The Glorious Feast of the Gospel, Sermon 2
THE Second Sermon.
ISAIAH 25. 6.
In this Mountaine ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make unto all people a Feast of fat things, a Feaſt of Wines on the Lees, of fat things full of Marrow, of Wine on the Lees well refined.
I Have ſhewed that Chriſt and his benefits are compared to a Feaſt, and in what reſpects they are fitly reſembled by a Feaſt, and have preſt that we ſhould prepare for it, firſt by getting large hearts. Now in the ſecond place that we may have comfort at this Feaſt, we muſt labour for ſpirituall appetite;Firſt means to get appetite ſoure herbes, ſenſe of ſin and miſery. for to what end and purpoſe is that man at a Feaſt, that hath no ſtomack? I ſhall therefore ſhew what meanes we are to uſe, to get eager ſtomacks and holy appetites after this Feaſt.
1. The Appetite is raiſed with ſoure things, as anguiſh of Spirit, and mournfulneſſe of heart for ſinne, if we will ever reliſh Chriſt aright we muſt labour to have a quick apprehenſion of our ſinnes; we muſt do as the Jewes did at the Paſſeover, They eat it with ſoure Herbs, that they might thereby have the ſharper ſtomacks: So muſt we, we muſt caſt our eyes into our owne hearts, and conſider what vile wretches we are, how full of ſinne and vanity, and this will be as ſoure Herbs to the Paſchall Lambe. We muſt joyne the ſweet benefits and privileges that wee have in Chriſt with the conſideration of our owne wretched and miſerable condition, and then this heavenly ordinance cannot but be ſweet and comfortable to our ſoules. I beſeech you enter into your owne ſoules and conſider ſeriouſly under what guilt you lie, and this will whet your appetite. A full ſtomack deſpiſeth the honey comb: but in this appetite there is ſenſe of emptines, & from that ſenſe of emptines paine, and from pain an earneſt deſire of ſatisfaction; thus it is in ſpirituall things, we want Chriſt and all the ſpirituall comforts that flow from him: There is an emptines in us, and we ſee a need every day to feed upon the mercies of God in Chriſt. There is an emptines in our ſouls, & there muſt be a ſenſe of that emptines, and pain from that ſenſe, which muſt ſtir up a ſtrong endeavour to follow after that that we doe deſire. Then Chriſt indeed is ſweet, when wee finde our ſoules hungring and thirſting after him.
Againe,Second Means if ſo bee wee would have that appetite of Spirit that is fit for this Feaſt, wee muſt purge our ſouls from the corruptions of Fleſh and ſpirit, perfecting holineſſe in the feare of God; we muſt cleanſe our ſoules from thoſe luſts and paſſions that dayly cleave unto them; all crudities muſt be taken away that the edge of the ſtomack may not be flatted: for while theſe earthly carnall Corruptions lye upon the ſoule, we can expect no ſpirituall appetite to heavenly things. Let us therefore examine our ſelves what filth lies upon our ſoules, and what corrupt inclinations are there, that ſo they may be purged, and our deſires be carryed fully after Chriſt in the Sacrament.
Another means to get appetite is to conſider throughly what is required of a Chriſtian well to maintaine the trade of Chriſtianity.Third Means. Its another manner of thing than we we take it for to entertaine Communion with God, to performe holy Duties in an holy manner, to beare the yoke as a Chriſtian ſhould do. Here is a great deal of ſtrength required: And becauſe corruptions will mix themſelves amongſt our beſt performances, there muſt be a great deal of mercy from God to pardon them. And whence is all this but by the death of our bleſſed Savior Jeſus Chriſt? for his ſake God hath a forbearing eye. Now if we conſider what a degree of ſpirituall ſtrength & vigor we ſhould have to go through with theſe duties, this would ſharpen our ſtomacks and ſpirituall appetites, to furniſh our ſelves with grace from Chriſt to go through with theſe holy Services. There muſt be an exerciſing of all the duties of Chriſtianity, which is an eſtate, that muſt be maintained with a great deale of charge, and labour. A man can doe no ſervice acceptable to God, but by grace, and grace muſt feed the ſoule with fruitfull knowledge in the power of Faith, and when the ſoule feeleth a neceſſity of grace, oh then beloved, it hungers, and earneſtly thirſteth after the love of God in Chriſt. Wee need to every Trade a great deale of knowledge, then ſurely the calling of Chriſtianity needeth a great deale. A Chriſtian muſt expect much both in Proſperity, and Adverſity, as the Apoſtle ſaith, I have learned to want and to abound, to bee in honour, and to bee in diſgrace, and I can doe all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me. Now becauſe there is ſo much goings out for the maintenance of Chriſtianity, wee muſt alſo bring in much grace, and faith, and love, and holineſſe, or elſe we ſhall never be able to uphold this condition. Where there is an exerciſe of Chriſtianity, there willl be an appetite to heaven: that is our beſt calling, for when that we have done all that wee can, that that wee muſt have comfort from, is Chriſtianity, therefore labour with all labour, to bee holy and able Chriſtians. All other Callings are but for this preſent life, but that that is for eternity, is this Calling of Chriſtianity: And this is onelyonly to fit us here in this world for an everlaſting condition of glory in the world to come.
