſin; for he that is dead is freed from ſin ccJure & facto abſoluti & manumaſſi a peccato cujus prius premebamur imperio. Paraeus.v. 7. foreign, being put for foreign, by a Synecdoche, Piſcat. that is, abſolved from the obligation, ſervitude, dominion and guilt of ſin; as an Apprentice is by Law declar'd free, or ſet free from his Maſter's rule and power.

Secondly, They that are in Chriſt are not only partakers of his death, and therein brought into a ſtate of death to ſin; but they are partakers of his reſurrection, and by it inſtated in a life of holineſs, v. 4, 5. that now they ſhould live to God, which cannot conſiſt with a life of ſin, v. 11, 12.

Thirdly, They that are Chriſt's are brought under grace, under a Covenant of Grace, oppoſed to the Law as a Covenant of Works, and therefore cannot be any longer under the dominion and ſervice of ſin, v. 14. Theſe two Covenants being in that reſpect contrary, they that are under the Law as a Covenant of Works, are in the fleſh, and bring forth fruit unto death, Rom. 7. 5. and for that end are Believers ſet free from the Law, and brought under Grace, that they might ſerve God in newneſs of ſpirit, v. 6. and no longer ſerve ſin.

Fourthly, They are become the ſervants of righteouſneſs, ſet free from the ſervice of ſin, Rom. 6. 18. Your time under ſin is out, and you have now no more to do with ſin; you are p. 312anothers ſervant, and therefore cannot return to the ſervice of ſin any more; for you are now ſervants to God, not for a time, but for ever; you have deliver'd over your ſelves, ſworn over your ſelves to be the ſervants of God for ever, and therefore cannot now ſerve ſin: That's his firſt anſwer: You cannot, if in Chriſt, ſerve ſin any longer, nor continue in ſin that grace may abound: for if you can conſent to live in ſin, you are not under grace.

Secondly, You ought not to do it, if you are rational; 'tis not your concernment to ſin, becauſe ſin is an evil thing.

Firſt, Sin is the greateſt ſlavery in the world, v. 16. You are ſervants to ſin, and to Devils; ſins are the works of the Devil, 1 John 3. 8. which Chriſt came to deſtroy; ſin is evil in its ſtate; 'tis drudgery, and in its nature 'tis filthy, abominable and ſhameful.

Secondly, It is attended with ſad iſſues here; it brings forth bitter fruit, v. 21. It makes the ſoul aſhamed when awakened, to ſee what he hath done, and it fills the ſoul with grief, horrour and torment; it breaks your loins, makes you go halting to your grave; it makes you weary of your life, and fearful to die; it ſets your teeth on edge, and fills your bowels with wormwood and gravel. O the dreadful effects of ſin here! which makes it no way a ſouls intereſt to ſin, 2 Cor. 7. 11. Pſal. 51. 8. Pſal. 38. 4. Pſal. 119. 120. Pſal. 55. 4. Lam. 3. 19.

Thirdly, As the work is bad, and fruits are evil here, ſo the wages of ſin is death, v. 23. As ſoon as the work is done, they ſhall have their p. 313wages, which is alwaies paying, and never paid; they ſhall be alwaies dying, and never dead; whoſe worm never dieth, and whoſe fire is never quenched, Mark 9. 44. This will be the certain end of them that can chuſe ſin, and live in ſin, if God be holy, and his Word true. And can you then continue in ſin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

O Chriſtians! get good from your ſins; to be aſhamed of them, to grieve and mourn over them, to hate and loathe them, to pray and cry againſt them, to watch and ſtrive againſt them, to fly to Chriſt for pardon over them, and freedom from them, to ſhun and avoid the occaſions of them, to have no more to do with them, to ſeek and further the death and total ruine of them, to prize graces, and love Chriſt the more, to be more attentive to his inſtructions, and obedient to his commands, to bleſs God, and rejoyce in Chriſt; when God doth in any meaſure keep you, or ſet you free from ſin, to long for Heaven and Glory, that you may never ſin more, to keep cloſe to Chriſt, and abide in his waies, that you might be the more ſecur'd from ſin, and fitted for glory, Ezra 9. 6. Zach. 12. 10. Ezek. 36. 31. Rom. 7. 24. Prov. 4. 14, 15. 1 Theſ. 5. 22. Epheſ. 5. 11. Epheſ. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 8. Acts 11. 23. This is to get good from ſin, and to drive on the Heavenly Trade: That's the ſecond branch of Exhortation to Profeſſours.