"*/' SOME BRIEF HIN & HELPS, TO Faith, Meditation, Prayer, Comfort and Holinefs. Communicated at Chrffthurch.TjVKLlN f 7 Go(icT IAS f ARRIS ' ' Mini ^tle 'Enlarged with S-PIRIXUAL PI in above XXX Cafes, By Mr. John Hunter Mimfter of the Gofpel at Ayre. RKE ^Printed, By m ( T HI S EXCELLENCY; The Lord Henry Crom- wel, Lord Deputy of Ireland. May it pleafe Your Excellency, THE reafon why Ifuffer this Dif- courfe to go abroad, and not fome others^ ( though urged by Friends, yea commanded there- unto by Your Excellency and the Coun- cil, ) is partly to beg Pardon for that Dif- bbedience, partly to evidence, that it was ho defett in my Will, but in my Notes and wanner ofwr'tting, that hindred mefrem ' faying that Obfervance, -which now I j yield-, But effect ally y becaufe the Spirit of God, ( for mine own, or a worfe,w«- ther. could, or would ever have done any i fucb good office for we $ / . .fay therefore i undoubtedly the Spirit of God ) by tbefe , A 2 and 16. & he Epiftle Dedicatory. and th* like Inje&ions ^^Intimations, hehing me to plead and pre fs thent, and to hold them -up before ' the : Lord, and to fpread them before Kim, as Hezekiah did the Letter/£<**Z> -many^a time, fuft- ainect 4fl$LckpqjecL mineL^wn featt,~4n4 Jo renewed tfye face of that wrtk after much Winter weather, after many Tnh, Troubles ,^and Tremblings : far when Godfpeafa, where are the Xips, that wiU ftab. \. nr) * quiver at His voice ? bits who fe bawi will not rot tennefi enter ?-andhapj>y they, and they only, who n\w nimble in themfelves, that they may reft in the day of trouble. This, (not to mention-any other ground) gives ^ne. fome Jmall glimmering of hffe, that^ the Ja/ne Powerful Spirits, majffe p!ta.Jed;alfo, further to. mamtge and im- prove, the Ja>ne Medium , to the relief and advantage of others : J nd ( I can Jay : it .) it is ufefullnefs and fer vice. that I have aimed at in this enterprise, \Amongft.ali /ia? Helps io~D*votion that Jhauefeeh, ( ' 1 mean Books fo intitled, coh/monly. containing fome Fdrmsof Pray- 4tib) I .remember not any} thing, at all ofkin t'dahh •Undettakeifig, which tends tQ\teIptlw\&\£t, not'^djtint the Spirit of VjAfCtyimd i only I Ayes a few flicks together , Ipaittiiup-W the- Wood where mere Tfre- Epiftle Dedicate ry. ntoje may b* had) which by His own breath, He may. be pkafed-ta kindle, Whatever ftrangers, either in place or affeBim may imagine, I know Your Ex- cellency' to be a Pleader, and ( I hope ) a Prevailer with God daily. I therefore offer- this poor "Enkynpto You, notfo much by way ^/Ailiftarrce, as of 'Ac- knowledgment that under God Ton have been, and are the Inftrumental xaufe of my enjoying afttllnefs of Opportunities, of do- ing- fonre fetvice in- my Generation^ the value whereof I defire daily to renew upon my Heart, above all the things that this World, can afford, or brittle Mortality enjoy, / __ • As it hath been "four Lordfhips mer- cy, that hitherto you have had help from on High, to know and Love the Lord, His Name and Image where ever you difcern it, and to walk acceptably with Tour God, and ufe fully to his People, for which you ha**.)e your Record on High, your Witnefs amongtt men, and in your own Bofom : fo it is now become your Obligation, and only Inter eft, ft ill to be found in the fame wayes of Righteoufnefs ; wherein that you may per f ever e unto the End : and that your Path may be, as the mining Light, which lhiaeihjovf|- more and more unto tlse~- perfect ^ay I That Ton, your mo ft precious The Epiftle Dedicatory. % r precious Confort and hopeful Children j titay prove an ineftimate Bleffing in this World, *nd eternally Bleffed in that to come, is> andfkall be the daily prayer of ? ( My Lord ) Your Excellencies wortblefs but rnofi wihing Servant. Tho. Harrifon. Lemmata ^ 4^ $£& ^P^f^t^fyf* ^ &> Lemmata Cafuum. Arguments in Cafe of 1. I Nacquaintedneft with the Lord* KX Page 25 2. iSW* of more than ordinary unxorthi- nefl ever to be Acquainted Javingly nith GOD. P. 19 3. Jealoufie as to the hove of Qhrifl. P. 36 ^ Jealoufie concerning God the Father. P. 4Q 5. JW of Unbelief P. 56 '6. Fear of Hypocrifie. P. £1 7. Fear of being afted only by a flavifb .Spirit of Fear. S. Sevfe of fearful Bachflidings 9. Senfe of (Iron? Corruptions. 10. Fear of great Afflitlinns. 1 1 . Senfe of. extremity of pain. 1 2. Defertion felt, or feared. 1 3. Exercife in Ft lends. Relations, Name •r Eftate. P. 90 14. Sudaip P. P. P. P. P. P. 66 7l 76 8o 85 The Contents. 14. Suddain difq&etmenf from CloU<(y Projxdences. P. £4 j $.. Dread of f pin tual Judgments, bard- nefs of hearty unprofitablencfs, Under means of Grace. P. $r8 J 6. Tear that Prayer is not beard. P. 106 1 7. . Fear that God can -never taSce any Special Delight in fuch a Polluted Piece. P. 3 18. Year tffEjeftmentyDrUnfervkehkle- vefe. P: ti8 t 19. Fear of being cafl of at lajf.. £. 1 24 20. InteSceffion for others : with Qflh- plaints concerning many things that are amifs in our times. Where theTft- vine .Right ofty tha is poven.V.i 2 9 E R RATA. ■TN the former part of this ®6ok r dd$eW [ Mr. H'irrifdn, there are a fe^ literal E- lcapes,in fome copies>4udh the Candid Jkeia- €t may eafily amend, a^fdllo^s ; J'age k|;¥« ,6. read f&$. and line 14.x. -pkniirtg. j>. fcj. 1. ^8 > r. flfcff. -p.- 1\: 1 . 19. r. cMaifity, and & £$. r. Arguments, p. 55-1- 2.8. 1. cxt^a. p..6o. k 1^. for ^.,-jead Vy. p. 61. 1. 1. r. Goorf. p. 6$. f ijK *:>/;?! */;e. p. 67. J. 10. t.- bitter, p. 75- 1. 12. & Cfoi/L p. 77/I. *}. r. ffe.p/^. 1. t. r. %e'u%& trouhle:^. Toi* 1. T7. for 4, tear! the. p* U<>; J. .12. forftate or ftation, read ftate ana Action. y. 172. 1.2j.readP/^wi/5.p. 148. iiaeiilt. i. 4>9MiM± Topica Sacra ; Spiritual LogicL - j __. Job 23/3, 4. That I knew where I might find hhn ] that I wight come even to his feat ! 1 would order my canfe before him, and' fill my month with Arguments. HOly Job , poor now , even to a Proverb, and miferable to a Prodigy, perceiving his friends Difcoarfes were fuller of Reproaches than Confolations , ne- glects to anfwer them, and refolvee to get him to God , the only Support and Refuge of the miferable. . And thus M entertains himfelf in the I fecond verfe, even to day, after all that j hath been faid , Exajperatio efl querela Drufo & wea the bitterneft of my complaint is ra- toiwl 1 B flic* Spiritual Pleading*, ther increafed than allayed *, wherefore no wonder my mouth is alwife open to breath out "complaints', and the more I complain, the more I fuller from you, ,gr.-iw^7x(fo feme J or rather from 'God himfelri TTohU Whofe handl acknowledge in all thefe ncight trj.'ftroalcs \ and let me complain as long as fvlo. I will my tongue is not fo eloquent in Grotius complaining as his hand is heavy that m loc. ftnfces me^.my ftroak is heavier than my groaning. And yet for all this, verfe 7. he flghsf after a Treaty, after a nearer accefs and approach unto him that ' Trait es him v he quites his feeming friends to make after his feeming Enemy, and is willing to make this enemy his Judge, and to refer all to him. And then, verfe 4. He thinks with himfc.lf how he would manage his mat- ters, how he would beftir himfelf, and not lofe his caufe for want of pleading, could he but get a day of hearing v 1 would order my caufe before him , and ■ fill my mouth with Arguments. Some think he wifhes for a Guide, a Friend to. help him to fuch an op- 1 portunity. jghtis det noffem ( faith Dm- fiu* ) quis mibi tribuat ut cognofcam ( fkith the Vulgar ) quis dabit fcirem ( faith Montanus ) quis eft qui pofsitfa- cerc 1 . ' ..i - . . i - | I ■ ii • 1 i 1 11 I ■ ■■ and Ex f oft ul at ions. 3 c ere ut valeam accedere (faith the Syri- ae ) he would fain find an Angel to con- duit him to the Throne of God ( faith Renault ) or rather the Angel of the Co- x n Tii s p a - venant to afford him that ^p#5&>«>Taphfafe that Manuduftion which the Apoftle u P olC ^| fpeaks of, as the known privilege ofall pia; - e; Believers, who through him have an ac cefs by one Spirit unto the Father, Efh* 2. 18. But not to darken the words in ftead of explaining them, by giving the vari- ous readings and opinions of Interpre- ters, I will draw out fome obfervations, and haften to that I defire to infill: on. Objerv. 1. The for eft ftroaks cm\- Ob few at. not drive away good fouls from God, but rather draw them nearer to him. My ftroak is heavier then my groaning- yet O that I knew where I might find him ! 2. God himfelf, even for his owa fake, 19 the great Objett of a Saints feekings. O that I knew where I might find him! not this or that to be g:ttea by him. 3. Precious fouls- that have a large Inter eft in God, are fome time's at a 1 ft, as to his fweet and fenfible Prejenler^ The great God hath his unknown Re- \iteuu^ whether, fajs beft friends- can not B 2 folbvV Spiritual Pleadings, follow him. So verfe 8, 9. heboid, I g° forward, but he is not there \ and back-' ward but I cannot per ci eve him \ on th& left hand, where he doth work, but lean- not behold him ; he hideth himfelfon the right hand that I cannot fee him. So holy David, Vfal 6l. I. God, thou art my God, early will I feeh thee. You fee his Intereft is clear •, he can fay- thou art my God, and yet he had but little en* j oy me nt of him: his foul thirfteth, Jong- ethy followeth 3iard after him, ' ver. 8* Such another figh ye have, Vfal 101. 2. O when mlt thou come unto me} Do not conclude ye have no intereft, be- caufe ye have little en joyment^ no U- tiion, becaufe ye want Vifion. 4. A gracious heart feldom or never thinks it felf near enough unto God, its Sun and Shield, and Center: that I fcneiv where I might find him f that I might come even to his feat ! 5, Gods Judgement-feat* where he fits to hear and determine caufes, is not terrible or unapproachable to a Belie- ver, who knows it to be a Throne of Mercy, as Job here did *, for, fays he , verfe 6. how would he ufe me, if he Had me there? would he overwhelm [ me with his greatnefs > will he plead againft me with his abfblute Power > 1 and Expoftulations. No, but he would put itrengtii in me : Happy are ail that can lay io, tor we piuit all appear there, 2. Cor, 5. 10, ir. and it will be terrible to all thofe that do not or ten relbrt thither afore-hand. .6. A poor afflicted creature often thinks he hath a great deal to fay un- to God, if he could but get an hearing *, he thinks how he would order and ar* gue out the matter; what a ftory he would tell him, if he could but get his ear, gain accefs and audience from him. 7. It's good to have our hearts and jnouths nTd with Arguments when we come to plead and Expoftulate, and reafon out our great concernments with our God. This is the point I pitch on, toespell that fpirit of {lumber, which hath fo much weakned the fpirit of Prayer in our days, that comparatively they are but little enriched by it, who trade to Heaven with it, where God hath all • good things lying ready by him, and waiting only for Prayer to come and fetch them away. When Clirift himfelf would give us 2 perfect Pattern of Prayer, both for mat^ ter and manner, he winds and wraps up all with a conclusion, Mat. 6. 13, con-? fifting of certain reafons to perfwade B 3 Go4 Spiritual Pleadings, God to hear our prayers, or at leaft to perfwade and allure our felves, that he doth and will hear them: the reaibns have an influence into all and every- one of the Petitions , Thine is the King* dom ; and therefore we expert that as a good King thou fhou Idfr receive and an- K-J. 72. fwer our Petitions: it is thy concern- 12,1 5,14, rnent as a King to have thine honour l $r advanced, therefore hallow thine own name, glorifie it in the Church, let thy Kingdom come to it, advance thy Will in it, fuftain us thy Subjedts, pardon our fins, keep and defend us from Evils. So Thine is the Vower^ which Kings 1. Ki:ie. ^ ten tiraes want} but thou art able to 6.16) 27. exalt thine own name, to extend thy Kingdom over all, to fit us to do thy will, to minifter to our neceilities, to pardon our fins, to preferve us from all Evils. And thine is the Glory •, The hallow- ing of thy Name is the chief part of thy glory 5, thy Kingdom the prime place cf thy glory 5 herein art thou glorified , when we obey thy Will, when thou provider!: for thy people, forgiveft their fins, preferveft and deli vereft them from their Enemies-, therefore do thou all thefe things for us^ therefore do we truft and hope that thou wilt do all. thefe ihines for us. Thus and Ex f ovulations. • Thus our blefled Saviour doth direSi tis, and thus the blefted Saints hzveprac-' tifed m all Ages. When the people of Ifmel had made the molten Calf, and committed Ido- latry with it, and God was about to deftroy them for it, fee how Mofss in his prayer for them lays hold on the avenging hand of God, and frays it by reasoning and arguing , from the difho- nour that would redound unto God if he lhould deftroy them*, and from the Covenant that he had made with their fathers, Exod. 32. 11, 12, 13, &c. And Mofes befought the Lord his God, and faid, Lord , why doth thy wrath war hot againft thy people which thou haft brought forth out of the Land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty -hand ? ( thou art now greatly engaged in thebufinefs) the Egyptians will {lan- der thy gracious Intentions, and fay it was for mifchief with a purpofe to flay and confume them. Remember Abra- ham, Ifaac and Ifrael thy fervants, to whom thou fwareft by thine own felf that thou wouldft deal otherwise with their Pofterity .* and fee how he prevails verfe 14, Tne Lord repented of the e- vil which he thought to do unto his people. So when he would have de- ftroyed Spiritual Pleadings ftroy ed them for murmuring, Mofes in" terpofeth again ior a pardon, and fills his mouth with Arguments, Numb, 14* 13, &c. The Egyptians will hear it, and they'l tell ftories of thee to the In- habitants of this Land, and they "1 /lan- der thy Tower, and fay, becaufe thou wert not able to carry them any further, thou didft rid thy hands of them in the Wildernefs ^ Now therefore I befeech thee, lhew what thou canft do, put forth the greatnefs of thy power in pardon- ing , as thou haft fpoken , of thy felf, ;and as thou haft practifed hitherto in forgiving this people from Egypt even nntill now. And fee how he carries it at again, verfe 20. The Lord J aid I have fardoned according to thy word. So Abraham, before him, Gen. 18. 2?, 54, 2 %. Wilt thou alfo dejlroy the Righ- teous with the wicked? thdt be far -from thee to do - y after this manner to flay ( pell mell) the righteous with the wick- ed, and that the righteous fhouldbeas the wicked-, that be far from thee-, fhall not the Judge of all the earth do light ? And you know how he fhrunk up and narrowed the number, till he thought he had got within the verge of Lot's Family, and expected that (hould afford fa many righteous perion* and Expofiulations. as he named $ but he was out in his charitable conjeSiure ; otherwife he had not faiFd in what he pleaded for. He gained ground at every* advance , and God yielded till Abraham thought he had Enough, and fo prcfled him no fur- ther. Thus Jolhua when the people were fmittenat At , Jojb. 7. 7, 8, 9. Alas, Lord God, fays he, wherefore hafl thox at all brought us over Jordan > or was it our Ambition and Covetoufnefs that brought us over} would to God we had been content and dwelt on the other fide Jordan. O Lord God, what fhall I fay- when Ifrael that ( us c d to be vidto- riow ; turneth their backs before their enemies ! and now theyl all hear of it and environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth $ and if that were the worft, it were no great rnalter -5 but what wilt thou do unto thy great 'Name ? that will hardly fwim if ours fink, they are fo twirled together, fo imbarqued in the fame bottom 5 and 'though Ours be Vile, That's Precious j though ours deferre to rot, what hath that deferved? and think what thou art about to do to thy great Name. Thus Hezekiah in his ficknefs, Ifa. 38. 2 7 3, Remember new Lord , I hefeech thee : J IO Spirit nail Pleadings. how I have walked before thee in truth ; J have had an Honeji heart towards thee, thou knoweff it ; and mufl I now be. cut off untimely ? when all things are fb Unfetled now or never is the time for thee to give Teftimony to my fincerity ^ and you know he had a Reprive pre-* fently brought him. Thus he Argues in his diftrefs becaufe of Senacherib, 2. Kings I 9. 1 ?, Sec. They have indeed made work with the gods of the Nations, and caff them into the fire, becaufe they were no Gods-, but now that they come to meddle with thee and thy pec fie, let them find it too hot for them, and let all the Kingdoms of the earth know that thou art the Lord God 9 even thou only. Thus Afa, 2. Chron. 14. 11. Tori our God, we reft on thee, .thou art our God, let not man prevail againft thee. Thus Jehofaphat, 2. Chr. 20. 6, &c. Thus Daniel, Chap. 9. to the 20. ver. &c. Thus Amos Chap. 7. ver. 2, 3, 5, 6. Thus the Apo'ftles, Aft. 4. ver. 24. to 3 1. Not. that God {lands in need of our informing him concerning our necefTities, which Ke ; knows better then we ^ but becau e hereby we give fome proof that .we .are not altogether ftrangers at home ( as many carelefs ones are ) but knop fomething and Expoflulations. n fomething of our fe Ives, and our own cafes, and of him Him a.nd his dealings' towards us : But I will give no other grounds for the point, then thofe oijobs refolution for this practice ^ and they are thefe. ■ i. Upon earoeft arguing God will undoubtedly anfwer fome way or other ; that's implyed, verf. 5. I would know the words that he would anfwer ?ne, and tsnderftand what he would fay unto me. An anfwer I may be fure of when I fill my mouth with arguments $ he will not fit frill and fay nothing •, .he will not fit like an Image, like a dumb Idol, as the Abominations of the Heathens, their D'ii Stercorei, their dunghil-Gods ( as Tremeh they are called, Deitt. 29. 77.) muft of neceifity do* 3 they can do no other wife, though men/// their mouthes with Argu- ments, and empty their veins of their blood before them, t. Kings 18* 28. No fays Job^he will undoubtedly an- fwer could I but have my fill of plead- ing-, and I might guefs at his defigns by his anfwers ( which are now too wonderfull for me) \ might understand what meaneth the heat of this great Burning and wherefore he contendeth with me, and what he Means and in-* j?nds towards his poor creature. # Arguments 1 2 Spiritual Pleadings, Arguments then in prayer are not lit? \y to go unanfwered, and praying Souls hnd it fo. Sometimes he anfwers glorioufly from his fecret place of Thunder, yet not in Thunder but in Lightning, in fome glo- rious irradiation, in fome precious melt- ing Promife born in upon the heart with a ftrong hand, and there Engraven in indelible Characters by an irrefiftible power, whereof gracious fouls in our days have had abundant experience. Sometimes he anfwers in fomt fecret fnpport only, - as Hannah after her ar- guing and pouring forth her forrowful foul into his Bofom, when {he had left her petition in his hand, or but laid it- down at his feet •, though fhe had no o- ther Fiat then what was written on her heart by an invifible finger, yet {he went her way well apaid , and fell t to her meat, and her countenance was no more fad, i. Sam. i. 18. And furely one or the other of thefe made David clofe up fo many Pfalms with Praifes & Rejoycings, which he had fregun with tears and mourning-, an ob- vious obfervation, 8c clear evidence that ■-. even whilfl: he was on his knees before the Lord, the wind came about and blew upon him out of a warm corner, and made all his fyicesfow. Som * ' ! I ■ • and ExpoftitUtions. 1 3 Sometimes God anfwers in fome pro* tidential difpenjations, which both gratis fie us for the prefent, and might inftruB us for the future -, for many, very many Providences are Prophetical,and do foie- {hew tilings to come} but the language of Prophecies is for the niofl: part ohfcure^ and we feldom underftand it, till God interpret it in /the accomplifhment j an Inftance whereof we have in A8s, 7. 25. Mofes his defending the Ifrae- lite, and avenging him that was oppref- fed, and fmiting the Egyptian, had a further reach , drift and fcope in it, than barely that prefent vindication: for he fuppofed his Brethren would have underflood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they underflood not: no more do we many times the full Extent and Import of a difpenfation which ecchoes to Prayer ; yet for the moft part we pick fomething out of it to flay the ftomack, and to afford Sup- fort, if not fatisfaBion. Plead then, and fill your Mouths with Arguments -, for when ever you do fo, beyond all peradventure God will anfwer. Secondly, There's no feat that he will interpret this fawcinefs and pre- emption in thee, and fo anfwer the© witla 14 Spiritual Pleadings with his Fifts about thine cars, or with his foot to kick thee out oi his prcfence* there is no fear that he will imother thee under the weight oi his GreatneiV or dazle the with his beams, or burn the with his flames, or drive the from the Judgment feat ( as Gallio did the Jews, Acl. 18. 16. ) No he never beats his people lower then their knees, and thence fuffers them, yea helps them to rife again ^ nay he will lay his hand upon thy head, yea under thy feet to do thee good ^ He will firoke rather than jlrike a pleadinfi Soul \ He will jhengtb- en Thee, and put Mettal into Thee ^ this is Job's confkleration in the fix th verfe, Will he plead againft me with his great and abfolute Power, by which he may do what he pleafeth with his poor Creatures? Will he ferve me fo> v Ko, but he would put flrength in me : Thus he dealt with Daniel, Chap. 10.19. Thirdly, There the Righteous may fie ad and difpute with him even at the i Bar of Equity and Juftice, yea and the Judge cannot but pronounce and pafs . fentence in their favour ^ that's his en- couragement, verfe 7. there the Righ- fetkts'mxy plead with hfm, and fo fhall I be delivered for ever from my Judge, never more dread him as a Judge, but . , f© and Expostulations, 1$ fo as withali to love him, and live with him as a Father. There righteous Jeremy pleads with him, Jer. 12. 1, &'o, Righteous art tbott .0 Lord^when Iplea&fith thee :( there's •no queftion to be made of that, that admits of no difpute ) yet let me talk with the of thy Judgements. There he invites his people to come and plead freely, If a. 43. 26. Put me in remembrance, let us plead together , declare thou that thou may eft bejufti/ied. If thou haft any thing to fay for thy felt* fay on. Nay even Idolaters {hall have this fair play, permi-lion to plead for them- f elves, and for their dumb Idols too, if they have any thing to fay Tor them, If a. 41. 21. Produce your Caufe faith the Lord, bring forth your flrong Reafons y faith the King of Jacob. Have Idolaters this Liberty, and not the true Wor- Ihippers that v/or(hip in Spirit and Truth > The Wicked fhall they have it, and not the Righteo HS ? Yes dobutlefs, E P&- t* this is that wt?y»w*,( tranflated boldnefs "',*£ offpeech, 2. Cor. 7 . 4. ) mentioned as JcaMm the great privilege of the Saints, efpe- museum daily now under the New Teftament, %«"»'* Heb. 10. !%&c. l%mt tZ*, flfefrWav ei; "/^f tUu «W«r, having therefore boldnefs to numgra- enter m t Bee. 1 6 Spiritual Pleadings, enter into the holieft by the blood of Jefus, ( a Right and Freedom to enter in our perfons hereafter, and now by our prayers ) let ^is draw near with a true heart, in fptaflurance of Faith. *• But may fometfay, There the righter bus indeed may p4ead with him^ and not be caft in their: fuit ; But where are thofe righteous Ones ? And who are they > for it is not fo with me : God be mercifull to me a grievous fim tier •, I dare not be fo bold wfth him 5 Iniquity muftfiop htr mouth. I anfwer, Every one that hath a fhare in, yea a fincere defire after the Right eoufnefs of Chrift, is righteous be- fore him, and may in that Righteouf* nefs Plead and Prevail, and as a Prince have Power with God:, For this is his own Righteoufnefs, of his own Contri- vance and Appointment : The Right eouf nefs which is of God by Faith, Phil. 1* 8, 9. A Righteoufnefs Spun and Woven out of his own bowels, and the obedi- ence of his dear Son •, a better than ever came upon the back of Angels, for which the perfonal and legal Righ- teoufnefs of a Paul, of an Angel, is to be abandoned*, Evangelical being far better than Angelical Righteoufnef*. ^Tiefaid, when ViUt appeared in Chrifti Garment; and Expostulations; Garment which he had got from thfr Soldiers^ C&far coilld never be angry with him * 'tis certain then canft not mifs a Bleifmg in his Garments, who is not aihamed to be called thine Lld*r Brother, who came to change cloatbs 8c places with thee, and to take all upon himfelf, that thou mighterr. efcape* The Father cannot but be well plcafed with the fmell of his Son's raiment $ Be he fits too upon a feat of Judgment, St muft do thee Right-, and Juftice itfelf ( which will not be twice pay'd ) is as much for thee, as much thy friend as Mercy, Rom. 2. 26. He is Jtift, and yet ( nay therefore ) a JuStifier of him that beheveth on Jefus. So that if thou art not utterly ihut up in unbelief, if their be but the leaft fpark of true Faith a* live in thy heart, thou mayeit plead and prefper. But I have nothing to fay for mf Q y prt felf -, my heart is dryed up .like a Pot- * ' fheard, and withered like grafs. I have find away all arguments, and muft ne- ver open my Mouth any more before hint? 1 True, not to Boast, but to Plead 'jnfir, thou mayefb 2 Aud^haft thou nothing to offer > not a figh? not the groanings of thy Soul ? ihWV&s Job ? s preface, ret, 2, Mjftrofe 1 8 Spiritual Pleadings. is heavier then my groning. that I ]cnew where I might, find him ! where the heart is lull as Jobs was (you may perceive it by his iighang ) the Month will not be empty, a tali heart will Mil the mouth feme w.iy or other ^ it the h. .rt be full oi ajjeition, the mouth will be mil oi arguments. They deceive their own fouls who fay their Hearts are as Good as the heft ( they thank God ) though they make no (hew, when nei- ther God nor men can hear ought that's good come from them. Pfal. 37. 20. The 7nouth of the Righteous fpeaketh Wifdom ; andhis'Tongus taiketh of Judge- ment. Why fo ? Ver. 31. The haw of his God is in his heart ; that fets his tongue; a going the right way -, and on the con- trary, fame mens WmYmgbreath bewrays their inward parts to be very rottennefs^ they have not fo much fweet breath as to -make a figh of ^ if the want oi words were all, it wrre a fmall matter ^ that inarticulate Language of fighs and groans is powerful Rhetorique : Let the fghing of the prifoners come before thee ( faith 2) avid, Pjal. 79. 11.) according to the Qreatnefs of thy power pre ferve thou thofe that are appointed to die : And for the appreffion of the Poor, and for the fighing of the needy, now will I ar'ife, ( faith the Lord and Expqfhtfations. j y Lord himfelf, Pfal. 12. 5.) I wiU fet him in fafety from him that puffeth at him. We own help from the Spirit, when We are enlarged. P^iti faith, he helps us, even when we are firaimed y like- wife the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmi- ties •, for we know not what we mould pray for as we ought •, ( no not Pmt and theApoftlcs) but the Spirit itfelfmnk- eth Intercejfion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. 8. 26. fttfyiifit <*K*hfato< with unutterable/iW/- nings; our Enlargements may be but the ftowings of the Gifts of the Spirit $ but our inward pinchings and coarElati- ons may be the Intercejfion of the Spirit it Jeffs, the more immediate operations of the Spirit. And we forget that there is fiich a Prompter behind the hangings •, fuch an Interpreter (as his Title figni- fies,as well as Comforter-, yea therefore J - 1 - T 4» a Comforter, becaufe an Interpreter ; to }^f r e et make known the mind of God to uc,Wi4 on* and ours to him •, and as he betrc^s the^.' Vid„ feasts' of God to the Saints, fb He rips c J>^o. up their hearts • before God ( without \ 9 *f* U doing my wrong, either in the one or^J ? j^_ other /and 'tis he who fills their b§ , not only with windy words, but weidi- iy Arguments. 9 Haft thou nothing to complain of C tlrr 7a Spiritual Pleadings, ■ thy Judge > no Shi, no Devil, no Dia- bolical Temptations, no Superdiaboli- cal corruptions, no fpiritual Plunderers, no Egyptian Tafk-m afters, no cruel Bondage that make6 thy life bitter to thee ? no Enemy coming in as a flood to opprefs and do thee wrong ? no Iron yoik that galls thy ihoulders? no Vio- lence and Spoil to cry out and complain of? Sure thou haft not ft tidied thine own cafe \ thou haft not ordered thy caufe a right, it this fountain fail thee. But will this be admitted > may the poor foul fay •, all Complaints arc trouble- Tome, men cannot endure them. I An- fwer, God will. Out of the abundance of my Complaint and Grief have I fpoken hitherto, fays Hannah, i. Sam. I. 1 6. and you know how fhe fped. Nay the word rendered Arguments, Cvrepu- I find by the La tine Interpreters ren- #m: us. j rec ^ Jiedargutimibus , Increpationibus. Lite y Syr.J ^ m f° m e cafe is Defendant, as to the Charges drawn up againft him by his friends ^ But here he is Plaintiffe alfo ^ could I come near the Bar, (fayes he) I would make my moan : the whole Court of Heaven fhould Ring out and be made fenfible of my fufferings. But we are well enough with our Engliih tranflation of the word, and it k and Ex f ovulations . 21 vie ar- is warranted by the beft Criticks^ the S: word fignifying all proceedings, all a r- gumen J tl gwnents, and Keaions uied in a caule 5 ^ p ro . by either party, and contains all that/m/W* can be alledged or urged by a poor crQ3,-T ari ^ ns ture any way in his own defence, or m l l te ? ro r -I- J i J ^ cau[ a fun i for his advantage. nirCfin 4. There are fome Arguments yet Druiius. in Arcbivis, in the Rolls and Records of heaven which were never yet imbez- led 5 they ly in the Ark of the Co- venant, hid with Chrift in God, ( un- der double lock and key, ) where nei- ther Moth nor Rutt can come to corrupt y mr Thief break through to fleal $ yea, they ly ( many of them ) in the very heart and bofome, and Being of God himfelf. I hope we (ball meet with fome of them anon, and that they may meet with the very cafe of thy foul, and that thy foul may meet with God in the making life of them. But what will Arguments work upon M-fa . God ? that King Eternal is not fway- ed but by Eternal confederations •, He knows no motives but his own bowels, and the Merits and Mediation of his Son and Spirit. 1 3 Tis true, and well for thee and me ^yv; that 'tis fo ^ other wife Time-accidents end Time-exacerbations, had long eVe C 2 this ' 'Spiritual Plea dings y this hurried us into a woful Eternity .' pait all relief, by way of Argumentati- on 5 hell, not Heaven, had been filled with our complainings / 2. Hath he not given thee thofe two great friends of his for thine Advpcats > the one at his own right hand in Hea- ven moving and negotiating, and al- wayes appearing for thee y the other feated in thy breaft, ( though once a Cage for every unclean and hateful! Bird ) the Dove alights and abides up- on that dunghil, and will not be iray- ed away: and the voyce of that Turtle is heard in onr Land ^ yea the Fathers oven heart is lull of love, brim-full and running over upon thee •, and this con- tinually pleads for thee, and makes all thine arrows which fly upwards, inevi- table, not one is (hot in vain. 3. Good Arguments in Prayer do fhew the neceffity of Prayer, and great eqnhy for obtaining the * things prayed for 5 and fo do very much confirm our Faith, and fire our affedtions, and en- able, a man to break through many Difcouragements, which Satan or has own heart may caft in to hinder Pray- er : and ceratinly though their be no need of Argments to work upon God, their is to work upon us j though not to move and Expostulations. 22 yiove his love, yet to remove our unbe- lief v though not to prevail upon him to gave, yet to prepare our felves to receive Mercy. The only Ufe I fliall make of the USE. Point, (hall be to prefs all to make ufe of it, to put it in Practice daily • it * will pleaie your Heavenly Father very well 5 He loves to hear his Children Reafon it out with him, and he doth of fet purpofe delay to grant their Re- queues fometimes, becaufe he loves to hear often from them, to hear their Cant, z, Yokes, and fee their Faces-, He loves x 4« to hear what they can fay for themfel- ves. So he dealt with the Woman of Canaan-, He firft feemed not to hear her, then did deny her fuit, and then gav©,a- very {harp and cutting Reafon of his Denial, Becaufe fne was but a Dog, ?n? was none of the Israelites who were his Children * But when Chrift hears her wife Anfwer to his Objecti- on : Truth Lord, but the Dogs eat the Crumbs that fall from their Mafeis table, ( which was a fcrong Piece of Logick, ) • {he received an high commendation of her. Faith, and a Grant that would be fur e to pleafe her, Her will -, Q wo- man great is thy Faith, be it tmtojhee even as thou wilt, Mat. 15. 21, 22, ~&c. C 4 She ?4 Spiritual Pleadings, She Retorts his own weapon upon him, and he yields and gives her whats dan- gerous, if not good, her own Will. My purpoie is, ( leaving all other t£ f ayes of Application or Enlargement ) to (peak to fome principal CASES of greater!: concernment and molt frequent Qccurrency in our liyes : and I Jhall on- ly break the Ice in each cafe,- ( for f id- le eft invent is a elder e) to let your Wits a work, which men, which Chriftians make lead ufe of in their greateft occa- sions $ we triffle in feriou.s things, and are ferious only in Triffles, or rather to rouse up your Graces in the holy A- . Tim, poftle's phrafe, **a?«xi*$«v, To ftir up • *• the Fire which lyes; raked up that neither the Thunder of his Power, nor the Charms -of his JLOVE art 1 fufficiently Underftocd by thee ^ We rather are known of him, than that we can fay, we know him, Gal. 4. 9. 8c where, or who is he hath no need to plead in this particular ? Some malce^^v this to be Job's cafe, in this very text 9 For thus they render it, Utinam nojfem Deum et invenirem eum ; O that I knew. God, then I mould find him. He that knows God, hath found him 5 and he fhall never find him who -never knows kim. His Friend that fpake laft had advifed him, Chap. 12. v. .21, Acquaint now thy f elf with him, and be at peace^ Sec. and it may be 'tis thereunto that lie anfwers : that I knew him, O that I knew where I might find him, to; be better acquainted with him-, is this thy Cafe> Go order thy caufe before Him, and fill thy month with Arguments. Firfl;, Afk him ( v/ith an humble ancU^wwrir holjp — 26 Spiritual Plea 'din gs. holy boldnefs ) if he be Hot willing to be known ? though he cover hnnfelf with Darknefs, ( but he .is too Big and too Bright for a Covering )' though He make darknefi his Pavilion round about him : And if fo ; then, Secondly", Why hath he made Intel- lectual Beings capable of knowing him *, and eternaly miierable if they know J° * I7 * him .not! thy Soul isfo for certain. ' Thirdly, Why hath he fo many ways iffued forth and made out Himfelf? why hath he written fuch admirable Comments in the things which are feen, Rom. r:\Upon the invifible things of God? His E- 7.0. tcrnal Power and God-head! Why hath he fparkled forth fuch glo- rious Difcoveries in the facrcd Serip- tures, in the face of Jefus Chri.ft ! in the' births and breathings, the hints and whifpers of his Spirit \ in the waves and workings oHiis Providence, in the Experience of all his Saints, yea in thine own heart, mind and Soul, dark and dolefome though it be for the moft part, fo that thou canft not order thy fpeech iy Reafon of Darknefs! Fourthly, Why hath he fo often laid his Commands upon poor miners to feek him, if he mean not to be found > Slew him his own hand for it j thus faith and Expoflula lions. 27 faith the Lord to the houfe of Ifrael, Seek ye me and ye fljall live, Amos 5. 4. Seek the Lord, and ye fhall live, ven 6. and yet again, verie 8. Seek him that maketh the feven flars and Orion, and turneth the .fbaddow of Death hito the morning : What meaneth ail this .earneftnefs, if he mean not to be found? .or faith he thefe tilings to Ifrael only, to Ifrael after the fleih, and faith he not "the fame to all Nations ? Nay is not this the very end why he giveth to all Life arid Breath, and all things That -they (lootdd fesk the Lord, if happi- ly they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one -of us: AEt. 17. 27. and he never faid 'to the feed of Jacob fwb» wreltle with him ) feek ye me in vain, If a. 45. 19, And thou hopeft thou art one of them, though the wealceft of all thole fpiri- tual Wreftlers. Nay Ihew him his Warrant dive^ci to thofe who have plowed wtckednefs, and reaped Iniquity, and, eaten the fruit of lyes, Hof. io. 12, 15. Why then Ihouldfi: thou be excluded? Fifthly, Aft him if he Aave not been found of many a foul that fought him not ? Did not he prevent them and 'jpffer himfelf, ■ and fay,i Behold me, Be- hold 28 Spiritual Pleadings, bold me! Ifa. 6?. I. Is there a foul with him now in Heaven, whofeName is not fought out? Ifa. 62. 12. And will he now hide himlelf from one that feeks him ? Sixthly, Afk him whence is it, that thou haft an heart -now to feek him r Is it not becaufe he hath found thee, and means to be found of thee > Jer. 29. 12, 13, 14, &c. and he knows that thy whole heart is, or would fain be en- gaged in this work. Seventhly, Why doth he allow fo long a time to feek him in ? all the £er>. 2. time of this life as fbme think \ at leaft *# 2* till the Decree bring forth, till he fwear in his wrath, till the heart be judicial- ly hardned, which yet is not thy cafe ( through infinite Mercy ) thou art not yet free amongft the dead, nor bound among the damned. Eightly, Tell him (if thou canft fay fo truely ) that it is in order to praclice that thou wouldftbe acquainted with him, not meerly to gratifie a natural itch after knowledge ^ not meerly that thou might 'ft talk of him 5 but walk with him, and love him, and fear him, and obey him in all things \ and even " J>i*xag9-'m natural things •, Manns eft caufa feu *& enti$i the hand contributes more to knowledge and ExpojLilations* knowledge than the Brain : thofe things we learn to do 5 we learn by doing them j and as to Spirituals, Chrift hath pail: his word for it, John 7. 