The heavenly trade, or the best merchandizing the only way to live well in impoverishing times. A discourse occasioned from the decay of earthly trades, and visible wastes of practical piety in the day we live in, offering arguments and counsels to all, towards a speedy revival of dying godliness and timely prevention of the dangerous issues thereof impending on us. By Bartholomew Ashwood Minister of the Gospel.

THE Heavenly Trade , Opened and improved from Proverbs 3. 14. For the Merchandise of it is better than the Merchandise of silver , and the gain thereof than fine gold .

THAT Religion is under a very great declension in the day and place wherein we live , is too evident to serious observers ; but too little laid to heart ; or the prodigious effects , which usually follow such expiring godliness , duly trembled at . The character of the last and perilous times hath over taken us ; men having a form of godliness , but denying the power of it , 2 Tim. 3 , 5. a a Nos non eloquimur magna s●d vivimus . Minut. Foel . A lamp , a name to live , notions parts , external priviledges and duties , make up the Religion of the greatest part of professing Christians this day , while the vitals of Christianity visibly languish ; b b Christianos non dici , sed ess● oportet . Ignat. where is that ancient Faith , Love , Zeal , Faithfulness , Courage , Patience , Self-denial , Mortifiedness to the world , Justice , Charity , Heavenly-mindedness , holy Converses , with that universal Piety and Unity , which made the Saints so famous in former generations , and had so great an influence on the enlargement of Christ's Kingdom , notwithstanding Pagan and Antichristian force against it ? In the room of which , now pride , contention , formality , selfishness , hypocrisie , with the general gangrene of an earthly spirit , eats out the life and power of true holiness : The affecting sense of this dangerous evil gives occasion to this ensuing discourse , whose errand into the world , is not to plead for notion or faction , but to advocate for despised godliness ; to help to awaken this sleepy age , and contribute a weak hand with abler shoulders , to give a lift ( if possible ) to fallen piety .

Amongst the many Advocates for piety , Solomon the Pen-man of this book hath done worthily , and laid out much strength of reason to attach the minds of men , and regain them to the knowledge and fear of God . This chapter is a systemè of those motives which he more largely prosecutes throughout this book , to perswade men unto a thorough pursuit of holiness . Divers are the considerations he proposes to this end : taken

First , From the happiness of those that obtain and improve this pearl of grace , vers. 13. Happy is the man that c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Labore sibi paravit ; involvit praeviam inquifitionem . findeth wisdom , and the man that d d 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Profert in lucem , effundit . getteth understanding : ( though with greatest labour and cost ) and having gotten it , doth put it to its due use and improvement for the good of others ; they , whoever they be , are blessed men and women , in regard of that profit , pleasure , peace , honour , safety and life ( with the durable and eternal possession thereof ) ensured to those that thus make Religion their business , from vers. 13 , to 27.

Secondly , From the evil estate and end of those that pursue the waies of sin , which is in its nature vile and abominable to God , and as to its products , its shameful , cursed and destructive in the end ; vers. 23 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35.

The Penman knew that few would deal in those commodities and trade about divine things ( all men seeking their own , and few the things of Christ ) and therefore sets forth those wares with greatest commendation to buyers , that they might off the better . He begins with the gain that comes by godliness ; a popular argument , and that which in other things puts men on great adventures , and restless labours towards their enjoyment . The hope of advantage ( saith Chrysostome ) a a Lucri spes omnia difficilia facit juncunda . Chrys. de Sacerd. 3. lib. makes all difficult things easie . What will not the Merchant do or suffer to get a little profit ? a fit metaphor to set forth the diligence of a Christian in his race , and to insinuate the worth of those eternal things he is in chase of . The merchandise of which is better than the merchandise of silver , and the gain there-thereof than fine gold .

In the words , for methods sake , you may observe ,

First , The subject , wisdoms merchandise , and the gain thereof .

Secondly , The Predicate , Better than silver , than fine gold .

Wisdome ] Divine Wisdome , which in this book , ( not to mention all its acceptations : )

First Is put sometimes for the Lord Jesus Christ , the 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , the word , and increated Wisdome of God , or the wisdome who is God ; who is made to us of God , Wisdome , as well as Righteousness ; the light of the world ; the bright morning Star ; the Sun of Righteousness , from whom are derived all those beams which irradiate the dark minds of men ; and that Wisdome which makes wise to salvation ; in whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdome : This is that shining Diamond , that Pearl of price , which outvies all the beauties of the world ; the costly gemms , and whole treasures of nature , in whom are unsearchable riches , the enjoyment and use of whom is soul enriching .

Secondly , For the Word of God , which is , sure , making wise the simple ; pure , enlightening the eye ; and more to be desired than gold , yea than much fine gold ; called the Light of the Lord , Isa. 2. 5. Come ye , and let us walk in the Light of the Lord ; the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart , Heb. 4. 12. which are able through the Spirit 's illumination , to make one wise to salvation ; and in this sense the Jews usually take Wisdome for the Word and Law of God : In keeping of which there is great reward , Psal. 19. 11.

Thirdly , By it is held forth a true and saving knowledge of God , part of that Original beauty which man lost by his first fall , and is regained by a second edition , and impress of the Spirit , when renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created it : this knowledge is called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , not an idle speculative , but a lively operative knowledge , which consists of an illumination of the mind , and an infusion of faith and spiritual knowledge . Parisiensis calls it , a a Portam vitae per quam Deus primo ingreditur ad mentem humanam . Parisiensis . The gate of life through which God first enters into the mind of man . In this Wisdome and Knowledge of God as the souls last end , with the way that leads thereto , and felicity that results from it , enlightened minds see greater lustre than in fine gold , and all the bravery of this lower world .

Now this Wisdome is not onely speculative , taking in the notion of truth , and pleasing the mind with refreshing views of things excellent ; but practical , which disposes the soul to a fruition of God , so revealed to the eye of Wisdome , and to the obedience of all those counsels opened in order to it . Hence Davenant counts it an errour in the Schoolmen to restrain Wisdome and Understanding to a contemplative life , b b Cum utraque ex aequo etiam spectat activam . when both have their equal reference to an active practical life and conversation : In regard of it's essence , it 's an intellectual vertue ; but in respect to the matter and use , it 's practical and moral ; and therefore he defines Wisdome to be c c Est igitur sapientia infusa cognitio illorum quae ad fidem & bonam vitam pertinent cum affectu pio inclinante ad applicationem & praxin eorundem . Daven . an infused knowledge of those things which lead to faith and a holy life , with a pious affection , inclining the soul to the application & practice of the things it knows . This the Scriptures hold out to be that true Wisdome , which God requires of men : And to man he said , Behold the fear of the Lord , that is Wisdome , and to depart from evil , that is understanding , Job 28. 28. Job having spoken of the wonderful Wisdome of God in the works of Creation , beyond all the searches of humane understanding , he tells them what is that Wisdome which God requires of man , not to screw into those unfathom'd deeps and mysteries of divine works in the Creation ; not to feed on abstruse notions of things that concern them not ; but this is true Wisdome , to fear God , to serve and obey him , and to depart from iniquity ; So Deut. 4. 5 , 6. Behold I have taught you Statutes and Judgements , keep therefore , and do them , for this is your Wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations , which shall hear of all these Statutes , and say , Surely this great Nation is a wise and an understanding people . Wisdome from above ( saies the Apostle ) is pure , peaceable , gentle , easie to be entreated , full of mercy and good fruits , James 3. 17. that is it makes men holy and fruitfull in good works . So the Psalmist describes Wisdome , by holy walking ; I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way ; Psal. 101. 2. and Ephes. 5. 15. Walk circumspectly , not as fools , but as wise . Holy walking is both the fruit of Wisdome , and the way to Wisdome . Col. 1. 9 , 10. You may be filled with the knowledge of his will , in all knowledge and understanding ; that you may walk worthy of the Lord to all well-pleasing , being fruitfull in every good work , and increasing in the knowledge of God . And so the Wise man understands it in this book . Prov. 1. 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdome . That a a Quantum ad effectum initium sapientiae est nnde sapientia incipit operati . Aquin. saith Aquinas ) from whence Wisdome begins to be operative . Chap. 4. 11. I have taught thee in the way of Wisdome , and led thee in right paths . Wisdome hath its way , and feet to walk in it ; and this way of Wisdome is a right path ; or , right-holy-actions ( saith Piscator ) so the Antients take Wisdome . Cicero calls it , The b b Sapientia quae ars vivendi putanda est non expeteretur si nihil efficeret . Ciccro de finiv . Art of living . That Wisdome which doth nothing , is worth nothing . c c Omnis sapientia hominis in hoe uno est ut Deum cognoscat & colat . Lact. de Inst. lib. 3 cap. 30. All Wisdome lies in this one thing ( saith Lactantius ) That we know and worship God . d d In sapientia religio , in religione sapientia est , Lact. lib. 4. cap. 3. Religion is wrapt up in Wisdome , and Wisdome in Religion . The e e Cujus vis & officium in eo vertitur ut contemptis terrestribus quibus antea tenebamur fragilibus servientes & fragilia serviente , & fragilia concupiscentes ad aeterna coelestis thesauri praemia dirigamur , Lact. de Inst. cap. 27. work of Wisdome lies in this , that contemning earthly things , by which we were formerly held , serving and desiring these frail perishing things , we may now be directed to seek after the eternal reward of a heavenly Treasure : ( So saith Aquinas ) f f Sapienti● secundum nos non solum consideratur ut est cognoscitiva Dei , sed etiam ut directiva humanae vitae secundum rationes divinas . Aquin. 22ae . q. 19. 7. c. Wisdome is not to be considered onely as it leads to a knowledge of God ; but as it directs and orders the life according to divine Rules : And in this sense I take Wisdom here for true Holiness ; that Wisdome which is manifested in a heavenly , gospel conversation , the merchandise of which is so advantagious .

The Merchandise thereof : Objectively considered : The trading for this Wisdome , or Merchandizing about ; so the Septuagint renders it : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , To merchandize , is to buy and sell to get in , and put off goods , to take in , and lay out : this Wisdome is better than to get in gold , or any thing that gold can buy , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , The word is , to go up and down here and there as Merchants do , to buy & vend their goods , to travel abroad now in one place , then in another ; to be full of distraction , tumbling up and down to get and put off their wares : So busie a work is merchandizing , which takes up mens thoughts , time and labours to follow it , that they might get some advantage in the world . And such is the work of Religion ; it is an active work , that calls for the heart , time and strength , if ever souls think to turn it to any account : And they that do thus , that make Religion their work , that lay out themselves and their all in pursuit of Heaven and spiritual things , whatever cost and pains they are at , if they can but gain these treasures of godliness , and obtain Wisdomes wares , they make a good bargain ; for the profit that comes by these is far better than silver yea than fine gold : The Septuagint hath it : a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Than to get the treasures of silver and gold ; yea the best gold , beaten gold .

There is another sense that one gives the words , taking Wisdome for the price by which those great and eternal things are got : ( I rather like the instrument than the price ) spiritual things are freely given , not bought , Isa. 55. 1. but those that lay out , and improve their Wisdome to gain grace , to promote godliness , and further salvation , make a better bargain : than they that lay out their treasures of gold and filver to buy the best goods on earth : In either sense it 's a truth , Wisdome's merchandise is the best merchandise ; to trade about spiritual things , grace and glory is incomparably the best trade : Whence observe this Doctrine or Position ,

Doct. The Heavenly Trade is the best Trade ; no Merchandise like Wisdom's Merchandise , and traffiquing about spiritual and eternal things .

This Truth will evidently appear , if you consider ,

1. The nature of those things about which Wisdomes Merchants trade . 2. The Person they deal with . 3. The Terms they trade upon . 4. The gain that comes by it .

Reas. 1. First , The things about which this Heavenly Trade is taken up , are in their nature things of greatest worth ; wares which all the worlds treasures cannot purchase or compare with ; they are all great , glorious and excellent things ; nothing mean , contemptible and useless , among all the goods that Wisdome proposes to souls choice and reception : The favour of God : Redemption from Hell : Pardon of sin : Peace with God : The graces of the Spirit : Communion with Father , Son and Spirit , with Saints and Angels : Walking with God : Spiritual blessings : Joy in the Holy Ghost : Heavenly Treasures : Assurance of Glory : These are all things of incomparable value , and the things that heavenly Traders deal about : And are not these far better in their nature , than the low , dirty , fading things of this world ? No Onyx , Saphir , Chrystal , Coral , Pearl , Topaz , Rubies , or the most costly pieces of nature , can compare with this pearl of price ; this stone cut out of the mountains , or those spiritual treasures which are the subject of this Heavenly Trade : Let those be Judges who know the worth of things ; call in Wisdome's Lapidaries , let God , Saints and Angels speak in this matter , their verdict will be , Wisdome's wares weigh down all , as to their innate excellency : I shall onely propose three evidences to determine this case , and they are of unquestionable verity , and a sufficient proof of this truth . They are ,

1 Scripture . 2 Experience . 3 Reason .

First , The Scriptures will tell you , there are no wares like heavenly wares , Deut. 32. 32. Their Rock is not as our Rock , even our enemies themselves being Judges . His loving-kindness is better than life , Psal. 63. 3. And the light of his countenance , than the encreases of corn , and wine , and oyl , Psal. 4. 6 , 6. The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver , Psal. 119. 72. Tryed faith much better than gold that perisheth , 1 Pet. 1. 7. One day in God's Courts better than a thousand elsewhere , Psa. 84. 10. None in Heaven like to God , nor any on earth in comparison of him , Psal. 73. 25. To make provision for the soul is the one thing needful ; to enjoy Christ and spiritual things is the better part that shall never be taken away , Luk. 10. 42. The Kingdom of God is the chiefest thing to be sought for in the first place , Matth. 6. 33. first in affection , and first in time : Multitude of testimonies might be produced from Scripture to attest this truth , the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade ; no goods like heavenly goods : what do you trade for here ? is it for more than life you plot , you work for ? you gain no more here than meat , drink , rayment , money , land , credit , and the like , which onely tend to life ; but the favour of God is better than life : one gracious look , one whisper of peace from God , weighs down all those : riches , pleasures , honours , do not make a happy man or woman ; the Scripture never reports such blessed as have the abundance of these things , but rather miserable and unhappy , obnoxious to more snares and dangers ; but godliness makes a blessed man , and pardon of sin a happy man , in God's account , Psal. 1 , 1 , 2. and 32. 1. whose testimony is truth it self , and to be relied on beyond all the grounds of blinded opinion , and false hopes .

Secondly , Experience assures men of this truth ; that heavenly things are the best things : come to a Soul that hath tried both ; one who hath had all that the World could afford on the one hand , and hath also experienced the favour of God , and spiritual things , and he will tell you of spiritual things , as David did of Goliah's Sword : There is none like them 1 Sam. 21. 9. And as Solomon of the vertuous Wife : These things above excel them all , Prov. 31. 29. And wisdom is much better than Gold , and to get understanding rather to be chosen than Silver , Prov. 16. 16. This was Solomon's experience , who had the largest trial of any man , he had Houses , Vineyards , Gardens , Servants , Silver , Gold , the peculiar treasures of Kings ; Greatness , Pleasure , Musick , and whatsoever his eyes desired : and upon all gives this verdict ; That wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excels darkness , Eccles. 24 , 13.

Piety transcendeth Pravity ; Heaven the World : Purity out-passeth Pleasures , as Light doth Darkness : When he speaks of things below , he tells you ; These are all vanity and vexation of spirit ; he that labours for these , labours for the wind , Eccles. 5. 16. and what he seeks , finds not ; but when he speaks of wisdom , and spiritual things , he is as one that wants words to express their worth : Wisdom is better than Rubies , and all the things that may be desired , are not to be compared to it , Prov. 8. 11. David was a man who had tried various conditions in the World , he knew what trouble and comfort was , what youth and age was , what poverty and riches were ; he had pleasures , honours , treasures , with the hearts of his people , and command of a Kingdom , and yet he tells you , he had seen an end of all perfection : and that the light of God's countenance was better than all , and to be a door-keeper ( a mean place ) in the house of God , was more eligible , than to abide in the tents of wickedness : Psal. 119. 96. Ps. 4. 6. and 84. 10. He chooses it as his one thing ; To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life , to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to enquire in his Temple , Psal. 27. 4.

Moses knew what honour was , and the pleasures of sin , and yet upon choice , preferr'd poverty with godliness , on the side of truth , before all the treasures of Egypt ; He refused to be called Pharaoh ' s Son , rather choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season , esteeming the reproach of Christ , greater riches than the treasures in Egypt , Heb. 11. 24 , 25 , 26. He knew the Nobles of Egypt , and grandeur of Pharaoh's Court , and yet could value a poor persecuted people , that own'd God , and cleav'd to him , beyond them all : Happy art thou , O Israel ! who is like to thee ? Deut. 33. 20. He counts God the none-such ; Who is like to thee , O God ? Ex. 15. 11. and Religion the best interest ; Set your hearts unto all the words , I testify ; for it is not a vain thing for you , for it is your life , Deut. 32. 46 , 47.

Ask of Paul , and he will tell you what the fruit of sin , and driving furiously against Christ and his interest was , when the Lord Jesus came to reckon with , and to pay him off in the way to Damascus , Act. 9. 3 , 4. whose blow he felt many years after , in Conscience twitches now and then , 1 Tim , 1. 13 , 15. And upon the sense of that change Grace made on his heart and condition , he tells you , that whatever he counted gain before , he saw now to be loss for Christ , Phil. 3. 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10. There was a time when he thought his letter-knowledg , blind zeal , birth-priviledges , legal duties , popular applause , Rulers favour , and protection by Power , to be great things ; but now he alters his reckoning , and values the knowledg of Christ and interest in him , and grace derived from the power of his death and resurrection , to be an excellency that stain'd all his former glory .

The Jaylor once thought it his greatest interest to swim with the stream , and sail by the compass of the times he lived in , to run down the ways and servants of the Lord Jesus , to obey his warrant , and secure the Saints feet in his stocks , Act. 16. ver. 24 , to 34. but when once Grace takes him in hand , and plucks him through the strait-gate of conscience , terrors , and repentance , into a state of regeneration , then he corrects his errors , and sees it his chiefest concern to espouse Christ , and to come over into the way of persecuted godliness ; then to believe in the Lord Jesus , to be kind to his servants , and to drive the Trade of despised Christianity ; he thought upon most mature consideration to be worthy of his choice and pursuit . What treasures more rich or precious ( said Agerius , when a prisoner for Christ at Venice ) than everlasting life ? where be greater riches or dignities more honourable than in Heaven ? here droppeth the delectable dew , here floweth the pleasant Nector , here runneth the sweet milk , here is plenty of all good things ; I have found a nest of honey in the entrals of a Lion , in the deep , dark Dungeon ; I have found a Paradise of pleasure ; where others do weep , I do rejoyce ; when others do shake and tremble , I do find plenty of strength , and boldness ; in strait Bonds , and cold Irons , I have rest : Fox , Vol. 2. pag. 181. Come to sinners also when they lie under Conscience , terrors , and the armed troops of death and hell invade their guilty hearts , and enquire their opinion concerning the goodness of their choice , the advantage of that bargain they have made , in parting with God for the World , in rejecting Christ for the Flesh , in turning their backs on holiness , for the service of sin ; and their dejected countenances , their gastly looks , their unquiet jestures , their cries and groans , will soon tell you the sad resentment of their folly , and bad Trade they have driven in the ways of sin and death .

Thirdly , Nay , Reason it self rightly exercised , must needs grant , that heavenly wares are the best wares upon a fourfold consideration .

1 Of their Rarity . 2 Their Price . 3 Their worth . 4 Their Duration .

First , Heavenly things are rare , and therefore excellent ; scarcity enhaunceth the price of things ; Diamonds and precious stones are dear , because scarce , and more rarely had ; plenty usually beats down the price of things , when rarity makes them costly ; and such are Heavenly wares ; they are the greatest rarity in the world ; they are less known , more hardly come by , and seldomer enjoyed than any thing this earth affords ; there are few parts of the world where Wisdom's goods ever come : How many Countries are there where the Gospel is not known ? or any sights of God , or things eternal ever had , but such as are discernable by the dini light of nature ; and of those coasts which this days spring hath visited , to how few have the brightness of this light appeared ? few places have the mysteries of the Gospel opened , or the deep things of God purely , fully and powerfully preached . It hath been the priviledge of this Nation above many , to have a peculiar share of Gospel discoveries and truths , more spiritually and practically disclosed ; and yet how few here , or in other parts , have any acquaintance with these glorious secrets ? or arrive to this excellency of the knowledge of Christ , and Divine Mysteries ? what a veil is there on the minds of most , under the purest administrations of the Gospel , that seeing , they see not ; understanding , and yet not affected with the things they know ; the spiritual beauty , and inward worth of them being hid from their eyes . Most hearers ( like Balaam ) see heavenly goods with eyes half opened ; and hence it is they no more value and pursue them : Could these poor , beggarly , dirty things of the world , be so preferred in mens affections and embraces , and so much time consumed upon them , with neglect of God , and things above , if the worth of Wisdome's Treasures were truly known and believed ? no certainly , we may without breach of charity complain , Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? Isa. 53. 1. They are rare , in that they seldome appear in their own worth and excellency to the view of men : few know and believe the worth of heavenly things .

They are also goods that few trade on . It 's a rare thing to see men much vers'd about heavenly things , and to drive a trade of godliness : There are divers possibly that barter for some of Wisdome's goods , for knowledge , peace , comfort , parts , external duties , &c. but few that carry on a full trade of godliness : An Enoch , a Noah , a Caleb , a Joshua , a Job , a David , a Paul , a Barnabas ; here and there one in their several ages , that are thorough with God , and universal in the duties of godliness , heart purity , godly simplicity , universal holiness , converse with God , meditation on things above , tenderness of conscience , self-denyal , mortifiedness to the world , heavenly-mindedness , spiritual converses , are commodities that few deal about this day . A thorough-paced Christian is the Phoenix of the place he lives in , and more seldom seen than a sparkling Diamond in the dark night we live in ; few seek these goods in earnest , as they do the world and their own things , and fewer obtain them , Phil. 2. 21. Few I fear do live in the daily exercise of their graces , the warm breathings of their souls after God and spiritual things : few that find the white stone , that live in the view of their pardons , and sensible enjoyment of divine grace ; and therefore these heavenly goods are rare things , seldome discovered , seldome known , seldome pursued , seldome enjoyed ; and being rare , are excellent and desirable .

Secondly , Heavenly things are the best , because the most costly ; this argument will not hold in all things : men may buy their desired comforts too dear , and give more for the world , pleasures , and their particular goods , than they are worth ; but none can be deceived in Wisdomes wares ; the glory of God , the salvation of souls , the enjoyment of grace and spiritual blessings , cannot be too dearly obtained ; their price bespeaks the greatness of their worth , they being realities and things excellent in their nature and use ; and if they are valuable according to their price , they must needs be transcendent ; for the purchase of them cost God dear ; he hath been at the expence of eternal counsels of manifold wisdom , of unknown love , of the gift and blood of his own Son , to procure these great things for Believers ; and it hath cost him mighty power and patience to fit Believers for them , and maintaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , with an honourable price , 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , aequale redemptionis pretium , Gomar . their enjoyment of them : Ye are bought with a price , not with corruptible things , as silver and gold , but with the precious blood of Christ , as of a Lamb without blemish , and without spot . He gave himself a ransome , an equal price , sufficient to purchase Believers to himself , with grace and glory for them : He so loved the world as to give his onely begotten Son , to give him to death , to the death of the Cross , to unspeakable torments , and all to procure these glorious and blessed treasures for Believers , Joh. 3. 16. O costly wares ! O dear bought goods ! for which the pearl of price was sold , and the treasures of Heaven emptied out .

And as these stand the purchaser dear , so they are costly to the receiver also : The preparation for an interest in these treasures , is many times dear to Believers : O the wounds and launcings , the bleeding and heart-prickings , the pangs & throws that lead the van to this banner of love , which redemption-grace spreads over saved souls ; these are the stormy tempests , the bloody skirmishes , that go before the Believers reception of purchased peace : Besides , the terms on which this good bargain is offered , though infinitely beneath its worth , yet as to the souls capacity are high , it 's no less than a throwing of all its former treasures over-board , a parting with its nearest interests , and dearest comforts that lye in the way of its enjoyments ; a plucking out a right eye , and cutting off a right hand ; a denying ( O hard saying ! ) of a man 's own beloved self ; a not onely bearing when laid on , but a taking up not the Cross of Christ alone , but his own Cross too , whatever his own sins , or the hand of men and Devils may make for him ; and in this plight not to sit down , or stand still , but to go on and follow Christ up the hill , through thick and thin , through scorns and thorns , day and night , through every change , in every state , home to the grave : No easier terms are given to the enjoyment of these riches , than a hearty consent to these proposals , which may expose the soul to an actual loss of his earthly all , and undergoing unknown tryals , troubles and duties in the way : This bargain , though blessed in it self , yet is thought so dear by some , as that they break upon these very terms , and think God , grace and glory , too chargeable for their acceptance : This then sets off the worth of heavenly things , that they cost so much upon choice , and upon the highest reason and deliberation .

Thirdly , As their price is high , so is their worth great ; they are good in themselves , and good to those that have them . Hearken diligently unto me , and eat that which is good , and let your souls delight it self in fatness ; earthly things are not so , if good in themselves , yet they may not be good to those that have them : Riches are snares and swords to the owners thereof , and oftentimes do pierce them thorough with many sorrows : They are not onely good , but absolutely good ; other things are not so ; earthly things are but conditionally good , when God sees them good , and makes them good , so long as he doth bless them , and let out something of himself through them , manna , food , rayment , nether springs , are so far good as God is pleased to convey out some spiritual good thorough them , or make them some way subservient thereto ; these things cannot make men hapyy , or prove them so . Nebuchadnezzar's greatness could not secure him from grazing amongst the beasts , and bedding with them in open fields , and under wetting dews , Dan. 4. 33. Belshazzar's pleasures could not guard him from the hand-writing against the wall , Dan. 5. 5. Dives was in the midst of plenty and honour one day and the next in hell . These lower things are but as cisterns and pipes , that signifie nothing , except some waters be conveyed through them ; no more do these , unless God let out his love , and promise through them . These heavenly things are not onely absolutely good , but every way good ; good for every man , in every state ; good for poor and rich , for young and old , for all persons , all things ; Godliness is profitable for every thing , 1 Tim. 4. 8. There is no person or condition , but grace and spiritual blessings are good for , and can convey good thorough : There may be such a case in which nothing of this lower world can help : Riches make them wings and profit not in the day of wrath . In times of trouble and divine wrath , instruments of musick carry no sweetness in them but spiritual mercies , they help to comfort in the day of trouble : In the multitude of sad thoughts within me thy comforts refresh my soul , Psal. 94. 19.

Fourthly , Their duration proves them excellent , they are lasting wares ; time works no change upon these , the Heavens will wax old , and as a vesture they shall be changed ; but heavenly things never perish with the using : indeed our measures and sense of these may change , we may not always have the same degrees of grace or comfort ; but this alteration is not in these things , but in us ; as God ; so grace and spiritual things , are in themselves the same , yesterday , to day , and for ever ; good in prosperity , and good in adversity ; good in life , and good in death : mutability mars all earthly comforts , they are things of no continuance ; we may have them , but cannot hold them ; like the fleeting Islands about the Tenariff , which persons see at a distance , but when they come near them , they vanish away : The things that are seen are temporal , 2 Cor. 4. 18. We may a a Ostenduntur istae res non possidentur & dum placeant transeunt . have them , ( faith Seneca ) but cannot possess them ; and they no sooner please us , but pass from us : but unseen things are eternal : His love is everlasting ; the graces of his Spirit abiding : 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not , for his seed remaineth in him : The joys of the Holy-Ghost are lasting : That my joy might remain in you : Jer. 31. 3. Joh. 15. 11. Isa. 59. 21. Heb. 10. 34. 1 Pet. 1. 4. Indeed acts of grace may fail for a time , but the habit of grace is never lost ; frames , and streams of comfort may ebb , but the Fountain of Joy is never drain'd dry ; Justification is immutable , Pardon of Sin is irreversible , the Saints treasures in Heaven are enduring , and can never fade away : Men may out-live their Treasures here , and see all their Portions go before them ; but heavenly Interests , and immortal Souls , are of like continuance , and this greatens their value : Men estimate a little Land beyond a great Estate of uncertain continuance ; and such are Wisdom's wares , there 's no rotten goods among them .

Reas. 2. Secondly , The heavenly Trade is the best Trade , in regard of the Trader these Merchants deal with : Much of the comfort , safety and advantage of mens Trades , lieth in in the persons they trade with ; if these be able , honest , affectionate , it conduces much to the thriving of those they deal with : What mischief comes to Traders , when Sellers are cheating , cruel , and extortioning ? and when Buyers are false , and deceitful , and fail of their word ? But none of these hazards can heavenly Traders be exposed to , from those they deal with : Indeed Wisdom's Merchants have to do with many , in the pursuit of their heavenly Trade , both by way of taking in , and letting out ; but yet there is one great Merchant , with whom they principally deal , as to the management and issue of their whole Trade , in this Merchandise ; they converse with God , Saints and Angels , but all is done through a Mediator ; the Goods they receive is upon his interest ; they deal with God through him ; all their wisdom to trade , and rules to act by , come from him ; the good and advantage of all their Trading , is secur'd by him ; and though they may be concern'd with many persons and things , ( with all that duty and providence calls them too , ) and , with the Chymist , are to extract some good from every thing they deal with ; and , like the Bee , gather Honey from weeds ; yet this good they get from persons and things , is not in them , but conveyed through them from the great Purchaser with whom they deal ; good from every thing , to these heavenly Traders , and Heirs of Salvation is made over in the propromise ; ( All things shall work together for good to them that love God , and are called according to his purpose , ) Rom. 8. 28. and shall in due time , through these Conduits , be emptied out to Believers , by the hand of Jesus : So that it is properly , and strictly , but with one great Merchant those Traders have to do with for the goods they lay out , or take in ; all other things and persons are but ways and instruments of his appointment , through which it shall be delivered ; and this makes Wisdom's Trade so good , that the advantage of it is not depending on those secondary Agents , they have to do with but upon one , that is more excellent , both great and good , able and faithful to answer both his promises , and the expectations of those that deal with him . As to his Quality , and personal Grandeur , he is above all , and over all , King of Kings , and Lord of Lords : He hath a vesture on his thigh , whereon is written , King of Kings , and Lord of Lords , Rev. 19. 16. He is the Majesty on high , the Glory of Heaven and Earth ; he hath Angels to worship him , Thrones and Principalities under him , all creatures in Heaven and in Earth to serve him . O! how honourable is it to deal with him , to whom Kings and Potentates pay their tribute , and to whom Men and Angels yield their homage ? It 's taking with Men , to converse with those that are above them , and to manage concerns with Persons of Honour , and Greatness : but here 's one ( Souls ) that offers to trade with you , from whom all creatures receive their glory .

Yea , his Goodness answers his Greatness , and sweetly tempers his personal converse for the encouragement of the meanest Soul , that hath occasions with him : Greatness without Goodness , rather checks than relieves the hopes of those that are beneath it ; but such is the sweetness of Christ's nature , as that his Glory doth but render his Goodness the more amiable ; and his Goodness represents his Glory the more desirable ; he values no man by his own worth , nor despises any for their low estate ; the meanest Soul hath as easy access to him , and as gracious a reception , as persons of highest reputation with men : I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit , to revive the spirit of the humble , and to revive the heart of the contrite ones , Isa. 57. 15. He is of a sweet and gracious temper , of a free and generous spirit , good to all , especially to those that seek him : this renders persons desirable , who would choose to deal with men of ugly natures , and churlish dispositions : affability and sweetness do strongly invite men to converse with such ; and none like to Jesus for excellent goodness and loving kindness , for pitty and bounty ; goodness is his nature , mercy his delight ; he takes pleasure in doing good ; none that trade with him , but he will see them to be the better for it .

He is also able as well as good ; Some men have excellent natures , but straitned capacities , they are willing to do good beyond their power ; but it is not so with the Saints friend ; He hath all power in Heaven and Earth , Mat. 28. 18. and can do what-ever pleaseth him ; he hath all creatures at his command ; all the treasures of Heaven at his dispose ; he is infinitely rich , and hath all that good that Souls can need or desire ; he hath goods of all kinds of supply his Customers with ; it is not so with men , no Merchant can furnish his Traders with every thing they need ; but one sells this ware , another that ; here men sail to one Countrey for one Commodity , and to another Countrey for other Wares ; they ransack Nature's treasures by Sea and Land , borrow something from every Nation , that hath a peculiar excellency , to make up their supplies , and furnish all their occasions , and pleasures : but the Lord Jesus hath all that in him , and at his dispose , which you need ; he can supply all your wants , having all fulness dwelling in him , Phil. 4. 19. He hath that in him which your Souls want , and the command of that you need for your Bodies also : He can give you the desires of your heart , Psal. 37. 4. He is able to make all grace abound towards you , that you always , having all-sufficiency in all things , may abound in every good work , 2 Cor. 9. 8. Here 's no less than five Alls , that flow from the ability of Christ to Believers ; All grace abounding in them , All sufficiency enjoy'd by them , All ways , in All things , for All good works : Did Souls but believe the all-sufficiency of Christ , they would not so perplex their spirits when in wants , with , what shall I eat ? and with what shall I be clothed ? and how shall I get this ? and the other mercy I want , when all is offered to Wisdom's Merchants freely ? for godliness hath the promise of the life that now is , and of that which is to come ; and these promises are in the hand of Jesus , for all that come to God by him : All things are delivered to me of the Father , Matt. 11. 27. The Lord Jesus is not only able to give you all that you ask according to his will , having all things delivered to him for that end ; but he can keep it for you , and secure it to your use : I am perswaded that he is able to keep that good thing I have committed to him , against that day , 2 Tim. 1. 12. This all-sufficiency of Christ , is argument enough to new-Covenant-federates , for a calm and quiet dependance on him , and holy walking before him , Gen. 17. 1.

And that which is exceeding pleasing to Traders also , he is faithful as well as able ; he is one of his word , that makes good all his promises to a tittle , to those that by Faith deal with him : The holy one of Israel cannot lie , or alter the word that is gone out of his mouth ; hath he said , and shall he not do it ? hath he spoken , and shall he not make it good ? Numb . 23. 19. and Rev. 1. 5. He is the faithful witness ; faithful is his name . And he that sate upon the Throne was called faithful and true , Rev. 19. 11. And faithfulness is his nature , in comparison of whom every man is a liar : Let God be true , and every man a liar , Rom. 3. 4. If the Lord Jesus were not faithfull to his word and undertaking , the Father would not have trusted him with all the concerns of his glory and people in the world ; neither had he been a fit person for the Elect to have committed unto him their souls , and all that is dear to them : Men promise one thing and do another ; affirm a thing that is not , and this undoes many , the unfaithfulness of those they deal with ; but it is not so with Christ , you may trust on his fidelity ; Heaven and Earth shall sooner fail , than one tittle of all that he hath spoken : And therefore excellent is that Trade which is carried on with so excellent a Jesus .

Reas. 3. Thirdly , Weigh the terms on which this Trade is offered unto souls , and it will appear to be incomparably the best Trade . For to such as will set upon this Trade ,

1 Goods to trade upon shall be freely given . 2 Wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted . 3 A blessing on the due improvement of them shall be ensured . 4 To him shall the glory of all be rendred .

First , Wisdome's wares are freely tendered to all that will receive them , without money , and without price : Come buy wine and milk without money and without price , Isa. 55. 1. To him that is a thirst will I give to drink of the waters of life freely , Rev. 21. 6. Here Merchants cannot get or put off goods at that rate ; there 's no going to the world's markets without money or credit ; they that will have mens goods must pay for them , and many times have deat bargains ; but the Lord Jesus imparts his treasures freely , he paid dear for them , they cost his heart blood , but he spares them freely ; no silver or gold will pass in those bargains . Simon Magus had his offered gold , for the Holy Ghost , thrown back with detestation and destruction to boot , Acts 8. 18 , 19 , 20. The terms on which this trade is driven are free ; it cannot stand with the design of redemption grace , which is to advance the praise of the glory of grace , and to cut off all boasting , that every mouth may be stopped ; to admit of any thing from fallen man that might look like a compensation of salvation mercies ; neither is there any thing beneath Christ's merits , that can equalize the worth of heavenly things ; and alas what have they to part with who have lost themselves ? and to give to God , who have nothing but what they receive from him ? It must needs therefore be altogether freely given , whatever is received in order to salvation : O blessed news to poor traders , that their poverty is no bar to this employment ; the poorest may receive of Wisdome's wares , as well as the rich , seeing it is a free trade ; and whatever makes a difference on the creatures part , is laid aside in the dispensation of spiritual mercies : Here are no Monopolies , or hard impositions upon this trade ; no restraint from setting up , or selling out of Wisdome's goods , in any parts of the world . Cities have their enclosures , Corporations their bars to keep out strangers from their priviledges ; but in this trade all persons , be they who they will that will come over to Wisdome's Merchandise , have right to carry on this work of godliness in all places whereever they are . The heavenly trade is a free trade , goods freely given , and liberty to set up in all places , and to all persons .

Secondly , As goods to trade upon are freely given ; so wisdome to manage them shall be fully imparted : This is a priviledge which sellers on earth will not afford ; you may have their goods at their price , but not instructions how to dispose them to your advantage ; but this great Merchant in Heaven , with his wares , gives skill to use them : I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit , which leadeth thee by the way thou shouldest go , Isa. 48. 17. If thou seekest her as silver , and searchest for her as for hid treasure , then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledge of God : For the Lord giveth wisdome , out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding : He layeth up sound wisdome for the righteous . Then shalt thou understand righteousness , and judgement , and equity ; yea every good path , Prov. 2. 4 , 5 , 6 , 9. The soul that seeketh for Wisdome's wares , shall with it find instruction how to use them : I will instruct thee , and teach thee in the way which thou shouldest go ; I will guide thee with my eyes , Psal. 32. 8. He will be eyes to the blind , and feet to the lame , Job 29. 15. The Lord Jesus will find all in this heavenly trade , goods , and tools , and skill , and strength , and all : Surely shall one say , in the Lord have I righteousness and strength .

Thirdly , A blessing on the due improvement of these shall be ensured to all his traders : The wayfaring man shall not erre , Isa. 35. 8. His workmen shall not labour in vain , 1 Cor. 15. 58. For his blessing is upon his people , Psal. 3. 8. Thou shalt decree a thing , and it shall be established unto thee , and the light shall shine upon thy waies , Job 22. 28. The book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth , but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein , ( this is the heavenly trade , to fulfill after God , and such shall prosper , ) for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success , Josh. 1. 8. No Merchant will undertake to make their dealers prosperous ; they must trade at great uncertainties , and run the adventure as to the issue of all : Blessings come not out of earthly shops , but from a divine hand , let come what will in the way : Blessings will surely come at the end to those that cast out at Christ's biding , and trade by his instruction in Wisdome's Merchandise , let men curse , let devils vex , let North-winds blow , and blow down too their earthly comforts , yet God will bless them that fear him , every one , Psal. 115. 13. He will bless them in life , and bless them in death ; and is not this good trading , to be sure of blessings in the way , and blessedness at the end ? 1 Pet. 1. 9.

Fourthly , Another Condition in this Trade is , That God shall have all the glory , but they that trade with and for him shall have all the good that comes by it : This is the head Rent which the great Lord reserves to himself , and will not part with to another : My glory will I not give to another , Isa. 48. 11. This is his great design in all works of his hands , and gifts of grace , that he may be glorified : The people shall be all righteous , the branch of my planting , the work of my hand , that I may be glorified . This is God's great end in bestowing redemption mercies , to have all the glory to himself , who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will , that we should be to the praise of his glory , Ephes. 1. 12. Christians , the Rent must be the Lords , the fruit shall be yours : Whose keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof , Prov. 27. 18. All the sweetness of the Vine is for those that possess it , and the herbs of the earth for them by whom it is dressed , Judg. 9. 13. Heb. 6. 7. The righteous shall eat the fruit of his doings , Isa. 3. 10. The present comforts of holiness are not mean ; Great peace have they that love thy Law , and nothing shall offend them , Psal. 119. 165. Her waies are waies of pleasantness , and all her paths are peace . Religion is the most pleasant trade ; no delights like those that are in God , and fetch'd from him : God gives the world the bones , and keeps the marrow for his labourers ; the godly feed on the wheat , the wicked have but the bran ; look whatever good , comfort , credit and happiness Religion can afford here , and to all eternity , is their part that trade upon it : Who planteth a Vineyard , and eateth not the fruit thereof , 1 Cor. 7. 9.

Reas. 4. Lastly , The Heavenly Trade must needs be the best trade , because it is the most profitable trade : The advantage that comes by godliness , makes it the best employment in the world . We use to say , three things make traders rich , all which are found in the way of godliness .

1 Great Returns . 2 Sure Returns . 3 Quick Returns .

Now nothing turns to more account than a thorough pursuit of piety ; whatever men think , Religion is the most thriving way , in regard of the

Excellent Fruit of it . Abundant Fruit of it . Durable Fruit of it .

First , Great returns will soon make traders rich , when the time and labour they expend is abundantly compensated , and the things they part with , bring in far better : so is it with this heavenly trade ; there is no proportion in their adventures to their returns : their duties are poor imperfect things ; when they have done all , they are unprofitable servants , but their reward is great and glorious ; their afflictions light and momentary , but the issue , a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory , 1 Cor. 4. 18. It 's great profit indeed , when some weak works of faith , and labours of love , a little patience , obedience and duty for a time , shall be rewarded with eternal rest , pleasure and glory : there is no equality between the race and price , this striving and crowning : What 's a cup of cold water , to a river of pleasures ? a Crown of thorns , to a Crown of Glory ? the worlds srowns , to divine smiles ? conscience-troubles , to the consolations of God ? a few tears , fears , watchings , faintings , duties , afflictions , to the joys of the Lord into which they shall for ever enter ?

It 's a great bargain to part with base things , for excellent ; beastly lusts , for the beauties of holiness ; an unclean , for a clean heart ; vile affections , for vertuous dispositions ; filthy rags , for fair garments ; a body of death , for a spirit of life . To let go the world for God , fellowship with devils , for communion with Christ , to lose guilt , and to gain righteousness ; to escape Hell , to obtain Heaven ; this is great gain . To swap away old things , for new ; rotten things , for sound ; hypocrisie , for sincerity ; lyes , for truth , is a good bargain . To exchange empty things , for satisfying ; things that are not , for things that are ; goods that perish with the using , for things that wax not old ; fading trifles , for eternal treasures , is a thriving trade indeed ; and such are the incomes of this Heavenly Trade , they are incomparably great and excellent ; there 's nothing mean , no low price goods , that Wisdome's Merchants deal about ; all their riches are pleasant and precious : By knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches ; precious faith , precious promises , the precious blood of Christ , precious thoughts of God , are some of this precious substance heavenly Traders meet with in the way of holiness . Besides , this pursuit of godliness enters souls into an acquaintance and converse with God , and helps them to keep an entercourse with Heaven , and to maintain a life above and beyond the reach of all others ; and is not this advantage ?

Religion also helps men to blessed experiences of the love , power , greatness and faithfulness of God ; and this constant employment about heavenly things , makes the way pleasant and delightful , and fills the soul with much contentment with its lot in the world , whatever the tryals , losses and sufferings may be that they are exposed to . Also the driving this Heavenly Trade secures the good and comfort of all their other interests , and sweetens their portion , whether more or less that Soverign pleasure allots them in the world , bringing all their concerns under divine care and promise for their good , comfort and sufficient supply in their passage home : And are not all these great returns ? enough to make the Heavenly Trade the greatest interest and advantage beyond all others in the world .

Secondly , Sure returns make Traders rich : Merchants that drive gainful trades , count if one Adventure to two or three come safely home , they get well : but all regular Adventures in this Heavenly Trade are secured ; Their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58. not one of their sincere attempts in the way of God shall miscarry ; never a pious duty lost ; all their sowings to the spirit shall surely spring up into a blessed harvest , Gal. 6. 6. Though they sow in tears , yet they shall reap in joy Psal. 126. 5 , 6. Though they go forth weeping , yet if they bear precious seed , they shall doubtless come again with rejoycing , bringing their sheaves with them : God is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love shewn towards his Name , Heb. 6. 10. God is engaged in justice to see the Adventures of Believers safely returned into their harbour ; he hath promised it , and cannot be unfaithful ; neither doth it consist with his honour , to put Believers on an unprofitable service : He never said to the house of Jacob , Seek ye me in vain , Isa. 45. 19. Ingenuous men love to see their servants thrive : Will Christ , think you , let his labourers be losers ? their works shall surely follow them into their rest , Rev. 14. 13. how ever they may be out of sight in their passage towards it , seeing God's Word lies at stake for it .

The blood of Christ stands engaged also for the safe returns of the Saints Adventures , that are according to the will of God ; their religious labours are part of the travel of his soul , which he must see secured , and they are the pleasure of the Lord , which must prosper in his hand , Isa. 53. 10 , 11. He is become a Surety for them unto God , and a Surety for the Father unto them : By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament , Heb. 7. 22. The Covenant is called here a Testament , as relating to the Saints priviledges and interests , which by that Covenant becomes due to them , and shall be surely made good to them upon the account of Christ's Suretiship for it ; He is the Surety of this Testament or Covenant , and every promise of it ; one of which is , That what they sow to the Spirit , they shall reap in glory ; their labour shall not be in vain : and to make all the promises good both the condition and blessing to the foederates of this new-Covenant , hath the Lord Jesus laid down his precious Blood , which cannot be lost , Heb. 9. 15. but it would be cast away , could Believers religious duties be in vain .

Another thing that secures the Saints advantages by this heavenly Trade , is this ; that their trading is the work and product of his own Spirit ; their duties are his work : Thou hast wrought all our works in us , Isa. 26. 22. It is God that worketh in you to will and to do , according to his good pleasure , Phil. 2. 13. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing of our selves , but our sufficiency is of God , 2 Col. 3. 5. They are his workmanship , created to good works , Eph. 2. 10. by whose influence they are acted , and let by the Spirit of God , Rom. 8. 14. So that further than the spirit of the living creatures move , their wheels cannot move , nor do any thing graciously , further than their works are wrought of God , and by God , Joh. 3. 21. So that Believers labours in this heavenly Trade , are the work of the eternal Spirit ; and should their work be lost , the Spirit of God would labour in vain , and his work cast away ; which cannot be , Isa. 45. 18.

Lastly The Lord Jesus is an adventurer with them , his Glory and Kingdom is concern'd in this heavenly Trade ; when his Will is done , his Kingdom is come , Mat. 6. 10. and 1 Thes. 4. 3. Holiness is his will , and a conformity to his Law , and he is engag'd to the Father , for the Saints holiness and happiness ; for their grace and glory ; As thou hast given him power over all flesh , that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him , Jo. 17. 2 , 12. The Father hath put all Believers into the hands of Christ , and intrusted him with their graces and glory , both which are included in eternal life : ver. 3. And this is life eternal , that they might know thee , &c. that is , this is the way to life eternal , and the beginning of life eternal , even the grace of Faith , and saving knowledg of God : and this grace , as well as glory , is put into the hand of Christ for Believers , to be kept for them ; and they are also put into his hand , to be kept by him through it unto glory : and in pursuance of this trust , the Lord Jesus is engaged , to keep his people , their graces , and the reward of them , for them , that they be not lost ; the advantages of this heavenly Trade , are secured to Believers by the Lord Jesus , his adventure with them , his truth , faithfulness , and glory , is concern'd in their safety : so that their returns are not only great , but sure .

Thirdly , Quick returns , if great , are greatly enriching : Hence comes that Proverb , that light gain makes a heavy purse , it brings great custom , and that occasions quick returns : Now , no Trade brings quicker returns than the heavenly Trade : Behold I come quickly , and my reward is with me , Rev. 22. 12. The Lord Jesus not only makes good , but quick payment ; as soon as the work is done , he promiseth to make good his word : Call upon me in the day of trouble ; and I will deliver thee , Psal. 50. 15. Nay , the Lord Jesus sometimes pays before-hand : And it shall come to pass , that before they call , I will answer ; and whiles they are speaking , I will hear , Is . 65. 24. Men many times are forc'd to stay for their Mony and sometimes lose it at last ; but the Believers gain is not only sure , but speedy .

Obj. What 's the reason then , the people of God do complain of God's not hearing , and deferring an answer to their requests ? And why are Believers advised to patience , and long-saffering , after they have done the will of God , if the return of their Faith and Duties were so quick ? This is the experience , and complaint of the people of God in all ages , that God seems not to regard their Prayers , and to delay his coming to help them .

Sol. 1. First , yet are the Saints returns quick ; because they are in due time ; God never delays to perform his word , when the Believer hath need of it ; in the needful time of trouble , he will surely hear ; My God shall supply all your wants , Phil. 4. 19. When once the Soul comes to stand in real want , then God will surely pay him ; When the poor and needy seek water , and there is none , and their tongue faileth for thirst , I the Lord will hear them , Isa. 40. 17. When once they come to be needy , then God will with-hold no longer , but will help ; this he hath promised , they shall not want any good thing , Psal. 34. 10.

Secondly , If the Lord do not pay presently , he will give use for it , they shall lose nothing by forbearance ; But when he comes , he will bring his reward with him , Isa. 40. 10. Not only a reward of his work done by them , but a reward of their patient waiting for his promises also , their mercy shall be so much the sweeter , for their want of it , and waiting for it . O! how welcome are long look'd for mercies , when they come , then is every mercy double ; God tried Job long by with-holding mercy , but see the end of Job ; God paid double for what he took , and with-held from him , Job 42. 10. Returns are sure always in the needful and seasonable time ; and if God delays , he will pay well for it .

To which I might add this also ; Many times Wisdom's Merchants are the cause of these delays , by their unfaithfulness in their trade , or their unfitness for their returns : The diligent hand makes rich , Prov. 10. 4. Souls that are active and faithful in the whole of Religion , shall have no cause to complain of God's slack payment .

So much by way of demonstration of the point , That the Heavenly Trade is the best Trade ; no Merchandise like Wisdom's Merchandise .

Now , to come to some improvement of the Point .

VSE I.

First , If the heavenly Trade be the best Trade , then it 's strange that so few do set upon this Trade ; persons that are to enter upon some course of life , and would fain live in the World , are willing to take the best Trade that is attainable by them , if they can but reach it , and have wherewithal to carry it on : who would spend his time and strength in low , sordid and mechanick services , which cannot maintain , or enrich him ; if a brave , generous and wealthy Calling did offer it self , and might be compassed ? and yet such is the folly of most under the Gospel , who are ready to choose any thing but Godliness , and to fall in with every proposal for their employment , rather than to engage about the work of Salvation : Men are wise in their generation , and know in other things how to choose the best bargains , only in the things of their Souls are foolish , and can be content to pursue shadows , and let go the substance ; to lay out all their desires , hopes and labours about a life that perisheth , neglecting the vast concerns of another World , and the welfare of their immortals Souls : Is not this folly ? Poor Sinners , let me reason a little with you , if possible to recover your lost understanding : come , be your own judges ; Is it your interest ( think you ) to adventure your All , for things that cannot abide with you when obtained , nor satisfy you if they stay ? things that can but bring you to your Grave , and accompany your bodies to the House of Mourhing , and there leave you ; unless they shew you the way to Hell also . Is it not madness to adventure your Souls for a trade , pleasures and treasures of so short continuance , and little advantage ? things that you will shortly be as weary of , as now desirous ; and throw them to the Bats and Moles of the Earth , that you may go into the Rocks to hide you from the fury of a Sin-avenging God ? Will you spend all upon time , and lay up nothing for eternity ? Or , is it rational to think that you should reap where you never sowed , and possess the benefit of that Trade you never drove ? Gal. 6. 7 , 8. Can you think to reach Heaven hereafter , and never walk one foot in the way to it here ? Certainly , what men sow , that they shall reap : Can you imagine the things of Heaven to be so cheap , as to be had without looking after ? Alas , things far inferiour cannot be so easily obtained ; it may cost some of you many tuggings , much sweat , labour and expence to get but a little of this World ; and do you think to find this tried Gold without buying , and digging for it ? and is it a wise bargain ( think you ) to purchase your desirable Comforts with the loss of your Souls ? and that you may gain but a little of the World , to part with a possibility of having Heaven ? What will it profit you to get the World , ( were you sure of every part of it ) and to lose your Souls ? Mat. 16. 26. And what if you miss of your hopes in this , and fall short of Heaven too ? never have what you look'd for on Earth , nor a place in Heaven neither ; will not your case be then dreadful ? O! foolish Souls ! that may be happy , but will not ; that may get into such a course of life as would enrich you here , and for ever ; but refuse it , preferring a poor beggarly life before a rich and noble state ; choosing rather to trade with Devils than God ; to swap away your delightful time , for doleful eternity ; your salvationprizes , swinish pleasures . O sad exchange for ! to be bewailed , but not remedied : What ? to barter away strength for weakness ; desires for emptiness ; labours for vanity ; hope for despair ; precious souls for perishing shadows ; an open door of grace for a shut door of glory ; mercy for misery ; earth for hell ? O fools in grain ! to let go such a bargain , as being had , would for ever make you ; and being lost , may never be regained ; but in the room of it , an eternity to repent your time of folly ; when tears and cries will be too late , when mercy shall have no repentings for you , bowels themselves no roulings over you , nor everlasting arms any help for you , Mat. 25. 10. This is your danger , ( Sinners , ) this may be your case , who refuse wisdom's counsels , choosing death rather than life : you that would have none of Wisdom's wares , nor work ; but have rather valued the Devil's Counters , before Christ's Gold ; and the pleasures of sin , that are but for a season , before the treasures of grace and glory , that are eternal ; walking after the flesh , and serving divers lusts , till your trading time for Heaven be almost over . Alas , Sinners , there may be , for any thing you know , but few Merchandising hours left for you in this World ; it may be scarce a Sabbath more between some of you , and hell : in what a case then are you like to be , who never set upon this heavenly Trade to this very day ? and should you now go out of this World strangers to this employment , in what a doleful state will your Souls be for ever ? when you come to possess the eternal fruit of your bad bargain , then could any lay their ears to Hell gates , and listen at your cries , they would hear such language as this from your trembling lips , Folly , Folly , Woe , Woe , Eternity , Eternity .

VSE II.

Secondly , This calls to mourning over the great decaies of this Heavenly Trade , in the times and places wherein we live : Loss of Trade is easily resented as an evil case , a matter of trouble . Men use to be affected with hard times , when a death lies on their interests , and their earthly concerns are at a loss ; and this is the case of most men this day ; all places are full of complaints about their affairs in the world ; there 's a moth in mens labours and dealings , and it is easily seen and felt ; the heavy looks , and heartless carriages of many , do plainly demonstrate a sense of their temporal wastes , and their mouths vent such-language : The times are hard , and the trade of the Nation gone : But alas ! where are the mourners of Sion ? and who is afflicted at the decaies of godliness , and death on this Heavenly Trade ? Though there is nothing more visible and lamentable than the faling back in Religion ; yet who laies it to heart ? and who is rightly affected with this important evil ?

Now towards the cure of this insensibleness , and to awaken our hearts to a due apprehensiveness of our evil case , by reason of the decaies of godliness ; I shall

1 Lay down some symptomes evidencing it to be our case , that there are real and great decaies of this Heavenly Trade in the time and places wherein we live . 2 Shew why this should be for a lamentation .

First , That this Heavenly Trade goes back and decaies , is so evident , that he is a stranger in our Israel , and hath too much of a spirit unconcern'd in these matters , who doth not plainly see Religion , and the power of Godliness dying and languishing in most places and persons . Now the better to evince this sad truth , I shall proceed in a plain and familiar method , keeping to the metaphor in the text , and the usual symptomes of decay'd Trading .

Six things usually shew the decaies of earthly Trading , all which are conclusive of the point in hand , and discover bad times for piety , and great wastes of Religion .

First , When the price of things is much fal'n , and the rates very low , and goods are worth little or nothing ; then men say , it 's bad trading : So is it now in this Heavenly Trade ; the rate and value of divine things is much abated ; Wisdom's goods seem little worth to many : There was a time when Heavenly Wares were highly prized ; the Word of God was precious to souls , far better to Saints than thousands of gold and silver ; they could have parted with all the world , to enjoy God in Ordinances : estate , ease , credit , were nothing to a place in God's house ; and one view of his countenance was better than life : Oh how sweet were the words of his mouth ? much sweeter than the honey and honey-comb : Men could let their own ploughs stand still , to set their hands to God's plough ; with Mary , they could neglect any business to sit at Christ's feet , Luke 10. 39. leave their appointed food , and most pleasant delicacies , for one draught of Sanctuary-waters ; yea but for one sip of divine sweetness , they could break their rest , leave all for Christ's company ; bear frowns , threatenings , losses , sufferings , with wonderful ease , for some fellowship with God and his people ; they would not lose a praying or hearing hour , whatever it cost them ; they would stick at no hardships ; price should never break between Christ and them ; subscribe any terms , and count it a cheap bargain too , if at any rate they might obtain grace , and some spiritual good to their souls . But alas ! now the case is altered ; few will bid much for the precious things of Sion ; even they that could have plucked out their eyes , and have given them to the Messengers of Christ , now think it too dear to pluck their hands out of their bosomes to open the door to Christ himself : Now soulpriviledges are worth little or nothing ; Sermons , society of Saints are scarce counted worth the parting with a little time , ease , business , or friend , to enjoy them . A shop , a market , is better than the solemn Meeting with most : few can step over a straw , and forbear to gather a little stubble , though it be to get the unsearchable treasure of Christ : This is the sad temper of most Professours this day , they have lost their estimation of Christ and spiritual things ; they do not value ( let men talk what they will ) God , above the world ; Christ , above rest ; one day in his Courts , above a thousand elsewhere ; his precious Word , above their appointed food : most think it more adviseable to take seasons for the world , than for Heaven ; rather to baulk many Sermons , than lose a little profit and opportunity , though but of very small advantage in the world : Men are full , and rich , and have goods enough ; they think they know enough already ; have heard enough , prayed enough ; they feel no want of , nor see worth in spiritual things ; and therefore offer so little for soul-advantages ; and this bespeaks manifestly the decay of this Heavenly Trade .

Secondly , Fewness of buyers argues bad trading : Among men , when Chapmen are scarce , few take off any goods ; wares lie on mens hands , and will not off ; then men say , Trade is fal'n : Thus it is in this Heavenly Trade ; there are few buyers of Wisdom's Wares ; choice goods lie on sellers hands , and will not off ; may not the Lord Jesus complain as formerly Wisdom did , Prov. 1. 24. I have called , and ye refused ; I have stretched out my hands , and no man regarded ; you have set at nought all my counsels , and would have none of my reproof . And as the Servants of God in the parable , Mat. 11. 17. We have piped unto you , and ye have not danced ; we have mourned , and ye have not lamented . Markets are full in many places ; the Lord Jesus hath much goods exposed to sale , and there are many Chapmen , but few buyers ; persons come to Religious Assemblies and Sermons , as many do to Fairs , to see , and be seen ; to gaze on goods , but not to buy ; few will take Christ's wares on his own terms , and come up to the selling-price ; God , grace and glory , are too dear for many mens money ; they like some goods , but the price is too high ; some could be content to have Christ ; but to deny themselves , take up their Cross , leave all , and follow Christ ; that they think is too dear , and break for price , Mat. 16. 24. Heaven is desirable at last , but the world at present ; they could be content to take Heaven in reversion , when the lease of their worldly interests is expired ; and to receive their portion there , when all is gone here ; but to trade above now , and transport their earthly treasures to Heaven , while they enjoy them on earth , that 's too hard for them ; such goods , such overtures will not off ; persons will not receive the Word of God as the Word of God ; they will not take threatnings to fear them , warnings to regard them , promises to believe them , precepts to obey them . May not most Ministers complain , Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? Isa. 53. 1. Most like and commend sermons , but few receive and obey them ; it 's lamentable to consider how little of a Sermon is carried away , remembred and practised : This is the sin of Professours , and some that pass for more than ordinary , and yet are guilty of this careless , forgetful and unprofitable hearing ; persons entertain truths , as they do their acquaintance ; when they meet them on the way , shake hands and embrace them ; be exceeding glad to see them , and then bid them farewel ; that 's the reason the Lord Jesus carries back so much goods from Markets ; his wares will not off ; men buy not : And hence it is also that Christ turns back their duties ; he will not receive the goods of such neither , and this makes bad trading for Heaven .

Thirdly , Want of employment is a sign of bad trading : When Trade is good , every man's hand is full of work ; but when men are out of employment , and have nothing to set their hand to , but stand idle in the Market-place , this shews a decay of Trade : And is it not so with Wisdom's Labourers now ? Persons professing God were once active in Religion , but are now grown slothful in spiritual business . Where are the works of faith , the labours of love , the fruits of the spirit among Christians this day ? who is fervent in spirit ? Ephes. 6. 18. who strives in prayer , watching thereunto with all perseverance ? Joh. 6. 27. where are they that labour even unto weariness for the bread that endures ? Heb. 12. 1. running even unto fainting in the race that is set before them ? Rev. 7. 15. Serving God day and night in his Temple , and being diligent that they may be found of him in peace , 2 Pet. 3. 14. What Pharaoh charged on the Hebrews , when attempting liberty to serve God , may be with much more justice reflected on those that profess to serve God ; and though they may , yet do not : Ye are Idle , ye are Idle : and hence it is mens hearts go a whoring after the world , and the flesh , with the lusts thereof ; it is because they are slothful in spirit ; a death is upon their hearts , and this causeth the work of God to cease , Neh. 4. 11. It is but little work most do for God this day ; how cold , dead , formal , slighty , are many in duty , doing the work of God deceitfully , their own consciences being Judges ? Jer. 48. 10. few labour with their hearts before they come to hear , in hearing , and after hearing , to get some soul-good by it : Men are usually pleased with a Lamp , though there be no oyl in it ; cannot be contented without some duty , but well pleased with bare duty : To be nothing in Religion troubles them ; but to be something , though never so little , satisfieth them : and if this be Popery to rest in the work done , how many Papists have we amongst us this day ? Certainly Professors are generally asleep , or slumbering ; they do their work so badly and heartlesly , their work falls out of their hand , as things do from men asleep ; active for the world , as if they could never do enough ; but soon tyr'd in the work of God ; dispatch but little of heavenly work from day to day , from one Sabbath to another ; little heart-searching , soul-watching work is done ; little in-door employment is carried on ; the exercise of faith , hope , humility , patience , zeal , self-denial , seems a stranger to a great many this day ; not for want of occasions or encouragements to work , ( the Lord is still calling upon his Labourers to make haste ) but for want of hearts to work : And this spiritual sloth proves that the Heavenly Trade is much lost .

Fourthly , The poverty of Traders plainly shews Trading is not good ; when a Trade doth not maintain the Trader , but he still goes back , and becomes poorer , then surely trading is not good : The diligent hand makes rich , Prov. 10. 4. When trading is good Traders usually thrive , and live well upon it , but when they waste and become poor , then trading decaies : So is it with Heavenly Traders , when they drive a good Trade for Heaven they grow rich apace towards God , and in their own souls : Wisdom's wares are soul-enriching wares : My fruit is better than gold , yea than fine gold , and my revenue than choice silver , Prov. 8. 19. Men account those to be rich who have much of gold and silver ; but Wisdom's fruit is better than gold , and therefore must needs be enriching : they that have this gold cannot be poor : Hence it is Christ counsels Laodicea to buy of him gold tryed in the fire , that she might be rich , Rev. 3. 1. But alas how poor in spirituals are persons generally this day ! Therefore I said , Sur ly these are poor , they are foolish , for they know not the way of the Lord , nor the judgement of their God , Jer. 5. 4. Unacquaintedness with the way of God , when men walk wide from Religion , and lose their strict and close walking with God , they soon become poor and foolish : And this is the case of many every where ; they give a carnal liberty to themselves , and indulge a freedom to walk after the fight of their own eyes , and not by rule ; and where this is , there is soul-poverty , which is too visible in most this day . Christians , do but observe your own hearts and others , and you will find this spiritual poverty abounding every where . Little thrivings appear under the best of means , choicest Priviledges do little more than keep up a name to live ; they convey but little quickenings to the soul : A shew of Religion , and a meer skeleton of profession , is the common fruit of Ordinances in most places , whereas all the while decaies are on the vitals of Christianity ; abatements in grace appear every day , and a visible alteration in the whole frame , and internal vigour of the soul , faith , love , humility , patience , self-denyal , and every grace becomes weaker every day ; Former daies were better than now , Eccles. 7. 10. Speak Christian , are not matters worse with thy soul , than they were ? and abatements appear in every part .

There was a time when thy mind was beam'd over with Divine Light ; the Candle of the Lord did shine in thy tabernacle : Thy eye was quick to discern good and evil ; thou couldest once see an excellency in the knowledge of Christ ; O how choice were sermons ! priviledges were to thee the uncasking of Jewels , and the opening of hidden glory ; thou did'st dwell in the Land of Visions , and still some new discoveries of light and grace did meet thee in thy affectionate attendance upon God . But now it is not so ; thy Candle burns dimly , and thy right eye is darkened ; now thou seest but little beauty in grace , or desireableness in truth : things under thy feet th' other day , that seem'd nothing compar'd with Christ ; now through the multiplying-glass of thy deceived mind , seem great and lovely .

Formerly thy affections were warm and lively after God , his word and ways : O! how precious were his appointed Feasts , and his Tabernacles amiable ? thou couldst delight in approaching to God , and talk of a blessedness in his presence . O the pleasure , sweetness and joy thy heart did find in thy Closet , in spiritual Converses , and Duties , and publick Ordinances ! thou couldst weep over sin , and bedew thy prayers with tears , and find thy heart burn within thee while Christ was speaking , and melted under the warm beams of divine love . But , alas , now it is not so ; now thy affections are dead , thy heart as cold as a stone ; all the while thou art speaking to God in Prayer , or God speaking to thee in his Word , thou findest no more savour in Ordinances , Duties , and Christian Converses , than in the white of an Egg , Job . 6. 16. Thou findest not that delight in God as formerly , and the night of thy pleasure is turned to fear unto thee , Isa. 21. 4. This is Soul-poverty .

Again , there was a time also , when thy Will , like the great Wheel in the Clock , could move regularly after God ; thou couldst choose God for thy chiefest interest , and Christ for thy only treasure ; preferring an interest in him above ten thousand Worlds : thou couldst have voted for communion with God , before thy meat and drink ; and one hours fellowship with Christ , beyond all the delights on Earth : thou couldst choose the things that please God , and deny thy own pleasure to give content to him : thou couldst once stick to thy first choice , and find the purpose of thy heart cleaving to God , Act. 11. 23. Thou couldst once resolve , and keep thy resolutions ; 't was easier to take thy heart out of thy body , than to gain thy consent to part with Christ , his presence and ways . But now thy will is hardly drawn after pure and constant enjoyments of God in his ways : O! how difficult a thing is it to perswade thy will to let go all for Christ , to leave every thing to attend on God , to part with the world and self to wait on God , to throw all over-board to take in Christ ! How hard is it now , to consent that Christ shall have all the command of thy Soul , and dispose of thy dearest interests ! now thou findest it a work above thee , to keep thy heart in order one hour , or to perform the purposes of thy Soul to God and Godliness ; thou resolvest , and changest every day ; thou vowest , and breakest thy vows continually ; there is no stedfastness in thy spirit : this also bespeaks thy Soul-poverty .

There was a time also when thy Conscience was tender , thy heart could smite thee for the least sin ; thy Conscience could hold thee to the greatest duty , and bind thee to thy good behaviour : thou could'st not go against the light and checks of thy regulated Conscience , were it to gain the whole World . But now 't is dead and quiet , it can bear the sharpest strokes of the two edged Sword , and not feel it , or bleed ; it makes little or no bones of sin against knowledg , and mercy ; sins that were before troublesome , now go down easily ; it can digest threatnings and terrors with little trouble , and sleep while the arrows of the Lord's wrath flie about its ears ; it can let go mercies without regarding , and truths to pass away without entertainment : this is Soul-poverty .

This thou can'st say too , there was formerly an activity in thy Soul for God , and the spring of thy heart was strong , and it set every wheel a going : thou couldst run , and not be weary ; walk , and not be faint : no religious duty was tiresome to thee ; no commands of God were grievous , 1 Joh. 5. 3. no journeys seem'd long that led to God , nor Sermons tedious that spake of God : thy spirit was all life , when in holy company , and work : did any say , Come , let us go up to the mountain of the house of the Lord , Zech. 8. 21. thou wouldst say , I will go also : If God did but say , Seek thou my face , Psal. 27. 8. thy heart would presently answer , thy face , Lord , will I seek . But now a deadness seizeth upon thee , and slothfulness gathers in over thy whole Soul : thou art soon weary of well-doing , and canst not hold out with God in conflicts and difficulties , as heretofore : thou art not so diligent to prepare thy meat in Summer , Prov. 30. 25. nor to lay in provision for a Winter spending-season : thou turnest on thy bed as a door on its hinges , and takest little pains with thy heart and conversation : thou losest many an opportunity and advantage for thy Soul through thy deadness and indisposition to good works : And doth not this bespeak Soul-languishing , and poverty ?

There are decays and poverty in thy life also , as well as spirit : how unprofitable is now thy conversation , to what it was ? there was a time when thy bow did abide in strength , thy lips did disperse knowledg , Prov. 15. 7. thy steps did drop fatness : it was good to be in thy company , few came from thee but were better'd . But , alas ! now , how dwindling is thy light ? how jejune and sapless is thy converse ? thy company little lovely , thy communications little profitable ; thy words eat as doth a Canker , it sears as a hot Iron , and deadens those that hear it ; thy breath freezes all that come hear it , so unprofitable a burden is thy company . We turn all Religion Mr. Sedgwick ' s Christ's counsel to his languishing Church . ( saith one ) into a discourse , censure or dispute : We can eat , and drink , and talk , and sin as freely . This is a sad case indeed , and bespeaks great decays of godliness , when persons become more poor , and impotent in their Souls .

Fifthly , Small adventures in Traders , do usually bespeak bad Trading ; when times are hard , and Goods go not off , Sellers buy but little , and drive a less Trade when improvements fail ; men are loath to adventure the principal , but presently contract their Trade , and lessen their dealings . So 't is in this spiritual Trade , when Souls begin to decay in it , and Trading is bad , they narrow up their Trade , and lay out less of their heart and strength about it ; little of their Soul goes out after God , and things above ; they cannot adventure for God , as formerly ; nor spare time for prayer , hearing , reading , holy conference , as once they could ; the stream of their affections begins to run another way ; now they are all for the world , self , and vanity ; business and interest eats up all their time ; or at least , they say to Christ , as David did to Mephibosheth , ( Thou and Zibah divide the Land ; ) So , thou and the world , thou and pleasures , thou and reputation divide my heart , time and strength : this is too evident ; God hath not so much of mens hearts , desires , love , delight , faith , hope , zeal , as heretofore : 't is low waters all the year long with many ; no heart to duty , as the Prophet complains ; Whoredom and Wine take away the heart , Hos. 4. 11. So lust , sloth , the world , and self , take away the heart ; few breathings after God , when absent ; or delight , when present ; indisposed to duty , cold , formal in duty ; put off God with any thing ; keep the best of the flock , the prime of their strength for themselves and the world ; and turn off the Lord with a corrupt thing , the residue of their wasted affections and strength , Mal. 1. 14.

Sixthly , Breaking shews bad Trading , when men can hold it no longer , but are forc'd to give over ; they go back , and waste so fast , that at last they shut up shop , and are gone . The times we live in are a manifest instance of this truth ; men breaking ever and anon , now one , then another ; declares plainly Trading is bad . And thus 't is with Wisdom's Merchants this day ; how many that have driven a brave trade of Profession , made a great shew of Religion , were famous in their generation for Parts , and seeming Piety ; but are now come to nothing , quite fallen and gone ; great apostasies from the truth , sad shipwracks of Faith and Conscience can these late times speak of ! Men that seem'd like Stars , to give a blaze for a while , and then turn'd to falling Meteors at last : or , with the Sun , that riseth in a splendour , and sets in a cloud : The visible apostacy , and gross debauchery of men professing God in these latter times , is great ; but the secret degeneracy , and backslidings of heart , are much more : many break , but more do warp . 'T is far easier to observe , than to be affected with mens great declensions in Religion ; some in principle , but most in practice ; some with the fallen Angels have left their habitation , and fallen from their first state ; others faulter in their profession , and are fallen in their station : some with stormy winds are shaken down ; others fully ripe , and gotten to the height of their profession , loosen by degrees , and drop away : some fall from the tree , others rot where they hang ; some trees have lost their fruit , others their very leaves , and are become twice dead : where can you cast your eye , and not see fallings away either from Faith , or faithfulness ? Men take up notions , and as easily leave them ; most build upon the sand , little rootings in the truth : how easy is it to draw men from their opinions ? little stedfastness in love : how soon doth the labours thereof cease ? a little trouble makes men let go their profession , others lose their strictness in Religion , and grow more remiss and lame in duty , leaving their first love , and close walks with Gods : And are not these such manifest symptomes of decaying godliness , that he who runs may read , and see that the Heavenly Trade is almost come to nothing this day ?

