CAP. I.

I know well (my dear Chil­dren) that it is the Fathers duty to lay up for his posterity, (2 Cor. 12.14.) Nor am I ignorant, or in­sensible of that heavy censure, If any man pro­vide not for his own, for those of his own house, he hath denyed the [...]aith, and is worse than an Infidel, (1 Tim. 5.8.) nor yet forget­ful, or careless, (as God hath, or shall enable me in the way of my calling,) to provide for you the needful comforts of this life: yet I [Page 2] have learned that One thing is needful, (Luk. 10.42.) and that Life consists not in abun­dance (Luk. 12.15.) Let me speak to you as those Apostles, Silver, and Gold I have little, but such as I have I give you, Act. 3.6. I have ever esteemed you the special blessing which God hath given me upon earth, and desire to see you rather blessed than rich. For even the most worldly, (though lamentably blinded) affect riches for blessedness, and desire an overflowing wealth for no other end, but that they may bathe, and swimm in a full tide of happiness.

The great Legacy which I desire to confer upon you is that which my dying Father bequeathed unto me, and from him (through Gods grace) descended upon me, whose last, and parting words were these; My Son had I followed the course of this World, and would either have given, or taken bribes, I might (happily) have made you rich, but now must leave you nothing but your education, which (I bless God) is such, as I am well assured yo [...] chuse rather that I should dye in peace, tha [...] your selves live in plenty. But know certainly [...] that I your weak, and dying Father leave yo [...] to an everliving, and All-sufficient Father, an [...] in him a never fading inheritance; who will no [...] suffer you to want any good thing, who hat [...] been my God, and will be the God of my seed.

[Page 3]Thus he entred into peace, and slept in Christ; leaving behind the fragrant perfume of a good name, to all his acquaintance, leav­ [...]ng to us a prevalent example of an holy con­versation, and that goodly heritage where the lines are fallen to us in pleasant places, (Psal. 16.6.) and leaving us to his protection, who hath never failed us. This I desire, and (as I am able) endeavour to bequeath unto you.

When the men of this World have bar­ter [...]d Heaven for Earth, and with loss of their pretious souls have gained false, and fading treasures, they can but point to their full [...]offers, and deliver their keyes to their Chil­dren, they can give them neither wisdom to [...]se, nor providence to keep them. In the [...]irst I am no whit short of them; I can point out to you the place where those infinitely better riches are stored up for you. I can direct you in the way wherein you shall find [...]hem; And in the second place (further than [...]hey) I can (through Gods grace) set you [...]own a course, which if you take, you shall [...]urely unlock and enjoy them, and be ever [...]lessed in the fruition of them.

If I could bequeath you mountains of [...]arthly treasures, were you vain, and care­ [...]ess, how soon would they melt to Mole-hills, [...]d vanish like a morning cloud into no­thing? [Page 4] If then earthly things, and perishin [...] can neither be got, nor kept without muc [...] labour, and carefulness, oh think not muc [...] of any pains, or diligence in the search o [...] that Heavenly portion, which will certainl [...] be found, when it is rightly sought, an [...] when it is once found, can never be los [...] If it tarry, be not weary of seeking, for [...] will surely come, and will not tarry, Hab. 2.3 [...] Shameful is it to faint in that labour, whic [...] will bring infallible success, and eternal r [...]freshing. My God leading me, I will lea [...] you the good, and right way, (1 Sam. 12.23 [...] follow, that ye may apprehend, (Phil. 3.12 [...] Be ye followers of me (so far) as I am of Chris [...] 1 Cor. 11.1. All treasures are hid up in hi [...] (Col. 2.3.) whom if ye follow, you shall sure [...] have treasures in heaven, Luk. 18.22. Fir [...] therefore take notice that,

CAP. II.

THe lear [...]ed Heathen, and wise Philo [...]phers, wonderfully toyl'd, tired, a [...] tormented their sharp Wits in cleaving [...] [Page 5] that knotted Question concerning that End, or Good of man, in which his perfection, or happiness consisted. Neither should I less vex my self, or you, if I should but reckon up their numberless gross errours and jangling differences concerning that matter. All their search was but as that of the Sodomites, groping for the door in a night of blindness.

For (as the Apostle) what man knows the things of man, save the spirit of man which dwells in him? Much more the things of God know­eth no man but the Spirit of God, or they to whom that Spirit revealeth them, 1 Cor. 2.11. we can easily discern the works of men; their end, or intention in those works we cannot know, till they some way declare it. How then should any creature find out the End of that great Creatour in his special work ( Man) if himself by his own Spirit (in his word) had not clearly revealed it? For else, who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his Counseller? Rom. 11.34. Therefore our gracious Lord hath plainly discovered unto us what is that End, for which he made us, and consequently what is our Good, and Happiness.

And because he well knew how easily our dimm eyes are deluded with colourable shews, and painted shadows, hence he fully displayes unto us as well (negatively) what is not (and yet we think is) our blessedness, [Page 6] as also (positively) what is (though few believe it) the true happiness of man.

First therefore in general he teacheth u [...] that the Creature is no part of our Portion [...] we are not, no [...] can be blessed by enjoying earth, no nor Heaven, nor Heaven with earth [...] nor any created thing, or all things in, o [...] betwixt both; we may have all these, an [...] be miserable, want them all, and be blessed [...] This truth the Holy Ghost strongly proves, a [...] frequently elsewhere, so specially in tha [...] book of Ecclesiastes, which that infinite Wis [...]dom by his wisest Secretary caused purposel [...] to be written of this Subject, where first h [...] evidently, and frequently teacheth us, tha [...] all is vanity, vanity of vanities, and vexatio [...] of spirit, Eccles. 1.2. and 12.8. and 2.11 [...] True it is that no creature is simply vain, bu [...] very good (Gen. 1.31.) conducing as well t [...] the general end, ( Gods glory) as to their pa [...]ticular ends for which they were made: a [...] the Sun to rule the day, the Moon the nigh [...] (Gen. 1 16, &c.) But that which to some end and work is very good, and useful, is to ano [...]ther vain, and frustrate. The earth apt t [...] yield food, altogether vain to give light [...] Our All-wise Creatour assigned to every crea [...]ture his proper work, and end, but made no [...] any one, nor all to bless, but to serve man [...] Hence is it that as to their own ends they ar [...] [Page 7] very profitable, so for this (namely to con­stitute mans blessedness) they are wholely useless, and uneffectual, and therefore (in that respect) sheer vanity. And when a man will wring, and wrest the creatures to a wrong end, and thinks to make up his bles­sedness in them, it is but as wringing his nose, which brings forth blood, Prov. 30.33. they do but grieve his Spirit, and fill it with vex­ation and anguish.

Thus while Solomon was rifling the crea­tures ( riches, pleasures, &c.) to find out the good of man, he solemnly protesteth to all the World, that in all his search he found no­thing but vanity, and vexation of spirit, Eccl. 2.3, 11. In which respect so vain are the creatures, that he who enjoyes them at the full, may not only be weary of them, but even hate his life for the vanity, and vexation he finds in them, Eccles. 2.17. How then should that (in the fulness of it) make our life blessed, which by emptiness, and tor­ment makes it bitter, and loathsome? which when we have in all abundance, and super­fluity, yet our selves may be altogether va­nity, (Psal. 39.5.) and lighter than vanity? Psal. 62.9.

2. Secondly there is something in man which [...]avours of Infiniteness; something which cannot be satisfied, or rest in any [Page 8] thing which is finite. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear with hearing, Eccles. 1.8. Cast into the heart of man Silver as dust, heap up Gold into mountains, yet He that loveth Silver is not satisfied with Silver, nor he that loveth abundance, with increase, Eccl. 5.10. Advance an ambitious man to great honours, set him in the Throne, load his head with many Diadems, fill both hands with Scepters; let him drink down all the Kingdoms of the Earth, he will still be as thirsty as that Macedonian Monarch. Now every Nature longs for things of like na­ture with it self; hence this Infiniteness in man cannot rest till it have sound out some­what which suits with it self, some infinite Good, which may satiate the longing spirit. But neither any one, nor all Creatures can exhibit an infinite good: even the most ex­cellent, and all (in all their excellency) con­joyned have their limits, and stints of good­ness; Hence as the Taste in diversity of dish­es runs through many, but stayes only upon that which fully aggrates the Pallate, so the spirit of man finding defects in every crea­ture, cannot settle, nor rest upon any.

3. Thirdly, as we call not that body healthy which is one day in good temper, but many dayes sick; or that Steward wealthy, who having a rich office for a year, [Page 9] at the years end is turned out into perpetual beggary; so cannot we esteem him blessed who enjoying some momentany comforts, yet himself, with them, soon perisheth in an ever­lasting curse, and misery. Happiness if it last not, is the more unhappy. Now all the things of the world are transitory, and pe­rish with the using, but the soul of man is an immortal substance. And this spirit not only survives, but re-assumes the body, so that after the moment of this present life is va­nished, another ensues without end, or change. The spirit of a beast indeed goes downward, but the spirit of a man upward, Eccl. 3.21. It returns to God that gave it, Eccl. 12.7. These things therefore which can­not hold way with us, but leave us in the midst, nay indeed in the first step of our journey, how can they be our inheritance, or make us blessed?

4. Fourthly, it is not possible a man should be happy in enjoying those things, which the more he enjoyes, the less he esteems: for (as excellently that most learned Father) He cannot be called blessed who hath not what he loves, whatsoever it be, or he, who hath what he loves, if it be evil which he hath, or who loves not what he hath, be it never so good, ( August. De morib. eccl. l. 1. c. 2.) And who is so ignorant but knoweth that thus it is with [Page 10] the heart of man, and all creatures. Before we enjoy them, how dearly, how highly do we prize them? what refuse we to do, or suffer that we may gain them? we long, we pine for them; we ride, we run for them; sweat, and toyl for them; venter limb, and life for them; but no sooner we obtain, but finding their emptiness, our heart goes off from them to some other object, at least nauseating what we possess, we burn in desire of what we suppose is wanting. It is with us in these adulterous lusts, as with incestu­ous Amnon, whose heart being inflamed with the beauty of Tamar, before enjoying could think of no other heaven but her eyes, and arms; but in cooler blood he more loaths than formerly he loved, as was not be­fore so sick for her, as after sick of her, 2 Sam. 13.

5. Fifthly, the Creatures were ever infe­riour to us. In our first Covenant they were given to us as servants, and we to them as Lords ( Gen. 1.26. Psal. 8.6.) In the second [...] our dominion enlarged rather than any whit empaired. All things are ours: the world, life, de [...]th, things present, and to come, all are ours, 1 Cor. 3.21, 22. And when the Lord of all the World in his wonderful love, and special favour chose, and espoused us to himself, he endowed us with all his goods, and gave all [Page 11] his servants to wait upon us in several of­fices; some as Caterers, to provide our diet, some as Cooks, to dress it; some as Taylers, Weavers, to cloath us; some as Physitians, to cure us; some as Musicians to refresh, and delight us; the very Heavens, as Torch­bearers to light us; yea, even the most glo­rious Angels of Heaven as our Guard to se­cure us. How then can the creature possibly advance us, whose advancement is to serve us? how should that put the highest excel­lency (for so is blessedness) upon us, which is so far inferiour to us?

6. Lastly the creature is made unto us as instruments, and means of action, and there­fore (in the abundance of it) is not only burdensome, but dangerous. It is like the Spartan Iron-Money; as much as would buy one horse, would load three; As a great sayl to a little boat in rough weather, and so is ei­ther cumbersome, and makes our way heavy, or dangerous, and unwarily sinks us in de­struction. Thus Hamans preferment ad­vanced him to the Gallows, Ahitophels wis­dome Weaved a noose for his own Neck: That Rulers wealth in his passage to Heaven loads and sinks him, Mark 10. Nay in respect of blessedness they are so needless, that we are never so blessed as when we have least of them, and least need them. It is our [Page 12] highest happiness in Heaven, that we shall neither need, nor possess food, apparel, wives, husbands, land, money, Sun, Moon, but God shall be all in all, 1 Cor. 15.28. Rev. 22.5.

Object. But do not the creatures conferr something, and help forward our happi­ness? Who can (at least comfortably) be without them?

Answ. There is a possibility (even in this life) of consisting (being, and well-being) without them. Moses was never here more blessed, than when enjoying the presence of God in the Mount, he neither had, or want­ed food, &c. when the Apostles had nothing, neither money, shooes, nor scrip, they want­ed nothing, Luk. 22.35. Man lives not by bread but by every word of God: a lesson long since taught Gods people, when in the Wilderness they neither had nor wanted Corn, Wine, Oyle, or any supply of cloathing, &c. Deut. 8.3.

2. Though in this life we cannot (in an ordinary course) be without them, yet do they not make up any part of our happiness; seeing neither it, nor any part of it con­sisteth either of this life, or any thing be­longing to it. Blessed are they (none more) that dye in the Lord, Rev. 14.13.

3. Nothing in the Creature but only Gods [Page 13] word, and blessing upon them is that which either fits them for us, or us to them, and so gives us some comfort from them: as being all his servants (Psal. 119.91.) going and coming at his Word, (Luk. 7.8.) They are all in his hand as instruments, which he em­ployeth to good, or evil as he pleaseth. (The Assyrian was but the Axe, or Staff in his hand to chastise his rebellious Subjects, Isa. 10.5, 15.) when we have it, it works not, moves not, but by his hand. If he use not the Axe, it cannot hew; if he lift not up the staff, it cannot stirr.

In a word it is with all Creatures (even the greatest rebells) as with that Balaam, Numb. 22.20. God may say Go, but that which I say, and will, that shalt thou do. And therefore they are all ready to say un­to thee, as that Prophet to Balak: If thou wouldst give me thy house full of Gold, and Silver, I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord to do either good, or bad of mine own mind, Numb. 24.13. Thy meat will tell thee, I cannot nourish thee; thy cloaths, we can­not warm thee if he command not. When the Lord sayes to a Crown, Go to Sauls head, and from Saul to David, it goeth. When he adds, Go to Ieroboam, to Ahab, &c. fill them with trouble, sweep them and all their po­sterity from the face of the earth as dung: [Page 14] so it doth. When he sayes, Go to Solomon, and girt him with power, peace, honour, it fails not to do it. When he sayes to the Quails, Go to those murmurers, cover their tables, nay cover the ground two cubits high, go, and fill their mouths, but not their bellies, feed them not, so it comes to pass, Numb. 11.31, 32. And when he com­mands the Air, neither sow, nor Reap, yet rain down bread upon my people, and nou­rish them forty years in the Wilderness, it executes his charge.

Seeing then the creature is full of nothing but of emptiness, vanity, and vexation: un­satisfying; of short continuance; least esteemed, where most enjoyed; far beneath us; and even needless; yea in their abun­dance burthensome, and dangerous, it is im­possible they should constitute any part of mans happiness. Now Religion, Reason, nay even Sense will tell us; All this is in­fallibly true, and therefore will conclude, that it is irreligious, unreasonable, sensless to rest, or build upon the creature.

And therefore when in searching our hearts we find too much of this Harlotry in them, thus let us correct, and direct them.

Now if in the fulness of all Creature man can find no parcel of his blessednes [...] how much less in any one single creature As first,

CAP. III.

RIches are as Nebuchadnezzars golde [...] Idol; (Dan. 3.) All people, nations, an [...] languages fall down, and worship this golde [...] Image; but all the honour the most de [...]vout [Page 17] Zelots give it cannot wring from it the least degree of happiness. For first, it is a meer Idol. 1. An Image hath only a name, and appearance of what it imageth; Thus these outward things are called, and to mop-eyed men seem to be riches, but are unrigh­teous Mammon, and at best (and with the best) not true Riches, Luk. 16.11. Their very being is no being, and when they are, they are not, Prov. 23.4. True riches are nothing else but plenty of such things as are useful to the person whom they enrich. But,

• 1. The principal part of man (to which the [...]ody is but a servant) hath no use of them, [...]r benefit by them; neither of the natural, meat, drink, &c.) or artificial, (gold, sil­ver, &c.) Nay, 2. Even to the body, while it is in the short Pilgrimage of this life (where only they are current) they are [...]ather as a little spending money, than its [...]ortion, or inheritance. For look as many Cart-loads of Laconian money (that iron [...]yn) could not enrich a Traveler, who [...]as riding Post through that Region to his [...]tive Country, but were rather a burthen, [...] an a furtherance to his journey: so the [...]odies of men flying through this mortal life [...] immortality are rather laden, than enrich­ [...] by the abundance of these earthly things, [...] which they shall never have more need, [Page 18] or use after this momentary Pilgrim­age.
• 2. Images are dead, helpless things; they have mouths, but cannot speak for us; eyes, but cannot provide for us; hands, but can do no­thing for us; feet, but in our necessity cannot stir to help us, ( Psal. 115.5, 6, 7.) Such are riches: meer Images; profit us no­thing, Prov. 10.2. Are we in trouble? vi­sited with sickness in body, with distress in spirit? &c. They cannot relieve us. Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteous­ness delivers from death, Prov. 11.4. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord, Ezek. 7.19. Zeph. 1.18. Are our Friends in danger? They cannot redeem a brother, nor give a ransome for him, Psal. 49.6, 7. when we would serve our selves of them, they take them to their wings, and are gone, Prov. 23.4. would we sleep? They will not suffer us, (Eccles. 5.12.) and in­stead of helping, hurt us, Eccles. 5.13.
• 3. As Idols make their Worshippers like to themselves, even Idols, ( Psal. 115.8.) thus men idolizing riches become like to their coyn, meer images of men: they have neither mouths to eat, nor hands to enjoy, o [...] take part of their labour, Eccles. 6.2. They [Page 19] have not so much reason or sense to design some end of all their pains, or to discourse with themselves, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? Eccles. 4.8.

2. Secondly, whatsoever defect (in gene­ral) excluded the creatures from challeng­ing any part in mans happiness, the same (in particular) barrs out riches. 1. It is full of vanity and vexation, Eccles. 2.7, 8, 11. All his dayes (the worldly rich) eate [...]h in darkness, and hath much wrath, and sorrow with his sickness, Eccles. 5.17. 2. It satisfies not; nay the more it is loved, the less it satisfies. Mans eye is not satiate with riches, Eccles. 4.8. They shall not satisfie their souls, nor fill th [...]ir bowels, Ezek. 7.19. He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver, &c. Eccles. 5.10. 3. They are not durable, they are of no continuance; Riches are not for ever, (Prov. 27.24.) They perish (Eccles. 5.14.) have Eagles wings, Prov. 23.4. 4. The more we enjoy, the less we love them. The soul that most dotes on them, goes utterly off from what it hath attained, and reacheth [...]fter that which it would have, and yet hath not, and so indeed cleaves to that which is [...]ot, Prov. 23.4. 5. They are far below us; They have no reason, sense, life, no being [...]ut what we give them in our opinion, and [...]ancy, no other end but to drudge for us.

[Page 20]6. They are not only (in respect of happi­ness) needless, so that never any was (even on earth) so blessed, as he that had least of them: (witness our most blessed Saviour) but in their abundance a burthen, which sinks the body, and soul under them; and dange­rous; stopping the way to Heaven, and barring the entrance to our only happiness, Luk. 8.14, & 18.25.

I will shut up this Chapter with a story very true, and as pertinent. Some ten miles from Cambridge dwelt a man old, and poor, who hid his hoar head under a very mean Cottage, with no other companion of his age, than his (as aged) Wife: His means rose only from the flock of the Town (in which he lived, and) which he tended. Following his sheep, it chanced that he found a Portmante [...] full of treasure. And almost distracted with joy, he bears it home, and acquaints his Consort with this happy adven­ture. After deep consultation they con­cluded to digg an hole under their bed, and there in a grave to conceal it. But in the night being now become very wakeful, they were suddenly frighted with some noise (perhaps the scrabling of their Cat or Dog) rose up in great perturbation, searched every mousehole, and all the remainder of that night neither closed their eyes, nor put ou [...] [Page 21] their candel. Early in the morning they took further advice, and resolved that every night one of them (by turns) should watch their prisoner, lest happily he might break from them, and make an escape. This they pra­ctised so long, untill both of them (who be­fore were well-near worn up with age) were now with care, fear, and want of sleep even consumed, and pined. After more mature deliberation, they thought expedient to hire some poor neighbours, (for now they muster­ed themselves not in so mean a rank) every night to guard their Palace, and centinel about them. Which when it was noised abroad in the Town, wrought divers strange surmises (though not any yet harped upon the right string, nor once dreamed what was the true cause of all this business;) some laughed, others pittied, fearing the old Cou­ple would end their dayes in Bedlam. About a month after they had intelligence who was the Owner of this money, and heard of a competent reward offered to the finder, and restorer. And now being much more wea­ry, than greedy, they readily take hold of the offer, rendred up their prisoner, purchast a Jayl delivery, hung up their cares, freed their hearts, rescued thei [...] macerated bodies, and distracted wits, and by parting with their money returned to their wonted peace, and quietness.

[Page 22]This Ancient Couple, and our own rea­son will assure us, that felicity seldome dwelleth with riches, never is patcht up with raggs of earth. Philosophers prove it, and Poets sing it. Thus in English,

CAP. IV.

EArthly Honour, and Greatness in the world is like a ponderous leaden weight in an earthly vessel; it breaks out the bot­tom: As too great a charge in a Musket, either bursting the barrel, or recoyling up­on the discharger. Great Babel had so blown up, and bladdered the heart of great Nebu­chadnezzar, that swelling beyond the de­mensions of man, he burst. His vast thoughts shattered his brain-pan, so that not only his Crown, but his senses fell from his head. While he soars above the pitch of man unto a God, he falls beneath the lowest degree of man into a beast, eats grass like an Oxe, his Hairs metamorphosed into Feathers; and his Nails into Claws; ( Dan. 4.30, 33.) so he exemplified that infallible truth (which is therefore doubled by God) Man that is in honour abideth not, but is like beasts that pe­rish, Psal. 49.12, 20.

2. Secondly, As it is with Riches, so with honour; even when they are ours, they are [Page 24] not our own. Riches are ours rather in the dispensation, than possession. They are anothers, (Luk. 16.12.) The state in ano­ther, in God: and the benefit for others, for our Brethren. God is the true Owner, Psal. 24.1. The earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Rich men are but his Stewards. He gives substance, and takes it away at his pleasure ( Iob 1.21.) and we receive to give, and distribute. As God fills the clouds to empty them upon the earth, so he poures in to the rich, to poure out to the poor, Eccles. 11.1, 2, 3. And therefore a righteous Steward thus dispenseth them; He disperseth and giveth to the poor, Psal. 112.9. Even thus is it with honour. It is not our own. It is in him that gives it, not in him that receives it: and we receive it not for our selves, but for others. Promotion pro­ceeds from God, Psal. 75.6, 7. and ends in his people; see 2 Sam. 5.12. 1 King. 10.9. 2 Chron. 2.11. The root in another, the fruit for other. If then borrowed money cannot make rich, much less can lent honour make blessed.

3. Thirdly, It is lyable to all those de­fects, and failings of other creatures. 1. Full of vanity, and vexation. Even Solomons greatness was but vanity, Eccl. 2.9, 11. It [Page 25] [...]s gotten (commonly) by wicked arts (flat­ [...]ery, bribery, treachery) with grief, fear, envy. And when it is best gotten, yet come we to it with much danger, hold it with much trouble, and cannot part from it but with ruine. How many have swam to it in the blood of others, and sunk by it in their own? read, 1 King. 16.

Look upon David, He rose from following the Ewes with young, to feed Gods people, (Psal. 78.71.) from the sheep-hook to the Scepter. Never any more truly honoura­ble. He received it freely, when he sought it not, it was cast in to him, 1 Sam. 16. He came to it innocently, and would not stain his head with a bloody Crown, 1 Sam. 24. & 26. He managed it wisely, justly, Psal. 78.72. He lived long, and dyed in it ripely: yet the many, and great dangers through which he made toward it; the perils, and sor­rows (by reason of those foul practices of his Son Absolom) in passing through it; The troubles and tumults of Adoniah, disturbing him in the farewell of it, will assure us, that there is much vanity in honour, no felicity, and the Crown more heavy, than happy.

2. There is no power in Honour to satis­fie the ambitious heart thirsting after it; when he hath gathered to him all Nations, and heaped to him all people, his desire is still as [Page 26] death, and hell, and cannot be satisfied, Hab [...] 2.5. He cannot rest, or quiet his soul i [...] the very top of earthly honour, and glory, covets to ascend above the height of the clouds; stayes not there, but will climb up to heaven; neither are the Heavens high enough for him, he will exalt his throne above the stars, an [...] be like the most high, Isa. 14.13, 14. Th [...] Prince of Tyre cannot stop his glorious boast­ing in being wiser than Daniel, but sets hi [...] heart as God, Ezek. 28.2, 3. And truly it i [...] worthy of observation, that the heart o [...] man (even when it is most carnal, and much more when spiritual) cannot settle, or pitch upon any lower object than likeness to God. But here lies the difference; the carna [...] would be like him in an absolute soveraign­ty, and supream independancy, ( Gen. 3.5.) the spiritual in humility, ( Psal. 113.5, 6. Matth. 11.29.) in holiness, and purity, 1 Pet. 1.15. 1 Iohn 3.3.

3. Neither is honour of any continuance; Man in honour abideth not; his glory shall no [...] descend after him, Psal. 49.12, 17. How ma­ny out-live all their honour? Those that ar [...] born in the Kingdom become poor, Eccles. 4.14 [...] They may live like Gods, and yet dye lik [...] men, Psal. 82.6, 7. The life of man is but a flower, of short continuance, and momen­tary, (Job 14.1, 2.) But the flower of ho­nour [Page 27] (commonly) budds long after him, and is blasted before him; certainly parts with him at his grave, and returns to some other, perhaps his enemy.

4. This glittering Idol of honour is like the glaring Image of Beauty. It hath strong cords to draw a carnal heart, but weak threds to tye, and bind the affection which it hath drawn: how is the soul en [...]moured on those dazeling, but false beams of honour not yet attained? how soon it languisheth, and loaths what it hath gotten, and enjoy­ed? It sparkles in our eyes, when we look on it in distance; but no sooner is it worn, then soiled, and loseth all the gloss, and beau­ty. That great Emperour, and greater per­secutor ( Diocletian) how greedily did he hunt after the Imperial Robe, and Diadem? how eagerly followed it? But when he had a while worn it, was soon weary, put it off, and hid his head in a private dwelling.

5. All earthly honour is far inferiour to that heavenly creature, which is the princi­pal part of man. The spirit of man framed after the likeness of his Creat [...]ur, and again restored to that glorious image, infinitely transcendeth the vain, and highest r [...]spects it can receive from man. Honour cannot ascend, but descends: cannot be given by an Inferiour to a Superiour. When we [Page 28] are precious in the sight of God (then, an [...] never but then) we are truly honourable [...] Isa. 43.4.

6. Lastly, Honour is not only needless [...] no way forwarding our happiness, (and none so happy, or truly honourable, as who by men are most despised, witness our most blessed Saviour, Isa. 53.3.) but very dan­gerous, if not deadly, stopping our way to the only true glory, and eternal blessedness, Iohn 5.44. & 12.43. Let me conclude this passage also with that Poetical Philosopher,

CAP. V.

PLeasure is the Idol, and God of Epi­cures: like Childrens Babies, trickt, (without) and trimm'd with toyes, and gauds, but within a rotten stick. It hath a double subject, either the body (where [Page 30] properly it is called pleasure, and luxury) or the soul, where we term it joy, and mirth. Neither of both, if carnal, and earth­ly, can possibly stand with the blessed estate of man, but are rather unreconcileable ad­versaries to our blessedness. If we look well upon them, and throughly eye them, and their attendants, we shall find that carnal joy, and mirth dwell, live, and dye with grief. Even in laughter the heart is sorrow­ful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness, Prov. 14.13. As we say of swine There is a great cry, and little wool; much crackling of thorns, and little heat, Eccles. 7.6. whoso­ever serves them, they bestow their livery upon them, a fools coat, and cap: ( The heart of a fool is in the house of mirth, Eccles. 7.4.) and will soon prefer them from the Hospital to Bedlam. I said of laughter it is mad, Eccles. 2.2. And what is pleasure to the body, but an itching worm, which when it is clawed breaketh out into a scab? a vain tickling of sense, till it end in an Hickup? It is common to a beast, and exists only in that part of man, which is his beast, even flesh.