17. If any man will ' do bis Will, he Jhall know of the Do&rine^ Ninthly, Laftly, Tell him 'tis -not in a pang, in a fit, in an humour of new- fa nglednefs, that thou art thus covetous, thus ambitious of his acquaintance : but ( though late, though too, too late thou beganneft this Enquiry ) he knows thou haft been of this mind for many* a day. Thou haft ( though weakly ) fol- lowed on to know him, and now thou expedreft that good word of his fhould be made good unto thy foul, Hof! 6. 7. Then Jhall we know if we follow on U know the Lord-, his going forth is prepar- ed as the morning 5 and he Jhall come un- to us as the rain, as the later and former rain unto the earth-, prefs thefe things upon him, and his Love and Truth will let him hide no longer. CASE II. XJnworthinefs ever to be acquainted with God* SEcondly, Doth the fence of thy more&«»^f- than ordinary unworthwefs opprefs m fi t0 hc . thee? Doth thehorridnefsandhainouf-^|^/ »efc of thy fins lie as a Mountain of Lead 3° Spiritual pleadings, Lead upon thy Soul, and ftifle all the movings and mountings of thy Spirit upward? Doth this nip all the buddings and bloomings of Faith and Hope, and force thee often to figh out in lecrct, It is impoflible for me to be faved, I (hall certainly at laft prove a Reprobate ! Is this thy cafe ? Go order thy caufe be- before him, and fill thy mouth with Arguments. j t ^ m Firft, In all Humility aft him if he did not ( before the foundations jof the World were laid ) chufe voluntar- ly, abfolutdy and immutably, what Eph.T.4. com P am / ne would have with him to 2. Tim. all Eternity : fometimes thou thinker!: t< 9- he would never chufe thee^ there now lies a fecret Bar in thy way -, ftudy the point a little, and get it removed. He was under no neceinty to chufe any^ no not Chrift himfelf to be the head of the Church, for he might have chofen whether ever there mould have been fuch a body yea or no: God the- Father begets the Son necefiarily, not arbitrarly ^ that is, from his Nature, not from his good pleafure -, but he choofeth him to be the head and root, Col. 1. and Reprefentative of the Church, ar* *% bitrarily, not necefiarily -, this is from his good pleafure > not from llis Nature 5 How and Expostulations. % I How free is he then in all his other EM lections ? ' He chofe indeed in Chrift, but not for Chrift-, as in the natural Birth, fo s &e Mr, here firft the head comes forth, and^°£ s then the Members % Chrift is the caufe ^ ? °J' of the Salvation of the hied, but notp^'/Y^ of Ele&ion to Salvation/ Chrift is the&V. meritorious caufe of the application of all good, not of Gods volition or decree* ing that good 5 Election is God him- felf electing: and there can be no caufe of God 5 God cannot be an effect : Chrift indeed was by, but had not the nam- ing of the Elecl *, this was the Fathers part, and gives him primitively andO- riginally an intereft in them as Chrift himfelf acknowledged, John 17. 6. Thine they were, and thou gaveft them unto me. Chrift himfelf did not pro- pound or folicite for this or that perfon •, much lefs any forfeen qualifications, which are the effedts, but could not be the caufes of that Love or Choice-^ and if there was none by to move him , was there any to manacle him, to pre- fcribe Laws and limits to hum? To fay unto him, You may notchufe fuch 1 or fuch a fcarlet iinner : to fet bounds and banks to thofe great deeps of elecl- ing "'Love-knd to fay unto them, Hither- It £2 Spiritual pleadings, to may ye go, and on further, and here mult your precious waves be ftayed > He chole indeed not immediatly td Salvation, ( that was too great a itride at once ) but to SanEtification of the Spi- rit unto Obedience, 2. Tbejf. 2. I ?. t. Pet. i.2. Not becaufe he torfaw Tome would be holy, but that they might be fo, Eph. 1.4. The great plot was how to conform finfull, woi'ull Creatures to the Image of his Son, Rom. 8. 29. and this thy Soul likes paffing well 5 Go then and put him to it : aft him if be will own this Doclrine, and Teal if upon thy heart : ( it matters not how many men dilown it ) and tell him thou cauft not by any thing thou dif- cemei* therein conclude thy felf to be excluded, though thou yiekleft thy felf to be the chiefeft \ot finners, and that thy cafe is referred only for his cogni- fance^ for thou canft not fiilly utter it to any creature living. Secondly, tell him in condemning he glorifies but one or two of his Attri- butes, Juftice and Soveraignity •, but in faving he will magnifie them all. Thirdly, Mind him how often he hath already facrificed to his Juftice, by puniihing fuch offenders as thou haft" teen * Hell is full of Inftances, foil pi thofe and Expoftulations. thofe Sacrifices : and yemhe fufferirgs of his Son do more &t off the Ghry of his Holinefs than them all, than all the - Everlafting Torments of th" Damned. Fourthly, Aik him if Heaven will not afford plenty of precedents tor the like mercy thou now needed and beggeft of him : Aik if Manajfes and Maiy Alag- daletoe, and many fueh like be not there with Him. Fifthly, If He never met the like? fince the beginning or his Creation ( for fo fometimes thou thinkeft ) aik him if he mean to let flip fuch an Opportunity to fet forth the Greatnefs and Tran« fcendency of his Grace and Mercy in all its Pomp and Power, Oriency and Lufture 5 and fill thy Heart and Mouth with this Argument : 'Tis like Goliahs Sword to David, There is none like it i See how David himfelf Weilds it, PfaL .25. 11. For thy names fake Lord par- don mine iniquity , for it is great *, if this be a good Argument, thou doit not want one } it feems David thought fo, and fo did Mofes, Exod. 22. 31. Oh this people have finned a great fin ! but berets work now for the Greatnefi of Gods Power in pardoning, which in thofe cafes he flies to, Num. 14. 17. and how Ibefeecb thee let the Power of my Lord be great E> according Spiritual Pleadings, according am thou haft Spoken. l)r. Thom. God to honour his Son in reconciling * SSTthS 18 t0 i^mftjfi permits the g reateft fins umverfampi enmities to be "in the hearts and Pci-je-msulives of thofe he intends to fave,f faith kei. £ag& precious fervant of his J and thou may eft well hope God will not be want- ing to the Glory of his own Grace and pt his Sons Merits ^ for the illuftrating and manifefting whereof, the pardoning -of fo great and grievous fins will ferve •abouiidantiy •, fuch an over-grown firi- „ner doth Anfam pabsre, give him a .fair occafion, and he will not loofe it. .Cranmer a little before his going to the •itake, relieves his forrowfull Spirit after his iinfull Recantation with this conn- deration : Magnum illud myfterium, &e. .Surely that great Myftery of God's In- carnation was never contrived for th.e .pardon only of lefler offences-, Tis the -Top of all thy Saviours Glory, that He . is able to Save to the utmofi them that ■come unto Qod by Him, Heb. 7. 2 J. Nay, If upon ftrong grounds thou concluded thy felf ( all things confider- . ed J A ncn fuch : Afk him how he will •.come off from that Obligation, oi draw- ling all men ( that is, fome of all forts ) ..unto himfelf, Joh. 12. 32. i r thine Iron heart feel not the attractive power and vertue and' Expostulations. ?$ rertue of this Load-ftone*there will be never" a firmer of thy fort, fize and kind id adorn his triumph at the day of his appearing! Thofe Sanguine finners a- gainft the Koly Ghoft ( the only rank and file of finners excluded, Matth, 12 32.) have no. mind to plead as thou • haft, and thou art none of their number* Sixthly, Tell him he mall be more admired and loved for fuch a Miracle of Matchlefs Mercy, than for all his, curious Works of Creation or dreadfull , Ads of Vengeance. Seventhly, Tell him it muft be no fmall matter, no eafie, no ordinary thing that muft beget Eternal Trances, and tirade^ and Admirations; thegreateft wonders of this world, kit; but a little while, thofe of the next mull la ft for * ever ^ and the pardoning, and purify- ing, the Sanctifying and Saving of fuch a Sinner will Eternally yield Oyl to fuch a flame. Eigbtly, Tell him no Soul in Heaven fhall admire or love him more than thou ( though now thou comeftin the Rear of j all his Adorers ) and thou may eft ven- ture to fay Co, if that of Chrift be true ( as certainly it is ) Lu&e 7. 47 thai bf to -cvhom much is forgivenyrotll love^mtfch 1 -nthly, Laftly 5 Tell him that the J> 3 wonder Spiritual Pleadings, wonder fhall^nct be confined to thy per- ibn, but run through Heaven and affect all men, and Angels, and that (in alt likelihood) many lliall wonder more tor his Grace to thee than to themfelvcs, who never fin'd up to the hight, nor after the fimilitude of thy tranfgn ons : efpccially Angels that never hVd t . and fuch as died in Infancy, or lived in Innocency in compnrifon of thee ; how mould they know the extent of Grace, were it not ior fuch fuperlative finners > and that is one of his great Defigns to be admired, 2 Thtf. i. io« and he knows that in thee he cannot mifs of it The end of Philofophy is faid to be to admire nothing 5 but the end and fcope of Divinity, is to make us ad- mire God in every thing -, in this thing e r pecially, the Eternal Salvation of the greateft Sinners. CASE III. Jealoufie as t9 Chrift. Jcaloufie HP H * R D L Y ' Haft thoU ^ feCTet us to JL Fears that this Lord Jefus Chrift Chrift, whom thou haft heard and talked (it may be)fo often of, takes no notice of thee, ha* no mind to do any tiling for thee 3 md Expoflulations. 57 thee \ is this, {it may be when t ! ouart moil retired into try felt, and moftfe* ~ rious j thy cafe and thy condition ? Go crder thy caufe before him,- and fill thy Mmth with Arguments \ Rememb.r thy diftance, and then, Firft, Alk him what made him talce Arguments fo great a Journey > what brought him cl wn from Heaven to Earth > was it not to feek and to fave fuch loft Array- ing creatures as thou art, who all fall to the Lord oi the Soy 1 ? if thou, art not, hail net been loft every way, even ill thine own fence and apprelieniion, let him li ip over thee and leave thee out/ ■Secondly, Alk him' why doth he invite ^g at,Tr * all weary burdened poor fouls to come r^ / unto him 5 why doth he command them 1$. John to caft themfelves upon him, threaten 3. ult. tfiofe that do not, with the utmoftper- . ill and punifhment, if he be not willing to bid thofe that come welcome I the great quarrel between Him and fin- ners is this, ye will not come unto me that ye might have life, John %. v. 40. . Thirdly, Tell him thou verily be- lieved: he never yet caft out any one foul that came unto him, according to that BleiTed Word of his, Job. 6. 37, All that the Father giveth me, /hall come mn me> ani htm that cometh to me 7 1 '.: win Spiritual Tie a 'dings , pi ft. in no wife caft out : (A Text that hath been a San&uary to many i trovbkd foul) A(k him now jf he mean to begin with thee, if thou fhalt be the firft that ever wasrefufed by him? ' Fourthly, Tell him he knows all things, he knows that thou doft not come unto him for fafhion-fake, becaufe 3 tis the cuftom, and they are in no re- queft with whom Chrift is in none, at ■ leaft iir pretence and femblance. Fifthly, He knows thou doft not follow him for loaves, for outward advantage jand accommodations, becaufe prefer- ment waits upon profeffion. Sixthly, Tell him 'tis true indeed, 'its fieccffity inforceth thee to come unto him becaufe other wife thou art loft and ru- in'd to all Eternity -, and yet he knows what a value thy foul lias for him, that thou looked: on anintereft in him as thy great concernment ^ the one thing ncrd- lull, the more excellent way^ tharall thy treafurcs, pleafures, honours, yea, thy very Relations ( which are as fo many parts 8c pieces of thy felf)are as if they" were not, in cornparifon to him •, are to thee ( as all Nations are to him ) as a drop of the. Bucket , neither here nor there, Phil. 5. 9., If in competition or cornparifon with«£T/>#.. Seventhly, Laftly, Thou canfl: fay to him and Expostulations v %h him, that though 'tis out of Neceffity, 'tis out of choice too that thou comeft to him , were it poiiible for thee to be fa- ved any other way, thou wouidft chufe' this rather-, there was a time indeed when thy heart gatided about ftrangely ; ; fo oft to change thy way ; thou wouidft f have gone to' any door for relief rather than his ^ but fince.thou haft had fome little glances and glimmerings of Him, : though but in a tranfient way, though but in a Glafs, or at a Window, or r £ ori?< throw the Latice, fince thou haft rafted iz. Cant*, fome fmall drops of his fweetnefs, he'i- 9- • — knows thy heart is fo taken therewith, yea with that Glorious and moft Gra- cious contrivance of His undertaking for - thee ( the Wicked being delivered, and the Righteous coming in his ftead ) yea with the love and lovely perfon of a Sa- viour, that thefe are now become more with thee, than Salvation it felf, if that were only deliverance from wrath to come.} canft thou plead thus > Surely, a full Reward fliall be given thee of the Lord God of Tfrael,. under whofe wings thou art come to truft, though thou art but a ftranger, and thy 'Soul; in; her/- - pwn eyes not like, to one of his hand- maidens, Ruth 2* lo, 12, 13. to allude thereunto, • * -■■ ■ ■ ; CASE 40 Spiritual Vleadings r CASE IV. Jealoitfe concerning God the father. Jealoufie T3 U f it may be thou art pretty well concern- Jj Satisfied concerning the freenefs. theF?th- and Iorwardnefs of Chrift to help thee* cr# "He hath done and Suffered enough in all coiifcience to convince thee : and thou haft very loft and fweet thought* of him, but terrible ones concerning the Tat 'her , thou lookeft upon him as a a Angry God, an incenfed Judge, an en- raged jLnemy, with his Hand alwayes up and ready to ftrike, but that Chrift Vid.Dr. fttps in and wards the blow \ oratleaft Gvdvnn thouflirpedcfi . hi t0 be no f uc h hearty'. agements friend to thee as Chrift is: that the, to Faith, whole Treaty of Peace tendered to thee p. 7.&V. ty him through his Son is but an Am- bu foment laid to catch thee, and to conclude thee under the greater con- demnation, becaufe the Father frauds, much out of play, and thou knowefl: not what to think of him^ is this thy fad cafe now and then upon mifgivings and tremblings of thy Heart about the great bufinefs of Eternity ? Go order thy caufe before fam and fill thy mouth with Ar- guments. Jrgumentj Firft, Afk him if that fweet Son of his ( whom the World once was fo hap- and Expoftulations. 41 py as tofee,though fo unhappy as not See Dr. to know him) if he be not juftjM * Book, another for all the World as himielf 5 chap.28'. //je brightness of his Glory and the ex- pte&$j%' frefs Image of his perfon, Heb. 1. 3. & c < -He And fure Chrift the finners friend ^ffjjj ( as fome finners cenfured him ) was A upon t ^ e affable enough, kind enough, com- Suninit* paihonat enough,fhewed love enough to ftrength poor finners, in his carriage and Con- ^- N iJ5! verfation : in his abafements and con- t ^ e ' t he denfcentions, in his Life, in his Death •, model of if not, where and who is he that will it in the come and fhew more ? Why, but faith J^f* Chrift, my Father is juft fuch another Moon at as lam to an hairs breadth .- his heart full .• fo as full of love and tenderncfs as mine we that every whit i know one, know both, P 3 ? 11 ?^ . Joan TO. 5o. I and my Father are one: g | L Q j T f * and John 12. 44, 45. Jefus cryed ^»4 -Divine faul, He that believsih on t&e 9 believeth Majefty not on me, but on Him that fent Me ; in the and he that feeth me, feeth him that ^inGod fent me. And John 1.1. 19. Jefus faith t ^z I *- unto him, Have I been fo long time- thei only, with you, and yet hafl thou not known m ay fafi- me Philip? He that hath feen me hath ^ c ^° a ld feen the Father, and howfayeft thou then or Model fhew us the Father? and I came out 0/ of his in- his bofome on purpofe to * declare him, c'ompre- John 1. 18. To be his Exegefs, (that's hen f 1 *, D 5 fa***** / 42 Spiritual pleadings, inthe man the word J to expound him as a clear Chrift Je- Q nmment tells us what's in a dark text, and if this be confirmed to thee by the * m J£*y*- ^ther, it he will own it, as certain* ran '■» ty he will thou art well enough j Expofuity but thou mayeft go further and aik Bez - him,. Secondly, If he had not the firft hand in the whole Defign of Love and Life to poor finners, ( for there is a priority of Order, and Origination, though noti ' of time ) And to believe this, there are grounds 'Sufficient to induce thee: for, I T -F'Vjtf, Was it not He who firft [am- i^Heb. mone ^ that great Council held by all tf.17.Eph the Perfons in Elobinty when neither i.u.Ifa Man nor Angel exifted, nor had been 25. 1. 3c worthy to have been admitted there, if r Frov 4 ip x ^ Q y ^ ^ len exn fted '-> there he fat in 2 r confutation with his Wifdom and Love,. his Word and Spirit, de arduis Regni y de arcanis Imperii ; and cfpecially about Man's Salvation, and can that blelled womb mifcarry with any of its concep- tions ? Surety no, . Secondly , Was it not He who firft pitched upon the Son, and laid him as the foundation to the whole Fabrick ^. one able to bear up the weight of all. 1 Pet. 1, the work-, though thy Load alone be tMoha enoll S a to crack the Aicltrce of Hea* io, "56, * ven and Expoftul*tbns. 43 vea and Earth :. to break the back of the whole Creation, to bear down any other foundation before it into Hell; -Hal 8 9> yet here's help laid upon one that is 1 >- lra - mighty , mighty to fave? And. if the ° 5< ~ Angels (houted for Joy to fee the corner ftone of the earth laid, Job .38. 7. {hall not the Saints with delight fee the cor- ner Stone of their Salvation laid by the hand of the Father ? and afkif this be ; nothing unto thee • if thou art to have ; no place in this building ? however blefs him for laying fuch a foundation. \ Thirdly, VVas it not he who then took particular cognizance of things and nerfons, which is called in Scripture God's for ehnovui J edgr 9 Hour. 8'. ?y- and 11, i, 2, &c Enough to overwhelm a. poor /inner when he comes to ^y riding of. it, that he was then xr-vkw^ : what, meeXord? Didft thou the; think of inee, and doff thou ope# thine eyes upon iiich an one > Job. 14, £ Fourthly, Wis .it not He who then The Mef- picked and chofe out of Angels and fiah and men, whom he Would have confirmed theR igk- amongft the Angels, called therefore the '^^^5 EleEi Angels, \ Tim. 5. 2 1, and though thtfefe- ihey were never out of favour,yet they vtnthi- g s are faid to be reconciled, Col. .1. 20'. which the Confirmation being that to them, which I e ^s%, fe • Reconcilx- werebe ' 44 Spiritual Pleadings, fore this Reconciliation is to us •, and they had World j t by renouncing their Handing upon ted^tiut ^k own ^ n S^ e t> ottom ? and running is,as ifcr- under the wing ot Chriftj accepting €€r txr and owning him as their Head, Cot. 2. pounds 10. God would not keep an Angel in them,fH* Heaven, that would not be beholding JivinUf- *° nis Son * or lt: : And a mongft men he fentabt- chofe whom he would have recovered, temo.Mer Rom. 9. it, 1 3. Aifc how thou may eft onr 8. and 21. 27* with the Golden Letters of Love, with indelible Characters in his blood * ( we read of no black Book of Death, and therefore I meddle not with it ) but hadft thou ever any help to read thy name written in Heaven, this is matter of more 307 than if thou could'ft can: out Devils, and work wonders, Luke. 10. 20. if not yet, all in good time, go to the Father and he will help thee to fpell thy name there by his Spirit of Adoption, who was, and is a Member" of this Council, and well acquainted with all that paffed there. Act. r?. Seventhly, Was it not He who then l8& r 7- ordered all other things in away of fub- z6 ' J er * ordination and fubferviency to the r G *5 2 g* Sanclification and'Salvation of theEle&v 26. and Good works then received his Seal, 38. io» Ephef. 2. to. Evil ones (by a juft A- & Cm nalogy ) a Brand, He then drew up the Ordinances of Heaven ; pafled a Decree for the Sea , and for the Rain, and for p^j the opening of the Eye-lids of the 9 i/ 119 ' Morning ^ to caufe the Day-firing to kmrk [ its plage, and the Sun his going down % unlefs forbidden, as in the days of Jo- /bua. He then appointed natural Agents to 4-6 Spiritual pleadings to ad: neceiTarily h the Sun to fhine, the Fire to f>urn,the Sea to run in its courfe : yet he fet them not a going with fuch an irrefiftible fwing, but that he can ftop them at his pleafure. Free Agents to adt freely, the Will of man to be alwayes free in all its, ads, if hot Quoad jbeaficahonenii to do good or evil at his pleafure, yet quoad exerciti- «w, he need never do evil,uhlefs he pleaf- eth - fo that he is left without excufe. And all other things were ordered as Scaffolds to this building ; now who but a mad man would lay his bed on thefcaffold & fay, that's accommodation good enough 5 andfo take up with that, no matter for the Building-, beg that he ' would never leave thee to that madnels, but lead thee to things Spiritual and Eternal, by all externals, and that all things may work together for thy good, according to this ancient apointment. We give Jiightly^ Was it not by an Agree- forfforit" men * between his Son and him , that bc'caufe 1 ' ^ e ^ 01i W fit as Creditor in Heaven and tjje Fa- 'the Son come down to be refpon- ther was ITble to Juftice ? othervvife there was directly l 0V e enough in his heart, to bjave let by 7ns the Son fit Creditor in Heaven, and to marring have come down hjmfelfa* Debitor and his work clye&fbrthee rand therefore faith "Chrift, ©f Cre- « though and Ex f ovulations. 47 I fhould not pray for you, the Father ation,& him f elf love tb yon y John 16. 27. Nay other - he loves you fo well that he doth there- ™f°*l A fore love me, becaufe I lay down my f or ^ ae life for yon, John 10. 17. what a ftrange Son's in- expreffion of love is this > carnati- • Ninthly, Did not, He draw up all the °* d f u f T Son's Articles and Inftructions, as Dift u ri z 1. That he muft begin his work .in Thf. 14. * .deepeft humiliation and abafement. p > mo,' - 2. That he muft pawn his Glory to go through-ftich with it, which he Re- deems, and Re-demands upon his per- formance, John 17. 4, 5. 3. That he muft run the Gaimtlop in that Nature he would Redeem, and be content that every one fhould have a fling at him, 'tis HiUaries allufion, naturs, noflra contumeltas tranfeurrit. 4. That his God-head muft be eclipf- ed and vaiFd, and he made like unto his Brethren in their natural neceffl- ties, finlefs infirmities, live by faith, get every thing by prayer : hot do his own will, but his that fent him, and fo fulfill all Righteoufnefs ^ and why was he thus conformed unto us, but that we . might be made conformable unto him? , 5. . That, he muft in the days- of his flefh orally and perfonally declare his Fathers^^ame and love" unto his Brethren 48 Spiritual Pleadings, Bretheren: and afterwards Depute and fcubftitute fome to do it to the end of the world ^ and fo long as his Leiger Embafiadors reiide in any place uncal- led home,not fent for away; the Tre*aty of Peace holds and continues, and their work is not only to declare Chrift, but the Father alio: and this was the fweeteft prcmife that drift could chear up his Difciples with, John 16. 2?. The tiriie e r m>etb when IfhaU no more fpeak unto -you in Proverbs, but I (loall Jhevo you flainly of the Father : and that's a moil fweet and fatisiying Objec\ John 14. 8. Lord fhew us the father and it fufficeth us. Act.2.1;. 6. That He muft Dye a Bloody, * 4- z 2- painfull, fhamefull, accuried death to e ' 9 pay the Debts of his people, and then rife again from the dead, and bring up his blood with him into the Holieft of Holies, and there exercife and execute the office of his everlafting Priefthood ; if he would have his death which was of infinite value in it felf to be of in- finite Vertue and efficacy unto others ; and is not all this performed exactly, and hath he not herein commended his love unto us with a witnefs. Rom. 5. 8, &c. 7, That Whatever w*9*giyea him, h« and Expostulations, &f muft prefently give oi iht -ameto his Members, to fit them .or tuat Glorious.- ... 2. Fellowfhip, wherennto ti-zy are ordain- 33< & St? ed-, what he Receives with one tiara', he muS give with the other 5 and Wi fee What David calls Receiving, Pfains. 68, 18. PW calls Giving, Epb. 4. 12. as if thefe were one and the fame thing with Chrift, and thou defireft no more of Chrift then what the Father, hath or- dered out by him. 8. After the Father ( whofe motion and project this was ) had wrought of Jfa. 42. 6* the §011 to undertake it, did not he & s°-9° then engage to ftand by him Sc to fupply f 1 ^* IO ° him with all neceilaries : a Body tofuffer joh. 5# ^ in, and a Spirit to that Body without & 6. 37/ Meafure, and to bring thofe in to him 44. 5- 1 7- In Time by Retail, whom he had gi- *f. 29. Ven to him in the Lump, before Time 5I ' ^' was, he doth more than Invite ( as faith Armbnus ) he doth effectually draw by an Omnipotent fweetnes • and Chrift muft not fcruple to entertain the moil Leprous Lcathfbme (inner whom the- Father is pleated to bring unto him | Ay, and the Father muft help to Keep them alfo, ,whom he hath brought io, toh. 10', -28, 29. fa Precious Cordial in Apo^atiging times, ) and all this being d»nt acceding to an antient cornplot E ani %o Spirt itual Pleadings, and Aggrement \ Socinus cannot from thefc fiipplies or dependencies infer the Son's Inferiority to the Father-, and the poor bt Irving (Inner may prefs him with all tlK.'e Engagements. 9. Over and above all this, Did he not put torth his paternal Authority, a) id i -} r his Commands upon his Son, to engage in this great fervice, John, 10. l£. and i 2. 9, 20. as Pbaroah to exprefs a Pieonafmof Love, commands Jofepb to be kind to his Neareft and Deareit Relations^ which one would think, lit- le needed, Gen, 45. 19. Go look God in the face, ar»d fay as David doth, Pfal 7T. 7. Thou baft given Commandment ta fave me • And to whom > To Men or Angels? No: to me, fays Chrift: Ibis Commandment bave I received of my Fa- ther. If Chrift tail, there is not only breach of Articles, but Dtfobedience too, Thou can'ft not believe that Chrift loves thee fo well, as to lay down his Life for thee : But can il thou believe he loves the Father > that's . eafie, there's no doubt of that: Why (fays Chrift, when he was going to Die ) That the World may hnnxo bow I Love the Father as the Fa- ther bath given me Commandment, even fo do J, John 74. 3T. t t0 , 10. Yet again to maka all^fure, leafl - the and Exfoftulations. ft the Humane Nature of Chrift upon its afiumption, fhould ihrink at the appro- ach ot Suilerings: Doth not the Father engage to Reward him plentifully td5$£j:?» give him a Royal and an Everlafting &*' *7T Priefthood, a name above every Name, appoints unto him a Kingdom, Luke 22. 29.. and above all, aflufes him of the Sal- vation of thofe he died for, according to this Agreement, If a. 53. n. without which nothing could ever have fatisfi- ed him, So that as the AiTumption of the Humane Nature is the higheft in- ftance of Free Mercy -, fo is the Reward- ing thereof in its ftate of exaltation, the the higheft inftance of Remunerative Juftice. All this needed not to engage Chrift: to work, fo much as to engage us to be- lieve that the Father was firft in Will- ing, as he is in Sniffling, the Son fe- cond to him therein 5 but hot in Hearti- nefs of Good Will, For therein they are both equal : They muft needs be One in Will, who are fo in Nature 8c Being ;■ but ftill the Father is Mrft in Love, J oh, 3. 16. For Qodfo loved the World, that be gave his only begotten Son, that who- foever believetb in Hint fhould not perifh, but have Everlafting Life. And 1. J oh. 4. 9, 10. In this was manifested the love E 2 of $2 Spiritual Pleadings, of God tore ay ds us, becaufe- that Godfent bis only begotten Son into the World, that we might hive through Him, He rem is Love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and fent his Son to be the Propitiation for our fins.. Ai)d therefore Love is laid at his door by the Apoftle, £'. Cor. if. 14. The Grace of our Lord Jefhs Chnft, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghojl bevtifo you a 7. The Grace of Chrift makes way. for our enjoying the Love of God ; but We I r known the Grace ofthrifl y had it not been firft for the Love of God, who therefore is called Our Saviour, I. Jim. I. I, 11. And as if all" thi* were not e- nough , Bid not the Father Seal Hitf Son a Commiifion, To give life to loft finners, John 6.27. And therefore Chrift fi) often mentions the Father as fend- ing him, and furnifhing him with Mir- acles, his Letters Credential where ever he came. 12. Nay more, If Suffering for Our fakes be a fign of Love, ( as who can Deny or doubt it ) to fpeak after the jmanner of men: Had riot the Father His fhare of Sufferings as well -as .the Son ? Was it nothing for him to parU With his Son? fuch a Son, an only Son, the and Exfofiulations. f% the delight of his Heart and eyes, andftom. 8. that not amongft friends, but enemies? &-!&.$ 1 Who would feek and fuck his Blood jn IO " this fence tofyare him, and jet m an- nofcher not to Jpare him, but to hruife him, and take flea fur e in fo doing > Is all this nothing ? He may feem i . efl to Mat. 1 r. have aneafie part to fit in Heaven and *>-?.$.z8. receive fatisfadtiorr: but you fee it coft l %> him feme thing too, my more y Fie denies himfelf, and difaf fears, v:d gives uf the immediate mimakenient of all affairs into the hands of bis Son: That part the Son took Was fharper but fhorter, lafted not much kbove three and thirty years, but from the time of Chirfts Re- furredtion ': 'Tis a long 'tzvim before Jthat* God come again to be. all in 'all, itor. 15, : "2.i.. and 28. and he in a manner . remains hid till the day of Judgment, now Chrift is all in all, Col. 3. 12. The Son tranfaBs all by the Spirit, till the lafi day, and the Father worketh wow only in and through the Son :. Thus you fee the Father veiling and eclipfing his Glory, to make it mine the more . hereafter, and in the mean time his love' that mines fcrtll herein glorioufly. 1 '?. Hath not the Father ( as well as 'Chrift ) an hand in fending the Holy^f'^^ Qboft, to make a xUfcoveiy and Appli-^' cation jM I A 54 Spiritual Pleadings, cation of all thcfe things ? yea he is cal- led the Promife of the Father, which Chrift had often Untied to his Difciples, as the beft news he could bring then* from Heaven, AB. I. 4. which (faith he ) ye have heard of me. 14. Laitly, Was it not he that wrapt up all this in a glorious Covenant, a Co- venant of Grace, Life and Peace, of which I may fay as John of the Com- mandment of Love, 1 John 2. 7, 8. Tis both the New and Old Covenant ^ H b T? ^ e ^ r ^ anc ^ ^' qnt * ever kft m g Cove- 20. 'sonant, calfd a Promife, ( left the word Co- tentxam venant ihould fcare us, and make us fape mu-. tfiink there's more required of us, by tat Dew, wa y f reftipulation, then we can reacn i r»ir. un *) Tit - j - 2 - i - y° h - 2 - 25..CW Greg. 9tant of Promife Eph. 2. j 2. and while we are altogether, grangers thereunto we are without Hope. The other Cove- nant was contrived and given forth chiefly to make way and welcome for this, and 'tis this Covenant the preci- ous things whereof are Sealed up unto lis in the Sacraments : This is that fe- cret of the Lord which is with them that fear him, Pfal 25. 13. to make them know the Covenant he is ever mindfull of it, and therefore fent Rer demption unto his People: He hath commanded ■ c and Expojlulations. _ 5$ commanded this Covenant for ever, Holy and Reverend is his Name, pfaL 1 1 1. - 5, 9, fife, and 'tis this will arrord Death- bed Comfort, 2 Sam. 23. $. Although my Hoiafe be not fo with God, a t he hath made with me an everlajii g Covenant, ordered in all things arid iiire, for this is all my Salvation, and al tiny deiire, although He make it not to grow. Now then though all theie fcnirgs are Phrafed in the Language o: Men , yet not without warrant from the Holy Ghoft, who condefcends thus to log out the Mifteries of Salvation, df* we could not underftand, or take in any thing oi them •, and though they are all but One A3 in God, as all his> At- tributes are but one Divine Excellency and Glory, the Divine EiTence it felt: but this is too big to come in all at once into our narrow hearts, therefore God lets out Himfelf by degrees, by drops and beams as we may bear it - y 'tis fo in the difcovery of himfelf, and 'tis fo in the difcovery of his Council, and Operations concerning us in Chriit Jefus. And though the Operations ad extra. are undevided, but ( according to the an- cient' agreement between them ) the Operation is attributed to that perfon : the $6 Spiritual Pleadings, the manner of whofe fubhmng appears rrioft in it, beginning work to the Fa- ther, carrying, on e o the Sou, finifhin? to the Holy Ghoft. " & Yea though many difown and difljke • thefe things, yet now go, and put them home to God : and if he will own them, and bear his witnefs to them, and feal them upon thy heart, .it will be fuffici- ent for thee, to fhame thee for all thy hard thoughts of him, and to fecure thee from the like tormenting fears for time to come, and (I know it ) he will work wonders (if thy Spirit be ftirred up to put him to it) rather then be wanting in his witnefs to fo great a Truth as this, and fo (halt thou be (%s Job fpeaks ) delivered for ever from thy Judge, from all frightfuil Ideas and apprehenfions of him, as an angry fevere Judge and enabled to walk with him all thy days, aswithamoft indul* gent and tender hearted Father. CASE V. Tear of Unbelief. Fear UT what is all this to me ( may pnkpeff J3 a poor Soul fay, ) though I affentr unto it, and think I believe it, if my Faith prove a, falf bla^e of Fancy, Pre- emption, vain Hope? apd thou haft cauf$ and Ex f ovulations, 57 eaufe to fear and fufpect it, becaufe it hath not the Vertue and Operation of that plant of Paradife, The Faith fCo\.t\z the Operation of God, the Faith of Gods^ lt% T ' T * EleB. Is this thy Cafe many times > Go, order thy caufe before him, md.fill thy mouth with Arguments-, Go, bow thy kmes unto the God and Father of our Lcrd Jefus : And, Firft, Tell him, he knows how thy Arguments. heart is carried forth towards him, on- ly according to the terms and. tenour of a Covenant of Grace, and not. oiWork/,. thou can'ft. not by any means away with that, that he mould deal and do by thee as thou doft by him •, no thou canft not find the life of thine hand, as 'tis faid of fome, Ifa. 57. 10. thine hands are not fitfficient for thee, as 'tis faid of Judah, Deut. 33. 7. -And will he trample oipou a worm that would fain creep towards him, only in that Way which he himfelf hath chalked out and is fo pleafing to him ? , Secondly, he knows that the fole ground of thy confidence is .the preci- ous and plenteous Grace of the Glori-^ ous Gofpel of Jefus Chrift, which , tells s.°Mat jthee that Chrift dyed for finners,! ene-20. 28. & imies-, ungodly, impotent ones: and aik 26. 28. him, if he have cyer a Soul with hirir Mar - to * * in 45 * 58 Spiritual Pleadings, in Glory that was not oncefuchan one> that many are ranfomed and pardoned by Chrilt ^ but not how many, Why may 'ft not thou be one of thole many? That Salvation is neither oihim that rvilleth, nor of him that runneth : but of God that jheweth mercy , Rom. 9. \6. even to the prifoners of unbelief, Rom. II. 32. thefeanda thoufand fuchlike' precious things the Gofpel uttereth, Afk him now if thou muftbe afhamed _ 2 c of the Gofpel, as thou haft been of the j"' 'Law, of thy looking for life by it? and if he will reject this confidence alfo, fo that thou muft not profoer in it. Thirdly, Afk him it there be not a Rom. 5 9 -double reconciliation plainly taught h\ to, 11: the Doctrine of the Gofpel? the one \^ n cJ £ factually purchafed by the death of Je- fus Chrift, and acknowledged by God at that time ^ the other at the conver- sion of a (inner, when he lays down his arms and enmities, and the knowledge of the one is the means to the other: Hath God then jlirred up all his wrath again, and will not fuller a poor foul to come near him, who would fain re* ceive the attonement? and be made friends with him > Fourthly, Afk him wherefore hath this Gofpel been brought to thine ears, to and Expostulations. $f to thine heart •, but that thou fhouldeft truft in it, and that perfe&ly, ( tj\(5h ) even to the end, i Pet. I. 13. Did he not call thee to Repentance, and will he now repent of his Calling, that can not be, for his gifts and calling are without Repentance, Rom. 11. 29, Did he not bid thee come unto him upon thofe waters of the Sanctuary *, And rauft thou now fink and perifh, to allude to that of Peter, Math. 14. 30. Fifthly, Tell him he knows how fully, how thankfully thy foul fubmits to that FJgkteoitfnefi which is Tevealed and offered in the Gofpel: and none perifh in unbelief, but they who are ignorant thereof, or fubmir not thereun- to ^ Rom. 10.3. Once indeed thou wertPhil.;.8, proud of thine own poor polluted Rags, 9- *.Pet. but haft now caft them all away, and, 1 * 1, • faid unto them with deteftation, get'^?^ ye hence * and wilt never gather them woci vn <& together again, but Blefieft him withes*, all thy heart and Soul, for that better provinon made in the Gofpel,and wouldft fain appear daily, continually before him, cloathed with that RighteouGaefs which Chrift came on purpofc to bring into the World, Dan. 9. 