2 And this is cause of mourning , and to be greatly laid to heart ; who can see these things and not be affected : If there be any quick flesh , how can it but bleed ? if any waters are left , surely our eyes should run down tears , and we pour out waters in Mispah before the Lord abundantly , for wasting , gasping piety , that is even giving up the ghost : For where this Heavenly Trade decaies ,

First , There is a growing strangeness between God and such souls : While Trade is kept up among men , there is much acquaintance , converse and intimacy between them ; there are ever and anon occasions of writings , meetings and discourses while trading holds ; but when once that is let down , then communion ceaseth ; they have little business one to another ; no more letters pass , or visits given ; seldome see one another , and so at last grow out of acquaintance with each other : And thus 't is between God and souls ; when once this Heavenly Trade is let down , a strangeness begins between God and them , they are seldomer in his company , neither are there such enquiries after God as before : There is none that calleth upon thy Name , that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee ; for thou hast hid thy face from us , and hast consumed us because of our iniquities , Isa. 64. 7. They were strange to God , they did not call upon him as they use to do ; and if they did , it was in such a general , cold way , that it signified little ; they did not take hold of him : The word signifieth , To a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Apprehendere retinere . hold with all their strength , as men do that are drowning that will not let go what they hold : it signifies also ( saies a Learned Critick ) not onely to hold a thing , but faster and faster to wax strong in the holding it : But alas ! they did not so take hold of God , as such who were like to perish without him : They did not stir up themselves : They did not waken and rouze up b b 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Evigalare vel excitare seipsum occultavit ne videatur . themselves : ( as the word imports ) They were grown more remiss in duty ; they did not strive with God for help as they did : And God was strange to them ; he hid his face from them ; he concealed himself , that he might not be seen , ( as the word signifies ) he seems not to care for their company : This made the Prophet cry out , Why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the Land , and as a wayfaring man , who turneth aside to tarry but for a night ? Jer. 14. 18. Seldome visits , and short stayes , shews strangeness in them that have been intimate ; and so 't is between God and such who neglect this Heavenly Trade ; the Lord seldome visits them , nor hath such warm converses with them as before : And is not this cause of mourning , when such a friend as God hath been to his people , and one on whom all their hope lies , and in whom all their help is , shall look strange upon them , and take no notice of them ? This is enough to break an ingenuous heart , and one that knows what it is to enjoy God : Neither is it onely the present want of God is their suffering ; but by this means they are in danger of losing him quite : The Lord is with you while you are with him ; and if you seek him , he will be found of you ; but if you forsake him , he will forsake you , 2 Chron. 15. 2. Hence the Prophet , when he apprehended a change in God's carriage towards Israel , the next thing he fears , is his departure from them ; he no sooner complains of God's strangeness , but presently praies , Leave us not , Jer. 14. 9. When once it came to a straitening , and loathing between God and his people , then terrible judgments follow ; My soul loathed them , and their soul abhorred , me , Zach. 11. 8 , 9 , 'T is in the Original , My soul was straitened in them : God's heart was not towards them as formerly ; he could not bear with them as formerly : And then , I will not feed them , that that dies , let it die , and that that is to be cut off , let it be cut off ; he matters not what becomes of them : Do but think in what a case are such a people : This should be for a lamentation .

Secondly , Soul-poverty , and wastings of their spiritual interests , do usually attend neglect of this Heavenly Trading . When men come to spend upon the stock , and have no comings in , they must needs waste apace : So it is where trading for Heaven is neglected ; such have no recruits of their wasted graces , nor supplies of their impoverished souls , when the fountain is shut up , and all communication of grace withheld ; no entercourse between God and them ; he will not receive their goods , nor impart his treasure but all waies of relief are blocked up ; then they must needs waste apace in spirituals , and become poorer every day . The way to be rich , is to have store of Christ's tryed gold : I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire , that thou mayest be rich , Rev. 3. 18. Laodicea was poor , because she wanted Christ's tryed gold , the real graces of his Spirit ; and this she lost by letting down her Spiritual Trade ; she did not buy of Christ ; she did not come to , and deal with Christ in his own waies , and upon his own terms , and that made her poor : And so 't is with every soul that neglects this Heavenly Trade ; he soon comes to know what soul-wants are : Once let down a life in godliness , and presently poor in graces , poor in experiences , poor in comforts , poor in hopes , want strength , and want peace , fare hard , lodge badly , cast out from among men ; as Job describes poor and mean persons : Who cut up mallows by the bushes , and Juniper roots for their meat , Job 30. 4 5. 6. Very mean fare ; little pleasing or nourishing food ; bitter and salt herbs : some take them for nettles , poor food ; Herbas amaras & salsas . Merc. and yet the usual feeding in those parts , of those that were low in the world ; neither was their lodging better : They dwelt in the clefts of the Valley , in caves of the Earth , and in the Rocks : Suitable also was their reputation ; They were driven from among men , they cried after them , as after a thief . Such is the condition of poor persons full of straits , and meanly esteemed ; and so 't is with such as decay in their Heavenly Trade ; they have lost their sweet morsels , and marrowy bits ; their pleasant fare , and soul-refreshments they once had , and feed on dry bones , and sapless Ordinances : They are not maintain'd at that rate of comfort and experience they once had : They have hard lodging also ; lose that sweet rest and peace they sometimes found in Christ , and in their sincere walkings after him : Fal'n in reputation too ; neither God nor good men think so well of them as once they did . This is the case of such as fall back in Religion ; they soon fall into such poverty , and spiritual wants come upon them , as armed men : In the fulness of their sufficiency they are in straits , Prov. 24. 34. Job 20. 22. And this is cause of mourning ; wants and poverty do fill men with trouble , perplexity and grief : Oh the distractions and distressing thoughts that straits commonly beget ! and no straits like to soul-straits ; Christians , you your selves be my Judges .

Thirdly , Neglect of Trading for Heaven will blast all other Trading , and breed a moth to consume even your temporal substance : When Israel began to let down their Heavenly Trade , and to mind their own concerns and houses above God's , presently God blasts their temporal interests ; he makes holes in their money-bags , and blows upon their encrease : All their tuggings in the world ( with neglect of God and his Worship ) came to nothing ; they sowed much , and it brought in little ; looked for much , and it came to little ; wrought hard , earned great wages , laid up money , but it fell out again , through some secret hole in their bags , which divine jealousie opened , consuming their substance , to let them know , that men may make more haste than good speed ; and they that reckon without God , must reckon twice . And may not this be one thing that cuts this Nation short in their outward interest this day , because they have forsaken God , neglected his service , lost the power of godliness ? certainly though outward prosperity be no token of God's favour , nor any Gospel-promise to his people ; yet when the Lord does fight against a people by successive rebukes , and send in a secret mildew , wasting and consumption on their interests , and this becomes general and national , it shews displeasure in God , and should be laid to heart ; the want of which is set forth as an additional aggravation to such a peoples sin : Who gave Jacob for a spoil , and Israel to the robbers ? did not he against whom we have sinned ? for they would not walk in his waies , neither were they obedient unto his Laws : Therefore he poured upon him the fury of his anger , and the strength of battel , and hath set him on fire round about , yet he knew not , and it burned him , yet he laid it not to heart , Isa. 42. 24 , 25. It was the not walking in the way of God , neglect of obedience and practical holiness , a letting down the Heavenly Trade that brought those ruining judgments on Israel ; losses on their interests , vers. 21. They were robbed and spoiled , firing their houses , vers. 25. It hath set him on fire round , it burned him . Now in this miserable case there was yet a greater judgement on them , a strange stupefaction and insensibleness of spirit ; they did not see God's anger in it , yet , Yet he knew it not ; ( viz. ) Whence it came , and who did all this ; they looked to Chaldeans , and enemies , but 't was God did it ; and yet they laid it not to heart ; they were not rightly affected with all these desolations , and their near approach to ruine : And is not this our case ? God hath warned us by his Word this many years , threatened us by prodigious signs in Heaven and Earth , begun to execute them already , by Plague , Sword and Fire , dreadful wastes in the great City , and many other places , to the undoing of many families , made a breach upon the Trade of the Nation , to the impoverishing of the whole Land ; and yet we are as insensible as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were , as if the Lord had sent the spirit of slumber upon us ; impoverished , yet fell it not : This should be for a lamentation .

Fourthly , The decay of this Heavenly Trade , if not cured , is the ready and certain way to ruine : The destruction of the poor is poverty , Prov. 10. 15. Mens poverty fills them with consternation and dejecting fears , and does also expose them to many evils , and take down their external defence from injuries , being made a prey to their oppressours . The rich man's wealth is his strong City , Prov. 18. 11. Rich men protect themselves from injuries ; their riches are Advocates for them to men ; but poor men lye open to all invasions ; when men grow poor every man treads upon them : So is it when the Heavenly Trade decaies , and soul-poverty springs out of its ruine ; then destruction makes haste to such places and persons : For this the Lord Jesus threatens to take the Kingdom from a people , because they bring not forth the fruit of it , Matth. 21. 43. they did not render to God the fruit of all his dressings and waitings on them : Barrenness and decaies in Religion uncured , are a certain forerunner of Desolation , Luke 13. 7 , 9.

Before the Lord brought in that cruel Nation , the Vandals on Africa ; the Christians in Spain were much degenerated from their former purity ( as Salvian complains ) and the power of godliness was much decayed ; he tells us , they had nothing left but the name of Christianity , to which their conversation was most unlike . a a Quid est in quo nobis de Christiano nomine blandiamur ? Cum utique hoc ipso magis per nomen sacratiffimum rei simus qui a sancto nomine discrepamus . Salvi . de Gubern . lib. 3. pag. 95. What is it ( saith he ) to please our selves with the name of Christian , when the very name does greaten our guilt , in that we are so unlike to it ? Before the Massacre at Paris ( saith Mr. Clark in his Martyrol . ) such a general stupidity seized upon the Protestants , that their minds were very wavering , and few there were that shewed themselves zealously bent to Religion ; but all , both great and small , were intent upon worldly matters , building to themselves goodly Castles in the air . It was observed by some , that before the change of Religion and Martyrdom in Queen Mary's daies , there was great unprofitableness under the Means of Grace . What the issues of these great decaies in Religion may be amongst us , we know not ; but such symptomes have usually foregone great changes , and severe stroaks , on such persons and places : And is not this matter of lamentation ? Physitians use to cure a Lethargy by a Fever ; the one hath been our disease , O that the other , if no means else will do , may be our cure .

Fifthly , At the best decaies in this Heavenly Trade will render the Traders account heavy in the day of Christ . Into what straits did the sense of an abused trust put the Prodigal Steward , Luke 16. 13 ? He had been unfaithful in his place , wasted his Masters goods , and now was in danger of being turned out ; a reckoning was call'd for , and he unable to render it ; and in perplexing thoughts how to give in his accounts , and to secure his future welfare : And this will be the case of such as are negligent and unfaithful in their Heavenly Trade ; it will expose them to soul-trouble one day , how to answer it before God : First or last God will call for an account how his goods have been improved : He hath given you a stock to trade upon for him : Light , Grace , Parts , Capacities , Gospel-priviledges and Opportunities , Liberty , Peace , Experiences , with many mercies and afflictions , which are all your Lord's goods , and must be accounted for ; upon the passing of which depends your eternal state , or much of your soul's peace : The Lord Jesus hath a double audit , or accounting with his servants : In this life in the Court of Conscience ; and in the Judgment-Day at the bar of God : In the first your present peace and soul comfort is much concerned , and your eternal welfare in the last : Alas ! how will you answer conscience now when that book is opened , and the Lord Jesus brings in his bill of so many mercies expended , with skill and capacity to improve them ; and such a charge of debt issuing thence : So much due for such goods , and for other wares ; for Sermons , Sacraments , Graces , Comforts , Frames , Prayer Returns , Gracious Providences and Protections ; so many personal mercies , so many family mercies , so many bodily mercies , so many soul mercies , so many Church mercies , so many National mercies , sick-bed mercies , health mercies , journey mercies , habitation mercies , caring mercies , sparing mercies , giving mercies , forgiving mercies , seen mercies , unseen mercies ; and little or no return yet made for all these : How can the conscience stand up under such a charge , or lift up his face without spot , when it sees its guilt in all , and cannot answer one of a thousand ? How shall man be just with God , if he contend with him ? How shall he answer him one of a thousand ? And if you cannot carry it in the Court of Conscience here , where God reckons by a Proxy ; and it may be doth give but a general charge , what will you do at the bar of God , where the Lord will judge righteous judgment , and determine your eternal state , as you are approved or disapproved in that day ? What think you souls , will not so much neglect of duty ? such decaies of grace ? so frequent breach of Covenants ? so great unfaithfulness in your places and relations ? so many daies and weeks , and not a stroke of work for God ? so much bad work , so much waste of goods ; will not all this look wistly upon you , and without repentance and a sealed acquittance , render your case dangerous at the judgment seat ? And if so , is it not matter of lamentation ? O lay this to heart !

VSE III.

Thirdly , If the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade ; then this reproves mens too greedy and inordinate pursuit of their earthly Trades and Interests , to the great prejudice and hinderance of this Heavenly Trade : And oh that I could here dip my Pen in tears , as well as gall ; and not onely write against , but weep over this earthly spiritedness , the great , the common , the uncur'd disease of men ; almost of all men , of good men , this day ! With what earnestness , strength of affection , and indefatigable labours , do men pursue after the things of this world , as if all their pleasure , happiness , yea life and eternal welfare lay wrapt up in these things . Jehu did not more furiously drive after a Crown , then men do this day after crumbs . There was a time to some when godliness was counted gain ; but now gain is valued beyond godliness . Trade is the great Diana to which most men sacrifice : Profit the wheel within the wheel , which sets all a going : The salt that seasons all things ; nothing savours well that hath not this in it . Advantage in the world , is like the blood in mens veins ; the soul in the body ; that quickens their desires , puts life into their dead hopes ; makes the blind to see , the lame to leap and run , the deaf to hear , the lips of them that are asleep to speak . Gain is the whetstone to mens wits , the loadstone to their affections , the spur to their actions : this is the object of mens quickest senses , the center of their liveliest motions . O! the projects , cares , tuggings , sweats , rowings , ridings , restless labours , that are engag'd about this enquiry : Who will shew us any good ?

Quest. But how may we know when men do inordinately pursue their earthly business and concerns ?

Answ. 1. First , When they engross too much of their time : this was Israel's sin , saying , When will the New-Moon be gone , that we may sell Corn ? and the Sabbath , that we may set forth Wheat ? Amos 8. 5. They were not contented with their own time but they must entrench on God's time als . they thought the time long till they were at their worldly work , and hoped to get advantage from God's institutions , for their earthly interests ; and that the Jubilee-Sabbath , when men must cease from tillage , would help to heighten the price of things , and so further their advantage : therefore the Lord reproves them for their undue diligence about the World : a a Frustra illos mane ob vile lucellum expergisci ad opus , &c. It is in vain for you to rise up early , and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows ; for so he giveth his beloved sleep , Psal. 127. Here ( saith Piscator ) he doth , by this sudden Apostrophe , inveigh against those covetous Tradesmen and Merchants , telling them ; b b Artifices qui diluculo ad labores evigilant . Rab. Solo. 'T is in vain for them to rise up so early to their work , and sit up so late in their shops , for such poor and contemptible gain : So Rabbi Solomon renders it for Artificers , who rise early to their labours . Excessive pursuits of the World in point of time are here reprov'd as vain and sinful , while hereby they deprive themselves of time for God and their Souls .

Secondly , when they lay out their Hearts on the World ; If riches encrease , set not your hearts on them , Psal. 62. 10. The danger of a disease lies in its seisure on the heart : Earthly things , under the hand are a duty ; but in the heart , a disease . The heart is Christ's Royal Fort , to which the Devil , the World and Flesh lay siege ; and if that be taken , all is gone : Earthly things are briars and thorns , and therefore dangerous to come near the heart : the least prick at the heart is mortal ; the heart is Christ's nuptial-bed , into which Christ retires ; the World is the Saint's servant ; now to admit a servant into the Lord's bed , is adulterous : the heart is God's Seat , Pavilion and Throne , into which none must come but himself ; like the gates of the Sanctuary , into which none must enter but God himself : This gate shall be shut , it shall not be opened , and no man shall enter into it ; because the Lord , the God of Israel hath entred into it ; therefore it shall be shut , Ezek. 44. 2. Such is the heart of Believers , to be kept for God only ; to take in creatures into God's room , is intolerable boldness ; to let out thy heart to the World , Trade , Interest , Creatures , is to invert the order of nature , as well as grace . In creation , God sets man uppermost , and puts all things under his feet : Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thine hands ; thou hast put all things under his feet , Psal. 8. 6. Now , to place those things over thy heart , which God hath set under thy feet , is to turn the World upside down , and to overturn the whole course of nature . This is the great sin of this day , mens letting out their hearts on the things of this World : were persons but serious , and willing to be search'd , and to know their own state , many that think well of themselves , might find , that notwithstanding all their shews , and seeming hopes , they are in a woful and dangerous case , in that their hearts are not right with God , but are set on other things , on earthly things more than on God .

Six things discover this , that the heart is set too much upon this World .

First , When the desires are inordinately let out after it : this is one symptom the Prophet gives of an unsound , covetous heart ; such a one hath greedy , unsatisfied desires after the World ; Who enlargeth his desire as Hell , and is as Death , and cannot be satisfied , Hab. 2. 5. In the former verse he tells us , a carnal unbelieving heart , is a rotten unsound heart : His soul which is lifted up , is not upright in him : but the just shall live by Faith . A carnal heart is all for himself , and his own carnal interest , and not for God ; he lives by sight , and not by Faith ; and this was an evidence of it , all his desires were for carnal things . Desires are the breathings and outgoings of the heart , and as the heart is , such are they ; where the desires are earthly , the heart is earthly ; such a one is never satisfied with any portion of earthly things : as a person in a Fever , always thirsty ; so is an earthly heart , always coveting more and more : They joyn house to house , and lay field to field , till there be no place , Isa. 5. 8. As long as there is any place left , they covet it : A Field , a House , a Living , is but a morsel that stays a hungry stomach for the present , as soon as that is digested they long for more : this is a certain sign that heart is on the World , whose desires have never enough of it : and alas ! where 's the person that will say with Jacob , I have enough ? Where the heart is set on God and things above , a little of the World will content that Soul ; food and rayment , with godliness , is enough ; but it is never satisfied with its measure of Grace , and enjoyment of God ; the more it enjoys of God , the more it longs for further fellowship with him ; one duty doth but edge the stomach for another : the more he hath , the more he desires of God and spiritual things : and so 't is with a heart that is altogether earthly , the desires are earthly also , never satisfied with what he hath , but still longing for more .

Secondly , A worldly heart hath worldly thoughts ; there the mind is wholly taken up about earthly things ; thoughts are to the heart as the beams are to the Sun , the streams to the Fountain , which are homogeneous , of the same nature with them ; our Lord Jesus tells us , that 't is out of the heart that evil thoughts proceed , Mark . 7. 21. They come immediately from the heart , ( says Mr. Fenner , ) nothing comes between the heart and them ; other sins ( says he ) come from the heart , but it is at the second , third and fourth hand ; but thoughts come immediately from it : And nothing doth more discover the heart , than the usual , habitual , delightful thoughts of a man do : They are the univocal acts of the heart , which shew what the heart is , as shining does the light ; Mr. Fenner of the misery of earthly thoughts . Where are thy thoughts mostly ? thy pleasing and delightful thoughts ? there is thy Heart : They that are after the flesh , do mind the things of the flesh , Rom. 8. 5. As soon as they awake , thoughts of their business ( as friends ) come to visit them ; they drive out other thoughts of God and heavenly things , they vanish and disappear at the presence of earthly thoughts , as Clouds do at the rising-Sun ; as when a Master comes in to take his seat , Servants rise up , and go their way : no sooner doth thoughts of God come in , but earthly thoughts drive them away , as the Shepherds did Jethro's Daughters , and there is no Moses to stand up and help them , Exod. 2. 16 , 17. An earthly man from morning to night his thoughts are upon the World , as the Dog follows his Master all the day long : In company , alone , at home , abroad , in journeys , in duties ; his thoughts are usually about his Trade , Interest , House , Field , Work , and the like ; it may be sometimes good thoughts may be cast into the mind , and these make amends for all other thoughts , feeding the deceived heart with conceits that all is well , because good thoughts come in now and then ; whereas the main bent of their thoughts have been about earthly things : these thoughts grow out of the heart , they are in-dwellers ; but good thoughts are only guests and strangers that don't stay long ; they give a visit , and then are gone , and must give way to earthly thoughts again , which are home-born , houshold-servants and inhabitants : thy thoughts of God are but occasional , now and then extraordinary , when some special mercy or affliction is upon thee , but thy earthly thoughts are fixed , stated and continued : thy good thoughts are like rain-water , that fall upon thee , or as pump-water that must be drawn out ; but thy carnal thoughts are as well-water , that runs freely , and springs up from within thee : thy good thoughts are but thy recreation , when thy mind is tired with other things ; but thy earthly thoughts are thy work and employment ; when men have done their work , they sometimes walk abroad ; such are thy seldom thoughts of God and divine things , when thou hast drudg'd away the strength of thy mind on the World , and thy own things , then , to quiet conscience , and recreate thy mind , thou givest thy thoughts leave to walk abroad , and give a visit to better things : thy heavenly thoughts are gentle , easy , weak and sickly , and carry out little of the strength and vigour of thy heart with them ; but thy thoughts of the World are strong and lively , the first-born and strength of thy heart ; they are spending thoughts , working , plotting , carking , studying thoughts : Ah souls ! deceive not your selves with fancies of your good estate , from some fits and good moods in you ( which hypocrites may have ) and all the while the strength and bent of your hearts , the constant , lively , prevailing thoughts of your souls are carnal , selfish and earthly .

Thirdly , Persons restless labours after the world , plainly shew their hearts are upon it : Where the heart is set upon a thing a person is restless till he hath it ; he leaves no stone unturned ; sets wit , hands , friends , and all on work to get it . When Shechem's heart was set on Dinah , Jacob's daughter , he sticks at no proposals so he might but obtain her : Let me find grace in your eyes , and what ye shall say unto me , I will give ; the Land shall be before you , dwell and trade therein , and get you possession therein , Gen. 34. 10 , 11. No terms were counted too hard ; take up profession , undergo painful duties , punishing circumcision ; part with any thing so he might but have the desire of his heart , What hardships did Jacob undergo for his beloved Rachel ? twice seven years service , consumed with drought in the day , and frost in the night , and his sleep departed from his eyes : Thus have I been twenty years in thy house ; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters , and six years for thy cattel , and thou hast changed my wages ten times , Gen. 31. 40 , 41. And yet all this he could bear to enjoy the object of his love .

So 't is with earthly minded men ; all their capacities are engaged about earthly things ; their chiefest strength is laid out about their Trades , callings and businesses in the world , seldom minding soul-concerns , little employed in religious duties ; now and then hear , read , pray , as may stand with interest ; cold , sleighty , formal , sleepy in duty ; but all life when about the world ; ready to complain prayer is too long , preaching tedious ; too much time spent in duty ; what need this waste ? Matth. 26. 8. All seems lost to flesh and blood which is spent on Christ and his service , [ Mr. Trap : ] But all too little for the world ; weary themselves for very vanity ; stick at nothing that will help them to their desired interests ; undergo any hardships ; turn the back on any duties ; adventure health , reputation , the displeasure of God , with all their spiritual mercies ; yea and the eternal welfare of their souls also , rather than lose an advantage in the world : This is the spirit of too many this day : Men that seem to be somewhat , bid fair for salvation , with the young man in the Gospel ; like the terms well ; come up to every thing but this ; cannot part with the world for Christ ; come up to every thing , onely with Naaman , must be pardoned in this , that they have a Rimmon to bow to , 2 Kings 5. 18. In every thing else they will consent to follow Christ , but in this they must be spared : when their farms , their merchandise and profit calls for them , then the concerns of Christ and their souls must stand by ; and affections like a flood run over all that lies in their way ; take no notice what Scripture or Conscience say ; deaf to all arguments that thwart interest : This is the case of a worldly heart ; his chiefest strength is laid out about earthly things ; these must be followed and sought after , whatever becomes of the soul and spiritual things . What is that so great hope ( saith Seneca ) what so great necessity , that stoops man who was made upright , to contemplate Heaven , and buries and drowns him in the deeps of the Earth , to get out that gold which is not got with less danger than 't is kept , Sen ? A little strength for duty will serve the turn ; but a great deal of time , care and labour must the world have : Surely the world rules that heart that comes and goes at its bidding , and can leave all to follow it c c Quae tanta spes fuit , quae tanta necessitas hominem ad sidera erectum incurvavit , & defodit , & in fundum telluris intime mersit ut erueret aurum non minore periculo quaerendum quam possidendum . Sen. at the command of interest . You will judge him another man's servant , who , whatever he is doing , will leave it all when his Master calls him , and follow him . Let men think what they will , God hath no part for the present in that soul that can do more to enjoy the world , than God ; and counts any thing more necessary than to converse with , obey and serve him .

Fourthly , The delight and pleasure men take in earthly things , declare that their hearts are let out upon them : Where the heart is , there will the delights be . d d Cordis vita est amor . Love is is the very life of the soul , Alsted . Theol. natur . p. 613. When Jonathan's heart was knit with the heart of David , 1 Sam. 18. 1. as an evidence of it : Chap. 19. 2 , Jonathan Saul's Son delighted much in David : e e Delectatio sit quies quaedam appetitus considerata presentia boni delectantis quod appetitui satisfacit . Aqui. 12. 9. 31. 1. 2. M. Delight is the rest of desire , in the fruition of that good the heart is set upon , which satisfies the desire ; [ Reynolds of the Passions , Cap. 19. Pag. 197. ] One calls it , the Sabbath of our thoughts , and that sweet tranquillity of mind which we receive from the presence and fruition of that good whereunto our desires have carried us : If then mens delights in the world exceed their pleasure in God , 't is a sign the world is their chiefest good . Wicked men delight in their abominations , and that proves their ways to be of choice . Isa. 63. 3 , They have chosen their own ways , and their soul delighteth in their abominations : Try thy heart by thy pleasure ; what is sweetest to thy taste , God or the World ? What is most delightful to thee , to wait on God , though with the loss of the world , or to pursue the world , with the want of God ? Men cheat their own Souls , when they say the enjoyment of God is better than the world ; and yet for every trifle , and smallest advantage , can upon choice , baulk the enjoyment of God in his appointments , and cannot adventure the least loss and prejudice to their interest , though it were for the nearest fellowship with God : certainly that which is the Souls greatest pleasure , that will it make after when left to its liberty : Canst thou leave the snow of Lebanon for the waters of Assyria ? Pass by a walk in Christ's gallery , to sit down and solace thy self on the dunghil-comforts of this life ? then are not thy chiefest delights in God : Psal. 27. 4 , One thing have I desired of the Lord , that will I seek after , that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life , to behold the beauty of the Lord , and to enquire in his temple : If the beholding of God in Ordinances be thy delight , it will be the one thing in thy desires and endeavours ; also all other things are nothing to that : If thy chiefest pleasure be in God , then nothing but a conviction of duty can make thee upon choice decline an opportunity of waiting on God ; and even then also , when obedience to God sets thy hand to the world ; delight in God will engage thy longings after him , and make thy greatest comforts thou art then pursuing , a weight and a burden to thy soul , because they stand between thy heart and communion with God . Thy affections will be like the Kine that drew the Ark to Bethshemesh , that lowed after their Calves as they went , 1 Sam. 16. 12. When thou art constrained to draw in the Cart of thy duty-employments , even then will thy desires belowing after the comfort of thy relation-interest in God . How is it soul ? speak ; Is not a good Fair and Bargain sweeter to thee , and doth more affect thy heart , than a sermon and a duty ? Dost thou not use to follow the world with thy back on fellowship with God and Saints , and not the least regret in thy spirit , or cloud on thy comforts ? if so , thy heart is not yet supremely set on God .

Fifthly , Lothness to part with thy earthly comforts and interests tells thee , thy heart is too much upon them . Jacob's unwillingness to part with Benjamin , was a sign his heart was too much set upon him . Judah tells the Governour of Egypt , That his Father's life was bound up in the Lad's life , Gen. 44. 30. The Spouses affection to her Beloved was seen in this , that when she found him , she held him , and would not let him go , Cant. 3. 4. I found him whom my soul loveth , I held him , and would not let him go . Such is the testimony , that if mens hearts are on the things of this life , they hold them fast , and will not let them go : Most men are too tenacious of their interests , to be dead to them : close hands argue cleaving hearts to the world . Alas ! with what reluctancy do men that have the abundance of this worlds goods , lay them out again for God! how hard is it to draw any proportions of charity from them that have this worlds goods ? what arguments and reasons will men be pleading for their sparingness in parting with the Mammon of this world ? and how much beneath their measure do most men expend their earthly things upon the calls that God gives them ? This shews plainly , their heart is bound up in the fruition of these things . Covetous men will sooner part with their flesh , than their gold ( saith Augustine ) shall I take my bread , and my water , and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers , and give it to men whom I know not whence they be ? 1 Sam. 25. 11. ( saith covetous Nabal . ) Covetous persons cannot endure to part with what they have . a a Avarus tenendo divitias tenetur a divitiis , & dum vult esse praedo fit praeda . Aug. The covetous man , while he holds fast his riches , is held fast by them ; and in preying on others , he himself becomes a prey , August . They are like a net , which takes in all the fish that comes at it , but le ts out none again , except some small ones that are little worth : Earthly minds are seen in nothing more than in their tenacity , and close keeping of what they have ; like dying men , whatever they take hold of , they let not go : This is the temper of many , they cannot scatter for God , nor honour him with their substance : There is that withholdeth more than is meet , Prov. 11. 24. That 's the character of one whose heart is on the world . b b Non solum avarus est qui rapit aliena , sed ille avarus est qui cupide servat sua . Aug. He is not onely covetous that takes away other mens goods ( saith Augustine ) but he that covetously withholds his own , and will not let them go when God hath use for them : Certainly , if Believers themselves are not their own , then they will one day know their estates and interests are not their own , but the Lord's , and to be at his dispose . How will the owner of that Colt Christ sent for , rise up in judgment against many ! no sooner did the Disciples say , The Lord hath need of him , but straightway they let him go , Luk. 19. 33 , 34 , 35. Shall one that pretended not so much to Christ ( for ought we know ) readily part with so much at the first request ; and they that profess much love to Christ , refuse to lay out lesser things for him ? This doth manifest the world is dearer to such than Jesus Christ .

Lastly , Then are mens hearts upon the world , when their trust and dependence is upon earthly things . We are apt to put confidence in friends , and therefore the Lord cautions Israel against such dependencies , as false deceiving things : Trust not in a friend ; put ye not confidence in a guide , &c. Micah 7. 5. The Spouse came leaning upon her Beloved in the wilderness , Cant. 8. 5. No sooner had the rich man store of goods , but he places his confidence in them , Luke 12. 19. I will say to my soul ; soul , thou hast goods laid up for many years , take thine ease ; eat , drink and be merry . 'T is natural to men that chuse the world for their treasure ; to chuse it also for their trust : They that dare adventure their supreme affection on things , dare also take up their dependency on them . Men chuse not a tree they think will rot , Isa. 40. 20. If riches be thy choice , thou thinkest them worthy of thy relyance ; or thou actest irrationally . Men that have wealth , have inward thoughts that their houses shall continue for ever , and their dweling places to all generations ; they call their Lands after their own names , Psal. 49. 11. 'T is hard to have the good things of this life , and not to expect too much from them ; so inviting is their appearance to a dependency on them : Earthly things are fair in promise , but false in performance ; like quagmires covered with grass ; men think them firm ground , but when they tread upon them , they soon become their graves . The Evangelist calls all that glorious pomp with which Agrippa so amus'd spectatours , but a meer show , Acts 25. 23. When Agrippa was come , and Bernice , with great pomp , 't is with much fantasie and 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . external show : All the glory of this world is but a pompous shew , that cheats beholders , and allures them to a deceived expectation : They that have much visible comfort in creatures , live little by faith . How rare is it for men that have estates and riches for their posterity , to commit them to divine care , by an act of pure recumbency on the promise , and to believe upon a naked word for all their supplies and needed comforts : Such is our expectation whither we flee for help , Isa. 20. 6. An earthly heart is known by carnal trust and dependency on earthly things . Ah souls ! put your hearts into this scale , and see whether they do not press down to this present world : Speak soul , who shalt shortly be weighed for eternity in the ballance of the Sanctuary ; are not thy desires , thy thoughts , thy restless labours , thy delights , thy close adherence to , and dependency , all engaged about the things of this life , with the neglect of God , and heavenly things , thine own heart being Judge ? And if so , then

Thy State is dangerous . And thy Folly great .

First , Thy State is dangerous ; thou hast not a dram of true grace in thee : Love not the world , nor the things of the world ; if any man love the world , the love of the Father is not in him , 1 Joh. 2. 15. Do not flatter thy soul into perdition ; if thou lovest the world , thou dost not love God : For the friendship of this world is enmity against God : Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world , is the enemy of God , James 4. 4. He whose heart and mind is set after the world ; he that will be rich , the bent and design of the heart is for it ; that 's the Butt he levels at , whatever he professes ; That 's his great business and project : Thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness , Jer. 22. 17. He maketh haste to be rich , Prov. 28. 20. drives furiously after the world ; his heart is reconciled to all the means and waies that lead to it ( be they never so clashing with soul-advantages ) that man , be he who he will , is a friend to the world , and an enemy to God , let him make the highest profession possible : So did Judas get into the Church of God ; so did Demas pray , preach , and so may hypocrites for a time ; yea make many prayers , Isa. 1. 15. Doth he profess love to God ? so did the Jews ; and yet their hearts went after their covetousness , Ezek. 33. 31. Is he of a lovely spirit , and unblameable conversation ? so was the young man in the Gospel ; his great desire was to inherit eternal life , Mark 10. 17. that was his business to Christ ; he desired to know how he might be saved ; he seemed to be all for Heaven ; his life also was unblameable : All these have I observed from my youth up , verse 20. He was of a sweet , lovely spirit : 'T is said , Jesus beholding him , loved him , verse 21. and yet could not part with the world for Christ ; had his heart knit to earthly things all the while , and went away sorrowful ; he could not consent to sell all and give to the poor , ver. 22. no marks will serve that Soul's turn , whose heart is glued to the World , and cannot give up all to Christ's dispose : God and the World cannot dwell in that Soul , godliness and gain cannot keep house together : where the grace of God comes in truth , it teacheth men to deny worldly lusts , Tit. 2. 11 , 12. He that hath no power to deny the cravings of a worldly heart , never yet received the grace of God in truth . Grace ( saith one ) may stand with some transient acts of naughtiness , but never with covetousness : Adams on the 2 Epist. of Pet. p. 9. 16. Noah was once drunk with Wine , but never with the World : Lot twice Incestuous , never Covetous : Peter denied his Master thrice ; it was not the love of the World , but the fear of the World brought him to it ; for he had denied the World before he denied his Master : Once David was overcome with the Flesh , never with the World . Why did not these purge themselves from Adultery , Anger , Contention , and the like ? because into these sins the infirmity of a Saint may fall ; but if once into Covetousness , there is nothing of a Saint left , not the very name . Luther acknowledges there was scarce a sin to which he had not been tempted , save to the sin of Covetousness . The Lord Jesus tells us that his Disciples are not of this World : some derive the word , Holy , from Earth , and a privative 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . particle , in that redemption from the earth , is the great work of holiness : All they that partake of the Cross of Christ , are crucified to the World , and the World to them , Gal. 6. 14. Not a jot of the benefits of Christ are treasur'd up in that Soul where the God of this World dwells ; and if without Christ , without hope ; thy case is desperate if thy heart be earthly , under the ruling power of this World ; thou art yet in a graceless state , and no grace , no glory ; if thou mindest earthly things , destruction is thy end , Phil. 3. 19. If thou art one of this World , whose heart is after thy covetousness , thy portion is in this World , Psal. 17. 14. All thy Heaven is on this side the Grave : For this ye know , that no Whoremonger , nor unclean person , nor covetous man , who is an Idolater , hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ , and of God , Eph. 5. 5. 'T is joyned with the most abominable sins , Thievery , Drunkenness , Adultery , Idolatry , Extortion , for which things sake , the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience , Col. 3. 5. 6. The Scripture calls covetous men , cursed children , 2 Pet. 2. 14. An heart they have a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , exercised as Wrestlers are , who contend for victory with all their Might , being train'd up to it by long exercise , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : exercised with covetous practices , cursed children ; really cursed with a detestation , such whom God abhorreth , Psal. 10. 3. And the wicked blesseth the covetous , whom God abhorreth . A woe is pronounced against them , Hab. 2. 9. Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house , that he may set his nest on high , that he may be delivered from the power of evil : One would think this a duty , or at least very commendable , to provide for our Family , and get what we can for our children , and to endeavour to secure our houses from any suffering and calamity ; but if this be mens end , to set their nest on high , to get great things for themselves , and so to manage their affairs , as to avoid all b b Malum hic notatis , quod homines vulgo pro malo habent , & quod fugit & horret caro , nimirum crucem , humilitatem , ac persequutionem . sufferings for God , there 's a dreadful woe hangs over their heads , and disappointment of all their design in the issue ; for instead of honour , they are brought to shame in the end : Thou hast consulted shame to thy own house , and sinned against thy own soul , vers . 10. They are unworthy of any society with men : I have written unto you not to keep company ; if any man that is called a Brother , be a Fornicator , or Covetous , or an Idolater , or a Railer , or a Drunkard , or an Extortioner , with such a one , no , not to eat , 1 Cor. 5. 11. and shall be cut off from communion with God to all eternity : Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God : be not deceived , neither Fornicator , nor Idolater , nor Thieves , nor Covetous , nor Drunkards , nor Revilers , nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God , 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10.

Secondly , as thy state is dangerous , if thou art one who lovest this present World ; so thy folly is great , to set thy heart upon the World .

After thou hast been convinced of the evil of such a spirit and practice , and hast felt the smart of it in thy own soul .

After thou hast been arraigned at the bar of thy Conscience , and condemned in thy own heart for this Sin , ( as every truly convinced Soul is , ) if ever the spirit of bondage hath been at work in thy heart , ( as thou hast confessed ) then hast thou found this sin more bitter than death to thee ; and now to return again to such courses as will break thy bones again , and put thy soul to greater torture than ever , ( as all relapses do , ) this is folly indeed .

After thou hast chosen God for thy portion , Christ for thy treasure , Godliness for thy gain , the inheritance with the Saints for thy Land , a mansion in Heaven for thy house , Christ's tried Gold for thy Money , a conversation in Heaven for thy Trade , the Father , Son and Spirit , for thy All here , and for ever , ( as thou hast done , or fearfully belied thy profession , ) that after all this thou should'st turn again to these beggerly elements , and exchange God for the world , a Crown for crumbs , a Throne for thorns , a Dowry in Heaven for a dunghill on earth ; an eternal weight of Glory for a burden of thick clay ; fellowship with God for defiling converse with dirt and bespotting trash ; a Burgeship in Heaven for a name written in the earth ; is not this folly , folly ? Not that one who had real interest in God & things above , can ever fully and finally forfeit them , and lose them again ; ( for , once in Christ , and ever in Christ ) but those things thou did'st once seem to choose for thy chiefest interest , and hast professed hopes of a certain title to these supreme treasures ; and now , to sell thy hopes of God and Glory for that c c Speciosa supplicia & fortunae vomitus . vomit thou had'st spewed up , and mire thou had'st been washed from , this is madness indeed .

After you have seen so often the vanity and uncertainty of these things below , that they are empty , and will not satisfie ; they cannot quench thy thirst , or fill thy hungry soul ; cannot afford the least rest to thy weary heart ; but are still short of thy expectations ; thou lookest for peace , and behold they give thee trouble ; thou thinkest to gather Roses , and they prick thy fingers ; and when thou hopest to find rest in them , and sayest , Soul , take thy ease in thy full bags , and fair estate ; thy pleasant house , near relations ; then they prove swords to pierce thee , or briers to rend thee ; or at the best , but wind that does but swell , not nourish thee . Thou hast also found them fading things , that will not stay , rare ripe , fruit that soon rots ; a moth , an East-wind take off all ; they are a pleasing gourd one day , and withered the next , Jonah 4. 7. God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day , and it smote the gourd that it withered . A sickness comes and takes away thy child , and all the hopes of thy house perish with him : Thy Customers break , and thou art impoverished : The fire burns down thy house , and thou art undone : Thy Heir it may be proves a Prodigal , and all thy gatherings are scattered ; so uncertain , empty , perishing , are these things , and thou knowest them to be so , and hast found them such , and yet thy heart runs after them ; and with the Dog Mundus perit & tu Mundana quaeris . in the Fable , thou leavest substance to catch at shadows ; neglecting unseen , sure , sweet , satisfying and eternal things , for things that are not ; and is not this madness ? [ The world perisheth , and yet thou seekest after the things thereof , Petrarch . ]

After you have found better things , and tasted the sweetness of them , you have experienced the light of God's countenance to be beyond all corn , and wine , and oyl ; his loving-kindness to be better than life ; a day in his Courts to be more eligible than a thousand elsewhere , Psal. 4. 6 , 7. O how sweet hath his Word been to thy taste , sweeter than the honey and the honey-comb ! how often hath God cheered , quickened and strengthened thy heart in thy approaches to him , that thou hast said ( as David of Goliah's sword ) there is none like this : And as the Disciples when with Christ in the Mount , 't is good being here ; Lord evermore give me this bread : and yet after all this , that thou shouldest upon choice , leave these for the world , and prefer thy shop , thy trade , thy field , house , money , before these divine and approved treasures : This is madness .

After so many confessions of this sin before the Lord and his people , and so many prayers and cries to God against it , and for grace to subdue thy earthly heart with many promises , and declared purposes to turn no more to this folly ; that thou shouldest so easily , so speedily be reconciled to the world again , and reassume thy affections to these old lovers after all ; this is madness , and will exceedingly greaten thy guilt and torment , when the Lord shall make inquisition for these things ; when thy convictions , prayers and vows shall return as so many Serjeants upon thy back , to arrest thy guilty conscience , and as so many witnesses to prove God's charge against thee ; that at such a time and such a time , in thy closet , in the Congregation of the Lord's people , in daies of humiliation and preparation-seasons , on thy sick-bed , under such a word and rod , thy heart did melt over thy sin , and thou didst solemnly renew thy Covenant against it ; and now to have thy prayers , and tears , and promises ; yea , and God too against thee , for thy Apostacy after such Lovers as thou thy self wilt loath another day , and be ashamed to own in the presence of God , Saints and Angels ; this is folly , folly .

Now when God is punishing thee for this very sin , by stripping thee of thy Idols , and pouring out the vials of his wrath upon this Euphrates , thy riches , interest , trade , and earthly comforts , over which thou hast carried away thy heart from him , that now while the Rod is upon thy back , thou should'st hold fast thine iniquity , and refuse to return ; this is desperate and incorrigible folly . And this is the practice of most this day ; God blows upon their trades and interests for following them , and letting his house lie waste ; and yet they pursue them still : The Lord takes out the bottom of their bags , and yet they put in more money into them . God smites men for the iniquity of their covetousness , and yet they go on frowardly in the way of their heart , Isa. 57. 17. God is hedging up the way of men's Lovers , and yet they break thorough to overtake them : So it was with Israel , God had hedg'd up her way , made a wall that she should not find her paths ; and yet she followed after them . Hos. 2. 6. And she shall follow after her Lovers ( O incorrigible wickedness ! ) but ( saith God ) she shall not overtake them : The Lord is plucking down mens bricks , but they build with hewn stone ; the Sycamores are cut down , but they change them into Cedars , Isa. 9. 10. Providence pulls away unduly pursued interests , but men catch at them again : This is daring wickedness , and a telling God to his face , they fear him not , neither will they return . Jer. 5. 3. Thou hast stricken them , but they have not grieved , m m Quid miserius misero non miserante seipsum ? Aug. What 's more miserable than a man in misery not pitying himself . thou hast consumed , but they have refused to receive correction ; they have made their faces harder than a Rock ; they have refused to return : This is our case , and should it not be for a lamentation ?

Lastly , when nothing but ruine and destruction is before our eyes ; manifest danger of losing all , even Interest , Gospel , Life , and all that is dear to us seems to be a going ; and yet to pursue these things , with neglect of our souls , is madness beyond parallel , and a dangerous symptome of approaching ruine . If men are not given up to a spirit of blindness , they must needs see that wasting destructions are upon us ; gray hairs are here and there , and we see it not , Hos. 7. 9 , 10. Strangers have devoured his strength , and he knoweth it not ; yea , gray hairs are here and there , yet he layeth it not to heart ; and the pride of Israel doth testifie to his face , and they do not return to the Lord their God , nor seek him for all this . * * Sentit quidem dolores sed non agnoscit causam & fontem sui mali ; Confirmat esse Israelem desperatum & incurabilem quia convictus non tamen redit ad Dominum . Zanch. They felt the pain , but did not acknowledg the cause and fountain of all those evils , ( saith Zanchy ; ) and this shew'd they were desperate and incurable , in that they were convicted of their evil case , and yet would not return to the Lord . No spot more dangerous than continuance in sin under utmost means of reformation and confessed danger of ruine . If our transgressions and sins be upon us , and we pine away in them ; how shall we then live ? Ezek. 33. 10.

VSE IV.

If the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade , &c. Then this offers counsel and exhortation to five sorts of persons .

1. To such as are strangers to this Heavenly Trade .

Counsel 1. Such as are strangers to this Heavenly Trade ; you that never were acquainted with this high Calling , but have spent all your time about things that perish , trafficking about Hell and Damnation . Be you exhorted to set about this choise , rich , and blessed Trade .

There are four Arguments that usually sway with rational persons in their choice of earthly Callings , which are also weighty inducements unto all not yet concern'd to speed upon this Heavenly Trade .

Arg. 1. First , Necessity puts men on employments , and none are greater than theirs who are without this Divine Calling . Sinners , you that are yet without God in the World , you are miserably poor , and ready to perish ; you are worth nothing but sin and misery ; He is a poor man that hath nothing to live upon ; and such are you , while without this line of communication , and strangers to these supreme concerns : You are spiritually poor , and have nothing ( as yet ) for your Souls to live on here , or to all eternity , Rev. 3. 17. And knowest not that thou art wretched , and miserable , and poor , and blind , and naked . Poverty is one of the miseries of all unchanged souls ; and that which aggravates it , is this ; that they think themselves rich , and yet have nothing ; no Food to fill them , but empty husks , and swines meat ; no Rayment to cover them , but filthy rags , and confusion , no House to shelter them from the storms of Divine wrath ; or any Habitation to receive them , but an infernal Lake of Fire and Brimstone , and a receptacle with damned Devils ; not a friend to help them ; not an eye to pitty them ; There are none so poor in the World but they have something or other to help them , something in hand , or something in hope ; something of their own , or something of others : if they can't dig , yet they can beg ; if they have not interests to maintain them , yet they find pitty to relieve them : But a Christless Sinner hath nothing to supply his immortal part ; nothing in hand ; nothing in hope ; nothing of his own ; nothing of others , that can contribute the least good to his undone Soul , whatever he lives on , is nothing but wind and emptiness ; He feeds on ashes , a deceived heart turns him aside , Isa. 44. 20. He crams his starved Soul with filthy dung and excrements , ( so loathsome are all the pleasures of sin he lives on , ) Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel , strangers from the Covenants of Promise ; having no hope , and without God in the World , Eph. 2. 12. This is your condition , Souls , while without this Heavenly Trade ; you are miserably poor , what-ever you have in the World , you have nothing in God ; what-ever your Bodies and Families have , your Souls have nothing : † † Vniversa inutiliter habet qui unum illud quo universis utatur non habet . 'T is little profit to enjoy all things , and miss that one thing by which only we come to use them ; Aug. You labour for vanity , and lie down in sorrow ; and have you not reason to look out after some course to help you , and to embrace this overture of a Calling that will maintain and enrich you here , and for ever ? The Lepers case is thine ; if thou sit still in thy condition , thou diest : In the World's fulness is famine ; in thy security and false hopes , is death also : If thou adventure an offer'd grace , it may save thee ; however , thou can'st but die , 2 Kin. 7. 3 , 4.

Again , you are not only poor , but Bankrupts ; your poverty is of your own procurement , and the issue of your prodigality ; you had once a fair Estate , but lost it ; God , Grace and Glory was yours by the first Covenant , Luke 15. 30. but you have trifled it away for forbidden-fruit , and spent all you had on Harlots ; you have consum'd your Lord's goods also in riotous living , and wasted a large stock committed to your trust , and now must give an account of your Stewardship ; were it only your personal wants that your folly hath brought upon you , ( though that be heavy , ) yet 't is comparatively tolerable ; but restitution must be made , and that is unconceivably distressing . A dreadful word , sinners , lies against you ! ( how can you bear it ? how can you eat , drink , talk , or sleep in peace ? much less rejoyce when the hand-writing is against the wall ? ) 't is this , Give an account of thy Stewardship , Luke 16. 2. A review of thy past time must be expected , by what means thou did'st reduce thy miserable Soul to this low estate , and an account of thy Stewardship will be required ; and then when too late , thou wilt say with the Steward , What shall I do ? ver. 3. and is it not more advisable now to take this counsel of Eliphaz , to acquaint thy self with God , and be at peace , thereby good shall come unto thee , Job . 22. 21. to return to that Trade which thou hast left , and recover the Treasure which thou hast lost , that so thy account may be comfortable in the day of Christ ?

Nay further , you are not only poor , and bankrupts ; but deeply in debt ; debtors to God , to whom you owe your selves and all that you have , by the Law of Creation and Covenant-obligation , but never yet discharg'd that due to this very day . You are in debt to God for all your mercies in Creation and Providence , patience-mercy , preservation-mercy , preventing-mercy , bounty-mercy ; there 's never a moment but God is laying out some new mercy upon thee , of which thou hast never made retribution to this day .

Debtors to the Law of God , which hath its full and just claim on you , a Law that is just , righteous and good , and to which you owe obedience by just and unquestionable ties , and yet have never yielded any right subjection to it all your days , but have violated all its righteous commands every day and moment of your life , both in thought , word and deed ; For he that keepeth the whole Law , and yet offendeth in one point or iota , is guilty of all , Jam. 2. 10.

Debtors to Conscience , whose Law is in force against you , and by which you shall be judged . Rom. 2. 14 , 15. These having not the Law , are a Law to themselves , which shew the works of the Law written in their hearts ; their Consciences also bearing witness , and their thoughts the mean while accusing , or else excusing one another ; and yet you have broken these Conscience-bonds , casting its cords from you : how many ties hath Conscience laid upon you which you have broken , going against the light and dictates thereof !

Debtors to all the World , to whom , in some respect or other , you are obliged . There are duties you owe to all men , to love them , and pray for them : to all your neighbours and acquaintance , to do them good as you have opportunity , and to seek and endeavour their Salvation to your power , which you have not done to this day . There are duties you owe to your relations , friends and family , which you have neglected , and have been encreasing your Original debt , by running on new scores every day , which can never be cancell'd , or a power obtained to discharge your duties acceptably , till you come to Christ , and enter your souls into his new and everlasting Covenant , setting upon those great and Evangelical duties of it .

Your slavery is also great till you come over to this blessed work : You are in bondage unto Satan : Know ye not , that to whom ye yeild your selves servants to obey , his servants ye are whom ye obey , Rom. 6. 16. You serve incomparably the worst Lord ; a cruel Lord who hath no mercy , but delights in the misery of fal'n man ; A roaring Lion that goes about seeking to devour , 1 Pet. 5. 8. A cursed one cast out from God , cursed above all creatures ; reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day , Gen. 3. 14. Jude , verse 6. Thine implacable enemy that hates thee with a perfect hatred : An Accuser , that never speaks well of any : A Murderer he was from the beginning , Rev. 12. v. 10. and the original cause of all the destruction in Earth and Hell : A false and deceitful creature , that never kept his word with any : A Lyar , and the Father of Lies , Joh. 8. 44. one that will be too hard for you , and cheat your souls into destruction : A miserable poor creature ; one that hath lost all his glory and excellency , and hath nothing to give you for all your service , but some of the same flames in which he must fry for ever : This , sinners , is your Lord , whom you have chosen and served all your daies : And as you serve the worst Lord , so you do the worst work ; base , filthy , shameful , cursed work : Such are all thy actions whiles in an unchanged state ; you do hard work ; no service like it ; you work , and have no food to refresh you , which is the cruellest bondage : Israel in Egypt wrought hard , and yet had flesh-pots , Onions and Garlick to relieve them ; but you have nothing to feed your hopes and affections , but lies and vanity ; you work , and have no rayment to cover you , all your employment makes you naked ; you labour , and have no rest ; weary and heavy laden , and yet feel it not , Gen. 3. 7. Other Labourers have their successive quietudes , but you have none ; the hireling hath his shadow ; the labourer hath his evening to give over his work ; his bed to sleep on ; but your work admits of no rest ; 't is never done ; you do the Devil's work day and night , waking and sleeping ; nay , while you eat and drink your work still goes on ; O sad servitude ! You work and have no wages : All earthly Labourers have their penny , something or other to compensate their pains , money or maintenance ; but you have nothing in hand or hope , here or hereafter , but death and damnation ; the fruit of your labours here , is more bitter than death ; and the wages at the end of your day , wrath and vengeance , worm and There can be no mirth ( saith Latimer ) where weeping is served in for the first course , and gnashing of teeth for the second . fire , Mark 9. 44. And is not this bad employment ? and is it not time sinners , to change your calling , and to accept this offer made you of this excellent Trade ?

Arg. 2. Secondly , The danger that attends your present state should put you on a timely relinquishment of it : You are poor , and that exposes you to scorn and contempt , to oppression , treading down , and crushing , to devouring and destruction ; you are not safe from ruine one moment ; the next knock at thy door may be a call to Judgment Prov. 17. 5. Amos 4. 1. Hab. 3. 14. Prov. 10. 15. When thou liest down , thou mayest make thy bed in Hell ; when thou awakest , thou mayest see God on the Throne , thy Soul at the Bar , thy Accusers at thy right hand , the Evidence in thy own breast , the Sentence written in capital letters , Go ye cursed : Under thy feet a bottomless lake of fire and brimstone ; round about thee cruel Devils ready to seize upon thee , and lodge thy guilty condemned soul in thine eternal home , Matth. 24. 51. You have been Prodigals wasting what is not your own , and are in danger every day of a charge against you .

You are deeply in debt , and in danger of an arrest every hour ; when you go forth , death may be at your heels ; when you return , destruction may enter with you : O the uncertainty of thy time sinner ! the danger of thy eternity , the absolute ruine of thy immortal soul , if thy reckoning begin before thy work : and hast thou not reason then to hasten about thy great concern , and to burn no more day-light in works of darkness ?

Arg. 3. Thirdly , Thy duty should quicken thy undertaking in this great employment : Religion is not your Liberty , but your manifold debt : The Law of Creation binds you unto God ; you will confess you were made by him , and God will profess you were made for him , Isa. 43. 21. This people have I formed for my self , that they should shew forth my praise . Your fall from the Covenant of Works , is not your liberty from the essential duties of it ; neither is your incapacity to perform it , a dispensation of your obedience : 't is still your duty to return from whence you fell ; to take the Lord to be your God , to love him with all your heart , and with all your might ; to trust in him ; to fear and obey him . A draught of these Covenant-duties did God place in your conscience by which you shall be judged , Rom. 2. 12. 15. though the counterpane you have defaced ; yet the Original Deed is with God , and will be brought forth in the day of Christ against such as have not taken the Lord for their God .

You are also maintained by God , and that obliges you to him : 'T was the argument the Apostle urged to the Masters of Reason in that age , why they should seek the Lord , because 't was from him they had their subsistence , Acts 17. 28. For in him we live , and move , and have our being . If God maintains you , 't is rational he should have the use of you : 'T was the reason Moses used to prove God's right to Israels all , Deut. 32. 9 , to 15. The Lord's portion is his people ; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance ; why ? He found him in the desert Land , in the waste howling wilderness ; he led him about ; he instructed him ; he kept him as the apple of his eye : As an Eagle stirreth up her nest , fluttereth over her young , spreadeth abroad her wings , taketh them , beareth them on her wings ; so the Lord alone did lead him , and there was no strange God with him : ( And therefore no reason they should leave him for strangers . ) He made him ride upon the high places of the earth , that he might eat the increase of the field ; and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock , and oyl out of the flinty Rock : Butter of Kine , and milk of Sheep , with fat of Lambs and Rams , of the breed of Bashan , and Goats , with the fat of kidnies , of wheat , and thou didst drink the pure blood of the Grape . Mercies are cords and bands by which the Lord obligeth men to himself : I drew them with cords of a man , and with bands of love , Hos. 11. 4. All thy life ( sinner ) hath been full of these constraints of mercy and love , to take the Lord to be thy God .

The Gospel of Grace which you profess to own and receive , binds you to seek first the Kingdom of God , and the righteousness thereof , Matth. 6. 33. to do the work of God , to labour for that bread which endures to eternal life ; to work the works of God , Joh. 6. 27 , 28. to be no more your own , but the Lord's , 1 Cor. 6. 19 , 20. Cease to call or think your selves Christians ; tell the world you do not believe or hope to be saved by a crucified Christ , or else come over to him , and be disposed by his sacred Will. This is your duty .

Arg. 4. Fourthly , Weigh the unspeakable gain that will surely accrew to you , if you set up this Trade of Godliness . I have already shewn in the demonstration of this point , the great profit that this Heavenly Trade will turn unto , to all that deal thoroughly in it , to which I advise you to cast back your eye , and take three or four considerations more , to convince your understandings that Religion is eligible on grounds of greatest interest : For ,

First , Religion will maintain you in the hardest times : So will not other Trades ; there may be seasons when earthly employments will turn to no accounts : You have heard that riches profit not in the day of wrath ; and some of you have seen the time , when they that work could yet scarcely eat ; but God's work is meat and drink , when daily bread fails , Joh. 4. 30. I have meat to eat that you know not of . Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is , and of that which is to come . 1 Tim. 4. 8. God careth for the righteous ; and when the Lions lack , and are hunger-bit , they that fear the Lord shall want no good thing , Psal. 34. 10. They shall be sure to be provided for , whoever wants : God hath past his word for it : All things are theirs by purchase , who are Christ's by choice ; that is ( saith Piscator ) o o Omnes res terrenae vestris usious , & vestrae saluti a Deo destinatae sunt . All earthly things are designed of God for your use , and the furtherance of your salvation : Not as if the Saints had a right to other mens interests . The Apostle doth not speak here ( saith Pareus ) of civil possessions , but of that divine order by which all things ought to serve the good and advantage of the Church of God . The Earth is the Lord's , & the fulness thereof ; all which is given into the hands of Christ for the good of his people : And hath put all things under his feet , and gave him to be head over all things to the Church , Ephes. 1. 22. The whole Earth is but God's Kitchin , for the maintenance of his house ; and if he will feed his servants and slaves , much more his children : He gives to all their meat in due season , and satisfies the desires of every living thing : Much more will he care for , and give food convenient to his living in Jerusalem . Indeed Believers are not of the world , and therefore have not their portions in the world ; they are the Heirs of Heaven , and have no promise of more on Earth than will comfortably carry them home , and suffice for the discharge of those offices assigned to them here : They are Servants , not Heirs , who carry the cloak-bags in their journey . Persons of grandeur bear no more about them than for present use : Surely , were earthly treasures good for heaven-born souls , he that gives better things would not deny these : But God knows enough is as good as a feast ; and so much the Saints shall have in their passage home . No man sends his servants a journey , but he allows them enough to carry them thorough ; and so will God to his : If he maintains idlers and enemies ; much more will he feed his faithful servants and labourers : He hath promised to supply all their wants , Phil. 4. 19. and is able to make it good : If he thinks it not much to give them a Crown , he will not deny them Crumbs : If God should let his work-men , want , his work would cease ; his own interest , as well as his promise , obliges him to look after such ; his Love , Truth , Glory , with all his Attributes , are concerned to maintain his people in his work ; and therefore nothing more sure than daily bread , and sufficiency in all things to such as serve and obey him .

Secondly , Godliness will secure you in dangerous times , Prov. 3. 23. Thou shalt then walk in thy way safely , and thy foot shall not stumble ; when thou liest down , thou shalt not be afraid ; yea thou shalt lie down , and thy sleep shall be sweet , v. 24. For the Lord shall be thy confidence , and shall keep thy foot from being taken . The way of duty is the way of safety : whatever men think , the greatest security is in the boldest Adventures for God ( if regular ; ) where his Sun does guide you , there his shadow will cover you ; who shall harm you if you are followers of that which is good ? 1 Pet. 3. 13. Men may threaten you , but cannot injure you ; they may spoil your estates , imprison your bodies , but cannot do you any real harm ; while men keep with God , God will abide with them ; his presence shall fence them , his favour shall shield them , his Angels shall encamp about them ; all his Attributes shall guard and secure them : God's people that cleave to him in duty , are as the Hebrews in Goshen , as Israel in the wilderness , as Noah in the Ark ; they onely are safe from ruining evils , when others are exposed to destroying judgments .

Thirdly , Nay , Holiness will not onely maintain and secure you ; but it will also enrich you , and fill you with the best Treasures , the true Riches , Luke 16. 11. the tryed gold that cannot be corrupted or defrauded , Matth. 6. 20. It will furnish you with the unsearchable riches of Christ : the world hath its treasures ; and so hath Christ his precious substance , to bestow on all that trade with and for him ; as hath been already shewn .

Fourthly , Piety will cheer and delight you ; no comforts like theirs who walk with God in truth : This was Hezekia's cordial when under a sentence of death , Isa. 38. 3. Remember O Lord , I beseech thee , how I have walked before thee in truth , and with a perfect heart : And Paul's rejoycing , that in all simplicity and godly sincerity he had his conversation in this world , 2 Cor. 1. 12. The purest pleasures flow down from the Throne , and steam in thorough Sanctuary-waters into the soul : Alas ! what are those drossy comforts that run thorough the worlds chanels , which onely leave a slime behind , and then empty themselves into the dead Sea of perdition , perishing in their using , Col. 2. 22. Carnal mirth hath a pleasant entrance , but an ill farewell , Prov. 14. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull , and the end of that mirth is heaviness : But Religion breeds the best contentments , and most satisfying pleasures , Psal. 36. 8. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house , and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures .

Fifthly , Wisdom's Trade will make you truly great and honourable , and give you a place to walk among those that stand by , Zach. 3. 7. That is ( saith Junius ) p p Constituam te in eadem dignitate qua sunt Angeli Dei in Coelo , & inter ipsorum Myriadas in eadem Ecclesia conversaberis . I will place thee in the same dignity the Angels of God enjoy in Heaven , and thou shalt dwell in the same Church among those Myriades , Prov. 4. 8. Exalt her , and she shall promote thee ; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her . V. 9. She shall give to thine head an Ornament of grace , a Crown of glory shall she deliver thee . How contemptibly soever the world looks on the waies of Godliness , and those that espouse them ; yet all true greatness lies on the side of piety . All the world's glory is but a Pageant , a meer show of honour , compared to that which is on the head of every true Believer : Saints have the noblest extraction , born of God ; the highest dignity , made Kings and Priests unto God , Rev. 1. 6. Ye shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests , Exod. 10. 6. Cloathed with the richest Ornaments , perfect through divine comeliness , Ezek. 16. 10 , to 15. appointed to a Kingdom that is everlasting , assured of Thrones and Crowns with Christ for evermore . Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne , even as I also overcame , and am sit down with my Father in his Throne . A sure Throne shall Believers have above , as certain as Christ is now upon his Fathers Throne ; and the same Throne that the Father gives to Christ , specifically , though not gradually : A Crown fitted to their heads ; indeed Saints cannot wear the Crown Christ doth ; his is the Redeemer's Crown ; theirs the Redeemeds , made of the same glory : Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me , be with me , that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me , 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we suffer , we shall also reign with him . O blessed glory , and greatly to be longed for ! whose measure is incomprehensible , whose duration is undeterminable .

Now , Sinners ; If these Arguments convince you that 't is your necessity , interest and duty to set upon this great employment , and you find your hearts really willing to come up to the proposed terms of this high Calling , and embrace any counsels that lead thereto . a a Prima sanitatis pars est velle sanari , A willingness to be healed is the first part of health . Sen. Then ;

Direct . 1. First ; You must get a capacity for so excellent an undertaking : Heavenly work is too high for earthly natures ; and special service for common endowments : They that are in the flesh cannot please God , Rom. Vltra posse non est esse . 8. 8. No creature can act beyond its being , 't is above the sphere of unchanged nature to carry up the Soul to things above , there must be a spiritual principle before there can be a heavenly operation ; you must first be God's workmanship before you can do his work ; and be created to good works before you can walk therein , Eph. 2. 10. 'T is a sad thing ( saith Mr. Caryl ) to see a bad Caryl ; Nature and principles of Love . man do that which is bad ; yet it is a sadder sight to see a bad man continuing in his state , to go on doing good ; this is the acting of the new creature's part in the old creature's state , and what will that avail ? To set upon Religion in an unregenerate state , is labour in vain ; the dumb may as well speak , the blind see , the dead walk , while they remain such , as they that are evil do good : Can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit ? Mat. 7. 18. Or a Fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter ? Jam. 3. 11. No more can an unsanctified Soul do holy work . The person must be gracious before the work can be good ; God had first respect to Abel , and then to his Offering , Gen. 4. 4. The ungraffed Cherry-tree brings forth but harsh fruit , let the soil and dressing be never so good ; so is the Soul under the highest priviledges and performances without implantation into Christ : The root must bear the branch before the branch can bear fruit ; a breaking off from the wild Olive with a participation of the fatness of the good Olive-tree , is absolutely necessary to true faithfulness , Rom. 11. 17 , 18. Four things are needful to make an action Evangelically good ; a good Principle , Matter , Form and End : neither of which is consistent with a man in his natural state : 'T is dangerous also as well as vain , for persons to set upon doing good , and never care to become good ; for this deceives their own Souls , making them think their condition safe when they are wretched , miserable , poor , blind and naked , Rev. 3. 16. and not only feeds an error in their state , but strongly hinders the cure , while these unprofitable duties consume Salvation-time , and destroy Salvation-hopes ; despair is usually the issue of presumption ; and they that conceit too soon that all is well , shall conclude when too late , that it shall never be better : This then is your first work , ( Souls ) To be sanctified and made meet for your Masters use , and prepared b b 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , fashioned as a Vessel : the meaning is ( saith Dr. Preston ) that then a man is good when his heart is fitted to good works . to every good work , 2 Tim. 2. 21. Labour to get your natures changed , and hearts quickened ; you must be born again , or cannot see the Kingdom of God : Be looking to Jesus to create in you a new heart , a renewed mind , will and affections , to have a saving principle put into your hearts , and a disposition of Soul towards the whole will of God : Cry mightily for the Spirit , and wait for his movings upon the face of Sanctuary-waters , and for a mighty power of God in the Gospel upon your Souls : Get under the healing-wings of Christ , and rest not looking unto Jesus till virtue go out from him to heal your Souls : If this be thy restless desire , thou can'st not let Christ alone , running after him , crying , Jesu , thou Son of David , have mercy upon me ; he will turn again , and have compassion , and give the holy Spirit to them that unfeignedly and incessantly ask him , Mark 10. 47 , 48 , 49. Luke 11. 13.

Direct . 2. Secondly , cease from your own works . Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts , and let him return unto the Lord , and he will have mercy : The first step in returning to God , is departing from sin and self ; c c Nihil nobis cum Deo esse potest nisi a nobis discedamus . Calv. Neither can we ( saith Calvin ) hold converse with a holy God , till we be estranged from our unholy self . When the Apostle advises the Ephesians to put on the new man , Eph. 4. 24. He first exhorts them to put off the old , with his whole conversation : vers. 22. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man , which is corrupt : Grace builds not on an old foundation , neither does it adorn , but reform the former conversation of called Saints ; there is no cloathing upon in regeneration-work , the old garments must off before the new will come on : Religion is not a covering for , but a stripping off a sinful life , neither can you be free to set on God's work till you leave your old works . Rom. 6. 20. For when you were the servants of sin , ye were free from righteousness : You had nothing to do with holiness , you had no freedom to do God's work while you were Sins servants : He speaks of their actual liberty from grace , not their legal freedom , d d Libertas hic de facto non de jure intelligatur . saith Paraeus ; ) you are not at liberty to do the work of holiness , while under the command of sin . No man can serve two Masters : Mat. 6. 24. that is , two contrary Lords , How can the same man e e Quomodo poterit unus idemque homo pietati se quantum opus est impendere & simul circa divitias quaerendas servandasque perpetua solicitudine distrahi ? Grot. ( saith Grotius ) follow godliness as his work , and at the same time be distracted with cares about getting and keeping earthly things ? 'T is a vanity for persons to dream of a compliance between sin and holiness , whose work is too inconsistent for one Soul at one time ; ruling iniquity and grace , are two contrary states , which cannot meet in one person and time : Never think of setting up on the Heavenly Trade , till you are freed from hellish servitude , and invested with the liberty of the Sons of God , a freedom from the love and service of every sin . Godliness calls for the whole of a man's heart , strength and time , and requires a person void of any inconsistent obligations ; resolve to break from every way of death , if ever you think to enter into the way of life .

Direct . 3. Thirdly , Make over your selves to the Lord in an Everlasting Covenant ; they that will be Masters of a Trade , must first be bound to the service of it , and resign up their persons , wills , capacities and time to the instruction and government of another in order to their fitness for such a calling : And so must souls that will learn Wisdom's Merchandise , they must bind themselves to the Trade , and make over themselves and their all to God in Christ , to be taught and enabled to set up this excellent work . Jer. 50. 5. They shall ask the way to Sion with their faces thitherward , saying , Come and let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that cannot be forgotten . Sin had made a separation between their God and them , and brought a death upon their mercies and Templeenjoyments : but now the Spirit of Prophecy breathing on these dry bones , moves them to a vital union with the fountain of life , ( the onely regular way to their new work and mercies ) they must first be joyned to the Lord , before they can be rejoyned to one another , and re-enjoy their lost priviledges ; and this union lies in a hearty acceptance of offered grace , a taking hold of God in Christ , and a Covenant-surrender of the whole soul and its All to him again : [ O for arms to embrace him , saith Mr. Rutherford ! ] This is called a giving up of ones self to the Lord , 2 Corinth. 8. 5. But this they did not as we hoped , but first gave themselves to the Lord , and unto us by the will of God : They exceeded our hope : We onely expected some part of what was theirs , but they gave themselves first to God , and to us ( to be directed and governed by the will of God , to be placed in the fellowship of his Gospel ) as well as their interests to the service of his people : 'T is also a giving away of ones self to the Lord wholly , unreservedly and perpetually , to be no more his own , 1 Cor. 6. 19. And ye are not your own . This surrender of your selves to God ( souls ) must be in judgment , understandingly , and ariseth freely on choice ; universally , without the least reservation ; absolutely , without any limitation or conditions of our own ; eternally , without any expiration and term of this grant , and to be attested by all overt acts within your power , Isa. 44. 5. One shall say I am the Lord's ; another shall call himself by the name of Jacob ; another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord , and surname himself by the name of Jacob. Whatever may most fully ensure and express an absolute devotedness unto God , must be done by those that ever expect to thrive in grace and godliness . Verse 3 , 4. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty , and floods upon the dry ground ; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed , and my blessing upon thy off-spring , and they shall spring up as among the grass , as willows by the water-courses . When once this implantation into Christ is dispatched , then will the Lord give prosperity to that soul ; then are you in a sure way to success in all your holy undertakings , and like to speed well in this Heavenly Trade when you become entirely the Lord 's in order to it : O be not satisfied till God be yours : [ The King's Son or no Husband , Rutherford . ] The rational soul ( saith Augustine ) being capable of God , can be satisfied with nothing but God .

Direct . 4. Fourthly , Come over into the family of Christ , if you would drive on this Heavenly Trade to purpose : Apprentices are houshold servants , up-rising , and down-lying ; and so must Wisdom's Traders be ; they must be members of Christ's family , and dwellers in the house of God . Psal. 65. 4. Blessed is the man whom thou chusest , and causest to approach unto thee , that he may dwell in thy Courts ; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house , even of thy holy Temple . Those whom God chuses for himself , he brings to himself , and makes them dwellers in his Courts : Such In ejus familiam recensitus , ut fide integra inter sanctos coeli cives vitam degat . Buc. a one is entered into his family , that he being a sound Believer , may spend his life among the holy Citizens of Heaven . Those whom the Lord takes into Covenant , he takes into communion ; not onely with himself , but with his people . Jer. 3. 14 , 15. I am married unto you , and I will take you one of a City , and two of a Family , and I will bring you unto Sion , and I will give you Pastors according to my own heart , which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding : This was intended of Gospel-times and Churches : When all the Nations shall be gathered to the Name of the Lord to Jerusalem , verse 17. And the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel , verse 18. which began to be fulfilled upon the breaking down of the partition wall , and the bringing in of the Gentiles unto Christ , Ephes. 2. 14 , 15 , 19. When Believers should be no more strangers , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . and foreiners , but fellow-citizens with the Saints , and of the houshold of God . The Apostle hath reference to the 12th verse , where souls out of Christ are said to be aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel , strangers to the Covenant of Promise ; but now having access to God by one Spirit , verse 18. Ye are no more strangers and foreiners . ( a ) In respect of the Church of God you are no longer strangers ( saith Zanchy ) but fellow-citizens with the Saints ; and in regard of the Covenant of God , you are no more foreiners , but of the houshold of God . In whom all the building fitly framed together ( that is , every stone in the building ) groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord , verse 21. The Church of God is his Temple where he is rightly served , Rev. 7. 15. Therefore are they before the Throne of God , and serve him day and night in his Temple : which is his Church ( saith Mr. Durham ) here begun by fellowship in his Ordinances and in ( f ) Respectu Reipublicae Israelis ( i. e. ) Ecclesiae concives sanctorum : respectu foederis cum Deo esse domesticos Dei . Heaven compleatly . Ezek. 20. 40. For in my holy Mountain ; in the Mountain of the Height of Israel ( a type of Gospel-Churches ) saith the Lord God ; there shall all the house of Israel , all of them in the Land , serve me ; there will I accept them , there will I require your offerings : Plainly intimating that God hath no acceptable service , but in the Churches of his Saints ; I mean as to publick worship : Persons cannot give God his full instituted worship , till they come into fellowship with his people , seeing Church-fellowship is it self an institution of Christ . Matth. 28. 19 , 20. Acts 2. 41 , 42. 1 Cor. 12. 28. Mat. 18. 17 , 18 , 19. The Church of Christ is his body , where he hath set his members , 1 Cor. 12. 18. That being fitly joyned together , they might increase with the increase of God , Ephes. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. His Vineyard where his work lies , and into which he sends his Labourers , Isa. 5. 7. Matth. 20. 1 , 2. His Garden where his Lillies and Beds of Spices are . Cant. 6. 2. His Family where he feeds and instructs them ; where he guides and governs them . 1 Tim. 3. 15. Ephes. 3. 15. His Sanctuary where he hides and secures them . Psal. 78. 69. His Galleries where he walks , and is held by his Saints . Cant. 7. 5. His Golden-candlesticks where his Lamps are burning : The Firmament and Heaven where his Stars are shining , and the Sun of Righteousness ariseth with healing in his wings . Rev. 2. 1. There 's his Granary where he laies up his provisions , his manna , marrow , fat things , and spiced wine : Isa. 25. 6. There 's his School where he instructs his Disciples , and makes them wise to salvation . Isa. 54. 13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord , and great shall be the peace of thy children : There are his Oracles and Secrets . Rom. 3. 2. The Adoption , the Glory , the Covenants , the giving of the Law , and the Service of God , and the Promises , Rom. 9. 4. There 's his Nursery where his tender plants are set to grow , where he brings in those that shall be saved . Acts 2. 47. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved . His converting the Gentiles is called a perswading them into the tents of Shem , that is the Church of God , Gen. 9. 27. Yea the House of God is the gate of Heaven . Gen. 28. 17. This is none other but the House of God ; this is the gate of Heaven . v v Per portam Ecclesiae in portam Paradisi . By the gate of the Church ( saith Augustine ) we enter into the gate of Paradise : How goodly then are these Tents of Jacob ? How amiable are those Tabernacles of Israel ? As the valleys they spread forth , as gardens by the Rivers side , as the trees of Lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted , and as Cedar-trees beside the waters , Numb. 24. 5 , 6. To your Tents then O Israel , 2 Sam. 20. 1. Fly to your windows O ye Doves , Isa. 60. 8. Love the habitation of God's house , and the place where his honour dwells , Psal. 26. 8. Where are such pleasures , treasures , light , life ? where are your chiefest interests , your priviledges , your work , your Lord , the first-fruits of your eternal glory ? if you have taken Christ for your Teacher , you must take his Church for your School ; you must dwell where he dwells , where you may sit at his feet , and receive his Doctrine .

