The same Author in one of his Epistles hath this remarkable relation , viz. That the same day wherein Jerom died , he was in his Study , and had got pen , ink , and paper to write something of the glory of heaven to Jerom , and suddenly he saw a light breaking into his Study , and smelt also a very sweet smell , and this voice he thought he heard . O Augustine , what doest thou ? dost think to put the Sea into a little vessel ? when the heavens shall cease from their continual motion , then shalt thou be able to understand what the glory of heaven is , and not before , except you come to feel it , as I now do . Certainly , the glory of heaven is beyond all conception , and all expression , and so is that portion that is a little hinted at in the following Discourse . And indeed a full description of that God that is the believers portion , is a work too high for an Aaron when standing upon Mount Hor ; Num. 20. & ch. 33. Deut. 32.49 . and chap. 34.1 . Isa. 6.3 . or for a Moses , when standing on the top of Nebo after a Pisgah prospect ; yea , it is a work too high and too hard for all those blessed Seraphims that are still a crying before the throne of God , Holy , holy , holy is the Lord of Hosts . No finite being , though never so glorious , can ever be able fully to comprehend an infinite being . In the second Verse of the sixth of Isaiah we read that each Seraphim had six wings , and that with twain he covered the face of God , with twain his feet , and with twain he did sly , intimating ( as one well observes upon the place ) that with twain they covered his face , Vide Origen on the Text. the face of God , not their own face , and with twain they covered his feet , not their own feet ; They covered his face , his beginnig being unknown ; they covered his feet , his end being incomprehensible , onely the middle are to be seen the things which are , whereby there may be some glimmering knowledge made out what God is . Eccl. 7.24 . There are many depths in God which our shallow reason cannot fathom ; & indeed it is the credit of our Religion , and the glory of our God , that he is unsearchable The wise man hit it , when he said , That which is afar off , and exceeding deep , who can find it out ? who can find out what God is ? The knowledge of him a priori is so far off , that he whose arm is able to break even a bow of steel is not able to reach it ; so far off , that he who is able to make his nest with the Eagle is not able to sly unto it . And so exceeding deep that he who could follow the Leviathan could not fathom it ; that he who could set out the center of the earth , is not able to find it out ; And who then is able to reach it ▪ In a word , so far off , and so deep too , that the Depth saith , it is not in me , and the Sea saith , it is not in me ; it is such a deep to men and Angels as far exceeds the capacity of both . Augustine speaking to that question , August . de fide contra Arrionum , cap. 6. what God is ? gives this answer ; Surely such a one is he , who when he is spoken of , cannot be spoken of ; who when he is considered , cannot be considered of , who when he is compared to any thing cannot be compared ; and when he is defined groweth greater by defining of him . Such are not onely good Scholars , but also great Scholars , who have learned contentedly to be ignorant where God would not have them knowing . If that great Apostle that learned his Divinity among the Angles , yea , to whom the Holy Ghost was an immediate Tutor , did know but in part , then certainly those that are most acute and judicious in divine knowledge , may very well conclude , that they know but part of that part that was known to him . As for my own part , I dare pretend but to a spark of that knowledge that others have attained to ; and yet who can tell but that God may turn this spark into such a flame as may warm the hearts of many of his dear and precious ones . Much is done many times by a spark .

O Sirs , catch not at the present profits , pleasures , preferments , and honours of this world , but lay up a good foundation for the time to come , provide for eternity , make sure your interest and propriety in God . It was an excellent saying of Lewis of Bavyer , Emperour of Germany , Such goods ( said he ) are worth getting and owning , as will not sink or wash away , if a Shipwrack happen . How many of you have lost your all by Shipwracks ? and how hath divine providence by your multiplied crosses and losses taught you that the good things and the great things of this world cannot be made sure . How many of you have had rich inheritances left you by your fathers , besides the great portions that you have had with your wives , and the vast estates that you have gained by Trading ; but what is become of all ? is not all buried in the deep , or in the grave of oblivion ? O the unconstancy , and the grand impostury of this world ! Oh the flux and reflux of riches , greatnesse , honours , and preferments ! how many men have we seen shining in their worldly pomp and glory like stars in the Firmament , who are now vanished into smoak or Comets ? How hath the Moon of many great mens riches and honours been eclipsed at the full , and the Sun of their pomp gone down at noon ?

