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Life of G O D 
 
 THE 
 
 I N T H E 
 
 Soul of Man.' 
 
 OR, THE 
 
 Nature and Excellency 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Chriftian Religion. 
 
 WithNine other Discourses on 
 important Subje&s. 
 
 By Henry Scougal, A.M. and S.T.P. 
 
 The SECOND EDITION. 
 
 To which is Added, 
 
 A Sermon Preached at his Funeral, 
 by G.G. D.D. 
 
 Perfeftionis ac faikitatis fummum eft uniri Deo. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for M. Downing, in Bartholomew- 
 Clofe> near Weft -Smith field. M . d c c . xxxv. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 
 
 http://archive.org/details/lifeofgodiOOscou 
 
3feKSa5&SS&XV^i5?>3^^ 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 T is but a reafonahk compliance 
 with cufiom, to give fome account 
 to the publick, of a booh we pre- 
 fent them with. The treatife, en- 
 titled^ The Life of God in the 
 Soul of Man : or, The Nature and Excel- 
 lency of theChriftian Religion, was firji pub- 
 lifhed during the authors life, by T)r. Burnet, 
 afterwards lord bifhop of Sarum, who* becauje 
 the author s modefiy would not permit him to 
 put his name to it, ufkerd it into the world 
 with a preface, in which he gave this charac- 
 ter of the author ; That the book was a tran- 
 fcript of thofe divine impreflions that were 
 upon his own heart, and that he had written 
 nothing in it but what hehimfelf did wel] feel 
 and know ; and added another treatife to it, 
 called, An Account of the Spiritual Life, fup- 
 pofed to be written by himfelf. Since the firfi 
 edition, about the year 1677. it has bore five 
 imprcfjions more, the loft of them encouraged 
 
 A » % 
 
IV 
 
 P R E F A C R 
 
 /•: abh Society for promoting Chri- 
 
 in Knowledge, wbc judged it wortbj 
 
 lial Packet to tic 
 s. Indeed the cleax nd 
 
 four at t tuft and amiable 
 i -nation be gives qf religion /';; this Httlc 
 treatif n \ ; < it I i \1ued md e- 
 
 ju i / judick usperfons : and it bed 1 1 
 
 a help; \ me ins cf giving right notions i f reli- 
 gion to manji making them in lovi with it y 
 and I . \ I i \ m up n the / 
 tbtyfaw was infinitely de fir able in it (elf, a 
 with feme pains and iridnftry attainable by 
 them. And among tnd\ 
 owned their obligations to our authors little 
 book, I cannot but mention a young gentloman 
 of ft r virtue and piety, wb toldme s tl 
 tbh which he met with accidentally in 
 
 Am , was tl 
 
 as U m : bis mind, 
 
 the pt cf the - . s and pi \ cf 
 
 the The eft c cm which 
 
 cone h | r e;.;- author's \ piety* 
 
 - ; ;; inquifat 
 Jit ion Sy i to 
 
 lii: t he f : " 
 
 id cot mil i . / 
 
 d togeth 
 
 c I \ I : 
 
 r 3 no I i 
 
 tue, 
 
The P R E F A C E. v 
 
 virtue, than for their birth and quality, to 
 publifh them with a new edition of the printed 
 treatife ; and have endeavoured to give them 
 as correU as poffible, tho fome of the manu*. 
 fcripts I was obliged to make ufe of, had not 
 been tranfcribed with that care and exaUnefs 
 they ought. It cannot be expeUed, that thefe 
 dijcourfes, which were never defigned by the 
 author for the prefs, can appear with the fame 
 advantage as the treatife, which at the per- 
 fuafion of his friends was publifhed in his life- 
 time, yet as they retain the fame fpirit and 
 genius, and give the fame clear and perfuafive 
 notions of religion, it is hoped they will be fa- 
 vourably received, as well as that they may be 
 very profitable to the candid andferious reader. 
 1 have alfo added the fermon preached at his 
 funeral, the original and only copy whereof has 
 been ever fince religioufly preferved by one to 
 whom our author was very dear by nearnefs of 
 blood, but much more on account of his piety ^ 
 and the ftriffi friendfloip there was between 
 them. To this fermon 1 muft refer the reader 
 for an account of our author s life ; tho I be- 
 lieve that a more particular one than would 
 have been proper in a fermon, will be made pub- 
 lick hereafter in another treatife. 
 
 The chief motive to my publifhing this col- 
 leffiion, was the hopes of its being ferviceable 
 to Religion in general : fince our author s [cope 
 
 and 
 
VI 
 
 The P R E F A C l . 
 
 and aim is to ficzv us, tl\it the defign of re- 
 1:. io i thfl le&ifyingourmiqdsj and the 
 
 uhtin^oiir appetites and deiires, to exalt 
 our natures, and transform US unto that liko- 
 ikT to the divmc nature, which may render 
 us capable of the neareit communion with the 
 author of our beipg, wbtib is : .ft felicity 
 
 and pcrfecVou ci.r nature is capable <f. And 
 ibj ?nens difpojltions and temper s lo ca- 
 
 as, //.// zi'lhit is uU/ul to one may not be jo 
 to another ', bat fmetimes r prejudice 
 
 yet this book I think m. .t into the 
 
 ■ds (f every one, thv in my opinion it is 
 likely to have the gj \ at eft influence i. pen fuch as 
 t :re of a noble and generous fpint. It is pofli- 
 blc indeed that jomc ?nay oh; eel again]} zvhat 
 our author advances in the furth die 
 That there are but a final] number laved ; 
 but it istu re c ufidcted} t veu 
 
 fur this lamentable tr;.: : \ do not at all ajher 
 
 I tyodnefi a»:d i)h)\y tfQod, but a 
 to I J ft '• tn m ::s W 
 
 vrdned impenitence of Jh: c- 
 
 as tbc \ of it cannot but :, 
 
 $( in t 
 v .: . 
 
 . than 
 
 ■ . 
 
 J. 
 
The PREFACE. 
 
 vn 
 
 In this edition, I have left out the account 
 of the Spiritual Life, added to the former im- 
 preffwns of the Life of God in the Soul of 
 Man, not only becaufe it was none of our au- 
 thor s y but, as it was generally thought, not at 
 all equal to the other ,• infomuch that a learned 
 and worthy gentleman, who was at the fains 
 to tranflatc our author s treatife into French Y , 
 did not think proper to join the other to it. 
 IBeJides thefe difcourfes in Engliili now printed \ 
 and fome ejfays written when he was very 
 young, in manufcript our author has left be- 
 hind him three trails in Latin, viz. A ftiort 
 Syftem of Ethicks, or Moral Philofophy : 
 A Prefervative againft the artifices of the 
 Homijh Miflionaries : and of the Paftoral Care* 
 Tfhis lafi contains only four chapters of a large 
 treatife he defigned upon that fub/efi, for the 
 nfe of the (ludents in divinity, and candidates 
 for holy orders, for he lived not tofinijlo it ; 
 the great governor of the world having, in his 
 wife providence, thought jit to remove him 
 early from his poji here, to give him the reward 
 of bis good and faithful fervice. He had taught 
 philofophy four years before he enter d into 
 holy orders, after which he was one year mi- 
 nijier of a country parijh, and four years Di- 
 vinity ProfefTor in King's-College ///Aberdeen ; 
 
 in 
 
 * Printed at the Hague, 1722. 
 
\ 111 
 
 The 1 J R E FACE 
 
 in wbUb foe Wx father, I'i/Jjop Scougal, /^r 
 above twenty ji ars from the Restoration. This 
 
 bis [on WHS born about the end of June, Anno 
 165c and died on the 13th of the lame month 
 Anno 1678. (raving fcarce completed the 28th 
 year of his age. lint being made perfect in a 
 ftiort time, he fulfilled a long time; fee \vif- 
 dom is the grey hair unto men, and an un. 
 fpotted life is old age *. That his Wight 
 example may excite in all his readers, efpeci- 
 allyin the clergy, a holy emulation cf hi coming 
 like unto him, who WM 1 minently like unto 
 great pattern and example^ the Lord Jefus, is 
 the hearty wj/b of the publijlier, 
 
 Pa. Cocke urn. 
 
THE 
 
 L I F E of G O D 
 
 IN THE 
 
 SOUL of MAN. 
 
 My Dear FRIEND, 
 
 HIS designation doth give you a title to 
 all the endeavours where- 
 by I can ferve your in- The , occ * Clon 
 
 J J ot this dif- 
 
 tereits ; and your pious C ourfe. 
 
 inclinations do fo happily 
 confpire with my duty, that I fhall not need to ftep 
 out of my road to gratify you ; but I may at once per- 
 form an office of friendfhip, and difcharge an exerciie 
 of my function, (l'nce the advancing of virtue and ho- 
 linefs (which I hope you make your greateft ftudy) is 
 the peculiar bufinefs of my imployment. This there- 
 fore is the mod proper inftance wherein I can vent my 
 
 affection^ and exprefs my gratitude towards you, and 
 . - B I 
 
1 The Lift </ G D 
 
 •11 n^t ai 
 
 to this purp I know 
 
 d with better helps < iture, than 
 
 r arc y< u lik 
 ■ . .. :. tbd re, yetl in h pc- 
 
 . one whom you arc | 
 lonourwi ndfhip, tod which is more par- 
 
 ur ufc, will be kindly acce p ted 
 
 perhaps may fo direct 
 
 thdughts, that lomething or other may prove ufe- 
 
 ful to yoiL Nor (hall I doubt your pardon, ir tor 
 
 Iding my c : . into the better frame, I lay a 
 
 low foundation, beginning with the nature, and pro- 
 
 and all along give fach way to 
 
 my thoughts in the~profecution of the fubject, as may 
 
 bring me to lav many things which were not necaiary, 
 
 did I only confider to whom I am writing. 
 
 I cannot (peak ot Religion, but I mud lament that 
 
 am tiders to it, fo tew 
 
 lboql underftand what it kneana ; feme Bfecing 
 
 it in the underftanding, in i rtbodoi no- 
 
 tiobS and opinions, and all the account they can give 
 
 lis, that they are of this or the other 
 
 petfo Ron, and haw j -in'd th< 
 
 In reinto chriftendom is moil unhappily 
 
 ( 5 it in the outward man, in a 
 
 l had duties and a htodel of f 
 
 neighbours 
 I p a ten) | -.turns of worfhip, 
 
 their clofet, and Comet imes 
 
 • think 
 
 the) Others 
 
 in the iptiurdtis 
 
 ; s ro 
 
hi the Soul of Man. 3 
 
 pray with pafllon, and think of heaven with pleafure, 
 and to be arTe&ed with thofe kind and melting exprtf- 
 fions wherewith they court their Saviour, till they per- 
 fwade themfelves that they are mightily in love with 
 him, and from thence afliime a great confidence of their 
 falvation, which they elleem the chief of chriilian graces. 
 Thus are thefe things which have any refemblance of 
 piety, and at the bell are but means of obtaining it, 
 or particular exercifes of it, frequently miftaken for the 
 whole of religion : nay fometimes wickednefs and vice 
 pretend to that name. I fpeak not now of thofe grofs 
 impieties wherewith the heathens were wont to wor- 
 fhip their Gods ; there are but too many christians who 
 would confecrate their vices, and hallow their corrupt 
 affe&ions, whofe rugged humour, and fulien pride, mult 
 pafs for chriftian feverity, whofe fierce wrath, and bit- 
 ter rage againft their enemies, mud be called holy zeal 5 
 whofe petulancy towards their fuperiors, or rebellion 
 againft their governors, mufl have the name of chris- 
 tian courage and refolution. 
 
 But certainly Religion is quite another thing, and 
 they who are acquainted with it, will 
 entertain far different thoughts, and dif- w £" religion 
 dain all thofe ihadows and falfe imita- 
 tions of it : They know by experience that true religion 
 is an union of the foul with God, a real participation 
 of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn 
 upon the foul, or in the apoftle's phrafe, it is Chrifi 
 formed within us. Briefly, I know not how the nature 
 of religion can be more fully exprefTed than by calling 
 it a divine life ; and under thefe terms 1 mail difcourfe 
 of it, mewing firft how it is called a life, and then 
 how it is termed divine. 
 
 B: 
 
4 Life cf GO D 
 
 of ///>, firh 
 
 Permanency mid ftal 
 
 .. ....... 
 
 the miu J, not chough it (hould 
 >f a rapture, and feem to tranfpOfft a man 
 
 but 
 ing for 
 the of which may pufll on- 
 
 ward (I me fteps wh but 
 
 - in a hoi 
 
 th frcJh 
 
 h, but are quickly withei aufc the] had 
 
 . in themfdves. 'I m- 
 
 pared to the violent and convulfive mod 
 
 D ufed by the agitations of the ani- 
 
 .- the foul is departed, whii ever 
 
 violent and impetuous, can be of no long continuao 
 
 whereas the motions of holy foui nftanc and rtgu- 
 
 mt, and lively princi] 
 lr is true, this divine life continueth not always in that 
 
 th and vigour, but many times fuffi 
 I ays, and holy men find 
 >• temptati alacrity in th 
 
 vet it is n< t i n< r 
 
 I to i 
 
 r-rule the Id. 
 
 in inward, free, and 
 " m3ml f< cinlc. and thole who 
 
 s made p 
 onl; driven merely 
 
 drained 
 vcrfully d to that which 
 
 it ; the 1 
 
 w] 
 
in the Soul of Man. 5 
 
 which a pious man bears to God and goodnefs, is not 
 fo much by virtue of a command enjoining him fo to do, 
 as by a new nature inftru&ing and prompting him to 
 it ; nor doth he pay his devotions as an unavoidable 
 tribute, only to appeafe the divine juftice, or quiet his 
 clamorous confcience, but thofe religious exercifes are 
 the proper emanations of the divine life, the natural 
 employments of the new born foul. He prays, and 
 gives thanks, and repents, not only becaufe thefe 
 things are commanded, but rather becaufe he is fenfible 
 of his wants, and of the divine goodnefs, and of the 
 folly and mifery of a finful life • his charity is not for- 
 ced, nor his alms extorted from him, his love makes 
 him willing to give ; and though there were no outward 
 obligation, his heart would devife liberal things ; in- 
 juftice or intemperance, and all other vices, are as 
 contrary to his temper and conftitution, as the bafeft 
 actions are to the moil generous fpirit, and impudence 
 and fcurrility to thofe who are naturally model! : fo 
 that I may well fay with f St. John, IVhofoever 
 is bom of God doth not commit fin : for his feed 
 remaineth in him y and he cannot fin becaufe he 
 is bom of God. Though holy and religious per- 
 fons do much eye the law of God, and have a great 
 regard unto it, yet it is not fo much the fanc- 
 tion of the law^ as its reafonablenefs, and purity, and 
 goodnefs, which do prevail with them ; they account 
 it excellent and defirable in it felf, and that in keeping 
 of it there is great reward - y and that divine love where- 
 with they are a&edj makes them become a law unto 
 themfelves, 
 
 B 3 $u& 
 
 f lJ?toW»! 9t 
 
6 72 :- of G D 
 
 c ^ >i det amantit :is f 
 
 M • c/? **/0r lex tpfc 
 
 I : move. 
 
