Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 1 · Sermon 9

Three Decades of Sermons · Decade 1 · Sermon 9

p. 188The Pleaſant and Peaceable ways of Wiſdom.

Prov. 3. 17.

Her ways are ways of pleaſantneſs; all her pathes are peace.

THe Proverbs of Solomon are Divine Aphoriſmes, Serm. 9. At St. Mary's Oxon, July …5. 1649.ſelect, pithy Sentences, penn'd by Solomon; but Indited by the Spirit of God. 'Tis rare to find any coherence or dependance on the precedent words, they are ſo entire of themſelves, & omnibus numeris abſoluta: Yet the Words read have ſome dependance upon the precedent Verſes. They are a Link of a goodly Chain of Pearls: For if you review v. 13. that Man's happineſs is admired who hath got this Jewel: Happy is the man that findeth wiſdom, and the man that getteth underſtanding. And to invite others, and draw them on to this rich purchaſe, the wiſe Man dedicates an ample Panegyrick to Wiſdom. Tully commends Pompey; Pliny, Trajan; but they both come ſhort of this Encomium. Many Arguments are ſet down from the 14. to the 20. ver. incluſivè, to inhance the matchleſs, unvaluable worth and dignity of Divine Wiſdom.

My Text is placed in the middle, and is a ſpecial encouragement to quicken our Spirits, to wing our affections, and make them ſoar Heaven-ward: Her ways, &c.

p. 189And here a tacit Objection is removed: O ſay ſome, if we take upon us the profeſſion of Godlineſs, then we muſt bid adieu to all pleaſures. Farewell all mirth and delight: nothing now but mourning and lamentation, breaking the heart, penſiveneſs of ſpirit, and going mourning all the day long. 'Tis no ſuch matter; you are miſtaken, when once you make choice of the ways of Godlineſs, and have got a ſpiritual acquaintance and communion with God, you ſhall not looſe pleaſures, but change them: you ſhall looſe carnal, and get ſpiritual pleaſures: you ſhall looſe empty and unſatisfying, and get full ſatisfying pleaſures: you ſhall looſe tranſient, and get permanent pleaſures.

O but ſay ſome, we meet with many troubles, many oppoſitions in our way to Heaven?

We are to encounter with the grand Enemies of our ſalvation, the Fleſh, the Devil, and the World; and much moleſtation we find from them: But however thou maiſt want peace with men, thou haſt peace with God, and Conſcience: Though thou wanteſt peace on Earth, yet thou art no looſer, if thy peace be made in Heaven. Her pathes, &c.

The Argument of my Meditations is the ſingular commendation Text divided.of the ways of Wiſdom: Wherein obſerve a Subject and a Predicate. The Subject term'd ways and pathes of wiſdom: The Predicate, ways of pleaſantneſs and peace. I'le not injure them by any ſub-diviſion, leſt I divide the ſenſe: They contain in them two precious Points of Doctrine.

1. All the ways of godlineſs are ways of pleaſantneſs, and full of delight Doct. 1 unto the children of God.

2. The pathes of godlin…ſſe are peaceable pathes, and full of Doct. 2 peace.

I reſume the firſt Doctrine, and ſhall inlarge it in this eaſie Method.Method propounded.

1. Clear the truth from ſome Doubts and Objections made againſt it.

2. Prove it by particular inſtances.

3. Confirm it by ſome evident Demonſtrations.

Fourthly and laſtly, I ſhall ſet it home upon your affections by particular Application, and hope ſo to conclude, through the Grace of God, as to make you in love with the ways of godlineſs.

p. 1901. Then let's remove the Objections as ſo many ſtumbling blocks 1. Head. Objections removed. Object. 1.out of the way.

It's Objected, That Godlyneſs abridgeth men of pleaſure…; it bindes them to their good behaviours: They muſt ſanctifie the Sabbath; they muſt ſet up God in their Families; they may not ſwill, ſwagger, carrouſe and game away their time. Now what is ſo great an enemy unto the pleaſures of Men and Women, as Religion? It cuts them ſhort of thoſe Delights and Pleaſures which others enjoy.

For Anſwer hereunto, 1. I ſay, Godlyneſs cuts us off unlawful, Anſw. but not lawful pleaſures: Whatever pleaſures it forbids thee, the reaſon is, becauſe there's ſinfulneſs in them. And 'tis a great mercy, even the godly mans delight, to want ſuch pleaſures. Godlyneſs hinders thee of thoſe delights which diſhonor God: And upon ſerious thoughts thou wilt profeſs with Auſtin, Quam ſuave mihi ſubitò factom eſt carere ſuavitatibus iſtarum nugarum.

2. Whatever pleaſure Godlyneſs denys you, it makes it up abundantly with the pleaſures and raviſhing conſolations of Jeſus Chriſt, Pſal. 16. 11. Thou wilt ſhew me the path of life: in thy preſence is fulneſs of joy: and at thy right hand there are pleaſures for evermore. It takes away droſs and gives thee Gold: it takes away worldly, and gives thee heavenly pleaſures; when thou haſt leſs of the Creature, and more of the Creator, thou haſt cauſe to be glad of the exchange. Abraham left his Countrey at Gods command, but the Promiſe made all up with intereſt, Gen. 12. 2. The Lord ſaid unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy countrey, and from thy kindred, and from thy Fathers houſe, unto a land that I will ſhew thee: So did Moſes, Heb. 11. 24, 25, 26. By faith Moſes, when he was come to years, refuſed to be called the ſon of Pharaohs daughter, chooſing rather to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon, eſteeming the reproach of Chriſt greater riches then the treaſures of Egypt: for he had reſpect unto the recompenſe of reward: As it was ſaid to Amaziah, The Lord is able to give thee much more then 2 Chron. 25. 9.2 Chr 25:9this: So it may be ſaid of thy pleaſures, either they are lawful or unlawful; if lawful, God will make them up; if unlawful, happy art thou that God deprives thee of them: 'Tis a ſign that the Parents have a tender love to their children, when they take away a Knife from them, for fear leſt they ſhould hurt themſelves with it: So 'tis mercy when God cuts thee off, and deprives thee of ſuch Delights p. 191and Pleaſures, which if thou hadſt liberty to enjoy, therewith thou wouldſt diſhonor Almighty God.

Object. 2. A ſecond Objection is, How are the ways of God ways of pleaſantneſs, when they require abundance of Humiliation, briniſh Tears, ſorrow for ſin, and is not this irkſome and unpleaſant?

A. There's more ſweetneſs in this which thou calleſt bitterneſſe, (I mean godly ſorrow for ſin) then in all the pleaſures of the world; for as in the laughter of the wicked, the heart is ſorrowful; ſo in the ſorrow of the godly, the heart laughs and rejoyceth. Chriſt turns theſe Waters into Wine: Call not the tears of repentance Marah, but Naomi: In the winding up we ſhall finde that the tears of repentance are not bitter waters, but ſweet refreſhing waters: Every tear in thy eye, is a Pearl in Gods eye: Every tear is exhal'd into Gods bottle: All the laughter of the wicked is Riſus Sardonicus: Their greateſt merriments are foreign. Luther hath an excellent ſaying, Ʋna guttula malae conſcientiae totum mare mundani gaudii abſorbet: But the godly rejoyce in their ſufferings, Rom. 5. 3. And not onelyonly ſo, but we glory in tribulations. They have inward joy amidſt outward ſorrows: VVhen their cheeks run down with tears, they have a chearful ſpirit; ſomething they feel of comfort coming in: They have a principle of Joy within them, from the apprehenſion of Gods love in Chriſt, and this ſwallows up all ſorrows: One glimpſe of Chriſts countenance will ſwallow up an Ocean of ſorrows: And this will appear in two or three Particulars.

1. The work of Humiliation hath the melting work of the Goſpel: The Law breaks, but the Goſpel melts the heart: No ſuch kindly working upon the heart as mercy, bowels opened, and the goodneſs of God: To ſin againſt theſe will deeplieſt affect the heart. When a ſoul is humbled for ſinning againſt mercy and goodneſs, and the heart is melted and diſſolved into tears, there muſt be pleaſantneſs and ſweetneſs in theſe, becauſe they proceed from ſuch a Principle, even the Principle of the melting work of the Goſpel, and this cannot have much bitterneſs in it.

2. The Soul in the work of Humiliation melting before the Lord eaſeth it ſelf of abundance of ſin: We ſay, Leves curae loquuntur, Sen. Trag.ingentes ſtupent: When people can ſhed tears, thereby they eaſe their heart; but when the heart is ſo oppreſt, as the eyes cannot ſhed tears, the ſorrow or paſſion of the heart is greater and more dangerous: p. 192By weeping for ſin, thou doſt eaſe and rid thy ſelf of abundance of ſin; thy heart feels ſome joy, and draws, and ſucks ſome ſweetneſs out of theſe bitter herbs.

3. In the work of Humiliation there's much delight, becauſe the ſoul hath much delight in looking back to that ſorrow it hath had: The wicked rejoyce in their pleaſures; the godly rejoyce in their tears. Epaminondas went ſad about the City, when the Thebanes were a revelling; when others have been in May-games and Merriments, and laſcivious Enterludes, it will cheer up thy ſpirit that thou haſt been ſorrowing for thy ſin.

Object. 3. But thirdly it's Objected, That godlineſs puts us upon hard ſervices, we ſhall meet with many ſcandals, great ſufferings and perſecutions for the name of Chriſt: we ſhall meet with ſore temptations and tryals; Peradventure we may be brought to fry at a Stake for Chriſt: How then can the ways of godlineſs be ways of pleaſantneſs?