And their fruits (commonly) very per­nicious. Carnal joy turns us out of Gods house: ( Ier. 11.15.) ranks us amongst the most lewd, and wicked persons, whom Gods [Page 31] [...]pirit points out to us, marked with the De­ [...]ils brand; who rejoice to do evil, and delight [...]n the frowardness of the wicked, Prov. 2.14. [...]leasure is to our estates here a very pick­ [...]urse; a slie thief, that unwarily steals us [...]nto poverty, and misery. God hath blasted [...]t with his curse. He that loveth pleasure shall [...]e a poor man, and he that loveth Wine, and Oyl, shall not be rich, Prov. 21.17. It is a pal­ [...]ie to our bodies, unsinues them, and makes [...]hem (as an unstringed Lute, or Voyal) fit [...]or nothing. As we read of Hannibals soul­diers, that when they entred Capua, they were more then men, but dissolved with the plea­sures of that rich, and voluptuous City, they went out less than women. To the soul it is a sweet poison; choakes it in the seed, and birth, (Luk. 8.14.) nourishes it to slaugh­ter, Jam. 5.5. To the whole man it is a per­ [...]umed grave: They that live in pleasure, are dead while they live, 1 Tim. 5.6. dead to God, dead to men, dead to themselves; the very soul dead in its life, coffin'd, and buried in the body. How impossibly then can a vo­luptuous man live happily, who is dead while he lives, and lives to an everlasting, and ever-living death?

Lastly it is much more subject to all those defects, which before were mentioned, that make it altogether unfit, and utterly impotent [Page 32] to make up our happiness, or to help us i [...] the pursuit of it. 1. It is sheer vanity, Eccles. 2.1 [...] nothing else but crackling of thorns under [...] pot, Eccles. 7.6. 2. It satisfies not: witness tha [...] Epicure, who proclaimed a reward to Invent­ers of new pleasures. 3. It lasts not, is but for [...] moment ( Iob 20.5.) and dies in the very birth [...] 4. It is not so alluring before, as loaths om [...] after enjoying: witness Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.15. 5. It is far beneath us, as being common with us to beasts. And 6. needless and dangerous [...] Woe to you that laugh now, Luk. 6.25. Thi [...] Chapter let me conclude also with the same Philosophical Poet.

The happiness of man therefore stands not in outward things. They are all heteroge­nies (of another nature) and cannot piece, or be united with us. They are without us, and we without them happy. But there are [Page 33] other things which close, and are within us. In our bodies Beauty, Strength: in our spi­rits wisdom, morality. Do not these make us blessed? At least do they not concurr as necessary parts of our happiness? Certainly even these rather follow an happy person, than constitute our happiness.

CAP. VI.

OUR Bodies are but the houses of our spirits, and houses of clay, Job 4.19. As the house of a Snail, it is moved, and [...]arried by the Inhabitant. And as those [...]nail-shells are some black, and dusty, some [...]littering in divers colours, so is it with these [...]ells of our spirits: Some the hand of our [...]otter seems to frame of finer earth, or at [...]ast tinfoyls them with more lovely paint­ [...]gs, some formed of more course and dirty [...]etal, or (being not leaded) have not that [...]oss, and glittering. As our houses some [...]e dawbed with plain lome, others plaistered [...]ith lime, and washed over.

[Page 34]Now as in our houses we look first to the materials, secondly to the form, (the one giving strength, the other beauty to our buildings) so in the Body strength, and beau­ty are the special endowments of it. Beau­ty is but the flower of grass, (1 Pet. 1.24.) not all out so fair, full out as fading, blasted with the wind, seared with the Sun, smitten with every worm: and (if it had no out­ward enemy) rotting in the ripening, and ever slubbered in the using. Sickness turn [...] it into dust, death into dung, the one make [...] it untoothsome, the other loathsome. Fa­vour (therefore) is deceitful, and beauty vai [...] (Prov. 31.30.) nay often dangerous: A [...] it hath cords to draw a lusting affection, s [...] hath it snares to intangle us in these cords. It is a fire that may scorch others, and consume our selves. How then should Beaut [...] make happy, when many thousands (a [...] Absolom and his Sister Tamar) might hav [...] been much more happy, if they had bee [...] much less beautiful.

2. Secondly, What is there in bodil [...] strength? (were it equal to Sampsons in th [...] latitude, and in the longitude to Calebs, Jos [...] 14.10, 11.) what can the fullest dimensio [...] of strength bring with them to make [...] happy? By strength shall no man prevai [...] 1 Sam. 2.9. The battel is not to the stron [...] [Page 35] Eccles. 9.11. It is not worth a smile, Ier. 9.23. An Ague unbends, and Age bends the strongest back. It fills us with vain confi­dence, drives us to rash attempts, fails us in the execution, and betrayes us to destru­ction.

Nay if we travel further into this lesser world of man, and search into the bowels of it, we shall find nothing in the Head, or Heart City, which will help to build up our happiness. True indeed it is, Wisdom ex­celleth folly, as far as light darkness, yet though the wise mans eyes be in his head, he cannot keep off the event of fools; what happens to the fool happens to the wise, Eccles. 2.13, 14, 15. If it dwell with poverty, it is followed with scorn, Eccles. 9.16. It is ever married to pain; and sorrow the issue of the match, and grows up with it, Eccles. 1.18. Some foolishness is wiser than it, and utter­ly out-wits it, 1 Cor. 1.25. And as our na­tural wisdom most o [...]ten perverts us, ( Isa. 47.10.) bladders, and swells us (oft to burst­ing) Isa. 10.13. 1 Cor. 8.1. so when it grows up in a carnal mind it turns foolishness (1 Cor. 3.19.) enmity to God ( Rom. 8.7.) and devilish, Iam. 3.15. We see it ordina­rily that those subtile heads which are [...]u­tored in that Florentines universi [...]y, soon commence Batcheler Machiavils, and Master [Page 36] Devils. And truly I think no wise man can discern how that can merit the name of wis­dome, which must necessarily first proceed fool, before it can have the grace to go out wise, 1 Cor. 3.18.

But to help it a little, joyn with this natu­ral wisdome moral honesty, and stretch them both to the uttermost extent, yet will they still fall short, and never reach to happiness. They are like that Scribe who answered dis­creetly; he was not far from the Kingdom of God, Mark. 12.34. but stopping there was never in it. Morality in those ethick Sages is like the rings and jewels of running cheat­ers; brass but fairly gilded, fair stones, but counterfeit. They oft deceive, never en­rich the Owner: precious to the view, but bring them to the Touch, of no value. And as some Phidian statue exquisitely formed may seem to live, breath, &c. yet is but a stone; so lifeless is all their morality: for he that hath the Son, hath life, and he that hath not the Son, hath not life, 1 Joh. 5.12. If some old Image gnawn with Rats, be trickt up again, with a new dress, and garnished with choice colours, yet are colours indeed dead as the rotten stock. Such were those old heathen Philosophers, Images of Virtue, or rather (as the Apostle speaks of Sacrifices) shadows of good things, Heb. 10.1. They [Page 37] were as all other, in nature dead in sins, and trespasses, Eph. 2.5. And how shall the hand be living, when the heart is dead? the fruit good, when the Tree is evil? The best of them professing themselves wise, became fools, Rom. 1.22. Neither the wis­dom of Socrates, the justice of Aristides, could in this life secure them from earth­ly calamities, death, banishment, &c. How should it help them in that other, with that Judge, where the Saints and their righteousness (not washed in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7.14.) are all as an un­clean thing, and as filt [...]y raggs, Isa. 64.6. As one speaks, all their fair shews were ( splendida peccata) glistering [...]ins: And truly sin glistering is no less filthy, but more dangerous: brass, (as all other) but better polished. All the former discourse let me shut up with another Poem of that Platonick Philosop [...]er.

CAP. VII.

THE Portion, or Inheritance of man, which makes him blessed, lies not so low as the highest creature. His Treasure is not buried in earth, but bagg'd up in Heaven, Luk. 12.33. Heaven indeed is his Store-house, but not his Portion. He that is infinitely higher than the Heavens, ( Heb. 7.26.) he whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, (2 Chron. 6.18.) he, and he alone is mans Inheritance. Man is the great Favou­rite of Heaven, and of the King of Heaven: and though he were made a little lower than the Angels, yet his Lord most highly advanced him, set the Crown upon his head, crowned him with glory, and honour (Psal. 8.5, 6.) and gave him dominion over the works of his hands. The gift was very great, but not proportionable to the love, or person, of the Giver. Therefore our gracious Lord, after he had bestowed all his creatures upon us to be our servants, gave us himself to be our Lord: (a gift fully, and only answer­able [Page 40] to his love) Some service is more ho­nourable than some command: A greater dignity to serve the King, than to command sheep. Whosoever hath tasted how good this Lord is, (Psal. 34.8.) counts all things dung, [...]nd loss in comparison of his service, Phil. 3.8. They prefer his livery, and the mean­est place in his house before their Princely Robes, or any earthly honour? Psal. 84.10. Even in our Creation, when he gave himself to Adam, to be his Lord, he took Adam unto himself to be his Son, Luk. 3.38. therefore formed him after his own Image, Gen. 1.26. And to what higher dignity can the most vast ambition of the Creature aspire, than to be like his Creator, his Son, and Heir?

Now that our gracious Lord offers himself to be our Portion, himself frequently testifies. He often takes upon himself this title, the Portion of his people, Ier. 10.16. & 51.19. their exceeding great Reward, Gen. 15.1. And as frequently his people with glad hearts acknowledge, The Lord is the Portion of my inheritance; The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, Psal. 16.5, 6. I have a goodly heritage. Thou art my [...]ortion, oh Lord, Psal. 119.57. Even in the deeps of bitter afflicti­on (when they are drunken with Worm-wood) this upholds, and strongly props them up. The Lord is my Portion, saith my Soul, [Page 41] Lam. 3.15, 24. A portion so full, and sa­ [...]isfying, that (even here) the Saints utter­ [...]y reject all things in earth, or Heaven as any way accessary, or needful to make up any part of their happiness. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none in earth [...]hat I desire besides thee. My heart, and my flesh faileth, but God is the strength o [...] my heart, and my Portion for ever, Psal. 75.25, 26.

In this Portion lies all the the blessedness of man: which who can more fully assure us, than those blessed Saints, who (filled with his most blessed Spirit) out of their experience, and overflowing joy pour out abundantly such expressions? Blessed is the man whom thou chusest oh Lord, and causest him to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy house: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house even of thine holy Temple, Psal. 65.4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will ever be praising thee, Psal. 84.4. He is only blessed, and all Nations blessed in him only, Psal. 72.17. Nay himself (our Blessedness) teacheth us. Blessed is the man that hearet [...] me, watching daily at my gates, and waiting at the posts of my doors; for who so findeth me, findeth life, Prov. 8.34, 35.

Saints sometime, when either they are pressed down with afflictions, or newly lift­ed up from their earthly burthens, are ready [Page 42] to think, and say, Happy are the people who a [...] in such a case, (that is) whose garners a [...]full, whose sheep, grounds fruitful, no lead [...]ing into captivity, no complaining, &c. bu [...] they soon reclaim themselves, and upon bet­ter thoughts recant: yea, happy is the peo­ple who have the Lord for their God, Psal [...] 144.15.

This will be yet much more clearly mani­fested, if we look upon God, first as our ful [...] defence, Secondly, as our full reward. Thu [...] he Covenants to be unto us, Gen. 15.1. Psal [...] 84.11. For the first, God is a full, and en­tire defence to all those who are under hi [...] protection. They have indeed very many very strong, and subtile, (yet more malici [...]ous) enemies; some without, some within [...] but the Lord ( their Shield) beareth off from them all their force, frustrateth all thei [...] spite, and turneth all their mischief to th [...] furtherance of his people, and confusion o [...] their enemies. Not an hair of them shall pe [...]rish, Luk. 21.17, 18. I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee wit [...] my right hand. Behold they that were incense [...] against thee shall be ashamed, they shall be as no [...]thing: As many as strive with thee shall perish [...] Isa. 41.10, 11. No weapon that is forme [...] against thee shall prosper; and every tongue tha [...] riseth against thee in judgement, thou shalt con­ [...]emn. [Page 43] This is the heritage of the Servants of [...]he Lord; and their righteousness is of me saith [...]he Lord, Isa. 54.17. See it in particulars [...]

All Adversaries exercise a double enmity, [...]ither hostile in assaulting, or civil in ac­ [...]using. Principalities, and Powers, wrastle [...]gainst us in a dangerous conflict, armed with [...]ery darts, and therefore we are charged with an whole armour of God, Ephes. 6.11, [...]2, 16. 2. They are importunate Accu­ [...]ers, Rev. 12.9, 10. Even when God himself [...]ad not only justified, but so highly com­mended his servant Iob, that shameless Spirit was not ashamed to tax him for an Hypo­crite that served for hire, not love, Iob 1.8, 9, 10. 2. The World is an unreconcileable enemy, warring not only within us (by earthly lusts) Iam. 4.1. but without, per­secuting, oppressing, and consuming, Psal. 119.61, 87, 157, 161. 2. Accusing also, and pleading against us by contradiction, slandering, mocking, &c. Psal. 119.23, 51, 69. Lastly, the Flesh warreth against our souls, (1 Pet. 2.11. Rom. 7.23.) and accuseth ( Rom. 2.15.) Against all their as­saults, all their weapons, and accusations, the Lord is our full protection.

In war there is a twofold defence, 1. Na­tural, in situation, as impassable Rocks, Mountains, Rivers, Coverts, or Shelters. [Page 44] 2. Artificial, made by hand; and some mor [...] distant, walls, towers, fortresses; and som [...] nearer, shields, and other armours. Th [...] Lord is all these unto his servants, 1. Moun [...]tains round about them, ( Psal. 125.1, 2. [...] 2. The only Rock (2 Sam. 22.32.) 3. Broa [...] rivers, where no ship can pass, (Isa 33.21.) 4. A Covert, or hiding place, ( Psal. 32.7 & 119.114.) 5. A Wall, and that of fire [...] ( Zech. 2.5.) 6. A Tower, ( Prov. 18.10. [...] 7. A Fortress, ( Psal. 18.2.) 8. A Shield [...] (Prov. 30.5.) a compassing shield, ( Psal [...] 5.12.) like the Cherubims flaming sword, turning every way for our protection. 9. Our Advocate (1 Ioh. 2.1.) to whom all the Saints confidently repair upon all occasions to plead their cause, ( Psal. 35.1. & 119.124.) 10. Neither is he only our defensive, but offensive armour also, both Shield, and Sword, Deut. 33.29. He bears down our foes, and plagues them that hate us, Psa. 89.23. In a word he is our Foreward, he our Rere­ward, (Isa. 52.12.) compassing, and enclo­sing us with his Almighty arms, as with two invincible Armies.

This is his promise, and the deed fully an­swers it. Look upon it in some instances. The Lord Covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob to be their shield. They were few, Pilgrims in strange, and Heathen Coun­ [...]reys. [Page 45] What but this Almighty Shield could [...]ave given them protection? when it was in [...]e power of Labans hand to have hurt Jacob, [...]od held his hands, and lips also, Gen. 31.29. [...]hen he was not a little (nor without cause) [...]ighted, the Lord made his enemies more [...]fraid of him, than he of his enemies, Gen. [...]5.5. when he was to pass by Esau's Coun­ [...]ey, God gave him a royal convoy, two [...]mies of Angels to guard him, ( Gen. 32.1, 2.) [...]elted into tears the bloody heart of his [...]alicious Brother, Gen. 33.4. In brief when [...]ey were a few, a very few in number, and [...]rangers, when they went from one Nation to [...]other People, he suffered no man to do them [...]rong, yea he repro [...]ed Kings for their sakes, [...]sal. 105.12, 13, 14. David was sometime [...] the paws of Bears, sometime in the jaws [...]f Lions, encounters Goliah, but is still safe [...]nder Gods hand, (1 Sam. 17.) Saul pursues [...]im, hunts him (1 Sam. 26.18, 20.) watches [...]im at his house, (1 Sam. 19.11.) com­ [...]asseth him about, (1 Sam. 23.26.) sur­ [...]rises him in a Cave, (1 Sam. 24.3.) but [...]ill he is safe under Gods wings. The whole [...]ountrey opposes one poor Prophet: Kings, [...]inces, Priests, People, all fight against him, [...]ut all cannot prevail: and what the reason? [...]am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee, [...]er. 1.18, 19. They smite him, put him in [Page 46] the stocks, (Jer. 20.) they question him fo [...] his lise, ( Ier. 26.) imprison him, ( Ier. 32. search for him to kill him, ( Ier. 36.) fli [...] him down into a miery, sinking, and stink­ing Dungeon, ( Ier. 38.) but the Lord is wit [...] him in the stocks, in prison, in the dungeon his enemies are destroyed, and he deliver­ed. Saints may be stoned, shipwrackt often, i [...] stripes above measure, in prisons frequent; [...] death oft, every where in perils, and yet saf [...] joyful, happy, 2 Cor. 11.23, &c. They ma [...] be as safe in a Lions Den, as in a Palac [...] Dan. 6. as cheerful in a burning Furnac [...] as in a Bed, Dan. 3. The truth is, we ma [...] have many changes, but he changes not, an [...] therefore we are not consumed, Mal. 3.6.

And because where so many, and so craf [...] Adversaries walk about to devour, (1 Pe [...] 5.8.) and prying into all advantages wa [...] upon all occasions to destroy us, we hav [...] need of a good watch to secure us; th [...] Lord himself sets the watch, ( Psal. 141.3 [...]. nay vouchsafeth (in his own person) wh [...] never slumbers, nor sleeps, to watch an [...] ward about us, ( Psal. 121.3, 4.) and [...] countermining all their underminings, blow [...] up all their projects, impregnably fences ou [...] hearts, and keeps them in his peace whic [...] passeth understanding, Phil. 4.6, 7.

Object. But is this true? with our eye [...] [Page 47] we see them (in this World) subject not only to much evil, but often to death it self. Answ. 1. Know assuredly the promise is infal­lible, and general: No evil shall befall thee, Psal. 91.10, All shall work together for good, Rom. 8.28. 2. Many things are called, and counted evil by carnal men, nay by Saints in their mistaking weakness, which are good. Christs departure in the flesh seemed a great misery to the Apostles, but they were deceiv­ed, Iohn 16.6, 7. Even all Saints after their blubberd eyes are cleared, can see good in affliction, and Gods faithfulness in his chastise­ments, where they feared his wrath, and felt his displeasure, Psal. 119.71, 75. 3. Death is no evil where God hath given Christ to be our Life. Death is ours, (1 Cor. 3.22.) the gate to eternal rest, a sleep in the bosome of Christ, 1 Thes. 4.14. desired by Saints in a godly manner, (2 Cor. 5.2, 4. Phil. 1.23.) and envied us by wicked enemies, Numb. 23.10.

Object. 2. Nay they are not so fenced by their Shield, but that often they receive grievous wounds of spirit, so that they roar for very disquietness of heart, and are led cap­tive by enemies, Psal. 38.5, 8. Rom. 7.23. Answ. 1. There are two sorts of wounds: some of friends, some of enemies; some kill­ing, some healing. A Surgeon will wound, [Page 48] and lanch [...] sore; nay a Mother. These wounds are as that of Iason Pher [...]eus, whose enemy intended to kill, but cured him. 2. The Lord our heavenly Physician even by these wounds draineth our surrounding cor­ruptions, and purgeth, our deadly, and hell­ish filthines [...]. Peter's fall broke the heart o [...] his self-conceit, and the stiff neck of his pride, but he lost not one Limb of the new man. Therefore Christ called it Winnowing, or sifting of Wheat, Luk. 22.31. The Corn falls on the Floar, but is cleansed from the chaff, and dross, and so made fit for use. And it is much to be observed that none have been more cleansed, than they who have most sinned. 4. This Captivity is but a [...] Iabins oppression of Israel; It forces to cry, who shall deliver me? (Compare Iudg. 4.3. with Rom. 7.24.) this cry affects the soul of our Saviour, (grieved for the misery of his Israel Judg. 10.16.) so God arises, scatters our enemies, and we are more than Conquerours in him that loved us, Rom. 8.37.

2. Secondly, As he is a full defence so is he an exceeding great reward; exceed­ing indeed not only the possibility of our deserving, but the uttermost reach of any created understanding. For as his love is incomprehensible, Eph. 3.19. so his greatness [Page 49] unsearchable, Psal. 145.3. He is only good, Matth. 9.17. abundant in goodness, Exod. 34.6. For as he is the only Fountain distill­ing all good into all Creatures: so is he an overflowing Ocean pouring out to men (not in drops but) streams his Rivers of living pleasures, and goodness. See Psal. 36.8, 9. They are abundantly satisfied with the fat­ness of his house, he makes them drink of the Rivers of his pleasures: for with him is the Fountain of life, and in his light we shall see light. Hence it is that his Servants wrapt, and even swallowed up in this torrent with admiration, and exclamation testifie. Oh how great ( beyond expression, or compre­hension) is thy goodness to them that fear thee, which thou hast wrought for them that trust in [...]hee, before the Sons of men? Psal. 31.19. Where can we turn our selves but we shall hear [...]very Creature ready to joyn in consort with [...]he Saints, and to sing? Thou crownest the year [...]ith goodness, and thy steps drop fatness: they [...]rop upon the pastures of the Wilderness, and [...]he little hills rejoice on every side. The [...]astures are cloathed with flocks, the Vallies [...]re covered with Corn, they shout for joy, [...]hey also sing, Psal. 65.11, 12, 13. How [...]numerable are the Creatures in the [...]eaven, Ayer, Earth, Water? and every one [...]f them proclaim his goodness, being in [Page 50] their Creation Very Good? Gen. 1.28.) and daily by his good Providence, feasted, and filled with good? Psal. 104.28. It is not in vain that Gods Spirit by the Psalmist com­pares our defence in God to a Shield, our reward to the Sun, Psal. 84.11. A Shield saves us by its own gashes; we cannot be wounded till our shield be pierced. He is afflicted in our affliction, Isa. 63.9. when men tear the faithful (as Psal. 35.15.) they scratch his eyes, Zech. 2.8. He is persecuted in his Members, Act. 9.4. All the wrongs all the stripes, scoffs, derisions, abuses fasten­ed upon his people lite upon him. For he is the shield that bears off all. The Sun is the fountain of light: and not the Ayer on­ly, and every sublunary creature, but even those Luminaries of Heaven have no other Tapers, but what they kindle at his fire. How freely, and plentifully doth that great Light shed his beams not only through the skies, and ayer, but down to the earth, and every earthly Creature; It gilds every weed, and dung-hill: and though it lends so bountifully to all, yet it is self still as full as ever. Such a reward is our Lord unto us. Seeing the [...] he is first infinitely great and all Nations no­thing before him, and to him less than nothing, (Isa. 40.17.) and (secondly) infinitely, and incomprehensibly good, abundantly sur­rounding [Page 51] the most vast desires in his good­ness, commanding us to open our mouths wide, that is, to enlarge our hearts in thirst­ing, our mouths in asking, and promises to fill them, ( Psal. 81.10.) certainly they can want nothing, [...]o whom he is all things. And this is it which draws out the hearts of his servants to all thankfull acknowledgement: The Lord is my Shepheard, I shall not want: Surely mercy, and goodness shall follow me all dayes of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, Psal. 23. It is altogether impossible for any Creature to think that God can be any such thing, which can possi­bly be better'd, or excell'd by any thing, as being a good without limits, which the more we know, and enjoy, the more we esteem and affect: It cannot therefore be denyed that the highest, and only happiness of man consists in the getting, and enjoying him. Hearken then to that sweet invitation of that so often before mentioned Philosopher, and Poet.

But you will say, How shall we possibly meet? God is in Heaven we on earth, Eccles. 5.2. he of purer eyes than to behold evil, tha [...] cannot look upon iniquity (Hab. 1.13.) We all an unclean thing, and our righteousness a filthy rag, Isa. 64.6. He higher than the Heavens, Heb. 7.26. we as low as Hell. Observe therefore,

CAP. VIII.

SUch is the high favour which we (poor dust) have found in the eyes of our glori­ous Creatour, that he hath not only set us out our Portion in himself, but tyed himself to us, and us to himself in the sure bond of an everlasting Covenant, in which he hath passed himself to us, and purchast us to himself: he ours, (as before) and we his Portion, Deut. 32.9. Zech. 2.12. He our King, (Hos. 13.10.) we his Kingdom: (Exod. 19.5, 6.) He to us a Father, (2 Cor. 6.18.) in love, and providence, (Hos. 14.4. Matth. 6.26.) we to him Children, in love, and obedience, Deut. 10.12. Ier. 7.28.

This his Covenant he hath frequently en [...]grossed for us (that we might have it ever in our eyes) not only in his word ( Gen. 17.7. Ier. 31.31, &c.) but in our hearts also, Ier. 31.33. As Ionathan, because he delighted in David (1 Sam. 19.2.) and loved him as his own Soul, regarded not the disparity of their condition, but divested himself of his Princely robes, to adorn his servant, and [Page 54] having given, and tyed his heart to him be­fore, now gives his hand, and binds himself to him in a sure knot of a friendly Cove­nant, (1 Sam. 18.1, 2, 3.) so our most gra­cious Lord, having his delights with the Sons of men (Prov. 8.31.) loving us beyond know­ledge, (Ephes. 3.19.) so far descended (in the depth of his love) from the height of his Majesty, that he even bound himself to the clay of his hands. Perhaps the learned Hea­then might have some dimm sight of this great Myst [...]rie, and veiled it under the Fable of P [...]gmalion; who having framed a curious statue in the form of a Woman, fell into love with it, and when he had gotten it enliven­ed married it. Love even desires union [...] and communion with the beloved. This in­comprehensible goodness of God, and great Mysterie of Godliness will be best opened un­to us by way of Question, and Answer. Quest. 1. Hath God never made more Cove­nants with man than one? Answ. God hath made divers Covenants; (as Gen. 9.9, &c.) but specially two, the Old, and New, (Jer. 31.31.) or the first, and second Covenant, (Heb. 8.7.) Quest. 2. With whom did God make these Covenants? Answ. With the two Adams: the first with the first Adam, and his seed: the second with the second Adam, and his seed: the first made with a servant, and there­fore [Page 55] a Covenant of works, in this tenure, Do this and live, (Gal. 3.12.) The second made with the Son, and therefore a Covenant of Grace, wherein God giveth what he asketh, and worketh, what he commandeth: bids us, Live, and so gives us life, ( Ezek. 16.6.) commands his Covenant, (Psal. 111.9.) and so writes it in our hearts, Jer. 31.33. Thus our new Covenant is made first, and immedi­ately with Christ our Redeemer, and mediately with us through him our Mediatour, See Isa. 59.20, 21. Gal. 3.16. Quest. 3. Was then that first Covenant broken? Answ. By the first Adam it was utterly broken, ( Gen. 3.) and so by all mankind, ( Ier. 31.32.) And hence with the root dyed all the branches, ( Rom. 5.12.) And certainly never can we suffici­ently admire, or bless that miracle of Gods mercy, in which, after that by our treache­rous revolture, and rebellion, we had broken Covenant, and were utterly fallen into eter­nal death, and misery, he hath taken advan­tage (by our breach of Covenant) to make a better Covenant with us, and by our sin, and rebellion to glorifie his grace, in doing us more good than ever: that seeing we so waveringly fell in the first, we migh [...] invinci­bly stand in the second Adam; and having lost our selves, and all our blessedness in the one, we might regain, and eternally re [...]ain i [...] in the other.

[Page 56]And hence the first is called the figure of the second Adam, (Rom. 5.14.) because as the first was the Head, and Root of our first Covenant, in whom we were all blessed if he stood, and cursed if he fell: so the se­cond is the Head of our second Covenant, with whom (because he cannot dye) our li [...]e is hid up in God, (Col. 3.3.) in whose eter­nal blessedness we are everlastingly bles­sed.

