A Glimpse of Eternity, Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of Directions to help us in looking after Eternal Bleſſedneſs; with Anſwers to ſome Objections and Cautions.
HAving finiſhed the Motives, I proceed to ſome Directions: The Apoſtle James ſpeaketh of thoſe as uncharitable men, who give good words to the poor: ſaying, Depart in peace, be you warmed, and filled, notwithſtanding, give them not thoſe things which are needful to the Body, and cenſureth their uncharitableneſs with(a)Jam. 2.16. foreign. What doth it profit? Probably I might incur the like Cenſure, ſhould I only exhort men to labour for eternal Bleſſedneſs, and not withall give ſome Directions how it might be attained, therefore ſhall lay down theſe enſuing.
1. We ſhould engage our ſelves by taking up fixed peremptory reſolutions; things fully reſolved on are more than half done: when a man out of a practical conviction cometh to be ſenſible both of his want of happine…s, that without it, it had been good for him that he had never been born, and of the worth and excellency of it, and thereupon taketh up a ſet reſolution, that he muſt have it whatſoever it coſt him; that whatſoever he neglects, he will not neglect this one thing neceſſary, this man is not far off from the Kingdom of God; Reſolution when it is fixed like a principle in the Soul, when it is both deliberate, proceeding out of a ſetled Judgment; not raſh, ſudden and precipitant: and determinate with the full bent and tendency of the heart, not a velleity, a weak fluctuating inclination, ſuch a Reſolution hath a two-fold advantage: (1.) It hath a powerful influence upon the whole man; he that fully reſolveth upon a thing, will put to the utmoſt of his power about it; and when a man takes up a ſtedfaſt reſolution to make Heaven his buſineſs, this will engage all the powers, Faculties, Abilities of the Soul: all the wiſdom, ſtudy, care, thoughts, affections, endeavours in the purſui… of it, ſuch an one will ſtick at no pains, but be willing to do any thing that he might obtain it: (2.) It will break through all Oppoſitions. Nazianzen walking by the Sea-ſide, and obſerving how the waves beating upon the ſhore, brought with them many Cockleſhels, ſtalks of Herbs, and the like traſh, and returning with other waves, ſwept them away again, when in the mean time the Rocks about him ſtood firm, being not a whit moved by the flux and re-flux of the raging waters, deduced from thence this profitable Meditation, That weak irreſolved minds are ſoon overcome by contrary perſwaſions: whereas a ſtedfaſt peremptory reſolution will eaſily daſh all temptations, and keep a man, that no contrary ſolicitations can remove him from his ſtedfaſtneſs: As therefore they ſay, Bees when they fly in a great wind, ballaſt themſelves with little ſtones, that they might not be carried away with the wind; ſo it ſhould be our care to Fortifie our ſelves with ſtrong and ſetled Reſolutions: only we muſt take heed of reſolving in our own ſtrength. Luther in his Comment upon the Galatians, tells of Staupitius, that he had often heard him complaining to this purpoſe; I have many times reſolved, and covenanted for the Service of God, but I cannot perform according to my reſolutions; hereafter I will take up no ſuch Reſolves; for I well ſee, if God be not merciful to me in Chriſt, for all my vows and reſolutions, I ſhall never be able to appear before him; and Luther commends it for a holy kind of deſpair, what we think to build by our own ſtrength, we will ſoon pull down by our own weakneſs: therefore when we thus reſolve, we ſhould go forth in the ſtrength of the Lord, and make mention of his Righteouſneſs only.
2. We ſhould improve that Power we have: though a man in his natural eſtate is not able to believe and repent, and do ſuch things as more immediately accompany Salvation, yet he may do ſomething in tendency to it: as
1. He may abſtain from thoſe ſins that are Deſtructive of Salvation, though he cannot abſtain from ſin collectively; yet he may diviſively; though not from all ſin, becauſe it is natural to ſin, yet from this and that particular ſin: though he cannot refrain from the inward luſtings of the heart, which continually ſends forth ſin, as the Fountain ſendeth forth water, yet he may from many outward acts of ſin, every one of which ſtrengthen the habit, and more ſtrongly incline to ſin; the Drunkard can continue ſober while he is in ſober company; the Swearer if he be in the preſence of a Juſtice of Peace, will ſcarce ſwear an oath for ſome hours together, and what they do at one time, and in one company, they might do in another; though they cannot abſtain from ſin out of love to God, or hatred of ſin yet they may out of love to themſelves, and fear of Hell…; if the Laws of the land ſhould ordain, that he that ſweareth, or is drunk, ſhould be puniſhed with death, it would no doubt keep man… from thoſe ſins, and what they do out of fear of a temporal, they might dò much more out of fear of eternal death.
2. A man may hear, read, pray, confer, meditate, and uſe other outward means appointed by God; if he doth ſomthing this way, he might do more, allow himſelf more time for theſe duties, and when he ſets about them, might d…ſengage himſelf from other things, that he might intend them in a more ſerious manner, this, and much more a man may do. If any Object, that he cannot do this without Gods help, and aſſiſtance? I anſwer, It is true, but withal conſider, what kind of aſſiſtan e is hereunto required, and I ſhall explain it thus: It is moſt true, that a man can move n…ither hand, nor foot, without the concourſe of Gods Providence; but it is ſuch a general concourſe, as God ſeldome denieth to any, whereas if a man would do any thing above his ſtrength, as when Sampſon would pull down the Houſe upon the Philiſtins: this requireth an addition of more ſtrength; in like manner, though to believe and repent requireth a ſpecial grace and aſſiſtance of God, yet to the uſe of theſe means before hinted, is required no more than that common grace, and general aſſiſtance, which God ſeldom denyeth to any man.
If any object further, that they cannot perform theſe Duties in a ſpiritual manner; they cannot pray, and hear in faith; I anſwer, while they are in their natural condition, that is not their means: Means ſaith one(c)Fenners wilful Murder. is that which cometh between a mans Can, and his Cannot: their means is to do what they can, to pray, that they may pray in faith; to hear, that they may hear in faith; to perform Duties, that they may perform them in a ſpiritual manner.