A. Notwithſtanding the hardeſt ſufferings that the heart of a godly man ſhall meet withal: yet there's that delight in the ways of godlineſs, as to uphold the heart under all ſufferings, and carry it on ſweetly: How much did the Martyrs rejoyce? They kiſt the Stake, welcomm'd Fire and Fagot; ſome of them leapt for joy, wrote ſingular Letters for the confirmation of their Brethren. Godlyneſs will carry thee chearfully through ſufferings: It will make thee account thy Chains as Ornaments, thy Priſon thy Palace; thy Dungeon thy Paradiſe. Gods people ſuck ſweetneſs out of the bittereſt hearbs: They finde an Honey-comb in the carcaſs of Lyons: They never ſee ſo much of God in proſperity as adverſity: Never do they feel more inward comforts, then amidſt outward ſorrows; for then God ſettles the tranquility of their ſpirits, and the ſerenity of their conſciences. Chriſt appeared to Mary weeping; to Jacob at Bethel; to Elias after forty days faſting. God brings forth his Cordials to his people in their foreſt tryals; ſo that whatever ſorrows, hardſhips and troubles they meet withal abroad, yet they have joy at home; and though they may make many a hard meal: yet a good conſcience is to them a continual feaſt.

There's one Objection more which I ſhall anſwer, and then proceed.

Object. 4. Some object from common experience: When people come into the ways of godlineſs, they do not finde that delight p. 193and joy as they had before: The world obſerves them to be more melancholy, and of a heavy dumpiſh ſpirit.

This is a meer calumny of the Devils raiſing to keep men off from the ways of God: This is a great pull-back and Remora to the converſion of many ſouls. I ſhall give a more full, and, I hope, ſatiſfactory Anſwer to the Objection, in theſe following Conſiderations.

1. Religion denys not civil, courteous, and affable behaviour: Conſid. 1. Religion denys not civil behaviour.Religion forbids not a chearful diſpoſition: Nay, there's a Judgement threatned to the contrary, Deut. 28. 47. Becauſe thou ſervedſt not the Lord thy God with joyfulneſs and with gladneſs of heart, therefore ſhalt thou ſerve thine enemies, ſaith the Lord. A churliſh Nabal is a diſhonor to Religion: Take heed therefore of diſcrediting the Goſpel by your ſad melancholy ſpirits, leſt the world bring an evil report upon the ways of godlineſs. None have ſuch chearful ſpirits as true Believers: Their heart is full and muſt have a vent; their tongues, countenances, carriages, will ſhew that they have comfort in God.

But ſecondly conſider, thou maiſt miſtake Gods children: Thou Conſid. 2. Gods children are ſerious.accounteſt that ſadneſs and ſorrow, which is ſeriouſneſs, gravity, and a ſtay'd compoſ'd carriage. The carriage of Gods children muſt be ſober and grave, their words ſerious, ſeaſon'd with ſalt, and their whole converſation muſt be ſuch as may adorn their profeſſion, Phil. 1. 27. OnelyOnly let your converſation be as becometh the Goſpell of Chriſt.

3. Conſider Gods people may appear ſad, becauſe they are out Conſid. 3. Gods children are ſad when out of their element.of their element. When the Fiſh is out of its element of Water, it cannot enjoy it ſelf. Birds do not ordinarily ſing upon the ground, but when they are got up into the Air. When Gods children are out of their courſe of duties, when they are in Meſeck, and have their habitation in the Tents of Kedar, their ſpirits are dumpiſh: But when their hearts are ſet in a right frame; when they are exerciſing holy Duties amongſt the ſociety of Saints, then are their hearts chearful, then are their ſpirits revived, then are they merry indeed.

4. Thou complaineſt of Gods peoples ſadneſs, maybe it's thy company that makes them ſo. They hear thee Swear, ſee thee Drunk: O Conſid. 4. Bad company cauſe Gods peoples ſadneſs.how this troubles them! It ſo troubles the children of God to ſee any diſhonor offered to God, as they cannot be merry, Pſal. 119. 136. p. 194Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, becauſe they keep not thy law: But let them come amongſt Believers, and joyn with them in religious Exerciſes, their wonted joy comes to them again: Then their joy is above the joy of Harveſt, and the dividing of the ſpoil with the mighty.

5. It is not Religion that makes Gods children ſad; but becauſe Conſid. 5. Gods people are ſad becauſe they are no better.they are no more religious: They grieve that they can grieve no more: They are ſorry that, they are no more ſorry for their ſinns: They finde many failings; they want former Love-tokens and feelings, then they mourn and cry out, Reſtore to me the joy of thy ſalvation: They want Gods gracious countenance, wherefore they cry out, Pſal. 4. 6. There be many that ſay, Who will ſhew us any good? Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

6. This Joy is ſecret, an inward thing, which ſtrangers ſhall not Conſid. 6. Joy is a ſecret inward thing.intermeddle withal: A worldly man cannot judge of this Joy, Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white ſtone, and in the ſtone a new name written, which no man knoweth, ſaving he that receiveth it. The joy of the godly is not in outward flaſhes, nor is it to be meaſur'd by outward aſpect. This is a hidden thing, which ſo raviſheth their hearts as they cannot utter it. Saul could not be merry without a Muſitian; nor Ahab without Naboth's Vineyard; nor Gardiner that bloody Perſecutor, till he had receiv'd the news of the Martyrs death. A godly Mans v Fox Acts and Monum. in Q. Mary's Raign.joy proceeds from no outward principle: A covetous man joys and takes pleaſure in his Barns heap'd with Corn, and Coffers cramm'd with Gold. A voluptuous man joys in Cards, Dice, Hauks, Hounds: A Drunkard in his Cups: An ambitious man in his Titles, Pedegree, Preferments: But a godly man can rejoyce and be merry without all theſe: His joy ariſeth from another principle, even the reconciled countenance of God in Jeſus Chriſt.

Now theſe Objections being remov'd, and my paſſage thus cleared, I come in the ſecond place to prove the truth of the Doctrine 2. The Doctrine proved by particular inſtances.by particular inſtances: And I ſhall inſtance in particular Scriptures which give teſtimony to this truth; then in particular perſons, who by their own experience ſubſcribe to the truth of it.

And laſtly, I ſhall ſurvey the particular ways of godlineſs, and diſcover the pleaſantneſs of them all, and ſo from an Induction of Particulars ſufficiently numbred, I ſhall collect this univerſal Concluſion, That all the ways of godlineſs are ways of pleaſantneſs.

p. 1951. For Scripture Teſtimony, meer Quotations would fill a Sermon: 1. By Scripture Teſtimony.But I ſhall gather ſparingly from the heap, Prov. 22. 17. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wiſe, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge: for it is a pleaſant thing, if thou keep them within thee. If Pleaſure conſiſts in Honors, then Wiſdom affords it abundantly, Prov. 4. 7, 8, 9. Wiſdom is the principal thing; therefore get wiſdom, and with all thy getting get underſtanding: She ſhall give to thine head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory ſhall ſhe deliver to thee. Exalt her and ſhe ſhall promote thee, ſhe ſhall bring thee to honor when thou doſt embrace her. Prov. 8. 15, 16, 17, 18, and 31. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Juſtice: By me Princes rule and Nobles, even all the Judges of the earth. I love them that love me: and they that ſeek me early ſhall finde me: riches and honor are with me, yea durable riches and righteouſneſs.

If Life be a pleaſure, it's to be found in Wiſdom, verſe 35. For whoſo findeth me, findeth life, and ſhall obtain favor of the Lord.

If there be pleaſure in Singing and Rejoycing, it's promiſed to the people of God, Iſa. 51. 11, 12. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord ſhall return and come with ſinging unto Zion, and everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their head; they ſhall obtain gladn…ſs and joy, and ſorrow and mourning ſhall flee away. I, even I am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou ſhouldſt be afraid of a man that ſhall die, and of the ſon of man, which ſhall be made as graſs?

I'le inſtance in particular Perſons, who by experience confeſſe the ways of godlineſs ways of pleaſantneſs: They call the Sabbath a delight, Iſa. 58. 13, 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleaſure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleaſure, nor ſpeaking thine own words, then ſhalt thou delight thy ſelf in the Lord. Nehemiah accounts the joy of the Lord their ſtrength, Neh. 8. 10. Then he ſaid unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, and ſena portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye ſorry, for the joy of the Lord is your ſtrength. So Habakkuk, cap. 3. 17, 18. Although the fig-tree ſhall not bl…ſſom, neither ſhall fruit be in the vines: the labor of the Olive ſhall fail, and the fields ſhall yield no meat: the Flock ſhall be cut off from the f…ld, and there ſhall be no Herd in the ſtalls: yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, and will joy in the God of my ſalvation. So David danced before the Ark with all his might: He makes it the Character of a bleſſed Man, p. 196Pſal. 1. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord: and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And his counſel is, Pſal. 37. 4. Delight thy ſelf alſo in the Lord, and he ſhall give th…e the deſires of thine heart. And his own practice is, Pſal. 40. 8. I delight to do thy will, O God, yea thy law is within my heart. Pſal. 94. 19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul. Pſal. 119. 16. I will delight my ſelf in thy ſtatutes; I will not forget thy word. ver. 35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight. ver. 47. And I will delight my ſelf in thy commandments, which I have loved. ver. 70. Their heart is as fat as greaſe; but I delight in thy law: So Paul, Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the law of God in the inward man. There was joy in the whole City when Chriſt was Preached, Acts 8. 8. Joy in the Eunuch converted: Joy in the Jaylor, Acts 16. 34. And when he had brought them into his h…uſe, he ſet meat before them and rejoyced, believing in God with all his houſe.