Quest. 4. What is our new Covenant? and the matter of it? Answ. In a word, as Christ Iesus is the Head, so is he also the matter of our Covenant. For whatsoever God bestows on us is in Christ, and we receive it in him; and whatsoever he requireth of us, Christ doth it in us, and we perform it in him: so he all in all, Col. 3.11. Hence he is often called our Covenant, Isa. 42.6. & 49.8. Observe it in some particulars: 1. He pro­miseth to save us from all our enemies, (Luk. 1.74.) and gives Christ to be our Salvation, Act. 13.47. He Covenants to make us bles­sed, and gives him to be what he promiseth to give, Gen. 22.18. 2. He sees that we are filthy, ( Psal. 14.3.) and therefore demands of us that we wash, ( Ier. 4.14.) and be pure as he is pure, (Levit. 11.45.) He knows how unable we are to do it: For though we wash us with nitre, and take much sope, yet our [Page 57] iniquity is marked before him, (Jer. 2.22.) As well can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, (Jer. 13.23.) Him­self therefore undertakes it, and covenants to wash and cleanse us from all our filthiness, Ezek. 36.25. Hence he openeth a [...]ountain to us (even in the side of the Lord Iesus) for sin and for uncleanness, (Zech. 13.1.) gives us Christ, and Christ washes us in his blood, Rev. 1.5. 3. He knows our foolish­ness. My people are foolish, sottish children, (Jer. 4.22. Tit. 3.3.) that we are beasts, and bruitish in our knowledge, (Jer. 10.14.) And his infinite Wisdom can take no pleasure in fools, (Eccles. 5.4.) commands us there­fore to be wise, (Psal. 2.10.) and often ex­horts us to it. O [...] that they were wise, (Deut. 32.29. Again, Ye fools! when will ye be wise? (Psal. 94.10.) but knows it is out of our reach, ( Wisdom is too high for a fool, Prov. 24.7.) Himself therefore gives it liberally, and upbraids not (Jam. 1.5.) gives Christ ( his wis­dom, 1 Cor. 1.24.) to be our Wisdom, (1 Cor. 1.30.) 4. The Lord knows we are Captives of Satan, taken by him at his will, (2 Tim. [...].26.) servants, or slaves to divers lust [...], (Tit. 3.3.) commands us to loose our [...]elves from our bonds ( Isa. 52.2.) to deli­ver our selves, (Zech. 2.7.) knows we can never be free till the Son makes us free, (Joh. [Page 58] 8.36.) Himself therefore proffers to be our Redeemer, (Isa. 41.14.) and gives the Lord Iesus to be our Redemption, (1 Cor. 1.30.) In a word; we are dead, and he our life; we hunger-starved, and he our food, (Joh. 6.35.) we naked, and poor, he our cloath­ing, and riches ( Rev. 3.17, 18. Gal. 3.27.) we blind, and even darkness, (Eph. 5.8.) he our light, (Joh. 8.12.) we excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven, he the Door to en­ter us, ( Ioh. 10.9.) we straying, lost sheep [...] he our way, (Joh. 14.6.) and Shepherd to conduct us, (1 Pet. 2.25.) we dull, he the Quickening Spirit, (1 Cor. 15.45.) we weak, and can do nothing, ( Ioh. 15.5.) he our strength, through whom we can do all things [...] (Phil. 4.13.) we altogether empty, no good thing in our flesh, (Rom. 7.18.) he our foun­tain and fulness of grace, Joh. 1.16.

Quest. 5. What special benefit do we re­ceive by him, being now made the Head, and matter of our Covenant? Answ. Infinite, and specially that fulness (even now) in him which we cannot yet have in our selves, and that perfection whereby our weak per­sons, and failing actions are accepted in him [...] Thus the righteousness of the Law is fulfille [...] in us, (though not yet by us) Rom. 8.3, 4 [...] for he is the end, or perfection ( [...]) of the law for righteousness unto every believer, Rom. [Page 59] 10.4. we are in him unblameable, in him accepted, Ephes. 1.4, 6. To which end he is made sin for us, (who knew no sin) that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, 2 Cor. 5.21.

Secondly we receive in him a sure, and immoveable estate: a Kingdom which cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. a life, that cannot dye: for being grafted in him, we cannot [...]ut live: because he lives, we shall live also, Joh. 14.19. He dyeth no more, death hath no more dominion over him: and ( [...]) In the same manner are we dead unto sin, but alive [...]nto God in Iesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 6.9, 11. And as grafts which are implanted [...]n any stock, receive continual sap from [...]he root, and by it live, and grow, and as [...]hey increase in bulk, increase also in the nourishment, which is supplyed continually unto them through their stock, till they come to their fulness; so the branches of this [...]rue Vine make increase, (Ephes. 4.16.) hav­ [...]ng nourishment ministred, they increase with [...]he increasing of God, (Col. 2.19.) till we [...]ome to a perfect man, to the measure of the [...]ulness of the stature of Christ, Eph. 4.13.

This is that great Prerogative of the second Covenant, made with the second Adam, in which the Saints rejoice, triumph, and sing. Who shall separate? &c. Rom. 8.35. It was [Page 60] granted to Adam ( saith August. de Correp. & grat. c. 11.) that he might persevere if he would, but not that he would what he might; but to us, who are grafted into Christ, both tha [...] we may, and will persevere. And in the next Chapter. There is now given to the Saints not only such help as was given unto Adam, but such as that perseverance it self is given them: not only that without this gift they could not persevere, but also that by this gift they can­not but persevere.

This is that unspeakable comfort to our drooping souls, and so strong a prop to our weak faith, that being grounded on this Rock we cannot be overthrown. There­fore that holy Father writing upon those words of the 88 Psalm, I will build up thy Throne to all Generations, sets up this Trophy, and breaks out into this Triumph: Christ (saith he) sitteth in us, reigneth in us, and shall reign eternally in his Saints. This hath God promised, if that be not sufficient, this hath God sworn. Because therefore the promise i [...] sure, not according to our merits, but hi [...] mercies, we must not Preach that with fear, which we must not think of with doubt.

What an Heaven of joy, and consolatio [...] floweth from this blessed estate? we indeed in nature are bent to back-sliding, (Hos. 11.7.) and therefore he undertakes to heal our back-slidings, [Page 61] (Jer. 3.22. Hos. 14.4.) In us there is an evil heart of unbelief ready to depart from the living God, (Heb. 3.12.) therefore he Covenants to hold our hearts by his fear, that we shall not depart from him (Jer. 32.40.) we are gadding, and changing our wayes, Jer. 2.36. but he changeth not, and therefore we are not consumed, Mal. 3.6. It is a special part of his Royal stile, Keeping Covenant, (Neh. 1.5. Dan. 9.4. Psal. 111.5.) The Covenant consists of Promises and Duties: but those duties promised, for whatsoever Duty God demands of us, he promiseth to give, and whatsoever he promiseth, he [...]ure­ly, and fully performeth, and exhibiteth in Christ; so worketh all in us, and for us, ( Isa. 26.12.) much more perfectly, and ac­ceptably than we can.

Object. But if Christ be given us, as our Fountain, and we replenished from his ful­ness, how then are we so empty, when he so full, and overflowing? how are we full of nothing but wants, when he so abun­dantly replenished with an unexhausted plenty? Answ. 1. There are some nourish­ing, some starving wants: want of meat, without sense of want: pines the body: wants breeding hunger drive to food, and food yields strength, and growth; were our wants without feeling, we could not hunger [Page 62] for the Lord Iesus, and his righteousness. [...] we are sensible of them, and therefore hun­ger, and thirst for Christ; we are blessed, and shall certainly be satisfied, Matth. 5.6 [...] when therefore we find thirst and hunger [...] why should we fear to repair with all assu­rance to this full Fountain? What Well de­nies us water? how freely doth light lend, and give light? He that is the Sun of Righteousness, and Fountain of living Wa­ters invites thee to come, and when thou comest, gives freely, Rev. 22.17. He draws thee to himself, ( Ioh. 12.32.) poureth out his Spirit unto thee, (Prov. 1.23.) satiates the weary soul, ( Ier. 31.25.) and will surely make it to flow with Rivers of living water, Joh. 7.38. This passage also may we conclude with that excellent Poet.

Seeing then this Covenant is all our salvati­on and desire, (2 Sam. [...]3.5.) in the next place Observe,

CAP. IX.

ALL that our gracious God demands of us, is only to Seek him [...] Seek the Lord, and his strength, seek his face continually, 1 Chron. 16.11. Seek the Lord while he may by found, Isa. 55.6. Naturally in this [...]abour we are notorious sluggards; ready to project vain, and imaginary dangers: There is a Lyon in the way; and when Gods graci­ous hand is stretched forth, reaching out his Covenant to us, we hide our hand in our bosome, and will not draw it out to receive his of­ [...]er: when he puts, and even thrus [...]s thi [...] Bread of Heaven into our hand, it griev [...] [...]s [...]o bring it again unto our mouth, Prov. 26. [...]3, 15. Therefore our Lord (who desires [...]ot our death, Ezek. 18.32.) presseth hard [...]his duty upon us: Seek the Lord, and ye [...]hall liv [...]: Se [...]k me, and ye shall live: Seek [...]im that makes the seven starrs, and Orion, [...]hat turneth the shadow of death into the morn­ [...]ng, and maketh the day dark with night, [...]mos 5.4, 6, 8. And because this Wisdom [Page 66] is the principal thing, (Prov. 4.7.) therefore he commands us that it should be the first of our thoughts, and wayes: Seek first the King­dom of God, and his righteousness, Matth. 6.33. This is his way, and we must walk in it. So do his Saints: With wy whole heart have I sought thee, Oh let me not wander from thy Com­mandments, Psal. 119.10.

Conscious of their starting nature they enter into Covenant, and bind themselves with an Oath, and penalty of death to seek the Lord with their whole desire, 2 Chron. 15 [...]12, 13, 14, 15. Even half servants, and such who have nothing to shew of his Service but a Coat, and Livery, and that so worn, torn, and thread-bare, that men may see their na­kedness through it, even these confess (some­time) the necessity of it, and in their man­ner set themselves to this duty, and when they do, (oh mercy!) they lose not all their labour. Those hypocrites, whose hearts were not upright with him, but flattered him with their tongue, yet in their extremity sought him, and enquired early after God: so he for­bore them, and destroyed them not, Psal. 78 [...]34, 36, 37, 38. Iehoash in the life of Jeho­jadah, (2 King. 12.2.) and Uzziah in th [...] time of Zechariah (meer temporisers, 2 Chron. 26.5.) sought the Lord and prospered.

And truly there is an absolute necessity [Page 67] which will enfor [...]e, and drive us to this search with all diligence. For there are two things which compell the most slothful heart to labour with all industry. 1. The great need of a thing, when he cannot subsist with­out it. 2. The extream want, when he hath nothing of it. Both here meet, and that in the highest degree. First, We are, in our nature, wholly without him. With­out Christ, without God in the world, strangers to the Covenant of Promise, (and therefore) without hope, Ephes. 2.12. we have utterly lost him. As the Gileadites dealt with Iepthah, (Judg. 11.2.) we have driven him from us, thrust him out of our doors, shut our gates upon him, and even defied him: as they (Job 21.14.) Depart from us; or those in the Gosp [...]l, We will not have this man reign over us, Luk. 19.14. we have compelled him by our sins to forsake us, and to separate from us, Isa. 59.2. We have broken him with our whorish hearts in departing from him, Ezek. 6.9. and so forced him to leave us, Isa. 2.6. 2. Our need of him is palpable. We can have nothing, do nothing, be nothing without him; for, In him we live, move, and have our being, Act. 17.28. Our wants are in­numerable, and he the only Fountain that supplies them: Our enemies also number­less, strong, subtile, malicious, and he our [Page 68] only Sheild that defends us. Our weakness noto­rious: Of no strength, Rom. 5.6. All our strength, hope, comfort lies only in him. Get him there­fore we must, or perish; and seek him we must, or never get him. But wherein consists this seeking of God? In all seeking. 1. The heart seeks in the desires, and longings of it. 2. That sets it self, and the whole man on work con­stantly, and diligently to use all means where­by we may attain what we may desire, and seek. The root is in the heart, that blades in the desire, (mark 2 Chron. 15.12, 15.) ears, and grows fruitful in the actions, and earnest endeavours. David seeks God, How? 1. His soul thirsted, his flesh longed for God. 2. He follows hard after him, Psal. 63.1, 8. so those Saints (Isa. 26.8, 9.) in the night desire him with their soul, seek him early in the morning, waiting for him in the way of his judgements.

Again, that which we seek must be the end of our seeking: whatsoever we seek not for it self, but for some other, we seek not it in­deed, but that other, for which we desire, and seek it. God must be sought for him­self; we must not in seeking him look to any thing beyond him: when we seek our Lord as the Iews sought Christ, not b [...]ause of the miracle, but because they had eaten, and were filled, we seek not our God, but our bel­lies.

[Page 69]But what are the mean [...] wherein we seek, and find? The Lord hath given us blessed means. 1. Holy Ordinances, the way of hi [...] judgements: prayer, the Word, Sacraments: (See Isa. 26.8.) 2. A powerful Mediatour, and prevalent Intercessour with God for man, God, and Man, the Lord Iesus Christ: he the only Door, (Joh. 10.9.) the only Way, by which we come to God, Ioh. 14.6. His blood hath scored out our path to the Holi­est, a new, and living way through the Veil of [...]is flesh, Heb. 10.19, 20. 3. Faith, which effectually applies both unto us. The Or­dinances not mingled with faith profit not, Heb. 4.2. Prayer without faith God ac­counts howling, Hos. 7.14. the word, men who have no faith count babbling, Act. 17.18. Christ is ours, and dwells in our hearts by faith, Ephes. 3.17. but without faith we are still under the curse, Iob. 3.36. He then that thirsteth for God, looks to Christ in every Ordinance, not to serve himself of God, but to serve him in all faithfulness, this man seeks God.

Many there are which deceive themselve [...], and suppose they are not now to begin that work: they have long [...]ince (they hope) both sought, and found him. But have they prep [...]red their heart? have th [...]y put aw [...]y ini­quity [Page 70] far from them? do they not suffer wick­edness to dwell in their Tabernacles? Job 11.13, 14. How should men seek, and find God in the wayes of ungodliness? the righ­teous Lord in all unrighteousness? Can God be found in Atheism? In such wayes they find God (as Balaam his Angel) with a drawn sword in his hand, not as a Father, but a Iudge, and Avenger. Indeed if we rejoice to work righteousness, remember him in his wayes, he will surely meet us in his mercy, Isa. 64.5. But if we seek him after our own devices, and, though we walk after the imagination of our own wicked hearts, yet dream we shall have peace (Deut. 29.19.) he will meet us, not as a man, (Isa. 47.3.) but as a Lion to tear us in pieces, where none can deliver, Psal. 50.22.

And yet further (that we deceive not our selves in a matter of such consequence) we must know that this seeking of God may be considered in divers periods of it. 1. When being without God in the World we seek to be initiated into his service (see Act. 17.27.) 2. After some breach, when by our misbe­haviour we have caused him to withdraw his favour, and to hide himself from us, as Cant. 5.6. 3. Even when we are in peace, and amity, we must still seek him, labouring to [Page 71] get more union, and communion with him in a continual waiting upon him, and looking unto him, Psal. 105. 4. Some perhaps will think, All this is needless: what necessity of seeking him, when he first seeks us? ( Luk. 15.4, 8.) nay finds us before we seek him, ( Isa. 65.1.) God indeed loveth us first, (1 Ioh. 4.19.) and in his love draws us, (Jer. 31.3.) In infinite love he gives us his Son, (Joh. 3.16.) Thus he seeks us lost Creatures, as that Woman her lost Groat, Luk. 15.8. He lights up the Gospel, and sends in with it that great light, offers him, and in him offers us grace, and happiness: so he seeks, and finds us, as Keepers their strayed De [...]r; he sends in Hunters, and they hunt us from every Mountain, and every hill, and from holes of Rocks: he sends those Aposto­lical Fishers, and they shall spread their Nets, ( Ezek. 47.10.) and fish them, Ier. 16.16. Till which time we do but (as thos [...] blind Heathens) feel after him, Act. 17.27. we sit in darkness, he sends in his Word, and calls us [...]orth unto his marvelous Light, 1 Pet. 2.9. we are enemies, he beseeches us to be reconciled, and offers us peace in Christ; but further gives his chosen an heart to know him, (Jer. 24.7.) an heart to fear him, (Jer. 32.39.) an heart to walk in his wayes, [Page 72] (Ezek. 36.27.) He circumciseth their hearts to love him, (Deut. 30.6.) opens the heart for Christ, (Act. 16.14.) and brings in the Lord Jesus to dwell there, Eph [...]s. 3.17. so he first seeks us in calling us, seek ye my f [...]ce; and then we (when he hath given us that new heart) seek him, when we answer Lord thy face will I seek, Psal. 27.8. He first waits to be gracious to us, then we wait on him, and ar [...] blessed, Isa. 30.18. Let me shut up this Chapter, with that Princely Preach­er, and Prophetical Poet, in this Paraphrase (in Verse) upon his Ecclesiast. 2.

A great encouragement which will much hearten us in this quest is that.

CAP. X.

IF worldly and carnal men so zealously affect, and hotly pursue their earthly objects; the ambitious straining for honour, till they crack their estates, and brains in reaching after it, and yet are often over-reached, and lose their prize; the covetous (as horses) draw­ing iniquity with Cart [...]ropes of vanity, de­frauding, oppressing, piercing their souls with many sorrows, yet often put all their gains into a bag with holes, ( Hag. 1.6.) or at the least in their end are stript, and turned out naked; voluptuous persons hunt after pleasures, till they run themselves off their leggs, and are brought to a morsel of bread, and yet commonly either lose their game, or (as that Huntsman) are eaten up by their doggs; how cheerfully should a Christian [...]un his course in seeking that immortal ho­nour of being a Son, and Heir to the King of Kings, those durable riches, treasures laid [...]p in Heaven, those incorruptible pleasures, which [Page 76] are at Gods right hand, and press hard toward the [...]rk for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ, which following he shall surely obtain, and having obtained shall never lose.

Never did our gracious Lord command his poor creatures, Seek ye the Lord in vain, Isa. 49.15. he hath past his word that in seeking him we shall certainly find, and i [...] finding him shall be ever blessed. His word is his deed, what he speaks is done, what he com­mands stands fast, Psal. 33.9. Be assured therefore if thou seek him, [...]e will be found of thee, 1 Chron. 28.9. 2 Chron. 15. [...] Matth. 7.7. If you seek for honour, glory, im­mortality, you shall find eternal life, Rom. 2 [...]7. Thus hath he frequently promised, and all his promises are Ye [...], and Amen in Christ, 2 Cor. 1.20. Iudah sought [...]im and found him, 2 Chron. 15.15. Even Hypocrites find him, and some favour with him, when they seek, even as much, and as far as they seek [...] A [...]abs temporal humiliation obtained an an­swerable mercy, 1 King. 21.29. As long a [...] Vzziah sought God, so long he prospered [...] [...] Chron. 26.5. It is an infallible dispensa­tion of his Providence (in general) to give every man what he seeks. He that seeketh good, shall have favour; and [...]e that seeketh mischie [...], it shall come unto him, Prov. 11.27.

[Page 77]It cannot be otherwise. For 1. [...] [...]st sui di [...]usivum; Good i [...] o [...] a spreading nature. It cannot but com [...]unicate it self proportio­nably to the power which it hath, and to the object which i [...] finds. He is good, and doth good, Psal. 119.68. He is infinitely good, and therefore infinitely communicates him­self, as well to the [...], by generation, as to the Holy Ghost, by procession; ye [...] finitely (as they are capable) to all his Creatures, as well in their Creation, making them very good, ( Gen. 1.31.) as in his providence, and dispensation; his open hand fills them with good, Psal. 104.28. and man being created after his own image, and after his [...]all capable of the divine nature, he offers and imparts it to them who takes his offer, 2 Pet. 1.4.

Secondly, He is Love, (1 Iohn 4 [...]16.) gracious, (Exod. 34.6.) loving before, above, contrary to our deserving [...]. Thi [...] love our Saviour thinks best to express in the relation of a Father, (Luk. 11.11, 12, 13 [...]) so loving, that he waits to be gracious unto us, (Isa. 30.18.) that he is found of those that seek him not, and makes himself manife [...] to those that ask not after him, (Rom. 10.20.) so unexpressably, and unconceivably lov­ing, that when he had bestowed all his Crea­tures upon us, he yet satisfied not his love, till he had given (a gift fully proportionable [Page 78] to his incomprehensible love) the Son of his love, his only begotten, that we being de­stroyed by our selves, ( Hos. 13.9.) migh [...] through him never perish; being dead in our selves might have eternal life in him, ( Ioh. 3.16.) being enemies in our nature might be reconciled in him, Rom. 5.10.

Thirdly, He is the Truth, Joh. 14.6. How frequently hath he promised, that if we seek we shall find (as before) and faithful is he that promiseth, who will also do it, 1 Thes. 5.24. Thus Mercy, and Truth meet together, Psal. 85.10. And to this purpose are they met, fully to assure us of success in seeking, Deut. 4.25. to the 32. And observe that when for their rebellion the Lord had scat­tered his revolting people among the Hea­then, and given them up to their whorish hearts, to serve wood, and stone, yet even from thence when they shall seek the Lord, they shall find him. And what is the reason that after such bitter provocations he will be found of them in their deepest misery? 1. His mercy: for the Lord thy God is a merci­ful God, he will not destroy thee. 2. His truth, and faithfulness; ( nor forget the Covenant of thy Fathers which he swore unto them, ver. 31.) How then should any poor soul that seeks with lo [...]ging miss in finding. Thou lovest him; he more (infinitely) loveth thee: [Page 79] Thou seekest him, he first seeketh thee. Thou wouldst find him, he will surely find thee: thou desirest to meet him, doth not he promise to meet thee? ( Isa. 64.5.) nay thou goest to meet him, but he runneth to meet thee, Luk. 15.18, 20.

But that cunning, and lying Serpent, and our own unbelieving hearts will put in a barr, and lay a notable stumbling block in our way concerning this truth. They will object, It is not only apparent that many have not found the Lord, who yet have ear­nestly sought, but the Lord himself plainly testifies, that many shall seek, and not find, Luk. 13.24. They shall go with their heards, and with their flocks to seek the Lord, and shall not find him, Hos. 5. [...]. but we must know that as in other actions, so in this, that which is not right, indeed is not. It may seem to be, but is not what it seems: A lip-love is indeed no love (1 Ioh. 3.17, 18.) A dead faith, no faith: so that seeking which is not right, is indeed no seeking.

What then is that right seeking, to which God hath annexed this promise of finding? Three things are necessarily required in seek­ing to make it right, and prosperous. 1. That the place, Where. 2. That the time, when. 3. That the manner, how, be all right. He that seeks Grapes of Thorns, or Figgs of [Page 80] Thistles, neither finds what he seeks, no [...] indeed seeks to find: for he seeks in a wrong place. He that seeks Grapes of the Vine, and Figgs of the Figg-tree, but out of season (in Winter) seeks not in due time, and finds nothing but his own folly. He that observes time, and place, but neglects the right manner of seeking, is still out of the way of finding. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and ha [...]h nothing, (Prov. 13.4.) He will not Plow by reason of cold, therefore shall he begg in Harvest, and have nothing, Prov. 20.4 [...] If a man go with his Cart into the Field, (a place of Corn) and in Harvest (the time of Corn) but never Ploughed, sowed, &c. he may load all his Harvest in an empty Wayn, and return with an empty belly.

Where then must we seek? Not in our selves; not in our Righteousness, or works; we are meer Thorns, and Bryars, Ezek. 2.6. The blessed fruit of the true Vine grows not in our cursed nature. Nothing there but sowre, and wilde grapes, Isa. 5.4. Erring Is­rael following after the Law of Righteousness, attained not unto the Law of Righteousness, Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, Rom. 9.31, 32. Only we find, and enjoy God in Christ, only in Christ he is appeased [...] [Page 81] 2 Cor. 5.19. only well-pleased in Christ, Mat. 3.17. In him we are accepted, Ephes. 1.6. By him we have access to God with confidence, Ephes. 3.12. One cannot possibly come to God as a Father but by him, Joh. 14.6. In him adopted, Ephes. 1.5. In him begotten to an incorruptible inheritance, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. In him blessed with all spiritual blessings, Ephes. 1.3.

But where shall we seek Christ? who shall ascend into heaven, to bring down the fruit of Christs resurrection, and ascention for life unto us? who shall go down to the deep to fetch thence the death of the Lord Iesus, and apply the vertue of it to our souls? The Apostle answers: The word is nigh unto thee in thy mouth, and in thy heart. This is the Word of faith, which we Preach. For if thou confess with thy mouth, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, Rom. 10.6, 7, 8, 9. Christ therefore is offered thee in the Word, given by faith: the Word brings him to thee, thy faith re­ceives him, holds him, leads him into the chamber of thy heart, and there he dwells with thee, Ephes. 3.17. As therefore only Christ brings thee into favour with God, so the Word brings Christ to thee, and faith grafts thee into Christ.

But although the Lord Iesus Christ with his [Page 82] own mouth, and his blessed Spirit have so frequently, and cleerly testified, that the Word Preached is the incorruptible seed, whereby we are born again to this incorrupti­ble inheritance, (Luk. 8.11. 1 Pet. 1.23. Jam. 1.18.) and the food, ( strong meat, and milk) whereby we are nourished, and grow up into our Head in this life of God; yet what in the World is more despised, and rejected? If you look to the judgement of some (professed, and in name) Christians, they account it (as those Greeks) foolishness, (1 Cor. 1.18, 23.) and therefore utterly despise it, Act. 13.41. They dare deride it even in the mouth of Christ himself, ( Luk. 16.14.) how much more in the mouths of his poor messengers? If you look unto their wills, they are resolved against it, ( Ier. 44.16.) will not hear, but reject it, ( Ier. 8.9.) If to their affections, they hate it; hate the knowledge of it, ( Prov. 1.22, 29.) hate him that brings it, ( Amos 5.10.) yea even him that sends it, Ioh. 15.22, 23, 24. Indeed if they would enquire of Christ, and hearken unto him, teaching us where to find him, he would direct us: Go thy way forth by the foo [...]steps of the flock, and feed thy Goats by the Tents of the Shepherds, Cant. 1.8. But proud fond men know not (as that Eunuch, Act. 8.31.) the need of a Guide. Their [Page 83] [...]taff can better grope out their blind wayes, Hos. 4.12. They walk after their own devices, (Jer. 18.12.) and will have no other Coun­seller but their own mouth, Ier. 44.17.

Some again seek him at ease, on their beds, and so find him but in a dream, Cant. 3.1. some look for him in the broad wayes of a com­mon profession as those Iews, Matth. 3.9. Joh. 8.33. They are children of Abraham, Circumcised, &c. so many Christians: They are born in the Church, Baptised, call Lord, Lord, &c. but how should they find the True way in the false, the narrow in the broad? There they shall hear him thunder­ing as a Iudge: I never knew you, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, Matth. 7.14, 23. Know assuredly when the Spouse her self thus sought, she found him not. She sought him on her bed but found him not, sought him in the streets, and broad wayes, but found not: but when she enquired of the Watchmen, she soon found him, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3. Hear him [...]herefore in his word; Watch daily at his [...]ates, and wait on the posts of his doors, and he will make thee blessed, Prov. 8.34.

Secondly, what is the season, or right time [...]f seeking? Gods time, not ours. There is [...]n acceptable time, (2 Cor. 6.2.) a time when [...]od will be found, Isa. 55.6. The longest ex­ [...]nt reacheth no fur [...]her than the limits of [Page 84] this short life. After death instantly fol­lows Judgement, Heb. 9.27. where the tree falls, it lies. 2. There is a time when the de­cree brings forth, Zeph. 2.2. which if we pre­vent not, we perish. As far as I can discern by the word, God limits a time, and after the Date is out, we are shut out ( Heb. 4.7. and specially, Luk. 13.25.) A time when the door stands open to give us entrance, a time when the door is shut, and we knock, beg [...] and plead hard, but all in vain. For though God never excluded a repentant, humbled, and softned heart, yet when men have despised his patience, forbearance, and offers of grace, God may justly, and doth frequently give men up to hardness, and leave them to their impenitency, to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath, Ezek. 24.13. Rom. 2.4, 5. 3. There is a set time; the Lords Day, or (as our Homilies call it) the Christi­an Sabbath. And for mine own judgement I am perswaded, that as a Sabbath is the bond, which holds the Church in the true Wor­ship of God, so the neglect, and contempt of that Ordinance is the bane of true Religion, the root of all profaneness, and Atheism, and the great breach wherein Superstition, Er­rour, and Schism have overflown, and sur­rounded the Christian Churches; In this matter therefore consider, and ponder these few ob­servations.