Again,Fourth Means, Acquaintance with thoſe that are good. if we would have a deſire and appetite to heavenly things, we muſt labour to get acquaintance, and conſtantly converſe with thoſe that are good. The old Proverb is, Company will make a man fall to, eſpecially the company of thoſe that are better than our ſelves, for very emulation men will be doing as others doe. When men live amongſt thoſe whoſe hearts are framed this way, they muſt be equall. Converſation with thoſe that have good reliſh of ſpirituall things, and ſhew forth grace in their lives, ſetteth an appetite upon our deſires, to deſire the ſame things that they doe. Thus St. Paul writeth to the Gentiles to ſtirre up the emulation of the Jewes. Therefore receive this likewiſe for the procuring of a ſpirituall appetite.
To goe on.Fifth Means, We know not how long wee have to live. The next thing that may ſtirre up our deſires to get an appetite to the beſt things, is ſeriouſly to conſider, That we cannot tell how long we have to live, or may enjoy the benefit of the meanes of grace. Thoſe that ſit at Table and diſcourſe away the greateſt part of Dinner time in talke, had need at laſt to fall to ſo much the faſter, by how much the more negligent they had been before in eating. We cannot tell how long we may enjoy this ſpirituall Feaſt that God makes for us; therefore be ſtirred up to get ſpirituall appetites, for we know not how long God will ſpread a Table for us; we know not how long we ſhall enjoy our lives, and if we be ſurpriſed on the ſuddaine, wee may ſuffer a ſpirituall Famine, a Famine of the ſoule if wee have nothing to comfort us before hand: And of all Famines a ſpirituall Famine is moſt grievous,Wee ſhould hold out againſt hunger to come. moſt fearfull. Therefore doe as Ioſeph did, and be wiſe. He in the ſeven yeares of Plenty, gathered for ſeven yeares of Famine that was to come upon the Land of Egypt. Alas, if we have nothing laid up before hand, what will be our end? we ſhall lie open to Gods wrath and anger; nothing can ſupport our ſoules in the evill time: wherefore as you deſire at that day to have comfort of thoſe things yee ſhall ſtand moſt in need of, labour to get a good appetite: for to periſh and ſtarve at a Feaſt is a ſhame; to famiſh in the liberty of the Goſpell, and plenty of ſpirituall meat is ſhamefull, and diſhonourable. Thus you ſee, beloved, (not to be large in the point) how you may procure ſuch an appetite, as is fit for ſuch an holy Feaſt. Firſt, by getting a ſenſe of ſinne: Secondly, by ſeeing a neceſſity of Chriſt: Thirdly, by purging out thoſe Luſts that lye upon the ſoul: Fourthly, by converſing with thoſe that are ſpiritually minded: And laſtly, by conſidering the time to come.