If it be objected thirdly, that without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God; it is the prayer of faith that pleaſeth God, and ſo likewiſe in other Duties: and to what end ſhould they do theſe things when the doing them is not pleaſing to God? I anſwer, Though without faith theſe Duties are not ſpiritually and formally good, yet they are morally and materially, and ſo far as they are good, they are pleaſing to God; If thou doſt well, ſhalt thou not be accepted? (d)Gen. 4.7.A Cain, a wicked man, ſo far as he doth well, he is accepted: though theſe Duties being done without faith, are not adequately proportionable to Gods will, and ſo truly pleaſing to him, yet they are materially good, in regard of the matter, accepted of him; though doing theſe Duties be not a degree in the thing, ye it is a degree to it, though in the ſtate they were it is not available to Salvation: yet b this a man renders himſelf more c pable of Salvation, and preſents himſelf as a ſubject more fit for God to work on; though I cannot ſay with the Romaniſts, that he who improves his natural abilit…es, doth out of congruity merit juſtifying, and ſaving Grace; or that God hath abſolutely bound himſelf upon the exerting, and putting forth of theſe natural abilities, to beſtow ſupernatural Graces; becauſe that of our Saviour, To him that hath, ſhall be given: is to be underſtood, in the ſame kind; yet certainly, God is never wanting to thoſe, who are not wanting to themſelves; the Apoſtle ſaith that God will have all men to be ſaved, (e)1 Tim. 2.3.As a King really willeth, and deſireth the welfare of all his loyal Subjects: though not with that degree of willingneſs that he doth the welfare of ſome ſpecial Favourite, whom he raiſeth to great preferment; in like manner, though God doth not will the Salvation of all with that degree of willingneſs that he doth the Elect, yet he willeth it with a true and real will, though not with an abſolute efficacious will and reſolution; as a thing which he abſolutely reſolveth ſhall come to paſs, as he doth the Salvation of his Elect, yet he doth it with a conditional will, if they will come up to the terms of the Goſpel: though he doth not deal with all men in a Covenant of Grace, yet he dealeth with all in a Covenant of righteouſneſs, if I may ſo term it; if they do well, they ſhall be accepted; if they believe and repent, they ſhall be ſaved; and he beſtoweth upon them many means and helps to this end; no man ſhall have any cauſe to plead at the laſt day, I knew thou wert a hard Maſter, reaping where thou haſt no… ſown; I was not wanting in uſing the Mean, but thou wert wanting in giving a Bleſſing: I did what I could on my part, but thou failedſt on thy part▪ no, God will ſilence any ſuch plea, as he did with that unprofitable ſervant, Why didſt thou not put out my money to the Exchangers? Why didſt thou not improve that power I gave thee? God will then make it appear, that every mans deſtruction is of himſelf; that God would have healed Babylon, but ſhe would not be healed; that he would have gathered men as the Hen doth her Chickens, but they would not: Seeing then Gods bowels are not ſtraitned to us, let not us be ſtraitned in our own bowels; let us carefuly uſe the means God hath appointed, improve thoſe talents, put forth that power he hath given us; it is in vain to expect God ſhould help us, unleſs we help our ſelves as we can do nothing without Gods aſſiſtance, ſo God ordinarily will do nothing without our co-operation.
3. We ſhould carefully obſerve and improve thoſe ſeaſons and opportunities which God puts into our hands, though the whole time of life be given us to make proviſion for Eternity, yet there are ſome particular ſeaſons, when this may beſt be done; ſome certain articles of time when God maketh more immediat offers of Eternal happineſs: As,
1. When we find ſome more than ordinary impulſe to ſeek God, in ſome duty of his own appointment; ſometimes when our thoughts are taken up with other things, we find a motion darted into our minds to ſeek God by prayer, or ſome other duty; and many times one motion after another; and when God thus provokes us to ſeek him, it is a ſign that is a time when God is willing to be found of us: When God bad Moſes come up into the Mount to him, it was an argument he would meet him when he came there. When Chriſt told his Diſciples, Behold I go before you into Galilee, there ſhall you ſee me, the Diſciples going, found as he had ſaid: In like manner, when God prompts us into his preſence, it is a good argument we may then prevail with him.
2. When God prepareth the heart and puts it into a frame and temper in ſome meaſure ſuitable to the duty; as when there is wrought in us an aweful apprehenſion of the Majeſty and holineſs of that God before whom we come, alively ſence of our own unworthineſs to come into his preſence, a ſerious conſideration of the ſolemnity of the duty we are about, an earneſt deſire to meet God in the way of his own appointments, when God is pleaſed to work up our hearts into ſuch a frame; theſe preparations are not in vain, Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear, Pſal. 10.17.
3. When God is pleaſed to enlarge the heart, and vouchſafe a ſpecial aſſiſtance in the duty; when a man ſtirreth up himſelf to take hold of God, and continueth wreſtling with God by a holy importunity, He ſhall approach to me, for who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me? (i)Jer. 30.21.and let him take hold of my ſtrength, that he may make peace with me, (k)Iſa. 27.5,and he ſhall make peace with me.
4. When the hearts of Gods Miniſters are enlarged, when thoſe goads, nails given from one Shepherd, are powerfully faſtned upon the the conſcience by the Maſters of the Aſſemblies. When Chriſt was teaching, it is ſaid, The power of God was preſent to heal: It holds true in regard of ſpiritual healing,(l)Luk. 5.17. when the Word is powerfully preached, God, whoſe way is in the Sanctuary; whoſe Walk is in the midſt of the golden Candleſticks, is then more ſpecially preſent to make his word effectual, We then as workers together with him, beſeech you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain; then followeth, Behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of Salvation.(m)2 Cor. 6.1.
5. When there is wrought in the heart ſome remorſe for ſin: When John Baptiſt preached in the Wilderneſs of Judea, the people went out to him, and were baptiſed of him in Jordan, confeſſing their ſins; and then he tells them, Now alſo is the Axe laid to the root of the tree.(n)Mat. 3.10.
6. When there are ſtirred up in the ſoul, ſome deſires after grace and Salvation, Hoe, every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters; then Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call upon while he is near(o)Iſa. 55.1.
(7.) When God by threatning or inflicting ſome great judgment doth awaken and terrifie the Conſcience: Thus the Prophet having threatned a ſore judgment, he adds, Therefore now alſo ſaith the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, &c.(p)Joel 2.12.
