THou I mean who art not the nominall , but the reall , not the titular , but the title-inlivening Christian . Whose heart knowes the meaning of such a dreadfully glorious , and gloriously dreadfull undertaking , to be called by the name of God . Thou that fearest the Lord greatly , and art greatly awed at the least of his words . Thou with whom the goodliest profession will passe but for a guilded formality , that suffers it selfe to be wanting in morality . As knowing there may be some vertues where there is no grace ; but there can be no grace where there is not all vertues . As knowing where the choicest eminencies of nature come short , their Christianity exceeds ; where the Moralist ends , the Divine begins . He that lives not soberly and righteously , it is impossible he shud live godlily . It is works that must justifie our faith , as well as faith our works . It is a Christ of our own making , ( and not Jesus the Son of God ) that is learned otherwise . While we think to be saved either by , or without Obedience . The two Rocks whereon the world is Shipwrackt , while the God-instructed Christian keeps the narrow Channell . Thou that makest more conscience of , art more watchfull , more carefull of the least ill word , ill thought , then the Christian at large , of all the ill deeds of his whole life . As far more willingly choosing the bitterest death , then the sweetest sin , as knowing thou shalt find it the end of sin , that was the beginning of death . Thou that hast an abundant entrance administred to thee , in that straite and narrow way to the Kingdome of Heaven . That hast all the Commandements of God , That keepest all his wayes ( in a Gospell acceptation ) in the uttermost latitude , extent and spirituality of them , to the very first rising of concupiscence , and yet hast an easie yoke , a pleasant burthen : While thou art endeavouring all to the uttermost , and utterly denying all thy endeavours . Thou that art a wonder to thy selfe , the gazing stock of men and Angels : of the congratulating joyes of some of the calumniating envies of other ; while thou art so wonderfully and fearefully made ! A man of such blessed wonders ! being a part of that unparalelled Master-piece of the Eternall Wisdome , the Lord Christ . Thou that knowest what it is to lie under those pressing , weighty , and over-bearing apprehensions , of an infinite Majesty resident in the soule , crushing as it were , and contriting it to the most disshivered minutest pieces , while it is still firmly and intirely fixed on Him , and with full purpose of heart cleaving to Him , in such a sweet and blessed repose , such a perfect peace , that Millions of Millions of Worlds can neither give thee nor take from thee . Who at thy worst ( to speak after the manner of men since all is good ) thy distractedst condition , as the World calls it , findest that reall , substantiall , that pure , and as I may say , infinite comfort in the most clouded darke , dejected , disconsolate hope , that is objected on a simple and infinite God , that all the unclean , scanty-spirited , self-imprisoned World cannot once conceive at the highest of their mad merriments , and madding jollities . That findest inexpressibly more content in the very longest waitings for any the least beam of grace , to be glanced on thee through the face of thy Christ , then thou canst , nay then the joviallest themselves can ( while they goe laughing along with the foole to the stocks ) in the loudest blaze of their crackling , their dying Thornes , that end in a bed of ashes . When thy soule shall be reposed in a bed of ever-flourishing , soft , and fragrant Roses . The savour whereof , as by a gentle winde from a garden of Spices is conveyed to thy Heaven-travelling soule . And hence is it that all the world to thee that livest in so sweet and fresh a Countrey , is but a miery and stinking City , thou canst no way indure , longer then thou hast a Pomander of this in thy nostrils . Thou sincere single-eyed-single-hearted loyall soule , whom nothing can please , and who wilt please nothing , but thy God . That hast no affection for thy selfe , for any , but what are subordinate to Him , his sweet and holy command . As having learned the truth , in the power , the love , the life thereof , doest truth , and therefore commest to it , in its searchingst discoveries , walkes in it , rejoyces in it , since thou hast known it as it is in Him , who is the Way , the Truth , and the Life , the true and living way . In which never seducing path goe all thy affections , actions , motions . As holding fast the faith and love which are in Him , living godly in Him . In Him doing , being all that thou art . Thou that art of all men most like an Hypocrite , while of all thou dost most differ from him . That art as like him to the eye of the world , as a Diamond to a Bristoll Stone , while thou differest from him toto coelo , as much as truth from falsehood , good from bad , heaven from hell . Thou that art incouraged by thy