 I n a word, what cur blefTed 
 himfclf, is in f)mc mcafurc applicable to his : 
 
 . crs, * that it is tlar mtat and drink to do 
 I .-..'; and as the natural ippctite 
 
 is carried out toward food, though uld not | - 
 
 fleet on the neceflity of it for the prefcrvation of our 
 lives ; (o are they carried with a natural and unfofced 
 propcfifiofi toward that which is good and p m fundable. 
 It is true, external mo: ; many times of great 
 
 i lid ftir up this inward principle, cfpeci- 
 
 ally in its infancy and I fo 
 
 laiv. at the m* a ra it, 
 
 ha:. i;cn 
 
 !.. , ■■■•:■ tby hi • , ■ . i, by I ffiut 
 
 oi an 6 •' , by the autho- 
 
 rity ol the law, oi th< ; of others. Now if 
 
 fuch a p ntious and uniform inbisobe- 
 
 diemce, and eamefil ing under tl ins 
 
 dulnefs, an, S :o perform his duties « ith more 
 
 fpirit, : firfi motions 61 I 
 
 divine life, which i : be faint and ) 01 
 
 (wrely be chcrilhed by the influences of be and 
 
 ... unto greater maturity. But he who terly 
 
 deftitute of this inward pi • * noc ai- 
 
 pireunto.it, bi himfelf wirh th< rm- 
 
 cunto he is prompted byeducai cut 
 
 hell, or carnal not! 
 
 I re be t( I petfoOj than ■ 
 
 pupp'r 
 
in the Soul of Man. 
 
 puppit can be call'd a man. This forced and artificial 
 religion is commonly heavy and languid, like the mo- 
 tion of a weight forced upward : it is c v ld and fpiritlefs, 
 like the uneafy compliance of a wife married againft 
 her will, who carries it dutifully toward the husband 
 whom flie doth not love, out of fome fenfe of virtue 
 or honour. Hence alfo this religion is fcant and nig- 
 gardly, efpecially inthofe duties which do greateft vio- 
 lence to mens carnal inclinations, and thofe flavifh fpi- 
 rits will be fure to do no more, than is abfolutely re- 
 quired j 'tis a law that compels them, and they will 
 be loath to go beyond what it flints them to, nay, 
 they will ever be putting fuch gloffes on it, as may 
 leave themfelves the greateft liberty : whereas the fpirit 
 of true religion is frank and liberal, far from fuch pee^ 
 vifh and narrow reckoning ; and he who hath given 
 himfelf intirely unto God, will never think he doth too 
 much for him. 
 
 B y this time I hope it doth appear, that religion is 
 with a great deal of reafon termed a life, 
 or vital principle, and that it is very nc- Rel, s ion a *- 
 
 r r 5 < vine principle' 
 
 ceflary to diftinguifh betwixt it, and that 
 obedience which is conftrained, and depends on exter- 
 nal caufes : I come next to give an account why I de- 
 fign*d it by the name of divine life ; and fo it may 
 be called, not only in regard of its fountain and ori- 
 ginal, having God for its author, and being wrought: 
 in the fouls of men by the power of his holy fpirk j but 
 alfo in regard of its nature, religion being a refem- 
 blanceof the divine perfections, the image of the Al 
 mighty mining in the foul of man : nay it is a real r 
 ticipation of his nature, it is a beam of the etettJ i 
 a drop of that infinite ocean of goodneO 
 
 B4 
 
8 The i of GOD 
 
 are cac '.\ it, m:-. id to have G< 
 
 cm. 
 Bepo b ] . . i i moi 
 
 "**- giondotliconfift, it will p< 
 
 [peak a little ol that natural or animal 
 iich prevails in thofe v. ho nr to 
 
 _r: and [ underftand nothing elfe, I 
 
 our inclination and pr I toward ings 
 
 and acceptable to nature ■ or felf- 
 1 vc ifluing forth and fprc It (elf into as many 
 
 1 . men hai ites and ir 
 
 the root and foundation of the animal ' : I sckon to 
 b g it larg : .:h, 
 
 I impbrteth our peri 
 that 
 
 animal is cohfidered iri I and as tl 
 
 arc implanted ip us by natur , b 
 
 tot furnifhing h 
 
 to i and wclft ! 
 
 arc ioil • untoth 
 
 for whi< 
 
 made; bur man being made for higher pui and 
 
 to I 
 
 ar.- : 
 
 to viola! 
 
 neg 
 
 ( i 
 
 , bur only to be ma and 
 
 a fuperior and more excellent principle. 
 
 is and wkk« 
 , 10 
 
 I 
 
 B 
 
in the Soul of Man. 9 
 
 But it is ftrange to obferve, unto what different 
 courfes this natural principle will fome- 
 times carry thofe who are wholly guided The different 
 
 , . ,. ' , ,. . tendencies of 
 
 by it, according to the divers circum- £ h e naturailife, 
 fiances that concur with it to determine 
 them : and then not confidering this doth frequently 
 occafion very dangerous miftakes, making men think 
 well of themfelves by reafon of that feeming difference 
 which is betwixt them and others, whereas perhaps their 
 actions do all the while flow from one and the fame 
 original. If we confider the natural temper, and con- 
 futation of mens fouls, we mall find fome to be airy, 
 frolickfome and light, which makes their behaviour ex- 
 travagant and ridiculous ; whereas others are naturally 
 ferious and fevere, and their whole carriage compofed 
 into fuch gravity as gains them a great deal of reverence 
 and eileem. Some are of an humorous, rugged, and 
 morofe temper, and can neither be pleafed themfelves, 
 nor endure that others mould be fo; but all are 
 not born with fuch fowre and unhappy difpoiitions, 
 for fome perfons have a certain fweetnefsand benignity 
 rooted in their natures, and they find the greateil plea- 
 fure in the endearments of fociety, and the mutual 
 complacency of friends, and covet nothing more than 
 to have every body obliged to them : and it is well thac 
 nature hath provided this complectional tendernefs to 
 fupply the defect of true charity in the world, and to 
 incline men to do fomething for one another's wel- 
 fare. Again, in regard of education, fome have never 
 been taught to follow any other rules, than thofe of 
 pleafure or advantage ; but others are fo inured to ob- 
 ferve the ftricteft rules, of decency and honour, and 
 fome inftances of virtue, that they are hardly capable 
 
 of 
 
IO Trc Life of G D 
 
 of dc A have boa accuftomM to 
 
 look upon as bad- and unworthy. 
 
 I \:n:, it is no fmall difference in the deportment 
 m mecr natural men, that doth arife from the ftfCBgth 
 
 orweakn I rifwfcor judgment, and from i 
 care or negligence in tiling them. Intemperance 
 luft, injufticc and oppreiTion, and all thofe other im- 
 puties which abound in the world, and render it (b 
 miferablc, arc the iifues of felt-love, the trKct of the 
 
 7 life, when it is neither ovcr-p<< . 
 nor govern'd b; iu:ural reafon; but if it i 
 hold of rafafl ; and gel judgment and wit to be or its 
 party, it will many times difdain tiu [ 
 Ct% ftjftd ipring up unto lair imitations of virtue and 
 goodie K II a man have but (b much rcafon as to con- 
 iider the prejudice which intemperance and inordinate 
 hid do bring unto his health, his fortune, and hi^> 
 reputation, (flf-lovc may (uffice to reftrain him; and 
 rules or' moral juftice in dealing 
 nay to fecurc his own inl- 
 and maintain his credit in rid But thii 
 all, d ral prim the help 01 reafon may 
 rake a .:, audi BK nigbcf the ir.U . 
 
 f incline a man do 
 
 . r why mould not I 
 
 nint i It maj men, 
 
 zealous in maintaining and pn pinions as 
 
 :irous th : i 
 unto their :, and e the 
 
 l, which l it may 
 
 .'.lent dif- 
 natl . • ol 
 ■ 
 
in the Soul of Man. 1 1 
 
 difpofe to no fmall height of fenfible devotion. The 
 glorious things that are fpoken of heaven, may make 
 even a carnal heart in love with it, the metaphors and 
 fimilitudes made ufe of in fcripture, of crowns and 
 fcepters, and rivers of pleafure, &c. will cafily affect 
 a man's fancy, and make him wifh to be there, though 
 he neither underftand nor defire thofe fpiritual pleafures 
 which are defcribed and fhadowed forth by them ; and 
 when fuch a perfon comes to believe that Chrift has pur- 
 chafed thofe glorious things for him, he may feel a kind 
 of tendernefs and affection towards fo great a benefac- 
 tor, and imagine that he is mightily inamoured with 
 him, and yet all the while continue a ftranger to the 
 holy temper and fpirit of the bleffed Jefus : and what 
 hand the natural conftitution may have in the rapturous 
 devotions of fome melancholy perfons, hath been ex- 
 cellently difcovered of late by feveral learned and ju- 
 dicious pens. 
 
 T o conclude, there is nothing proper to make a 
 man's life pleafant, or himfelf eminent and confpicuous 
 in the world, but this natural principle, affifted by wit 
 and reafon, may prompt him to it • and tho* I do not 
 condemn thefe things in themfelves, yet it concerns us 
 nearly to know and confider their nature, both that 
 we may keep within due bounds, and alfo that we may 
 learn never to value our felves on the account of fuch 
 attainments, nor lay the flrefs of religion upon our na- 
 tural appetites or performances. 
 
 I t is now time to return to the consideration of that 
 divine life whereof I was difcouriing be- 
 fore, that life which is hid with Cknft in therein ' h « 
 
 • / ' , J . , , , . J n divine lite doth 
 
 Gody and therefore hath no glorious Ihew confift. 
 or appearance in the world, and to the 
 natural man willfeem a mean and infipid notion. As 
 
 the 
 
i i Life of C D 
 
 th in that narrow and con/;: 
 . is ten: . and in his 
 
 things that arc g to 
 
 the (Hi I (lands In in • fa] and 
 
 II, and in the madir;. i ur na- 
 
 tural ii that they m 
 
 irt) i jvhlch wc know to be blameable. 
 
 The root of branches 
 
 arc I, charity to man, purity and humifit 
 
 (br (as an excellent 
 
 theft r: ', and make no 
 
 inordinary fuind, yet do they carry fuch a migl 
 
 nothing more J 
 
 fame pfacc in the divine life which I 
 
 the natural, being indeed nothing elft but a 
 
 fcnfc, or feeling perfwafion of fpirittial things: it 
 
 it (elf unto all divine truths; but in our la] < -ate, 
 
 it hath a peculiar relation to I 
 
 mcrcv and reconcilcaW 
 
 tor, and therefore receiving ruination from that 
 
 priiuijv 
 
 Clrtft. 
 
 T i i ( natc 
 
 fmfe of the divine 
 
 jn nrd : 
 
 ill things to ] im, i no- 
 
 thing lb much as in rtHowfllip itfa 
 
 him, a to do or 
 
 , or at his • s this affection may 
 
 ( J d 
 
 :.i i: in II 
 
 i parti onfideratfohs, and 
 
 i 
 
ik the Soul of Man. 13 
 
 the works of creation and providence. A foul thus 
 potfeffed with divine love, muft needs be inlarged to- 
 wards all mankind in a {incere and unbounded affection, 
 becaufe of the relation they have to God being his 
 creatures, and having fomething of his image {lamped 
 upon them : and this is that charity I named as the fe- 
 cond branch of religion, and under which all the parts 
 of juftice, all the duties we owe to our neighbour arc 
 eminently comprehended : for he who doth truly love 
 all the world, will bejiearly concerned in the intereft of 
 every one, and fo far from wronging or injuring any 
 perfon, that he will refent any evil that befals others, as 
 if it happened to himfelf. 
 
 B y purity, I underftand a due abftractednefs from 
 the body, and mattery over the inferior appetites: or 
 fuch a temper and difpofition of mind, as makes a man 
 defpife and abltain from all pleafures and delights of 
 fenfeor fancy which are finful in themfelves, or tend to 
 extinguifh or leffenour relifh of more divine and intel- 
 lectual pleafures, which doth alfo infer a refolutenefs 
 to undergo all thofe hardfhips he may meet with hi 
 the performance of his duty : fo that not only chaility 
 and temperance, but alfo chrillian courage and magna- 
 nimity may come under this head. 
 
 Humility imports a deep fenfe of our own meannefs, 
 with a hearty and affectionate acknowledgment of our 
 owing all that we are to the divine bounty ; which is 
 always accompanied with a profound fubmifTion to the 
 will of God, and great deadnefs towards the glory ot 
 the world, and applaufe of men. 
 
 These are the higheft perfections that either men 
 or angels are capable of, the very foundation of heaven 
 laid in the foul ; and he who hath attain'd them, needs 
 not defire to pry into the hidden rolls of God's decrees, 
 
 or 
 
i+ Tbc Lift of GOD 
 
 or (larch the V( ' .. what is deter- 
 
 mined about his everlaftiiig condition j but he may 
 tind a c ^\y : G d*s thoughts Concerning him written 
 in his OWI) bread. His love to God may m him 
 atibranot Gods favour to him, andthofebegttmti 
 ofhappinefs which be feels in the con! the 
 
 powers of his foul to the nature of God, and compli- 
 ance with his will, are a fore pledge that Ins felicity 
 fittll be perfected, and continued to all eternity : and 
 it is not without reafbo that one faid, / fee 
 
 tbc rc.i.l tmprcjp.ons .-like nature WfOM my ,. 
 
 foul, than have a vifumfrm **ff? fi*t 
 
 to tell mttl book of I. 
 
 Wh I n WC haw bid all that we can, the ft 
 Diyfteries of a new nature and divifM 
 5^^2f can never be foffidendy expteffed, lan- 
 
 taiumthanby guage and words cannot reach them; 
 ****■ nor can they be truly underitood but by 
 
 thofc fouls that are enkindled within, and awakened 
 unto the fenfc and relifhof fpiritual things fi 
 
 fptnt in 
 
 tl is undirftanding* The power and I 
 
 may be better expreded in a than in words be- 
 
 caulc actions are more lively things, and do better re- 
 prefent the inward principle wfa and 
 
 therefore we may take the bed in 
 
 wments, from the deportment or thofc in 
 whom thej xially as the; 
 
 emplified in the holy life 
 
 pain parr • bufinefs in this ■■ each 
 
 by Ids what he did requii and to 
 
 make his own c mveriation inex hofe 
 
 unparallell'd rules which h< pi 
 ttuegoodndi was vifiblc to mortal < , it wasthen 
 
in the Soul of Man. 15 
 
 ^hen his prefence did beautify and illuftrate this lower 
 world. 
 