Great joy in rearing the material Temple, great joy at the bringing of the Ark and celebration of the Paſſover: And ſuch joy and delight is in the hearts of all Gods people. They do not onelyonly perform duties, but delight in them: As a man drinks when he's dry, eats when he's hungry, and delights in meat and drink; ſo it's the meat and drink of the Saints to do the will of God.

3. Wee'l ſurvey the particular ways of godlineſs, and ſee what cauſe of delight there's in them.

The ways of Wiſdom are either the ways of Gods Ordinances, or ways of exerciſe of the Graces of the Spirit, or ways of obedience to the Commandments. Theſe are all ways of Divine Wiſdom and Godlineſſe, and all theſe ways are top full of delight and pleaſure.

1. The ways of Gods Ordinances are ways of pleaſure: Every Ordinance is a pleaſant, ſweet and delightful Ordinance.

1. The Word is a ſweet Ordinance, Pſal. 119. 103. How ſweet 1. The word is a ſweet Ordinance.are thy words unto my taſte? yea ſweeter then honey to my mouth. It was his comfort in all afflictions, Pſal. 119. 50. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickned me. Pſal. 19. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ſoul: the teſtimony of the Lord is ſure, making wiſe the ſimple. The ſtatutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for p. 197ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether; more to be deſired are they then gold, yea then much fine gold; ſweeter alſo then the h…ney or the honey comb. Moreover, by them is thy ſervant warned, and in k…eping of th…m there is great reward. God ſpeaks to us in his Word by the mouth of his Meſſengers: O what ſweetneſs doth God communicate to the ſoul out of this Ordinance! Therefore Mary choſe the better part, Luke 10. 42. You may read her practice, ver. 39. She ſat at Jeſus feet, and heard his Word: Prov. 8. 34. Bleſſed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the poſts of my dores.

2. Prayer is a ſweet Ordinance: The Saints have conference with 2. Prayer is a ſweet Ordinance.God, and feel much ſweetneſs and delight coming in: Therefore Prayer is called incenſe, Lev. 16. 12. And he ſhall take a cenſer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of ſweet incenſe beaten ſmall, and bring it within the vail. Numb. 16. 46. And Moſes ſaid to Aaron, Take a cenſer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incenſe, and go quickly and make an atonement. Pſal. 141. 2. Let my prayer be ſet before thee as incenſe, and the lifting up of mine hands an evening ſacrifice. Rev. 8. 3, 4. And another angel came and ſtood at the altar, having a golden cenſer, and there was given unto him much incenſe, that he ſhould offer it, with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the ſmoak of the incenſe, which came with the prayers of the ſaints, aſcended Solatium …ſt habere cui pectus aperias. Ambr.up before God, out of the angels hand. Hannah, after all her tears, felt joy coming in, and ſhe was no more ſad, 1 Sam. 1. 18. When we are in great afflictions, we account it matter of comfort to have a friend to whom we may eaſe our ſelves, by way of communicating our condition, and unboſoming our ſelves to him: Theſe are ſuch times when we can truſt no perſon, never ſo near nor dear, Micah 7. 6, 7. For the ſon diſhonoreth the father, the daughter riſeth up againſt her mother; the daughter in law againſt her mother in law: a mans enemies are the men of his own houſe: Therefore I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my ſalvation: my God will hear me. Yet at all times we may goe to God, unboſom our ſelves to him, make our requeſts known unto him in the name of Chriſt: And though riches forſake thee, and friends forſake thee; yet all's abundantly recompenſed in this ſweet promiſe, Heb. 13. 5. Let your converſation be without covetouſneſs, and be content with ſuch things as you have: For he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee. VVhatever thou p. 198wanteſt, yet if thou wanteſt not a heart to pray, thou wilt finde comfort. The children of God would not looſe the benefit of their Prayers, nor a good look from Chriſt, ſmiling upon them in anſwer to their Prayers, for all the Joys and Delights in the Univerſe.

3. The Sacraments are ſweet, delightful Ordinances: For the Sacrament 3. The Sacraments are ſweet Ordinances.of initiation, Baptiſm, it's a comfort to be admitted one of Chriſts Family: 'Tis that which Theodoſius preferred before his Empire. But the fruit of this joy and comfort will appear, when God hath regenerated thee, and made thee a new Creature, Titus 3. 5. Not by works of righteouſneſs which we have done, but according to his mercy he ſaved us, by the waſhing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Gh…ſt.

Now compare this Sacrament of Baptiſm with Circumciſion, and we may ſee how much God indulgeth us under the Goſpel: That was a hard and irkſome ſervice in cutting away the fore-skin from the fleſh. Simeon and Levi overcame the Sichemites when they were ſore. Now Baptiſm is far eaſier, the dipping or ſprinkling in Water. More delight and pleaſantneſs was in this Ordinance then that.

Then for the Lords Supper, This is a ſpiritual Banquet, a Feaſt of fat things, ſuch as is promiſed, Iſa. 25. 6. And in this mountain ſhall the Lord of hoſts make unto all people a feaſt of fat things, a feaſt of wines on lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined: 'Tis a ſealing Ordinance: The word writes the evidence fair; Prayer prevails with God for a ſight of it. The Sacrament comes and ſets a ſeal to it; and when there's ſuch a ſealing day, then ſalvation is come unto thy ſoul. And theſe Ordinances muſt needs be full of delight and conſolation, which are the means of our eternal ſalvation.

3. As the Ordinances are full of delight, ſo are all the Graces of 3. All the Graces of the Spirit are ſweet Ordinances.Gods ſpirit, Cant. 1. 3. Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good oyntments, thy name is as oyntment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Cant. 4. 13, 14. Thy plants are an orchard of pomgranates with pleaſant fruits, camphire with ſpikenard. Spik…nard and ſaffron, calamus and cynamon, with all trees of frankincenſe, myrrhe & aloes, with all the chief ſpices. As for inſtance, Faith is a ſweet, pleaſant Grace; its our life, & nothing ſweeter then life, Hab. 2. 4. The juſt ſhall live by faith: So Hope is ſweet & pleaſant, Pro. 10. 28. The hope of the righteous ſhall be gladneſs; but the expectation of the wicked ſhall periſh. Then patience is ſweet; p. 199for it ſweetens all hardſhips, and bears, all croſſes: It makes a vertue of neceſſity, Heb. 10. 36. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promiſe. Likewiſe Love is pleaſant, for it, by a Divine Alchimy, turns the baſeſt Metals into gold, Cant. 8. 6, 7. Set me as a ſeal upon thine heart, and as a ſeal upon thine arm, for love is ſtrong as death: Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. Another delightful Grace is Meekneſs: A meek ſpirit is chearful, and reviv'd amidſt ſtorms of perſecution: And ſo is Humility. Paſſionate and Proud men take no joy in any thing, they are of Haman's humor: But meek, humble, ſelf-denying ſpirits, are full of joy and tranquility: when the minde is quieted and ſetled, whatever makes againſt it, there's ſomething to make for it, ſomething coming in to ſupport the ſoul, and carry it on chearfully: There's the exerciſe of no Grace, but it's joyous and delightſom to Gods children. Faith, Hope, Patience, Love, Meekneſs, Humility, are the delight of Gods children.

4. Laſtly, There's much delight and joy in obedience to Gods 4. There's much delight and joy in obedience to Gods commandments.commandments. O how love I thy law! Thy law is my delight, ſaid David: All the Duties of obedience are pleaſant to Gods children: When the Spouſe is once drawn, ſhe will be a running, Cant. 1. 4. Draw me and I will run after thee. So David, Pſal. 119. 32, 77. I will run the ways of thy commandments, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart. It was Pauls delight, in the place above mention'd; and it was Davids rejoycing, Pſal. 119. 14, 15, 16. I have rejoyced in the ways of thy teſtimonies, as much as in all riches. I will delight my ſelf in thy ſtatutes, and not forget thy word. Obedience to the commandments is eaſie to Gods children: They do it with as much delight, as David danced before the Ark. But profane perſons do duties as Phaltiel followed Mic…l. 'Tis ſaid, 1 John 5. 3. This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. 'Tis eaſie with Gods children to forbear Swearing, they covenant with their tongues: It's eaſie to forbear Whoredom; they covenant with their eyes: It's eaſie to keep the Sabbath; for they call it a delight: It's eaſie to hear the word, and tarry it out patiently, for it is a joy unto them, Matth. 11. 28, 29, 30. Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am lowly and meek: For my yoke is eaſie and my burthen is light. Do not therefore diſcourage any from the ways of Religion, as the Spies did from entring into p. 200Canaan. You can ſubſcribe to this by experience; you can do much more work, when your ſpirits are chearful, when you do your buſineſs willingly: A chearful minde will facilitate the weightieſt enterprize. Many uſe Recreations to refreſh their ſpirits: And Recreation may not be uſ'd otherwiſe then as a File to Devotion. Now the practice of holy Duties is the godly mans recreation: It was Chriſts meat and drink to do his Fathers work; and ſo it is of the godly: Therefore they Pray, Read, Hear, Meditate, and live chearfully: Their ſouls are delighted and quieted in the performance of duty.

Carry home this truth with you, that there's more real, ſollid joy in the ways of Religion, then all the delightful ways in the Univerſe: And Oh! that this might ſtir your affections to be in love with the ways of godlineſs.