• [Page 85]1. A Sabbath is nothing else but a day of rest, separated from the labours of our earthly, and consecrated to the labours of our Heavenly callings. This (I take it) is apparent, Exod. 20.10. where not only a cessation from our earth­ly vocations is required, but the sanctifica­tion (or keeping that day holy) is en­joined.
• 2. A Sabbath instantly after the Creation was instituted, blessed, and sanctified by God himself; and therefore (as far as I can discern) was born with the world, hath lived with it to this present, and shall never dye, but be changed into that eternal Sabbath; yea even our heavenly Father himself, thus far kept a Sabbath, that he rested that day from all his works which he made, ( Gen. 2.2.) and propounds his practice as a kind of precept to his Children, Exod. 20.11.
• 3. By vertue of the Decalogue, (and that fourth commandment in it) a Sabbath is of moral obligation to the Iews, and bound them to a necessary, and religious observa­tion of it.
• 4. A moral equity of the 4 Commandment is generally by all confessed, obliging all men to a sufficient, and convenient time for Gods Worship. Now that a Seventh-dayes [Page 84] [...] [Page 85] [...] [Page 86] Sabbath was (in the Iewish Church) this suf­ficient, and convenient time I conceive will not be denyed, neither can any (I think) yield any good reason, why a seventh day should be the equity of the Sabbath (a time sufficient, and convenient) then, and now in­convenient.
• 5. We no where find this statute of a se­venth dayes Sabbath abrogated by the Law-giver, (who then can repeal it?) but only translated to the first day of the week: which that it is done, is apparent, but whe­ther done by Christ himself in person, or (which is equivalent) by his Spirit in the Apostles, appears not. And therefore that Ap­pellation of the Lords day used by the Spirit, (Apocal. 1.10.) is the fittest title which Christians can give it.

But of all other seasons the most special, and happy is that, when God draws neer, and even offers himself to be found, Isa. 55.6. when by his voice in his word he calls, Awake thou tha [...] sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, Ephes. 5.14. when he maketh us that gracious proffer, Turn ye at my reproof, behold I will poure out my Spirit unto you, Prov. 1.23. when (as that Angel deals with Peter, Act. 12.) he smites sleep out of our eyes, shakes us out of our drow­siness, and by corrections offers himself as a Fa­ther [Page 87] unto us, (Heb. 12.7.) and so by his quickning Spirit moves, and stirs our secure, and sluggish spirits. As when the waters in that pool were troubled, healing followed, ( Ioh. 5.4.) so when the Messengers of God have by his word stirred, and troubled us, if then we instantly step in, and take hold of his grace, health, and salvation will cer­tainly follow. But take great heed of de­layes (see Psal. 119.60.) If it be inhu­manity to say unto a neighbour, it is most impious to say unto God, Go, and come again to morrow, Prov. 3.28. Saints seek early: ( Isa. 26.9.) and then the promises meet them. They that seek me early shall find me, Prov. 8.17.

Object. But some may seek early, and not find, Prov. 1.28. Answ. There is Gods day, and our day. The Lord himself riseth early, and calls, Jer. 7.25. Then if we stirr up our selves to seek, we shall find him, Psal. 63.1, 5. but if we let pass his day, and seek in our day, our early will prove too late. When he slew them, they sought him, and enquired ear­ly after God, Psal. 78.34. But then he had sworn in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest, Psal. 95.11. They lived long after, but never entred.

3. Lastly how, or after what manner must we seek? 1. As famisht persons, with hun­ger, [Page 88] and thirst. Ho every one that thirsteth, Come to the waters, and Isa. 55.1, 2. Thus we are constantly invited. Let him that is athirst come, Rev. 22.17. Thus accepted. I will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely, Rev. 21.6. Now hunger, and thirst are those natural, and or­dinate affections of the body, rising from a sense, and grief of want, whereby it vehe­mently, and constantly desires the food wherewith it is nourished, and grows. But as there is an inappetence, so is there also an inordinate desire of meats and drinks, rising from distemper; a disease; not hunger, but the hungry evil; not thirst, but dropsie-thirst, coveting excess, devouring rather than eating, and then vomiting, but never satisfied: Thus is it with our spirits: The true [...]unger therefore includes, 1. Empti­ness. 2. Longing. 3. A constancy; that is an ordinate, and seasonable return of this desire, rising not from distemper, but empti­ness, and such an emptiness as proceeds from the right use of this food, well digested into the inward man for growth. Some are full gorged with lusts, and so loath this honey comb, Prov. 27.7. some very empty, but not at all hungry, as those that are dead, or deadly sick. Those Laodiceans were poor, empty, naked, but not hungry, as dreaming that they [Page 89] were rich, and wanted nothing, Rev. 3.17. Some are full of longing, but nothing emp­ [...]y; as that Ruler ( Mark 10.17, 22.) who had he been as empty of temporal living, as he was greedy of eternal life, would have willingly accepted that easie condition, to have bartered earthly for heavenly trea­sures.

When all these meet together in the heart, and make it hungry, they fail not to satisfie, and make us blessed, Matth. 5.6. But when they are severed, and single, they prevail nothing.

Secondly, We must seek with the whole heart, not divided, nor double: so if we seek, we shall surely find him, ( Deut. 4.29.) And blessedness with, and in him, Psal. 119.2. But a divided heart is ever faulty, Hos. 10.2. and a double heart, (wavering betwixt God, and Mammon, Christ, and Lust) obtains no­thing, Iam. 1.7, 8.

Thirdly, With a Washed heart, purged from the love, and dominion of sin: For as all Sacrifices (and even our prayers) are [...]oathsome, when they are presented with [...]nclean hearts (Prov. 21.27.) so when we are washed, the most deep-died sins cannot hinder our acceptance, Isa. 1.16, 17, 18. If we regard wickedness in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us, (Psal. 66.18.) but if we [Page 90] forsake our sin, we shall find mercy, Prov. 28.13.

Fourthly, when we have thus sought, we must wait upon God; The Lord is good to the [...] that wait for him; to the soul that seeketh, Lam. 3.25. The experience of Saints will ratifi [...] this truth. I waited patiently for the Lord [...] and he enclined unto me, and heard my cry, Psal. 40.1. Our blessed God hath long waited upon us to be gracious unto us, and to shew us mercy; and blessed are they that wait upon him to receive mercy, Isa [...] 30.18.

If then you seek your portion aright; if you seek God in Christ, Christ in his Word [...] if you seek him in due time, his time, hi [...] day, when he offers himself, and stirrs your hearts; if you delay not, but when God riseth early to call you, you wake early to meet him; if you seek with an hungry, intire, washed heart, patiently waiting upo [...] the posts of his doors, he will certainly ope [...] the door, let you in, give you life, an [...] make you blessed.

I will also finish this Chapter with a verse borrowed from divers of those Poetical Pro­phets.

For surely know that Eternal life, even

CAP. XI.

THE whole Portion of man, all trea­sures, and true riches, which fill man with true blessedness, are stored up in Christ: Riches, and honour are with him, yea durable riches, and righteousness, Prov. 8.18. In him [Page 93] are hid all the treasures of wisdom, and know­ledge, Col. 2.3. He is full of grace, and truth, and from his fulness we all receive, and grace for grace, Joh. 1.14, 16. and so are we filled with the fulness of God, Ephes. 3.19. It will therefore be not more needful, than delight­ful to take a further view of this glorious inheritance; so to kindle, and inflame our dull hearts with more love, and longing after him, to drive us to seek, and quicken us in seeking, that [...]o we may find him.

Of all the Artifices devised, and practised by that envious, and subtle Serpent this is the principal, to draw a Curtain before this express Image of Gods person; who being the Brightness of his glory, (Heb. 1.3.) if we could behold with open eyes his Divine beauty, would wonderfully ravish our enamoured spirits, and so attract, win, and hold our eyes, and hearts that he would ut­terly raze out all other vain loves and washy colours, and cause us wholly to despise all those painted flowers of counterfeit beau­ties, which grow not in his face, and shine not in his eyes.

As therefore that our heavenly Father ( the Father of lights) in his gracious wisdom, to draw us to Christ, commands his light to shine out of darkness, and opens for it a window in our hearts, to give us knowledge of the glory of [Page 94] God in (no other object but) the face of the Lo [...]d Iesus Christ, (2 Cor. 4.6.) so this Prince of darkness imployes all his Engines, with all diligence, to obscure that light of the Gospel, lest in it this Image of God should shine out un­to us, 2 Cor. 4.4. And as he by his false Apostles ( deceitful workers) labours to distort those amiable lineaments, and darken the radiant beauties of the Lord Iesus: so our God sets his servants of the Ministry on work, ( [...]) Gal. 3.3. to limb out Christ in all his love, and excellency to us.

Now it is he who hath committed that pencil of his Gospel into my weak hand. I desire therefore, as I can, (a poor Appren­tice in my trade) and as I have learnt of him, to describe him to you; you know well, as other Princes, so this King of Kings wooes by picture. He sends here unto you drawn by a rude hand his pourtrait, which (as dimm as it is by reason of my unskilfulness) is able (through his working) to enflame your hearts with love, with sickness of love, with ardent desire, and restless longings af­ter him.

As in the Creature there is a double quality which kindles affection, either simple, whereby it self is perfect, or relative, whereby others are bettered; so is there in our Lord, and Creator a double excellency, [Page 95] [...]imply considered wherein himself is incom­prehen [...]ibly blessed in his most glorious per­fections, relative in his infinite both good­ness, and fulness to supply our imperfecti­ons, and fill us with blessedness.

For the first, because our infirm eyes would soon be dazeled with the rayes of that Sun of Righteousness (if in open light, and full view he were presented to us,) there­fore the Lord is pleased to mask the face of [...]hat glorious lustre with shadows of earthly comparisons, and to let us (here) see the [...]ight of it as through a cloud.

Now as corporal beauty consists, 1. Of a [...]omely feature, (when the whole body, and [...]very limb is cast into a due frame, keeping [...]ust proportions, and every one fashioned in [...] right mould, neither excessive, nor defe­ [...]tive) and 2. Of an amiable colour, dispread [...]ver the whole body, and every member; [...]hen each part is dressed, and tired in such [...]livery as most commends it to the eye of the [...]eholder; so also doth the spiritual: view [...] curiously drawn, Cant. 5. from the 10. v. [...] the end. There may you behold our be­ [...]ved excellently pourtrayed by the hand of [...] own Spirit, as well in all his excellencies, [...] head, locks, eyes, cheeks, lipps, hands, leggs, [...] countenance, mouth, as also in his most [...]vely colours, white, and ruddy, &c. The [Page 96] meaning is, Look as a person excellently comely in all the lineaments, and proportions of every member, and exquisitely fair in the natural tapestry of a pure complexion is a most ravishing object to an eye of flesh; so in that second Adam ( the quickning Spirit) could we lift up our eyes to take a full view of his dazeling beauties (which now are veiled from our imperfect sight, for no man can see him and live) could we be­hold (in their measures) those his most glorious Attributes, and then clearly discern that infinite purity, shining, and sparkling in every one of them, it would (as once it certainly shall) fill our spirits with heaven­ly raptures, and ravishing extasies in con­templation of those divine beauties.

Take a more particular, and distinct view of these most glorious perfections. Look what comeliness is in man, that in Christ is Om­nipotency, or All-sufficiency. Comeliness i [...] nothing else but that form of body, where­by every limb is so placed, grown, and pro­portioned, that it is apted for its office, an [...] for the use of the body: were the Ey [...] (the Spy of the body) placed elsewhere tha [...] in the Watch-towre, were the hand, or fo [...] turned backward; how should they execu [...] their office, and discharge their duties? Bu [...] when the eye, the ear, and every part is [...] [Page 97] seated, and shaped, as that it is most fitted, and best enabled for the work unto which it is designed, and no work of the body which some part is not able to effect for it, then it is seemly, and lovely: So what is that All-sufficiency, and Omnipotency in Christ, but that infinite, and excellent measure in all his divine Attributes, whereby he is able to do, and doth all things in Heaven and earth?

Look then upon the Lord Iesus, and be­hold in him. 1. His Almighty eye of Wis­dom, and providence, running to and fro through the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect with him, 2 Chron. 16.9. Consider that his Al­mighty ear of grace, and mercy, which hears [...]rom the ends of the earth, (Psal. 61.2.) and from the belly of Hell, Jon. 2.2. Behold that his Almighty mouth, which speaks, and it is done, commands, and it stands fast, Psal. 33.9. Take a view of the Almighty arm of his [...]ower, and hand of his justice, effectually working, and equally distributing whatso­ever, and howsoever he wills in Heaven, and Earth, subduing all things to himself, and [...]isposing all events, and Creatures at his [...]leasure. As therefore it is the Comeliness of [...]an that all his limbs are so ordered, and [...]amed that he can with all facility, and [Page 98] agility do every work which concerns the good of the body; so that which sets an excellent luster upon Christ in the eye of a Christian is that his Almightiness, whereby (in all his Attributes) he is able perfectly to work whatsoever is necessary, or conve­nient for his Body, and Spouse, and to do whatsoever he will in all the world.

2. As all the limbs of the body are not a little commended to the eye by the fairness of the skin, not dryed in the smoak of a burnt constitution, nor drowned in the pale­ness of a phlegmatick complexion, but eve­ry part drest in those colours of beauty ( red, and white) shining in their natural pureness; so is there in Christ an excellence of spiritual purity, far surmounting the expr [...]ssion of words, or comprehension of thoughts in any creature.

This purity is nothing else but his holi­ness; the beauty, and glory of all the rest [...] His wisdom is an holy wisdom, his merc [...] an holy mercy. His mouth, a [...]m, han [...] altogether, and infinitely holy. Whe [...] comely proportions of body march unde [...] those lovely colours of Beauties ensign [...] how easily do they make a breach in th [...] eye? conquer, and lead captive the heart and swear it a willing servant to fleshly love [...] But when the Lord Iesus looketh forth of [...] [Page 99] Window when he sheweth himself (but) through a lattise, (Cant. 2.) He wounds the hearts of men, and Angels; he ravishes the soul, captivates the understanding, fires the af­fection with unquenched longings: no such hell as to be estranged from him; no such Heaven as union with him. We have a pro­verb that love will tune a very harsh, and unstringed heart into poetry, and singing. But when the Creatures, though with cover­ed faces, (for who is able with open eye to behold the full blaze of his beauty?) look upon the face of his Holiness, they are swal­lowed up in admiration of his excellence, and fill their mouths, and the world with songs of his beauty. They call up one ano­ther in their Antiphones, or Verses, to praise him, Psal. 30.4. & 97.12. and all (men, and Angels) joyn in the Chorus, chanting Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of hosts, Isa. 6.3. Rev. 4.8. Clean wayes how easie, and pleasant? clean linnen how sweet, and sightly? pure ayer how wholesome? pure metals (gold, or silver) how precious? what then is that purity of the divine essence? how glorious in holiness? Exod. 15.11. In this alone see the excellency of it. It is a working beauty, mightily, almightily working on every ob­ [...]ect that looks upon it. How long may we behold the fairest Virgin on Earth, and yet [Page 100] our selves be no whit the fairer? But when we fasten our eyes upon this beauty of Christ, it leaves the impression of the same glory, and excellency upon us. And as it is with that great Light, (the Sun) it guilds the Heaven, starrs, earth, trees, and every Crea­ture with which it converses, and paints them with his light, and luster; so that great­est, and uncreated Light, that Sun of Righte­ousness, when we behold him, stamps his divine nature, and glorious image upon us: If Moses do but see his back only, his face shines, and glitters, so that his Brother Aaron feared to approach him, Exod. 34.30. If Christ in his humanity converses with his Fa­ther, not only his face sparkles, as the Sun [...] ( Matth. 17.2.) but his very rayment shines, and glitters in pure whiteness ( Mar. 9.3. Luk. 9.29.) and hence is it that when we shall see him as he is, we shall be as he is, 1 Joh. 3.2.

Secondly, Look to that relative excellency wherein we communicate with him; w [...] must know that whatsoever is his, is ou [...] also (by participation) when he is ours, an [...] we are his. He endows us with all his goods [...] not only with these outward things, ( Pa [...] Apollos, Cephas, the World, life, death, thing [...] present, future all are ours, 1 Cor. 3.22. [...] but withall those excellencies which are i [...] [Page 101] himself: His arm of power, his hand of justice, his ear of mercy, his eye of Provi­dence, all is ours: he with-holds nothing from us, not his glory: he will have us to see it, and by seeing to have it, Ioh. 17.22, 24.

Nay he so far is pleased to descend unto us, that he not only gives himself for us, but will himself be to us whatsoever we want. We are excluded, shut out from God, without God in the World (Ephes. 2.12.) he becomes a Door to let us in Ioh. 10.9. we were strayed sheep wandring in our lost paths, ( Isa. 53.6.) he is the Way to bring us back to the Hea­venly flocks, and solds, Ioh. 14.6. when we were darkness (Ephes. 5.8.) he would be our Light, Joh. 8.12. we were harbourless, without any continuing City, (Heb. 13.14.) He will be our House: we dwell in him, (1 Joh. 4.13.) for our house (or mansion) is not Heaven, but in Heaven; not made with hands, but uncreated; not temporal but eternal, 2 Cor. 5.1. we were hungry, and pined, feeding on ashes, (Isa. 44.20.) him­self will be our Bread from Heaven, Joh. 6.35. he our drink indeed, Ioh. 6.55. we filthy, and even stinking in our filthiness, ( Psal. 14.3.) he our Fountain for sin and unclean­ness, Zech. 13.1. we naked, (Rev. 3.27.) he our cloathing, Gal. 3.27. we in debt, owed thousands of talents, had nothi [...] to [Page 102] pay, (Matth. 18.24.) he our Surety, (Heb. 7.22.) who hath cancelled our bonds, and blotted out the hand-writing which was against us, (Col. 2.14.) we were Captives, (2 Tim. 2.26.) he the Price of our Redemption, (Matth. 20.28.) we were fools, (Tit. 3.3.) he our wisdom, (1 Cor. 1.30.) we poor, ( Rev. 3.17.) he our Riches, (Col. 1.27. Rev. 3.18.) we Vile, (Job 40.4.) he our Praise, and Glory, (Deut. 10.21. Luk. 2.32.) we joyless, (our very joy madness, ( Eccles. 2.2.) he our exceeding joy, Psal. 43.4. To conclude, We dead, (Ephes. 2.1.) he our Life, (Joh. 14.6.) we Vanity at our best, (Psal. 39.5.) and very nothing, (2 Cor. 12.11.) he All in all (Col. 3.11.) we empty, he our fulness, Ephes. 1.23.

Oh that the Lord would embrighten our eyes to behold some sparks of this glorious excellency, and our happiness in beholding it! that the eyes of our understanding being opened, we might know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, Ephes. 1.18. If our God should create for us as many worlds as we could number, what were all these Crea­tures in comparison of the Crea [...]our? a drop of a bucket, or the dust of the ballance, Isa [...] 40.15. He is the glorious Spouse of ou [...] souls, but all the Creatures his servants, and [Page 103] in him, ours. Let him therefore be the Co­vering of our eyes unto all that are with us, and with all others, (Gen. 20.16.) upon him let us fasten our sight with all admiration, and burning affection, but on them (in compa­rison of him) let us look as upon loss, and dung, Phil. 3.8. A chaste Spouse will re­spect her servants, and behold them, in their affliction with pitty, in their wants with mer­cy, in their diligence, and service with a kind acceptation, but in competition with her husband (if they would presume to be Rivals in his love, and sharers of her heart, and his bed) with disdain, scorn, and ha­tred. Let us therefore stir up, and quicken our dull hearts with some such meditation.

CAP. XII.

BUT in this way to our happiness we shall meet with much opposition, we cannot steal such a Nuptial: if we will needs be walking in this way of life, he that hath the power of death will beat us with many storms, assault us with many encounters, before we can land in the arms of Christ, and be bedded in his bosome.

That great enemy of man (Satan) swells with spite, and envy, to see us presented with such an offer, and ready to embrace it; and therefore (in his inveterate malice) will not cease to cross us (as he can) in this blessed match, and high advancement. It bursts his gall to see us contracted unto the Lord Iesus, us (poor worms, his captives [...] pluckt out of his chains, and instantly draw [...] into a covenant of marriage with the Go [...] of Heaven! to be admitted to such an uni­on, and fellowship, instated in such a Join­ture, [Page 107] of divine glory, and eternal happiness, which he hath utterly lost! Oh how can it but grate his heart, and be another hell unto him, who is so stuffed with malicious envy, and envious malice against the Lord Iesus, and his Spouse?

But as it is with those Locusts (his vene­mous armie) so is it with their Captain, (Rev. 9.19.) His power is in his mouth, and in his tail. He is a Serpent, more subtil than strong, or strong only by subtilty. His lying tongue, and [...]inful stinging tail is his mighty and (almost) only weapon. There­fore in your passage to your Heavenly Spouse he sets many crafty Bauds, and painted Har­lots to lay wait for you at every corner, ( Prov. 7.12.) we have great need then to stand upon our watch, and to set a strong and faithful guard at our gates (our eyes, ears, &c.) lest as he beguiled Eve with his subtilty, so he should corrupt our minds, and inveigle us by those Strumpets, whose hearts are nets and snares, and whose hands bands, Eccles. 7.26.

That old Baud (the world) and her Pandar Satan, have painted, and drest up divers Harlots, which, attired in all deceitfulness of cunning allurements, they present to our sight, and so draw away the wandring heart, and eye after lying vanities. The Turks [Page 108] Saraglio is not so furnished with Concu­bines, as this old Baud with filthy Stumpets; some enticing the mind, some the heart. Of the former rank are numberless but beside those Triobolax, and obsolete (fit now to work only in gross darkness upon blind, or mop-eyed creatures) she hath newly trimmed up two notable Harlots.

The first is that State of Rome; but so varied in unwonted tires, so curiously paint­ed by her last dresses (the cunning Iesuits) and turchest in new fashions, that we have need of purged eyes, and much intention to know her, and to see her leprous hide plaster­ed with fair colours.

The second is that daughter of old Pela­gius, which by abasing the grace of God in Gods election, (binding his choice to the works of men) and advancing the power of man, in mans election, (flattering him with false abilities of an unrenewed will) perverts the right wayes of the Lord; who hedging, and walling us out of our wayes [...] and conducting us only in the way of his grace, brings us to immortality, and glory.

Whithersoever you turn you, one o [...] these will be at your elbow; In every cor­ner you shall meet with the Lovers of thes [...] Harlots, doating on their plaistered beauties, and drawing others to the same doteage [...] [Page 109] Those Paramours of Rome will deeply swear that their Mistress is the Queen of the World, that the Sun (even the Scriptures) borrows all his beams from her eyes, that there is no Paradice but in her arms, no Heaven but in her embraces, no hope but in her anchour, no faith but in her breast, no truth but in her mouth: that if she commands Vices, and prohibits Vertues, you were bound to believe that Vices were good, and Virtues evil. So Bellarm. De Roman. Pontif. l. 4. c. 5.

The other not so lofty in their boastings, but as dangerous in their baits, and lurings. They will promise you liberty, (and what is more suitable, and sweet to nature) but make you (as themselves) servants to corru­ption.

Now if you should trust your own eyes, and lean to your own understanding, you might easily be charmed with their enchantments. But if ever you mean to keep your heart intire for the Lord Iesus, you must not afford one glance to these his Rivals, but through the glass of his word. That (but else no­thing) will broadly display the putrid loath­someness of these haggs, and rotten pup­pets.

Be ever asking, Where it is written: this was the buckler of the Ancients. I adore the fulness of Scripture: Let the shop of Her­mogenes [Page 110] teach us where it is written: if it be not written, let him fear the woe pronounced against Adders, and detracters, Tertul. This was the sword of the Spirit, whereby our Saviour himself warded his breast from all those fiery darts of Satan, and beat down all his strong assaults, Matth. 4.4, 7, 10.

But so cunning are some of these Imposters, that they will challenge you at your own Weapon. They have learnt this fence of their old Master (the Devil) who seeing our Lord standing upon this guard, had presently (in shew) the same weapon, and charged it against him; It is written (saith he) Matth. 4.6. whereby you see how needful it is for you to have your senses exercised in the word, to discern good, and evil, (Heb. 5.14.) and what necessity lies upon you to meditate in the word of God, day and night, (Psal. 1.2.) that you may breath your soul in those breathings of that Holy Spirit. The enemy is crafty, the issue of the combate, life or death eternal.

Another sort of Whores that old Baud, and Pandar, the World, and the Devil dres [...] up in another fashion, to lay battery to your heart (the will, and affection) and they ar [...] as (if not more) dangerous than the for­mer. The first is the Lady Mammon, boast­ing her self the only true Riches, but indeed [Page 111] a meer slip, and counterfeit, brass, and cop­per covered with tinfoyl. Yet how many unstable souls hath she beguiled? She hath all the tricks of a Whore, first in quality, secondly in action. For 1. She is false, and lying: what content, and happiness doth she promise to her Paramours? yet did she never satisfie any Lover, Eccles. 5.10. How should that give man content, which hath no more worth than mans fancy gives it? She drowns us in perdition, and destruction, and pierceth with many sorrows, 1 Tim. 6.9, 10. 2. She is inconstant, and light; winged, and flies away, Prov. 23.5. 2. Her actions also whorish: she hunts for the precious life of a man, Prov. 6.26. No less hire will purchase her company than the price of our souls, Matth. 16.26. when she hath shut us with­in her embraces, she shuts us out of the Kingdom of Heaven. As soon shall a Ca­mel pass through the eye of a needle, as a man loving riches through the strait gate of life, Mar. 10.24, 25. 2. A Whore sells nothing but repentance, and mourning at our latter end, Prov. 5.11. And what do men reap from the love of riches, but weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth? Jam. 5.1. The way to keep off our hearts from this false Strumpet is to fasten our eyes upon the heavenly Riches: which are first true; the [Page 112] metal not base, but precious promises, 2 Pet. 1.4. precious faith, much more precious than gold, 1 Pet. 1.7. The stamp upon them is the Image of the King of Heaven, which makes them currant in all his Dominions. 2. They are durable riches, (Prov. 8.18.) they will never fail you. In life, and death they will follow you, Rev. 14.13. He that looks upon God as his Portion, and sees in what pleasant places the lines are fallen to him, (Psal. 16.5, 6.) He that looks upon Christ, ( his Treasure, Col. 2.3.) and those glorious riches stored up in him, will look upon all other riches as loss, and dung, ( Phil. 3.8.) and think the meanest room of his heart too precious to be taken up with trash and trumpery.

The second Harlot is Honour, ( Reputation, and Credit with men) A proud Strumpet, that carryes her head aloft, but the veriest dirt of all the rest: yet how strong are her allurements? How did she draw away those in part-believing Iews, specially Rulers? Ioh. 12.42. how easily did she carry them down in a stream of popularity from the fountain of life? She hath a strong faction in all mens hearts to work for her, but prin­cipally in those, who are great in the world [...] If ever you attain any eminence there, she will prove a dangerous tentation. Take [Page 113] heed of casting one glance toward her, lest you be overcome. Remember that warn­ing of our Saviour; you cannot entertain faith, and her in one heart, Joh. 5.44. Take heed also of being dismayed with her frowns. Assuredly know she will affront you with reproach, contempt, disgrace; If ye cleave to Christ were you Kings, were you the King of Kings, she would not be afraid to revile you, and spit in your face. David was torn with her mocks, (Psal. 35.15, 16.) because he followed that which was good, (Psal. 38.20.) The Son of David derided by proud Pharisees, Luk. 16.14. Think not, being ser­vants, to be above your Master. It is enough for the Disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as the Lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his houshold? Matth. 10.25. whosoever will live godly (be sure of [...]t) shall suffer (at least this) persecution, 2 Tim. [...].12.

But take off your eye from this shadow, [...]nd lye of honour, and set it upon that true [...]lory. Could you (with Moses) behold but [...]ne spark of that heavenly advancement. [...]ou would (with Moses) account the reproach [...] Christ greater honour than all the treasures of Egypt, Heb. 11.26. If you will take up the [...]count aright, thus you will value it: for [Page 114] indeed God himself is your praise, Deut. 10.21. Christ himself the glory of his Israel, Luk. 2.32. And what weight then (in the ballance of any impartial judgement) can the rotten breath of a mortal creature, and the glit­tering of rotten wood in the night hold, when the Creatour is in the other scale?

The third Stale is Pleasure, a wanton, pe­tulant, luxurious pack, which (in respect of your youth) if God keep you not, will easily draw away your hearts from the love of Christ. She hath all the properties of an Harlot. By means of a whorish woman shall a man be brought to a piece of bread, (Prov. 6.26.) and he that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man, (Prov. 21.27.) they that live in pleasure are dead while they live, (1 Tim. 5.6.) stinking coarses, buried in living bodies [...] Oh take heed of this perfumed piece of Car­rion.