 That fincere and devout affe&ion wherewith his 
 bleffed foul did conftantly burn towards 
 his heavenly father, did exprefs it felf i> ivi ^ lo ^ex- 
 
 . . * ~ . 1 .... * empljftedinout 
 
 m an intire refignation to his will, it was Saviour. 
 
 this was his very meat to do the will, and 
 
 finijb the work of him that fent him. This was the 
 
 exercife of his childhood, and the con- 
 
 ftant imployment of his riper age \ he His diligence 
 
 fpared no travail or pains while he was JJju ; 0U,s 
 
 about his father's bufinefs, but took fuch 
 
 infinite content and fatisfaction in the performance of 
 
 itj that when, being faint and weary with his journey, 
 
 he refted himfelf on Jacob's well, and intreated water 
 
 of the Samaritane woman ; the fuccefs of his conference 
 
 with her, and the acceflion that was made to the 
 
 kingdom of God, filled his mind with fuch delight, as 
 
 feemed to have redounded to his very body, refreshing 
 
 his fpirits, and making him forget the thirit whereof 
 
 *he complained before, and refufe the meat which he had 
 
 fent his difciples to buy. Nor was he 
 
 lefs patient and fubmiffive in differing p s P atiencc fc 
 
 uCiirin cr 1% 
 
 the will of God, than diligent in doing 
 of it : he endured the fharpeft afflictions, and ex- 
 treameft miferies that ever were inflicted on any mor- 
 tal, without a repining thought, or difcontented word. 
 For tho 5 he was far from a ftupid infenfibility, or a 
 phantaftic or Stoical obftinacy, and had as quick a 
 fenfe of pain as other men, and the deepeft apprehen- 
 fion of what he was to fuffer in his foul, (as his bloody 
 'fas eat, and the fore amazement and forrow which he 
 profeft do abundantly declare) yet did he intirely fub- 
 
 mit 
 
, 6 Tib Life 9/ G D 
 
 mit to that [everc difpenfation ot prow ... ii- 
 
 tingly icquicfccd ia it. 
 
 A n D he prayed to G d, that if it vcrc pqffibh (or 
 j\s ODC of the evangelifts hath it, if}.: 
 
 ! c:tp migbi V*di yet he gently ad,: 
 
 tkfs, not «J WtU but thine be d m. O 
 ftrangc importance are the exprcfl 
 
 where he firft acknowledged] the anguifh of his fpirir, 
 
 H S3 u my foul troubled, which would Lem to | 
 a kind of demurr, I id then 
 
 he goes to deprecate his fimerings, Fr'cr^j - < rom 
 tits hour ; which he had no (boner uttered, but he doth, 
 as it were, on fecond thoughts recal it in theft 
 But far tbis 'me I in: I tidnA 
 
 jRr/ N * we mult not look on 
 
 this as any levity, or blameable weakiKisin the bfeflcd 
 Jelus ; he knew all along what he was Dp iurf.r, and 
 did moftrefolutcly undergo il ; but it (beWI un- 
 
 conceivable weight and pailiirc that l.e I bear, 
 
 which being fo aillicling and contrary to nature, he 
 could not think of without terror; yet, ::na 
 
 the will o\ God, and the glory which * .dound 
 
 to him from thence, he wub not only content, \ 
 
 Grous to Bifti it. 
 
 A n mi B inftance of his love t 
 delight in converting witl 
 11 • ' ••' c which made him frequent^] 
 
 from the world, and with the 
 devotion and pleafure fpend wh 4c nights in that hea- 
 venly exercife, though he had no (ins to ca nd 
 but few fccnlai interoftsto pray forj which ilas! arc 
 
 llmofl the Only things that are won: to our 
 
 devotions: r..i\ , v. e may lay his w h a kind 
 
 ofprtycfj acooftaotcou nwith Gci 
 
in the Soul of Man. 17 
 
 if the facrifice was not always offering, yet was the fire 
 ftill kept alive : nor was ever the bleffed Jefus furprized 
 with that dulnefs or tepidity of fpirit which we mull: 
 many times wreftle with, before we can be fit for the 
 exercife of devotion. 
 
 I n the fecond place, I mould fpeak of his love and 
 charity towards all men ; but he who 
 would exprefs it, muft tranfcribe the hif- Hs charIc y t0 
 
 r ' t men. 
 
 tory of the gofpel, and comment upon it : 
 for fcarce any thing is recorded to have been done or 
 fpoken by him, which was not defigned for the good 
 and advantage of fome one or other. All his miracu- 
 lous works were inflances of his goodnefs as well as his 
 power, and they benefited thofe on whom they were 
 wrought, as well as they amazed the beholders. His 
 charity was not confined to his kindred, or relations; 
 nor was all his kindnefs fwallowed up in the endear- 
 ments of that peculiar friendfhip which he carried to- 
 wards the beloved difciple, but every one was his 
 friend who obeyed his holy commands, Joh. xv. 4. and 
 whofoever did the will of his father, the fame was to 
 him zshis brother, and fifter, and mother. 
 
 Never was any unwelcome to him who came with 
 an honed intention, nor did he deny anyrequeft which 
 tended to the good of thofe that asked it : fo that what 
 was fpoken of that Roman Emperor, whom for his 
 goodnefs they called the darling of mankind, was 
 really performed by him, that never any departed from 
 him with a heavy countenance, except that rich youth, 
 Mark x. who was forry to hear that the kingdom of 
 heaven flood at fo high a rate, and that he could not 
 fave his foul and his money too. And certainly it 
 troubled our Saviour, to fee that when a price was in his 
 hand to get wifdom, yet he had no heart to it ; the in- 
 
 C genuicy 
 
i Life oj < CO D 
 
 gcnuit i in his firfl I . had Mil 
 
 iiim ; fee 
 
 : but muft he for his 
 
 , and a'.: ature 
 
 , which make it impoflibfc that a oofOMU 
 
 aid be happ 
 
 i> what fhali I fpeak of Iks meekoefe, who could 
 
 Lintel the monftrous ingratitude and diilimulatiou 
 of that mifcrcant who betrayed him, in no hariher 
 terms than th 
 
 ' What further evidence could we dd 
 his fervent an< onded charity, than that he wil- 
 
 lingly laid down his life even for his mofl bitter cne- 
 ; and mingling his prayers with his blood, be- 
 ht the rather that his death might not be laid to 
 . but might become the means ci eternal 
 pcrfons who ptocur.d it. 
 The third branch < Yich, 
 
 as I faid, confifts in a neglect oi worldly 
 His purity. en joymentS and accommodations, and a 
 
 lut< enduring of all fuch tTOUOJ 
 with in the doing of our <lu: 
 petfonwas wholl : I all the pleafu: 
 
 the natural life, it i blciTcd [efiis, whofeMon 
 
 '. them whert th< in his way ; k 
 
 his road to reek them. Tho' 1. 
 
 k, and honoored marriage 
 with a riigfo 
 
 id luvcrkncw the nuptial bed: and tho' at the 
 
 time he (applied the v. an: of wine with I mi 
 
 yet he would nor work 00< to* his own hun- 
 
 E d divine was rhc 
 
 bis i ill, in allowing to others fuch lawful 
 
 jit good to abftain front, 
 and 
 
in the Soul of Man. 19 
 
 and fupplying not only their more extream and prefling 
 neceflkies, but alfo their fmaller and lefs confiderabie 
 wants. We many times hear of our Saviour's fighs, 
 and groans, and tears; but never that he laught, and 
 but once that he rejoiced in fpirit: fothat through his 
 whole life, he did exactly anfwer that character given of 
 him by the prophet of old, that he was a man of for- 
 rowsy and acquainted with grief. Nor were the trou- 
 bles and difacccmmodations of his life other than mat- 
 ters of choice ; for never did there any appear on the 
 ftage of the world, with greater advantages to haveraifed 
 himfelf to the higheft fecular felicity. He who could 
 bring together fuch a prodigious number of fifties into 
 his difciples net ; and at another time receive that tri- 
 bute from a filh which he was to pay to the temple, 
 might eafily have made himfelf the richeft perfon in the 
 world. Nay, without any mony he could have main- 
 tained an army powerful enough to have juftled Cefar 
 out of his throne : having oftner than once fed feveral 
 thoufands with a few loaves and fmall fifties. But to 
 fhew how fmall efteem he had of all the enjoyments in 
 the world, he chofe to live in fo poor and mean a condi- 
 tion, that though the foxes had boles, and the birds of 
 the air hadnefts, yet he who was lord and heir of all 
 things , had not whereon to lay his head : he did not 
 frequent the courts of princes, nor affect the acquain- 
 tance and converfe of great ones ; but being reputed 
 the fon of a carpenter, he had fiftiermen, and fuch other 
 poor people for his companions, and lived at fuch a 
 rate as fuited with the meannefs of that condition. 
 
 And thus I am brought unawares to fpeak of his 
 humility y the lad branch of the divine life, 
 
 ... n • His humility. 
 
 wherein he was a molt eminent pattern to 
 «s, that we might learn of him to he meek and lowly 
 
 C 2 in 
 
T/>-j Life of GO D 
 
 I 1 D I not now fpeak of that : [U* 
 
 ICCO he etern. G I, L11 na- 
 
 ture up<»n him ; but on our Si lowly 
 
 and humble dep i while he was in i -d. 
 
 He had none oi thofefios and imj ich 
 
 juftly humble the bill of men j but 
 v [wallowed up with I infinite 
 
 God, that he appeared as nothing in his 
 own eyes, I mean, fo far as I attire. He 
 
 ifidered \ c&ions which (hined in 
 
 his blefled foal as not his own, but I 
 
 and i og t<> bin them, but 
 
 with the profoundeft humility i d all pret 
 
 nn Hence did h( that ordina: pel- 
 
 lation of ^ when addrefs'd to his human 
 
 nature, by one who it fcems was ignorant of his i 
 vinity : Why caUejt tbou mt 
 C l only. As if he had laid, the good: . 
 turc (and fuch only thou takefi me CO be) | or" 
 
 thy to be named or taken notice ofj 'tis God a] 
 i is originally and dKntully good. He (level mi 
 life of his miraculous p t vanity 
 
 be would not gratify the curiofitj ol the Jtws wil 
 fign from heaven, fomc prodigious ap| 
 air • i i would he follow ch meo 
 
 and kindred, who would have had all b i works 
 
 performed in the bin the 
 
 him 
 • of the miferable, his humility made him 
 enjoin : the mira< 
 
 and when th( glorj \\ for \vh 
 
 he catne into i Id, required the 
 
 tlum, he afcribeth the I all to Fai ierj 
 
 . 
 
 I 
 
in the Soul of Man. 
 
 21 
 
 I cannot infill: on all the inftances of humility in 
 his deportment towards men ; his withdrawing him- 
 felf when they would have made him a king, his fub- 
 jection not only to his bleffed mother, but to her huf- 
 band during his younger years, and his fubmiflion to 
 all the indignities and affronts, which his rude and ma- 
 licious enemies did put upon him. The hiftory of his 
 holy life, recorded by thofe who converfed with him, 
 is full of fuch paffages as thefe : and indeed the feri- 
 ous and attentive ftudy of it, is the beft way to get 
 right meafures of humility, and all the other parts of 
 religion, which I have been endeavouring to defcribe. 
 
 But now, that I may leffen your trouble of read- 
 ing a long letter, by making fome paufes in it ; let me 
 here fubjoin a prayer that might be proper when one 
 who had formally entertained fome falfe notions of reli- 
 gion, begins to difcover what it is, 
 
 A Prayer. 
 
 INfinite and eternal majefty, author and fountain 
 c of being and bleffednefs, how little do we poor 
 finful creatures know of thee, or the way to ferve 
 and pleafe thee ? We talk of religion, and pretend 
 unto it ; but alas ! How few are there that know 
 and confider what it means? how eafily do we mif- 
 take the affections of our nature, and iffues of felf- 
 love, for thofe divine graces which alone can render 
 us acceptable in thy fight ? It may juftly grieve 
 me to confider, that I mould have wandred fo long, 
 and contented my felf fo often with vain fliadows 
 
 C i ' and 
 
z 2 TJjc Life of GOD 
 
 * and falfc in. r I can- 
 1 notbucacL d tdore thy goodiufs, who 
 
 1 hall been plcafed in eafiut to 
 
 * and let mc fee what it is at which I < n aim. 
 1 Irejokc toooofider what mighty imprw 
 
 1 nature it capable o£ and what adhiiu :.. 
 
 1 fpirit doth fhine in thofc whom thou ati 
 
 * choofc, and caofeft to anpr 
 
 * be thine infinite mercy who (cntefl thine own ion to 
 
 * dwell among men, and inftrufi them by his example 
 
 * as well as his laws, giving them a f 
 
 1 what they ought to be. O that the holy li:e of the 
 1 blctied lefus may be always in my ti. . and 
 
 * before mine eyes, till 1 receive a deep fenfc and im- 
 ' prelTion of thofc tXi s that fhined (o tmi- 
 c ncntly in him, and let me never ccafc my endeavours 
 c till that new and divine nature prevail in my foul, 
 c andChrilt be formed within me. 
 
 AND now, my dear friend, having di 
 the nature of tru^ religion, befi re 1 pen 
 any further, it will not perhaps 
 
 The rxrc'lcn.y g x m ma Jj cat j ons , ]j tc]c cn t j 
 
 and advin:jgc 
 
 excellency and advantage! oi it, that 
 we maj ited to tl 
 
 and diligent profeoidoQ of thofi methods* whereby 
 
 we may attain fo great a felicity. But alas] what 
 '■- (hall we fmd to exprefs that inward 
 
 thofc hidden pkafuus which can never Ik rightly 
 
 undcrltood, bllC by thole holy fouls who fa 
 
 a 
 
in the Soul of Man. 23 
 
 a ft ranger intermeddkth not with their joy. * Holi- 
 nefs is the right temper, the vigorous and healthful 
 conflitution of the foul: its faculties had formerly 
 been enfeebled, and difordered, fo that they could 
 not exercife their natural functions ; it had wearied 
 it felf with endlefs toffings, and rollings, and was 
 never able to find any reft : now that diftemper 
 being removed, it feels it felf well, there is a due 
 harmony in its faculties, and a fprightly vigour pof- 
 feffeth every part. The underftanding can difcern 
 what is good, and the will can cleave unto it, the 
 affections are not tied to the motions of fenfe, and 
 the influence of external objects ; but they are flir- 
 red by more divine imprefIions 3 are touched by a 
 fenfe of inviiible things. 
 
 Let us defcend, if you pleafe, into a nearer 
 and more particular view of religion, in 
 thofe feveral branches of it which were The excellency 
 named before ; let us confider that love 
 and affection wherewith holy fouls are united to God, 
 that we may fee what excellency and felicity is in- 
 volved in it. Love is that powerful and prevalent 
 paflion, by which all the faculties and inclinations of 
 the foul are determined, and on which both its perfec- 
 tion and happinefs depend. The worth and excel- 
 lency of a foul, is to be meafured by the object of its 
 Jove : he who loveth mean and fordid things, doth 
 thereby become bafe and vile ; but a noble and well- 
 placed affection, doth advance and improve the fpirit 
 unto ft conformity with the perfections which it loves. 
 The images of thefe do frequently prefent themfelves 
 
 C 4 unto 
 
 •• PrQy. xiv. 10. 
 