I now come to the confirmation of the Point by ſome evident Demonſtrations.

1. Whatever pleaſure men finde in the world, is much more to Demonſt. 1. No pleaſure in the world like to the pleaſure of godlineſs.be found in the ways of godlineſs, Prov. 3. 14, 15. For the merchandiſe of it is better then the merchandiſe of ſilver, and the gain thereof then fine gold: She is more precious then rubies, and all the things thou canſt deſire are not to be compared unto her. Prov. 8. 14, 15. Counſel is mine, and ſound wiſdom; I am underſtanding, I have ſtrength. By me Kings reign, and Princes decree juſtice.

I ſhall inſtance in all the ſenſes: The eye takes delight in beautifull Objects. It's a pleaſant thing to behold the Sun: the Light is pleaſant, but no ſuch beauty as in the ways of God. Solomon ſpeaks much of the Ruby, and compares Wiſdom to it for its reſplendent Luſtre. Could the beauty of godlineſs be ſeen with theſe eyes, they would be dazled. Excellens ſenſibile corrumpit ſi ſenſū. The eye of man hath ſeen ſtately Buildings, rich Treaſures, precious Commodities; but the eye of Faith in a Believer ſeeth the holy Trinity, the Throne of God: In compariſon whereof, the braveſt ſights in the World are nothing, even leſs then nothing.

2. The eare is delighted with melodious muſicke. Men love to heare a skillfull Muſitian. But in a tranſcendent manner the eares of the godly are delighted with hearing the word, the ſtrong cryes and prayers of God's people, the ſinging of Pſalmes, Pſal. 89. 15. Bleſſed is the people that know the joyfull ſound, they ſhall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. Some antient Philoſophers phanſied p. 201muſick in the Orbes and Intelligences to wheel them about. That opinion is much controverted amongſt themſelves: But this is an undoubted truth that there's no muſick ſo delightfull to the eare as duties of religion. They are pleaſant to God's eare. For hee loves to heare his people praying, and ſhould not they bee pleaſant to ours? And beſides, what wee heare of God now is but for a moment: what wee ſhall heare heareafter ſhall bee to eternity. When the damned are a roaring, skriking, howling, blaſpheming, curſing, weeping, and heare nothing elſe: Then the Saints ſhall heare Hallelujah's, praiſing, ſinging, and joyne themſelves in a Celeſtiall Conſort.

3. The taſt ſhall bee delighted in the ways of godlineſſe. Gluttons and drunkards delight much in their taſt. Curious taſts will not bee pleaſed but with ſweet and delightfull things. Now O Chriſtian get another taſt, a ſpirituall reliſh of heavenly thinges, Pſal. 34. 4. O taſt and ſee that the Lord is good, bleſſed is the man that putteth his truſt in him.

4. The ſmell is delighted in the ways of godlineſs. Hence it's called the ſavour of ointment. And graces are reſembled to ſpices for their fragrancy. When the Alabaſter box of ointment was opened, it perfumed all the roome. The godly have a good ſavour, they leave a ſweet ſent behind them, Prov. 10. 7. The memory of the juſt is bleſſed, but the name of the wicked ſhall rot. The righteous have a good name, and they live, when they are dead. The wicked goe out like the ſnuffe of a candle.

Then 5thly for touching, ther's delight in that likewiſe. The Demonſtrat. 2. All the wayes of godlineſs are rational wayespoore woman had the ſweeteſt touch that ever ſhee met with, Mat. 9. 21. Let mee but touch the h…m of his garment, and I ſhall b…e whole. And thus in every ſenſe ther's delight.

A ſecond Demonſtration is: All the wayes of godlineſs are rationall wayes: There are obſerved (according to Philoſophers directions) foreign, rationall and irrationall deſires. As wee are to pray to bee delivered from unreaſonable men: ſo from unreaſonable deſires. The very heathens ſcorn'd ſenſual brutiſh delights. Clemens Alexandrinus brands gluttony by two ſignificant words, viz: foreign. And Tully tels us; Nemo dignus nomine hominis, qui unum diem velit eſſ… in voluptate. So that drunkenneſs, gluttony, &c: are irrationall, brutiſh, ſenſuall pleaſures. Godlineſs only hath rationall pleaſures, ſo that the pleaſures of Godlineſs are ſutable to the principles of p. 202right regulated reaſon. They indeed elevate and are above it: yet Rom. 12. 1. foreign, Quod noſtrum ſacrificium ſit ejuſmodi ut de eo poſſimus …ationem poſcentibus reddere. Origen. Demonſtrat. 3. All the ways of godlineſs are made up of love.Rom 12:1not contrary to it. Ther's reaſon in every holy duty, ther's rationality in the pathes of wiſdome. Carnall reaſon doth not apprehend it: but ſpirituall and illuminated reaſon apprehends the wayes of holineſs to bee moſt rationall, and the godly man to bee the man of underſtanding. Hence a wiſe man and a godly man, a fool and a ſinner are ſynonymous termes in the proverbes of Solomon.

The third Demonſtration is, the wayes of godlineſſe muſt needs bee wayes of pleaſantneſs, becauſe they are all made up of Love. What comes from a principle of love hath much delight and pleaſure in it. Now every principle of the way of God is love. God ſets his heart upon us, and that love to us makes our love reciprocall to him. Love I may terme, Vehiculum animae, the chariot of the ſoule. It carries on the ſoule ſwiftly unto God, Bee the way ſmooth or ruggid, faire or fowle, love will carry the ſoule on with expedition. A love to godlineſs will make thy ſoule delight in it abundantly, Cant. 3. 9, 10. King Solomon made himſelfe a Chariot of the wood of Leban…n, hee made the pillars thereof of ſilver, the bottome thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midſt thereof being pav'd with love, for the daughters of Jeruſalem. A ſtrange expreſſion that the midſt of the chariot ſhould bee pav'd with love. The chariot whereby Chriſt doth carry his people up and downe in this world, and bringes them to himſelfe, is ſuch a chariot, as the midſt thereof is pav'd with love, Peruſe verſ. 7, 9, 10: compared together. Behold this bed which is Solomon's, threeſcore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Iſrael. King Solomon made him a chariot of the wood of Lebanon, &c. The bed of Solomon, is to be underſtood of the reſt and glory which the Saints ſhall have with Chriſt eternally. And by the Chariot of Solomon, the wayes wherein Chriſt carries his people up and down in the world to himſelfe and in the midſt thereof is love. Such wayes then muſt needs bee pleaſant. What wee love wee delight in. Pſ. 84. 1. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hoſtes: my ſoule longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord.

The 4th demonſtration is; The wayes of godlineſs muſt needs bee wayes of pleaſantneſs, becauſe they have the preſence of God; and Demonſtrat. 4. Wayes of godlineſs have God's preſence.in theſe wayes God communicates himſelfe unto the ſoules of his people. Holineſs is God's Image▪ and God delights himſelfe in his own Image; and therefore hee lets out the influence of his love, and manifeſts his peculiar preſence to thoſe that walke in theſe p. 203wayes. Thus Enoch walked with God, and God tranſlated him. Thus the Apoſtles ſang in priſon. They had merry hearts, becauſe God was with them. Thus David at Ziglag encouraged himſelfe in the Lord his God, 1 Sam. 30. 6. God is in them, and lets out himſelfe unto them: Now the quinteſſence of all good put together is in every beame of God's reconciled countenance, and therefore when God thus manifeſts himſelfe to a ſoul, there muſtneeds be delight. This made the Apoſtles rejoyce, when they had been beaten: This made the martyrs kiſs the ſtake; For they apprehended a glymps of God's loving countenance, and this reviv'd their ſpirits: ſome of them ſaid, Bee of good cheere, wee have a ſad break-faſt, but wee ſhall have a merry ſupper with the Lambe.

5. The wayes of godlineſs have all the properties of ſuch a good as is Demonſtrat. 5. The wayes of godlineſs have all the properties of a deſirable good.moſt deſirable and delightful to the ſoul. Philoſophers diſtribute them in honeſtum, ju…undum & utile. All theſe are appropriated to godlineſs.

1. It's honeſtum, of good report, Phil. 4. 8. Finally, brethren, whatſoever things are true, whatſoever things are hon…ſt, whatſoever things are juſt, whatſoever things are pure, whatſoever things are lovely, whatſoever thinges are of good report; if there bee any virtue, and if there bee any praiſe, thinke on theſe things.

2. Jucundum. No delight like the wayes of Religion. Then ther…s delight in the ſoule, when its in a right frame and temper. Now the ſoule is in no ſuch temper; but in the wayes of Religion. A good conſcience, or as it is rendred, a good or merry heart is a continual feaſt. And James 5. 13. Is any amonge you afflicted? let him pray: Is any merry, let him ſing pſalmes, foreign, if ones mind be right. Thus the Law was David's and Paul's delight.

3. Ʋtile, much emolument accrues to a godly man. In the left hand of wiſdome are riches and honour. And wee read. 1 Tim. 6. 6. Godlineſs with contentment is great gaine. God is a liberall pay-maſter to his ſervants, and none ever went away looſers by the ſervice of God. Heathens faired the better for their compaſſion to the Iſraelites, Exod. 1. 21. And it came to paſs, becauſe the Midwives feared God, that hee made them houſes. Obed Edom faired the better for entertaining the Arke. The Sareptan widdow for entertaining the Prophet: Potiſer for Joſeph. God's people receive benefits by others, and are beneficiall to others.

