Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Declaring that God is, and the excellency of our interest in God.
THe carnall mans eſtrangement from God, his being without God, miniſters matter of excitation to all men to labour 1. for cleare, ſure, and invincible evidence of this truth, That God is, and 2. for ſure and infallible intereſt in this God.
1. Labour for cleare evidence, a lively, powerfull, and working perſwaſion of this in your hearts, that God is, and that he is ſuch a one, as in his word he hath revealed himſelfe to be; this is the pillar and ground of all Religion, Satan labours much to undermine and ſhake it, and the Atheiſme of mans heart is very prone to ſuſpect and doubt it, and mens weake and feeble, lame and halting apprehenſion of this truth, is one maine cauſe of the great abundance of Atheiſme, and prophaneneſſe: For the effectuall and invincible perſwaſion, reſolution, and through ſetling of your hearts therefore in this truth, that God is, looke 1. into the booke of Scripture, and 2. into the booke of Nature.
1. Looke into the booke of the Scripture, and there faſten your eyes, 1. upon the plaine and apparant Teſtimonies which it gives of God. By the mouth of Job, 1. Teſtimonies Ioh. 12.7, 8, 9, 10.aske now (ſaith he) the beaſts, and they ſhall teach thee, and the fowles of the aire, and they ſhall tell thee, or ſpeake to the earth, and it ſhall teach thee, and the fiſhes of the Sea ſhall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all theſe, that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this, in whoſe hand is the ſoule of every living thing, and the breath of all mankinde: By the mouth of David, The Heavens (ſaith he) declare the glory of God, and the Firmament ſheweth his handyworke: By the mouth of Paul, God Act 1….16.(ſaith he) who in times paſt ſuffered all Nations to walke in their owne wayes, nevertheleſſe he left not himſelfe without witneſſe, in that he did good, and gave us raine from Heaven, and fruitfull ſeaſons, filling our hearts with food and gladneſſe. And againe, As I paſſed by (ſaith he to the men of Athens) and behold your devotions, I found an Altar with this Inſcription,Act. 17.23. To the unknowne God, whom therefore ye ignorantly worſhip, him declare I unto you▪ God that made the world, and all things therein, ſeeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in Temples made with hands; Neither is worſhipped with mens hands, ſeeing he giveth life, and breath, and every thing: And moſt evidently writing to the Romanes, he ſaith, That which may be knowne of God is manifeſt in them, for God hath ſhewed it unto them, for the inviſible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even his eternall power and God-head, ſo that they are without excuſe.
2. Faſten your eyes upon the miraculous and mighty workes recorded in Scripture, as the dividing of the waters of the red Sea, and making the children of Iſrael to paſſe through them, the giving of waters out of a ſtony rocke, the raining of Manna from Heaven, the ſending of Quailes in the wilderneſſe, the reſtraining of the fire in Nebuchadnezzars furnace, that though it burned, yet it hurt not the three children caſt into it; the ſhutting of the mouthes of the Lyons, that they hurt not Daniel caſt in among them; the curing of diſeaſes, which no Phyſitian could heale; the raiſing of the dead, which no created power could doe; the feeding of many thouſands with a few loaves and fiſhes, and many ſuch like, evidently declaring, that there is an Almighty hand doing ſuch great and mighty works.
3. Meditate upon the prophecies and predictions there, receiving their full, and ſure, and certaine accompliſhment, in many ages after, according as it was foretold, arguing an eternall and All-ſeeing Spirit by whom they were inſpired.
4. Obſerve the puniſhments there, miraculouſly inflicted upon the old world, the Sodomites, the Iſraelites in the wilderneſſe, Pharaoh and many others, and you ſhall reade the Juſtice of an Almighty God puniſhing the wickedneſſe of man.