Direct . 5. Fifthly , Be mortified to this present world ; get your hearts loose from things below . No man that warreth a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , tricis & laqueis implicatur entangleth himself with the affairs of this life , that he may please him that hath chosen him to be a souldier , 2 Tim. 2. 4. He does not lay ties and snares about his feet , which throw him down , and hinder the course he engages to follow . Christianity is a Warfare , and Race ; earthly things in the heart are as entanglements about the feet , which hinder this undertaking ; you will have no liberty to heavenly things , till redeemed from the Earth ; nor can run the race towards glory , till you lay aside the weights that press you down , and the sin that doth so easily beset you , Heb. 12. 1. If you will set your affections on things above , you must first take them off from things beneath , Col. 3. 2. He that sets his face towards Heaven , must turn his back upon the world , Phil. 3. 13. Forgetting those things that are behind , and reaching forth unto those things that are before : The world is one of those things Christians must leave behind them , if ever they think to reach Heaven b b Debebamus magno animo contemnere vitam & mundum & pleno pectore anhelare ad futuram gloriam aeternae vitae . Luther . in Gen. We should ( saith Luther ) with a certain greatness of mind contemn this life , and world , and with a large heart breathe after the future glory of an Eternal Life . Till you are brought to a contempt of this world , and can count it as dross and dung , you can never value Heaven , or pursue things above with an even and uninterrupted heart . That soul which designs to make Religion its work , must be ready to attend it at all times , and to have the heart composed and fitted to all the instructions that lead to it , which an earthly heart cannot do : A light and mutable spirit , now for God , and then for the world , is unfit for this great employment . He that puts his hand to the plough , and looks back , is unmeet for the Kingdom of God , Luke 9. 62. And such is a heart under the command of earthly things ; 't is never stedfast with God : the things of this world fill the soul with wind , and make it light and trifling about the things of God : The heart of man is like that Jewel ( I have read of ) that one gave to Alexander , that while it was kept bright , weighed down the choicest gold , and most precious stones ; but if once it fell into the dust , and took rust , it was lighter than a feather : And so is the heart , if it falls into the dusty things of this world . The Church cloathed with the Sun , hath the Moon under her feet , Rev. 12. 1. The more a soul is filled with the pure knowledge of God , and shining in its conversation , the more it is lifted up above the world : The nearer Heaven , the farther from Earth . The more separate from the world ( saies Mr. Greenhill on Ezek. 3. 23. ) the more fit for communion with God : Ezekiel must leave his house , and go into the plain , and there the Lord will talk with him . The King's daughter must forget her own people , and her Father's house , ere the King would greatly desire her beauty , Psal. 45. 10 , 11. And Abraham must leave his Countrey , and pleasant habitation , before he could get into a way of frequent communion with God ; and so must a soul in heart and affections sit loose from the ensnaring things of this world , if ever he thinks to drive this Heavenly Trade . c c Tanto magis adhaeret Deo quilibet quanto minus diligit proprium . By so much the more ( saith Augustine ) doth any one cleave to God , as he ceases from loving his own interests .

Direct . 6. You must resolve on this also , To submit to all the instructions the Lord Jesus gives you ; to go thorough all the labours , and bear all the burdens that this Heavenly Trade calls you to ; every Art and Calling have their principles and rules , by the knowledge and obedience of which they are attain'd to ; and so hath Religion : And as Piety is the highest and noblest profession ; so are its principles more pure and mysterious , and with greatest difficulty attainable . Acquired knowledge furnishes men with light sufficient for all earthly undertakings ; but to this Heavenly Trade both infused and acquired understanding is needful ; both rules , and an eye to discern them must be given , if ever this Art be obtained : For this end the Lord Jesus is given , for a light of the Gentiles , to open the blind eyes , that they may see , Isa. 42. 6 , 7. and for a Prophet , to teach and instruct them the way they should go : and to hear and obey him as such , is the absolute duty of all that have given themselves up to his conduct and government ; Acts 3. 22. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me , him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you . He hath undertaken to inwise them that obey him , and to shew them what they must do , Acts 9. 6. And if they go on to know , they shall know the Lord : if they sit at his feet , and hear his Word , Deut. 33. 3. he will shine out to them , and send out a fiery Law for them : In order to which instruction your duty is to hear him , to watch daily at his gates , and to wait at the posts of his house , Prov. 8. 34. when he calls , say with Samuel , Speak Lord , for thy servant heareth , 1 Sam. 3. 10. And whatsoever he saith ( said the Mother of our Lord ) unto you , do it , John 2. 5. Slight no directions , stick at no difficulties in comporting with his pleasure , 't is for the life of your souls ; obedience is so necessary in the Disciples of Christ , as that without it no true knowledge can be attained here , John 7. 17. ( if any man doth his will he shall know the Doctrine ) nor salvation hereafter , Heb. 5. 9. ( he became the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him : ) His yoke is easie , and his burden is light , Prov. 8. 5 , 6. Prov. 3. 17. He enjoyns you nothing but what is needful , profitable , excellent , and pleasant : Hear and your souls shall live , Isa. 53. 3. Shall the servants of men come , go , do this or that , when they are bidden ? Matt. 8. 8. Yea , shall the Devil's slaves do the greatest drudgeries , run most desperate adventures ; throw themselves from pinacles ; yea damn their souls at his bidding ? and the servants of Christ so disobedient ( when 't is for their own concerns , their mercies and advantages are wrapt up in it ) and that to so rational and easie injunctions ? The consideration of this prevailed with a Heathen to obedience , when against his inclination . 2 King . 5. 13. His servants came near and said ; My Father , if the Prophet had bid thee do some great thing , would'st thou not have done it ? ( seeing it is for thy life and health ) how much rather then when he saith to thee , wash and be clean ? If his commands seem grievous , let love sweeten them : If his yoke seem heavy , let his rest at the end of it render it easie : when duties seem burdensom to flesh and blood , his burdens heavy , losses for the Gospel's sake great , think thus ; better smart once than ever ; to undergo troubles in the way , than at the end ; to have my bad things here , rather than be tormented hereafter , Luke 16. 25. and what pains and hardships will men undergo for gold that perisheth , 1 Pet. 1. 7. yea for counters that cheat them ; and shall not I for an inheritance that fadeth not , reserved in Heaven , 1 Pet. 1. 5 ? What strivings have some to obtain a Crown that is corruptible ; and shall I be weary that am in pursuit of one that is incorruptible ? 1 Cor. 9. 25. without labour , no rest ; without bearing the heat and burden of the day ( when called thereto ) no penny at the end , Matt. 20. 12 , 13. without striving lawfully , no crowning , 2 Tim. 2. 5. without doing the commandment , no eating of the tree of life , Rev. 22. 14. without enduring to the end , no salvation , Mark 13. 13. comfort your selves with this , that Heaven will make amends for all ; when your wet and weary sowings shall end in a pleasant and eternal harvest . Gal. 16. 9. Let us not be weary in well doing , for you shall reap in due time , if ye faint not : Be stedfast , unmovable , always abounding in the work of the Lord , forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58.

Direct . 7. Lastly , What you do , do quickly : Time waits not your leisure . There are but twelve hours in the day , and how many of them have been slept and sinned away , and how few of them may be before you , who knows ? What if your Sun should set at noon day ? or a summons meet you in the midst of your work : Give account of thy Stewardship , for thou shalt be no longer Steward Luke 16. 2. What will you then do ? Some of you are in your afternoon , & what time is that to set forth such a long journey as the way to Heaven is ? and yet will you gain ( by your delays ) some of this time also , for the Devil , World and Flesh ? others of you are in your morning , ( the best time to put forth in your travel towards glory : ) O! lose not your season for eternity : Make much of time , ( saith Aquinas ) especially in the weighty matter of Salvation : O! how much would they that now lie frying in Hell , rejoyce , if they might have the least minute of time wherein they might get God's favour : the young man hath death at his back , the old man before his eyes , and that 's the more dangerous enemy that pursues thee , than that which marches up to thy face : Christ's work admits of no delays , his injunction allows not of too morrow , but while 't is called to day : Heb. 3. 7. To day if you will hear his voice , vers. 13. To day , lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin : Seek the Lord while he may be found , Isa. 55. 6. [ Haste , haste , the tide will not bide , Rutherford . ] 'T is now or never , while the Light shines , the Lord knocks , the Angel moves on the waters , while the Lord delays his coming : Salvation-work is quick work , God's racers must run , his Doves must fly , his Servants be diligent , that they may be found of him in peace , 1 Cor. 9. 26. Isa. 60. 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. You that have stood idle in the market-place all your day hitherto , hasten into the Lord's Vineyard , Matt. 20. 6. [ Love is sick to hear tell of to morrow : Mr. Rutherford . ] What Jonathan said to his Lad when David's life was in danger , let me advise you : And Jonathan cried after the Lad , make speed , haste , stay not , 1 Sam. 20. 38. I rue nothing ( said precious Mr. The fulfilling of the Scriptures . Welch when on his sick-bed ) but that I was so long in beginning : O , saith David , that I had wings like a Dove , for then would I fly away , and be at rest : I would hasten my escape from the stormy wind and Tempest , Psal. 55. 6 , 8. Sinners , you are in danger of stormy tempests while in your unchanged state ; O hasten to your strong holds ye prisoners of hope . When Brentius was like to be given up to the enemy , one writes him this note ; Fuge Brenti cito citius citissime : Fly Brentius quickly , more quickly , most speedily . Souls , 't is for your lives , make all possible haste about the work of your Salvation : And you that are entred on this heavenly work , double your diligence that you may finish your course before God finishes your time : methinks the word of God , and his providences this day ; yea , every thing seems to thrust you forward , and do to you as Pharaoh's Task-masters did to Israel : Exod. 5. 13. And the Task-masters hasted them , saying , fulfil your work .

To Professors .

Counsel 2. Secondly , if the Heavenly Trade be the best Trade ; then you that profess this Calling , be you exhorted to follow it ; keep up and improve your Trade for Heaven : what 's an employment without improvement ? the most profitable Calling not followed , turns to little advantage : The day we live in gives men sensible experience of this truth , that they who intend to live in the World , must attend their employments : The idle person suffers hunger ; they must be careful and diligent in their business , that think to make any thing of their earthly interests : and so 't is in this Trade of godliness ; they that will be saved , must work out their Salvation . A Trade is a man's business , and course of life , which he pursues and carries on from day to day ; 't is the subject of his thoughts , counsels , and considerations ; of his time and strength , and daily work ; where he ends one day , he begins the next , and contributes his utmost wisdom , parts and labours to the most vigorous prosecution of it : And so must it be in this Heavenly Trade , ( Christians , ) it must be the impending business , and principal concern of your whole life ; that which commands your thoughts , purposes and capacities ; which engrosses your time , care and strength , and to which every other business must give way , and every occasion and occurrence must be subservient : it must be followed , and driven on every day , in every thing , place and company ; what-ever is neglected , that must go on , and give no place to intermissions , no , not for a moment : You must not say to godliness , as Felix did to Paul ; Go thy way for this time , when I have a more convenient season I will send for thee , Acts 24. 25. Stops in the way of God are not easily recovered ; one days neglect brings all out of order : Prosperity in Religion admits of no Parenthesis in its work , or consists with allowed interruptions ; Piety must be as the blood that runs through every vein of your life , and affair in the World : In eating , drinking , talking , thinking , buying , selling , you must be still driving on Wisdom's Merchandise . Christians , follow your work , or lay down your Trade ; 't is vanity , yea , the way to beggery , to profess a Calling , and not pusue it .

Quest. But wherein lies this Heavenly Trade , which I must so make my business ? what do you drive at by all these Arguments for Heavenly Trading ?

What I intend by this metaphor , I shall open to you under these seven general Heads , as the main duty of a Christian , and to be carried on in the whole course of his life .

1 To have and keep up a heavenly spirit .

2 To secure your interest in heavenly things .

3 To get in more and more of heavenly Goods .

4 Every day to drive on heavenly work .

5 To be heavenly in your thoughts and meditations daily .

6 To keep up heavenly converses every day .

7 To improve every thing you have , meet with , and do , to heavenly ends and advantages .

First , If you will drive on this heavenly Trade , you must have and maintain a heavenly spirit ; this is the spring of all heavenly actions ; as is a man's spirit , so will his thoughts , words and conversation be ; look what way the spirit of a man goes , that way the man goes : They that are after the flesh , do mind the things of the flesh ; and they that are after the spirit , the things of the spirit ; That is , they that are altogether a a Carnis auctum sequentes . led by their carnal affections , ( saith Willet ) following the ducture of the flesh , ( saith Paraeus , ) who are govern'd by a carnal spirit , they mind and pursue carnal things ; and they that are after the spirit , who are under the rule and government b b Qui se spiritui regendos dedunt . Parae . of the spirit , who are spiritually minded , these do savour and make after spiritual things . What the Prophet Ezekiel speaks of the motion of second causes according to the direction and influence of the first cause . Ezek. 1. 20. Whithersoever the spirit was to go , they went ; ( that is the wheels , ) for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels : The same may be said of the actions of men , that they are according to the motion of that ruling spirit that is in them : they that live in the spirit , walk in the spirit , Gal. 5. 25. Caleb's fulfilling after God , was the fruit of that other spirit he received , Numb. 14. 24. 'T is said of those that builded the house of God , Ezra 1. 5. that God 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 had raised up their spirits to the work , as birds stir up their young to fly . Then rose up the chief of the Fathers of Judah and Benjamin , and the Priests and Levites , with all those whose spirit God had raised up , to go up to build the House of the Lord which is in Jerusalem . They that set about the work of Religion , must be persons of raised spirits , capable of ascending to things above . The reason why no more do set upon this Heavenly Trade , is , because they want this heavenly spirit , their spirit is earthly , and that ( as leaven ) seasons their whole souls , and makes their conversations earthly : 'T is contrary to nature , for a carnal mind to savour spiritual things ; Such are not subject to the Spirit of God , neither indeed can be , Rom. 8. 7. 'T is as natural for the stone to ascend , and waters to run back , as for an earthly heart to love and pursue heavenly things . A heavenly spirit sutes heavenly things , and does as naturally incline the soul to things above , as the fire moves upward , and the water carries all that is in it to the Ocean . A heavenly spirit savours heavenly things , and stirs up heavenly desires and motions to divine things . A heavenly spirit conveys out heavenly influences and strength to the soul , and is as good blood and spirits that strengthen the body . A heavenly spirit is influenced by heavenly arguments , and prevailed with by heavenly motives taken from the love of God , the excellency of Christ , the sutableness and advantage of spiritual things to the nature of the soul , the pleasing and glorifying of God ; all which signifies nothing to an earthly and carnal heart , which only understands , savours , and is acted by carnal reasons and considerations . 'T is therefore a principal part of a Christian's business in this Heavenly Trade , ( and that which is leading to all other duties ) to take heed to his spirit , Mai. 2. 15. to get and keep that pure and heavenly . If the fountain be corrupt , the streams cannot be good : Get your minds beam'd over with heavenly light , to discern heavenly things , their nature and worth ; this Paul begs for the Saints at Ephesus ; Eph. 1. 17 , 18. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of Glory , may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledg of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlighten'd , that you may know what is the hope of his Calling , and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints . There are great hopes and glorious riches made over to Believers in the Gospel , the knowledg of which is necessary to chear the heart , and engage the soul with all its strength to make out after them . One thought of Christ ( saith Mr. Ball ) reaching the heart , is more to be valued than all Creature-contentments whatsoever , though they should be enjoyed in their fulness for a thousand years without interruption : 'T was this kept alive the Apostles hearts , under the dyings of the Lord Jesus in their bodies , and fill'd them with such courage & joy , that they had an eye to see glorious and eternal things . 2 Cor. 4. 10. 13. 16. 18. While we look not at the things which are seen , but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal , but the things which are not seen are eternal . And this was their great work by the Gospel , to make men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the World was hid in God , who created all things by Jesus Christ , Eph. 3. 9. And having got this spiritual eye , a Christian's duty is to keep it open , and fixt on things above , to preserve it from the injury of Sin and Satan , to take heed of the vapours of a carnal heart , and the dusty motes of this lower World , that they fall not in and weaken this sight : to get eye-salve from Christ , and pure annointings of the spirit on it every day , that they may see things invisible , and those great things of the other World they are engag'd about : The most discerning eye on this side the everlasting Hills sees but darkly through a glass , and knows but in part , 1 Cor. 13. 9. 12. How carnal are the minds of most Christians in this World ? the very Disciples ( though their eyes were blessed with peculiar sights , ) Mat. 13. 16. yet had carnal apprehensions of spiritual things , even after the Lord Jesus had spent all his pains about them . Acts 1. 6. Lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom unto Israel ? knowing souls have sometimes their eyes held that they cannot see Jesus , Luke 24. 16. nor bear discoveries of his glorious truth , Joh. 16. 12. that the Lord Jesus may say to all in this life ; O fools , and slow of heart to believe , Luke 24. 28. David , after he had been long a learner , yea , after he was wiser than his teachers , yet cries out for more light . Psal. 143. 8. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk . Psal. 119. 18. Open thou mine eyes , that I may behold wondrous things out of thy Law . We may sail here ( saith Mr. Hooker ) in daily search , and when we know , there is something still beyond our Hooker on 17 of John . knowledg , as men that travel in the main Ocean , they see nothing but water , and yet see neither side nor shore , brim nor bottom , and there is more water to be seen . All the treasures of wisdom and knowledg are hid in Christ , and he keeps the keys in his own hand and bosome . Be often looking unto Jesus for clearer sights of him , and the things freely given of God , with the way to them . Knock often at the treasury-door , till he answer and open , and send you away enriched with the knowledg of him : this is part of your Trade , to know Goods , and the worth of them , and how to buy and sell to best advantage . Alas , to what purpose is it to deal in Commodities that men know not ? and heavenly things are hidden things , beyond the search of Men and Angels . 1 Pet. 1. 12. Which things the Angels desire to look into ; * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , limis oculis vel in transitu , & quasi per transennam aspicere . Bud. They bowed and stooped down to pry into those hidden secrets , and as it were to peep into the mysteries of the Gospel ; as the word signifies ; to look a-squint with cross eyes , every way , and with quickest observance , as through a Casement at one that passeth by ; and this they did with an earnest and restless y y 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . desire . The Apostle alludes to the Cherubims placed over the Mercy-seat , with their faces looking towards the Mercy-seat , and through it to the Ark ( a type of Christ and Gospel-mysteries ) Exod. 25. 20. as things worthy , and yet hard to be known , which call for an inward and spiritual eye under fresh anointings every day . Christians , this is your daily work , to follow on to know the Lord ; to be much with the Sun of Righteousness for healings and beamings on the eve of your mind , that you may be more capable to understand the whole counsel of God concerning you . This is a Heavenly Spirit or Mind enlightened with Heavenly Wisdom to eye and understand heavenly spiritual things .

Another property of a Heavenly Spirit is this ; 'T is a Spirit that savours as well as sees heavenly things ; it tasts a sweetness in divine things ; there is nothing in all the world that so pleases a spiritual mind , as spiritual things : so much is included in that word , Rom. 8. 5. Do z z 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . mind the things of the flesh : that is , do savour and rellish them ; so 't is rendred , Matth. 16. 23. For thou savourest not the things that be of God ; it includes the affections as well as understanding . A heavenly spirit takes delight in heavenly things , and is an active principle that carries out the soul after God and things eternal : And that 's your work too , to get and maintain a delight in God , and divine things ; to cherish breathings after heavenly things , and preserve your spiritual senses in exercise , that your souls may be ever quick in seeing , hearing , tasting , smelling and feeling , the joyes and pleasures that are in things above : By this means Religion will be desirable , Christ's yoke easie , and his waies pleasant , and his commands not grievous , This is one of the most difficult pieces of Christianity , to maintain the inward principle and spring of holy actions pure and lively : 'T is far easier to set on any external duty , than to keep the heart in a fit active frame for God , which is apt to languish and grow out of order every moment , if not kept and maintained by continued supplies from above . Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence , for out of it are the issues of Life . Now if you would keep up a heavenly spirit :

First , Beware of those things that weaken it : A Heavenly Spirit is a very tender thing , and must be charily kept , or will soon suffer loss ; 't is like the apple of the eye , that is liable to injury from every dust or stroak that comes nigh it ; or like a Venice-glass , that is down and broken with every little touch . You cannot be too choice and tender in watching and guarding this Spirit from every thing that is contrary to it .

Take heed of carnal lusts , these stand between God and the soul , and these resist the Spirit , Gal. 5. 17. and fight against the soul . 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dearly Beloved , I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims , abstain from fleshly lusts , that war against the soul . Water is as consistent with fire , sickness with health , death with life , as unmortified lusts with a heavenly spirit ; and you may as safely dwell with thieves and bloody murderers , as suffer fleshly lusts to harbour near your hearts : These suffered to hover in the soul , will devour your sacrifice ; and like water , quench this sacred fire ; and with the Ivy , eat out the nourishment of this heaven-born spirit . When Alexander asked Diogenes what he would desire of him ; that you ( saith he ) would stand aside a little from between me and the warm Sun : so a soul that knows what the views of God are , will desire nothing more than the remove of what stands between him and the warming sight of this heavenly Sun . Carnal lusts are as venemous breath , that soon seize on , and weaken the vitals of godliness : Never expect peace or welfare to the spiritual seed , till the bond-woman and her Son be cast out . How soon have excellent frames been all lost , and the candle of the Lord well-nigh put out by these filthy damps that ascend from the deeps of unclean and unmortified affections . This wrought such changes in Israel ; now they sang his praises , and then presently forgat his works , Psal. 106. 12. Those divine raptures could not abide , and what was the cause ? why 't was unmortified lusts that had dominion over them . V. 14. They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness , and tempted God in the Desart , and he gave them their requests , but sent leanness into their souls . This soon brought the Jews from being conquerours , to captives , that they did not pursue their victories , and drive out the Canaanites out of the valleys , as well as the mountains , Judg. 1. 19. ch. 2 , 3. This want of mortification in Believers is the cause that their corruptions do so often give check to their graces , and make their choice heavenly frames so short-liv'd and mutable . [ O cursed pleasures ! O damnable ease bought with the loss of God! Rutherford . ] O Christians ! guard your spirit from those filthy and fleshly lusts , as Physicians do fortifie the spirits against malignant vapours , if ever you will maintain a gracious and heavenly spirit .

Earthly things also admitted too near the heart , prove the bane of a heavenly spirit : these , like a stone at the bird's leg , pluck it down when it attempts to be upon the wing : Worldly affections , when they exceed their bounds , are like waters that overflow the banks ; they carry down all heavenly motions before them . Earthly things are the Devils lure to professing Christians , which draw down their lofty meditations , when they are in chase of things above ; as the Fowler allures down the towring Lark when hovering aloft in the gentle air . The Devil deals with earthly men , as Naturalists say men do with Bees ; when they swarm and are flying away , they throw up dust , and they scatter again : So doth Satan when their thoughts are up upon heavenly things ; he casts in the dusty thoughts of this world , and they scatter them again . Demas hath forsaken us , having loved this present world , 2 Tim. 4. 10. Earthly things draw away the heart from God , his work and interest : How often do those interrupt , if not countermand the most serious thoughts of gracious souls ? and where they cannot as a Master command , they will as neighbours be often coming in , and hinder the soul in its most weighty business , if the door be not lockt against their unseasonable visits . Worldly lusts must be denied , as well as ungodliness , by those that intend to live righteously , soberly and godly in this present world , Tit. cap. 2. v. 11 , 12. Earthly things are good servants , but bad Masters ; useful in their place ; as fire in the hearth is profitable , but in the thatch dangerous ; and as unruly Servants , and untamed Colts are serviceable when reduced to their place , and kept under government . Worldly thoughts are as some roots that must be often trod down , or they will spill up and seed in our hearts . Christians , have a special strong guard against the encroachments of your earthly affairs , if ever you will secure the thrivings of a heavenly spirit ,

Take heed also of grieving the Spirit of Grace , which maintains and relieves this heavenly spirit : As the spring is to the streams ; so is the holy Spirit to this heavenly spirit in Believers , that feeds and supplies it from his own nature : Now to grieve this Spirit , is to provoke him to withhold his gracious communications to the soul . Ephes. 4. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption : Which implies , that this Spirit of Grace being grieved , suspends its comforting sealing influences towards the souls of Believers . This Scripture is taken from Isa. 63. 10. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit , therefore he was turned to be their enemy , and he fought against them : They grieved his Spirit , as the word signifies ; and this broke that amicable accord between the Spirit and them , that he became their enemy , and cut off all succours from them ; yea , comes forth against them : And that which grieved the Spirit of God was , the the abuse of its kindness . V. 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted , and the Angel of his presence saved them ; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them , and he bare them , and carried them all the daies of old . Nothing does more grieve the Spirit of God , than the abuse of his kindness and tender mercy to his people ; when the Lord hath been opening the bowels of his pity to souls in saving and redeeming-mercy , and hath been shedding abroad his love upon them , bearing with , and carrying of them for a long time ; and all this is slighted and contemned , and the soul takes no notice of all this grace , but still perseveres in its evil course ; this grieves the Spirit , and causeth him to withhold his tender mercy , and quickening influence from the soul , and it becomes weak as water , and withers in all the leaves of her spring , Ezek. 17. 9. Psa. 104. 29. As the member languishes when it can no longer receive influences from the head ; and the branch withers when the root communicates no sap to it : so is it with the soul when the spirit ceases from all its gracious communications , as it does when grieved by those he loves and labours with ; not as if the Divine Spirit could be capable of passions and perturbations , as creatures are : But then may the holy Spirit be said to be grieved , when gracious souls do that which is enough to grieve one that tenderly affects us , and by all means seeks our eternal good . Now two things usually grieve such a one : First , Injuries from a friend . Secondly , The sufferings of a friend . Unkindness from those we love , does usually sit nearer our hearts , than any injuries from strangers or enemies : we usually expect more regard from such , and therefore are more troubled at disappointments : And such is the tenderness of the Spirit to Believers , that want of love , or injurie from such is more abusive , and carries in it all that which in its nature is grieving . Again , we usually grieve at the evils of those we love ; and such are the sins of Believers , they are injurious to themselves , and enemies to their own souls : This the Spirit of God sees that gracious souls , by their carnal affections , and sensual passions , by their corrupt communications , and fleshly lusts , do not onely resist him , and frustrate his work in them ; but these also injure and endanger their own souls ; by these they lose many a mercy , and draw upon them many afflictions and fatherly displeasure from God against them ; and this grieves the Spirit to see ; and this removes his presence , and hinders his comforting , quickening operations , by reason of which their spirits fail , and become cold and weak to every heavenly action , Your work Christians , is to be tender of the Spirit ; to take heed you be not unkind to his person , that you do not undervalue his gracious communications , or resist his internal operations : Take heed of unthankfulness for his kindnesses , of slighting his counsels , of unsuitable walking to his rules and mercies , if you would not grieve him , and so deprive your selves of his quickening influences on your spirits . That 's the first : Beware of those things that weaken this heavenly Spirit .

Secondly , If you would maintain a Heavenly Spirit ; get all the nourishment you can for it : As the body is nourished by food , and the animal spirits by contributions of joy and contentment ; so is this Heavenly Spirit by all the means and helps God hath appointed to this end , 1 Tim. 4. 6. nourished up in the word of 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . faith , and of good doctrine , whereunto thou hast attained . The Word and Ordinances are to the inner-man , as nourishing food to the outward , which strengthens the spiritual part , and maintains its vigour and activity . Timothy had imbibed the Doctrine of the Gospel together with his milk ( saith Calvin ) and had made continual progresses in the same to that day , which did so greatly strengthen and nourish him in his faith and graces . The Word of God is suited , sent and commissioned to the service and advantage of your graces ; 't is the way by which the Lord Jesus maintains and encreases spiritual life and growth in the new-born soul . 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word , that ye may grow thereby . Attend upon all the Ordinances of God , where they are purely and powerfully administred : Be much in reading the Scriptures , and such help 〈◊〉 the Lord gives you for your instruction and quickening . 1 Tim. 4. 13. Give attendance to reading , to exhortation , to doctrine ; meditate upon these things ; give thy self wholly to them , that thy profiting may appear to all . V. 15. a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Hisce te exerceto jugiter constanter vehementer . Buc. Be thou in them : as the words are ; that is , exercise thy self with these continually , constantly , and with all thy might ; let not a day pass without reading , meditation , and secret prayer , that the inner-man may have all the recruits that are needful and b b Whilest thou dost not follow the directing light of the Spirit , thou shalt never have the quickening , cherishing beams of it . Culver . appointed for its strengthening . Your bodies can better want their appointed food , than your souls their daily bread : The want of constant feeding , and sound digestion of spiritual provisions , is one cause of that soul-leanness , and spiritual languishing that abounds every where this day .

Thirdly , If you will keep up a Heavenly Spirit ; be much in communion with the Father of Spirits . Fellowship with God puts a stamp of Heaven upon the soul , and leaves an impress of the Divine Nature on it . 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all with open face , beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord , are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord . Views of God , though but through the glass of Ordinances , have an assimulating virtue , and do transform the mind into his own likeness . When Moses was taken up into a nearness to God , he gets some abiding beams of his glory upon him , and comes off with divine shines on his countenance , Exod. 34. 35. When the Lord Jesus was got on to a high Mountain apart , and had more near fellowship with Heaven , 't is said : He was transfigured , and his face did shine . Nearness to God does wonderfully warm and quicken the heart , as approaches of the Sun do the body . With thee is the fountain of life ; in thy light shall we see light , Psal. 36. 9. As the being of spiritual Life lies in union with-God in Christ by faith ; so is its well being maintained by communion with him in the Spirit , who supplies the soul with quickenings , as the fountain doth the vessel that 's put under it , with waters : God is in himself the Essential Life , and to his people the fountain of Life . c c Tu Domine es vita per essentiam & sons vitae per communionem , a te omnis vita effluit ac incessanter proflait . Jo. Paul . Palant . Thou Lord ( saith one ) art life by thy Essence , and the fountain of Life by communion ; from thee all Life flows out , and runs down uncessantly . In fellowship the Lord Jesus lets out Himself , Love and Spirit ; and this attracts the heart after God , and strengthens the soul's motions after him . Every act of fellowship with Christ here ( saith Mr. Reyner ) is a step Heaven-ward : By it the heart is raised after God , sweetly refreshed and strengthened with spiritual strength . To live in fellowship with God ( saies the same Authour ) is to live at the highest rate under Heaven , next to Heaven ; yea as in a corner of Heaven , to live in the highest Region of Christianity , — 't is the Life of Paradise , an Evangelical , yea Angelical and Coelestial Life , in comparison whereof the most men and women are dead . Communion with God does wonderfully nourish the Heavenly Spirit , and fatten the spiritual part of Believers : Such ( saith Reyner ) suck a honey-comb , eat fat things full of marrow , and drink wine on the lees well refined , spiced wine . O Christians ; press after nearness to God in Ordinances and Duties ; rest not in highest priviledges without spiritual converse with God in them , and communications of his Love and Life through them .

Fourthly , Cherish heavenly motions in your hearts , and be tender of all the breathings of the Spirit upon you . It may be the Lord comes in upon the heart with some Spiritual Light or Life , in a Sermon , or in a Duty , or when alone , stirring up thy desires , and warming thy affections , making some offers of grace , and help to thy dull and languishing soul ; take heed now how thou slightest or stiflest these : this is one step to the quenching of the Spirit , and impeding its gracious assistance , and vital operations on thy soul : 1 Thes. 5. vers. 19. Quench not the Spirit . He that will kindle a fire , gathers up every little coal , and makes the most of the least spark . The shavings of gold are gold , and the smallest breathings of the Spirit are to be highly prized : He that checks the first motions of the Spirit , may never meet with the second ; and he that slights the least gifts of grace , may forever miss of its larger doles . O to what a height might grace come in thy soul , if every stirring of it were improved ! God despises not the day of thy small things ; how unreasonable is it thou should'st overlook his ! The Lord Jesus ( Christians ) doth nourish and cherish the least good that is in you , Ephes. 5. 29. O be tender of whatever communications come from him to you ! This will abundantly help on the enlivenings and enlargements of this Heavenly Spirit .

Fifthly , Dwell much in the meditation of Heaven ; this will heavenlize your spirit : 'T was this made the Apostles persons of such heavenly spirits ; they did often look to things above . 1 Cor. 4 18. While we look not at the things which are seen , but at the things which are not seen . No affliction could discourage them from owning and professing Christ ; nor earthly comforts allure their desires and delights from Christ ; and that which so strongly guarded their hearts from either of these dangers , was a firm perswasion of an interest in future glory , and a diligent observing eye upon this glory : a levelling look at this mark does wonderfully raise the heart towards it , and put in a new spirit and life into the soul , strongly engaging all its attempts towards the enjoyment of it : Frequent contemplations of Heaven do much wean the heart from this Earth . If thou remembrest thou art not of this world , earthly things shall onely be admitted into the Court of the Temple , not into the heart , which is the Holy of Holies , Burg. on 17. Joh. How contemptibly did those Worthies of old look on this world , when once they got sights of Heaven ! Heb. 11. They counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on the Earth ; were not mindful of their own Country ; went out from it ; would no more return to it ; sought an heavenly Countrey ; were perswaded of those great and glorious things above , and embraced them ; laid hold of them by faith ; and made after them : and that which did so powerfully work over their spirits to these things above , was their believing sights of them . V. 13. These all died in the faith , not having received the promises , but having seen them afar off ; that is , the things promised , ( viz. ) heavenly things , of which Canaan was a type . So a a Tria participia refero ad promissionis rem significatam Patriam Coelestem quam unice desiderabant . Paraeus refers the participles here to the things signified of the promise , that heavenly Country which they onely desired . Things nearest Heaven ( saith one ) take least care of the Earth : The Fowls of the Air neither plow nor sow . The glory of the world seems little to one that dwells much on the believing views of Heaven . 'T is said of Fulgentius , That when he beheld the splendour and joy of Rome , the glory of the Roman Nobility , the triumphant pomp of King Theodorick , he was so far from being taken with it , that it raised up his desires after heavenly joys the more , saying , How beautiful may the Coelestial Jerusalem be , when terrestrial Rome so glittereth ! If such honour be given to lovers of vanity , what glory shall be imparted to the Saints , who are lovers and followers of truth ! Serious thoughts of Heaven will inflame the desires after it : Our Conversation is in Heaven ( saith Paul ) whence also we look for the Saviour , who shall change our vile bodies into the likeness of his glorious body , Phil. 3. 20. We wait , hope for , and expect Heaven , to be where this blessed Countrey is ; the breadth and length of which we now look into by faith . If your thoughts be much on Heaven , your longings will be much for Heaven . I have read of one being in his journey towards Jerusalem , thought he saw famous Cities in his way , and met with many friendly entertainments ; yet would often say , I must not stay here ; this is not Jerusalem : So will thy heart say ( if thou conversest much in Heaven now ) when thou meetest with the most desirable comforts of this life ; yet this is not Heaven ; my affections must not stay here . Allow time every day to take some turns in the upper world , and to get thy heart held in the galleries above ; where are the sweetest delicacies , and most delighting views to take thy heart , and sublimate thy affections to these pure and eternal things ?

Sixthly , If you would keep up a Heavenly Spirit ; be much exercised in heavenly actions : As is mens employments they are mostly versed about , so usually is their spirit : Actions strengthen habits : Men that are much taken up about earthly things , are earthly-minded ; their spirits being tinctured with the things they have much to do with : Such are heavenly actions to gracious souls ; they draw forth and exercise their graces : use makes men ready , and adapts their spirits to their work . The Apostle makes this an evidence of strength in grace , that such are much in the exercise of it . Heb. 5. 14. Strong meat belongeth to them who are of full age ; even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil . The more you are conversant about holy things , the stronger will be the bent of your spirit to them ; the more facile and pleasant will Religion be , and the indisposition of your spirit to it more abated . Prov. 10. 29. The way of the Lord is strength to the upright . The more you walk in it , the less weary will you be ; the more pleasure will you find in it , and the more propense will your spirit be to it . This is the first work in Wisdom's Merchandise ; to get and keep up a Heavenly Spirit .

Secondly , Another piece of your Heavenly Trade is , to secure your interest in heavenly things . This is part of mens business in the world , to secure their interest in the things they have : they mark their goods , and brand their cattel , and set their names on the things they have , that their interest in them might be known : And this is the great concern of Wisdom's Merchants also , to make good their claim to , and prove their propriety in the things of Heaven and Glory : These are worth the securing , being things of infinite moment , and eternal duration ; other things are not . O what folly is it to strive for shadows , and lose the substance ; to get and secure Houses , Lands , and Reputation for your Children , and to lose your souls ! As he that complained when he was to dye ; That he must burn in Hell for ever , for geting an estate for his Son , and neglecting his own soul . What will it profit a man to gain the whole world , and lose his own soul ? Matth. 16. 24. To make all things else sure , and leave God , Grace and Glory to an uncertainty . As Caesar Borgia bewail'd when too late , saying when he was near death ; I have endeavoured to secure me against every danger but death ; and having never thought of death , must now dye . Things eternal will then appear the greatest when men come to dye ; then an interest in God , pardon and salvation will be valued beyond ten thousand worlds : And is it not worth the looking after now ?

And what can compensate the loss of that soul , who miscarries in his All , and hath nothing left but the tormenting sense of what he hath lost , and the intolerable burden of what he hath found , as the fruit of his often cautioned folly ? 'T is a dreadful thing to be disappointed of salvation-hopes : What if thou should'st miss of glory at last , and thy end should be to be cut off , and to have thy portion with Hypocrites in that Lake which burns with fire and brimstone , where the worm never dieth , and the fire is never quenched ? Mark 9. 44. How could'st thou bear , if when thou thinkest to enter into the joy of the Lord , then in a moment to be thrust into the place of torment ? and when thou dreamest of carrying up into Abraham's bosome , where is eternal pleasures ; to fall into the hands of God , who is a consuming fire ? this is fearful .

And yet this may be thy case . Think how possible , nay how easy 't is for men to be deceiv'd in lesser matters , and that they who have had the highest confidences of a future blessedness , have been mistaken at last , and all their hopes have expir'd as a falling Meteor , and come to nothing , Job 27. 8. For what is the hope of the hypocrite though he hath gained much , when God taketh away his soul ? Men may think themselves to be something , and yet be nothing , Gal. 6. 2. Come with confidence to the Bridegroom's doors , and demand an entrance as the foolish Virgins did , and yet rejected . Mat. 25. 11 , 12. Afterward came also the other Virgins , ( that is when the door was shut ) saying , Lord , Lord , open to us ; but he answered and said ; verily I say unto you , I know you not . They may seem to have some reason for their claim , and produce evidences of their hope , and yet be turned away as workers of iniquity . Mat. 7. 22 , 23. Lord , have we not prophesied in thy name ? have cast out Devils ? and in thy name have done many wonderful works ? And then will I profess to them , I never knew you , depart from me ye workers of iniquity : The heart is deep and deceitful , who can know it ? none but he who searcheth the deep things of God can reach this bottom , and bring to light the hidden things thereof : The work of grace is a secret full of mysteries , that none can open and fully know , but the eternal Spirit that formed it in the womb of a Believer's heart : Seeming grace hath so near a resemblance to saving grace , that it puzzles the most curious and searching eye ( if not enlighten'd with a beam from Heaven ) to discern the difference : besides , the slender measures of the Spirit that most have attained to in this life , with the subtil insinuations , the false representations , and treacherous prevarications of that bloody and irreconcilable enemy of mankind , all which conspire to put a cheat upon the professing Christian , and render his Salvation exceeding doubtful . And suppose thy state should be safe , yet how perplexing and full of anxiety is it , to have the least suspition of thy unsoundness ? To have the life of thy precious soul hang in suspence , and to be unresolv'd in that great case , whether thou must live or die to all eternity ! O! how tormenting and heart-sinking is this ! An awakened Soul that cannot rest in sin , nor yet hope in grace , or upon any Scripture-warrant come to a determination about his real interest in God , and things eternal , is like a troubled Sea that cannot rest ; Instruments of Musick cannot allay its disquietude , no Creature-comforts can charm its heart to a peaceful composure : who does in reallity but suspect his eternal welfare , and but think he reads this hand-writing on the wall : Mene , mene , tekel upharsin : Thou art weighed in the balance , and art found wanting , Dan. 5. 25. 27. Nothing in all the World can be a Plaister broad enough for such a wound , no Cordial can cheer that heart , till Grace decides the controversy , and assures the Soul of an unquestionable title to the Heir of all things , and to the inheritance with the Saints in light : And have you not reason then to be restless till your propriety in these glorious treasures be attested ; which , though difficult , yet is possible and feasible to all that follow Wisdom's counsel in order to it ? The eternal truth hath opened a way to the decision of this question , whether I have eternal life or no , and laid down certain marks of a Soul entitled to things above . 1 Joh. 5. 13. These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God , that you may know that you have eternal life ; Vers. 12. 19. Chap. 3. 14. The Lord hath charged this to be the duty of all that profess their hopes of glory , to make their Calling and Election sure , 2 Pet. 1. 10. To examine themselves whether they be in the Faith , 2 Cor. 13. 5. To prove their own work , that they may have rejoycing in themselves , Gal. 6. 4. which he would never have done were it impossible : He hath also promised the Spirit to help them in this work , and to lead them into all truth , bearing witness with their spirits that they are the Lords , Joh. 16. 13. Rom. 8. 16. And upon this very account exhorts them to holiness , that they might not impede this sealing work of the Spirit , Eph. 4. 30. And upon the arrival to this certainty , hath ensured great consolation and advantage , 2 Pet. 1. 8. 10 , 11. All which words signify nothing , and reflect unrighteousness on the spirit of truth , were not an evidence of right to these heavenly things obtainable .

Quest. But how may I come to the knowledg of this desirable truth ; that Heavenly Treasures are surely mine , and that I may make a warrantable claim to God , to Christ , and these things of the other World ?

Sol. 1. First , By your conjugal union with the Heir of Heaven : All things in Heaven and Earth are Christ's , he is the Heir of all things . Heb. 1. 2. — Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son , whom he hath appointed Heir of all things : All things in Heaven and Earth are his by donation , purchase and inheritance juridically conferred over to him in the new covenant , and actually put into his hand , upon the finishing of his meritorious work and victory over death . Matt. 28. 18. All power 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . is given to me in Heaven and Earth : Lawful power , right , priviledg and authority , ( as the word imports , ) and with this is the Lord Jesus invested , and hath all things put into his hands , and all creatures under his feet , Heb. 2. 7 , 8. And all right to true riches is derived from him , through union with him . 1 Cor. 3. 21. 23. All things are yours , and you are Christ's , and Christ is God's : If you are Christ's , then all things are yours , not else ; your title is founded on your marriage-relation to him . Gal. 3. 29. And if you are Christ's , then are you Abraham ' s seed , and Heirs according to the promise : A title to these glorious treasures is made over in the new covenant , which covenant is confirm'd in Christ , and made in him , and through him to all that are his : He is the way , there 's no coming to these treasures but by him ; he is the door , no entring into them but through him : He is the treasury it self , in whom all the riches of grace , all the fulness of pleasures and satisfaction lies ; you must have the treasury before you can have the treasures ; the well it self before the waters are yours : He that hath the Son hath life ; hath him by way of possession , as an owner and proprietor : If you have Christ , you have all that is his , his person and purchase go together : Rebekah must consent to go and marry Isaac before she could be invested with that substance and wealth which was his . This new covenant which interests a soul in the Lord Jesus , and his unsearchable riches , is a marriage-covenant . Hos. 2. 19 , 20. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever , yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness , and in judgment , and in loving-kindness , and in mercies ; I will even betroth thee to me in faithfulness , and thou shalt know the Lord . Ezek. 16. 8. I entred into covenant with thee , saith the Lord , and thou becamest mine ; this was a marriage-covenant . Jer. 3. 14. Turn O back sliding children , saith the Lord , for I am married to you . If you would see your title to heavenly treasures , try your conjugal union to the Lord Jesus the Heir of Heaven . Every relation to Christ is not a conjugal relation . There is a general relation , as dead branches to the tree : Joh. 15. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away . A person may be in Christ as the luxuriant branch or sucker is in the tree , that sucks the sap of priviledges , and gets some nourishment of frames , and comforts , but brings not forth fruit , it sprouts out of the stock , as proud-flesh grows on the wound , but hath no right union with the root , or nourishment from the head : Such are obtruders and hang-bies , which take the place of children , but are strangers , who climb up as the thief to steal , but comes not in by the door to dwell with God : they are retainers to Christ's House , that now and then do some service for him , and have some scraps and favours , but are no abiding members of his house ; like the Apricot , that leans on the wall , but is rooted in the earth .

There is a temporary Relation also ; as of a Servant to a Master , where there is a propriety for a time : The servant comes into the house , enjoys priviledges and protection , and doth some service , is very useful for the family , and it may be beloved too : ( as a servant . ) And such is the relation of some to Christ ; but this differs vastly from that union which entitles to the person and purchase of the Lord Jesus ; he is mercenary in all he doth , and hath by-ends in his entrance and continuance ; he does not any thing from pure love to Christ , but for self-respects and advantage : his welfare is not wrapt up in the welfare of the family , to stand or fall with it ; to embark his All in the prosperity of that house : he lives in the family , and upon his Lord , but to himself , and is as the Planets which are carried about with the primum mobile ; but yet have a distinct motion and course of their own : he is in the family , but not of the family ; and as his relation is but titular , so his station is but temporary ; he abides not in the house for ever , Joh. 8. 35. And when he goes away he carries off nothing but his own ; not a jot of the inheritance is his ; he hath fared well , and had a great deal of credit and comfort for a time ; but goes as he came , and is the same person as he was .

There is also a Concubine-Relation to Christ , which gives the soul some use of his kindness , but no right to his person . b b Concubina a : concubo . Beza de repud . & divort . p. 249. A Concubine is one that is contented with ones bed , but hath no conjugal love to his person ; neither doth she pass into the husband's family , or are her children counted legitimate : She is one that either by constraint or consent , comes over into an external communion with another for his use and bed ; but is never married to his person , or hath chosen him for her husband , to become one flesh with him , to take up her delight in him , and to do all from a principle of love to him : And as she hath not the properties ; so she hath not the priviledges of a wife , for intimacy and entertainment , in respect of power and maintenance . Such is the relation that many have to Christ ; they consent to have some enjoyment of Christ , but have no marriage-union with him ; he is not theirs by choice , but either for necessity or advantage , to enjoy their own pleasures by him , and receive some profit from him : they never saw an excellency in him , or were ever unhearted by him , as he is by his Spouse . Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart , my Sister , my Spouse ; thou hast ravished c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Incordiastime . my heart with one of thine eyes ; with one chain of thy neck : Thou hast unhearted me , or snatcht away my heart : These never consented to all his proposals in order to union with him ; they never heartily gave up themselves to him , nor entred into covenant with him , and became his . And as they are strangers to an espousal-state ; so are they to a Spouse-like disposition ; they have not the temper and carriage of a wife , nor the priviledges that such use to have ; they are not acquainted with his secrets , nor the openings of his heart , and those amorous embracements peculiar to such a relation ; they are not invested with any Authority or Rule ; they have no power over their corruptions , nor command of their spirits and affections , that should be in subjection to them : Grace bears no sway in them ; sin and self does all in their souls ; neither were they ever enrolled in his family , or owned by the Lord Jesus as his Hephzibah's , nor have the allowance and special provisions of the King's Bride , and Lamb's Wife ; and as to their conceptions , and those births they seem to have by Jesus Christ , they are spurious and illegitimate , and never owned by the Lord Jesus as the genuine products of his own Spirit . This is the case of those that have not marriage-union with Christ ; they have no right to him or his Treasures . Try then your Espousal-relation to Christ .

Quest. How may I know whether I am married to Christ or no ?

Answ. 1. First , If you are married to Christ , you are such as have special acquaintance with Christ ; you know him as none else do . The wife hath the most peculiar and distinct knowledge of her husband of any : Others may know something , yea much of him ; but none knows him so much as the wife ; she hath acquaintance with all his excellencies , and all his infirmities ; she has the largest tasts of his love , and experience of his sweetness , and intimate converses with him of any in the world . So 't is with the Spouse of Christ ; she dwells in his presence , and lodges in his arms ; she sees him within the veil uncloath'd of those coverings that stand between him and the eyes of strangers , and conceals his amiableness from common beholders : He puts aside his glorious Robe , and shews her his naked breast , and layes her hand upon his tender heart : she is much alone with him in his chambers , where he expresses intimacy with her , as Isaac did with Rebekah , and discloses the secrets of his heart , and the greatest unveilings of his love : He tells her what thoughts he had upon her from all eternity ; when he was in his Father's Kingdom , his heart was working after her , and he thought the time long till he came down to see her ; and no sooner did he cast his eye upon her ( though then she lay polluted in her blood , and cast out into the field , to the loathing of her person ) but his heart did burn within him towards her ; and it was the time of love : He tells her all the time of his hard labour in the world for her , seem'd but a few daies ; and the unsupportable burden of her sins , and the Father's wrath upon him for her sake , seem'd but as nothing for the love he bore unto her . In these converses he assures her of his Love , Person and Kingdom ; and however he may seem in his carriages , yet his heart is fixt upon , and faithful to her , and swears he will never , never leave her , but after a little absence come and receive her to himself , and she shall be for ever with him . Thus he manifests himself to her , as he doth not to the world ; by reason of which she becomes so well acquainted with him , and knows his voice , and by faith sees his sheep ; she can tell by experience who , and what her Beloved is , and how far better than other Beloveds . There 's never a soul that 's married to Christ , but hath his time , when he makes out some special discoveries of his love and self to it ; and it can tell some stories of what Christ did once say and do unto her : what slights she hath had of him , and gifts from him : such a soul can tell , how when he was dead , Christ quickened him ; when he was lost , Christ found him ; when he was in prison , Christ set him free ; he washed him when in his blood , and poured in Oyl into his wounds ; healed his backslidings , and loved him freely : He can say with Rebekah to her Brother Laban ; Thus the man spake to me , and shewed the ear-rings and the bracelets , Gen. 24. 30. And with Judah brings forth the signet , bracelets and staff , Gen. 38. 25. and tells with the blind man how Christ opened his eyes , and what he said to him , Joh. cap. 9. ver. 15 , 35 , 37. And though by his sin and unbelief he may lose the sight of him for a time , and be under a suspense of his discover'd kindness ; yet if the Believer would be true to his experience , he can discover such an acquaintance with Christ as no Hypocrite ever had .

Answ. 2. Secondly , Another thing that will prove your marriage to Christ , is your conjugal-love to him . Jer. 2. 2. I remember thee , the kindness of thy youth , the love of thy espousals , when thou wentest after me in the wilderness in a Land not sown . The Lord convinceth Israel of the great decay and change of their Love to what it once was ; there was a time when their affections were high towards God , when he call'd them out of Aegypt , took them from the Iron-furnace , and married them to himself ; then nothing was too hard for them ; they could follow God in a wilderness , where there was nothing but God alone to satisfie them ; creatures were wanting to allure them , and yet they could stick at nothing ; no difficulties should part God and them : Whence came this warmth of their affection ? why it was their neerness to God that created them : The Lord had taken them into a marriage covenant , and carried them in his bosome ; and this inflamed their hearts after him . When the Lord brings a soul into an espousal-state , he gives them espousal-love ; and that is the greatest love : O sweet ! saith Rutherford , were that sickness to be soul-sick for him ; and a living death it were to die in the fire of the love of that Soul-lover Jesus . The Apostle makes this an essential duty of a married state , to have conjugal affections : The Husband to love his Wife as his own flesh , and the Wife to love her own Husband as her self , Eph. 5. 28. Tit. 2. 4. And the Prophet reckons this love to God as the certain fruit of their Covenant-relation to him . Isa. 56. 6. That joyn themselves to the Lord , to serve him , and to love the Name of the Lord . As soon as Paul had espoused the Lord Jesus , it appeared in his supreme love to him ; he valued none like Christ : He counted all things dross and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ his Lord , Phil. 3. 8. To be found in him , not having his own righteousness , v. 9. To know him , and the power of his resurrection , and the fellowship of his sufferings , being made conformable to his death , v. 10. Conjugal love is a personal love ; pure love to Christ is set on Christ himself for himself , not for his gifts that come from him ; but for those excellencies that reside in him ; 't is love to his person , not to his patrimony onely ; 't is love springing from his love . 1 Joh. 4. 19. We love him because he first loved us . True affections to the Lord Jesus are the births of his own love to us , a coal kindled from his fire .

Conjugal love is also peculiar as well as personal love ; so far as 't is conjugal , 't is to him , and none but him ; or if to others , 't is for his sake : Espousal love to Christ affects none like him : If there be any person or thing thou lovest more than Christ , or equal with him , thy affections to him are whorish , not conjugal : He that loveth Father or Mother more than me , is not worthy of me : He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me , is not worthy of me , Mat. 10. 37. Yea , he that doth not hate Father or Mother , or any thing , so far as it is inconsistent with love to Christ , cannot be his Disciple , Luke 14. 26. True love to Christ will let none in all the world share in that love which Christ hath ; 't will take none into his bed but himself ; 't is chaste love .

Again , Conjugal-love is not onely to Christ , but 't is such a love as longs to be found in Christ , not in himself ; it would have all his glory and excellency in Christ ; it reckons Christ for all that 's truly honourable as to him ; it would get as near to Christ as possible ; yea it never rests till in him : To be found in him . 'T is also such a love as conforms to Christ : Love is of an assimilating spirit ; it would be like to its peculiar object . The affectionate wife conforms as much as may be to her Husband : so 't is with the Spouse of Christ , she would in every thing that is imitable resemble him , and 't is her great trouble she is not more like him : what would such a soul give if his heart was like Christ's heart ; if he had such a spirit and life as the Lord Jesus had on Earth ? it would be holy as Christ is holy , and cannot set up a stand short of that : 'T is true , the soul hath not such a spirit as Christ had ; 't is too proud , vain , carnal passionate , earthly , selfish , and that troubles him ; but it can never be quiet , till he comes nearer to the pattern in Heaven , and to a full resemblance of his well-beloved Jesus .

Answ. 3. Thirdly , A soul espoused to Christ will leave all for Christ ; that 's the condition of marriage between Christ and his Bride . Psal. 45. v. 10 , 11. Hearken O Daughter and consider , and incline thine ear ; forget also thine own people , and thy Father's house , so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty : for he is thy Lord , and worship thou him : As if he should say , weigh and consider the terms on which this match is to be concluded between Christ and you . If you will be his , you must leave all for him ; you must forsake all your other lovers , friends , interests , comforts for Christ , so far as these hinder your love to Christ , your communion with , and serviceableness unto him . When the woman comes to be married , she leaves her friends , Father's house , Countrey , and all to come and live with him that shall be her Husband . Rebekah left her Father , Brother , Friends and Country to go to Isaac , Gen. 24. 58. And they called Rebekah , and said unto her , wilt thou go with this man ? and she said I will go . That soul that cannot consent really and considerately to part with all for Christ , never yet came up to marriage-terms : The treaty between Christ and that soul never went far enough for a conclusion ; and if it go no farther ; if thy soul cannot seal to this , to part with all thy interests , thy dearest comforts ; yea thy self for Christ , the match must after all be broken , and Christ and thee part at last , yea part for ever . O soul ! try thy heart in this ; here lies the knot , the vertical point ; this is the most difficult of all Christ's proposals , and that the soul is longest consenting to , even the letting go all for Christ : His person may please well enough ; his estate is desirable for a reversion ; but now to take leave of , and to go with Christ , this is the hard saying : Persons would have Christ and the world too , Christ and friends too , Christ and reputation , peace , liberty , pleasure , and self too ; and if this will not be granted , break the bargain : but if ever Christ and you have closed , and you are his , and he yours , you cannot count any thing too dear to part with for him , or to let go at his bidding : If Christ calls for Estate , Husband ; Wife , Children , an Isaac , a Benjamin , a right Eye , a right Hand , all must go ; and you must part with them freely and chearfully , as Abraham did with Isaac . Gen. 22. 3. Abraham rose up early in the morning , and sadled his Asses , and took two of his young men with him , and Isaac his Son , and clave the wood for the burnt offering , and went unto the place of which God had told him : Not as Jacob did part with Benjamin ; by constraint , and grudgingly , Gen. 43. 11. If it must be so now , do this , &c. He was almost starv'd before he would consent to part with Benjamin ; and when he did , het lets him go last of all : he parts with the best fruits of the Land , Balm , Honey , Spices , Myrrh , Nuts , Almonds , double money , any thing first ; at last Benjamin was screwed out too : Many must have their comforts wrench'd out of their hands before they will let them go ; but this is not love to Christ . A soul married to Christ will say with Mephibosheth concerning his Land ; Let Zibah take all ; for as much as my Lord the King is come again in peace to his own house , 2 Sam. 19. 30. So , let God take all my estate , strength , liberty , comforts , seeing the Lord Jesus is come home to my soul in peace : Houses , Lands , Friends , Credit , Peace , Life , may be dear , but Christ will be dearer if he and you are one flesh . All Bavaria ( said George Carpenter ) is not so dear to me as my Wife and Children ; yet for Christ's sake I will forsake them chearfully . Do you think me such a fool ( said Ogvier to one that tempted him with life and preferment ) that I should change eternal things for temporal . Loss of goods is great ; ( saith Hooper ) but loss of God's grace and favour is greater ? Love is never throughly seen till it comes to parting : O the tuggings , holdings , shifts and reasonings that men will have before they will part with that they dearly love : Now it will appear ( saith Philpot ) what we love best , for to that we love we will stick : If Christ have most of your hearts , you will let fall every thing out of your hands to hold fast Christ : I have ( said Mr. Bale ) exil'd my self for ever from mine own native Countrey , Kindred , Friends , Acquaintance , which are the great delights of this life , and am well contented for the sake of Christ ..

Answ. 4. Fourthly , A Soul married to Christ , stays , and lives on Christ . The Wife casts her self upon her Husband's love and care for her supplies , and lives on his allowance for all her provisions : 't is suspitious for a married Woman to be maintain'd by strangers , and to live on other men for what she needs ; 't is the Husband's duty to provide for his own , and to nourish and cherish his Wife as the Lord the Church , Eph. 5. 29. and 't is the Wives duty to go to and rely on his faithfulness for it : So 't is with the Soul that hath espoused Christ ; it is to live on Christ for all it needs : they that take Christ aright , take him for their All , not for better or worse for richer or poorer , as Women take their earthly Husbands , ( for Christ is always best of all , always exceeding rich , and full of unsearchable treasures , ) but to take him for their only and sufficient portion at all times , and in all estates . Lam. 3. 24. The Lord is my portion , saith my Soul , therefore will I trust in him . Lord , ( said Paulinus , when his City , Gold and Silver was taken away ) let not the loss of these things trouble me ; for thou art all , and more than all these to me ; [ Shaw's Tombstone , p. 33. ] Christ is the Believer's All in the way , and God his All in All at the end . It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell , and under him all things should be put , 2 Col. 1. 19. Heb. 2. 8. And this is for the supply , comfort and blessedness of those that are his . Eph. 1. 23. Which is the body , the fulness of him who filleth all in all . Whatever Christ hath ( as Mediator ) is the Churches for her use and profit : If men have plenty of liquors , they fill their vessels with them ; if they have much riches , they place them in their treasury , so doth Christ dispose of his fulness for his Churches good ; hence 't is the Spouse of Christ comes leaning on her Beloved from the Wilderness , Cant. 8. 5. and dares adventure her All on the love and sufficiency of her loving and lovely Lord ; she is full of failings , but she lives on him for righteousness ; many are her weaknesses , but she goes to Christ for strength . Isa. 45. 24. Surely shall one say , in the Lord have I righteousness and strength : She is sensible of many wants , but casts her self on the promise ; My God shall supply all your wants , Phil. 4. 19. Her backslidings , temptations , dangers , troubles and fears are many , but she stays on the Lord Jesus , whom she hath chosen for her only friend in Heaven and Earth , and there she lays her self down in his bosome , when wearied with difficulties and doubts , and embarques her self in his faithfulness for all she stands in need of , for life and godliness , for grace and glory .

Answ. 5. Fifthly , Fruitfulness to Christ proves Marriage to Christ : Hence the Spouse is set forth by metaphors that express fruitfulness ; a Garden , not a wilderness ; a well watered Garden , which is usually most fruitful , where the Spices flow out , where the Graces of the Spirit are more operative and abundant , and Souls become more fruitful in manifested holiness ; An Orchard planted with choice and pleasant fruits , Camphire , Spikenard , Saffron , Calamus , Cinamon , with all trees of Frankincense , Myrh and Aloes , with all the chiefest Spices , which signify the preciousness , variety and abundance of grace and holiness in those who are savingly united to the Lord Jesus : A flock of Sheep , whereof every one beareth twins , and not one is barren , Cant. 4. 12 , 13 , 14 , 16. Ch. 4. 2. 'T is compared to the Palm-tree , the Cedar , the Vine , the Fig-tree , a green Olive , plants famous for flourishing , growth , clusters of fruit , constant fruitfulness ; 't is said of the Fig-tree , it bears fruit all the year long , and in many places they shall always find green figs on it : Such is the Spouse of Christ , compared with the world and hypocrites fruitful and flourishing : A good tree bringeth forth good fruit , Mat. 7. 17. The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit , Prov. 12. 12. Where-ever the grace of God is received in truth , there it brings forth fruit , Col. 1. 6. As sin brings forth fruit unto death , so doth grace unto life , Rom. 6. 22. No sooner doth the Lord Jesus espouse a Soul , but he heals it of its barrenness : He maketh the barren Woman to keep house , Psal. 113. 9. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away , Joh. 15. 2. A barren Christian is a monster in Religion , no living member of Christ's body ; indeed there are Winter-seasons when fruit may not appear , but even then 't is in the seed and sap ; and there is a preparative for fruit , which appears in the season , but to be always without the fruits of the Spirit , love , joy , peace , long-suffering , gentleness , goodness , faith , meekness , temperance , Gal. 5. 22 , 23. is a sign of one that never had marriage-union , and intimate communion with Jesus Christ , but is the certain mark of a fruitless Fig-tree , in danger of cutting down , and the character of that ground which is cursed , and nigh to burning , Luke 13. 7. 9. Heb. 6. 8. Souls , try your state , 't is for your lives , your All depends upon your marriage-union with Christ : Had you never any special acquaintance with Christ ? Have you no conjugal love to Christ ? Cannot you consent to leave all for Christ ? Do you usually live and stay on other things for life and salvation , and not on Christ ? Have you been ever barren souls , that never brought forth the fruits of the Spirit unto God ? then were you never married to Christ , nor have any true title to heavenly treasures .

Mark 2. Secondly , your interest in heavenly things is known by the naturalness and supremacy of your love to them ; Where the treasure is , there will the heart be , Mat. 6. 21. If heavenly things be yours , your heart is there ; worldly men have the World set in their hearts , Eccl. 3. 11. Their heart is but the World copied out : so heavenly souls have Heaven set in their hearts , which are but the counterpane of Heaven ; every thing hath a natural love to his own , the World will love his own . Joh. 15. 19. No man ever hated his own flesh : Eph. 5. 29. What affections have brute beasts for their young , and will venture their lives to defend and maintain them . 'T is storied of the Storks , when the Town of Delph in the low Countreys was on fire , and the Storks perceived the fire to come near their nests , they endeavoured to carry away their young , but when they could not remove them , they flutter'd over them with their wings , covering them from the flames till they all perished together , [ Belg. Com. wealth . ] So strong is natural affection to its interest , and the natural issues of it self ; much stronger should gracious affections be to their interests : O how I love thy Law ! ( saith David ) 't is my meditation all the day long , Psal. 119. 97. Whence came this affection ? it was from his interest in those great and lovely truths . Psal. 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I chosen as an heritage for ever , for they are the rejoycing of my heart . Souls risen with Christ , and born to the inheritance above , will set their affections on things above , Col. 3. 1 , 2. Where is thy heart , Christian , in Heaven or Earth ? what things are dearest to thee , and sweetest to thy taste ? canst thou prize the light of God's countenance better than life ? had'st thou rather be a door-keeper in God's House than dwell in the Pavilions of this World ? Is a little of Heaven better than a great deal of Earth ? and can thy heart consent to be at any loss in the World to enjoy God in his Ordinances , and to be enriched with spiritual blessings in heavenly places ? Then heavenly things are thine .

Mark 3. Thirdly , if heavenly things be yours , it will appear by your heart-cares for them , and vigorous pursuits of them ; how careful are men of their interests , to secure and enlarge them ? Phil. 2. 21. All men seek their own : If the things of Heaven be yours , your greatest care will be to get and keep them ; when Kish thought his Son Saul was lost , he left caring for the Asses , sorrowing for him , saying , What shall I do for my Son , 1 Sam. 10. 2 ? Christians , if heavenly things be yours , they will lie nearer your hearts than all the World besides ; the sense or fear of losing them will more trouble you than all losses besides ; the world , relations , creature-comforts will be forgotten ; when you apprehend a death on your heavenly interests , you will do more , and part with more to get Heaven , than the World and dearest comforts of it . Many will pretend desires for Heaven , as the young man in the Gospel ; but Christ will say to them as to his Hearers , Mat. 5. 47. What do you more than others ? Souls , you would have Christ here , and Heaven hereafter ; but what do you for it ? what do you more than hypocrites and common professors , whose portion is in this life ? can you leave the world for God ? can you deny your self for the pleasing of Christ ? and part with your right eye , and right hand ; throw away your Idols of gold and silver , the world , and fleshly lusts , and honour God with your time , strength and substance ? Can you let your Plough stand still to follow God's ; and stick at no pains and hardships to enjoy the least spiritual good ? Then are heavenly things yours .

Mark 4. Fourthly , Then are you interested in Heavenly Treasures , when your hearts and spirits are suited to them ; when the Lord hath let in a heavenly tincture on your hearts ; and inlaid your spirits with heavenliness , and a mind that answers to heavenly things , as face answers face in the water : When God intends men for Heaven , he doth in time fit them for it ; and where he gives a title to mercy , he gives a capacity also ; where he makes over the riches of glory ; he makes that soul a vessel fit for glory . Men do not purchase Pearls for Swine , and build Schools for brute beasts . God did not make the Heavens for fishes , and the Sea for beasts , but suited every creature to its element : They that are his Adoption , are his new Creation also , Ephes. 2. 10. and when they are designed to a blessed end , they are principled for it , and have a disposition put into them to move towards it : They that are set apart for Heaven hereafter , do bear the image of their heavenly Father here , 1 Cor. 15. 49. There is a stamp of glory upon the Heirs of glory , though it may be so covered with dirt , and worn out with the rust of corruption , as not to be easily seen at all times . Whose is this image and superscription ? Matt. 22. 20. Caesar's coin hath Caesar's stamp ; and the Children of Heaven have their Father's mark upon their foreheads , Rev. 14. 1. If Christ's Treasures be yours , you are his Treasury ; though earthen vessels , yet treasures , vessels and bags that wax not old . Do you hope for spiritual blessings ? what manner of spirits are you of ? Do you savour heavenly things ? What things do best suit and please your spirits , the things of Heaven , or the things of the world ; grace , or goods ; righteousness , or riches ; spiritual things , or carnal ? What goes down easiest , or when down , sits easiest on your stomacks ? The Heirs of Heaven are Non-conformists to this world , but transformed into the Spirit of Heaven , and the renewing of their minds to their new estate , blessedness and glory , Rom. 12. 1. That 's a second thing wherein this Heavenly Trade lies , in securing and clearing up your interest in heavenly things .

Thirdly , Another thing wherein this Heavenly Trade lies is this ; in getting in of heavenly goods : This is a great part of Traders business , to be furnishing themselves with wares fit for their employmeat and advantage ; the Artificer in making ; the Merchant in buying in goods that are vendible and will turn to profit . So must Wisdom's Merchants get themselves stor'd with Wisdom's wares , that they may be able to drive on her Trade : Onely in this lies the difference ; earthly goods are either the products of mens labours , and effects of their industry ; or else the purchase of their money and treasures : But heavenly goods come not in this way , as the proportionable reward of their labours , or return of their money : Indeed heavenly bread must be laboured for ; but when all is done , the Son of man gives it to them , Joh. 6. 27. Salvation must be wrought out , as if it lay at their fingers end ; and yet this very will and power to work wrought in them . Phil. 2. 12 , 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure . No sufficiency is found in the creature , before saving grace helps , to embrace its overtures , no more than a dead body to receive life . Ephes. 2. 1. You have not chosen me , but I have chosen you , and ordained you , that you should go and bring forth fruit , Joh. 15. 16. The soul's choice of Christ is the effect of Christ's first chusing him ; and its love to God the product of God's first loving him , 1 Jo. 4. 19. and the soul's fruitfulness is the effect of Christ's purposing and appointing it thereunto . No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him , Joh. 6. 44. Not onely morally by perswading the will with potent arguments ; but physically , by working to will , by a powerful inclining and disposing the will to come to , and chuse Christ , through the irresistible operation of the Spirit : So then , 't is not of him that wileth , nor of him that runneth , but of God that sheweth mercy , Rom. 9. 16. Salvation-grace both of righteousness and holiness , is freely given to the thirsty soul through and with Christ , Rev. 20. 6. and the inclination and power to receive as freely bestowed also . Phil. 1. 29. To you it is given in the behalf of Christ , not onely to believe on him , but also to suffer for his sake . Faith it self is the gift of God , both the power and will to believe , not given to every man alike : For all men have not faith , 2 Thes. 3. 2. because the Father was not pleased effectually to bestow it . Deut. 29. 4. The Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive , and eyes to see , and ears to hear to this day : Who hath made thee to differ ? or what hast thou which thou didst not receive ? 1 Cor. 3. 7. If the differencing of one man from another , as to his improvement of grace , lay in his own inclinations and natural freedom of his own will , then there was something in the creature that made this difference , contrary to this Scripture ; and a foundation laid in a man to glory , which wholly overthrows the design of Redemption-grace , which is to take off all boasting , 1 Cor. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 27. and to lay all the praise and glory of man's salvation on special grace , Eph. 1. 5 , 6. neither is the first grace onely freely given ; but more grace also , alsufficiency after ( conferred for every good word and work ; yea , for every thought that is good ) comes from the same grace that first called you , which must also perfect every good work to the day of Salvation , 2 Cor. 3. 5. our sufficiency ( who have grace ) to think or do the least spiritual good , is deriv'd from the same fountain-fulness that is in Christ , Jam. 1. 16. Eternal life , with whatever leads thereto , is the gift of God , Rom. 6. v. 23. As Christ , so all things with him are freely given , Rom. 8. 32. not onely the seed of grace , but the growth of grace ; not onely the habit , but the act of grace ; all comes from Christ in the way of Redemption-grace . Get your hearts well established with this grace , that nothing in you , or done by you , can merit or procure any thing of the Father , but upon the account of Christ , and his grace , and promise in him to all that by the Son do come unto him . Goods you need for a daily Trade , but no money and price will pass for them , Isa. 55. 1. they are freely given , and yet you may boldly come for them : Go you must with empty sacks , your friend in Heaven will fill them , and return your money in your sacks mouth . Christians , a considerable part of your work ( and that which laies the foundation to all your Trade ) lies in getting your souls furnish'd with heavenly wares : You will drive but a poor Trade for Heaven , if you do not often receive goods from Heaven . Alas ! what can you do in Christianity without continual supplies from Christ ? Laodicea could not do any good in Religion , for want of goods from Christ : She had none of his tryed gold , and therefore grew soon poor and miserable : If goods fail , trade falls , and livelihood with it : What advantages doth the Tradesman miss , and what losses doth he sustain , by wanting goods to furnish his Customers ? So do Christians when they want grace to serve their occasions , necessities , temptations and duties ; what advantage might souls get , had they but grace , when they come under Ordinances and Duties ? and what losses do they meet with for want of grace , under afflictions , trials and employments ? how pitifully do they carry it under troubles , and providential exercises , and are oft-times sadly foil'd for want of grace and wisdom to manage such trials ? You have daily need of more grace , as you have of bread for your bodies : Your occasions , temptations and work are spending , and without fresh supplies from the Treasury , you will soon be empty and impoverished : Neglect but your spiritual recruits one day , and you will feel it : 'T is your interest , if you are Traders , to keep your shops full , and to be often sending for more goods : Grace will never lye long on your hands ; other goods may : You will have still occasions to exercise grace in your dealings with God and men ; you can never be over-stor'd with Wisdom's wares .