It is not enough to have a ſtomack,…. 3. but we muſt have a ſpirituall diſpoſition of ſoule to heavenly things,Get a ſpirituall diſpoſition of ſoul to heavenly things. as we have to outward things. Labour to have a taſte of good things, and a diſtinguiſhing taſte of heavenly things from other things: God is the God of nature, and hath furniſhed us with five ſenſes, and as he hath given us ſenſe to apprehend▪ ſo he hath furniſhed the Creature with varieties of excellencies, ſuitable to all our ſeverall ſences; he will not have objects in the Creature without ſenſe, nor ſence in man without objects:The ſoule hath her ſenſes. Hee hath furniſhed man with ſenſes, and variety of ſenſes, and given fit and proportionable objects for thoſe ſenſes: The ſoule alſo hath her ſenſe, whereſoever there is life there is ſenſe. God having given ſpirituall life to the ſoul, he doth maintain that life with ſpiritual food. As in a Feaſt there is ſight, and the eie is not only fed there with rich furniture, but with variety of dainties; the ear likewiſe, & the ſmel is ſatisfied, the one with Muſick, the other with ſweet ſavors. So in this Feaſt there is to delight both the eare, and the ſmell of the ſoule, the one with hearing the gracious promiſes of Jeſus Chriſt, and the other in receiving the ſweet ſavour of that ſacrifice, that was offered up once for all; nothing ſo ſweet to the ſoule as the bleſſings of Chriſt; he is ſweet in the word, as the veſſell that conveyeth him into our ſoules. Thus you ſee in this feaſt all the ſenſes, the ſight, the ſmell, the taſte, and hearing, all are ſatisfied: and a great care had in the proviſion for the Feaſt, that our outward man may be pleaſed. And ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make a Feaſt, and not content the whole man? he is for our ſight, if we have ſpirituall eyes to ſee; the eare, if we have eares to heare; all the ſenſes are exerciſed here: What is the reaſon why carnall men cannot reliſh a pardon for ſinne, and juſtification, and ſanctification, and holineſſe, nor goe boldly to God? It may be they have good ſweet notions of theſe, but they have no ſpirituall taſte or reliſh of them, and all, becauſe they want ſpirituall life; None but a Chriſtian can have ſpirituall taſte anſwerable to a ſpirituall life. Taſte is a kind of feeling, one of the moſt neceſſary ſenſes, and a Chriſtian cannot be without reliſh and feeling; yea it is the very beeing of a Chriſtian to have a taſte of ſpirituall things: Of all other ſenſes there is a ſtronger application in taſte; the other ſenſes fetch their objects afarre off, but as for taſte there is a neer application in it, and therefore moſt neceſſary: every life is maintained by taſt. Taſte and ſee how good the Lord is.
Now taſte doth two things,Two things in ſpirituall taſt. it doth reliſh that that is good, and diſreliſh the contrary; there muſt be a ſpirituall taſte to diſcerne of differences. There can be no ſpirituall taſte, but it muſt know what is good and profitable for the ſoule, and what is not: becauſe God will not have our taſtes to be wronged, yee ſee what courſe he takes. Firſt the eye ſeeth what things we taſte on, and if the eye be diſpleaſed, ſo alſo is the ſmell. Thus God layeth before us ſpirituall things, knowledge of good and bad, and giveth us many caveats, and all becauſe he would not have us to taſte things hurtfull for the ſoule, nor poiſon inſtead of meate. Now when we have taſted that which is good, let us take heed it be not a taſte onelyonly, leſt we fall into the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt.
Againe,Vſe. 4. beſide taſte, there muſt be a diſgeſting of what we taſte,Wee muſt labour for a digeſtion of ſpirituall things. and that throughly, in our underſtandings, when we apprehend a thing to be true and good it muſt be diſgeſted throughly into the affections. Love to the beſt things, muſt be above all other love whatſover, yet this muſt be diſgeſted. Men oftentimes have ſweet notions, but alas they are but notions, they doe not diſgeſt them into their affections. It is the laſt diſgeſtion that nouriſheth, and when any ſpirituall truths are underſtood throughly, then comes in ſpirituall ſtrength, and hereupon the ſoule comes and ſuckes in that virtue which is for the nouriſhment of it, thus it is in the ſoule, upon diſgeſtion, there is nouriſhment.
Againe there muſt be a faculty to retaine what wee have received, that it maybe diſgeſted; yee have many that love to heare, but they do not diſgeſt. If there be nothing in the ſoule, nothing can be extracted, and therefore we muſt learne to retaine neceſſary truths, that ſo upon occaſion they may come from the memory into the heart; though indeed they are not in their proper place when they are in the memory only, yet notwithſtanding if they are there, they may with eaſe be brought down into the ſoule.