5. Conſider well a way revealed to life and ſalvation above the capacity of man and Angell: God appearing to the Patriarckes, entring into a Covenant of life and peace with them, ſending his Prophets with tydings of a Saviour to come, and at laſt ſending his owne Sonne, conceived by the Holy-Ghoſt in the wombe of a Virgin, the humane nature aſſumed into the unity of the ſecond perſon, Chriſt God and Man in one Perſon, a perfect Mediator between God and man, a worke ſo ſtrange and wonderfull, that the Angels doe admire it, and deſire to pry into it, a ſingular demonſtration of Gods infinite and unſearchable wiſedome.
6. Obſerve alſo the mighty efficacy of this word of God upon the hearts of men, piercing their hearts, dividing between the bones and the marrow, the joynts and the ſpirit, preſents as in a glaſſe the moſt cloſe and ſecret ſinnes of man before him, filling them with terrour and amazement, humbling and abaſing them below the duſt, raiſing them out of the grave of ſinne to a new life, fetching them forth of Satans priſon, as the Angell brought Peter out of Herods priſon, turning their ſtony hearts into hearts of fleſh, making their leprous ſoules pure and cleane, as Naamans fleſh in Jordan, healing the wounds of their conſciences, which no worldly balme could cure, plainly declaring that an holy and Almighty Spirit did both inſpire them, and worke by them.
7. Obſerve in the ſacred Scriptures a generation of people ſo changed by the uſe of the word from what once they were; That they are now diſtinguiſhed from all the world beſides, as the living from the dead, as the light from darkeneſſe, as the Vine from the thorne, and the Lambe from the Wolfe; men called out of darkeneſſe into light, men hating their former eſtates, wayes and works, more then ever they loved them; Men chuſing to live in any miſery, rather then in the allowance of the leaſt ſinne; Men contented to be hated of father, mother, and all their friends according to the fleſh, that they may pleaſe Chriſt, taking the ſpoyling of their goods joyfully, reputing the reproach of Chriſt greater riches then all the treaſures of the world; Men pleaſing, contenting, bleſſing and applauding themſelves in the having of Chriſt, though they have nothing elſe, willing rather to lye in priſon, and dye a thouſand deaths, then deny or leave Chriſt, Now whence is all this, were they borne ſo…? no they were once as others are. Is it of themſelves? no, the Leopard cannot change his ſpots, it is indeed no other but the worke of a holy, gracious, and mighty God, it is his worke which makes men to differ. Had not this generation of men a cleare underſtanding, and a lively and ſweet apprehenſion of the Majeſty, power, beauty, and goodneſſe of this God, they would never for his ſake endure ſuch reproach, hatred, and trouble from the world.
Turne from the booke of the Scripture to the booke of Nature, and here you ſhall ſee a Deity ſhining as the Sun in the Starres, and putting it ſelfe forth as the root in the branches, and appearing as the Artificer in his workmanſhip: And thus looke,
1. VponUpon the whole univerſe, the great houſe of the world, the Earth as the floore, and the Heavens as the roofe and covering, plainly demonſtrating the eternall power, wiſedome, and Godhead, as the Apoſtle ſaith. When we ſee a great and ſtately houſe builded, artificially compoſed, ſeverall peeces of ſtone, timber, lime, earth, and other materials skilfully and ſtrongly joyned together, variety of roomes framed for the entertainment of many gueſts, and other offices belonging to the houſe, and windowes made in fit and convenient places, to give light thereunto, we all know that ſome skilfull workman hath been labouring there, the houſe having no power nor wiſedome to raiſe it ſelfe; and thus when we looke upon this great and mighty houſe of the world, and ſee it compoſed of ſeverall creatures, Heavens, Aire, Waters, Earth, &c. variety of roomes fitted for men, Beaſts, Birds, Fiſhes, and all other gueſts belonging to this houſe: The Sun, Moone, and Starres ſet on high, as great lamps and lanthornes to give light thereunto, we cannot but acknowledge that ſome Almighty and All-wiſe workman hath been the builder thereof none of theſe being able to create and ſet themſelves in this orderly manner; this we muſt needs acknowledge though we ſee not the builder: When we ſee the body and branches of a Tree ſpringing, we know there is a root, though it be hidden in the earth, and we ſee it not: When we ſee as that noble Dupleſſes obſerves, a river flowing, we preſently conclude there is ſome Spring or Fountaine whence it hath Originall, though we ſee not the ſame; and thus from the Creation, and the things ſeen, we muſt of neceſſity conclude, there is a Deity, though inviſible, and not ſeen, otherwiſe then as we ſee the cauſe in the effect.