24. Sixthly, He knows thy heart clofeth with Chrift for fanttifcatiw as well as Righteoufneft Spiritual Pleadings, i- Cor i. Righteoufnefs to juftifie thy Faith, as 5 °* that muft juftifie thy perfon, it cloieth with the whole Gofpel, with whole Chrift in all liis Offices •, and that there is nothing more defireable to fliitte eye then that Hotinefs which the (,. requireth , Promifeth and Prom How fain would thy Soul b? his Glafs, wherein he might View ' all his own Glories, Vermes, Beauties, Graces, "by reflection : And will he break this glafs in pieces ? *. Pet. 2. Seventhly and laftly, Aft him if he 5?; . will but ftand to that one good word, •m**f*7K*fp ] cen - n hfg^ame to his fervant, Rom. 5. 20. Where*, fin abounded, Grace did much more abound ♦, this is hot the ipaivn or fpume ofc thy fancy, nor haft thou met with this faying in lbme good book, whofe Author might be miftaken 5 but if God will make it good ( as thou thinkeft him bound to do, even for the Glory of his Grace, Wifdom and Truth ) thou can'ft tell where there are Jam. \.fnperfuiities of naughtinefii and He can ZI - teil where there are Super-abomidings, overflowings of Grace and Mercy; and if he will draw up the fluces, thou (halt not only -honour him by believe!-:;?, but be "encouraged to look for mure than ordinarjr Favours &orri him, everi becaufe and Expostulations t 6 1 becaufe fin hath fo. abounded : And i& not this the Faith that (hould come? or mult thou look for another > ; or if this be it, why then is. not. thy heart purified, heart and life fanc/tified by it $ Why is it not unto his fcrvant accord- ing to his word? Ail. 1 5?. 9. and 26. 18. Plead andprefs this hard u port him, and ( my Soul for thine ) he. will not deny thee, he will not fay thee nay : you may take not mine but the Apoftle Peter's word for it, that this is the true Grace of God wherein yc fiand % J. Pet. 5. 12. CASE VL Tear of Hypocrifie* BXJ T there is a damp upon thy Spi- Fear £ rit, a great difcouragement which Hypoci^ takes off' thy boldnefs before him:fo thou feareft that though thon doft (as thou thinkeft ) believe and rejoyce for a feafon in the Grace believed, yet 'tis not likely to lajl alwayes, thou malt not be able to- hold the rejoycing of thy confidence firm unto the end, thou {halt prove [ but a temporary 5 a dung- hill covered with fnow, which will melt away; thou findeft fo much Hypo- crifie i in whatever thou goeft about, thou haft done much evil without the nuxtiars' &2 . Spiritual Pleadings , mixture of any nood , but never a" ny good without the mixture of much evil, and the Hypocrite is juftly hated of God and man 5 the world hates him becaufe he feems good, and God abhors him becaufe he only feems, and is not truly fuch : and this fometimes thou - feareft will be thy Portion, and can'ft not difcover the bottom of thy mifery to any flelh living, and this ere long will put an end to thy pleading •, thou feareft that both the Gift, and Grace, and fpirit of Prayer ( if ever thou hadft at ) will leave thee, according to that in Job 27. &, 9, 10. For what is the hope #f the hypocrite, though he hath gained? when Qod taketh away hts foul t will Qod hear his cry when trouble cometb upon him, will he delight himfelf in the Almighty : will he alwayes call upon God} Well, Go to God in this cafe however, Go order thy caufe before him Argument: mi. fill thy mouth with Arguments. 1. Tell him He, and He alone knows whether thou aymeft not at entirenefs of heart before him, both as to the fub- je&, the whole heart which thou wouldft p., lg have kept even from thine iniquity y z 3? Pfalm and as to the Objeft, all his Command- 119.6. &ments^ thou knoweft not one of them, ver. 140. which thy fpirit baulks or boggles at, but and Expoftulations. 6$ — ■■-■■■■■■■ »• — but the more pure his word is, the more" thy foul lovetb it* iind alio as to the means of Grace, they are all dear and precious to thee, and thou wouldft be found in the ufe of all his appointments, bid him name that thing which he requires, and which thou knowingly and purpofely declin- eft ; And is this- the guife or way of an Hypocrite > only be fore thy heart re- proach thee not Secondly, He knows what is the fe- cret end of thy living, and why thou art deftrous or fo much as content to continue in this World, not to ihare in the Pleafures or Profites or Honours thereof, ( the worlds Trinity which it adores and ferves, and facrificeth it felf r r oht 2s unto ) hut to be receiving or doing fome ii- Thefe good in thy ftation and generation $ and three are can it be thus with an Hypocrite $ *** worlds Thirdly, He knows that thou chuf^ eft rather to be fickly or poor, or dil- graced, and to walk" clofe with him , then in Health, Wealth, or Honour to wander from him, or to ly out at a great diftance from Communion with him, yea rather to be following hard after Him, though thou fhouldft -nevae enjoy his Glorious , Ravifhing, Tranf- porting prcfence, while thou liveft, thara 64 Spiritual pleadings, K • than to fwim in aboundance of carnal enjoyments, and to have a heart care- lefs of him, eftranged from him : and is it thus with any* Hypocrite in the World ? Fourthly, Tell him thou hadft ra- ther he mould know all thy fecret fin- >fat.6. £.rri n S s againft him, then that he mould not know all thy fecret fighings and Lamentations after him, the world hath feen and Humbled at many of thy mifcarriages, but hath not fccn nor re- covered by thy fecret mournings ^ but be feeth in fecret : and therefore tell him. Fifthly, ' It will not be For his Ho- nour to rejeft thee, for all mufi out : all thy fecret fobbings and pantings and purfuings after him, muft be known one day : and what would Angels and men think to fee fuch a mourner in fe- cret caft oft to all eternity ? Laftly, Appeal unto him, He knows thou* haft . been ufualty as earneft with him for Hdlinefi in time of projp'erity ■; as in time of ftraits and adverfity .- and is this the manner of Hypocrites > Sure-; ly no *, Uzziah was marueloujly helped till he was ftrong $ but when he was ftrong his heart was lifted up to his de-> ilru&ioii for he tranfgreffed againft the and Etff ovulations. 6$ t;e Lord his God, 2. Cbr. 4. 5. and 14. 15. it was not fo with Jehofaphat y he ioug fit the Lord God of his Fathers, £iid walked in his Commandments, and , or a Swallow, or mourheji ijfc? a Dove, as l^usKiaU ;fj$eai>s of h'imfelf If a. ?t ik. Every creature conveys its fou d, its ton e a r d tu n e 1 1 v: v ou 11 £ on e s 2 \ '■ d none of his children are "ftill born v the ' Spirit unties their tongues, and (Vts F 2 " tlkstf 68 Spiritual Pleadings, them a crying Abba Father $ and he knows thou ooft cry fometimes : not coldly tender him lome dead prayers, but cry, and not as a thief' at a Bar to a Judge whbtn he neither loves nor hath any confidence in, but as a poor child Gen. 2,7. w { len - gf^refs who daily aiks his Fa- * ' ' thers Blejn g. Fifthly, J Defire him that he would /?. 50. Not on- ly that which he begets in the Saints, but that which he bears to them, all . the World hath had experience of it, the Church efpecially •, and thou art F & not / u Sfirrlual pleadings. not altogether a ftranger to it, 8c halt now occafion further to try it $ and hopeft to find it, no whit inlenour either to that of the Father in giving his Son, or that of the Son in giving himielr ror* thee -, ttiough he hath not been equally loved and honoured with them, but womlly neglected and forgotten. Secondly, Ak him if it be poifible for thee to be in a worfe plight than warn he firft had to do with thee ? and did he then fall to work upon thee when he might have abrrrd to ioui bis fingers with thee, and will he now for fake the work of bis own hands} Pjal. •138. 8. Thirdly, Thou hopeft he will dwell in thy duit . when death hath done its worft unto thee, and raife that again, according to Rom. 8. it. and will he now foriake thy foul and not raife that again, now that fin and the Devil have . done their worft againft it 5 for worfe than what hath been, thou thinkeft, can- not befall thee. Fourthly , Have not the moft emi- nent Saints that ever he dwelt in, had . their baclcilidings, and finned even a- I gainft that grace wherein lay their ex- cellency, were they all reftored by him, and lhalt thou only.be abandoned I Fifthly,' and E xpoftulations. 7 1 Fifthly, were not all thofe gracious Tenders to Backfliders , trained., Hi- ed, and re-corded by him ? Jsr. 3. 22. Return ye back/finding Children and I will « heal your la kill sings : Behold we come unto the for thou art the Lord our G>d y Hofea 14. 4. I wilt, heal their backfcd- ings^ I will love them freely 1, for mine anger is turned away from them ^ and in many oth?r places • and beg he would teach .thee experimentally to know what is meant by God's healing backflidings. Sixthly, He knows that nothing in the world ever fo wounded thee or went fo near thy heart, as thy tempt-,- ing and grievirgofhim hath done ^ and' thou art r-folved never to forgive thy fe]i\ though he do, no (as fometimes thou thinkeif ) not in Heaven. Seventhly, He knows that thou art to this day wailing, and wondering, and waiting, to know wherefore thou wert fo left unto thy felt, and that thou art far from wipeing thy mouth _ and flighting of it} thou canft not but think that God hath fotne defign upon thee therein as he had upon He%ehak.^ 2. Chron. 52. 3T. God left him to uy Hw± thai he might know all that was in his heart: and little didft thou think when F 4 God Spiritual Pleadings, 20 God &ft turned thy heart unto himfclf, these nad been that in it which in;ce hat i broken iortli irom it, nor was e- ver any fo deceived in thee as thou Prov. 2S. n;r -- beeii in thy felf, but art received jiow againft that folly of trufting in thine own heart any more. Lightly, Aik him upon what terms he firit entered upon thy heart 5 Was it not with a Commiiiion there to ftay, how ill foever treated or entertaiued ? So frys .Chrift, it was agreed on, Job. J 4. 1*6. And I will Pray the Father^ and he Jhall pj'jc yon another Comforter that be may abide with yon for ever. Thou v/ouldft not for a World have him only upon the fame account. The iirft Adam had him in his ftate of in- nocency, concurring meeriy as a third per fon in the Trinity* but by vertue of a relation to the fecond-, and ttttn he muft never le&vs thee, he muit not only alight but abide alio, as upon the head, fo upon the Members, John j. i% 9$ Ninthly, Say to him, hereby . fhalt thou know that he is God indeed, e- qual to the Father and the Son, and. that though all the world mould con- fpire againft him to itn-God him^ yet ihall his invincible patience, and infu- perable and Extoftulatiom. 73 perable God-will, raife an everlafting Filler of witnefi in thy bofome, let who will carl him off, he lhall be thy God for ever 5 Who is a God like unto thee y pardoning iniquities, Mich. 7. 18. is e- qnally true of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. CASE IX. Senfe of ftrong Corruption. 17 T frill thy heart akes and is Sen{ - eG f dfquiefed, to think that what's Corrup- faid 01 a man of great wrath, Prov. 19. tioa. j c,.' is alio molt true o- thee, fuch an one mutt needs fuffer puniminent •, fcr if thcu deliver him, yet thou muft do it again , he 1 ever and anon bring i himieir into the briers *, and this is thy cafe, though the fweet Spirit of God be willing to forgive, thee former Of ences, and to ietchtheeof from thy Imbroyl- inerts, yet is he likely to ^ave an hea- vy hand with thee, confidering thy cor- ruptions and temptations; thou art like- ly to run upon a new fcore, to run in- to new rebellions, and there will be no end of all his labour $ yet in this cafe go and ordrr thy caufe before God the Father and our Lord Jems Chrift, and fill thy mouth with Arguments, 1, Afk 74 Spiritual Pleadings, Matth.4 i. Ask Him, Was not this one great ^•^ iIiid end why our nature was taken into per- Ioup w ional union with tne divine, thai the u h3i dileafes ol the onejuiglit be healed by Jai ai d the infinite vertue anu purity and fti- Jangifigi-^Gy ot the other > did Chrnvcome inly dif^rc t0 cure r ^ e fi c ^ ne ^ e f s oi " tDe botly < or tothefe w re not a 'l tn£ fc cures tae types and eighteen, reprefentations of thofe he came to work it may be upon the fouls of finners? fure Rich as SSv tpu * Him. by Faith, lhall have their years or Moody LTucs flopped, and all other in- Ibnger. ward diftempers cured: in the days of Rom. 6. his flefh. he went about doing good, and * healing all that were oppreffed of the de- vil, Acts ic. 38. and lamentable were our lofs by his removal to Heaven, if From thence his vertue could not reach us 5 and if he were now on earth, thou art verily perfwaded thou might'fthave help from him 5 why not from Heaven > 2. Did He not die that {in might die and be deftroyed > he was not only cloathfd with our nature,tmt flrip'd-by the feperation of foul and body ( though not of the Godhead from either) that fin and our fouls might be icparated : why doth fin live, feeing .Chrift: died > 3. Demand even of Juftiee, if Chrift hath not fully paid thy ranfome? why then art thou kept in bonds ? holdenwith the and Ex populations. n the cords of thy fins? the worft ufage- which the worit oi : men in this world are threatned with ♦, Prov. 5. 2 2. his own i- niquities ftiall take the wicked himf*lf, ana he ihall be fhLk% with the cords of his fins •. the vileft thingepn to this with- out this, is apleafant palace, a dilight- ful garden, as sjrasifeid I v fomi pi the bleiled Martyrs 01 their pri&fas. 4, Complain that thele corruptions do wrong, defile and outrage that nature which. C rift now w:,rs hi Heaven, and hath exalted far above the bngteit Che- rub $ for He and his are all of a piece , B?b. 2. 1 1. and this is a thou land flumes and pities.^ 5. If there be any. feed of God,any be- ginnirg of that everlafting w---rko: fanc- tihYation in thee, thou rt now become a?neml'v f his body, of his flejh and of hi hwas,E\>h >. v:-. I for Ciir ift never .took any but fanctined defh upon him ) and how th-i can he hide himfelf from his own flefh > he would not have us do fo, I fa. 58. 7. h w can he in dure to fee his own rlelTi fo ihain^uly abufed ? He who made a Law a man ihould not hide himfelf vv hen he faiv his ene- mies bean: fink down under his burden, the Afs of one who feted hiff^xo&3$. 5. Dom he take care for Oxen and for Affes -j 6 Spiritual Pleadings , Aflcs ? and can he himfelf forbear to help | up the ^oul of o\ c that loves him ? and will he not help with him > or it thou i arta.raidto(ay thou loveft him,becaufc thy heart is fo littfe with him, yet to be fure there's a poor foul down, and will ' he not help it up ? will he not help it > I and that againft thofe oppreflours which areas well the enemies of his praife and glory as of thy peace and fafety. And furely thefe Cananites are left in the Land, as it was in the figure. To keep down pride, Bent. 7. iz. To try whether we will follow the Lord or our lufts, Judg. 2. 23. To teach us war, and to exercife our graces, Judg. 3. i. To make us to keep more above,upon the mountains, Judg. 1 34. To become tributaries and do our drudgery, 1. Kings 10. 21. God makes our corruptions do us fome fervice, which our graces cannot do without them. CASE X. Tear of Affliction. BU T perad venture thou maift think with thy felf, that through grace, (whereunto nothing is impomble,) thou snaiftbe both pardoned and purified too in and Exfoftulations. 77 in time, but it will coft thee dear : firfr, a world of AffliBions muft be expected where there hath been inch a World of Provocations, and yet remains fuch a mafs or corruption-, and thefe fears of what may come, take thee off from en- I .joying what is prefent : Go with this complaint to thy Judge, that thefe fears may be difarmed, and bound over, no more to moleft thee \ go fill thy mouth 2 Sm ltf with Arguments : For who can fay his r * 5? j'^"' mountain is fo ftrong he fliall never be move.l? Or who can Fore-tell or fore-fee Pfil. 99. the things that may befall him $ even& pardoning mercy it felf is no fence a- gainft this flail of Affliction. 1. Tell Him whatever comes, 'tis t^y ^ . deli re to bear his Indignation, becaufe^^^J-r thou baft finned 'againft him, Mich ifoicotdik 9. and that thy ftubborn uncircumcifedHeb.12.6, lieart may accept of the Punifhment ?• of thine iniquity, becaufe, even becaufe ^^^ tho haft defpifed his judgements, and tj be re- carried it as if thy Soul had abhorred warded his ftatutes, Lev. 26. 43; Nay, J^ nh Z 2. Tell him that thou hadft rather be t d ^ot' under the fchooling of his children, than tobepu- ' the cockering of his caftawayes, under nifhed the fevere mercy of his difcipline ( as w ^en he Aitguflinefytzks of that of the Church ) ^ am than under the impunity of thofe defc^. : perate tut. in Spirt itual Plead? n perate loft creatures whom God hath thrown up as a loft cafe, and will Dot be at the coft tobeftow another rod n- pon them, even his correcting red as well as his Supporting fiafrihall be a com sort ^ to thce/Pfal. 23. 4. no puuithment like impunity. 3. Though it be ujfinitly more elig- ible that way to be humbled and. re- formed than not at all, yet tell him, if he will be pleafed to fpare thee, '"twill be more tor his honour to do it in the midftoi profp rity, becaufe this is more difficult -and more unufual: jfer. ^2. 2T. I /pake tiritp thee in thy profperity, but ihoufaijfl I will not he',zr,this hath been thy manner from thy youth , that thou 0- beyedjl not my voice. Now what a glory will it be to him, to bore thine ear in the mid ft of thy prolpenty. 4. As this will be more glorious for Him, fo more iifefidl, to others,, the ex- amples of filch a ro; iy xt is much more confpicuous and illuitnous , in miferable ones 'tis hard to diitn guiih between a devastation and a reformation, between their trouble for fin, and for fullering, in perfons not hnmbled and yet hum- ble, outwardly happy and yet weaned from the breafts of finful ple-ifcres, 'tis very vifible that 'tis not abjence but ah- Jtinence and Expostulations. 79 fiinence •, that they do not make a ver- tue of neceiiity, that 'tis voluntary not extorted 5 and be'fides- men are far more forward to imitate the happy than the Wretched and miferable, to write after & rair cpoy than one all blotted and felur'd,foyld and fullied by the tears and fweat of affliction, the examples only of fucfi as areforae way happy or emi-" nent carry compulfion in them, Gal. 2, H- .. . .. ?. Tell Him however fo he will go with thee through fire and water, accor- ding to his gracious promife, If a. 43. 2. thou art not afraid to venture,thou wilt interpret it to be his affeBion as well as his faithful Ihefs, his magnifying ofthee 9 his fetting his heart upon thee, Job. 7, 17, J 8. his utmoft kindne/3 unto thee, feeing he himfelf ftiles it fo. Jer. 9.7.^,, , Behold I will melt them and try them S^^k for what elfe fhall I do, what more can" 1% ' I do for the daughter of my people} Some Mounte- affirm, if a knife or needle be touched banks with a Loadftone of an iron colour, it m ^ e - ! M1 . 1 % 01 this ex- will cut or enter into a mans bodyp er i me n t without any fenfe of pain at all : 'tis true of afflictions well touched with the Loadftone of divine Love. BleJJed is the man whom thou chafienefl Lord, and teacheft him out of thy Law, that thou mayeft 8o Spiritual Pleadings, mayeli give him reft from the days of ad' vcrfity Pial. 94. 12, 1 £ This then is a bleifed condition, when con\ acn and in- Job. 5.17 fl; ril ,£^ on are linked together and thou %z* % 5# can ft 0°t be happy without it, nor haft thou been over- eager after deliverance , when in affliction thou haft enjoyed his precious prefence. . CASE XL Se?ife of extremity of Pain. ^am! ° f T\ UT ' tis . hard io kee ? ln this m ' md * X-l when it comes to the try a II, espe- cially when God puts forth his hand and touch eth to the quick, when he toucheth the bone 8c the heih,then( faith »ie devil of Job ) he will never endure that, he will curje thee to thy face, fob % 2 >* in extremitie of pain when thy Spi- rit is ready to fail before him, and the Soul which he hath made $ art T b a 6 a i )t t0 ^ * n ^ ne neart > where is all J c ' 4* "that Sweetnefs and Tendemefs thou mad'ftthy boaftof? Where is now thy Fear, thy Confidence, the uprightneis of thy ways and thy Hope > and this may be thy Cafe, how ftrong and hew healthful foever thou haft been hitherto.. Yet even then labour to order caufe before him, and fill thy mouth with and Expcftulations, 81 with arguments, and if our hearts' re- proach us not , if they condemn us not x for fecret Atheifts ana notorious diiiem- blers, v/e may. have boldnefs and free- dom of fpeech in all thefe cafes,^ i Joh& 3. 21. and in this cafe it is a ihamefui) j thing for a proieiTed Chriltiaii,' to know I no other way of complaint or cure then ,'a beaft doth, Hof. 7. 14. Abeaitwhen Eft pain will cry, and may be cured by :*time and remedies ^ a Christian indeed -hath a Spiritual way 01 complaining , T r ^ i-7 r\ -, J r s-i '^1 °- In cafe 01 Which aitords more eaie tnan the na- in> iural : therefore in cafe of pain, i. Juftifie hiiri ,& tell him thou knoweft Wat heexað oftheelefs then thine J ob ri -£ iniquity deferveth } tell him thoie parts j that feel the pain, have deferved Infinity ly more than they feel ^ call to minde thofe very Times and Places wherein they have provoked the eyes of hfs slory^ the wicked devices of thy head,* the wretched defires of thy heart, the' pollutions of thy hands, the fvyiftnefs of thy feet to do evil ( only take heed of repeating thofe fins by any curled titilatibn or delight in the remember- ince of them, ) cohfefs the whole body lath deferved to be laid upon the rack h hell, and never let down to all E- :eyi:ity, Yet G -2, Make b2 Spiritual pleadings , 2. Make bold to mind him how ut- terly unufefuU thou now art unto him, unlefs he will fill and furnifh thee with ftrength and patience to glorifie him in fuffering, now that he is not pleafed to impby thee in doing - y and if fo, though thou ly in Hell, there ihall be never 3 devil iii it to torment thee. 3. Afk him if he can take any Vlea* fure in thy pain > if that be agreeable to the incomparable fweetnefs of his only good nature > if that can be fuit- able to the bowels and Companions of thofe Relations wherewith he hath con- defcended to aray himfelf ? did ever the harfheft Parent beat a Child ( how bad fcever ) all the day long, and all the night, or fo long together without intermiffion ? thus Hexekiah reafonerb, from day even to night, wilt thou . make an end of irfe ? I reckoned till Morning ( I thought then he would Pftl.30. «?.give over,) I thought though forrow may endure for a night, yet joy cometh in the morning, 1 but as a Lyon, fo will he break all my bones, from day even to Night wilt thou make an end ol me, Ifa. 38. 12, 1 $ Can this feverity be confident witl the fweeteft relations > And what arc the bowels of all the Relations in th< J " Worl( and Expostulations* 8 1 World to Gbdfc, but flints 8c Adamants? Aik him then with this complaint of Job, Is it good to thee that thou (houU- eft opprtfi, that thou Jhouldeft de/fife the work of thins hands} Thine hands have made me and fafhioned me together round about , yet thou doji deSrcy me : Remem- ber I befeech thee, that thou hafl made me as the clay y and wilt thou bring: me tnto duft again > ( vrilt thou pound me into powder before my time? ) Job u 1 3, 8, 9, &c. Or if that could be his ^leafure and his paftime ( which fure it is not, ) yet aik him if thou art a fit match or mark for him ? Am I a fea or a Whale, that thou fettefl a watch over me} Job 7.12. There's a pride and a power worthy of his curbing and copmg with, fome Leviathan or Be- Job. 40, hemoth, may be a fit fubjecl for him* l8 > &-■ *hat made him, to make his fword ap- proach unto, his bones are as firong .pieces of braffe, his bones are like Bars ot Iron- but mine are not fo, Is my, h *th he »ot poured me cut isMtlk and cruddled me like Qbetfa vhich will foon crumble under bis fin- ders wherefore then hideft thou thy face* nd holdeft me for thine Enemy, wilt Q 2, * tft©& __ _: /' . -■ : -£' 84 Spiritual pleadings, Job tj, thou break a- poor fegjfi; driven to. and *4' fro,andwilt thou purfue the dry fhtble? Joh 10 / tfr thcwrvrittett bitter things again ft me, 10. and makeft me to poffefi the Iniquities of my youth ; ceafe fro?;/ me, and let me alcne, that I may take Comfort a little. And will he not be intreated? mind him that he hi mfelf hath told thee, that he doth, not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of men, to crufh under his feet all the pr if oners of the Earth,JLam. 5. 33, 34. not the Children of men, much leffe then the Children of God,his own Children 5 and thou hopeft thou dofr look like one of them, yea,that thou art one of them, Not' the prifoners of the Earth, and will he cfufh either with his foot or OaL4.26.I1is hand the free born Citizens of Hea- Joh S. s^ven, thofe whom the Son hath made 7-fir, /n'fr ee 5 and fo are free indeed j and if thou i2.JLa.49 , n \ r $>.&6i.i. art a pnfoner, thou art a prtfoner of hope, thou haft fometimes thought, that he hath loofed thy bands, and faid unto thy Soul go forth 5 and thou canft not yet call away thy confidence. m < **• ' a, Afk Him, Why did he take pleafure in the pains of his deai Jer. 9.24. Son, in crufhing and bruifmg of hirr. Mich. 7. as in a Wine Prefs, fure that work ir l8 * it felt was no fuch pleafipg woxk untc Hiii and Exp oft id at tons. S? Him, but only as it made .way* and gave vent to that which is his pleafure, the exercife of Love and Mercy ^ that was but- a medium to this end, and in it felf a bitter one to God Himfelf, fave only as this fweetned it. Now why did he put him to grief "if fie received no fatisiaction thereby? were not his head, and hearty and hands, and feet, and fides tormented, that thine might be Fpared ? furely the fins of all believers were purrifloed and payed for to the full, in and by their Surety, and are only correBed in them- felves •, though therefore thou haft caufe to bewail and to be amazed at the "Jiaughtinefs of that heart which calls for fuch rods ♦, yet it cannot but be a chearing to thee that God is not reck- oning with thee, as if he meant to fetch his penny-worths, his compenfations to [his JufHceoutofthy fmartings. Laftly Afk'Him if he himielf fmart \ not in thy fufferings > If Chrift Him- felf do not fuffer and bleed afreah > ■ If his Companion do not almoft renew and repeat His Faillon, has loft his old went elfe •, In all the -afflictions of His People He was wont to be afflicted, If even before His Incarnation, when He had not thofe Bowels of a Maatha£ G 3 now g£ Spiritual Pleadings, now He bath, ) Ifa. 63. 9. Andthougt 110 pain can have any place in Heaven yet love in its perledtion feels fome thing by way of Sympathy, not onl) Analogous and proportionable, but in finitly more high and generous thai Ve can think oh Though therefore there be a far great ■ j tx bight of love exprefled in his afflict \ ang,than in his cockering and carking, yet beg he would either moderate o: withdraw His hand, confidering where! of thou art made, and rernemberinj thou art but duft, and thpu fnalt eith'e Heb. \i. have eafeand deliverance, or that whicl to, 11, iris far better, an ample participation ij 2 Cor. 4.^ holineft, and a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory. CASE XII. Defer tion felt, or feared. Deferti T£ UT ma X fome P 00X f ou -l &Y> '. tweV( en tell ,1] J3 well * I might efcape with th< reared.' fmartings and fuft erings of the outwan man, with the pain of the body whicl is but the body of pain ♦, the forrow the foul is the foul of forrow, and ei Cant. 3.4*her I feel or fear defer -tion *, having found Him whom my foul loveth, 1 would fain have held nim and nothav* let him go, I would not let him gc ? with and Expoftnlatwnt. 87 without a blelfing, nay, I would have the Melllng and keep him too, his pre- tence being the beft of bleflings, but woe unto me when he departs from me. Now though this be the moftdark- fome and dolefome condition that can befall thee, yet 'tis neither defperate nor unufual* Go therefore even in this cafe and order thy oaufe before him and fill thy mouth with Arguments. 1. Tell Him, 'tis put fit indeed chat he mould aflert his own Soveraign- atj% by coming or going when he plea£ £th j but why mould he take a plea- sure to be a hiding God, where he is a Saviour, to be a ftranger in his own Land, in ImmanueVs land, and to be at ^ a his own houfe, as a wayfaring man that turneth afide to tarry for a night, feeing he alone is the hope thereof, and the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble > yet thou Q Lord art in the t>iidft of ns, and rve are called by thy N0me, leave us «0/,Thus Jersmiab^leafe Chap. 14. 8, 9. 2. Make bold to mind his BlelTed Majefty of thofe many engagements made by Himfelf and Son, never re leave thee nor forfake thee: Shew hiri* tUefe promifes, Jihn 14. 21, He th&t lovetb me (hall be loved of my FaWtr, .£4 ani Spiritual Pleadings, — * and I will lore him and will manifest jny ielr unto him: and ver: 2*. my; Father will love him, and we will c tin to him, 3iid make vur'aioJc withhinL and whether' thou loyeji Him or no, notwithstanding thy , many pradlical denyiugs of him, thou caniV with Pettr appeal to Ornnifciency r it felf, let him judge ^ ■ Lord thou hiowe.li all things ? thou Icnovoffi ijoat I love thee, John 21* 17. Nay, hath He not. faid, that He will not caft off his People, No not toy all that they have done againli Him, Jer. 31. 37. and if not for what they have done, what is. there elfe that they need fear, 1. Sam. 12. 20, &c. Fear not, ye have done all this wickednefs, yet turn not afide irom following the Lord 5 for the Lord will nit forfake his People , feeing it hath pleafed the Lord ■to majce you His People ^ He can nei- ther be inconftant in His Love, nor fo miftaken in His Choife. as to repent thereof. 3. Tell the Son of Righteoufnefs, 'tis true, thou canft neither- bear His Shin- ings, nor Eclipfes, but much lefs thefe, than thpfe •, thou hadft much rather chufe to be brunt up by his flames and imbracings, than to be frozen u^v and fiarv'd in the fiiadow of his abfence & witli- and Expostulations. £? withdra wings ; thou hadft rather gaxe out . thine own eyes, than, weep them ©utj wouldit ratlier chufe to dy with Mofes at the moil thj oi the Lord, have ^ e g*'J£ fhy Soul fuckt out by a kifs f as fomey^ die4 fay his was ) than to pine away from at the cay to day, through the hidings of his mouth of face and withholdings of his favour... 4z^°J7* - 4. Tell Him, if thou hadft never B.mmi. Jcnown Him, . thou couldft have been Mont, without Him, at leaft without any pre- sent ienfe of forrowfor his aKfence 5 but iw having tafted that heis gracious,in his favour is thy life, and his loving kindnefs is better than life,, and thou jvLo'^°, canft not make. a ihift to be one day without him. 5. Tell Him, If the lofs were total and final, 'twere perfeci 'Hell, -land the worfl: of Hell, the punifhment of lofs being concluded to be far greater than that of fenfe-, and if it be but partial and for a time, for a moment ( as he calls it, Ifa. 54. 7, 8. afmall moment, though thou thinkeft it an Age ) yet who can be content to be in Hellanan Hell above ground, though but for a moment. » 1 ■ , — f 6. Tell Him, He had as good return tat firft as at laft, for as till then thou srtfure to have no refttny feJ£fo he is likelv* «© Spirtitual Pleadfttgs, likely to have but little ^ Heaven is like to Ring out, and thou haft a war- rant under his own hand, to bear thee out in fuch a reftlefs importunity -, not only the Watchmen fet upon the Walls oijewfalem, are never to hold their peace day nor night, but all ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not fi- lence, and give him no refi y till he eitab- lifh,and till he make Jerufalem a prarf* in the earth, Ifa. 62. 6, 7. 7. Ask him, Why was Chtift forfalcen by him, but that Chriftians might ne- ver be fo: Chrift himfelf erpoftulated iftat. 27- tne ca k> ar *d put the queftion upon the 46. Crofs, My Qod my God, why hatt thou forfakenme? and^thou hopeft thofe li- ving words of His dying Son have made fo deep an impreflion that they will never out of his mind, (hall never b« forgotten. CASE XIII. Exercifed in Friends ; Relations, Nama , or Eftate, T.xercifed"\7 r ET mayfome complain and fay> m fhends X God is pleafed indeed to fpare Keiati- me both as to faul and body, but yet * ns > his hand is out againft me, and lyes lore, IfUte' ^ 011 me * n m ? re l at i° ns > friends,namej eftate, which arc no mean ingredient^ cither and Exfoftulations. $l either as to the fweetning or irnbitterig, of my cnp : yet in this cafe go to Him, order thycaifeb fre him, and fillthy mouth with Arguments. i. Doth he threaten the removal of fome near and dear relations } tellHim they are pieces of thy felf -, and is he now about to rend thecaule of thine heart* and hath not fitted thee for refignation ? 2. He knows that the lafi corruption mortified, in his, Children, is inordinate nefs of aifeclion to relations - y when they come to dy themfelves,and are already- dead to all things elfe in the World, yet ftill the heart hankers after theCe>, this is next to the Soul, as the fhift i$ to the body, and is, laft put off: and is Jt fo difficult to dy %o. relations, when we our lelves are dying, putting off from tbe fnoar of this world,and launch- ing into the deeps of eternity : have we fo much ado then to fhake hands and bid farewell to our friends >■ what is it then when we fee them pluckt from Us, when the life of all pamons and af- fections is whole and ftrong intis,fcarce cteaded at all to our enemies, to thofe things we ought to hate, much lefs to our friends, to thofe perfons whom we ought to love-, beg him toconfider and £itty thee in this difficulty. «. Toll 92 . Sfiritual Pleadings, 3. Tell Him, He knows thou tookeft them as tokens and pledges- of his love, and wert wont to fp&ak of them in thine heart in the language of Jacob, Gen. 35. 5. Tbefe are the friends, the children, the comforts, which God hath gracioufly given His Servant •, and thou fearefl: now that he is about to take them away in anger, afi&tifcH fignificati- Dan. ?. m of tne ftroke is that which difquiets 5 ,<5.' ' thee, ( like the hand -writing upon the wall) much more then the ftroke it felf. 4- Tell Him ( when they are gone or going ) thou art refolved never to re- cruit with s Creatures h Ask Him if He jviil be pleafed to ftand in the breach and to fill up the gap Himfelf, he fayes +et**h*-\& offers Himfelf thereunto, Beb. 12. 7. courtingthee to accept of his company and fupply \ and if he will make good Jais ofter,:heihallbe better unto thee than ten of thofe relations, friendsxom- forts, yea, tlian tenthoufand fuch things as He firft lent thee or put into thy hand to hold for him, and now hath ken it meet to. call for, away from thee. 5. Tell Him, As for thy Name 'tis in his keeping, muft have a refurreclion as well as thy body, though the one defer ve to rot as well as the other 5 and if his name were not concerned in it, thou t wouldefi and Expoftulations . wouideft neither trouble Him north/ felf about it, t. Cor. 4. 3. with me it is a very fmall thing to be judged of men. 6. He knows that though thy liqao- r.icenefs after Creatures hath coft thee dear, yet it hath been the endeavour of thy Soul to live upon Him alone , in the midft of all other Comforts,, to make Him thy All, above All, with All, who frail hereafter be All, without All - 5 and that in the mean time, thou mighteft live upon him without other things 5 l£ it mould pleafe him to ftrip thee of them^ as Knowing that there was a worm at the root of thofe gourds, which would one day deprive thee of their refrelhing flmdow, and he knows that fornetimes when friends have failed, though atfirft thou wert amazed, yet upon recollection thon haft rejoj^ced to find thy felf laid at his door alone for help y and thou haft found Him alone All-fufficient for thee, and He hath done that alone which he would.not do in confort with fecond tail* fes.. LaFtly, He knows how often thou haft offered -Him (if He would fend thee) to go after thofe ancient fervants and filffer- ers for His Name, Bel. 11. 37, 38: to wander about injbeep-shins andgoat-skzns, to that leathern outfide might- be well *■ liued <*4 Spiritual Pleadings, lined with divine love •, to wander in mountains, fo thou mighteft be nearer to Him, in de farts, fo He would not defert thee, fo He would not be a wildernefs or a land of darknefs to thee -, in den* mnd caves of the earth, fo they might be furnifhed and beautified, guilded and Glorified with His Prefence, His preci- ous All-fuiFiceing Prefence . And he makes but a bad bargin, who takes more of what is lead, and is con- tent to be put off with lefs of what is moft,which thou wilt never be (through* his Grace ) while thou, liveft. CASE XIV. • Difquietment fromcrofs providences. Difouiet; XT" E T thou mayeft proceed and fay, merit JL though he fpare the main bran- tromcrcsches, I am often affraid of lopping by Provi- f ome particular unexpected providences -, fences. a y^ £ enter c f f ear or trouble, foon darkens the whole circumference of joy and Pleafure, and on a fudden, many* times the whole Heaven is black with* clouds and wind, when at firft nothing appeared but a little cloud. Stent vola hominis, like a man's hand, which one would have thought would eafily have been blown, over ( as Atkanafius fatd and Ex 'populations. ?f I, .. . . ' ~ " - of the Arrian Here fie, 'Nubecula eft, cito pertranfit ) but it proves far otherwife, and who can fay at all times as Solomon once did to Hiram, i> Kin, $. 4. Nowtb& Lord my tdod hath given me reU on eve- ry fide, fo thai there is neither adverfary mr>evil occurrent 5 if not now yet thou knowefi: not how foon thou may eft meet with many adversaries, many tfp/70c Why is there not heat proporti onable to all the light that thou enjoy eft . ? Why mould thy hardnef s of hear- be ' encrcafed thereby, rather than abat ed ? As the Earth is in a frofty night though the Moon then walketh abou it in all her brightnefs. 