Then we muſt labour to walke in the ſtrength of ſpirituall things.Vſe. 5. For what is the uſe of this Feaſt,Wee muſt walk in the ſtrength of ſpirituall favour. but to cheriſh both ſoule and ſpirit? the uſe of ſpirituall things which we have through Chriſt, is to cheriſh and enliven. It conveyeth ſtrength to us, that we may walke in the ſtrength of Chriſt, as Elias did fourty daies in the ſtrength of his food. And conſider, though in our conſciences and conditions we have variety of changes, yet in Chriſt we have ſeverall comforts ſuitable to all our ſeverall conditions. If ſo be our ſinnes trouble us, wee ſhould watch over our ſelves, that wee be not overmuch caſt downe, but feed upon ſpirituall things in conſideration of pardon for ſinne in the bloud of Chriſt; this is the grand iſſue of all that Chriſt hath traced out in the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes. He is not, he cannot be divided; where he pardons ſinnes, he ſanctifieth; where he ſanctifieth, he writes his law in their hearts, ſo that there is a chaine of ſpirituall favours, where the firſt linke is, all the reſt follow; where forgiveneſſe of ſinne is, there is the ſpirit, and that ſpirit ſanctifieth, and comforts, and is an earneſt of everlaſting life; therefore feed eſpecially upon the favours of God, and get forgiveneſſe of ſinnes, and then all the reſt of the chaine of grace and ſpirituall life will follow.
Sometimes wee ſtand in need of preſent grace and comfort, and we are undone if comforts and grace are not at hand, never conſidering the promiſes that are to come; as that promiſe of Chriſt, I will be with thee to the end of the world, feare not; No temptation ſhall befall us, but we ſhall have an iſſue out of it, and it ſhall worke together for the good of all thoſe that feare God. This is Aquavitae …o the ſoule of man, therefore the gracious promiſes of Chriſt and his holy Spirit wee ſhould ever remember to get into our ſoules, for when all other comforts faile, then commeth in the comforts of the Spirit, who will be with us and uphold us in all extremities; if we had nothing in this world to comfort our ſpirits, yet let us rejoyce in hope of glory to come. Our life is hid with Chriſt, wee have the hidden Manna, in him we rejoyce in hope of glory, Rom. 5. 2. And the way to maintaine a Chriſtian holy life, is to make uſe of all the privileges of chriſtianity, and of thoſe promiſes that convey theſe privileges to our ſoules.
Now that we may the better do this, obſerve continually what it is that hinders us, that we cannot feed upon ſpirituall things as we ſhould doe, whatſoever it is, we muſt labour conſtantly to remove it.
Now what muſt follow after this Feaſt?Conſequents of this Feaſt is ſpirituall chearfulneſſe. why ſpirituall chearefulneſſe; if we finde this in our duties of Chriſtianity, it is a ſigne we have fed upon ſpirituall things; the nature of a ſpirituall Feaſt is to empty the foule of ſinne, and to fill it full of gracious thoughts and actions; inſtead thereof it moderates all things, it makes us uſe the world as if we uſed it not: when wee can do this, we may certainly know that our ſoules have taſted of abundance of benefit by this Feaſt.
A man that hath no ſpirituall joy, is drowned, for the moſt part, in the contentments of the world; drowned in riches and honours, and theſe are like to ſtrong waters immoderately taken, inſtead of chearing the ſpirits, exhauſt and kill them: He that hath the joy of heaven here by faith, is mortified to all other baſe delights, he only mindeth the things above, where Chriſt is, Col. 3. 1. And therefore the exhortation, or rather command, Seeke the things that are above, hath this promiſe in fit method annex'd unto it, and then all other things ſhall be caſt in upon you: Riches and honours in the world; and if not them, yet ſo much as is neceſſary, and mortification of our ſinnes, and the luſts of the fleſh.
Againe,2. Thankfulneſſe. if we have fed upon ſpirituall things for our ſoules, we ſhall be thankfull; that man that hath taſted how good and gracious the Lord hath bin to him in this world, and how full of joy and comfort he will be to him in another world, in conſideration of this, his ſoule cannot chooſe but be thankfull to God.