(8.) The time of ſickneſs, when a man cometh to apprehend he muſt die, & forthwith enter upon his eternal condition. Tully obſerveth, when men draw near to death, then they begin to think of Vertue, and to repent deeply of thoſe Sins and offences they before committed. Beza ſaith, That God laid the foundation of his ſpiritual health in a violent ſickneſs that befel him at Paris,
(9.) After ſome great Mercy conferred, or ſome great deliverance vouchſafed, which is apt to put the heart into a melting frame; when the Angel minded the people of Gods mercies to them, & how ill they had requited him, they wept abundantly; (s)Eccl. 8.6.Theſe, and the like, are the particular times when God works more cloſe with man, to bring back his ſoul from the pit, to be enlightned with the light of the living; but here is the great miſery, men that are careful to take the proper ſeaſons in all other things, yet in this which moſt concerns them, are more inobſervant than the Stork & Crane, & other brutiſh creatures; and this is the great cauſe of the mi…carriage of many thouſands of ſouls, becauſe to every purpoſe there is a time and judgment, therefore the miſery of man is great upon him:(r)Judg. 2. It holds true in the miſeries that befal men in this life, becauſe there is a nick of opportunity when every thing may beſt be done, & with moſt advantage; and ſometimes when it muſt be done, or not done at a I; & men many times want judgment to diſcern this time; this is the great cauſe of thoſe evils that befal the ſons of men: Eſau loſt the bleſſing for want of coming a little ſooner: Saul loſt his Kingdom for want of ſtaying a little longer; and as in the things of this life, mens not timing things aright, is the cauſe why they miſcarry in their undertakings; ſo it is more eſpecially in ſpirituals, becauſe there are ſome particular ſeaſons and articles of time, when God draws more near to men, and makes more immediate offers of mercy and ſalvation; and men will not know the time of their viſitation: hence it comes to paſs that the miſery of men is great upon them; this is that that ſets open the flood-gates of damnation, that makes Hell to enlarge it ſelf, and ſvvallovv innumerable Souls: there is no one ſin, I think I may ſay, not all ſins put together, that is the cauſe of the damnation of ſo many under Goſpel-light, as this one ſin; there are few who live under Goſpel-diſpenſations, but are convinced of the neceſſity of making proviſion for their eternal condition; and have many purpoſes and reſolutions to do it, only they will not take Gods time; they put it off, and think it will be time enough afterward; and this is that fatal Rock, where millions of Souls daſh themſelves in pieces; that great ſtumbling-block, at which innumerable men ſtumble and fall, and periſh everlaſtingly. Could we lay our ears to Hell, & hear the cries and complaints of thoſe poor tormented creatures, I doubt not but we might hear them crying out againſt this Sin, as the chief cauſe of their periſhing: if therefore our Souls, our Salvation, our everlaſting welfare be precious to us, take heed of neglecting thoſe ſeaſons and opportunities, which being once paſt, can never be recalled again; but let us in this our day know the things that belong to our peace.
Yet further, though at theſe, and the like times, God worketh with men, yet we may probably conceive, that there may be ſometimes one particular time, when God, above others draweth more near in this kind; To every thing there is a ſeaſon, and a time to every purpoſe under Heaven: There is a particular ſeaſon, when every thing may be beſt done, and ſometimes muſt be done then, or not at all. When Eliſha deſired that a double portion of Elijah's ſpirit might be given him, Elijah anſwered, Thou haſt a…ked a hard thing, nevertheleſs, if thou ſee me when I am taken from thee, it ſhall be ſo unto thee, but if not, it ſhall not be ſo; Eliſha being with him, and ſeeing him when he was caught up, had accordingly a double portion of his ſpirit; whereas had he miſſed that time, he had likewiſe miſſed of what he deſired. Some have obſerved, that there are few mē, but ſome one time or other in their life, have an opportunity put into their hand for advantaging themſelves in regard of their outward condition in the world; ſome one opportunity more conducing therunto, than they have all their lives beſide, and if this be neglected, many times they never meet with the like again.
Samuel appointed Saul to tarry ſeven dayes, he tarried ſix and part of the ſeventh, & Samuel not coming, he forced himſelf, and offered a Burnt-offering; the Text ſaith, As ſoon as he had made an end of offering, Samuel came, and tells him, he had done fooliſhly, for now would God have eſtabliſhed his Kingdom upon Iſrael; but now he tells him, his Kingdom ſhould not continue,(u)1 Sam. 13. When the people met to crown Rehoboam, had he then ſpake good words to them, as his old Counſellors adviſed, they would have ſerved him for ever but ſpeaking harſhly, ten Tribes revolted from him, & he could never after regain that opportunity, he then had of ſettling himſelf: It is probable it may be thus with ſome, in regard of their ſpiritual condition, Chriſt telleth the young man, that he was not far off from the Kingdom of God: but he being unwilling to comply with Chriſts terms, went away, and we do not read that he ever came to Chriſt after; When Paul reaſoned of Righteouſneſs, Temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, but put him off at preſent, go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient ſeaſon I will call for thee, but we do not find that ever that ſeaſon came; So Agrippa tells Paul, Almoſt thou perſwadeſt me to be a Chriſtian; within a little;(w)foreign. but having thus ſpoken, he roſe up, and it is likely was never after in ſo good a frame; ſome upon the hearing of a powerful convincing Sermon: others in the time of ſome great ſickneſs, much bewail their former neglects, and take up ſtrong reſolutions for the future, ſo as at preſent, they ſeem not far off from the Kingdom of Heaven; yet afterward, repent of their very repentance; and neglecting to improve this opportunity, it may be feared of ſome, that they never have the like again.
Some ſay, the Panther never bringeth forth but once, and the reaſon is becauſe when the young ones gather ſtrength, they ſtruggle to get more liberty, and with their nailes tear the film, or bag, in which they are incloſed, which putting the Dam to pain, ſhe caſts them out, while they are yet blind and deformed, and the bag being torn, ſhe is uncapable of bearing after; Thus many, when they are under the pangs of the new birth, which might if well managed, be a happy preparative for forming Chriſt in their Souls: yet growing impatient of theſe workings, and ſtirrings of Conſcience, and not willing to ſtay long enough in the place of breaking forth of Children, they either ſilence Conſcience by running to worldly diverſions, or ſnatch at comfort before Humiliation hath had its perfect work, and by this default all comes to nothing; with Ephraim they flee like a Bird from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception, and poſſibly, never recover the like advantage. Infinitely therefore doth it concern us, when we have ſo fair a gale for Heaven, to improve this opportunity to the beſt advantage, which cannot be neglected without great hazard of loſing Eternal happineſs.