'T is your duty also to make use of Christ continually : In every thing to make known your requests to him : To draw waters out of this Well of Salvation every day : He is a Fountain sealed for your use ; he is made of God to be wisdom , righteousness , sanctification and redemption too ; for this end , that they might live upon him to these ends : This is to live by the Faith of the Son of God , which is the Christians daily duty : He complains as being injur'd when his people will not come unto him that they might have life , Joh. 5. 40. He is troubled when his Children will not make use of him : Hitherto you have asked nothing : Ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full , Joh. 16. 24. Never was a full breast more pain'd for want of drawing , than the Lord Jesus is , when his people receive not from him that fulness that is laid up in him for their use .

'T is your advantage also to be often at Christ's door , and to be continually fetching in supplies for your souls : This is the way to grow rich apace ; to get in more and more of the unsearchable riches of Christ , Rev. 3. 18. This is the way to be filled with the fruits of righteousness , to be more throughly furnished unto all good works , to the glory and praise of God , 2 Tim. 3. 17. Phil. 1. 12. This is the way to do every thing better , and to abound in the work of the Lord , and to be more complete in all the will of God , 1 Cor. 15. 58. Col. 4. 12. By this means you will become more serviceable unto others , and useful in the place where you live , and in the Societies where God hath placed you ; the more full of grace , the more able to profit others . Rom. 15. 14. That ye alwaies are full of goodness , filled with all knowledge , able also to admonish one another . 2 Cor. 1. 4. That we may be able to comfort them with the same comforts wherewith we are comforted of God . They that freely receive , will be able freely to give ; and that 's a blessed thing , Acts 20. 35. And till you receive you cannot give . Christians , get in more grace every day for your own use , for the glory of God , and the good of others : Labour to be furnished with every grace , especially those graces which the Lord hath more use of , and the time , condition and place you are in , do more especially call for , Heb. 12. 28. 2 Pet. 1. 5.

Be sure to be well furnished with Faith ; that 's an useful grace at all times ( for we live by Faith , Heb. 10. 38. ) but especially in evil times , in times of temptation and affliction . Faith is an eye , a hand , a foot at all times ; 't is a grace alwaies useful at every turn ; you cannot be without it and be well ; 't is a working grace , and that 's good for Traders ; you cannot work without it , 2 Thes. 1. 4. A building grace , Jude , v. 3. 20. A nourishing grace , 1 Tim. 4. 6. A soul-enriching grace , Rom. 4. 12. A soul-strengthening grace , Ephes. 3. 16 , 17. But 't is especially needful in evil times , it being a cheering grace , Rom. 15. 13. 'T is a soul-keeping grace , and that 's good in dangerous times , 1 Pet. 1. 5. 'T is a soul-saving grace , that saves in troubles , and out of troubles , Psal. 27. 5. Jam. 5. 15. 'T is a heart-establishing grace , 2 Chron. 20. 20. A world-contemning grace , Heb. 11. 26. A world-conquering grace , 1 Joh. 5. 4. A soul-securing grace , Heb. 11. 23. By faith Moses was hid three months . It secures a person in troubles : 't is a breast-plate to preserve the heart , 1 Thes. 5. 8. And a shield to cover the head , Ephes. 6. 16. It leads a person through trouble , Heb. 11. 29. By Faith they passed through the Red. Sea , as by dry Land , which the Egyptians assaying to do , were drowned . O get in plenty of this precious unfeigned Faith , for that 's the great trading-grace of a Christian ; for it gets in , and laies out every grace . Faith is the receiving grace ; it receives in Christ , Eph. 3. 17. and it receives from Christ , John 1. 16. Faith is the key that opens Christ's Treasures ; the hand that takes out his tryed gold : Faith is the carrying , and recarrying grace : Faith comes up to the market-price , and never breaks with God on terms , but subscribes to all the demands of Christ , and so never returns empty . Christians , you will never want goods for your Heavenly Trade , if you can but keep Faith in exercise ; your shops will never be empty , as long as Faith can stir up and down , and keep up its Journeys to Heaven : If there be any goods in the promises , any wares in Heaven , Faith will have them down , as long as the soul needs them , and it be for God's interest to part with them : O then get faith ! Alas , what pitiful Trade do some drive for want of Faith ! Choice goods will not off ; precious promises , pertinent instructions , perswasions and encouragements lye on Christ's hands for want of faith in them that hear .

Christians , you will make nothing of Religion without Faith , in the daies we live in ; you will soon shut up shop , decay and break when troubles come to purpose , without store of Faith . Faith will fill your store-houses , do your work , put off your goods , get in your rights , pay your debts , and maintain you richly on the incomes of your Trade .

Patience is another grace that will much serve you in your Spiritual Trade ; you have need of Patience to do the will of God ; no working without Patience . 2 Cor. 12. 12. Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all Patience . Rom. 5. 4. Patience worketh experience . Souls are apt to be weary of well doing without Patience , and to tyre in running , without this long-breath'd grace of Patience . Heb. 12. 1. Let us run with Patience the race that is set before us . No receiving the fruit of Ordinances and Duties without Patience . Luke 8. 15. They on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart , having heard the Word , keep it ; and bring forth fruit with Patience . The Lord usually tries his peoples Patience before they come to the fruit of Pomises , and bring forth the obedience of Precepts ; there 's a winter between seed-time and harvest ; many wet , weeping daies between sowing and reaping , ut enim segetem in agro pluvias , nives , glacies , pruinas , grandines , & tempestates ferre necessarium est antequam maturescat , & fructum ferat , ita hominem fidelem intus & extrinsecus multa pati mala oportet . Stell . The seed must lye long , it may may be , under ground , and when 't is come up , be nipt up with frosts , and covered with snow and hail , and bear many a storm before it ripens , and brings forth fruit , and this calls for Patience ; yea many times long-suffering . The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth , and hath long Patience for it , untill he receive the early and latter rain , James 5. 7. Patience is needful to suffer , as well as do the Will of God . Rev. 13. 10. Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints : To endure captivity and cruell Death for the sake of Christ , Patience to wait for the promise , Rom. 8. 25. and Patience to receive it . Heb. 10. 36. Patience ( saith Seneca ) is a salve for every sore , that onely which alleviates our burdens ; without it we cannot be men or Christians : ( saith another ) ' t is the grace that makes a compleat and well accomplish'd Christian , Manton . James 1. 4. When reason is at a stand , and hope almost at an end , and all refuge fails ; Patience steps in , bears the burden , and calms the soul .

Hope is a necessary grace to this great undertaking , reckoned among the three Cardinal virtues that wonderfully adorn a Christian's spirit and conversation . 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth Faith , and Hope , and Charity : Hope is the off-spring and refreshment of Faith ; 't is begotten by Faith , and ( saies one ) As a good child relieves its father Faith in time of need . Hope is an expectation , Faith a perswasion . Faith eyes the promise , hope the thing promised , as sure though future , which comforts the soul under the present want of desired mercy ; and this is needful to cheer the soul under its exigencies and disappointments in the way of its Christian conversation . Hope keeps in the fire , and keeps up the house . Heb. 3. 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of our hope firm to the end . Were it not for Hope the house would fall asunder ; Hope keeps it together , till the Lord new build it in Heaven : Hope anchors the soul in a storm , and makes it steady under shaking tempests , Heb. 6. 19. Hope maintains a Christian in a hard winter , while the seed is under clods , and till the corn come to the barn . 1 Cor. 9. 10. He that ploweth , ploweth in Hope ( that is of a good harvest ) that will compensate all his labours . Hope secures the soul from shame and disappointment under temporary forbearance , Psal. 34. 22. It helps it to rejoyce in tribulation , Rom. 5. 2. and compasseth him about with mercy , Psal. 32. 10.

Humility , Self-denial , Goodness , Temperance , Gentleness , Love , Zeal , Holy Fear , are all good goods that will off well , and turn to the Trader's profit , if well improved : Get your souls well stor'd with these graces of the Spirit , also if you ever think to drive a good Trade of godliness ,

Get your minds filled with knowledge , as well as your hearts with grace ; that 's part of the Christian's Treasure . 2 Cor. 4. 6. We have this Treasure ( that is of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ ) in earthen vessels : In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom , Col. 2. 3. Saving knowledge is a Treasure laid up in Christ for Believers , and to be fetched out for their use and comfort . The riches of the full assurance of understanding , and acknowledgement of the mystery of God , and of the Father , and of Christ , Col. 2. 2. The Gospel is a mystery , a secret , hid from the natural eye , and cannot be known but by the revelation of the Spirit . To have an inward , clear , sensible , experimental and certain apprehension of the glorious truths of the Gospel , opened and confirmed to the eye of Faith , is a high attainment beyond what any reach to , but those that have the anointings of the Spirit , and to whom 't is given by the Spirit as the fruit of prayer , and faithful attendance on his teachings in the Gospel and Ordinances of Christ : This is called a rooting and establishment in the Faith , Col. 2. 7. and growing in knowledge , 2 Pet. 3. 18. alluding to trees that being well planted do take deeper root in the earth , and in time come to greater settlement and strength against shakings : And as children that gradually grow and encrease to higher statures ; so this spiritual knowledge is gradually encreased ; 't is not the priviledge of new-born babes , of persons at their first conversion , to have this deep fathoming of Gospel-mysteries : But of stronger Christians , who by constant attendances on the Means of Grace , and in progress of time , by Faith , Humility , Prayer and Attention to the Spirit , do at length come to higher measures of this illumination , and full assurance of truth . As Gerson reports of a godly man he knew , who at first was exercised with many doubts and fears , and shakings of Faith ; but at last through humiliation of soul , and a captivating of his understanding to Divine Truth , together with the illumination of the Spirit , came to a wonderful clearness in the matters of Faith , and of his soul-estate , with such a settlement of spirit , and certainty about his salvation , as to have no more doubts remaining in him . Christians , content not your selves with some notions of truth , and shallow cold apprehensions of the great mysteries of salvation ; but labour to get in greater measures of spiritual understanding , both objective , as to the Truths to be known ; and subjective , as to the discerning of them : Alas , we know as yet nothing as we ought ; there are deeps in the knowledge of Christ for Elephants , as well as shallows for Lambs ; and there are greater beamings on the souls eye to be obtained , and more certain understanding , and familiar acquaintance to be had with the same Truths we know . Your business , Christians , in the Heavenly Trade is to get more Divine Wisdom , to be led farther into all Truth , and to enter into the Mysteries of the Gospel ; wading farther and farther into Sanctuary-deeps ; to know more of God , of the way to him , and the things freely given of him , and to know better what you know : Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent , and revealed them to babes . There 's a secret in Gospel-truths which the wisest men in the world can never by their greatest Wisdom come to see , without the special revelation of the Spirit : As none can come to see the spirits , salts , and occult virtues , in herbs and minerals , till by Chymistry they are exstracted : Others may discern and receive the things themselves in the gross and bulk of them , and yet never see or taste those choice spirits hid in them : So 't is with such as are strangers to a spiritual knowledge , they apprehend Truths in the bulk and letter of them . A A carnal man ( saith Hooker ) may hear the sound of the Word , understand the signification ; his judgment may see the evidence of the argument , and force of reason in them ; and yet the Commentary on Christ's last Prayer . reality and spiritualness of that Divine good never apprehended . The world by wisdom knew not God , 1 Cor. 1. 21. There 's no proportion between a spiritual object and a caanal eye : The carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit of God , neither can they know them , for they are spiritually discerned , 1 Cor. 2. 14. Labour to see the beauty and amiableness of Truth ; to see your propriety in Truth , to taste an inward sweetness , and ravishing pleasure in Truth , to feel the sense of special love to your souls in discovery of light , and to find a mightiness going out in every Truth on your souls , changing you into the very Spirit and Image of Truth : To grow in knowledge extensively , into all Truth ; and intensively , in deeper and more sensible , spiritual , powerful apprehensions of truth ; the want of which right knowledge makes so many cold , dead hypocrites , and barren professours in this day of light and parts .

Get also your Consciences stor'd with the Peace of God , which passeth understanding . This is the salt that seasons every thing , condition and duty , Mark 9. 50. This will shoe your feet to travel through the rough and tiresome waies of affliction , temptation and persecution you must meet with in the pursuit of your Heavenly Trade , Ephes. 6. 15. This will calm your hearts in storms , and maintain a Summer within , when 't is Winter without , and nothing but tempests and troubles in the world , John 16. 33. This will preserve you when all is going , and keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus , Phil. 4. 7. This will guard your hearts from those slavish fears , darksom doubts , and dreadful troubles that many are filled with this day , and make you triumph over sin , trample upon the world , and smile in the midst of all the frowns of men and Devils . O get and keep this rare Jewel of inward Peace , which will help you to draw near to God with boldness , and chearful serenity in every duty , Heb. 10. 22. Get your consciences bath'd in the blood of Christ , and the evidences of your sincerity cleared up every day ; this will help to maintain a feast of inward peace under the temptations of Satan , and the view of your daily failings and stumblings .

Get your hearts warm'd , and affections quicken'd with the sense of divine love to your Souls : this is a choice part of heavenly treasures , and will abundantly conduce to the lively carrying on of this divine Trade ; affections raised by the application of redemption-grace , will be to your Souls as spread sails to the Ship , to carry you strongly along against wind and storm , and fill you with pleasant gales within , and give you a speedy and comfortable passage through the waves of this World , 2 Cor. 5. 12. 'T is the Soul's wing that mounts it up towards God , and carries it aloft above the entanglements of sin , the world , and flesh , in the warm pursuit of God's commandments , 2 Cor. 5. 14. His commands will not be thought grievous , or his yoke heavy , where this love of God hath left a savour on the heart , Psal. 119. 32. Rom. 13. 10. It will exceedingly sweeten the bitter waters of Marah to you , and make the paths of God's Providences , as well as his Precepts , pleasantness and peace .

Take in also the consolations of the Spirit , and the joys of the Holy Ghost , these will be useful to chear your hearts under tribulation , and strengthen and cordial you under heart-faintings and qualms you may meet with from those ill vapours of this lower World , and want of creature-comforts , 2 Cor. 7. 4. Rom. 15. 4. This spiriturl comfort will also help to drown your carnal joys , and to prevent a surfeit with the pleasures of this World , ( another danger that Wisdom's Merchants are sometimes liable to . ) Acts 2. 28. Make me full of joy with the light of thy countenance . Spiritual joy , where it is , fills the heart , and leaves no room for carnal delights ; as the heat of the Sun puts out the fire , so will spiritual consolation extinguish carnal joy : 'T was the comfort which Moses , by Faith , fetch'd in from the views of an invisible God , that made him choose reproaches with the people of God , before the pleasures of sin that were but for a season , Heb. 11. 21. 25. This spiritual comfort is a notable way to stability in every good work , 2 Thes. 2. 16 , 17. to help on your Souls edification and growth in grace and holiness , Acts 9. 31.

O! what work have Christians to do , besides the World , and minding their own things ? were Religion followed to the purpose , persons would have no leisure for sin and vanity : O! what need have gracious Souls of a diligent hand to make them rich , and to be taking in spiritual goods every day .

Quest. But how should I do to get my Soul furnish'd with these heavenly goods ? If my heart deceive me not , I would fain be enriched with every grace , capacity and accomplishment , for the discharge of my duty , the pleasing , honouring , and enjoying of God , and for the welfare of my immortal Soul : But how to attain this longed for mercy , I know not .

Sol. 1. If you would be enriched with heavenly treasures , and get in those goods ; Then ,

1. First , maintain a constant sense of your own wants and emptiness : That which is wanting cannot be numbred , Eccles. 1. 15. Look over your souls every day , and see your poverty ; look into your understandings , and see how little light is there ; into your minds , and consider how little spirituality lies there ; how little warmth and heavenly heat in your affections ; little truth and sincerity in your spirits ; little tenderness in your consciences ; little flexibleness in your wills to divine things : little faith , love , humility , meekness , fear , zeal , life , strength , faithfulness , stedfastness in your souls : were this really seen , and felt , and the excellency of these spiritual perfections discern'd , and the soul 's great concern and interest that lies wrapt up in them , with the absolute necessity of having every grace , in order to duty , peace , comfort , prosperity and salvation ; persons that had any life at all , could not lie still , or be content , till utmost means were us'd to obtain supplies : 't was a false conceit of a self-fulness that kept back Laodicea from seeking after Christ's treasures , Rev. 3. 17 , 18. And that blind opinion the Pharisees had of their good estate that so prejudic'd them against the convictions and counsels of Christ towards their cure , Joh. 8. 33. 39. 41. 48. Had not the Corinthian Saints been so full and rich in their apprehensions , they would not have had such sleighty thoughts of instituted means towards their Souls good . 1 Cor. 1. 12. And have been contentious with one another , when they should have been contending for higher measures of grace and godliness , vers. 11. 'T is the poor are the labourers in God's Vineyard , Zech. 11. 11. And they that feel their daily need of soul-relief , that will be at any pains to enjoy it , Isa. 41. 17.

Secondly , Get a believing sight of Christ's grace and fulness , that he is able to enrich you , and willing to help you . Heb. 11. 6. This brought Naaman to the Prophet Elisha for cure of his leprosy ; he believed his servants report , that he was able , and cherished hopes that he was willing to heal him . 2 Kin. 5. 3. And she said to her Mistress , would God my Master were with the Prophet that is in Samaria , for he would recover him of his leprosy : One told this to her Lord , and hereupon he goes and adventures : ver. 5. And he departed . A perswasion of Christ's ability , brought the Leper to him for cleansing . Mat. 8. 2. Lord , if thou wilt , thou can'st make me clean : He was perswaded that Christ was able , and had hopes that he was willing , or would never have come to him . A thorough belief of Christ's ability to help , will make a soul to cherish hopes of his willingness also . So the blind men , Mat. 9. they believed Christ's ability to help them ; ver. 28. And they had hopes of his mercy too , that he would do it : ver. 27. Thou Son of David have mercy upon us : and this hope made them not only to come to Christ , but to follow after him : whatever persons pretend to a believing in Christ's ability to save and sanctify them , they have not this faith , who question his willingness to satisfy the longing soul , and save all that come to God by him : you confess he is able to furnish you with all you can want or desire ; believe his willingness also to supply all your wants , who sincerely wait upon him .

Quest. But how may I know that Christ will furnish me if I come for these heavenly treasures ? there are many come , and go without their errand : Some ask , and have not , Jam. 4. 3. run , and receive not ; strive to enter in , and are not able , 1 Cor. 9. 24. Luke 13. 24. There are some the Lord threatens he will not hear , Prov. 1. 28. Isa. 1. 15. Zech. 7. 13. And I have sought these spiritual blessings many a time , and God hath not answered : How may I be sure Christ is willing to give these treasures unto me ?

Sol. The Lord Jesus hath made an offer of grace to all sensible Sinners , who feel their need , and thirst for supply , Isa. 55. 1. Joh. 7. 37. and called upon them to come and receive it without exception , Matth. 11. 28. Now it cannot stand with his divine goodness and truth to offer mercy , and not intend to give it ; he cannot deceive , or be deceived , who is the faithful one ; nor invite his creatures to an expectation , and then fail them . Now he hath called all to come , and required no other condition but their coming , and receiving him and the things he hath offered . He hath also promised , as well as offered , to give to him that thirsteth . Rev. 20. 6. I will give to him that is a-thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely . I will give , ( not sell ) or let out on any terms of self-worthiness ; for if there be any thing to make the creature worthy , 't is not a gift , but debt , Rom. 4. 4. [ To him that is a-thirst , ] nothing else is required but a pinching sense of souls need , and an unsatisfied desire of supply . [ I will give freely , ] out of no respect to any thing in the creature , but his necessity and misery ; the moving cause is his own grace and free mercy to Sinners , as Sinners . [ I will give liberally too ; ] let him drink freely , take as much as he needs , or is capable to receive . [ I will give sutably , ] such things as you desire and need , and such things as are capable of satisfying you , ( of the fountain of the waters of life . ) Matth. 7. 7. Psal. 36. 7 , 8. Joh. 6. 37. Isa. 41. 17. You will find nothing in these Scriptures required in the person , but sense of his need , seeking satisfaction , coming , believing , and a real subjection to all God's terms , and a pure designing of his ends . I disclaim all ; the Port I would be in at , is redemption and forgiveness through his blood ; Ruth . Now , if he hath promised to give to them that seek , he must be willing to give ; For the holy one of Israel cannot lye , Numb. 23. 19. He hath received all his Mediatory fulness of purpose for the giving out to those that come unto him . Joh. 1. 12. Psal. 68. 18. Thou hast received gifts for men , yea for the rebellious also , that the Lord God might dwell amongst them : He is the Angel , Messenger and Mediator of the new Covenant , the Trustee and Feoffee entrusted with that great estate for the use of his people that need it , and come unto him for it , Mal. 3. 1. Heb. 9. 15. And therefore is said to appear in Heaven in the presence of God for them , as an Advocate to follow their cause . The Lord Jesus is wonderfully pleased too , in giving to his needy seeking ones . Mic. 7. 18. He delighteth in mercy . Psal. 35. 27. He hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants : the more he gives , the more he sees of the travel of his soul , and is satisfied . Isa. 53. 11. The more he gives , the more he receives : The gifts and graces of God are as the rivers that flow from the Sea , and return to the Sea again . 1 Chron. 29. 14. Of thine own have we given thee : The more Christ gives to his people , the more he receives ; his talents come in again with improvements , Mat. 25. 27. The more he gives , the more he is glorified , Joh. 14. 13. Answer these questions before you doubt Christ's willingness to part with spiritual goods freely to all that truly seek them . Do you think really that Christ can dissemble , offer mercy , and have no mind to give it ? Do you think that the Lord Jesus can break his word , or become false to his promise ? Can you imagine he will be unfaithful to his trust ? Can he delight in giving , and yet not willing ? Doth he gain by giving , and yet not willing to give ? Is he glorified by giving , and yet be loth to give ? then would he not care for his own name . Suspect your willingness to receive , not Christ's to give you all that grace you need and seek of him .

Fourthly , Another thing wherein this heavenly Trade lies , is , to carry on heavenly work , and to be daily driving on the great business of godliness . Religion hath its work as well as the world ; every Trade hath its employment , and so has godliness . Christianity is not a notion or opinion , a name to live , and no more : 'T is a miserable vanity and cheat for a person to think a bare Lamp will light him to Heaven , and a few lazy wishes bring him to glory , though he travel not the way to it . Alas , to espouse the principles of Piety , without the practice of it , to get over to priviledges , and be strangers to Purity , to profess Faith without works , and love without labours , will signifie nothing towards salvation . Will Opinion make a man an Artist , or imagination enrich him , or hunger fill him , or reading the way to a place bring him thither ? No more will affection , knowledge and profession help men to Heaven , unless they work out their salvation , and carry on the duties of Religion that lead to it , Phil. 2. 12.

First , Consider , a Christian hath much work , and a little time ; great work , and small strength ; necessary work , and many diversions ; excellent work , none like it : persons that set about salvation in earnest , will find much to do ; and the farther they go in Religion , the more busie their employment will be : every day brings its work with it ; new instructions , new mercies , new afflictions and temptations every day , which calls for much exercised grace and duty . A child of God hath no time for idleness , or impertinent business . O the many things that must be dispatched within the compass of this little inch of time for eternity ! Soul , if thou diest , and thy work undone when thou diest , thy soul 's undone ; there 's no rising from thy grave to do neglected work ; or dispensation at the Bar of God for the omission of Salvation-duties .

This work is necessary also as well as great ; some duties are necessary to secure thy salvation ; all duties are necessary to maintain thy comforts , and greaten thy glory . Men plead necessity for this and th' other thing , to do this work , and take that journey ; to omit this duty , and absent from such a priviledge ; but who is sensible of the necessity of working the work of God , and attending soul-concerns ? It may not be necessary you should have peace , credit , plenty , riches , comforts ; that you should have so much estate , preferment and contentment in the world ; but 't is absolutely necessary thy soul should be saved , and that God should be obeyed ; that spiritual concerns should be attended , ( whatever is neglected ) that thy debts should be paid , thy peace with God obtained , thy hungry soul be fed and refreshed , thy title to Heaven clear'd , the presence of God enjoy'd , and thy seed-time for glory improv'd .

'T is promised-work too , and that makes it necessary ; you have engag'd to be the Lord's if you are Christians ; and have given up your selves to be his , and not your own ; your time is his , your capacities his , 1 Cor. 6. 19 , 20. what you are and have , is from him and for him ; this you have devoted to the use and service of God when you took him to be your God , 2 Cor. 8. 5. and many a time since you have engag'd to obedience of his commands : There are sick-bed-vows , affliction-promises , engagements under conscience-troubles ; yea every day , and in every duty , you tell God you will mend your waies , redeem your time , do him more and better work ; and how can you stand before him with such flattery and dissimulation , and under the guilt of so much falshood and treachery , while your work lies still undone ?

Yea your work Christians is excellent work also , above all the employments of the world ; 't is supernatural work , yea Angelical work , yea such work as Angels cannot do , to believe in , love , converse with , and obey Christ , as your Redeemer and Saviour , Phil. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 7 , 8 , 9 , 12. to suffer for Christ , and be baptized into a conformity with his death and resurrection .

'T is suitable work also you are called to in this Heavenly Trade , work suited to your natures : If you are Saints , you have received a heavenly spirit , and are partakers of the Divine Nature , 2 Pet. 1. 4. 'T is as natural for you to do heavenly work , if you are Christians , as for the world to do earthly work , there being a disposition and propensity put into your renewed natures to new and heavenly work , as there is a disposition in the seed to its proper fruit , 1 Joh. 3. 9. For his seed remaineth in him : 'T is work suited to your hopes which are laid up in Heaven , Col. 1. 5. For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven , whereof you have heard before in the word of Truth . That is the blessedness , those great and glorious things you hope for , which are laid up for you in Heaven , as a Treasure safely kept for you : Called hope by an Antonomasia ( saith Davenant ) a a Beatitudo promissa dicitur spes nostra , id est , ill●● quod speramas per Antonomasiam ; neque hoc praemium dicitur tantum oblatum nobis & propositum , nam h●c spem nostram infirmaret , si certitudo rerum speratarum penderet ex nobis , & dispositione nostra ita ut vel daretur nobis vel negaretur promerito operum nostrorum , sed dicitur se positum nobis , id est , quasi in deposito reconditum apud Deum Patrem nostrum . Daven . This reward is not said to be onely offered and proposed to us ; for that would weaken our hope , if the certainty of those things hoped for did depend on us , and our disposition ; so that it should be given or denied us according to the worth of our works , graces and duties ; but 't is said to be laid aside for us , as that which is deposited , and safely laid up in God our Father for us . A Christian's choicest Treasures lie in hope , not in hand ; beyond their present view and enjoyment , and yet secured to their use and propriety , 1 Pet. 1. 4. Reserved in Heaven for you : ( 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ) kept as it were in custody , and with watch and ward for you sure and certain , on which the hopes of Believers are firmly laid , and to which their present work is suited : heavenly work bears a proportion and agreement in its nature ( though not in worth ) to heavenly and eternal things ; 't is work suited to your inheritance and wages in its kind , though not in degree : and that 's excellent work which is of the same nature with your eternal blessedness .

Suited also to your present priviledges , who sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Eph. 2. 6. Gracious souls , though in habitation they are on the Earth , yet in point of priviledge they sit in Heaven : Through their union with Christ they may be said b b Sedere fecit nos in coelestibus in persona Christi , inque novam vitam excitavit , & ut Spiritu in coelis versemur efficit . Zanch. ( saith Zanchy ) to sit where he sits , as a husband or Brother absent from his Wife , and Brethren doth possess a Kingdom for them ; they , though absent , may be truly said relatively to possess it in him as members in the head , they sit in Heaven in the person of Christ ; and as the lump is sanctified in the first fruits : Neither do they sit onely relatively through their union with Christ ; but spiritually , through their communion with him . In that sense ( saith Bucer ) as the Apostle speaks , Phil. 3. 20. They have their conversation in Heaven . This is a glorious priviledge the Saints onely enjoy ; in this life to converse in Heaven , and to have their life above , above the world , and things below , and such should their work be also : How pleasant should heavenly work be to heavenly souls ! which Believers are and should be .

Secondly , Christians set upon heavenly work ; for as is your work , so will your maintenance be : They who do that work which the world cannot , have that meat and drink which the world knoweth not , Joh. 4. 32 , 34. The Lord hath dainties , and peculiar refreshments for those who are single and faithful in his work , they have joyes which strangers intermeddle not with , Prov. 14. 10. Whoever go without , his labourers shall not lack : He keeps a good table for his work-men : In keeping of his Commands there 's great reward , Psal. 19. 11. They eat the fat , and drink the sweet , Neh. 8. 10. The marrow , the spiced wine , the hidden Manna is their meat and drink ( so far as they have need of it ) O the sweet bits , and pleasant sips they miss of , who are idle in God's Vineyard ! They that will not work , shall not eat , 2 Thes. 3. 10. Would you live high in your spiritual comforts , then work hard in your spiritual work .

Thirdly , As is your work , so will your company be : They that do earthly work , have earthly companions to labour with them : As is mens Trade , such is their company . The children of the night have their fellowship with unfruitfull works of darkness , Ephes. 5. 11. and gracious souls are companions with them that fear God , Psal. 119. 63. Wicked workers have wicked men and devils casting in their lot with them , Prov. 1. 14. And so have heavenly Traders heavenly company ; they have the presence of God with them , 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you are with him : They have the Comforter with them , Joh. 14. 16. He shall give you another Comforter , that he may abide with you for ever : Rom. 8. 11. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you . No company like the Comforter ; friends may leave you , but if you keep with God , and do his will , the Spirit of God will abide with you for ever ; though he may not alwaies be seen of you , yet he will alwaies reside with you : At the best , friends can but stay with you , but the Spirit of Christ will dwell in you , and give you the nearest and most intimate acquaintance with himself , ( if you obey his voice , and follow him ) God's labourers have the company of Angels also : they are ministring spirits to the heirs of salvation , Heb. 1. 14. They pitch their tents about them that fear God , Psal. 34. 7. and have it given in charge to take care of the Children of God , and to carry them in their arms , that they dash not their feet against a stone , Psal. 91. 11. Those are lovely company indeed , such as will never hurt you , but do you good ; you shall be the better for them , Prov. 13. 20.

Fourthly , As is your work , so will your wages be to all eternity : though not for your work , yet according to it , Rom. 2. 6. Who shall render to every man according to his deeds : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , not 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , according to , not for their works : The Preposition 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , noting here ( saith Paraeus ) c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 non meritum significat , sed mensuram ceu 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , quae praemia distribuentur indebita & poenae irrogaountur promeritae . Paraeus . Non propter quid , sed quibus sit danda docetur . Idem . not the merit , but the measure , analogy or rule , by which undeserved rewards shall be distributed , and just punishments shall be inflicted , as the word is used , Mat. 9. 29. ch. 23. 3. And so as it refers to glory ( saith he ) it rather describes the person to whom this glory shall be given , then shews the cause why it is given , as Mat. 25. 34 , 35. Also the word rendered ( 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ) is used for a free reward that hath no respect to desert , Mat. 20. 8. The same reward being given to him that wrought one hour , as to those that bore the heat and burden of the day : So that the word ( according ) notes the kind of work , not the cause of reward , reward as it refers to salvation : Suitable to that of Christ , Rev. 22. 12. Behold I come quickly , and my reward is with me , to give every man according as his work shall be : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Indeed evil works have their causality , and desert of punishment , but not good works of reward : Gryner gives three reasons of the difference : First , Because good works proceed from God , and are the fruits of his Spirit in us ; but evil works proceed from man , and are the effects of his own spirit and will . Secondly , good works are imperfectly good as to degrees , and therefore cannot merit ; but evil works are perfectly evil , and therefore deserve death . Thirdly , Good works are commanded , and so are but our duty , and cannot merit , ( payment of debts are not purchase ) but sins are forbidden , and so are a breach of the Law of God , and deserve death . Luke 17. 10. The gift of God is eternal life , but the wages of sin is death , Rom. 6. 23. Death is wages due , but life is a gift altogether free . By grace ye are saved , Ephes. 2. 5. There can be no desert of glory in the most spiritual duties of man : Because

First , They are not man's work , but God's in him , John 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing , Gal. 2. 20. I live , yet not I , but Christ liveth in me . Holiness is called the fruit of the Spirit , Ephes. 5. 9. Now the reward is due by way of debt to him that worketh ; but to him that worketh not , 't is of grace , Rom. 4. 4 , 5. and therefore reward is not due to Saints who work not , but by strict way of justice rather to the Spirit that worketh in them .

Secondly , They are no way proportionable to the reward , and so not meritorious : Their work is imperfect , they know but in part , and do but in part , 1 Cor. 3. 9. Phil. 3. 12. The best duties as they come from the Saints here , are spotty , and as sweet waters that come from an evil vessel , they savour of the cask through which they come ; but glory is perfect , omnibus modis , and hath no defect in it ; Our works also are finite , being created , and creature-actions ; but the reward is infinite , the love and glory of an infinite God .

Thirdly , Though our Holiness were perfect , yet it could not merit ; because it is due to God from that relation we bear to him as his creatures , and redeemed ones , and from our promise and covenant with him to love , obey and serve him , Ephes. 2. 10. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Duties are but debts , not acts of favour to God : We owe God our selves , and our all , and are indebted to Christ for his Redemption-grace , more than we can ever pay ; we cannot ( though we do all we possible can ) requite the blood of Christ , and love of Christ ; and till we are out of debt we cannot merit .

Fourthly , We have nothing to merit withal , for we are not our own , 1 Cor. 6. 19. Man hath nothing to give to God , who is not his own , but God's ( as all redeemed ones especially are ) Believers are his servants : Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant ? And a servant is not his own ; his time , strength , capacity , work , are his Masters ; so are the Saints duties the Lord's , not by way of legal compact , and requital of wages , but by way of redemption , right and purchase , being bought out of the service of sin and Satan to his own use ; and the service of such is a due already upon a former score ; a debt of thankfulness , and cannot merit a reward : Beside , what can they give to God , who have nothing but what they receive from God ? 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who hath first given to him ? and it shall be recompensed to him again : for of him , and through him , and to him are all things , to whom be glory for ever .

Fifthly , Were rewards due to any upon the account of his work , then man had something to glory of in himself , and might say of Heaven as Nebuchadnezzar did of Babylon , Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon which I have built for the house of the Kingdom , by the might of my power , and for the honour of my Majesty ? So might such say when they come to Heaven ; Is not this the mansion I prepared and deserved by my duties and graces , for my glory and blessedness ? For self-justiciaries , though they are forced to say that their grace is given of God ; yet they boast of the improvements of this grace as theirs , and glory is due to the improvement of grace ( they say ) and not to the bare grace or talent ; and though they are driven to confess Christ's merit , yet they shuffle and say , Christ merited for them , that they might merit : But that is contrary to the Gospel , which tells us , That 't is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth , but of God that sheweth mercy , Rom. 9. v. 16. And 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure , Phil. 2. 13. And that no flesh should glory in his presence , 1 Cor. 1. 29. And therefore God hath chosen the foolish , weak ; and base things of this world , and things that are not , of purpose to prevent this self-glorying before him , verse 17 , 18. And the Apostle makes this reason why Abraham was not justified by Works , but by Faith , cause then he would have something to glory in ; but this could not be . Rom. 4. 2. If Abraham were justified by works , he had something to glory in , but not before God . So that the Saints , though they have a reward of their work , yet it is not for their work ; 't is a reward , not of debt , but of grace ; yea of glorious grace , according to your work . ( Christians ) God will not give you a jot less than the utmost of what your love and faithfulness comes to ; Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58. He will not fail of any of his Promises , or disappoint you of your expected end , but will be better than your hopes : You will say in that day of compensation , Who hath begotten me all these ? Isa. 49. 21. Whence is this to me ? Luk. 1. v. 43. When saw we thee an hungred ? Mat. 26. v. 37. Glory is a mighty thing , infinitely above all your labours : Christians , Heaven will make amends for all your duties and losses , and abundantly compensate , and exceed all your expences for God in the world : And have : you not reason to set about the work of grace , and drive on the employments of this Heavenly Trade ?

Quest. But what is this heavenly work which Wisdom's Merchants must be driving on every day ?

Sol. I answer ; First , in the general ; Heavenly work is that work which hath a heavenly Author and Principle ; a heavenly rule , and a heavenly end : work wrought of God by his Spirit , Joh. 3. 21. Work done according to the will of God , and by Scripture-rule , Col. 4. 12. Work wrought for God , and designed purely and ultimately to his glory , 1 Cor. 10. 31.

But more particularly , heavenly works may be considered under these two heads .

First , Such as are heavenly in the matter of them , as well as manner and end .

Secondly , Such works , as though earthly in the matter of them , yet are done in a heavenly manner , and to an heavenly end .

First , That 's heavenly work which is of a heavenly nature , matter , and manner , and end ; as all those religious duties are which respect God , our selves , and others .

First , Drive on that work every day which hath God himself for its first and more immediate object , as all acts of religious worship , both natural and instituted , moral and positive . Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God , and him only shalt thou serve : This is due to God from all his rational and intelligent creatures , both Men and Angels to worship him only , with that reverential fear , faith , love , hope and delight which is due to him , as the Supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth , the great Creator and Conservator of all his creatures ; and to serve him with that subjection and obedience as their relation to God their Sovereign calls for . This is the duty of all persons , especially those that profess their owning of God , and choice of him to be their God in Christ , and peculiar treasure . Deut. 13. 6. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God , and serve him , and swear by his name . Christians , to let out your hearts upon the world , relations , self , and creatures , is to rob God of his service , and to commit Idolatry with the creature . Think this , when my heart runs out to things below God , and my affections , hope , trust and delight get over their banks , and break their due bounds , and subordinacy to God : when I fondly dote upon , and take pleasure ( abstractively from God ) in any creatures , then do I deal treacherously with my God , I rob him , and give his glory to another , Isa. 48. 11. O set habitually your hearts on God , and let out your faith , love , hope , fear , desires , and delighting pleasures on God every day , yea all the day long , as your chiefest good , supreme Sovereign , and last end . Prov. 27. 17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long .

Again , external acts of divine worship are part of thy every days work , which thou owest to God , and to be duly and daily performed to him , as to pray , hear , and read his sacred word : These are that honour , homage and service that is due to God every day , especially morning and evening ; Prov. 8. 34. Deut. 6. 7. Exod. 30. 7. 1 Chron. 23. 30. Ezek. 46. 13 , 14 , 15. Amos 4. 4. 1 Chron. 16. 40. Psal. 55. 17. This is the daily burnt-offering to be prepared for the Lord ; Exod. 29. 38 , 39. Morning and evening ; the vows that are to be daily performed . Psal. 61. 8. God's mercies are new every morning , and so must your praises be also . Lam. 3. 23. He keeps you day and night . Isa. 27. 3. And 't is but reasonable you should give him his morning and evening sacrifice : you depend upon him for the mercies of every day , and he expects from you the duties of every day , which is reasonable service . Rom. 12. 1. You have daily necessities , difficulties , trials , dangers and duties , in which you need his help ; and is it not your concern to be daily at his feet , and seeking his favour , counsel , strength and blessing ?

Herein lies your professed subjection to God also ; slight religious duties , and you reject God from being your God : This very reason doth Moses give why Israel should serve the Lord , and cleave to him , and swear by his name , and give him all religious worship , Deut. 19. 20 , 21. He is thy praise , and he is thy God , who hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen . Dan. 6. 16. Thy God whom thou servest continually , he will deliver thee : 'T is a contradiction to say that God is your God , and yet with-hold his service from him : As soon as ever God had a people in the World , he had service from them . Gen. 4. 26. Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord : No sooner had Seth ( who was the other seed which the Lord appropriated to himself in the room of Abel ) a Son and Family , but they had peculiar worship for God , and were distinguished from the Family of Cain by this , that they did serve God : This is the work of God , that every Soul is bound to dispatch every day , in Closet and Family , in Spirit and Truth , with a pure heart fervently .

This also is the best part of your work in the world , to attend on God ; all other service is but drudgery , compared with your serving God , and transacting the great matters of your Souls , and your everlasting concern . This is your interest also , to maintain nearness to God , who is the life of your souls , the length of your days , and fountain of all your supplies ; there 's no such pleasure as in the ways of God , nor profit as in keeping his commands . O the blessedness of converse with God , and maintaining a daily entercourse with the Father of Spirits ! 't is the priviledg of Angels , and of glorified Saints , to be always beholding his face , 1 Thes. 4. 17. Mat. 18. 10. And the peculiar honour of the upright to dwell in his presence , Psal. 140. 12.

There is no such advantage also as to be much with God every day . Psal. 73. 28. 'T is good for me to draw near to God : Often journeys to Heaven bring in much profit ; 't was this way David did thrive so much in wisdom , grace and experience , out-shining all the men of that age , and serving his generation by the will of God ; his being much with God . Psal. 139. 18. When I awake I am still with thee : By this nearness to the Son of righteousness did Enoch so soon ripen for Heaven ; and by his constant walks with God , did he so timely get to his journeys end . Of all that generation , we find none so soon sent for home , and translated to his rest , as holy Enoch ; for whereas the rest lived nine hundred , eight hundred , seven hundred years ; only he lived three hundred sixty and five years , and that which so quickned his fitness for rest , was his activity in heavenly work : Enoch walked with God , and was not , for God took him , Gen. 5. 23. He kept his constant turns with God in his Garden and Gallery-walks , and then went in with him into his Presence-Chamber , there to sit down with him for ever .

This also will make you thrive in your own work , if you are faithful and diligent in God's work ; mind his concerns , and he will care for yours , Deut. 30. 9. Obey the voice of the Lord , and do all his commandments , and the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every good work of thy hand ; He shall make thee to abound in the work of thy hand ; ( as 't is in the Hebrew ) * * 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 & faciet superesse te , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , excellentem efficiet te bonis . to have more than enough , ( as Montanus renders it , ) He will bless thee in every work of thine hand , ( according to the Septuagint , ) other Copies have it ; He will have a great deal of care of thee , &c. He will make thee excellent with good things , ( saith Junius ; ) He will make thee to enjoy good in every work of , &c. ( saith Symmachus ; ) He shall prosper the work of thy hand ; It shall go well with such . Deut. 4. 40. Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes and his commandments which I command thee this day , that it may go well with thee , and with thy children after thee , Gen. 42. 18. 'T was piety made Joseph so prosperous in all he did , he feared God . Do this , and live ; for I fear God : and God was with him , and made all he did to prosper in his hand , Gen. 39. 3. Whatsoever he doth shall prosper , Psal. 1. 3. The blessing of the Lord shall be on the head and hands of such ; let their condition be what it will in the world , yet it shall be well with such as fear the Lord ; if he be afflicted , yet his afflictions shall turn to his good , and be part of his prosperity . 2 Chron. 31. 21. And in every work he began in the service of the House of God , and in the Law , and in the Commandment , to seek his God ; he did it with all his heart , and prospered . The way to true prosperity leads by Heaven-gates . Christians , if ever you will thrive in your own work , be sure to carry on God's work : begin with God every day , the first fruits are his . Dispatch religious worship in your Closets and Families before you enter on your earthly business : Close up every day with him , he is the Alpha and Omega , the beginning and end , and must have the issue as well as entrances of every day . The morning and evening sacrifice are his , 1 Chron. 16. 40. 2 Chron. 13. 11. Psal. 55. 17. Give God his due , before you render to Nature its dues . Psal. 61. 8. Pay your vows to God every evening , before you run on score for new mercies : See all things secured in everlasting Arms before you lie down to rest ; put thy Soul and thy All into the hands of Christ by solemn devotion and resignation every night ; get the watch set , and all things safe , before thou exposest thy self to the hazards of the night , and enterest upon an incapacity to secure thy self from the least danger . O precious souls ! lye not down as dogs and swine , who , when they have filled their bellies , get to their styes and kennels .

Secondly , carry on all that work daily which hath a more special respect to your own selves , and leads to the sanctifying , comforting , strengthning , edifying , saving of your precious souls . Next to the glory of God , yea in pursuance of it , thy own Salvation is thy chief concern ; What will it profit a man to gain the whole World , and to lose his own Soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul ? What is left , if the Soul be lost ? and what is done , if , after all , the Soul be undone ? To look after others Souls , and neglect thy own ; and to secure all things else , and leave destruction on thy self , is folly like to hers that saved her goods from the fire , but left her child to perish in the flames . Salvation is your chiefest work , committed to your care , and to be accounted for in the day of Christ . Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling . And 't is great work also , many things must be attended too , and several things dispatch'd , if ever Souls be saved .

First ; You must carry on heart-work every day , and that 's great work : they that are acquainted with their own hearts , know there is much to do in and about them : There is nothing more out of order than man's heart , and nothing in man of greater concernment than the heart : Hence 't is the strict charge the Lord gives his people to keep their hearts , Prov. 4. v. 23. Above all keeping ( as 't is in the Hebrew ) keep thy heart , Proz . 23. 2. Ephes. 3. 17. Prov. 4. v. 4. The heart is the one thing Christ looks for ; the chief room he dwells in ; his warehouse , where he laies up his goods ; his work-house , where he cuts out , and prepares his work , Prov. 16. 1. A great part of salvation-work is done in the secret chambers of the heart : The heart is the root and spring in man whence all aceptable duties flow , Ephes. 6. 6. doing the will of God from the heart ; and to be especially looked after . A Christian finds a great deal of work to do about his heart every day : There is

Heart-searching work , Psal. 64. 6. The heart of man is deep , and not easily fathom'd ; 't is a long journey to the farthest end of the heart , which no man ever yet reached in this life : The Sea is deep , and yet it hath a bottom : The World is large , and yet it hath been compassed ; but who hath ever travelled through his own heart , to set up his non ultra , and say , Hitherto its wickedness goes , and no farther . 'T is deceitful also above all things , and desperately wicked , who can know it ? Jer. 17. 9. A man hath no such cheater to deal with as his own heart ; it hath such Cameleon colours , Maeander windings ; such labyrinth turnings , subtle shifts , false pretences , close designs , fair promises , smooth excuses , rhetorical pleas , seeming integrity , deep-rooted hypocrisie , that a man cannot tell what to make of his heart , or how to find it out ; and this calls for constant searchings and observings of the heart : Besides , the Lord gives his people the ballance of the Sanctuary on purpose to weigh it in , and casts out a line of providence every day to try it by . Men meet with occasional providences , temptations , employments , companies , changes , mercies , afflictions ; all which help to discover the heart ; the issue of which is to be observed in order to the finding out of thy heart .

Heart-judging work : When Christians have found out the evil of their hearts , their pride , hypocrisie , &c. seen the proof and evidence clear , and how contrary to Law and Gospel , to Equity and Mercy , to Light , Experience , Warnings , Patience , Profession and Promises , they are then to charge these things upon the heart , to set home the evil with all the aggravations of it , from its nature and effects , from the quality of the person , the time , place , continuance in it , attempts and means of cure , compared with others beneath them for light , profession , means and mercies ; and having by these arguments convinced the heart of its exceeding evil , then to pass sentence against , and condemn it as unworthy of any mercy , and deserving of all the threatnings in the Word against it , until the heart come to bear its iniquity , and feel its exceeding sinfulness , and cry out with the Apostle , O wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the body of this death ? Rom. 7. 24. This would be of wonderful use to clear up your sincerity , to preserve the tenderness of your spirits , to cut off all excuses , false hopes , and security in sin , and make it more abominable when it appears with its most taking allurements , 2 Cor. 7. 11. 1 Cor. 11. 31. and this would evidence your interest in pardon , and freedom from Divine condemnation .

Heart-humbling work . O the pride that lodges , yea lives in , and incorporates with this little piece the heart of man ! how unsearchable is it , and past finding out ! like leaven in the lump , and poyson in the cup , which cannot be separated by a humane hand ; as rottenness in the bones , that cannot be fetched out . Pride is as that lofty mountain before Zerubbabel , which must become a plain , Zach. 4. 7. as deeply rooted trees , whose Mores are not easily plucked up . One compares spiritual pride , to the shirt , or inmost garment , which the Saints last of all put off ; and which like the Ivy , will not be pluckt out , till the wall in which it is comes down also . O the tuggings a child of God hath with his proud heart , to get and keep it low ! As the Spider , whatever it feeds on it turns to poison : So is it with the proud heart of man ; it turns all it does , hath , meets with , and sees to the nourishment of pride ; proud of its sins ; proud of his graces ; proud under afflictions , and proud of mercies ; proud of honour , and proud of humility ; proud of God's favour , and proud under his frowns . O what a strange disease is pride , that feeds upon the means which the Lord gives to cure it , and gets strength from the remedy to nourish the disease ! like Ephraim's wound ; when God would have healed one , another appeared : And this helps to make a Christian's work great work indeed , which is never done till his day be done , and his Tabernacle pulled down .

Heart-purging work : The heart of man naturally is a very sink and kennel of uncleanness ; a fountain of pollution ; a running Issue full of filthiness of flesh and spirit , Mat. 18. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts , murders , adulteries , fornications , thefts , false witness , blasphemies ; these are the things that defile the man . 'T is not accidental and adventitious filthiness , for that may more easily be washt away , Jer. 6. 7. but 't is innate and connatural , and never ceases bubling forth , till the fountain be cleansed , and the root be changed . Sin in the heart is the root and spring of all the wickedness that defiles the thoughts , words and actions . Christians complain of their thoughts ; they are pestred with vain , unclean , distracting thoughts in duty , and out of duty ; whereas the distemper lies in the heart : Thoughts are but the ebullitions and swarmings of the heart : He that will cure his thoughts , must first cleanse his heart , Jer. 4. 14. The heart is the nest where these Wasps fly out and trouble the soul ; the root that feeds these luxuriant branches , briars and thorns that wound the conscience ; and the strong fort of Sion , where these Jebusites hide themselves , and issue out to prey upon the gracious soul : Till these nests be spoiled , the Ax laid to the root of the tree , and this strong Tower attach'd , and these blind and lame removed , souls will never be freed from irruptions of sin in their thoughts and conversations : This ( Christian ) is busie and hard work , and part of thy daily employment in this Heavenly Trade ; to sweep , wash , drain and cleanse thy filthy heart , by sound repentance and faith in the promises , death and blood of Christ .

Heart-quickening work . The heart is the primum mobile , the great wheel in the watch that sets all a going ; if that stop , all faculties are still : A lively heart makes a diligent hand to rid away soul-work , and a nimble foot to run in the waies of God's commands ; when the heart is quickened , then every duty , inward , outward , publick , private goes on ; such a soul needs no spur to quicken it , nor pully to draw it to its duties . O what a burden are some to their Christian friends , to keep them up , and draw them on in the way of God , and all because their hearts are dead , and that liveliness which once seem'd to be in them is departed ! The spring that at first made them so active , is weakened or broken ; the waters that set their Mills a going fail , and that temporary love , and common grace , like standing pools having no fountain to maintain them , are dried up by consuming lusts , and scorching temptations ; so that now they wither in all their branches , and become weak , cold , and indisposed to every work of God and their souls . Some of these dangerous symptoms of decayed grace , are found also in sincere souls , for not looking after their hearts betimes , and keeping them close to a quickening Jesus , by a lively faith in the promises . Christian , mind this also every day , to maintain thy spiritual life , by fresh quickenings , and reviving influences , from the fountain of life , on thy weak and dying heart , making use of all instituted helps for soul-strengthening ; as hearing , reading , meditation , holy conference , and the like .

Heart-teaching and enlightening work . A light head , and a dark heart may dwell together ; and it seems to be the condition of too many under the Gospel this day . A spiritual eye to look into the mystery of truth , and believing affectionate discerning of excellent things , is not easily found ; even while Christ is read , a veil is on mens minds , and their foolish heart is darkened : And this is one reason souls walk not as children of light ; 't is because they are not light in the Lord , Psal. 40. 8. The Law of God is not within their hearts ; they have no inclination or power upon their hearts to do the will of God they know , for want of this heart-knowledge : Be earnest with God to beam over your hearts , to make that the Hemisphere where the Sun of Righteousness may daily arise with healing in his wings : Cry with David , Psal. 119. 36. Incline my heart to thy Law : Let my heart lean and stay upon thy Law , as a man doth upon a staff tobear him up : Get a greater nearness in your hearts to truth , that the Word may be wrought in , and incorporated into your hearts ; that it may be a Goshen , a Land of Vision , and full of the understanding of the Lord .

Heart-keeping and Heart-watching work . The heart is bent to backsliding , if it be not kept and held fast to the Lord and his waies ; 't is still turning aside , and winding off from its proper duty . The Lord complains of Israel , Psal. 78. 8. They did not set their heart aright , and their spirit was not stedfast with God : They did not prepare , adapt , dispose their heart to God ; neither was it constant and stedfast with him , but on every occasion did start aside : So false a thing is man's heart , if not under a watchful eye , and strong hand , holding it fast to God . Prov. 4. 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence : Keep it as under lock and key , bolted against sin , and bound by cords of love to every duty : And what a hard province is this ! O the work that a child of God hath to keep his heart in order one moment ; to keep down sin ; to keep it from the power of corruption , and prevalency of temptation ; to keep up grace in the heart ; to maintain its desires after God , and things that are excellent ; to preserve its affections to things above ; to hold the thoughts on God , and things eternal , that they start not away ; to continue its integrity ; to perform its purposes ; to secure its frames , experiences and enjoyments ! And he that will thus keep his heart , must watch it constantly , never have his eye off from it , or suffer his jealousie concerning it to cease : He must be alwaies making it over to the Lord Jesus for security , and be still imploring help from Heaven , faithfully following all the instructions he gives towards its securing : This is heart-work , and the first part of this heavenly work that concerns your selves .

Secondly , You must carry on mortification-work every day . Col. 3. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication , uncleanness , inordinate affection , evil concupiscence , and covetousness which is Idolatry . The Apostle having assur'd the believing Colossians of their future happiness , doth thence infer their duty and necessity to press after utmost holiness here , as the way to this blessedness : The first part of which holiness lies in this great work of mortification : there is no greater motive for Believers putting off sin , than well-grounded hopes of interest in Christ and glory : if Heaven be yours hereafter , holiness must be yours now : There is no place for sin in Heaven , nor unclean thing can enter there . Then hasten away sin now ; that 's his Argument : [ Mortify your members ; ] Get your selves rid of sin ; put to death , weaken and destroy the whole body of sin , with all the parts and issues of it ; the head and ruling power of sin had its mortal wound before : vers. 3. Ye are dead ; habitually dead to sin , the world , and self ; they have got their deaths-wound , the stab is at the heart , and can never be healed more : but they are not actually dead , more blood must run , and spirits be spent , and this monster be weakned every day : Practical mortification is wanting , and must be promoted daily . This spiritual death to sin a a Mors naturalis est pura privatio nec admittit in subjecto aliquid contrarii sed mortificatio spiritualis non est pura privatio , nam dum corpus hoc mortale gestamus relinquitur aliquid de contrario fomite quod oppugnandum & magis magisque mortificandum est . Daven ( saith Davenant ) is not as the natural death ; for that 's a pure privation , and admits of nothing in the subject that 's contrary to it : But spiritual mortification is not purely privative , but while we live there 's something left that is of a contrary nature to holiness , which must be daily opposed and destroyed . Sin in Believers is driven from the royal fort of the heart upon Christ's entrance into it , but possesses the suburbs and out-works of the soul , from whence it must be gradually expell'd also by the mortifying influence of the spirit ; like the Canaanites which were remov'd from the Mountains , but could not be wholly driven out of the Valleys , that Israel might by them be prov'd , and taught to war , Judg. 1. 19. ch. 3. 1 , 2. So the Lord Jesus Christ doth not presently destroy corruptions from the people , that by them their sincerity may be proved , their graces exercised , and the mighty power of his spirit manifested : This makes a Christian's work busy , and constant , having to do with potent enemies within and without , Eph. 6. 4. which must be fought every day , and a continual war maintained with them during life : without fighting , no conquering ; without striving , no crowning , 2 Tim. 2. 5. 'T is with a child of God , as with Israel when fighting with Amalek , if the hands of Faith and Prayer be not held up , no conquest ; when these are down , spiritual Amalek prevails . O the losses that Christians sustain for want of mortification , by reason of which their foil'd corruptions rally up , and take their graces captive ! Let men neglect the constant practice of mortification , b b Si neglexerint perpetuam praxim mortificationis vitia conculcata & subacta resumunt vires , corruptio abstensa repullulat & suffocata gratia spiritus sancti redit homo ad ingenium suum . Dav. ( saith Davenant ) and their vices that were trod down and subdued , will soon resume their strength ; their corruption that was lopt off will bud out again , and the graces of the Spirit in them being almost strangled , man returns to his former temper . Hence come those dreadful fears of good souls , that the grace of God was never in truth in them , but that they are still in a carnal state , and shall perish at last , and all this for want of carrying on the work of mortification in them : As a lively Faith overcomes sin , so prevailing lust weakens Faith , 1 Joh. 5. 4. Eph. 4. 2. 30. withstands the sealing-work of the Spirit , and overthrows the work of the Soul's hopes , filling it with fears about the unsoundness of his estate , and the miserable issue of all his profession , experience and labour . By this ladder of unmortified sin , the Devil scales the royal fort of Faith , throws down its Towers , and mans it against the Soul's peace , comfort and holiness . O the mischief that Christians do to themselves by indulging sin , and for want of a vigorous pursuit of this great duty of mortification ! which makes them like to Israel , who being once upon the borders of Canaan , were by their unbelief , and unsubdued lusts , brought back near the confines of Egypt again , and after a wearying unconstant life , were consum'd in the wilderness at last . So 't is with gracious Souls , by their unmortified lusts , after some accesses to grace , tastes of divine love , hopes of glory , and fairness for Heaven , they are brought back to the borders of Hell again , and made to spend their life in an uncomfortable and souldistressing wilderness . Christians , 't is not security enough for your peace and spiritual welfare , that sin hath lost its dominion , unless its strength and life be impaired also : dethroned sin may bid you many a battel , and give you sore foils , and though it may not recover the Scepter , yet it may keep the Sword ; and when it cannot mount the Throne , may get into some strong hold , and put the soul to much trouble e're it be beaten out again . Neither is it safe to acquiesce in some temporary truce with thy corruptions ; bloody overthrows have been oft-times the events of a cessation of war for a season : Joab blew the Trumpet , and all the people stood still , and pursued after Israel no more , neither fought they any more , ( i. e. for that time . ) 2 Sam. 2. 28. And yet 't is said , ch. 3. 1. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David ; but the house of David waxed stronger and stronger , and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker : Sin may seem to yield , and trouble thy soul no more for a time , but carry it quietly with thee , as Joab did to Abner , and on a sudden smite thee to the ground , though not to death , 2 Sam. 3. 27. Nor is it enough that sin be in chains , and under restraint through the present strength of overcoming grace , unless it be hang'd up in chains as a dead malefactor . Secured lust may break prison , and escape from under thy hand ( as Benhadab did from Ahab ) to thy greater hurt , 1 King . 20. 42. What mischief have chained Bears and Lions done when broken loose ? Believer , thy condition is not safe till thy sin be dead : what Saul said to Jonathan , 1 Sam. 20. 31. may be applied to thy case ; As long as the Son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established , nor thy Kingdom ; wherefore now send and fetch him to me , for he shall surely dye : So can thy Soul obtain no stability in grace , but be always full of ups and downs , and have wars and changes against thee till thy corruptions be subdued .

Quest. But how shall I do to get sin mortified ? I am convinced 't is my duty , but find it not my capacity : After all my strivings , prayers and hopes , I am still foiled , and fear I shall one day perish by the hand of these Sauls . O when shall the Kingdom be restored to Israel ? When shall the deliverer come to my soul ? What shall I do to get these mountains a plain before Zerubbabel ? and these Thieves crucified with my Lord Christ ?

Sol. If ever thou meanest to get the death of thy sins , take these directions .

Direct . 1. First , Do nothing that might tend to strengthen sin . Rom. 13. 14. Make 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , no provision for the flesh , to fulfil the 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . lusts thereof : the word signifies a provident care of the flesh , as men do to maintain themselves and families : Don't take up your thoughts about it , how to feed and please your lusts : Never think to kill your corruptions while you secretly feed and maintain them : Many complain of their corruptions , and yet all the while feed and strengthen them . There are several things that do contribute maintenance to mens lusts .

First , Delightful Remembrance of former sins , do wonderfully please a carnal heart , and stir up desires to future sins : As the remembrance of former mercies is food to present faith . Psal. 74. 14. Thou brakest the head of the Leviathan in pieces , and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness . Israel's deliverance out of Egypt , and the breaking of Pharaoh's power , seriously thought on , was food to Israel's faith in the wilderness : And such are delightful remembrances of former sins : When a person takes pleasure to think and talk of his former evils ; this doth feed present desires and hopes of sin . When Paul would help on the Romans freedom from the service of sin , he labours to get their present thoughts of former sins imbitter'd . Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? for the end of these things is death .

Secondly , Pleasing Imaginations , and fancying of present or future sins , do wonderfully strengthen the habit of sin . The Lord charges Israel's sinful actions , as the product of their wicked thoughts . Isa. 65. 2. Which walketh in a way that was not good , after their own thoughts . Sin first begins in the head , and ends in the feet ; first working thoughts of sin , and then actual works of sin : The Devil doth usually strike the first fire on the tinder of mens thoughts , which afterwards burns in their hearts and lives . Jam. 1. 15. When lust hath conceived , it bringeth forth sin , and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death . They that would avoid the birth of sin in their lives must take heed of the conception of sin in their pleasing thoughts . They that would help on Babylon's ruine , must prevent its propagation , and put a timely check to their growth ; dashing their little ones against the stone , Psal. 137. 9. Leave a a Sit nihil in te Babylonicum . not any thing that belongs to Babylon in thy soul , saith Hugo .

Thirdly , Unbelief strengthens lust . Jer. 2. 25. But thou saidst there is no hope ; no , for I have loved strangers , and after them I will go , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Desperatum est ( scil. ) cor. My heart despairs of help ; I fear it will never be better , therefore I will go on in my way . Unbelief strengthens lust , and makes the soul a prey to it . 'T was by unbelief Israel fell in the wilderness , both into sin and ruine . And the Apostle cautions Christians that they fall not by the same example of unbelief , Heb. 4. 11. 'T was unbelieving desponding fears had almost turned up David's heels , had not grace succoured him by the Word , Psal. 73. 2. But as for me , my feet were almost gone , my steps had well-nigh slipt . And whence came this weakness of grace , and strength of corruption ? why it was from the apprehended prosperity of sin and sinners ; and the succesless issues of his profession and obedience : Verse 15. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain , and washed my hands in innocency : If this be the fruit of my holiness , then all my labour is in vain ; 't is to no purpose I have followed God all this while , if wickedness shall carry it at last . O take heed of unbelief if ever you would get down your lusts .

Fourthly , Presumption secretly conveys in relief to sin , and succours it against all the sieges of Word and Spirit . 2 Pet. 2. 10. Presumptuous are they , self-will'd . A presumptuous soul is a self-pleasing soul , one that pertinaciously and wilfully seeks his own carnal contentments , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , ( as the word imports ) he will boldly adventure on the most dangerous issues of sin , so he may but gratifie his lusts , and obtain his sinful desires ; he fears no dangers , sticks at no hardships , though God and his Word be against him ; it makes the sinner go against all warnings , threatnings , counsels , with hopes of success . Numb. 14. 44. But they presumed to go up to the hill top , verse 42. The Lord forbad them to go , threatning his remove from them , and their ruine , if they durst go up against his will . Nay , it was said , The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord ; and Moses went not out of the Camp ; would not stir one foot with them in that wicked enterprize , yet they would go . O take heed of Presumption , that does exceedingly keep up sin , and pull down the sinner .

Fifthly , Carnal security is a great friend to sin , and contributes much to its advantage , when Christians let down their watch , and lie down to slumber , then corruptions rise up and prevails over them . When the Amalekites were spread abroad upon all the Earth , eating , and drinking , and dancing , because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the Land of the Philistines , 1 Sam. 30. 16 , 17. David fell upon them , and smote them from the twilight , even to the evening of the next day , and there escaped not a man of them save four hundred young men which rode upon Camels and fled . So 't is with gracious souls after some great mercy , either some special priviledge enjoy'd , some spoils upon their lusts obtained , or token of God's favour received , they become secure , proud and careless , letting down their watch , exposing themselves to temptations , and soon become a prey to sin and Satan . Jer. 48 , 11. Moab hath been at ease from his youth , and he hath settled on his lees , and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel , neither hath he gone into Captivity , therefore his taste remaineth in him , and his scent is not changed . If you would have a change on your carnal hearts , take heed of carnal security in your hearts .

Sixthly , Self-indulgence helps to nourish sin , when persons are lovers of their own selves ; seek to please , indulge and gratifie the desires of carnal natural-self ; then lusts thrive in that soul . He that feasts his body ( saith Ephrem Syrus ) and starves his soul , is like him that feasts his slave , and starves his wife . 2 Tim. 3. 2. Self-love leads the Van to all the iniquities and hypocrisies of the last times . O the troops of sin that march under the banner of self-love , and are secured by its conduct ; hence self-denial is the first step to Christianity , Mat. 16. 24. You can never prosper in your salvation-attempts , or decay in your soul-ruining lusts , till you learn to deny your selves in every part of it . Take heed of a selfish spirit , if you would be sincere souls , and see the death of your lusts .

Seventhly , Opportunity favours sin exceedingly , and helps to keep its hopes alive , and gives it occasion for its enlargement . Opportunity is the Midwife of lust , and helps to deliver it of its inward conceptions and pregnant desires : 'T was opportunity that blew the coal of David's lust into a flame , 2 Sam. 11. 2. and midwiv'd out Hezekiah's pride , Isa. 39. 2. Had it not been for opportunity , Lot might have escaped the sin of incest , as well as the sufferings of Sodom , Gen. 19. 30 to 37. and Judah's uncleanness with his Daughter-in-law Tamar : 'T was opportunity that exposed Dinah to a rape , and Peter to the temptation of denying his Lord and Master . Take heed of adventuring into the way of temptation , and going to the borders of soul-danger ; shun the occasions of evil ; turn aside out of the way of snares , Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14 , 15. Temptation feeds corruption , ensnares and entangles the feet , and ( as fewel ) keeps in the fire of lust . You may as safely suffer the sparks to come near to gun-powder , as opportunity to corruption .

Eighthly , Impenitency in sin strengthens the habit of sin . Jer. 8. 6. No man repented him of his wickedness , saying , what have I done ? every one turned to his course , as the horse rusheth into the battel . They run on furiously in sin , as the horse doth into the battel , who runs till he sweats ( saith Theodoret. ) So they have no end or satiety of sin ; and b b Talis cogitatio causa fuit pertinacis nequitiae . Idem . this impenitency in sin was the cause of all their pertinacy in sin . Impenitency hardens the heart , and heaps up sin on sin unto the day of wrath , Rom. 2. 5. Take heed then of all those things that may in the least maintain and keep up sin in your souls , as ever you think to bring it down : That 's the first Advice .

Direct . 2. Secondly , Not onely shun whatever might strengthen sin , but take heed you go not out in your own strength against sin , if ever you think to mortifie it : He that would mortifie sin , must be able to master Devils , Ephes. 6. v. 12. But humane strength is no match for Devils : If man in his pure estate were too weak for such an adversary , then much more impotent is impure and imperfect man : 'T is not the woman , but the womans seed must bruise the Serpents head , Gen. 3. 15. The Saints victory is through him that hath loved them , and given himself a sacrifice to God for them , Rom. 16. 20. Rom. 8. 37. Ephes. 5. 2. It must be his armour and arm too must bring salvation from spiritual enemies : Without me you can do nothing , John 15. 5. 'T is this makes souls to fail in their attempts against sin , that they set about it in a strength inferiour to sin . When Augustine after all his strivings , vows and duties to bring down his corruptions , found them still too hard for him ? he heard a voice saying to him , c c In te stas & non stas . Thou standest in thy self , and therefore thou dost not stand : Whereupon he betook himself to prayer , and faith in the blood of Christ , and so got some victory over them . When the Exorcists , Act. 19. v. 15 , 16. went to cast out Devils by the bare Name of Christ without the Power of Christ ; both they and their attempts soon miscarried : Jesus I know , and Paul I know , but who are ye ? and the man in whom the evil spirit was , leapt on them , and overcame them , and prevailed over them , so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded . Creature-strength is too weak to master that enemy which hath the power of Hell to guard it . O go not out against sin

In the strength of your purposes and promises ! Peter to his own cost , found that too weak to secure him in an hour of temptation .

Go not out in the strength of your frames and affections : How easily can Satan beat the Saints from these posts , and cast in a flood to drown their warmest affections ! The Galatians that were high in frames and affections , and could talk of a blessedness , while spiritual , soon felt an alteration when they became carnal , Gal. 4. 15. chap. 3. 3.

Go not out in the strength of your duties and performances ; these are too weak without faith and the arm of Christ to charm these Serpents , and disarm spiritual adversaries .

Go not out in the strength of your graces ; these are not Christ , nor have an Almightiness in them to bring down sin and Satan : 'T is not grace in Believers , but grace in Christ , that is sufficient to guard the soul from Satan's buffetings , and to rescue it from his temptations , 2 Cor. 12. 9.

Direct . 3. Thirdly , Get the union between thy heart and sin broken : The life of sin lies in that union it hath with the heart ; if that be broken , sin dies ; as a man then ceaseth to live , when the union between the soul and body is dissolved : Sin hath too great a part even in a Believer's heart , which moves for some respect and indulgence towards it : When the enlightened mind saies , Crucifie it , the carnal affections cry , Spare it , is it not a little one ? And the heart ( like the City of Iconium about Paul and Barnabas ) is divided . Act. 14. 4. And the multitude of the City was divided , and part held with the Jews , and part with the Apostles . So 't is with the gracious soul ; sin hath too great a potency in the carnal mind , which must be broken , or sin will never die : Get the Spirit 's interest in thy heart strengthened , and sins party weakened every day .

There are seven things that have a great tendency to weaken the heart's union with sin , and withdraw its affections from it .

First , An abiding sense of the great Love of Christ towards it ; that he should pity him , when pitied of none , left of all ; love him , when wallowing in his blood , and altogether unlovely in himself ; love him , while an enemy to God , yea to his own soul ; love him so as to give himself for him ; to leave his Father's glory , and take up shame , yea taste of death for him , love him , and pass by others ; call him , and leave others : the serious consideration of this hath a great constraint on the gracious heart to hate sin , which Christ so hates , and in love to the soul came to destroy .

Secondly ; A due apprehension of the unconceivable sufferings of the Lord Jesus , and all procur'd by sin : He was despised and rejected of men , a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief ; he bore our griefs , and carried our sorrows : he was wounded for our transgressions , and bruised for our iniquities ; he was oppressed and afflicted , and ( that which gave an extremity to all these sorrows ) it pleased the Lord to bruise him , to put him to grief , and to make his soul an offering for sin : This made the blows the heavier , that they came from a Father's hand : Had an enemy done it , it might have been easier born , ( though his torments were unimaginable ) but mine equal , mine acquaintance , my familiar friend , Psal. 55. 12 , 13. My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me , Matt. 27. 46 ? and all this the fruit of sin : This makes a gracious soul to hate sin , that hath been so cruel to his best and only friend .

Thirdly ; A believing sight of the excellency and holiness of Christ , hath a mighty power to draw off the heart from sin : when the Prophet had got a view of the Lord in his holiness , he hath presently unlovely and troublesome thoughts of sin . Isa. 6. ver. 1. to 7. Wo is me , for I am undone , because I am a man of unclean lips , and I dwell in the mid'st of a people of unclean lips ; for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts : A sight of Christ's holiness will make sin seem exceeding vile and loathsome , and the soul restless till delivered from it : 'T is unacquaintedness with the holiness and beautiful perfections of Christ , that makes men fall in love with that deformed monster , sin : the transcendent glory of Christ is his grace ; and the glory of the Saints is to be like him , Joh. 1. 14. which is obtained through the immediate views of him . 1 Joh. 3. 2. When he appears , we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is : The hope of which sight , and glory , is soul-purifying now : ver. 3. And every man that hath this hope , purifieth himself , as he is pure : No sooner had the Apostles a sight of Christ's glorious grace , but the next thing was a receiving from his fulness grace for grace , Joh. 1. 14. 16.

Fourthly ; A sensible sight of the exceeding sinfulness and evil of sin will help to loosen this conjunction between the heart and sin : when once Paul came to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin , and felt the killing fruits of it in his soul , his heart presently came to be loosened from the ruling power of it . Rom. 7. 11. 13. That which I do , I allow not ; what I would , that do I not ; but what I hate , that do I. The sense of the shameful fruits of sin was influential on the believing Romans towards their freedom from sin , Rom. 6. 21. 22. Christians , get your eye more intently fix'd on the cursed nature of sin ; how contrary to God ; how like to Devils ; how filthy loathsome and abominable : look upon the certain dreadful effects of sin here , and to all eternity , if not removed ; it hath brought death on the Son of God , and destruction on the Sons of Men , bondage on the creatures , a curse on every thing men do and enjoy ; enmity against God , alienation from God , robbing him of his glory , crossing his will , spoiling his works , grieving his spirit , hindering the soul in duty , depriving it of mercy , exposing it to judgment , necessitating it to evil , weakning his hopes , breaking his peace , opposing his grace , and endangering either the loss , or lessening of his glory ; with other innumerable mischiefs , injuries , cruelty and miseries that follow the heels of it ; with the great difficulty in its removal . I say ; be more in the heart-affecting consideration of these things , and you cannot choose , but with Paul , be weary of sin , loath it , and long for a separation from it , Rom. 7. 24. How can ye love that knife that hath stabb'd your dearest Friend , Father , Husband ; yea , your own soul ? How can you like that cloud and veil which stands between you and the Son of righteousness , and keeps these quickning warming beams from you , which would have cleared and strengthned your heart ? How can you hug the fetters , kiss the walls and doors that imprison your souls in bondage , and keep you from your beloved , and from the glorious liberty of the Sons of God ? what pleasure can you take in that Thief which stole your richest Jewels , and hath brought you to a morsel of bread ?