Perhaps she will send in her Brokers; vo­luptuous, vain persons, (nay perhaps sh [...] will have your own hearts) to plead for he [...] What? should you bury the April of you [...] years in a Winter of sullen melancholy [...] May you not (specially in youth) enjo [...] some pleasure? and refresh your selves wit [...] the delights of the Sons of men? Truly o [...] gracious Lord is far from interdicting us an [...] lawful, or true pleasure. To wallow as [Page 115] Swine in the mire, to pollute our souls, which he hath washed in that precious foun­tain opened (in the side of Christ) for sin, and for uncleanness; as a Dog to lick up our vo­mit; as that Demoniack to dwell among the Tombs, (Mar. 5.3.) and converse with the dead in their graves, this, (if this be plea­sure) our Lord hath prohibited. But surely whosoever account these things delightful, must needs also rank themselves with hoggs, doggs, and demoniacks. Your Father allow­eth you a sober, and wholsome use of all his creatures for your comfort, and refeshing: and lest this should be too little, gives him­self to be your Pleasure, and joy; bidds you [...]o rejoice in him, and again to rejoice, Phil. [...]4.4. he allows, and gives you joy unspeaka­ble, and glorious, (1 Pet. 1.8.) provides for you fulness of joy, and everlasting pleasures, Psal. 16.11. He will be to you a fountain [...]f life, and will make you to drink, and abun­ [...]antly satisfie you with rivers of his pleasures, Psal. 36.8, 9.

The Lord of glory offers himself, and his [...]onjugal love unto you, to endow you with [...]ll his goods, with himself, the supream, the [...]nfinite Good. Are there no pleasures in his [...]mbraces? If you sit down under his shadow, [...]ou will find great delight; and his fruit will [...] most sweet unto your taste, Cant. 2.3. If a [Page 116] man who hath married some fair, lovely, and loving Spouse, should yet doat upon a stink­ing, but perfumed, and painted Harlot, who scorns not his folly? who detests not his perfi­dious, and perjurious wickedness? who looks on him but as a man impotioned, and with strong sorceries bewitched? God proffers himself to you as a Father, offers the Son, and Heir of his glory into your bosome, and shall we leave this glorious Spouse to follow those dirty Prostitutes, sinks of all uncleanness, and filthiness? The good Lord keep our hearts from such a witchery. Now therefore fence your hearts from such in­chantments with these thoughts.

CAP. XIII.

TRue it is that Satan as an old, and ex­pert Pandar, with exquisite art, and cunning labours both to obscure the radiant beams of that Sun of Righteousness, lest that great Light the Image of God, and Brightness of his glory, (Heb. 1.3.) should shine forth unto us, (2 Cor. 4.3, 4.) and in dark sha­dows to kindle those rotten sticks of super­stition, errour, profit, pleasure, prefer­ment; so with these glistering shews of false light to draw away our eyes, and hearts from our Lord, and true Spouse to the adulterous love of these painted S [...]rum­pets.

And truly it is with us, as with some silly children: we are more taken with the glaring dust of rotten wood, than with those glittering beams of that great Light of Hea­ven: yet were not these eyes, and heart as wicked, and as (if not more) deceitfu [...] as he; ( deceitful above all things, and despe­rately wicked, Jer. 17.9.) he could not s [...] [Page 119] [...]asily bewitch us with those false blazings of plaistered, and painted beauties. But when he without, and our hearts within are cunning to deceive, hence it comes, that these loathsome Harlots seem altogether lovely (which indeed are sheer vanity) and he, who in truth is altogether lovely, (Cant. 5.16.) hath his visage so marred more than any man, and his form more than the Sons of men, that he hath, in our eyes, no form, or comeliness; and when we see him there is no beauty why we should desire him, Isa. 52.14. & 53.2.

I have therefore before (as I could, weakly) endeavoured to uncover as well the loathsome deformity of those hellish Stales, as also the glorious beauties of our gracious Lord. But who is su [...]icient? (2 Cor. 2.16.) and who less sufficient than am I? Blessed be the Father of lights who hath in any measure purged, and cleered our dimm, and abused eyes to discern the abhorred filthiness of the one, and the excell­ing excellency of the other.

Now if our poor souls enamoured on his perfections should say, Blessed indeed is the hand that weds, and the heart that beds him! But I am a worm, and no man: what hope to match with so grea [...] a Lord? I am a dead Coarse; dead in sins, and trespasses; a painted [Page 120] Sepulchre, a grave full of dead Corpses, what possibility for such a wretch to rise up to so high an advancement? How should such a Body of death be espoused, and match with the Life of the world, with Eternal Life? who shall wooe him for me? who can win him to me? Let me satisfie you in this doubt.

To conclude this match we have more use of our ears, than of our mouths. He (oh incomprehensible mercy! oh unconceivable goodness!) He wooes us. He offers trea­ties, nay entreaties of marriage with us. He employes Embassadours purposely to be­seech us, and they pray us in Christs stead, (2 Cor. 5.20.) nay he gives us Liegers, who daily negotiate, and sollicite this mar­riage, that we would be espoused, as a chaste Virgin, to Christ, 2 Cor. 11.2.

Stay here awhile, and wonder. Let us take a better view of this strange love, and dealing of our Lord: let us ravish our hearts with admiration of his goodness. Shall the King of Kings beseech a Traitor to be recon­ciled? Shall the Creatour descend to wedd, nay to wooe the Creature? the clay of his hands? Shall the Lord of Angels (he is no less) offer himself in union, and communion with Devils? we are no better, Ioh. 6.70. (children of Satan, Ioh. 8.44. Children of [Page 121] hell, Matth. 23.15. nay Captives of the De­vil, 2 Tim. 2.26.) Shall God the Father give his Son, shall God the Son give his life, shall both give their blessed Spirit to such hellish, cursed enemies? Oh the infinite miracles of this mercy! And yet is his mercy more miraculous, or our madness more prodigious? We will not come, (Joh. 5.40.) we must be drawn to this happiness, Ioh. 6.44. The traitour stripped for execution rejects mer­cy: the Creature scorns the Creatour, and worse than Devils (who have no such offer) refuses to be restored to Heaven, and re­united to the Lord of Heaven: and yet he (after many denyals) waits to be gracious unto us, (Isa. 30.18.) and we after so long gra­cious waiting persist in our denyal: and ye [...] he persisteth still in his gracious purpose, and never leaveth us till overcoming our stony hearts with his soft love, and tender mercies, he wins us to be happy in his grace, and for ever blessed in his glorious embraces.

Is not he a God of purer eyes than to behold iniquity? Hab. 1.13. And what are we but sinful dung, and corruption? Is not he a con­suming fire to sinners? Heb. 12.29. And what are we but stubble, and fuel for everlasting burnings? How then is it that we have found favour in his eyes? How is it that we are (as that burning bush) unconsumed? [Page 122] Certainly because he is God, and not man, Hos. 11.9. nay because he is God, and Man, delighting in mercy, Mic. 7.18.

Now that we may be the more willing, and ready (with all humility, and thankfulness) to entertain, and with all confidence of faith to expect this high and happy advancement, let us stedfastly fasten our eyes first upon our selves, secondly upon him, and take a right view, (for a full, we here cannot) as well of our misery, as his mercy; by his own hand exquisitely pencil'd out to us. Let us set up the picture of it (being a piece very excellent) in the best room of our hearts, that it may be continually in our sight, and remembrance, we shall have it, Ezek. 16. from the 2 to the 15 vers.

First, Therefore Gods Spirit there presents to our eyes, (in gross) and shews us our abo­minations, ver. 2. And hence so frequently in the world the Lord culls out the most abo­minable, and loathsome things as parallels for us: our very sacrifices, and service (in­fected with our contagion) abominable, Prov. 15.8. our very Incense (which should sweeten all our service) meer abomination, ( Isa. 1.13.) our very beauty abhorred, ( Ezek. 16.25.) and our excellency hateful, and loathsome, Amos 6.8.

2. In particular. 1. Our Birth abomina­ble, [Page 123] as cursed Canaanites, ver. 3. whom the Land (as a loathsome vomit) spewed out, Lev. 18.27, 28. we are born enemies, (Rom. 5.20.) haters of God, (Rom. 1.30.) 2. We are unwasht, filthily polluted in our own blood, v. 4, 6. and even wallowing in our mire, and death; rejoycing in evil, and delighting in froward wickedness, Prov. 2.14. 3. In all this misery unpittyed, ver. 5. No creature, (not our selves) had any compassion of our poor souls; helpless, hopeless, senseless. 4. Lastly, we were Cast-awayes; despised, scorned, the Refuse of the Creatures, v. 5. As some strumpets cast out their misbegotten births, and are asha [...]ed of their fruit, so the earth was abashed to look on us (her mishapen Off-spring) we were the shame of our Mother. And what could now be added to this misery, but the end, and last act of this Tragedy, even hell fire, and brimstone, into which we were posting without stop, with all our might, by wilfull rebellion, and stubborn wickedness?

Turn now, and fix your eye upon that miracle of Gods love, and mercy. He whom we had provoked, despised, he whom we hated, he, only he pitties us: so pitties us, that even (when we were dead, and buried in the belly of hell) he gives us life, ( v. 6.) the life of himself our God: even [Page 124] his Son, the life of the world, eternal Life. 2. With life he gives us growth, and in­crease, v. 7. the increase of God, (Col. 2.19.) to which end he giveth [...]s also faithful Pastours to build us up till we attain to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, Ephes. 4.11, 12, 13. 3. He enters into Covenant with us, swears, and vows his love unto us, his conjugal love, v. 8. sends mes­sengers to wooe, win, and espouse us to him­self, 2 Cor. 5.20. & 11.2. 4. He washes, ( throughly washes us from all filthiness, Ezek. 36.25.) and anoints us with Oyl, (v. 9.) neither thought he any Laver pure enough, till he had opened a Fountain for us in his own side, and washed us in his heart blood, Zech. 13.1. Rev. 1.5. no Oyle he thought precious enough, till he had powred out his own Spirit to anoint us, 1 Joh. 2.27. 5. He cloathes us as becomes the Spouse of such a Majesty, v. 10, 11, 12. Neither could any Creature in Heaven, or earth give him con­tent in fitting us with ornaments. His own hand must frame our vesture, his own righte­ousness must apparel us, his own glory Crown us. Yea he divests himself to cloath us with himself, he puts on Christ upon us, Gal. 3.27. 6. He furnisheth a rich Ta­ble for us, v. 13. feasts us with fat things, full of marrow, of wines on the l [...]es, well refined, [Page 125] Isa [...] 25.6. No Bread [...]avoury, and fine enough for us (in his love) but the true Manna the Bread of Heaven: no Wine plea­sant enough, but that fruit of the true Vine, prest, and wrung out on the Cross; even his own Body, and Blood, Ioh. 6.35, 53, 55.

7. Lastly, He deforms our deformity, and conforms us to his own likeness: sets his own beauty upon us, ( v. 14.) transforms us to the image of his own Son, (Rom. 8.29.) who is the Brightness of his glory, Heb. 1.3.

Know then, never did any passionate lover so deeply affect, and affectionately wooe his desired Spouse, as he the union of our souls with himself. A lover watches diligently, and greedily catches all oppor­tunities of conferring with his beloved, and winning her heart. And doth not he rise up early to draw, and bring home our souls? Ier. 25.4. & 32, 33. A Lover breaks his sleeps to wait at the door of his Love: and Is not his head filled with the dew? and his locks wet with the drops of the night? Cant. 5.2. A Lover will not break off for eve­ry denyal, nor will be discouraged with ma­ny re [...]usals: and doth not our Lord wait to be gracious unto us? Isa. 30.18. even after we have wearied him with our unkindness, Isa. 43.24. Some Lovers have ventured; [Page 126] He given his life for his beloved, Ioh. 15.13. Seeing therefore such a Lover (so lovely) thus wooes such wretches, (so loathsome) let us thus answer his suit,

If then the hopes of such a match are so fair,

CAP. XIV.

AS it is in the earthly, so also in this hea­venly Contract. The Man is the Suiter; the Woman is Wooed. In him is required to ask, and seek; in her only to accept, and consent. Christ loves first: then we, 1 Ioh. 4.19. He in love proffers himself to us, and we (when he hath wonn us) embrace his offer with love, and willingly receive him. His hand whereby he give [...] himself, is his Word; (the Gospel, written, his Love-letters, Preached, his wooing) our hand whereby we receive him is only our faith: by which the Vnderstanding assents, and the Will consents: so the only condition, [...]nd demand of God for consummation of the [...]ontract, is Faith.

First therefore, That Father of lights (by the light of his word) discovers to us th [...] person of the Lord Iesus in his nature; God, and Man. 2. In his Offices; King, Priest, and Prophet. 3. In his Relation to us [...] [Page 129] Husband, Head, Saviour. 4. In his love, and actions of love: Incarnation, Humiliation, Exaltation. This light he so effectually brings home to us by the work of his Spirit; that whereas (heretofore) we saw no beau­ty in him that we should desire him, ( Isa. 53.2.) now we see no beauty but in him: we behold his glory, as the glory of the only be­gotten Son of God, Joh. 1.14. And so strong an impression doth it work, that the Under­standing (convinced by Gods Spirit) receives the testimonies, subscribeth, and seals to this truth of God, (Joh. 3.33.) and then plainly sees, confesses, and with joy so judges that all things are dung, and loss in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ Iesus his Lord, Phil. 3.8. And this is the first act of faith, wrought in the Understanding, whereby the Apprehensive faculty conceiveth this truth, and the Iudicial signs it.

The second is in the Concupiscible faculty; [...]or the same word by the same work of Gods Spirit, which perswaded the Judgement [...]o assent, draws on the Will to consent: and [...]s it giveth power to the one to conceive, [...] to the other to receive Christ aright. To [...]his end the Word cleerly demonstrateth as [...]ell the misery of man without him, as the [...]appiness with him, and both infinite, (as [...]oh. 3.36. & 1 Ioh. 5.12.) It sets out him [Page 130] in relation to us as the Vine, us in relation to him as the Branches, Ioh. 15.1, &c. grafted in him we are cleansed, fruitful, ver. 3, 4. but without him we can do, we can have nothing; neither sap, nor fruit, but are withered, and burned, Joh. 15.5, 6. In him, and his house we flourish, grow fat; and the more we grow in age, the more we grow in fruit­ [...]ulness, (Psal. 92.13, 14.) but out of him, (as the branches of a Vine) altogether use­less, cast into the fire for fuel, the fire de­vours both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burnt, Ezek. 15.4. Vine-branches, (of all other) are in the Vine most useful, and no­ble, out of the Vine most base, and useless.

It propounds him to us as an Husband [...] us to him as a Spouse: Woman was mad [...] for man, and without him is unfruitful, an [...] useless: him to us as an Head, us to him a [...] his limbs, and body; In him we live, move, an [...] have our being, Act. 17.28. without him w [...] are senseless, dead, nothing.

And whereas the heart is easily draw [...] with that triple cord, of profit, pleasure [...] preferment, it evidently discovers to u [...] 1. Our gain, and great advantage by him i [...] life, and death, (Phil. 1.21.) all other thing [...] loss, Phil. 3.8. 2. The infinite delight, an [...] sweetness in his shadow, Cant. 2.3. the fu [...] [Page 131] carouses out of the Rivers of his pleasures, Psal. 36.8. the woe (Hos. 9.12.) and tor­ments of his absence, Rev. 14.10. so that our spirits refuse all comfort, and are utter­ly overwhelmed, Psal. 77.3. 3. The height of honour, and advancement in him, Ioh. 12.26. ( Honos est in Honorante) Honour is in the giver, not receiver. The more excellent the person is who gives honour, the more excellent is the honour received from his hands. What comparison then between the honour which comes [...]rom man, and the ho­nour which comes from God only? we are never truly honourable, but when we are precious in his sight, Isa. 43.4. In him we are Kings, (Rev. 1.6.) and this kingdom heavenly, (2 Tim. 4.18.) and everlasting, (2 Pet. 1.11.) that cannot be moved, Heb. 12.28. out of him we are Children of the Devil, (Joh. 8.44.) and so devils, (Joh. 6.70.) who being thrown out of Heaven, and unworthy to be seated in any (the ve­ry lowest) place formerly designed for the Creature, have a new, and peculiar place pre­pared for them beneath all other, the Deep, (Luk. 8.31.) and bottomless pit, Rev. 20.1. where they are bound up in everlasting chains of darkness, Jude 6.

And yet further the Word shews us the easie conditions which in this Contract God [Page 132] demands of us, subjection, obedience, and service to our heavenly Spouse. And le [...]t our dimm eyes (which are easily taken up with the empty shew, and vain name of li­berty) might be frighted (as with Bug-bears) when they look upon a yoke; he hath laid open the nature, and manner of this service, (concerning which I shall say more in the next) so that the spirit of man sees in it the glorious liberty of the sons of God, (Rom. 8.11.) and no liberty but in this bond, no rest, joy, or comfort but in this sweet ser­vice. Most true it is that no man can come unto Christ, unless the Father draw him, and as true, that every man who hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Christ, Joh. 6.44, 45. The cords therefore by which the Father draws us unto his Son, are those lessons, whereby he teacheth us. 1. In God, his love which passeth knowledge, (Ephes. 3.19.) the love of the Father giving us his Son, that we might not perish, but have everlasting life in him, ( Ioh. 3.16.) and the love o [...] the Son, giving his life for us, ( Ioh. 15.13.) when enemies, (Rom. 5.10.) 2. In us ou [...] extream necessity of him, being of all Crea­tures the most miserable without him, and infinitely blessed with him.

These are those cords of a man (for the will of man cannot be drawn by violence [Page 133] of compulsion) the bands of love, Hos. 11.4. Thus our heavenly Spouse wooes us; thus he speaks comfortably unto our hearts, ( Hos. 2.14.) and allures us. Then the Will cheer­fully consents, calls him Ishi ( my husband) not Baali ( Lord). Thus our Saviour be­troths us to himself for ever, betroths us in righteousness, in judgement, in loving kindness, and we know the Lord, Hos. 2.16, 19, 20.

This is that root of faith, Col. 2.7. which springing from the incorruptible seed of Gods Word ( Rom. 10.17.) sends up the stalk of love, and working by love, (Gal. 5.6.) brings forth the ear, fruitful in every good work, increasing in some thirty, in some sixty, in some an hundred fold, Matth. 13.23. This is that hand of faith whereby when the Lord Iesus is offered unto us we receive him, (Joh. 1.12.) 1. In the understand­ing, by conceiving aright of him, learning Christ as he is taught us, (Ephes. 4.20, 21.) 2. In the will, by embracing him, Heb. 11.13. This is that grace of the Spirit, by which when we are questioned in the Church (after those wooings of Christ in his word) Wilt thou have the Lord Iesus Christ to thy wedded Husband? wilt thou love, honour, obey, serve him, and keep thee only unto him? the soul answers, I will, and so gives it self to Christ, and by the seal of baptism becomes the sealed [Page 134] fountain of the Lord Iesus, (See Cant. 4.12. with Prov. 5.18.) and is tyed unto him in an indissoluble knot of those everlasting espousals: so that neither death, nor life, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things present, nor things to come shall be able to separate from the love, (Rom. 8.38, 39.) from the boord, and bed of the Lord Iesus.

And is this all which is required in such a match? doth he ask neither portion, nor beauty, nor honour (nay gives all these) nothing but our hearts? (filthy hearts that he may cleanse them, dead hearts that he may quicken them, beggarly, and empty hearts that he may enrich, store, and fill them with the fulness of God?) Oh then shut not the door against such a Suiter. Open your heart for him; give it to him: where can you so well bestow it? how graciously will he receive it? how lovingly will he che­rish it? how sweetly will he embrace it? and oh how infinitely happy, and blessed will you be in his sweet embraces.

But is there nothing else demanded but the heart, and will in this spiritual match, and union with Christ? Nothing more to make the match; but after the marriage, those conjugal duties are required, which will soon make us feel and confess how happy we are in such an espousal. Hearken then [Page 135] willingly to his suit, and thus in your hearts cheerfully answer him.

CAP. XV.

THat humble Widow esteemed it no little grace, that a man so mighty a [...] Boaz should take any notice, or shew the least favour to her so poor a stranger, Ruth [...] 2.10, 13. No doubt but looking upon her self in her Widow-hood, and desolate con­dition, in a low ebb of poverty, and on her Nation branded by God, and shut out of his Congregation ( Deut. 23.3.) she could see nothing in her self worthy of his eyes, and acceptance. Yet had she many commendable endowments; such as might preferr her to a very honourable espousal. Her wifely kindness to her former Husband, ( Rut [...] 1.8.) her obedient fast love to a Mother-in-law; her strength of youth, and (no question) beauty; but above all, virtue, and holiness known, and famed. All these meeting in one might make up a worthy por­tion, when the Judgement held a right bal­lance, and weighed things not as they seem [...] but are.

[Page 137]How then should we humble our abject souls before our heavenly Spouse? She was a Widow; we (as our Proverb is) Grass­widows, neither Wives, nor Maids: we had prostituted our selves to sin, and lust, and had played the harlots with many lovers, Jer. 3.1, 2. She was poor: we miserable, and wretched, poor, blind, and naked, Rev. 3.17. She a stranger: we Aliens from the common­wealth of Israel, without God, without hope, Ephes. 2.12. a corrupt, and corrupting seed, Isa. 1.4. She had many excellent endow­ments, we had none No good in our flesh, Rom. 7.18. She a kind wife: we not only unkind, but treacherous, Ier. 3.20. She obediently loving to a Mother in law; we hatefully disobedient, and obstinate against an heavenly, and most gracious Father, Isa. 48.4. Tit. 3.3. She youthful, beautiful: we full of the old man corrupt in lusts, Eph. 4.22. Filthy, even to stinking, (Psal. 14.3.) and loathsome, Prov. 13.5. She vertuous, and holy: we out of measure sinful, and vicious. And he (our Spouse) the true Boaz, (that is) strength, the mighty, the Al­mighty. How uneven a yoke? yet our Will in all these defects received: willingness (in his unutterable grace, and unconceivable mercy) being accounted, and accepted as our portion, and beauty, and we in the day [Page 138] of our espousals) endowed with all his goods, adorned with his beauty, and crown­ed with his glory.

But is it possible that when the Husband is so rich, great, excellent, nothing should be demanded but heart, and will? To make the match nothing else, but after it is made, all Conjugal duties required. And what are they? 1. Love, to cleave to him in all dear affection. 2. Constancy, to hold us to him in all estates, better, worse; 3. Chastity, to keep our selves only to him. 4. Subjection, to obey, and serve him.

But this seems a very hard, and heavy bur­then. It is only so in seeming, and to some only. As in the night many things seem very terrible, which in the day are very de­lightful to the eye; As to a sick palate that meat seems very i [...]ksome, which in health is sweet, and pleasing: so men that sit in darkness, and look on these things with dimm eyes, imagine, rather than see many Buggs to fright, and scare them; when their hearts are surfeted with sinful lusts, this most sweet yoke is very distastful, and bitter: but where there is a new Creature, and the sense uncorrupted, no soul is able to comprehend either the full excellency of it, or to utter in any measure that lit­tle it doth comprehend. Let us there­ [...]ore [Page 139] draw nigher, and take a better view of [...]hese things.

And 1. Love is as the object; very sweet, [...]or very bitter: sometimes excessively grie­ [...]ous, sometimes exceedingly pleasant. If [...]he object be loathsome, love is burthen­ [...]ome. Seven years for beauteous Rachel [...]eemed but a few dayes; but a few dayes for [...]lear-eyed Leah would have been many years. 2. Be the object very lovely, but not at all loving; such love is full of vexa­tion, and anguish. Thus Amnons fair Sister Tamar afflicted him to sickness, and leanness, 2 Sam. 13.2, 3. 3. If the object be wor­thy, and reflecting our love, yet if it prove unfruitful, it brings often more grief, than comfort. Sarah's and Rebecca's beauty yielded their husbands less content, than their barrenness trouble. The extraordi­nary kindness of Hannah's husband could not (in barreness) so sweeten the bitter­ness of her soul, but that all meat was distastful, and no drink relished but tears, 1 Sam. 1. But when all these meet; when our hearts are pitched upon an object, 1. Lovely, and amiable; 2. Kind, and lov­ing; 3. Fruitful, and beneficial, our affecti­on will rather need a bridle than a spur; not a switch, but a snaffle.

If then we look upon our Heavenly [Page 140] Spouse, we shall see. 1. That he is fairer than the Children of men, ( Psal. 45.2.) altogether lovely, (Cant. 5.16.) his beauty the longing of Saints, ( Psal. 27.4.) the ra­vishment of Angels, ( Isa. 6.3.) from whose beams the whole world borrows its spark of beauty. 2. His Love is first: preventing ours, 1 Ioh. 4.19. passing all (not only love but) expressions, nay knowledge of all Crea­tures, Eph. 3.19. 3. The fruit of this mu­tual love exceeding much, and glorious. It lifts up from a despised condition, ( Cant. 8.1.) makes us honourable, Isa. 43.4. It prefers u [...] from the basest drudgery in the world, from the Skullery of Satan, to the bed of Heaven, to the union, and glory of the Lord of Hea­ven, and earth, Ioh. 17.21, 22. In a word it gives us perfection, elevates our abased nature above the Heavens, and exalts it to the uttermost extent of which a Creature is capable: and therefore justly termed the bond of perfectness, Col. 3.14.

To love therefore him, who is above mea­sure lovely, above apprehension loving, whose love [...]ully perfects the beloved Lover, can be a burthen to none but those, who hate their rest, and love their burthens; yet were it a burthen, justly might he ex­pect, and exact of us cheerfully to bear it [...] For will not all bonds of gratitude, and [Page 141] equity tye us to it? were it a burthen for us to love him our glory, life, heaven, it were far greater for him to love us his death, hell, abasement. He loved us when dead, and no way but by his death to be revived: he loved us when sunk into hell, children of wrath and Satan, and never but by his descent into hell (even suffering that wrath) to be rescu [...]d. He loved us when we were utterly fallen, thrown down from the highest ho­nour to the bottomless pit, when filthy, loathsome, stinking, and never but by his abasement (from the form of God to the form of man, and of a servant) to be re­stored, never to be washed but by his blood, never to be reformed but by his deformity. If then not for love, yet for shame how should we deny to be pressed for his, who was oppressed for our sake? to bear his cross, who hath bor [...] our curse? to car­ry the heavenly burthen (if any were) of his life, who hath undergone the hellish load of our death, and misery?

2. Secondly, We are enjoyned to hold us close to him in all estates better, and worse: This condition affrights many, and makes them shrink. But only flesh, and blood is startled at it. Christ even to a carnal eye is beautiful in his crown of glory, but in his crown of thorns they think he looks not [Page 142] like himself: they have no pleasure in him: lovely on his Throne, loathsome on his Cross. Alas poor souls! Is it another Sun which shines in his brightness, and is sha­dowed in a cloud? The Moon interposing may ecclipse the beams of the Sun to us [...] but can it stain, or diminish his glory, and excellence? A mask may hide, but em­pairs not beauty. Is Christ less lovely, where he shews most love? Look better upon him [...] eye him at the whipping post, on the Cross. How do those dying looks set out to life that incomprehensible love? Our words [...] our thoughts fall infinitely short of it [...] Here only it stands out pencild to life in full expression, and offers it self to our view in just proportion. How do those fires [...] love burn in his quenched eyes? what se [...] of love flow in every drop of that preci­ous blood? How many fountains of love, and life streaming from his hands, feet, side open the very Cataracks of Heaven, an [...] surround the World with floods of love? w [...] have no eyes if we stand not dazeld wit [...] this Sun of righteousness, more brightl [...] shining forth in the beams of his love, fro [...] the Axel-tree of his Cross, than from the sphere of his glory.

Some perhaps will confess that Christ ne­ver more manifested his love than on hi [...] [Page 143] Cross, but yet to take up his Cross, and fol­low him, cannot be but very grievous, and painful. But Love is stronger than death, (Cant. 8.6.) and hath power to sweeten all pain, to overcome, and triumph over all trouble, and grievance. The only reason why this way of Crosses is so tedious, is, because there is none, or too little love to sweaten it. Why can Saints rejoice in tribu­lation, but because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts? Rom. 5.3, 5. For if a little Sugar can sweeten the most bitter things which are decocted in it, how much more shall that infinitely sweet love of God (with great pleasure) relish the most di­stastful usages of the world, when they are digested in it? How else did the Apostles re­joyce to suffer shame? (Act. 5.41.) How did Paul take pleasure in reproaches, necessities, in persecutions, distresses for Christs sake? 2 Cor. 12.10.