It was ( saith the Historian ) a wonderful precedent of the vanity and variety of humane condition to see mighty Exerxes to float and sly away in a small Vessel , Justin . who but a little before wanted Sea-room for his Navy . The Dutch to express the worlds vanity and uncertainty have very wittily pictured a man with a full blown bladder on his shoulders , and another standing by pricking the bladder with a pin , with this Motto , Quamsubito , how soon is all blown down ? I am not willing to make the Porch too wide , else I might have given you famous instances of the vanity and uncertainty of all worldly wealth , pomp , and glory , from the Assyrian , Chaldean , Persian , Grecian and Roman Kingdomes , whose glory now lies all in the dust . By all this it is most evident that earthly portions cannot be made sure , they make themselves wings , and they fly away , Prov. 23.5 .

O but now God is a portion that may be made sure . In the time of the Marian Persecution , Mr. Fox , Acts and Monum . there was a woman who being convened before bloody Bonner , ( then Bishop of London ) upon the trial of Religion , he threatned her that he would take away her husband from her : Saith she , Christ is my husband ; I will take away thy child , Christ , saith she , is better to me than ten sons ; I will strip thee , saith he , of all thy outward comforts , but Christ is mine , saith she , and you cannot strip me of him . A Christian may be stript of any thing but his God , he may be stript of his estate , his friends , his relations , his liberty , his life , but he can never be stript of his God . As God is a portion that none can give to a Christian , but himself ; so God is a portion that none can take from a Christian but himself ; and therefore as ever you would have a sure portion , an abiding portion , a lasting portion , yea , an everlasting portion , make sure of God for your portion .

O Sirs , that you would judge that only worth much now , which will be found of much worth at last , when you shall lie upon a dying bed , and stand before a Judgment-seat . O that men would prize and value all earthly portions now , as they will value them when they come to die , and when their souls shall sit upon their trembling lips , and when there shall be but a short step between them and eternity , O at what a poor rate , at what a low rate do men value their earthly portions then certainly it will be their very great wisdome to value their earthly portions now as they would value them then . And O that men would value this glorious , this matchlesse portion that is held forth in this Treatise now , as they will value it and prize it when they come to die , and when they come to lanch out into the ocean of eternity . I have read of a Stationer , who being at a Fair , hung out several pictures of men famous in their kinds , among which he had also the Picture of Christ , upon which divers men bought according to their several fancies ; the souldier buyes his Caesar , the Lawyer his Justinian , the Physician his Galen , the Philosopher his Aristotle , the Poet his Virgil , the Orator his Cicero , and the Divine his Augustine ; but all this while the picture of Christ hung by as a thing of no value , till a poor Chapman that had no more money then would purchase that , bought it , saying , Now every man hath taken away his God , let me have mine too . O Sirs , it would make any gracious , any serious , any ingenious , any conscientious bea rt to bleed to see at what a high rate all sorts and ranks of men do value earthly portions , which at best are but counterfeit pictures , when as this glorious portion that is here treated on hangs by as a thing of no value , of no price ; most men are mad upon the world , and so they may have much of that for their portion , they care not whether ever they have God for their portion , or no : Give them but a Palace in Paris , The Duke of Burbone . and then with that French Duke they care not for a place in Paradise : Give them but a messe of pottage , and let who will take the birthright ; give them but Manna in a wildernesse , and let who will take the land of Canaan ; give them but ground which is pleasant and rich , and then with the Reubenites they will gladly take up their rest on this side the Holy Land ; give them but their bags full , Luke 12 . 16-22 . and their barns full , and then with the rich fool in the Gospel , they can think of nothing but of taking their ease , and of eating , and drinking , and making merry . So bruitish and foolish are they in their understandings , as if their precious and immortal souls were good for nothing , but as salt to keep their bodies from rotting and stinking .