discouragements , and furthered by thy scandals , and hinderances of Christianity . As knowing that Difficilia quae pulchra , Excellent things are hard , but when they meet with a man of an excellent spirit . And then their very difficulties , and excellencies make them easie ; because more animate , and intend his spirit to their prosecution . As knowing the truth sincerely , the heart and realitie of Religion , to be so much the more amiable , lovely and choice-worthy , by how much the more faire Commendable and admirable is its counterfeit . As arguing that if Hypocrisie can make so goodly and delectable a shew , and yet be but a shew , what then is that sinceritie that is the substance ? if that can attaine to such an emminencie , such a glory , and yet be as blacke as Hell to the eyes of the all-discerning Sunne , and inherit the place of the utmost and remotest darkenesse , what then is this that differs as much from it as God from the devill ? Thou who knowest no readier and safer way to humilitie , then that which the world makes to their pride : the consideration of their owne parts , gifts , indowments , abilities , eminencies whatsoever . As then most truly and throughly humbled , when thou risest to thy highest station and takest the fullest view of all thy excellencies . As seeing nothing but what thou hast of him , in him , and for him the onely ground of humilitie because of glory . To see thy selfe thus and thus richly qualified , and yet to see thy selfe to be miserable , poore , blinde , and naked , to have so much and yet to have nothing , argueth that the Candle of God hath shined over thy head in its brighter beames , and his secrets have dwelt more intimately more abidingly in thy Tabernacle . While seeing thy selfe of the noblest stocke , of the choysest of nations , as touching learning with the learned'st , concerning zeale with the most active , touching the righteousnesse in the Law , blamelesse , &c. and yet to treade and trample all these things under thy feete , with the utmost indignation and detestation , as the most despicable drosse and dunge in comparison of one thought of revealed Christ , that hast knowne , or rather art knowne of Him that is the onely excellency . I , such a light shining in upon the soule and out-shining the most glorious Sunne even at mid day , is that which will cast the greatest Apostle upon his face , and make him cry out that he is lesse then the least of Saints . And certainly there may be a due and selfe-denying acknowledgement of parts , indowments , performances , &c. while there may be an impudently modest and selfe-seeking selfe-denyall ; of all the most desperate , the most detestable hypocrisie . Besides , for a man to carry himselfe lowly , dejectedly , discontentedly , upon the meere convincements of his defects , and faults , may be meere basenesse and pusilanimitie , that will soone upon the least conceit of its owne worth , turne into , and indeed ( narrowly looke into ) proceeds from , and carries along with it , pride and selfe-love . Neither is that to bee thought true humilitie that is not a furtherance to thankefulnesse . And the only course to keep from boasting being to learn how to know all of grace , how to glory , boast , in the Lord . We being onely so farre humbled as outed of our selves , so far outed of our selves as filled with God ; so far as he is pleased gloriously to condescend , to humble himselfe unto us , and graciously to take us up , to advance us into himselfe . There being nothing that layes the soule lower in its owne eyes , then its highest exaltation in Gods . Nothing that makes it better know , better keepe , its distance , in an humble , lovefull , trembling , joyfull , every-way-duly-affectionate , active , obedient , walking before him , then the knowledge , then the assurance of its communion of its union with him . ( I know the wisedome of God is foolishnesse to the world , it is ignorant , it is wulfully ignorant of it . But I speake to them whose hearts have the minde of Christ , and can sensibly interpret the meaning of his spirit . And certainly he that speaks not nonsence to nature , speakes but little supernaturall sence . ) Besides nature may have a kinde of Ahab-like Judas-like humilitie on the apprehensions of evills morrall or naturall . But to be humbled at the thoughts of our selfe-sufficiency , in him who is our onely sufficiency , our new selfe , this of grace . While our hearts understand that sweet harmony of that seeming contradiction , I , and yet not I ; but the Spirit of Christ that dwelleth in me : that humble , meeke , gentle spirit . Thou , whose maine , whose principall study is to know all the excellencies of the World in the face of Christ ; to know it by them , and them by it , that through it thou maist know him who hath ordained it as the conveying Medium of the light , of the knowledge of his Glory . Thou whose world-and selfe-contemning behaviour , speakes thee one of those finding seekers , and seeking finders , that