4. 'Make bold to mind ^Him, tha fuch is the energy aiicV efficacy of hi Law of nature, that all f^rits do inov an and Expoftulations. 101 < and ftir in their appointed feafons • wine in the veffel is wont to work when the Id- ifofi vine trees flourifti $ the Characters of«P a * e > S5 > fome fruits imprinted on . children , at 7 * the time when the fame Fruits are in feafon, are of a more lively red than at other times, and in fome perfons do rife, and fwell, and grow big like the fruit it felf. Mulberries or the like ^ yea the ftains thereof in linnen, ate faid at that time to come forth, and Gnfareh not before: the caufe is ( befides theC" r - P a S e power of refemblance ) the difpofition l W % -of the Air at that feafon, which by the power of God's appointment, is fitly in- clined "to raife up the likefpirits where ever they are. And hath he not made as pcwerfaU Laws in matters of the inviiible crea- tion as of the viiible? are there no (pi- nts in his fpirituall appointments ? no Law to make our (p.irits move and ftir in thofe feafons of Love and Grace ? .Why do the wonders of nature remain, when thofe of Grace feem to ceafe? yea we our felves find our fpirits move and ftirr with a wonderful! titilation and delight, at our near approach to fome dea?r Relations ^ why mould not -our fouls feel the fame, when we draw -High' to our beft Friends? Our deareff: H i l Father IC2 Spiritual pleadings. Father, fweeteft Saviour only Comfor- ter? David felt it fo, Pfal. 122. 1,2. I was glad when they [aid unto we, IH m go into the houfe of the Lord, our feet Jhali Hand within thy gates Jerufalem, 5. Mind him that 'tis one of his Crown-Jewels, his peculiar prerogative to teach his people fo as to profit, Ifa. 38. 17. Cathedram habet in exits qui cor da docct • He who fpeaks to the Luke 16 Heart fpeaks from Heaven, hath his 31,- "pulpit there, one from the dead can- not do it, an Angel from Heaven can- not do it, Rev. 2. 7. it u* ociuoijav, if he he not opening ( though he do nothing to fhut ) no man can open. But if he will be a teacher, it mat- ters not what the fchollar be^ he hath no fellow at it, who te'achcih like him} faith Eiihn, Job. z6. 22. 6. Mind him of his promife, not only that he will teach, but pal lively that Lis people mail be taught, Joh. 6. 4?. efpecially the humble •, and it may be thou canfl: fay upon thine own obferva- tion, I never was proud of any nthing, never boafted of any good expecled, but I mift it, of any good enjoyed, but I loft it -, God will not fuffer thee to be proud upon any terms, he will r#&er have thee humbled by thy fins, than proud A " &f and Expofiulations. I©3 of thy Graces •, and feeing he hath laid thee and keeps thee io low, rill he not teach thee > J ^ 7. Minde hip ofhAspraBife all a- long from the creation to this day -, which of all his Saints could not fay as well as David, Thou God haft taught rn§ from my youth up untiU novo, Pfal. 7 1 . 17. Nay he teacheth the husbandman, Ifa. 28. 26. For his God doth inftruci him to difcretion^ and doth teach him : now put him to it and fay, Lord, art thou the Plowmans God ? and doft thou teach him ? and wilt thou not be my God to teach and inftructme? to make me wife to falvation ? for this alfa ( if any thing ) muft corns from him who is wonderful in counfels and excel- lent in working. 8. His goodnefs puts another argu- ment into thy mouthy P/W..119. 63. Thou art good and dvest good ( and if e- ver thou wouldeft do me a goood turn ) teach me thy ftatutes. 9. Appeal unto him if it be not thy practice ("as knowing the unfitnefs and Pfov » f $* unfuitablenefs of thine heart to any Io holy fervice /to caft it into his hand and thence to expert it ( when the duty calls tor it ) of another tincture, put in kelter and fitted thereby for fpiritual I motion? H 4, 1*. H* 1 04. Spiritual Pleadings 10. He knows it is the devil, and his agents and factors thy corruptions, which do diffract and difturb thee, and would any parent endure that hisj!ave fhould abufe his child beiore his tace, when he is upon his farce for a bleitmg, or comes to receive his commands ?• Ask him how he can indure.to fee his execrable Have infult over thee before his face ? and doth not rate away that curr, and. pluck him oif, and fling him down to hell from whence he came > why will he not do it ? It is the re- proach of Seuachs rib's Idol, that they who came out of his bowels flew him there, 2 Chron. 32. 21. in the hpufe of his God, under his Idols nofe, in the very aSi ofworfoipng, 2 Kings 79. 37. and he could not protect him : Tell the Lord thy God, the only true God, the living God, it will not.be for his honour that thou moulded be continually hailed and abufed by Satan, and tl.ofe that come forth out bfthinetfsw hwels, when thou fetteft thy felf to worihip him, he look- ing on, who alone is able to refcue and relieve thee, whofe (Glory the Devil ftrikes at herein, as well as at thy peace and fafety. , 11. Tell Him, if he will allow thee nothing at prefent, but the comfort of ebedience and Expostulations. 105 bedience to. fweeten thy: attendance u- pon him, yet that mall not diicourage thee, that (hall not rid him of a cufto mer ; his work on earth as well as in Heaven, is both" work and wages 5 net pnly fir but in keeping his commander tnents there is great reward, Pfal. 19. 1 1. It is joy to the Jufi to do Jugement, Pro. 2i. 15. and through grace it is fo in fomenieafure to thy poor Soul. 12. Laftiy, When at any time thou art afraid to go away from ail Ordinance utterly unregarded,irom a Sermon,from a Sacrament, from oft" praying ground, and no notice taken of thee : fay fe- cretly in thy heart, Lord I' am here • thy poor Client whom Thou knowe'ft fo well, lo here ami-, Not one Word >■ not one look? not one touch this day in this duty ? Say with her in Judg. 1. i<>. Give me' a blejjing, for thou haft given m-e a South land, a dry. land, give me alfo fprings of\£. lm ^ T< water, and thy Father will be as liberal Pfal. 31. z. as hers was, he will give thee the upper firings and the nether -firings $ 'tis well he finds thee there, though' then doeft not yet find Him, thou ihalt in conclufioa peno'lofer by it CASE I o 6 Spirit rta I Pleadings, CASE XVI. Fear that Prayer is not bear' J. Fear that Y} UT all thefe pleadings (may fome l^hLlU doubting Soul fay ) for oueht I know may prove in vain, for I have thoughts and oppreffing fears fometimes, that a God fo high, holy, and happy, is not at all concerned, minds not the ad- dreffes of a worm fo wofall, fo flnfull, fo full of diftreffes and diftra&ions, no more than a man minds the movings or inurmurings of flies or bees 3 which moy's fwifteft or hums f weeteft, for we are in- finitly lcfs to Him than they are com-- pared with us ^ and fometimes I find no anfwer at all, or fo ftrange and con- trary, that my fears are ftrengthned and confirmed. Now though this temptation cannot prevail far upon thee ( at leaft not fi- naly) if thou art a confrant pleader with Gocl, yet it is needful when it doth but fhew it felf, to go and order thy caufe before him, and fill thy mouth with Ar- guments againft it. i. Call to mind how God Himfelf •hath affirmed the contrary ,and tell him thou dareft not queftion the truth of his engagements, Pfal. 1 38. 6. Though \the Lord be high yet hath he regard unto \ the* and Expostulations. jq-j the lowly , he doth not at all forget him- felf when he remembers thee ^ Nayjie lets forth himfelf in all his Sublimit jr and Glory, when heprofefleth the great- eft kindnefs and condefcention to thofe who judge themfelves leaft capable of it, If a. 57. 15. Thus faith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity^ vhofe Name is Holy? I dwell in the high and holy place, here's enough to make all the creatures that fhould hear it ex- ceedingly to fear and quake (as'tisfaid of Mfes; Heb. 12. 21. ) and yet what follows? what afoft ftill voice after all this thunder > I dwell alfo with him that is of a broken and humble ftirit, to revive thejpirit of tie humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones, fo that he who is brought below the condi- tion of a Creature broken and crumbled to nothing, may yet be a companion for this high and holy One : foin Ifa.fi6,2. though Heaven be my Throne, and the Earth my Footftool • yet to this man will I look tJjat is poor and of a contrite Spirit^ and that trembltth at my word : Ask him now, whether this be the - pre- emption, the Device of any Creature, or his own difcovery which he hath made of himfelf, and tell him. with an Holy plainnefs % boldnefs, that he bath now io8 Spiritual Pleadings, now enfnared himfelf ( if thou may eft with Reverence fay fo J with the words of his Mouth, He cannot go back, and thou haft no Reafon to think He hath any inclination fo to do ; Lord thou ha/i beard the defire of the Humble, Pfal. icu 17. Ay, and He will regard the Prayer of the deft it ute and not defpife their prayer, Pfal. 102. 17. 2. Tell Him 'tis true the diftance is vaft, and wide, and infinite, far above that betwixt thee and the lillieft flie, which thou canft fillip to death at 'HM pleafure, yet he hath given thee a ca- pacity of Communion with Him, which thofe infeEla have not with us ^ and thou doeft often obferve, that a parent is more taken with his little ones lif- ping and offering at words, than with all the Rhetorique of the moft florid and Pfal. 103. fluent Orator in the world, and like as *h a Father hath bowels of tendernefs to- wards his Children, fo, yea infinitly more than (b hath the Lord towards theni that fear him ^ plea*d then with Nehentiah, Chap. I. 11. Lord I be- feech thee let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy jervayit, and to the: prayer of thy fervants, who defire to fear thy name, 3. Tell him thy ; confcience, thine own and Expostulations. 109 — "~— own Book as well as his, f the Scripture ) aiiurss thee, he takes notice every time thou finneft againft Iiim,why not every I time thou pray eft andfigheft after him, : PJaI. x 39. firft five verfes, Lord thou hall je arched me and known me, &c. , ! Hear what a great v/riter affirmeth , ^ r: /^~ \ c Chrift even as man with his humane Book tag. x eyes fees all the wrongs we do or fuf- 33. 2, 5. * c ier, hears all our prayers with his ears, /records all our doings ^ becaufe the hotteft Fire, on Earth cannot impart '* its heat to bodies ten miles diftant, * cannot the Sun to Bodies more than c ten hundred thoufand miles diftant > c Chriftsglorifiedhumane nature,having * peWonal union with the Son of God, c may not be meafiired or bounded by c other mens faculties or perfections, The Man Christ. Jefus is Mediator, I. Tiin. 2. ft and jl: ail be Judge, Adr. 17. 31. And if the man Chrift Jefus hear thee, will , he not anfwer Gracioufly % If He were on earth thou woulft expedi it. 4.. Tell Him, that moft men are quick of hearing, when any thing is faid that fhafeth them, and ask him whether he le. more forward to mind what's moft contrary thari -what's moft agreeable to -■him > that which gives occafion to ex- jrcu-te vengeance, his ft range aB,Ifa. 28. I HO Spirt itual Pleadings, 2i. or to exercife mercy, his delight Sc pleafure, Mic. 7. 18. he proiefleth to liften and hearken after the language of repentance, Jer. 8. 6. after holy con- ference, Mai, 5. 1 6. The Lord harknej and heard it, and thou haft no reafon in the world to doubt \t\ 1 Job. 5. lk,ij. And this is the confidence that we have in bin/, that if we ash any thing accor- ding to his will he heareth «r, and if we know that he hear us, whatfoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we defired of him. If a. 59. I. Behold //.'ir> deed when the great day of his wrath Rev - *•*$ is come it will be fo, and who then fliall t6y 1 7 ' be able to abide it ? But this is not thy cafe yet: mind him, that the Wifdom ' Which is from above is gentle and eafie to be intreated, Jam. 3, 17. and (halt % thou not find the efTential Wifdom of the Father to be fo? is it fo where * T> there is but a drop, and not fo where there is the whole Ocean ? It is the fick- ly Child that hath moft need of being dandled upon the knee, Tfa. 66, 1 2. The ' h||rt of Chrift is as fit a Receptacle for otfrforrows of all forts, as the. eye is of I colours H4 Spiritual pleadings, Collotirs ( as one faith ) r and is it {hut up in cndleis difpleafure againit thee only ; can any dregs ot wrath fettle there, un- less towards the vefiels ot wrath ? $>\ip Zeph. i. 17. The Lord thy God in tjjt tindj! of 'thee is mighty': he will Java, he will rejoyct over thee with joy: he ivill ■ r eji in his love, he will joy over thee with Jingin?: . And what more can be faid to allure thee of his delighting in th: 2. Doth not the ■iweet' Savour of ChriftVfacrifice the odour ofhjs inter- ceiiion, lo diftufe it feli and fill Heaven, j^v^jTpjJifaat the ftench of thy fibs cannot enter-? $;*. ■ - fur ely were it not for' that perfume, God could never endure the {linking dunghill of this World fo near him, to be as a fmoak in his noltrils all the day. 7. Plead what ■Chrift himfelf puts into thy mouth, Matib, 18. 13. that the. owner of the flock, looks with wore jay, and plea] tire, and delight^ upon a poor {tray iheep that is recovered than upon the whole fiockthat never ran. that .hazard ; and hath not Chrift a long hxik^u t i me ' bad thee in his Armes, in his Bo- s , * ' fome, lrpori his Shoidder, to bring thee back to his fold and favour ? 3 Tis a re fryer, mg Church and people which Chrifi is fo taken with, and terms akne r fw delights^ Cant. .7, 6. one 'that hacHreer forfaken and Expoftulations. II> fsrfaken and de folate whom the LorcJ ,is laid to * delight in, If a. 6%. 4. Thou '[halt no more be termed forfaken and de* flare, but thou fliah be called Hephzibah, for the Lord delighieth in thee 5 "Tis to a reforming people, that the Lord en- f" ageth, tiiat all '>; prions ihall call them lejjed, for ye .thall be a delight f owe 'land faith the Lord, ikfo /. 3. 1 2. And is not Reformation that which thy foul laboureth and longeth after. ' Lis a repaired a re-edified Temple, that the Lord promifeth to 'take flea- fur e in, Hag. 1.8. And is not this the work which his Spirit is about in thee, to raife up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down. Tis certain he taketh no pleafure in the death of him that dieth, furely then he taketh pleafure in the life of him, who through his abundant rich grace in Chrift Jefus recovereth, Ezek. 33. to, II. There fore thou Son of 'Man (peak unto the houfe of Ifrael, Thus ye (pake, faying, if our Tranfgreffons and our fins be upon us, aud we pine away in them, how fhould rre then live ? Say un- them, As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleafure in the death of the wick- ed, but that the Wicked turn from his way and live. Turn jyV, Turn yefomyour lb. evil Il6 Spiritual Pleadings , . . . j . evil waxes, for why will ye dye bouf of Ifrael ? 4. Aik whether thou art looted or z.Ccr. 5. as j n t \yy f e ^ or as j n cbrifiy in t5ij 17 * furety, thy fecond felf, thy head, tbj hufband? And a iair face gives thede nomination of beautiful to the whol< per fen and fo makes it a delightfom< Tzclc. iC. Object : Tis only his comelinefs pu 14- npon N thee muft malce thee lovely. 5. Aik whether he look on thee a in thy prrfent ftate or ftatjon, or as \v ftiall fee thee, ( after a little while to all eternity > for to him who fit in that high Tower of Eternity, there 1 nothing pair nor to come, but all thing a e aliice in one perpetual NO Vfa pre fent berore him-, nowwithin a whileChri] will prefent to Himfelf .( that he ma; tp.ke a full view of her ) and then \ His Father, a glorious Church not havin Jpot or yrinkle, nor any fitch thing, bv holy and without hlemijl), Fph. 5. T and if now he view thee in that eterm Cant.4.7Glafs, he may well fay, thou art a fair my love, there is no fpot in thee. 6. A §Kfpcr, a f eaft is for delight ar cheerfulnefs, and even till Supper tim doth Chrift wait t;o be gracious, till tl fliadows of the Evening be ftretchc out, till his head be met tfitb the de: and Expoftulations. 117 and his locks with the drops of the night* Rev. 3. 20. Behold, I ft and at the door and knock : if any man hear my voice, arid open the dovr, I will come tn to him \ and will j up with hint, and he with me* Now wouldeft thou not fain have fuch a.gueft who alwayes brings his cost with him? who is both gueft and entertain- . ment? Doth not thy foul cry out to him, Come in thou blejfed of the hord,^ p wherefore ftanieli thou without ? Yea, if ^1" * ^* thou canft not get open the door, art thou not unfeignedly defirous that he who hath the key 01 David would open it? nay, rather then fail break it open, that fo the King of Glory might come in and Sup with him. 7. Tell Him, it is infinite mercy that now and then thou feeleft his quickning, though thou Ihouldft never enjoy his comforting, his raviihing prefence any more while thou liveft in the World 5 >Jay, there's alwayes fome comfort -in he fenfe of his quickning prefence * tf ay, he knows the' pofture of thy foul o be in fome meafure the fame with hat of David's 2. Sam. is. 26. if he hits fay,! have no delight in thee, ("though hat word break thy heart ) yet here vn I, abfolutly- at his difpofe, he can do tie no wrong, let him d9 with me as it I 3 feemeth 1 1 B Spiritual pleadings, feemeth good unto him. God mull be weary in delighting in himfelf, Son and Spirit, when he delights not in this ii:.me, which is the Work thereof • ii the Heave!) above vv^re brafs fure the 'earth below would be iron, if there were no yeildings in his heart towards thee, fare there would be none in thy hearl towards him, thou" could 'ft never de- light thy JTeii in the Almighty, if ht took no delight in thee •, they draw back unto perdition in "whom his fou! takes no pleafure, Heb. i o. ?3, 7f. m> foul faith he, loathed them, and then 'foul abhored me. Zech. u. 8. (CASE XVIII. Year of urfsrviceablenefs. Tear of A N D ytt a generous,a noble mind .tinfervice- x\ ed Chriitian may be ready to fay s ^ lene ^ ' all this cannot, ought not, fully to t fa tisfie me, * though the Lord admit m< to i ouch fweet fecret comunion wit] him ( for which! can never be fuffici ently thankful ) yet it he wilir not ho nour me fo a-s to ufe me, and make m- fo v in iov generation tlAs is lor a lamentation and owg! t t ♦ he fo. unto me * and this is that I feai that I Loail prove but a dry tree, a: trapr fy .-.!"■ . ■ — — — __ — — — . — - and . Ex poft illations, 119 t-hreatned in that ' Gofpel-vi/ion, £zd;. 44. 10, n, liqb That they who have itrayed far from him in times of temptation and epede- mical Apoftacy, fhall bear their iniqui- ty, their ihame, and their abominations, (that is, feme fad reward and remem- brancer thereof J and though admitted to the inpyment of many precious pri- viledges, yet! mud: be baniihed from fhe neare>i approaches, and bighefi firvices^ *tis exprefc in the ftrain and ftileof the ' Old Teftamen:^ but is intended and I % calculated - 12© Spiritual pleadings, calculated for the Meridian of the new,' and reaches not only Minifters but all Profeflors, all thofe who are now the royal Prieft-hooJ, I Pet. 2. 5, 9. Rev. 1. '5. and even amongft good people, where is the man that is able to bear, being laid afide and can: ofFat the end of the fcag?, and to fee frefh inftruments f,chcfefl ? what is it elfe imbitters fo ^flanc* ™ n Y f P ixito • and how Ihould'ft thou zChr. t$, be able to bear fuch a tryal, either to 10, r$. fall from thy (landing, or do no good though continued in it, which of the two is the worft by far : if ever this bef thy cafe, Go order thy caufe before him and fill thy mouth with Arguments, Though guilty of many ftrayiu^s from him. 'Arguments x . Tell Him, thou perceived it is not his will to deftroy thee ^ if the Lord Judg. 1 5 . vvcre pleafed to kill thee, he would not ?*- have accepted an offering at thine hand, 1 nether would he have fhewed the all thefe things which he locks up from fo many thoufands.and yet hath acquain- ted thee with them •, thou canft look him in the face, and fay with the Pro- phet, Hab. 1. 12. Art not thou from e- verlafting Lord my God, mine holy one, ljf.mll not die : Thou art the King eter- wl, and fiyayed not by tune-accidents, fob and Expostulations. 1 2 1 but by eternal confiderations,thou chan- geftnot,and therefore I am* not, I fhallMal. 3.S not be confumed. Now then, 2. Plead upon this ground and tell him, it Is not fo much for his honour only to keep the alive and make no ufe of thee •, to preferve thy foul, only as fait to preferve the body, but do no fer- vice •, and if thou had'ft help to do all that is commanded cr can be expected of thee in thy place, is net thy Soul prepared to fay, thou art but an unpro- fit able ferv ant, Luke 17. 10. and never open thy mouth more byway of boaft- ing. 3. Minde him, that through his grace fome fad finners ha ve proved moft (hill- ing Saints, as in Scripture the children of women long barren have proved moft eminent Inftruments in Church and Common- wealth, of Sarah, If aac $ of Ra- chel, jfofeph -, of Hannah, Samuel 5 of Ma- no ah s wife Sampfon •, of Elifabetb John theBaptift} fo amongft finners, fome that came in late into the vineyard, have plied their hands, and laboured lCorI . more abundantly than they who were^ J&t admitted before them: Ahimaaz out- runs Cujhi ( though he fet out after him) and comes to David before him ^ and ^f ever a foul had need to redeem the 122 Spiritual Pleadings, time, and fetch up what hath beenlofl> thou much more * and it will be to the praife oi the glory of his Grace if he will help the fo to do. 4. He. knows that thou art now in a way of purgation and purification, and therefore it will be no diihonour to him, now to ufa and imploy thee ^ nay he hath publifned it by the pen of his A- poiile, that if a man purge ' him f elf from ihefe ( from the pollutions wherewith he hath been defiled ) he fball be a vejj'el unto honour, fatiSttfied and made meet for the Matters ufe, and prepared unto every good work, ( and thou aiieft no more, ) 2. Urn. 2. 2i. They who will not be reduced and made better, are often a- gainft their wills reduced and made lower, if not utterly calhiered and dif- mifled-from rurtheriervice, but he that can plead the former may fcape the la- ter, as having new ( through Grace ) 'prevented the Lord, and faved him a labour. 5. Aft Him. if he did not callthctSc leid thee to thy prefect {ration, and Will he now leave the?, to* wither like a Kuitfirffi intrn mire, and vanim away iv utter irnferv Who in a war of God can take u td himfelf the honour of Magifiracy or Miniftry, or any y _. . _ and Exf ovulations. any other way of ufeflillnefs, but he that is called x>f God thereunto, as was . Aaron, Hek J. 4. and yet thou defireft to be prepared to juftifie him, though h« proceed with thee as witK Eli's, home, I Sam. 2. 30. Wherefore the Lord God of Ifr del faith, 1 faid indeed that thy houfe, and the houfe of thy fathers fonld walk before vie : but now the Lorjfaith^ be it far from me •, for them that honour me 1 will honour, and they that d.efpfe mefoall be lightly efteemed , aftd thou haft been too too often guilty of defpifnig him. 6. Ask if he remember not how thou didft often beg him never to truft thee With advantages, with opportunities ^ unlefs withal he would give thee an heart to be faithful and fruitful in the improvement of them > Haft- thou not prayed (upon thefe terms) even againfj power and riches? left thou fhouldftbe full and deny him, and fay, who is the g*j£ $• Lord? Haft thou not been in this regard ' ' more afraid of riches.honouf, greatnefs,. than their contraries ? yea fometimes more afraid to live- than to die, fearing 3eft thou fhouldft not live unto him and to hisfervice? loath therefore haft thou been to launch into the world a- fjain, after tjiou haft been laid up by bme hcknels. 7< How, 124 Spirt itual Pleadings, 7. How often haft thou defired fince thou cameft into the road of opportuni- ties (in fence and fear of unaniwerable- hefs ) rather to be removed than to fill up a room, and cumber the ground, and keep out others that might be more tifeful ? and will he neither remove thee nor improve thee > neither cut thee down nor malce thee fruitful ? ^ Laftly, Tell him plainly that paf- fage in Rom. 5.-20. Where fin abound- ed grace did- much more abound, makes thee ( being now found of him in a way of Faith and Repentance ) not only rot to fear extraordinary judgements, but even to look for extraordinary Fa- vours ^ more love unto him, more Hu- mility, more Holinefs, more watchful- nefs • and by thefe, more than ordina- ry ufefullnefs and Serviceablenefs m thy Generation, let him put or place thee where he pleafeth : it is not his cliipofitjon to upbraid, Jam. i„ <;. and therefore thou expecteft he fhould give L -her ally of that wifdom to thee, which may make the Serviceable in thy ftation. .CASE XIX. Fe^r of being caft off at lafl. Scaft A FTE * allthis th ? rC ™Z t* •ff at laft*xV.-^ a tew& Acloan in the Camp, dch Fear of and Expostulations* I2 5 which will be fingering the Accurfed thing ( unbelief,) a, Jonah in the Ship, which will be railing new tempefts, and that is a Fear left God at laft mould turn his back upon thee, 8c thou be found amongft thofe that are Deceivers of .their own Souls, being turned into beli,Vhl.9.ij* when it feems their looks ( though no- thing elfe ) were towards Heaven*, if evermjs be thy cafe, hye thee to God prefentjy, Go fill thy mouth with Ar- guments* \ h Complain againft thine own heart, ^ uments fo far as there is any mixture of un- belief in this Fear •, confefs that as to "God it is an unworthy jealoufie, and -> thou haft need with Gideon to cry toj z ^ f & : hixa for mercy , to pray that his anger may $9- "iiot wax hot againft thee, for afking him fo many figns, confidering how oiten the fleece hath been wet and the floor dry already to give thee fatisfaclioi?; Yet v/hen thou lookeft downward there is mifery enough* and matter e-* enough to juftifle all thy Fears, and to m:>ve him to pardon, yea to fanctifie . them unto thee, efpecially confidering that thy Ail is at the ftake, and that . it is Eternity, Eternity, Eternity that . is before thee ^ that vaft Gulf of Eter- nity $ and if thou art miftaken in thy confidence Spiritual pleadings, confidence, thou art loft irrecoverably to all Eternity : this may move hini to pity rather than to anger •, and to fay to them that are of a fearful hearty Be ftrong, fear not, behold your Cod will come and fave you, Ifa. 35. 4. 2. For thy further Eftablifhment afk him if he have not made all as lure as Grace can make it > yea, it is there- fore all of grace, that the promife might be fur e to all the feed, Rom.4.i6.aslure . as infinite. Love, infinite Wifdom, in- finite Power, can make it, and thou dreadeft it as thou doft Hell it ferf make the God ot all Grace and Truth a Liar, 1 John. 5. 10. to add to all thy other evils that grand* abomination of unbelief which puts more affronts and fcorn upon him than all other fins what- soever. ?. Aflc if all the fpirits of juft men now made perfecl will not confeis the Act T ^ Mercies of Chrift to be fure Mercies, it 10 and that hc c as b 3^ makes it. 'his trade to help hinrmities '±z6. and l&tfi helped thee in thine all thy life long J aik.if he will net then help thee when thcu art moil in£r:n ? No- thing but a lump of infirmity and v/eak iiefsr ? fureljr then, in thy greateii need he will not rail thee. Laftly,' Tell him, he knows whyithoii would'fr fo bin be with him in his Heaven, not 'becaufe thou fancier!: it a Turing Varadife, or a Vagayiifm Elifiurn, abounding witaCarnal.or Corporal plea- fures •, not Ouly becaufe thou would'ft efcape everlafting burnings ( tIioughhe Act<2 , Q himfelf cannot blame thee for aiming ^ p't. 1 , at this, feeing he commands thee by all 10. means poffible to endeavour it 5 ) But thy foul longs inceilintly to go to Hea- ve n, becaufe Keavefi is the Land of Hallelujah^ 1 2 S Spiritual Pleadings, Hallelujahs, and thou woulcTft fain b* ■thankful, really thankful ? Heaven is the Land of Love, and thou wouldft fain take thv fill of love, in loving and being beloved -, in loving as thou art loved, without intermition, without interruption, eterna!y,and fobe ever with Chrift, which is by much far better, Phil. i. 2}. All thefe meet daily with a thoufand hindrances and incum- brances, which make thee fick of earth and fgh for Heaven, Groaning within thy fe If with that bleffed Apoftle (who had once been there ) 2 Cor. $. 2. Form this we groan carneflly, defiring to be c loathed upon with our houfe which i* •from Heaven. Hinderances and Incumbrances,which make a Hell above ground, not to be endured by any honeft heart, and how much more intollerable then is the ne- thermoft Hell, for there is never a nook, never a corner in it, where a poor tin- ner might weep eternally, without blaf pheming, without hearing blafphemies, without hating of God, without finning againft him : He knows how often thou haft told him, if there were, how much more quietly thou couldft accept oi the punifliment of thine iniquity there, anc Aere juftifie him, an'.l there bewail thy and Expoftulations. 129 thy folly and madncfs, and lament the lots o: him for evermore. But to loie him and all love to him, and to be na- ning againft him eternally, this cannot be coniented to, bat by a Creature da ra- iled already, though above ground $ no- thing therefore fhort of Heaven can fa- tisfie thee or ought to to do •, and if up- on thefe Terms thou eantl not be ad- mitted into his Ren> fire he will have J h. 14; bit little, who went thither to prepare a i% 5. Place for thee. This Hope then we have as an An- chor of the Soul, both fur e and fled fi3, and which entereth into that within tbs Vail, whither the Fore-runner is for us entered, even Jefus made an Htgft Prie/l for tver, after the order of Mel c hi fe dec, Heb. 6. 1 9, 20. Thus Building up your f elves in your ntofl holy Faith, and Fraying in the Ho 'y Ghoft, keep your fehes in the Love of God ? looking for the Mercie of our Lord Jefus Chrifi unto eternal Life, Jude 20, 21. CASE XX. biterceflion for others : With Complaints concerning many Things which are a- mifs in our Times. U T Haft thou not a Good Mlnd^^f ( before parting ) to fpeak a Good <*£-*£; K WonT ■■' B I *o Spiritual Pleadings, Word for others alfo > This hath been conftaiitijr the way of the Spirit of A- doption. When David came before the Lord upon the iaddeft Occaflon that e- ver his boul was acquainted with, when he was *moft full of his own Concern- ments, and had moft caufe of Fear that his appearing ior others might do harm rather than good, yet then he ventures to drop a word iovSfon, and remembers Jerufalem amid ft his great eft grief, as pf a l ,.- well as he prefers her before his chief eft 6. joy. Do good in thy Good Pleafure unto PfaJ. J i . Sion y build thou the walls of Jem fa! em. *& What his Sins had weakened, and at- tempted to Ruine, He endeavours to ftrengthen and Repair by his Prayers, and leldom do ye fice him rife from off His knees before He had pleaded the Church's Caufe, & oftentimes he makes that his only errand, as you may find by feveral Ffalms y pen d for no other pnrcofe. K:ry many times the beft Pleaders feel nt>t their hearts warm in the wofk, X\\ they come out or tbe narrow circle o ; *. y ;»;r rwn perfona] Concernments, & kv.uv" \ i::tn the bufmefs of the body of CrLt n d then are their Hearts fixed b}* the fplrii u\i Supplication, the great boul of that Body. But and Expoftulationf, i^t But now adays many praying per* fons can find little to iay< unkfs by way oi complaint concerning the pub- lick g Be it fo, you were told at the firit that the word hef e tranilatea jrfrjjfc* »;*j?/.r figuifies Cwiplaitits alfo; it theri thoii canit mike the Caufe of the publiok th ne (Wn ( zi thou oiightelt' t dp? ) Go order thy caufe Before hinV and" fill thy rnouth with Argument^ 7. Plead for his poor Ferfecuted people irgumenj all the World over, ait ir it be no thing to him to fee the blood oi the Marty res oi Jeius Cbrift, fpilt- like water upon the ground eve.- to nis day, in pied" m-nt, Poland aril cth-r places* are not the eyes of his g ] ory yfrg&tf o: Such fad fpedacles ? at-ti it Mere be not with' them, even with them in s again!! the Lord, and if the Rage wherewith" they have flain his Servant*, reach not up to* Heaven, 2 Chrsn. 28.' 9. it was wont" fo to do in rormer" times > Complain,; that their holies are frittered at the Graves Mouth, as when one aitte'th and r^ £g ^' cleaveth Wood upon the Larth, Vfal. : 141. -7. and aft: if he look not on to require it > When fhall the Earth dif- , :lofe her blood, and 110 more covet heif fflain? . 2;' Complain thatthereY nothing vi? E 2 fiblr 1 3 2 Spiritual Pleadings, Rev. 17.6. fible towards a Reckoning with that Though drunken />e#/?,which makes it felr drunk jfeuid years w ^ t ^ le blood or the Saints as with Rev. zq.z Sweet wine-, nay he feems of late to were g,ran- blow upon fome enterprises level d at ted to be- tjiem, and to Ihkie upop the Counfels f-^f^ of the wicked. Aik him When fhallthofe Covftan- fpurty and two moneths be expired ( tor tines De-men mifs it in their calculations and gree, An. conjectures ) when mail the mountain* Sfj 1 ;}"" flow down at his prefence (and the* pire , it Sevetj iilis a nongtt the reft ) when the rifinii ihall the powers^of the Earth melt like of the 0/- Wax before the fire, attht prefence of *™\Y An the Lord ' at the P rcfeRCC of the God of rjjo.'aiid ^ e whole earth ? Why is bis Owet fa the Jevil Inn^r a coming, why tarry the Wbs&fo of then let bis Cba>et? Mind him that the N arveft loofe *- of the Earth is not only ripe, but even fnuft he dried U P anc * withered, ig»^9»f 8 &*/** ■ have no /*»< ?»* >?f, itei;. 14. t$. compared longtime with Mitth. 13. 6. and jr. to. A to play waB ^erfuU expreiiion of His Patience ; 4 e e e ^ r ^but how long Lord Holy and True? as appears when, oh when ihall it yet once h$1 Aflc by com- Him if His fonl takes any pleafure :n paring , them, that he thus long continues them. 7 ^ith°' ^ ^ ut ^ cores w ^ t ' 1 tne P oor J ews * we theio.iw.arc many a prayer behind hand with See Dr. them , when fhall the Redeemer come Kamond £ and Expostulations.- I 55 untp &' , and -yet tis translated, King ei Saints, ^ ^ 9 p as if at that time Saints and Nations mould be of an equal extent and latin tude. 4. Beg a watering upon his Vlantati- tms abroad 5 there are many Precious fouls worthy of thy remembrance, many poor fouls that need if, many praying fouls to whom thou oweft it, many pleading fouls who will repay it j therefore you that have efcaped the miferies that have befallen others, re- member the Lord ( his concernments and people ) afar off, and let Jerufalem K 3 ' , cpmo 134 Spiritual Pleadings, come into your mind, Jer. s i . ?o. Many, Jiave friends' and relations with whom they enjoy little Communion in this w^rhl. nray ye may meet it the right Jiand pfChrift, never to part m the next. 5. Complain unto Him of that ipirii pf prophannefi, which yet domineers in our Lands, and over the generallity oi cur Nation, though he hath loved our Nation, and hath wrought fuch Salva- tions for us, as can no where be matched, fave in the itory of lfrae!- 9 he hatjb gi- ven fome into our hands, others undei pur leefe ( I need not name them ) fun or all the world Engh(h-wen are undei tjie moil pow-erfitl obligations unto ha liners-, but alas, how iil do we requit< th? Lord, like a fooliih peoplg and un- wife : Qh prav tfeaj Thrill may indeec ffa* 1 2 -.' iprr.kle many Nations, and ours I?* mong the reftm a fpeoial manner,wjtl His blood and Smrit, that we may ye become a peculiar people zealous of goo l tro* ks : f. Prefs Him to raft out that un thi^h^d fpirvt wherewith fo many art pofiefled even to a itrarge degree c diftemper that hath befallen us, whicl is faid of Egvpt, the Lord hath ming led a Peryerfe Spirit in the midfr of us which eawfeth us to ejr in every re irk af drunkt and Expostulations. 1 2 J drunken man ft agger ah in^ bis vewit,If*„ iy, 14. We are ready torcel apd daih one 2gainft another continually,, m^ny abui-ng, many difpifeing all their prefeht mercies, though but a few years ago, Ihe crumi of that loathed Manna, which now fail fro 01 our tables would bare re- liihed as moft precious privileges , Worthy to be purchaffd at the rate of the ■unnoft hazards and L-rdihips^ p*e- vithners keeps many trom praying for their Magistrates, and how can the? look for good by them who fin in ceaf- 1 g to pray for them, \ Tim. 2. 1, 2, w;iat would that Melted man if now a- live (ay unto us, who fo f xhorted in Ne- ro s time, and becaufe he knew men would be backward, he backs his com- mands with Arguments from the beneHte % that redound* to the Church & from the acceptablenefs of this pra&ife to God, making [applications \prayers, interceffions f _,. and giving of thanks fir aU msn y for l% ^ ; Kings and for all that are in authority, 7. Ask when that unclean fpirit of error, Mafyhsmy and delufion, {hall have its pafs ( according to his promjfe, 2,acb. \\. 2.) and be fent packing out of our Lands > Some, not of the woril people, ilmple fouls ( £&&*, as the A- poftlc calls them ) have been milled R ( ? m - * K 4 h€retr l8: _ Spiritual Pleadings, hereby •, and he hath faid, They that er/.ei in fair it {hall come to understand- ing, and they that murmured Jball learn doFtfine, If a. 29. 24. they that erred, & they that murmured, the holy Ghoft ri iks them together, as being of one feathers it fens there is no final alFi- hlty between the erroneous ar,d themur- inurers-, but pity and pray for thofe who like Abfolom\ two hundred, follow their leaders in the fimplicity ot their hearts. 8. Bewail before Him, that wofull, wilfull, atieded, Soul-murdering Igno- rance, which as a vail covers fo many, hearts and faces,notwithftandingall the means of light afforded us : there are indeed too too many dark places even in all the three Nations ( in Ireland e- fpecially) which are full of cruelty.