5ly , Apprehension of that high dignity and honorable state to which grace hath advanc'd you , & those peculiar glorious priviledges which you are now invested with , hath a mighty influence on a gracious heart towards the abhorring of sin , 1 Joh. 3. 1 , 2 , 3. Oh how unsutable are works of darkness to the children of light ! how unbecoming is vile rayment to them that dwell in Kings Houses : A Swine's snout to a Saint's eye ; thick clay , and defiling dirt on the hands , face , and heart of the heirs of glory , and children of the Kingdom : what an unlovely sight is it to see Kings wallow in the mire as Swine ; and such who enjoy the priviledges of Angels , to do the work of Devils ? Remember that thou art Son to a King , said one to Antigonus , and that will keep thee from base courses . O Christians ! work in these thoughts upon the heart , and see whether there can be any room left for the works of the flesh , or affections thereof .

Sixthly ; Expectations of future glory will help you to despise that abominable thing , sin : Can you rationally look for a Throne with your Beloved hereafter , and lodge in the bosome of your Idols and adulterous Lovers now ? How can you think that head shall wear a Crown of glory with Christ , who is always plotting to put Crowns of Thorns on Christ's head now ? To reap life everlasting then , who sow to the flesh now ? Do you hope for that time when you shall be uncloath'd of sin ? and can you make it your present work to put on sin , hold fast sin ? how inconsistent are desires of sin , with hopes of freedom ? Christians , don't deceive your souls , you cannot have sure grounds of fellowship with God hereafter , and allow the least communion between your hearts and sin now .

Seventhly , Maintained union and communion with Christ will break heart-union and fellowship with sin : As heart-union with sin will not admit of union and communion with God . Hos. 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to Idols , let him alone : I will have no more to do with him ; I 'll leave , and remove from him : So union and communion with God in Christ , will not bear union with sin . Hos. 2. 2. The Lord would not say Israel was his Wife , until her Whoredoms were put out of her sight , and her Adulteries from between her breasts : and no sooner did she return to a believing sight of , and affectionate union with him , but she presently cries out , What have I to do with Idols any more , Hos. 14. 8 ? Contraries oppose and weaken each other . Psal. 97. 10. Ye that love the Lord , hate evil . Matth. 6. 24. No man can serve two Masters , either he will hate the one , and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one , and despise the other : ye cannot serve God and Mammon . Union with God is of an incorporating nature . 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit , and cannot subsist without heart-separation from sin . 2 Cor 6. 16 , 17. I will dwell in them , and walk in them ; — wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate , saith the Lord . Cleaving to Christ by Faith is the best way to the relinquishment of sin . The soul that hath constant fellowship with Christ , will not care for other Lovers , Phil. 3. 8. That 's the third Direction : Get the union between thy heart and sin broken .

Direct . 4. Fourthly , If you would mortifie sin , strike at the root of it , and get the body of this death destroyed , The life of the tree lies in the root ; lop off all the branches , yet if the root be sound , the tree lives , and the branches will sprout out again , Job 14. 7 , 8 , 9. But if once the root be cut off , the whole tree dies and ceases from bringing forth fruit . So 't is with sin , if you set against this or that particular corruption , and let the body of death alone , not using means to weaken that , you will make but little of all your endeavours ; when you have quieted one lust , another rises : 'T is but to little purpose to lade away waters out of a ship , unless you stop the leak that feeds them ; while there is water in the Sea , it will be still running in . They that will cure a disease , must get the cause removed : Original sin is the source and fountain of all actual sins ; as that is weakened , so will the irruption of actual sins be abated : The way to prevent the inroads and stranglings of a garrison , is to begirt the Fort , and not onely keep them in , but scale and attach the strong hold that secures them . This is the wisdom of a Christian ( saith Mr. Burroughs ) that when he comes to labour against any corruption , he doth not spend his time so much against this or that particular corruption , but strike at the body of corruption : — And hence is the reason that Christians in a little time grow so much , and get so much power against their corruptions , whereas others are a long time before they get any power at all . 'T is with a Believers heart , as with a garden overgrown with weeds ; though the tops be often plucked off , while the mores and strings abide under-ground , all they do to cleanse it is labour in vain , they still spring up afresh : So is it with mens corruptions , till the root be more withered and weakened . Now to further this work :

First , Be deeply sensible of your sinful natures , as well as sinful actions : This the faithful complain mostly of , even their sinful natures . Isa. 64. 6. We are all as an unclean thing , and our righteousnesses as filthy rags . Psal. 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity , and in sin did my Mother conceive me . Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me from the body of this death !

Secondly , Apply the Death of Christ by faith to the whole body of sin in you . Faith fetches virtue from a crucified Christ to dry up the bloody issue of sin , Luke 8. 44. chap. 6. 19. This being the appointed way of God to bring down sin . The foundation of a soul's redemption from sin is laid in the Death of Christ . 1 Pet. 2. 24. Who bare our sins for us in his own body on the tree , that we being dead to sin , might live to righteousness . This death to sin is the effect of Christ's dying for sin ; this being the end of his Death , to redeem his people from all iniquity , Titus 2. v. 14. Christ's Death for sin was not onely a pattern to Believers , but a medicine and appointed means to destroy their sin . Rom. 6. 6. Knowing this , that our old man is crucified with him ; that the body of sin might be destroyed , that henceforth we should not serve sin . 'T was by the Cross of Christ that Paul was crucified to the world , and the world to him , Gal. 6. 14. Carry over thy old man to the Cross of Christ , and bury thy strong lusts by faith in the grave of Christ , deriving virtue thence to kill thy sin . Faith brings the soul into a fellowship with the Death of Christ , to receive the benefits and energy thereof ; one of which benefits is a killing power on sin .

Thirdly , Improve Faith in the Promises . The death of sin in Believers , is part of the New Covenant , and as sure as pardon . Micah 7. 19. He will turn again , he will have compassion , he will subdue our iniquities , and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea , Mat. 1. 21. He shall save his people from their sins , Rom. 6. v. 14. Deut. 30. 6. which promises are sure to all the seed : The Lord Jesus came on purpose to perform the promises to , and in his people . Rom. 15. 8. To redeem them from all iniquity , Titus 2. 14. And to destroy the works of the Devil , 1 Joh. 3. 8. And saith in these Promises is soul-cleansing , and sin-subduing : Carry over thy unruly corruptions to Christ in the Promises , and sue for justice upon them .

Fourthly , Implore the constant help of the Spirit of Grace , both to discover , oppose and destroy thy corruptions : This work is too hard for flesh and blood ; nothing short of the Eternal Spirit can get a full conquest over sin , and the power and wiles of Satan in thy soul : 'T is through the Spirit Believers come to mortifie the deeds of the body , Rom. 8. 13. And by the spirit of judgment and burning , the Lord purges away the blood of Jerusalem , Isa. 4. 4. And by the Law of the Spirit of Life , we are made free from the Law of sin and death , Rom. 8. 2. Take heed of grieving and impeding the Spirit of Holiness , by which his gracious , sanctifying influences are suspended , and thou be left to the weaknesses of thy own spirit . Be much in prayer and fervent cries for the Spirit 's daily assistance in this great work .

Fifthly , Give no place to the least motions of sin , but maintain a constant war against the whole powers and body of sin : The want of preventing care , timely opposition , and constant warfare against all the corruptions of flesh and spirit , is one thing that lays gracious souls under the entanglements and prevalency of their lusts , James . 4. 17. 1 Thes. 5. 2. Rom. 12. 9. We embrace ( saith one ) the desires of our temptations upon implicit faith , not examining and withstanding the first entrance of temptation , nor crushing the first motions of sin . 'T is easie to crush the Serpent's Egge , but dangerous conflicting with it when it becomes a Cockatrice . A rebellion may be with less strength dissipated at its first appearance , than suppressed when it hath gathered head , Isa. 14. 29. The Devil 's first assault ( saith Chrysostome ) is violent ; resist that , and his second will be weaker , and that being resisted also , he proves a coward . A Christian's wisdom and interest lies much in these two things :

First , To take the start of sin , to strike the first blow , to be in the field before it ; yea to baracado up its way , and to fall in upon its quarters ; to lay in provision against its very rising ; to fortifie the heart against the least consent to sin , by applying threatnings and promises betimes , and furnishing the heart with soveraign and scriptural antidotes against it : The neglect of this preventing care , deprives the soul of needful helps against its surprisal , and so renders it weak against its first assaults . Arius at first ( saith Hierom ) was but a spark , but being not supprest betimes , he prov'd the incendiary of the whole Church .

Secondly , To prosecute the soul's victory over sin : Sometimes the Lord gives his people power over a lust , by a sanctified affliction , or blessed ordinance , which victory , if pursued , might tend to the total subduing of it ; but usually we grow secure after such successes , and do not follow the victory , but give over too soon , as Joash in his-smiting on the ground , 2 Kings 13. 18 , 19. The Prophet bid him shoot the arrows of the Lord's deliverance , and smite upon the ground ; and 't is said , He smote thrice , and stayed ; and the man of God was wroth with him ; and said , Thou should'st have smitten five or six times , then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it . O what advantage might a Christian get if he did but follow his victory over his corruptions , and not suffer them to recruit and gather strength again ! Give no rest to thy lusts , nor space for reviving ; no not for a moment , but keep up thy warfare every day .

Sixthly , If you would further the death of sin , keep up the life of grace : As the life of sin weakens grace ; so the life of grace keeps down and weakens sin . Gal. 5. 16. Walk in the Spirit , and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh . Keep up grace , and sin will down . As when the house of David waxed stronger , the house of Saul waxed weaker , 2 Sam. 3. 1. 'T is written of Ephrem Syrus , that though he was a man much given to passion in his youth ; yet after he entered into a strict course of life , he was never seen to be angry with any man . As you cannot get power over sin , but by the Spirit of Grace ; so you cannot keep the head over sin , but by the Life of Grace : Get your graces strengthened , and you will find your corruptions weakened .

Thirdly , You must carry on Renovation in grace , and the inward work of Sanctification every day . Ephes. 3. 23 , 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your minds : And that ye put on the new man , which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness a a 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Schol. After the work of Mortification , the Apostle presses Christians to this work of Renovation , or Internal Holiness ; be renewed in the spirit of your minds ( i. e. ) in your minds by the Holy Spirit ; the mind being put for the whole man , and internal faculties of the soul ; both understanding , will , affections and conscience ; all must be renewed by the Spirit , called the New Creature , 2 Cor. 5. 17. or Workmanship of Christ transformed after his own Image in righteousness and true holiness ; and renewed in knowledge , Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. When the soul is truly regenerated , there is the stamp or eexmplar of Christ's holiness , placed in the whole soul in truth ; but in weak measures at first , which must be renewed or enlarged in the soul , till it comes to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ . Christians at the first change , are compar'd to new born babes , 2 Pet. 2. 2. weak in grace , but under a natural disposition and obligations to growth and encreases in this grace of God , both intensively and extensively : This is a Christian's duty by divine command , and comports with the appointment of God in order to it , 2 Pet. 3. v. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 2. Ephes. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. 'T is the way by which grace becomes glory , and is greatly necessary to perfect a soul's holiness ; that so he might come to his full stature and conformity to Christ , Ephes. 4. 16. Rom. 8. 29. And by the encreases of grace may be enabled to dispatch all his duties , bear his burdens , and bear up under his temptations , that he might be capable to enjoy all his mercies , to glorifie the God of grace , and to be made meet for the enjoyment of God in glory : On all which accounts it becomes the Christian 's great concern to press after larger measures of grace every day ; to grow up into him in faith and love , who is the head in all things , Ephes. 4. 15. To grow downward in humility and self-denial ; to grow extensively in every part of holiness , and greater enlargements in every grace ; to wax stronger and stronger in the grace that is in Christ Jesus : Perfecting holiness in the sight of God ; and pressing more and more after the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus : The want of which encreases of the Spirit , doth much obscure the glory of Christ in Believers , cloud their evidences , and render them too weak for their corruptions , their growing tryals and duties . Christians , content not your selves with the truth of grace , without daily growth in grace . Improve your interest in the Resurrection of Christ , by believing for the dailing quickening of your hearts , and raising of your affections to things above , and attracting your desires and whole souls after God , grace and glory . Be much in internal soul-work , of heart searching , soul watching , divine contemplation , secret ejaculations , and soul breathings after God , and higher manifestations of his light , life and love .

Be constant in every appointment of God , publick and private ; of prayer , reading , hearing , holy conference , that you may get nourishment thereby administred to your souls : Get under all the dews and showres of grace for your fruitfulness .

Be spiritual as well as frequent in exercising grace under the means of Grace ; without this you cannot serve God acceptably , Heb. 12. 28. or receive from him who is the head nourishment to your souls , but by these bands and joynts of faith and love , Col. 2. 19. Formality eats out that sap which should make you green and flourishing : A dead , cold heart under the Word , can no more digest it to nutriment , than a dead body can concoct natural food .

Maintain hungring desires after the word of grace , and appointed means to your spiritual growth , 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hungring after food argues a good digestion , and a sound concoction furthers nourishment : Keep up warm affection to every way of God , living on Christ for all the good and blessing of them . Psal. 84. 5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee , in whose heart are the ways of them ; who passing through the Valley of Baca , make it a Well ; the rain also filleth the Pools ; they go from strength to strength , every one in Sion appearing before God . When Jehoshaphat's heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord , 't is said he waxed great exceedingly , 2 Chron. 17. 6. 12. Heart-enlargement in the ways of God is a notable help to soul-thrivings : Take this one thing more ; be poor in spirit , if you would be rich in grace : Such are under the promise of being satisfied , of being guided in judgment , of encreasing their joy ; to such he will give grace , and revivings . Humble souls a a Reyner ; Excellency of Grace . ( saith one ) are empty vessels , which God will fill ; are low plants , which God will make to grow : To be nothing in our own eyes , is the way to receive all good things , even grace in abundance from God ; Psal. 22. 26. and 25. 9. Isa. 29. 19. Prov. 3. 34. Isa. 57. 15.

Fourthly ; To keep your evidences for Heaven fair and legible , is another part of your Salvation-work : this will abundantly comfort you under all your tribulations , quicken you to a lively dispatch of your duties , give you a humble boldness in your approaches to God ; arm you against the fears of death , and administer to you an abundant entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ . Beware of quenching and grieving the Spirit of grace , by which its sealing-work is hindered : Take heed of laying blots upon your evidences , by any allowed iniquity in your hearts , or unpurged defilement in your hands , which will weaken your confidence in the Lord , fill you with dejection and despondency of spirit , and give your spiritual adversary great advantage over your souls , 2 Pet. 1. 10. 1 Joh. 5. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 58. Heb. 10. 22. Job 19. 25 , 26 , 27. 2 Pet. 1. 11.

Keep up your sincerity and truth in the inner-man , be often looking to the principle of your actions , that it be gracious ; and to your ends in every thing you do , that they be pure , singly , and ultimately aiming at God , his will and glory in every duty , action and undertaking .

If you would evidence the truth of grace , you must be every day in the exercise of grace , and conscionable endeavours to live up to known duties , exercising a conscience void of offence towards God and man , not resting in any measures of grace , but going on towards perfection , and aiming at greater enlargements in your souls and graces continually .

Thirdly ; Carry on all these natural , moral , and religious duties that concern others . This is the will of God , and part of your sanctification . Matth. 5. 16. Let your light shine before men , and by your good works glorifie your Father which is in Heaven . 1 Cor. 10. 32. Walk unblamable towards all men , giving no offence to any , lest the Gospel be blamed . Phil. 1. 10. That you may be sincere , and without offence to the day of Christ . 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your conversation honest among those you have to do with ; dealing justly with all men , rendring to every man his due ; doing good to all , as opportunity serveth , Gal. 6. 10. Psal. 35. 13. and be kind to the just and unjust , seeking the salvation of sinners , mourning over them , praying for them , instructing of them ; seeking by a humble , holy , and affectionate carriage to win them over to the Lord Jesus , who are not won by the word , Luke 19. 41. Psal. 51. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 1. Loving , praying for , doing good unto your greatest enemies . Vertues separated ( saith Chrysostom ) are annihilated ; equity without goodness , is severity ; and justice without piety , cruelty : 'T is better to do good than to receive good . 'T was said of Mr. Hooker , That he was born for the good of many , but few born for the good of him : That you love , delight in , and do good to all Saints , as Saints , that carry the image of God on them . That you make conscience of your relative duties both in your own houses , and in the house of God . Psal. 101. 2. Walking within your own houses with a perfect heart ; to be Christians at home as well as abroad ; shewing the same spirit , zeal and affection to your Families as to others ; doing your utmost to keep up the service of God in your houses , both together and asunder , morning and evening in prayer , and reading the word of God , Acts 10. 2. 9. Josh. 24. 18. Psal. 25. 10. Matth. 6. 6. That you faithfully discharge those mutual duties you owe to each other , as Husband , Wife , Parents , Children , Masters , Servants , Eph. 5. 22. to the end of chap. 6. To be meek , loving , peaceable in your words and carriages towards one another , giving that due respect as the place and relation calls for from each other : To be holy and profitable in your discourses , seeking the spiritual welfare , edification and salvation of each others souls , as of your own , Deut. 11. 19. Prov. 22. 6. ch. 23. 13. Col. 3. 12 , to 16. Heb. 12. 14. Gen. 18 , 19. The want of which due and Christian carriages in your houses brings up an evil report on the ways of God , rendreth the truth of your grace questionable , hinders the gracious presence of God with you , and removes his blessing from you , Eph. 4. 29. Rom. 11. 14. You whom grace hath priviledged with a place and name within the walls of God's house , do stand obliged to fellowship-duties of love , care and faithfulness to each other ; considering one another to provoke to love and good works , Joh. 15. 12. Heb. 10. 24. and esteem each other better than your selves : To seek one anothers good as your own , serving each other in love , Phil. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 10. 24. 33. Gal. 5. 13. To sympathize with each other in affliction , Col. 3. 12. and to be helpful to them in bearing their burdens , supplying their wants , comforting , counselling , and supporting them in all their tribulations , Heb. 13. 3. visiting the sick and imprisoned , feeding the hungry , cloathing the naked , warning the unruly , admonishing the offenders , bearing one anothers infirmities , covering their weaknesses , avoiding whatever might offend and injure each others souls , or lessen their affections , or break the unity of spirit and bond of peace between them ; but by a sweet , humble-self denying , and faithful carriage , to engage the heart to each other , praying for the whole body , and every member : To be gracious and spiritual in all your communion and converses , seeking the prosperity of Sion , rejoycing in each others graces and good , as in your own ; doing all you may towards their comfort and salvation , Mat. 25. 42. Acts 20. 35. 1 Joh. 3. 17. Rom. 15. 1. and 16. 17. Lev. 19. 10. 2 Cor. 12. 20. Col. 4. 6. Phil. 2. 17 , 18. Tit. 2. 12. 2 Cor. 13. 7. Psal. 15. 2. Col. 3. 9.

In your Callings , commerce and dealings with men , to be just , honest , and faithful , doing as you would be done unto , not defrauding one another , but speaking the truth in all your bargainings , and performing your promises , though to your hurt . This is a considerable part of your heavenly Trade , and that wherein the credit of Religion doth eminently lye ; the pleasing and glorifying of God , the good of others , the propagation of the Gospel , the peace and salvation of your own fouls , even in the faithful discharge of these natural , moral , and religious duties you owe unto others .

This is the first part of heavenly work ; work of a heavenly nature as well as manner , both with respect to God , our own souls , and others .

Secondly , Another part of heavenly work is to do earthly things in an heavenly manner : Though the things of the World are of a different nature from things above , yet when rightly managed , they are subservient to them , and come within the compass of this Heavenly Trade : To which three things are needful .

1 To do earthly things by heavenly rules . 2 With heavenly hearts . 3 To heavenly ends .

First , Then is earthly work part of your Heavenly Trade , when you transact it by heavenly rules ; every Science hath its Maxims ; distinct Governments have their distinct Laws : So hath every Trade its rules , principles and instructions by which it is carried on . Earthly Traders have their rules and methods by which they manage their businesses , as may most comport with the end they propose , and the advance of their own earthly interests ; and so 't is with heavenly Traders , though they have to do with earthly things , yet they must act about them by heavenly rules .

Now there are ten rules which heavenly Merchants must observe in the management of their earthly affairs .

Rule 1. First , Be sure the matter of your employments be good , that your Callings be lawful , and the things you do be just and honest in the sight of God : Evil things can never be well done : meddle not with prohibited goods ; do nothing that either in its nature , use , or by divine Law becomes evil , 2 Cor. 13. 7. Phil. 4. 8. Eph. 4. 28. Let your Callings be a a Versetur circa id quod licitum est in se utire generi humano & famae bonae . Ames . lawful , of good report , and useful in your generation , not onely for your own interest and advantage , but for the service and good of others : For no man liveth to himself , Rom. 14. 7. Such a calling as hath God for its Author m m Opera Deo placere non possunt si vitae suae institutum non est a Deo . Frid. Baldm . being according to Scripture ; and hath God for its Teacher n n The works of that calling cannot please God , where the calling it self is not of God . ( saith Fenner ) Isa. 28. 26. And as a man can manage with peace of conscience , and be assur'd his work doth please God , and he can pray for a blessing upon it ; which they cannot do who set on employments that tend to nourish vice and wickedness , Rom. 13. 14.

That your Recreations also be lawful ; such as are free from scandal and temptation , used by , and with persons fearing God , and such as have a tendency to refresh the mind and body , the better disposing it to its necessary duties , being sparingly and wisely used , so as to be no occasion of evil to others , and religiously entred on by seeking to God for a right management of it , and blessing on it . Such actions as come not under these characters , are not becoming Christians , who must give an account to God for every vain word , much more for idle actions , Mat. 12. 36. 'T is part of that which will trouble souls when their sins are bearing on them ; that they have inherited lies , vanities , and things wherein is no profit , Jer. 16. 19. Saints should be working nothing but what hath a good in it : Working with his hands the things that are good , Ephes. 4. 28. and which can bring some glory to God : Whatsoever you do ( of which Recreations is a part ) do all to the glory of God , 1 Cor. 10 , 31. But what good to the body , foul or estate ; what glory to God ; what peace to conscience in the day of Christ , can be found in carnal sports , scandalous plaies , cards , dice , lascivious dancings , and the like ? which are the off-spring of chambering and wantonness , things wherein is little praise , virtue , or good report ; but rather the spots of Christianity , and bane of piety , which tend to debauch the affections , to deaden the conscience , to nourish wantonness , and seed a fleshly carnal mind , the end of which is death , Rom. 13. 13. Phil. 4. 8. Jude v. 12. 2 Pet. 2. 18. Rom. 8. 6. For to be carnally minded is death , but to be spiritually minded is life and peace . It is a double content to a generous and well disposed nature , when he doth good for his pleasure . Games of hazard ( saith Du Moulin of Contentment . a worthy Divine ) do very much discompose the mind ; they also provoke passion , and cause much disturbance in the soul for things of nothing . Games that consist in dexterity of body or mind , are much to be preferred before these : Chess will sharpen the wit , but busie it over much , and toil the spirits , instead of recreating them , which is the proper use of play : Of all gaming , the less the better ; and when it disorders the passions , the least is too much . He that ventures much money at play , ventures with it not onely the tranquillity of his mind ; but makes a certain loss of it whatever becomes of the money — Squandring away of money in play , is not the way to make friends of that unrighteous Mammon , that receive a man into everlasting habitations , but an enemy rather that will turn him out of his temporal habitation ; it is the way to lose both Earth and Heaven : So then , whether we win or lose , we commit robbery ; for if we rob not our adversaries , we rob our selves , our families , and God : We may add this also ; such unprofitable Recreations devour that precious treasure of irrecoverable , unvaluable , yea salvation-time ; and useth those hours in posting to Hell , which are too much neglected for hastening to Heaven . O how careful then should souls that profess heavenly hopes be of their earthly work , that it be such as may conduce to their accomplishment of them !

Rule 2. Secondly , Set upon earthly things in their proper place and order : Seek first the Kingdom of God , and the righteousness thereof , and all these things shall be added to you , a a Caetera aut aderunt , aut certe non oberunt . Mat. 6. 33. Let God have the uppermost Throne in your hearts , the fore-foot in your walk , the first stroke in your work ; give heavenly things the precedency , both in estimation , affection and time , as things of greatest worth , and to which you are chiefly obliged : That 's the due order and method of heavenly Traders , to begin every day and work with God ; serve God first , and then your selves : Set apart some time for religious duties , before you set upon earthly employments . Men will not go abroad into unwholsom air fasting : The things of this world have a contagious breath in them : Break your fast with God every morning , before you adventure on heart-ensnaring businesses : Labour with God first for his presence with you , his wisdom to direct you , his grace and strength to help , secure and bless you in your earthly labours . Antidote your hearts with divine cordials every morning , before you get into the Pest-house of this world , and let something of Scripture lye nearest thy soul for counsel , comfort , quickening every day : He ( saith Augustine ) that hath tasted the sweetness of Divine love , will not care for temporal sweetness . Meddle not with the thorns of this world , till you have fenced your hearts and hands by prayer , and the sword of the Spirit : 'T is more haste than good speed to run into the world before you have spoken with God : The lawful way to earthly employments lies by Heavens gates . Christians , God will sue you for trespasses if you take any other way to your trades and employments in the world , than his prescribed way of religious duties . Besides , you have need of God's eye and hand in every thing you do : You know not the snares and deaths that lye in your employments , and the dangers you are subject to in every step you go , and in every thing you do : You may go forth in the morning , and never return more ; some have died as Israel did , with meat in their mouths ; others have fal'n down dead in their work , broke their necks in a journey , been found dead in the way : O set on earthly work in God's way ; go not about the world till you have been with God , and secur'd your All in his hands .

Rule 3. Thirdly , Keep your earthly business within the bounds of due time . He that hath allotted you your work , hath allotted you your time for it : it consists not with man's state , relation and interest , to be arbitrary in any thing , but to walk by rule . There is a time for every thing under the Sun , Eccles. 3. 1. A time for every purpose , and for every work , verse 17. Job 7. 1. As there is an appointed time to man on earth ; so there is an appointed time to man for earthly things : He that hath set bounds to the world , hath not left worldly employments without bounds , but hath fixed mens earthly affairs within their proper season . Psal. 104. 23. Man goeth forth to his work and to his labour until the evening . The Psalmist acknowledges here the power and providence of God in setting bounds to his creatures ; bounds to the Sun and Moon . Verse 19. He appointed the Moon for seasons , and the Sun knoweth his going down : Bounds to the day and night . Verse 20. Thou makest darkness , and it is night : he limits the labours of wild beasts and men ; the beasts have their preyingtime confined to the night . Verse 20. 22. And it is night wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth ; the Sun riseth , they gather themselves together , and lay them down in their dens . Men have their working-time allotted in the day : Man goeth forth to his work and labour until the evening ; that is , to the end of their working-day , which consisted among the Jews of twelve hours . John 11. 9. Are there not twelve hours in the day ? the usual time for men to dispatch their earthly work in . The Lord would not p p Providentia ergo Dei noluit sic prolixam operandi continuationem ut hominum vires nimium atteret , sed modum constituit . ( saith Musculus ) have mens labours drawn out so far as to wear out their strength , but hath set bounds to it . As the Lord would not have the world to take up mens hearts ; so he would not have it to eat out their time , or encroach on these seasons that are due to greater concerns . God , Nature , Grace , thy own soul , and the spiritual good of others , have their claims , as well as thy earthly calings , to this little inch of this time . O consume not thy precious day on things that are temporal , and neglect thy opportunities for things eternal : do not enslave thy body beyond thy beasts , which have their times of rest ; nor exhaust that strength which better things call for , upon an empty perishing world . Excessive labours beyond their due time , do argue either too much desire of these things , or too little faith in God , and are reprov'd by the Lord as the vanity and practice of them , who are not his beloved ones , Psal. 127. 2. 'T is lamentable to see such as would be thought the heirs of Heaven , so excessively taken up in enlarging their possessions on earth ; engrossing all their time early and late , about their earthly affairs , leaving nothing but a few unserviceable minutes for God and their souls . O Christians ! Keep the stream of your earthly affections and labours within the banks of allowed time ; rob not God of his time of special service ; nor nature of her time of needful rest and refreshment : nor thy own or others souls of time for their spiritual concerns , for such poor perishing things : Shew charity to thy redeemed body ; make it not a drudge to thy earthly lusts : Man is too noble a creature to be a vassal to this world : 'T is a sad spectacle to see the Nazarites of Heaven , like Sampson , with their heads shaven , and their eyes pluckt out to grind in the world's mill , till they pluck down the house about their ears , Judg. 16. 21. How do men macerate their bodies , and starve their souls , onely to help them with supplies in their passage to the grave , and all the while neglect the work of God , and their souls , leaving the reliques of their wasted strength , and the world's refuse , for the service of an immortal God . This is not to follow earthly things by heavenly Rule .

Rule 4. Fourthly , Be diligent in the use of your working time : take heed you waste it not upon impertinencies , or by needless diversions , or by idleness , and unfaithfulness in your work : this is a sin against both Law and Gospel , which requires diligence and faithfulness in mens earthly callings : Labour and calling-work was man's duty before his fall . Gen. 2. 15 , The Lord God took the man , and put him into the Garden of Eden , to dress it , and to keep it : And after the fall , painful labour was injoyn'd and inflicted as a punishment of his sin . Gen. 3. 19 , In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread , until thou return to the ground . This duty of bodily labour in mens Callings , is of equal sanction and regard with the duties of Gods Worship , being inserted in a positive Law , and as that which is necessary to the sanctifying of God in Sabbaths . Exod. 29. 9 , 10 , Six days shalt thou labour , and do all thy work , but on the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God , in it thou shalt not do any work : The injunction of working in six days 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ( saith Mayer ) is given in the same commanding terms in the Original , that the injunction of not working in the seventh is : and the same reason is given for both : the one is taken from Gods resting on the seventh day : and the other from his working the six days : So that not to labour faithfully in thy Calling the six days , is a breach of the fourth command , as well as the working on the Sabbath-day : Not as if the six days labour were to exclude all religious Worship of God on either of these days when the Lord calls to it by extraordinary Providences , as to mourning or rejoycing , or by ordinary tenders of Gospel-mercy , in Week-day Lectures , or the like ; for this would cross his other commands , Preaching in season and out of season , and labouring for the bread that endures to eternal life : This diligent labour doth not exclude private worship every day , and publick worship on week-days ; so far as it consists with faithfulness in mens Callings , for which time must be redeemed , Eph. 5. 16. but it requires diligent attendance on mens Callings , on the week-days ( as opposed to sloath and sinful waste of time ) without which God is not duely served on the Sabbath : This diligence in mens Callings is also required in the Gospel , 1 Thess. 3. 10. Idleness is a Gospel-scandal , and renders Christians worthy to be abstained from , as not obeying the Word of God ; and such must not eat , 1 Thess. 4. 11. such are unprofitable servants , who improve not their talents for God , and the good of others , Matth. 25. 30. and are worse than Infidels , who do not by diligence in their Calling provide for their own , 1 Tim. 5. 8.

Rule 5. Fifthly , while your hands are about the world , set a guard about your hearts : The Believers heart is Christ's royal Fort , secure that , and all is safe : If riches increase , set not your hearts upon them , Psal. 62. 10. 't is the Nature of earthly things , like a Malignant Disease , to get to the heart , O how hard is it to meddle with these , and the heart not become earthy too ! when a gracious Soul hath been with God , and got his heart warm'd , quicken'd , and drawn out to things above ; no sooner doth he return to the world , but all is gone again : such dangerous damps doth this earth send unto heavenly hearts : secure thy heart with God every day , make a new surrender of it to him , before thou get into the snares of thy earthly business : Set a vigilant watch upon thy heart every moment , lest the things of the world steal in and take it captive .

Rule 6. Sixthly , Attend your earthly affairs with a calm and quiet spirit , whatever occurrence you meet with in the world ; let your spirits be composed and fixed on God : wonder not at changes in an unsteddy world , which is onely constant in unconstancy . r r Omnia versantur in perpetuo ascensa & descens●● . Here have we no continuing City , Heb. 13. 14. All things here are moving , ascending or descending : Things below are compared to the Moon , Rev. 12. 1. which is never at a stay , but hath its constant changes ; and like the Sea that ebbs and flows every day ; and as the fountain of the Sun , which Pliny s s Plin. Lib. 2. C. 103. writes of , that the waters are extream cold and sweet at noon , but boiling hot and bitter at midnight : So mutable are the comforts of this world , then going when they seem most likely to stay . Man's condition in this world at the best , is like the mountain Potosi , over which there alwaies hangs a cloud even in the clearest day . And as 't is written of a Meer or t t Desc . of Scotland . Salt Marsh in Scotland , called Pochlowland , where there are tempestuous waves raging without wind , yea in the greatest calm . Christians , be not troubled at the tides you see in these waters of Marah . Riches make themselves wings and fly away , Prov. 23. 5. Let none of these lower things trouble you when gone , which cannot content you when present : but one moment of time can make them cease to be yours . There is but one daies difference u u Vna dies interest inter magnam civitatem & nullam . Et quos faelices Cinthia vidit , vidit miseros abitura dies . ( saith Seneca , upon the burning of a City ) between a great City , and no City : So there may be but one day , nay but one hour , between a Father , and no Father ; a Husband , and no Husband ; a man of pleasure , and a man of sorrows ; a rich man , and a poor man . Set not that at your hearts which should be at your heels : Men do not use to sigh , look pale , and cry , when servants leave them : Earthly things are no more ; they are given you as handmaids to wait on you , not as a Spouse to lye in your bosoms ; as servants that come and go , not as children that abide in the house for ever . When thou hast lost an earthly comfort , say , A servant is gone from me to day . Keep up a contentation of mind with the portion God gives you here . Heb. 13. 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness , and be content with those things that you have : Let them suffice you , as 't is in the Greek ; count them enough . If an Esau can be satisfied with his crumbs , how much more should a Jacob with the childrens bread What this and Heaven too ! ( saith one . ) A little of the world , and much of Heaven , will well agree . I have enough , and enough , and enough , said precious Mr. Ball , who yet was very low in the world . When the Earl of Leicester offered Mr. Cartwright the Provostship of Eaton Colledge , saying , 't was an hundred pound more than enough , he answered , the hundred pound more than enough was enough for him . Psal. 37. 16. A little that the righteous hath , is better than the revenues of the wicked . There are two diminutives in the Original ( a little little of the righteous man's ) let it be never so 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 little , with righteousness , it weight down all the abundance of the worldly man's interest ; be it more or less , it is enough . O thrice fools are we , like new born Princes weeping in the cradle , knowing not that there is a Kingdom before them , Rutherford . I have often thought on that providence concerning Israel in the wilderness . Exod. 16. 8. He that gathered much had nothing over , and he that gathered little , had no lack . Christian , why so troubled about thy proportion of these things of the footstool ? as if your Father knew not what you wanted , or cared not for you , or could not maintain you : You shall have enough to carry you to your graves , and you can absolutely need no more . And seekest thou great things for thy self ? seek them not , for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh , but thy life will I give thee as a prey in all places whither thou goest , Jer. 45. 4 , 5. You know not what God is doing in the world : Have you but little now ? you may shortly have less : Be content with what you have : A little in Bethel , if it be but a pillow of stones , with bread and water , is better than the rich Plains of Sodom : A piece of blest bread in Immanuel's Land , is sweeter , and will go farther than all the Garlick and Flesh-pots of Egypt . than a great deal of unsanctified comforts : A small portion of the world , with soul-advantage , is better than a great estate with spiritual losses and temptations . God can multiply a few loaves ; make the barrel of meal , and cruse of oyl , to hold out , and your cloaths not to wax old , rather than you shall want enough to carry you through your wilderness , if you will be believing and obedient . Be contented with the talent God gives you to trade upon : Have others more than you ? envy them not ; a a When a man grows rich ( saith Mr. Dod ) he does but go out of a little boat into a greater barge , but he is still on the Sea . they have the more to reckon for ; and it may be they need more , or they can bear more than you . That ( saith one ) would sink a small vessel which is but an ordinary burden to a great ship . Some can better manage a large estate with less trouble and temptation than others : Possibly that would puff up thy heart with pride , and catch thy feet in snares that never stirs anothers affections , to whom God hath given a braver spirit , or greater mortifiedness to this world . Subscribe to God's wisdom and pleasure , believe his promises , wonder at his mercy , be thankfull for what you have above many ; see your All in God , and hope to be shortly with him ; and you cannot but be content with your allowance in the world .

Rule 7. Seventhly , Follow your duty , but cast your care on God , abide in your callings , but live above them . 1 Pet. 5. 17. Casting all your care on God , for he careth for you . Depend not on your wisdom , labour or success in your employments , but upon the promise , love and care of God for you : If the Lord blesseth your substance , don't you bless your selves in it : See an emptiness in all your abundance , and shortness in these to answer your many wants . God can soon make a hole in your money-bags , blow on your encrease , turn your prosperity into contempt , and make your expected comforts as the dream of a night vision . Live not on large barns , but on the full breasts of promises , for the good of what you do enjoy , or for the supply of what you want . The poor Christian hath the keeping of his purse in his Father's hand , the rich in his own hand . If sight fail , live by faith : Faith assures you of the good issue of all difficulties in your way , and gets advantage from the worst condition , and sweetness to mingle with every bitter providence you meet with . It may be thou hast a great family , and little to live on ; lyest in debt , and hast nothing to pay it ; hadst a little th' other day , but the Caterpiller and the Cankerworm hath devour'd it ; this loss , and th' other stroak hath wasted it . In this case thy duty is to live on God by faith , for a sanctified fruit of his hand upon thee , and for making up this lack by his abundance : When thou canst see no way out of thy perplexing trouble , let thine eye be unto God for help , 2 Chron. 20. 12. 2 Chron. 25. 8. Go not out of God's way for relief : He that wounds must heal ; he onely that casteth down can raise up , Deut. 32. 30. Neither faint thou in the day of adversity , or way of thy duty , Prov. 24. 10. Prov. 16. 3. but commit thy way to the Lord , and he will bring it to pass , Psal. 37. 5. Mat. 6. v. 25. 1 Cor. 7. 32. Phil. 4. 6. Take heed of carking cares , and fretful vexings ; these cannot lessen thy trouble , but will greaten thy sins ; a provident care is thy duty , but a distrustful vexing care , both thy sin and affliction .

Rule 8. Eightly , In all your labours pray for a blessing : If you would live well , you must beg as well as work ; add duty to thy diligence , prayer to thy provident care , calling on God , to thy calling in the world : As every creature , so every condition and work is sanctified by the word and prayer , 1 Tim. 4. 15. In every undertaking seek to God for counsel . Prov. 3. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him , and he shall direct thy paths . Christians should not set upon the smallest matters without enquiring the will of God ; not to go to this or that place , to buy or sell to do this or that work without seeking to God for direction , Jam. 4. 13 , 14 , 15. Our journeys ( saith one ) must not be undertaken without asking God's leave , Dr. Mant. on Jam. This would evidence a life of dependance on God , and bring all thy affairs under divine care and blessing ; Abraham's servant begins his journey with prayer , Gen. 24. 12. 27. and concluded it with praise , Gen. 28. 20. And so Jacob ; Israel's folly in concluding with the Gibeonites contrary to the command of God , was laid on their not asking counsel of God . Josh. 9. 14. The men took of their victuals , and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord . O the snares and disadvantages men are exposed to in their earthly concerns , for not taking counsel from God , and engaging his hand and blessing with them : Prayer will further your work , sweeten your pains and difficulties in it , and secure the comfort and good of it : When you want mercy , seek God for it ; when you receive mercy , see God in it , and return praise to God for it .

Rule 9. Ninthly , Though you live in the World , yet be dead to the World : Heaven-born souls , though in the World , yet are not of the World , but chosen out of it , Joh. 15. 19. and crucified to it . Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory , save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom the World is crucified to me , and I unto the World . This crucifiedness to the World * * Se mundum cum omni suo fastu pompa gloria aspernari contemnere , quasi rem nihili , vanam , mortuam . ( saith Paraeus ) signifies the contempt and despising of this World ; he intimates hereby , that the World with all its scorn , pride , pomp and glory are despised by him , as a nothing , empty , dead thing . A soul crucified to the World sees nothing lovely and desirable in this World but God , his Word and Works : there 's nothing in earthly things that can be taking with spiritual hearts , if God be not enjoyed in them : all the glory of the World is no more to them than a dead carkass , if the love of God breath not through it on their hearts ; nay the very Garden of the Lord is a Wilderness to them , if the Rose of Sharon be not in it . A mortified Saint wonders that a rational immortal Soul can see such worth in riches , pleasures , honours , and poor perishing things of this life , which to him are nothing ; he can easily part with all at the Lord's bidding . And he feels no such evil neither in the bad things of this World , as to make men startle at them ; wants , losses , reproaches , torments for Christ , lose their frightfulness to them whose hearts love to the Lord Jesus hath reconciled unto the bitterest affliction that can befall them for his sake . If Christ stand , and do not perish , ( saith Luther ) what matter is it if Wife and Children perish ? If liberty , estate , life and all go , so he stay : Such should thy heart be in pursuit of these things , as one that is dead to the World , and sits loose from all its glory , and above all its threatnings ; content to have , or not to have ; to use , or want ; to enjoy , or be denied , or deprived of it , as God pleaseth .

Rule 10. Lastly , Do all your work within the view of death , judgment , and eternity : transact the employments of every day , as dying persons , who are leaving this World , and liable to a remove every moment : How would frequent and serious thoughts of a near approaching end wonderfully check mens greedy pursuits of this World , and help to keep their actions in a consistency with their accounts . King Philip would have it proclaim'd before him every morning , Remember that thou art mortal : And when falling upon the Sand he afterward saw the print of his body , said , O how litle a parcel of earth will hold us when we are dead , who ambitiously seek after the World while we are living . When Severus was old , he called for an Urn or Pitcher in which the ashes of a dead person were put , and looking a while on it , said , a a Tu virum capies quem orbis terrae non capit ? Lips . Wilt thou contain that man whom the whole World cannot contain ? Alas , what will the whole World be to thee when thou comest to die ? let it seem no more to thee now , who art dying every day : do every thing as strangers and pilgrims here , Heb. 11. 9. 13. and as if you heard a voice every day saying , Awake , and come to judgment : Jerome thought whatever he did , he still heard that voice ; Surgite mortui , & venite ad judicium ; Arise ye dead , and come to judgment . When you are travelling to this Market , and the other Fair ; think , Sure I am journeying to the grave , and I know not what dust I shall shortly be shovell'd into : when you are about your work , think , I am hastening to eternity , and shortly these hands must rot in the grave : When you promise your selves great things , as the fruit of your labours , and hope for this gain and the other comfort , say , Death may come between me and my enjoyments , and crop off the hopes of all my labours . What can be great to him that accounts the World nothing ? or long to him that counts his life but a span ? Mr. Dod , When thou findest thy heart running out too greedily after this World , ready to lye , cheat , oppress , undermine others to greaten thy interest : think on this ; For all these things God will bring thee to judgment , and render to thee according to all thy works .

Secondly , Then do you your earthly work in an heavenly manner , when you do it with an heavenly heart : As is the heart , so is the action in God's account : the Lord was much pleased that it was in David's heart to build him an House , though he never did it , 1 Kin. 8. 18. and displeased with all that Israel did in his service , because their heart was not right with him , Psal. 78. 37. Israel did many good works , they sought him , they returned and enquired early after God , they remembred that God was their Rock , and the high God their Redeemer , ver. 34 , 35. but all this was nothing in God's esteem , because their heart was not upright in it ; they had an earthly , carnal , selfish , backsliding heart in all they did . If thy heart be heavenly , though thy work be earthly , yet it puts an excellency on it ; but if thy work be heavenly , and thy heart earthly , God doth reject and despise it : the heart is the root of every action , and if the root be good , the fruit will be good also , Mat. 12. 33. Rom. 11. 16. If the fountain be sweet , the streams will be sweet also ; and if thy heart be heavenly , thy work is heavenly : A heavenly heart , like the Bee , turns all it doth to heavenly uses : when the Lord Jesus had put his hand upon the Spouses heart , and left some myrrh upon her bowels , presently her hands dropped myrrh , and her fingers sweet smelling myrrh , Cant. 5. 4 , 5. A heavenly heart perfumes thy earthly work , and makes it wonderfully taking with the heart of Christ .

Quest. How might I know when my heart is heavenly in my earthly work ?

Sol. First , A heavenly heart is a heart enlightned to see heavenly things ; a heart beam'd over with heavenly light , to discern things invisible : An earthly heart is a dark heart , it sees nothing in God , his Word and Works , so as to draw up his heart to Heaven : an earthly heart sees nothing but earth in heavenly things ; and an heavenly heart sees Heaven in earthly things . The Patriarchs saw the heavenly City in their earthly Countrey , Heb. 11. 13 , 14 , 16. They saw the promises ( that is , the things promised ) afar off , and confessed that they were strangers on earth , they sought a Countrey , desired a better Countrey , that is an heavenly ; and all that as the product of their heavenly sight , they saw heavenly things in earthly : Abraham had an heavenly eye to see Christ's day , Joh. 8. 5 , 6. and Moses a heavenly eye to see him who is invisible , Heb. 11. 27. A heavenly heart doth not only see heavenly things , but sees an infinite worth and excellency in them : it sees them to be the best things ; it sees a greater glory and desirableness in things above , in one glance of his eye , in one day within his Courts , in one hours communion with him , than in all the World besides : Mary saw more advantage in sitting at Christ's feet , than in the many things Martha's heart was taken up about , Luke 10. 41 , 42. Cursed be that man ( saith the noble Marquess Galeacius ) that accounts not one hours communion with Christ above all the World .

Secondly , A heavenly heart is a heart that savours heavenly things , Rom. 8. 5. Nothing goes down so sweet with a heavenly heart as heavenly things , every thing rejoyces in its like : An earthly heart delights in earthly things ; the Merchant in his Trade , the Husband-man in his Field , Houses , Husbandry , and fruits of the earth ; the voluptuous man in his pleasures ; as he that sold his City for a draught of water ; crying out when he had done , O that for so short a pleasure , of a King I should be made a Slave ! The proud man in his greatness , Is not this great Babylon that I have built , for the house of the Kingdom ? Dan. 4. 30. So doth the heavenly heart relish greatest sweetness in heavenly things : How sweet are thy words to my taste ? yea sweeter than honey to my mouth , Psal. 119. 103. His fruit was sweet to my taste ; his mouth is most sweet , Cant. 2. 3. and 5. 16. My meditation of him shall be sweet , Psal. 104. 34. We took sweet counsel together , Psal. 55. 14. We talked of the mysteries of godliness ( saith Ainsworth ) of the exercises of Religion ; ( saith another ) which I suppose the Prophet meaneth by going into the House of God , as companions consulting ( as it were ) how they might prepare themselves to his service .

Thirdly , A heavenly heart is a heart that longs and desires after heavenly things : Whom have I in Heaven but thee ? and there is none that I can desire on Earth in comparison of thee , Psal. 73. 25. When shall I come and appear before God ? My soul thirsteth for thee ; my flesh longeth for thee , in a dry and thirsty land where no water is , to see thy power and glory , as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary , Psal. 43. 2. Psal. 63. 1 , 2. My soul longeth , yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord ; my heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God , Psal. 84. 2. Desires are the natural motions of the heart , and the best character , and truest lineaments ( saith one (y) ) Reynold's Treatise of Passion . that can be drawn of the minds of men . Practices may be overrul'd by ends ; but desires are alwaies genuine and natural : Hence good men have had most confidence in approving themselves to God , by their affections , and the inward longings of their souls after him , as being the purest and most unfeigned issues of love , and such as have least proximity and danger from forein and secular ends . It is an unquestionable evidence of souls risen with Christ , and receiving the stamp of Heaven on the heart , to set their affections on things above : Heavenly desires are the natural breathings of a gracious heart , which can as well live without them , as a man without breathing ; a cessation of spiritual desires , argues soul-swooning , or spiritual death .

Fourthly , A heavenly heart is known by its heavenly thoughts ; it will be much thinking of heavenly things : As is the heart , so are the thoughts usually . For as he thinketh , so is he , Prov. 23. 7. The thoughts are the first-born of the heart , and strength of the soul , and as natural issues of the mind , as beams are of the Sun ; if the heart be evil , the thoughts will be evil ; if the heart be good , the thoughts will ordinarily be good , Matth. 15. 19. further than corruptions or temptations hinder , Jer. 4. v. 14. If your hearts be heavenly , so will your designed , habitual and well-pleasing thoughts be . They that are spiritual , will mind the things of the Spirit , Rom. 8. 5. Try your hearts by your ordinary , quiet and delightful thoughts : Are vain , earthly thoughts your trouble , and holy thoughts your delight ?

Fifthly , A heavenly heart will be full of heavenly projects ; such a heart will be driving designs for Heaven ; his consultations , enquiries and studies , will be how to carry on and promote heavenly interests . Titus 3. 8. This is a faithful saying , and these things I will that thou affirm constantly , that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , cum ratione & concilio exerceri ; the word is , might study , devise , and beat their brains how they might do good : That 's the temper of earthly hearts also ; they will be plotting and contriving waies and means how to advance earthly interests . Phil. 3. 19. Who mind earthly things , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Zanchy , whose thoughts are in the earth ( as the Syriack renders it , ) that is , they are wholly taken up about earthly things : So 't is with a heavenly heart , it is taken up about the things of Heaven ; it laies holy plots , how to keep down the world and corruption in the soul , and how to make the most of all it hath and doth for Heaven , to secure his interest , and enlarge his possession above : So far as the heart is heavenly , so far is it designing for Heaven .

Sixthly , A heavenly heart is acted and influenced by heavenly motives and arguments ; there is nothing sways more with a heavenly spirit than reasons drawn from heavenly things , heavenly pleasures , heavenly honours , heavenly treasures will do more with a heavenly heart than any arguments drawn from things of this life . The nature of the heart is much known by the motives that are most potent with it : A carnal heart is byassed by carnal things : Who will shew us any good ? Psal. 4. 6. But a spiritual heart with spiritual things : Lord lift up thou the light of thy countenance upon us : Lot will choose the plains of Sodom ; but Abraham will prefer walks with God , though in a Wilderness . David values his lot , by what it hath of God in it , and counts that most pleasant and rich which helps him to most of God , Psal. 16. 5 , 6. Tell an heavenly heart how he may be rich , great and comfortable in the World , and it signifies nothing : but tell him how he may pitch his Tent nearest to the Ark and enjoy most of God , how he may keep peace and holiness within , and order his conversation aright to please God , and you will sooner win such a heart , than by all the choicest proposals of this life . Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? Psal. 119. 9. Who shall abide in thy tabernacle ? Psal. 15. 1. Who will rise up for me against evil doers ? Psal. 94. 16. How might I do to get a better heart ? to be more rich towards God ? Oh that one would give me drink of the waters of the Well of Bethlehem ! 2 Sam. 23. 15. How might I do for some fore-tastes of the rivers of pleasure at the right-hand of God ? and to eat of the tree of life in the mid'st of the Paradise of God , Rev. 2. 7. These are the most taking things with an heavenly soul ; his choice , his delights and transcendent interests lie on the other side of this World , even within the borders of Immanuel's Land .

Seventhly , A heavenly heart is a heart that lives upon heavenly things , and is maintained by provisions fetch'd from Heaven , nourished up in the words of Faith , 1 Tim. 4. 6. desire the sincere milk of the Word , that ye may grow thereby , 1 Pet. 2. 3. My meat and drink is to do the will of him that sent me , Joh. 4. 34. Earthly hearts are maintained by earthly comforts ; like the Crows , they live on carrion ; but heavenly hearts live upon heavenly things , they feed on the finest Wheat ; and , like the Indian Bird , Vle malim , that lives upon the dew , and of the juice of Flowers and Roses ; heavenly souls prosper best on heavenly pulse and water : Give me understanding and I shall live , Psal. 119. 144.

Eightly , A heavenly heart walks by heavenly Rules ; 't is led by the Spirit of God , Rom. 8. 14. All the threatnings of men cannot upon choice bow him from his path-way of duty , Dan. 6. 10. nor the reason or allurements of men draw him with full consent into the way of sin , ch. 3. 18. Whatever comes of it he is at a point to keep the commands of God , Psal. 119. 106. It chuses to be governed by heavenly Laws . And we will walk in his paths , Isa. 2. 3. As for me and my house we will serve the Lrrd , Josh. 24. 15. Such a soul is easily perswaded by the evidence of truth ; and will hear what the Spirit saies : A little child shall lead him , Isa. 61. 6.

Thirdly , Then are earthly things done in an heavenly manner , when done to heavenly ends and purposes ; to obey , please and honour God ; when a person can approve his heart to an all-seeing eye , that the great and chief end for which he takes up this or that calling , sets on any employment , is in subordinacy to these great ends , not to please men , to gratifie his own lusts , to grow great in the world , to enjoy pleasure , ease , reputation , and interest here , but out of obedience to the Maker , Redeemer and Governour of this world , that God in all things might have his will and glory , 1 Pet. 4. 11. This is the ultimate end of all Gods works , and should be of man's also . All employments run out of their proper chanel , if they tend not to this Ocean of divine glory : As God is the Alpha , so he must be the Omega of every action ; the first cause must be the last end . God hath made all things for himself , Prov. 16. 4. To him belongs the issues ( as from death , so ) of life , Psal. 68. 20. Nothing is further good , than it answers God's end ; earthly ends spoil heavenly work , and heavenly ends puts an excellency on earthly work . Christians , be careful of your ends in all you do : 'T is not enough to do things that are right , if you are not upright in them : That 's unsanctified work which hath not holy aims , and God for its last end . To follow your callings , that you might live honestly in the sight of men ; that you might provide for your own , and have a competency in the world to carry you comfortably through it , is lawful , as subordinate secondary ends , but not as your chief and last end , to which all your actions must be directed ; that must be singly and supremely the pleasing and honouring of God as your highest end .

Fifthly , Another part of this Heavenly Trade is driven on & maintain'd in heavenly thoughts : Thoughts are the embrio and conception of actions , which also come under the cognisance and government of Religion . 'T is a common , but carnal principle , and false assertion , that thoughts are free : They are free indeed from the inspection of men , but not from the eye and judgment of God , who searcheth the hearts , and weigheth the spirits , Jer. 17. 10. and will bring every secret thing into judgment , Eccles. 12. 14. Solomon tells us , The thoughts of foolishness is sin , Prov. 16. 2. Prov. 24. 9. And Peter tells us , that the thoughts of the heart need forgiveness , Acts 8. 22. not onely sinful actions , but sinful thoughts are forbidden , Deut. 15. 9. and the very thoughts as well as words and lives of Christians , are to be brought under the obedience of Christ , 2 Cor. 10. 5. The Idea and platform of every considerate action , is first drawn in the mind and inward thoughts : No work is rightly done that wants praevious thoughts and consideration . Prov. 16. 9. A man's heart deviseth his way ; he weighs , considers and deliberates about the way he is to go in , and the course of life he is to drive ; he counts the time , cost , and every thing that must go to his work . Prov. 31. 16. She considereth a field and buyeth it . So 't is in this Heavenly Trade ; there must be devising of the way , serious thoughts and considerations , how to manage it to best advantage ; how to get in , and put off wisdom's goods ; how to strengthen grace , to dispatch duty , to obtain the favour of God , and dwell in his presence ; how to improve mercy , and how to ensure glory . The Heavenly Trade can never be carried on without heavenly thoughts . Inward working thoughts about God and godliness , are of wonderful use to further a holy life : They warm and chear the heart under troubles , Psal. 94. 19. engage and fix it on God , and render his presence desirable : Heavenly thoughts fire the heart , and inflame it to holy actions , Psal. 139. 17. Psal. 39. 3. and are a choice preservative against sin , Psal. 4. 4. 'T is greatly useful to encrease knowledge , and attain to deep wisdom and understanding . Dan. 14. 4. Many shall run to and fro , and knowledge shall encrease : That is , their thoughts shall be working on truth , busily employed to find out the meaning of the word , looking on one side , and on the other side ( saith Mr. Fenner ) and by this means shall come to a great thriving in knowledge . Men will never be religious to purpose , or be their crafts-masters in this Heavenly Trade , till they be more spiritual and heavenly in their thoughts . Christians , make conscience of your thoughts ; they must come to judgment ; wash your hearts from whence they come , Jer. 4. 14. and watch your thoughts whither they go ; check your thoughts when they begin to wander ; quicken your thoughts when flat ; fix your thoughts when floating ; spiritualize them when carnal ; exercise them when slothful ; set them on their proper and profitable objects , and hold them to their work in divine and heavenly meditation every day , which is part of your Heavenly Trade , and hath a mighty tendency to soul-enriching , Psal. 4. 4. Psal. 63. 4. Psal. 104. 34. Gen. 24. 63. Psal. 1. 2. Psal. 77. 12. Psal. 139. 8.

Meditation is a calling in the thoughts from its straglings and undue employments , fixing them on , and holding them to their peculiar work : 'T is the travel of the mind in the search of some spiritual good , from such things as duty and providence lay before it ; it weighs things and actions in the ballance of truth ; it turns things up-side down , and looks on both sides , and through them , that it may take a right estimate of them : 'T is the running to and fro of the cogitations to encrease knowledge , Dan. 12. 4. Meditation sifts things and truths , to divide the flower from the bran , and truth from errours ; it helps to a clearer and more sensible view of truth and excellency ; with the Chymist , it extracts the spirits and quintessence of things ; it warms the heart , and fires the affections , raises desires , engages the will , enlightens and enlivens the conscience , and helps to feed the soul on divine truths , to feast it with divine love ; it draws nourishment from ordinances , sweetness from promises , instructions from the creature , and good from providences . Without Meditation a person cannot receive the good that 's offer'd to him , or do the good that is required of him . The Word preached doth not profit hearers , for want of Meditation to digest it ; threatnings , promises , counsels , encouragements , don't affect the soul , or effect their errand and message , for want of a serious and settled consideration of them . O what profit might Christians get to their souls , were more time spent every day in right Meditation ! Believer , charge thy heart with this duty of daily Meditation , which is as needful as Prayer , Reading , and any acts of holiness , and allow some time constantly each day for this holy exercise of thy serious thoughts and contemplations . To meditate on God , his Word and Works ; on the Soul , its being , immortality , duties , evils , and interests ; on the the World , its vanity and emptiness ; on Sin , its nature and issues ; on Holiness , its excellency and blessed advantages ; on Death , Judgment and Eternity , with whatever might yield instruction and profit : Urge thy conscience with the command of God , the practice of the Saints , the great necessity , and many advantages of this duty ; consider the great and usual aversness of thy heart to it , which doth manifestly bespeak its spirituality and excellency ; for the more nature is indisposed to a duty , the more of God is usually in such a duty : think also of thy manifold losses and disadvantages thou hast sustained by thy neglect of it , and pray hard for the spirit to help thy soul in the due performance of it ; which hints I can only leave with thee without further enlargement , lest it should swell this Volume beyond its designed bounds .

Sixthly , If you would drive on this heavenly Trade , you must be keeping up heavenly converses every day , and upon every occasion : much of earthly Trades is carried on by earthly discourses , this way they drive bargains , and barter away goods : a great many words oft-times go to chaffering , buying and selling : and so is it in this heavenly Trade ; Religion is much advanc'd by a spiritual improvement of mens talk and converses ; this way did the searers of God keep alive Religion in evil times , when other helps were wanting , Mal. 3. 16. Prov. 10. 21. By this souls come to be fed and nourished in their holy Faith , 1 Tim. 4. 6. A great deal of good or hurt comes by mens discourses . O the mischief Christians do to each other by their vain , carnal and earthly communications when they come together ! Evil communications corrupt good manners , 1 Cor. 15. 33. Whose word doth eat as doth a canker , 2 Tim. 2. 17. This way does Satan put off much of his wares , even by Wisdom's Merchants , making them to weaken , cool , deaden , and corrupt one anothers spirits , stir up , feed and strengthen each others corruptions , become temptations and provocations to one another to sin , by their sinful corruptions : 'T is sad to think how the work of God ceases , and the work of Satan prospers this way : Persons come warm sometimes from a Sermon , and are soon cool'd by impertinent and vain discourses ; come from secret duty , when their hearts are quickned , and raised , and presently deadned again by spirit-quenching discourses . O how many labours of the Saints and Servants of Christ , and how many strivings of the Spirit are overturned , and come to nothing by vain and rotten discourses ! no wonder the Apostle tells us , The tongue is a fire , a world of iniquity ; it defileth the whole body , and setteth on fire the course of nature , and is set on fire of hell , Jam. 3. 6. Through the organ of an unsanctified tongue doth Satan shoot his fire-balls of temptation into the hearts of hearers : are you afraid of that fire which burns down your houses ? beware of that fire that burns down souls to hell . 'T is no small part of a Christian's wisdom to speak a word in season , and to order ( as his conversation so ) his converses to edification : When the Apostle presses the Ephesians to wisdom , Eph. 5. 17. the next thing he advises to is holy conference , ver. 19. by mens language are they known of what Countrey they are ; so are persons discover'd , whether Citizens of Heaven , or the World , by their ordinary and desir'd language . 'T is said of Augustine , he went not so willingly to a feast , as to a conference to reduce any that erred . He that is of the Earth , is earthly , and speaketh of the earth ; he that cometh from Heaven is above all ; and what he hath seen and heard , that he testifieth , Joh. 3. 31. He will be speaking of heavenly things , which he learnt of God : A good man out of the abundance of his heart bringeth out good things ; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh : The tongue is but the index and bucket of the heart , that tells men what things are within , and draws out of those deeps to others ; men use to find out what metals are hid in the earth by the colour of the sand which the waters wash away from the mountains : if the streams be low , the spring is weak ; an empty heart yields empty discourses ; By your words you shall be justified , or condemned : The tongue of the just is as choice silver , Prov. 10. 20. in that it is enriching to those that are near it . The tongue of the wise is health , Prov. 12. 18. It sendeth out sound and wholsome words to the strengthning of hearers : 't is said of the Spouse , that her lips did drop as the honey-comb , honey and milk are under her tongue , Cant. 4. 11. And the roof of her mouth like the best Wine that goeth down sweetly , causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak , Cant. 7. 9. This doubtless is one reason of the little thrivings of Christians in communion this day , 't is from their barren and carnal communications ; this starves Religion both in thy own soul , and in those thou conversest with ; 't is not maintained by gracious converses , and soul-edifying discourses . Christians , lay this to heart ; how can you bear the charge of all that decay in godliness this day upon your non-improvement of this part of your heavenly Trade ?

Lastly , Then do you carry on the heavenly Trade , when you improve every thing to heavenly advantages , getting good from every thing you meet with , do , or enjoy . 'T is so in earthly Trades , all men seek their gain from their quarters , Isa. 56. 11. endeavour to turn every thing to some profit : And so should heavenly Traders be getting some spiritual good from every thing that comes under their hand , and in their way , if ever they intend to thrive : this comports with the great design of God in all his administrations to his people , which is to do them good . Who fed thee in the Wilderness with Manna , which thy Fathers knew not , that he might humble thee , and that he might prove thee , to do thee good at the latter end , Deut. 8. 16. To this end are his providences directed : The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him , Ezra 8. 22. And this leads to the accomplishment of the promises towards Believers : I will set mine eyes upon them for good , Jer. 24. 6. I will not turn away from them to do them good , Jer. 32. 40. All their occurrences are brought under a promise of working for good . All things , the best and worst things of providence , shall work for good to them that love God , Rom. 8. 28. And why is this ? but that gracious souls should be expecting good from every thing , every affliction , as well as mercy , that doth befall them ; and be comporting in all their capacities with this design of God , by an improvement of all , to this great end of soul-advantage : What more good , O Lord ? was the usual saying of a godly man , when the Lord brought any new affliction upon him , with which he was much exercised , and from which he ever got some spiritual advantage .

For this end are gracious souls made capable to use their mercies , to bear and improve their afflictions to some spiritual good ; they have a principle of grace planted in their hearts , and of divine light into their minds ; and have received rules and instructions of purpose , that they might be able to reach this end : They are made men of wisdom for this end , that they might hear God in affliction , Mic. 6. 9. and see God in mercies ; and are skill'd in divine Chymistry , that they might extract the spirit of providences , and good of every condition , duty and mercy . 'T was said of pious Mr. Dod , that he used to turn Earth into Heaven by a wise and spiritual improvement of all earthly affairs . A blessed metamorphosis ! and an argument of excellent skill and high attainment in this heavenly Trade , to turn Copper and Brass into Gold , and to convert every thing , the worst things to some good . This ( Christians ) is your priviledg , duty and interest , so to manage every affair , condition , occurrence and experience , as to help on your soul-enrichings .

There are nine things especially which Christians should be careful to manage to some soul-advantage , to be getting good from them , to the furtherance of their instruction , meditation , mortification to sin , the world , and self ; to the strengthening of their graces , raising their affections , quickning to duty , preparation for death , and every trial in the way to it ; and for furthering their meetness for glory .

First , Priviledges are one thing which Believers should be getting good from , to these great and noble ends of spiritual good . Every heavenly Trader hath some priviledges which may afford soul-profit .

There are Natural Priviledges . There are Providential Priviledges . There are Spiritual Priviledges .

All which may contribute some profit to the improvers of them ; Parts , Youth , Health , Strength , are part of Nature's treasure , and to be husbanded to the use and service of the soul : These are some of those talents the great Housholder gives to his Family , ( though in different measures ) for improvement , and singular mercies they are , if well used to the Donor's ends and directions . A humble use of Parts to the good of others , and setting of wit , memory , reason , with the choicest intellectuals , and richest endowments of the rational mind , on the service of the soul , 3 Epist. Joh. 2. making them hewers of wood , and drawers of water for the sanctuary of the Lord : A shaving and paring off of the excrements and froth of wit , that they may become Israelites , and devoted to the God of Israel , and spiritual uses , Deut. 21. 12. keeping them under the government of the spirit , is a good improvement of them in this heavenly Trade .

You that have Parts and habilliments of Mind , do not prostitute them to the pleasure of the flesh , and the service of sin , but resign them to the use of the spirit ; towards your enrichings with true wisdom , and encreases in the knowledg of God , which brings salvation . When sprightly Parts and sparkling Wit are inlaid with grace , then are they as Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver , Prov. 25. 11. O how amiable are these endowments of nature , when seasoned with grade , when perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincense , and besprinkled with the Powders of the Merchant , Cant. 3. 6.

Youthful time is another priviledg for soul-advantage ; 't is the morning of the soul's day , the best and most useful part of time , when appropriated to God and divine uses : what advantage have such for warmth of affection , and dispatches of duty ? whereas decrepit age , like an emerited Souldier , hath worn out its serviceable capacities ; and as the setting-Sun , is attended with evening cold , and shadows , and the close of working useful time . O how unserviceable is old age for transacting the work of the new-birth , when Conscience is sunk down into the deeps of guilt ! when the affections are clogg'd with the dirty things of this world , and preengaged to other Lovers ; and when the marrow of natures strength has been eaten out by the wasting service of sin . So great and amazing a work is the salvation of a sinner , that it deserves a subject of the choicest capacities to be compleated in , and transacted by : And then is youth profitably spent , when devoted to God , and taken up in the great matters of salvation . You that are yet in your youth and morning-time , let God have the spring of your time , the first-born of your strength , and first ripe fruits of your capacities ; let not youthful pleasures have the flower of your time and abilities , leaving the bran for God and your souls .

You that have strength of body , and a healthful temper , put it to the best use for your heavenly interest . Are you strong to labour ? work out your salvation ; labour for the bread that endureth ; you that have legs , use them while you have them , to carry you up and down after God . If you must eat bread in the sweat of your brows , let it be the bread of your Father's house . If you must rise up early , sit up late , break your rest , exhaust your strength , let it not be all for the world , let Christ have some of your strength , before all be gone ; yea , if you have any , let Christ have all .

As there are natural priviledges , so are there providential priviledges also , which are the capacities that providence dispenseth to some , of doing and receiving good beyond others , as liberty , peace , plenty , with other outward mercies , all which are to be husbanded to the best advantage of your souls .

Have you Peace with men ? improve it towards the obtaining and securing your Peace with God : Your firmest leagues with men will hold but a little while , if your covenant with God be broken ; what can favour with men profit you , if you have frowns from God ? If men sheath up their swords , and God's be drawn , thy case is dangerous , and full of trouble . Make this use also of thy present Peace , to prepare for future trouble , and to be the better arm'd when trials come ; spend not all thy store upon thy present Peace and Comfort , but save some fragments for times of need . God gives thee a breathing-time , that thou mayest hold out the better in thy race ; and spares thee a little rest , that thou mayest be the fitter for approaching trouble .

Have you Liberty ? take heed of yokes of bondage , Gal. 5. 1. and soul-straitnings . If God set you at large , do not imprison your selves to the world and carnal lusts : Is thy body out of prison ? labour to get out thy soul also , Psal. 142. 7. Are thy feet enlarged ? get thy heart enlarged also , and run the waies of his commandments , Psal. 119. 132. Make the most of your Lilberty in doing service to God , in attending on his appointments , and in taking all opportunities of doing salvation-work , and enjoying salvationhelps : Be like your Lord , going up and down doing good , while you have opportunity , Joh. 12. v. 35. If you have spare time , or can redeem it by double diligence from your earthly business , lay it out for God and his people in religious duties , Christian visits , holy conferences : The time may come you may wish for such a priviledge , and long to see one of these daies of the Son of man .

Have you yet a liberal portion of the good things of this life ? is your garner full , your table spread , your cup overflowing ? lay in the sense of these mercies now , as winter-provision to warm your hearts then , when you may not have them to warm and refresh your bodies , and lay them out to refresh those that want them , that they may bless God for you , glorifie God in you , and procure mercy for you in the day of need : Make not thy self a slave to thy abundance , but make thy plenteous comforts serviceable unto thee .

There are Spiritual Priviledges too , the lot of some , and calls for great improvements . There are Personal Priviledges , the State and Spirit of Adoption , justification of persons , purchased right to pardon and peace with God , freedom from condemnation , assurance of preservation in grace unto glory , with many gifts of grace and spiritual favours which thousands enjoy not . And there are Publick Priviledges of access to God , communion of Saints , a place within the walls of God's House , with variety of soul-provisions , an interest in the promises of God , the prayers and graces of his people , things of infinite worth , and purchased at no lower rate than the blood of Christ : You that are interested in those , come under great obligations to behold them with wonder , to hold them with trembling , and to use them with diligence and faithfulness . You that are planted in the Courts of the Lord , Psal. 92. 13 , 14. be fat and flourishing ; content not your selves with bare priviledges , with dogs to feed on dry bones , but get the marrow , juice , and fattening vertue of all your advantages . Do not with Lazarus , lye at the door of your rich Lord , the Dogs licking your sores , when you may go in and be healed .

Secondly , Ordinances are another thing which Believers should be getting spiritual good from : These are the golden pipes through which the Lord pours in the Oyl of grace into his golden Candlesticks , and Gospel-Churches , Zach. 4. 12. Showres of Manna to feed his people in the wilderness , and on this side their own Countrey , Deut. 8. 16. These are the Churches breasts to fill and nourish her children unto life eternal , Isa. 66. 11. Gen. 2. 6. 10. Ordinances are the Mist , the River of Eden , by which God waters his Garden ; Scriptures are the Mines , Ordinances are the opening of them , to such as dig for Wisdom . A considerable part of this Heavenly Trade is driven about these commodities ; ply them well , that you may get large incomes of spiritual blessings through them : Take heed of sleeping at these breasts , or playing with them , lest the Lord put them up , or put you off ; lie at the pool side , wait at the wells of salvation , and not onely come , but draw out waters of life thence for your needy souls : For which four things are needful .

Preparation . Attention . Retention . Obedience .

First , Prepare before you hear , get the room emptied , swept and garnished : For those provisions of Christ you are called to , bring your pitchers empty and clean , that God may fill them : Come not to clean food with a soul stomach , but get your hearts purged by sound repentance , and wash'd from an evil conscience , and renewed by the Spirit ; for the new wine of the Gospel , 1 Pet. 2. 1 , 2 , 3. They must be new born babes , that receive the sincere milk of the Word , so as to grow thereby , Mat. 9. 17. If a dead Christ must be laid in a new tomb ; Mat. 27. 60. surely a living Jesus will not come into an old heart , and rotten sepulchre . Spend some time before you go to hear , in searching your hearts , and reviewing your waies , in geting a deep sense of their vileness , and the exceeding sinfulness of your sins , that the fallow field of your hearts may be plowed up , and you sow not among thorns : Take heed you bring not a hard heart to hearing . When Thrasamund the Arrian read Fulgentius's defence of the truth , he praised his wisdom , wondered at his eloquence , commended his humility ; yet had his heart so hardened , that he could not submit to the truth . To help you herein , set prayer on work to beg down the Spirit 's of assistance ; bring your hearts to Christ by prayer , that he would make them clean : If he say , I will , be thou clean , thy Leprosie shall be cleansed . Prayer also helps you to suitable provision , and a blessing on it : Hearers prayers help Ministers to preach , and themselves to hear , 2 Thes. 3. 1. Souls never thrive better than when Ministers and Hearers be much in prayer for the Word of the Spirit , and Spirit with the Word . To pray well , is to study well a a Bene orasse est bene studiisse . Prayer ( saies one ) is a messenger to fetch that holy seed out of the garner above : Prayer is the former and latter rain to make it grow beneath ; pray continually if thou would'st grow continually . After Christ had fed the multitude , he went up into a Mountain apart to pray . Matth. 14. v. 23. Secret prayer ( saith Mr. Trap ) fats the soul , as secret morsels feed the body ; therefore it is said to be the banquet of grace , where the soul may solace her self with God , as Esther did with Ahashuerus at the banquet of wine , and have whatsoever heart can wish , or need require .