(4.) We ſhould be careful to cheriſh the good motions of Gods Spirit, exciting us to this work: As the beſt way to overcome ſin, is to reſiſt the firſt motions of it (upon that in Gen. 3. The Seed of the Woman ſhall break the Serpents head; Auſtin ſaith, What is the Serpents head, but the beginning of Sin? Reſiſt that, and thou breakeſt the Serpents head;) ſo the beſt way of working out our Salvation, is to cheriſh thoſe good motions the holy Spirit breatheth into the Soul; if thou bloweſt a ſpark, ſays the Wiſe man, thou ſhalt have fire, if thou ſpit upon it, it will go out, and both out of one and the ſame mouth. The Spirit of God is compared to Fire in Scripture; as that phraſe of quenching the Spirit, implieth; there is no man, but ſometimes hath a ſpark of this fire warming his heart; if we be careful to blow this ſpark, we may have fire to light our feet into the ways of peace; if we quench, or neglect to cheriſh it, we make our ſelves fitter Fuel for everlaſting burnings: The Spirits working is compared to the blowing of the Wind, (z)Cant. 4.16. John 3.8.Mariners, when they have a fair wind, uſe to put forth; but if they neglect that opportunity, may ſtay ſome time before they have another wind, and perhaps may loſe their intended Voyage: when the North & South wind of Gods Spirit bloweth upon the Garden of our Souls, then is our time to ſet out for heaven; if we neglect theſe ſweet gales, we muſt know, the Spirit bloweth where & when it lifteth; we cannot expect it ſhould blow at our pleaſure: It is ſaid of the Oſtrich, That ſhe leaveth her Eggs in the Earth, and warmeth them in the duſt, and forgetteth that the foot may cruſh them, or the wild beaſt break them (a)Job 39.. Some Naturaliſts ſay, when ſhe thus leaveth her Eggs, ſhe doth it with an intent to return to them again, and for that purpoſe uſually takes her mark by the ſeven ſtars, but having ſtaid ſome time in ſeeking her food, and the ſeven Stars being removed from the place where they were, ſhe in vain looketh for her Eggs, and ſo they are either broken▪ or miſcarry for want of brooding. Many men have good motions put into their hearts, many purpoſes to ſet about that great work of their Salvation; but at preſent they lay them aſide, thinking they may re aſſume them when they pleaſe; but neglecting at preſent to proſecute thoſe good motions, the Spirit being grieved, withdraws it ſelf, and when the Spirit withdraws its aſſiſtance, it will be in vain to think to effect this work by their own ſtrength; when therefore the bleſſed Spirit of God warmeth our hearts with good motions, it ſhould be our care to follow good motions, with good purpoſes, and purpoſes with promiſes, and promiſes with endeavors, and endeavors with performance, and performance with perſeverance; whereas if we quench theſe motions, and ſtifle theſe births of the Holy Ghoſt in our Souls, it will be juſt with God to withdraw his Spirit; ſo God threatneth, Be inſtructed, oh Jeruſalem, leſt my Soul departeth from thee, and wo to them when I ſhall depart from them, ſaith God(bJer. 6.8. Hoſ. 9.12..
But to preſs this further, Behold, ſaith Chriſt, I ſtand at the door, and knock: (c)Rev. 3.20.this knocking is chiefly by the motions of his Spirit: Knocking, is firſt, a vehement motion: men knock hard when they deſire to come in; ſo doth the bleſſed Spirit. Secondly, It is an iterated motion: men knock, and if they be not heard, knock again; ſo the Spirit. Thirdly, It is a gradual motion: men knock firſt more gently, then with a louder noiſe; ſo likewiſe it is with the Spirit. But then fourthly, Knocking is a finite motion: men will not always continue knocking; we have a ſaying, if a man knock three times, and none anſwereth, it is manners to be gone; and when the Spirit of God knocketh time after time, if we ſhut up the doors of our hearts, it is but juſt that he ſhould give over, and never knock more.
Again, He is not only ſaid to knock, but Call; behold, I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice: though he doth not ſpeak by an audible voice, yet he doth by words ſpoken inwardly to the mind, by a ſecret inſpiration; as Auſtin ſaith, he felt ſomething within him, but what it was he could not tell; for it was neither a voyce to be heard by the Ear, nor any colour to be diſcerned by the Eye, nor any ſcent to be perceived by the ſmell; it was neither hard, nor ſoft, that it might be felt, yet there was ſomthing God did, which he eaſily felt, but was not able to expreſs! As when the Lightning, ſaith Cyprian, breaketh through the Cloud, the ſudden ſplendour of it doth not ſo much enlighten, as dazzel the Eyes; ſo thou ſometimes feeleſt thy ſelf touched, but doſt not ſee him that toucheth thee; thou heareſt words ſpoken inwardly to thy Soul, but doſt not perceive him that ſpeaketh to thee; by ſuch a Voice God often ſpeaketh to men, a Voyce ſweetly acquanting us with Gods will; ſuch a voyce as is ſpoken of, Thine ears, ſhall hear a word behind thee, ſaying, this is the way walk in it;f)Iſa. 30.21. and if when God thus ſpeaketh we be ready to hear, if when he ſaith, ſeek my face, our hearts eccho, thy face Lord will we ſeek; when he ſaith, let him that hath an ear to hear, our hearts anſwer, ſpeak Lord, for thy Servants hear; when he ſaith, Return ye backſliding Children, our hearts anſwer, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God;(g)Jer. 3.22. If when he cryes, Liſt up your heads, Oh! ye Gates, and be ye lift up ye everlaſting Doors, that the King of Glory may come in, we forthwith hear his voyce, and open the door, he is moſt ready to come in, and ſup with us, and to give us to ſup with him. But here is the great miſery, God ſpeaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not,(h)Job. 33.14. and when we turn a deaf ear to Gods Call, we hereby provoke him to take up that peremptory reſolution, Becauſe I called, and ye refuſed, I will alſo laugh at your Calamity; then ſhall they call upon me, and I will not anſwer, they ſhall ſeek me early, but ſhall not find me. Somtimes he is ſaid to ſtrive with men: and this he doth in ſuch manner that it is no eaſie thing to outſtrive theſe wreſtlings and contendings of Gods Spirit; he doth ſo follow men with the Exhortations, Admonitions, Counſels of his Word, ſo hedge them in with Mercies on the one hand, and Corrections on the other; ſo beſiege them by inward Enlightnings, Convictions, Perſwaſions, Impulſes, that men ſhall confeſs another day, that they were forced to ſtrive, and ſtrive hard to elude theſe workings of Gods Spirit, but this he will not do always, My Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with man: (i)Gen. 6.3.Oh then take heed of withſtanding theſe ſtrivings of the Spirit, Woe be to him that ſtriveth with his Maker; (k)Iſa. 45.9.If all ſtriving with God be woful, certainly this is moſt deſperate, when he ſhall ſtrive to do us good; and we ſhall ſtrive to ſuppreſs and put off theſe contendings of the Spirit, when he ſhall ſtrive to ſave us, and we ſhall ſtrive for our own Damnation: wo to him that thus ſtriveth with his Maker, if we have hitherto thus ſtriven againſt God, take we heed of ſtriving any longer, leſt God reſolve, My Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive with man, for that he is fleſh.