-, but alas how many are there in the midft of ouxGrfljens without ChrihVwithoutGod in the worM.meer Atheifts, as the.Apoftle calls them,Efbef. 2. 12. ^^oflv'^nS kg^o,, without any inward appretiative ac- quaintance with God, without any pow- erful, experimental, practical know- ledge at all. Jfa. 29. When fhall the day dawn, wherein i3, the deaffeall bear the words ofthebook^ and the eyes of the blind fee out of ob- fcurity and Exfoffulations. *I7 fcurity,*tid out of darknefs I when will the Lord again make bare his holy arm? and fpread forth his hands in the midft of our Congregations ( to pull in 7 /-** %** Souls unto himfelt ) as he that fweemeth I0, ftretcheth forth his hands to fweem ? When will he fmell in our Afiem- blies a favour of reft 7 and take plealure in our folemn meetings, as in the daysG^.&ir, of old ? how long (hall all his poor Minifters complain, that converfion work hath a flop put to it every where? 9. Deal earneftly with him about the compounding and compremiling of cur differences, aiftances and devifions, which have given fuch a wound to re- ligion,opned fuch a gap to Satan,which [every one complains or£ and yet helps to widen 5 beg that all the children of light, may walk more in the light a she is in the light,, and then fiall we have fellovpffip one with another, 1 John 1.7. Beg he would put it into the hearts of all His people, to imitate that good pattern, Judg. 1. 7, 2,&c. which doubt- lefs waits for a Spiritual accomplifh- ment as well as all other things which happened to them in figutcjitdah hatli the priority given him, jure devino, by an Oracle from Meaven,JttdahfiouU gs upfirSJSehold I have delivered the Land into 1 1% Spiritual £l**dlngs 9 into his band, and yet her? p n he def- Eifetfi not the aid ni * i hii rethren but invites Simeon ins brot el to engage with him againir the icon mon adverfary and promifeth the like a I ftj ance unto him, and fpeeds never a whit the worfe for it, but the better * God isfo far from being o^emled with this pradtife that he bleueih it exceedingly, and delivered up the common enemy into their hands-, tlms would he deal by us as to our fpiritual enemies, coulc we unite to engage againft them, anc leave our pickenngs and carnal contend ings to overtop and Supplant and im pofe upon one another. io. Laftly, Prefer one Bill of com- plaint more in a cafe which few think of, notwithftanding all our Boftiogj and pretenfions to a through reforma tion, and that's this : Few men now fxov. 3. adays do honour the Lord with theii 9 ' 10, fubftance, few look at tbis as a duty Pomtm cft* Q confecrate any part of their gain un- intgrti- to the Lord, or of their fubftance tc tas axi- the Lord of the whole earth, but carry »•. God 2 by txact- ing this Tribute tries the fmcerity of our love, faith obedience; when the Ifraehtes would not endure thi fight of hira, who came to demand the Tribute, it wa afurefign of their total and final revolt and defecti en, it \va$ then ki&h time for ReUfam to get bid md Exfoftulatitms, l$f it as if they were turned Independents indeed, and 'did not depend no not up- on God Himftli, or as if God Himfeif had lo& his propriety,, and there wei e now no rent-peny, no acknowledgment due unto him, lave fuch an one as cofts us nothing \ Surely God from the be- gining rcferved and claimed a part due to himielf, who gave the whole, and whatever there was be£des $ this alia was rri the facrif ccs ol Cain and Abelyn feclaiowledgement that Grd hath a right in every man's goods ^ afterwards ne publiiht and put in his claim mere per-' «oiptorly; hxol 22. 29. Thou fhalt n*t delay 10 o;e v tie fir ft of thy upe fruits ani of thy liquors : the fijjt born of ' ay f&ns'jfiaiftbou < v )ve unto me. Non tardfoi kts^ Th'Hi [:3\t not delay, this implies an antient afage, this is no new thine, but a Law of ro?;£rmation, and yet this was before the Lw//Vrf/inftitution, Lev ?7..~c. And a> r ! the ty the cf i^e Land, whether $ 'the feed of the hand, \ er of the fruit of the tre.e, is the Lords ;, \ it is holy unto the Lord. It is the Lor ,, 1 it is his already, and had been fo from the beginning of the world, and he now 1 appoints the Levite, the (Irahger e widow, and the Fatherlefs to be his tent-gatherers or Receivers Genera) , *4° Spiritual Pleadings, i.King J)cut. 16. 1?, 13. When thot4 haft made And 'tis an * n ^ °f ty thing all the tythes of thine ob{erv'd,* Hcrea f*, the third year, which is the year that of ty thing, and hail given it unto the Chrift Levite, the ftranger, the father iefs, and reproved f ^ e wt ^ ow -> l ^ at they ma y cat within thy all fins, g^es, and be filled. pumfhed Then thou Jhalt fay before the Lord none, but thy God, I have brought away the hah that or l 0wci i things out of mine houfe, and aifc Jam cdve 7 ■ 1 J r . v • and Pm- bave given them unto the hevtte, ana fbavati n ttnto the ftranger, to the father Iefs, and H of holy the widow, according to all thy command- "jj tt S*.' ments 3 which thou haft cammanded me: he do^ I ^ Jave not trayi fg re ff C( l thy command* when lie wents, neither have I forgotten them. comes us Tis due to him, quaji Regale vetti- ajud^e gal, as a royal revenue^ and he dctlj toanr-^^^ ^ rf credere, ( faith " CthtinJ] count for vv hen h : thus difpofeth of it •, But where 1 ! all our the defect, the default ( may fome fay] receipts where 's the irregularjty to be com- ^inT plained of? I with trial were made whether it may not be proved ( if the point were well ftudied, but I fhall only hint it ) that the * tenth part( orothei proportion ) of every mans increafe, ac * Unuf- .quifitions, improvements, and incomes euifqueds 1! quali ingftuto aut /trtificio vwit.de itfo dechnam Deo h peuperihus 'velin ecclefiis nonet, Au^. de reft.Catbol. convtrj Te. 9. Foi. 250. Thus did' the primitive Cbiiftians, M& nictivi umfqusjtip.em afonit, &e. and Expostulations. 141 s due unto the Lord even to this lay ; I am far from thinking or frying Jiat it is due unto the Mittiftry or to my fort ot men, but that it is due and night to be dedicated to God, and to [he everlafting Priefthood or cur Lord fefus Chrift, by way of thankiull ac- knowledgment to God for the fame, t tenth which even the Minifters and ih&Glebe it fe If ought to pay, and fo )«ght to be expended in the fupport-* ng of publick worfhip, in the relieving )f the poor at home and abroad, un- mc eua * ier the rage of perfecutioa in other depojfta Countries, aiid in the education of pietatis 3oor Children, the advancement of lear-/ ttM/ ' fum ningf that ineftimable Jewel ) and 1 ^.™" • other pious ufes. And would every man}, Y£ e % chat abounds make fuch a Purfe, and dhndi^ iccount it defofitithtpietatis, as a facred tymnti- Treafuryor Corban not to be opened di fw e & m for pious ufes 3 how many neceJfi-^XTe tous parents, per ifhing orphans, poor %}men* \ged people, Perfons RmVd by Fire, tihu* def- )hipwrack, or the like, might fpeedilr titut ^ \ p relieved ? There is no pious Perfbn $$fi? |)ut judges fomething due this way,and Apolog. » the J&icquU Venn hrieni, pn u *erur» eft, Hi er. Til cafe of neceffity,of [xtremitv, God's Command makes relief due unto o- hers, makes them ov/ners, Matters, of our fuperfluities ; rot that they mar take it by rbrce,but that we nwft girt reejy. Trajppe on Prov. 13. %-j t t+2 Spiritual Pleadings , the Holy Ghoft calls even a man's Qu J rity due debt, Pwv. 3. 27. Withhold not good from them to wh^m it is due, when it is in the pr>r?er of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy Neighbour, go and come tgain, ayid to Morrow I will give, when thou haft it by thee, verf 28. What we call giving, God calls paying ; What we call Charity He counts due Debt all the cjueftiou is about the ggudntjtn how much ought thus to be dedicated to God, and to fx it upon the tenth partJ is neither Popilh nor Legall, or Jewiih,- but a known Truth, or Duty long be- fore the oldeft of thefe was heard of 1 in the Wcrld; 1 his was no natural but an adoptive Child of Mofes, nor was it a Type or Ceremony, as Sacriflceing was^i which was alfo before the Law} for then there muft be fome fpiritual] fubftance typed out by it, but it was pra- clifed by the light cf Nature and Law ofReafon, Morall Law, and Law of Nati- ons every where. W r hy elfe did Abrd* 4 ham, G en. 1 4. 20. Pay Ty thes to Melchi* feded the great Reprefentee of Chrift, who is brought upon the ftage like a man I drcpt out of the Clouds, only to fhaddew iTeb. 7.6. ont Chrift, as if he had neither Father /e^W nor Mother, Birth nor Death,# He r ]j e and Ezfoftulations* l^f lie Priefthood of Chrift (fuftainedthenTythed n a figure by Melcbifedec ) the feventh A W am -halter to the Hebrews proves abound- J^ h ntly, anc * tflat ^^ himfelf who took had Au- ythes, ^here payed them, and thatthority foi had only a CommiiFioh {pro urn-** tikc p* ) to be God's Rent-gatherer and^]^ eceiver. They miftake that think thet Yub[™f tymentofthe tenth part, was then flrft Jfcabam , :t 01 fo'ot to deiray the charges ox that ^ a nece£* :ft?y VI crihip, it Was paid long before ^^.^ ibrdham is a rull irutance, four hundred them! 50 nd thirty years betore the Law ( as Abraham ">e Apcftle obferves upon another oc-g a7 e t» ihoiL Gal 7. 17. ) audi would know ^ff"'** ! et T ur tiiat were W ill-wcrfhip in him, t0 p V a ^d r what Law he hath obferved, whatChiefeft lie fie walked by therein? Abraham part of all auf3 not take a f breed or a fhoe latchet ^ 7- 4- ► bimfeli, but took care God might r - ,., ( ive bts part, and riien returned the a Churle 'ft ( though now beocme his by con- gives the left ) to the former owner, but if he car ion,th e ive the Tythe only by courtefie, and i ea " ftu ^* 1. tn- * * t_ •• • t hebrough* 3t Divine Authority, it proves not the f his 5 ling in hand, the Excellency of ilf*/- fruits, nfedect Priefthood above the Levitt- ^{.lik* fl: for furely that had Authority to* Pr j n £ e * tfce them, and fo had Melchipdec^^ iy'd the tenth part to him long be- beft aid re the Law, and Levi had only .afctieft, Commandment^* 4* «£ 144 Spiritual Vleadings i j. Aim Commandment to warrant his taking o ASnow- Sthe T y the8 > Heb - 7' * Thc j"'%<* Jtedge- standi being long beiore veiled in aa- ment in other Prieit-hood, and only pro tempore theSacri- lent to that of Levi. fe s gt- th ^ ut tnis was on ty a tcntu °* &< ot^which Spoiles taken in War, may fome fay, God do- what lay ye then to that engagement! thedhi:n,of Jacob, Gen. 28. 22. Of aU that thoul ** en 'l' zl '(halt give unto me I will fur ely give thi tenth unto thee y Et hoc tarn fro fe qnam pro pofleris fnis vovet, he binds his po- This j. fteritie hereunto as well as himfeli,faitf] was coT-M ercer tn Loc. Methmks he fpeaks ol ruptedbyit as a duty that he had been Catechi Cain, re- fed and trained up in the knowledge b° r X/ °- f - Hc . had * hc direa:ion ot the $m practifed r ** f° r **» f a * tn Calvin, and why 1101 bv #b,?£,alfo the inftruclion of his Anceftors ; Joh , 8cc For Abraham p- actifed it before him The An-^ n j y et t fc s p 00C j man though be pro iWer to ' r i • r /* 1 r r • Mr. Set- mi ^ lt: *° i HTe h-> was not *° careru. dens Hif-'JWttl pun&ual in his performance as h< rory of fhould have been, and his omiffion a. Tythes, it a t h; s r eturn, f when halting to pa v^rs'to ^ ^* s ^ rotner ' ne P^ck away agoo( prove that ^ eece ^ m ^ s e ft ate > before the dece Ah-aham mation thereof according to his vow gave thefeems to be the.caufe why the Ang< t ? lt t h h 1 g 0t contended fo fore with him, that." Spoilt P ut k* m t0 h* s tears a11 ^ prayers, Hofe, and Expostulations. j*<- ljeatc\hus o ehaf.i2. 4! And though only, but e bleit him, yet he fent him limping <& all he j 3 his Grave, GV». 35. 1. God calls i1a p d » hoW * im to perform his vow, and whether ^f^? 4 e payed it into the hands of Heber, decedent r Jfaac the head of the Family, w/furSou]- a//M5 confecrdrit in ujits facr*s 9 let it a4 lers:an 4 art for pious ufes, tis all one to *&w^^J* ( cre's fomething belonging to the Law f ome f u £_ f Nature, or Morall Law for our in- ficxent :rudtion, and imitation, nor doth he^f arr auts, neage upon condition, the particle *?* hlsre " O rendred, if Yen 20. unttU,vcr. i^ JNbn quod >ben, Numb. 36. '.4. furely, Prov. 3. 34. /«y in the days of " " [pel and J f.ar many more are .;.„, a guilty thereof man are aware 01 jtj . well were ft, if they were not ip$fi- lrioft guilty;, who feem moft to athoi ? t al - !&>// nou thai ?/? £fo/j, doit thou (__. r corftm.it Sacnlgdge, Koin. 2. 22. (. J/««i Z>^, fays Mania Chart a, wheij it ipeaks of Seperating the tenth psrt ©/ ^ff/- to holy ufes which part was called by U l/l "'- theAntients, Df* 'cenfes,'.., God's Rent, ^;^ nor hath God forfeited his Right, be- j rt cauf. or mans atufe or fuperftition. j think alfo there rhuft be fome Rule 0] &igen proportion for that laying by in ftcn , ir ;;' u ~ commanded by the Apoftle 1 Cor. 16 '2.17'. % Upon the fit ft day of the week, let r %\cv.t'CLi$vsry one of you lay' by him in ft ore, a. Pay- Qod hath pro/per e J him, that there be m n ? cnt °5 gatherings when I come, ( according t( 11 Deur. 16. lo.) According as the Lm ! v :irt , re- tb p'i />? v as as fpon as any hid a propriety of e ftatey till then belieVefs inmany places had a com muni t<- o.'g'oJs, becau-1' ot the rv-e oi perfecution, bil lipt in pieces Vfh ere they were more free. and rExpcftiilathnt* I $7 tl v God hath bleffed thee in fome dus lion. Kow 11 there- be no rule for .-uairtity,- a large heart may layby too much arid de:raiid his Relations or other occaifons, a narrow heart will be fare to lay by too little, and fo be guilty of Sacriledge by alienating that which is due to God, to whom Jure Co- rona, befides Homage and fealty, fer- vioe and fidelity, we owe an Honorary Tribute, .though no fubfidiary Rentier that he needeth not: But this he re- quireth, and little comfort {hall they have who dft e fence or this duty upon the hearts and J^^rf^" Confciences of proieilors and talre them ; : if tra n- off from thjeir fubteringes, and Cavils, -etstl-efe igicus occafions, to give a fpetdy re- Revenue, ief to the necefllties c[ Samts abroad, Cuftom it home,, who ftarve manv ti.ncs while fe-^v the Grafs is growing, while the Alms^j]^^ lire a gathering. and por-' How would this roll away" our re- ters to. broach of being Solifidiav?, and make? arr 7 $ i he Gofpel vie for fruitfullnefs in good 1 ^^ L 2 works 148 Spiritual Pleadings, of H«a- works, with Popifh Charity and blind ^ 3 ^ devotion, Tit. 3. 8. let them who have willftM believed in God, be carefuU to maintain it, Luke. good works. How would it cut off 00 16. p. cafions from the fiefh, which craves and calls for all, and confumes more upon feme one luft, than all a man's graces ever coft him : How would it bring a bleUing and prove a hedge about all th- reft of the Eftate, like Hannah's loaf which was lent to God, 1 Sam. 7. 20, 21- He gave her back five for one. and lb will he do by everyone that ventures with him, will ye prove him, Mai 3. * 1. do but try me faith he in this one particular, but it is a fnarc for a man An atici to devour that which is fanSifeJ, ' «nt Pro-Prov. 20. 2$. that which is and ought- tytou *£• to be feparated from common ufes : men t"^^ rob God, Mai. 3, 8. and put him to tint faain for his own, and he doth it ma- IreiVei in ny times to their forrow, Hof 2. 8. yublick 9, For fie did not know that I gave her told me Q m y h anc l Wine, & Oyl, and multiplied her * b« n his ^ V8T * n ^ ®*M *>hich they prepared f$r Pracdfe %* *U tnc 7 rafted all upon their lulls, above ? o. Therefore will [return and take away my feirs^ndCorx in the tima thereof \ and my Wine tj 1 ** ^ r in the feafon thereof \ and will recover my fircoftn*^^ and my fax, ( given } to cover her iei\oirnsd*4&ed**fi Si ttt iecemamnon dederis 9 tu £4 and Exfofiulatmis. 3 49 ad decimam revocem, ( Aug. d* tetnf^T„l'pn> Sertn. 21$.) Becaufe rich men will not Ali ' d * n ? c give the tenth to God, God many hc fcux]c3 r times brings them to the Tenth of^ iv ^ of what they had: God requires a fe- laving all Venth part of our time, becaufe wewifriome- havethatmeerlv from his Bounty with-^ ifit ° h 7 -out our induftiy but a tenth of our ™£*$ tftate making a defalcation or allow- on as none ance for our pains, and if he gives rib ofTri sown, incrcafe he leoks for nothing, now*both Dec ™* as to the fe venth part of our time, and^** w ^£~ the tenth part of our Eftate, the Cexc-f u hoferl- menial and Levitical part bting abo- &ant t F*i^ limed, the moral ufe and equity re- lusDwa^ mains to the Worlds end, all piety, juf- f^^ii dee, Gratitude requiring it, no Popith j|sftipns abufe ought to take away the ufe •, and by the in- all Nations in all ages, pra&ifing this ftinct of * duty, though in a wrong way, will 5?^*' rife up in Judgement and condemn us, t ^ F ^ c " if we who have the right way neglect it, or they * And who would repent his obedience learned it hereunto when he comes to dye and to && frc1 ^ be torn away from all his outward en- fp|0? e ; goyments? then it is that mens confeien- they did L 3 CCS rite divide- re though not refte 9ferre f they admitted it as conclud- ed on by an univerfal Parliament, though things are much varied by carrying far and long continuance, not anfwering to the Prototype and Original. * See In- itances in Sir if. Sp. and Arguments from the New/ SteiUment j» Jc, Qtrleto*, Dr. 8chltr 9 Mr. Rob*i Spiritual pleadings, ¥r. &g-xfs wring them, and make them" fling rf?\ away apace what they can grafp no j, r ^ s n ne longer. Oh, Th( nit is that their he dutyh -i-.-cH » aw;!]* with anguiih and r vJ i v me.it, to behold -all the black:i/^ For ^u-^ their ex^snees, to think how thejfc; ^-^ferved the Devil with their ^Eftat^W di+e tl4y not Gad, to whom they are now a go- contend- ii \g to give an account of their item- ed tor .•_ ardihip when he will truft them no longer, they now feel the hook w.1 c f^s'f u ^thiy have i wallowed, and would :an Ins Szt^tofcfjZprgf: that which they are afrayedto vmtsc^n-Jhesi in Hell. not^ant '.But alas, we have gotten a c] Religion, and therefor it laves our purles, t not our Souls-, what pray caufe to bewail it, t it, a^.d to fill. his mouth If we hold our peace I ciyagainft them, ai • r - pi complain^ Job 31. 5 3. Tbe vi] * their Riches mall be.a witi.es ar them, Jam. 5. 2. I have only offered Hints to help on this blefled work of pleading and ftriv- ing, and -wreftling with God {- with the arms of his own Spirit, ) in Pray- er, the decay and abatement whereof in our days' is locked on as a fadfymp- torn, and Expojiu!atio72S. j j ^^"•fecret, which pofturel judge beft, both eft lus ^ repeating and ftudying any thing of qiuvi U- this nature. £'/',Al- And let me add, " If God will not t led,// ' £ : hear thee, and anfwer thee upon thefc wtuionfi . terms - } If he do not put ftrength into ' thee, if he be not content that faith {hould overcome, then be thou bold to fay, that: all the Minifters of His holy Gofpel are fadly miitatcn in it and him, Meb. io. :$. Caft not away therefore, this confidence, this priviledge offpeak-* fag freefy a nd pleading with your God, which, and Expostulations. I|? which hath great recommence of reward. He who fo gracioufly anfwers pious eja- culations, Nehem. 2. 4. will undoubt- edly anfwer the powerful Expojtulatiom of Faith and pleadings of his fpint ; Forget not therefore how he calls his people to leave of their reafonings with Satan, with flefh and blood, and with their own evil hearts, and to come and reafon out the matter with him, and what he promifeth (hall enfue thereon, If a. I. 18. Come now and let us reafon to- gether, faith the Lord: though your fins be as jcarlet^ they Oiall be as white as fnow, though' ; they be red like crimfon, they jhall be^aswooll Andfuch are many* David fergusson,7« «£ francis murdoch, £ JOHN CRAUFORD, Bean of Guild, THOMAS RICHARD Theafaurer, WILLIAM M'GAN, Beacon Conveenef And the Remanent Members of the Council of Al RE. Much Honoured, AS Te have a right unto my w§rh in the miniftry, fo there is no- thing more ju&, than that I fiou/d dedicate this little ejfay to you, both upon the account of the re- fpe&s I Qwe you, and the tender concern fhr your* Ever fafting Interefts, which £ charge my felf to entertain. Some of your fredecejjours have made their Honour t§ pine with an incompa- rable Lufiure, by familiarity with God 9 in which they werefo eminent that it ha f embalmed their Names to all fofterity, and procured fr§m *dl the Good and Wife* the. I $$ The Epiftle Dedicatory the bell Judges of Honour, a grn'at fteemjfir the f lace ofihetrre) '-•< Government, than even alt its oth r ad Vantages could acclitiffzl ' Altho the withered jlaie 0/ Religion,*). tanks of men have fallen into this day render the praSlife of thefe before our tinu to out apprehenfion inimitable, and th\ flothfulnefs of defpair Jlrikes us Dead,jye\ k becomes us to recall into our Memory their "Noble Example^ and ambition tht\ imitation of it. The principal mean left Us in referve f, '■ Pray er,© 5 indeed we can never either leai 1 the art of it, nor pr'atlife it fuffcie'ntly The Apollle when he is concluding Joi. direBory to the Epeflans about the ffi ri- tual Arm cur, adds praying with all pray ei -and fupplication, Sec. Signifying that a. we nmfi cut our way through to Heaven fo fighting on knees, and calling for hel\ is the best method for ajjured fuccefs,a. ■ it is ufual with Nations engaged in War to call for and make a confederacy with others for auxiliary Forces againfi tht ■ Enemy, that without this might be toi Jirong : Thefe who have well under flooc this exercise. have done wonderful things flormed Heaven, and got what they plea- ded : It was faid of Luther, 0! whm Spirit, what Faith was in his words k mad* The . Ipfftje Dedicatory , i $ 9 x made his request with the reverence that w.i.< p'itabie to God, but- with jo great, lejice andrajfurance, as convinced us he tjoii'iht he .[pake with a Friend, a \ Father ; In his Prayers he urged the pro- mt fes in the Pfalms, as one who was Jure \ all Jbould come topafs that he fought. ■ Let me commend this Noble employ- ment unto you or fpeak well of it before you. It hath the good report of the Living and the Dead, and hath been kind to all them in Heaven., and who are go'mg to it ' will. at t eft this ,' it hath been of ten-times. to them as Goiiah's Sword to David, none like it. I know nothing better, either for j attaining or maintaining a frame of live- j U nes , for often by hammering o?i our, own { hearts (when we could do no other thing). t we have wrought a foftnefs into fitch hard Mettals .* fo as they could be poured out before the Lord. And ! how natively doth Heavenly* nefs vent it f elf in exclamations ofPrdy- er, both petitions and acknowledgments } This is it which gives a wonderful fea- fotting to our fperits, in the more profper- )us circumftances of Life, and proves a vind that blows the Vejfel toward tbe • c air Havens, and \ when the Heart is op- ireft with grief 'its in this it vents its trouble, and by doing fo gets eaje 7 for we muft 160 The Epiftle Dedicatory, wuft either have ftrong hands of refolu- tion, to flr angle our trouble within,or muft impart it, and when we communicate it unto God, the weight of it is in a great mtafure gone. It is by this that what in a man unacquainted with God, is but like the groan of a beajl in pain, becomes breathing after God,and crying to heaven for help in the believer. Could we always keep up difpofition for it, it would keep us up in all cafes. Let us endeavour to keep a conflant tendernefs of off eSl ions, by a fence ofQod and of our felves, in our guilt, need, and lyablenefs to trouble dwelling deep on our fpirits, and let no breathing of the fpirit allowed, even when we are not at all waiting for it, be neglefted; but rather let all the impreffions he at any time makes $n our fouls, be fed, nourifhed, and improven by carrying them unto God in prayer, which would at once both en- large, and eflablijh them there. With an eye to the people of my charge I have compiled this little EJJay, and t\ could not but think it proper, that fine* lam appointed to be an affftant to them in their fublick devotion, I jhould jet fome thing before them to that purpofe y which might be of more conflant ufe, ayid fo improve htfy their ejes pud ears as injlrwnents The Epiftle Dedicatory-, j6i Infruments of promoting ferioufnefs in Religion. That ye may be exemplary in all the duty s of your profs(fion and your Special Character that ye may have fuccefs m the mannagement of the Government com~ mined to you , and that thereby you may deserve and have all the refpeSt due to. Honour and Religion meeting in onejhat thefe may make the Influence of you? exemple work more forcibly, and that ye may be happy in both worlds, (ball be thd Prayer of £/- Much Honoured, Your fiioft Humble and oblidged Servant in the Lord, John Hunter, w i6i A * a HMb4&W&&&& ########^^P Spiritual Pleadings. AS Prayer is the native breath- ing of a fpiritual Soul, with- out which it can no more live (and when it is well at it *z\i it thinks Co ) than we can fubfift without the common Air, fo it is one si the principal helps for maintaining ^iveKnefs in Religion, being that the jreedom of that breathing often times arms up a fpark of life, which is fo inal that its hardly percieveahle, unta l flame 5 and as it is fo neceffary. and ifeflil to a Soul that has any acquain- ance with God, fo it may be faid to be nore extenflve in its ufefulnefs than noft of the Duties, as Faith is more han the reft of the Graces •, and it is .kind of fupplement for many of thc t efeds of both: for when we cannot ad:{ ,ove, Repentance and ,Confecration cfj ur felves to God,direttly and in them- 1 "MY felves^I *<$4» Spiritual pleadtnrs felves, with any becoming diftin&ncfs & vigour, we may act them prayer-wife, requesting that we may be bronght up to the 111, and intermixing- humble pro- teftations againii our being fo far ihort or what we ought to be, which, lrojl be taken as (ome fmall degrees of at train- ing unto that which we earnefV.y would have. &ech 12. ^ e Scripture, tells us of a Spirit of 10 „ grace and fuppli cations to be poured out on the Church in good dayes, which I think imports not only liberal turnilhing of matter,but alio frame for,and Art in Wreftling with God : This is a day where- in thefe things are as much wanting as they have been in moft ages, and fincc,a]as \ we are not fo happy, as to have our ihowers ifrom Heaven, which n- Was the manner of wattering the land 10*11? °* tf rae h lve muft: do what we can to water our ground with the foot, as the Egyptians were faid to do in another fence, by exciting and exerting all out giftes and graces fn this noble and re- freihing exercife^not that any Art can prevail on God without the afliftance of his own (pirit, but that he who pleafes" to reward the skill and pains of the fru I-fo. jj. gal husbssndmah, in doing his beft up- * °* on his foil, with feafonalble fhowers and warm- and Expofixlations. 16$ ivarmnefs for making his feed to grow, will countenance humble eiidevouisin things. of far greater concernment. It is a fhame that we are not often ,at more pains with our fejves, both be- fore ©ur Prayers to melt our Souls into £ tendernefs of affedion, or at leait. to jroufe them into an earneftnefs, and alio in thfm,that we who ftand like liatues, Be whole words freez upon our li-ps,majr fpeak with a frame becoming God and rverlafting interefts, and itmuft be con- feilecl, a great part of our deadnefs in our performance is oweing to the fetch- ing and dividing of our thoughts between* 'what we are to fay, {which is to feek) 2nd the manner in which we would ex- prefs it, which impares the force of our Spirit, as by devifion every thing grow? lefs, whereas to have it well copfiderecl what we mould fay in relation to pur cafe, ere we come before God, might (pare us much of the labour of feeking out our Matter, and our Arguments whereby we are to urge it, and refervc moil of our ftrength for being laid out upon the ferioufnefs of our Addr eiles. I am not for being limited to things premeditated, and as little for refufing helps, and indeed we, not only* fee, but jFeel the truth of this, that our natural M a fcarcity* 1 66 Spirt tit a I. Pleadings, fcarcity of things that are heavenly, when we prefent ourfelves before God pleads that we fhould value and ga- ther them, efpecially fin cc the Scripture is a ftore-houfe fo> wonder! ully iuited to wants ol this kind, by Commands, Pro- mifes and Experiences : and yet the de- iign of this little book is not fo much .tofurnifh us with matter, as a way of mannaging it,after the manner of plead* ing, fo as our matter may be the more adapted both to give flame to our af- fections, and maintain it in them. The Occafion of my venturing out upon this Work, was a fight- 1- got of a little Book, that's too little known for the excellency of it, called Harrifons Pleadings tv hh God, with which I W2s fo much taken, that as I could not but $efire always to carry Tuch a Box of Perfumes about with me, fbl was lorry it was no larger, and therefore that I f^$. might have fomething at hand, that might anfwer many moe Cafes than what are in it often occurring, I fet my felf with the help of my dcareft ac- quaintance in our fweeteft and molt fo- litary hours for Converfing about Eter- nal things, to carry on a little Work rf this kind, in Imitation of that Savou- ry .Writer : not as if I thought I could ever and Exfoftulations, _' i6j ever come up to or near him, for I real- ly take him to be as inimitable, as al- \ mo ft any Writer upon Religion ever I read, but that, I refolved to entertain my own Spirit, with fomething that ' ihould favour of him, however far fhort of my Exemplar I ihoul4 fall. I look upon his Contrivance as fine,* his Invention rich, his Fancie heated, fcnt with Coals from -the Altar, his E- loquence Sublime and Spiritual, his Ar- guments furprizeing, and his manner of urging them full of all that is foft and humble, the agreeable qualities of a Supplicant*' and yet intermixed with the allowed confidence of a man that prayes not only from the fence of need, but faith of Mercy. AH the Objection that Teems to ly againft his Book, if it may be called an Objection, is that it can never go well away without a live- linefs of frame, and it is fo formed out of, and attempered unto this, that it will hardly agree to the difpofitions that are Ordinary, and therefore it fhall be of little ufe* But I judge it is anf° wered when we fay, that as it requires a fpiritualitv of Frame, fo it wonder- fully- cont rib it es to the procuring of it$ and indeed it muft Irifenfihly carry a toil u,p ur^o it, (as an Inftrujnent,) if it M 4 '{hall Spiritual ?lcadings 7 frail have but fo much ferioufaefs, a* can ferve to take on better imprfr jfions. • Men gratefully have hiili'a Monument y To him, whofe lucky Wifdom did invent > An c after way to m annate Trade, Or whofe adventerous Soul has made Thefajfagc to its difiantfiore, Throw ai} the $ cas impervious he fore, £oth known andfhort ; Tie tell a 2fame Which may with greater -reafon claim , 2*o he in&fin\dwith\n thehreafi, Of all that arp the Wife, of all that are the left. Its Harrifon, which when I hear, Strikes with fo grate full, found mine cay y 1 find my Soul ev 9 n charmed away Tiito that Art, he didfo vondrfatf?/ - difflay , It's He who has inputted us to Sail,' To Heaven, with a more aujpicious gale. Or fa hang cut our facing Sails and Watch, Heaven's fiendly wind, which waiting Souls may Job'-f carneft wijh might we deal, ' {catch With God, as one when he'd prevail, Doth with his Neighbour, is allow d, Tor Harrifon did So, and how we may hathfiow'4 $y his rare art of Pleading he hath taught, The Cottager 'to he a Pitnot, Who cannot fl and and plead his Countreys caufe In that great meetirg whence we have our Laws, .May f lead for it with God upon his knees, Jnavie with the Great Duke hi all his Victories, Jea while he doth reautfl he can command, For God hiwfelf can ne're withjland Reofons hunfelfhath made, -and faith infpires , ' They give Ominfutence to Saints dejirc;. Job and JExfoflulattons. l6$ > - " *■ — ■ — — f • . , . Job 9. ?2. For -be is nut a, Man that fjbqutd. anjwer him, or that rpe (hould* come together in Judgement, Job 16. 2 T. Q that one might plead for a -man roith God as a man fleadeth for his Neighbour ! ■ Job 22. 6, 7. VM he plead ag** n ft me with his great power. No but he would futftrength in 'me. There the Righteous might difpute with. him, So Jhould 1 be delivered fjr eve? from my Judge. The great God we have to do with, maybe, confidered either under the aw- full afped of the abfolute Lord of the ' World, as having both a Dominion of propriety over all the Creation, and a Dominion of Sovereignity over all the Rational Beings, Angels and Men, And there cannot be a more humbling thought than that which we have of him as King of Rations : for in this his Wifdom, Juftice, Power, Majesty, and government offer to pur view, and Jeremy Argues,- the mod native Re- fult of thin mull be the profoundeft re- verence^ Chapter 10. 7. Verfe, Who would not fear thee King of Nations? for unto thee doth it appertain. But we are allowed to entertain more fweet and en- gageing thoughts of God, as one who condefcendg from hjs abfolute Greatnefs 17° Spiritual Pleadings to aft as a friend with us, So as he will both ufe ftrange familiarity with the works of his own hands, and allow them to ufe it with him. In thefe places of > Scripture I have chofen for entertaining fome favor/ ' Meditations upon Pleading with God, Job takes him up both ways - 9 in the firft of them he acknowledges none can plead any right againit God, as one might do againfl: another, for all our Rights are fwallowed up in his, and founded upon Soveraign pleafure, there is no common *Law to rid Marches be- tween his Right and ours, and indeed thefe are never to be confidercd as op- pr>flte, the one being but a Dependance on the other, and there is not an indif- ferent pTfon, to whom we can bring our Caufcs:, for our party is cur judge,- and tho we fhould be fo foolifh, as to debate with God, weel be forced tore- member we are to fraud or fall eternal- ly by his Sentence, For he is not -a' Man as I am, that I fiould anfver him, 7i either is there any days-man between . us, that ' might lay his Hands on both, In the Scncc of this he inclines to have tilings niannaged by a Plea of Mercy, rather than otj uft ice, only he paihon- atly wiihes a man' were allowed to ufe ♦hat - and Ex populations. IJl that freedom in pleading for Mercy at the hands of God, that one might have when he tenderly feels his Neighbour's troubles, and pleads with his acquain- tance for him, in that expfejiion, that a man ?nigbt plead with God, as cie dojtb for his Neigbhmrr : where he feems to fpeak more doubtfully of the believers Privil edges, accefs Sc boldnefs at the Throne' of Grace; but in the 22. -Chapter, he averrs there is a Seat, which he would gladly come to, at Which the Righteous may difpute with him and he would not plead agairift them, ' but rather fecretly fiipply them with Argu- ments, and ftrength to urge them be- fore him, and as it were again ft him. The word in the Original which we have translated Difpnte ivitb him is the fame that we have for the word Titad in this 23. Chapter, and alio in thei6.Sc 2T. and imports- an Arguing rr advance- ing Reafons for what we fay, to fhow our adverfary that we are in the right, and bring him over unto our ildc •, yea, it fignifies an advancing Pleas of Law 1 and J u Mice in fome Sort for what we feek ; this is the allowance of a -fet of Men, and we fhall fhortlyconflder the import of it, the amftance they have for improving it, in thefe -worcls, No but J7 2 . .Spiritual Pleadings but be would flit flrength in m*, and the qualifications of: them to whom they belong, in that word the Righteous, tor the firft of which, it will be proper that it be cleared what is the manner jpf his Peoples mahnageing their plead- ings with God. Firft, T1k/ found upon a Title to- Mercy formed out of the Gracioufnefs of the Nature of God, ill fuch Reafoning$ 8 g # as thefe •, But thou art good and Graci* pus, flow to Anger and full of Qomp»ffi(w\ Pfal. 36. 7. How excellent is thy lo-> ving kindnefs ! Sec. Secondly,- But becaufe Faith Is more particular and bold upon experience, therefore they love to plead, as it is his difpofition, fo it has been his ufe and wont to (hew mercy, art not then it which brake Jiabab in pieces, which wounded the head of the Dragon, Art not thou it which dryed the waters of the Red Sea ? awake as in the ancient dayes, arm of the Lord-, I fa. 5T. 9, !o. Thirdly, Some time they dare plead the incongruity of what is deprecated, and the Lord fcems to deiign j when he threatned to make an end of lfra?l y Mofes difputes it was not fit, for that it would occafion a refi e&ion among the Heathens, Numb.ix. i^ ? 14. Then th* Egiptians. arid Expoftulations, 173 Egyptians jib all hear of it, and the Na* tto'ns which heard the fame of thee, if thou kill them all as one man, will fay,- becanfe the Lord ivas not able to bring ihem to the hand he fwore unto them, therefore he flew them. Fourthly, They plead the fuitablenefs of what is requefted, as it's congruous to his Glory, what will thou do for thy T „ great Name? and to his way of doing in -J '** 7 ' ^ all other things, Lord thou gives rain, and makes the Heaven give floowei s, there- fore well vait on thee for all thefe things, Jer. 14. 17. Fifthly, He will allow us to make our Arguments out of need, and peece up the ftrength of them by fuch expres- sions as thefe, The Poor Qommitts hisCaufe •to thee, Pfal. 10. 1.4. and the needy /hall not always be forgotten, the expecta- tion of the Foor • (hall not perijh for ever^ Pfal. 9. 18. In thee the Father lefs findeth Mercy, Hofea 14. 3. Sixthly, Sometimes- we draw our Plea § from his promifes, whereby he is pleaf- ed, as it were to become Debtor to his Creature, Rev. 22. 