4. To theſe I adde a fourth, Bonum Honorabile. Riches and honour are with wiſdome. None ſo honorable as God's ſervants.

Noe ſuch honourable wayes as the wayes of Religion. The pathes p. 204of wickedneſs are baſe and ignoble. Antiochus is cal'd a vile perſon, Dan. 11. 21. And in his eſtate ſhall ſtand up a vile perſon, to whom they ſhall not give the honour of the Kingdome, but hee ſhall come in peaceably, and obtaine the Kingdome by ſlatteries. But godlineſs is honourable. Honor eſt in honorante. What ſhall be done to the man, whom the King of Heaven delights to honour. And wee read, Act. 17. 11. Theſe were more noble than thoſe in Th…ſſalonica, in that they received the word with all readineſs of mind, and ſearched the ſcriptures dayly whether thoſe things were ſo: foreign. Hence Ignatius ſayd, Nobilitas & antiquitas mea Jeſus Chriſtus. Godlineſſe is an honourable ſervice. The wayes of Wickedneſſe moſt ignoble and diſhonourable.

5. It's bonum conveniens, a good ſuteable and commenſurate to the deſires of the ſoule. The ſoule is a heavenly borne being, ſpirituall, immateriall, and nothing can bee ſuteable, but that which beares a like proportion. The ſoule is not nouriſhed with huskes, pleaſures, profits, delights of the world. No earthly thing can ſatisfie the vaſt and boundleſs deſires of an immortall ſoule when the Depth ſays, It's not in mee: the ſea it's not in mee: the eaſterne and weſterne treaſures of gold & ſpices ſay, It's not in us: from God alone commeth ſatisfaction. Hee alone can fill up the Angles of our heart, Pſal. 90. 4. O ſatisfie us early with thy mercy, that wee may rejoice, and bee glad all our dayes. Wee may eat and not bee ſatisfied, that's a curſe threatned, Micah. 6. 14. Thou ſhalt eat: but not bee ſatisfied, and thy caſting downe ſhall bee in the mid'ſt of thee, &c. Wee may ſee varieties of delightfull objects: and yet not bee ſatisfied, Eccleſ. 1. 8. The eye is not ſatisfied with ſeeing, nor the eare fild with hearing. Wee may love ſilver and yet not bee ſatisfied, Eccleſ. 5. 10. Hee that loveth ſilver ſhall not bee ſatisfied with ſilver; nor hee that loveth abundance with increaſe: But Jer. 31. 14. And I will ſatiate the ſoules of the Prieſts with fatneſs; and my ſoule ſhall be ſatisfied with goodneſs ſaith the Lord. Pleaſures, riches, honours, profits, are not ſuteable goods. But holyneſs is ſuteable and ſatisfactory to the ſoule.

6. Bonum perman…ns. Riches make themſelves winges and fly away. Friends are perfidious. Creature comforts are like Job's deceitfull brook. But godlineſs is durable. Prov. 8. 18. Riches and honour are with thee, yea durable riches and righteouſneſs. Holyneſſe laſts to eternity. When all leaves thee, a good Conſcience p. 205keeps thee company in Heaven. Doe you then deſire an eternall permanent good! get the feare of God principled in your hearts.Demonſtrat. 6. Drawne from incouraging delight which God hath promiſed.

The 6th and laſt demonſtration ſhall be drawne from the many incourageing delights that God hath provided for them. They enjoy the garden of Eden, a paradiſe of delights here upon earth, their lives are ſweet and delightfull: for they have a God to goe to, to call him Abba, father: They have Chriſt their Mediatour: the ſpirit of truth, their comforter. They have thee the ſweet ſpringes and Rivers of Ordinances to refreſh them, and rich and precious promiſes. They have in them a grand Charter, full of immunities and glorious priviledges. And they have a Chriſt, the tree of life, and what hee hath is put forth for their good. Hee's a counſellour to inſtruct them, a fountaine to cleanſe them, a mighty God to defend them: ſo that having all theſe helpes and Incouragements from the holy Trinity, from the promiſes, from the ordinances, they muſt needs ſuck ſweetneſs out of theſe breaſts of conſolation.

Review all theſe demonſtrations, and from them learne to ſet a high price of, and delight your ſelves in the wayes of Godlyneſſe.

Therefore this doctrine ſerves, 1. For an Uſe of conviction, to convince Uſe. 1. For conviction.the world of their exceeding great folly in their prejudicate opinions againſt the wayes of godlyneſs. They are unacquainted with the amiable beauty & ſweet refreſhings of divine wiſdom, and therefore they ſpeak evill of that which they know not, prejudging and raſhly cenſuring God's people for melancholy, dumpiſh ſpirited perſons. Theſe deale with the wayes of God as the Pagan Perſecutors with the primitive Chriſtians: They put them in Beares and dogges skinnes, ſo to render them odious to the multitude, then they baited and worried them. Juſt ſo prophane men now adayes put religion into ugly conceits: they cenſure Profeſſours of religion for diſſemblers, and hypocrites, and the profeſſion it ſelfe ſowre, unpleaſant and burdenſome, and thus they revile the wayes of God. But theſe peoples tongues are no ſlanders. They even fight againſt their own ſhaddowes, or elſe make a man of clouts and then fight againſt him. This is their fancy, their conceit, and their groundleſſe miſpriſſion: Not that ther's any ſuch thing as they fancy in the wayes of godlineſs: For all the wayes of Godlineſs are lovely and excellent, ſweet and delightfull unto the Saints of God; only thou judgeſt ignorantly and raſhly. Thy eye is like one that hath the yellow Jaundice, which ſeeſt all things yellow. Thou haſt a naturall p. 206eye and therefore canſt not diſcerne aright of the wayes of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14, 15. But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the ſpirit of God: for they are fooliſhneſſe unto him: neither can h…e know them: for th…y are ſpiritually diſcerned. But hee that is ſpirituall judgeth all things: yet hee himſelfe is judged of no man.

Thou haſt a dull eare & therefore wilt not hear the voice of a ſpiritual charmer, charme hee never ſo wiſely. Thou haſt a carnal taſt, and therefore canſt not reliſh and taſt ſweetneſs in God's wayes: Thou haſt all thy affections diſordered and out of frame, thy love, joy, deſire are upon the world. Thou followeſt other lovers, pleaſures, luſts, profits. Theſe have bewitched thy heart and took up thy delight: and therefore thou art a mere ſtranger unto the wayes of godlineſs. I would gladly convince carnall men, that ther's no delight in carnall, ſinfull pleaſures.

I have proved largely that the wayes of godlineſs are the only wayes of pleaſantneſs. Ile propound ſome convictions that the wayes of ſinne and wickedneſſe have no reall ſolid pleaſure, no true delight and contentment in them.

1. The wayes of wickedneſs afford only ſenſuall, fleſhly pleaſures. Convict. 1. The wayes of wickedneſs afford ſenſuall pleaſures.The drinking gameing, epicurizing of ungodly men only reacheth to the ſenſuall part. And what ſhall I pamper a carcaſs, that which muſt bee wormes meat, and ſhall I neglect my precious ſoule? what ſhall Chriſt, heaven, eternity bee neglected for ſatiſfaction of a baſe luſt, a few paltry pleaſures, which laſt but for a ſeaſon? If carnall wiſdome bee ſenſuall, much more carnall luſts, Jam. 3. 15. This wiſdome deſcendeth not from above: but is earthly, ſenſuall deviliſh. Will the glutton pleaſe his brutiſh appetite; will the drunkard dare to make his throat his tunnell, his belly his barrell for a little ſenſuall pleaſure, and hazard his immortall ſoule to all eternity?

2. Ther's much mixture of inward ſadneſs, many damps of ſpirit amidſt all the carnall pleaſures of wicked men, Prov. 20. 17. Convict. 2. Theres inward ſadneſs amidſt outward ſinfull pleaſures.Bread of deceit is ſweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth ſhall bee filled with gravell. And in the midſt of laughter the heart is ſorrowfull. Ambroſe hath a notable expreſſion to this purpoſe. Vides convivium peccatoris, interroga ejus conſcientiam, &c. Thou ſeeſt the wicked man's feaſting▪ but queſtion with his Conſcience; doth not that ſtink more filthily than any ſepulchre. Thou ſeeſt his joy, his luſtineſſe, thou wondereſt at the abundance of his riches, p. 207children: but couldſt thou look within, thou wouldſt ſee wounds of Conſcience, ſadneſſe and heavineſs of ſpirit. A wicked man may put on a merry countenance, though his heart may bee ſad. When Belſhazar was a carrowſing, a damp of heart ſeazed upon him preſently as ſoon as hee ſaw the hand writing. Damocles at a great feaſt had a ſword hanging over his head with a twined thread. All theſe pleaſures are foreign, mixt with ſorrow and vexation of ſpirit.

3. Carnall pleaſures produce the curſe of God. What delight Convict. 3 Carnal pleaſures bring a curſe.couldſt thou take in a time of infection to have a brave ſuit of apparrell with the plague in it? what delight in drinking poyſon in a guilded cup. Aggrippina tempered poyſon for Claudius in that meat wherein hee moſt delighted. Thou followeſt the careere and ſwinge of thy affections. God makes thy ſtrongeſt affections thy thy ſtrongeſt afflictions. David was moſt croſt in Abſolom, and Adonijab, Amnon in Tamar, Jonah in his Gourd. A volup…uous man delights in gameing, by gameing God bringes him to poverty. A glutton makes his belly his God, God makes his table his ſnare. The drunkards cup is become his poyſon. What ſeavers, dropſies and diſeaſes accompany him? The ſlothfull man, who ſleeps out his time, is cloath'd with ragges. Give mee, ſaith Chryſoſtome, one voluptuous man, that is idle and hath his health. Idleneſs is the chamber of all diſeaſes. Drunkards pull the houſes of their bodies about their eares.