Sometimes the Spirit is ſaid to draw, (l)Cant. 1.4. Hoſ. 11.4.There are in Nature four ways by which one thing may be ſaid to draw another; by Sympathy, ſo they ſay the Herb Aproxis, through a natural correſpondence with the fire, though at a diſtance from it, draweth the flame, and begins to burn: by heat, ſo the Sun draweth up the Vapours: by motion, ſo the Horſe draweth the Coach: and by ſecret attraction, ſo Amber draweth the Straw, and the Loadſtone the Iron: the bleſſed Spirit maketh uſe of all theſe four ways of attraction; he draweth by Sympathy, when he worketh in the heart any kind of willingneſs to yield to his call; by heat, when he warmeth the heart by good motions; by motion, when he ſeeketh to work upon men by the pious examples of other Chriſtians; and laſtly, by ſecret attraction, when in a Dream, a Viſion of the night, or any other ſecret way, he openeth the ears of men, and ſealeth their inſtruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpoſe, and hide Pride from man(m)Job 33.16, 17, 29.. And as Elihu adds, Lo all theſe things worketh God oftentimes with man: Theſe ſeveral ways he ſeeketh to draw him to himſelf, and when the Spirit doth thus, we ſhould reſolve with the Church, Draw me, we will run after thee (n)Cant. 1.4.: whereas, if when the Spirit draws on, we draw off; when he draws forward toward heaven, we dravv backward toward perdition: Let us remember that dreadful commination, If any man draw back, my Soul ſhall have no pleaſure in him (o)Heh. 9.38.. By all this it appeareth of vvhat grand import it is to obſerve the motions, & comply with the workings of the Spirit: We read, when the Cloud, the teſtimony of Gods preſence, abode upon the Tabernacle, whether it were two days or a month, or a year, the Children of Iſrael abode in their Tents, and journied not; but vvhen the Cloud vvas taken up, vvhether it vvas by day or by night, they journied (p)Numb. 9, 17.. When the Spirit of God is preſent vvith us, and offereth its aſſiſtance, novv is our time to ſet out for heaven; vvhereas, to neglect this ſeaſon, and to think to do it aftervvard, is as if the Mariner ſhould lie ſtill vvhen the Wind is favourable, the Ship rigged, the Sails ſpred, and all accommodations provided, & ſhould put forth vvhen he vvere deprived of all theſe Advantages: Or as if the Smith ſhould lay aſide the Iron when it is hot and malleable, and begin to ſtrike when it is grown cold. When David enquired of God whether he ſhould go out againſt the Philiſtines, he had this Anſwer from God, When thou heareſt the ſound of a Going in the tops of the Mulberry-trees, then thou ſhalt beſtir thy ſelf, for then ſhall the Lord go out before thee.(q)2 Cor. 5.24. When we hear as it were a voice within us exciting us to this work, we ſhould then ſet upon it, that being the time when the holy Spirit goeth before us.
5. We ſhould conſcionably perform thoſe Duties which God hath appointed as means and helps to obtain Eternal happineſs: As,
1. We ſhould be much in Prayer: David ſaith, For my love they are mine Adverſaries, but I give my ſelf to Prayer; (r)Pſ. 190.4.it is in the Original, but I prayer; the words give my ſelf unto as in our Tranſlation, are added for explanation, as the different Character ſheweth: David ſpeaketh as if he were compoſed and made up of Prayer, and therefore no wonder that David aſſureth himſelf of Heaven; As for me I will behold thy face in Righteouſneſs; it being impoſſible that a Son of ſo many prayers ſhould periſh. He that calleth upon the Name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved, is in three ſeveral places Recorded in Scripture,
2. We ſhould be ſwift to hear. Hear and your ſoul ſhall live.(s)Iſa. 55.3. It was by the Ear, by our firſt Parents liſtning to Satan, that we loſt that hapineſs we were entitled to by our firſt Creation: and in Nature, the ſame thing that giveth the wound, doth ſometime; afford the Cure: So God hath ordered, that by the Ear, by hearing the Word, we may obtain happineſs. Excellent is that paſſage of Chryſoſtome, If you ſtep into Courts of Judicature, what pleading and wrangling ſhall you hear? If into the Market-place, there is little to be ſeen but buying and ſelling, and lying and cheating; if into Private Families, nothing but working and toiling for the World; if into Princes Courts, (s)Iſa. 55.3.all the Diſcourſe is about Honours and worldly greatneſs, but nothing that is Spiritual, (t)foreign.ſcarce a word of God and Heaven. But go now into the Houſe of God, and there you ſhall be ſure to hear ſomething of Heaven and Heavenly things, of the bleſſedneſs of ſeparate Soul, of ſuch things as neither the eye hath ſeen, nor the ear heard (u)foreign, &c.; we ſhould therefore diligently wait at Wiſdoms doors, and attend at the poſts of her Gates.