Secondly , Take heed how you hear , hear as for your lives , with holy attention , with fear and trembling . Ministers ( saith Mr. Latimer ) should preach as if Hell were at their backs , and hearers should hear as if life or death were in every word . Hear with holy affection ; many were given up to believe a lye , because they loved not the truth , nor received the word in the love thereof , 2 Thes. 2. 10. Hear believingly ; the Word preached did not profit , being not mixed with faith in them that heard it , Heb. 4. 2. 'T is by faith the Gospel becomes the power of God to salvation , Rom. 1. 17. The Arm of God was not revealed on Israel , because his report was not believed by them , Isa. 53. 1. The Spirit is given out through the hearing of faith : Never expect to profit by hearing , till you joyn faith with hearing .

Thirdly , Keep the Word you do hear ; take heed of letting slip the things you have received , Heb. 2. 1. Hold fast the truth that no man take your Crown , Rev. 3. 11. Be not forgetful hearers , but doers of the Word , Jam. 1. 25. Forgetful hearers will never be doers : Israel's disobedience was the fruit of their forgetfulness , Psal. 78. 10 , 11. The reason of the Disciples trouble at the sepulchre of Christ , was said to be their forgetfulness ; they had forgotten what he had said to them when he was in Galilee , Luke 24. 6. Bad memories have many times barren lives : Be much in after-prayer for the Comforter's help to keep the Word for you , and bring it to your remembrance : Prayer opens the heart to take in the Word ; and prayer shuts the heart to keep in the Word : keep up meditation of the Word , Psal. 111. 91. This chews the cud , and gets out the sweetness and nutritive virtue of it unto the heart and life : This way the godly come to be as trees planted by the waters side , that bring forth much fruit in their season , Psal. 1. 3.

Fourthly , Obedience of the Word helps to profiting . The worth of Divine Truths is never fully known until they are liv'd upon ; nor its virtue felt till we cleave to it in our conversation . Prov. 4. 6. Forsake her not , and she shall preserve ( problem ) love her , and she shall keep thee . Vers. 12. When thou goest , thy steps shall not be straitned , and when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble . O the sweetness , the pleasure , the strength , the blessedness that they lose who onely look on truth , but do not live it ! Strangers to a holy life meddle not with the joy that is wrapt up in the Word and Waies of God , Prov. 3. 17. Her waies are waies of pleasantness , and all her paths are peace . The Word of God yields out but half its sweetness , until it becomes the way and walks of men , Psal. 10. 11. In keeping them there is great reward . My witness is in Heaven , saith Mr. William Cooper , upon his death-bed , That the love of Jesus , and his peoples souls , made preaching my pleasure ; and I had no such joy as in doing God's work . They are blessed that do his Commandment ; not onely in that they have right to the tree of life , but in that they eat the pleasant fruits of it , and feed upon that hidden Manna unto which bare hearers are strangers .

Thirdly , Get all the good you can from Providences ; from favourable Providences , and from frowning Providences : These are the North and the South winds , which the Beloved causes to blow upon his garden , Cant. 4. 16. that the spices might flow forth . Providences , whether prosperous or afflictive , are to saved souls but the fulfilling of Divine Purposes , and the accomplishment of precious promise , which are designed for the good of Believers . Observe the Providences of God if you would get good from thence . Observable things ( saith worthy Mr. Blair ) do follow them that are given to observation . Doth God bring thee under smiling Providences ? get some good from them : In these the Lord writes legible characters of his Covenant-love to his people . O read the tenderness , love , bounty and faithfulness of God in them , and be affected ! Get thy heart to write back letters of love and thankfulness to God again ; entertain giving Providences with thanksgiving hearts , and the sacrifice of praise , 2 Chron. 29. 31. Let the Lord communicate with you concerning receiving as well as giving , Phil. 4. 15. If left-hand mercies flow in upon you , take heed lest those floods break their bounds , and carry away the banks of your affections and circumspection . Christians , 't is a safe rule to fear your mercies as well as afflictions : There is usually less fear , and therefore more danger of professing friends , than professed enemies . 'T was the prayer of Queen Elizabeth , To be delivered from her friends , as for her enemies she would take care of them . Further , if you have now a spring-tide of outward mercies , prepare for low-waters : The comforts of this world are not standing pools , but running streams , and rolling Seas , that ebb and flow ; expect not too much from them ; entertain your comming mercies as strangers , who have their time to go as well as come : The Lord gives , and the Lord takes , Job 1. 21.

Get good also from taking as well as giving Providences ; be blessing God for them : There is more self-denial and pure love to God expressed in such acknowledgments , than in praises for bestowing mercy , Job 1. 2. Besides , divine grace runs as well through the empty chanels , as broad streams of outward comforts : 'T is the same hand of the Father that uncloaths , which dresses his children ; the Fork as well as the Rake belongs to the Covenant of Grace and Peace ; neither is love or hatred known by these things , Eccles. 9. 1. Some have never found more than when they have lost all : The Lord oft-times makes mens losses their gains , and their gain of earthly things their losses : Saul lost his Asses , and found a Kingdom : Shimei found his servants , and lost his life : Place not then your happiness , no nor your comforts in these things : How many prick their fingers to get a few fading Roses , which as soon wither as they are pluck'd : Think well of God under scattering Providences , and believe he loves you as much when he removes your mercies , as when he gives them : Look to God in Providences ; see whence those winds come that blow down your houses , and scatter your comforts ; enquire wherefore God contends with you , Job 10. 2. Doth not that worm which devours your gourd , breed in your security , pride , unthankfulness , and abuse of them , while you had them ? search out the cause of God's displeasure ; justifie God in it , and bear his indignation humbly ; come down at his feet , kiss his rod , and hear the voice of it : This is to get good from the worst of Providences .

Fourthly , Get good from the world , and things thereof ; by seeing its wiles and deceitfulness , its vanity and emptiness , Mark 4. 19. The world is a fading thing , the fashion of it passeth away and it is gone . Trades-men care not for over-much of those goods that are soon out of fashion , Eccles. 1. 2. O care not for the world , the fashion whereof soon passeth away ! 1 Cor. 7. 31. The world is a dirty thing , 't is hard to touch it , and not be defiled . Christians , be not like Swine , who love to run into the dirt ; and if you would keep your selves unspotted , take heed of the world . The world is a heavy ponderous thing ; by faith make it portable , and more easie to be born , 2 Cor. 4. 17. that it may not clog your feet , and stop your race towards glory : Faith will soon lessen your burden , and mend your pace ; it will turn brass , yea clay into gold , and make it light in carriage . The world is a strange Countrey to the Citizens of Heaven , get good from it , by living as strangers in the world , by making you long the more for your own home , by converting it to the service of your souls , and interest in glory . The Scorpions in Caria , when they sting , kill home-bred people , not strangers . Apollon. Be a stranger to the world , and it will not hurt thee . The world is a subtle Strumpet , shun her embraces , lye not in her bosom , stop your ears against her charms , and shut your eyes from her allurements . The world is an enemy , beware of it ; when it promises , believe it not ; when it kisses you , take heed of the sword in its hand , 2 Sam. 20. 9 , 10. when it cries peace , peace , then fear swift destruction ; set thy feet on its fair neck to keep it down ; get it nailed to the Cross of Christ , and pierced to death with the sword and spear of the Spirit . Get good from every state and condition God puts you into , whether high or low , rich or poor : If you are above others in place , be above them in grace ; if you enjoy more than others , labour to do more than others , Matth. 5. 47. The higher you are in the world , be so much the lower in your own eyes : The tallest Cedars bow most : Ships of the greatest burden draw most water , and go deepest : Exalted Angels rejoyce to be ministring spirits : Yea the Son of God delighted in being the servant of men : Israel was a Prince , and prevailed with God , and yet counted himself beneath the least of all God's mercies , Gen. 32. 10. By how much the greater I am ( saith Maximinus ) so much the more I labour ; and the more I labour , the greater I am . Paul the chiefest Apostle , and yet in his own eyes less than the least of all Saints , Ephes. 3. 8. Humble your selves when God exalts you ; and when you humble your selves , God will exalt you .

Have you much of the world ? take heed of puffings up ; the more you have , the more you owe ; the more you have of Earth , the less you may have of Heaven : The poor in the world may be rich in faith ; and the rich in the world may be oft-times poor in faith : If God give you much here , be fearful lest he give you your All here . When one offered Luther much gold , he protested God should not put him off with these things . 'T is said of Gregory the Great , he could never read these words , Son , remember thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things , without horrour and astonishment , lest having such dignities he should be excluded his portion in Heaven . Have you little in the world ? you have the less to reckon for ; you have the lesser temptations , the fewer bryars and thorns to go through . Are you mean in reputation ? you are so much the safer , and the more beneath envy . 'T is more to you ( said Mr. Rutherford to the Lord-Keeper ) to win Heaven , being ships of great burden , and in the main Sea , than for little vessels that are not so much in the mercy and reverence of the storm . Are you low in the world ? the more reason you have to lie low in your own spirits ; a Prince's heart , and a beggar's purse do not well agree . Are you in want ? make more use of Christ's fulness : 'T is blessed misery that brings souls to Christ for mercy : Had it not been for affliction , Christ would have had but little company whiles in the world : The whole need not the Physician ; the sick , the blind , the deaf , dumb , and possessed of Devils might bless God for their maladies , which were the occasions of bringing them to the Physician of their souls as well as bodies : 'T was well for the poor Canaanite that her daughter was ill , for by that means she was put upon seeking crumbs , and while she asked for them , got the childrens bread to boot , Matth. 15. 27 , 28.

Fifthly , Get good from your Callings and Employments in the world , by preserving a sense of the snares and dangers that lie in the management of them . If men would take a strict survey of their Calling-carriages , and be true to their observations , they must needs confess there are many evils they are guilty of in the management of them every day ; either idleness , or excess of labours , deceitfulness , earthliness , lying , cheating , selfishness , covetousness , carnal-mindedness , vain discourses , multitude of words , murmuring , unthankfulness , with many other sins of omission and commission , which they are exposed to in the pursuit of their Employments : Now when the experience and sense of this do keep them more humble and watchful against the occasions and appearances of such evils ; when this helps to break and melt the heart before the Lord in prayer , fly to Christ in the sense of their weaknesses and inability to hold up under their temptations for all their help and grace to stand , Ephes. 5. 15 , 16. And when they labour to keep a tender spirit in all their dealings , and a holy jealousie of their hearts in every thing they do ; exercising self-denyal , and mortifiedness to the world , and things below , then they get profit from their Callings , Prov. 41. 3. Psal. 141. 3.

When they make their particular Callings to comport with , and subserve their general ; when mens businesses in the world do not unfit them for , but are helpful in their religious duties , to keep their hearts in a meetness for spiritual service , even while they are in their earthly Employments , maintaining a walk with God in them , then they get good from their earthly Callings , Ephes. 6. 18. Titus 3. 1. Sometimes God blesseth your Callings , and makes your basket and store to encrease ; then to be enlarg'd in thankfulness , and preserve the memory of God's goodness , is not onely your duty , but will sweeten the enjoyment of your mercies : With my staff I passed over this Jordan , and now I am become two bands , Gen. 32. 10. To love him more , and serve him better , with more chearfulness and gladness of heart ; this is profiting by your Callings .

Sometimes God blasts your labours , and crosseth your hopes , makes a breach upon your Trade , follows you with losses one after another : In this case to look to the hand of God , to search out God's end in all , to get good by it , to be the more weaned from the world , and to cease from earthly stays , is a profitable use of your Callings .

Sixthly , Be getting some good from your company you reside amongst , meet or converse with : The Lord offers , and souls may get much good this way : O the mercies that God deals out through mens company ! 'T was well for Rahab that ever the spies came to her house , for by that means she obtained the salvation of her self and family . What a mercy 't was to the woman of Samaria , when she came to the Well , that she found Christ there , who instead of filing her pitcher with perishing water , by this means got her heart filled with the waters of life , John 4. 15 ? What good did the Disciples get by company in the way to Emmaus , who by that means had their cold hearts warmed , their weak faith strengthened , Luke 25. 15. to the 32. Others have had company fatal to them : Had it not been for Potiphar's house Joseph might have escaped temptation to uncleanness , Gen. 39. 7. And had it not been for Pharaoh's house , he had not learn'd to swear by the life of Pharaoh , Gen. 42. 15. As long as Peter kept with the Disciples , he was faithful and couragious ; but when once he fell into evil company , and got into the High Priest's Hall , he presently fell into that fearful sin of denying his Lord and Master , Luke 22. 55. When they sate down together , Peter sate down amongst them . Christians , beware what company you come into , for the peace and welfare ( if not the life ) of your souls , is much concerned in it : Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them , Ephes. 5. 11. Prov. 1. 15. chap. 4. 14 , 15. Chuse not wicked company for advantage sake , as Lot did with the loss of his goods , and hazard of his life , and a dreadfull fall to boot , Gen. 19. 15. 36. Advantage was his end why he chose the Plains of Sodom , but loss was the issue of his choice : So Balaam for Balacks goods , run himself into those temptations that cost him his life , Gen. 31. 8. Go not into wicked company except duty call you ; if you have God's warrant , you have his protection ; and if by providence , or in the way of obedience , you meet with evil men , be good with them ; [ The Sun ( saith Diogenes ) visits kennels , and is not defiled . ] either by taking an occasion to do them good , as the Israelitish Maid did to her Master Naaman , directing him to the Prophet Elisha for cure , 2 King . 5. 2 , 3. Or by putting a stop to their sin , as David did . Psal. 75. 4 , 5. I said unto the fools , deal not foolishly , and to the wicked , lift not up your horn . And as Judah sought to divert his Brethren from their wicked enterprise against Joseph , Gen. 37. 26 , 27. Or by reproving their sin , as Nehemiah did the sin of the Nobles , Neh. 5. 7. Or by instructing them if ignorant , as Paul did the Athenians , Acts 17. 22 , 23. But if they be such like Sons of Belial , that the thorns cannot be taken by hand , let them be thrust away , and get your selves fenced that they hurt you not : Take heed of the least compliance with them in their sin . 1 Tim. 5. 22. Be not partakers of other mens sins ; your own are heavy enough ; silence in not reproving , with any signs of approving others sins , make them your own .

If you enjoy good company , take heed you miss not of good , or meet with evil from them : good men have their evils ; great men are not alwaies wise , Job . 32. 9. And 't is easier to follow them down , than up the hill , and to imitate their vices , than their virtues ; diseases are more communicable than health ; men may impart their sickness , but cannot their soundness . O what advantage hath sin for its propagation , when it falls from the hands of men reputed gracious ! The errours of good men are not onely examples , but arguments unto others to sin also : If Peter play the hypocrite , other Jews dissemble likewise with him , Gal. 2. 13. and no less a man than Barnabas is carried away with their dissimulation . If they that are strong do but eat in the Idols Temple , the weak will eat the things offered to Idols , 2 Cor. 8. 10. O take care of the evils of good men , which like books published cum privilegio , vend the more . An Esau's garment will make a Jacob's voice to pass ; and where good in any man is admired , evil is there seldom feared : take heed you follow no man further than he follows Christ , 1 Cor. 11. 11. Implicit imitation is as dangerous in practice , as implicit faith is in judgment : weigh their actions you intend to walk after ; let no mans reputation be your warrant for imitation : Eminent persons are File-leaders , which way they turn , the File turns with them : The leaders of my people cause them to err , Isa. 9. 16. Men usually follow those they commend , y y Quos effero , refere . and how much the greater they are with whom we converse , ( saith Seneca ) z z Quo major est populus cum quo conversamur hoc periculi plus est . the more is the danger . Get good from good men , else their goodness is nothing to you : what truth you hear from them , receive ; and as Mary did the Angel's words , so do you ponder their gracious sayings in your hearts , Luke 2. 19.

When you are in the company of those that are above you in wisdom and grace , be more swift to hear than to speak : The emptiest vessels make the greatest sound ; and I have often observed in company , such as have most need to hear and learn , being self-conceitedly wise , will take up most of the discourse ; and instead of drawing waters from deeper wells to fill their empty vessels , they will be pumping out that little they have : This surely doth not bespeak the modesty of such , and less becomes their profit . Origen , when a child , used to question with his Father about the sense of the Scriptures , and afterwards became a great Scholar . 'T is the observing attentive Christian is usually the most knowing , thriving Christian ; who , with the Bee , gathers in the Summer , and gets honey from every flower it meets with ; and in the Winter spends it . When you meet with empty vessels , 't is your charity to be putting in , but when you come to deep wells , 't is your duty and interest to be drawing out , by asking questions , and proposing doubts , as the young man in the Gospel did , Mat. 19. 16. and Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria , Joh. 3. 2. 4. ch. 4. 11 , 15 , 20. to Jesus Christ . The enquiring soul , if it be done in truth , and followed with obedience , will be the most flourishing soul .

Seventhly , Get good from your retirements as well as company ; be never less alone , than when alone : Sometimes in pursuance of duty you must be alone ; when thou prayest enter into thy Closet , Mat. 6. 6. Retire we must sometimes ( saith Mr. Trap , ) and into fit place to meet with God ; solacing , and entertaining Soliloquies with him , as Isaac did in the field , Jacob upon the way , Ezekiel by the river Ulai , Peter upon the leads , Christ upon the mountains , Abraham in the grove in Beersheba , Gen. 21. 33. 'T is no matter ( saith the same Author ) how mean the place be , so it be secret : where there is a Jeremy , a Daniel , a Jonah ; a Dungeon , a Lions-Den , a Whale's-belly , are goodly Oratories . If you will not hear me , ( saith Peter Moice ) send me to my prison again among my toads and frogs , which wilt not interrupt me while I talk with my Lord God ; Acts & Mon. 122. O how desirable is retirement with God to a soul that hath acquaintance with him ! Antisthenes being asked what good he had got by Philosophy ? answered , that I can converse with my self ; much more is it thy interest to converse with God . 'T is said of that pious man Mr. William Sedgwick , that when he was young , while the rest of the Family were at their Games and Dancings , he would be in a corner mourning . Mr. Greenham , when at any time he was sick , would suffer no body to sit up with him , that so he might more freely converse with God . Psal. 119. 62. David would rise at midnight to enjoy communion with God . O the blessed seasons that gracious souls have had with Christ in their corners ! how sweet have their stollen waters of life , and bread eaten in secret , been to their hungry souls ! Prov. 9. 17. If the walls of this house could speak ( said Mr. Hew Kennedy ) they could tell how many sweet days I have had in secret fellowship with God , and how familiar he hath been with my soul ; The fulfilling of Script . p. 442. The Lord doth usually unbosome himself most to his friends when he hath them alone . Hos. 2. 14. I will allure her , and bring her into the wilderness , and speak comfortably to her , or speak to her heart , ( as 't is in the Hebrew : ) Upon which words Stella hath this note , a a Vt Dominus cum anima nostra loquatur non opus habet testibus . Quando Dominus cor nostrum solum invenit statim coenaturus cum illo sedet — God needs no witnesses that he might speak to our souls ; when God finds our heart alone , he presently comes in , and sups with it ; and when he observes our soul withdrawn from the cares and carking thoughts of this World , then is his time to open his great wonders and secrets to it . Jacob was never more prevailing with God than when alone ; then was the time he got the blessing , Gen. 32. 24 , 29. Peter was alone in prayer with God when he fell into a trance , Acts 10. 10. His soul was as it were removed from the body for a time , ( saith Beza ) that he might converse with God c c 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , quasi se moto ad tempus a corpore animo cum Deo colloqui . . Elijah was alone in secret prayer , when the Angel brought him that refreshing feast , in the strength of which he travell'd in the wilderness forty days , 1 King . 19. 4. to v. 9. O what am I , ( said Mr. Patrick Simpson , after he had been many hours in his Garden alone , wrestling with God for his deserted Wife ) being dust and ashes , that the holy ministring Spirits should be sent by the Lord to deliver a message to me ! telling one that over-heard him , that he had had a vision of Angels , who did with audible voice give him an answer from the Lord of his Wive's condition ; this Woman also to whom , upon importunity , he delivered these words , as she was approaching to the place where he lay on the ground , heard an affrighting noise of a great rushing of multitudes together , and with it a melodious sound : Such a welcome doth the Lord Jesus give his children sometimes , when he gets them alone into his Chambers and Wine-cellar . O the sweetness persons may find in their solitudes with Christ ! Sampson turn'd aside when he saw a swarm of Bees and Honey in the carkass of the Lion , Judg. 14. 8. 'T is said of Jerome , that living in the wilderness , he seemed to converse with Angels . Contemplation ( saith Gregory ) is the clearest day of internal light ; then are their discoveries most , when in a holy silence with God alone : Retirement ( Christian ) is an opportunity put into thy hand of in-door work ; 't is God's call into the Mount : Exod. 34. 2 , 3. Be ready in the morning , and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai , and present thy self there to me in the top of the Mount , and no man shall come up with thee . 'T is his command to a holy silence and cessation from other work , that thou may'st attend the most secret concerns of thy soul : Improve this time wholly in converse with God and attending the affairs of thy soul : This is a season to take an estimate of thy soul-state , to try the grounds of thy hope for eternity , to be searching into the secrets of thy heart , and taking a full review of thy past life , and former carriages , Psal. 4. 4. Then is the time to weigh thy mercies and duties , to call to mind God's dealings with thee , and thy carriages towards him ; to be studying the wiles of Satan , and the ways of thy duty ; the worth of godliness , the danger of miscarrying , and the blessedness of overcoming , and such like meditations . When you are riding , or walking , or sitting alone , invite the Lord Jesus to keep you company , to walk and converse with you ; fill up your vacant hours with secret prayer and meditation ; take heed of being at leisure from duty-employment , either in your general or particular Calling , or lawful Employments , lest being too much alone , the Devil strike in for company ; no greater temptation can Satan find , than times of solitude not improved .

Eighthly , Get good from occasional objects and occurrences , which are not chance and fortune , as the blind world calls it ; but the products of divine wisdom and pleasure towards Believers for their good . Albane receiving a persecuted Christian into his house , and seeing his holy devotion , and sweet carriage ; he was so much affected with his good example , that he became both a Professor and Martyr ; Bede . It was not by accident , but divine intention , that Melchisedeck should meet Abraham to bless him , and Shimei meet David to curse him ; that Moses should meet Jethro's Daughter at the well in Midian , and that David should meet the Egyptian in pursuing the Amalekites : It was God put it into the thoughts of Saul's servant to advise his Master to speak with the Prophet , by which means he obtain'd a Kingdom : 'T was by divine disposal , that when Joseph was cast into the pit , the Midianites should pass by , and lift him up , and sell him to the Ishmaelites , and they to Potiphar . The Lord is carrying on some part of his work , some piece of mercy or justice , comfort or affliction by all these occurrences , in which his people should be co-workers with him , and be learning something from every passage of providence they meet with , and object they occasionally behold in their journeyings and pursuits of their occasions in the World : What fruitful meditations had Sampson from beholding the carkass of the Lion , and swarm of Bees in it in his journey to Timnah ? Judg. 14. 8. 14. And our Saviour from seeing the wither'd Fig-tree in his passage from Bethany to Jerusalem ? Mat. 21. 19 , to 23. What a lecture did Christ read to his Disciples upon viewing the goodly Buildings of the Temple ? Luke 21. 5 , to the end : He beheld the City , and wept over it , and improved it to some instruction to his Disciples , Luke 19. 41. He beheld people casting in gifts into the treasury , and makes improvement of it , Mark 12. 4. Some told him of the blood of the Galileans which Pilate had mingled with their sacrifice , and he makes a profitable use of it for his Disciples instruction , Luke 13. 1 , 2. What Sermons hath Christ preached , when he took his Text from the waters of Samaria ? Joh. 4. 9 , 10. from the Manna given to Israel in the wilderness ? Joh. 6. 26 , 27 , 31 , 32. from the multitudes flocking after him for loaves ? Christians , if you would grow rich in Spirituals , make some spiritual improvement of all you see , hear , meet with in your journeys , dealings , converses in the World : Thou walkest into thy Garden , get some instruction from the objects that thou castest thy eyes upon : Every herb in thy Garden preaches God to thee b b Qualibet herba monstrar Deum . : Thou walkest into the Field , go with Isaac's heart , to meditate upon the creatures and providences of God thou beholdest there : Thou lookest to the Heavens , let it not be only as the Pharisees , to discern the face of the Skie , Matth. 16. 3. but to see the glory of God , and his handy-work , Psal. 19. 1. with the Chymist , extract some good from every thing thou meetest with . 'T was said of Jerome , he knew how to gather gold out of the dunghill , and honey out of weeds , leaving the poison for spiders . How will men dig into the bowels of the earth , rack the creatures , spend themselves to get a few shadows , and all the while do nothing to get the substance that endures ! and this doubtless is one reason of soul-poverty this day ; we trade not with creatures and occurrences that fall in our way to spiritual advantages : Beg spiritual skill and faithfulness to be improving all you see , hear , do or enjoy to soul-profit .

Ninthly , Get good from your falls and miscarriages : Physicians do sometimes make poysons medicinal , and so doth the Physician of of value make the diseases of his people turn to their health . Sin is the greatest evil , and yet redemption-grace works good out of it . David got good by his fall , it made him the more humble and broken in heart ; drew out his heart in stronger cries after grace ; made him more watchful for the future against the occasions of sin , Psal. 51. 7 , 8. to the 12. Psal. 39. 1. Psal. 141. 3. Peter got good from his fall , by keeping an after-sense of the evil of it on his heart . Israel by their departure from God came to loath themselves the more in their own eyes , Ezek. 36. 31. And Ephesus , by a sense of their evil got this advantage , they could not bear evils in others , Rev. 2. 2. As sin abounds , so grace abounds much more , Rom. 5. 20.

Object . If souls may get good from sin , and where sin abounds , grace abounds much more : Then why should we be troubled for sin , and watching against it ? Why may we not rather sin , that grace may abound , and do evil that good may come thereof ?

Sol. The Apostle answers this objection , Rom. 6. What shall we say then , shall we continue in sin that grace may abound ? God forbid ; and proves by several Arguments .

First , That it cannot be that souls interested in Christ can live or allow themselves in sin ; Because

First , They are dead to sin , and therefore cannot live any longer in sin , v. 2. dead men while so cannot live , but Believers are dead to sin no longer to live therein , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , amplius , never more to live in it ; they may fall into it , be overcome by it ; but to allow it , to design it , to make provision for it , and to take up encouragements upon choice in judgment , to continue in it ; this cannot consist with men dead to sin , as all souls in Christ are ; for they are baptized into the likeness of Christ's death , yea into his death , v. 3. That as Christ died for sin once to die no more , but was raised by the glory of the Father , v. 4. so they being really dead with Christ , should live no more in sin , but be perpetually dead to it ; for this is the very end of Christ's death , to destroy the old man , the body of sin , the whole power and Being of sin in Believers , to be accomplished in its time and waies , v. 6. And Christ died in vain , and hath lost the great end of his death , if they that are in him can live any longer in sin ; for he that is dead is freed from sin c c Jure & facto absoluti & manumassi a peccato cujus prius premebamur imperio . Paraeus . v. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , being put for 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , by a Synecdoche , Piscat . that is , absolved from the obligation , servitude , dominion and guilt of sin ; as an Apprentice is by Law declar'd free , or set free from his Master's rule and power .

Secondly , They that are in Christ are not only partakers of his death , and therein brought into a state of death to sin ; but they are partakers of his resurrection , and by it instated in a life of holiness , v. 4 , 5. that now they should live to God , which cannot consist with a life of sin , v. 11 , 12.

Thirdly , They that are Christ's are brought under grace , under a Covenant of Grace , opposed to the Law as a Covenant of Works , and therefore cannot be any longer under the dominion and service of sin , v. 14. These two Covenants being in that respect contrary , they that are under the Law as a Covenant of Works , are in the flesh , and bring forth fruit unto death , Rom. 7. 5. and for that end are Believers set free from the Law , and brought under Grace , that they might serve God in newness of spirit , v. 6. and no longer serve sin .

Fourthly , They are become the servants of righteousness , set free from the service of sin , Rom. 6. 18. Your time under sin is out , and you have now no more to do with sin ; you are anothers servant , and therefore cannot return to the service of sin any more ; for you are now servants to God , not for a time , but for ever ; you have deliver'd over your selves , sworn over your selves to be the servants of God for ever , and therefore cannot now serve sin : That 's his first answer : You cannot , if in Christ , serve sin any longer , nor continue in sin that grace may abound : for if you can consent to live in sin , you are not under grace .

Secondly , You ought not to do it , if you are rational ; 't is not your concernment to sin , because sin is an evil thing .

First , Sin is the greatest slavery in the world , v. 16. You are servants to sin , and to Devils ; sins are the works of the Devil , 1 John 3. 8. which Christ came to destroy ; sin is evil in its state ; 't is drudgery , and in its nature 't is filthy , abominable and shameful .

Secondly , It is attended with sad issues here ; it brings forth bitter fruit , v. 21. It makes the soul ashamed when awakened , to see what he hath done , and it fills the soul with grief , horrour and torment ; it breaks your loins , makes you go halting to your grave ; it makes you weary of your life , and fearful to die ; it sets your teeth on edge , and fills your bowels with wormwood and gravel . O the dreadful effects of sin here ! which makes it no way a souls interest to sin , 2 Cor. 7. 11. Psal. 51. 8. Psal. 38. 4. Psal. 119. 120. Psal. 55. 4. Lam. 3. 19.

Thirdly , As the work is bad , and fruits are evil here , so the wages of sin is death , v. 23. As soon as the work is done , they shall have their wages , which is alwaies paying , and never paid ; they shall be alwaies dying , and never dead ; whose worm never dieth , and whose fire is never quenched , Mark 9. 44. This will be the certain end of them that can chuse sin , and live in sin , if God be holy , and his Word true . And can you then continue in sin , that grace may abound ? God forbid .

O Christians ! get good from your sins ; to be ashamed of them , to grieve and mourn over them , to hate and loathe them , to pray and cry against them , to watch and strive against them , to fly to Christ for pardon over them , and freedom from them , to shun and avoid the occasions of them , to have no more to do with them , to seek and further the death and total ruine of them , to prize graces , and love Christ the more , to be more attentive to his instructions , and obedient to his commands , to bless God , and rejoyce in Christ ; when God doth in any measure keep you , or set you free from sin , to long for Heaven and Glory , that you may never sin more , to keep close to Christ , and abide in his waies , that you might be the more secur'd from sin , and fitted for glory , Ezra 9. 6. Zach. 12. 10. Ezek. 36. 31. Rom. 7. 24. Prov. 4. 14 , 15. 1 Thes. 5. 22. Ephes. 5. 11. Ephes. 2. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 8. Acts 11. 23. This is to get good from sin , and to drive on the Heavenly Trade : That 's the second branch of Exhortation to Professours .

3. Counsel to Earthly Traders .

The third branch of Exhortation is to Earthly Traders , who meet with breaches and discouragements in the pursuits of their Earthly Trades . This is manifestly the case of England this day : The Lord blows on mens interests , makes breaches on their Trades , sends in wants as an armed man ; Trade fails , a blast is on mens labours , and the Nation becomes poorer every day : This should be for a lamentation , but few lay it to heart ; men murmure and complain ; some are dejected and sink in their spirits , others seeing God plucking their Idols away , hold them the faster , become more close and covetous ; others sink the deeper into the world , turn more earthly and excessive in their carkings and labours ; others more griping and oppressive ; but few in appearance look to God , and make a right use of this sore stroak . Now towards a better improvement of this providence , give me leave to propose to all such these few Counsels .

Counsel 1.

First , By your disappointments and losses in your Earthly Employments , be convinced of the transcendent excellency of this Heavenly Trade ( which you have , it may be , in pursuit of those too much slighted : ) There are no such issues of Wisdom's Merchandise , if duly followed : Religion breeds no such worms to devour its treasures ; Riches and honour are with me , yea durable Riches and Righteousness : My fruit is better than gold , yea than fine gold , Prov. 8. 18 , 19. There are no such hazards in the waies of God , as here in my earthly business I am exposed to : I labour hard , and can hardly live out ; I sow much , and bring in little ; I eat , but have not enough ; and drink , but am not filled ; I cloathe me , but am not warmed ; I earn wages , but put it into a bag with holes ; I look for much , and it comes to little , and when I have brought it home , the Lord blows upon it , Hag. 1. 6 , 9. But 't is not so in that Heavenly Trade I have neglected ; there are no such disappointments ; they that sow to the Spirit , in due time do surely reap ; they that labour for that bread , shall have it given to them . O how do Wisdom's Merchants prosper when I decay ! their faces shine , their basket is blest ; whatever they have in the world , 't is enough for them ; they eat their bread with gladness , and singleness of heart , and are freed from those anxious cares and fears I am almost consum'd with : That 's the best Trade , I now see it ; when all fails , that holds ; when others famish , that feeds ; when others undo men , that enriches them : O blessed Calling ! thou excellest them all . This is one good use of your earthly wastes , to see the excellency of Heavenly Treasures .

Counsel 2.

Secondly , See God in these afflictions that lie upon your Earthly Trades and Interests : Affliction cometh not forth of the dust , Job 5. 6. nor promotion from the East , or from the West , but God is the Judge , he putteth down one , and setteth up another , Psal. 75. 6 , 7 , 'T was not the wind , the fire , the Chaldeans , or Sabeans that undid Job , but it was God that took away , it was by his permission all those losses came , Job 1. 21. This help'd Job to a due deportment under his troubles , that he saw God in it : He doth not fall out with man , or complain of the Devil ; he is not angry with chance or fortune , with stars or constellations , but looks to God in all . Is there any evil in the City , and the Lord hath not done it ? Amos 3. 6. I form the light , and create darkness ; I make peace , and create evil , Isa. 41. 7. Israel decayed in their estates , and God saies , 't was he that blowed upon them : Men usually lay it on the times ; cry out of one , and other , but few look to God , and that 's one reason men make no better use of this Rod , because they do not see it in the hand of a holy God : You will never lay your hand on your mouths , till you cast your eyes on God in these troubles , nor take a right way for cure before you see the hand that smites you , Psal. 39. 9.

Counsel 3.

Thirdly , Search out the cause of them : You will not find the remedy , till you see the reason . Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me , Job 10. 2. Wherefore doth a living man complain , a man for the punishment of his sin ? let us search and try our waies , and turn again unto the Lord , Lam. 3. 39 , 40. The Lord may well say to the Complainer , Friend , I do thee no wrong , Mat. 20. 13. And as David did to Eliab , What have I now done ? is there not cause ? 1 Sam. 17. 29. Hath God consumed your estate , broken your Trade , brought you to a morsel of bread ? and is there not cause ? There are several sins which do usually prove wasting to mens earthly interests .

First , A letting down of Religion , and decaying in this heavenly Trade , is usually followed with wastes on mens outward comforts and interests , as hath been already shewn : Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is , as well as of that which is to come , 1 Tim. 4. 8. When that flourisheth , all things go well : when Religion goes down , nothing prospers . 2 Chron. 24. 20. Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord , that ye cannot prosper ? because ye have forsaken the Lord , he hath also forsaken you . For this letting down of Obedience did God threaten to make Israel waste , and a reproach ; to send evil arrows of Famine , and to break the staff of Bread . Ezek. 5. 14 , 16 , 17. Because ye multiplied more than the Nations round about you , and have not walked in my statutes , neither have kept my judgments , neither have done according to the judgments of the Nations round about you ; you have increased in abomination more than the Heathens and Nations round about you , and have not kept those Laws , and done that Righteousness which they have done : [ Greenhill , ] Therefore behold I , even I , am against thee : — Moreover , I will make thee waste , &c. Falling back in holiness will make men fall back in the world too , bring a curse on their abundance . Now this decay of Religion is the sin of this day , as hath been fully demonstrated .

Secondly , Declension in the worship of God hath been followed with declensions in mens interests : Mal. 1. 9. Israel brought to God a corrupt thing , the blind , and lame , and sick , the worst of the flock , and departed from God's Ordinances , and the Lord brought on them a curse ; d d Lege talionis ut Domos ipsorum vascet qui Domum Dei non curant . I will even send a curse upon your blessings , yea I have curs'd them already , because ye do not lay it to heart . To give glory to God , ( saith Cocceius e e Quia non revocatis ad animum dare divino nomini gloriam , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Sept. that honour and worship that is due to him : They had corrupted God's worship , and God corrupted their seed , Mal. 2. 3. I will destroy your fruits before they are ripe ; which Cocceius thinks was fulfilled in that great famine in Claudius his days mentioned Acts 11. 28. They had made the service of God contemptible , Mal. 1. 7 , and God made them contemptible : Chap. 2. 9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 according as you have not kept my ways , but have been partial in my law : you have cast dung on my Ordinances , ( for such are corruptions , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 in God's worship ; ) and I will spread dung on your faces ; Mal. 2. 2. Even the dung of your solemn Feasts , excrements . f f Tanta copia stercorabo vos sementis loco ut fimo inquinati plane obruamini ; Jun. I will instead of seed throw so much dung upon you , even the excrements of your corrupt service ; as the defilement thereof shall even overcome and ruine you : For these corruptions in the worship of God , did God stretch out his hand over Israel , and diminish their ordinary food , delivering them to the will of them that hated them : Ezek. 16. 26 , 27. I have cut thee short of thy allowance , g g 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , demensum tuum . I have diminish'd thy portion , [ Greenhill ] thy lawful things , h h Statutum cibum tibi ; Lav. Sept. God's worship is his name , by which he is known and distinguish'd from all Idols , Exod. 20. 4. his glory , Rom. 1. 23. To corrupt his worship , is to defile the place of his Throne , Ezek. 43. 7. and to defalcate , and cut off his tribute and revenues from the earth : And no wonder if God blast their Trade , who adulterate his Treasure .

Thirdly , A covetous with-holding from God turns away the blessing of God on mens labours , and tends to poverty . Prov. 11. 24. There is that scattereth , and yet encreaseth ; and there is that with-holdeth more than is meet , but it tendeth to poverty . Many think that lost which is laid out for God , and be-think nothing but what goes to pious uses . O how sparingly do most sow , as if they thought their seed cast away ! and thence 't is they reap so sparingly , 2 Cor. 9. 6. Mens former charity , rather like showers than streams , are dried up ; and therefore are God's showers with-held also : expences for God having been many , seems now burdensome , through mens self-love and unbelief . While Alexander had hope for more , he never wanted a heart or hand to part with the Frankincense and Gold he had : certainly mens Faith fails when their Charity fades : Few in their scarcity dare , with the Widow of Zarephtah , give the first cake to the use and service of God , 1 King . 17. 13 , 14. No wonder the barrel of Meal and cruise of Oil fails ; 't is Christians weariness in well-doing , and defectiveness in scattering for God , hinders their reaping and gathering , Gal. 6. 9. This was one of those sins that brought a curse and devourer on Israel's encrease , Mal. 3. 9 , 10 , 11. and is still as pregnant of blastings and mildews as ever it was .

Fourthly , Greedy desires after the World are oftentimes followed with disappointments : Ye looked for much , Hag. 1. 9. and it came to little , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Sept. To look with desire and affection . 'T is mercy in God , when mens hearts run too fast after the World , to lay some blocks in their way , to hedg it up with thorns , that they might not overtake their Lovers i i Spes in oculis , luctus in manibus ; Jerom. . Hos. 2. 6. Thorns in mens way is safer than spears in their bowels , and that would have been the issue of such Lovers when they meet . Covetousness is the Hydropick distemper of old aged profession : to cure which , the great Physitian hath providentially prescribed abstinence , and in his holy jealousy hath made men to read their sin in their punishment . The Lord sees it dangerous for his people to have much of this World , because it becomes a snare to their souls ; They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare , 1 Tim. 6. 9. Earthly things are the very bane of Religion , they entangle mens feet , and keep them from attendance on God in his appointments . The invited guests had no leisure to enjoy refreshments for their souls , because of their interrupting interests of this World , Matth. 22. 5. The things of Heaven seem light to such , compar'd with their other things : They made light of Christ's invitation , and put men on pleading excuses for neglect of God , and on justifying their omissions of holy duties : They began with one consent to make excuse : Christ and his people would have more of mens company , if the World had less of their hearts .

These earthly things do not only hinder mens duties , but their thrivings also under priviledges : 'T is the cares of this World , and deceitfulness of Riches , that choak the Word , and make men unfruitful , Matth. 13. 22. They make careless , sleighty , forgetful hearers ; they hinder convictions , quench the motions of the spirit , take away the tastes of divine sweetness , and make all the attempts of Grace fruitless : They take away the heart from God and spiritual things , and so nourish formality and hypocrisie in profession and duties , causing men to draw near with their mouths to God , when their hearts are far from him , Ezek. 33. 31. Isa. 29. 13. This made Judas , Ananias , Demas , Simon Magus such hypocrites in Religion , because they loved this present World , 2 Tim. 3. 2 , 5. 2 Tim. 4. 10.

This weakens faith , blinds the mind , starves the affections , rules the will , and so mans all the royal forts of the soul against Christ ; by which the salvation of that soul becomes exceeding difficult .

And they make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof , feeding the carnal mind , and yielding such nourishment to sin , as that it always resists the Holy Ghost , wins the day , renders damnation sure to all that are not by a mighty hand redeemed from these spiritual enemies ; so that it becomes in such a case needful to starve earthly desires , by a remove of those things that feed and maintain them ; and men may look upon those afflictive providences on their interests , as the procurements of their earthly affections : Hastening to be rich , hath poverty at the heels , Prov. 28. 22.

Fifthly , Unfaithfulness in mens Callings puts them out of the way of blessing , and ushers in wastes on their interests , Mic. 6. 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. The Lord had a controversy with his people , v. 2. and till this was taken up , all their religious services were to no purpose ; sacrifices and duties could not prevail , or stop his displeasure , till their sins were removed , v. 6 , 7. 'T was not to wait on God in publick duties was all that he called for , but to do justice , shew mercy , and to walk humbly with him , wherein they had been defective ; and therefore had he brought a rod upon them , v. 9. he had made them sick in smiting them , and would make them desolate , v. 13. They should eat , but not be satisfied ; and there should be a casting down in the mid'st of them ; they should be blasted in their labours and interests ; they should sow , but not reap ; tread the Olive , but not anoint themselves with it ; have sweet Wine , but not drink it ; and then comes to reckon with them , wherefore this was brought upon them ; ver. 10 , 11 , 12. Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked ? and the scant measures that is abominable ? Should I count them pure with the wicked balance ? and with the bags of deceitful weights ? for the rich men thereof are full of violence , and the Inhabitants thereof have spoken lies , and their tongue is deceitful in their mouths . They were full of wickedness , and among the rest , were false and deceitful ; they did not walk humbly with God , nor justly with men , but were deceitful in their Callings , had false weights , scant measures , were injurious to others , and not just and faithful in their dealings ; some oppressed , others defrauded ; such as were over others were cruel task-masters , exacting their labours , Isa. 5. 8. 3. grinding the faces of the poor , eating them up as bread , Psal. 14. 4. by defrauding them of their due , keeping back the hire of the Labourers by fraud and injustice , Jam. 5. 4. which they do ( saith one ) who give them not a proportionable hire , working upon their necessities , sucking out the strength and sweetness of the Labourers , Dr. Manton . A sin that cries in the ears of the Lord of Sabbaths , cries out aloud , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and their groans are entred into his ears , as a God of vengeance to requite it , and to give his poor a Sabbath , and rest from their oppressions : A sin that God will surely and severely punish ; He will be a swift witness against them that oppress the Hireling in his wages , and turn aside the stranger from his right , and fear not me , saith the Lord of Hosts , Mal. 3. 5. Sins joyn'd with Adultery , Sorcery , and Swearing ; provocations in God's ears , and actions that plainly shew no true fear of God in such persons that dare oppress their poor Labourers , changing their wages as Laban did Jacob's , Gen. 31. 41. These God will surely take in hand ; he will be both Judge and Witness against them ; he will not delay neither , but proceed speedily to sentence and execution against such as oppress their poor labourers : Of all oppression , the oppression of the poor is greatest , and carries most cruelty in it , to tread on them that are down already , and abuse them that have no helper ; to take the bread out of their mouths which are ready to starve , and to defraud them of their wages , which is their life , and God calls it down-right robbery , Levit. 19. 13. To build up their houses , and raise up estates upon the ruines of the poor labourers , is to lay the foundation in blood , and hath a woe pronounced against it from the Lord of Hosts , Hab. 2. 9 , 10 , 11 , 12. This is one of those sins which bring a people down to the ground , and make them desolate : Ye have eaten up the Vineyard , the spoil of the poor is in your houses ; what mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces , and grind the faces of the poor ? saith the Lord of Hosts . Her gates shall lament & mourn , and she being desolate , shall sit upon the ground , Isa. 3. 14 , 15 , 26. This is a God-provoking , and an estate-wasting sin , and one of the great , visible , crying sins of this day .

Sixthly , Another reason why God consumes the interests of men , and makes a breach on their Trade , seems to be this ; That by this means he might bring them down to his foot , and bring them back to himself : Prosperity in mens interests feeds their pride , and makes them too high for God's use and pleasure ; riches do puff men up : Thine heart is lifted up 〈…〉 ; thy riches , behold therefore I will bring 〈…〉 upon thee , the terrible of the Nations , and 〈◊〉 shall draw their sword against the beauty of 〈◊〉 wisdom , and they shall defile thy brightness ; th●● shall bring thee down to the pit , they shall destroy thy riches wherein thou gloriest , and countest thy beauty , Ezek. 28. 5 , 7 , 8. Men are apt to glory in their riches , and to give that respect to them which is due to God , and this he will not bear , but comes out in indignation against mens Idols , Jer. 9. 23. Abundance of earthly interests doth also unfit men for God's use and delight , rich in goods , and poor in grace ; prosperity in the world cools mens hearts towards God , and Iames their feet in his way : 'T is the poor of the flock that waits on God , Zech. 11. 11. that press his Vineyard , and bear the heat and burden of the day , Jer. 52. 15. When men grow full , they are lazy ; & when great , they become fearfull to adventure for God : Give me thy sheild ( said Epaminondas to his servant , when he had got a great sum of mony ) for now thou art grown rich , I am sure thou wilt not adventure thy self into dangers . Smyrna was the poorest of the seven Churches in Asia , but yet was richest in grace and serviceableness for God . I know thy poverty , but thou art rich , Rev. 2. 9. This may be one reason why the Lord makes this Nation poor , that he might by this make them pure , he melts away our dross , that we may be the more refined , and takes away our Lovers , that he might come in the room of them : I will hedge up thy way with thorns ; she shall follow after her Lovers , 〈…〉 not overtake them ; and she shall seek 〈…〉 shall not find them ; then shall she say , 〈…〉 go and return to my first husband , for then it 〈…〉 better with me than now , Hos. 2. 6 , 7. Men ●●om return to God fully , till stript of other ●●mforts ; nor see God to be best , till their con●●ion in the world be bad ; and therefore doth God remove these mountains of earthly interests , that his people may the better see and go after himself .

Counsel 4.

Fourthly , If God hath made breaches on your Trade , get the breach between God and your souls composed : Hos. 4. 1 , 2. Hear the Word of the Lord ye children of Israel , for the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the Land , because there is no truth , nor mercy , nor knowledge of God in the Land ; by swearing , and lying , and killing , and stealing , and committing Adultery ; they break out , and blood toucheth blood : There 's a controversy between God and a sinning people ( and such are we : ) Sinners contend with God , & God by afflictions contends with them , and till this controversie be taken up , there 's no peace . And if ye will not for all this be reformed by me , by these things , but will walk contrary to me , then will I also walk contrary to you , and will punish you yet seven times for your sins , Levit. 26. 23 , 24. Hear the Word of the Lord : Lay this to heart , they that strive with him shall perish ; there is no contending with God ; bow we must , or break , return , or be ruined : Wash ye , make ye clean , put away the evil of your doings , Isa. 1. 16. Get washt away your blood by sound Repentance ; get into Christ's blood by saving Faith ; set upon a thorough reformation , personal , family , publick , each one in his place , help to carry out the uncleanness of thy heart , hand , house and land to the Brook Kidron , 2 Chron. 29. 16. Get tradingsins removed , if you would have trading mercies enjoy'd : Take every man his Censer , and stand in the gap ; pour out strong cries for returning-mercy , that the Lord would cease from his fierce wrath , and turn again , and heal our Land , and bless our substance , accept the work of our hand , and dwell in our Land .

Counsel 5.

Fifthly , Get advantage from decaies in your Earthly Trade , to further your Heavenly Trade ; gather materials from your earthly ruines , for your heavenly building . Christians , there 's a great deal of good you may get from these evil things in the world , to quicken your pursuit after the things of Heaven .

First , By your earthly losses you may be convinced of the vanity and uncertainty of all things below God : Men are apt to take up too much pleasure in their booths , till God sends a devouring worm and consumes them ; and to sit down under their shadows with great delight ; and therefore doth God make them like shadows to fly away ; what expectations do men raise from their swelling-comforts , thinking their mountains are made so strong , they shall not be moved , till the Lord by some levelling providence soon corrects their fond opinion ! and what dependencies do we usually take up on those uncertainties , leaning so hard on our reeds , till they break under us , and send splinters into the arm which staies upon them ? O the contentment , pleasure , profit , men fancy to be in creatures , friends , relations , honours , estates , before by some killing stroak they see themselves to be deceived ! What mercy is it then to meet with disappointments in these groundless hopes , that we may come to see before it be too late , what poor , empty , perishing things all the wares of this lower world are ! This way David came to have his errour seasonably corrected . And Solomon , by a serious review of past enjoyments , comes to see that all was vanity and vexation of spirit , Eccles. 2. 1. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew ; they are disquieted in vain ; he heapeth up riches , and knoweth not who shall gather them , Psal. 39. 6.

Secondly , Divine rebukes on mens earthly interests , help them to a discovery of those sins that procure them , Deut. 31. 17. Afflictions are Christ's clay and spittle to open his peoples eyes , and to bring them to see those evils that have brought those deaths upon their comforts , and breed those worms that have destroyed their substance . Times of correction , are times of instruction , Job 36. 8 , 9. When Jacob's Sons were cut short of their provisions , reduced to great distress , and plunged in sore dangers , then they thought upon their sin , and wrong done to their brother Joseph , Gen. 42. 21. Then they said one to another , verily we are guilty concerning our brother , in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us , and would not hear , therefore is this distress come upon us : Whence one hath this note , Affliction is a dark condition , yet it brings much light into the soul . Men come to read their miscarriages best by the fire-light of affliction ; then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God , 2 Chron. 33. 13. Now the soul comes to see his abuse of these mercies he hath lost , his inordinate love to them , and wandrings from God , and this helps to after-wisdom , and greater freedom from these entanglements for the time to come , which is no small advantage to future godliness .

Thirdly , By this loss of earthly things , the soul comes to see a necessity of looking after , and ensuring better treasures : Heb. 13. 14. Here have we no continuing City , but we seek one that is to come . Uncertainties on Earth should put souls the more to look after Heaven . The Prodigal never thought of returning till all was gone , Luke 15. 14. to verse 18. The Steward never considered how to secure his future state , till goods were wasted , and Stewardship in danger of removal , Luke 16. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Think of swiming ashore ( said Mr. Rutherford ) after a shipwrack . 'T is a mercy in this stormy Sea to get a second wind , for none of the Saints get a first . This is advantage indeed , when having nothing , you seek to enjoy all things ; and when the world flies from you , to pursue Heaven the faster . Could a Heathen say , I never gain'd mere than when I lost all ; because his shipwrack became the occasion of obtaining knowledge ; and will not you Christians by your earthly losses be provoked to make after heavenly interests ?

Fourthly , Losses in the world have an advantage through grace to loosen the heart from the world . Afflictions on mens estates are like wormwood on the breast , that tends to wean the hearts of God's children from them : Love of the world hath been the sin of this Age ; and the shipwrack of worldly things is the likeliest way to cure it ; this disease is best conquered by fasting . Absence of Lovers is sometimes the way to starve affections ; and poverty with distress is God's usual method to chastise mens wanton affections to this world . Afflictions when sanctified , are Sanctuary-fire to purge away the dross of our affections , Mal. 3. 3.

5ly . Soul-enlargement is another fruit of sanctified straits , and so a help to the heavenly trade . Christians are never fit to make any speed in the way to Heaven , until their hearts be enlarged , Psal. 119. 32. Enlargements in the world are oft-times bonds to the soul : He that hath most of the Earth , hath usually least liberty for Heaven . When the Lord cuts short the interest of his people , he doth but knock off golden fetters from their feet , that he may bring their soul out of prison . Afflicting Providences are God's dieting his racers , that they may be more long-breath'd , and swift in their run towards glory . O how imprison'd are redeemed souls in the many things of this world ! they cannot have time to pray , read , hear , confer for the entangling-affairs of this life , till God by some deaths upon their employments sets them at liberty . Removes of worldly treasures are but the taking off of a heavy cloak-bag from the shoulders of Sion's Travellers , that they may the more comfortably travel to their journeys end . Good souls , whiles crouded with earthly businesses , are like persons in the midst of a thicket , and thorny grove , when they would be going forward , one briar hangs in their skirts , and another thorn stops their way ; so that when God takes off their interests , he doth but cut out a way for his children to pass the more comfortably and swiftly through the brakes of this world , and lighten the vessel that it might sail faster and safer to its designed port ; and is not this advantage ?

Sixthly , Sweeter relishes of heavenly things are to Believers the blessed issues of the world's bitterness : Harsh Providences on earthly comforts make heavenly things the more pleasant . Men sometimes engraff sweet fruit on crab-treestocks , and God gives honey to his children at the top of the rod , Psal. 94. 19. [ The thorn is one of the most cursed , and angry , and crabbed weeds , and yet out of it springs the Rose , Rutherford . ] The sweet-meats of this world do too often put Christians pallats out of taste ; to cure which , doth the Lord dish out his daintiest meat with sowre sauce : Heavenly things never relish better , than when there is less sweetness in the creature . What a value did David put upon spiritual things when stript of all ! Psal. 63. 1. Gospel-comforts will not down with such as are choak'd with the world's delicacies ; but when once the Saints are emptied of the world by cross providences , then is Christ precius : & is not this a help to Heavenly Traders ? O then ! the more crosses you meet with in the world , the more haste do you make to your Crown . Doth the world fly from you ? pursue Heaven the faster . Doth gain fall ? then advance godliness : And if your gettings from Earth be small , let your layings out for Heaven be great . And thus much for the third Branch of Exhortation .

4th . Advice to such as are fallen back in Religion .

Fourthly , A word to such as have begun this Heavenly Trade , and are fallen back : This is the case of some , and may be of more in this hour of Temptation and Apostasie : There are some have begun in the Spirit , and are now ending in the flesh ; who have made a fair shew , seem'd to be somewhat , and like blazing comets , drew the eyes of admirers on them for a time , and then fell down to the Earth . Some that have left the very form ; others that have lost the power and life of godliness : Many have laid down their Lamp ; but more have spent their Oil , and are almost come to a snuff : Some have shut up shop , are quite gone , and have taken their leave of Religion , resolving to return no more , unless safety , credit and interest return with them : Others yet stay , keep open shop , but have little goods ; decay daily , and are upon the breaking hand ; a waste is on their interests , they have lost their first love , decay'd in spirituals ; faith , hope , love , zeal , delight in God , and liveliness for him are quite lost ; as hath been demonstrated in the use of Lamentation . The design of this head is only to offer some advice towards the recovery of decayed broken Traders : In which , as hitherto , for better illustration I shall keep to the metaphor in the Text.

Advice 1.

My first Advice to such in order to their recovery , is to be deeply affected with their evil case .

First , Consider , 't is no small change for a person that hath lived well , been in reputation with God and men , fared deliciously , been used to the dainties of God's house , and delicacies of his love ; have tasted the heavenly gift , and the powers of the world to come ; now to be brought to penury , and scarce meet with a sweet morsel from day to day ; to be put off with husks and dry bones , and the crumbs that fall from their Lord's Table ; to stand at his door , or to wait without for some scraps , when the friends of Christ , and Wisdom's thriving Merchants , have their marrow and fat things ; this is a great change .

For such as were wont to have a place amongst them that stand by , to converse with the Father of Spirits , to be let into the Presence chamber , and have the visits of the Comforter , and spiritual fellowship of Saints : Now to be laid aside , and scarcely look'd upon with a divine glance from day to day , no entercourse with God , or fellowship with the Spirit , from one Lord's day to another , but to be only company for formalists and hypocrites , and such as are without ; this is a great change . O get thy heart deeply affected with it !

Secondly , Think also how unlovely , offensive and displeasing an object in the eyes of God , a withered , decayed Professor is ; his soul takes no pleasure in him , Heb. 10. 38. He doth not care for the company of such , they are a burden to him , he loves no more to see them , than men do dead corps in their houses , and rotten trees in their garden ; he bethinks the place they stand in as cumbring the ground , Luke 13. 7. he counts them unworthy of the Kingdom of God , having put their hand to the Plough , and then look back , Luke 6. 62. Nothing more troubles his soul , than a lukewarm temper , that was once burning in love , but now is neither hot nor cold ; such ride on the stomach of Christ , and make him down-right sick , till he hath vomited them out into the dunghill from whence they came ; and is not this matter of trouble to a sensible heart ? Rev. 3. 16.

Thirdly , Such have little desirableness in the eyes of men also . Who cares to deal with broken Merchants ; or keep company with spend-thrifts , that have wasted their estates , and are come to nothing ? no more do gracious souls care for converse with backsliders . Decayed Professors are like broken vessels in whom there is no pleasure ; and as a withered hand , or broken bone in the body , which hath lost both its usefulness and beauty . A broken Trader in Religion is valued by none ; the men of the world cannot endure him , because he hath been seemingly godly ; and Saints cannot love him , because he is not really gracious : Such , like Absolom ( when hung by the hair ) lye between Heaven and Earth , as unworthy of either ; and as a person held in a strait passage , cannot go forward nor backward ; he cannot go far enough to keep pace with the prophane , nor go back to fill up his place with the pious ; the Saints reject him , the wicked will not receive him : In such a pitiful case is a withered decayed soul , he hath no comeliness in him for which he should be desired .

Fourthly , They are the greatest losers of any who break in Religion ; for they not onely lose their own goods , but others also ; their talents ; graces , priviledges and experiences , are their Lord's goods , which they have wasted in riotous living ; they lose what they once had , what they seemed to have , or were fair for ; and they lose what they hope to have , Luke 16. 1. Mat. 25. 29. 2 Epist. Joh. v. 8. Gal. 3. 4. All their enjoyments , tastes , comforts , frames , experiences , are lost : All their profession , faith , love , conscience , are shipwrackt : All their duties , labours , sufferings , come to nothing , if they are not recovered again to repentance . Here men estimate their losses to be great , from the quality , variety or abundance of the things they lose ; all which are yet but temporal ; but the Treasures that Professors are in chase of , and which they shall surely have , if they be sincere and faithful to the death , are eternal ; of all which , by their backslidings ( if uncur'd ) they are depriv'd : O who can count the sum , and value the worth of those glorious things they fall short of , who fall back , and go down in Christianity , till they come to nothing !

Fifthly , Their case is dangerous also , and their wound hardly healed ; not one of many that fall back in Religion , if they go far , recover again . Joh. 6. 66. From that time many of his Disciples went back , and walked no more with him . When Judas , Simon Magus , Hymeneus , Alexander , Demas , went off from Christ , they returned no more : John tells us of some that went out from them , and thereby declared that they were not of them . 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us , but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us , they would no doubt have continued with us . The Apostle speaks not of such as fall out of infirmity , falling in the way , which gracious souls may do , both falling into some sin for a time , as Peter , and fall back by some abatements of grace , as the Church of Ephesus , yet be recovered ; such he intends not here ; but those that fall out of the way , both totally and finally , these recover no more .

Quest. If persons that fall back in Religion after a high profession , may never be recovered again ; how may one know if he find decaies , and falling back in Religion , whether he be one of those that shall never be bealed or recovered more ? This is my case , I find great declensions in my soul and conversation , and I fear I shall never be restored , but wax worse and worse , and perish at last .

Sol. 1. First , Are not thy declensions thy choice , upon judgment and consent , but against the standing bent of thy heart ? the renewed purposes of thy soul through Christ : Thy errour is not thy aim , thou dost not deliberately contrive thy departure from God , but hast a secret would-not against every backsliding ; then thy backslidings shall be healed again , Psal. 119. v. 10. Rom. 7. 19 , 25.

Secondly , Are thy backslidings and spiritual decaies thy soul-trouble , and restless burden , because of thy distance from God as the God of grace , and Father of thy mercies ; and because of the injury thereby done to thy graces and inner man , and from an enmity in thy nature against sin ? Then there is hope in Israel concerning this , that thy backslidings shall be healed , Rom. 7. 24. Psal. 5. 1 , 7. Luke 15. 21. Gal. 5. 17.

Thirdly , Are thy backslidings after thy Effectual Calling , and thy sincere choice of God to be thy peculiar and alone portion ? Thou canst appeal to the searcher of hearts , that thou hast taken the Lord to be thy God and onely Treasure here , and to all eternity to be thy last end and chiefest good ; and hast taken Christ to be the onely way , truth and life , thy Lord and righteousness ; and hast made a full and actual surrender of thy self and thy All to God in exchange , to be presently , unreservedly , and eternally his , and not thy own , to be led and governed by him onely : If so , thy after-errours cannot make void this Covenant , but are under a promise of healing ; such cannot sin unto death , because the seed of God remaineth in them , 1 Joh. 3. 9. They are undertaken to be kept , that they should not totally and finally depart from him , Jer. 31. 18. Isa. 57. 18. Jer. 3. 14 , 22. Hos. 14. 4. Jer. 32. 40.

Fourthly , Art thou restless in thy backslidings , until the Lord doth heal thee ? thou canst give him no rest till he establish thy soul , and be as the dew to thy dry and barren heart : When God sets a soul a crying , it 's a sign he will hear : Jer. 30. 15 , 17. Isa. 19. 22. A man ( saith Mr. Dod ) can never be in a bad condition , except he hath a hard heart , and cannot pray ? Will he delight himself in the Almighty ? Will he alwaies call upon God ? Job 27. 10. Backsliders in heart are heartless in prayer ; as they decay , so do they restrain prayer , Job 15. 4. Ye have said , it is in vain to serve God , Mal. 3. 14. As sin becomes more delightful , so duty becomes more burdensom , cold and formal ; but a gracious soul that shall be healed is importunate with God , and will not let him alone , Exod. 32. 10 , 11. or let him go until he bless him , Gen. 32. 6. The worse his condition is , the more fervent his cries are ; the more his piety goes down , the more his prayers go up , Psal. 6. 2. Such a soul shall be healed , who would be healed ; where he works to will , he will work to do .

Fifthly , Are thy vitals sound under all thy decaies ? then thy consumption is not mortal : Is thy heart sincere ? thou canst not hide or reserve iniquity , but walkest before God in truth ; thy desires after grace are not feigned , Psal. 17. v. 1. Thy love to God is not pretended , lip-love , but real ; thy faith and love are not wholly gone , but maintained in the truth thereof , though abated ; thou canst not let God go , but hast a secret rest on him , and resolved recumbence on his grace and faithfulness . There is hope of that tree , though it seems to be cut down , that it will sprout again , and the tender branches thereof will not cease , Job 14. 7.

Sixthly , If under all thy decaies thou findest a humble heart and contrite spirit ; thy backslidings make thee lie low before God , and to become more vile in thy own eyes every day ; thy soul-poverty makes thee poor in spirit also , rating thy self beneath the least mercy , and judging thy self unworthy of all that patience , priviledge and mercy shewn to thee ; thou dost not fret at afflicting providences , nor charge God foolishly , but bearest his indignation , justifiest his displeasure , and wonderest at his forbearance ; then will revivings come again , and recovery after thy falling back , Dan. 9. 7 , 23 , 25. Mat. 5. 3. Isa. 57. 15.

But on the other side , There are five dangerous symptoms of falling back that shall hardly be restored .

First , If thy falling back be before thy falling in with Christ in truth ; thy decaies before thy quickenings , then 't is dangerous : If thy building were on the sand , and the towring heights of thy frames and profession from which thou art fal'n , were onely structures of thy own raising , in which the Sanctifying Spirit had no hand , then thy decaies are not likely to be repaired . Art thou a stranger to the new birth , and to any inward change upon thy soul ? the principle of thy new profession and actions is is still an old heart : Thou never didst take the Lord for thy God and onely Treasure , nor hadst to this day any heart-union with the Lord Jesus ; then thy fall is dangerous , Mat. 7. 26 , 27. 1 John 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 5.

Secondly , A falling off from the foundation is dangerous : When men depart from the Faith , turn to another Gospel , and deny the Lord that bought them , fall from the Doctrine of Grace after enlightenings , to a Covenant of Works , laying the foundation of Salvation-hopes upon creature-performances and improvements , when they go from the Rule of Faith and Word of Truth , to natural light , and seducing spirits , which have not their evidence and approbation from the Scriptures . When persons at once disclaim dependency on the true foundation and disposal by the Rule of Righteousness 't is much to be feared whether such shall be restored , Gal. 1. 6. ch. 5. 4. Heb. 10. 26 , 39. 2 Pet. 2. 15. Heb. 6. 4. 6.

Thirdly , When men make Merchandise of the Truth , and sell their profession for worldly interest , having loved the reward of iniquity , and made a swap of their Religion for advantage-sake : This is a mighty provocation to the Spirit , when men can sell themselves to work wickedness , and value the great things of God's Law , of his Truth and Salvation at so low a rate ; to part with them for a mess of pottage , and the dirty Cabals of this world : 'T is seldom that such find repentance , though they seek it with tears : See Judas , Simon Magus , Balaam , Demas , Spira : What remarks of furious indignation God makes such Apostates to be , who can part with their Religion for worldly interests ! 2 Tim. 4. 10. 1 King . 21. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 3 , 15. Acts 1. 18.

Fourthly , Backsliders in heart shall surely perish , and be filled with their own ways , Prov. 14. 14. when falling back is upon choice , and with delight , like a deceitful Bow that is then at rest when its string is broken , Psal. 78. 57. When a man casts off Religion as one doth his burden , and a beast his yoke , Jer. 5. 5. and is glad he is rid of his troublesome work , as one that is got out of prison , Rom. 1. 32. This argues a spirit of Belial , and a dangerous state : Many have taken up a Lamp upon constraint , for fashion , or interest , or for companies-sake , as the foolish Virgins did , Prov. 14. 14. Psal. 78. 57. Jer. 5. 5. Mat. 25. 1. But when opportunity hath offered it self for a fair riddance , they have soon appear'd what they were by their chearful returns to Egypt , and the broad way of error and looseness , falling in with other interests , and finding pleasure in it : Now the world , reputation and pleasure take away the heart , and they are well-pleased with other Lovers : this is a bad sign of a desperate state , of marish-ground that shall never be healed , Ezek. 47. 11.

Lastly , When persons are prejudic'd against the means of recovery , hate them that rebuke them in the gate , Amos 5. 10. shun the light , and cannot endure those that would reclaim them from the error of their way , Joh. 3. 19. their hearts rise against any attempts to reduce them , Amos 7. 10. cannot bear them that are good , slight and hate the people of God they formerly loved , avoiding their company ; jeer and reproach those Ministers , people and ways they once took pleasure in : this shews a dangerous state , such a persons condition seems desperate , and not far from the Chambers of death . O you that are fallen back in Religion ! get your hearts affected with it : do you begin to decay ? you know not where it will end : are you gone back ? 't is questionable whether ever you may return , and then what will your latter end be ? your last state will be worse than your first ; and if twice dead , you will be pluck'd up by the roots ; if after showers and dressings you decay , your end will be to be burned .

Advice 2.

Secondly , If you would recover out of your wasting decays in this heavenly Trade , search out the causes , and get them removed . There must needs be something more than ordinary , when men who have a good Trade , which may be driven in the worst of times , and will ensure advantage , if followed , do notwithstanding fall back and decay : Such is Religion , it will maintain and enrich its followers , if they be not wanting to themselves ; there must needs be some great causes and miscarriages then that doth cast back the professors of Christianity , and bring a consumption on their soul-prosperity : some of which may be these :

First , When they enter upon this heavenly Trade , and have not a stock to set it up : Religion is a great thing , and cannot be carried on without a stock of saving-grace to maintain it : Common grace is not a sutable stock for this spiritual Trade ; it may help men to transact the external part , and common works of Religion ; but cannot do the inward , secret , and choicest services of godliness : A stranger intermeddles not with its joy , Prov. 14. 10. no , nor its work ; They that are in the flesh cannot please God , Rom. 8. 8. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink , Rom. 14. 17. it lies not in outward duties , but righteousness , peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ; which no hypocrite can reach to . This spoils many , they take up a form of godliness without the power of it ; and being strangers to the work within , they cannot carry on the works of grace without , which this state calls for ; and so fall back , and come to nothing . When persons get some knowledg , parts , frames , and temporary graces ; they presently take up a Lamp of profession , and get into the company of the wise , climb up to the enjoyment of priviledges , and then sit down contented , and fall asleep ; and when they come to temptations , and spiritual duties , to the work of faith , love , patience , self-denial , mortification , and the like ; having not grace to support them , and a principle that suits such work , they fall short of duty , and into sin , and so Trade , and fall away : Common grace is as a standing-pool , which having not a spring to feed it , dries up when supplies cease , and scorchings come ; whereas true grace is as a well of water , that springs up to life eternal .

Secondly , Another thing that casts back Traders , is this ; when they set upon an employment , and have not skill to manage it : Every Art hath its principles , rules and mysteries by which it is carried on : to deviate from these , is to mar the excellency , and miss the advantage of it : Irregular actions seldom thrive ; so 't is with the heavenly Trade , when persons set upon it , and have not skill to order it to best advantage , no wonder if they prosper not , but fall back in godliness . Solomon directing to this heavenly Trade , advises to get wisdom as the principal thing in order to it , Prov. 4. 7. And when the Apostle would further the Saints in holy walking , as the necessary way to it , he begs wisdom for them , Col. 1. 9 , 10. That ye may be filled with the knowledg of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding : that ye may walk worthy of the Lord to all , well-pleasing , being fruitful in every good work . Two things made David thrive so much in his proper publick work ; Integrity of heart , and Understanding , Psal. 78. 72. He fed them according to the integrity of his heart , and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands : Some books read it in the plural number in the Greek ; In skilfulnesses , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , noting the great measure of wisdom which men need who would prosper in their proper work , and order their administrations prudently , as might most further their spiritual welfare : The want of which wisdom and prudence in Christians to order every thing they do in their general and particular Callings , converses , conditions and occurrences in the World to the best advantage of their souls , is one reason they thrive so little in their heavenly Trade : Wisdom would teach men to prevent many snares and occasions of evil , and instruct them how to get good from every thing they do , which would much advance their soul-profiting , for want of which they go back in spirituals , and decay apace .

Thirdly , This also casts back Traders ; when they are not diligent in the management of their Trade : A slothful soul suffers hunger , Prov. 19. 15. and by much sloth the building decays ; and through idleness of hand the house droppeth thorough , Eccles. 8. 10. They that will thrive in the World must be diligent , take all opportunities to carry on their work : The diligent hand maketh rich , but by slothfulness men are brought to a morsel of bread . So 't is in Religion , when men let down their work , and do not follow it to purpose , they soon decay , and become spiritually poor ; this is the bane of many this day : Religion is not their business ; men do but little on the Lord's day , and scarce a stroke of work is done all the week after ; hear they will , and when that is done , their work is done too : never think of what they hear , or put it to practice from one Lord's day to another : All the week their heads , hearts , hands , feet , time , strength , discourses , contrivances are wholly taken up about the World ; and how can they choose but go down the hill , and waste away in their soul-interests ?

Religion is one continued work , which allows of no intermission , but hath its work every day , and in every thing ; break but one link of this golden chain of godliness , and it weakens the whole . O the slothfulness of Christians at this day in their soul-businesses ! every day is fill'd up with neglects ; neglect of prayer , neglect of reading , meditation , conference , heart-watching , grace-cherishing-work , forget this duty ; pass by another , cold , sleighty , formal in all ; this spoils the prosperity of souls . The Galatians began well , but did not hold out , they were soon weary , Gal. 5. 7. Most mens journey to Heaven is full of stops , and that which makes it most miserable , their lets are of themselves : Who hath hindred you ? Mens stays are within in their own hearts , they have no heart to do good , Hos. 7. 11. Love to Religion is almost gone , and this makes men weary in these pleasant ways : while affections hold , souls are never weary ; but when the heart is gone , then every thing is a burden ; such will do no more than needs they must to quiet conscience , and preserve peace and credit ; and this starves godliness .

Fourthly , Great and frequent losses in mens Trades tend to breaking ; and so it is in Religion : Christians through their sloth , formality and unwatchfulness sustain many and great losses of spiritual mercies , and this brings them low . A Christian the other day , it may be , had his graces flourishing , his heart warm , his affections quick and lively , his conscience pure and tender , his will flexible , and fix'd on God and things spiritual , 2 Ep. Joh. 8. and a good frame throughout his whole soul : but now through his carelesness all is lost again , Gal. 3. 4. One time he loses the favour and comfortable presence of God , Psal. 51. 12. another time he loses a sweet serenity of spirit , and peace with God ; then light and convictions are gone ; another time enjoyments and experiences are gone ; now his desires after God are lost , then his strength is devoured ; now temptations prey upon the soul , and then corruptions make a waste upon it : come to Ordinances , Sermons , Sacraments , and after a great deal of prayer , care , and striving , a little grace and comfort is obtain'd ; but through want of watchfulness all lost again : it may be before it stirs out of the place , or recovers home to his habitation ; the next company , discourse , occasion , takes away all .