Here we ſee how to make this ſpirituall food fit for our ſoules, that Chriſt provideth for us: And if there be ſuch joy as we have ſaid there is in ſpirituall things,3. Juſtifie the waies of God againſt carnall ſlanders. what uſe ſhould we make further of them, but labour from hence to juſtifie the wayes of godlineſſe againſt our owne falſe and carnall hearts, and againſt the ſlanderous imputations of the world; when our hearts are ready to be falſe to us, and hanker after the contentments of the world, and are ready to ſay the beſt contentment that they can enjoy, is in the things below: Let us anſwer our baſe and falſe diſputing hearts, that the waies of wiſdome, the waies that God directs us to, they onelyonly are the waies of pleaſure. And Religion is that that makes the hearts of the children of men joyfull, and a good conſcience onelyonly makes a continuall feaſt, ſo long as man liveth; but eſpecially at the houre of death, when all the comforts of the world ceaſe, then conſcience ſtandeth our friend.Object. But the worlds objection is,Religious people are melancholy. that of all kind of men in the world, thoſe that profeſſe Religion are the moſt melancholy: But if it be ſo, it is becauſe they are not religious enough, their ſinnes are continually before their eyes;Anſw. they have pardon for ſinne,Its becauſe they are not more religious. and freedome from the guilt of ſinne, but know it not; they have good things, and doe not know them. And ſo in regard of ſpirituall comforts, Gods people may have ſpirituall joy, and inward conſolation, and yet not know of it: there may be ſuch a time when they may be ſad, and droope, and that is, when they apprehend God doth not looke pleaſantly upon them; but the true character of a Chriſtian is to be cheerfull, & none elſe can be truly chearefull or joyous: Joy is uſurped by others, there is no comfort in them that can be ſaid to be reall. All the joy of a man that is a carnall man, is but as it were the joy of a Traytor, he may come to the Sacraments, and feaſt with the reſt of Gods people, but what mirth or joy can he have ſo long as the Maſter of the Feaſt frownes upon him? Where Chriſt is not, there God is not reconciled; no joy like that joy of him that is aſſured of the love of God in Chriſt. A man may ſometime through ignorance want that joy that belongeth to him,A man may be ignorant of his comforts. Rejoyce ye righteous, and be glad; it belongeth to thoſe that are in Chriſt, and to the righteous to rejoyce, for joy is all their portion: They onelyonly can juſtifie the waies of God, againſt all reproaches whatſoever; but the eyes of carnall men are ſo held in blindneſſe, that they can ſee no joy, no comfort in this courſe. As it is ſaid of Auſtin before his converſion, hee was afraid to turne Chriſtian indeed, leſt he ſhould want all thoſe joyes and pleaſures that the world did then afford him; but after he was converted, then he could cry, Lord I have ſtayed too long from thee, and too long delayed from comming in to taſt of the ſweetneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt.
Take a Chriſtian at the worſt,A Chriſtian at the worſt, is happier then a worldling at the beſt. and he is better then another man, take him at the beſt. The worſt condition of Gods children farre ſurpaſſeth the very beſt condition of graceleſſe perſons: The iſſue of things ſhall turn to his good, that is a member of Chriſt, a child of God, an heire of heaven; The evill of evils is taken away from him; take him at the worſt, he is an heire of heaven, but take the wicked at the beſt, he is not a child of God, he is a ſtranger to God, he is as a branch cut off, and as miſerable a wretch as ever Belſhazzer in the midſt of his cups, trembling and quaking with feare and aſtoniſhment when he ſaw the writing on the wall. When a man apprehends the wrath of God hanging over his head, though he were at the greateſt feaſt in the world, and amongſt thoſe that make mirth and jollity, yet ſeeing vengeance ready to ſeize upon him, it cannot but dampe all his joy and all his carnall pleaſures; and therefore only a Chriſtian hath a true title to this feaſt.
I beſeech you let us labour earneſtly to have our part and portion in the things above;Labour to partake of this Feaſt. All invited. but what ſhall they doe, that as yet apprehend no intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt? why, let them not be diſcouraged, for all are compelled to come in to this Feaſt; both blind and lame, the ſervants are ſent to bring them in: The moſt wretched people of all, God doth invite them; all are called to come in to this Feaſt, that are ſenſible of their ſinnes; and that God requires at our hands, or elſe we can have no appetite to taſte of this feaſt. God ſaith, come all; I but ſaith the poore ſinfull ſoule, I have no grace at all: why but yet come, buy without money; the feaſt is free, Gods thoughts are not as thy thoughts are, but as heaven is high above the earth, even ſo are his thoughts above thy thoughts. Poore wretch thou thinkeſt thou haſt led a wicked life, and ſo thou haſt; I but now come in, God hath invited thee, and he will not alwaies be inviting thee: therefore come in, and ſtudy the excellencies of