3. We ſhould be much in thankſgiving; God promiſeth, I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midſt of them;(w)Ezek 29.21. he would give them deliverance in ſuch manner, that Ezekiel, and the reſt of the Faithful, might with freedom and open mouth praiſe the Lord in the Aſſemblies. This opening of the mouth in praiſe, which juſtly belongs to God, for whom praiſe waiteth in Sion, and is imperfectly done by Believers on Earth, is perfectly and abundantly practiſed by the Saints in Heaven: the high praiſes of God are in their mouths; it is the great work of thoſe Heavenly Inhabitants: as therefore wicked men accuſtom themſelves to ſwearing and curſing; as practiſing that on Earth they are like to do in Hell: So the Saints inure themſelves here to bleſſing and praiſing God, as learning that Duty on Earth, which they are to practice in Heaven: As Young Gentle-men, who intend to Travel into Forreign Countries will beforehand ſeaſon themſelves with ſome general obſervations of the Scituation, Manners, & Cuſtoms of thoſe Countries; and learn ſomething of the Language, that they might not be wholly to ſeek when they come there: In like manner, if we intend for Heaven, we ſhould now accuſtome our ſelves to praiſing God, which is the proper Language of Heaven, and will make us more meet for it. The 145 Pſalm is entituled, David's Pſalm of Praiſe: (z)Pſal. 50.23.Some Rabbins had ſo high an eſteem of this Pſalm, that they affirmed, that he who would three times every day repeat over this Pſalm, might aſſure himſelf of Heaven; becauſe ſome might think too high, Rabbi Kimchi thus moderateth; that it is to be underſtood of thoſe that not only ſpeak it with their mouth, but with their heart alſo; when the Sacrifice of Praiſe is offered to God, not only upon the high places of the tongue, but upon the Altar of the Heart, and from▪ thence flameth forth in the Life, ſuch praiſe hath a promiſe of Salvation made to it, Whoſo offereth praiſe, glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his Converſation aright will I ſhew the Salvation of God. (x) The praiſes the Saints now give to God, are like the Muſician's tuning his ſtrings before he playeth they are but the eſ…ayes of thoſe everlaſting Allelujahs they ſhall ſing in Heaven.
(4.) Another help is Chriſtian Conference, and converſing with Heavenly minded Perſons: It is a good Obſervaation Chyſoſtome hath, that naturally a man hath but one Head to adviſe him, one Tongue to ſpeak for him, two Eyes to fore-ſee dangers, two Hands to work with, two Feet to walk with; whereas, ſaith he, had a man that skill, that he could make that Head▪ a thouſand heads to adviſe him; that Tongue a thouſand tongues to ſpeak for him, thoſe Eyes a thouſand eyes to fore-ſee dangers, &c. he would hardly be circumvented by any Policy; but this benefit we may have by the Communion of Saints; their Examples, Prayers, Directions, Exhortations, Encouragements, would be great helps to us in the way to Heaven: They who ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward, are in a hopeful way of arriving there. When the Spouſe enquired of the Watch-men, it was but a little that ſhe paſſed from them, but ſhe found him whom her ſoul loved.
To theſe I might add the Duties of Reading, Meditation, Self-examination, and ſome others, which muſt be all done in their proper ſeaſons: The Husbandman muſt dung his Ground, Plow, Sow, Harrow, and perform other parts of neceſſary culture; if he neglects any one of theſe, he cannot expect a good Crop; ſo it muſt be in our Spiritual Husbandry, we muſt uſe all the means appointed by God, without the neglect of any; it would be a weakneſs in a man that hath a heavy Load, and dirty ways to paſs thorow, to take but any one Horſe out of his Team; our work is great, our ſtrength ſmall, our Enemies Potent, our hinderances many, therefore had need uſe all the helps God affordeth, without omitting any one: Only I ſhall ſubjoyn two Cautions to be obſerved by us in the Uſe of theſe means, and performance of theſe Duties.
1. We muſt not be as the Graſhopper, that takes ſome skips toward Heaven, and then ſquats down upon the Earth again: or as ſome ſay of the Leopard, that if he doth not get his prey at two or three jumps, is impatient of any further pains: we muſt not think it enough to perform theſe Duties for a time, and then give over if we do not find that ſucceſs as we expect, but muſt continue and perſevere in the practice of them: In the Morning ſow thy ſeed, and in the Evening with-hold not thy hand, for thou knoweſt not whether ſhall proſper, either this or that (y)Eccleſ. 11.6. Elijah ſends his Servant to look toward the Sea, he looked, but ſaw nothing▪ he went and looked a ſecond a third, nay ſix times, yet ſeeth nothing; he went the ſeventh time, and then he ſaw a little Cloud like a mans hand, and preſently the Heaven was black with Clouds, and there was a great Rain: It may be thou haſt made thy Addreſſes to God in the ways of his apointment, and that not once, but often; thou haſt followed God from one Ordinance to another, and yet God anſwereth thee neither by Prophets, nor by Dreams; yet be not diſcouraged, but wait ſtill upon God in the uſe of the means; poſſibly at laſt thou mayeſt ſee ſome little Cloud ariſing, ſome litle relenting for ſin, ſome weak deſires after Grace and Salvation; if but ſo, do not deſpiſe this day of ſmall things, or if at preſent there be not ſo much as a little Cloud appearing, yet reſolve ſtill to wait upon God, and poſſibly, as in that Miracle wrought by Jehoram, of which the Prophet ſaith, Make this Valley full of Ditches; for thus ſaith the Lord, ye ſhall neither ſee Wind nor Rain, yet the Valley ſhall be filled with Water; (z)2 Kings 3.16, 17.So, though at preſent there be neither Wind nor Rain to be ſeen; not one ſigh coming from the heart, not one tear dropping from the eye, yet God being remembred in his ways, may in due time ſhower down righteouſneſs and Salvation upon thy Sou…; Be not weary, ſaith the Apoſtle, of well doing, for in due ſeaſon we ſhall reap if we faint not (a)Gal. 6.9.We ſhould not then be as the common draught-horſe, who if he doth not find the Load coming, gives over after a pull or two; but like the Horſe of a right breed, which, though tyed to a Tree that ſtirs not, yet ſtrains, and pulls, and will ſooner fall down dead with ſtraining, then give over. I charge you, O ye Daughters of Jeruſalem; that ye ſtir not up, nor awake my Love till he pleaſe,(b)Cant. 2.7. She was willing to wait his leiſure. When Moſes went up to receive Gods Commands, he ſtays ſix dayes in the Mount, (c)Exod. 24.16.and the ſeventh God called to him; though we wait long, yet if at laſt God ſpeak Peace, this will be a ſufficient recompence for all our waiting.