Another time God brings the soul into the fire of some great affliction , sickness , suffering , losses ; and there melts it into some holy frames , humility , faith , love , obedience takes off some dross , puts on some beauty , imparts some soul-advantage ; but immediately upon a change of the person's condition , when new mercy , health and comfort returns , all the good is lost again . Now through these many and great losses in spirituals , which gracious souls sustain , they are brought very low , and come to be soon poor and beggerly .

Fifthly , Great wastes , and large expences , help to make Traders poor apace ; when they turn spendthrifts , and prodigals , living above their estates ; when their layings out are more than their comings in , this must needs bring them low : It undid the Steward ; He wasted his Masters goods , Luke 16. 1. So 't is with Wisdom's Merchants also , when they turn prodigals of their graces , mercies , parts , strength , time , and other goods committed to them , spending them on their lusts and carnal contentments , then they soon find an alteration .

O , at what a rate do men live in point of time ! and at what vast expences of their short day upon things of no value , talking , eating , drinking , sleeping , trifling , sinning away their precious time , as if they had no employment for it , or no better work to do : Little do souls think what a small pittance of day-light they have allow'd for their vast concerns , and multitude of great employments ; and what madness 't is to be so prodigal of this little inch of precious time . O the hours , and days , and years that professing Christians spend to no purpose ! in vain thoughts , foolish talking , impertinent converses , unprofitable duties and labours , which when they shall be all reckon'd up by the great Creditor , and a bill of wastes put into the hands of conscience , and the total summ of these expences read ; what amazing sense ! what dreadful impress ! and fretful sting will this beget when persons come to die ! As the Queen said , If her heart were ript open , Cales would be found written in it : So if their hearts could then be as legible as their expressions , men might read this there in black , and capital letters , Lost time , Lost time .

How great also are mens wastes of graces and peace , wisdom and capacities , and all for the obtaining of some poor , empty , insignificant comforts , which perish with the using : There are no locusts ( Christians ) like your cursed lusts , which have devoured your precious things ; your affections , time , strength and graces ; what convictions , resolutions , hopeful frames , conscience-tenderness , talents , capacities , priviledges , ordinances , providences , have the service of thy base lusts , and contentment of thy carnal mind consumed ! and this hath brought thy soul to such straits and distressing exigencies .

When souls live above their capacities and proportion ; that 's casting back , when persons have little , and yet live high ; have but a little light , and yet spend that too in works of darkness ; have but a short day , and yet so many hours of that one day consumed in vanity ; this is to live above thy estate , and will be soon impoverishing : When men have but a little grace and strength , and yet adventure upon great temptations , and run into soul-ruining dangers , rush into vain company , set upon entangling affairs , and take much business on their hands , and yet have but a little portion of Wisdom and Grace to manage them ; this is to live above thy estate in Christianity . To be low of stature , and yet high in conceit , of little spiritual worth , and yet think highly , and speak highly of thy self , and to expect estimation from others also , is to live above thy estate .

To have nothing to maintain thee but what comes in by thy soul labours ; no longer work , no longer eat ; thy daily bread depends upon thy daily work ; so poor , and yet in this condition to expect an easie life , to lie down to slumber , to dwell carelesly , and set thy hand but by fits and starts to thy work : This is to live above thy spiritual estate , and will soon bring thee to breaking in this Heavenly Trade .

Sixthly , Great debts are breaking , and will cast men back in Wisdom's Merchandise ; when men owe more than they are worth , and know not how to pay it ; run further on book every day , till their credit will pass no longer ; they have often promised payment , but still fail'd , and now their word will not pass , they can get no more goods , Creditours will not trust them , but begin to suspect them , and threaten to take them up , then men shut up shop and break : This also is pernicious to Heavenly Traders , when they become unfaithful to God and men , run on score for mercy , but never pay or render to God again ; are deep in debt to God for divine goodness ; receive one mercy after another , one talent after another , and make no returns of any ; God sees not principal or interest , but they remain fruitless and unthankful under all ; make promises of better improvements , but still break them : Come to Sacraments , and renew their Covenant with God , and go away and break it again ; make promises to God under affliction , that if he will deliver them this once , they will never grieve and provoke him more as they have done ; make large engagements , if God will hear this prayer , and give that mercy ; but when their turn is serv'd , forget God , and break all their vows again ; be ready to pass their word on every occasion , and then look after it no more ; this begets a jealousie in the Lord of Hosts , that he will trust them no more , Deut. 32. 21. but hold his hand . and part with no more goods , but threatens to take them up , and to cast their souls into prison ; begins to sue them in the Court of Conscience , and to out-law them at the bar of Justice , to seize on what they have ; then away goes peace , joy , hope , and then comes breaking . These are some of those reasons why Christians go back in Religion , and decay in their Heavenly Trade . O Christians ! bring the plummet to the line , and thy heart and life to the ballance , and try from which of these comes thy soul-decaies , and then get it to bear upon thy heart , till thou art fully convinc'd of thy evil , and willing on any terms to obtain remedy .

Advice 3.

Thirdly , Compound with your Creditour ; get your peace made with God through Christ ; make haste to prevent a seizure on your person and goods by a timely composition . Agree with your adversary while you are in the way with him , lest at any time he deliver thee to the Judge , and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer , and thou be cast into prison , Mat. 5. 25. 'T is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an ever-living God , who is a consuming fire , Heb. 10. 31. ch. 12. 29. O tremble in the sense of his righteous Judgment , and force not the Lord by thy delaies to commence a suit against thee , and to make an entry upon all that thou hast ; but go humble thy self , and make sure thy friend , Prov. 6. 3. Fall down before thy Creditour , and sue for terms of reconciliation ; cast thy self at the feet of mercy , confessing thy sin : Pay the debt thou canst not ; go beg remission , and offer a Surety to discharge the score , even such a one as the Father himself is well pleased with : Thy Creditour must be satisfied or thou art undone ; but this you can never do : Away to a Mediatour to obtain terms , and to procure your peace ; make Christ your friend , who is able to satisfie all the Father's demand , to cross the book and send your discharge by the Spirit of Grace , who can witness the pardon of all your sins to your consciences : Come to him in the sense of your folly , bearing your shame . Forsake your wasting waies , and with the prodigal return from your harlots to your Father's house , rating your selves beneath the least of his mercies , and consenting to the meanest condition , so he would but take you in again , Luke 15. 17 , 18 , 20 , 21. Subscribe all his terms , and make a new surrender of your self and your All to Christ , to be no more your own , but more entirely his than ever , Jer. 50. 5. Enter into a new Covenant with God in Christ , taking him for your Surety , and fetching all your abilities to fulfil it from him , and get thy soul more firmly bound to the Lord in it by the bond of the Spirit .

Advice 4.

Fourthly , Set up no more for your selves , but enter your selves Factors for Christ . It may be you traded formerly for your selves , and that broke you ; if you would prevent that danger for the future , you must be no more for your selves , but for him ; trading as his Factours , not your own .

Now three things are required in a Factor , which must be observed also by wisdom's Merchants , if ever they will drive a thriving Trade in Godliness .

1. To trade upon anothers Stock . 2. To be regulated by anothers Advice . 3. To drive on anothers Interest .

First , If you will be Christ's Factours , you must trade upon his stock ; you must not onely take all your goods from him , but as his ; not onely fetch in your graces , abilities , skill , success from him , but use and improve them as his , not as your own . Joh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have all we received grace for grace . 'T was not onely part of his fulness before it was received , but 't is his grace after reception . Col. 1. 19. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell : not onely the fulness of the Divine Nature , but the fulness of habitual grace , both which are in Christ ; the latter is chiefly intended here , which dwells in Christ as in a head , not for himself onely , but for his body , as beams in the Sun , and water in the Fountain for the use of man . The Father hath laid up all that grace that Believers need here and for ever in the Lord Jesus , as in a Treasury , or Trustee's hand , for their use ; or made it over to him not onely as a deed of gift , but as a purchase which he hath bought by his blood for the good and use of his children : 'T is his fulness , right and interest , but for their use and advantage , but so as the property and disposal be still his . Fal'n man hath for ever forfeited his credit with God since his first defection , to become any more the disposer of his interests and inheritance , or be intrusted again with his own portion . God deals with saved souls as parents do with prodigal children , secures their estates in the hand of a Feoffee . Believers Treasures are laid up in Christ , that so grace as well as glory , sanctification and salvation may be sure to them , and not liable to forfeiture or loss ; to be disposed of , and parted with by them as they please , but be certainly and eternally theirs , that so they may come to Christ for all they need , as heirs under age , who have no more in hand than what they want , but must come to their Overseers for all they have use of ; and not only as such , but as Stewards also that must be accountable for what they have , and how they bestow it .

Poor decay'd souls , Would you recover your losses , and renew your Trade ? then you must come to Christ's fulness , and be beholding to his free grace for all you need . Do you want grace for your duties , places , tryals , sufferings ? come to Christ's fulness for your supplies ; send to him by the hand of prayer an intimation of all your wants : Make known your requests to him . Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing , but in every thing by prayer and supplication , with thanksgiving , let your requests be made known to God . Cease not from following God in the Name of Christ with requests , till the Spirit meet you with returns . The Lord Jesus hath ordained his people to receive their supplies , sallaries , and stipends from Heaven in the Court of Requests . Matth. 7. 7. Ask , and you shall receive . All things whatever you shall ask in prayer believing you shall receive , Matt. 21. 22. Seek it by prayer , receive it by faith : Go to Christ in the promises for all you want , judging him faithful who hath promised , Heb. 11. 11. God's Word is as good as present pay , and shall be fulfilled by him ( who cannot lye ) to all that by faith receive it , and wait for its performance . All his promises are in Christ Yea and Amen , 2 Cor. 1. 20. Who came down from Heaven to confirm them with his blood , and is returned to Heaven to fulfil them by his intercession , Heb. 7. 25. You may boldly adventure on divine assurance , and shall not be asham'd , if you sincerely roll on Christ in his Word . Be well acquainted with the promises , clear up your interest in them by believing , and expect their fulfilling through Christ . It may be thy graces are low , thy corruptions high , guilt heavy , fears many , refuge fails , thy prayers not answered , no good news from Heaven or Earth ; thou prayest , hopest , waitest , but no answer ; in this case nothing but firm reliance on divine faithfulness , can keep thy head above water .

Are you in wants ? go to that promise , My God shall supply all your wants , Phil. 4. 19. God will give grace and glory , and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly , Psal. 84. v. 11. Do you find changes in your spirits , and frames , and condition ? See that word , Believe in the Lord your God , and you shall be established ; believe his Prophets , and you shall prosper , 2 Chron. 20. 20. Are corruptions high ? apply that word , He will turn again , he will have compassion upon us , he will subdue our iniquities , Mic. 7. 19. Sin shall have no dominion over you ; for you are not under the Law , but under grace , Rom. 6. 14. Who gave himself for us , that he might redeem us from all iniquity , Titus 2. 14. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested , that he might destroy the works of the Devil , Joh. 3. 8. I will save her that halteth , Zeph. 3. 19. When thou seest nothing but witherings and dyings in thy soul , apply these promises ; So wilt thou recover me , and make me to live , Isa. 38. 16. The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-tree , he shall grow like the Cedars of Lebanon : Those that be planted in the house of the Lord , shall flourish in the Courts of our God , thy shall still bring forth fruit in old age ; they shall be fat and flourishing , Psal. 92. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14. I will be as the dew to Israel , he shall grow as the Lilly , and cast forth his roots as Lebanon : they that dwell under his shadow shall return , and shall revive as the corn , Hos. 14. 5 , 6 , 7. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength , Isa. 40. 31. In these and such like promises , as in wagons sent of purpose to fetch you , go over to your Joseph , and get them laden with the riches of his Kingdom , that you may be relieved and carried on in your Trading for Heaven , improving these not as yours , but as your Lord's goods : That 's the first , Trade upon Christ's Stock .

Secondly , Follow his instructions , be guided by his order in the management of your Heavenly Trade : Take Letters of Advice from your Creditour , how to lay out his moneys , and how to dispose of his goods . Prov. 3. 5. Lean not to your own understanding , which is the most close and subtil kind of Idolatry ( saith Cartwright ) Seek not after your own heart , and your own eyes , after which ye use to go a whoring , Numb . 15. 39. Man is mightily propense since his first defection from God , to take the Scepter into his own hand , and to become the governour of his own waies : But this God cannot bear , as being inconsistent with his Supremacy , and that State also into which man is by grace redeemed ; which is an absolute devotedness unto God , 2 Cor. 8. 5. Ye have likewise chosen the Lord to be your Law-giver and King , if you are his , and are now upon your own consent determinable by his pleasure in every thing you do : The rectitude of every action lies in a conformity to his will , who is your Lord and Soveraign . And as the eyes of a Handmaid wait on her Mistress ; so should Believers on Christ for direction in all they do , Psal. 122. 3. Christians , your former irregularities in the prosecution of your Heavenly Trade , have almost lost you , and cast you back : O be more observant of Divine Instructions for the future ! follow your advice , walk by Rule : As you have received how you ought to walk , and to please God ; so abound more and more , 1 Thes. 4. 1. Beg Wisdom of God to know his Will in every thing , to do that which is well-pleasing in his sight , having a warrant for every action you perform both civil and religious ; this will be your comfort now , and your peace in the day of your accounts .

Thirdly , Drive on his interest , not your own . Rom. 14. 7. For none of us liveth to himself . God can more justly say what Laban did to Jacob concerning his children and goods ; These daughters are my daughters , and these children are my children , and these cattel are my cattel ; and all that thou seest is mine , Gen. 31. 43. The cattel on a thousand hills are his , Psal. 50. 10. with the corn , wine , wooll and flax , Hos. 2. 9. Both the improvement as well as principal are his , Mat. 25. 27. He hath right to the exercise and fruit of your graces and duties , with all that you enjoy and do : Put Christ's mark on all your goods ; whatever you gain by his talents , put on his account , and let your disbursments be expended to his use . Seek not your own things , your credit , peace , comfort , interest , but in subordination to him : If the Lord by his Word calls for any of your enjoyments , you must let them go : If by his Providence he takes off any comfort , murmure not , say , 't is the Lord , Let him do what he will with his own , Mat. 20. verse 15.

Advice 5.

Fifthly , Follow your Trade better than you have done ; remember how former carelesness , formality , sloth , hypocrisie , have undone you , and amend . The slothful soul is as the door on his hinges , Prov. 26. 14. that never makes any progress in Religion , or comes to any excellency in grace . No Christian ( saith Mr. Sedgwick ) is so able in the habits of grace , as he who is conscienciously frequent in the practice or exercise of grace . [ Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church ] Would you recover your state , and come to any eminency in godliness , then make Religion your business : That sleightiness of spirit in the way of God , which lost you at first , will never restore you . The recovery of a faint soul ( saith the same Author ) will never be effected by faint workings : You did fall into your decayed state by remissive actings , and think you , that which was not able to keep up your graces from sinking , can now quicken and raise them being sunk . [ Christ's Counsel to his languishing Church , p. 148. ] If negligence did cast you back , diligence must help to recover you : Take more pains with your hearts ; follow your work of godliness every day , and in every place ; Be early and late in your shops of duty , and in the warehouse of your hearts : Beware of spiritual sloth , and soul-losses ; take heed of unfaithfulness with God , conscience , or others ; keep touch with your Creditour ; be tender of your vows to God and men ; keep from prodigality ; live not above your condition ; waste not precious time , parts and grace in vain ; walk strictly in the whole course of your life , keeping your selves from iniquity , and in the Love of God . Looking for that blessed hope , and the glorious appearing of the great God , and our Saviour Jesus Christ , Jude v. 21. Tit. 2. 13.

5th . Branch of Exhortation to good Traders in Religion .

Lastly , You , whoever you are that drive on this Heavenly Merchandise , and have any good Trading in Religion , be you exhorted

Advice 1.

First , To bless God for good trading : Is it well with your souls ? Doth the South-wind blow upon your Garden , and the Spices flow out ? Cant. 4. 16. Doth the Fig-tree put forth her green Figs ? and the Vine , with the tender Grape , give a good smell ? Cant. 2. 13. What reason have you then to be always giving thanks ? you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage : thou canst say , 'T is good to draw nigh to God ; in keeping his commands is great reward : The Lord is not a barren wilderness to thy soul ; but peace is within thy Walls , and prosperity within thy Palaces , Psal. 122. 7. Thy glory is fresh in thee , and thy bow renewed in thy hand : thy root spreadeth out by the waters , and the dew lying all night between thy branches , Job 29. 19 , His ways are pleasantness , and his steps drop fatness to thy soul ; and he commands his blessing upon thee ; and thy faith and love do grow . Is it thus in any measure with thee ? O then bless the Lord with thy soul ; let all that is within thee bless his holy Name . Make the Lord thy glory , and triumphing praise : Thou hast abundant reason to be admiring grace , and exalting divine glory . Because ,

First , Soul-thriving is a great mercy at all times ; a little spiritual goods is beyond all the World's treasure ; one piece of Christ's tried Gold weighs down all the Pearls and Diamonds on earth ; and whatever can be found below grace , cannot be compar'd with it , Job . 28. 11 , 12 , 16. or named the same day with it : The light of God's countenance , pardon of sin , participation of the spirit , fulfilling of Promises , fellowship with the Father , Son , and Spirit ; heart-breathings after , love to , and delight in God , are things of inestimable worth ; if you weigh them in themselves , or with other things ; or if you consider the grace from whence they come , or price which they cost : Spiritual thrivings are an evidence of sincere love to God . Judg. 5. 31. Let them that love thy Name be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might , and of special love in God to that soul , Tit. 3. 4 , 6. Eph. 1. 3 , 5 , 7. God may prosper in the World those he hates ; Esau had his fat things here , but grace and peace are new-covenant-blessings , which spring from eternal love in the heart of God to that soul , Heb. 8. 10. Zech. 8. 11 , 12 , 15.

Secondly , 'T is a singular mercy at this time , a mercy that few enjoy in the day we live in : What a rare thing is it , in this long winter , to see a green Olive , a tender Grape appear , or Pomgranate bud ? Cant. 7. 6. or one Berry in the uppermost branch , Isa. 24. 13. It was a peculiar glory put upon the head of Thyatira , that she was thriving when other Churches were decaying : She had works , and works , and the last were more than the first , Rev. 2. 19. Ephesus had lost her first love ; Sardis had decayed and wasted her first strength , and was ready to die : Laodicea was luke-warm , ready to be spued out by the Lord Jesus , Rev. 3. 1 , 8 , 16. only Thyatira flourished exceedingly , and grew in the winter ; and this honour she had , to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in after-ages . 'T is not the lot of every one to thrive in evil times ; few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow , 2 Thes. 1. 3. A single Timothy , who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ ; I have no man like minded , Phil. 2. 20. One Gaius , whose soul out-prospered his body , 3 Ep. Joh. v. 2. A flourishing Christian this day is like a flower in winter , an Apple-tree amongst the trees of the wood : Surely , if there be a Soul who this day flourishes to any heighth of Christianity , who lives in intimacy with God , fares deliciously in his soul , feeding on marrow , and hidden manna ; that he or she is greatly beloved of God . Thy lot , O soul , is fal'n in a peculiar plot of mercies ground ; and should not the Lord Jesus be admir'd of such a one , seeing he is come to him in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel ? O bless God for this unspeakable gift !

Thirdly , 'T is an earnest of eternal mercy : They that sow to the spirit shall reap life everlasting , Gal. 6. 8. And such as abound in holiness , shall have an abundant entrance administred to them into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour , 2 Tet. 1. 11. God will never throw away savoury salt to the dunghil , nor burn up fruitful branches : Trees full of sap are the Lord's trees , which he will transplant into his Paradise above , Psal. 104. 16. The Lord 's ripe fruit shall be gathered , not shaken on the ground ; and safely hous'd in Heaven . Grace is too precious seed to be lost ; Such as sow it now , though in tears , shall surely come again , and bring their sheaves with them , Psal. 126. 5.

Poor troubled Soul , God will not despise the day of thy small things , much less thy soulenlargements after him ; he will be tender of thy smallest blossoms , and secure them into fruit ; much more shall thy encreases arrive to the fulness of the measure of the stature of Christ , Eph. 4. 15. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love , which you have shewn towards his name , Heb. 6. 10. It may be thou hast forgotten many a duty and hearty testimony of thy love to Christ , his name , people and ways ; and canst see nothing in all thou hast done , but art ready to say on every turn ; When saw I thee an hunger'd , and fed thee ? or thirsty , and gave thee drink ? when saw I thee a stranger , and took thee in ? or naked , and clothed thee ? or sick , and in prison , and came to thee ? Matth. 25. 35. But God cannot be so unrighteous to forget it , or let it pass so ; but keeps a record of all thy meanest duties , and will make the most of them in the day of righteous judgment . I know thy works , and thy labours , and thy patience , &c. Rev. 2. 2. When thou wast under the Fig-tree I saw thee , Joh. 1. 48. He takes notice of a Daniel by the river Hiddekel ; of a Peter on the house-top ; of Elijah under the Juniper-tree , 1 King . 19. 4 , 5. yea , of what was but in David's heart to do , and requites it , 8 King . 8. 18. Will not an Ahasuerus let the good deeds of Mordecai go unrewarded ? and shall not the Judg of all the Earth do right , and crown the works of his own hands ? Your labours shall not be in vain in the Lord , 1 Cor. 15. 58. O then be blessing God for the least good he hath wrought in you , and for you , for any prosperity in your souls . There are no offerings come up with that acceptance on God's Altar , as thanksgiving-offerings , Psal. 69. 30 , 31. What a delightful remark did the Lord Jesus put upon the Lepers return to praise him for cleansing , Luke , 17. 18. the more spiritual , the more rejoyeing , Isa. 52. 8. No such thriving souls , as God-praising souls : Jer. 31. 12. Therefore they shall come , and sing in the heighth of Sion ; and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord for Wheat , and for Wine , and for Oil ; and their soul shall be as a watred Garden , and they shall not sorrow any more at all .

Quest. How might I know whether I have good trading in Spirituals or no , that I might have ground for rejoycing in God ? Could I find this soul-welfare you speak of , I should bless God with my whole soul ; but I fear 't is otherwise ; that I am one of those who fall back , and decay in my heavenly Trade .

Sol. There are seven signs of good Trading , especially in evil times ; which men usually reckon to be discoveries of a thriving Trade .

First , When men go not back in the World , but hold their own , they lose nothing : 'T is much in bad times to keep ones ground ; to be savers in such a season is a piece of gain : Try in this how 't is with you ; do not you go back in your spiritual estate ? is it not worse with you than heretofore ? Is not your faith , love , humility , patience less than heretofore ? If you go not back in grace , you go forward ; there 's no standing at a stay in Religion , men go forward or backward in the way of Vertue ; they that do not decay , do thrive in Spirituals : Job proves his good estate by his standing fast in shaking times : Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lip ; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food : My foot hath held his steps ; his way have I kept , and not declined , Job 23. 10 , 11 , 12. and thence concludes a gainful issue : When he hath tried me , I shall come forth as Gold . And the Apostle reckons it good profit , in soul-conflicts , to stand ones ground ; if he cannot gain , yet not to lose : But having done all , to stand , is victory , Eph. 6. 13. Christians have their winter-seasons , when growing is not visible ; then to keep alive , is commendable . Do you hold fast your integrity ? and keep your garments on ? Do you preserve your conscience pure from the defilements and temptations of the day and place you live in ? and your hearts unspotted from the World ? your desires as warm , your purposes of cleaving to God as firm , and your feet as quick to run the way of God's commandments as heretofore ? then have you good trading , considering the times you live in , which is an hour of temptation , and an evening of darkness .

Secondly , If wares go off well , 't is good trading ; when goods vend at a good rate , men count it thriving . Is it so with your souls ? do your prayers come up to God with acceptance ? do duties turn to any profit to you ? what returns have you of your religious services ? do hearing , prayer , conference , bring you any soul-advantage ? do not goods lie by you undisposed of ? but your graces are exercised , your talents , gifts , opportunities , improv'd ; then 't is good Trading . If the Lord give you light , you lay it out for the good of others ; if he restore to you the joy of his salvation , and uphold you with his free Spirit , you teach transgressours his waies , and endeavour to convert sinners to him , Psal. 51. 12 , 13. When God drops in comfort to you , you pour it forth to others , that they may be comforted also with the same comforts wherewith you are comforted of God , 2 Cor. 1. 4. When you are come to duties publick or private , do graces go out in them ? you shew parts it may be , but do you lay out grace as well as gifts , spiritual as well as natural affections ? Do you pray with the Spirit , and hear with Faith ? do hope , fear , humility , holy fervency , heavenly breathings , sincerity , go off in your religions duties ? when you meet with company , what goods do you put off to them ? Do you labour in every society to vend something of heavenly wares , to put off some holy counsel and instruction , some gracious experience and observation , to leave something behind you in every place and company you come , that may fasten a savour of God on them ? then is it good Trading , and you are in a soul-thriving way .

Thirdly , Men count it good Trading , when they are richer in stock , when they have more goods , more variety , greater quantity of wares , than first they had , and that clear too , and paid for ; their shops and warehouses are fuller than they were , and the goods their own also ; this men reckon good Trading : And can you say 't is thus with your souls also ? Are you increased with spiritual goods ? your graces are more as well as gifts , your faith , love , hope , fear , are more grown , and stronger than they were , 2 Thes. 1. 3. Can you trust God more than you could , and hang upon a naked promise more strongly than you could , when sight fails ? 2 Cor. 5. 7. Can you think well of God when he frowns upon you ? Can you love him when he corrects you ? Isa. 39. 8 , Can you stay on him when he strips you of your visible comforts , and cleave to him when he seems to reject you ? Job 13. v. 15. Then are you richer in stock .

Is your Faith more cleansing and quickening , your Love more warming , your Zeal more fervent , your Hope more adventurous , your Patience more bearing , your Joy more delighting , your Humility more self-abasing ? then are you encreased with goods . Have you more of every grace ; it may be at first you had much affection , but little sincerity ; great desires , but little faith ; much comfort , but little patience and self-denial ; you could pray , talk , rejoyce , do some duties , but could not bear trials , want comforts , live by faith when sight failed ; you were much it may be in some duties , but negligent in others ; but now you have more variety of graces , enlargement in duties , and more universal respect to all God's commands , Psal. 119. 6. And if you are less in the bulk of duty , you are more in the spirit of it ; when 't is thus , there 's a thriving Trade in Christianity .

Fourthly , Are you less in debt than you were ? that 's another sign of good Trading : Do you make conscience of rendring to God again for all his benefits ? Psal. 116. 12 , 13. Is it your trouble when you are behind-hand with grace , and fall in arreer to the mercy of God by your unthankfulness ? Dan. 9. 10. Indeed , in compensation of the grace of God you are defective ; to make requitals of mercies you cannot ; you see possibly an infinite shortness in your performances of the meanest favour that the Lord bestows upon you ; but such as you have , you give to the Lord ; you render all possible praises , though not all praises due , Exod. 15. 2. This you are careful of , and charge upon your hearts every day , to walk as becometh the grace that brings salvation , and the mercies bestowed on you : 't is the desire of your heart and labour , to walk worthy of God to all well-pleasing , and to answer the end of mercy in which you are willing beyond your ability , and grieve at your falling short herein : Now this doth the Lord count for the deed , and accept at his peoples hands , as full pay , through the satisfaction of Jesus Christ , 2 Cor. 8. 12. And where 't is thus that persons live in the daily sense of Divine Grace , and grateful acknowledgment of every mercy , there is a thriving Trade in spirituals .

Fifthly , Have you much owed you , and is it secure ? This also bespeaks a thriving Trade : Men count sure debts as good as ready money ; though they have little in bags , yet if they have the more in book , and good debt too , they rate themselves accordingly , and reckon themselves worth so much as is due , as well as to what is in hand : And is it so with you Christians ? are you rich in promises ? is much coming to you upon a new-covenant score ? It may be you have little in hand , little comfort , peace and sweetness you meet with from day to day : You sow much , but reap little ; you ask , but have not , and yet seek with your whole heart : Goods are received , but no money returned ; if so , you have good grounds of hope for a plentiful harvest , because you sow store of good seed ; are much in holy duties , and sincere in them ; many a prayer upon the file , many a tear droped into God's bottle , much grace laid out in duty , and time spent in it , a daily care to please God , and upon Scripture-grounds can lay claim to many a promise on the account of Christ : What you sow , you shall reap , Gal. 6. 8. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord , 2 Cor. 15. v. 58. Say unto the righteous , it shall be well with them , for they shall eat the fruit of their doings , Isa. 3. 10. And the less is received , the more is behind . Improvements of grace do book down many a mercy for Believers , which possibly they may not receive all their life , and yet be sure , and turns to account in the Inheritance prepared for them ; and this is good Trading which brings in bonds and bills that are sure , and shall be paid to Heavenly Traders in their own Countrey .

Sixthly , That 's good Trading where the present incomes maintain the Trader , and so much is got by it as they may live by ; when a person can live comfortably upon his gettings , without impairing the stock : If it be so with the Believer in thy Heavenly Trade , then hast thou good Trading . Try Christians , your thriving by your livelihood ! can you live comfortably upon the fruits of Religion , Cant. 2. 3. Isa. 40. 31. doth your Religion maintain your Souls and Graces well ? Joh. 4. 30. at what rate do you live ? Men that thrive in the world usually live well , have good fare , and good cloathing : Diet , Apparel , Expences , do soon shew mens gettings ; Indeed Prodigals may spend high , live well for a time , but then they cannot hold it ; they soon break , but when men can bear liberal expences , and their Estates not impaired , it argues such do thrive apace , and get well in their Trades ; so 't is with thriving Christians , they ordinarily live at a higher rate of peace and comfort than others , Ps. 119. 165. Ps. 80. 19. their fare is better , unless the health of their Souls do sometimes call to fasting and affliction ; strong Christians , overcoming Souls , have better Provisions promis'd them than others : such feed on hidden Manna , Rev. 2. 17. and marrowy bits ; milk is for babes , but strong meat for strong men , Prov. 21. 15. 'T is joy to the just to do judgment : Joy and Pleasure ( saith Mercer ) is the fruit of wel-doing to such : h h Laetitia obvenit ci ex juste factis suis . Such can expend more than others , who have larger proportion of Blessings on their Souls . A person may be truly gracious , and yet live uncomfortably in his Soul , and in the wayes of God ; but he that thrives in Godliness , hath larger incomes of sweetness and peace , and makes many a merry meal on the review of his integrity , and the grace of God in and towards him , Psal. 112. 2.

Seventhly , Layings up , as well as layings out bespeaks good Trading , when men fill their bags and enlarge their possessions , turn Purchasers , and begin to join house to house , and field to field , then they manifestly shew their thrivings : So when Souls thrive in their Heavenly Trade , they begin to lay up for Heaven , and to be preparing for another world ; they lay up Treasure in Heaven , Mat. 6. 21. get bags that wax not old : weak Christians are all for their comforts here , how they may maintain their peace and pleasure in the way ; but strong Christians , thriving Souls , they have their thoughts upon their journeys end , and to make provisions for their future state : Bread and Water contents them here , Gen. 28. 20. a little spending Money in the way to help them home is all they indent for : But their chiefest care is to lay up for Heaven ; When shall I provide for mine own house , saith Jacob , Gen. 30. 30 ? So the thriving Christian is thoughtful about his house in Heaven , to make all the provisions he can for that ; he will lay up in store a good foundation to lay hold on eternal life , 1 Tim. 6. 19. he is for securing all he can for Heaven , and for such works as will follow him ; he will turn all he may into moveables , that he may transmit them into his Countrey . The interests of this world are stak'd down to the earth , and cannot be removed ; but thriving Christians are for such goods as they can knock up , and carry with them to their own home : They strive to pray , hear , think , speak , do , suffer , and all for eternity : their affections are gone before to Heaven , while their bodies are imprison'd in the World . As 't is said of the Athenians , when besieged by Sylla , their hearts were with him without the walls , whiles their bodies were forc'd to serve within a a Animos extra moenia , corpora necessitati , servientes intra muros habuerint . Paterc . . So 't is with enriched Christians ; the World is a Prison to them , a strange Countrey where they have been sent to trade ; and when they have fill'd their sacks , and got all they can , they long to depart into their own Countrey . By these things ( Christians ) may you know what kind of Trade you drive for Heaven ; and what share you have in this great engagement to thanksgiving .

Object . All this makes against me , and confirms my just fears that I am a stranger to spiritual thrivings ; I now see 't is a pittiful Trade I drive in godliness : I profess , hear , pray , perform duties , enjoy priviledges , but am never the better . O how may I write lost labour on all my performances ! I need no greater proof than these evidences ; nor other judge than my own conscience , to convince my languishing soul of daily wastes and poverty in my heavenly Trade : What shall I do to get my case mended , and once attain to true thrivings in this holy Calling .

Sol. There are four things which usually make men thriving in their earthly Trades ; which do also contribute to prosperity in this heavenly Merchandise .

1 A provident care . 2 A diligent hand . 3 A secret trade . 4 A divine blessing .

First , Men that are thriving in the World are provident and careful to prevent their dangers , to secure their interests , and proportion means to their advantage . And so must Christians that think ever to flourish in godliness : what losses and miscarriages in Religion might a provident care prevent ? were temptations way-laid , and corruptions timely guarded against , souls might escape many surprisals of sin , and abatements in grace : Never think to prosper in holiness , till you are provident to prevent its weaknings , and contribute all you may towards its strength and enlargement . One enjoys a good frame of soul , much peace and joy in believing ; and for want of watchfulness loseth all again . Another hath got a little power over his corruptions for a time , and for want of a provident care to avoid ensnaring occasions , is overcome again . Another hath a choice advantage put into his hand for spiritual good , but not exercising a timely care and preparation to improve it , miscarries in all his hopes and labours ; and by these changes and interruptions their spiritual welfare is impeded : Go learn of the Ant , she provideth her meat in Summer , Prov. 6. 6 , 8. Be wise as Serpents , they decline danger as soon as seen , and guard their noblest part , though with the hazard of their All , Matth. 19. 16. Walk circumspectly as wise , Eph. 5. 15. O how happy might Christians be , were they as provident for their souls as they are for their bodies ! and did exercise their reason , care and fore-sight to further their spiritual interests ; and without this provident care , never think to prosper in this heavenly Merchandise . Take heed of grace-wasting sins , of any secret lust allowed , or sweet morsel rouled under your tongue , that will prove a moth in your spiritual estate , and keep you low in your heavenly interests . Souls under some perplexing lust , are like Israel under the prevailing hand of Midian against them , Judg. 6. 3 , 4 , 6. When Israel had sown , the Midianites came up , and the Amalekites , and the children of the East , and they encamped against them , and destroyed the encrease of the earth , and left no sustenance for Israel , neither Sheep , nor Ox , nor Ass ; — and Israel was greatly impoverished : So 't is with such ; no sooner have they got any mercy , frame , experience , hope , or soul-advantage , but presently a prevailing lust riseth up , and destroys all : Cry unto the Lord as Israel did , until he deliver you from every iniquity : make no peace with any corruption , never let it rest till wholly destroyed if you think to prosper in your souls and conversations . Be provident also to take all advantages for godliness , watching your opportunities for every duty , keeping every soul-market and fair , and taking the best season to lay out grace , and get in profit , Prov. 8. 34. Be careful to get some good from every thing , and to keep and save what you have ; and this will tend to soul-thriving , Acts 2. 46.

Secondly , A diligent hand tends to thriving ; men that prosper in the World take pains , and follow their employments ; rising early , sitting up late , neglecting no business that may help on to profiting . So must you that intend to thrive in Religion ; you must make it your business , you must be labourers in God's Vineyard , Joh. 6. 27. and workmen indeed that need not be ashamed , 2 Tim. 2. 15. Christians for the most part are too slothful in their spiritual business , to have their profiting appear : it will cost you more striving to enter into the strait-gate , and get ground in the narrow way that leads to life ; more blows must pass before your enemies will down , and more strokes at your work before your interests will come in : Running , striving , wrestling ; in labours more abundant , in weariness , and painfulness , in watchings : What pains will men take for the World ? She riseth also while it is night , — Her candle goeth not out by night : That neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes . Ye compass Sea and Land ; and should they not much more for Heaven ? The most diligent soul is the most thriving soul ; Always abounding in the work of the Lord ; instant in season , and out of season ; taking every opportunity for Heaven : And what their hand finds to do , to do it with all their might ; this is the way to soul-thriving , 1 Cor. 9. 24 , 25. Heb. 12. 4. Eph. 6. 12. 1 Cor. 11. 23 , 27. Prov. 31. 15. 18. Eccles. 8. 16. Matth. 23. 15. Eccles. 9. 10.

Thirdly , Driving a secret Trade of holiness , is soul-thriving : Men that have some peculiar art , and unknown mystery in their Trade which is not ordinary and common , usually get greatest custom and advantage : So is it in this heavenly Trade ; the more men are taken up in the mysteries of Godliness , 1 Tim. 3. 16. the more they thrive in Religion . There 's a secret in holiness , which no stranger intermeddles with , Prov. 14. 10. There 's a way within the veil ; the hidden part in which souls are made to know wisdom ; Psal. 51. 6. Hidden riches of secret places , which thriving Christians meet with , Isa. 45. 3. If you would prosper in Godliness , be sure to maintain the secret duties of piety : The religion of most men lies in the Market place , and in the view of others ; their hearts , their closets are not privy to any secret transactions between God and their souls ; and in the praise of men they have their reward : but the thriving trade of Christianity , is the secret trade . Christians be most in those duties which men least observe , and chiefly excellent in the invisible part of your visible work : Publick duties are most honourable , but secret duties the most gainful . Matth. 6. 4. And thy Father which seeth in secret , shall reward thee openly .

Fourthly , The blessing of God maketh rich : Prov. 10. 22. Promotion cometh not from the East , nor from the West ; nor prosperity from mens fingers ends , but from God's hand . Deut. 28. 8 , 10 , 11 , 12. The Lord shall command his blessing upon thee ; in thy store-houses , and in all which thou settest thy hand unto : — The Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods : — The Lord shall open to thee his good treasures ; the Heavens to give thee rain to thy Land in his season , and to bless all the work of thy hand : ( and then comes riches ) And thou shalt lend udto many Nations , and thou shalt not borrow : Prosperity , both spiritual and temporal , comes at God's sending : Psal. 118. 25. O Lord , I beseech thee , send now prosperity : Psal. 18. 32 , 33. He restoreth my Soul , he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness : Psal. 23. 3 , 5. Thou anointest my head with Oil : Thou blessest the springing thereof ; thy paths drop fatness : Psal. 65. 10 , 11. The Lord shall guide thee continually , and satisfy thy soul in drought , and make fat thy bones ; and thou shalt be like a watred Garden , and like a spring of water , whose waters fail not , Isa , 58. 11. I will be as the dew to Israel , he shall grow as the Lilly , and cast forth his root as Lebanon , Hos. 14. 5. Secure an interest in the promises , and get your souls brought under the showers of blessing , if ever you think to thrive in godliness . Improve thriving graces , and take prosperous courses ; these are under a promise of blessing : though every grace and duty do in their measure help on soul-prosperity , yet there are some graces and duties have a more special influence on spiritual thrivings .

First , Faith is a soul-prospering grace : 2 Chr. 20. 20. Believe in the Lord your God , so shall ye be established : believe his Prophets , so shall ye prosper . Eph. 6. 16. Above all take the shield of Faith , wherewith ye shall quench all the fiery darts of Satan , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , insuper , Bez. Every grace is useful in the spiritual warfare , but Faith especially : other graces may ( with Saul ) slay their thousands ; but Faith ( with David ) slays its ten thousands : Some darts may be quenched by other graces , but Faith quenches fiery darts , yea all the fiery darts of Satan , which does wonderfully further thriving : The just shall live by Faith , Heb. 10. 38. Faith will maintain the soul's life in the greatest straits and exigences : Faith is a receiving grace , it takes in whatever is laid up in the promise ; and that 's thriving . Gal. 3. 22. That the promise by Faith might be given to them that believe . A soul-enriching grace , rich in Faith , Jam. 2. 5. A working grace , And the work of Faith with power , 2 Thes. 2. 4. A powerful grace ; it gives the soul experience of the mighty power of God . Eph. 1. 19. 20. What is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe , according to the working of his mighty power , which he wrought in Christ , when he raised him from the dead , 1 Thes. 2. 13. 'T is a strengthning grace : Out of weakness were made strong , Heb. 11. 34. through it doth the Lord let out his abundant grace : And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love , which is in Christ Jesus , 1 Tim. 1. 14. It doth exceedingly nourish the soul in grace , and edify it to salvation : 1 Tim. 4. 6. Nourished up in the words of Faith , 1. Tim. 1 , 4. Which minister questions rather than edifying which is in Faith : One reason why souls prosper no more in piety is their unbelief ; they are full of doubtings , fears , and questionings upon every turn , still wavering as a wave of the Sea ; such cannot receive much at the hand of God , but are still weak , and going back in Religion . Be much in believing the promises against hope , and above fears , if ever you think to prosper in Religion .

Secondly , Love to God , his Name , ways and interest is a Soul-prospering Grace . Let them that love him , be as the Sun that goeth forth in his might : Judg. 5. 31. They shall prosper that love thee , Psal. 122. 6. Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee , for thou Lord wilt bless the righteous , with favour wilt thou compass him as with a Shield , Psal. 5. 11 , 12. Love to God must needs be a prospering Grace , because it brings the Soul under the blessing of God , and within the compass of his securing Shield , Love is a Soul-strengthning and establishing Grace . Eph. 3. 17 , Being rooted and grounded in Love , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , set in a firm ground , not easily shaken from God or their integrity . Love makes a growing Soul . Eph. 4. 15 , Speaking the truth in love may grow up in him , who is the head in all things . It helps on edification in Grace , ver. 16. maketh encrease of the body unto the edifying of it self in love : Love constrains the Soul after God , makes his commands pleasant , and quickens the heart to make hast in the way to Glory ; the more you love God , the more will you prosper in Godliness .

Thirdly , Humility is a Soul-prospering Grace , and under a promised Blessing . Prov. 29. 23 , Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit ; k k Sustentat . Munst . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall bear him up from falling , and bring him unto honour ( saith Montanus ) Prov. 15. 33 , By humility are riches and honour : The humble Soul must needs be a thriving Soul , for God giveth Grace to it , Jam. 4. 6. yea , dwelleth with the humble to revive the Spirit of the humble , Isa. 57. 15. There 's a great deal of Pride in most Christians , and that hinders Soul-thriving , proud of Parts and Grace , proud under seeming humility , proud of humility ; Low Valleys are fruitful , when lofty Mountains are barren : The rich sit in a low place : Eccl. 10. 6 , Such as are rich in wisdom l l Divites quibus adsit sapientia . ( saith Mercer ) they sit in a low place ; they come down , and lie low in themselves , m m In ipsa abjectione . Jun. Trem. folly is set in great dignity : Poor , foolish , empty Creatures , they are high in conceit as well as place , many times ; but the most rich and thriving Souls , these are poorest in Spirit , and lowest in their own eyes ; the richer the Metal , the heavier ; Gold weighs down Silver and Tin ; the fuller of fruits branches are , the more they bow : He sendeth the springs into the valleys , Psal. 104. 10. Psal. 65. 13. They are covered over with Corn : Vineyards thrive best in low places : One branch of Grapes from the Valley of Eshcol , was said to be a burden for two men , Numb. 13. 23. would you flourish in Grace ? take heed of Pride : Pride in the Soul , ( saith one ) is like the spleen in the body , when that swelleth , all the other parts languish : 't is poison at the root of the tree , which corrupts the sap — 'T is so dangerous a poison , that of another poison there was confected a counterpoison to preserve Paul from it : would you prosper in Godliness ? be persons of low , humble spirits , ( Mr. Adams on 2 Pet. ) 2 Cor. 12. 7. Exalt him that is low , and abase him that is high , Ezek. 21. 26.

Fourthly , Another choice fruit of the Spirit which will further Soul-thriving , is sincerity : Prov. 14. 11 , The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish : They shall have good things in possession , Prov. 28. 10. they shall not only be preserv'd from evil , and escape the pit into which the wicked fall ; but shall be sure to meet with good ; Blessings , good things shall be given to them as their inheritance , as Aquila and Theodosius interpret it , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Thou shewest mercy to thy Servants , that walk before thee with all their heart , 2 Chron. 6. 14. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart , who hath not lift up his Soul to vanity , nor sworn deceitfully , he shall receive the blessing from the Lord , and righteousness from the God of his Salvation , Psal. 24. 4 , 5. Upright Souls must needs prosper , they dwell in the presence of God , Psal. 140. 13. He will withhold no good thing from them , Psal. 84. 11. His countenance beholds them , Psal. 11. 7. God engages his alsufficiency for their good , Gen. 17. 1. They shall hold on their way , and wax stronger and stronger , Job 17. 9. and shall surely prosper . 2 Chron. 31. 21 , In every work that he began in the service of the house of God , and in the Law , and in the Commandments , to seek his God , he did it with all his heart , and prospered : 't is not thy many Duties before God , but the Oneness of thy heart with God : nor the bulk of thy Services , but the sincerity of thy Soul , which will make thee profperous in thy heavenly interests .

Again , Take thriving courses , prosperous ways , as well as prospering Graces , these are under a promised Blessing also . Not to multiply particulars : There are four thriving ways in which Christians may attain to a prosperous Trade in Christianity .

The way of 1. Self-Examination . 2. Prayer . 3. Enjoyment of God . 4. Obedience .

First , Be often examining ; and calling your selves to an account how matters stand with your Souls : Traders that would be thriving will be often viewing their Books , and trying their Accompts , and have some set days , when they survey their Goods , cast up their Books , and try whether they gain , or lose ; and so must Christians that would profit in Religion , they must be often judging themselves , that they be not judged , 1 Cor. 11. 31. they must cast up their accompts , and try their state whether they go forward or backward : Hag. 1. 5. Consider your ways : try how the case stands with you , whether you get or lose , and what 's the cause of all those blastings that are upon you , Psal. 4. 4 , Commune with your hearts upon your beds , and be still : 2 Cor. 13. 5 , Examine your selves whether you be in the faith , prove your own selves ; know ye not your own selves , how that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates . The neglect of this examination is one cause of that great mistake of persons about their Soul-state , some thinking themselves better , Rev. 3. 17. others judging themselves worse than they are : which begets security in some , discouragement in others , error and floth in all . A right estimate of thy spiritual capacity , either poverty or riches , gain or loss is absolutely needful to regulate thy duty unto a right affecting of thy heart , and advance of thy spiritual interests : Look over the Day-book of thy heart and life every night , posting all thy accompts on the large book of thy Conscience , and take some special time for a more full survey of thy Soul and state for Eternity ; this will be of good use to further Soul-thriving .

Secondly , If you would prosper in your Souls , be much and mighty with God in Prayer : 'T is said of Vzziah , that he sought God in the days of Zechariah , who had understanding in the visions of God , and as long as he sought the Lord , God made him to prosper , 2 Chron. 26. 5. Right Prayer is a wonderful way to Soulenrichings : He ( saith one ) can never be poor that can pray well : One reason why this King prospered as long as he sought the Lord , was , by this means he came to the visions of God , and that help'd him to take a right way to prospetity . By Prayer you advise with God , what course to take towards mercy : 't is your Ephod by which you ask counsel of God where to go to shun danger , and what to do to carry on Duty , and obtain Mercy , 2 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Chap. 30. 7. and by Prayer you procure and get out the Graces and Supplies you need , 1 Chron , 4. 10 , And Jabesh called on the God of Israel , saying , O that thou wouldst bless me indeed , and enlarge my coasts , and that thine hand might be with me , and that thou wouldst keep me from evil , that it may not grieve me : and God granted him that he requested . Prayer brings down the Spirit sometimes insensible and almost intolerable measures thereof . When that precious Servant of the Lord Mr. Bruce in Scotland ( of whom King James said he was worthy of the half of his Kingdom ) had sadly represented the Churches case , then under eminent danger , there was such a sensible down-pouring of the Spirit , that they could hardly contain themselves ; yea , an unusual motion on those who were in other parts of the house , not knowing the cause of it at that time . O what great things did Abraham , Jacob , Moses , Jehoshaphat , Samuel , Elijah , and other Servants of God , get out of the hand of God! Luther was a mighty man in Prayer , 't is said of him , he could get of God what he would , n n Ille vir potuit quod voluit . nothing is too hard for Faith and Prayer , because it seeks nothing but what God is willing to spare , and hath promised to give : Labour to get a mighty Spirit of Prayer ; the gift of Prayer will not do , it must be the Spirit of Prayer , which is a pure , and heart-cleansing Spirit , and cannot dwell with the least regarded Sin : Gifts of Prayer with natural affections may be mighty on the Spirits of men , but are no way prevailing with God for the Blessing : 'T is said of Naaman , He was a mighty man in valour , but he was a leper , 2 Kings 5. 1. So there are some that seem mighty men in Prayer , and can wonderfully raife the affections of others ; pray like Angels , but all the while are Lepers , under the ruling power of some secret lust ; pride , passion , covetousnness , uncleanness , and the like , which they hide vnder their tongue ; but such are far from this mighty power of prayer , which brings down the Spirit on their own hearts or others . Ah Christians ! if you would prosper in grace , get and improve the Spirit of Grace and Supplication .

Thirdly , Another thriving way is to engage God with you in all your undertakings . 'T was this made Joseph so prosperous in all he did ; God was with him . Gen. 39. 23. Because the Lord was with him ; and that which he did , he made it to prosper : 2 Sam. 5. 10. And David went on , and grew great , and the Lord God of Hosts was with him : 'T was not his wisdom , valour , nor any means he used , but the gracious presence of God with him that made him to grow so great : This made Solomon to prosper ; 2 Chron. 22. 11. Now my Son , the Lord be with thee , and prosper thee . When persons lose the gracious presence of God , they soon find an alteration , and begin to wither and decay in their soul-comforts and prosperity : Thou did'st hide thy face , and I was troubled , Psal. 30. 6. Troubled like a withered flower , that loseth sap and vigour , [ Mr. Leigh . ] Jonah soon found a change in his soul ; it ceased to be with him as before , when once he fled from the presence of God : He never had a good day after he lost the presence of God , but storms , tempests , shipwrack of peace , safety and prosperity , and a casting into the deeps of distress , and ruining dangers , Jonah . 1. 3 , 10. Ah Christians ! as you love your souls , and your spiritual welfare , take heed of losing God's gracious presence ; whose company soever you lose , keep the Lord's presence with you ; abide with him , and he will abide with you : 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you while you be with him ; and if you seek him , he will be found of you : Put away the unclean thing , and he will dwell in you , and walk in you , 2 Cor. 6. 16. Love him , and keep his commandments , and he will take up his abode with you , Joh. 14. 23. Content not your selves with any priviledg except you have God with you : If thy presence go not with us , carry us not up hence , Exod. 33. 15. I protest ( saith Mr. Bruce , when wrestling for the presence of God with him in his going to preach ) I will not go except thou go with me .

Fourthly , Follow the counsel of God , if you would thrive in the work and way of God : Josh. 1. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth , but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous , and then thou shalt have good success : Jer. 38. 20. Obey , I beseech thee , the voice of the Lord which I speak unto thee ; so it shall be well unto thee , and thy soul shall live . One cause why men prosper no more in Religion , is , that little conscience they make of doing the will of God : men hear , but forget the word ; others know their Lord's will , but prepare not themselves to do it . We live in an age of notions , not of motion after God ; like men that see Countries in a Map , but care not to travel into them ; bare knowledg pleaseth most : Mens zeal after truth , is like Absalom's love to his Father David , only to see him , not to serve him : 2 Sam. 14. 32. Let me see the King's face ; which he no sooner did , but conspired against him : So most care for no more than to behold truth , not to dwell with it ; and hence 't is that prosperity is such a stranger to them : 'T was not directions could heal Naaman of his leprosy , but obedience ; he was never the better till he followed the Prophet's counsel , and washed in Jordan : that which made the ground rain'd upon , to be nigh to cursing , was not bringing forth fruit meet for them , by whom 't was dressed , Heb. 6. 8. Do not only seek after , but walk after the truth , if you think to prosper in Religion , Jam. 1. 25. The doers of the word shall be blessed in their deed .

Object . 'T is the desire of my soul to live in the exercise of every grace , and discharge of every duty ; and some weak endeavours I have had , though too too short ; with many cries for this soul-prosperity , but cannot yet attain unto it : Methinks I am like a wither'd arm , a dry tree , and barren womb , nothing doth me good ; no food , seed or showers make me thriving and fruitful : I fear I shall be at last cut down , and bundled for the fire .

Sol. First , Thou mayest thrive in Religion , and not know it for a season ; thy profiting may be , though not appear : The Tradesman may bring home gain in his purse , though untold : men know not their gettings till they cast up their accounts : thy prosperity may be as a casked Jewel , and friend under disguise . If you would estimate your advantage , survey your selves , compare your present with your former state ; what were you ? what are you ? speak out soul : was there not a time when thou wert blind , thou could'st see no evil in sin , nor excellency in grace ? but now thy eye is opened , and things appear otherwise to thy soul than they did : Now there is nothing so vile as thy wicked heart , and waies ; and nothing so desirable as Christ and holiness .

Thou wert once dead in sin , thou did'st not feel or fear any hurt in it , or danger by it ; but now 't is otherwise : thou can'st not sin , but thy conscience smites thee : nor God threaten , but it affrights thee : thy quick-ey'd conscience soon espies the least failing in thy duty , falseness in thy heart , or error in thy life ; and , as a Serjeant , arrests thee , and hales thee to the Judg. Thou could'st formerly live without God , and be as still as the dead body in the grave , and the burning brand in the fire : but now as a bone out of joynt , thou art restless till in communion with him : I remembred God , and was troubled , Psal. 77. 3.

Thou wert gone out of the way ; yea an enemie to the way of life , turn'd aside to the flock of his companions , and did'st turn again , and rend those that were of them . But now thou art folded with the flocks of Christ , and feedest besides the Shepherds Tents , Cant. 1. 8. Thy foot hath held his steps , and thou esteemest the word of his mouth more than thy necessary food , Job 23. 11 , 12.

Object . But may not an hypocrite go so far , and all this be no more than a change from darkness to conscience-light , and from sin to common grace .

Sol. Common light cannot see a desirableness in Christ for himself , nor bring the soul to count all things dross and dung to win him , and obtain the excellency of the knowledg of Christ as thy Lord ; but saving light sees one Christ worth ten thousand Worlds , and quits all to take him . Phil. 3. 8.

Common light sees no evil in sin ; but guilt , and torment , loss of comfort , and sense of punishment , Gen. 4. 13. but true grace , when in exercise , loaths sin when it pretends love ; and flies from sin when it makes largest proffers ; and fears sin when it sees no danger , when there is no breach on present comfort feeled , or danger of future misery feared , Tit. 2. 11 , 12. The gracious soul , like Joseph , when tempted with flattery , secur'd with secresie , pursued with restless importunity to wickedness , yet cannot close with it , and sin against God , Gen. 39. 9.

Common light can dwell with works of darkness , and consist with an unsanctified heart and life , 2 Pet. 2. 1 , 2. Common light and lust never fall out but when it awakens conscience , or weakens interests : but saving grace cannot bear that which is evil , Rev. 2. 2. or ever be brought to a treaty with sin , in order to an agreement , Gal. 5. 17. but , with Sarah , can never be at rest till the bond-woman and her son be turn'd out of door , Gen. 21. 10. Common grace may be offended at sin , but never hates sin ; there is no contrariety founded in their nature or difference , but what may upon terms be made up , Luke 23. 12. And if it seems to have an indignation against sin , yet 't is not against every sin , and at all times , nor irreconcilable at any time : but saving grace hates the very being of sin , 2 Cor. 7. 11. And as the Tyger flies at the very picture of a man , so doth Grace abhor the appearance of evil : 'T is universal against the whole species , and every kind of sin ; an enmity founded in the nature of grace , and therefore irreconcilable , Psal. 139. 22. and derived from the riches of grace , Ps. 97. 10. and greatness of redemption-love : It cannot be reconciled to sin , because sin cannot be reconciled to grace , or admit of any love to , or enjoyment of God ; but still interrupts the soul's tranquillity , holiness and pleasure in God , his chiefest and only good .

Again , Common light can live without special acquaintance with God , Eph. 2. 13. [ afar of , ] if it can have peace , because its Countrey is nourished by the King's Countrey , Act. 12. 20. and its welfare depends upon divine pleasure , 't is all it looks for : but saving grace gets within the veil , Heb. 6. 19. approaches the mercy-seat , where it converses with God . To be called by his name will not content grace ; no , nor to eat his bread , and wear his rayment , except it enjoys his bed also : it longs for intimate communion with God , Psal. 101. 2. O , when wilt thou come unto me ? It loves the Bride-chamber , closet , and secret corners with him ; never thinking it self near enough to , or long enough with him .

Obj. But change from nature to grace , is not growth in grace : though I may have received the former rain , and reaped the first fruits of the Spirit ; yet I fear I have not the latter rain , and after-fruits of grace : waterings and dressings do not make me fruitful , or feedings make me grow : and that 's the case you insist on .

Sol. 1. There may be fruit , though not appearing ; and growth , though unseen : Christ hath under-ground-fruit , which may not spring up to thy own view , or others , Ps. 88. 5. [ Free among the dead , ] as berries hid among the leaves , which cannot be seen till winter-storms or shaking times come : thou mayest thrive more inwardly than outwardly , and be like the windows of the Temple , wide within , and narrow without ; you may grow more in the truth and parts of grace , though less in the fruits of grace for a season ; thy sincerity may be more , though thy shews be less ; you may grow more downward in humility , self-abasement , sorrow for sin , though not upward in joys and blossoms of comfort ; thou mayest grow more out of thy self , and into Christ , as the root of all thy grace , and foundation of thy foul-rest , though not into sensible frames and workings of grace . Art thou more sensible of thy own nothingness ? thy heart-deceitfulness ? self-insufficiency ? inward disorders ? soul-wants ? sinfulness ? hypocrisie ? barrenness ? then thou profitest , Rom. 7. 18. Art thou more jealous of thy heart every day , 2 Cor. 9. 27 ? more weary of thy self ? and longing after Christ ? having a higher valuation of his excellency , and greater breathings after his quickning spirit , and delighting presence , Phil. 3. 8 ? this is profiting .

Secondly , It may be thy conclusion springs from thy impatiency ; thou mayest be for hasty fruit , not allowing time for its growth and maturity . The Husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth , Jam. 5. 7. before he can enjoy them , or estimate their worth : Thy hopes , labours and profit may be buried under the clods for a while : We cannot sow and reap ( saith one ) in a day : The more excellent and durable the fruit is , the longer is it before it comes to maturity : rare ripe fruits are soon rotten : hypocrites blossom a pace , and cast their leaves as fast , Mat. 13. 21. Though 't is matter of shame , that those trees which have less earth , and least nourishment , should grow fastest ; yet the reason is , they take up no time in getting root , and growing downward ; and hence all their growth is outward . Thirdly , It may be 't is a winter-time with thy soul ; the Sun of Righteousness is withdrawn from thee , and thy lightsom daies are gone , Cant. 2. 11 , 12. The Comforter that should have relieved thy soul , is far from thee , Lam. 1. 16. It may be thou hast sinn'd away his warming presence , and lost thy first spring ; hence 't is the flowers do not appear : Yet here 's thy comfort , though thy winter be not a time of fruit , yet God will make it to thee a time toward fruitfulness .

Advice 2.

2. You that have any good Trading for Heaven , be exhorted to enlarge your Trade ; drive a greater Trade of godliness every day , as men that prosper in the world do ; they build larger barns , fairer houses , greater shops , get more goods , buy more land , and widen the bounds of their interests : So should you Christians , if God bless your heavenly substance , and prosper your souls ; if the gain of godliness come in , lay it out to greaten godliness , as biting Usurers do , take use upon use ; convert your gettings into your Trade ; put your incomes into bank , and your blessings into stock , trading on them . Think

First , On the smalness of thy first stock , and thy low estate at thy setting up , A Syrian ready to perish , Deut. 26. 5. thy grace was small , a grain of mustard seed , Mat. 13. 31. thy capacity is weak , a new-born babe , 1 Pet. 2. 3. You began with one talent , and have you not reason to improve it ? you were the fewest of all people , Deut. 7. 7. I taught Ephraim also to go , taking him by the arm , Hos. 11. 3. as a little weak child ; a dry tree , Psal. 56. 3. a tender plant , Isa. 53. 2. which need addition .

Secondly , Consider what a poor Trade most men drive for Heaven this day ; few that seek the things that are Christ's , and make Religion their business . All men seek their own things ; the multitude of Professours , as well as others , wonder after this beast the world : We may say of Religion , as the Prophet did of Sion : This is godliness which no man seeketh after , Jer. 30. 17. Few Israelites , in whom there is no guile ; few Noahs , perfect in their generation , walking with God ; few Calebs , who fulfill after God . Most mens Religion lies in notion , profession , talkings , frames , priviledges , going to Meetings , getting into Churches ; but few make conscience of their words and waies , their promises and duties ; few second-table men and women , that cause their light to shine before men ; and as Zachary and Elizabeth , walking in all the commands and ordinances of God blameless , Luke 1. 6. doing justly , shewing mercy , and walking humbly with their God , Mich. 6. 8. visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction , and keeping themselves unspotted from the world , Jam. 1. 27. And should not this provoke thy zeal for the Lord of Hosts , to see the Altars of Religion down , and so few friends of godliness left , and stir up thy holy ambition to excel and do more for God than others ? It would argue a brave spirit , and be a worthy attempt to offer a lift at fal'n godliness , with thy life as well as lip , and by the raised splendour of thy holy conversation , as a City on a hill , to provoke others to an imitation , saying , Come up hither .

Think also what an excellent Trade the Saints and Angels in Heaven drive , who have their portion in hand , and dwell in the City of the great King , who are alwaies receiving and rendering , driving a whole Trade for God , above all hazards and interruptions : They alway behold their Father's face , and serve him day and night in his Temple , with palms in their hands , with songs in their mouths , and their Crowns at his feet , and how far you are beneath these glorious Merchants . Think what a breadth you have yet to fill up in godliness , and what advances you must make in holiness , before you can get up to their pitch , and have a place amongst them that stand by , Zach. 3. 7. and is it not time yet to build the house of God ? Hag. 1. 2. and that you hasten to your work , and raise higher stories for God every day , pressing after greater measures of grace , till you come to the fulness of the stature of Christ , and those perfections of glorified Saints and Angels ?

Fourthly , When will you be fit for a return into your own Countrey , and a comfortable account of your Stewardship , if you be so slothful and contracted in your Heavenly Trade ? When will your ships be loaden , and your sacks full for a departure hence , if you trade at such a rare , and attend your soul-thrivings no better ? your Treasure is deep , and calls for more digging ; your Crown is afar off , and requires faster runing ; your Reward is large , greater enlargements of labours are needful to meeten you for it . O think how far glory is above all your proportions of grace and duty ; and what need you have to press after more enlargedness in your souls , and suitableness for your estate above .

Fifthly , The greater Trade you drive for Heaven , the less trouble ; 't is not so in earthly Trades ; there the more work , the more weariness ; but Religion carries refreshment in its work . John 4. 34. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me , and to finish his work . Prov. 3. 17. Her waies are waies of pleasantness , and all her paths are peace . O the sweetness and delicate pleasure which vigorous pursuits of holiness afford ! Cant. 2. 3. I sate under his shadow with great delight , and his fruit was sweet to my taste . If persons intermeddle not with the joy of godliness , 't is because they neglect the work of it ; they eat not the kernel , because they break not the shell ; Christ's myrrh is to be gathered , and his honey eaten with the honey-comb , which must be squeezed out ere eaten , Cant. 5. 1. Rabbi Solomon takes the comb 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , for a Cane , n n Pro canna in qua sit mel quod exugatur abjecta canna . Mercer . out of which the honey is sucked , or the sugar boyled out . They that will eat Christ's pleasant bread , must work hard for it ; his idlers have none of his dainties ; the greater the labour , the sweeter is the rest . The Lord's way is not tiresom , unless to flesh and blood : the more you run in it , the less weary . Isa. 40. 31. They shall run , but not be weary , walk , but not faint : And though they should be weary in well doing , through their carnal sloth , yet they are not weary of it .

Sixthly , The greater Trade , the richer ; 't is not alwaies so in worldy employments ; men may labour in vain , and sit down in sorrow , but godliness is profitable for all things , Isa. 55. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 8. And the Heavenly Trade brings in the true Treasure , as I have already shewn ; and the more employment , the more profit .

Seventhly , The larger Trade you drive for Heaven , the more you have of that honour that comes down from Heaven , Rom. 2. 10. Glory , and honour , and peace to every one that worketh good . The greater Trade , the greater riches , and the greater riches , the greater reputation : The rich hath many friends , Prov. 14. 20. The greater Trade you drive for Heaven , the greater regard you have from God ; the more of his presence is with you , his delight in you , and blessing upon you ; the Spouses growth and fruitfulness , was much taking upon the heart of Christ . How fair and how pleasant art thou O Love for delights ! Cant. 7. 6 , 7. This thy stature is like to a Palm-tree , and thy breasts to clusters of grapes . The Palm-tree is an emblem of growth and fruitfulness ; the more it is opprest , the more it grows , and no tree more fruitful ; 't is called 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , alway having leaves : Naturalists say , 't is never without leaves and fruit ; when some fruit is ripe ( as Pliny tells us ) other fruit is growing It hath leaves in the highest branches , wherever the sweet sap comes ( saith Alsted ) 'T is a tree that 's exceeding profitable ; some reckon three hundred and sixty advantages that this Palm-tree yields , o o In fructuum jam maturorum locum alii fructus eodem in loco & eadem parte statim succedunt . Plin. and hence the Egyptians make it a symbole of the solar year , which consists of three hundred sixty five daies : and its fruit is wonderfully restorative and nourishing , repairing the decayed strength , and radical moisture of man's body , Alsted . Theol. Nat. and therefore a fit metaphor to express the Church's fruitfulness , in which the Lord Jesus takes such great delight ; he gets up early to the Vineyard , to see if the Vine flourish , whether the tender grape appear , and the Pomegranate bud forth , Cant. 7. 12. So delightful is the view of a flourishing people unto Christ : The more you thrive in grace , the more will you have of Christ's company ; and that 's honourable .

Eighthly , The greater Trade you drive for Heaven , the more useful you are while on Earth ; the larger capacities you have to do good to others , and to serve your generation , which is a blessed thing . 'T is more blessed to give than to receive , Acts 20. 35. 1 Tim. 6. 17 , 18. Charge them that are rich in this world , that they do good , that they be rich in good works , that they be ready to distribute , willing to communicate . The richer you are in grace , the more able you are to do good , and not only able , but the more willing also . The reason Christians have no more heart to do good , and to communicate , is their soul-poverty ; they are not rich in grace , they have but little spiritual Treasure , little grace to communicate ; their hands are shut , because their hearts are empty ; but the more divine treasure you have , the more ready will you be to do good , and to lay out both your outward and inward riches . O how useful may rich men be in the places where they live , if God give them hearts to do it ! and how helpful may such be in this day of soul-wants , who are encreased with spiritual goods ? there are many impoverished souls this day who are ready to perish for want of light , peace and comfort ; perplexed with doubts , darkness , and distressing fears , and have none to help them . O how refreshing , in such a day of soul-exigences , would it be to have some rich neighbours among them , some prosperous Jobs ! Who with-hold not the poor from their desire , nor cause the eyes of the Widow to fail , Job 31. 16 , 17 , 19. Who would draw forth their soul to the hungry , and satisfy the afflicted soul , Isa. 58. 10. Who could not eat their morsel alone , or see the poor to perish for want of clothing : To be eyes to the blind , and feet to the lame , Job 29. 15. To speak a word in season to him that is weary , and to comfort others with the same comforts they have received of God . Christians , make haste to be rich in grace , that ye may be rich in good works ; that ye may cast in much into the Lord's treasury , Mark 12. 41. and out of your abundance cast into the offerings of God , Luke 21. 4. Then should the blessing of the poor , that was ready to perish , come upon you , Job . 29. 13. and the fruit of well-doing be your savoury meat , on which the Lord would daily feed you .

Ninthly , The greater Trade you drive for Heaven now , the greater will your estate in Heaven be hereafter : 2 Tim. 4. 8. Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness ; which the Lord , the righteous Judge , will give me at that day ; and not to me only , but to all that love his appearing . To me , who have run my race , finish'd my course , and kept the faith : To me , who have wrought hard in the Vineyard , and traded diligently for Heaven in the World : For me , yea for all such as enlarge their heavenly Trade , is laid up , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , ( as Parents do Portions for their children , saith Zanchy ) a Crown of righteousness : glory sutable to their improvements of grace ; called a Crown , to note its excellency ; and of righteousness , to note its equity : It shall bear a proportion to all that grace , labours and faithfulness that is in Saints ; and infinitely beyond it . A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory , 2 Cor. 4. 17. God will not leave out the least item of the Saints right in the great day of righteousness ; A cup of cold water ; a little meal to the Prophet Elisha ; a mite in the treasury ; a desire to build God's house : all shall be remembred in that day : Mercy gives the Crown , but Justice fits it for the overcomer's head . God crowns ( saith Beda ) p p Dona sua coronat non merita tua . Donavit haec tempore misericordiae , coronabit illa tempore judicii . Beda in loc. his own gifts , not thy merits : He first gives grace in the time of mercy , and then crowns it in the day of Judgment : And is not this argument enough ? yea constraint on an ingenious heart , to labour after the greatest latitude of holiness ? Is not Heaven enough to requite all thy duties and hardships on earth ? What 's enough , ( saith one ) if Rome be counted little ? q q Quid fatis est si Roma parum . So what can be counted great , if Heaven be small , and not price enough for all thy holy strivings , and utmost progress in the way of life ?

O attend your proficiency in this heavenly Trade ! your hearts and hands can never be too deep in the concerns of this upper World ; in this you can never be too covetous : 1 Cor. 12. 31. Covet earnestly the best gifts , r r 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , modis omnibus studio , precibus consequi annitimini . Take heed of putting stands and limits to your holiness ; ( the course of all unsanctified souls : ) In this only is it lawful to remove the ancient bounds , and enlarge your spiritual inheritance , as far as possible ; Reaching forth to the things that are before , and pressing forward to the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus , Phil. 3. 13 , 14. Nothing undoes Professors like to stinting their measures of holiness , and contenting themselves with present attainments ; if they can get to such a pitch of light , grace , and comfort , as will secure their salvation and present welfare , they sit down , and go no further : this makes formalists and starvelings in Religion . Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward , Exod. 14. 15. is God's charge on his people in their passage to the heavenly Canaan : Be adding to your faith vertue , &c , 1 Pet. 1. 5. The greatest skill in this holy Arithmetick lies in Addition and Multiplication . Be still enlarging your store , get in more choice of heavenly wares , greater quantities , and more costly goods ; and be putting off more and more goods , as you have opportunity ; seeing great is not only your present advantage , but your reward in Heaven also , Mat. 5. 12.

Advice 3.

Thirdly , You that have good times for trading now , make provision for bad times ; Lay in for changes : be not like the Grashopper , that spends her All in Summer ; and when the Winter comes , starves . Every Summer hath its Winter ; North-winds have their season to blow on Christ's Garden , as well as the South , Cant. 4. 16. Good and evil have their turns with Christians in this life ; 'T is only the Diveses that have their good things in this life ; here have the Saints no continuing City , Heb. 13. 4. Created comforts , whether spiritual or carnal , have their shakings and removes : Heb. 12. 27. And this word yet once more signifies the removing of those things that are shaken , as of things that are made ; that those things which cannot be shaken , may remain . The life of Believers is made up of vicissitudes ; with Naomi , now full , then empty , Ruth 1. 21. like Ships in their passage to their Port ; now they have calms , then storms ; none but wicked , and they not always neither are exempted from their changes in this life , Psal. 55. 19. 'T was an error in David's apprehensions , which he soon saw to his cost , that his mountain was made so strong , it should not be moved . Psal. 30. 6. I said , in my prosperity , I shall never be moved : Lord , by thy favour , thou hast made my mountain to stand strong ; thou did'st hide thy face , and I was troubled . Prosperity and affliction have their different saies and thoughts : think of thy most promising state here ; though this be a beautiful structure , yet 't is but a tabernacle : Sin puts wheels on every condition below , and makes them moveable : What that Ambassador said to the Romans , who boasted of the heighth and strength of their Walls ; they were not so high , but sin could bring them down , may be said of the most flourishing condition of Saints in this World : Is thy store full now ? a spending time may come : Dionysius the second had four hundred Ships , an Army of one hundred thousand foot , nine thousand horse , and the richest Magazine of any Prince , and yet lived to lose all . Christians have their spending as well as getting times , and should lay in for times of need .

There are four special seasons when gracious souls will have need of all their store to relieve them .

Times of Temptation . Times of Desertion . Times of Affliction . And The time of Death .

First , Times of Temptation are spending times , and call for great succours to be laid in against such seasons . First , Because such times are certain to Believers , they will come . Psal. 11. 5. The Lord tryeth the righteous : There 's never a gracious soul , but some time or other the Lord trieth it , either immediately by his Spirit , or mediately by afflictions or temptations from men or devils . The Apostle tells us , every man is tempted . James 1. 14. But every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and enticed . The best of men ( saith one ) are tempted , and that when they are at the best . [ Capell of Temptation . ] Adam in Paradise , Gen. 3. 6. Solomon after God had twice appeared to him , 1 King . 11. 9. Job after the evidences of his uprightness before God , and religious duties , Job 1. 1 , 5. Peter after he had made a confession of Christ , and entered into covenant never to be offended at him , Mat. 26. 33. Yea Christ himself after his Baptism , and the Spirit 's resting on him as a Dove , and the Father's owning of him by an audible voice from Heaven , Matth. 3. 17. chap. 4. 1. He ( saith the former Author ) that thinks he is so good that he ought not to be tempted , and so strong , that he need not fear to be tempted , hath need of a temptation , that by experience in himself , he might prove what he ought to have found in the Word ; that of our selves we have no strength . Capell .