The Life of GOD 
 
 force and enerry in- 
 foul, a; .1 
 
 mould ii i ion it unto thci 
 
 We i -o 
 
 Che im : iti n of the ; 
 t even before tl 
 
 blc them, not only in th< iderable inftan- 
 
 depoitn in theii ind 
 
 gefture, and that which we call theii .dair; 
 
 and certainly we fhould as \% ell rranferibe the virtues 
 and inward s o( the 
 
 jefl and m< But I 
 
 Cures WC converfe with have their mixture and alloy, 
 we . in hazard to be Culliec 
 
 placing out them. Pa ill on doth eafily 
 
 blind < that wc ilrft approve, and then 
 
 imitate the things that a:, blameable in them \ the 
 true way to improv ur fouls, is by fix- 
 
 ing our love oo the dh , that a 
 
 have them always b and Bon 
 
 d our Pelves, and 
 as tgei 
 
 i . vbo with 
 
 a d hath railed hi 
 
 t wards that uncreated I d dm l, and 
 
 fij . tion there, is i 
 
 m i lent and beroick tern 
 
 world, ami cai i infinite) mean and 
 
 unworthy I will nor entertain u 01 bafc 
 
 thoughts, which might difj d noble 
 
 pretenfi I itcfl tnd mofi excellent 
 
 thing W< arc maftersof, and therefore it is folly I 
 
 bai it unworthily ; ii onlj 
 
 thing w< can call out thq things may be tal 
 
in the Soul of Man. 25 
 
 from us by violence, but none can ravifh our love. 
 If any thing elfe be counted ours, by giving our love, 
 we give all, fo far as we make over our hearts and 
 wills, by which we poffefs our other enjoyments. It is 
 not poflible to refufe him any thing, to whom by love 
 we have given our felves,- nay, fince it is the privilege 
 of gifts to receive their value from the mind of the 
 giver, and not to be meafured by the event, but by 
 the defire ; he who loveth may in fome fenfe be faid not 
 only to beflow all that he hath, but all things elfe 
 which may make the beloved perfon happy, fince he 
 doth heartily wifh them, and would really give them, 
 if they were in his power : in which fenfe it is that 
 one makes bold to fay, Sfbat divine love doth in a 
 planner give God unto himfeJf by the complacency it 
 takes in the happinefs and perfection of his nature : 
 But though this may feem too [trained an exprefTion, 
 certainly love is the worthieit prefent we can ofter 
 unto God, and it is extreamly debafed when we be- 
 flow it another way. 
 
 When this affection is mifplaced, it doth often 
 vent it felf in fuch expreflions, as point at its genuine 
 and proper object, and infinuate where it ought to be 
 placed. The flattering and blafphemous terms of ado- 
 ration, wherein men do fometimes exprefs their paflion, 
 are the language of that affection which was made and 
 defigned for God : as he who is accuftomed to fpeak 
 to fome great perfon, doth perhaps unawares accofl 
 another with thofe titles he was wont to give to him. 
 But certainly that paffion which accounteth its object 
 a deity, ought to be beftowed on him who really is 
 fo : thofe unlimited fubmiflions, which would debafe 
 the foul, if directed to any other, will exalt and en- 
 noble it, when placed here ; thofe chains and cords 
 
 of 
 
26 77v Life of GO D 
 
 of love, arc infinitely more glorious than liberty it 
 felt"; this flavcry is more no'olc than all the empire 
 in the world. 
 
 A*. I i •-, as divine love doth advance and clcvatc 
 
 the foul, fo it is that alone which ea:i 
 Thcadvamage, makc k happy; rhe Ugbeft and | 
 or divine U **/ V-... , 
 
 ravifhing pleasures, the molt iohd and 
 
 fubftantial delights that human nature is capable of, 
 arc thofc which arifc from the endearments or" a well- 
 plac.d and fuccefsful arrection. That which imbitters 
 love, and makes it ordinarily a very troublefome and 
 hurtful pailion, is the placing it on thofc who have 
 not worth enough to deferve it, or arkction and gra- 
 titude to requite it, or whofe abfencc may deprive us 
 of the plcafurc of their convcrfe, or their mile: I 
 fion our trouble. To all thofc evils are they e\p 
 whofe chief and fupream affection is placed on creatures 
 like thcmfelves j but the love of God delivers us from 
 them all. 
 
 First, I fay, love muft needs be miurable, and 
 
 full of trouble and difcjuictudc, v 
 
 there is not worth and excellency civ 
 
 10 tl 9 toanfwer the vaitiuis of its 
 
 capacity: (o tod violent ft pailion cannot bat 
 
 lent the (pirit, when it finds nor where- 
 
 jvitfa to fatisfj its cravings. And indeed fo large and 
 
 unbounded is its nature, that it muft b amly 
 
 pinched and (brained, when. .aire: 
 
 nothing below an infinite I it toon to 
 
 and exert its vigouc ivity. What 
 
 it 'a little skin-deep beauty, or foe es of 
 
 I :nisy a paflion ns hich was made 
 
 \r (i ii ; defigncd to embrace an infinite No 
 
 . Co io hardly fuftcr any rival, and do not 
 
 defire 
 
in the Soul of Man. 2j 
 
 defire that others fhould approve their pafTion by imi- 
 tating it : they know the fcantinefs and narrownefs o£ 
 the good which they love, that it cannot fuffice two, 
 being in effed too little for one. Hence love which is 
 firong as death, occafioneth jealoufy which is cruel as 
 the grave, the coals whereof are coals of fire, which 
 hath a mod violent flame. 
 
 But divine love hath no mixture of this gall • 
 when once the foul is fixed on that fupream and all- 
 fufficient good, it finds fo much perfection and good- 
 nefs, as doth not only anfwer and fatisfy its affection, 
 but mailer and over-power it too: it finds all its love 
 to be too faint and languid for fuch a noble object, 
 and is only forry that it can command no more. It 
 wilheth for the flames of a feraph, and longs for the 
 time when it fhall be wholly melted and diffolved into 
 love : and becaufe it can do fo little it felf, it defires 
 the affiftance of the whole creation, that angels and 
 men would concur with it in the admiration and love 
 of thofe infinite perfections. 
 
 Again, love is accompanied with trouble, whea 
 it mifleth a fuitable return of affection : 
 love is the mod valuable thing we can The certainty 
 bellow, and by giving it, we do in ef- ag ain / 
 feet give all that we have ; and therefore 
 it mud needs be afflicting to find fo great a gift de- 
 fpifed, that the prefent which one hath made of his 
 whole heart, cannot prevail to obtain any return. 
 Perfect love is a kind of felf-dereliction, a wandring 
 out of our felves, it is a kind of voluntary death, 
 wherein the lover dies to himfelf, and all hi^ own in- 
 terelts, not thinking of them, nor caring for fchem any 
 more, and minding nothing but how he may pleafe 
 and gratify the party whom he loves. Thus he is 
 
 quite 
 
Tie Life b/G D 
 
 ■ 
 
 I hath D rd to 
 
 him j bur it he b. i: wire, 
 
 and li ol tnd :n be 
 
 mind i. 
 p >, not fo much b arc his, as becaufe 
 
 the beloved is pleafed to own an intertfl in tl 
 he becomes clear un unto 
 
 the other. 
 
 But why fhould I enlarge info known a ma: 
 nothing can b r, than I ,.s ot 
 
 luvc v S 00 the: return i: me< ; and i . 
 
 the divine lover hath nnfpeakably the advantage, hav- 
 ing placed his aileaion 00 him whofe nature 
 
 whole goodnefe is as infinite as his being, whofc nuR) 
 
 .ius, when WC were his enemies tlu: 
 cannot choofc but em- , when we arc become his 
 
 is. It is utterly impofTible that God flv | 
 
 his love to a foul wholly d him, and « 
 
 dcfircs nothing fo much as to f< nim .• 
 
 he cannot difdam his own image, nor the heart in 
 which it is engraven: love is all the tribute which we 
 can pay him, and it is the iacrificc which he will not 
 defp 
 
 A n o t h E I thing which difturbs the 
 
 , and rend and on- 
 
 ***"* quiet paffion, is abfence and | 
 
 I 
 ifiblc nil: part^ 
 
 nc little ■ 
 (hat fociety which is fo delightful; a 
 
 being Tpent in an impatient d n i f 
 
 the b Ur wherein WC may meet again j I 
 
 i bavc m^dc fhc 
 
in the Soul of MaH. 29 
 
 it muft, this occafions a grief fearce to be parallelled 
 by all the misfortunes of human life, and wherein wc 
 pay dear enough for the comforts of cur friendfhip. 
 But O how happy are thofe, who have placed their 
 love on him who can never be abfent from them ! they 
 need but open their eyes, and they fhall every where 
 behold the traces of his prefence and glory, and con- 
 verfe with him whom their foul loveth ; and this 
 makes the darkeft prifon, or wildeit defart, not only 
 fupportable, but delightful to them. 
 
 I n fine, a lover is miferable if the perfon whom 
 he loveth be fo : they who have made 
 an exchange of hearts by love, get thereby The div '"e lov e 
 an intereft in one another's happinefs and take ' rfw j n ^ 
 mifery : and this makes love a trouble- nice happinefs. 
 fome pafllon, when placed on earth. The 
 moll; fortunate perfon hath grief enough to marr the 
 tranquillity of his friend, and it is hard to hold cut, 
 when we are attacked on all hands, and fuffer not 
 only in our own perfon, but in another's. But if God 
 were the object of our love, we mould mare in an infi- 
 nite happinefs without any mixture or poflibility of di- 
 minution : we fhould rejoice to behold the glory oi 
 God, and receive comfort and pleafure from all the 
 praifes wherewith men and angels do extol him. It 
 fhould delight us beyond all exprcmon to confiden, 
 that the beloved of our fouls is infinitely happy in him- 
 felf, and that all his enemies cannot (hake or unfettle 
 his throne : fhat our God is in the heavens , and doth 
 wbatfoever he pkc.feth. 
 
 Behold! on what fure foundations his happinefs 
 is built, whofe foul is pofTefTed with divine love, 
 
 whofe 
 
30 77 1 Life of GOD 
 
 whole will is transformed into tl. 
 
 ft dcfirc is, thtt his maker b old b. 
 
 pleated: () the peace, the reft, the fa:: i chat 
 
 ■ttendeth fiich a temper of mind ! 
 \V h at an infinite pleafitre mnfl ; - thus 
 
 as ic were to lofe 00 in him, and 
 
 !l being fallowed up in the overcoming 
 (Weetnefi m fenfi of his goodneft, to oftr our ft 
 
 every ffifpcofr a ] — g^ffee a i uays afcending unto 
 
 him m flames of love. ]s 
 foul know what (olid joy and fubftantial pleafi:. 
 till once being weary of it illf, it renounce ail pro- 
 priety, give itfclfpp unto the author. , and 
 feel it (elf bee me a hallowed and dev ; and 
 can (ay from an inward fenlc and feeling, iff) 
 is mine ) (I account all his intereft mine own) 
 
 r'j; lam content to be anv thi: , and 
 
 care not for my felf, but that i 
 perfon moulded into this : . pleafurc 
 
 in all the dMpcnfati< i .'. en- 
 
 joj ments would have an 
 talle the divine goodnefsin them, and 
 tokens of love fait by his deareft lord and 
 and chaftUements, though i 
 grievous, would ! c their 
 
 as the ftaff would comfort him : 
 kits from the hand that was fa 
 
 ;iefs from that (i 
 that though God did not the 
 and fbolilh creature as himfelf, ) own 
 
 will, and accomplifhed his < i arc 
 
 infinitely dm n Ik Ij i nd 
 
 H a 
 
In th Soul of Man. 31 
 
 The exercifes of religion, which to others are in- 
 fipid and tedious, do yield the higheft 
 pleafure and delight to fouls pofleffed The juries of 
 
 r ° . . * religion are de- 
 
 with divine love : they rejoice when they lightfukohim. 
 are called to * go up to the houfe of the 
 Lord, that they may fee his power and his glory, as 
 they have formerly feen it in his fancJuary. They 
 never think themfelves fo happy as when, having re- 
 tired from the world, and gotten free from the noife and 
 hurry of affairs, and (llenced all their clamorous paf- 
 fions, (thofe troublefome guefts within) they have 
 placed themfelves in the prefence of God, and enter- 
 tain fellowfhip and communion with him : they de- 
 light to adore his perfections, and recount his favours, 
 and to proteft their affection to him, and tell him a 
 thoufand times that they love him ; to lay out their 
 troubles or wants before him, and disburthen their 
 hearts in his bofom. Repentance it felf is a delightful 
 exercife, when it floweth from the principle of love ; 
 there is a fecret fweetnefs which accompanieth thofe 
 tears of remorfe, thofe meltings and relentings of a 
 foul returning unto God, and lamenting its former un- 
 kindnefs. 
 
 The feverities of a holy life, and that conftant 
 watch which we are obliged to keep over our hearts 
 and ways, are very troublefome to thofe who are only 
 ruled and acted by an external law, and have no law 
 in their minds inclining them to the performance of 
 their duty ; but where divine love pofTefleth the foul, 
 it ftandsas fentinel to keep out every thing that may 
 offend the beloved, and doth difdainfully repulfe thofe 
 
 temp- 
 
 * PfaJ. Ixiii. 2. 
 
32 72& Life of G D 
 
 temptations which aflauli rth cheer 
 
 doc only with cxplici mands, but with 
 
 fecret 
 
 DDOUS in dilcovcring what v. ill be moA '. and 
 
 pttblc unto him: it mal. d fclf- 
 
 dcnial change their harfh and , and be- 
 
 come eafy, tweet and delightful thidj 
 
 B " r I find this parr 
 than Idefigned, (indeed who would n :edto 
 
 dwell on Co pleafitnt a theme) I (hall endeavour to 
 compenfate it by brevity in the other 
 
 T h i next branch of the divine lift is an muver&l 
 
 charity and lov this 
 
 I neelknci gwcc w j U b 
 
 J D » 
 
 what can be more noble and generous 
 than a heart enlarged to unbrace the \ \ orld, 
 
 whole wifhefl and defigns are levelled at | ] and 
 
 welfare or" the univerie, which Cbnfideietfa 
 intercftasitsown? He who loveth his ; him- 
 
 felf, can never entertain any b 
 or be wanting in expreffions oi bounty.: be had n 
 (offers thoubnd wrongs, than be guilty of one; 
 
 ; accounts himfelf happy, but when (on 
 other hath been benefited by him i the malice or in- 
 gratitude or men is not able to rcfifi lv. 
 looks their injuries, and pities the , and 
 
 comes their evil wi^h good ; indn< other 
 
 revenge igainfl hismoftbittec and malicious 
 
 than to put all the i ft! he i 
 
 whether they will or n< :. [sit any v, 
 
 i rei ttenced md I, ar.d i ,1 the 
 
 darling of mankind? This inward ga 
 pJtyoflpirit rcfle&sa certain fa md fei 
 
 imtcnancej and makes ic ami 
 
 lot 
 
in the Soul of Man. 33 
 
 lovely : it infpireth the foul with a noble refolution and 
 courage, and makes it capable of enterprizing and 
 effecting the higheft things. Thofe heroick actions 
 which we are wont to read with admiration, have fcr 
 themoft part been the effects of the love of one's coun- 
 try, or of particular friendfhips ; and certainly a more 
 extenfive and univerfal affection, mull be much more 
 powerful and efficacious. 
 