And yet what are these things which seem so intolerable to us? Certainly had they not more frightfulness in our fancy, than in their own nature, they could not possibly appear so fearful. Take out the worst of them, and view them with a quiet, and set­led judgement, and how will we laugh at our vain terrours? Scorn, derision, and con­tempt of the world how strongly do they [Page 144] work on mens fancies? or rather mens fan­cies on them? Who knows not that story of Socrates? who when he was contumeli­ously abused, and kicked by a Ruffian, and his friends in great anger, and disdain, ask­ed him why he repayed not the injury, so­berly demanded, what revenge they would prescribe him: some counselled to serve a Writ upon him, some to return the like, and to kick him again. He, pointing to a [...] Asse, not remote from him, answered, If that Asse had kicked me, should I have sued him, or vied kicks with him? Even moral vertue could lift up this Heathen to such an height of Wisdome, that looking down upon the bestiality of such persons, he even scorned, that the scorn, and contempt of a creature so much inferiour, should reach so high as to dethrone his reason, and cast it down into a bruitish passion. How much higher doth Christian wisdom mount up the heavenly spirit, and enable it with con­tempt and pitty to look down upon scorn, and scorners, despising their insolencies, and pittying their seduced, and miserable per­sons, as no way able to reach up to that peace which it hath received in Christ, and to unsettle the quiet of a soul, whose con­versation ( [...]) is already in Heaven [...] In a word, all these injuries are but so many [Page 145] gemms in our crown; God weighing out to us for these momentary sufferings an excelling excellent eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4.17.

May death, and the grave (the uttermost extent of worldly spite) though it look grimm upon a carnal eye, yet a spiritual can behold it as a dore of peace, as rest in a bed ( Isa. 57.2.) where we sleep in the bosome of Christ, (1 Thes. 4.14.) as upon an estate much better than life, Philip. 1.23. Death to a Chri­ [...]tian is his, his servant: (1 Cor. 3.22.) as Haman to Mordecai: It may set up a gallowes, [...]egg us to execution, but by the power, and [...]avour of the King of Kings is suffered, nay [...]ommanded to take us indeed, but to divest [...]s of our sackcloth, (our morning flesh, Iob [...]4.22.) to cloath us with the Kings robe (his [...]ining righteousnes) to mount us on his car­ [...]iages (who rides on the Cherubims) to crown [...]s with the royal diadem, and so to bring us [...]to the eternal presence of the King of glory. [...]he truth is, all that Christ asketh of us this [...]ay is self denyal; that emptying our selves [...]f our selves, and of all creatures, that we [...]ay be filled with him, even with the fulness [...] God: oh what in this is to be feared, if [...]e fear not the height of our blessedness?

3. The third dutie with he requires is, [...]at we should be intirely his, and keep us [...]ly unto him. And this is nothing else but [Page 146] not to dishonour our selves by debasing our souls, which he hath so ennobled, to pro­stitute them to vile lusts, and ignoble crea­tures; to use all other things as servants, and to enjoy him as our Lord. If a great Prince should set his heart upon some poor Coun­try mayden; crown her his Queen, give her his subjects, some to serve her in her chamber, some in the kitchin, and skullerie, some in higher, some in meaner offices, what an abject baseness were it in her to take off her heart from such a Spouse, and to set it upon some groom of her stable, or one of the black-guard? Certainly the heart which once hath tasted the kisses of the Lord Iesus, is not only ravished with them, but looks upon all creatures (which are but our ser­vants) as dung (see Cant. 1.2. Philip. 3.8.) and knows well how infinitely it should be debauched by changing his least favour fo [...] the highest love of the highest creatures.

4. The last is obedience, and service: This also seems an hard condition to those, who never knew what it was. Libertie is very sweet. How then should this be bitter whic [...] is the only libertie, Gal. 5.1. the glorious li­bertie of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21. For, 1. It is an easy, nay an easing Yoke: it take [...] off all hateful Yokes, and heavy burthens. Isa [...] 9.4. & 10.27. It gives rest. Matth. 11.29. [Page 147] Nothing commanded in this service, but what the heart chuses, loves, freely does, and delights in doing: ( Psal. 119.45, 97. & 40.8.) nothing but what we prefer before meat, and drink; Iob 23.12. But service is a great abasement. Some service is more ho­nourable than some command. This obe­dience, and service renders us Kings, Exo. 19.5, 6. All this service may be comprized in one word; Reign: Reign over thy lusts (which fight against thy soul) by subduing them; reign over thy affections, and acti­ons, by governing them in that royal law ( Iam. 2.8.) In a word all his service is but [...]oliness, and holiness his likeness, and our bles­sedness: nothing but a double Heaven, an Heaven within by Heavenly mindednes, and [...]n Heaven without by an Heavenly conver­ [...]ation: an Heaven on Earth by grace, walk­ [...]ng with God, and the Heaven of Heavens [...]ereafter in glory, reigning with God for [...]ver.

Such our match, such our conditions: our [...]oke is holiness; (and that the glory of God) [...]e is glorious in holiness (Exo. 15.11.) our [...]oke fellow the most holy God, the Prince of glory. [...]hus then plead with your own spirits, and [...]onfute the lying sophistry of deceitful flesh.

CAP. XVI.

THe hand is the bodies Steward, and Faith the souls hand. Both have a double office, either to take in, or give out, to receive, or distribute what God offers, faith takes; and gives what he demands. There is a bargain driven betwixt God, and man, when God himself, and his Kingdom is assured upon man; and man, and all his is passed, and made over to God by way of ex­change, or sale. Our Lord hath not only laid down a price for us, even himself, ( Tit. 3.14.) and bought us (as we say) out, and out (1 Cor. 6.20.) but hath also set a price upon himself, and we must come up to his full price, or never have him.

We must buy that milk, hony, and feast of fat things, the sure mercies of David, Isa. 55.1. &c. That gold tried by the fire, whereby we are made rich, that white raiment, that ey [...] salve (the riches of the Gentils, the robe of righ­teousness, the light of the world) the Lord Iesus must be bought, Rom. 3.18. We must buy the truth, [Page 151] Prov. 23.23. The treasure in the field is bought, and that Merchant sells all that he hath to buy the goodly pearl, Matth. 13.44, 46. Hence there is a mutual vouching. The Lord openly voucheth us for his people, and we vouch him for our Lord, Deut. 26.17, 18. And to make the bargain sure, and infallible, large, and pre­cious; Earnest is given, even that blessed, and Holy Spirit, (2 Cor. 1.22. Eph. 1.14.) which binds both seller and buyer to stand to the bargain.

But what is the price at which God rates himself to us. 1. He challengeth the soul. All souls are his, Ezek. 18.4. he must have the heart, Prov. 23.26. all the soul, all the heart, all the might, Deut. 6.5. The whole body must be presented to him as a living sacrifice, Rom. 12.1. He hath payd for all, and so (now) we are no more our own, 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. If he call for health, wealth, life, all must be given him, Luk. 14.26. else we (as that Ruler Mar. 10) goe away empty, sad, and hopeless.

But this seems to imply a contradiction: for to sell for a price, and to give freely are contraries. Now Christ is given us, Ioh. 3.16. eternal life is the gift of grace, Rom. 6.23. Sal­vation is by gift, and grace, Eph. 2.8. We are freely loved, Hos. 14.4. freely justified, Rom. 3.23. Certain is it, and cannot be denied, that never any thing was more freely, or [Page 152] bountifully given. We were poor ( Rev. 3.17.) able to give nothing, unable to pay due debts; and our debts infinite, Math. 18.24, 25. The Lord Iesus, our Surety, hath purchased this whole possession for us, and us for God, but he also most freely given us, and all things with him, Rom. 8.32. Nay even that which hereafter God demands of us, (of which only here we speak) our trust in him, love to him, fear of him, working for him, all these his most free gifts. He works all in us, and for us ( Isa. 26.12.) Will, and deed, Phil. 2.13. That therefore which we give him is his own, and we cannot but confess (with that holy Prophet) All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee, 1 Chro. 29.14. Indeed he commands us to buy, yet asks he neither mony, nor mony-worth, Isa. 55.1. Our righteousness bringeth him neither pro­fit, nor pleasure, Iob 22.2, 3. and 35.7. No good we can do reacheth to him, Psal. 16.2. when we give our selves, what give we but vanitie, ( Psal. 39.5.) and nothing, 2 Cor. 12.11. The truth is God receives no benefit from us, nei­ther are they (if we speak properly) gifts to him from us, but rather from him to us: not only because we first receive what after we give, but specially because it is a great grace, and next to himself the greatest gift he can bestow on us, that he will receive us, or any [Page 153] thing from us. It is our infinite blessedness, and his infinite goodness, that he is ours, and how much less is it (certainly next to that) that we are his, Cant. 2.16. He calls for our bodies, and spirits: and are they out filthy, polluted, abominable? how unworthy of him? But he calls for them to wash, and cleanse them from all filthiness, Ezek. 36.26. they are dead in sins, he would have them to quic­ken them, to put his Spirit into them, Ezek. 36.27. they are old, corrupt in lusts, ( Eph. 4.22.) he would have them to renew them, Ezek. 36.26. where can they be safe but un­der his wings? and how secure under his pro­tection? How miserable, and wretched when banished from his sight? but in his house how infinitely blessed? Psal. 65.4. How empty in his absence? but in his presence is fulness of joy, and everlasting pleasures, Psal. 16.11. And yet God calls it buying, as well because he is pleased not only to demand it, but accept it as our reasonable service, and testimonie of our thankfulness. As great persons lease out to some special servant, or favorite a fair land for the annual payment of a pepper-corn; so deals our most gracious God with us, gives us Heaven, and Earth, and himself the Lord of both, (because we have found favour in his eyes) and desires no other rent but our poor selves, and service, whose only riches [Page 154] it is to be his inheritance, and servants.

Thus the same hand of faith receives from our Lord himself, and his grace, and gives to him our selves, and service, takes from him what he graciously offers, and works for him (by love) what he justly commands. Now our work, and service to our Lord is by him­self sometime contracted into one head, or body, sometime parted into three members. That which in one word comprizes our whole service to God, is holiness. This he frequent­ly, and straitly charges upon us, Be holy, as I am holy, (Lev. 44.45.) As obedient children not fashioning your selves according to your for­mer lusts in your ignorance: But as he is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1.14, 15. It must be our daily work, set work, which we must continually ply, and follow, until it be perfect, 2 Cor. 7.1.

Much I desire (if it please God to furnish me with means, and you with parts) to see you bred up in all humane literature, that you may not be (as too many) a burthen only to others, meer cyphars in the world, to fill it up with idle numbers: but much more do I longue to see you trained up in the School of Christ, to be taught of him, as the truth is in Iesus. To put off the old man corrupt in lusts, and to be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new man, which is created in righteous­ness, [Page 155] and true holiness. Eph. 4.21, 22, 23, 24. Reason gives you a formal difference from other creatures, and the polishing of it by humane learning will distinguish you from o­ther (almost brutish) men, but religion, and pietie only maketh you Christians, perfect, and blessed.

Should I say, you cannot be complete men without holiness, it might seem a paradox to carnal wisdom, but is a sure truth of Gods wisdom. For if Philosophie will teach you that a man is a reasonable creature, Theologie will assure you that man was an holy creature, framed after the likeness of God, without which likeness he is not perfect according to his creation. It is an amiable sight to behold a mind beautified with all the lovely Ideas of humane knowledg, and framed into a pleasant Garden, where all the various flowers of earthly literature are planted, rooted, and fairly flourish. But oh what a glorious Parad [...]se is that spirit of man which is grafted with all those fruitful trees of Life? It is even Gods garden of pleasure in which his soul deligh­teth: What an Heaven is that soul where all those glorious stars of Prophets, and Apostles are fasten'd in the understanding, and the Throne of God set up in the heart, where the Lord Iesus reigns, attended by all Saintly thoughts, and Heavenly graces?

[Page 156]Now that you may willingly, nay joy­fully yield up your spirits to be this Paradise, and third Heaven, where God will dwell, work, and reign, let me shew you in brief [...] 1. What holiness is. 2. How excellent. 3. How necessary. For the 1. As it is very easy for us to know the picture, if it be well drawn, when we are throughly acquainted with the person, whose picture it is; so it will not be difficult to know what holiness is in man, when we are informed what it is in God [...] because this holiness in us is nothing else but the image, and likeness of the divine holiness.

Holiness in God is that substantial, and in­comprehensible purity of the divine nature, whereby he is wholly averse from all sinful filthiness, and infinitly adverse to all filthiness of sin. He is a God of pure eyes that cannot be­hold evil, that cannot look on iniquity: (Hab. 1.13.) nay in this respect he is a consuming fire: (Heb. 12.29.) to Hypocrites, and sin­ [...]ers a devouring fire, and everlasting burnings [...] Isa. 33.14. Answerable (in our measure) i [...] mans holiness. For we are pure as he is pure, 1 Ioh. 3.3. In man therefore holiness is that essential property of pureness, whereby he is averse from all sinful uncleanness, nay con­trary to all impuritie of sin. 1. Essential I call it, only in that respect, as being the form differencing the true Christian from other [Page 157] men, the spiritual from the carnal; And as in that gold with was dedicated for the work of the Temple, the form, or shape of the golden Cherubims was essential to that piece, distinguishing it from the Candlestick, snuf­fers, &c. framed of the same matter, so this renewing of the Spirit of our mind, which after God is created in righteousness, and true holiness, howsoever it be not of the substance either of body, or soul, yet is it essential to the new man, or faithful Christian, and of his being, by which he is a new creature.

Secondly this purity or divine nature of man consists of an averse, nay adverse dispo­sition to sinful uncleanness. It flieth the cor­ruption which is in the world through lust, (2 Pet. 1.4.) hating it, (Rom. 7.15.) loathing the gar­ment stained with it, (Jude 23.) nay them­selves polluted with it, Ezek. 20.43. And no sooner is this new life brought forth in man, but instantly it stands as adverse to sin as life to death, accounting it to be (as indeed it is, nay so feeling, and accordingly hating it) as death, ( Rom. 7.24.) a most cursed, wretch­ed, divelish, hellish death.

2. Secondly, the excellencie of holiness will clearly appear in this, that it is in man Gods likeness. To be like the Creatour is the highest pitch of honour, to which the most aspiring ambition of the creature can look. [Page 158] To be above God cannot enter into a reaso­nable thought. As that excellent Father ( Au­gust.) so reason will testifie, that every crea­ture will contend for the excellencie of God, and ca [...]not conceive God to be a substance, than which any can be better. To be equal to God, and independent may be the ambition of the divel, his Son Antichrist, or some transported with the like folly, and furie, which yet ordinary reason will manifestly evince can never be attained, but to be like to God is the supreme honour of the creature, and is not only possible to be obtained, but obvious to Christians: God himself proffe­ring, inviting, nay intreating us to receive it. And surely if any thing in God could be more excellent than other, holiness were it. For man verily swears by the greater, but be­cause God could not swear by a greater, he swore by himself, Heb. 6.13, 16. but when he chu­seth out any particular Attribute in himself to swear by it, it is constantly his holiness. See, Psal. 60.6. & 18.35. Amo. 4.2. Holiness in God is his face, and beautie, frequently ter­med the beautie of holiness, (Psal. 110.3.) which the faithful soul most longues after ( Psal. 90.17.) and God stamps upon his beloved, Ezek. 16.14. And as in excellent substances their excellence consists in their puritie, when they are simple, and unmixt with ba­ser [Page 159] natures; (Thus in corporal substances gold the more pure, the more precious, and in spiritual only the pure Angels, not the impure, are glorious) so certainly in God his holiness, being the puritie of the divine es­sence, is the glory of it. He is glorious in holiness: (Exo. 15.11.) a glory farr surpas­sing all thought, or possibilitie of admirati­on; in which regard those blessed Spirits, which stand in his presence, omitting other excellencies, but ravished with the glorious beautie of his holiness, cry out in heavenly ecsta [...]ies, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God! the whole Earth is full of his glory, Isa. 6.3.

Herein then consists the eminency of ho­liness above all other qualities in man, that he is not only by it, (and by it only) like unto God, but like him in that, in which God is most excellent, even in his glory. The Heathens themselves could discern a ravishing beautie in virtue, if men had but eyes to be­hold it, but oh if God open to us an eye to discern these heavenly features of the divine nature, and the bright beams of his holiness, [...]he very Sun will seem but durt to it, and all the excellencies of all creatures meer dross, and tinsoyl. Certainly the comely pro­portions of a perishing body (an earthly flower) decked with the ornaments of some pleasing colours, are able to ravish a fleshly [Page 160] eye, and winn unto it a carnal heart: But were the mind cleered to behold a spirit (man, or Angel) shining in the divine beautie of Gods own Image, how would that sight at­tract the soul, and strike it with amazement, and wonder of that glorious luster?

3. Thirdly, as there is nothing in man, or Angel so excellent, so nothing so necessary as holiness. For 1. This only gives us pree­minency above other creatures. Consider it well, and you shall easily find, that every creature will justly challeng precedence, and outgo man without holiness. There is no qualitie in us, this only excepted, but other creatures in it farr surpass us. If we boast of longer time, and durance than some other, the very stones in this outgo us: If we plead, but with age we have life; even plants, and trees outlive us: If we say we have sense also; how many beasts, &c. in hearing, seeing, smel­ling, &c. go farr beyond us? Some perhaps will object, we have understanding, and discourse of reason, of which these are in­capable: but in this (alas!) the worst of all creatures (the Divels) claym a large superi­oritie, and wonderfully exceed us. Know it certainly without holiness, you are inferiour to every creature, even the most abject, and miserable.

2. All the blessings of God, and all his acti­ons [Page 161] for our blessedness have this mayn end to make us holy. We are elected by God in Christ that we should be holy, Eph. 1.4. redeemed by Christ, that we should serve him in holiness, Luk. 1.74, 75. called by the Spirit not to un­cleanness, but holiness, 1 Thes. 4.7. Therefore hath God begotten us to himself by the word of truth, that we should be as the first fruits of his creatures, (Jam. 1.18.) that is, sanctified, and separated to his holy service. And as chil­dren cannot be but of the same kind, and na­ [...]ure with their Parents, (else are they mon­sters) so must we as obedient children be holy, as he is holy. 1 Pet. 1.14, 15, 16. Therefore hath the Lord Iesus espoused us, and given himself for us, that he might wash, and San­ctifie us, Eph. 5.26. Therefore the holy Ghost dwells in us as his Temples that we should [...]e holy, 1 Cor. 3.16, 17. To the same end are all Gods ordinances given us, the word, Prayer, Sacraments, even to Sanctifie us, Joh. 17.17. Be assured you can never have right to God [...]s a Father, to Christ as a Saviour, to the bles­ [...]ed Spirit as your Comforter, without holiness. All these actions of God for our good are [...]rustrate to us, all his Ordinances unfruitful [...]us without holiness: what soever Title, or [...]steem we have with men in the world, yet [...]ith Christ, and Christians without holiness [...]e are meer Infidels, and very ecchoes of [...]hristians.

[Page 162]3. There is no hope, nor possibilitie of glory, and that beatifical vision of God with­out holiness. Without holiness no man shall see God, Heb. 12.14. nay no man without it can possibly behold him. An inferiour cannot possibly reach to a nature transcendent, nor we without participation of this Godly na­ture see him as God; there is no hope of this highest beatitude, unless we are thus quali­fied.

4. Lastly, whatsoever we seem to men, (our selves, or others) what better are we in­deed than those cursed, and damned spirits without it? me thinks rather worse. A wic­ked Angel is a sinful, filthy spirit; but a wicked man is both a sinful spirit, and sinful flesh; filthy in both. The truth is, (and up­on serious consideration we cannot deny it) an unholy man is nothing else but an incarnate f [...]end, a Divel in flesh, Ioh. 6.70. Now though even nature it self will in general strongly incite the heart to seek with all diligence such things as are for use most necessary, and mos [...] excellent for our advancement, yet for thi [...] particular of holiness, even when our be [...] Judgment upon sound deliberation hath sub [...]scribed to these manifest truths, and we hav [...] seen, and acknowledged the necessitie, an [...] eminencie of this divine puritie, yet th [...] cra [...]ty Enemie (by the assistance of those tw [...] [Page 163] his special helpers, namely our own wicked­ness within us, and the world without us) will ea [...]ily either disswade us for ever enter­prizing such a quest, or at least cool, and dishearten us in the pursuit of it.

Whensoever Gods blessed Spirit hath o­pened you an eye to behold with delight the beauties of holiness, and drawing your heart to cleave unto it in love, hath set your face resolutely to a constant following it, Satan will not fail to hinder by sending in some worldly person (yet under the pretence of a friend, and welwisher) who shall counsel you not to be too forward, and shall tell you, none are more despised than these hot zea­lous fellows; that they are the table talk, and scorn of great ones; that such and such wise, and learned men (who hope to come to Heaven with the first) laugh at this pre­ciseness, and take to themselves much more [...]ibertie: that it is good to use moderation, and so under the pretence of temper, (if [...]ou take not good heed) they will bring you [...]o that abominable distemper of a luke-warm Christian, of whom Christ is sick, and vowes [...]o vomit them out of his mouth, Rev. 3.16. [...]ay he will get your own heart to speak for [...]im, and that will plead hard, and tell you: Oh! this strictness, this Yoke of holiness is a [...]ur, sad, melancholy life: no comfort, no [Page 164] joy, no solace in it: and you are in your Spring: what? will you blast all these fair blossoms of youth with such an austere, and sullen course? Nay, take your time, while you may; use your youth, and pleasures, while the season, and April of your age in­vites you.

But take great heed, and stop your ears a­gainst these Sirens: bind your selves to that word of God, which will hold you fast, and keep you safe from these strong inchant­ments. Open your ears to that best Coun­seler, the Lord Iesus, who will tell you, that in the best of your service you are unprofi­table, Luk. 17.10. If you could run (but we hardly creep) yea could ye add wings to your feet, to fly toward Heaven, yet could ye never be forward enough, when the Goal is Heaven, and God himself, and his glory the Crown, the swiftest foot is too slow to run, and the longest wing too sluggish to clip away to it.

But oh this disgrace, scorn, contempt We know not how to bear that. No? do w [...] not see the Lord Iesus despised, rejected Isa. 53.3. Oh the base works, scoffs, de­risions which the Lord of glory suffered only for us, to bring us to glory! It were a pro­digious pride to desire, that we might b [...] glorified by Christs sufferings, but never suf­fer [Page 165] for his glory. Nor let the contrary pra­ctice of men wise, (in their way) and lear­ned divert you. Yo [...] know your calling: Not many wise, not many learned, &c. 1 Cor. 1.26. A wiser than the wisest, the Eternal wisdom of God calls us to zeal: Be zealous, Rev. 3.20. [...]. Be zealous for things spiri­tual, 1 Cor. 14.1. He that looks to the bu [...] ­ning love of Christ toward his soul, flaming out even unspeakable sufferings, and thinks his love to Christ, and his glory too hot, and fiery, proclaims to all the world his gross hypocrisie, or rather palpable Atheism.

Let that sentence ever sound in your ears; He that is ashamed of me, and of my words in this adulterous generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father, with his holy Angels, Mar. 8.38. But that blasphemy, whereby sin, and Sa­tan would perswade us that holiness is the very damp, and death of all mirth, the barr that stopps our way to profit, or honour, is a notorious slander of that Father of lies, a loud ly, that of all the rest deserves the whetstone. When our Father commands us to be holy as he is holy, doth he interdict us pleasure, riches, honour? Is there any so holy as our God? and doth his holiness ex­tinguish his joyes, and the pleasures at his right hand? Doth his holiness impoverish [Page 166] him, dispossesse him of Heaven, and Earth, doth holiness dethrone him, or embase his glory? nay is it not his glory? Exo. 15.11. where did he forbid us pleasure, profit, ho­nour? Indeed if the drudgery to sin, and Satan be honour, such honour he hath inter­dicted; if bartering Heaven for Earth, our Angel-like souls for dust, if this be profit, such profit hath he forbidden; If the hog­gish wallowing in the mire of sinful filth, the dog-like licking up of an hellish vomit, the lying of our living souls (rotting, and stink­ing) in a grave of lust, if this be pleasure, such pleasure Hell affordeth, he denieth. No, no, our gracious God hath not only per­mitted us to use all creatures for our good, and comfort, but hath straitly commanded us to set our hearts upon, and to covet, and that most earnestly, the best gifts, 1 Cor. 12.31. He hath purchased the rich portion of grace, and inheritance of glory for us. He hath stor­ed up for us durable riches, ( Pro. 8.18.) and exhorts us to provide, and fill everlasting baggs with never failing treasures, Luk. 12.33. He hath con [...]erred upon us most glorious honour, to be heirs of his Kingdom, and gives us command to unbridle our ambition, and with the most vast desires of our heart [...] to seek this glory, and promises to fill us Psal. 81.10. Matth. 6.33. Rom. 2.7. Tha [...] [Page 167] fountain of life pours out rivers of pleasure, and commands us to drink abundantly, Psal. 36.8, 9. Cant. 5.1. Beside other numberless objects of joy he hath given us himself, the greatest, the only, the infinite good, and commands us again, and again to rejoice in him, Phil. 4.4.

Let us therefore fire our hearts with ear­nest longuings after this divine nature, fol­low hard toward it, and never faint in the pursuit. Be not ashamed of Christ, and of his truth, in this hypocritical age, which profess Christ, and serve the world, give to him the Title of Lord, but heart, and hand to every lust. Think no age unripe to be Gods Child; no estate too great to be Gods Heir. The service of Princes (how much more of God?) are great preferments. Beware of that hellish proverb, A young Saint, an old Divel. Those young Saints, Ioseph, Samuel, Daniel, Ieremie, Iohn Baptist, &c. how glori­ous were they once in the militant Church? and now, and ever in the triumphant? Seek for earthly literature, and knowledg; stu­die, and labour for it, but thirst for holi­ness, longue for it, strive, sweat for it, Let it be all your ambition ( [...], 2 Cor. 5.9.) to please God, and to be accepted with him. And thus commune with your own hearts.

Holiness is the body of our service,

CAP. XVII.

HOliness spreads it self into three may [...] branches, S [...]brietie, Righteousness, and [...]odliness, Tit. 2.12. Sobrietie, or Temper­ance, may be thus described. It is that fruit of the Spirit, whereby we are enabled to mo­derate our selves, our affections, and acti­ons in the use of the creature. 1. It is wrought in us by the holy Ghost, and is his fruit, Gal. 5.22, 23. It is ta [...]ght us by the word of grace, the Gospel, Tit. 2.11, 12. And thus it differs from that moral virtue, with which we may observe many heathens fairly to glister. Have ye never seen dishes of fruit stand out upon some shops, composed o [...] wax, and curiously painted? How much more fair, and lovely do they seem to the eye, than the same natural fruit, which you pluck from the tree? But if you weigh them in your hand, or (much more) if you ta [...] them, what a palpable difference do ye find between these made, artificial apples, and the natural? Pictures may be fairer than the substance, but they want the life, and use [Page 171] of the substance. I have seen a crab more pleasant to the eye than the apple, which sprung from a noble graft, planted on the same stock; but to the tast how hateful the crab? the apple how delightful? Till we are cut off from the first Adam, and grafted into the Second, all our fruits are as the ap­ples of Sodom, abominable, and loathsome. 2. Secondly, whereas our Lord hath bestow­ed all his creatures upon us, the act, and exercise of Temperance is so to moderate our minds in receiving, our affections in de­siring, and our actions in using them, that we abuse them not, 1 Cor. 7.31. Let me more cleer it by instancing in some particulars.

• 1. A special inward gift to man is know­ledg, which is (as the object) more excel­lent in things spiritual. Here Sobrietie will bridle, and rein in the understanding when it is spurred on by Curiosity to pry into the Ark, and not suffer it to break through to the Lord, lest we perish, Exo. 19.21. There are things secret, and revealed, Deut. 29.29. as therefore it will not palliate defects, but put us on diligently to search the scriptur [...], and to find out the things which belong to us; so in the excesse it will stop us, when our itching eyes, and ears would carry us beyond those bounds, ( Exo. 19.12.) which our Lord hath set us. It will curb the thoughts, [Page 172] and hold them in, that they shall not think more highly than they ought, but think soberly, Rom. 12.3.
• 2. Whereas every member hath his place, and proportion in the body of Christ, and se­veral duties allotted them (every one in his calling,) Sobrietie will so temper our spi­rits, that it will keep us in our rank; and not suffer us either to boast of a false gift, lest we prove (as those spots in love-feasts) clouds without rain; (See, Prov. 25.14. Iude 12.) nor yet under a mask of voluntary hu­militie to intrude our selves in things which we have not seen, vainly puft up in our fleshly mind, Col. 2.18. Thus it moderated that great A­postle, and kept him as we say in his tedder; that he should not exceed the compass of his own measure, 2 Cor. 10.13, 14, 15. And for want of this virtue, many in these times (which bear a great hulk, and seem great ones in the eyes of deluded, and bewitched professours, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledg of the truth) breaking out of their rank, are neither sheep, nor dogs of the flock, but wolves deceiving, and being deceived, 2 Tim. 3.13.