17. Whofoeter is a'. thirU may come and take of the water of Life freely. Mattbu it. 28. Come to me all ye that labour, and arc heavy laden, Upon w&ch I mind to have heaii Spritu.ll Pleaa;?:gi a Man going to Execution argued in a molt afiuied and lively manner, thus* OLcrd, Thou bade the- Weary Come -to p&r# foning with him, who makes mercy il- luftrioiis upon the moft defperate like ixiftances of Guilt, and if it fhould be faid, it is a kind of prcfumption to plead ft), For it is not fit to take the children: hread and give it to the dogs-, the Soul can fajjiw Lord! but yet the dogseat , if6 Spiritual Pleadings of the crumbs which fall from the Chi< drens table. Efghily.WheTt the Spiritual dexterity of disputing goes not this length, there' is _ an Anfwering of Objections : As when J° h ^ I -its told the fupplicant, God bears not ' ' finners\ The believer can fay, impenitent Sinners, who allow themfelves in any known iniquity, and he hopes, however i Joh - num ble he is, that he is not of that 9. 1 number : and to that objection, He that is born of God finneth mt ; he can re- ply, that is, finneth not With a compla- cency in his departure from God. Its eafie to account for all this free- dom and .{kill the Believer hath at the Throne of Grace, if we eonfider there is an indeficicnf fecret Supplie of ftrengtr. fecured to him, God will not plead a- gainft him with his great Power •, no, btti he will put ftrength in him, if he pleat againft him, its but as a Father Reafon: with his Child, for putting him to tH< Exercife of any capacity he hath, anc that he may teach him to maintain hi* Caufe, and have the pleafure of hear- ing his tittle Anfwers, which he eithe: furniihes altogether, or makes out fo Lara. ?, him \ it is not his manner to crujh th S5,l6>U-Prifwers of the Earth, under his feet , '/ -febvert a man in his caufe Vor to lur> a/td — , and Expostulations. 17; afide the right of a man before the face of the Mojt High, the Lord approvetb not. If lie mould plead againft us with his Great Wi dom, all our reafoii ihould fail under the force of his Convicti- ons, if he fhoiild Plead againft us with jhis Great juftice, our courage would fink, fo as we could not fajr o.ie word j and if he Ihould Plead againfl: us with llis Power, we mould ceafe to be,, or Plead any thing at all \ but Bleffed be fcis Name he takes another way, and it's owing to this fecret iupplie of Strength, that we have it upon record, to Jacob's never dying Honour, Hcfea 12. 2, 4. That by his flrength he had °ower with God, yea he had Power over hie Angel , and prevailed, he weeptand nade fuppli cation unto him, a victory by 11 the foftnefs of fubmiiiion and re-^ [Ueeft, as it were, God in Jacob was nore Powerful than God without him : t's in this the Spirit, the Force, the trt of Prayer or Wreftling lyes, & the lolyGhoft, the great Advocate of man dthin him affirts and mannages the oul in thisexercife, Efpccially in two .efpedts. Firft, He furnifhes matter, We %Mn>R Qmi it what to pray for as we ought, but - z § " ?e Spirit helps our Infirmities, D w h *t N Nobis $ jpjrB Spiritual Pleadings, N-ble fields of Meditation, and fuel of attectio; s does he lead them into, who by re.iion oi darkhefs cannot fo much sis utter Words be ore God. Secondly, i ie gives livelinefs where- by tluy can urge humble requeefts, both a' liveliness oi F-*ith, to allure the con- fidence, and h» pe of fucctfs, and Love. to purihue the Jblei ngs that Fsith di- tttis unto*, and this may be imported in that, He heirs us with groans andfigb that cannot be uttered. This is the Spirit which breaths th breath of Life into the Souls o; all th Godly, and this natively ads it (elf , breathing after him who is its Origirw by the egremons ox Faith and Fraye and as rn is compared in h s Frcat ings to the blowing! of the Wind, tl comparison may well hold in this, thi ' as the Wind oft times riles ftfrpnfinfe in a dead calm \ fo he is pleaed feafo ably* to come in upon the Soul, wh< under the moil difcuragirg snd imkii fitts of heartlefncfs toward the thin of Heaven ^ fometimes with his mc piercing and roufing Blafts of Nor Wind-, convidions & terrours, and at ther times, with the more Gentle Gs Cart 4. °^ a South Wind, fence of Love, hope l<$> ' " Heaven, aad joyes in Himfclf, and tl i li and Expqftulations. I7 » like a wind comeing over a warm coim- trie, kindly thaws the Soul into iucii a [cktncis, that all its faculties melt into the Divine W'ilLand the man acts ftrange- ly complacential Emotions toward God, ind lively embraces, and fprightly Con- rales with him, as the Amorous {lower is laid to do to the Sun, in his return frith his benign and chirifning beams, *nd he hath fuch a relifli of the fweet- icis oi-this cafe, that he falls down, and frorfhips the author of his often refto- :cd Lite 5 as ever the Perfian adored ±e Sun of nature, for his ftated returns, md renewing the face of the decayed r art ,k I think I hear one who holds iimielt obliged for light and life, unto he Spirit of God, with all the elevation >f Soul fte can attain unto, cxpreffing lis Adorations thus. > lafi of the. adored Three, Proceeding from the Father and the So?:, y ane hiexrHcibie mijlerie \ »»**2^ 'he fweetnefs of them both hath flowed 'pan our Souls, by breathings thou allowed, T irch can refiore us, when we are undone, he Father 'is Loves everlafting Spring, he Son Love's trecious River, which did bring he great defigned Blefs in crimfons dream \qvn to the Sons ^ Adam, hit we Swe&m ljoyesofthe blefdSpr't,a: in the Sea, i which iba; Spring and river alwaye: run, k •N z " TfjJir l8o ■ Spiritual Pleadings, *t ht'v Love out great concernment hath begun, fTe 00 its c»nfummation untu thee. W7)en we like Wind hound Seamen ly, Or tug at Oars of unafj fled pains, Without Succcjs, we only t)y Cur weaknefs by the ratling itf cur Chains ; "But if thou breath, the fetters all are loop a, The chains dijfohe, and this our mouths ccnfefs By free requefts which hitherto were clofd, Jndfraife as f aft as layers they expefs: So Birds relieved from the Gin, Both mount and fing the happy State they're in. Bl eft guide ofwandrivg Souls, who made Each argument of aU the Scripture'' s Store, Jndjbowsus to it, and when thus we* ere led. Thou makes it fweet, its infinilly more. WJjatcan the heap of fuel do, If there he 7iothing tojlrikeup the Fire, The heft of arguments are ufekfs too, J f Heavenly breathings don't infpire Our Souls with kindly heat, we'd fo$n perceive Prayers w'.uldfink us,when they fiould relieve. Thou as the Spirit of Life does move Throw all the veins of each Believers Heart, Tet that Great Body of the Church above, Jndthat below is quicknedby thy Love \ By thee they both perform their part in Prayers and praifes, and it's echoed loud, Thanks to the ,$cn wha gave us Royal Blood, By taking ours, and thanks unto his Spirit, By whom the life of God was added unto it* Tty blowings c$meingor y e the field OF Scripture Promifes can make themyeili Tbtirfwettferfnwes cv'n as the winds XI and Exfoftulations* lg Th.it from fume warmer Regions rife., Wherein the Soul is Stored with all tie kinds Of odoriferous Herhs , fometime furfrife The faffing Sailer, with fo great a Sweet, That all the Charms of Smell dofeem to meet, And now, I (ball only fay fomething about the Qualification of the Main who is allowed to Difpute with God : He muft be Righteous, that is he mu.ft have both the Righteouinefs of Jufi'iHcauon^ by Believing, and that of Santtificaiion, by Holinefs of Heart and Lite: God heareth not firmer s 5 it's true the worft >f men are commanded to make prayer, >ut they are not allowed the Famili- irity that a man of God's Acquaintance *ath, who may go with all that ails irn unto God, and tell him what the tforld may not know, and he takes no rouble of even importunity it fehymd If makes out the Requefts of his people, /hich are but imperfect and broken ex- reffions in themfelves : But bleffed be is Name, he hath not excluded even :om Arguing with him all butthefc, for 'e may argue with him as Men, when f e cannot argue with him asjSaints, nd plead General, when we have m jitle to Special Promifes, drawing om> .cafonings from the Actings or the ne^ Series of Nature, which is alio his N 3 qwf i: 182 Spiritual Pleadings own in fome refpcft, when we canno from the attainment of Grace. Seme of the Cafes I have offered At guments upon are fitted unto the on fort, and feme to the other. CASE I. Need of Mercy. AN D Fir ft, if thou would go an feck Mercy ' m the Genera], an Mercy j, ;( 3eed this muft be one main plea fr a.ifwerto all thy particular Cafes, the may take words in thy mouth, an urge hard for it, by fuch Arguments 5 thefe, Argument; ^2} ft, Lord thou haft implanted Me: cy into the nature of man, andwejuf ]y count him unnatural who hath it no and this Mercy of man extends not onl to the rational Creature like himie] Shut even the unreafonable, we are me ted into compaffien by the light of e: tream mifery on the beaft that perifrn '*_ r ihajl it not be found with thee who art 1 48* Vinfinitfy psyfeB, and toward a creatur Thou haft given fuch a vaft Scul un that its capable of living in exquffi /pJeafure or torments, as long as the hill a Being, ran thou be behind wi the works of thine hands, in fo Nob and Exfoflulations. 183 cjuah ty as this is, which fcts off every K at ure. r 'Secondly? Thou haft been pleafed to fay vny great things of Mercy, as tak- ing a pleaiure in commendirg it, it's thy eafure, thou art rich in Mercy : it's the Attribute thou haft plac'd next thy Being in the Proclamation of thy Name, ^ d The Lord the Lord God Merciful andGra-,^ ~ |i «r, / upon the Faith of thefe the Sons N 4 9& 1 84 Spiritual Pleadings, of men come unto thee, and we among the reft dcfire to come, Lord we plead Thou wilt not cut off. the expectation of Ffa.9.18.^ p oor ^ nor fnffer the hope of the needy ■ to fail, for it's ail founded upon the good report thou haft made to go of thy felf *, wilt thou fend us away empty, after we are come out upon it > what would this do but tempt us to think thai art Jer. %$. life the waters that fail and thou haft 18. 10. 7 .deceived us and we were deceived I Fourthly, Haft thou not faid, As the Ife-55 -9- Heaven is higher than the Earth, jo aie thy wayes higher than ours, and thy thoughts than our thoughts, to hold out to us, that thou fhowes Mercy where man would reckon it prefumption to cxptxt or &c\ it. Fifthly, Thou knows, without my looking on thee as Merciful to my ex- perience thy Attributes can never have ; a fweet afpect to me, thy Wiflom w ou\d appear like cunning to take advantage' of mz,power like Tyrrany, Ho linefs like irreconcilable enmity, Juftice like Ri- gour and iQvciity.Faithfulnefs like per- r emu torn efs $ but a fence *of Mercy would pat a Glorious lufture on them all : Power and Mercy joyn'd together render thee in the light and acknow- ledgment of thy Creatures wondrouJJy fit • and Exp oftulations, 1 8 <> fit to be the Governors of mankind. TPfai. 6i. have heard Tower belongs to thee, alfo 11 - I2 ~ y 7 i bou wilt give to every oris ac* to his Work*. ' C A S E ir. mt of Light in things- of God. N D becaufc Light is the firft Want of ,,'jfTL g rcat Merc/ God beitowsupon 1 !?. 1 ^ ln •a Soul, he deflgns everlafting kindncfs q^ s for, as it was the firft particular piece 01 his Workmanlhip in Nature, God [aid let there be Light and there was L%ht, Gen. i. 3. go and plead earneft- ly with him, that he would give thee this mndamcntal Bieiung of Spiritual Illumination , without which all his Myfteries are loft to thee, and upon this head thou may eft fay, Pfrff, I blow the natural Light of the $&M* moft exalted humane Reafon, and the artificial Light of the moft exquifite Learning, can ne\ r er fuffice for Right conceiving of the things of- Gcd, as no man ever yet faw the Sun but by its; own light, neither can any perceive thee but by thine : thy Spirit is the great Interpreter of thy Word, and Providences, who can Satisfyingly ex- plain them, and I deflre to" be content iyith no lefs than Heaven's Demonftra- tioris 1 86 Spiritual Pleadings tions for things of Heaven and to know and believe God s matters upon his own Teftimonie, which none is able to re- Pfal. s^-fift Q \ et me j n t hy Light f se Hgbt, Secondly, If the poor Blind man whom taou haft denyed the comfort ot the Natural Light, urges fo hard we ihould pity him who never faw the I^ght of day, and in this has fo ftrong an Argument to work on our Compaf- (lons, allow me to plead with thee, pity one who never faw the Light of the Sun of ' Rightcoufuefs, that more preci- ous and "Glorious Sight, and fince we give the grcateft Alms to the Blind and Lame, becaufc their vifible Mife- ry aififts and inforces all their Requcfts, may not I exped thou wilt give liter- aly, if thou Ihould allow me only one requeft, and Ihould afk what wilt Mat zo t ^ lou tnat * mou ^ d° t0 tncc * tn ^ s 5 , r ' fhould be" it, Lord that I may receive my fight. Thirdly, I believe there mufl: be a great Diitindlion between the Know- ledge that the Natural and the Spiri- tual Man has of thee, for I fee he that knows many of the things of God, and can talk ftrangely of them, yet feem* not to be perfwaded of all he fays, o- tfc|rwife he could not but make a fet- ter and Expoftulations. i\ tev choice than. of this poor World f° r Math T , his all, but thine own find the trsafure 45> hid in the field, and for joy thereat go, ' and fell all they have, and buy it, this is ; not only a knowledge but a- believeing, To as to fay, now we are fare* that thefe things are fo, and we venture our Evcrlafting all upon the Revelation, O make us know the great Difference which lyes in this, between being taught Jo hn •■ of men and being taught of God. Fourthly, If it be faid of Natures Light, truely the light is fweet and a plea- fent thingti is for the eyes to behold theSnn, Eccl. n how much fweeter would it be to behold 7* thee, the Original 8c Primigenial Light, and to have a Light from thee, fain- ing upon all other things with us ! Fifthly, Thou knows how much fuch a Light as this would eftablim my heart, and allure my Way, in the Dutys of Religioa, and that according as this grows or decays, rifes or falls, fo does my Sericufneis and Livelincfs in Ever- lafting concerns, when thy Light ftrikes Vigoroufly on the Spiritual fence, Fie go to work Vivacioufly, but when that withdraws, my Spirits fink as in the darknefs and Honours of the night. Sixthly O how becoming and futeable is it unto thee to give light to one who fit* 1 83 Spiritual Fie a din gs^ 1ft. 10. fits in darkuefs, thou art the Light of 17. Jam- jyj.^ The Father of 'Light 'j,trom w *' I7 * the befi: of Gifts defcend, thine it j infzri&b with a ftrong hand, who teaches If*. 2. ii. Hie thee* thou teaches to profit^' Job. ?6-j$s thy Chair in Heaven, and inftr 48 i7 ii " inorc * n one Moment, than all Doitors in the World in years or Ages. Ssvsntbly, Thcu railed unto thy ! Math 20. two blind men who fat by the wdf 3°* fide, and c>;y^i fiW Jefns the Sc David would have Mercy upon thew^nm! reftcred their light, therein giving us, among many others, a foeciall grou d of Hope, that thou would do Ibmeiuch thing for us j, wilt thou not pity us, who requcfts a mere valuable iaveur than they who fought eyes that they might fee th'2 light of the Sun of nature > we feek Illumination, that we may be capable to do thy Work \ Thou .who antwers DeHres tor Natural things be pleas'd to anfwer requefts for things fpiritual. CASE III. N:w J of Forghenefs. Need cfT> ^ TT %^PW^ °f Sin 1$ that P re " Forgiven Jj WW® Channel, by which he con- nefs! veys fo many Mercies to the Creature, thou may ft go, and plead for it by fucjj Arguments as thefe. &ff*i and Expostulations . 189 Fhfi, Lord I have heard Tfcw *r* Neh * 9. & God ready to pardon, flow to anger ', of 1 ' great Kindnefs, and eafie to be entreat-" ed, which gives me - ground to thinlc thou wilt beftow tins favour upon all that humbly feck it, and that thou art even waiting for peoples ccmeing to> rnalce requeft for it, that thou may : ft have cccafion to mow thy Gracious dip- pofition, I am among thefe that feet it this dzy, O forgive firit the nnwerthi- nefs of my Prayer 5 and then the Guilt I plead againft. Secondly, I know thou loves to mate difcoveries of thy Power, and thy Power cannot but be great, if thou flioaldcft pardon fuch Sins as mine, which when Confcience does its office with me, I am tempted to fay are greater than can well be forgiven, it's called a kind cf Power among men to be deny'd unto revenge, O what Omnipotency muft it It be that can bear with my Provocati- ons, fo as to give me a Reprive, but how aftonifhing muft it be, that can give a full Remijiion / Thou art Lord of thy Fury, and Mafter of thy felf, o- ,thcrv/ayes I could not expect it, there-, fore I befeecb thee, let the Power of -my Num. 14, Lord be great according as thou [aid. The T ?> x °> Lord God Merciful and Gracious, long Suffering 190 Spiritual Pleadings, Suffering and abundant in goodnefs and Truth, pardoning Iniquity and Tranfgref- fions, and give me evidence of it by par- doning mine. Thirdly, I know thou would be feared, and this is due unto thee from all thy Creatures, but thou can never be feared as thou fhouldft without beltowing this Mercy, There is forgivennes wifiMjjet 'that Pul l > c ' r i m( m ayefi- be feared, without it I may fear thee, as Devils and Damned Per- fons do, with deiperation, and hcrrour, breeding perpetual averfion-, but this is a Fear not good enough lor a God, who is fo much to be Loved, I would gladly have a better for thy (alee, a Fear mix- ed and fweetned with Love, Humility, Tendernefs and Submiillon. Fourthly, I believe that thou haft pla- ced that W6ii in thy Name, when thou Proclaimed it to Mofes, Pardoning Ini- quity Tranfgreffion and Sin,ni de/ign to • ihow us that thcu forgives all kinds of v fin, and as my Tranfgreffions are of many kinds, fo fome of them are of the worft. Fifthly, Thou haft bidden us forgive our Neighbour, Tho he offend againft us JXith.iX.fcvtnty times [even •, may I not expert Z2. thy forgivennefs (hall be oftner than that of man, as thou art greater than he, and Expoflulations. I91 ' he, as there is no comparifon betwixt thee and him in Nature, fo let there be none in thy Gracicufnefs, and multi- * plications of Pardon. Thou faid thou wouldft not go into the City] to defiroy H ° r ' 1X * it, becaufe thou art God and not Man. '' O how becoming is it unto thy feeing : God, that the inftances of Pardon fhculd be innumerable, fince thou haft com- ma nded us to extend ours fo far > Sixthly If thou would forgive mine iniquity, it would cure me of all my uneaflnefs, it mould be health to my Bones, and I mould not feel my fores, the Inhabitant (hall not fay he is Jiclc^ I&. 33.24 when his Iniquity is pardoned. C A S E IV. Pleadings for Faith in the Son of God. ~ BU T thou art ( and thou cannot but P] e adir«r 3 - I bej fenfible, that there is fome-fcr t*m thing eilentialy neceflary to thy obtain- in the Son Jig fo great a Mercy as Forgi V ennefs, c£Go * even upon thy part, for tho 5 the Cove- nant oi Grace may be called Abfilute^ & rather a Promt fe, than a Covenant, for neceflary to Life and Godlinefs ftffrtt be of free Grace, yet fome things muft be done in order to make thee ca- pable of many of its Blcffipgs, and Faith is 192 Spiritual Pleadings, .is amain one ofthefe, upon the confider- ation of which thou art complaining, thou cannot attain that fuperlative e- fteem of our Lord Jcfus Chrift, which would obJjdge thee to venture thine everlafting all upon his precious offer in the Gofpel *, upon this head thou may ft Go and plea in fuch a manner. John 6. F ir ft Lor ^ * ^ lave carc ^ f&** no , *? 44. * can come unto Chrift, except the Father Rom. 9. which fent him draw him, and it is not l6 - of him who wills, nor of him who. runs, but of Qod who Jhcweth mercy, Elh.z.8. an d a H that are faved are faved thorow Grace, by Faith, and that not of themfelves , it is the Gift of God h Therefore I come to leek it at thy hands, Kever man had it another way, I know and I own my nature is as backward as any can be. Secondly, I know the Covenant thou has made v/ith Man for Salvation- is 2S1m.25.wZ/ ordered in all things, and this is an 5. of its pieces of precious Order, that thou not only provides a Great Reward for him who enters into it, but alfo haft fecured the very condition of it, Sc for our Encouradgement called it the £}>h-i — ■ ■ **_ 194 * ' Spiritual 'Pleadings, to fend our Lord into the ..^jjtl^, that cannot give thanks to" that Re- Idefcruer, for his being willifTgjjb come, znd Band betwixt us and e^llefs wrath. i.Tim. i. Can I but tliink it a faith full faying and * 5, 'therefore be moft throughly perfwaded oi it, and worthy of all acceptaJram and therefore with the moft endeared affec- tions, and moft cordial embracemenrs lam capable off, laying hold upon fuel] a c Condefcentma as this is. O! may I cjm te prrf\v;:ded that he is able to fave ts Kcb.7. 25 . th&nttennojt all that come to God through kw^l?e?*%pt h* ever Jives to make biier- ccjjio}} t( termoft' of nil our Hopes, of a Wi of all our Guilt, of all our Opacity ; ai >e . utter mofl Hjtf £r<.rmty.: a^» hf this be p?rfwaded uc% bin 1 ,' ?> d lay, with nil rr.y Seart I^Sp 'weH t pba^d wit, device oi to be ha^MHHpkfnne otter, count- PHlin./tng nor jrrr.blea* to be found £ gf$ in hnn fjot bfa\xnr mine ownjtigbteovfnefs w))icUti(*fd:e Law, &** the Right eoufnefs t of G ot I b v J&Sfe ■ f n .zi that I may win him. feord I would glad- ly believe help thou rebelling unbelief, ' bring into Captivity every thouiht : the obedience ofChrijl CASE 2 Cdngi and Expoftulations. . 195 CASE V. Tor the Reviving and Relieving Infa ences of the hoty Ghoj}. BU T becaufc it is neceffary that thou For the ihould ferve God. witii a periccl reviveing Heart and willing mind, without which, & ^ :ile ~ the Mercy of Pardon would be a W^5 Sucnee^" incompleat Happinefs, and alfo vr ry Q : t h e Ho* taftelefs to a renewed Soul-, plead withly Ghoft* God tor the perpetual breathings of his Spirit, to hold thy Heart always in f Warmnefs and Soitnefs, and to make his Work to go well away with thee. Firft, O Lord! thou knoweil: how ufelefs it is forme to tug at the Oars Ar Z umcn{ * of unafhited endeavours, and what a great meafure of Irpvjrfs pains is h this poor exercife v the Seamen can ne- ver think, to make a Voyage -without the favourable Gale, which he watches for, nay not fo much as to get his Vef- Cel brought, to motion without it, and 1 can do no more in Grace, than he does in Nature. . Secondly, Thou haft not only aiipqmfc CO 1 the Sea, to be the Element whereby 2 perpetual Trade ihould be kept Uf* but has ordered it fo in Natur^-tJ] £ Ithc Winds (hall oiten blow fronl dih : e- rent Corners ef the World, to sufw-r O 2 the I£6 Spiritual "Pleadings, the neccfllties and Expectations of Trad- ers and Paflengers^ may- not I plead that thou who haft appointed Ord nan- ces and other means alfo, whereby we may'get up to Heaven, would be pieaf- ed to do as much in Grace, as thou doft in Nature, add the Propitious galri of thy Spirit's breathings. ' Thirdly, We have it put outofquefl> on and debate, what has been thy com- panion to the Sons of Men, in ttaat thou To - l6 .lent Our Lord Jefus Cbr/ft into,theW»rM J ~ to fave them •, and it is as much beyond all doubt, how great his kin chiefs toward* us was, in that- he was pleajed to '"Matl^o.^rj* his life a 'Ranfbme for many. O lei * 8 - Us have an Evidence of the Compaffi- ens of the Spirit of God alfo, that w< may give our praifes to all the three Perfom o the inconceiveable St adorabb God-head, and how ihall we have thd proof, but by the Spirits doing his wcafl upon the Soul of man, to reach tg creat defign of Chrift's Death, in hi convincing, t xciting, Revivemg and R* frefliing Influences upon our heartle 'Hearts. We muft look upon our Praii es as Incompleat, although we cania Glory to God who deviled our Rfden* tion. and to him who bought it at th price of the moil precious Blood tna a* eve and Expostulations. 197 *ver was fned, if we cannot add unto 1m alfo who has by his Seafonable and inceifant Breathings periwaded us to venture our ever J affing all upon that >recious way to Heaven, and has al- ways maintain 'd the Sence of the hap- >y choice We made, whenfirft we were led in to thee. Fourthly, We are Debtors to thee for thy offers of Salvation, but we fhall never be in Cafe either to get good of it, or give thee Praifcs tor it, if thou do not allow thy Spirit , to give as a Sence of cur Obligations, and fet 11s to our Work : and O what pity is it, that fo great things mould be loft on us, for want of fomewhat mere, which could make all reach its defign, we Deut. ;z. have heard thy Work iPherfeB. and 4- thou bellows thy Gifts Liberally, and i 1 ' li *• we plead, that belongs to thy Liberali- ty, that thou mould give us Mercy in fuch a way, as we mould be the better of it> Fifthly, This is one of the beft ways in all the World to make thy felf pre- cious to our Souls, to g' : ve us often re- viveings by the bfe things or thy Spi- rit: If the fweetnefs of Natural life be fo great, that it renders all the means of its Support antl Reircilunents fo de- O 5 foable, I ^3 Spiritual Pleadinrf, (Ireablc, how much more delight full i* that Supernatural life of God in the Soul of Man, and how much would it en- dear unto us the Spring of that li^,j to feel often the Emanations of it tijf -on. our dead and fainting Spirits, W* ml. "Should be ready to fay we el never for- get that of which we hold our Life. CASE VI. Cow f hint of the want of Fervency in ■ Love to God. Com- T5 ^ T T ? it may be thou finds it's thy plaint of J3 ordinary < afe, that thou car not.l the want excrnfe anv lively Love of Cod andl ff^*~Q0t, yea 'thou dare barely 'ay, thoc toGud." n;i1 ^ a ra ,V°Pft' L° ve to hirn,and there- fore thou concludes thou canft have nc reality in the matter of Religion, ami that wrathful denunciation, Let him A 1 Co. i6.accurfed who loves not Oft? Lord J?fn. 2 *- . Chrift, has a dreadful found of times if thine ears, upon tins Cafe thou may Go, and plead with him thus, . Fhft, Lord what a difficult thing dc Jr i umcnts l find ^ tQ ]ovc thee infincedn% hoVi much more with all the Sard and Beay\ and Strength, Thou art fo Spiritual, i Mark i£.J? much for me to. take thee up at all 30. and more for me to be taken up .witf the* and Expostulations. J 99 thee, in thefe Elevations of § ul that are becoming. I am fo under the power or Sencc, that I can hardly cr e t one a- biding impreifion of thy Glorious and Spiritual Perfections, thefe are Ravifri- ing to the AngeJs & the unbodied People, who are Ireed from the dulncfs of fuch flcih and blood as I have 5 but to me they cannot be fotakeing, becaufe rot fo fuited to my mortal ftate, fo wholy fwallowed up in what is vifiblc. Thou Who faid that as a Father pitietb' S/Pfal.rtfc Children, fo the Lord pitietb them thatn* M> fear him h becaufe thou knows their frame, and Remembers they a>e Dw? be pleafed to confider the difad vanta- ges I iufTer by this body, and pardon the weaknefs of my conceptions of and ; affections unto thee. I Secondly, Although thou haft made ,thy unconceivable Lovelinefs to be imore takeing to us, by giving a di£- covery of it in the Son of God being made man whereby thv Glories in the Face of JefusChrift mine lefs dazeling, and more fwcetly, vet even by this we cannot get up to the exercife of thy Love: O what a fweetnefs muft it be, that when thou haft drawn thine I- mage upon the Perfon/who I muft own) ftai done more for me than all the world P 4 ye* 200 Spiritual Pleadings, yet I am not captivated with it, even t o in him, am iho the Lovelinefs oi God, and my poor Nature are wrapt together* yet 1 can Love the one, and .iScgiect the other * although in othci t'n gfi; relation eauies me to Love, as i~ were by a Natural Iniiinct, tv<\i where there are no qualifications, the relation thou halt made between God and man does not aiurc $ This mull bz a firing and lirange averfion,. which I defte to lament. • Thirdly, I am fore 'd to fee a Loveli- nefi) in many of thine Attributes, thy Spirituality, Wifdom, Dominion, Pow- er, and efpecialy Mercy and Faithful- ix fs-, but there is one of thy Attributes, that turns my ilomachNaturaly againft all • Thy Holinefs, whereby evil cannnt Pfdl. %.A t dwell with thee, and Pooh ft) all not ftand 5. it, and {ball this be the ground of my averh'onfrom God, that's the molt Gl> ricu^and tie Lovelicd of all mVA-ttri- 4>ttjtea, that's his v-iy Face and Beauty, Q what a heart muft it be. that hates GoJ, becauie he inclines to a& Godlike in all his difpenfa Lions in his advan- cing his own Glory by ail means that are and Exfoftu lations. $0 1 3fe :;:;u lor that which his Saints p £*h 3a lo jpuc 1 Cttlefrrate. 4- Ex.15. jP.- / . , I dchre to lament it, that 11 ' e iiioqki be the life: ot ail my duties, my Prayers, Hearings Ivleditati* jpVand Communicating, ah is dead, ail is dead for want of Lo\ r e,' and .tho I Covenanted iometbnes with a ipeciai rye to this, that Light and Life, and Love might all be furthcoming to me , as I mould need, yet I find little or nothing oi thefe -, this mull be diia/arag- ; $fi&b'i Better it were I had no Heart to Love any thing at all, than thus to be dead to God who gave me Liie 5 and dead almoit to nothing fo much as unto him. O-how much all my capacity to Love is loft, when it can never reach up to Gcd, ai:d bafeiy and Saorilegioufiy thrown away, whtnmif- beftowed on any thing bende-, ihall I thus put contempt upon Geo, that gave me-aheclioos, by faying, I love any thing before him, and when nothing will admit of my Love, \]ie court him out of a mercenary rfcfpca, lecauie I know he can do me a Good turn, when all tbifegs elf e are ufelefs ? I am afraid thou wilt reckon, my no*- loveine thee 'in prosperity bale, and my loving thee in 202 Spiritual pleadings, in adverfitv only for relief little letter. Sixthly , What a dhTimulation mull it be a>-d an impudence alfo for me, to bs alvyayes making Prayer to God, with alhow of humility for mercy, and giving thee thanks, and in the mean time net a* grain of fincere Love in all this? It's .bold dealing to God's Face, who fearches all hearts. I would count it bafenefsto be feeking favours of them we abhorc, fond to praife them whnm we hate is little better than to mock them, and to mock thee at this rate, is too great an adventure for any Soul to make. CASE VII. Want of the Vie a jure s of Religion, Want of T T may be thou cannot deny that thepha-JL thou Loves God, but, thou finds * * Dut 7^hich thou oftimes moft tafilehV performes, Thou may plead for this bV iuch Arguments as thefe. Jrgumnts ^36 Lo l d ^u haft implanted into Nature a ftrangc love of Peace and Pleaiure, and all the Creatures areftill working m purfuit of thefe • may not I ieek them rather in Religion, as in any — I 1 and ExpojlHiations, 20> any thing elfe > I am fure if thou allow us them in the Creature, thou doeft much more in thy felf 5 and if I could find them with thee, it would make that ftrong current ofdefire after them run in the right Channel, how hap- : piiy wouJd duty fe delight be united/ ?and here I fhould not exceed as I do in other things. ; Secondly, Let me get as much T oy in thy way, as will outbid the pleafures of.tije World, that are oftimes court- ing my attentions, and then I ifiatl arif- -werthe Tentations of life by an Arpu- ment of their own h i feell a fweetnefs already in a ftream, that's neither io muddy nor fhal'icw, as that which would take me oft from God, j&& how fhall T ; ' I leave my Sweetnef-, to Rekn over, if [f g ' * it were. all tb^ things of time } Thirdly, I know not how many a bit- ter Storm may be to go over my Soul, ere I fiaiihmy JournVyJin this Wikler- nefs, and if I get not Tome experience of the Joyes of the Holy Ghofr, which I may look back unto, as well as fox the prefent life upon, I am afraid my . Faith mail not be able to bear me through* whereas if I have thefe, the awry remembrance of them fhall be ufeful, when the renewing of them m?y 2o?t Spiritual Pleadings be deny ed, and I (hould iV 7- f1 ^ inter- tain my TeU in dark ar.a aifmal i. urs ^ with fuch an exereife, 1 will never fj\ ■ * * ,T1 2"£# /iy Statutes, for hy them thou baft - ' quick. -ted me. fioffrtkhi Go and fay to him, it is but •Reafonablc, that he f hould be fcrv'd in fuch a manner, as will declare he is worthy of all chearmll obedience, and as we may bj in cafe to commend his way to others by this Argument, it is not jnconfiftent with the Laws of his ■Houfe to have the Garments of Joy for our every days habite, nor is it ncceflary to he alwayes difcouragcd, why (hould that be ground to object to any of thine, zSaim. wherefore looks thou fo lean from day to *J> 4* day being the Kings Son? Fifthly, Did ■ thou not promife that thou would take him who laid bold u- Ifa. 56«7 : />^« thy Covenant, and bring him to thy Ijoly Mountain, and make him joyful in thy houfe of Prayer^ when I find no thing of this, I think I have too Goo< reafon to fufpect the reality of my en Pfa. 97.. gagements unto thee, it teems I am XI - ' not of the number- ofthefe, for whom joy and glad 'nefs is. Sow-i, even the up- right: for if I were, I could not but find Rom TiJ? them growing up at fomettmeQr other, i7.Gai;$,3pa the Fruits of $e*tioly. Ghoft are zz> ■ t Rjighteoufnefs i and ExpofiulatiGns. 2 c > kighteoitfnefs, fry, & 'Peace • and can he fce with oie wno knows fo littlg of theft Sixthly, If thou would give me thy Joy. it would not only contribute to my* mttreii but to thine : for by this I woul'd he afcle tagive thee a far greater Rent bf Glory, all my duties woulcbhave an other kind of Liveliness, and Savouri- nefs, than what are now. and I would be far oftner at them 5 if thefweetncfs of them were to draw me, than when meer cuftom, or Natural Conference drags me to them, and I would go tothp^ in- them, as a flrong man Rejoycing to run his Race, with a vigour fuch as we exert for the fence of pleafure,with how- much earnemiefs, and edginefs woulH I.beimployed in digging deep into the very Life 8c Power of Godlinefs, becaufe the greatefl: Meafures of Pleafures are t© be found there, and thus ike joy cfthe^^- % Lord (hould many ways be my ftrengtb. IO * * CASE VIII. W'tJifull Inconfldncy cf Frame. BU T, Tho' thou feems to have fome will fall times no fmall allowance of this Tncca- joy, thou complains t%y trams appears ^ nc 7 o f to thee fometimes lively, and e re tnpu art aware its gone, fo as thou thinks thy lo6 Spiritual Plea -lings, thy feif worfe as before -, Go to God upon this, and lay thy Cafe before him Firfi y Lord I cannot get folid Com- fort, nor give thee praifes tor any of my Frames, becaufe they bear ft ill too much the fad mark of thefe, of whom Hof 6 4 t ' ]0U ^^ t ^ e ^ r G 0f) dntf s ™** as the morning Cloud, and early Dew, which fajjes away : For when I would gladly blefs thz& for attainments, my Heart tells me, it may be I amBlefling thee for what I have nor, and this will be found but a lying unto God with my Tongue, and a mocking of thee, and a wofull deceiving n y felf, and thus I dare not pay thee the Revenue which is due for thy Work of Grace. Secondly, Haft thou not faid, He that Joh.7.58. helieveth en me out of his belly (hail flow *?' Rivers of Uvwg Waters, When thou- fpake of the Holy Ghoft , that he Ihould receive, to adore us that there is in all Believers a freiri and never failing Spring of Grace, and muft mine c.iiy be like a ftanding Pool, or Lake, that the Summers heat of more favour- able Providences, or the Winter Froft of more Crofs, ftiall drv up ? I have heard Pro. 4.18. the path of the jufl is as- the /Lining light that Jhinetb more and more untv tit and Exfoftulations. 207 the fcrfeB day 5 So as no Clouds nor Storms can hinder its advances, whal [hall I fey ot mine, that looks lik^ a Sun fetting in the Morning cr forenoon tfday? ' Thirdly, Manv fhort and uncertain WarmiiciFes in thy matters leave me (mder a preaier Ceolnefs, than I think 1 mould nave had, if I had never ex- perienced them palace! that theie fits rnd ftarts of Serioufnefs mould only be Preparatives to make deadnefs in, and lifiafte of Duty take the deeper upon Up Carnal and Weary Heart, I am a- Fraid mv flaying long in the f lace of the HoC 13 breaking forth of Children, .imperfect P.e- ** Solutions, imperfect Engagements {hall prove Dangerous and Deadly. Fourthly, Thou knows how ;feg^ ►imeard'how great a labour it corts r.e, to attain to any toIlerable.FVrfw?, md mail it all evamTh before I get :he reliih of its fweetnefs, or its Fruit ? This is to be long toyling at breaking he (hell of .Duty, and when I get Hor%8r - :hrough that, the Kernell is fixa^tcucd a- ,vay, and fo I have a wearifrms Seed- rime, and Harveft of d {(appointment. - Fifthly, Haft thou not faid that Re- ligion confifts in doing I and mult I al- ways have a Frame that brings me the length 2o8 Spiritual pleadikgsj Gal.c length only of referring ? This is al ways to be beginning, and never go ing iurther, icrmy ierioufnds leave ine before I can bring any t&tng topei jfeclion : and when my Frame returns a gaih after a long dilcontinuance, I be £in again with the fame tririii g Re foluticns I had before, which grow frill more and more taftekfs, the long cr they are repeated to no effect, ( what kind of Sowing mnft this be,, i which the Com is always Halted, a foon as the Hade appears green abov the ground } It looks not like the Sow S.ing of which we fkdll reap ever la ft in life, it's rather like that which is mild under the Curfe, let it be like//;? Graj ml. up. u p Qn r J )e . Honj} to p^ withered e've it b rrrorrn • Kay I am afraid my Refolut; ons fill the eye, and keep me orffruu cur Lord Jefus Chrift. CASE IX. Daub tings of the Youndamental Truth EtoAH TDUT, It may be thou haft a frd Sol JD rlcr thing to complain off AM datsoa all thefe, that thou haft a Heart ths Truths cannot believe the great afcd YoUfidl ?>>€?