with asweet sharpenesse , and unsatisfied satisfaction , followest on to the knowledge of him , in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge . Thou sweetly passionated heart , that knowest what are those flutterings of the soule to flie ; those holy efforts , those lanchings forth into the great depths : what it is to be given up to , to lye under the power of the Divine Spirit , while on thy water-like diffused soule , it hatcheth new formes of the Divine nature . Thou tender , humbled , shivered , and shivering spirits , that worke out thy salvation with feare and trembling ; while thou biddest defiance to the gates of Hell , and laughest death and destruction in the face . Thou , who though often assaulted with Thornes in the flesh , with buffetings in thy spirit , art kept in such a compleate peace in the sense of the Al-sufficient Grace , and canst glory , canst pleasure in , count gaines of thy infirmities , thy distresses , necessities , persecutions , &c. as the advancers of the overcomming strength of thy Christ , thy only joy , glory , gaine . Thou poore , weake , feeble wretch , that canst doe nothing , and yet canst doe all things , through him that strengthens thee . Thou whose inward and heart-disolving sighes are the daily harbingers for thy speedy admission to that great and eternall Supper of thy solemniz'd espousalls . Thou whose love-sicke , Christ-inamoured soule , bursts for the longings that it hath , that it alwayes hath , after the full and never-interrupted imbraces of thy deare , thy onely deare beloved . Thou that countest every minute an age till thou art with Him ; and yet countest seaven and seaven yeares , ages and ages , spent in the greatest hardship he shall appoint thee , but as a minut in thy sweete waitings on him . Thou whose Heaven-visited soule cannot but break forth in exalting exclamations ! O the beauties ! the harmonies ! the sweetnesses ! the riches ! the glories ! the Crownes ! the inexpressiblenesses ! the inconceivablenesses ! of the knowledge , of the love of God , in Christ Jesus , by his holy Spirit ! Thou who art Heaven , inside and outside . Who art cloathed with the Sunne , and treadest the Moone under thy feete ; while thou hast that within thee , that could it be seene , would dazle the eyes of the world into an envious astonishment . In whom is the Kingdome of Heaven , the righteousnes , the peace , the joy , in the Holy-ghost , unspeakable & glorious . Thou that countest the doing of his Will on Earth , as it is done in Heaven , the turning of Heaven into Earth , and men into Angels . And therefore seest infinite more beautie in the poorest , Priest-deridest Mecanicke , conscionably and sincerely busied in his calling , though but in the shoveling up of dirt , and sweeping of Chimnies , then thou dost in all the guildings and paintings , the Copes and Surplusses , &c. all the sumptuous gallant trickings of the Beast , in the wilfull , sensuall , hypocriticall worship of God . Yea then in the hearing the reading of Sermons , meditating , praying , conferring , &c. or whatever more immediate services , more world-withdrawing exercises , so as excluding the seasonable discharge of thy severall relations , the performance of thy dutie to God , in and through that to men . As knowing the worth of every thing to be as it is to the will of God ; who hath made these latter ordinances in their time , as well as those former . And that the God of nature who made nothing in vaine , hath given forth such a diversitie of commands not with most wise ends . To shew what concord he can make in such a seeming discrepancie betweene worke and worke , men and men , betweene heaven and earth , in such a multiplicitie of imployments in due time and place ; while they are all According to his will : And make an inconceiveable melody in the answering of a good conscience to him . To shew thorough what a varietie of occurrents he can carry the faithfull soule while he still keepes it with Him . And that hee might keepe them in an humble dependencie on him to learne how to bring forth their fruits in due season . To set forth the glory of Christianitie in the sutable composure of such a change of Ornaments . The excellencie of it in over-comming so many difficulties , in passing so many turnings and windings , conducted by the thus-more-commended manifold wisedome , power , goodnesse of God . That takest it for so much superstition , so much idolizing of the best duties , ( and therefore for so much no duties ) while they are set up against the will of God . Thou whom prosperitie keepes praying , adversitie praysing . That art exalted by thy humiliation , incouraged by thy feare , rejoyced by thy sorrow , that gettest thy life by throwing it away , that findest thy selfe by losing it , that art watchfull in every thing , carefull in nothing . That art encountred with often doubts , scruples , irresolutions , self-disputes , and yet livest at the highest rate of assurance of the divine favour . That , yea by , feeding thy selfe with feare , thy watchings , prayings , fastings art carryed forth in the liveliest vigorousnesse and luxuriancy of spirits . ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mic. 4. ) Thou that art now at the top of the third Heavens , in the highest exaltations of thy spirit , and now againe at the bottome of the lowest Hell , while thou still lyest as fast in the hugging imbraces of the omnipresent as ever . Thou whose modest , sober , pure , peaceable , guilelesse , discreet , unblamable , zealous , lively , active deportment of thy selfe , speakes the one that hath been brought up at thee feet of Jesus . Thou whose generous , magnanimous , God-resembling Spirit stoopes to humilty , and overtops Pride . That while thou lyest below the lowest dejection of the meanest Sainted Pesant , bearest thee above the most disastrous , dismallest aspects of the arrogantest , Prelatickst , highest-aspiring , Kingdome-dooming Comet , as far as the third Heaven is above the Meteory Region . Thou that canst gladly stoope with that meeke Lamb to wash the feete of the meanest Minister of the Gospell , Lay downe thy life for the God-loved and therefore world hated brethren , while Lyon-like thy righteous soule rouseth up it selfe against the Hypocriticall Pharisee , with the most contemptuous and undervaluing disdaine . Thou that with a heartie willingnesse canst gladly abase thy selfe to unloose the latchet of the meanest Saint , while thou knowest not how to give a Pontificall Peacocke the dissembling Complement of thy hast : though he swell , though he burnish , though he bustle , though he crow it never so domineeringly ; till he be furtivis nudatus coloribus . Thou that like thy Heavenly Father , knowest how to bee afflicted in all the afflictions of his holy ones , his humble ones , while wherein soever the Presumptuous deale proudly , Thou wilt in Him be above them , and make their proudest wrath to praise Him . Thou that seest far more beauty on the very feet of the poorest Embassadour of the Gospel , then on the honour-pleasure-profit-Triple-crowned head of those enemies to the Crown , because to the ( vertue because friends to the signe of the ) Crosse of Christ , In making the earth their study , their belly their God , their glorious Titles their shame , themselves destruction , and their Country distraction . Thou that knowest how to turn the other cheeke to him that smites thee , and to let goe thy cloake too to him that wud take away thy coate ; and yet knowest thy time too when to sell it for a sword , and thy life by it as deare as thou canst . While yet thou seekest not so much the destruction of the enemy , no nor the preservation of thy selfe , as the obedience too , as the glory of God by it . Thou that hast learnt , how to render blessing for cursing , and pray for them that despitefully use thee , while still thou remembrest that the same Michael that brought no railing accusation against the devill , called the Pharisees a generation of Vipers , the evill-working Jewes , the children of the devil . Thou whose well tempered soule knowest the meaning of a zealous meeknesse , a milde indignation , a faceat gravity , a sollid pleasantnesse , &c. Thou who while thy cautelous heart is still agitated with the most quick resentments , & readiest apprehensions of dangers , art most firmly setled in a most unshaken peace of a providentiall security . Thou whose giving heart is streaming it selfe forth in the most inlarged and selfe-loosing compassions , the most liberall supplyes and contributions to the suffering Saints , and hast thy awakened feare continually exercised with the alarmes of war and death , while thou standest with an undaunted magnanimity , in a close , fast , fixed , Communion with thy God , like Mount Sion that cannot be shaken ; triumphing over Hell and Death . That while thou bleedest in their wounds , art bound in their bonds , dyest in their death , blessest for thy wounds , art freed with thy bonds , livest in thy death . That walking in the shadow of death , in the presence of thine enemies , hast a set banquet of heavenly delicacies , thy head annointed with the oyle of joy and gladnesse , by the over-shadowing hand of the Almighty Redeemer , while thy soule is like a brim-full Cup , over-running with joy and praises , with joy and praises . Thou that amandest the wicked from thee , that thou maist keep the Commandements of thy God , whom thou findest so , so inapprehensibly good . Thou that abhorrest none more then pragmaticall , busie-body , censorious men , as the most slight-spirited , idle self-ignorant , worthlesse men that are , and yet seekest not thine own things , but the things of others , and canst not so hate thy brother in thy heart , as not to rebuke him ; and therefore as not to rebuke him in love . Thou in whose eyes a vile person is contemned : whose God-acquainted spirit , can not sit with vaine , empty , triviall-spirited persons , Sons of Belial , whose foolish hearts are not lift up