 Again, as charity flows from a noble and excel- 
 lent temper, fo it is accompanied with 
 the greateft fatisfaction and pleafure : it v>« p^afure 
 delights the foul to feel it felf thus en- * at arttndi ir ' 
 larged, and to be delivered from thofe difquieting as 
 well as deformed paflions, malice, hatred, and envy ; 
 and become gentle, fweet, and benign. Had I my 
 choice of all things that might tend to my prefent fe- 
 licity, I would pitch upon this, to have my heart pof- 
 ifeffed with the greateft kindnefs and affection towards 
 all men in the world. I am fure this would make me 
 partake in all the happinefs of others - ? their inward 
 endowments and outward profperity, every thing' than 
 did benefit and advantage them, would afford me 
 comfort and pleafure : and though I mould frequently 
 meet with occasions of grief and corripaffion, yet there 
 is a fweetnefsin commiferation which makes it infinitely 
 more definable than a ftupid infenfibility : and the con- 
 sideration of that infinite gcodnefs and wifdom which 
 governs the world, might reprefs any exceflive trouble 
 for particular calamities that happen in it : and the 
 hopes or poffibiiity of mens after-happinefs, might mo- 
 derate their forrow for their prefent misfortunes. Cer- 
 tainly next to the love and enjoyment of God, that 
 ardent charity and affection wherewith bleffed fouls 
 do embrace one another, is juitiy to be reckoned as the 
 
 D greateft 
 
G D 
 
 uld anticipate that 
 btcflei 
 
 I which] named as a third branch of rcli- 
 
 d J 'ii may r. 
 i 
 
 fcnfuftl plea d refolutencfs to un- 
 
 dergo thofe and pains WC may meet with in 
 
 the | tanceofour duty: now the naming of this 
 
 may fufl .mend it as a mod n exert- 
 
 I quality, There is no flavery fo bate, as d 
 a man I . lufts ; I 
 
 tor\ - that which is obtained over them. 
 
 Never can that perfon be capable of any thing that is 
 noble and worthy, who is funk in the grofs and fecu- 
 lent pleafures of fenfe, or bewitched with the li. 
 and airy gratifications of fancy ; but tl 
 is of a more fublimc anddi\ it knows it ■ 
 
 made tor higher things, and ("corns to fup afidc I 
 
 . obtaining any 
 of the 
 A i ccompanied with a great 
 
 o( pla furc ; w . 
 difturl all impui 
 
 :, and leave fmart and 
 . 
 all inordioai 
 
 of this prefent life, that 
 a 1 ; al man 
 
 : and i: tl 
 
 in from 
 
 innocent, 
 
 y violent and uncafy 
 
 traint. 
 
in the Soul of Man. 35 
 
 reftraint, but as the efted of better choice, that their 
 minds are taken up in the purfuit of more fublime and 
 refined delights, fo that they cannot be concerned in 
 thefe. Any perfon that is engaged in a violent and 
 paflionate affection, will ealily forget his ordinary gra- 
 tifications, will belittle curious about his diet, or his 
 bodily eafe, or thedivertifements he was wonted to de- 
 light in. No wonder then if fouls overpowered with 
 divine love, defpife inferior pleafures, and be almoft 
 ready to grudge the body its neceffary attendance for 
 the common accommodations of life, judging all thefe 
 impertinent to their main happinefs, and thofe higher 
 enjoyments they are purfuing. As for the hardlhips 
 they may meet with, they rejoice in them, as oppor- 
 tunities to exercife and teflify their affeclion : and fince 
 they are able to do fo little for God, they are glad of 
 the honour to fufter for him. 
 
 The lad branch of religion is humility ; and how- 
 ever to vulgar and carnal eyes this may 
 appear an abjed, bafe and defpicable Thc excellency 
 
 ,. ,, , r * r • of humility. 
 
 quality, yet really the loul or man is not 
 capable of an higher and more noble endowment. 
 It is a filly ignorance that begets pride ; but humility 
 arifes from a nearer acquaintance with excellent things, 
 which keeps men from doating on trifles, or admiring 
 themfelves becaufe of fome petty attainments. Noble 
 and well educated fouls have no fuch high opinion of 
 riches, beauty, ftrength, and other fuch like advan- 
 tages, as to value themfelves for them, or defpife thofe 
 that want them : and as for inward worth and real 
 goodnefs, the fenfe they have of the divine perfections, 
 makes them think very meanly of any thing they have 
 hitherto attain'd, and be flili endeavouring to furmounc 
 
 D 2, them- 
 
I (JO D 
 
 themfclves, flnd m approaches to tl 
 
 nitc exccllcni 
 
 I kno* not what thoughts | have oi hu- 
 
 milir;. , I I I pcrfon | 
 
 and fhunning fuch expreffions and affcions, as mav make 
 tinted arrogant and prefumptucus, 4 
 who arc moll dcfirous of praife, w ill be loath to 
 commend themfclves. What arc all thofc complements 
 and modes of civility, (o frequent in our ordinan 
 
 , but fo many protections of the eftecm I 
 and the low thoughts we have of our 
 mult not that humility be a noble and : cn- 
 
 d tnent, when the rary fhadows or" it :. 
 fo neceflarj a part i E good breeding? 
 
 Again, this grace is accompanied with a great 
 
 dial of happinefs and tranquillity : the 
 
 The plea! proud and arrogant per fori is a trouble to 
 
 o f C ai all that converfc with him, but moft or" 
 
 hp, all unto himfeif: ei ng is enough 
 
 to vex him ; but fcarcc any tiling 
 
 Cient to content and pleafe him. He is rc.idy to ^uar- 
 
 ixl v. ith every thing that tails i i if he himkl: were 
 
 Inch a confidcrablc pcrfon, that God Almighty fhould 
 
 do every thing t< him, and all the creatures of 
 
 heaven and earth fhould v. air upon him, and obey his 
 
 will. The 1 lhake with i 
 
 wind, and tth, every evil word will 
 
 ant man : but the humble 
 ien he is dcfpi&d, that 
 
 im, than lie doth of 
 | 
 
 o the 
 
 ul. And wi • with 
 
 injuii' to them : 
 
in the Soul of Man. 37 
 
 Contention which cometh of pride betrays a man into 
 a thoufand inconvenienoies, which thofe of a meek and 
 lowly temper feldom meet with. True and genuine 
 humility begetteth both a veneration and love among 
 all wife and difcerning perfons, while pride defeateth 
 its own defign, and depriveth a man of that honour it 
 makes him pretend to. 
 
 B o t as the chief exercifes of humility are thofe 
 which relate unto Almighty God, fo thefe are accom- 
 panied with the greateft fatisfa&ion and fweetnefs. It 
 is impofTible to exprefs the great pleafure and delight 
 which religious perfons feel in the lowed proftrations of 
 their foul before God, when having a deep fenfe of the 
 divine majefty and glory, they {ink (if I may fofpeak) 
 to the bottom of their beings, and vanifh and difap- 
 pear in the prefence of God, by a ferious and affec- 
 tionate acknowledgment of their own nothingnefs, and 
 the fliortnefs and imperfeftions of their attainments ; 
 when they underftand the full fenfe and emphafis of 
 the Pfalmiil's exclamation, Lord, what is man ? And 
 can utter it with the fame affection. Never did any 
 haughty and ambitious perfon receive the praifes and 
 applaufes of men with fo much pleafure, as the humble 
 and religious do renounce them ; Not unto us, O 
 Lord, not unto us y but unto thy name give glory y 
 
 &c. 
 
 Thus I have fpoken fomething of the excellencies 
 and advantage of religion in its feveral branches ; but 
 mould be very injurious to the fubjeft, did I pretend 
 to have given any perfect account of it. Let us ac- 
 quaint our felves with it, my dear friend, let us ac- 
 quaint our felves with it, and experience will teach us 
 mote than all that ever hath been fpoken or written 
 concerning it. But if we may fuppofe the foul- to be 
 
 D 3 already 
 
C J) 
 
 iken'd i afar f^ 
 
 i 
 and fuflfet them irations 
 
 as tl. 
 
 A Pra 1 
 
 C"^ OOD G kJ '. what b pa 
 T l to which we are called ? H n gracioufly 
 thou joined our duty and hap] 
 and prefcribed that for our wa 
 whereof is u vard? And (hall liich filly 
 
 worms be advanced to fp great a heij 
 allow ns to raifi s to thee : V dmit 
 
 and accept our e . im- 
 
 of thy di\ iti 
 
 thy infinite blcflcd- 
 : and gl i ing thee, and rejoicing in 
 
 tl Is that ha\ c bro- 
 
 . and dUintangled tl 
 n every narrow and p 
 whole underllandinj inlightncd by thy 
 
 their wills inl i the extent oi thine, 
 
 whol things,and all mankind for thy 
 
 1 im . v ' I 1 am pcrfwa< 
 
 •, till my carnal and corrupt 
 dj and the pride and vanitj 
 nd till 1 . to 
 
 I think nothi 
 But O . ill it once bx () when will i 
 
 • ith thy I 
 
in the Soul of Man. 39 
 
 making me holy as thou art holy, even in all manner 
 of converfation ? Haft thou given me a profpttt of 
 fo great a felicity, and wilt thou not bring me unto 
 it ? Haft thou excited thefe defires in my foul, and 
 wilt thou not alfo fatisfy them ? O teach me to do 
 thy will, for thou art my God, thy fpirit is good, 
 lead me unto the land of uprightnefs. Quicken me, 
 O Lord, for thy name's fake, and perfect that 
 which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, en- 
 dureth for ever, forfake not the works of thine own 
 hands. 
 
 I Have hitherto conftdered wherein true religion 
 doth confift, and how defirable a 
 thing it is ; but when one fees how infi- The defpon- 
 nitely diftant the common temper and o^mf newly 
 frame of men is from it, he may perhaps awaken'd to a 
 be ready to defpond, and give over, and ^? t fcnfe ot 
 think it utterly impoflible to be attained : 
 he may fit down in fadnefs, and bemoan himfelf, 
 and fay in the anguifh and bitternefs of his fpirit, 
 " They are happy indeed whofe fouls are awaken'd 
 <c unto the divine life, who are thus renewed in the 
 " fpirit of their minds ; but alas ! I am quite of ano- 
 " ther conftitution, and am not able to efreft fo mighty 
 <c a change : if outward obfervances could have done 
 " the bufinefs, I might have hoped to acquit my felt 
 <c by diligence and care ; but iince nothing but a new 
 ic nature can ferve the turn, what am I able to do ? 
 <c I could beftow all my goods in oblations to God, 
 " or alms to the poor, but cannot command that love 
 
 D 4 2 and 
 
+0 7h Life of GOD 
 
 and chai at which this cxpcnc? would 
 
 11 pi I i annbt I 
 
 a man fhould give all 
 11 tl ance of his houft Cot love, it would utterly 
 
 " I k mncd: I could pine and macerate m\ b- d 
 
 " and undergo many bardfiiips and troubles, but 1 
 u cann t get all my corrupt] nsftarved, nor my afi". 
 cc tions wholly weaned from earthl : thcr< 
 
 <c dill fome worldly defires lurking in art, and 
 
 u thofc vanities that I hi 
 
 c * always g in by tl ' any 
 
 " times convinced of my own meanneC adc- 
 
 cc net of my body, and the fa of 
 
 cc i: but tl - i rather : n 
 
 " and di * :.' tl •' IC humility in my fpirit: and 
 " though [ ihotild come to thfnk meai 
 <£ yet 1 cann x : endure that ethers Ihould think (b - 
 ri In a woi ft on mj I and n 
 
 tw inra nts, 1 hav< rtMi . that 
 
 <( th< y att ail but the - the iflues of 
 
 <v felf-lov< fcvcral < this 
 
 4 ' principle istb*] in me, 
 
 14 that I can never b p< to b delivered from the dooti- 
 *' [ may 1 a door oil 
 
 v hinges, But un- 
 
 .' th< ceo 
 11 • fo that all 1 antagcl can draw from 
 
 'the i > is but td fee at a huge 
 
 am hot abl acn . 
 
 ... a' man in a Khipwredc, who difcerm the land, 
 
 " and 
 
 
in the Soul of Man. 41 
 
 * c and envies the happinefs of thofe who are there^ 
 ** but thinks it impoifible for himfelf to get afhoar. 
 
 These, I fay, or fuch like defponding thoughts, 
 may arife in the minds of thofe perfons 
 who begin to conceive fomewhat more The unrea - 
 
 ■ r . D f ,, - ,. ■■. fonablcnefs of 
 
 of the nature and excellency or religion thefe fears# 
 than before : they have fpy'd the land, 
 and feen that it is exceeding good, that it floweth 
 with milk and honey ; but they find they have the 
 children of Anak to grapple with, many powerful lulls 
 and corruptions to overcome, and they fear, they 
 fhall never prevail againit them. But why mould we give 
 way to fuch difcouraging fuggeflions ? why mould we 
 entertain fuch unreafonable fears, which damp our fpi- 
 rits, and weaken our hands, and augment the difficul- 
 ties of our way ? Let us encourage our felves, my dear 
 friend, let us encourage our felves with thofe mighty 
 aids we are to expect in this fpiritual warfare, for 
 greater is he that is for us, than all that can rife up 
 againft us; fhe eternal God is our refuge , * and un- 
 derneath are the everlafting arms. Let us be ftrong in 
 the Lord, and the 'power of his might, for he it is that 
 fhall tread down our enemies ; God hath a tender re- 
 gard unto the fouls of men, and is infinitely willing 
 to promote their welfare : he hath condefcended to our 
 weaknefs, and declared with an oath, that he hath no 
 pleafurein our dell. rud ion. There is no fuch thing as 
 defpite or envy' lodged in the bofom of that ever 
 bleiTed Being, whofe name and nature is love. He 
 created us at firft in a happy condition, and now when 
 we are fallen from it, f He hath laid help upon one that 
 is mighty to fave, hath committed the care of our fouls 
 
 to 
 
 m " ___ — ». ^ 
 
 * Deut, xxxiii. 27. fPfal. lxxxix. ip. 
 
4^ Life <■/' Q Q D 
 
 i than the eternal Son o! bi 
 be thai 
 
 i llrong for [hting 
 
 ! Did nor the Son of God come 
 hi the boTom of 1 bcrj and pitch bis ca- 
 
 de amongit the ions ot' men, that he 
 
 and rcltorc the 
 God in their fouls, 
 which he performed, all the (ad - ns which he 
 
 fuflaii I this for gn j for this 
 
 did he labour and toil, for this did 1. 
 * 1L 
 
 ■ 
 
 fee oft' 
 Certainly it is im- that this | 
 
 cootrivancc of heaven fliould prove abort; 
 
 g Ihoiild fail and mill-art;. 
 already b< ftual for the fal va many 
 
 i 
 
 unto ( ii 
 
 ite, he kno? it infirn 
 
 and I ur teinptati ins, 
 
 \ 1 e 
 fpii it, v 
 I ig up an< in the •• 
 
 made, and is ready to I 
 
 . 
 
in the Soul of Man. 43 
 
 weak and languishing creatures as we are, in our effays 
 towards holinefs and felicity ; and when once it hath 
 taken hold of a foul, and kindled in it the fmalkft 
 fpark of divine love, it will be fure to preferve and 
 cherifh, and bring it forth into a flame, * which many 
 waters mall not quench, neither (hall the floods be able 
 to drown it. Whenever this day begins to dawn, and 
 the f day-far to arife in the heart y it will eafily difpel 
 the powers of darknefs, and make ignorance and folly, 
 and all the corrupt and felhTn affections of men, flee 
 away as fall before it as the fhades of night, when the 
 fun cometh out of his chambers : for % the path of the 
 juft is as the fuming light , which floineth more and 
 more unto the perfett day : \\ tfhey Jloall go on from 
 ftrength to Jlrengtb, till every one of them appear before 
 God in Sim. 
 