O that these men would seriously consider , that as a cup of pleasant wine offered to a condemned man in the way to his execution ; and as the Feast of him who sate under a naked sword hanging perpendicularly over his head by a slender thread , and as Adams forbidden fruit , seconded by a flaming sword , and as Belshazzars dainties overlooked by an hand-writing against the wall , such and onely such are all earthly portions to those that have not God for their portion .

Well , Gentlemen , remember this , there is no true happinesse to be found in any earthly portions ; Solomon having made a critical enquirie after the excellency of all creature-comforts , gives this in as the ultimate extraction from them all , Vanity of vanities , all is vanity . If you should go to all the creatures round , they will tell you that happinesse is not in them : If you should go to the earth , the earth will tell you that happinesse grows not in the furrows of the field . If you go to the Sea , the Sea will tell you , that happinesse is not in the Treasures of the deep ; If you go to the beasts of the field , or to the birds of the air , they will tell you , that happinesse is not to be found on their backs , nor in their bowels ; If you go to your bags or heaps of gold and silver , they will tell you that happinesse is not to be found in them ; If you go to Crowns and Scepters , they will tell you that happinesse is too precious and too glorious a Gemme to be found in them .

As it is not the great Cage that makes thn bird sing , so it is not the great estate that makes the happy life , nor the great portion that makes the happy soul . There is no true comfort , nor no true happinesse to be drawn out of the standing pools of outward sufficiencies ; all true comfort and happiness is onely to be found in having of an all-sufficient God for your portion , Psal. 144.15 . Happy is that people that is in such a case , yea , happy is that people whose God is the Lord . And therefore as ever you would be happy in both worlds , it very highly concerns you to get an interest in God , and to be restlesse in your own souls till you come to enjoy God for your portion .

A man that hath God for his portion , is a none-such , This you will finde fully cleared up in the following Treatise . he is the rarest and the happiest man in the world , he is like the morning-star in the midst of the clouds , he is like the Moon when it is at full , he is like the flower of the Roses in the Spring of the year , he is like the Lillies by the Springs of waters , he is like the branches of Frankincense in the time of Summer , he is like a vessel of massie gold that is set about with all manner of precious stones .

Nothing can make that man miserable that hath God for his portion , nor nothing can make that man happy that wants God for his portion : the more rich , the more wretched ; the more great , the more gracelesse ; the more honourable , the more miserable that man will be that hath not God for his portion . The Sodomites were very wealthy ; and who more wanton and wicked than they ? the Egyptians , and Babylonians were very rich , great , and potent in the world , and what greater oppressors and persecutors of the people of God than these : O the slavery , the captivity , and the woful misery of the people of God under those cruel Tyrants ! Have not the Nimrods , the Nebuchadnezzars , the Belshazzars , the Alexanders , and the Caesars , &c. been commonly the Lords of the world ? and who so abominably wicked as these ? no men for wickednesse have been able tomatch them , or come neer them .

It hath been long since observed to my hand , Dan. 7. that Daniel sets forth the several Monarchies of the World by sundry sorts of cruel beasts , to shew that as they were gotten by beastly subtilty and cruelty , so they were supported and maintained by brutish sensuality , craft , and tyranny .

I have read of a Lacedemonian that said , that they well deserved death that did but quench Tyranny , they should quite have consumed it with fire : But whether he hit the mark , or mist it , let the Reader judge . Well , Sirs , you may be the Lords of this world , and yet you will certainly be miserable in another world , except you get God for your portion . The top of mans happinesse in this world lies in his having of God for his portion . He that hath God for his portion , enjoyes all ; and he that wants an interest and propriety in God , enjoyes nothing at all .

Gentlemen , I have read of an Heathen , who seeing a sudden Shipwrack of all his wealth , said , Well , Fortune , I see now that thou wouldest have me to be a Philosopher . O that you would say under all your heavie losses and crosses : well , we now see that God would have us lay up treasure in heaven , Matth. 6.19 , 20. we now see that God would have us look after a better portion than any this world affords ; we now see that it highly concerns us to secure our interest and propriety in God ; we now see , that to enjoy God for our poron is the one thing necessary . Have not many of you said , nay sworne , That if you might but see & enjoy the delight of your eyes , that then you should have a sweeping Trade , and abound in all plenty and prosperity , and grow rich and great , and glorious in the world , and be eased of everie thing that did but look like a burthen , &c. If it be indeed thus with you , why do you so complain , murmur , and repine ? and why do many of you walk up and down the Exchange and streets with tears in your eyes , and with heavinesse in your hearts , and with crack't credits , and thread-bare coats , and empty purses ? and why are so many of you broke , and so manie prisoners , and so manie hid , and so manie fled ? But if it be otherwise , and that you are sensible that you have put a cheat upon your selves ( I say not upon others ) and that as you have been self-flatterers , so you have been self-deceivers , the more highly it concernes you to do your selves , your souls that right , as to make sure God for your portion : For what else can make up those woful disappointments under which you are fallen .