2. Looke upon the order of things moving. We diſcerne many things moving in the world, as Sun, Moone, and Stars in Heaven, the Birds in the aire, Men and Beaſts upon the earth, Rivers running, Seas ebbing and flowing; and every thing that moves muſt of neceſſity be moved of ſome other, by the conſideration whereof we are neceſſarily led to acknowledge a firſt mover, which is God, giving motion to all, himſelfe not moved: When we ſee the body moving, we know there is a ſoule within moving it, though we ſee not the ſoule: When we ſee the wheeles of a watch moving, we know there is a ſpring that ſets them all on going. Thus the motion of the creature plainly demonſtrates a firſt mover, though our eyes behold him not, according to the Rule, Secunda moventia non movent, niſi per hoc quod ſunt a primo motu.
3. Looke upon the Series and ſucceſſion of all efficient Cauſes. We ſee in ſenſible things there is an order of efficient cauſes, yet among all theſe there neither is, nor can any thing be found which is the cauſe of it ſelfe, becauſe ſo it ſhould be before it ſelfe, which is impoſſible: As for inſtance, the Sonne is begotten of the Father, the Father of the Grandfather, the Grandfather of the great Grandfather, and ſo upward; yet amongſt men, no man ever was, or can be the begetter of himſelfe; the branch commeth from the Tree, the Tree from the root, the root from the kernell, the kernell gives not being to it ſelfe, and thus we muſt of neceſſity aſcend unto, and reſt in ſome firſt cauſe, which is God, all ſecond cauſes working in the vertue of the firſt cauſe.
4. Looke upon the Conſent and agreement betweene things different and diſagreeing betweene themſelves: Fire and water are one contrary to another; one fighting againſt another, deſtroying one another, yet theſe you ſhall ſee concurring and agreeing together in the building of the univerſe, and in the body of man and beaſt, which plainly ſhews the wiſedome and power of ſome ſupreame Commander, making ſuch a ſweet harmony betweene diſagreeing creatures, as betweene diſſonant ſtrings upon a muſicall inſtrument, we acknowledge the art of a skilfull Muſitian in the latter, and can we doe leſſe then acknowledge an infinite wiſedome and power of ſome ſupreame commander in the former.
5. Looke upon the degrees of excellency and goodneſſe among things: Some are more good and more excellent; ſome leſſe good, and leſſe excellent; the Sunne hath more light then the Starres; the Vine is more excellent then the Bramble; man hath more noble endowments, then the unreaſonable creatures; and whence is this, but as every creature hath more or leſſe good communicated to it, as it doth more or leſſe approach unto ſome chiefeſt good, ſo that there muſt be ſome chiefe and moſt excellent good communicating freely more or leſſe good to every kinde of creature as hee pleaſeth.
6. Looke upon the ſuiting and the fitting of one thing to another: As in a building, when we ſee one peece of timber fitted to another, we ſay there hath beene a skilfull Carpenter: When we ſee a garment made up and ſuited to every Member of mans body, we inſtantly conceive ſome artificiall Tailer hath had the ordering of it, and that neither timber nor cloath did thus ſute themſelves together: Thus in this great workmanſhip of the world, obſerve how light is ſuited to the eye, the ſound unto the ayre, meat to the palate, water to the fiſhes, the earth to plants, and graſſe to beaſts, and ſo of the reſt; and when we ſee this, how can wee but acknowledge a divine finger thus ſuiting and fitting one to another.