Four things make temptations unavoidable to gracious souls :

1 God's good Pleasure . 2 Satan's Rage . 3 The Saints Corruptions . 4 And their Profit .

First , 'T is God's good Pleasure to have them tryed : The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is , 1 Cor. 3. 13. whether it will bear the fire or no ; hereby the excellency of his work , the greatness of his power appears , in the enduring graces of the Saints , and their standing after all . By this the Lord will confute the slanders of men and devils , who are still charging his people with hypocrisie , and falling away when tryal comes ; Doth Job fear God for naught ? Job 1. 9. Put forth thine hand now , and touch his bone and flesh , and he will curse thee to thy face , Job 2. 5. This is the usual calumny of the Saints enemies ; to confute which , and prove them lyars , doth the Lord suffer his people to be tempted . 'T is his will and purpose that all his people should be tryed ; and therefore 't is unavoidable .

Secondly , Such is Satan's Rage , he cannot alwaies keep his fingers from them ; if he lets them alone , 't is but for a season . Luke 4. 13. When the Devil had ended all the temptations , he departed from him for a season . Is Satan busie ? then his work is not done ; hast thou any rest ? 't is because his tempting-time is not come ; he is a roaring Lion , and cannot rest from seeking to devour , though he forbears attempting to devour for a season , when it makes to his greater advantage : Never expect freedom from temptation , till Satan's chain be shortened , or thy remove without his reach obtained , Rev. 20. 2 , 3.

Thirdly , The Saints corruptions expose them to temptations ; Where the carkass is , there the Eagles resort , Mat. 24. 28. While the Saints have gall'd backs they can expect no freedom from flies . If Sampson be bound , the Philistines will be upon him . The cause of those sins is in us whereof the occasion is from Satan , Capell . Till the fire of Hell be out in the Saints , the Devil will not lay down his bellows ; where there is no sin , there is no matter for temptation to work on ; as where there is no morbid matter , there contagion cannot so easily fasten , corruption keeps open the door for Satan ; never look for silence from Satan , till you find cessation from sin .

Fourthly , The profit and good of gracious souls do necessitate it : By this means they come to see their own vileness ; were it not for temptation , they could not see the greatness of their corruption : David , Solomon , Hezekiah , Peter , did not think their hearts were so abominable , till left to temptation , which stirs the mud , and brings up the bottom to the top ; and this helps to abase them , and make them more vile in their own eyes . By this also they see their own weakness , and their need of Christ ; and are more effectually brought out of themselves to the Lord Jesus for succour and victory . And by temptations from Satan they come to be acquainted with his devices , 2 Cor. 2. 11. and more skill'd in his wiles and stratagems ( no small advantage to one that is in a state of warfare with him . ) This way also doth the Lord winnow his Saints , and by these high winds fan and cleanse them . Luke 22. 31. Satan hath desired to have you , that he may sift you as wheat ; and brings them to more conformity to their head , and to greater establishment in grace , which are glorious advantages to Believers , promised in the New Covenant , and this way accomplish'd , which makes temptations necessary to Wisdom's Merchants , and renders it their great concern to lay in provision against them .

Secondly , As temptations are certain , and will come ; so they are shaking when they come ; they are part of that rain , flood and wind which did beat vehemently on the sandy building , that it fell , Mat. 7. 27. Luke 6. 49. Temptations are part of the Devil's Artillery , his fiery darts and cruel buffettings which none can bear without the whole Armour of God upon him , and then too ; all they can do is but to stand , Ephes. 6. v. 13 , 16. They are so potent and prevailing , as that none but such as are in Christ can stand their ground under them . And in time of temptation fall away , Luke 8. 13. Receive the Word with joy , seem to love God , and delight in his waies for a season , till temptations come to the purpose , and then fall away . There are some temptations are more easie to be born , but when Satan sets on a soul with all his might , there 's no standing without divine succour , and the Lord 's opening a way to escape . Temptation is reckoned amongst the sorest afflictions that the Saints do undergo , 1 Cor. 10. 13. Heb. 2. 18. Heb , 11. 37. They were stoned , they were sawn asunder , they were tempted , they were slain with the sword . No suffering like temptations , for they draw the soul to sin , which is more cruel than death to a soul that loves Christ . O Christians , what need have you then to be laying in for an hour of temptation , seeing it will surely come , and seeing it will be so terrible when it comes !

Get your selves well furnish'd with wisdom , that you may know Satan's devices , that you may be able to distinguish between temptation and corruption , and able to answer the Objections , and subtle reasonings of Satan ; you must have experience also to encourage your hope , and strengthen your patience , that instances of former relief in the like cases may lift up your head , and strengthen your expectations in new Tryals also . You must lay in store of faith to guard your hearts , and shield your heads from the fiery darts of Satan ; you must get your integrity cleared , and the uprightness of your heart and way evidenced ; that 's of great use also to bear up your Spirit under all his charges against you . Make much of every breathing of his Spirit in you , and take care you quench not any of his motions : God ( saith one ) doth often leave us to own Satan's suggestions for our own , because we do not own God in his holy motions and breathings . And have good evidences of your interest in Christ , and assurance of his love to you , and assured help in the time of need ; taking special care to have corruptions weakened , and a growing mortification in your souls ; that so when Satan comes he may find nothing in you to fasten his temptations on : This calls for your provident care , to store your souls against times of Tryal .

Secondly , Times of desertion are spending-times , which will need a full stock , when the Lord doth hide his face , and withdraw the sense of his love , and influence of his quickening presence : This the Lord may do , and hath done ; he hath left the dearly beloved of his soul ; gone from his habitation ; compass himself about with a cloud ; left his children in darkness as those that have been long dead . 'T is just with God ( saith Mr. Cooper ) to deny us the comfort of our graces , when we deny him the glory of them . Isa. 45. 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self , O God of Israel the Saviour . Job 23. 8 , 9. Behold I go forward , but he is not there , and backward , but cannot perceive him , on the left hand where he doth work , but I cannot behold him ; he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him . Isa. 49. 14. But Zion said , The Lord hath forsaken me , my God hath forgotten me . This was one of the greatest sufferings on Christ , his apprehensions of his Father's forsaking him . O God my God , why hast thou forsaken me ? Mat. 27. 46. Here was a total and final desertion that our Lord Jesus came under as to his sense , and the effects of it ; he saw nothing of the comforts of the Divine presence , to the last breath of life , but died in this darkness . Verse 50. Jesus when he had cryed again with a loud voice ( that is , as he had done , verse 46. ) he gave up the Ghost ; and had no comfort to the last minute of life : And if God hath done so to the green tree , how much more may he to the dry ? if he forsake his natural and onely beloved Son , he may surely hide himself from his Adopted Sons , even to their dying hour : And this is a condition full of consternation and terrour : The poena damni , the loss of God , and all good , is thought to be a far greater punishment to the damned , than all the punishment of sense and torment . O the dreadful apprehensions that good souls have had about God's forsaking them ! 'T is a Hell on Earth , and the beginning of the second death , to be under a real sense of God's removal from the soul . O the amazing dread , and consuming rerrour , that Job , Asaph , Heman , and others were fill'd with , by such apprehensions of God's withdrawment from them , and his wrath lying hard upon them ! Soul , though now it be a time of light with thee , the Candle of the Lord shines upon thee ; thou walkest in the light of his countenance , lyest in his bosom , and art dandled on his knee ; yet may the days of darkness be many , and thy soul lie in the shadow of death , and under real apprehensions of the Lord's departure from thee , and displeasure against thee , and then thou wilt find need of all the cordials , light and hope imaginable . O lay in sure and unquestionable satisfaction about this great case ; that God is really and inseparably yours ; and under all your clouds , fears and guilt , think well of God . 'T is hard ( saith one ) to think ill of our selves , and well of God at the same time . Store your selves with promises and experiences , with faith , hope , patience , and every grace that may bear you up in such a Tryal , and cordial your fainting heart under such dangerous deliquiums . If God should damne me ( saith one ) I have two arms , the one of faith , and the other of love , with which I would embrace him , and carry him with me , and his presence would make Hell it self a Heaven to me .

Thirdly , Times of sore affliction , and distressing calamities , are spending-times , and will try your store of grace , and strength to bear it , and to get through it ; and such you may live to see : The Cross is the usual way to the Crown , and affliction the lot of them that will live godly in Christ Jesus . And we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God , Act. 14. 22. The fining-pot is for silver , and the furnace for gold , Prov. 17. 3. And the fan for the wheat ; the condition of Believers in this world cannot long bear prosperity without loss to their spiritual part . Christians under settled comforts in this world , are like standing pools , which soon gather mud ; and as 't is said of Moab , so 't is with the people of God . Jer. 48. 11. Moab hath been at ease from his youth , and he hath settled on his lees , and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel , neither hath he gone into captivity , therefore his taste remained in him , and his scent is not changed . The sweetest nights that ever Jacob spent were in the field ; so with Peter in prison ; and David had those large affections to rise at midnight , and God's Word was sweet to him when his trouble was bitter , saith Dr. Harris . But by afflictions the Lord refines his people from their dross . Though the wisdom of the world ( saith Mr. Bradford ) think of the cross according to sense , and therefore flieth from it as from a most great ignominy and shame ; yet God's scholars have learned to think otherwise of the Cross , as the framehouse wherein God frameth his children , like to his Son Christ : the furnace that fineth God's gold , the high way to Heaven , the suit and livery of God's servants , the earnest and beginning of all consolation and glory . Acts & Mon. 3. Vol. page 322. If you will be Christ's Disciple , you must expect tribulation ; If need be you are in heaviness for a season . God's fire is in Sion , and his furnace in Jerusalem : Prepare for afflictions , by which God prepares his people for himself . He is not fit for the reward in glory ( saith Bernard ) r r Non est idoneus ad praemium qui nondum paratus est ad patibulum . who is not ready to ascend the Gibbet as the way to it . We are fallen on the last times , which are times of abounding iniquity , Mat. 24. 12. sinning , and therefore like to be suffering-times , called perilous times ; cruel times , 2 Tim. 3. 1. Beza renders it , troublesome times ; Tremelius , hard times , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , it comes from 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , to bring damage , or to overturn ; they will be overturning times ; times of desolation , as Christ prophesies of them , Mat. 24. 15. daies of vengeance . Luke 21. 22. These be the daies of vengeance , that all things which are written may be fulfilled : Great tribulation , such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time , no nor ever shall be , Mat. 24. 21. called the great and terrible day of the Lord , when the Sun shall be turned into darkness , and the Moon into blood . Joel 2. 31. The Sun shall be turned into darkness , and the Moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come . Cocceius thinks this time to fall under the sixth seal , Rev. 6. 12. under which 't is said , These are they which come out of great tribulation . I rather think that the sixth seal reckons with the enemies of God's people , and brings redemption to the Saints under great tribulation . That which we may clearly gather hence is , that those last times will be times of sore calamities , both personal and publick , to Nations , and to the Church of God ; and what a portion of those amazing troubles may fall upon the people of this age , we know not : this is certain , God seems to give his call from Heaven , as well as out of his Sanctuary , to prepare to meet with him , Amos 4. 12. to gird up the loins of our mind , Rev. 16. 15. to keep our garments on ; to watch , lest he come as a thief , Luke 12. 35 , 36. to have our vessels stor'd with Oil , and our lamps burning ; and to reckon on midnight sitting up , and be as men that look for the coming of their Lord : Matth. 25. 6. To watch and pray always , that we may be counted worthy to escape the things that shall come to pass , and to stand before the Son of man , Luke 21. 36.

Fourthly , The time of Death is a spending time , and calls for great provisions for that long journey ; and great change the Soul is then passing into . Death is the King of Terrors : O how amazing is the sight of it to a natural eye , and an awakened conscience ! the work that death comes to do is frightful work to flesh and blood ; to pluck a soul out of its ancient dwellings , to take it from all its acquaintance , friends , relations , and earthly All , from the comforts of the whole World , never to see or enjoy them more , as they have done ; nay , to pull down this earthly tabernacle , not to leave a stone upon a stone , but quite to demolish it to the ground , is a great change : to lay a writ on the soul's back , and in a moment to bring it to judgment , from all its acquaintance , friends , and dearest relations , to the vision of an infinite holy God , there to receive its eternal doom , and to enter into a new estate , out of which he shall never depart , either of blessedness or misery . To take the soul off from all the means of salvation , and possibility of change out of that estate into which , by death he enters ; that if the soul should die in his sins , there 's no future repentance , or any thing can be done to mend his ill condition : this will be terrible to a guilty conscience , sensible of many sins unrepented of , many duties neglected , much time lost , great hypocrisies uncur'd , many fears unremoved , and doubts unanswered . Now for such a soul , in a moment , to come to judgment , and to have no time allowed him to set things in order for so great a compearance , and to state his account for that final Audit , is an amazing providence . The time of death is also a time of the greatest light , when the soul's eye shall be opened to see things as they are , no more in a glass , but face to face ; then the soul that hath been dark all its days , shall see clearly things it never knew . As 't is said of the Mole , that it is blind all its time , till it comes to die , and then it sees : So they that would not see , shall then see , and be ashamed ; then shall souls see things as they are , and find that to be evil which they thought good , and that to be good which they thought to be evil . Death is the greatest informer , and makes the largest discovery of things that ever was ; it brings to light the hidden things of darkness , sins the world never knew , and sins it may be the soul it self never saw , or thought it self guilty of : then will the least flaw , error , unsoundness , neglect , failing , be fully seen ; then the things that now seem to be small , will then appear to be great ; and those things that were taken for mountains , will be less than one single grain of dust .

Death is a time also when conscience hath its quickest senses , and liveliest acts , when it sees , hears , feels , fears , all things as they are , and without any other witness , becomes both Accuser and Judge : then Judas needed no Accuser to charge him , or Judge to condemn him , but his own conscience ; nor Executioner to dispatch him , but his own hand . What 's the matter , man , ( said Mr. Perkins to a Malefactor , going up the ladder , and his countenance shewing the inward terrors of his soul , ) art thou afraid to die ? O , no Sir , said he , but of a worse matter . So another upon her death-bed , and under a terrible sight of her wicked life , when one that was by offered something to comfort her against the fear of death , replied , Were it but to die , it were nothing : A world ( said another , upon the border of eternity , and under conscienceaffrightings ) for one inch of time ! O give me one inch of time ! Luther speaks of an Eremite who , a little before his death , stood very sad , never stirring out of his place for three days , having his eyes fixt towards Heaven ; and being ask'd the reason of this posture , answered , he was afraid to die : His Scholars began to comfort him , telling him he need not to fear death , who had been so holy in his life ; but he replies , 't is true , I have lived well , and been obedient , but God's judgments are otherwise than Man's judgment , Tom. 4. fol. 50.

The time of death is a time of great temptation also ; then Satan usually brings forth his chiefest strength to weaken the soul's faith ; 't is his last onset , and that is the hottest ; as men that storm a Garrison , in their last assault they usually put forth their utmost strength : Then he opposeth us with most armed force . In this last assault , s s Instructissimis copiis nos impugnat , ipsam resistentiam aggreditur , & de certamine certamen est ; & bellum alio bello defendendum , hic pugnandum ut pugnare liceat , & resistendum ei qui resistere dissuadet , Luth. ( saith Luther ) 't is not as in other temptations , where faith and hope doth fight ; for here he sets upon the very resistance , and the strife is about striving , and the war is maintain'd by another war : Here the fight is , that it may be lawful to fight , and to resist him whose greatest policy is then to disswade from resisting ; laughing at our hope , as if it were already vanquished , and it were to no purpose to resist . This is a critical time , and hard to stand ; the last enemy is death ; when the soul must have the whole armour of God , and be found not in his own righteousness , but take sanctuary in the grace of God , the righteousness and faithfulness of Christ . Death is somewhat driery , ( saith Mr. Cooper ) and the streams of that Jordan between us and our Canaan run furiously ; but they stand still when the Ark comes : let your anchor be cast within the veil , and fastned on the rock Jesus ; let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart ; so shall ye go through t t Claude oculos & nihil responde , & commenda causam Deo . Idem . . When thou art tempted , ( saith Luther ) and seest no way to escape ; shut thine eye , answer nothing , and commit the cause to God : This ( saith he ) is the chiefest wisdom we should attend to in the hour of death . This was Bernard's course and comfort , when on the point of death ; I have lived wickedly , ( saith he ) but thou , Lord Jesus Christ , enjoyest Heaven by a double right ; first , because thou art the Son of God ; then , because by thy death and passion thou hast obtained it : u u Hoc servas pro te jure nativitatis , illud largiris mihi non jure operum , sed gratiae . thou keepest the first thy self by thy birth-right ; the last thou bestowest on me , not for my works but of thy grace . Christians , you had need be well furnish'd for the hour of death , ( your greatest and most difficult hour ) laying in all the provisions you can for a sure and comfortable passage to glory . Thus you see Wisdom's Merchants have more to do than keep up present life and comfort , they must lay in for times to come ; for times of temptation , desertion , affliction , and the hour of death .

Advice 4.

Fourthly , If you have good trading with God , then lay out for God . This is reasonable work , pleasing work , honourable work , profitable work .

First , 'T is reasonable work to lay out for God ; he deserves it , 't is his due ; all your mercies are his interest ; I will return and take away my corn in the time thereof , and my wine in the season thereof ; I will recover my wooll and my flax given to cover her nakedness , Hos. 2. 9. Though God gives his people the use of mercy , yet he keeps the propriety in his own hand : God is the Alpha , and should be the Omega , the Authour , and 't is reasonable he should be the end of all our mercies . James 1. 17. Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights : And ( as beams from the Sun ) is derived from his bounty , as his peculiar off-spring . w w Bona mea , dona tua . Omne bonum nostrum vel ipse vel ab ipso . Aug. My goods are thy gifts ( saith Augustine ) All our good is either himself , or what comes from him : Both trading and thriving are from him , and should also be for him , both principle and interest are God's own , Mat. 25. 27. If you lay not out your mercies for God , you rob him of his due . Your mercies are the Lords , not onely by that interest he reserves in them , but by your resignation of them unto him . Christians , when you gave up your selves to the Lord , you gave up all your interests and capacities also , 2 Cor. 5. 8. To keep back any part of your All from God , is to lye to the Holy Ghost . Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost , and to keep back part of the price of the Land : No lower terms will pass in reconcillation with God , than what Ahab yielded to Benhadad , 1 Kings 20. 4. My Lord O King according to thy saying I am thine , and all that I have . If you are not your own , much less any thing you have , is absolutely yours . God gives his people But a conditional interest in all things beneath himself , so far as it sutes his pleasure , use and glory . To keep back any part of your capacities and interests from God , when by his Word and Providence he calls for it , for his service , name and people is hypocrisie , lying , fraud and rebellion , and contrary to the Lord 's undoubted interest , both by creation , redemption , and your own grant , Hos. 2. 8. 2 Cor. 7. 20.

Besides , you receive not your mercies as Owners , but as Stewards , to keep and use them for him , and according to his instruction , 1 Pet. 4. 10. As every one hath received the gift ( whether of grace , or gifts of grace , inward or outward gifts , spiritual or temporal , 't is all one if he have received it ) so let him administer the same , as good Stewards of the manifold grace of life . Your interests are God's gifts ; your abundance , his Bounty and trust to be bestowed to his use and pleasure , for which you must give an account .

Secondly , 'T is pleasing work to lay out for God : Paul counted not his life dear to lay out for Christ , Acts 20. 24. Peter and John rejoyced that they were counted worthy to part with their name , and to undergo reproach for Christ , Acts. 5. 41. Nazianzen was glad that he had something of value , to wit , his Athenian learning to part with for Christ . The Mother of William Hunter the Martyr rejoyced , that ever she was so happy as to bear such a child as could find in his heart to lose his life for Christ's Name sake , Acts and Mon. p. 13. 96. Nothing seems burdensom to do or part with for Christ , to a soul that loves him : How willingly did Jonathan strip himself of the Robe that was upon him , and gave it to David , and his garments even to his sword , and to his bow , and to his girdle , because he loved him ; much more pleasing will it be to a soul loving Christ , to part with his All for Christ , 1 Sam. 18. 4.

Thirdly , 'T is honourable work also to lay out for God ; He that gives to the poor lendeth to the Lord , Prov. 19. 17. And is not this honourable to make God a debtor , and to get him who is over all blessed for ever , to become bound to his creature : O what honour is this , that the Giver of All should seem to be beholding to his creatures , who have their All from him ! Have you any thing you can part with for Christ ? think what honour 't is that God entrusts you with the bestowing of such gifts for him ; the Lord might have made you beggars , not givers ; who hath made you to differ ? why is grace , gifts , strength , estate , time , put into thy hand , and not into others ? it shews a good opinion God hath of thy faithfulness , and so bespeaks honour : O let not God have cause to revoke this estimation !

Fourthly , 'T is profitable work : The more you lay out for God , the more you get for your selves ; there 's no such way to gather , as to scatter for God ; your improvements of mercy to God's end , are but as sowing of seed , which will come in again with greater encrease , 2 Cor. 9. 6. He that soweth sparingly , shall reap sparingly , and he that soweth bountifully , shall reap bountifully . Laying out for God is Trading secur'd , not liable to hazards , as earthly undertakings are , but under a promise of sure and great returns , as hath been proved , and that is profit . Laying out for God , is lending to God upon interest , Mat. 19. 29. where both principal and interest are sure . Prov. 19. 17. He that hath pity upon the poor , lendeth to the Lord , and that which he hath given , will he pay him again . The Lord takes it as done to himself , and will repay with large use ; x x Tibi a Domino etiam cum amplissimo faenore reddendum . Mercer . he lends to the Lord upon bond for use , as the Hebrew imports , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , and he will surely repay it . God is bound for it , and therefore the debt is sure . T is a great mistake in men , and that which starves their expensiveness for God , to think the more they give , the less they have ; whereas laying out for God brings in principal and use ; it sanctifies what is left , and brings it under a promise of encrease . As the pouring out of the Widows Oil fill'd her vessels ; the more she poured out , the more she had , 2 Kings 4. 5 , 6. And as the Widow of Zarephath , by giving first to the Prophet , secur'd her own provision in a time of famine . 1 Kings 17. 13 , 14. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel , the barrel of meal shall not waste , neither shall the cruse of Oil fail , until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth . Mal. 3. 10. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house , that there may be meat in my house , and prove me now herewith , saith the Lord of Hosts , if I will not open you the windows of Heaven , and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it . 'T is mens niggardliness to God , and close-handedness to the poor , and pious uses , is one reason doubtless of the wasts and blastings on their outward interests this day . Prov. 11. 28. The liberal soul shall be made fat , and he that watereth shall be watered also himself . Cartwright and Baine think this is meant of spiritual gifts , as the former verse is of external good things . But as Mercer well observes , the sentence is general , and takes in any supplies that are given to such as are needy y y Q●i rigat , i. e. qui de suo erogat in egenos . Such shall be made fat ; he shall be so far from being impoverished thereby , as it shall encrease his substance ; He shall be watered as with showres in Autumn : The latter rain , which is fruitfulizing : The streams of charity are not like running water that passeth away , but as fruitful showres that come again with encrease . Prov. 3. 9 , 10. Honour the Lord with thy substance , so shall thy barns be filled with plenty . Multitude of promises might be heaped up , which give in a joynt-testimony to this truth ; as Mat. 25. 29. Eccles. 11. 1. Prov. 28. 27. Prov. 22. 9. Isa. 58. 7 , 8 , 10 , 11. with many others , and are abundant security for the blessing to such as lay out for God .

Besides , this is a proof of your love to God , 2 Cor. 8. 24. Wherefore shew ye to them , and before the Churches the proof of your love , 1 Joh. 3. v. 17. Whoso hath this worlds goods , and seeth his Brother hath need , and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him , how dwelleth the love of God in him ? 1 John 4. 20. For he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? By true charity to your poor Brethren you evidence your love to God ; that secures all your true and needed mercies .

Fifthly , This also is pleasing to God , Phil. 4. v. 18. Having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you , an odour of a sweet smell , a sacrifice acceptable , well-pleasing to God , Heb. 13. 16. Isa. 56. 4. and that is surely prosperous .

Then Christians , if God hath first given unto you ; if you love him ; if you would please him ; if you would prosper in soul , body and estate , lay out for God : If you have freely received , freely give ; whatever God hath entrusted you with , expend it for him .

First , Lay out your time for God : Among the many wasts of mercies souls are guilty of , this is not the least ; waste of precious time : Though there is no creature-blessing of greater worth than time , in which a foundation is laid , of all those mercies that are eternal . Time is a talent , a treasure ; not onely a mercy , but that without which there can be no mercy : Consider for your improvement of Time ,

First , Your Time is not yours , but God's , made by him , and for him . Psal. 76. 17. The day is thin , and the night is thine ; thou hast prepared the Light and the Sun . Time is that space between two Eternities , limited by divine pleasure , to divine use . Job 14. 5. Seeing his daies are determined , the number of his months are with thee ; thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass . And if Time be the Lord's , then 't is fit it should be used for God . Give unto God the things that are God's . When thou sinnest or trifiest away this Time , think on this ; now I rob God , and spend another's goods . You that hate robbery of men , be not thieves to God and your own souls : Time is God's , not thine own .

Secondly , Think how much you have lost of past Time , and this should make you choice of present Time . Psal. 90. 9. We spend our years as a tale that is told ; which vanisheth into the Air and is soon gone . Much of our time z z Multum Temporis eripitur nobis , plus subducitur , plurimum effluit , exigua pars est vitae quam nos vivimus . Seneca . ( saith one ) is pluck'd away from us , more is stoln away , but most of all doth slide away . O how little a piece of life is that we live ! How much of thy time hath been consumed in the grave ? How much in the market-place ? much slept away in the Vineyard : When nature , self , the world and sin have had their shares of every day , how little a portion hath been left for God ? Hence 't is the Apostle advises Saints to redeem their Time ; to get Time for God and their souls , though with some loss to other interests , because it hath been taken captive by self , sin and the world , and held prisoner so long . This waste of former Time makes it absolutely needful for them that will reach their journey's end before their day be gone , to redeem Time from their callings , recreations , refreshments , idleness and rest , for the recovery of neglected work , or they will find it wanting when they come to die . Give me my time again , said a woman on her death-bed , being under fears about her eternal state ; nothing could relieve her troubled soul , who had lost salvation-time .

Thirdly , Consider how short and uncertain your remaining Time is , or may be : The whole Time of thy life is but a span , a hand-breadth , a post , a weaver's shuttle , a vapour , a tale that is told , as a flower of the field , things of no duration , Job 9. 21. Psal. 39. 5. James 4. 14. Time ( saith one ) is a short parenthesis in a long period ; so short , that before we can name it , our present Time is become past Time . Our whole life ( saith another ) consists but of two daies , the day of our birth , and the day of our death ; for no sooner born , but we begin to die . Time is on the wing , hastening to Eternity every moment : Time travels when you sleep , and runs when you creep : Time goes on when you stop ; and gets ground when you go back : As the stream hastens to the Ocean day and night ; so doth Time to Eternity : O use your Time for God while you have it ! it will shortly be none of yours ; if you do not use it , you will lose it ; you were as good let God have your Time , as to let it run away to no purpose ; if duty do not improve it , rust will consume it ; the Devil , World and Flesh will engross it ; and 't is better give it to God , than let the Moth and Caterpillar devour it . Besides ,

Fourthly , Can you put it to better profit than to lay it out for God ? he is the best chapman for your Time ; nothing will give you so much interest for Time as God will ; put all the gain of other Time into the scale , with the incomes of God's Time , and you will soon see the difference . Time laid out for God will be the best security for your own Time : Give God his Time , and he will give you your Time ; all that Time that is needful for a blessed Eternity ; There 's no such way to enjoy Time , as to use it for God . Prov. 3. 16. Length of daies is in her right hand . Time expended for God will not only secure , but sanctifie your Time also , as the first-fruits did the lump , Rom. 11. 16. Besides , Time devoted to God brings in eternal interest ; Though Time be but a thing temporal , yet improved , it will bring to things eternal , 2 Cor. 4. 18. nay it will bring you mercy in the time of need : Give God your working-time , and he will feed you when in your unserviceable time . When I was a young man ( said Mr. Bruce ) I was diligent , and liv'd by faith in the Son of God , but now I am old , and am not able to do so much , yet he condescends to feed me with lumps of sense . [ Fulfill . of Scripture . ]

Fifthly , you must give an account for your time to God ; he takes notice of mens time , how 't is spent ; and accordingly will judg them : Luke 13. 7. These three years I come seeking fruit on this Figtree , and can find none ; cut it down , why cumbreth it the ground ? Psal. 95. 10. Forty years long was I grieved with this people . Luke 19. 44. Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation . God looks for fruit from his people , according to their months , Ezek. 47. 12. O how much is it your concernment to order your disbursements of time to a consistency with your comfortable account in the day of Christ ! then you will wish God had more of your time , when you come to reckoning for it : what a blank will there be in our account of time , if it be not better bestowed than hitherto ? That time will yield you most comfort when you come to eternity , which was spent for God here .

Sixthly , How can you bethink a little time for God , who hath not thought an eternity of mercy too much for you ? Christians , 't is salvavation , with eternal glory , he hath prepared for you , 2 Tim. 2. 10. A Crown incorruptible , an Inheritance that fadeth not away , a Kingdom that cannot be shaken : Upon this very argument the Apostle presses the Saints to unweariedness in present work , Gal. 6. 8. Think how disingenuous 't is thus to requite the Lord that hath dealt so bountifully with you ; to with-hold your time from him , who first gave it to you , and hath denied it to others ; and will shortly close up your troublous time with eternal rest , in blessed mansions of purest pleasures with himself : Let this love of Christ shame you for misimproved time , and constrain you , for the future , to lay out all possible time for God .

Secondly , Lay out your strength for God ; he is the God of your strength , he hath right to it , and use for it , Psal. 43. 2. He hath work for you which calls for all your strength : His works are great , greatly to be sought out of all that have pleasure therein , Psal. 111. 2. His mercies are great , and greatly to be praised : Psal. 86. 13. His anger is great , and greatly to be feared : 2 King . 23. 26. His trials and rebukes on his own children are many times great , which need great faith and patience to bear up under them , and the strength of grace to make a right use of them : Psal. 71. 10. Which hath shewn me great and sore troubles : You do not know what need you may have of all the strength your hearts and graces are capable to receive , to carry you through your remaining trials and troubles : you have not yet resisted unto blood , or been brought to fiery trials , nor seen such days as never yet were or shall be And therefore you had need be girded with strength , and to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus ; and one way to it , is to use what you have for God , Heb. 5. 14. God's service also calls for expended strength : Luke 10. 27. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy strength , 1 Chron. 26. 8. The strength of thy heart laid out , inward strength for God in his service , the strength of your whole souls ; and outward strength , the strength of your bodies also in the work of God . So did our Lord Jesus , he wasted his strength in the service of his Father , that at thirty four years old , he was taken to be neer fifty : he was weary in his work . And Paul did spend , and was spent for Christ , 2 Cor. 12. 15. And David cried out , My knees are weak through fasting , Psal. 119. 24. Glorify God in your bodies , and in your spirits , which are the Lord's : 1 Cor. 6. 20. In labours more abundant : 2 Cor. 11. 23. Striving for the faith of the Gospel . Religion is no easy work ; Ministers ( saith Mr. Burroughs ) must venture their strength for Christ , and so must all that are Christ's : 2. Cor. 11. 27. In weariness , in painfulness , in watchings . Religion is worth all your labours and exhausted strength ; men tire themselves for the world ; how much more should they for God and Glory ?

Thirdly , Lay out your gifts and graces for God , and the good of souls : 1 Cor. 12. 7. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal : that 's God's end why he gives gifts to any , that every one who hath them should improve them to his glory , and the good of others . A capacity of serving God , and furthering his Kingdom in the World , is such a priviledg as the Saints in Heaven enjoy not : and the Angels , when employed in any subserviency towards it , readily and chearfully prosecute it . Angels are vigilant creatures , and wait for opportunities ; and when they come , will not lose them , [ Greenh . ] Yea , 't is such a prize , as being once lost , can never be enjoyed again ; nor gracious souls ever more return to their stewardship , when once 't is given up ; and therefore should be heedfully regarded , and faithfully used whiles continued . God gives not talents to be napkin'd up , nor lights to be hid under a bushel : none of us liveth to himself , Rom. 14. 7. All the characters of Saints , and those relations they stand in , engage to usefulness : They are the lights of the world set in a candlestick , that they may cause their light to shine forth before men , Mat. 5. 14 , 15. They are the salt of the earth , of purpose to savour others . Mat : 5. 13. If salt hath lost its savour , 't is good for nothing but the dunghil . They are stars in God's firmament , to communicate their light and influence unto others , 1 Cor. 15. 41. Vessels in God's house to be meet for use , 2 Tim. 2. 20 , 21. Stones in his building , which have a mutual usefulness to bear up each other , and toward preserving the whole , Eph. 2. 2. Branches in the Vine , that yield their fruit for the cheering the hearts of men , Judg. 9. 13. Trees in God's garden full of sap , Psal. 104. 16. Members in the body , to impart their nourishment to each other , Eph. 4. 16. and discharge their respective duties , of sympathy , care , and helpfulness to their fellow members : 1 Thes. 5. 14. We exhort you , brethren , to warn them that are unruly , comfort the feeble minded , support the weak , be patient towards all men : Use all your capacities for God while you have them , lest he take them from you , or opportunity to improve them .

Fourthly , Lay out your earthly interests for God , Prov. 3. 19. Honour the Lord with thy substance , and with the first fruits of thy encrease : Give God his due in maintaining his Messengers , and keeping up his worship ; alluding to those first fruits of Israel's encrease , which were the Lord 's by special appropriation to his service , Exod. 22. 29. and supply of his ministry among them , Lev. 23. 20. the equity of which obliges in Gospel-times , though their ceremonial and judicial respect cease : and this duty is reinforc'd under the Gospel by more ample arguments taken from the light of Nature , the law of Moses , and will of Christ , 1 Cor. 9. from ver. 9. to 15. To this head is referr'd that command ; Gal. 6. 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things ; for God will not be mocked : ( as they do who pretend Religion , and yet are defective in this manifest duty , ) pressing them to unweariedness in this expensiveness for God , whatever discouragements they meet with upon the assurance of the blessed fruit of obedience to the will of Christ herein , ver. 7 , 8 , 9. 'T is not the maintaining or welfare of a few men in the World , that is the design of this great command of Christ ; but the tendency this hath to the promulgation of the Gospel , and keeping up the instituted worship of God , the conversion of Sinners , and edification of Saints successively in every generation , to which these supplies are necessary , that the servants of Christ might attend on their ministrations without distraction ; and whoever ( a subject of Christ , and sharer of this priviledg ) draws back from this duty , he is chargeable not only for violating the royal righteous law of Christ , but for being guilty of subverting his Government , Crown and Dignity ; and endeavouring in his measure , the ruining his interest , of hindering the conversion and edification of souls ; and whatever damage hereby comes to the spiritual or eternal welfare of souls ; it will be laid on their heads in the day of the righteous judgment of Christ .

Another greatly concerning duty contain'd in this Scripture , is charitable communications , feed the poor , feed the hungry , clothe the naked , relieve the oppressed . [ Bede Alapid . ] This is to honour God with your substance ; not to spend it on your lusts , to live high , to fare deliciously , to build your nests on high ; but to make your abundance a supply for the good of those that are in wants , 2 Cor. 8. 14. Isa. 58. 7. 10. Mat. 5. 42. Jam. 1. 27. Heb. 13. 16. Luke 14. 12 , 13. Otherwise ,

First , All your Religion is in vain , James 1. v. 26 , 27. Your knowledge , desires , affections , frames , tasts , enjoyments , marks , experiences , seeming graces , duties , are all nothing , and can never prove the truth of your grace , the safety of your estates , and goodness of your religion , if you are found defective in this great duty of Charity . Psal. 112. 4 , 5. Vnto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness ; he is gracious , and full of compassion , and righteous . A good man sheweth favour , and lendeth . Let men say what they will , if they be covetous , hard-hearted , have no compassion to them that are in wants , have no heart to give or lend to needy ones ; they have no true grace in them . Verse 9. He hath dispersed , he hath given to the poor , his righteousness endureth for ever . Men may talk , and pray , and seem to be eminent Christians ; profess love to God and their neighbours , and yet all the while be deceived , and have not a jot of grace in them , while their hearts are cruel , their hands shut to their poor Brethren . Remember the young man in the Gospel , and fear thine own estate if thy heart be glued to thy possessions : — How dwelleth the Love of God in him ! 1 Joh. 3. 17. He loves not God , and God loves not him ; that shuts up the bowels of his compassion from his poor and afflicted Brother . That 's pure Religion , and undefiled before God to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the world , Jam. 1. 27. Shew me thy faith by thy works . Jam. 2. 18. Religion ( saith one ) is not onely contemplative , but the greatest part of it like the Mathematick's bargains , how will they stand for a penny ! in chacharity , how cold are they ! how hard is it to screw an alms out of their hands ! if this be Religion , the Lord keep me from such Religon . This begets an odium in the men of the world against Religion , and the waies of God : But woe to that man by whom offences come ; it had been better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck , and that he were drown'd in the midst of the Sea , Mat. 18. 6 , 7.

Fourthly , Acts of Charity purely done will evidence your right to glory . Mat. 25. 34 , 35. 36. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world ; for I was an hungred , and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger , and ye took me in ; naked , and ye cloathed me ; I was sick , and ye visited me ; I was in prison , and ye came to me . The enquiry in that great day will not be after mens profession , light , frames and duties of Worship , but after the fruits of their faith and love as evidential , not causal , of their right to glory , Here is held out ( saith one ) not the b b Non causa salutis , sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , & Testimonium credentius his verbis innuitur . cause of their salvation , but the sign and testimony of them that believe , &c. c c Opera quae Christus praedicaturus est non 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , sunt ; sed 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 respectu fidei ; & finis ejus vitae aeternae . Glass . The Kingdom is obtained by way of Inheritance : ( Come inherit the Kingdom : ) aad prepared for them , as a portion for children , not purchased by them as the procurements of their works : The reward is freely bestowed on all interested in Adoption-grace , of which title the bearing proof in that day will be the fruits of love to those that are Christ's ; words will not be sufficient to demonstrate this love then ; it will not serve mens turn to say they loved Saints , except it were extended to all , yea the least of Saints , and proved by acts of love , and communications to all their necessities ; and that not some small pittance of their abundance , which they valued not , but it must be such portions and kinds of relief , which their necessities call for ; in visiting , feeding , cloathing , owning , comforting , receiving into their houses , and whatever help they were capable to express , and this as readily and heartily expended to them as they would lay them out to themselves and theirs , that being the rule of Charity : Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self , Matt. 22. 39. The want of this evidence , whatever else may be pretended , will finally and eternally cast souls in that last and terrible day , Mat. 25. 41. to the end . Do not deceive thy soul with false hopes of glory ; not one mark will pass for Heaven , where there is a hard heart , and close hands towards poor and distressed Saints : For he shall have judgment without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy , Jam. 2. 13. There is no room for you in Divine bowels , if you shut up your own bowels against them that are in misery . See in that Parable , Mat. 18. 33 , 34 , 35. the dreadful end of those who are any way cruel to their fellow-servants , having themselves tasted the mercy of their Lord . The liberal distributions of your estates to the poor , is the onely way to make them truly serviceable to your souls , whiles this becomes the occasion of your reception into everlasting habitations . Luke 16. 9. Make to your selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness , that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations d d Opus hoc receptionis in aeterna habitacula solius Dei est , tribuitur autem pauperibus quia ipsi sententiam Christi Judicis de salvatione piorum 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 approbabunt , & beneficentiae quae fidei fructus est testes erunt . Glas . The mammon or riches of this world , is called the riches of unrighteousness , because they are unrighteously gotten , or unrighteously kept , to the detriment of those that need them ; or unrighteously spent to the hurt of those that have them ; but the way to change their nature , and to make them profitable , is to lay them out to the poor , who will receive you , or witness for you in that day , to prove the truth of your love , by which you shall be received into glory .

Fifthly , They are the sure way to blessing here . Luke 6. 38. Give , and it shall be given to you , good measure pressed down , and shaken together , and running over , shall men give into your bosom ; for with the same measure that ye mete withall , it shall be measured to you again : Intimating , that giving to the poor , is but lending to the Lord , as hath been shewed , and it shall be surely repaid in this life , either in kind , or in value , in such things as they need ; yea oft-times in the same coin , and that to sufficient requital , good measure amplified by three metaphors , pressed down , shaken together , and running over ; that is ( saith e e Ita illis benefacturum ut sensari sint se esse remuneratos . Scultetus ) God will so bles them , that they shall be sensible they are sufficiently repaid , 2 Cor. 9. 6. Deut. 15. 10 , 11. Mat. 10. 41 , 42. Psal. 41. 12. Prov. 11. 24. Job was a man of great Charity , Job 29. 12 , 13. a man of great prosperity in the world , v. 6 , 7. and though for the tryal of his faith he was stript of all for a season , yet did the Lord after all turn his water into wine , chap. 42. 10. Rahab entertained the spies , and saved her self and family from ruine by it : The Shunamite , the Widow of Zarephath got by laying out acts of Charity to the Prophet . Tiberius the second was a person of great liberality to the poor ; 't is said of him , that whatever Justinus his predecessour had contracted by covetousness , Tiberius freely distributed to the poor : And when Sophia , Justine's Widow , reproved him for his excess of Charity , he replies , g g Confido in Domino quod non deerit pecunia fisco nostro quamdiu pauperes Eleemosynam inde accepturi sunt . Est enim is thesaurus ingens de quo Dowinus dixit Matth. 6. 10. Theatr. Hisior . Thcoret . Tract . I trust in the Lord that our Exchequer shall never want money , while the poor are maintained out of it . Neither did his expectations fail ; for as the same Author reports , he found a vast treasure in his Palace , hidden under the pavement , which could scarce be emptied for divers daies : Thus God blessed his bountiful hand . Mr. Gouge , in his Surest and Safest Way of Thriving ( a book worth your getting , and to which I refer you ) gives many modern instances of this great truth ; I shall for their sakes who have not the Book mention this one , concerning the pious and imitable resolution of Mr. John Walter , Citizen of London , who having a sufficient estate to maintain his Charge , resolv'd what further estate God should entrust him with , to bestow the same on charitable uses ; after which vow he found his estate wonderfully encreasing : A worthy president to such as have enough to live comfortably upon , to put bounds to their further purchases , and entitle their surplusage to the service of Christ , and refreshments of his Saints ; a course men will one day find more gainful , than to joyn house to house , and field to field . 'T is the best way ( saith Chrysologus ) for a rich man to make the bellies of the poor his barn , to succour the fatherless and needy , and thereby to lay up treasures in Heaven . Gregory the Great was so devoted to Charity , that all what he had seem'd to be the common granary of the Church . 'T is said of Cyprian , he was the blind man's eyes , the lame man's legs , the naked man's garment ; he was a man of so great Charity . Mr. Fox , the Author of the Acts and Monuments , never denied to give to any that asked for Jesus sake . Augustine sold the Ornaments of the Church to relieve the poor . And Bazil in a time of great famine sold his Land , and other goods to maintain the poor . A Duke being asked by some Ambassadors whether he could shew them some hunting-dogs , gathered a great many poor people together , and shewing them to the Ambassador , said , These be the Dogs I daily keep , and with which I use to hunt after Heaven . O that Christians would have other games in chase , than that which perishes in the using , and lay out their estates to better advantage than what appropriating them to self-interest can afford ! Feed the hungry , cloathe the naked , give to him that lacketh , seeing such blessed encouragements do attend this Christian duty .

Fifthly , If you have good trading in grace , then lay up for glory : If you are Wisdom's Merchants , Heaven is your Country and home , the place of your rest and eternal residence : The world is a strange Countrey to you , a spot of ground where you are set for a while to trade in to get commodities for your Countrey ; and sent into it as Jacob was to Syria , to provide for his own house , and then to return into his Countrey ; Gen. 30. 30. This is not your rest , Mich. 2. 10. Christians , you are not sent hither to take root in the Earth , or with the Raven , let out of the Ark to build your nests in the world ; or with the fool in the Gospel , to take your rest in your full barns , and encreased goods ; but as Joseph was sent before into Egypt to make provision for his own Countrey ; and as Solomon's ships were sent to Tarshish to transport what materials were useful for the House of God , and his own house . All that you are allowed here , is but as factorage for present maintenance : Some viands and refreshments in the way , but your great business is to get such goods as will vend in your own Countrey . Remember , you are all this while left here , to fill your sacks for your own home , where your kindred and habitation lies : Your Father's house , and your own mansions , your treasures , pleasures , crowns , thrones , and all that you are like to have for ever , lies in your City above , whose maker and builder is God . We know but little of Christ's love ( saith Mr. Cooper ) till all be perfected and spread before us in Heaven . O lay up for Heaven ! treasure up all you can for the other world whither you are going : Especially lay up these four things for Heaven :

1 Hopes for Glory , 2 Desires for Glory , 3 Treasures for Glory , 4 Preparations for Glory ,

First , Lay up sound Hopes for Heaven . 1 Pet. 1. 13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind ; be sober , and hope to the end , for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ . Sure hopes of Heaven are of wonderful use to quicken a soul's dispatches for Heaven . Acts 26. 7. Vnto which promise our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope h h 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , omnibus viribus toto animo . A Lapide . to come . 'T was their hopes to enjoy those great and glorious things in the promise , that did put them on such diligence in those waies that lead to it ; to strive in every duty that seem'd to have an eye to this glory , they did stretch out their hand to take hold of eternal life , as one that was near the prize . Hope puts strength and activity into the soul in its motion after God , and makes it restless and unwearied till it enjoy him . This argument the Apostle useth to provoke the Hebrews in their race towards glory : Heb. 12. 1. Seeing then we are compassed about with so great a cloud of winesses , let us lay aside every weight , and the sin which doth so easily beset us ; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us . The weight of the argument lies in the sure and blessed issue of well-grounded hope attested by so many witnesses in the former Chap. who ran so great adventures , sustain'd so great losses , underwent such cruel deaths in chase of this eternal Crown ; and not one of them miscarried , all got safe to glory , through their many fears and deaths . And seeing all that had this true hope hither to have sped well , and the same promise is made to us ; Chap. 11. 40. having provided some better thing for us , ( better priviledges , better promises , ) Let 's pluck up our spirits , and at it again ; and if no visible comfort or evidence meet us in our way , yet let us hold on with patience till we come to the end of our race .

Hopes of glory do also guard the soul against discouragements and difficulties . 1 Thes. 5. 8. Putting on the breast-plate of Faith ; and for an helmet , the hope of Salvation . Hope arms head and heart , and keeps off the venom'd darts of Satan from ruining the soul ; while well-grounded hope of a blessed end is kept up , Israel prevails , and the Believer is kept from being overcome : 1 Joh. 5. 4. This is the victory that overcometh the World , even our Faith .

Hope of glory maintains a patient expectation and quiet waiting for the fruition of it . Rom. 8. 25. If we hope for that we see not , then do we with patience wait for it ; and this is no small mercy : Impatience hath a dangerous influence on a Christian's heart , discouraging it , and exposing to temptation of giving over ; saying , Wherefore should I wait any longer ? 2 King . 6. 33. which danger Hope secures from .

Hope settles , and stays the heart ; stilling its fears , scattering its doubts , and strengthning its confident expectation of glory , turning perswasions into the highest certainty , even a kind of knowledg . 1 Joh. 3. 2. But we know that when he shall appear , we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is . Well-grounded and improved hope in a Christian's life , doth usually end in a triumphing confidence at his death : I shall shine ( said a precious servant of God on his death-bed , ) I shall see him as he is , and all the fair company with him , and shall have my large share : it is no easy thing to be a Christian ; but as for me , I have got the victory , and Christ is holding forth his arms to embrace me ; I have had my fears and faintings as another sinful man , to be carried through creditably , but as sure as ever he spake to me in his word ; his spirit witnessed to my heart , saying , fear not ; he had accepted my sufferings , and the out-gate should not be matter of prayer , but of praise ; [ Mr. Rutherford's last words . ] And a little before his death , after some fainting , he said , Now I feel , I believe , I enjoy , I re●oyce , I feed on Manna , I have Angels food ; my eyes shall see my Redeemer . O what rich cheer will hope of glory find on a death-bed ! What brightness is that I see ? ( said Mr. John Holland the day before his death , ) have you light up a candle ? a stander by answered , no , 't is the Sun shines : Sun shine , ( saith he ) nay , it is my Saviour shines ; now farewel World , welcome Heaven ; the day-star from on high hath visited my heart . O speak it when I am gone , and preach it at my Funeral ; God dealeth familiarly with men ; I feel his Mercy , I see his Majesty ; I see things that are unutterable : Hopes of glory will make the World seem a very poor thing in a Believer's eye ; he that by faith can stand on Mount Nebo , and get one glance on the promised Land , as his , feeds on the first ripe Grapes of his own Countrey ; in comparison of which , all the World 's dainties are bitter things . Hopes of of glory cheers the heart in the way to glory . Rom. 5. 3. And rejoyce in hope of the glory of God . Rom. 12. 12. Rejoycing in hope , patient in tribulation : It makes the soul go merrily on , like a Ship under sail , that hath both wind and tyde ; whereas the doubting Saint drives heavily on , when winds and waves beat against him , being unwheel'd of Faith and Hope : Sure hope of Heaven gets honey out of the rock , and meat out of the eater , which makes his rough ways plain , and his passage to Heaven pleasant : 'T is Christians losing their hopes of Heaven , makes them so uncomfortable in their passage through the World .

Lastly , Well-grounded hopes of Heaven have a great influence towards preparation for it , while it hath an advantage to further his holiness . 1 Joh. 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him , purifieth himself as he is pure . When the Apostle speaks of the faith of God's elect , which is after godliness , Tit. 1. 1. as a furtherance of this holiness , lays this hope upon eternal life ; In hope of eternal life , which God , that cannot lye , promised before the World began : Expectations of Heaven well laid , cannot but constrain a soul to utmost measures of holiness . 2 Pet. 3. 14. Seeing that ye look for such things , be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot , and blameless . Heaven is a place of perfect holiness , no unclean thing can enter there ; which the eye of faith seeing , and the soul 's right to it , puts a person upon perfecting his holiness , that he may be ready to enter in . O then lay up hopes of glory , which have such precious fruits hanging on them .

Quest. But what are those sure hopes of glory , which will never fail of glory ; and from which we may expect such excellent fruit ?

Sol. First , Sure hopes of glory , which will never fail of glory , are issued out of a saving union with the Lord Jesus , the Lord of glory . Col. 1. 27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles ; which is Christ in you the hope of glory . Christ united to you , and dwelling in you by his spirit , is this glorious treasure spoken of in the former part of the verse . Here are two arguments to endear the Lord Jesus to Believers .

First , That in their union with him they are invested with great and unsearchable treasures ; he himself being that glorious and hidden riches opened in the Gospel , and made over to them in their reception of him into their hearts by faith ; part of which treasure they have in hand in their present union and communion with him , and the blessed fruits and consequents of it here .

Secondly , Another thing that renders Christ precious to Believers , is , that in their union with him is laid the foundation of their right to , and evidence of their hope of glory ; [ Quatenus est in illis eatenus habent spem gloriae . Dav. ] and assurance of their future and eternal enjoyment of himself , and all his treasure laid up in glory : There 's no other way to have a right to glory , but by union with Christ , who hath purchased glory onely for those that are his , and have this spiritual union with him . Hence 't is that the Lord Jesus Christ is called a better hope , John 17. 21 , to 27. Heb. 7. 19. For the Law made nothing perfect , but the bringing in of a better hope did , by which we draw near to God : That is the Lord Jesus in his Priestly Office , of which the Ceremonial Law was a forerunner , did bring in a ground of better hope in opening the way to God in grace and glory : All right to glory is through him who is the Lord of glory , 1 Cor. 2. 8. and hath the disposal of it to whom he pleases , John 17. 2. even to all the Father hath given him to be his ; and to these he gives eternal life , John 10. 28. They that have union with Christ cannot perish , being members of his body , flesh and bones ; should a soul that hath received Christ here , miss of glory hereafter , then would a member of Christ perish , and his body in Heaven be maimed and imperfect , which cannot be , his Church being the fulness of him who filleth all in all , Eph. 1. v. 21. And Christ hath past his word for it they shall not perish , John 10. 28. Not one of them is lost who are truly in Christ , John 17. 10. They are his servants , and shall be where he is , John 12. 26. His Spouse , which shall be ever with him . Try then your union with Christ ; Have you received him into your hearts by faith ? Are you one Spirit with him , having the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus ? you would be holy as he is holy ; nothing short of compleat oneness with Christ can content you : Indeed , you have carnal desires within the borders of your souls , that crave for satisfaction , and sometimes will have it whether you will or no ; but there is another Law in your mind warring against this Law in your members , that cannot rest till you arrive more to his likeness , who is your life , righteousness and glory . Are you implanted into Christ's death and resurrection , brought into some conformity to him ? And do you live upon him as the branch upon the root for all your grace and supply , and stay upon him as the stone upon the foundation , for your support in grace unto glory , as your onely Lord and Righteousness ? Then are your hopes for glory sure speeding hopes .

Secondly , Truth of grace secures your hopes of glory , it being the earnest , seal , and first fruits of glory . 2 Cor. 1. 22. Who hath also sealed us , and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts . Grace is God's seal for glory , and what greater security can there be ? 'T is his earnest-penny , which is never taken away , as a pledge may be , but secures the whole summe ; yea 't is part of pay : Grace is that seed of God which remaineth in him , 1 John 3. 9. and secures the soul's state against final Apostacy , through its union with the Spirit dwelling in him , Rom. 8. 11. Prove your truth of grace ( though never so weak ) and you will prove your title to glory : Doth your grace owe its being to the fulness of Christ , John 1 16. owning its derivation thence ; and dependance there ? Doth your grace spread it self into every part and faculty of your soul , wholly sanctified throughout ? 1 Thes. 5. 23. Cannot your grace mingle with sin , or own the least appearance of evil , Rev. 2. 2. but hath according to its measure an irreconcilable enmity against every known sin ? Gal. 5. 17. Cannot your grace rest in any measures short of perfection , but hath desires and endeavours after more and more grace ? 1 Pet. 2. 3. Hath your grace pure and ultimate designs for Divine Glory , aiming in every thing , Phil. 1. 20 , 21. that Christ may be magnified , John 3. 30. and self annihilated ? then is your grace true grace , and will in time turn to glory .

Thirdly , Your mortifiedness to the world will be a good proof of your title to Heaven . The heirs of Glory are chosen out of the world ; are not of the world , John 15. 19. Redeemed from the earth , Rev. 14. 3. They have not received the spirit of this world , but the Spirit that is of God , 1 Cor. 2. 12. and are crucified to it , Gal. 6. 14. dead to the desires , pleasures and interests of this world , Col. 3. 1 , 2. Dead men have no favour or delight in things ; no more have they who are dead to this world , any acquiescing pleasure in earthly things , which can no more satisfie a heavenly soul , than dung can feed a living man . Christians , try how your hearts stand affected to earthly things ; are these great in your eye , amiable to your affections , attractive on your desires , prevalent on your wills , beyond the things of Heaven ? then are your hopes of Heaven unwarrantable by any Divine evidence , and will at last leave your names written on the earth .

Fourthly , Your hopes for Heaven , if right , will be active lively hopes . 1 Pet. 1. 3. Who hath begotten us again to a lively hope , by the resurrection of Christ from the dead . Hopes that put life in your affections i i 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , id est , vivificam scilicet quae vivificat Metonymia Effecti . Piscat . and spirits , and makes you vigorous after holiness , and the way to glory , Ephes. 2. 10. Right hopes for Heaven will make you run in the way to Heaven , and put you on all manner of holy conversation . Paul's hopes for Heaven put him on labours and strivings after perfect holiness , 2 Cor. 5. 8 , 9. Phil. 3. 12 , 13 , 14. Try your hopes ; do they quicken you to duty , or leave you dead ? You have no heart to the waies of God , or delight in approaching to him ; his commands are grievous to you ; this bespeaks unsound and frail hopes for Heaven , which will at last deceive you : But sure hopes for Heaven are back'd with suitable labours for Heaven .

Fifthly , If your hopes be right for Heaven , then will your conversation be in Heaven . Phil. 3. 20. But our conversation is in Heaven , whence also we look for the Saviour , the Lord Jesus Christ , who shall change our vile bodies , that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body . You will be taken up about heavenly things , and driving on heavenly concerns : You will be maintaining entercourse in Heaven , and keeping up your converses with God ; you will be often taking journeys to Heaven in your contemplations and desires ; your business will be much in Heaven , and your occasions thither frequent ; though you live on Earth , yet you will converse in Heaven . As Dr. Preston said when he was near death , I shall but change my place , not my company . O try your hopes for Heaven by your conversation , if that be engaged about the things of Heaven now ; if your work be in Heaven , your rest shall be in Heaven also .

Sixthly , If your hopes for Heaven be right , you will willingly undergo whatsoever sufferings and dangers lye in your way to Heaven . He that is sure of reaching home at last , will venture through any dangers in his way . O what hazards will men run through to get an earthly Crown ! no difficulties will discourage them ; how much more will hopes for Heaven carry souls through the Red Sea of afflictions and bloody sufferings they may meet with before they come to it ! Acts 20. 24. chap. 21. 13. He that cannot consent to drink of the cup Christ drinks of , and which the Father shall give him to drink , and to submit to the cruellest death , losses , shame , tryals and torments , which his faithfulness to God may bring him to , must reckon again , and take up other conclusions about his future state ; easier terms cannot be granted : Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath , he cannot be my disciple . Luke 14. 33. He that will come after me , must deny himself , take up his Cross , and follow me . Matth. 16. 24. We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God . Acts 14. 22. If we suffer with him , we shall reign with him , 2 Tim. 2. 12.

Secondly , Lay up desires for glory , not only some desires of glory , but such desires as nothing else can satisfie but glory ; which nothing short of a whole God can content . Most souls in this life limit their desires , and take up their wishes too short of true blessedness : My soul thirsteth for God ( saith God ) but it was only for some sights of his power and glory , as he had seen him in his Sanctuary , Psal. 63. 1 , 3. Some looks through the lattice ; some embraces of Christ in the arms of faith , pleased the Spouse , and doth satisfie most souls here : Alas , how few are the desires of gracious souls , which a little of God will not content ! One desires grace , another peace ; some are for quickenings and comforts ; others for enlightenings , for higher measures of knowledge , for some sights of God through a glass ; but how few breathings are there , to see as we are seen , to know as we are known ? 1 Cor. 13. 12. And indeed 't is strange that Heaven-born souls , that heirs of glory , and fellow-citizens of Heaven , should have no more longings after their own home , and not onely for some first-fruits , but the full ripe fruits of their own Countrey . David had sometimes workings after this , not only for God to come to him , but for himself to go to God ; when his heart takes a leap from the path of life , into the presence of God , where is fulness of joy , and pleasures for evermore . Psal. 16. 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life : in thy presence is fulness of joy , at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore . From the beholding of his face in righteousness here , he longs for the satisfying visions of God in glory . Psal. 17. 15. As for me , I will behold thy face in righteousness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness . Paul also under the highest enjoyments of God here , had his unsatisfied longings to be with him as best of all , Phil. 1. 23. and in respect of which he counts his greatest intimacy with Christ in the body , to be a kind of absence . 2 Cor. 5. 6. Knowing that whiles we are at home in the body , we are absent from the Lord . Do not terminate your desires upon any thing that can satisfie you on this side glory : Get such desires raised , which cannot be answered till you come to Heaven , with such kind of breathings as these : O when shall I come to that blessed state , to know as I am known ; to have every corner of my heart filled with the immediate emanations of his glorious fulness ! O when will that time , or rather eternity come , when I shall be satisfied with looking on that blessed face which is every day the Angels wonder , and the Saints joy . Here alas ! I lie among the pots , all sooty and defiled , whiles the vessels of my Father's house , and the bowls before the Altar , out of which my Lord alway drinketh , are bright and glorious . Now I have my habitation where Dragons lie , while a glorious Pavilion stands empty for me : Here I feed on my own dung , and oft-times eat the excrements of Devils , and all the while there 's bread enough in my Father's house , and my Brethren fare deliciously at the King's Table . O when shall my work be done , that I may be gone ! When shall the things for cleansing be given me , and the daies of my purification be accomplished , that my turn may come to go in to the Lord my King ! When shall the Nuptial garments , the Bridal ornaments , the Robe , the Ring , the Royal Vestments bespangled with costly Jewels , be given me , with this most welcome message , Arise my Love , my Dove , my Fair One , and come away ! Lay up such kind of breathings after the Mountains of Spices , the Everlasting Hills , the Rivers of Pleasures , the Bride-chamber of Glory , where you shall be ever with the Lord. k k Glory , Glory dwelleth in Immanuel's Land , Rutherford's last words . This will hasten your pace to Heaven , and mount you on the wings of a Dove : This will help you to pass by the world's glory with a holy scorn , and to bear its cruelty with incredible patience .

Thirdly , Lay up all the Treasures you can to greaten glory : Though the lest portion of glory is satisfying , yet the highest measures of glory are desirable , because in it there is the greatest conformity to God , 1 John 3. 2. Luke 10. 17 , 19 , 20. Dan. 12. 3. and the fullest enjoyment of God . The Lord Jesus doth propose degrees of glory for the encouragement of his people to greater improvements of grace ; and therefore the highest degrees of glory are desirable : O get as much as you can here to greaten your felicity in Heaven . Do all you may to make your Crown more massy , and your mansion more fair , and your pleasures more full to all Eternity .

Several things have a tendency to greaten your glory . The more grace you improve now , the greater will be your glory ; he that gained ten pounds , had ten Cities : Grace is seed sown , according to its measure will be the harvest : What a man sows , that shall he reap , Gal. 6. 7. The less seed is sown , the less crop will there be ; and the more seed , the larger encrease , 1 Cor. 3. 9. Glory is a Crown of Righteousness proportioned to the utmost improvements of Grace . The more work you do for God , the greater will be your wages of grace in glory , 1 Pet. 5. 2 , 4. 2 Cor. 5. 10. That every one should receive according to what is done in the body .

The more you lay out for God , the more shall you receive from him , 2 Cor. 9. 6. who will certainly repay it .

The greater your sufferings are for God , the greater will your rejoycings be with him : They that sow in tears shall reap in joy , Ps. 126. 5. Look what disproportion there is between the Seed-time and Harvest , far greater is there between the Saints sufferings , sorrows , and triumphing joy : Their sorrow lies within the compass of a short night , their joy begins with that morning which hath no evening to follow it , Psal. 30. 5. Their tears will scarcely fill a bottel , but their pleasures are so vast an Ocean , as that they cannot be received , but must be entred into , Mat. 25. 21. Our light affliction , which is but for a moment , worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory , 2 Cor. 4. 17. Yea the present consolations of the Saints oft-times abound in their sufferings ; The ringing of my chains hath been sweet musick in my ears , ( said Guy de Bres ; ) all my former discourses were but as a blind man's of colours , in respect of my present feeling : O what a precious comforter is a good conscience ! How unspeakable then are those rejoycings , when all tears shall be wiped off , when sorrow and mourning shall fly away , Mat. 5. 10 , 11 , 12.

The more your losses are for Christ on earth , the greater will be your gain in Heaven . Heb. 10. 34. And took joyfully the spoiling of your goods , knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance . Men can never bring their goods to a better Market , than to have them spoil'd for the sake of Christ : your goods you lose for Christ are capable of being spoil'd ; your goods you shall receive in Heaven are above all injury ; the very bags wax not old , much less the treasure : time will mar your best interests here . Alas , what is a little old goods , moth-eaten garments , rusty silver subject to change ; compared with that substance , whose duration is as long as eternity , and whose extension is as large as immensity ? and such is God in Christ , the Saints eternal treasure : Mat. 19. 29. And in the World to come life eternal . Carnal reason judges them the greatest fools that dare to be undone for their profession ; whereas divine truth reckons such the mad men , who to escape them that can but kill the body , durst encounter him who can damn both soul and body in Hell , Mat. 10. 28. And to lay a foundation of a few days safety upon the ruines of themselves and others . How dangerous ( said Mr. Cooper ) is their estate , who cannot rise but with the fall of many ? Et quantulum sit illud propter quod nos reliquisti ? How poor are those things ( saith he ) for which you have left us ? whereas the Saints losses for Christ are their greatest gain , while the things they part with are but temporal ; but those they gain are eternal , 2 Cor. 4. 18.

Lastly , The more souls you help to Heaven , the more treasure you prepare for Heaven : Dan. 12. 3. They that be wise ( the margin hath it , they that be teachers ) shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness , as the stars for ever and ever . As nothing doth sink a person deeper into Hell , than to have the blood of souls upon its head , and to become the occasion of others perishing , Jer. 2. 34. So it wonderfully greatens a persons own blessedness in Heaven , to be the means of getting others to be blessed also : 1 Thes. 2. 19. For what is our hope , or joy , or crown of rejoycing ? are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? for ye are our glory and joy .

Lastly , Lay up preparations for glory : Glory is a great thing : O what a change doth Heaven make upon a Believer's state ! We shall all be changed , 1 Cor. 15. 51. from corruption to incorruption ; from sin to spotless purity ; from imperfection to pefection ; from darkness to knowledg ; from faith to fight ; from espousals to a marriage-day : and what preparations do such a change call for ? What if death should surprise you , and take you in your old clothes ? 't is not your daily garments , no not your best rayments are good enough for your marriage-day : your attire must be all new when you solemnize your eternal nuptials to the King of Glory . O what manner of persons should you be who look for new Heavens , and a new Earth ! If a Paul be not sufficient to carry a love-token to Christ's Spouse here on earth , 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient for these things ? Who then are fit to lie in the Bridegroom's arms to all eternity ? Few think what a change must be before the Saints can get to Heaven : 1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption . If so much preparation-work must be dispatch'd before an Esther could be fit for the embraces of an earthly King , Esth. 2. 12. six months for purifying with oyl of Myrrh , and six months with sweet Odors , and with other things ? How much sanctification-work is needful to meeten a soul for the immediate enjoyment of God in glory ? and how unready are the most of souls for such a change ? O Believers ! hasten about your preparations for Heaven , seeing you have no fixation on earth , and know not what hour your Lord will come . In order to which , take these six directions .

First , Get your hearts more loose from this present world ; men that change places , knock up , and take abroad things they must carry with them : Your hearts ( Christians ) are the principal things you must take with you to Heaven ; it may be you have gone to God in duties many a time , and left your hearts behind you ; but you cannot go to God in glory , except your hearts be with you . And O what a difficult work is it to go the heart ( upon choice ) loose from every thing below God! and till this be done , there 's no getting to Heaven : Things fastened to the free-hold ( they say ) cannot be removed ; how then can that heart get to glory , that is nailed down to the world , and things below . Be daily loosening your hearts from the world , estates , houses , lands , trades , friends , relations , and every thing below ; for you may not have time to get them off without loss , when death comes : you must leave them all shortly , and you know not how soon , to go to better friends and interests : these have been snares and spears to your souls , and have given you many a wound , and still hinder your speeding to glory ; and why should you be loth to part with them ? O Christians ! if you are willing to be with Christ , you will give your hearts warning to be gone from these tabernacles , and to take their leave of this world daily .

Secondly , Press after more maturity in your graces ; the more ripe , the more fit for gathering , Joel . 3. 13. Tamar must tarry a Widow till Selah be grown , Gen. 38. 11. and your marriage-day must be delayed till you come to a full age : The Saints must be as a shock of corn that cometh in in its season , Job 5. 25. Ripen a pace in your graces , if you would get to glory : Get your faith , hope , patience , and every grace encreased daily ; especially your love to God ; that 's the grace shall abide in glory , 1 Cor. 13. 8. Faith and Hope are the soul's helps , and companions in the way ; but Love will be an eternal inhabitant with you . Get purer , deeper rooted , stronger , more enlarged love to Jesus Christ every day , till you be downright sick for him ; this will make your life a death without his presence here , and your death to be life in being with him for ever . 'T was love to Christ made Ignatius so dead to all things below , a a Vita sine Christo mors est ; Ignat. and so longing to be with Christ : 'T is storied of him , that when he was dead , and his heart taken out , they saw the name of Jesus written in it in letters of Gold : The more love to God , the more fit for God ; for God is love , b b Non est in me incendium quidpiam amans ; D. Ludov. Rub. .

Thirdly , Get and keep the testimony of a good conscience , that may witness for you in the day of Christ : when you die , you are to have a trial for your life , your inheritance , your All ; and you had need have your witness firm , and ready : Now there are two great witnesses you will need in that day to clear your title ; the witness of Conscience , and the Spirit : have the one on your side , and you will not want the other . Get your consciences sprinkled with the blood of Christ , and purged from dead works by the Spirit of Christ , that it may be able to appear for you in that day . The blood of Christ will put words into the mouth of conscience for you , to plead the general issue , and the benefit of pardoning grace , wherein you have been transgressors ; enlightned conscience will accuse you that you have sinned ; and besprinkled conscience will plead for you that you are pardoned ; and purged conscience will testify for you that you are changed , and that you hate the evil you have done , and love the holiness you have neglected . O of what wonderful use will the testimony of a good conscience be when you stand at the Bar of God! Get it true to you now , and sure for you then .

Fourthly , Maintain more constant walks with God daily ; this will fit you for your eternal fellowship with him . Converse with God is begun acquaintance here ; and in Heaven is perfect friendship , and perpetual fellowship . It will much fit you for Heaven hereafter , to begin the work of Heaven here , which lies in maintain'd intercourse with him . Through these gallery-walks with God , do the Saints pass into the Presence-Chamber , and sit down with him for ever : Communion with God now , is Heaven begun ; such are fittest for his presence in glory , who are train'd up in his company here .

Fifthly , If you would prepare for Heaven , dispatch your work on Earth : Heaven is a state of rest , and rest follows the finishing of labour , Heb. 4. 9. Rev. 4. 13. Paul must end his fight , finish his course , and keep the faith , before he can reach the Crown : 2 Tim. 4. 7 , 8. In the grave there 's no wisdom , device , or work ; this is your only time for labour while you are in the Vineyard . O how much work is behind with most ! which will make a departure terrible to an awakened conscience . Haste about your neglected work ; you have ( it may be ) much work to do with others , in your families , with your relations ; possibly there are some souls in their graves , and you have not done what you might to bring them forth ; dead Husband , Wife , Children , Servants , for whom you must do more , or cannot comfortably appear before God . O hasten about this work , that you may give up your account with joy ! There 's soul-work to be done , to get corruptions subdued , graces strengthned , your accounts stated , evidences cleared , and lamps trimmed , which must be attended with utmost vigour . If you would get home , finish your work .

Lastly , Be alwaies ready , waiting for the coming of the Lord : Luke 12. 35 , 36. Let your loins be girt about , and your lights burning , and ye your selves like unto men , that wait for their Lord when he will return from the Wedding ; that when he cometh , and knocketh , they may open to him immediately : 2 Pet. 3. 12. Looking for , and hastening to the coming of the day of God : Not only be waiting for your change , but longing after it , as persons that are ready for a desired journey think the time long ere they go . Why are the wheels of his Chariot so long a coming ? Judg. 5. 28. The Spirit and the Bride say come , Rev. 22. 17. With the Virgins go out to meet him , Mat. 25. 1. If you knew the welcome that abideth for you when you come home , ye would hasten your pace ; Rutherf . The more ready you are for the coming of Christ , the more will you long for his appearance ; and the more grateful will his approach be . The uncertainty of that time when the Lord Jesus shall appear , and the unseasonableness of that surprisal for preparation-work , should put Christians on continual readiness , lest coming in an hour they know not of , they be found unfit to enter in , and the door be shut , Mat. 25. 10.

O how dreadful will a miscarriage be at last ! All the hopes , labours and comfort of your life depend upon your final safety , and happy conclusion of your day : 'T is a great thing to live a sanctified , and die a saved soul . O how few imagine the difficulty of being a Christian indeed , and the infinite concern of securing an immortal soul , and a sure title to the unsearchable riches of the other world ! O the folly and madness of rational creatures , to make every thing sure but salvation , and to spend their time and strength about the many things of a perishing life , and lose the better part ! Whoever thou art that castest thine eye upon this discourse , thou wilt one day find Religion to be thy chiefest interest ; when thou comest to take thy farewel of a vain deceitful world , and seest all thy Lovers , for whom thou hast sleighted thy precious soul , thy Soverign Lord , and dying Redeemer , to prove miserable comforters , not able to afford one drop of balm , to heal , or cordial to chear thy fainting heart , and affrighted conscience : When thou seest pale death deliver thee a summons to appear before the holy God , and to give an account of thy Stewardship , when thou seest the Books opened , and such a fearful charge against thy guilty conscience , which thou canst not deny or answer ; then wilt thou find godliness in the power of it , to be the greatest gain ; and would'st give ten thousand worlds for such an evidence as Hezekiah and Paul had , when within view of death and eternity . And is not Religion as much thy concern , and should be as grateful now , and all those great and important duties of piety which this Book laies before thee ; thought to be as advisable now , when time and capacity may render them feasible , as in a dying hour , when desires and purposes may be too late ? O do not content thy treacherous heart , to cast a transient glance upon these lines , to approve or commend them , and after all to shake hands with these vast and concerning Truths in them , and live and die a stranger to this great and heavenly work ; but resolve to set about it presently , to pursue it throughly , that when your Trading-day is done , your enriching Eternity may begin , and you receive that vast Inheritance that fadeth not away , eternal in the Heavens .

FINIS .