 Why fhould we think it impodible that true good- 
 nefs and univerfal love fhould ever come to fway and 
 prevail in our fouls? Is not this their primitive flate 
 and condition, their native and genuine conftitution as 
 they came firfb from the hands of their maker? Sin and 
 corruption are but ufurpers, and though they have 
 long kept the poflefhon, yet from the beginning it was 
 not fo. That inordinate felf-love which one would 
 think were rooted in our very being, and interwoven 
 with the conftitution of our nature, is neverthelefs of 
 foreign extraction, and had no place at all in the ftate 
 of integrity. We have ftill fo much reafon left as to 
 condemn it- our underftandings are eafily convinced, 
 that we ought to be wholly devoted to him from whom 
 we have our being, and to love him infinitely more 
 
 than 
 
 * Cane. viii. 7. 7 2 Pet. i. 19. ^ Pro v. iv. 18. [j Pfal. lxxxiv. 
 
4+ ff& Life of G I) 
 
 thin oar (elves, whoisinfin -:cr than wc; tod 
 
 j v. crc 
 not he 
 
 d them 
 
 ftble, bv his afllftana, to van- 
 
 quifli ai . -ut inti urn 
 
 \ I i| ,r ihall we take up arms in ti. 
 we (hall have all the Hunts on 
 ..Is in heaven, i rty s the b 
 
 the world is daily n sding 
 
 rfs or" all fuc and 
 
 ivenly bote abow i ft- 
 
 •i, and infinitely deiir- 
 
 ous ro f< life thriving a;ul pi | in this 
 
 :M; and that the Will of God may Lv 
 by us on earth, as it is done by themfcives in 1 
 
 may we not then encourage oui * pro- 
 
 t did hisfervant, when he (hewed him the hoi 
 and rsol fire, •! 1 
 
 • 
 r at tl h ail pei and do- 
 
 fpondtng tho 
 !) ouflv, and rely confidently < livinc 
 
 nore than hall 
 
 Lord 
 r, It 16 true, 
 : men i.s the imn. 
 
 : . ither produce it 
 not merit thoft fiipernatnral aids by which h nmfl I 
 ught: theHolj Qhoft mud d bs, and 
 
 the 
 
 > i. , 
 
iti the Soul of Ma?u $.J 
 
 the power of the higheft muft overfhadow us, before 
 that holy thing can be begotten, andChrift be formed 
 in us; But yet we muft not expect that this whole 
 work mould be done without any concurring endeavours 
 of our own : we muft not lie loitering in the ditch, and 
 wait till omnipotence pulls us from thence : no, no, 
 we muft beftir our felves, and actuate thofe powers 
 which we have already received : we muft put forth 
 our felves to our utmoft capacities, and then we may 
 hope that * our labour Jha'Il not be in vain in the Lord* 
 All the art and induftry of man cannot form the fmal- 
 left herb, or make a ftalkof corn to grow in the field j 
 it is the energy of nature, and the influences of heaven, 
 which produce this effect ; it is God || who caufeth the 
 grafs to grow, and herb for the fervice of man ; and 
 yet no body will fay, that the labours of the husband- 
 man are ufelefs or unneceflary. Solikewife the human 
 foul is immediately created by God ; it is he who both 
 formeth and enliveneth the child, and yet he hath ap- 
 pointed the marriage-bed as the ordinary means for 
 the propagation of mankind. Though there muft in^ 
 tervene a ftroak of omnipotence to effect this mighty 
 change in our fouls, yet ought we to do what we can 
 to fit and prepare our felves ; for we muft break up 
 our fallow ground, f and root out the weeds, and pull 
 up the thorns, that fo we may be more ready to receive 
 the feeds of grace and the dew of heaven. It is true, 
 God hath been found of fome who fought him not ; 
 he hath caft himfelf in their way, who were quite out 
 of his ; he hath laid hold upon them, and ftopt their 
 courfe on a fudden ; for fo was St. Paul converted in 
 
 his 
 
 * i Cor. xv, 58. |j Pfal, civ. 14. t Jex. fr, J« 
 
46 77 I ■ COD 
 
 But is not 
 
 iry mctl , thouph 
 
 he hath not tied himfclf to means, 
 US to tl ' Of them ; and v. re rcafori 
 
 divine affiftance, than when we arc d 
 our Utmoft endeavours. It (hall therefore be my next 
 work, vwhatcourfi ght total rtain- 
 
 Ing that I I have hitherto defcribed 
 
 , it* in delivering my own th I hahce 
 
 to differ from what is or may be (aid by i in this 
 
 matur, 1 would nbt be thought to contradicl and 
 opp< "e them, more than phyficians d 
 (bribe fcveral remedies for the fan: ., which per- 
 
 haps are allufeful and mty rropofc 
 
 nethod he ju< ient, but 
 
 thereby pretend that th 
 be efFe&ed unlets chat be exactly obferved 1 
 hath occafioned much unneceflar) 
 holy perfons, that they have not round fuch a rej 
 and orderly tranfadion in their fouls, have 
 
 (eeta defcribed in book! ; that they have not r 
 through all thoft . n, which 
 
 (bmc (who perhaps have felt them in then have 
 
 too pete;- Gfcd hath 
 
 tl v. ..'. s ng with the (buls of ou 
 
 (bfficeth ii the v. rk be ace >mplifii'd, whatever the 
 
 methods ba\ . 
 
 A i 1 
 
 which the natui I lead 
 
 I ! an that th 
 
 (b pnnftuallj latter 
 
 roles were never to be heeded, i leraUe 
 
 tinu 
 
 us I intend are mutual tno- 
 
 ther, 
 
in the Soul of Man. - 47 
 
 ther, and are all to be perform'd as occaflon (hall ferve, 
 and we find our felves enabled to perform them. 
 
 But now that I may detain you no longer, if we defire 
 to have our fouls moulded to this holy 
 frame, to become partakers of the divine a iJ manner of 
 nature, and have Chrift formed in our ^ n - 
 hearts, we muft ferioufly refolve and carefully endeavour 
 to avoid and abandon all vicious and iinful practices.. 
 There can be no treaty of peace, till once we lay down 
 thefe weapons of rebellion wherewith we fight againit 
 heaven : nor can we expecl: to have our diftempers cur- 
 ed, if we be daily feeding on poifon. Every wilful (in, 
 gives a mortal wound to the foul, and puts it at a greater 
 diftance from God and goodnefs ; and we can never hope 
 to have our hearts purified from corrupt affections, un- 
 lefs we cleanfe our hands from vicious actions. Now 
 in this cafe we cannot excufe our felves by the pre- 
 tence of impoffibility ; for fure our outward man is 
 fome way in our power, we have fome command of 
 our feet, and hands, and tongue, nay and of our 
 thoughts and fancies too, at lead fo far as to divert 
 them from impure and finful objects, and to turn our 
 mind another way : and we mould find this power 
 and authority much ftrengthned and advanced, if we 
 were careful to manage and exercife it. In the mean 
 while, I acknowledge our corruptions are fo ftrong, 
 and our temptations fo many, that it will require a 
 great deal of ftedfaftnefs and refolution, of watchful- 
 nefs and care, to preferve our felves, even in this de- 
 gree of innocence and purity. 
 
 And firft, let us inform our felves well, what thofe 
 fins are from which we ought to abftain. , Tr a . 
 
 o We mu^ know 
 
 And here we mull not take our mea- what dungs are 
 fures from, the maxims of the world, fintuI - 
 
 or 
 
4-3 TJj: Life of GO D 
 
 or die practices of thofc whom in chariry we IppOUtltj 
 good men. Mod people have very light gpp 
 lions of theft things, and arc no; f< my 
 
 tank, unLis it be grofs and fiagi:iu:s, and lcar^c 
 reckon any fo great as that which they call Prccifc- 
 ncfi : and thole who are more CeriODS, do many ti: 
 allow thcmfelves too great latitude and freedom. 
 Alas ! how much pride and vanity, and paflion and 
 hnmonr, hew much weakiuls and tolly, and fin, c 
 every day mow it kit in their converfc and behaviour > 
 It may be they are humbled tor it, and ftriving a- 
 gainft. it, and are daily gaining fomc ground ; but 
 then the progrefs is (o imall, and their (tilings fc ma- 
 ny, that we had need to choofe an cxacter p 
 Every one of us mufl anfwer tor himfelf, and the prac- 
 tices of others will never warrant and fceure us ft 
 is the higheil folly to regulate our a&ions by in 
 ftandard than that by which they mud be judged, ft 
 ever we would demfc ., i: mint tx 
 
 I thereto according to tic tt I and that 
 
 ;> is quick a* litrper ti 
 
 any t:, I fwprJ s piercing tVCM to the 
 
 a [under of fim if'tbi 
 
 mat >.J is a dif 
 
 tints of tic iiOfi |, will certainly i many 
 
 things to be iinful and heinous, which pi I rfy 
 
 innocent ID the eyes of the world : Let us d 
 
 imitate the Pfalmiil, who faith, (.' i 
 
 cf m$*) b) ',!■■' 
 
 frc: bOtbs tf :' c ..'•;. Let us acquaint 
 
 our (elves well with the ftrict and holy laws or our 
 
 eioo i let us coufider the dUcourfes of our bleikd 
 
 Saviour. 
 
 Ml< u pu. 
 
in the Soul of Man. 49 
 
 Saviour, (efpecially that divine fermon on the mount) 
 and the writings of his holy apoftles, where an inge- 
 nuous and unbiafled mind may clearly difcern thofe 
 limits and bounds by which our actions ought to be 
 confined, And then let us never look upon any Cm as 
 light and inconfiderable ; but be fully perfuaded, 
 that the fmalleft is infinitely heinous in the fight of 
 God, and prejudicial to the fouls of men ; and that 
 if we had the right fenfe of things, we mould be as 
 deeply afFe&ed with the leaft irregularities, as now we 
 are with the higheft crimes. 
 
 But now amongft thofe things which We muft rcd/i 
 we difcover to be finful, there will be < he ; em P fations 
 
 ' to iin, by con- 
 
 fome, Unto which, through the difpofi- fidering the 
 tion of our nature, or long cuftom, or e , vils they wil1 
 
 • ■ • 1 r 1 r r draw on us - 
 
 the indearments ot plealure, we are fo 
 much wedded, that it will be like cutting off the 
 right hand, or pulling out the right eye, to abandon 
 them. But muft we therefore fit down and wait till 
 all difficulties be over, and every temptation be gone ? 
 This were to imitate the fool in the poet, who itood 
 the whole day at the river fide, till all the water 
 fhould run by. We muft not indulge our inclinations, 
 as we do little children, till they grow weary of the 
 thing they are unwilling to let go: We muft not con- 
 tinue our finful practices, in hopes that the divine grace 
 will one day over-power our fpirits, and make us hate 
 them for their own deformity. 
 
 Let us fuppofe the worft, that we are utterly de- 
 ftitute of any fupernatural principle, and want that 
 tafte by which- we mould difcern and abhor perverfe 
 things ; yet fure we are capable of fome confiderations 
 which may be of force to perfuade us to this reforma- 
 tion of our lives. If the inward deformity and heinous 
 
 E nature 
 
G D 
 
 (infill p] . .) 
 
 fclv< 
 
 i irritate and I that infinil 
 
 able, or 
 - ... 
 
 cainty or" our li 
 and how that aft t v. c I 
 th< ;. rid, and i little 1. \ men, 
 
 muft all k and I 
 
 ana nothing fl I re- 
 
 t tor all our Gnful enjoyo 
 
 ! 
 I 
 
 b 'h QttCR 
 
 I 
 
 D, and ti 
 
 . ... . 
 
 :\)c 
 
 ■ 
 
in the Soul of Man. 51 
 
 bfefled Jefus (who came once into the world in all hu- 
 mility to vifit us, to purchafe pardon for us, and be- 
 feech us to accept of it) now appearing in the ma jelly 
 of his glory, and defending from heaven in a flaming 
 fire, to take vengeance on thofe that have defpifed his 
 mercy, and perfiited in rebellion againft him : when 
 all the hidden things of darknefs fhall be brought to 
 light, and the counfels of the heart fhall be made ma- 
 nifeft * : when thofe fecret impurities and fubtile frauds 
 whereof the world did never fufpecl us, fnall be ex- 
 pofed and laid open to publick view, and many 
 thoufand actions which we never dreamed to be finful, 
 or elfe had altogether forgotten, ihall be charged home 
 upon our confciences with fuch evident convictions of 
 guilt, that we fhall neither be able to deny nor excufe 
 them. Then fhall all the angels in heaven, and all the 
 faints that ever liv'd on the earth, approve that dread- 
 ful fentence which fhall be paffed on wicked men ; 
 and thofe who perhaps did love and eiteem them when 
 they liv'd in the world, fhall look upon them with in- 
 dignation and abhorrence, and never make one requelt 
 for their deliverance. Let us confider the eternal pu- 
 nifhment of damned fouls, which are fh^dowed forth 
 in fcripture by metaphors taken from thofe things that 
 are mod terrible and grievous in the world, and vet 
 jail do not fuffice to convey unto our minds any full 
 iapprehenfions of them. When we have joinM together 
 (the importance of all thefe expreffions, and added 
 unto them whatever our fancy can conceive of mifery 
 land torment, we mull frill remember, that ail this 
 'comes infinitely mort of the truth and reality of the 
 
 thing. 
 
 E 2 It's 
 
 * I Cor . iv. 5-. 
 
$2 72 Life '/GOD 
 
 I • true, tl (ad and melancholy fiibjeft, there 
 
 u anguilh and borroc in the coniidcration of it; but 
 Ulfe ir mufl be infinitely more III to endure it ; 
 
 I filch th may be very nfefnl : 
 
 us from the courics that would lead us thither j i 
 fond foevcr we may be of finfuJ pleafinrcs, the feat ot 
 hell would make us abitain i our m aid inclina- 
 
 tions will ilartle and give back, when preifcd v.ith that 
 
 quefiion in the prophet, * // | 
 \$ ? 
 