7. To be ſhort tooke upon the ſubordination and dependance of one thing upon another, one miniſtring to another, the Heavens to the Earth, the Earth to the Corne, the Corne to man: Conſider alſo the operation and working even of creatures void of reaſon for a certaine end, working conſtantly after the ſame manner, and accompliſhing their ends by due and apt meanes, producing effects above their owne abilities, as the Ant which gathers her meat in Summer for the Winter, they working by a rule which they know not, and ayming at an end which they underſtand not, declare that a higher underſtanding directs them; what alſo doe many ſtrange and unexpected events and iſſues of things beyond the wiſdome, power and imagination of man argue, but an Almighty hand working and diſpoſing all things at his owne pleaſure; what ſhall we thinke of the preſervation and miniſtring of proviſion for ſo many ages to this great Family of the world, but that there is ſome moſt wiſe, and able governour over this houſe; what may we conclude from the preſervation and continuance of a Church upon the face of the Earth, againſt the fury of all Divels, and againſt the power and malice even of the whole world, but that there is a God that ſtandeth in the burning buſh and keepes it, that the fire doth not conſume it, a rider that ſits upon the flood and reſtraines it from drowning his Church, a great commander whom the windes and waves obey, one ſetting bounds to to men and Divels, as to the Sea; and let theſe and ſuch like conſiderations perſwade you and ſtrengthen in the beliefe of this, That God is.
And be aſſured that the more your hearts are over-powred, wrought upon and warmed with the ſtudy and meditation, and ſetled in perſwaſion and beleefe of this truth,Benefits of this perſwaſiō that God is. That God is an eternall, omnipotent, moſt wiſe, holy and omnipreſent being, one that is ever preſent with you.
1. The more humble and abaſed ſhall you be in your owne eye,1. Self-abaſement. able to ſay with the Prophet, Woe is me J am undone, I am a man of uncleane lips, for mine eyes have ſeen the King the Lord of Hoaſts.
2. The more aſhamed ſhall you be of your former looſenes,2. Shame for former looſeneſſe. ſmiting with Ephraim upon your thigh, aſhamed and confounded for the reproach of your youth, the more aſhamed ſhall you be of your preſent uncleanneſſe abhorring your ſelfe with Iob below the duſt and aſhes.
3 Suppreſment of ſinne.3. The more powerfull ſhall you be in the ſuppreſſion of all ſinne, in the repelling of every temptation, able to ſay with Joſeph, how ſhall I doe this evill and ſinne againſt God.
4 Fervent prayer.4. The more fervent and reverent ſhall you be in your hearing, prayer and ſupplication, ſtanding with Cornelius, as before the Lord in hearing his meſſenger, and praying like Paul with the underſtanding and with the ſpirit.
5 Induſtry in Gods ſervice.5. The more diligent and induſtrious ſhall you be in Gods ſervice, knowing the terrour of the Lord, running like the Sunne the race which God hath ſet before you, ſerving the Lord with feare and trembling, doing the will of God from the heart.
6 Gracious ſpeech.6. The more gracious ſhall you be in all your speeches, ſpeaking the words of God, and as in the fight of God.
7. Circumſpection.7. The more circumſpect ſhall you be in your carriage, being all the day long in the feare of God, and walking with God as Enoch and Noah did.
8. Courage.8. The more couragious and undaunted ſhall you be in all difficulties and oppoſitions made againſt you, not afraid of the many thouſands that ſet themſelves againſt you, remembring and apprehending as Ezekiah did that God is with you, a preſent help in trouble for you.
9 Sleighting of world.9. The more ſhall you in a holy manner ſleight and undervalue all the glory, dignity, wealth and fulneſſe of the world, having with you and within you that God who in your eye and apprehenſion tranſcends the world more then the moſt orient pearle the bafeſt droſſe, the choiſeſt Paradiſe the moſt loathſome priſon, or the brighteſt Sunne the rotten glocworme.
