The Cry of a Stone, Section 18
Other motives to perſwadeus to ſuffering.
BUt ſurely, if we had that zeale for the glory and houſe of God SECT. 18.which David had, wee would not dwell in our ſeeled houſes, Pſal. 132. 2, 3.nor give our ſelves to ſleepe and ſlumber, and ſee the houſe of the Hag. …. 4.Lord lie waſte, and the ſtones thus ſcattered amongſt the rubbiſh, which Pſal. 102. 13, 14.muſt not now be underſtood of any materiall Temple, but of the ſpirituall building of thoſe lively ſtones, the ſoules and bodies of the faithfull 1 Pet. 2. 5.into an holy Temple in the Lord; And this holy Temple lyeth yet waſt, and the ſtones hid in the duſt and dung of the earth; And although Epheſ. 2. 21. 1 Pet. 1. 12.the Lords time be come to delight in the fellowſhip of his Saints, and the Angels ſtand ready to rejoyce in the beautie of this Houſe, and Chriſt deſireth to walke amidſt the Candleſticks, and to take Rev. 2. 1.his repaſt with his beloved at noone. And yet here's all aſleep; and taking care for their wives, children, cattell, farmes and merchandize▪ &c. Caut. 1. 6.and they cannot come to this Supper of the Lord, to which they are invited, Luke 14. 18, 19.for feare of loſing ſome worldly toyes and trifles.
Some will not truſt their owne judgements, others will not controll their betters; ſome are right in judgement▪ but are too cold and drouſie to come to action: others are fearefull and timerous, ſome runne lightly and fooliſhly without their errant, others are ſo wiſe, 2 Sam. 18. 22.that they can doe nothing. And thus by all and all, there is not that done that ſhould be: many labour to hew, poliſh and prepare ſtones, and timber for the building, but there is no ſound frame yet reared, or right forme appearing.
And it were well if yet at the laſt houre of the day we could ſet our ſelves to this worke, and bring our ſoules and bodies into this holy houſe, in which a dayes dwelling were better then a thouſand elſewhere; Pſal. 84. 10.and truely, if wee had but tried the excellencie of this houſe, wee would thinke nothing too deare for it. And what if it ſhould coſt us our precious lives? can we beſtow them upon better termes? can wee live ever? or can we paſſe the time that God hath Acts 2…. 13.ſet? will not death as well finde us in our beds, as in the Iaole, or at Tiburne?
And who can tell, whether we by carrying our ſelves humbly, modeſtly, and conſcionably before God and men, without depraving or abuſing them in authority, may not cauſe our haters to become Pſal. 106. 45.our lovers, and our enemies our friends, when our righteouſneſſe is brought forth as the light, and the judgement as the bright ſhining noone, Pſal. 37. 6.yea, if it be beſt for his glory, we are ſure he will deliver us from the oppreſſions of men and ſtrife of tongues, prolonging our dayes, and Dan. 3. 17. 18. Pſal. 66. 12.honouring us with gray hayres, as a Crowne of glory, being found in the way of righteouſneſſe, notwithſtanding all the oppoſitions of the times Prov. 16. 31.and violence of men. But …t if he will not, but ſay he hath no pleaſure in us, nor that we ſhall not ſee the glory of his houſe, but ſhall die in 2 Sam. 15. 26.the very endeavouring of it, let him doe what he pleaſe; and let it be enough, if our children may build this houſe, and enjoy the fruit of that which our lives payed for.
And if wee muſt honour God with our bloods; let us doe it Our lives are not too good to be given for Gods truth. Act. 5. 41. Gal. 1. 16.cheerefully, rejoycing that we are found worthy to ſuffer for his name and let us caſt off this nice fleſh, and idle vanitie, conſult no more with fleſh and blood, but forſake our ſelves in that kinde, and if we will talke of heaven, let us contemne the earth, and be content to loſe lands, goods and life for Chriſt and his Goſpels ſake; for elſe in looking after Mark. 8. 38.heaven, we doe like the ſluggard which luſteth, but hath nought; and as children which gape for all their parents wealth, but will take no Prov. 13. 4.paines to pleaſe them.
Away with this ſelfe-love, that will have heaven and earth too, where is our love to Chriſt, that purchaſed heaven, ſince we will not Mark. 8. 36.part with one dram of eaſe, pleaſure or profit for the furtherance of his Goſpel? And how can we be ſaid to honour him that will rather ceaſe Mat. 13. 20, 2….our obedience to him in the things he requireth then part with a few worldly toyes and trifles.