 To this very purpdfc it is that the terrors of ano- 
 ther world are lb frequently reprcfented in holy v. rit, 
 and that in fuch terms as are mod proper to affea and 
 influence a carnal mind: Theft fears can DCTCI filffice 
 to make any peribn truly good ; but certainly they 
 may reftrain US from much evil, and have often made 
 way lor more ingenuous and kindly impreif 
 
 B t it will not filffice to confide! thefe tilings onci 
 and again, nor to form fomc refolutions 
 
 we tnoft keep ^ • • • 
 
 01 abandoning our lins, unlets WC main- 
 tain a con&ant guard, and be continu- 
 ally watching againft then Sometimei 
 the mind is awakened to fee the difinal coofequences 
 
 . vicious life, and ftraight v. 
 but alas! it prefently Eallcth aflecpj and we lofe that 
 profpeex which we had of things, and th ptations 
 take the advantage ; they foliar and importune us 
 irinually, and f quently engage our confent 
 
 1 i . 1: is the folly and ru 
 
 I pie to live ; take part in every 
 
 .s in their way, fcldom coofii 
 
 I 
 
 
in the Soul of Man. 53 
 
 they are about to fay or do. If we would have our 
 refblutions take effect, we rauft take heed unto our 
 ways, and fet a watch before the door of our lips, 
 and examine the motions that arife in our hearts, and 
 caufe them to tell us whence they come, and whither 
 they go; whether it be pride or paffion, or any corrupt 
 and vicious humour that prompteth us to any defign, 
 and whether God will be offended, or any body harmed 
 by it. And if we have no time for long reafonings, 
 let us at lead turn our eyes towards God, and place 
 our felves in his prefence, to ask his leave and appro- 
 bation for what we do : Let us confider our felves under 
 the all-feeing eye of that divine Majefty, as in the 
 midft of an infinite globe of light, which compaffeth 
 us about both behind and before, and pierceth to the 
 mnermoft corners of our foul. The fenfe and remem- 
 brance of the divine prefence, is the moft ready and 
 effectual means, both to difcover what is unlawful, 
 and to reilrain us from it. There are fome things a 
 perfon could make (hi ft to palliate or defend, and yet 
 he dares not look almighty God in the face and ad- 
 venture upon them. If we look unto him, we fhall be 
 lightned ; if we fet him always before us, he will guide 
 us by his eye, and infirutt us in the way wherein we 
 Hght to walk. 
 
 This care and watchfulnefs over our aftions, muft 
 be feconded by frequent and ferious re- 
 jections upon them, not only that we We mufl Qften 
 
 r ' ' examine our 
 
 may obtain the divine mercy and pardon adtions. 
 for our fins, by an humble and forrow- 
 ful acknowledgment of them ; but alfo that we may 
 reinforce and flrengthen our refolutions, and learn to 
 decline or refill the temptations by which we have been 
 formerly foilM. It is an advice worthy of a chriftian, 
 
 E 3 though. 
 
54 G D 
 
 tho. 
 
 I 
 
 our 
 i 
 
 . 
 
 rncy. 
 
 affifi 
 
 . d to 
 
 :n fin, : 
 
 , and 
 at kali, I jainft otl 
 
 t i -. ana I 
 
 , | 
 titi> 
 
 bun I in us. i 
 
 praj inll fin, v> 
 
 our (elves 1 
 i 
 
 ami againfl 
 Thus 
 
 * into 
 
 I : 
 
 lul \h 
 
 I nly, that we may 
 
 fecure 
 
i?z the Soul of Man. 55 
 
 fecure our innocence, which would be in continual 
 hazard, if we ftiould ftrain our liberty to the utmoft 
 point ; but alfo that hereby we may weaken the forces 
 of nature, and teach our appetites to obey. We 
 muft do with our felves as prudent parents with their 
 children, who crofs their wills in many little indifferent 
 things, to make them manageable and fubmiffive in 
 more considerable inftances. He who would mortify 
 the pride and vanity of his fpirit, fhould flop his ears 
 to the moft deferved praifes, and fometimes forbear his 
 juft vindication from the cenfures and afperfions of 
 others, efpeciaily if they reflect only upon his prudence 
 and conduct, and not on his virtue and innocence. He 
 who would check a revengeful humour, would do well 
 to deny himfelf the fatisfaction of reprefenting unto 
 Others the injuries which he hath fuftained • and if we 
 would fo take heed to our ways, that we (in not with 
 our tongue, we muft accuftom our felves much to fo- 
 litude and filence, and fometimes with the Pfalmift, 
 Hold our peace even from good, till once we have got- 
 ten fome command over that unruly member. Thus, 
 I fay, we may bind up our natural inclinations, and 
 make our appetites more moderate in their cravings, 
 by accuftoming them to frequent refufais : But it is 
 not enough to have them under violence and reftraint. 
 
 O u r next effay muft be to wean our affections from 
 created things, and all the delights and 
 entertainments of the lower life, which ™™Z™Z 
 (ink and deprefs the fouls of men, and out of love 
 retard their motions towards God and witl ,\ the 
 
 „ world. 
 
 heaven ; and this we muft do by poffe fling 
 our minds with a deep perfuafion of the vanity and 
 emptinefs of worldly enjoyments. This is an ordinary 
 theme, and every body can make declamations upon 
 
 E 4 it 1 
 
56 T,:c Life of GOD 
 
 it ; but alas! how few underftand and 
 
 me 
 
 Hiding off our tongues, but wc have no dtepinv 
 
 ( m oo our fpirits, w* feci not the truth which 
 
 wc pretend e. Wc 
 
 :ndor, all the icnts ot the 
 
 |<J R s I unity and nothi 
 ! up all our thou 
 
 . r inclini nl, and in- 
 
 veigle us into many a fin. It in a (bl 
 
 d, we j ', and : tx D 
 
 longer delud i them ; but th< 
 
 out-live the next temptation, the 
 
 have (h. at the door get in i am: th 
 
 are Rill fan • pes that flatter ns j 
 
 and a::.* w< have been fhiftrated a thouland tin 
 
 mud continual'; 
 kail difference ol circumftances is em ugh i 
 and make us expefi that (at 
 which we have miffed in another ; but could * 
 get clearly off, nc to i real and (erioua c mtempt 
 
 of worldly things, ii. • very C I able ad- 
 
 vancement in i '1 he foul of man ib of a vi- 
 
 nature, and hath in it a raging and 
 unextinguii] thirft, an immaterial kind of I 
 
 alwa; cat jcm&k a 
 
 be b • ind were it once 
 
 ':n ti». and all the bewitching tnjoy- 
 
 nts under the Gin, it would quickly (catch after 
 
 lorn; ! ighct and m< ■'- y its ar- 
 
 dent and importunate cravings, and being n 
 < led v ich gli that lu- 
 
 i 
 
 charm and oi 
 
 powec 
 
in the Soul of Man. 57 
 
 power all its affections. The love of the world, and 
 the love of God, are like the fcales of a ballance, as 
 the one falleth, the other doth rife : when our natural 
 inclinations profper, and the creature is exalted in our 
 foul, religion is faint, and doth languifh ; but when 
 earthly objects wither away, and lofe their beauty, 
 and the foul begins to cool and flag in its profecution 
 of them, then the feeds of grace take root, and the 
 divine life begins to flourifh and prevail. It doth 
 therefore nearly concern us to convince our felves of 
 the emptinefs and vanity of creature-enjoyments, and 
 reafon our heart out of love witfi them : Let us feri- 
 oufly confider all that our reafon, or our faith, our 
 own experience, or the obfervation of others, can fug- 
 ged to this effed ; let us ponder the matter over and 
 over, and fix our thoughts on this truth, till we be- 
 come really perfuaded of it. Amidft all our purfuits 
 and defigns, let us flop and ask our felves, For what 
 end is all this ?. At what do I aim ? Can the grofs and 
 muddy pleafures of fenfe, or a heap of white and yellow 
 earth, or the efteem and affection of filly creatures like 
 my felf, fatisfy a rational and immortal foul ? Have I 
 not tried thefe things already ? Will they have a higher 
 relifh, and yield me more contentment to-morrow than 
 yefterday, or the next year than they did the laft > 
 There may be fome little difference betwixt that which 
 I am now purfuing, and that which I enjoy'd before ; 
 but fure my former enjoyments did fhew as pleafant, 
 and promife as fair before I attained them ; like the 
 rain-bow, they looked very glorious at a diftance, but; 
 when I approached, I found nothing but emptinefs 
 and vapour. O what a poor thing would the life of 
 man be, if it were capable of no higher enjoyments 1 
 
I D 
 
 1 ' there is the 
 
 I remember to wh m 1 
 
 ) 
 [ have fomcti 
 
 ■ 
 
 I : 
 
 of I 
 
 d of 
 
 D, have : 
 
 . 
 , . . DP 
 
 root of lirefl 
 
 arthly c 
 
 oat 
 
 I 
 
 . i 
 rival ! 
 
 it. 
 
 i 
 
 to 
 
in the Soul of Man* 59 
 
 to excite and awaken the divine life : And firft let 
 us endeavour confcientiouily to perform thofe duties 
 which religion doth require, and whereunto it would 
 incline us if it did prevail in our fouls. If we cannot 
 get our inward difpofition prefently changed, let us 
 ftudy at leaft. to regulate our outward deportment : if 
 our hearts be not yet inflam'd with divine love, let us 
 however own our allegiance to that infinite Majefty, 
 by attending his fervice, and liftning to his word, by 
 fpeaking reverently of his name, and praifing his gocd- 
 nefs, and exhorting others to ferve and obey him. If 
 we want that charity, and thofe bowels of companion 
 which we ought to have towards our neighbours, yet 
 muft we not omit any occafion of doing them good : 
 If our hearts be haughty and proud, we muft never- 
 thelefs ftudy a modeft and humble deportment. Thefe 
 external performances are of little value in themfelves, 
 yet may they help us forward to better things : the 
 apoftle indeed telleth us a that bodily exercife prqfiteth 
 little -, but he feems not to affirm that it is altogether 
 ufelefs ; it is always good to be doing what we can, 
 for then God is wont to pity cur weaknefs, and aflift 
 our feeble endeavours ; and when true charity and hu- 
 mility, and other graces of the divine fpirit come to 
 take root in our fouls, they will exert themfelves more 
 freely, and with lefs difficulty, if we have before been 
 accuftomed to exprefs them in our outward conven- 
 tions. Nor need we fear the imputation of hypocrify, 
 tho' our actions do thus fomewhat out-run our 
 affections, feeing they do {till proceed from a fenfe 
 of our duty, and our defign is not to appear 
 better than we are^ but that we may really become 
 (o. 
 
 Bar 
 
60 tie Life if GOD 
 
 B t as in a&S htfC a more immediate fa&k 
 
 . foul, to mould It to a right 
 
 n * temper and frame, fo our»h: wc to be 
 fn i m It hreqnent and udulous in the 
 
 cift of them. Let us be often lilting up 
 
 our hearts towards God; and ir wc do 
 nor fay that we love him lb •■ S all things, 
 let us at lead acknowledge, that it is our duty, and 
 would be our hap] i to c^ : Let us lament the 
 
 dishonour done unto him by foolifh and (infill men, 
 and applaud the praifes and adorations that are given 
 him, by that blefled and glorious company above: 
 I nand yield our (elves up unto him a thott- 
 fnnd times to be got ^y his laws, and difpofed of 
 
 at his pleafure : and tho J our ftubborn hearts mould 
 (tart back and rcfufc, yet let us tell him, WC are con- 
 vinced that his will is always jult and £^o<\, and 
 therefore defirc him to do with us uhatfoever he plcafeth, 
 whether we will or not. And (o^ tor begetting in us 
 an univcrfal charity towards men, WC mult be fi 
 
 quently putting np wiflies for their and 
 
 every perfon that we (be j and when we have 
 done any thing for the relief of the mifel e may 
 
 fecond it with earned: defires that God wouk 
 of them, and deliver them out of all AeirdiArei 
 
 T hoi (houl ifc cur f 
 
 and ico w< arc imp! g tl i thai wc have, 
 
 fpirit of God is v [hike in, and elevate 
 
 thefc a&sof our foul beyond the pitch of nature, and 
 
 c them a divine impreffion ; and after tl ent 
 
 tion find our iiie> 
 
 i\ wing Nsith : don* 
 
 • 
 
 I 
 
iti the Soul of Man, 61 
 
 I shall mention but two other means for beget* 
 ting that holy and divine temper of fpirit, 
 which is the fubjecl: of the prefent dif- Confederation 
 courfe : And the firft is a deep and ferious m^nTo^r™* 
 confideration of the truths of our religion, ligion. 
 and that both as to the certainty and 
 importance of them. The aflent which is ordinarily 
 given to divine truths is very faint and languid, very 
 weak and ineffectual, flowing only from a blind incli- 
 nation to follow that religion which is in fafhion, or a 
 lazy indifferency and unconcernednefs whether things 
 be fo or not. Men are unwilling to quarrel with the 
 religion of their country, and fince all their neighbours 
 are chriflians* they are content to be fo too ; but they 
 are feldom at the pains to confider the evidences of 
 thofe truths, or to ponder the importance and tendency 
 of them ; and thence it is that they have fo little in- 
 fluence on their affections and practice. Thofe fpirit- 
 lefs and paralitick thoughts (as one doth rightly term 
 them) are not able to move the will, and direct the 
 hand. We muft therefore endeavour to work up our 
 minds to a ferious belief and full perfuafion of divine 
 truths, unto a fenfe and feeling of fpiritual things : 
 our thoughts muft dwell upon them till we be both 
 convinced of them, and deeply affected with them. 
 Let us urge forward our fpirits, and make them ap- 
 proach the inviiible world, and fix our mind upon im- 
 material things, till we clearly perceive that thefe are 
 no dreams, nay, that all things are dreams and iha- 
 dows befides them. When we look about us, and 
 behold the beauty and magnificence of this goodly 
 frame, the order and harmony of the whole creation, 
 let our thoughts from thence take their flight towards 
 that omnipotent wifdom and goodnefs which did ac 
 
 firft 
 
62 Th I G D 
 
 flrft r iblilh and 
 
 upon our ft' 
 
 a curious and well-contrived engine ; that tbei 
 
 i | us than flclh, and blood, And I 
 divine fpark, capable to know, 
 our maker ; it be i . clogged 
 
 with its dull and lumpifh companion, yet ere long ic 
 fhall be d ', and can fubliil without the body, 
 
 as well as that can do with 
 
 throw our pleafiire. Let U araw our 
 
 DH this earth, this fecne ot and 
 
 folly, and lin, and raifc them I -wards that mo:. 
 
 and bid 
 I 
 
 now n<> but an unmixed joy, and 
 
 an ui . d l< \ ■:. And then i how the 
 
 fed S Id to live 
 
 5, that h us to 
 
 a portion 
 overcome 
 dom C 
 
 on the *, and j 
 
 not the l< 
 
 and prefenteth them unto I 
 ing his church with the influei . fpirit, i 
 
 . us v -'. Ufa 
 
 v. I 
 
 fprii • 
 
 n r - i 
 
 _____ 
 
in the Soul of Man. 63 
 
 jects of meditation for producing the feveral branches 
 of it. And firit, to inflame our fouls with the love of 
 God, let us confider the excellency of his nature, and 
 his love and kindnefs towards us. It is little we know 
 of the divine perfections, and yet that little may fuf- 
 fice to fill our fouls with admiration and love, to ravifn 
 our affections, as well as to raife our wonder ; for we 
 are not meerly creatures of fenfe, that we fhould be 
 uncapableof any other affection but that which entreth 
 by the eyes. The character of any excellent perfon 
 whom we have never feen, will many times ingage our 
 hearts, and make us hugely concerned in all his inte- 
 refts : and what is it, I pray you, that engages us fo 
 much to thofe with whom we converfe? I cannot think 
 that it is merely the colour of their face, or their 
 comely proportions, for then we fhould fall in love 
 with flames, and pictures, and flowers : thefe outward 
 accomplifhments may a little delight the eye, but 
 would never be able to prevail fo much on the heart, 
 if they did not reprefent fome vital perfection. We 
 either fee or apprehend fome greatnefs of mind, or vi- 
 gour of fpirit, or fweetnefs of difpcfition, feme fprite- 
 linefs, or wifdom, or goodnefs, which charm our fpirit, 
 and command our love. Now thefe perfections are not 
 obvious to the fight, the eyes can only difcern the 
 figns and effects of them ; and if it be the underitand- 
 ing that directs the affection, and vital perfections pre- 
 vail with it, certainly the excellencies of the divine 
 nature (the traces whereof we cannot but difcover in 
 every thing we behold) would not fail to engage our 
 hearts, if we did ferioufly view and regard them. 
 Shall we not be infinitely more tranfported with that 
 almighty wifdom and goodnefs which fills the univerfe, 
 and difpiays it felf in all the parts of the creation, 
 
 which 
 
6+ TZj Lift 'j GOD 
 
 Which cftablifheth the frame of nature, tod run- 
 mighty whccN of providence, and 
 from diforctet and ruin, than with the faint rtyi of 
 
 the very fame perfections which we meet with in our 
 fellow-creatures? Shall wc doat on the fcattcrcd p : 
 
 a rude and imperfect pichire, and never be I 
 With the original beauty? This were an uni 
 Rapidity and blindnefs: Whatever WC find lovely ill 
 a friend, or in a faint, ought not to cngrofs, but to 
 elevate our affection ; we OlOOld conclude With i 
 (elves, that if there be fo much fi in a di 
 
 there mult be infinitely more in the fountain j if there 
 be fo much fplendoc in a ray, v.hat mull the fun be id 
 its glory ? 
 