10. Eaſie comming off from the creature.10. The more eaſily, fully, freely, joyfully and permanently ſhall your hearts and thoughts come off from the creature, from your ſelfe, and from every thing here below, as the eye comes gladly from the candle to the Sun upon the appearing and apprehenſion of the ſame; as the Bride comes gladly from her owne people, and her fathers houſe, to her moſt honourable, amiable and lovely Bridegroome; or as the Prodigall came readily from the Swine, and the huskes to his Fathers houſe, where he apprehended fulneſſe of bread.
11. The more patient ſhall you be in all trouble,11. Patience. apprehending God as a Father in love chaſtiſing you, as a Phyſician launcing you, and as a Refiner purging you, you ſhall ſay with old Eli, It is the Lord, let him doe what ſeemeth him good.
12. The more content ſhall you be in every condition,12 Contentation. contentedly able with Job to receive the evill of affliction as well as the good of peace at the hands of the Lord the apprehenſion of Gods preſence with you ſhall ſatisfie and quiet you, when every other thing is taken from you, the apprehenſion of this ſhall powerfully and ſweetly diſpoſe you to quiet your ſelfe in the will of God, humbly and readily to ſubmit your ſelfe to the hand of God, thankfully to take that portion which God giveth you, aſſuring your ſelfe it is that which God in his wiſedome ſeeth beſt for you: Thrice bleſſed is that perſon who hath this apprehenſion of God ſtill ruling and affecting him, ſetledly dwelling and working within him; there is nothing more availeable to keep the ſoule of man in a holy frame and diſpoſition then the ſence and feeling of Gods ever being preſent with him.
Secondly, this ſhould alſo move man to labour for infallible and ſure intereſt in God. It is the miſery of man to be without God, the happineſſe of man to have God for his God, to be able to ſay with Thomas, My God and my Lord, and in all eſtates to cry with David, O Lord thou art my refuge, and my portion in the land of the living. It is mans having of God that makes the meditation of God ſweet and comfortable to man. What doth the ſhining of the Sunne advantage man if his eye receive not the light thereof? What doth plenty of water in the well benefit the thirſty, if he neither draw nor drinke of it? What did fulneſſe of bread in his Fathers houſe profit the prodigall ſonne living among the ſwine, and ready to ſtarve with lacke of broad? What doth it availe the ſoule that God is an eternall, an Almighty, an Al-ſeeing, an alſufficient God, if he live like the ſwine, and feed upon the huskes of the world, and come not unto God, have no intereſt in God, no taſte, no ſence, no feeling of the goodneſſe of this God, he muſt ſtarve, dye, periſh, and be damned without God: The charge therefore given to the children in Salomon concerning wiſedome, let me give to you concerning God, Get God, get the Lord, forget him not, neither decline from the words of his mouth, forſake him not, and he ſhall preſerve thee, love him and he ſhall keep thee, God is the principall thing, therfore got God, and withall thy getting get the Lord. The gaine of all is loſſe without God, the loſſe of all is gaine with God; have all the power of the world without God thou art weake; have all the wealth of the earth without God thou art poore; have all the learning, art and policye of men and Devils without God, thou art fooliſh, blinde and ignorant; have all the honours of Nobles, Kings and Emperours without God, thou art baſe; have all the beauty of the comelieſt creatures without God, thou art ugly, loathſome and monſtrous; have all worldly and fleſhly joyes and pleaſures without God, thy ſoule is in a condition of torments; have all the liberties, immunities, and prerogatives of the freeſt Cities, States and Kingdomes, yet without God, thou art in the moſt diſhonourable, ſlaviſh and baſeſt bondage; have God, and though thou haſt nothing elſe, thou haſt the ſtrongeſt rocke to ſupport thee, the brighteſt Sun to guide thee, the nobleſt crowne to honour thee, the choiſeſt pearle to enrich thee, the fulleſt fountaine to fill thee, the ſweeteſt Paradiſe to ſolace and delight thee, even God himſelf to be all in all, in ſtead of all, and ten thouſand times more then all for ever unto thee. *⁎*
FINIS.