4. Carnall pleaſures are vaniſhing and momentary. All the Convict. 4. Carnal pleaſures are vaniſhing momentary.merry meetings, ſports, paſtimes are but flaſhes, a blaze and ſoon gone, like crackling of thornes, Eccleſ. 7. 6. For as the crackling of thornes under a pot: ſo is the laughter of the foole. Either they leave us or wee them. Haman was banqueting and in great requeſt with the King, upon a ſudden out of favour and hang'd uppon a gallowes. Can any man of wiſdome delight in fickle, flaſhie, vaine things? Iſai. 55. 2. Wherefore doe yee ſpend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not? hearken diligently unto mee, and eat yee that which is good, and let your ſoule delight it ſelfe in fatneſs. If the pleaſures of the wicked would hold for ever, then they would have ſomewhat to ſay for themſelves: But they are gone upon a ſuddaine. 1. They are gone from thee. They are like a ſnow-ball, preſently they melt away. Riches make themſelves winges. They are gone from thee in thy youth. The p. 208candle of the wicked is ſoone put out. Or elſe when thou comeſt to bee old, thou wilt ſay as Barzilla… did, 2 Sam. 19. 34. How long have I to live, that I ſhould goe up with the King unto Jeruſalem? Or elſe 2. Thou art gone from them. When death arreſts thee to appeare before the Judge of Heaven and earth, then farewell all pleaſures, merry meetings, boon companions: All ſports will leave thee, then thou muſt bee in eternity; And O how dolefull will that ſound bee to thee; The ſeaſon is paſt now, the Judge hath vaild his face: thy curſed delights in burning luſts will end in eternall burnings.

5. All the carnall pleaſures in the world are not able to ſatisfie Convict. 5.the ſoule. Haman was diſcontent amidſt all his glory for want of Mordecaies bended knee. Witty jeſts, melodious muſick, ſtately buildings, delicate cheare; how can theſe ſatisfie the ſoule? Doe they leave any ſweet contentment behind them? No, ther's a ſting in the Conſcience. What man of wiſdome can comfort himſelfe when hee goes to bed, when hee hath ſpent the day paſt in carnall luſts, ſinful pleaſures? Let mee aske thee, and O▪ that thou wouldſt aske thy ſoule the queſtion, what benefit have I got by the ſocietie of debaucht Ruffians? what comfort can I take from my chambring and wantonneſs? what delight in my drinking, carrowzing & healthing? O aske thy Conſcience, and if it bee not feared, it will tell thee, all theſe are miſerable comforters. Believe it Chriſtians, ſoule delights only leave a ſweet reliſh in our ſoules after their acts are paſt. When wee are reading, hearing, praying, meditating, Oh! what joy doth there remaine upon our ſpirits. One dram of ſuch ſpirituall joy will more chear up our ſpirits, then all the joy in harveſt and the dividing the ſpoile with the mighty. But on the contrary, ſenſuall, carnal pleaſures, when theire acts are over, then is the beginning of our torment.

6ly, and laſtly. The finall period and end of all finfull pleaſures is eternall deſtruction. Job. 20. 12. Though wickedneſſe be ſweet in Convict. 6 The end of ſinfull pleaſures is eternall deſtruction.the mouth, though he hide it under his tongue: yet his meate in his bowells is turned; it is the gall of aſps within him. Prov. 23. 31, 32. Looke not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it mooveth it ſelfe aright. At the laſt it biteth like a ſerpent, and ſtingeth like an adder. Prov. 7. 22. 23. He goeth after her ſtraightway as an Ox goeth to the ſlaughter or as a foole to the correction of the ſtockes, till a dart ſtrike thorow his liver, as a bird haſteth to the ſnare and knoweth not that it is for his life. Prov. 5. 11 And th…u mourne at the laſt, when thy fleſh and thy body are conſumed. Senſuall p. 209pleaſures lead to and fit us for deſtruction. Iſai. 5. 14. Therefore hell hath enlarged herſelfe, and opened her mouth without meaſure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pompe, and he that rejoyceth ſhall deſcend into it. Job. 21, 12, 13. They take the timbrel and harpe, and rejoyce at the ſound of the organ: they ſpend their dayes in wealth, and in a moment goe downe unto the grave. Theſe are they that come to a fearefull end. Your ſorrow ſhall be proportionable to your joy. Rev. 18. 7. How much ſhee hath glorified her ſelfe, and lived deliciouſly, ſo much torment and ſorrow give her: For ſhee ſaith in her heart, I ſet a queene, and am no widd…w, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow.

O that theſe premiſes might deeply affect all voluptuous livers. Conſider amid'ſt all thy delights, what will there not be bitterneſſe in the end? will not dayes of mourning come? cups of trembling for cups of healthing and carrowſing? Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoyc…, O young man in thy youth, and let thine heart cheare thee in the day…s of thy youth, and walk in the wayes of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: But know thou that for all theſe things God will bring thee into judgment. If after every intemperate draught a cup of ſcalding lead were poured downe thy throat, how grievous would that be! The end of all thy intemperate pleaſures will be worſe. Job. 2. 20. His eyes ſhall ſee his deſtruction, and he ſhall drinke of the wrath of the almighty. Now thou delights in long ſitting amongſt drunkards (though thou canſt not patiently ſtay out a ſermon) but thou ſhalt drinke of the cup of Gods wrath eternally. O that what hath been ſaid might terrify all prophane perſons, voluptuous livers, that ſeeing the ſad, diſmall condition of carnall pleaſures, they would make a better choice.

To which purpoſe I preſſe a ſecond uſe, for exhortation.

Let me beſeech you as you conſult the eternall good of your immortall Ʋſe. 2. For Exortation.ſoules to delight your ſoules in the waies of godlineſſe. No true pleaſure to be found elſe where. O make God your delight, your joy, let your ſpirits be ſolaced in the waies of God. David would rather be a dore-keeper in the houſe of God, then to dwell in the tents of wickedneſſe. Be your condition never ſo mean, your ſorrowes in the world multiply'd: yet all's abundantly made up in the joy of Gods loveing and reconciled countenance Account then the ſabbath a delight: Heare with delight, pray, read and meditate with delight. If you take a delight in the waies of God, aſſure your ſelves, God will come in and you ſhall ſee and taſt more ſweetneſſe p. 210in God, then ever you did all the daies of your life. I formerlyſurveyed all the waies of God, and concluded they were the only pleaſant, delightful waies in all the world, And the more I meditate on them the more delight I find in them. The young Levit's heart was merry when preferment was offered to him; much more joy is in that ſoule which is prefer'd to a ſweet communion with Jeſus Chriſt. The ſoule is raviſhed with the love of Jeſus Chriſt, The joy is unutterable. A ſtranger cannot intermeddle with it. It's a ſaying of Bernard. Vis nunquam eſſe triſtis, bene vive. I perſwade you to make a bleſſed change ofearthly to get heavenly, of carnal to get ſpiritual, of momentany and tranſient to get permanent pleaſures. A rich man delights in his riches, a voluptuous man in his pleaſures, an ambitious man in his titles of honour. And what reall contentment can be found in all theſe? but a godly man delights in Chriſt. Chriſt is his joy, his hope, his love, his deſire, his honour. 1 Pet. 2. 7. Ʋnto you which believe he is precious: But unto them which be diſſobedient, the ſtone which the builders diſſallowed is made the head of the corner. Will beauty delight you? Chriſt is the faireſt of ten thouſand. Will riches and honour take you? In the left hand of wiſdome are riches and honnours. What are your deſires? Be they what they will (and the deſires are boundleſſe) yet read, Pſ. 37. 4. Delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thine heart. O! then be no longer a ſtranger to the wayes of wiſdome. O delight in the promiſes, and you ſhall ſuck ſweetneſſe out of theſe breaſts of conſolation. Delight your ſelves in the divine ordinances, and with joy you ſhall draw water out of theſe wells of ſalvation. O delight in Jeſus Chriſt, Iſaih: 12. 3.let your whole deſires beſet upon him. And hee's faire and pleaſant for delight, Cant. 7. 6. How faire and how pleaſant art thou, O love, for delights! Get your hearts in Love with Chriſt and his ways; And one ſparke of love will beget a flame of ſeraphicall affections. What you love, you will moſt delight in.

I proceed to a third Uſe for tryal and examination: Every one Uſe 1. for examination.lays claim to the duty: They profeſs delight in Chriſt and in his ways: As it was ſaid, When the Son of man comes, ſhall he finde Faith on the earth? ſo when Chriſt calls us to account, ſhall he finde this true delight in his ways? This pleaſantneſs may be much miſtaken, and many pretend to it, who have no right nor portion in it. Many miſtake natural pleaſantneſs for ſpiritual pleaſantneſs: Therefore it nearly concerns us to examine our ſelves whether this pleaſantneſs p. 211be natural or ſpiritual. I'le lay down ſome Qualifications of ſpiritual joy and pleaſantneſs.

1. Spiritual joy and pleaſantneſs is ſerious, grave, compoſed. Gods Qual. 1 children rejoyce with prudence: Whereas in a natural pleaſantneſs there's much lightneſs in carriage, much vanity and indiſcretion. Gods children are careful to let no miſplac'd word, foreign, come from them: Natural joy wants this circumſpect, conſiderate behaviour.