■: a I Truths of Religion, and indee; this is a thing that looks very terrible and calls tor thy wreftling with Go< b and Exp r flu l at i ns. y * •. tz&kht& fitf apnj.^tioi; which - hou ... iy ( i::. s.i r fail ni3 er. jpfr# i find t'S .( a&eordh g >« my te^w ■ g or' not belie\ * dVeriaifci ig s, n i ■; fer ibuiii'els r i fe s cr tails, ;rows cr decays/, ana jm* very don sits about r h - c . tut re trioat.oi ivy fprriogSp (o that I can bar iter the remr Sy 1 come to fe< &aihft them, and thou knew s ?/^> p^ if< oundatiom le deftrn-.e i what can I do, 5, J H my Religious perronnar.rcs an- but ike building in the Air, coilly & paiaiul fork of meer imagination, why ii.cud i&,$se the f?rft fttpbe never made> wl l«*i \- • ore is all this wafte ot time & ftrenrcth? j .or I can call it no better, when I am r ilways laborioufiy doing nutHrg. Secondly, I am airaid I have taken up ny belief upon the credit of thefel vas born among, and hare it not deep- - y and folidly laid on thy Te&imony, md I am perfwaded fomdnefs of wind, *, relieving the truths of God upon God s 7% jwn evidences, and havr p heavens de- nonftrations (or the thing* of Heaven, is i rare pri' ibdge, & ran ohfy be ontain- , a d from th j e ; 1st not wv fakh jland in 1 Cor. : 2j he JVifdom of viffK hit in the Ppveer of 4> 3od even in the demonfir ?tion of the Spi- hi & of Power, P Thirdly .1 310 Spiritual Pleadings, Thirdly, Lord Idefireto lament that my capacity is fo iuited to the concep- tion! of the triffles 01 this Hie, but fo far diiprop^rtion d to the principal and brighteft Truths, alth& they be written or almnft every tiling I fee and feel, T h < whtt Meeting with darknefs in the day time, an I groping in the noon day as in Ifa.jp. the night is t 1 is> / rwpe as if I had no xo. eyts. I jiuwhie at now-day t as in the flighty when I cannot ee God. Fvvthly, At leaft give me as much of Faith, as ihail prevail againft my doubtings fo far as to Jufthy its ownij reality, by holding me alway under! concern about Everhitiig things, great-L er than what I have for ail things befldejl let niv endeavours for thee and Hea-I ven, force their way throw all oppofyE tion an evil world, and a worfe heart . makes to them, that fo I may havpE .ground to conclude, it mutt be perfwa-^ fion of thee, tb?t has brought me the length of forfaking all and following thee. CASE X. HevN ^'Beart'ejnefs in all Performances. BUT Oh what a duHnefs.yea to duty-/ JD pidity Js this I kd my Spirit uh- dejj and Expoflula'tiont. ill' |er.! for ordinary its rather like; jEfeatfi if ieh than a meer deaduefs m my dif- pjati;;i!, it's lad m the inca . time, and* betokens worfe, make thy Arguments upon t; is head to this purpofe, ' F> >ft. Lord, can a Soul that is' fo tin- ^'ivmem ■feted with God, with Heaven and Kcry, and all that is Great and Eter- nal, as .nine is, be tree or a predominant Atienm ana i :Ab]ity> I think this ki d ot withering that is upon the leaves ofmy pro;en;on,a;:d mttennefs ii tie fruit of my duties, do ■ far there jsfuch a worm as one of the'fe at fhe x6<* Of all He be greatly nom; with the propofal or fome dvh.a vanity of time crtiethreat.mgo; the lofs of fbme i; z- flowor other, befaufe I believe then is thtV^ - ik \ n ° W*%n-me, than tf Fyerlainng fhmgs were but wore tnat penfh as toon as fpik-n ri&rtffi ^ rt mr ^" the God of -Lfer Natural , Sp.rfual anc 1 tt&aSl ' s a" of thee ; ,ts th- m, nner t ... 5^ Life on thy dying Cre S tare,ir &j &* theebut a very little to M rue live ? ..J ^thoufk^the word, even. Inhnr,] death itfelf the moil fcfefs r , things fhall rife up to obev. O vj Citable »u.t6, him who is the fpring P2 of 212 Sfiritnal Pleadbigs Pfa.5l9.of Life, with whom is the f amain and vein nf Lives, to let a drop of that Spri g f ill on fuch a dead dry ufelefs pcice of duft as lam, which could make me Frdh and Creen, Fragrant ^nd Fruitful in a moment, thou loves rather to take thy precious Names irom the Actings oi'Grnce, thin of Nature, and ir thou wojlci do this Gracious thing Pfa.4z.f.for me, I iifoytil call thee the God o£ my li e, up-mar fweeter and more v2 luable accounts, than the molt prcipcr ous Natural man can do. TrJ'v y What a ftnnge ard fad ffiinfeli this that my ppprbatli ng fo 0tt£n t thee, who art Life and ; e, fhouVd hav- fo little ufefullnefs mi r-y rtviv.il ;oui drawing ner the Natural Sun bribes heit npon u: neceilariiy, our looki-jg to great things raifes a kind of Greatnefs ot thought, and walking with tie Wife makes Wife, bur our coming into t! ypiefencefeems rather to deaden Pfx. 16.1. the Soul tho in thy fre fence he fullnefs- ofpy. Joh. 11. Fourthly, Haft thou not faid, He that 2 2* believetb on the Son of God although he were dead yet /hall he Live-, becaufe he is the Refurreition and the Lite. O help ire rn this great aainment. which is the firft caufc and alio the cxet ring of tho _ V and Expvftitlatfom. Siy^ the vital ads of a Soul, tecaufe it Units with the root, from which the Vital &j$ docs flow to him w; o rev r xr ritual Life beforehand alto r is * which fets all the veil s oi x? Soul a working under his n ■■ _• Mku | deadnek c / Not 'ik^ng any feifihie Advance ly G-di nances I TV may be thou art faying, what Not mak- fhadl I make oi this, that I am^^jny •continually following a ccurie or Duty. renJjwle i t /:• i r n 1 ■ i j i advance ana I rind my ielt no tiling better a by by , Qrdi- it, but rather worte* this cannot but _. . make wearinefs and tempt to give o- ver, upon this lay out the fence of thy cafe fo. F/V/?, Can there be any thing mcre^^ 7 ** fad, than to be alwayes going further from God by all the means, by which others have been brought near : him, fi.all I thus pray, meditate, hear and Communicate my felf cut of fight and fence of God altogether ? to have my Meat and Drink Curfed to me, by be- Mi . c *' ing uncapable of giving Nurilhment or ^ ' fickning me on every taking, is lamen- table, but to have my Prayers and P 3 Com-j 214 S iritual PlidtfJNgj, Communions curs'd is a far more dread- full inftance o; wrath. Secondly, Lord, when.porr Nature a- lone is at co. l'tant eyercife, I fee in create and lire; gth the truits of it,Habits grow by Aeis, the Hufbanciman s Seed time i rings a Harveft, and the Merchant s adventuring a Rich return from iar^ O cannot Grace do as mu/, which /lines more f ' ls ? er f e 3daj. And they who y U ' " wart on the Lora (k*U revtw their jhcn&tb. If I he among the number oi thefe. how is it with me this day , wherein I am (q tar f; ortoi what I thi: k I (# cc was' I am airaid that becaufe my Religion has not had- root, it has ftreight Sfrung nf .#nd withered away. Mark 4. Fmrthly, T hcu knoweft, to work for 4, J j.' nothing makes exceeding lazinefs in a- ny Cv.f.\ a l when. I am ftill giving oLt, and n.ver getting any tli g m 4 ■ md Expostulations. 21 $ I cannot long hold on. It is true my* outgivings are iittl worth, but they are Labour arid toile to him that can do little more $ and I will corns to that at length, lie rather lit idle as beal- wife working idle. 1 Fifthly, T lou gives the Art toman- nage thing's in Nature^ in order to in- ^ creafe, The VlowmaHs God does inft v uEl z a^ z9% ' him for his labour, that it may be $ur- cc r s nil, and it thou does inftrudt and teach him difcretion, and this comes fnm the Lord who is wonderful in coun^ •y>/, t ! iat he orders his Ground right, it mull come from thee, that I can ord' r hay heart, an unfavourable Soil, and f w tor rlcaven there^ I hope thou wilt be as ready to mow me how to fow for Heaven, as how bread-Corn is to be braifed. Sixthly, I know the folicitous huf- bandman may labour moft fkiltiilly and painfully, and yer there ihall be no returns if heaven do not its p?rt by Rain to refrefh the Earth, and heat to rip-n the fruits ; and if it be fo ia Mature, it is no lefs ft in Grace : he that planteth and he that watereth is nothing here, thou thy felf o.ily can give the increale.One of thin * al^ed./x tberg any among the Vanity s oftbeGtn- P 4 tilcf 21 6 Spiritual pleadings, -'> tiits y tl i' can qive vain? or can the Ilea* i2, ye i ;• ve $b*p»s> art not tbm he, L rJ> tfjeref/e we will wait on tbie: thou bait tfiade (U tbef} things. Tlfcit is i:one a- faorig fay poor vain and wcrthieis at- t -iprs, til: t can give meed's to me, ti^re .re thou hair ailowedme to look to tii.e .or it. C\SE XII. }V*trr of live } > views of God's Face. iTcil ^T b ]t L *y coinpkiftt, although I v * ^ v }i t be ftnl Uiaki g a lamion of wait- Godsfac: Hig on G jit. • cannot lay that ever he lifts up the light oi hisCountena ce, ib as to give me tiiftinti: and lively vieus of him, which could yield a Satisfaction, as the feniible prefence oi thefe I value does: on this Cafe thou may plead fo. Firjt, If Abjtlow counted it fo great a ground of Complaint, / bave flayed am ' J 4«y^ Ion? at Jem file a and bave not feen, the Kiri^s face-, What mall I fay ior that I am ftiii hayging on about Ordi-r rn. ces, and cv>\ nevc.r have a lively fight of the God of the m > Sometimes I am tempted to think it had not beepfo iau to have been bon where they were ipt to. oe iquad, as to live at tV> rr* GirrounHH w : th 0-d s light and never a^xw t$ . v^ii^i'ii-iv.ad it. Secondly and Expoftulations. 2l"J Secondly ', O ! How far has the curio- f ty of fome men caried them for feeing a creature, that had either fome thing of Strangenefs, or rare beauty in it? what a ihame is it that I have no more Am- fcitior* to fee God, the Original light We are taken with fair and Admirable things, may I fee thee who can outbid all the Creation for both thefe. Thirdly, Thou knows what a Luxury of the eyes which cannot be fatisficd I am guilty on\ the eye is not fatisfied with feeing, nor the "eat with Hearing, ant] the thirfty eyes are gadding abroad - * © perpetually after all that can entertain cc ' |frer$, one fight of thee could Cure them pi that Difeafe, thou can look all beauty into deformity, and all created light ir to Darknefs, and if thou would open up thine excellencys to me, this fhould leave me reftlefs, till I mould get fur- ther Views, that would tice me on to. that view which makes the Beatifick Vifion. Fourthly, Thou knows the Creatures cannot live or grow, without this Sun of Nature Di r penfing his benign Influ- ences, thy Countenance is more to me than the light and heat of it can be to . them •2 1 8 Spiritual Pleadings, Pfal. i43- them, as thou (hows it I mu^ r:vive, |j& and as thou withdraws I decay, for if c thm bide thy face I muft be uke a '} ' who go down to the pit and cannot ej I ape to be troubled. Fifthly; As all things look fair in this. lower Creation only by the light ot the Sun, fo by the light ot thy Countenance lifted up on me in a 11 ail things look comfortable: it the light oi Nature can make the mod fnlitary and aiimal places fomewhat agreable, the fg T ;t ci God {hall make my faddeft Afflicti- ons appear as fair as Profp- rity can be without it, and infinitly mure. * r &T* Sixthh, I fee the defire of all thy 5 * People has been to come and appear be- fore Cod , the living God, and there muft be fome excellent thii.g in this difcovery, which has made all t^em that ever had it fav.tbev were made very ^* a i' 1T 'gl a d in the light of thy Countenance ,and z8. Ctl t0 navf i* t* or tneu: driver ever after- ward, turn away mnne eyes from behold- Pfal. 119 ing Vanity, 37 ' CASE XIII. Unwilling Thoughts of and meeting with Communion. VmoMlhvg^. tj T it may be thou art faying- JS-' JD fometimes, what a fore matter- and Expostulations. is it that I fhould never hear of a Com- - i nion coming in any place near b}^ * Lut it makes a damp upon 'my bpmt, and when I hear it Is drawing on n the place I am inoit neai y c. icen .d in, it works a dire€t iura •,• for I.fnd. I am in this iaa in ait, I imia Coir.mu- Sicat byreaibn o!"4he awmi»( mm and, and yet 1 dare not ri r fea: or doing t hnworihily, and that is Damnat onu.- der a Special Certification w"?2t lha.l I do > It wer- lels r I w re only afraid to approach, becaul' ot bei' g out of Frame, but i thank I fee my felr Fun- damentally wrong, not having Lonelily engaged in to God: at leait I cannot a- >v< : 1 have fineerity, which will juf- tifie the r.-'lity oi my fhate of Grace: Co and plead for help' in this CaiVal- fo by fuci Arguments as tfttfe. Fhft, Thou haft f aid, Thou mlt hck r r±.£6 .2. tn the man th.it is poor and of a contrite S?i y it 7 and trembles at thy trot J, when tiiou wilt not regard a Bmldiog as irate- ly as the vanity of Man can make it. if thou refpect fuch, may not I plead ihow fbme rep.ard to one that trembles *fo much at ihy moft aw ul Ordinal :e, which th- u haft railed about with threat-' j- nines of hot burning wxath on therafk Adventurer. I hope thou will not eda- cuimi 2 20 Spiritual Pi eajh.j j, demn altogether my; feat* which flow from the apprehenfion of the Dreadrul- nefs ol a place, which is no other than Gen. 28. the Gate of Keaven and Houfs of God. Secondly, I would far rather be a^ mong the number of thefe, whofe Hu- mility thou commends, for that they Lufc u f at ^'' wn * n *$* lower Room, and whom I0 \ . the Masitn rf the Feaft bad go up farther, than among thefe who fit down in rhe higher place, and are broug It out erf it with a R«bukc tor Prefiirr*pi oik as having nothing to do t 1 ^re, a I bop* it will not be fo dangerc >sto uu a jea- lous backward nets, even t.-6 a to meet with that wo all ogf^ fl * ' 'Friend how caw est thou in hither! not having the W editing Garment. Thirdly, I would Gladly plead with the poor Woman of Cqnaan 2e>: J *rd Math. 1 $.tbe dogs eat of the Oumbs thai fail.frot# *7- theChildrensTab;e, Tho I dare not call my felf a Child, yet I reckon him on- ly and eternally happy who is one,and his provisions are fudi, that even thefe who have the fcantieft allowance are well entertainV], I cannot tell if I may fit down at the Table with them, but I would be near, and catch as earneftly as I may fuch offers of Mercy as are going and tho' I dare not plead a right, I would and Expofiulations. 221 would plead a need, if I may not plead the claim of the Child, let me plead the Claim of the Dog, and Humility never difpleafes thee. ■ Yottrtidy^ A Fear to approach thee in Ais great Duty, f>e-ms but ratable to the order thou hail given about it, for thou |aft hefet that gi ?at Command, io let him eat of this bread, with a Sea of Guilt upon the one hard, he that eats x Q OTAJt unworthily is guilty of tie Body and blood 17 ,18,29. of ur Lord, and a Sea of Wrath on the Other, he eateth and drinketh Damnati- on to hiwfeif % fo that when I itandfbr my ikiity upon the Pvcck that is be- tween the two, let hirrt examine him- {elf, I tremble to think how ready I am to fall over into thefe Gulfs. Fifthly, Shall it be always fo with me, that the greater!: Mercy in ail the World mail be an afTrightment unto me , 1 know one thing that would help it, snd which thou alone can give,. even my being refolvedfo to be for God as moft reklutely to part with all af- fection to known Sin, and throughly to comply with all Duty, and then getting fuch-a fence of intereft in thee, as could make me humbly confident to avow it, not only in a day of Com- munion, but in the day of death, that fhall 22 Spiritual Pleadhtgs, fhill put all Canmimkaa work to* the tr/al CASE XI Pleading for difp n fitinns fjjr a Communion, FWing AND now more than or i Coitions /* W(V C ° m ^ on ' tor l t !i ' [ foraCow* t ' lat h as u Communhn Work to mar imroitm. (hould r iquire of himfeli iuch a rramq as would befit dying work, and Ohow much goes to prepare rot either! I am in agrcit ftrait with it, both by reafofl of my maiu;old Guilt, and inferable indiipofitijsn, can I go to this work un- dcr Inch a litelefs and heartkfs temper- of Soul as^ this> what can I exped: of irjj but making 1117 bonds ftronger? ad a -n I not dead enough already, that I mufl: deaden my feU morebv this Ordi- nance, till I be in the cafe of them that are twice. dead,onre dead by the Law, & far more fadly dead by one of the mod Savoury means of the Gofpel > Go to : God with this concernment and plead, Argument: £'0* Haft thba: not appointed this Ordinance for proving a mean of revi- val to the Soul, that complains it can- not find Lileat any hand, I havetrv- edPrayer ; Prrachinp- Vedfr>tio!i *i)$ Converfe, and allot them fay' it is no| iu and Expostulations. 223 in me, may I believe thou haft referv'd the honour ot reitori.' g and rerrelhiiig rhy Soul to ,'t.his Solemnity, upon w Aca I would gladly hope, many have faid oi this as one or thine laid oi Goliahs Sword, in extremity thtre is 1 Sam. z, none like it. 2 9* Secondly, Thou knows I look upon tymmuni eating under a prevalent incif- pontion like dying under darknefs, and hardneis 'of Heart, and O what an un- comfortable cafe would this be ; the very appreheniious oi it at a diftance are a tv -rror-,& I am amid my many dead Com- ^ Amnions prpgnbfticate tadly to me, that I (hall at lea ft in a gr-at meafure, mifs "thy living confolatious in my dying "hours. TBtrdfo I have cfrer; heard . that I cannot biit either have a gre^t advan- tage, or a fad lofs by inch a duty as this, and hew much does it concern me, that 1 may not run my felt into a fnar-e, that perhaps I thall never be able to deliver my felfir-m all my days iiince there is juft now fo much at the flake, and I am to have a throw for it, O pleafe to itiaitnagc my Heart and Hand fo, as I may fall upon the better part, and blefs thee Eternally for giving me counfel and alliftance to do fo. Fourthly, 224 Spiritual Pleadings, Fourthly, How great is my work when I have not only to do, but in- do, to do away fo much Guilt of a long Life, and the rooted habits of in- fidelity, Carnality, Pride, and Tripling in the things of God, and O, even t'at poor half of my work is above my time 8c ftrepgth, what (hall I do with t^e r ft and the better part of it, to be difti. ct and lively in the a&ings of Faith, Love, Heavenlinefs, Hope and Joy in thee, which are fuch ftrangers to my Soul. Fifthly, I have had a long tine to prepare for this Work, and now when I am come this length, I cannot tell what I have done with it, after I have been toyling all Night, and have catch'd no- thing, if thou would but give me but Luk s. 5. one hopeful word, I would yet^aft nut the Net, thy Spirit breaths like the Joh. 3. 8. Wind, that rifes oftimr s in a dead < aim when little expected, let me be iur- prifed at length,when I am almoft weary r . of my waiting, and let me fee an hour, * ' *'yea a moment of God's influences can "do more than all thefe dayes and weeks of poor unafTifted endeavours of man have done CASE I and Expojhdatidns. .7 2% CASE XT. For Lively fenfe of Heaven in Communi eating. I Would Gladly have a day of Com- For hVe- munion made a day much to be fy , Sen ^ e pbferved by my Soul, upon the account ° n qJ* 11 oi Great things done .or it, and I de- muaicitl f re to entertain raifed Expectations of ing v this, and I think I am allowed not to be put oft with fmall. For this go to him thus ^ Firft, Lord, is not fuch an occaflon Jrgumtnu cai'u a Communion > and I alwayes thought this (ignified a Communion with thee, full of Friendfhip, Accefs and Familiarity, and (hall it only be calFd pud not xound fuch by me> Thou that gave the Name give the thing to anf- Wf r it : how hard fliall it be, if I (hall be laid only to have got a Nominal O;/- wunion, and nothing of the real ! Shall my folemn work be only a practical Tpecious lye before the WorkLwhen I am giving it out at thy table, that I have what I really know nothing off > Secondly, Thou allows me to call o- ther days of Grace, even ordinary Sab- baths, Good days, becaufe thou would lave me to make them fo ; but I may all a Communi $n dav a great Bay, and Q * 226 Spiritual Pleadings , John. ip. - 7- itriannage fo this opportunity as the re- Itnembfarce of it may meet me with Ian unexrrcflible comfort, when all the things of Earth, will difclaim to be of }inj ufe or relifh unto me. CASE XVI. Direction in the fir ft Adventure. P His may be thy firft time of draw- Dfreafon I X ingnear to God in the Solemn illthelirft jVork or Communicating, mi it imports adventure |ee very much to fummond up all the enoufnefs thou art capable off even mil an eyeto this, that thou may be rell guided m thy firft Adventure, turn t into Prayer fo 5 T^ ! ,K LCt T I et ^ Y firft 2 PProachi^^ ellmannaged, for there is m^h in mall find my Cale throw moftofmr ays in a great meafure according to V way of firft Communicating if Heal eceitfully in God's Covenant, I may ave much adoe to get above it all my < •lie. O! therefore let me behoneft m ns, that it may be like precious Well Q- 2 choie^ 228 Spiritual Pleadings, chofen Seed Corn, which (hall yield I Noble increafs in the follow ing ot a] thy other Ordinances. Secondly, I took on-Baptifmal engagl ments, or rather my Parents took the.l on for me, when I knzw not what w;i a doing-, but now I mud fte perioral, 1 cxplicite anddiftinct, and all the weig.j of the work lyes upon my felf, beiii that none in this Cafe can itand- f I me, and at this time I am to cecla: whether my Baptifmal vows be altog ther loft, or whether they Ihall turn any good account, he has in a great d gree loft his Baptifm, who cannot fn a heart for thy Supper. CASE XVII. A Frame for a Farewell Communion. ftrafrrc- T> u T it may be it enters into t\. well Com- JLJ thoughts with a deep imprejho munion. that this may be the laft time that the fhalt be witnefs and Sharer of this pi vilege, it ceiicerns thee therefore to r queft, Firfi, O! how ferioufly ought that; *&u*en i Q mannaged, which is never to 1 done again, and with what livelinefsi Soul Ihculd I hid farewell to Ordinal ces 3 Sacraments and Prayer, and A Frame and Explications. 22? that I have found any way made ufc* fill, for advancing me to Heaven. Secondly, I have now a Nob-le oppor- tunity 01 paying Vows, which my Lips ut- Pia ^ ^ tered, and n/y M'Mtb Spake, when Trouble 1 ! -> l ^ % vas upon me, as well as o: making :hem of new ^ did I not then l'y upon knees of Soul and Boay beiore God,pro- Sfting that u he would give me a day it tor it, I would make well ground- ed and Zealous appearances for him : Ind now fince this may be my laft hap- \y Opportunity, O! what a pity is ife ihcnld go oft this ftage, without leav- tig fome Teftimony that he hath done p&L 46. reat things tor fuch as I am. i*, I Thirdly, It I could perform this work nth an extraordinary vigour of Soul, I light probably carry the trelh fenfe of v It with me to the Valley of the Shad- ow of Death, and it would be no fmall Cordial for me there, to think it is not mg fince my Soul humbly fa id, Lord, pf . bott art my Lord^ *Ifo my Record is f '#2 ;obi6* letvcn and my Witnefi on high, and he i$,. ave his Amen, and let the Seals to it. Remember the place arid the day,but \e Reflection that the laft Communi- a work was unwitably done, will be very unhelpfull Companion. Fwtbly, I find I have moe Argu- CL 3 merits 2 10 Spiritual Tleadings, merits of fcrioufnefs than I ever had be- fore, I fee a Death and Judgement tar rearer than formerly, my Sins are grown to a greater number, and need a very broad covering of Righteoufnefs, and I am , or may be fenfible of my vail Short-comings of refolved and hoped foi Attainments, more now than before •, do not all thefe cry aloud, a greater Scri-; oufnefs than I ufed to have at this work is now necelTary > CASE XVIII. Complaint of a ftranre Heartlefnefs in me, daily after a Communion. r^hmx^ry UT, what {hall I fay when I fine ^aftravgc Jq m y k car t 5 t0 my f e nfe,more dead ^' 7,/ ? " after a Communion work than at any vefsvi vie f . T/-L i^yiy after time, lo as I cannot get any renin o: Communi. the precious things of God maintained on. tho 5 I thought I had it before the day © Solemnity? Thou may plead to thi; purpofe againft this evil, J,£wre?its Firjl, I cannot but fay it muffi be bafe and mercenary temper of Spirit am alwayes off, that lam fo bufie an< ?£*!•' 7& humble in requefting thee before th< * ** > Communion day,when I have forne grea thing to look for, which can only be ha< at thy hand • ar d when that day is ovci I turn ftrangely negleftiul of thee, as i and Expcftulations. 2 3* find' now got my turn done, and thort wert no more to be owned, but for; fain ion s fake, till the next cccafion wherein Fie have much to do to return, " Secondly, As I cannot think, that pre- paration Tor fuch a work is the Labour of a day, or a month, but rather oi x a tradt of Life, fo I cannot- think the fallfilling of my Engagements is to be put over in the days in which I made them, and not rather that the eafieft of all is the Communion dzy, for debt is al- Wayes fweeteft in the t iking on ^ have I net on fuch a day given all the days of my Life much a do, when I faidthat I would be, and a£t for God, as long ,as I could a£t any thing, and from the very firft occafion muft I fall to the ve- ; refying of this, and not intermit a day, P&l. tfr* tut daily perform my vowes? ■ Thirdly, How can this heart think to \ hold out in a ft ate of Glory, without interuption, ard yet without wearying i/through endlefiB ages ; when it is fuch a I iurden to wait upon God fome few days or hours. I muft either give up my pre- • tendons unto that ftate, the whole of which lyes in that, there his Servants**?. 2 z» fiaH ferve him, whofe reft is never *■ : \o& 4«J • & ■ceafe, or elfe endeavour to have my di£ Jofitioijs more attempered unto it Q. 4 fourthly 232 Spiritual Pleadings, ia.43.2z Fourthly, What (hall I an fiver fr wearyir.g oi God, or Chrift and Heaven,- which ha ta io much contempt in it- I am fureif any ihould weary olmy com- pany ,fo much as 1 find my icli'to wcary or thine, 1 would beftow it upon another O how unvrprthy ot Lite is he that practically preters almoft any thing to the God oi that Life ! and do not I fo when I can endure almoft any thing longer than being in thy prefence? Fifthly, I cannot but look upon it as a fearful Symptom, that I am fo con- trary to the common f i.fc of all the Sa1njts5whe.11 they are in any mcafure at themfelves, they com t accefs unto God, hvehnefi in duty, delighting in things ot God, worthy to be matter of requeft, and when they attain them, ot giving God praife : can thefe be a burden and a terror unto my Soul > Sixthly, O Lord, I acknowledge, I have not only need to keep a fall before tos awful Ordinance I have adventur- ed upon, that I may humble my feli and beg of t^ee preparation; but I have need to keep a Faft after it, for guilt in fie performance, & indifpofoion follow- 17 iTOfdftd I am afraid; flowing from *t 5 and it mull: be difcouraging, that a b*m% fente of this is all I have ordi* 11 * narly and Expostulations. 2J^ rarly for the joy of the Lord, which fhis Ordinance, ii any, life* to afford. How much does it daih my thankfgiv- , ings, which I owe tor the great -.it mer- cy that thou ev-r beitovvtd upon man, To fiiicfihy rame as it wcreproteilcdly deciaring I have no intereit in it > Seventhly, It's a fad token that. my* Spiritual provision makes ft ill a fick- nefs, fainting and loathing with me, and it evidences there is fome preval- ent diftemper within the Vitals, that the nuriihment never can fubdue, but which turns all to ufeleffnefs zna hurtfullnefs, fp as it feeds up jn thefe precious things, that were ordained for Lire. Eightly, It gives me fornetimes a rueful fufpicion, I am too like that Traitor, unto whom the Devil entredJoh. xy. after the Sop, that my heart rages af-^ ter one vanity or another, imm diatly after Communion work, as much (if no* more ) as at any time. C A S E XIX. "Pleadings f$r the Ble flings of a Sabbath* THOU defires to have the Sab - Pleadings bath day made very reviving &£ or J^ refrefhingto thy Soul, and it is ort D ^ ffi ^ k s . times thy complaint, that many in bath% tormer times -have had better frames on 1 34 Spiritual Pleadings, on every day of the week, than thou haft upon thy Sabbath, and on their Sabbaths more elevation of Soul, than thou haft in thy Communion Solemni- ties. Thou may represent this beiore the Throne of Grace, fo, Arguments First, Thou haft made the Sabbath Mark i.for man , not man for the Sabbath ^ \ *&• defire to look upon it as a priviledge, and I know that it was appointed lor greater meafures of accefs to thee, and j delighting in thee than ordinary -, I hope thou wilt not fuffcr fo noble an infti- .tution to fall utterly (hortof its defign, but fince thou haft made it for us, let us have the good of it. Secondly, The bufinefs and deftracfi- ons of the Week eat out my frame, and I believe theu haft appointed the Sab- bath to return fo often, that fo good imprelTlons may not quite wear out, 8c I would be greatly oblidged, if thou would make the Sabbath recover my loft Tafte and Savour of thee, and things of Heaven. Thirdly, Since thou calls me from the bufinefs of Life, to waiting upon thee, fo as to mind nothing elfe, I hope thou wilt give me more than will make up all the lofs the wordling thinks himfelf at, by intenruptinj his career after the ^ tiling* & . and Lxfoj'c illations. things of this Life for a day, and reward all my pains % and my near approach unto thee, being brought unto thy Holy Mountain, and made joy full in the Houje &fPrayer,fc-a& do it,ana infinitly more. Fourthly ; O Give me inch impreffions on a Sabbath day, as ihall be feafoning to my Soul throw all the week, and make all the duties of Religion go the better, throw the reft of my days: for I defire to look upon fuch an opportu- nity as a mercat day, in which I am to provide my felf with frem fupplies, to carry on my Journy to Heaven. Fifthly , I take the Sabbath to be % day for giving relief of Spirit, from the Perplexities of ordinary Week-day- thoughts and cares, it's the bl eft retreat from the conf ulions and ftorms that are about us for moft of our time, in which as upon a couch we may lay our cares and troubles. Sixthly, Thou ufed to honour this day by doing great things on it; among men there are days of hofpitality, wherein they ufe to keep open houfe, and en- tertain Strangers Liberally; as alt days are fuch with thee, fo the Sabbath in a fpecial manner, and as thou haft faid a faft was to be kept, by undo- ing the heavy bus&ens and letting th* ©ppreflcil tl^S Spiritual Plead? figs •, opprefTcd go free, by dealing our bread to the hungry, and bringing the poor, who are caft out, into our Houfc •, we hope we may argue with thee, thou wilt Honour thy Sabbath, by doing fuch things for us, and we come to thee in a good day, a day appointed for feaft- ing and iejoycing, in which men are xiioft liberal. Seventhly, This is the day on which we dcfire to celebrte thee 'to the end of the World, upon the account of the noble Original of it, even the rifing of our Lord Jefus Chrift, from Deith, upon the i air eft morning that tver fnin ? d on Earth, that fhin cl with more than Rays of the Natural Sun ; for two Suns roie that day$ both the never dy- ing Lamp or Nature, and the Sun of Rigjiteoufnefs, without which all our days had been perpetual darknefs: and as he rofe that day, he rofe in order to afcenfion,that he might give gifts unto men. to which its very futeable thou Ihould do fo for us this day. Lightly, The Sabbath is an emblem of that everlafting <3ay of the vifions of thy face, wherein thy Servants (hall fervethee without wearinefs : may it always put us in remembrance of that, and incite us to an elevation of Soul fouic? and Exfoflulathns. 237 fomewhat anfwerable to the hopes of that Glory and to the work thy SaintS are doing in the higher Houfe. •CASE XI F**rj of death in youth, or midft of d*yt IT may be that thcu art fomctimes Fears of difcompoied with the thoughts of death in this that it ihall be thy lot to dy in youth cr the flower of thy Life, and the very "? idft oi fuppofitionofit is ungrcatful^but thou y * mult prepare for a cafe which thou haft icen to be fo ufeual: and in order to it Gc and deal with the God of thy Life' to this purpofe. Fhft, Lord, thou knows it's a-great^w«»** matter for one to have all his work put by berbre the midft of days, to be making ready tor dying requires the application of a long Life, and they ■who hare had the longefr and bufieft day, when they came to the laft, have thought they had fomething ret further to do e'rethty could make the impor- tant ftep into Fterniticcit cannot but affeft me that I mould get lefs time tnan many of the moft earner! wreftlers .with God: it's true I deferve it lefs, but need it. more than they. h Secondly , Thou knows nature is -ftrong m the fpringof my Age, and Life that is 5^3 Spiritual Pteadings, is frefhisiull of Natural fweetnefs, anc the comiorts of life have a iirong im predion upon him that has not yet lear- ned the vanity oi it, by the exeperiena of many troubles, that riper Years al- xviys brings it is not eaiie to get all thefe overcome, fo as to be willing tc die, and therefore I will need a great. meafure of Grace to fubdue them anc me to a kind lie fubmiihon, in fuch a c fe : only give me this, what mattei though I mould die, having a fhort lire •& a fcanty meafure of its plcafures,if full 4i the Holy Ghoft 5 this lhall do more than make up the want of what I a all Young Perfons are fo Naturally ' bent upon, length of days. Thirdly , Thou haft made length oj Jays a great Bleiling, and hail been pleasd to propofe it as an excitement ixod.2o.j-Q obedience in one of thy Commands I take it as fuch, and therefore am ve- ry ready to look upon the denial of it as a Judgement: did thou not p^-mife to the man thatfet his Love upon thee, 1 thou would fat is fie him with length oj j < d#y s i an d make his eyes to fee thy Sal- vation} allow me to plead with ther, fecc thou may not fee it fit to fatisfie me with length of days, O Satisfie me without it, and if I may got baye the fail and Exf&ftulations. •firft part of that promife made out, let me have the fecond, which will do in- comparably better, for if 1 fee thy Sal- vat ion, although mine eyes mould be iurprizingly for ever ftiut unto the light of life, I fhall reckon I have no- thing more to feek, and I (hall never jcomplain, that life which had days and ijp-ears for its meafiire, is changed for ■jthat which knows none. Fourthly, They who come to age may be faid to go to a Grave, but they .who die in the Strength of life, arerec- ! koned to be cut off, and thou knows cutting is painfull, and terrible. If fuch ,an eminent SaintzsHezekiah, lamented jf a# 5 & cutting off in midft of days, what may (jjbe expected of me? and if Heman under pfal. . 88; apprehenfions of fuch a thing, goes out io fo great a length in his Mourning, Lord, I am cut off from thy hand whom thou haft no more in memory, even free among the dead like thofe that lye in the Grave, wilt thou fhew Wonders to the dead, &c. I hope thou wilt pity my fears, and forgive my great averf- tiefs to fuch a call, if thou fhould or* r der it for me. Fifthly, Lord I would gladly have praifed thee in time, with thefe that are in the land 'of the living, but if thou den£ i1 -«4° Spiritual Pleadinps, l Pfal. 3©. deny me the oocafion, Shall the deal ?> *© / rtf7 A '^ ? fall theiufe that they may 'Vn V.T'Blefcsbeetfiall th Loving kin kefs be /ff/j/ f« Abe (jrave, or in the /and of deef Forgetfnlnefs ? there is no light there for reading the Book of thy Mer- cy, and there is no tongue there to fpeak oi,or to God, but the living, the Ifa.jS. ip \i v ' in g he {hall f*aife thee, -as I thought to have done : if I am not allowed to flay and do it, O! let me have that difpairing-like queition, [hall the dead rife and blefs thee ? anfwercd, They (hall, and thou among them malt doit to better purpofe, after the inflrumetiti of thy fpeaking,anl firiging God's praife are refined, by being laid in dun 1 , un-( till a Refurredion day when the charge ffa.26.19.fhaH be given, awake and fiftg ye that dwell in duft : for thy dew is as the dew of Herbs. CASE XXL Tear of dying tinder a Spiritual Cloud. ^yin^un -O may De fafe in m J d 7 m g worlc > j3era§pi-l fhall not have a comfortable and Sa- »itual voury of going from the Stage of life, Cloud. an( j t0 fa un der a C/W is a great chT- advantage • If this be thy Cafe ''and under it is a very allowable concern ) and Expostulations. ■' 241 :Go to the Throne of Grace, and Plead • alter this manner. Fir ft 9 Lord, I acknowledge, If I Arguments fliould periih altogetner, it is no more than J uitice, I have done I mhdftttle tor thee in Lite, may I make up to have 4 the many defedts in this nutter, by do- *2!«,?« inJ? thee fome piece of remarkable fer- the one vice at dearn. Very pi- Third! v y It is more than a fingle ousa-.id Peathj to die indarknefs & uncertainly ff-iceid? a boutthe evedaiting Concern, and to be the brmefSt thatjdy I moil:, and how, I cannot tell, dyed with is the mqft cutting thought a waking veirhttleand Jealous Soul can hav r e, and who hope and evercail endure to go from this Life, not other knowing where they i'hall land, whether turnui^ a at the fair Haven, the peaceml Harbour, penitent or in horrour and defperation > I mull fee dved jf poihble, fate ground to ligpt upon much of before * l e ^P, tne fear of failing upon b t h ; a the dirk and Iron (hoar that will daih lleifan me in pieces* Eternally, feems even to wis gL- Jjaftcn death that I am fo afraid to loo Sure bs " u P° n ' t 'l- ie y[- Fomthly, I have prayed for thy Co eras man forts many times berore now, bit I ne hvlgiven ver I rhein fo much \ it muft be U ^ ll ! P ;°^a itrr-ii^ Cordial, that can bear up un- byhislif- d £r tile leaiiDle ana preying arrenrs 01 Death. to ok m- _ and Expoflulattons; 24^ Death. Death's pafiage is fuch a dark- the other fome diCnal-like vail, that I dare net w /l st 1 ° at think of entering into it, without tl^' jjj*5eatfc being with me in a moil h'gnal manner, and thy V aft oral ft ays and 'Rod to com-?kl.zi.A. Wort me. Nothing lefs can reconcile me to death, and make me give it it s juft Name, calling that laft enemy a friend •, if ever thou was a friend, lhew * ' ** it in the time of need, this I think lhall be among my laft requeff s, may I even plead upon this account thou would anfwer it. Fifthly, I had an eye to this, that I might dye comfortabfy, in almoft all my Supplications which I have been make- ing to thee upon knees of Soul and Body, and If I be denyed it, what ground lhall I have for fufpecling all I have done, as rejected of God,efpccially in fctih a plight of jealoufie, as my Soul is new in ? mufti die and this conclu'iloii in my heart or mouth, all my poor en- deavours I had fome expectations to get good of, are now gone, and what {hall I look to, when Faith and Prayer, which I tought were proven reliefs to my Soul in diftrefs, are now to me as the wa- ters that Fail? K 2 CAS £ 244 Spiritual Pleadings, CASE XXIL Fear of Deatlfs being the entry to a worfe. J ear M f Tl UT {t m *y te tfl0U art afraid ° f brine the JD worfe than this, even that thou: entry to ihilt not be found to have an interefl .a worfe. in the Everlafiing Covenant, when thou z Sam.