But much more apparent is the exercise of this grace in things without. As. 1. It em­pales a man in his proper calling, and per­swades him with quietness to work, and eat his [Page 173] own bread; and suffers him not to live idly, or disorderly, as a busy-body, (2 Thes. 3. vers. 11, 12.) and yet keeps off the shackles of earthly cares; it empales, but imprisons not in his calling; nor so enslaves him to worldly affairs, but that he may have all re­quisite libertie, and enlargement to the hea­venly. He serves not his calling, but God in it.

Secondly, in his estate it settles the heart in a quiet contentation. Emptiness shall not breed greediness, nor fulness pride. It tea­cheth him to want without grudging, and to abound without swelling, Phil. 4.12. 3. In recreations it keeps a middle way, equally distant from sullenness, and mad mirth. It will suffer the heart sometime to be drenched in sorrow, never drowned, to swim some­time, never to sink in pleasure. It will in­struct the spirit to be sometime thoughtful, sometime joyful, never cheerful. Lastly, for things indifferent it moderates our desires, and practice, to use them with comfort, without sin. In food it teacheth us tim [...], and measure; to eat in season, to refreshing, and not to surfeting, Eccl. 10.17. to quicken, not damp our spirits; to whet not dull them for our work. It apparrels us neither garishly, nor gaudily; not slovenly, nor curiously; but fitts the matter, and manner to the per­son, sex and calling. In marriage it teaches [Page 174] them that have wives to be as if they had [...]one, 1 Cor. 7.29. to rejoice with the wife of his youth, not ravished with a stranger; to be satisfied, (not consumed) with her love, Prov [...] 5.19, 20. In sleep it allowes renewing, not slugging; recovering of strength, not mispending time. It is the special direction of Gods Spirit to keep in the middle way, and not to turn to the right hand, or to the left, Deut. 5.32. This is that middle path, the strait way to felici­tie: studie to find it, and strive to walk in it.

There are two by-paths which Tempe­rance (above the rest) loudly warns you to decline. They are very broad, much bea­ten, strongly alluring, in which many thou­sands every day perish. The first is Rioting, and drunkenness; the second Chambering, and wantonness, Rom. 13.13. Of the former we may now complain as did once that holy Bi­shop ( August. epist. 48. Vincentio) This pesti­lence (of drunkenness) farr and neer, so wasts mens souls, and with so much Licentiousness reigns, and tyrannises, that I should much mar­vel if it did not infect your little flock. How fi [...]ly doth he call it a Pestilence? Never was any plague so infectious, spreading, and dangerous: hardly, and seldom cured; dead­ly, destroying soul, and body. We hear God damming it, (1 Cor. 6.9. Gal. 5.21.) heathens [Page 175] branding it, all (even drunkards) deriding it, none but ashamed to own it, and yet see the most, most shamefully practising it. Look on it in the fruits, ( Prov. 23.29. to the end) Woe, sorrow, strife, babbling, causless wounds, sore eyes, poyson, death, lust, perverse speaking, security, hardness, and lastly, an incu­rable habit of swilling, and following wicked company; consequently beggery, (ver. 21.) and sudden perdition, Luk. 21.34.

There was never such a monster bred in Africk as the Drunkard makes himself. He hath a Crabbs foot, (that cannot sett one step forward) a Swines belly (swell'd with swill, a very hog-trough) the heart of Le­viathan, (hard as the neither milstone, Job. 4.24.) a Goats eye, (fired with lust;) and a Divels mouth flaming in hellish blasphemie: His flesh is nothing but a Q [...]agmire, and the whole lump a breathing swiltub, and (as one fitly speaks a walking, (and steaming) dung­hill. But sottish men will ordinarily (by way of excusing) further accuse, and indict them­selves.

Oh (say they) it is not so much the drink I respect, as good company. Good compa­ny! how much better might'st thou find in a Pest-house? and what worse in hell? It is the company of which we are specially warn­ed; Be not among wine-bibbers, Prov. 23.20. [Page 176] To be drunken, and to sit, and drink with the drunken is the same in the holy Ghosts ex­pression. (Compare, Matth. 24.49 with Luk. 12.45.) The good Lord keep you out of this quick-sand. For it is with drunkards as with drunken sands. It swallowes up irrecoverably, and drinks down into the belly of hell who [...]soever strikes upon it.

Neither is uncleanness, or wantonness less dangerous, or loathsome. The more ye grow up to youth, the more closely cleave to the guide of your youth, ( Prov. 2.17.) See, Psal. 119.9. Lay neer to heart, nay lock up in the midst of your heart, all those precious counsels of that Eternal wisdom, and your hea­venly Father. My Son give me thy heart, and let thine eyes observe my wayes: for a whore is [...] deep ditch, and a strange woman a narrow pitt, Prov. 23.26, 27. Read, and even get by heart, Prov. 2.23. to the end, and 7. ch.

Were it possible to cut off your arm, and to graft it into a Bear, and the Bears leg in­to your shoulder, how would your soul ab­horr such an exchange? How much worse is it to take the members of Christ, and make them members of an harlot? 1 Cor. 6.15. Be careful also, and very watchful, (with all instance I charge you) to avoid all single uncleanness; ( Onans sin, Gen. 38.) which is the more dangerous, as it is less regarded. [Page 177] Give up your hearts day, and night (in pra­yer) to God, and put them into his hand: importunately beseech him ( who keeps his Is­rael) to watch over you, and to fence you from tentation; and looking up unto his gracious providence, timely (as God shall provide for you) retire unto his Ordinance of marriage, if the Lord endow you not with the gift of continence. Remember your bo [...]dies, and souls are espoused to Christ; and the wife hath not power over her own body but t [...]e husband, 1 Cor. 7.4. Offer up therefore your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, (Rom. 12.1.) and glorifie him both in your bodies, and spi­ [...]its for they are Gods, 1 Cor. 6.20.

Lastly in your estate, this virtue will [...]each you to pray as Agur: Give me neither [...]overtie, nor riches, [...]eed me with food con­venient for me, lest I be full, and deny thee, and [...]ay who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, [...]d take the name of my God in vain, Prov. [...]0.8, 9. A great sayl to a little boat is more [...]angerous than helpful. That Philosopher in [...]is Poetrie will teach you,

This was the first branch of holiness, Sobrietie.

CAP. XVIII.

THe second branch is Righteousness, or Iustice; that grace, whereby We ren­der to all their dues, (Rom. 13.7.) not only which Civil, but divine laws prescribe. And the fulfilling of all righteousness (in one word) is love. (Read, Rom. 13.7, 8, 9, 10.) The object of love is general, All men, e­ [...]en enemies not excluded, Matth. 5.44. The [...]ubject, or seat of love is not the mouth in [...]omplement, (1 Ioh. 3.18.) but the heart, [...]ithout dissimulation, Rom. 12.9. The mea­ [...]ure, or quantitie must be dispensed accor­ [...]ing to those relations in which God hath [...]ed us. Some must have an higher place in [...]ur hearts than others, 1 Thes. 5.13. The [...]ruit of love is doing good, which must be [...]rdered, and distributed, generally to all [...]en, specially to the houshold of faith, Gal. [...].10. To handle all these particulars would [...]k a large volume; For that referring you [...] your best Father, and his divine instru­ [...]ions (fully set out unto you in his double [...] [...]estament) I desire to cull out some few d [...]rections, [Page 180] and commend them to your pra­ctice, and his blessing.

In conversing with men look first to your heart, secondly to your actions. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath, (Psal. 37.8.) put it off, (Col. 3.8.) Be not hasty in spirit to be an­gry, (Eccl. 7.9.) for discretion in a man de­ferreth his anger, Prov. 19.11. In anger si [...] not, Eph. 4.26. Be sure the cause be just, ( Matth. 5.22.) and the extent justifiable: for it rests in the bosome of fools, Eccl. 7.9. and where it lodgeth all night, it hath the Di­vel for a bedfellow, Eph. 4.26, 27. Hate no­thing in any man but sin, and his hate of God, and therefore hate the sin, because ye love the man: and love the man to cast out that hate, and plant in the love of God. Fall not out with any man but so as to reconcile him to God. See, Lev. 19.17. Above all be­ware of repaying hate for love, Psal. 109.5. and tremble to hate whom God loves, Psal. 38.20. It is the brand, and seal of Satan upon his cattel.

Have nothing at all to do with Envie; An­ger, and Hatred may be, and often are e­vil, but Envie cannot be good. Love can b [...] angry, and love can hate, but love cannot envie, 1 Cor. 13.4.

The mouth is the dore of life, (Prov. 13.3.) [...]ep it therefore under lock, and key. Hel [...] [Page 181] it self is not a more proper shop of the Divel than a wicked mouth. His special warehouse is a sinful heart, and an evil mouth his shop where he readily vents his wares. Thither he brings that fire of hell, Jam. 3.6. Wicked lips are a burning fire, Prov. 16.27. The tongue his hammer, by which he frames those hellish weapons, lies, slanders, mocks, to sadd the hearts of the righteous, to arm, and strengthen the hands of the wicked, Psal. 109.2. Remem­ber the tongue is an unruly, and untamed e­vil, Jam. 3.8. Deal with it as that man after Gods own heart. He watches it, keeps it as with a bridle, ( Psal. 39.1.) But finding his own hand too weak, he calls in better help; Set a watch, oh Lord, before my mouth, and keep the dore of my lips, Psal. 141.3. Learn that ex­cellent lesson: Speak evil of no man, Tit. 3.2. Iugde no man, Rom. 14.13. Neither only keep your tongues from wounding other mens ears, but barricado your ears also, and keep out wicked tongues. The ear is the hearts factour, ( Prov. 18.15.) and if the ear be naught, neither heart, nor hand is good: for a wicked doer gives heed to false lips, and a Lier gives ear to a naughty tongue, Pro. 17.4.

Love peace, ( Zech. 8.19.) follow peace with all men, (Heb. 12.14.) yea all things which concern peace, Rom. 14.19. If it be possible, as much as lies in you, have peace with all men, [Page 182] Rom. 12.18. And if you dwell with them that hate peace, be you for peace when they are for war, Psal. 120.6, 7.

The world will advise you to take no wrong, but God commands you to do none, Ier. 22.3. Not to take wrong (here) I think is impossible; and not to do wrong requires as much wisdom, as patience. But it is bet­ter to suffer an hundred injuries, than to do one, 1 Cor. 6.7. for God will certainly punish the doer, ( Col. 3.25.) but thank the suffer­er, 1 Pet. 2.20.

Take great heed of thrusting God out of his throne, and seating your selves in it. This you do, when you usurp that highest office of God, to recompence injuries, and to a­venge your selves. It is Gods Prerogative royal: To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence, (Deut. 32.35.) Vengeance is mine, I will re­pay, [...]aith the Lord, Rom. 12.19. It is his Re­gal Title. The Lord God of recompences, Jer. 51.50.

Print upon your hearts that golden rule of Gods blessed Spirit: In honour prefer on [...] another. Mind not [...]igh things, but condescend to men of low estate, Rom. 12.10, 16. In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than himself [...] Phil. 2.3. There is nothing more hated, o [...] scorned by God, or man, than a proud heart, and haugh [...]y eye, Prov. 6, 17. In the house o [...] [Page 183] [...]ride, Shame waits at the gates, ( Prov. 11.2.) Strife, and Contention in the hall, ( Pro. 13.10.) and at the back stayers Destruction, ( Prov. 16.18. & 29.23.) Put on therefore [...]umbleness of mind, Col. 3.12. There is no or­nament of so great price with God as a low priced spirit, (1 Petr. 3.4.) nor in the eye of man any thing more lovely than a lowly car­riage. Humilitie (the Queen of virtues) is ushered by favour, supported by honour, ( Prov. 29.23.) and followed by exaltation, Iam. 4.10.

Observe all men in their degrees: Honour Governours, and obey them: reverence supe­riours, respect equals, be courteous to in­feriours, and to all (and above all) carry your selves humbly. Submit your selves one to another, and be clothed with humilitie, 1 Pet. 5.5. Thus shall you travel through the world with much peace: for certainly, as only by pride comes contention, (Prov. 13.10.) so the meek shall delight themselves in abundance of peace, Psal. 37.11. As a general motive to all these duties seriously consider:

All mankind is but one Adam, and all men as one man. Man the body, men the mem­bers of that body. Adam was the root, Eve the stock, (issuing from the root) and we all, the branches produced from both. She the mother of all living, Gen. 3.20. All these num­berless [Page 184] branches are united in the root, (that [...]rst Adam) and all Christians reunited in that Root of Iesse, the Second Adam. No creatures so united as man; united in the bond of humanitie, they are one flesh: ( all nations made of one blood, Act. 17.26.) reunited in the bond of Christianity, they are one spirit, 1 Cor. 6.17. Eph. 4.4. How strongly then [...]rom this union doth our Lord press upon us that unity of affection by love. And that u­ [...]ity of our actions by peace. How naturally do all these precepts of righteousness, or ju­stice flow from this principle? were men not [...]nnatural, how could they be so full of unrighteousness? ( filled with all unrighteous­ness, &c. and without natural affection, Rom. 1.29, 31 [...]) were we not carnal, how could we maintain strife, and divisions? when there is among you envyings, strife, divisions, are ye not carnal? 1 Cor. 3.3. Haters of men cannot be ranked among men: we are all one flesh, and never any man hated his own [...]lesh, but cherisheth, and nourisheth it, Eph. 5.29. We are members one of another (all one body,) ( Rom. 12.5. Eph. 4.25.) yea one spi­rit: and who but Bedlams, and Demoniacks wound, and destroy themselves?

Fasten these truths upon your hearts, and in all your conversation with men have them in your eyes: so will you with ease (as your [Page 185] Lord, Psal. 11.7.) love righteousness, and be loved of him, who loveth them who follow af­ter righteousness, Prov. 15.9.

Some thing of this truth that dark light of nature discovered unto that Philosopher, who thus sweetly sings it.

CAP. XIX.

THe last branch is Godliness: which is nothing but the true worship of the true God. And how should I more briefly, and yet more fully express it, than that wise Father to his wisest Son? And thou Solomon my Son know the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and willing mind, 1 Chro. 28.9. where he comprizes all the inward worship in knowledg, and the out­ward in service. Now this knowledg is not here (as properly it is) confined to the un­derstanding, but generally extended to e­very facultie of the soul. As our senses are [Page 187] said to know when, employing their facul­ties in their several objects, they do their office. (The eye knows the colour it sees, the ear the voice it hears.) So every facultie of our spirit is said to know, when exerci­sing it self in its proper office, it executes its own dutie. In the understanding when the Apprehension discerns, and conceives a­right, it knows, 1 Cor. 2.16. when the Judg­ment highly prizes things that are of high esteem, it is said to know, 1 Thes. 5.12. E­ven the choice of the will is called knowledg, Amos 3.2. Rom. 8.29. Thus the affections are said to know what they love, and delight in, ( Psal. 144.3. expounded, Iob 7.17.) And this is that excellent knowledg preferred be­fore sacrifice, ( Hos. 6.6.) in which consists our eternal life, Ioh. 17.3.

First therefore you must know God by an act of the understanding, that is, so con­ceive of him, as himself in his word, not in mens dreams, hath pictured out himself unto you: which is a spiritual, and the only war­rantable Image allowed by God: This you must hang up, not in your Hall, or parlour, but in that true Oratorie, the Closet of your hearts. There you shall [...]ind him pencil'd, 1. As he is simply in himself: 2. Relatively to us. In himself he is a Spirit, (Joh. 4.24.) Incomprehensible, glorious, merciful, graci­ous, [Page 188] strong, long-suffering, pardoning sin, and iniquitie, &c, (See, Exo. 34.6, 7. &c.) In re­lation to us our Creatour, (Isa. 64.8.) our Redeemer, (Deut. 32.6. Psal. 19.14.) our Lord, (Psal. 8.1.) in whose service is all our happiness, ( Psal. 144.18.) our Portion, and Inheritance, Psal. 16.5, 6. the strength of our heart, our only, and full comfort, Psal. 73. vers. 25, 26. The heathens were not altoge­ther ignorant of God, his eternal power, and Godhead, (Rom. 1.19, 20.) but our redemp­tion by his Son, our communion with him by his Spirit, and consequently our salvati­on, and blessedness by our union with him, was wholly hid from them.

The necessity of this knowledg appears. 1. By the miserie of ignorance: without it the wisest are fools, very Sots, of no under­standing, Ier. 4.22. All sin, and disobedience flows from want of this knowledg, ( Ier. 9.3. Hos. 4.1, 2, &c.) 2. By the happiness that fol­lows it: All grace attends it; Faith, ( Psal. 9.10.) the whole new man, Col. 3.10. 2 Pet. 1.2, 3. and all blessedness, Ioh. 17.3. Cer­tainly if the studie of men be above other natural studies, oh what is the studie of God? how pleasant? how profitable? Prov. 2.10. when sin affrights us how sweet the knowledg of his pardoning mercie? Psal. 86.4, 5. & 103.11. when men are oppressed [Page 189] by tyrants, how sweet the knowledg of his Justice? Rev. 15.3. & 16.5. nay even in our humiliations for sin how doth the knowledg of his Justice, and faithfulness refresh us? (1 Ioh. 1.9.) upon all occasions how com­ [...]ortable the knowledg of his power? In tem­poral distresses, ( Dan. 3.17.) in spiritual, as pardon, ( Num. 14.17.) subduing iniquities, (Mic. 7.18, 19.) in protecting from all evil, and keeping us to eternitie, Ioh. 10.29. 1 Pet. 1.5.

2. Secondly, we must know him in our Judgments, to prize him as he is, even all things less than nothing in comparison of him, Isa. 40.17. For him Abraham despises his Country: Moses the treasures, and plea­sures of Egypt; David regards nothing in Heaven, or earth with him, Psal. 73.25, 26. Paul esteems all things dung, and loss for the excellent knowledg of Christ, Phil. 3.8.

Hence all the Saints deny themselves, and all for him, and exalt him by their own a­basement: Kings will be vile to honour him, 2 Sam. 6.22. Iohn Baptist contented to wane, that he may appear in fulness, Ioh. 3.13. Paul will be a servant to every man for his sake, who is Lord of all, 2 Cor. 4.5. They make their honour wait upon his, Prov. 4.8. For they know, He is their praise, Deut. 10.21. They will cheerfully buy him with loss of all, [Page 190] buy him at any price, sell him at none, Matth. 13.44. Prov. 23.23. If he calls for their plea­sures, profits, credit, life, they part with all. If he will have body, and soul, they will give him all, and when they have done all, and given all, look upon this all as a very nothing.

The will also must know him to chuse, take, embrace him as he offers himself to us. He proffers himself to be our Lord, (Exo. 6.6.) to redeem us from all Usurpers, to his ser­vice, ( Luk. 1.74, 75.) to be our King, ( Hos. 13.10.) to govern us under his holy, and wholesome laws. He offers himself to be all to us, our portion, inheritance, shield, our exceeding great reward, ( Ier. 10.16. Gen. 15.1.) More particularly he offers himself in his persons to be to us, 1. A Father, ( Deut. 32.6. 2 Cor. 6.17, 18.) 2. An Husband, (2 Cor. 11.2. Hos. 2.19, 20.) the Saviour of his Spouse, ( Eph. 5.23.) 3. To be our Quickner, and Comforter, Joh. 16.13. 1 Cor. 15.45. Thus he offers himself to us, and thus must we receive him, as a child the Father, to obey him, as a wife her Husband to be sub­ject unto him, as a Body the Soul to be in­formed by him, and in all things conformed to him.

Chuse him therefore as your support: without him you can do nothing, ( Ioh. 15.5.) [Page 191] without him we are nothing, at our best sheer vanitie, Psal. 39.5. The very plants will teach us. The weak Ivie, and wood-bine, &c. conscious of their infirmitie, clasp about the strong, which may bear them up, even dint the trees with their close embraces. He is a Lord that in our service looks not to his own, but his servants profit. He needs not us, but we him. But why then doth he call, and draw us to his service? To make us blessed. He taketh pleasure in the prosperitie of his servants, ( Psal. 35.27.) he delights to do us good, ( Ier. 32.40.) and to give us the King­dom, Luk. 12.32. Men grosly ignorant fouly misconceive of his service: they look on it as cords, and bonds: but indeed there is no­thing so blessed as it, no blessedness but it, Psal. 84.4. Oh the incomprehensible love in which he hath chosen us! what was there in us worthy of his choice? were we wise? no, we were foolish, Tit. 3.3. were we strong? no we were of no strength, Rom. 5.6. were we noble? no, we were servants to lust, to cor­ruption, to filthiness, and most filthy in that [...]ervice, Tit. 3.3. 2 Petr. 2.19. Psal. 14.3. were we any thing? no, we were very nothing, [...]nd to him less than nothing, 2 Cor. 12.11. [...]sa. 40.17. yet hath God chosen the foolish [...]hings of the world to confound the wise, God [...]ath chosen the weak things of the world to con­found [Page 192] the mighty, and the base things of the world, and things despised hath God chosen, yea and things that are not to bring to nought things that are, 1 Cor. 1.27, 28. But in him what is there which is not infinitely excellent, infi­nitely desireable, delectable? s [...]all he then chuse such dung to be his children, heirs, his peculiar inheritance, and should not we (when he offers himself) chuse him (the glory of all glory) to be our Father, our Lord, our Portion?

4. The Affections also are said to know that which they love, in which they delight, and for which they longue: we therefore must know God to love, fear him, delight in him, and longue after him. Frequently in every page of scripture me meet not only with Gods precepts (in these duties) but the Saints practice. To provoke our hearts to love, we must consider him, 1. In himself: He is good, (Psal. 100.5.) only good, (Matth. 19.17.) abundant in goodness, (Exo. 34.6.) he is Love, (1 Joh. 4.16.) altogether lovely, (Cant. 5.16.) 2. In relation to us. He is our Father, Husband, Life, &c. (as before.) 3. in his dealing with us. He hath manifested his love to us above all the works of his hands. In our creation advanced us above all, crown­ed us with glory, (Psal. 8.5, 6.) In our redemp­tion preferred us above the Angels, assum­ing [Page 193] ours, and refusing their nature, Heb. 2.16.

Now then take great heed that your love be true. Relative affection is not right if the measure be not right. An Husband lo­ved as another man is not loved as an Hus­band. Admit no rival, or partner in his love; no creature not our selves must be preferred before him, or equal'd to him: we must love him more than life, for his love is better than life, Psal. 63.3. He our quickning Spirit, we his body; he our head, we his members: why should not the hand prefer the head, or the body the soul before it self? As we may love him for his gifts, so much more for himself. Stir up your un­thankful nature to this great dutie. Consi­der why you love any creature, why more one than another; why you should love the world, riches, pleasures as God, a drop as the fountain. It is even here too true, Love descends; Get your hearts baptized with fire, and the holy Ghost, buried with Christ into his death, and raised in his resurrection, that your affections may be set, and settled on things not on earth, but on things above, even on him who is infinitly above all things, who is blessed for ever, and your eternal blessedness.

2. Secondly, the outward worship con­sists [Page 194] either in his speaking to us, or our speak­ing to him: He speaks to us either to our ears in his word, or to our eyes in his Sa­craments, we to him either in prayers, or vows. Hearing is a chief part of Gods service, ( Eccl. 5.1.) The special gate whereby the Wisdom of God, all knowledg, and life en­ters, ( Prov. 2.2, 3. & 1.5. Isa. 55.3.) An hear­ing ear is Gods special gift to us, ( Prov. 20.12.) and our acceptable gift, and sacrifice to him, ( Psal. 40.6. 1 Sam. 15.22.) An obedient ear is a graceful, and precious ornament, ( Prov. 1.8, 9.) The ear the most happy fa­ctour of the soul, whereby it seeks, and gets, ( Prov. 18.15.) that rich merchandise, which is better than silver, and fine gold, Prov. 3.14. But he who hath a disobedient ear, or careless, refusing to hear is good for nothing, (Jer. 13.10.) and an itching ear hath certain­ly a rotten heart, Isa. 30.9, 10, 11. The word of God preached is the seed in the hand of the Sower, ( Mar. 4.14.) taken out of the Granarie of the scriptures, and cast into the furrows of the heart by Gods Spirit, an in­corruptible seed of a life incorruptible, (1 Pet. 1.23.) by which we are begotten unto God, Jam. 1.18. And as it is the seed whereby we are born, so is it the food also whereby we are nourished in that life of God, as well m [...]k for babes, as strong meat for the strong, [Page 195] 1 Pet. 2.2. Heb. 5.12. &c. It is an heavenly treasure in earthen vessels, 2 Cor. 4.7. a rich Mart of all spiritual commodities, where our Lord sells, and we buy (without mony) all heavenly riches: Be swift therefore to hear, Jam. 1.19. value it above thousands of gold, and silver, Psal. 119.72. Sell all you have to purchase it, Matth. 13.44. Buy the truth at any price, sell it at none, Pro. 23.23.

Neither hear only, but read it: we can­not use too many ways in trading with this rich commoditie. Had we as many distra­ctions as Princes, they can yield us no ex­emption from this dutie, Deut. 17.18. Iosh. 1.8. Our frequent conversing with it, and meditating in it will not take so much from our time, as it will add to our opportuni­ties. Morning, and evening, day, and night exercise your selves in it: so shall ye be like [...] fruitful tree planted by the rivers of water; so shall ye make your may prosperous, so shall ye have good success, Psal. 1.1, 2, 3. Josh. 1.8. ( Nulla dies sine linea) Think the day lost wherein you have mist this market.

2. The Sacraments are ( visibile verbum) Christs sermons to our eyes; passion-sermons, [...]ou know that verse, [Page 196]

They are not only teaching signs, printing in our eyes, and hearts the death of the Lord Iesus, but assuring seals, presenting, and conveying unto us the grace which they re­present. There are many large, and learn­ed volumes printed concerning them, and in every Catechise you may meet with pious instructions in this subject. I will only there­fore advise you concerning the Lords Supper. 1. That you neglect no opportunitie (so far as may be) of comming to the Lords Table. For is it not our communion with Christ? 1 Cor. 10.16. Look as wholesome meats are the means whereby spirits are renewed, strength increased, union between body and soul maintained; so the Supper of the Lord is his Or­dinance, whereby our everlasting life is con­firmed, our dull spirits revived, and our u­nion with the Lord Iesus Christ much strength­ned.

Certainly the frequent use of it was the special means, whereby the Primitive Chur­ches so far excelled us in Christian fortitude, resolution, and every spiritual gift. Above all other take heed of that carnal, or rather [Page 197] divelish plea of hellish persons; namely that they are not in charitie; whereby they plain­ly discover, how much they prefer their re­venge be [...]ore their salvation, and that hel­lish Murtherer before the heavenly Saviour. Surely he that will rather nourish his malice, by abstinence from the Lords Table, than his fainting soul by that Bread of Heaven, de­serves (and surely dos) in his hellish fast to eat, and drink his own damnation.

2. Come prepared in some good measure; and for that end set apart some day in that week for humiliation, to afflict your souls by fasting to seek a right way, (Ezra. 8.21.) And because one especial end of this ordinance is the remembrance of our Saviour, and shew­ing forth his death, (Luk. 22.19. 1 Cor. 11. vers. 25, 26.) spend much of that time in me­ditating upon it, and principally the causes of it, 1. The abhorred filthiness, and dread­ful na [...]ure of sin, which could not be ex­piated, or purged but by the blood of God; 2. The fierce wrath of God, and terrible se­veritie of his justice, which exacted even of his most beloved Son (undertaking for us) the uttermost farthing, even to make him Sin, who knew no sin, and a curse, who was God blessed for ever. 3. The infinite mercy of our gracious Father who gave his beloved Son to reconcile such hateful enemies; and, 4. The [Page 198] incomprehensible love of the Lord Iesus, who vouchsafed to purchase our redemption at such a rate. And leave not your soul till you find it abhorring it self in dust, and ashes, bleed­ing with Christ on his Cross, sick of your sin, and of his love, and swelling with the fruit of the lips, the sacrifice of praise.

3. Prayer is the mouth of faith, whereby it utters holy desires to God. Many think they pray when they do but houl, ( Hos. 7.14.) or babble, Matth. 6.7. we neither know what, nor how to pray till we be instructed: neither can any doctour inform us but that Spirit of adoption, who teacheth us to cry Ab­bae Father, Rom. 8.14. Gal. 4.6. He will in­struct you to go unto God, 1. As to a Father, and therefore with all reverence, and [...]ub­mission, and, 2. With all assurance, and confidence; 2. He is the Spirit of the Son, and therefore will carry you to the Father by the Son, to God by Christ. He will not suffer you to make your addresses by your selves, or any creature, but by that only Media­tour, and Advocate. Sacrifice must be brought to the Temple, to the dore of the Taber­nacle, offered only upon Gods chosen Altar, and by none but the Priest: Christ is that Tem­ple, ( Ioh. 2.21.) He the dore, ( Ioh. 10.9.) he the Altar, ( Heb. 13.10.) which sanctifies all our gifts, and the [...]igh Priest, whom on­ly God accepteth, Heb. 7.26, 28.