2. Spiritual Joy is ſuch as can ſtand with fear, and the work of Qual. 2 Repentance and Humiliation, Pſal. 2. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. Pſal. 112. 1. Praiſe ye the Lord: bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. This tranſcends the ſphear of the activity of natural joy: It never looks at Humiliation and godly ſorrow for ſinne. Theſe daſh its mirth preſently, and ſpoils all the ſport of a naturall man.

3. Spiritual Joy hath God for its object: The joy of the Lord Qual. 3 (ſaith Neh…miah) is your ſtrength. So David encouraged himſelf in God. Now natural joy looks no higher then Farms, Pleaſures, Friends, Profits in the World; If riches encreaſe, then are their hearts ſet on them.

4. Spiritual Joy delights in all ways of Wiſdom: It's ſaid of Herod Qual. 4 that he heard John foreign, ſweetly; but he could not brook the ſeventh Commandment. Many natural men can delight in ſome way of wiſdom, ſo far forth as they pleaſe their fancies. The ſtony ground received ſome truths with joy; but could not cloſe with other truths: That joy which is ſpiritual, delights in all the Commandments of God reſpectively: There's an equal and indifferent reſpect unto all Gods Commandments.

5. Spiritual Joy is the ſtrength of the ſoul, and carrys it on in the Qual. 5 ways of God more fully: Its as Oyl to the Wheels to facilitate its motion. Are your ſpirits reviv'd in the ways of God? Are you carryed on with vigor and delight in the ways of Godlyneſs? Are your motions more quick and nimble? VVhat life have you felt in Prayer? What ſweetneſs in Hearing? What activity in Meditation? Are your affections on the wing, ſoaring aloft to Heaven? Doth this joy quicken your ſpirits to a chearful performance of duty, and make the Chariot Wheels of your ſouls move ſwiftly? Then this is a ſpiritual joy: Whereas natural joy makes a mans heart p. 212dead in ſpiritual things. When men are full of worldly joy, if you interpoſe ſome ſavory diſcourſe of God, and his ways; thoſe men who had fluent tongues before, can ſay nothing, they are as it were dead men, their hearts are as Nabals, as a ſtone within them.

Sixthly and laſtly, Spiritual joy will ſupport the ſpirit and bear up Qual. 6 the heart in the want of all outward joy and pleaſantneſs, Hab. 3. 17, 18. Although the fig-tree ſhall not bloſſom, neither ſhall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive ſhall fail, and the fields ſhall yield no meat; the flock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall be no herd in the ſtalls: yet I will rejoyce in the Lord, and joy in the God of my ſalvation. A ſoul that hath onelyonly natural pleaſantneſs is all amort, and quite caſt down, when any affliction befalls it: But a ſoul that hath ſpiritual pleaſantneſs amidſt all ſorrows, findes comfort in God to ſwallow them all up. When croſſes and afflictions befall a childe of God, then is the time for tryal of his joy, Rom 5. 2. By whom alſo we have acceſs by faith into this grace, wherein we ſtand and rejoye in hope of the glory of God. He kiſſeth the rod: Amidſt outward ſorrows he feels inward conſolations; an exchange of worldly for ſpiritual joys.

The fourth Uſe ſhall be for Direction: you will ask, How ſhall we Ʋſe 4. For Direction.carry on the work of God chearfully?

A. 1. Take heed of allowing thy ſelf in any ſecret ſin: A ſecret ſin allowed of will daſh all thy mirth. I told you before a… ſaying of Luther: for its excellency I reminde you of it again. Ʋnagu… tula malae conſcientiae totum mare mundani gaudii abſorbet. No way in the world ſo conducible hereunto, as the purging out thy corruptions, the exterminating of ſin out of thy ſoul. The fewer ſins, the more will be thy joy, as I may inſtance in David, who complain'd of broken bones, and Prayes, Reſtore unto me the joys of thy ſalvation, that the bones which thou haſt broken may rejoyce.

2. Study ſeriouſly and frequently all the ways of godlineſs: The more knowledge thou haſt of the ways of God, the more delight wilt thou take in them. The ſaying is, Ignoti nulla cupido: Principle thy heart therefore aright in the ways of godlineſs, and labor for more knowledge of them: Labor to know the beauty, and excellency, and incomparable riches of Chriſt. The ignorant people ask, What is thy beloved more then another beloved? Labor to comprehend with all Saints the heighth, depth, length and breadth of the love of God: Be not content with that meaſure of knowledge which thou p. 213haſt already attained, but get acceſſions and additions to it, Pſal. 9. 10. And th…y that know thy name will put their truſt in thee: for thou, O Lord, haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee.

3. Put in practice the Divine Art of Meditation: This is the ſpiritual digeſting of the Food of Heaven: O what abundance of comfort do Chriſtians feel by Meditation! Meditation is Animae vehiculum, it carrys up thy Devotions to Heaven. To go to duties with a barren, dull ſpirit, there's no delight; but to go to them after ſpiritual Meditation, this is ſweet and pleaſant indeed. Thus Iſaac meditated in the fields. Mary pondred Chriſts words in her heart: Sequeſter therefore your ſouls apart from all worldly intanglements, and meditate of the riches of Chriſt, of the excellency of his ways, and by this means your ſpirits will be elevated, and you'l perform duties with more vigour and alacrity of ſpirit.

Fourthly and laſtly. Be ſure to walk uprightly: Get an upright heart, and thou mayeſt take comfort in whatſoever thou doeſt, Pro. 10. 9. He that walketh uprightly, walketh ſurely: but he that perverteth his way ſhall be known. Many complain, I cannot do as others do, I want thoſe joys they have: I cannot perform duties as well as they. I direct thee to be ſure that thy heart be upright, that what thou doeſt is in ſincerity, and God will accept ſincerity in lieu of perfection. Is then thy heart upright? Is it the deſire and endeavour of thy ſoul to cloſe with God? Doſt thou not willingly allow thy ſelf in any ſin, be of good comfort: It becometh the upright to be joyful.

I have one Uſe more for conſolation to the people of God, who Ʋſe 5. For Conſolation.by experience ſubſcribe to the truth of the Doctrine, That all the ways of wiſdom are ways of pleaſantneſs. To theſe comfort appertains as their peculiar right and intereſt: They find comfort coming in amidſt all their religious ſervices, amidſt their tears and ſorrow for ſin, they feel joy coming in, they have taſted and felt how ſweet the Lord is. And if there be now ſuch comfort in via, what will there be in patria? Si adeo dulcis quaerenti (ſaith a Father) quid invenienti? You therefore that are acquainted experimentally with theſe truths, That the ways of godlineſs are ways of pleaſantneſs, I beſeech you manifeſt the truth of theſe things. Tell and diſcourſe to one another, ſpeak what good God hath done for your ſouls. Many are kept back from God hy reaſon of ſcandals and calumnies, that Religion makes men of melancholy and dumpiſh ſpirits: Confute p. 214therefore theſe miſtakes both by your words and actions: Tell others, and ſtrive to win them to God, and allure them with the narration of the delights and ſoul-raviſhing comforts that you have found in theſe ways: O …abor to comfort others, with thoſe comforts wherewith you your ſelves have been comforted in particular. And ſo walk in the ways of God: Let your actions be ſo carryed, and the whole frame of your ſoul ſo ordered, that it may appear to the whole world, That all the ways of wiſdom are ways of pleaſantneſs. Rejoyce therefore in the Lord. Delightfulneſs in the ways of godlineſs, put a beauty upon them: We have a ſweet promiſe, Iſa. 65. 18. But be ye glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create: for b…hold, I create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy. A joy in the abſtract, and it's Gods work of creation: You therefore to whom God hath darted the beams of his reconciled countenance, I counſel in the language of our Saviour, Sons and Daughters, be of good comfort, and go on chearfully: Let your hearts, as Jehoſhaphats was, be lifted up in the ways of God: When the Spirit of God witneſſeth to your ſpirits, that ye are the children of God, there muſt needs be abundance of joy in your ſouls: And here's your ground of rejoycing, that your names are written in the Book of Life: The Lord ſet home theſe truths unto your conſciences, and move your hearts to embrace the ways of godlineſs.

I proceed to the ſecond Doctrine, That all the pathes of Divine Wiſdom or Godlineſs, are full of peace to the ſons and daughters of Doct. 2 peace. This truth I ſhall prove by Scripture, confirm by Reaſon, and preſs it home unto your Conſciences by way of Uſe and Application.

For proof of Scripture, Pſal. 37. 11. But the meek ſhall inherit 1. The Doctrine proved by Scripture.the earth, and ſhall delight themſelves in the abundance of peace, and v. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Iſa. 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whoſe minde is ſtayed on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. Iſa. 48. 18. O that thou hadſt hearkned to my commandments, then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteouſneſs as the waves of the ſea. Iſa. 54. 13. And all thy children ſhall be taught of the Lord, and great ſhall be the peace of thy children.

So Iſa. 59. 8. The way of peace they know not, and there is no judgement in their goings; they have made them crooked pathes, whoſoever goeth therein ſhall not know peace. Jer. 33. 6. Behold, I will cure them, p. 215and reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. Ezek. 34. 25. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cauſe the evil beaſts to ceaſe out of their land, and they ſhall dwell ſafely in the wilderneſs and ſleep in the woods. Even mountains bring peace, Pſal. 72. 3. The mountains ſhall bring peace to the people, and the little hills by righteouſneſs. So are the beaſts of the field at peace, Job 5. 23. For thou ſhalt be in league with the ſtones of the field: and the beaſts of the field ſhall be at peace with thee. Officers are made peace, Iſa. 60. 17. For braſs I will bring gold, and for iron, ſilver: I will alſo make thine officers peace, and thy exactors righteouſneſs. Their habitation is peaceable, Iſa. 32. 18. And my people ſhall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in ſure dwellings, and in quiet reſting places. Their life peaceable, 1 Tim. 2. 2. We are commanded to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlineſs and honeſty. Their wiſdom is peaceable, James 3. 17. But the wiſdom that is from above, is firſt …ure, then peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be intreated; full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocriſie.