>3-comes to dying, for thou dare not aflertj! 5« it now, and thou cannot tell what thou (halt do, it thy cafe be no better then, thai it is afrprefent : upon this go & la the fenfe of thy trouble betore God, in fuch Arguments asthefe ? . Fhjr, O what a hard thing {hall it *V*m*fy f 6r mc to; be pinched between thefe %wo, an unwiOingnefs to go, and an in- V to frav 1 lhasl it ever come to that; die I frmift, ready or unready. Secondly, Vi ilt thou pull me away from Time, and all the enjoyments of it, without preparing me fomeway, by frelpjng me to a refigmtioii tothyfelf, whicn i can never main without hope ot Glory, this would K e like a rending of t h e Cau 1 oft i r t , w h i ch J - joks jo fce an aa o: .-; \ r y : idiguation, and can be con-vruc'ted by me nothing lefs than a dragging of a jr^ile&cTor tn the Prifon, and from thence to tile Execution. Thirdly, and Expostulations. 245 Thirdly* I think I can appeal to thee, it is not fo much my love to all the defireable things of" Time, that make* me fo unwilling to think of dying, as my doubtfulneis of my Eternal ftate - 5 and I find a far greater difficulty in at- taining the com ;or table hope of Heaven "than to get the heart deadned to all the pleafurcs of Life 5 but thou knows when 1 have both to wreftle with the Love of 2 natural Life, and the uncertainty a- bout my lodging, when I yeild it up, I have much ado to" be willing to- venture all at one call:. Fourthly, Yet I mail fay although it be a kind of death to me, to think of death without evidences for Heaven, be pleased to hold mebufy by the calls v of approaching death upon the one Eair/^k *j and of a doubting Ccnfcience upon the 1 * 5 ' other, rather as let rnefecurely pais 0- ver, 2nd lofe the day of nry" opportuni- ty, although I would be' gl id to be holden bufy in a more kind!} way, if thou would allow it. Fifthly, O acurrome me to make Death familiar to my felt, by frequent thinking of it, and thereby iefs terrible: fhall I be content to meet with it in a furprife ? and it will be fo* if I mould live a Thoafand years without eqieSa* R 3 tion Spiritual Pleadings tion of it : a ibrprite makes a crofs twic " double. It's fad policy to turn the bac'c on this la ft and great Enemy, becauf- I fee not how to have aflurance in th ; day of my engageing with him, it gives me a kind or peace too dear bought, by rendering him more dangerous Sixthly, How can I be fo unwilling to meet with death upon any account ? is not this the great errand of my come- inginto the world, to dy well? and in- deed it's little worth our while to Live, if it were not to make ready to De. Seventhly, There is a great numb r of the moil Noble Spirits in the World be- fore us, that have gone throw Death, fome with more fome with lefs. eafe, is there none of thefe whom I can fay, John u« a s r lb^n:as did oiLazams i let us go die 16 ' mth hi.?/, and that I may dofo, why am I not at the pains to get my doubtfull- nefs, the great obstacle removed. Eight'y, What tho 5 it be a dark and difmal like paffage, it opens a way to a ^ or j flight o£ God^tvhom no man may fee and *& ' live, but many have dyed and feen him, mortality cannot bear that fight, eyes inlightned with Glory can^ help me in view of this to a noble Ambition of having that darknefc done away, that makes the Porch of Glory to be of fuch a difmal afpeft. CASE and Expoftulations. 247 CASE XXIIL Savouring the things of Time too much. BUT alace! that I find thy poor.^you^ world fmells like Paradice tmthv *£•? the ^ Noftrils, which is a fad fgn, 1 am oi{:- T ^v 00 th;- E«rth Earthly, : nd I would glad- much. 'ly have my affections dead ned to Time, before I be taken from it. Go and plead with God thus, Fhft, Lord thou haft made my Scul *&*?*$. with an appetite after imortality, and Infinitnefs, which feems to cry out even when I am not fenfible of it, God or nothing, Chrift or elfe I am undone, it cannot be fuppofed a Soul can live on duft and maddows, the unfeen vital fubftance muft be committed to thee that art Subftance, Light and Life to if. Secondly ', Why does thou bring me u 11- *der fo many ditappoh.tment^if it be not to deaden me by degrees tL^the things that are here,fome there are whom thou fweefy draws, ticeing them on to Glo- ry, by the benign influences both of Grace and Providence beating warmly on their heads, others thou muft drive, aud F am one of thefe, if thou fhould hound me to Heaven, what matter fo be that it prove erTe&ual, tho' every thing fhould feem tohaveacommiffi^n to 248 Spiritual pleadings, to be unkind, but if it prove not effect- ual, I have poor upmaking for all the troubles or a wearifome Lot. Thirdly, Thou has faid thou hail: a Jcn.4.14. Water, that whofoever drinks ofhejh^ui thhfi no more, Oi lead me to the Spring p whence that does flow , and if thou would do it, it would cure me of a burning difeafe, ot which I languifhand die. I have heard the report of it, but the Faith of Gods Elect only can give credit to it : let mc have as much of this, as can {how me where and what it is, and as much love as (hall .make me reftlefs, till I fet out more vigorous- ly for attaining to it. Fourthly, Are Meat, and Drink, arid fleep, Fame, Honour, Goll and Faces of Duft worthy t'o keep me from a God ? O what isfSll this empty World, that we iho'uldgTp defire to live for ever with Flefh anpfelood ! Fifthly, Perfwade me that my troubles grow out o' the very itock of my Com- forts, and thou needs do no more to render me miferable, but make ufe of my pleasures againft me, by Waiting them": for when affeftions are livelie to the World, to fuffer the lofs of it is like the rending of the Flefh from thebd>ne, fcut deadened Flefh is not fenfible, and a and Expoftulatiom. 24^ a Mortified Soul would feel little pain in that which Nature counts unfufier- ablc CASE XXIV. Spiritual in aU manner of Converfation IF it be thy trouble that thou haft a Spiritual great difficulty, to keep up lively in ali impreifions of God, in mjd ft of the buii-™^^ nefs or Diversions of this Life, Plead af- verfation ter thl^ manner. Firft, I defireto lament it as a great ^'guments evidence of Spiritual Bulnefs and Stu- pidity, that tho 5 thou be the fence and meaning of all the Creatures in my view, they being all Letters of thy Name, yet I can read fo little of God out of them j; this is as if I were ftill turning over Let- ters and Syllabs of the fair eft Books, and never able to make a word of fence out of them all. ..^ Secondly, It mows that thweisfome- thing worfe than even ftupidity in my Nature, a woeful difpofition making an Oppofition perpetually between God and his Creature: the Creatures were all fornfd to beufefull in helpirg Man up to the thoughts and Enjoyment of their and his Lord, and mould be ufed as fuch $ but I place them between thee and me. So as I cannot fee throw them, and Spiritual Pleadings, and I robrhee of thy due, which I Sa* crilc^iouily beftow upon them. Thirdly, Help me to confider, it were a far wifer courte to be traceing up the Streams of Created Enjoyments,, till 1 come to the Spring of all, and there fu down with a'contentful accquiefence, in t!:at which the moft refined Creatures cannot allow. If I find any pleafure here, may I argue, there muft be infinjtljf more in that Source, from which it flows 3 and it's a pitty to drink or the ltreams fo muddy , fo bitter and fo fhallow, while the Fountain is fonear: and if I find diftppointments, may I Argue my felf upwards toward thee> fince thou Pfal . 36 makeft all Citterns run dry, I muft have P . Rcfrefhment in the Well of Life that is with God. Fourthly, Thy Creatures and thy Pro- vidences^rare more conftant means oi Correfpondence with thee, than ever thine Ordinances, which I have but at fometimes, whereas thefe meet me in e- very place, and every Cafe, and cry a- loud that 1 lhould ^ct up, and cornea way to him, they always bear witnefi for. O ! what Advantage might I make of this, if I lhould never fee the light of this* Sun, but I fhould alfo think, i\ ftiows me far beyond it felf, even tc thai S7id Expojtu I at ions. 2$ I that Fair Original Glory, that Is in the Maker of it, and ii i iho4iid neves fee my common Proviuoiis oi MeatanS JJrink, but they ihou Id point out the {hand, .t'aat gives them. • Fifthh, When ihali I be fo Spiritual, as to find evzry place like a Gfeappel /or Secret Stolen and Sweet Devotion, and eve r ry Stone, 2nd Pile or Grafs in i le Field, like a Book far ir.Ip. tig my ,;e- )oititiOi\s of thee, I know that it is not according to Occafions the heart is, but according to the Heart Gccafians are, a Spiritual Soul will ravifh an Oppor- tunity from the croud of Buifinefs, and fee it fairly lying in the way, when others have no thought of it ^ bur a car- nal heart finds the loud noiie of this World, Diverfions and Throngs even at a Communion Table. Q then ! may | my Heart be above my Hand, whate- ver my band be about, and may I do J all my Ordinary Actions fo, as to refer them all to God, and thereby put an Excellency on them, by making them all fervices done, -to thee, and may ail the Creatures feerri to w.i-Jt their lufture and their relifh, except withal, I have fomething of thee. CASE 252 Spiritual Pleadings, CASE XXV. AJfmed Hope of Glory. Aflure3^ T)UT it may be thou art greatb hope of Jj concerned to have a well ground dory. ^ Afiiirance of an Intereifc in Heaver as a perpetnal Companion of all thj Duties and Tryals, and indeed thoi 2 Pet. i. art allowed to Plead for it, yea Com io. manded to attain it, as a main duty c Religion, for the neglect oi w^ich tho» wilt not be able to aufwer ^ upon thi thou may make thy Applications t< the Throne of Grace, fo. Arguments fir ft , The want or Evidences fo: Heaven oft-times marrs my giving the< Praife, or at leaft makes it very fia and dull : for when I fufpecr that thi Work ihall not hold out eternally witl me, but that Death (hall make me chang* my Note to Defpair and Howling, m} Soul cannot get up to that Kelevatioi which becomes, and which I would glad ]y fet my Praifes unto. Secondly, It cannot but make nl< proceed in all my Dutys very faintly when I know not but my next ftep ma] be utter Ruine to me 5 Whereas if thoi would be pleas'd to give me fo mud Light, as would mow Salvation alwa^ before me, I would fet out with Refo lutioi and Expostulations. / 253 ution and Vigour, knowing my La- >our fhould not be in vain, and ihould >e afhamd to grudge Pains in Duty, )r Pain in Affliction, while Promiiing :o my felt a weighty Crown of Glory, \< % -<&. Thirdly, All who ever attained ' unto 'gbt Affiitiion fo, pomcnt,not to be compared to the Glory to \'?e revealed, did look at things not feen y z }< T °f* 1' [| j T . , 7 / * 0.17. 10. { via htemal, and not at what was jeen : jt cannot think to be unfare "at both lands, to caft my felf out of the enjoy- ments I might have in life, and have r Cor. Nothing to look to beyond it, nature rs. i9« , ( nuft have fomething to fill its eye and •lay it felf upon, and my Refolution I tor thee will ftarve, if Hope go not out frequently to the invifible Regions of 'JJght, to Forrage, and bring home P^o- viiions for reftoring and keeping it frefh iind Vigorous. Fourthly, Were- not all thefe who are . aifed to Glory now, fuchas I am, they vere at firft Strangers to God, and great Grace prevented, and made them be* j :ome thine in the befl: of Bonds, and e- j ren when their Hearts were taken in by ; hee, many an unworthy and unthank- iil neglea of God have they been guilty 2 $4 Spiritual Pleadings, I ilty ( , and many a dark and difma 1 t have riuy gone threw, v/nat b] i ra, what by outward Tryals & t ir Gale, many a ; Heart lefs Hear e ^hey had in Serving or thee, arli Cornplajuits have taken up mofr o their time, when they came to pray yea even to praife, but all thefe thing are ever with them now, and they for get their Mnexy, and Remember it a Waters pals away, old things are don- away. Fifthly, I am ready to reckon a grea deal oi iinfulnefs lyes in Sins of Commit Hon, and no doubt there does, wit fo much being troubled for fins, of O minion, the want oi folid Faith, livel; Afe&ion, and longing for Heaven where the joy of; thy Prufence isuncon ceiveable, but I dears to think nov there is a greater finfulnefs in fuch C millions, than in feme Gommiinon called worfe, even in a frightednefs a Peatb, a loathing to go out of theVal icy cf Sin and Sorrows, which fhew how little efteem I have for the Ugli and life that is above, and this is great ly owing to my want of a Comfortab! Aflurarce of fuch a irate. Sixthly, But how ihall I attain to i conftant Faith of Affurance of Heaver wh and Efcpoftulations. 255 who have fo fmal Degrees of the Faith KE its Reality, if Faith the Foundation _ done be not fairly laid, my Ahurance ifcufl: either be an Impo ability, or a night dreauand aShaddow.Oii I could exercne a ircquent and folid Belier,that there are many in Glory beiore me, I ; think it would both put me upon long- ing to be with thefe Noble Souls, and i'alfo help to humble Expectations of fee- ding my felf fo happy. CASE xxvr. For Provifions of Life. ; I would urge Humbly that fame Ar- gument with thee. Seventhly. When thou waft upon Earth Mar. 8. z. thou #*7> S> 9- ^Olpe \ ™* Wolffhall dwell with the Lamb 7 aid the Leopard f all lye down with the Kid, we Ciifand the young Lyon together J and a little Child [hall lead them, and the Lyon (hail, eat Straw like the Ox, and the Sucking Child (haU flay on the boll of the AJp, and the Weaned Child frail put his band on the Cockatrice Den, and they (hall not hurt nor deftroy in all thy holy Moun- * tain, when the Earth jhall he full of the*' Knowledge of the Lord, as the Waters co- ver the Sea: and all this to import unto us that the Mediator's Kingdom lhould be full of Peace, and his Gracious Dif- pcnfation in the Gofpel lhould difpcfe Men of the moft Furious and Ravenous Tempers, unto Harmlefnefs^ and is not Horn, ro.the Gofpel called the Gofpel of Peace, u- IJi "pon this very Account, as well as thatit Proclaims Peace betwixt thee and Men. O! what a Melancholly Confideration is it, that ChrHtianity has been able to jii- ftifie it felf fo little, to the Conviction of the Heathen and Mahumetan World, to be of thee, by the Reformation of the Hearts and w?ys of its ProfeiTors, and particularly by that love, which much of the Spirit of the Gofpel confifts in,how much would it contribute to the Glory of and Expoflulations. . 26 1 of it, if thou would perfwade men to beat Ifa, 2. 4. *&£/> Swords into Pioiv-Shares, and their ^^4- 3« Spears into Fruning Hooks ? Secondly, Thou haft a long time teftr- fyed againft the Atheifn and Immorali- ty of the Nations of Europe, hy Bloody* *& Rageing Wars efpecialiy, taking Ven- geance on fome.by them, and Warning others,but thou fees how little efFed this has upon them : for tfiey look like per- fons that have got the Qup of the Lord's y er . z ^ Fury put into their hand, that they may i<5. drink and be mad 5 Be pleafed to pour out thy Spirit for Reformation, when 0- ther Means will not do: one days pour- ing out of this would work more Humi- liation and Repentance, than the pok- ing out all the Blood of a Nation can do. Thirdly, I defire to Remember before thee, Thou laid long ago, I will not hence- forth curfe the Earth more for Man's fake, ~ * or we Imagination of man s heart is con- zu tinually evil from his youth, and made that an Argument of Pity, which might have been an Argument of un-relenting Fury \ becaufe Jhou faw that Judgment might/ Break him in pieces,but could never melt him, it was another thing that would re- form him, even Waiting and Striving by the Spirit more erTedually^ Therefore pfal f -thou faid thou would not flit-up all thy ^ * S z math. A 262 Spiritual Pleadings , Wrath. Takefuch Companion on us,& fay Jcindi/, Mercy will do more inoneday upon the Guilty and Miferable World, -taan Wrath has done thefe many years, and I will make a Tryal oi it. Vourthly, It becomes us to lament the -E out/beds of our Brethren, who are gone out irom us, ior w^e have a hand in them, our Sins havefent them to the field, and provoked thee to pour out upon them I&.42.15 the Fury of his Anger and theflrengthqf t Battel, and therefore we'll beg oi thee that thou wou:d be their ftrength in. the Pay of their engadgement, and as foori- as pojfiblf, bring to an end that fad ftatei of things, Wherein every Battel is with' *"* 9» 5 • Confafion and noife, and every Garment rolled in Blood. Fifthly, O ' Be pleafed to make the iflue of the defolating Wars a cornpen- fation for the great lofs of Blood they have coir, by an Honourable and well eftablifhed Peace, that (ball fecure the Libertys and the Religion at home, and not only fecure, but reticle Religion abroad, and let none of cur Govern- ment ever be willing to make a Peace either unworthy of fo great Effufion oi Blood, or fo many Viftorys thou hafl been pleafed to beftow on us, left they take upon them the guilt of all thai Blood ' ayid Expoflulations. . 26 g ■ ' Blood, by making it, as far as they can, be fhedin vain-, and let never the ceai- ing of Wars abroad be fo unworthily acknowledged unto thee, as to turn the Seed of Wars among our felves. Let us never fpare Blood that may be necef- farly flied abroad, that it may be inglo^ ciouily fpilt at home. CASE XXVIII. The Mifsry.of the Heathen World. BUT It may be it ftrikes thy SoulxheMife- with a more afflicting Sence, to ry of the fee what an Univerfal and Profound Heathen Parknefs the molt part of the Habitable ^ orld * Earth, as to God and the things of God, lyes under-, not fo much as the Objective Sufficiency ofoutward means for Salva- tion being allowed them, this can not but be fometimes matter of thy Afton- ifhment, obliging thee to cry out, / hove unfearchable are his Judgements, ^ oraAl ^ and his ways pafi finding out, that tho? all the World is to be cil'd before the Judgement Seat, yet the moft part of that World cannot know what way it's poflible to beapprovenin the great day-, .and fometimes of thy Companion that fo many precious and Noble Souk "of the Heathen world fhould be loft, :' who. might probably make a far better S 4 improvement 264 Spiritual pleadings improvement of the Offers of Salvation? than thefe who have them. Upon this go and Reprefent before God, Argument: Firft, What a && matter it is that ib\ many Souls ihouid be Murdered in the, dark, deft royed from Morning to evening) and Verging for ever without any regard- . Job. 4,2c. itt g j t ^ jf t j 2 j s wor ] c f njuch U pon the compallion of our Nature, fhali it not' be noticed and helped by a Mercy that's infinite ! Secondly, Let me plead alfo upon the head of thine Intereit, O what a pity is it, that God who made the World ihouid have fo little of its Service, and the De- vil who ruined Mankind, ihouid be fa willingly and expenfively adored by al- moft all, that he ihouid have fo much to juftifie that ufurped Title, the God of iCot.M* this World., and feem thereby to defeat in a great meafure both the defign of thy Creation, and of thy g rearer kind- nefs, in thy offering to reftcre the fall- en World! Thirdly, I have heard, the Glory of a King lyes much in the Multitude cf his ?rov. 14. p e0 pi e ^ anc [ may > not j p1 e ad, it would greatly contribute to thine, that thy fol- lowers were very numerous. O bring many unto thy Kingdom of Grace, and let the. time be haftened, if it be poffible. wher k and Expoftulations, 265 when the King of Nations and King ^Jer.10.7 • &ar/»^,ihall be Titles of one Signification^^**** ## the Nations of 'theWorld.be •coming the^T 1 ' ll% Kingdoms of Our Lord Jefus Chnfi, Letp&iJ^ every man become a Monument or ti.yRom. 14, Glory and every Tongue may be beftqw- 11 ** ed on the Acclamations 01 thy Praiie. Fourthly, Can we think that the Pr > mifes of the Glorious days that ihou'd come upon the World, under the Gofpel, are all fulfilled in their full extent as yet ? \ve perfwade our felves, that there are greater thirigs-tq be dene, than we have feen, for the poor defolate parts oi the World. Have regard unto thy Covenant ,$&[, 74. for the dark places of the: Earth, are full 20. of the Habitations of Cruelty \ the Cove- nant thou made with thy Son : When (hall the day dawn, when that ihal! be yet more accomplifhed, thou faicl of him, It is a light thing that tt>&ufboul4 be my Tr Servant, only to raifeuf.the Tribes of 'Ja~ 7 9 j 2 % cob , and refiore the prefsrved of lfrae{, I will alfo give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou wayeftbemy Salvati- on to the ends of the Earth, and many Kings (hall Jee and arife, Princes alfo fjjall Worfhip him whom Man defpifed, and the Nations abhorred, that he may fay to the Trif oners, go for th? and to them that are in Darknefs, (hew vow [elves, Be- hold 266 Spiritual Pleadings, hold thefe fljall come from far, andlotheje front the North, and from the Weft, and thefe from the Land of Si:iim. When fhall that day dawn, When the ' tW'zo\ Gentiles fhall come unto thee from the e -ids of the Earth, and fay, fur ely our Fathers. have inherited Lies, Vanity, and things wherein there is no profite. Shall roe make jj Gods to our f elves, and they are no Gods ? £ ev . zlt And the Rings of the Earth fhall bring* 14. their- Glory, and Honour unto thy Churcl\\ and the Nations of them which are faved (hall walk in the light of it. Haften the Ifa ?M -Accomplishment fully of that, ThelVil-i *> 5 »6> 7- dernefs and the folitary place [hall be glad for them : and the defert fall rejoyce, and blojJcT-j as fl e Rofe. The Glory of Leba- non fall be given to it, and the Excel- lency of Carmel and Sharon, they /hall fee the Glory of the Lord, and the Excellen- cy of our God. That, the eyes of the blind * may be opened, and the Ears of the deaf nnftopped. The Lame Man may leap as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb fing : becaufe of the Waters breaking forth in the Wildemefs, and Streams in the de fart. When fhall it be fulfilled, That Men al * 4 1, fhall y?«g to the Lord a new Song, and his praife to the ends of the Earth, that they may give Glory to the Lord, and his praife may may bs declared in the I/lands. And \ - from and Expofiulations. 267 from the rifing of the Sun to the going down Mal.i.u. thereof, my Name '/hall be great among the Gentiks:& in every place Incenfe /hall be offered to my Name, and a pure Offering. Thou faid, All the ends of the World p/g, ^ ^2 all remember & turn to the Lord: and-i& 9 29. all the kindreds of the Nations (> hall 'Wot* fcip be fare him ^ for the Kingdom is the Lords 'and he is Governour anion- tJie Na- tions. The Heathens fiall fear thy Name .and the Ktngs of the Earth thy Glory. Is .not the time come yet, when v/e may fee the Angel /lying in the mi d/i of Heaven having the ever lifting Go/pel to preach to ?&\ t I02 them who dwell on the Earth, to every Na- 15 . tion, Kindred, Tongue and people? Fear^ v - T 4* God and give Glory to him, fir the hour ? 7 * - of his Judgment is come. And may the other Angel proclaim at the fame time, BABYLON is fallen, is fallen. May the fhaheing of the Nations be in or- Hag. 2> 4er to this thy remarkable coming to the 6 } 7* periihing World. CASE XXIX, The withered State of Religion. UPON That fad Confederation that**' *<#- j Religion is at fo Ipw an Ebb ^fff^% the World, even among the Profeflbrs °f n% " ^*~ of it this Day, by Reafon of a ftrange Spirit of Slumber upon the better Sort, and A Spiritual Pleadings, and a Judicial Blindnefs and Hardnefs upon the worfc, to that degree of an ab- folute Infenfibiliry of all the precious things they perpetually handle, Go and deal with God after this manner. Jrgumevtf jpfr^ Lord, I Blefs thee that thou haft come under fuch a fweet Relation to thy People to be called King ofSaivts, •Thou art King of 'Nations, as having an abfblute Dominion of property over all the World, and a Dominion of Sovereign- 1 ity over all thy Creatures that are Ra- tional, But O! what a great Difference there is between thefe two > That aw-t full word King of Nations makes but a- Chain of Iron and force, whereby the Creatures arc all conftrained to bow, but King of Saints has in it a Chain of Gold and Love, and O! how Sweet is it to be thine in the belt of Bonds, Thy Name King of Nations may raife great thoughts in us, for that thou can make every Infect- an Executioner of thine An- ger when thou pleafes, But King of Saints can raife far more Delightiul Meditations of thee. Secondly, This precious Title puts me in mind both of thy Peoples duties, and their Priviledges, their Duty of Subjec- tion to thee as their Lord, and if Mor- tal Kings have been own'd by fome to \ b have and Expoflulations. 26 9 have an abfolute Power over them, fliall we begrudge it to thee, to whom, and whom only, of right it belongs > and when we are Commanded to forgo comfortable enjoyments, or fuffer fore troubles, mail we not pay that Xmpofition upon all the good things we have, Chearfully, and that not only out of the fenfe of die right thou has over us, but al fo out of thy con- defcendency ? As in this I fee our Subjec- tion, fo wc fee our Intereft in thy de- fence, in thy Provifion, in thy comfor- table prefence thou wilt give thy People, who wilt make all thy Subjects thy com- panions. Thirdly, Dees not the Honour of 3 King arife very much from the profpe- rity of his Subj-scfs .& would it not great- ly advance thy Houour,that it goes well with thine, that they all in fome meafure lookanlwerable to the King they belong to, and whom they ferve > Even mortal Princes have boafted, that they purfued the Happinefs of their People, by all the Arts of Government $ Wilt thou befhort of thy Creatures ? Surely not. And when thy People find thee always difpofed to make them happy, by thy Dominion of Grace, they will be before thee perpetu- ally, by Prayers and Acclamations, lefi the Crown on-'the head of the precious (Redeemer fburifh. pQurthly 7 270 Spiritual Pleadings, Fourthly, Ads of greateft bounty and generoiity become Kings moft of all ptr- fons, and' we have heard thou loves iO\ Ad greatly like thy felf, and if fmal in-i fiances of Liberality oft-times difhoncur Royal Perfons, what (hall we exped of] thee, but great 8c manifold allowances of^ gracious influences, when we are fo low > Fifthly, The Deadnefs of Profeflbrs in the Matters of Religion, Wofully gives, Occalion to the Enemies, to fufpecl their Realit ,', and tempts them to fpeak info-J lently, and weigh out the Violence off their hands againft them : Whereas the Power of Godlinefs would give a Noble Teftimon / for it, and might have Influ- ence to perfwade many Strangers unta thy Way, who cannot be wrought upon by Reafoning \ O ! Help thy People to plead for God by their Pra&ice, as much as by their Words, and to Pray and Be lieve, and' Live and Suffer, and Hope & Repent their Enemies down. CASE XXX. The Necefjity of Government V Owning Religion. The nccef--T~Y~i HOU cannot but fee how necefl fiyofGp- j[ fary to the happinefs of a Nation* Ovriv^'^ thc Flcmrifliing"oi Religion, a good, £l!cf on Government is, and that thou art upon all dnd- Hxf ovulations. 27 1 11 accounts obliged to beg earneftly of the Lord, he would difpofe Rulers t© a Spirit of Wifdom, Religion, Juftice and Generoilty towards their People ^ And Thou ought to Plead the more hard for this, Becaufe it is a very rare thing, to fee the Shields of the Earth, who are his, acting for him. And particularly, plead with an Eye to the Maintaining of 3 Froteftant Soveraign, on the Throne of the Dominions to which thou belongs, when fo many are violently inclined to have one, that is Sworn to the abhorred and abandoned Darknefs and Tyranny of Rome. Firft, Lord, may our Soveraigns-Go-^""*™* Vern us,fo as to raife an Emulation in the moff confumm-ated Governments on Earth, and may every one of them be a Pattern to him who Succeeds, which he (hall juftly have the Ambition to follow, And may all the Subjects always feel themfelves under a Neceffity to Tranf- mit their Loyalty to Pofterity, by the fenfe they have of their Goodnefs, being not only bound to them by the Tyes of Birth and Conference, but of moft Cor- dial Affection : may Vertue & Religion Rule fo illuftrioufly in thePerfons of our Rulers ■, as to circulat upon thefe who are neareft them, & from them, upon all the Nation, 27 2 Spiritual Pleadings Nation, with an Univerfal Influence. Secondly, Keep our Nation always un- der i i-Perivvafionof it, that it isEffcri- tia c rva tion of the Proteflam R Vigion, That one who loves it, fhouhj Sit upon the Throne -, and that We can not be Safe in the Hands of One, wftofi Confcience & hope of Heaven binds hirr to ruine either our Religion or oar Lives and how Unbecoming and Unworthy i is for Proteflant Nations, to give thei Power to one, who is Devoted to giv all his unto the Beaft of Rome. Thirdly, Let us never be fuffered t forget how the Britifh prince and th Romijh Prieft confmre'd to mike a dreac ful Work with all our Liberties and Rt ligion, our Precious things, at ence, whe promifed the aiiiftance of the Firie Fo ces of a neighbouring Monarch, who ha deftroyed all in his own Dominions, wf Revel. 13. would not cary the Mark oftbeBeaft: ai 16, 17. how feafonably thou ftept in, and difa pointed them, fo as Men of Wifdom cou prj *>not find their heads, nor Men of Mi 2^ i % ' 'their hands, and men ofBlcod refufed Fight. And let the Remembrance thefe things for ever keep back our N tions from tempting God again, by la ing all at the Feet of one, who is at t difpefal of the greateft 2nemy on Ear Fourth V: -, ...._ .. aid Expoflulattons. 2"] 'J ^ , — j- — ■ .. -.■ ■ - *» Fourthly 9 Help oiir Ruler? alwayes to Remember, that as they are~intrufted With our Liberties, fo they arc with ou£ . Religion h and if they {hall hy Neglefl£ or by Surrender loie it, thej mail aiake a fad Account for it in the Pay of Judgement, and pefteritv fnall exc- crat their Memory, & many Curfe then* ■ thro' everkfting Ages^ when they mall anfwer for the Damnation of many & Soul, befide that of heir Own, which is too much for any to bear. Fifthly May we not Plead, Thou J would fulfil, the Pwmffej of Good Days - of Government, fpol^en of long ago, wheil thou faid, thou would Uake the Officers IJau £dj Weaee^dndibe' ExaBors Rightemfnefi, & x 7> l8i 1S that Violence (hauld no more be heard in T thy Land, Watting and DeftruBion within tit's Borders; but thy People jhoitld call Hheir Walls Salvation, and their Gates j r& > u *£ ®Pr.aifei And Kings (hall be their Nurftng z$ % ^Fathers, and their Queens their Nurfing I ^Mothers, they fljall bow down to thy Church hwith their Faces toward the Earthy and \lich up the daft of her feet. Sixthly^ We have been greatly oblig- ed unto thee for railing up to us a For* Zrei??ier, calling a righteous Man Irani the Jf$ t A\. g* iEafl unto his foot, to be out help, when re was no help to be-fimndgt home $ j T this) 74 Spiritual Pleadings this is a Mercy we defee-, neither to fori % nor flig&tly remember • but to EnJ tail the Memory of it to Generations tqfl come. • And we blefs thee for directing our Government to make choice of on^ in the Vroteftani Line, to Support what he wonderfully Reftored. ! may wJ find him as friendly to Religion 8c Liber- ty , as the other was: And may he plac« as much his glory in encouraging Good Men, and breaking Tyrany and Oppref- /ion . May Higher Germany be as lifefu] *o Britain in iurnifhing us with a Pre* ferver, zs the Lower was in giving us a . Deliverer •, Sc may we have that Heir, o] our Crown-, not falling unto fuchGircum- fiances as [hall need his reftoring ^ and .may hisManagment, when he comes t( . the Government, be fuch, assail maki • a perpetual Argument ofFriendfhip bq tvvezn his Country and. ours. Seventh O Lord, may all the Ruler of thefe Kingdoms be • Perpetually im ; pfeft with a genfe. of the bafenefs of Op prefiion and Perfccution, and how litt] thefe contribute to the Advancement c Religion, whenraifed on the Account € it, and how unworthy it is of them, t fcarafs,or embrue their hands in the bled c-f their Brethren ^ for that they cannc think, after their Manner in all Point And Expoftulations. i> [of Religon, or will not difiemble, when they cannot •; & let Cruelty in lixck mat- ters be fo Odious to every Perfon within the Dominions, as none may have the ! Confidence to be guilty of it, 0£ if any have, he may befhuned as a M-onfter. C A.SE XXXI. The Decay of Religion in ohy Lands, UT It may be ( and indeed thou The p?* haft too much Reafon for it ) thou cay or R^ looks upon Religion as in a -very de- ll & loiV dining State within the Land of thy Na- tivity, Andthat both upon the Account, of the little Life and Power of Godlinefs, to be feen in the way of its Profeflbrs, $c alfo the threatning Afpect of Things in the Government,whichfeemsto talce un- kind Meafures,bearing too much Appear- ance of aTendency,to open a Door ofLi^ berty,to thefe who would gladly have a Jer, 7. 1 Deliverance to work Abominations. 17- pon this Head, Thou may go and make Application after this Manner. Firft, We defire to blefs thee/That ey-^ there was a Line of the Scripture F°- - rnifmg mercy to cur far offPla^s in the 'world J That ever thou laid to thy Son/M z < 8 - Tbeoutmoft Ends of the E^rth fhotddbe his T r a ^& Pojfeffton, And, heJhoMbe thy Salvation^ ' to the Ends of the Earth : And that the X 2 JJk* 2"] 6 Spiritual Pleadings, Jfles ftjQidd wait for hhLaw y Thzt hejbould Pfal Cs-fc /fa Confidence of all the Ends of the Earthy and tbofe who are afar ojf upon tha $e* j xvlay we not upun theie Grounds requeflfhou would not fuffer the Bound? ihgs of the Bleifed Redeemer's Charted to be intrenched upon. Secondly, Lord, as thou haft chofed crir Nation ab.Ve many others, fo thoq baft ere&ed thy Kingdom in it, with the Glorious Enfings of long continued Com-? bats & Sufferings, and with peculi ir Pri- viledges of Purity in the Doclrine, Wor- lhip, Government and Diicipline of thy Houfe : "Help us to Confecrate fo inefri- mable a Blefling, to the Glory of thy Great Name, the perpetual Celebration of thy Wonders, the Reinforcement of our decaying Obedience unto thee, and to the Remembrance of them who went before us, fo as we may recall unto out Pra£rife,and Imitation, the Holinefs and Zeal of their Lives, whereby they did fij nobly Juftifie their Profeflion, and exal^ to tne Kigheft pitch' of Evidence, thd fcwer of the Gofpel. p^rdiy. Thou haft been pleafed t0 Eask. xo ' )rin § Ui » into the Bond of. thy Covenant, 3 ?% , and make us become thine, with uplift- ed Hands -*nd Hearts, Canfng uspafS- un* dcr tbs Rod> id oxder thereto, our Land *\ mik and Expoftulations. 277 with pore Solemnity than in almoft any Nation, befide, hath at feveral Times de- dicated it felf unto thee, and we have hear'd thou art not only the Faithful^- 1 '** *God, Who keeps Covenant with them who ai * , 2*4* Ylsove thee, and keep thy Commands, but Ijthe God who Keeps Covenant, and (hews \M?rcy to them, who have often broken with Thee, Therefore, According to ffoHag.s. j, | Word which thou haft Covenanted with thy I People, when thou brought them out of E- gyft, Let thy Spirit remain among us. Re- member, O Lord, Break not Covenant with!*****- 1 ** us, call to mind for us, thy Covenant, and*'™ * repent according to th* Multitude of tty Mercys, when we are brought low for our Iniquities. We are the Children of 'theCo- A&.;.£.;« venant, which thou ha fl made. \ However unworthy, let it never be Matter of ihame,in the rekoning of any ofourLand, that we were Honoured to enter into a Covenant with God, and let us never be a Difgrace unto om; Solemn Engage* ments unto Thee. Fourthly, Help us to confider, how un- feithfull we. (hall be found to thee. L ? our Predecefibrs, and our Pofte^7> "pfil. 78* we ihall not be Careful to tr^ mit Ke '4* % ligion, with it's Lufture an# A " vanta & es > as far as we can, to th> fenerations to tmrt, it being a && committed unto Sfi ritual "Pleading us,that it may be hanaed down to 01 • and thereby when our Ruins diusH to keep up thy Praifes, they may b< come perpetual, by being propogated «p(kJ. 72. and our Fathers having wreftled for O; Name** a * nail c es > with an eye to late Pofterit] ^11 t, e as let us be refolved, We will not hide wh a Son to we have heard and known., and our F< continue thers have told us, from their Children «Kratners Shewing to the Generation to come Jij ever. Or" ^ ra ^f €s of the Lord, and his Strength, fha.Il be his Wonder full works that he hath done . fmmedi^- ahliQ' we ihould be untender oi them, aJ '^b-bl '° Ur ° Wn: ^ e ^ t0 remem ^ er *$ e f M t p r ^ m * ^Hheirs, and how unnaturally bafe it is u one Ag6 fquarider away fuch a Noble Treafure, a iliall tqll Religion is, that our Children may d< of it to a- mah( i f rom us# ?°^Ai'1i 0ur Predeceflbrs prayed oft, and e; ioit mill n1 1 r v ^i ' be carried neftly, not only ror the Continuatidj thro' Ge-of Gofpel Ordinances in Purity, but 1] nerations their Power, their greater Glory 5 letu ^^^"fee the Bruit of their Praying, and Cow f^tion nant i 9! g fe vfo excellent Pur pofes, gr4l So > i ^yLoufly made unto us. 45.4. On. .Generation^,,-,! aife t hy Works to another: and he • ?™ m ^% Ue *>thi>x to the Son frail fhev forth Gods •Jmth. //j. J8rr;: F I v JffDJB :.*w