Chriſt. When ſuch perſons as theſe ſee they need mercy, and grace, and reconciliation, and muſt either have it, or elſe be damned for ever; now they are earneſt to ſtudy the favour and love of God in Chriſt; now they beſtirre themſelves to get peace of conſcience, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt; now they ſee ſalvation to be founded onelyonly on Chriſt, and all other excellencies belonging to Chriſtianity; and therefore he goeth conſtantly provided with grace and holineſſe, ſo in this life, that he may not loſe his part in glory in the life to come. Think of this and pray for it, as they in the Goſpell, Lord evermore give us of that bread; here is hope that thou maiſt be ſaved, becauſe thou art invited to come in: to what end is the miniſtry of the Goſpel, but to intreat thee to be reconciled? Oh let this worke upon our ſoules, when we heare of the excellencies of theſe things, and together with them conſider of the neceſſity that is caſt upon us to obtaine them, and that we muſt have them or elſe be damned eternally: Wee muſt doe as the Leapers did,We are ſure to periſh without Chriſt. who ſaid one to another, Why ſit we here till we die; if we ſay wee will enter into the City, why the famine is in the City, and we ſhall die there, and if we ſit ſtill here, wee ſhall alſo die, now what courſe tooke they? They ſaid one to another, let us enter into the campe of the Syrians, there is meat to feed us. So ſaith the ſoule, if I goe into the City of the world, there I ſhall be ſtarved, if I ſit ſtill, I ſhall alſo periſh; what ſhall I now doe, I will venture upon Jeſus Chriſt, he hath food that endures to eternall life, and if I periſh there, I periſh; If I have not Chriſt I muſt die, the wrath of God hangeth over my head, and I cannot eſcape. Alas poore ſoule, now thou ſeeſt thy wretchedneſſe, caſt thy ſelfe upon him, and come in: If thou ventureſt, thou canſt but die, adventure therefore, put thy ſelfe upon Gods mercy, for he is gracious and full of compaſſion.
Thoſe that have given up themſelves to Chriſt,Honour God by taking alotted comforts. let them ſtudy to honour God, and Chriſt, by taking thoſe comforts that are allotted to them. When any man inviteth us to a Feaſt, he knoweth if we reſpect him, wee will fall too: God hath beſtowed his Sonne upon us, and will he not with him give us all things? let us not therefore diſhonour the bounty of our good God, but come in, and labour to have our hearts more and more inlarged with the conſideration of the excellency of theſe eternall comforts. The fulneſſe of Chriſt is able to ſatisfie the ſoule, though it were a thouſand times larger then it is. If it were poſſible that wee could get the capacity of Angels, it could not be ſufficient to ſhew forth the fulneſſe of pleaſures that are provided for a Chriſtian; let us therefore labour with all labour to open our hearts to entertaine theſe joyes, for we cannot honour God more then of his bounty to receive thankfully what he freely offers. To taſte plentifully in the covenant of grace, of theſe riches, and joy, and hope of things to come, glorious above all that we are able to thinke of: I ſay, this is the way to honour God under the Goſpel of hope, of things that are infinite, the more we take, the more we may take, and the more we honour him that giveth. Let us therefore enter deeply into our ſpeciall ſinnes, there is no feare of deſpaire; thinke of all thy wants, and of all thy ſins, let them be never ſo many, yet there is more to be had in Chriſt, then there can be wanting in thee. The ſoule that thinkes it ſelfe full of wants, is the richeſt ſoule, and that that apprehendeth no want at all, no need of grace or Chriſt, is alwaies ſent empty away; grieve therefore for thy ſinnes, and then joy that thou haſt grieved, and goe to God for the ſupply of all thy wants. The ſeeds of joy and of comfort are ſowne in teares, and griefe in this world, but yet we know we ſhall reape in joy in the world to come.
Remember this, we have we know not what to goe through withall in this valley of teares. That ſpeech of Barzillai was good and excellent, who being by David himſelfe invited to the Court, anſwered, I am now growne old, I am not fit for the Court, for my ſenſes are decayed and gone; even ſo the time will come when our ſenſe of reliſhing earthly pleaſures will utterly be loſt, we are ſure to goe to our graves, and we know not what particular trouble we may meet with in this world, and goe through, if we live to a full age. Alas, what are all comforts here, to the comforts of eternity: when our daies are ſpent on earth, then comes in the eternity of pleaſure, or everlaſting ſorrow. Oh then, if (when we ſhall leave all behind us) we have the joy of the holy Ghoſt in our hearts, it will advance us above all the ſuggeſtions of ſinne or Satan, and bring us chearefully above to the tribunall ſeat of Chriſt. Labour therefore to have a ſpirituall reliſh of ſoule, to grow in grace and comforts of the holy Ghoſt, for the time will come when we ſhall wiſh that we had had more then we have, every one will repent of looſenes and ſlacknes in the waies of holineſſe: Therefore let us labour earneſtly to be good husbands for our ſoules for the time to come.