Let's inquire into the reaſons of the Point. Conſider, 1. Godly Reaſ. 1 perſons are ſons of peace, Luke 10. 6. And if the ſon of peace be there, your peace ſhall reſt upon it; if not, it ſhall turn to you again. And if ſons, heirs, peace is their inheritance and legacy. John 14. 27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. John 16. 33. Theſe things I have ſpoken unto you, that you might have peace; in the world you ſhall have tribulation: But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

Conſider their ſeveral pathes and ways, either in this life and pilgrimage, Reaſ. 2 in their deaths and after death.

1. For their life: Notwithſtanding afflictions and perſecutions, troubles from the world; yet their whole life is peaceable. A God reconciled, a Conſcience pacified, makes them full of peace amidſt varieties of troubles.

2. In their deaths: The remembrance of their uprightneſs of heart, and their utmoſt endeavor to ſerve God in ſincerity, brings abundance of peace, inward peace, a tranquility in their ſpirits, 2 Kings 20. 3. I beſeech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy ſight. Whatever ſtorms may be from the Fleſh, Divel and World; yet a ſerene, pacified conſcience, makes a great and quiet calm in the ſoul.

p. 2163. After death, in Eternity they feel the fruits of peace, the complement of bleſſedneſs.

A third Ground ſhall be taken from the nature of Divine Wiſdom Reaſ. 2 and Godlineſs.

For firſt, Wiſdom onelyonly can direct to peaceable pathes: Ways of wickedneſs lead us into Precipices and Dangers: Wiſdom ſhews the good and right way: This Samuel ſhewed the people, 1 Sam. 12. 23, 24. Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I ſhould ſin againſt the Lord, in ceaſing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. OnelyOnly fear the Lord, and ſerve him in truth with all your heart: for conſider how great things he hath done for you.

2. Wiſdom protects its followers in the ways of peace: It ſhews them the good way, and protects and defends them in it, Prov. 4. 6, 7. Forſake her not, and ſhe ſhall preſerve thee; love her, and ſhe ſhall keep thee.

3. Wiſdom and Godlineſs remove all ſtumbling Blocks, Envy, Malice, Pride, &c. Enemies to peace, Prov. 4. 12. Wh…n thou goeſt, thy ſteps ſhall not be ſtreightned; and when thou runneſt, thou ſhalt not ſtumble.

4. Wiſdom ſatisfies the hearts of thoſe who are its followers: The ſpirits of the godly are quieted, and eſtabliſhed in thoſe ways; whereas ſtill there are troubles, and vexations, and diſquietneſs in ways of wickedneſs: But godlineſs pacifieth the conſcience, and quiets the ſpirits of Gods children.

The fourth and laſt ground ſhall be drawn from the cauſes of true Reaſ. 1 peace. Now the wayes of the godly muſt needs be peaceable pathes.

1. Becauſe they have a God reconciled, 2 Cor. 5. 19. to wit, That God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world to himſelf, not imputing their treſpaſſes unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2. They have a Mediator and Prince of peace, Eph. 2. 14, 15. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition betwixt us. Having aboliſhed in his fleſh the enmity, even the law of Commandments, contained in Ordinances, for to make in himſelf of twain one new man, ſo making peace. Iſa. 53. 5. But he was wounded for our tranſgreſſions, he was bruiſed for our iniquities; the chaſtiſement of our peace was upon him, and with his ſtripes we are healed. Iſa. 5. 6. For unto us a Childe is born, a Son is given, p. 217and the government ſhall be upon his ſhoulder, and his Name ſhall be called Wonderful, Councellor, The mighty God, The everlaſting Father, The Prince of peace.

3. They have the Goſpel of peace, Rom. 10. 15. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Goſpel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things?

4. They have a conſcience at peace: The anſwer of a good conſcience quiets their ſpirits. Hic murus aheneus eſto, &c.

And now let's apply this by way of Information, Inſtruction, and Conſolation.

1. For Information, That the ways of godlineſs are the onelyonly peaceable ways: Not onelyonly eminenter, but excluſive: What p…ace, ſaid Jehu, &c. No peace with luſts, no peace in the ways of wickedneſs, Iſa. 57. 20, 21. But the wicked are like the troubled ſea, when it cannot reſt, whoſe waters caſt up mire and dirt. Th…re is no peace, ſaith my God, to the wicked. Whatever jollity and quietneſs wicked perſons enjoy from without; yet there's war at home: A tortur'd conſcience will daſh all thy ſports: But a childe of God, though wars may be without, yet he injoys peace at home with God and a good conſcience.

I ſhewed formerly the cauſes of peace, wicked men want all theſe. God is their enemy, Chriſt their enemy: The Goſpel thunders out Anathema's againſt them: As for thoſe mine enemies that would not have me to reign over them, bring them out, and ſlay them before me.

For Inſtruction▪ 1. Be inſtructed in theſe particular Duties.

1. Select the ways of godlineſs, and walk cloſe in them: Turn neither to the right hand nor to the left: Walk ſtraight forward, and ſquare all your actions by the rule, which is the Word of God. When men relinquiſh their callings, and walk out of Gods ways, then troubles and calamities befall them, and they can take no comfort in them. But when thou walkeſt exactly, and keepeſt cloſe to God, whatever croſſes befall thee, thou maiſt take comfort: inward peace thou maiſt injoy in the midſt of outward troubles.

2. Get a ſpiritual acquaintance with God, Job 22. 21. Acquaint thy ſelf with him, and be at peace, thereby good ſhall come unto thee, Job 34. 29. When he giveth quietneſs, who can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Get thy peace made in heaven.

3. Prize at an invaluable rate the pearl of a good conſcience, and p. 218take heed of ſinning againſt thy conſcience: Wouldſt thou walk without trouble? walk uprightly (as was before mention'd) for it's undoubtedly true, That he that walketh uprightly, walketh truly: but he that perverteth his ways, ſhall be known. 'Tis true, offences will come, and many ſcandals and hardſhips we ſhall meet withal in our way to Heaven: But if we can foreign, we ſhall be as bold as Lyons: Uprightneſs onelyonly hath boldneſs: The upright is as bold as a Lyon.

4. Chooſe any affliction, rather then wound thy conſcience by the leaſt ſin, Job 36. 21. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this haſt thou choſen rather then affliction. To procure peace with men, O do not hazzard thy peace with God, and the ſerenity of a good conſcience: No peace like to the peace of a good conſcience.

Here's comfort to Gods people: Amidſt all their troubles they injoy abundance of peace: The ſerenity of a good conſcience quiets their ſpirits, ſo that the fierceſt turbulent Euroclydons cannot ſhake them.

Object. O but I have many perplexities of conſcience: I go mourning all the day long: God ſhooteth his keen Shafts at me, and vexeth me in his ſore diſpleaſure.

1. For anſwer I demand: Art thou weary of the burthen of thy ſins, and art thou ſenſible of thy inſupportable burthen? Art thou acquainted with thy miſerable condition, and apprehenſive of thy wretchedneſs?

2. Doſt thou willingly allow thy ſelf in no ſin, though never ſo ſecret, though ſin of delight or conſtitution?

3. Doſt thou deſire grace for to ſanctifie thee, as well as mercy to pardon thee?

Wouldſt thou rather be rid of thy ſins, then the puniſhments due to them? Then thy condition is full of hope: And I ſhall propoſe theſe counſels to thee.

1. To lie in the way where Chriſt comes by, at the Pool of Betheſda.

2. Unbare thy Wounds unto him: Look unto the Brazen Serpent.

3. Stand not in thine own light, but hearken to Gods voice in his Meſſengers, Pſal. 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will ſay: for he will ſpeak peace unto his people and to his ſaints: but let not them turn again unto folly.

p. 2194. Continue thy duties: Adde more Oyl to the flame: Be more ſwift to hear, more fervent in the ſpirit: When God holds up thy ſpirit to continue chearfully in the performance of thy duty, there's mercy in ſtore for thee.

5. Remove all hinderances of thy peace, all murmuring diſcontented expreſſions: If peace comes not as ſoon as thou wouldſt have it; take heed of Rachels paſſionate language, Give me children, or elſe I die.

6. Cheriſh thoſe motions of the ſpirit and feelings that Chriſt puts into thy heart: When Chriſt gives thee one good look, O make much of it! 'Tis mercy thou haſt one good look: O ſet a high prize of it! Chriſt ſometimes comes and dines, and ſups with his Spouſe, and then ſhe is overjoyed: other while he abſents himſelf from her, then ſhe's ſick for him. Now whenever Chriſt inſpires a good motion into thy heart, be ſure thou cheriſh it: When ever he ſmiles upon thee: O! obſerve it and make much of it.

And ſeventhly and laſtly, VVait, and reſolve not to be driven from thy Fathers dore: Though he ſlay thee, yet put thy truſt in him: Though he be angry with thee, yet ſtill praiſe him: Wreſtle with him, as Jacob did, and at laſt thy deſires will be granted, and thy joy ſhall be full.