It is a sad sight to see all the arrows that men shoot to fall upon their own heads , or to see men twist a cord to hang themselves , or to see men dig a pit for others , and to fall into it themselves ; and it t is but justice that men should bake as they brew , and that they which brew mischief should have the first and the largest draught of it themselves .

Now the best way to prevent so sad a sight , and so great a mischief , is to get God for your portion : for when once God comes to be a mans portion , then all things shall work together for his good , Rom. 8.28 . and then God will preserve him from such hurtful and mischievous actings . The whole World is a great Bedlam , and multitudes there are that think madly , and that design madly , and that talk madly , and that act madly , and that walk madly . Now as you would not be found in the number of those Bedlams , it highly concerns you to get God for your portion , that so you may be filled with that wisdome that may preserve you from the follie and madnesse of this mad world .

Gentlemen , The following Sermons I preached in the year 1660. at Olaves Breadstreet , and God blest them then to those Christians that attended on my Ministry , and I hope he will blesse them also to the internal and eternal welfare of your souls to whom they are now dedicated . They are much inlarged ; the profit will be yours , the labour hath been mine : I judge them very seasonable and suitable to present dispensations , else they had not see the light at this time . Curiosity is the spiritual adultery of the soul ; curiosity is that green-sicknesse of the soul , whereby it longs for novelties , and loaths sound and wholsome truths ; it is the Epidemical distemper of this age and hour .

And therefore if any of you are troubled with this itch of curiosity , and love to be wise above what is written , and delight to scan the choice mysteries of Religion by carnal reason , and affect elegant expressions and Seraphical notions , and the flowers of Rhetorick , more than sound and wholsome Truths , then you may ease your selves ( if you please ) of the trouble of reading this following Treatise ; onely remember this , that the prudent Husband-man looks more and delights more in the ripenesse , and soundnesse , and goodnesse of the Corn that is in his Field , than he doth at the beauty of the Cockle ; and remember , that no man can live more miserably than he that lives altogether upon Sawces ; and he that looks more at the handsomnesse than he doth at the wholsomnesse of the Dishes of Meat that are set before him , may well passe for a fool .

Well , Gentlemen , for a Close remember this , that as Noah was drunk with his own wine , and as Goliah was beheaded by his own sword , and as the rose is destroyed by the canker that it breeds in it self , and as Agrippina was killed by Nero , to whom she gave breath ; so if ever you are eternally destroyed , you will be destroyed by your selves ; if ever you are undone , you will be undone by your selves ; if ever you are scourged to death , it will be by rods of your own making , and if ever the bitter cup of damnation be put into your hands , it will be found to be of your own preparing , mingling , and imbittering .

Behold , I have set life and death , heaven and hell , glory and misery before you in this Treatise : and therefore if you will needs chuse death rather than life , hell rather than heaven , misery rather than glory : What can be more just than that you should perish to all eternity . If you will not have God for your portion , you shall be sure to have wrath for your portion , and hell for your portion , &c.

Well Sirs , remember this at last , every man shall onely thank his own folly for his own bane , his own sin , for his own everlasting shame , his own iniquity , for his own endlesse misery .

I have now no more to do , but to improve all the interest that I have in Heaven , That this Treatise may be blest to all your souls and that you all experience what it is to have God for your portion : for that will be my joy as well as yours , and my Crown as well as yours , and my glorying as well as yours in the great day of our Lord Jesus . And so I commend you to God , and to the word of his grace , Acts 20.32 . which is able to build you up , and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified . And rest ,