2. A ſecond Caution is this, We ſhould take heed of any high thoughts of any thing we do, but let the golden thred of Self-denial run thorow all our Duties; and that in theſe two particulars:
1. We ſhould not be like Antipheron, a Creature Ariſtotle ſpeaketh of, who by reaſon of the weakneſs of his Eyes, had a reflection of himſelf in the Air, as others have in a Looking-glaſs, ſo as all the day long he ſaw himſelf; but rather ſhould be like that Mirrour fixed upon the wall of the Arcadian Temple, in which, men looking to ſee themſelves, they ſaw inſtead of their own faces, a repreſentation of the Deity they adored: when we have done all we can, inſtead of ſeeing our ſelves, we ſhould ſee God in all our Duties, and look upon all we do as Gods work in us: The Ciens doth not bring forth fruit by any virtue of its own but by virtue of the ſtock into which it is ingrafted. Without me, ſaith Chriſt, ye can do nothing. if Auſtin, in the Agonies of his firſt Converſion, heard, as he thought, a voice ſpeaking to him, Do you ſtand in your ſelf, and do you not ſtand? (d)…n te fras & non ſtas?It was to let him know, in his own ſtrength. If Catharine of Sienna, labouring under temptations, and begging Chriſts help, had as is reported, this Anſwer returned, I am what I am, thou art what thou art not, It was to make her ſenſible that ſhe was nothing in her ſelf; what ſhe was, ſhe was in & by Chriſt: the promiſe of the Kingdom of Heaven is made to the poor in Spirit, (e)Mat. 5.Such as know they are nothing, have nothing, deſerve nothing can do nothing of themſelves; we muſt be emptied of our ſelves, if we would receive of Chriſts fulneſs; we muſt be nothing in our ſelves, if we would have have Chriſt to be all in all to us; when we have done all we can, we muſt deny our ſelves, and aſcribe all to free grace. When Joab had overcome Rabbah, he ſent to David to come and take it, leſt if he took it, it were called after his Name. (f)2 Sam. 12.28When we have performed Duties in the beſt manner, we ſhould be willing that God have the glory of all. When David and the People offered liberally and willingly toward the Building of the Temple, David aſcribeth all to God, Who am I and what i… my People, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly after this ſort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee, (g)1 Chron. 29.14.Paul, whom Auſtine for this cauſe calleth the beſt Child of Grace, the faithfulleſt Servant of his Lord, whatſoever he was, or had, or did, he aſcribeth all to free grace; he was in nothing behind the chiefeſt of the Apoſtles, yet confeſſes he is nothing. (h)2 Cor. 12.11.He was what he was, eminent▪ for grace, yet what he was, he was by grace; By the grace of God I am what I am: (i)1 Cor. 15.10.he lived, yet not he but Chriſt lived in him. (k)Gal. 2.20.he laboured abundantly, yet not he, but the grace of God which was with him. He was able to do all things, but through Chriſts ſtrengthning him. (k)Gal. 2.20.When we do no evil, we do our own, as Chriſt ſaith of the Devil▪ (l)Phil. 4.13.(l)John 8.we walk as mens they like men have tranſgreſſed the Covenant.(m)Hoſ 6.7. But if we do any thing that is good, it is from God, who worketh all our w…rks in us; as therefore of him, and through him, ſo to him are all things.
2. We muſt take heed of relying upon them: Luther ſaith, We muſt take heed not only of our ſins but of our good Works. (n) Duties can never have too much diligence uſed about them, nor too little confidence placed in them; they are good helps, but bad Saviours; it is neceſſary we …o them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them, John Knox lying upon his Death-bed, paſſed over the laſt night of his Life with many ſighs and groans; being asked, What was the cauſe of his trouble? He anſwered, that he had in his life-time gone thorow many Combats, endured many buffettings of Satan, but now theroaring Lion ſet more ſtrongly upon him; before the Devil had ſet his ſins before him, and tempted him to deſpair, and ſought to work upon him by worldly allurements; but now he went another way, ſeeking to perſwade him, that Eternal Life was but a due Reward for the great pains and labours he had taken in the Church of God: and this he looked uppon as the moſt dangerous temptation; if the Devil cannot diſwade us from performing Duties, he will perſwade us all he can to rely upon them; and this will as much gratifie Satan, and as certainly ruine our Souls, as if we wholly neglected them: when we have done all we are able, we muſt ſay, We are unprofitable Servants. Rollocke, when ſome minded him upon his Death-bed of his great Service he had done in the Church; He replied, I abhor my Rectorſhip of the Univerſity, my Reader-ſhip of Divinity, my Paſtor-ſhip of Edenborough; and all I have done, that I might be found in Chriſt, not having on mine own Righteouſneſs: And at another time: There is nothing of mine, which I do not account as dung, that I might win Chriſt▪ And again, I have nothing to glory in, but the merits of Chriſt, all other things I count loſſe.
6. We ſhould labour for thoſe Graces which entitle to eternal happineſs; I ſhall name only ſome as,
1 Knowledg, This is eternal to life to know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent.(p)John 17.3. Though the Valentinian Hereticks had knowledg in too high eſtimation, when they aſcribed all to it, affirming, that as ignorance made us ſubject to all miſery, ſo the reſtauration of the inward-man muſt needs belong to knowledg only; yet what ſome Philoſophers ſaid of Light; that all the influences of the Sun and Stars, are by light tranſmitted to this inferiour world; ſo the light of Knowledg is that Conduit-pipe, by which the ſeveral Graces God worketh, are conveyed into the Soul; as in the firſt-Creation light was the firſt thing God made, ſo in the new Creation Joſephus ſaith, that Judas Maccabeus; going about to repair the Temple, and purge out the reliques of Idolatry; began with the Lights▪ placed a Light upon the golden Candleſtick, and ordained a Feaſt▪ which they called Lights: (p)John 17.3.Thus when God purifieth the heart,(q)foreign. and makes it a Temple for himſelf He firſt ſetteth up the light of knowledg in the Soul without this we can never hope to be made partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light; When Hamans face was covered, death followed: when men live in a land of Light, and yet have the things of their peace hid from their eyes, it is a ſad Prognoſtick of their everlaſting miſcarriage; If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt,(r)2 Cor. 4.3.
2. Godly ſorrow, which worketh repentance to Salvation, not to be repented of.(s)2 Cor. 7.10. If any thinks he hath no ſin, I would ſay to him as Conſtantine of Aceſius the Novatean, Let him make new Ladders to climbe up to Heaven by: but if we have ſinned, there is no other way than by godly ſorrow; ſin muſt be purged either by water or by fire, ſaith Guericus; if the water of Repentance doth not here waſh away our ſins, Hell-fire will afterward burn our ſouls.