in-to the wayes of God , that are above to the wise ; Triflers away of precious houres in frothie , frivolous , fruitlesse communications , that have no , and therefore can administer no grace to the hearer : Men not of Heaven-ascending discourse , spirit , life . Thou that hast found the two edged sword of the word , dividing between the soule and the spirit , and raising this as far above that , as that is above the body , That thou mayest serve him , in the spirit of thy minde , in the more extracted , as it were , and more sublimed quintessence , the morefree & noble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of life , love , zeal . Thou that like that Purites strikest fire ; and throwest sparks about thee , to quicke the dead and scindry soules , and countest it far more honour to be denominated a zelot with thy Saviour , from that which fed on his marrow , that pure and undefiled zeale of his Fathers house that consumed him , then to be counted a dead carkase , of Him who bid the dead bury the dead . Thou Precisian that walkest as accurately , curiously as upon the ridge of an house , and therefore as wisely , if the Spirit of Wisdome be a competent Judge . Thou that art one of the holy brethren , that labourest to be holy as hee that called thee is holy ; to be holy as ( though thou canst not be as holy as ) thy heavenly Father ; and therefore hast that title linked to it , as a concomitant of the pertaking of the heavenly calling . Thou that art counted as so much off scouring and dung , while thou art one of whom the world is not worthy ; a seditious , factious turbulent fellow that turnest the world topsie turvey , while thou art among the proppes and pillars without which it would instantly and irrecoverably sinke . Thou that hast God for thy Father , Christ for thy Brother , the holy Spirit for thy companion , the Angells for thy attendance , Heaven-the-full injoyment of God for thy perpetuall home . Thou that art his undefiled one , his jewell his glory , the Apple of his eye , his pleasant portion , the dearely beloved of his soule , the darling of the Deitie Himselfe . Thou that art the subject of so rare a peece of the divine wisedome in bringing him that stood at the vastest distance , the deadliest defiance to the nearest the closest the most endeared intimacie . In making a lumpe of rude and unformed darkenesse , a lampe of pure and undefiled splendour in that inapproachable light . A wispe of straw the fewell of everlasting burning , a mingling flame in ever-loving imbraces . But whither will this sweet-sounding name transport me ? Thou man , that art worthy of the name , as fearing God and keeping his commandements , which is the whole , the compleatnesse of a man , in him , in whom wee are compleate , pertaking of an higher nature , being not carnall , & walking like a man , but spirituall and walking ( as thou mayst say it In , as the knowledge of it will sweetly enforce thee to say it in the deepest , the feelingst humilitie ) as a dimunitive , as an opitome , of Christ , of God . While all murmurings , envying , strifes , evill surmises , backbitings , &c. purged out , thou possessest thy meeke patient soule , like a pure and untroubled Rivulet , over flowing in superabundancie of loves and sweetnesses . But what shall I say of thee ? thou Vniforme Multiformitie , beautifull blacke , crosse-divided ground , concording discord ! Thou that hast eternitie assigned thee to contemplate thy owne worth ; in thy onely worth the Lord Christ . To thee candid Christian as having knowne the wisedome that is from above , that is first pure and therefore gentle , easie to bee entreated without partialitie , prejudicatenesse , sensoriousnesse , Hypocrisie to thee doe I present hoc qualecunque meum ; this tenue munusculum , these broken and rudely ordered meditations , ( the off-springs of those more serene , lucid , benign houres , those horae blandiores ) breathing themselves forth in these Canzonets of their serious pleasure , which have long laine by me in loose and scribled Adversaria , and now after many and oft selfe-disputes , suddenly and confusedly according to the condition of the time scrabled up together into this Miscellanie ; as willing rather then the growing mischiefes of hardned hearts , hearts lifted up to their ruine , shud prevent thee of all , thou shudst have some , though too those but preposterously and promiscuously hudled together . In which ruder Rapsodie , if thou shalt espie any brillantes estincellettes , any little sparklings forth , any glimpses and glances , shat heare any hints and relishes , that may be suitable to thy word-conformed spirit ; and like the concurrent rayes of two apposite jewells , the concording tones of two Co-tuned instruments , might more take thee with thy owne graces , more sweeten thy soule in the sence of the divine goodnesse , and annimate thee on to a more full obedience , to a further activitie in the wayes of holinesse ; I have my desire , and thou shalt not misse of thine .