[Page 199]That blessed Spirit who baptizeth with fire, will not only inflame your hearts, but kindle also your lips with all fervencie of prayer. Prayer is a special sacrifice, and sacrifices must burn upon the Altar. Prayer is our In­cense, ( Psal. 141.2.) which till it burneth in the fiery censer, yields no odour, or sweet­ness. That holy Spirit will quicken you to frequent, and continual prayer, and doth not only whisper in your ear, but draw out your heart to pray always with all manner of prayer, (Eph. 6.18.) to pray without ceasing, (1 Thes. 5.17.) to continue in prayer, and watch in the same, (Col. 4.2.) not to slip any occasion, but to improve all opportunities which God offers us in petition, thanksgi­ving, intercession, deprecation, supplica­tion.

No marvel if the Ancients called it the key of Heaven, for it opens all to us. It opens the womb, ( Gen. 20.17, 18.) It opens the prison, ( Act. 12.) It opens Heaven when it is bar'd with brass, ( Iam. 5.18.) It opens Gods ears when he hath even shut them against us, 2 Chro. 7.13, 14, 15. The Doctours call it the scourge of the Divel. It drives away his ten­tations, Matth. 26.41. Nothing in the world so prevalent: For it sets even God himself on work, in whose hands are all creatures, and with whom nothing is impossible. Gird up [Page 160] therefore the loyns of your minds, and whet your voyces to peirce through the Heavens. And oh that I could be the means to put that perpetual motion of praying, and crying in­to your hearts!

Look about you, and you shall see abun­dant matter of crying, of loud crying: would we advisedly behold what we see, there is hardly one object of our eyes, which would not skrue up our voyces a note higher, and set us a roaring. Look upon the dark places of the earth, and they are full of the habitati­ons of crueltie, Psal. 74.20. And should not this raise up a crie, Remember Lord the enemie hath reproched, and foolish people have blasphe­med thy name; oh deliver not the soul of thy Turtle dove unto the multitude of the wicked, oh let not the oppressed return ashamed, Psal. 74.18, 19, 21. when you look into the place of judgment, and wickedness is there, and to the place of righteousness, and inquitie is there, (Eccl. 3.16.) will not so crying a sin force a loud crie from your hearts? when you consider all the oppressions under the Sun, and be­hold the tears of the oppressed, and they had no com [...]orter, and on the side of the Oppressours was power, but on their side no com [...]orter, (Eccl. 4.1.) how can you forbear to weep with those that weep? when you hear the grones of widowes, the sighs of the fatherless, the [Page 201] lamentations of the hungry, naked, distres­sed, can you chuse but bear a part in this doleful musick? when you look on the pride, wherein the land is disguised in monstrous attires, the prodigious excess in riotings, the general lightness, and impudence of all behaviour, when you hear the vollies of blasphemous tongues thundering against Hea­ven, the stench of drunkenness infecting the ayer with plagues, poxes, &c. the ignorance, superstition, idolatrie, profaneness, A­theism in the world, the hellish contempt of God, and all his Ordinances; In a word a deluge of corruption overwhelming all de­grees, sexes, ages, and the wrath of God flaming in revenge against such execrable provocations, where can you find hearts large enough to hold, or throats wide e­nough to utter cries, and ejulations to Hea­ven.

But had you no eyes to look abroad, yet look within, and you shall find more matter of crying than possibilitie of expressing. See there what ignorance, unbelief, deadness, va­nitie, securitie, pride, hypocrisie, obstinacie, backsliding, self-love, self-seeking, inordinate passion, what a world, what an hell of wic­kedness couches it self in a desperately wic­ked heart, it will stretch out your throats and force you to a loud crie, and bitter. Oh [Page 202] wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Certainly if you have any spirit in you, it will fill your hearts with a fountain, and your eyes with rivers of tears. Were you heathens it would drive you to send out the proclamation of Nineve into every part of body, and soul, Let man and beast (reason, and sense, flesh, and spirit cry mightily unto God, Jon. 3.8. Let us whet these things upon our hard hearts, to shar­pen our dull prayers, that they may pierce the Heavens, and prevent the birth of that decree, which if it once bring forth, will prevent all prevention. Pour out day and night some such petition, when you have pre­pared your hearts by some such like medita­tion.

Oh my drowsie soul, canst thou ly down with Ionah, and sleep in such a Tempest? Seest thou not these waves of wickedness which mount up against Heaven, and sink down again into bottomless depths, and is not thy spirit melted because of trouble? The floods have lifted up, the floods of the ungodly have lifted up their voice, and canst thou be silent? See how that little Bark, fraught with Christ and his Spouse, is filled with water, nay with blood: see what a storm is come down into the lake, and how the waves dash into the ship, whilst thy Lord, and Saviour [Page 203] [...]s asleep in the stern upon a pillow, and wilt thou not with loud cries awake him? See what a troubled sea is in thine own heart, foming out mire and dirt, and canst thou rest? Are not the waters come into thy soul? Sinkst thou not in the deeps where is no standing? Is not the belly of hell ready to swallow thee? and canst thou cease crying? Heark how sin cries, and wilt thou be silent? heark how the Saints cry, and canst thou hold thy peace? If thou hast no words in thy tongue, hast thou no grones, no sighs in thy heart? Oh my soul! is thy Lord so ready to hear? and art thou so slow to speak? Shall his ear stand so wide open to thee? and thy mouth, and heart so fast shut to him? Do not his com­mands draw thee? thy necessities drive thee? do not his mercies invite, his promises assure thee, thy povertie enforce thee? Art thou a child, and canst not speak? He hath pro­vided thee two Almighty Intercessours, one his Son to plead for thee, the other his Spi­rit to plead in thee. How should the wea­kest arm faint, which hath such supporters, such an Hur, and such an Aaron, to under-prop them?

Oh thou my gracious Saviour! who in the days of thy flesh offeredst up prayers, and sup­plications with strong cries, accent my flat heart, and voice with thy sharp cryings. [Page 204] Thou who helpest the infirmities of our ut­terance, teach my heart to grone beyond all power of utterance. And Thou who know­est the mind of the spirit, and art ever well pleased in thy beloved, hearken graciously to the stammerings of my Infant spirit, and accept them in him, in whom thou art ever well pleased.

4. Lastly for vowes, I can give you no bet­ter direction than his Spirit, to whom you vow. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy spirit be hasty to utter any thing before God, Eccl. 5.2. Be very sparing and slow in mak­ing, but sure, and timely in paying vows, Psal. 67.11. Eccl. 5.4. Let your vowes pro­mise some warrantable service, as Iacob, Gen. 28.21, 22. General vowes made in Baptism pay daily, ( Psal. 61.8.) particular seasona­bly, Deut. 23.21. Let your vowes be ever conditional, if God will help, and assist you; then looking to his gracious promises, beg strength, and stirr up your selves to a dili­gent, and cheerful performance. Pay them not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God lo­veth a cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9.7.

Frequently thus meditate.

CAP. XX.

THere is but one end to which all men aym all their thoughts, desires, and actions, even Blessedness; and but one way leading to this end, knowledg: but this way hath two periods, 1. The knowledg of our selves, 2. Of our God: a truth so palpable, that even heathens in their midnight (with­out eyes) could feel something of it: and not only find it themselves, but commend, and prove it to others. The whole scripture was penn'd by the Holy Ghost to this very end, to be our light, and guide in this way; yet as far as I conceive, no where so briefly, and cleerly doth this Guide point out this way unto us, as in that short, but full sentence, Eph. 2.5. Even when we were dead in sins, he hath quicken'd us together with Christ.

Look as it is with some double-faced pi­ctures; if ye view them on the one [...]ide, you shall see a beautiful pourtrait of some lovely virgin, or such like; if ye change your place, and look on the other side, ye see an Owl, Ape, or some deformed creature; so [Page 207] hath Gods blessed Spirit (as in Tableture) drawn the picture of man. If you behold him in himself, in his own, and old nature, he is but a body o [...] death; if you look on him in his new nature, and in the second Adam, full of glorious life. One side no better than a Divel, if not worse; the other no worse than an Angel, if not better. In the first he is dead, dead in sin, the death of hell. In the second he is alive, quickned with Christ, in the life of God.

Let this piece therefore be the last Le­gacie, which (in the conclusion of this Te­stament) I bequeath to every one of you, that you may hang it up in the best room of your heart, where you may have it ever in your eye, and there behold your selves. 1. In your tombs, dead in sins, and buried in the graves of lust; 2. In your resurrection, quick­ned in, and with the Lord Iesus Christ. Death consists, 1. In the privation of life, when life is not, or is now nothing. 2. In the con­sequents of this privation, corruption, pu­trefaction, stench, loathsomness.

Consider then the picture of your old man, 1. In the rude draught (the [...]) 2. In the full pourtrait, when all the colours, and complements are added. In the former, Man (in the first Adam) howsoever magnified by himself, or others, considered not physical­ly, [Page 208] or civilly, but spiritually, is a base, ab­ject creature, hardly to be called a creature, a very privative, and therefore nothing: He is (as we say) a may be: possibly he may be some thing, but as yet (in this estate) a sheer vanitie, and a meer nothing. He is but ( Somnium hominis) a dream, and so are all his actions. Though he mount up in ex [...]ellencie unto the Heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds, he shall fly away as a dream, and not be found, chased away as a vision in the night, Joh. 20.6, 8. As when an hungry man dreams, and behold he eats, but he awakes, and his soul is empty, and a thirsty man dreams, and behold he drinks, but he awakes, and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appe [...]ite, Isa. 29.7, 8. volup­tuous men in their feasts, and riots, do but dream that they eat, drink, and are merry; worldlings do but dream that they find trea­sures, and very joyful they are in gathering, pocketing and chesting it; but they awake, and in their hand is nothing, Eccl. 5.14. As a dream when one awaketh, so (oh Lord) when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their glory, Psal. 73.20.

M [...]n is like to vanitie, Psal. 144.4. A very small, but very like and lively picture: so like that (as it is spoken of the blind man, Ioh. 9.) we may say, this is he; others, he is very like him, but himself (when he hath [Page 209] his eyes) will fully confess, I am he; I am a meer dream, and a sheer vanitie.

Attentively observe that fuller picture, Psal. 39.5. Mine age is as nothing before thee; and verily every man in his best estate is altoge­ther vanitie. Where this emptiness of man is excellently set out in divers propositions. 1. Man is vanitie. You may say perhaps, some men, the poor, are despised: nay, 2. Every man. Indeed take him at his worst, in sickness, trouble, &c. nay, 3. In his best estate. In some respects it may be, as subject to losses, crosses, death, &c. nay, 4. In all respects; Altogether vanitie. But is not this an hyper­bole? more spoken, than intended? No, it is an infallible truth, which the Spirit of truth hath bound with an asseveration, Veri­ly: Verily every man in his best estate is altoge­ther vanitie. Nay the Lord proceeds yet fur­ther, and to convince our self-conceit, and fond pride assures us, that as men of low de­gree are vanitie, so men of high degree are worse, a lie: so that high and low, weighed in a true ballance, are lighter than vanitie it self, Psal. 62.9. A lie? what? great men, glitter­ing in their pomp, admired by some, feared by others; are these a lie? How can it be? The reason; because nothing more deceives. Greatness makes great promises, but per­forms nothing. Let the Apostle expound it. [Page 210] If any man seen to be some thing, ( [...]) be­ing indeed nothing, he deceives himself, (Gal. 6.3.) He is a lie to his own soul: hence that great Apostle confesses that himself is nothing, 2 Cor. 12.11.

And as man himself, so all that belongs to him is meer vanitie, made for him, and suit­ed to him. For when man had transformed himself into vanitie, the Lord fitts the crea­tures to him, which were made for him, and subjects them unto vanitie, Rom. 8.20. His life vain, (Eccl. 6.12.) His age nothing, (Psal. 39.5.) His beautie vanitie, (Prov. 31.30.) His riches, ( Prov. 23.6.) His mirth, (Eccl. 2.2.) All his works, all his delights meer vanitie, Eccl. 2.11.

Object. But men do not think so. Answ. So much the more are they so: For while they think better of themselves than they are, they do but deceive themselves, and are a lie. 2. Though in their words they deny it, yet in their works they loudly speak it, and evidently discover, that they do thus think: For we will sell nothing under the price we value it, but men sell themselves for vanitie, for very nothing: They sell themselves fo [...] trash, they lay out their mony for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which satis­fies not, Isa. 55.2.

Object. But yet they are men, and there­fore [Page 211] something. Answ. We speak not of man in natural respects, as he consists of soul, and body, or in Civil, as he is a Father, Go [...]er­nour, &c. but in spiritual, in which regard he rather seems than is man: rather a worm, ( Psal. 22.6.) as other Brutes, flesh also, (Gen. 6.3.) and that flesh but grass, (Isa. 40.6.) the very spirit fleshly. ( [...],) Iude 9. animals, not having a spirit: when in Ierusalem there was none that sought the truth, there was no man among them, Ier. 5.1. Observe how evidently, and fully Gods Spirit concludes this argument, I beheld, and [...]here was no man, even among them; no Coun­sellor, that when I asked, could answer a word; They are all vanitie, and their works nothing, [...]sa. 41.28, 29. He is dead, and therefore not [...]ruly, but falsly, and in appearance called [...] man. Man if we look upon him in his Creati­ [...]n, is a creature not only composed of soul and body, which (both) are but the matter of which he is framed, but made after Gods im­ [...]ge, which is his form, and differs him from other creatures. Now as it ceaseth to be an [...]ouse, when the materials (stone, tim­ [...]er, &c.) are all safe, but the form destroy­ [...]d; so though body and soul in the matter [...]f them remain intire, yet when that speci­ [...]cal difference, and form of man ( Gods image) [...] defaced, he ceases to be what first he was; [Page 212] now not man, but the ruines, and carkass of man.

In a word, look as it is with childrens Ba­bies, they have a gorgeous appearance in their eyes, but all is copper, cast clouts, torn raggs, and a painted rotten stick; so is it with us. Our bodies, and souls have some raggs, and old clouts of our creation, and drest with beautie, learning, &c. are no small babes in a simple mans eye, but all this shew is nothing what it shews, but a very mock-man, a meer vanitie, and sheer nothing.

2. Secondly seeing man is not only dead, but dead in sin, as a dead man, shut up, and closed in a loathsome grave, we are plainly taught by God, that man is not only no­thing, but a miserable, abominable nothing. He is miserable, wretched, poor, blind, and naked, Rev. 3.17. supposing himself full but only swell'd with wind, and indeed wholly empty; conceiting himself well adorned, and set out with goodly endowments, but shame­ful in nakedness; dreaming of an Eagle sight, and sharpness of wit, but not a blink of an eye in him; a meer flash; and in, and with all these wants, when he is most bladder'd up with a dream of happiness, extremely mi­serable, and wretched. In all his pomp an [...] glory, he is but as his own dung, ( Iob 20.6, 7.) stinking, (Psal. 14.3.) not the baseness, bu [...] [Page 213] excellence, not of heathens, but of Iacob, not despised only, but abhorred, Amos 6.8. And lest we might think it an hyperbolical speech, the Lord takes a solemn oath, and swears by himself, that he abhors the excellen­cie of Iacob.

Hence is it that God culls out the most loathsome creatures to be as parallels to us, that in them (as in a glass) we might see our filth, and abhor our selves: we are resembled to hoggs, doggs, serpents, to dead carkas­ses, to s [...]pulchres full of rotten carkasses, Matth. 23.27. so abominable that we infect all the creatures with which we deal, all the actions that proceed from us. The creature is not only subject to vanitie, but to a curse for our sakes, Gen. 3.17. our very blessings cursed, Mal. 2.2. not our want, but store, not our barreness, but fruit accursed, Deut. 28. vers. 17, 18. Our days not only few but evil, Gen. 47.9. our very life not only grievous, but hateful, (Eccl. 2.17.) nay our prayers, our service abomination, Prov. 15.8. & 28.9.

Object. If the estate of men were so loath­some, it is strange that they should not see, nor feel it. Answ. They who have sense know, and acknowledg it. They loath themselves, (Ezech. 20.43.) they abhor themselves, (Job 42.6.) they lament themselves, ( Rom. 7.24.) But such as are blind and sensless, how should [Page 214] they discern it? And this the depth of their miserie, which makes it incurable: yet some glimps they have of this truth; for in that they sell themselves to work wickedness, and abo­mination, (1 King. 21.25. Rom. 7.14.) sell themselves for oaths, (so vain a filthiness) for drunkenness (so filthy vanitie) they open­ly testifie at what rate they prize them­selves.

This our dead, vain, loathsome conditi­on will more cleerly be manifested unto us, if 1. We consider our contrarietie to God, who is both the supreme Being, the most pure Essence, and the only Life. So adverse is the corrupt nature of man to God, that he hates him, all that belongs to him, all that he loves, and all that love him. Hence called enemies, ( Rom. 5.10.) haters of God, Rom. 1.30. they hate his wisdom, and counsel, (Prov. 1.29.) his power, (Rev. 16.9.) his truth, (Isa. 30.11.) his word, (Jer. 6.10.) his light, (Joh. 3.19.)

And as the holiness of God is his pureness, glory, beautie, excellencie, which passeth through all, and (to us) is above all his Attributes, so above all they hate this his holiness, where­soever they see any stamp or print of it; His holy word, his holy days, his holy chil­dren. As the Panther so hates man, that wheresoever he sees his picture, he flies up­on [Page 215] it, and with his teeth, and nayls, rents, and tears it, so these wild creatures where­soever they see any spark of Gods image shine in man, tear, and devour, Psal. 7.2. & 35.15. That Eternal wisdom, Power, Love, Life, (their Saviour) after they have seen, they hate, ( Ioh. 15.24.) and all that he loves, or love him; all his members, ( Mar. 13.13.) though they be their own flesh, and that even to death, Luk [...] 21.16, 17. Excellently is this con­dition expressed in that metaphor, where­in carnal men are called spots, and blemi­shes, 2 Pet. 2.13. A wicked Father, or Childe, a wicked Husband, or wife, a wicked Ma­ster, or Servant is a spot in a familie; a wic­ked Governour, or Subject a spot in the Common wealth; a wicked Minister, or Professour a spot, and blemish in the Church. And as a spot, or blemish is nothing but fil­thiness, or a filthy nothing, so is every man in his corrupted nature.

2. Man in the first Adam is a child of the Divel, ( Ioh. 8.44.) and a very Divel in flesh, ( Ioh. 6.70.) Satan a filthy spirit, but he fil­thy in flesh, and spirit, 2 Cor. 7.1. he a cap­tive of the Divel, 2 Tim. 2.26. a servant to sin, (which is the very dung of Satan,) Rom. 6.17. fetter'd in the very bond of it, ( Act. 8.23.) servant to corruption, (2 Pet. 2.19.) and to divers lusts, (Tit. 3.3.) the hand serves [Page 216] one, the eye another, the ear a third, the heart a thousand. He is even cut out, and mangled into a base, and cursed slaverie. Now the servant is more base than the Master; Take good notice therefore of this estate of man. Lust is the servant of Satan, man the servant of lust: the Divels servants servant. Sin the corruption, and dung of Satan, man the servant of sin, and corruption.

In a word a carnal man is the prey of Sa­tan, devoured by that roaring Lion, who hath digested him into filthiness of flesh, and spirit, and hell the draught into which he is purged. Thus then think in your hearts.

You have seen what you are in the first A­dam, look now on the other side of this picture, and see what you may be in the se­cond.

CAP. XXI.

IN our selves we are. 1. Dead, a meer pri­vative, a nothing, 2. Dead in sin, meer corruption, corruption of Hell; what we are, or may be in Christ now consider. We are quickned together with Christ. Christ is that overflowing Fountain, by whose fulness of grace our empty chanels are not only 1. Scour­ed from that choking mire, which stops all passages; but 2. Stored with the water of life, with the fulness of God: (see, Hab. 2.14. Eph. 3.19.) But how are we quicken'd with Christ, raised, and sit together in heavenly pla­ces with him? (Eph. 2.6.) Not only virtual­ly, as the fruit lies in the seed, or root, but in some kind actually. As in the first fruits the whole field, and in the Cake of the first dough the whole lump was sanctified, and an actual blessing conveyed in it, so Christ being ra [...]sed is the first fr [...]its of them that sleep, (1 Cor. 15.20.) the first Cake of the new lump, (1 Cor. 5.7.) and in him even actually [Page 219] (in a kind) are they quickened, who are yet unborn. As a wife, or child takes possession of that land in the husband, or Father, which he hath purchased in their name.

Hence we evidently see, first that the on­ly life of man by which he is a C [...]ristian, a blessed creature, nay indeed by which he is a right man, is not that natural, and fa­ding, but this spiritual and eternal life which we have in Christ: hence called the life of God, Eph. 4.18. ( begotten by God, Jam. 1.18.) the life of Christ, (2 Cor. 4.10.) he our life, (Col. 3.4.) and liveth in us, (Gal. 2.20.) and the life of the Spirit: he gives it, (2 Cor. 3.6.) And as the vegetative life of plants, the sen­sitive life of beasts, the rational life of man is nothing elss but the Act of such a soul, gi­ving the creature such a being, and enabling it unto such actions; so the divine, and spi­ritual life is nothing else, but that A [...] of Gods Spirit dwelling in man, and giving him a spiritual being, a divine nature, and ena­bling to spiritual, and Godly actions; or (to use the Scripture phrase) to live, and walk in the Spirit, Gal. 5.25.) whereby we live in God, and to God (see, Rom. 8.9, 10. Gal. 2.20. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12.)

For without question the true life of man differs from all other life in inferiour, or contrary creatures: but in this natural life, [Page 220] the faculties, and actions of it) man differs not from plants in growth, from beasts in sense, from wicked spirits in reason. That form then, which gave man his difference (doubtless) was that Image of God, in which he was created perfect; by the loss of which he lost the per [...]ection, and truth of humane nature. He therefore that hath no other, but this natural life, is but an half-man; hath little or nothing of a man, but is partly a beast, in respect of sense, partly a Divel in regard of his perverted, and distor [...]ed rea­son.

2. Secondly, here we may easily observe, that howsoever a carnal man glisters in car­nal eyes, honoured, admired, yet is he a very Abject, and the skumm of the creatures: so a spiritual man (contrary) though he seem a base thing in the eye of the world, and more base in his own, a reproch of men, and scorn of the people, (Psal. 22.6.) yet is he in­deed the most noble, and excellent crea­ture in the world, and next the great Crea­tour. Hence the Saints (in terms) are called the Excellent, (Psal. 16.3.) preferred in their excellencie before others, whatsoever are their earthly advancements. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour, Prov. 12.26. & 28.6. This is Heavens, this is Gods Heral­dry. Now are they Sons of God, and Heirs ap­parent, 1 Joh. 3.1.

[Page 221]But because their pr [...]rogatives are such, as never eye saw, ear heard, or entred into the heart of man, (1 Cor. 2.9.) such as infinitely transcends our vastest thoughts, therefore are they veiled under many similitudes, and compared to those things which are most ho­nourable, and highest in the eyes of man. They are Kings, (Rev. 1.6.) and their King­dom not fading, but unshaken, (Heb. 12.28.) not earthly, but heavenly, (2 Pet. 1.11.) they have their sceptres, ( Heb. 1.8.) their Pa­laces, (Psal. 45.8.) their thrones, ( Rev. 3.21.) their crowns, (2 Tim. 4.8.) God himself their diademe, (Isa. 28.5.) they have their glory, even the glory of God, (1 Thes. 2.12.) Christ himself their glory, (Luk. 2.32.) and they the glory of Christ, Isa. 46.13.

This eminencie of Saints may be cleerly shewed in an evident demonstration. For no creature can stand in competition with them, but only other men, and Angels. For the first their eminencie will easily appear by com­parison, even in those things, wherein men challenge precedencie before others.

Men are counted more honourable, as they go before others in birth, estate, or end. Look then first to that broad difference betwixt the birth of the spiritual, and the car­nal creature. Flesh is born of flesh, Joh. 3.3. The natural man is of earth earthy, 1 Cor. 15.47. [Page 222] nay of hell, and therefore hellish. His Father in the flesh is a sinful man, his spiritual Fa­ther those spiritual wickednesses, even Satan, Ioh. 8.44. But Spirit is born of Spirit. The new man is not born of flesh, and blood, not of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1.13. God his Father, who hath begotten him, 1 Pet. 1.3. God his Mother also, who ( [...]) conceiving hath brought himforth, Jam. 1.18. In their ge­neration, or birth there is no comparison.

2. For their estate, what infinite dispa­ritie? 1. in life. 2. In things belonging to life. The life of Saints is the life of God, (Eph. 4.18.) their nature the divine nature, (2 Pet. 1.4.) the blessed Spirit the soul of this life, which animates him, ( Rom. 8.9, 10.) Carnal men have a filthy spirit, informing, and working in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. In the one God works all their works, (Isa. 26.12.) will, and deed, (Philip. 2.13.) in the other Satan, and Sin. Things belonging to life are (as the life) temporal, or spiritual. The Saints spiritual portion in one word is God. Christ his Bread and meat, Joh. 6.35, 55. he the portion of his cup, (Psal. 16.5.) the cup of salvation, (Psal. 116.13.) the drink indeed, (Joh. 6.55. 1 Cor. 10.4.) Christ his garment; (a most royal robe.) He puts on Christ, (Gal. 3.27.) Christ his house: ( he dwels in him, 1 Joh. 4.13.) he our everlasting habitation, [Page 223] (Psal. 90.1.) Heaven, or rather the God of Heaven his inheritance, Psal. 16.5. how con­trary is the other? his portion for the pre­sent is nothing but sin, his bread ashes, and a deceitful heart, (Isa. 44.20.) and his drink iniquity, (Job 15.16.) and he drunk with it, ( Isa. 29.9, 10.) his reckoning cup fire, and brimstone, (Psal. 11.6.) his garments cursing, (Psal. 109.18.) and his inheritance hell-fire, Matth. 25.41.

But surely in temporal conveniences th [...]re the men of this world much exceed the o­ther: So indeed they boast, but lye. The little of the righteous is much better than the su­perfluitie of others, ( Psal. 37.16. Prov. 16.8.) The prosperitie of the wicked deadly, Prov. 1, 32. the troubles of the righteous wholsome, Psal. 119.71. The one cursed in blessings, the other blessed in curses. In a word the one in his best, and most comfortable estate a w [...]e­ful creature; the other in his worst ever bles­sed, Luk. 6.20. to 27.

3. For their ends, the one shall flourish i [...] never ending peace: the other is cut off for ever, Psal. 37.37, 38.

Lastly, it hath pleased the Lord of all crea­tures to prefer them even above the Angels. First in our Creation we were made a little in­feriour to them, but as Princes prefer their Favourites, by some honourable office, a­bove [Page 224] others, who are more nobly descended, so our Lord hath advanced us above them in setting the crown upon our heads, crown­ing us with honour, and glory, and giving to us (as his Viceroyes, not to Angels) dominion over the works of his hands, (Psal. 8.5, 6.) ap­pointing even them to be ministring spirits for us, who are heirs of salvation, (Heb. 1.14.) our guards to defend us, (Psal. 34.7.) our Guardians in all our ways to keep us, Psal. 91.11.

2. In the work of Redemption our na­ture assumed, theirs refused, Heb. 2.16. we r [...]de [...]med, they rejected. And as our nature is infinitely exalted above the most glorious Angels in the person of Christ: so by him many great Prerogatives granted to us who are his members, whom he redeems with his blood, nourishes with his flesh, dwels in us by his Spirit, and crowns with his glory, Joh. 17.22. In a word, Saints are the highest Favourites of the most Highest; having fel­lowship and communion with God, (1. Joh. 1.3.) nay union with the Father, and the Son (one Spirit with Christ) and one in them, as they are one, Joh. 17.21.

Seeing then our Father is in Heaven, our H [...]ad in Heaven, ou [...] life, our Country, and Portion in Heaven; seeing our spirits were born in Heaven, and our bodies look to [Page 225] Heaven, let our treasure, minds, and con­versation also be in Heaven. So shall we (even here on earth) live in the Suburbs of Heaven, and in due time being advanced to that glo­rious City ( the heavenly Ierusalem) eternally reign with the King of Heaven. Amen. Amen.

Let me shut up all in that sweet Poem.