3 Faith, which the Apoſtle calleth the ſubſtance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ſeen(t)Heb. 11.1. though we muſt diſtinguiſh between faith of Adherence, and Faith of Evidence, between the firſt Act of Faith whereby we believe, and the ſecond Act, or as ſome call it, an act flowing from faith;(u)Actus a fide emanans. between the work of Faith, which is Believing, and the fruit of Faith, which is Aſſurance; A Chriſtian may have faith in the Seed and not in the Harveſt; the fire of Faith may warm his heart, yet not flame forth in Aſſurance; he may have the direct act of Faith, both a Negative excluſive act, whereby he renounceth all other ways and means of Salvation, & a Poſitive excluſive act, whereby he reſts wholly upon Chriſt for Eternal life; yet not have the Reflex act, whereby he knoweth that he believeth, and that Salvation belongeth to him; yet where Faith is called a Believing to Salvation(w)Heb, 10.39. and Salvation is ſaid to be the end of Faith.(x)1 Pet. 1.9.
4. Love, The joys of Heaven are ſaid to be prepared God, for thoſe that love him. (y)1 Cor. 2.9.Ambroſe in his Funeral Oration for Theodoſius, deſcribing his religious death, brings in the Angels & Arch-angels hovering about his departing Soul, to carry it to Heaven: And asking him, what Grace it was he here practiſed on earth, that gave him ſo ready an admittance into Heaven? He replyed, I have loved, I have loved; Love is as ſtrong as Death, the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a moſt vehement Flame. (z) In the flames of this fire it is that the devout Soul aſcends to Heaven, as the Angel once in the flame of Manaoh's ſacrifice.
5. Humility, As the Philoſopher being asked; What is the firſt thing required in an Orator? anſwered, Pronunciation; what was the ſecond? what the third? anſwered ſtill Pronunciation, Pronunciation? So ſaith Auſtin, I…. I where asked, what is the readieſt way to attain Truth, and ſo Happineſs? I would anſwer, The firſt, the ſecond, and the third thing, is Humility, Humility. as often as I were asked, I would ſay Humility; Humility doth not only entitle to Happineſs, but to the the higheſt degree of Happineſs, Whoſoever ſhall humble himſelfe as this little child, the ſame is the greateſt in the Kingdom of Heaven.(a)Cant. 8.6.
6. Heavenly-mindedneſs. There is no one thing ſo much hindereth the attaining eternal life as Earthly-mindedneſs; there are ſome Fowls they call Polyſurchoi, which though they have wings like other Fowls to fly with, yet they have ſuch heavy ponderous bodies, that they ſeldome flye higher than the ſtub of ſome Tree, but live moſt-what like beaſts upon the earth; worldly-minded men like, theſe Fowles, who though they have intelectual, immortal fouls, by which, they ſhould have converſe in Heaven, yet they are ſo eaten up with the world, that they have no time; and leſs mind to look after Heaven Chryſoſtome obſerveth, that other beaſts, thoug… they are made ſo as they look down to the earth, ye… ſometimes, eſpecially in their extremity, they lift up their heads towards Heaven; only the Camel is ſo depreſſed with the bunch of fleſh upon his back, that he is alwayes poring upon the earth, and is never obſerved to look up toward Heaven; To other beaſts he compareth other ſorts of ſinners: who though great ſtrangers to Heaven, yet ſometimes have ſome thoughts of God, and Heaven, only the covetous worldling, like the Camel, is bowed down to the earth, that he liveth, as if there were neither a God to be ſerved, not a Heaven to be looked after: this ſin therefore we muſt in a ſpecial manner take heed of, it is not more impoſſible for the ſame eye, at the ſame inſtant, to look downward toward the Earth, and upward toward Heaven, than to have the heartſ both upon the World and Heaven: if we deſire, and hope for Heaven we muſt be Crucified to the world, muſt ſet our affections on things above, not on things on the Earth; we muſt never expect Heaven when we die, if we be ſtrangers to Heaven while we live: In Phyſical tranſmutations the form is introduced in an inſtant; but there are ſome antecedent qualities, ſome previous diſpoſitions that preparethe body for that change; though the ſoul in the inſtant of death quits Earth, and mounts up to Heaven, yet it muſt be prepared for Heaven by converſing there before-hand; ſuch as novv live ſtrangers to Heaven, ſhall never intermeddle vvith thoſe joyes. (b)
7. To theſe vve muſt add the grace of perſeverance; ſome have ſeemed to begin well, yet ended miſerably; others have begun ill, but ended happily; perſeverance is all in all, other graces run the race, but only perſeverance receiveth the Crovvn. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a Crown of life: (c)Rev. 2.10.Solomon ſaith, better is the end of a thing, than the beginning thereof (d)Eccleſ. 7, 8.. The grace of the Comedy lyeth chiefly in the laſt Scene; it is the evening that Crovvneth the day: Seneca ſaith, the laſt day judgeth all the precedent; happy are they, whoſe laſt dayes are the … dayes; vvhoſe works are more at laſt, than at fi… vvheras, vvhen men ſeem to begin vvell, and aft… vvard turn from the holy Commandment, it had … better for them never to have known the way of Righte… …ſs. (s)2 Pet. 2.21.Among other Prodigies vvhichwhich vvere … bout the time Julian came unto the Empire, t… vvas one: after a plentiful Vintage, there vvere w… grapes appeared upon their Vines vvith vvhichwhich ma… Wiſe men vvere much affected, looking upon it … ominous. When men ſeem to abound in the fruits … Righteouſneſs, and aftervvard bring forth the w… grapes of ſin and diſobedience, it is a ſad Prognoſti… of their eternal ruine; as the falling of the lea… is the forerunner of vvinter, ſo the falling away men in this life, preſageth that winter of … wrath; vvhen the ſtorms, and tempeſts of Div… vengence ſhall for ever beat upon them: havi… then put our hand to the Plow, vve muſt ta… heed of looking back again; the promiſe of eter… happineſs is made to ſuch as perſevere: He th… endureth to the end ſhall be ſaved.(t)Matth. 10.22.
FINIS.
End of the text · Abraham Caley, A Glimpse of Eternity (1683)