 N k can wc pretend the remotcnefs of the objeJ', 
 as if God were at too great a diftance for our OOOVerft 
 or our love : le is not far from e-jcry one cf us, 1~ r 
 I im W$ Irce, arul i/iove, and ha~: ■ : t e I 
 
 not open our eyes, but we mult behold feme (botflepS 
 of his glory; and WC cannot turn them toward him, 
 but we fhall be fure to find his intent up il ns* waiting 
 as it were to catch a look, ready to entertain the mod 
 intimate fellowfhip and communion with us. Let us 
 therefore endeavour to raife OUT minds to the clew. 
 conceptions of the divine nature : let us coniidcr all 
 that his works do declare, or his word doth diicoverof 
 him unto us, and let us especially contemplate that \i- 
 
 lible reprcfentation of him which was mi in own 
 
 nature by his Son, who was / ; is ghry % 
 
 -refs m id who ap- 
 
 peared in the World to difoovet at once what God is, 
 
 and 
 
 
in the Soul of Man. 65 
 
 and what \vc ought to be. Let us reprefent him unto 
 our minds as we find him defcribed in the gofpel ; and 
 there we fhall behold the perfections of the divine na- 
 ture, though covered with the vail of human infirmi- 
 ties ; and when we have framed unto our felves the 
 cleared notion that we can of a being, infinite in power> 
 in wifdom, and goodnefs, the author and fountain of 
 all perfections, let us fix the eyes of our foul upon it*, 
 that our eyes may affect our heart, and while we are 
 muling the fire will burn f. 
 
 Especially if hereunto we add the confedera- 
 tion of God's favour and good- will to- 
 wards lis: nothing is more powerful to Wefliouldftic- 
 
 fj.' a. . , r . , dirate on his 
 
 engage our afre&ion, than to find that goodnz[s and 
 we are beloved. Expreffions of kindnels lore. 
 are always pleafing and acceptable unto 
 us, though the perfon lhould be ottierways mean and 
 contemptible : but to have the love of one who is alto- 
 gether lovely, to know that the glorious Majelty of 
 heaven hath any regard unto us, how muft it aflonifh 
 and delight us, how mull it overcome our fpirits, and 
 melt our hearts, and put our whole foul into a flame ! 
 Now as the word of God is full of the expreffions of his 
 love towards man, fo all his works do loudly proclaim 
 it ; he gave us our being, and by preferving us in it, 
 doth renew the donation every moment. He hath 
 placed us in a rich and well furnifhed world, and li- 
 berally provided for all our neceflities ; he raineth 
 down blefiings from heaven upon lis, and caufeth the 
 earth to bring forth oiir provifion ; he giveth us our 
 Food and raimerit, and while we are {pending the pro- 
 
 F ductiohs 
 
 *Lam. Hi. 51, fPfkl.^aaUx. 3* 
 
j:. , (,od 
 
 dii&ii ns r{ or . rar, h< 
 
 am '... 1 1 ith innuno - m- 
 
 ■ 
 t I his pro'. : . is always upon us, 
 
 watcheth for our fafety uvh< . neithet 
 
 minding him nor our (elves. But left wc (fa uld think 
 thefe tcftimonics of his kindnefs la's confidcrable, be- 
 caulc they arc the eafj Kibes I p wcr, 
 
 and do not put him Co any ti ..in, be hath 
 
 taken a more nJ meth r himklt to 
 
 us ; be hath teftified his t 
 
 as well as by doing; and becai ^ot furl a* in 
 
 liis own nature, he ail The ettrns s n o| 
 
 G^d did cloath himfcll with theini 
 and left the company of thofe innocent ar 
 fpirits, who knew well how to love 
 be might dwell am ,, and v. 
 
 pacy of that n , to 
 
 allcgi and felicity, and then to offer himfel Dp 
 
 as a facrificc and pro] I I : 
 
 one of the ; the 
 
 paflion wherewith he found I m 
 
 i hat the £od or love had (hot all his 
 
 I i arrows at him, but c< uld n< 
 heart, tiil . to the b 
 
 ■ Ltd hi;. v this 
 
 doth y adumbi itc G i ^ n g 
 
 with men i with a itubborn 
 
 rjd, an.. hem, 
 and when all . 
 
 t which we hat 
 
 alone: pro^-nr us 
 
 took, 
 
 and 
 
in the Soul of Man. 67 
 
 and the troubles that he endured, were the wonderful 
 effects, and uncontrollable evidences of it. But O that 
 laft, that difmal fcene ! Is it poffible to remember it 
 and queftion his kindnefs, or deny him ours? Here, 
 here it is (my dear friend) that we mould fix our mod 
 ferious and folemn thoughts, that Cbrifi may dwell in 
 our hearts by faith, that we being rooted and grounded 
 in love, may be able to comprehend with all faints, 
 what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height : 
 and to know the love ofChrift which pajfttb knowledge^ 
 Hbat we may be filled with all the fulnefs cfGcd*. 
 
 W e ought atffo frequently to reflect on thofe particu- 
 lar tokens of favour and iove, which Gcd hath be- 
 llowed on our felves ; how long he hath bcrn wirh our 
 follies and fins, and waited to be gracious unto us, 
 wreftling, as it were with the ftubbcrnnefs of our 
 hearts, and effaying every method to reclaim us. We 
 fhould keep a regifter in our minds of all the eminent 
 bleflings and deliverances we have met with, fome 
 whereof have been fo conveyed, that we might clearly 
 perceive they were not the iffues of chance, but the 
 gracious effects of the divine favour, and the fignal 
 returns of our prayers. Nor ought we to imbitter the 
 thoughts of thefe things with any harfh or unworthy fuU 
 picion, as if they were defigned on purpofe to enhaunce 
 our guilt, and heighten our eternal damnation. No, no, 
 my friend, God is love, and he hath no pleafure in the 
 ruin of his creatures : if they abufe his goodnefs, and 
 turn his grace into wantonnefs, and thereby plunge 
 themtelves into the greater depth of guilt and mifcry, 
 this is the effect of their obflinate wickednefs, and not 
 the defign of thofe benefits which he beflov, s. 
 
 F 2 Ip 
 
 Eph.iii. 17, 1 3, 19, 
 
68 71 ].:■' >f GOD 
 
 I * id once begotten in our 
 
 . ltd* almighl 
 
 that would the other branches of 
 
 religion, and therefore I lhall need of 
 
 DEL 
 
 \Y i (hall find our hearts inlarged in charity to- 
 wards men, by considering the re! 
 
 Tobcgcrchari- wnCft | || thcy fo^ im tO God, and the 
 
 roctnbertbatall imprelles or his image which are (tamped 
 ititoariy upon them. T : only his 
 
 unto , I i r ■ « i 
 
 Gcd> creatures, xh maoihipoi lm hands, 
 
 but liich of whom hetal care, 
 
 and fix whom he hath a rci and ten* rd, 
 
 having laid the defigns of their happinefi bd 
 
 foundations of the world, and being willing to live 
 and converfe with them to all the ages of el 
 The meaneft and mod contemptible p 
 behold, is the off-fpring of heaven, Ircn 
 
 the DBi< ft high ; and however unworthy he might be- 
 have himfelr' or that relation, 1 . itfa not 
 abdicated and difowned him by a final fentence, he 
 will have us tO acknowledge him as one ot his and as 
 fuch to imbrace him wit! tndcordii Ion. 
 Jfou ktl It concernment I to 
 : thole that do ..ny Wl) l 
 
 lay boh >p- 
 
 ... 
 and Pure our hue 
 
 (bring forth in ^-~ , did 
 
 inureft that them, ai 
 
 rial 
 lid not account the blood or' his 
 
 Son too nptioo. 
 
 A 
 
in the Soul of Man. 69 
 
 Again, as all men fland in a near relation to 
 God, fo they have flill fo much of his 
 image (lamped on them, as may oblige J^Z^' 
 and excite us to love them: in fome this upontfiem. 
 image is more eminent and confpicuous, 
 and we can difcern the lovely tracks of wifdom and 
 goodrtefs ; and tho* in others it be miferably fullied 
 and deaced, yet is it not altogether razed, fome linia- 
 ments at lead do flill remain. All men are endued 
 with rational and immortal fouls, with undcrllandings 
 and wills capable of the highell and mod excellent 
 things; and if they be at prefent difordered and put 
 out of tune by wickednefs and folly, this may indeed 
 move our companion, but ought not in reafon to ex- 
 tinguish our love. When we fee a perfon of a rugged 
 humour, and perverfe difpofition, full of malice and 
 diflimulation, very foolifh and very proud, it is hard 
 to fall in love with an object, that prefents it felf unto 
 us under an idea fo little grateful and lovely. But 
 when we fhall confider thefe evil qualities as the dif- 
 eafes and diftempers of a foul, which in it felf is capa- 
 ble of all that wifdom and goodnefs wherewith the 
 t>ell of faints, have ever been adorned, and which may 
 one day come to be raifed unto fuch heights of per- 
 fections, as fhall render it a fit companion for the holy 
 angels; this will turn our averfion into pity, and 
 make us behold him with fuch refentments, as we 
 fhould have when we lock upon a beautiful body 
 that were mangled with wounds, or disfigured by fome 
 loathfome difeafe ; and however we hate the vices, we 
 fhall not ceafe to love the man. 
 
 In the next place, for purifying our fouls, and dif- 
 Entangling our affections from the pleafures and enjoy- 
 
 F 3 meats. 
 
L- vf GOD 
 
 our 
 , what a (hamcful and i 
 
 111 of n. 
 
 i and fcnfual lul 
 sits ntailical d( 
 
 id and fpiritual pleasures ; tl 
 . and pampered, 
 
 rved io us. D d we but mind wl I fbt 
 
 what we were made, this woul 
 fenfe to , it 
 
 would beget a modefty a -, and m 
 
 us i mo- 
 
 cent and allowable pi 
 It will be ua] ro the bmc purpofc, that 
 
 : our minds rov. 
 IT though 
 
 the j. s tim • G /.and, 
 
 heafen. 
 
 1 oar un- 
 
 Ci ■;. I its, it will make i as 
 
 i . 
 ■ p i 
 
 ( oot grofs i 
 
 joj s 
 
 are 
 
 a 
 
 
in the Soul of Man. 
 
 71 
 
 a quite contrary erTecl: : it might intangle us further in 
 carnal attentions, and we mould be ready to indulge 
 our felves in a very liberal fore-tafte of thofe pleafures, 
 wherein we had placed our everlafting felicity. But 
 when we come once to conceive aright of thcfe pure 
 and fpiritual pleafures, when the happinefs we propofe 
 to our felves is from the fight, and love, and enjoyment 
 of God, and our minds are filled with the hopes and 
 fore-thoughts of that bleffrd eftate, O how mean and 
 contemptible will all things here below appear in our 
 eyes? With what difdain (hall wc reject the grofs and 
 muddy pleafures that would deprive us of thofe celeftial 
 enjoyments, or any way unfit and indifpofe us for 
 them. 
 
 T h e laft branch of religion is humility, and fure 
 We can never want matter of confidera- 
 tion for begetting it : all our wicked- Humility arif es 
 
 , f ° . ., r ... from the confi- 
 
 nefles and imperfections, all our tollies deration of our 
 and our fins, may help to pull down that failings. 
 fond and overweening conceit which we are apt to 
 entertain of our felves. That which makes any body 
 efteem us, is their knowledge or apprehenfion of fome 
 little good, and their ignorance of a great deal of evil 
 that may be in us ; were they throughly acquainted 
 with us, they would quickly change their opinion. The 
 thoughts that pafs in our heart, in the heft and moil 
 ferious day of our life, being expofed unto publick view, 
 would render us either hateful or ridiculous : and now 
 however we conceal our failings from one another, yet 
 fure we are confcious of them our felves, and fome 
 ferious reflections upon them, would much qualify and 
 allay the vanity of our fpirits. Thus holy men have 
 come really to think worfe of themfelves, than of any- 
 other perfon in the world : not but that they knew 
 
 F 4 thag 
 
-i 7% / of COD 
 
 thur and fcandalous vices, art id tl .: 
 
 nati: us than :rprifals of temp- 
 
 tations ana but becau 
 
 mo: 
 
 d c nfidcr all the aj 
 tions or the one, and z\ ; thai 
 
 I to diminifl) and all thcr. 
 
 13 ut it i- well obfci I bj a pious writer, I 
 Thoughts of [*" and im ft pure humility doth 
 
 m not ..rion 
 
 a calm and .:ion or" 
 
 divine purity a. id Out *p- 
 
 pLar fo clearly, as v : place t. 
 
 finite light; and w< n lefe in purowneyesi 
 
 thin when we look down upon our fclves from on hij 
 O how little, how nothing do all tfa 5 of 
 
 perfection then appear V I to 
 
 \. ... ! That humility which ma 
 
 \ iew of ii finfulncfi and m i rbulent 
 
 I but tl r layech us lull as 1 
 
 I wantc but that anguilh and vei 
 
 arc the 
 nearcft obj hta. 
 
 I ; . i . ins y< ■ ing a 
 
 ,i in the 
 no« art) prayer. 
 
 H 4 the 
 
 I wc arc 
 achpron 
 
 ayet 
 lie open 
 
 r | : . 
 
 dUSptteth 
 
in the Soul of- Man. ^3 
 
 diflipateth our darknefs, and imprinteth his image on 
 pur fouls. I cannot now infill on the advantages o£ 
 this exercife, or the difpofitions wherewith it ought to 
 be performed ; and there is no need I fhould, there 
 being fo many books that treat on this fubject : I ihall 
 only tell you, that as there is one fort of prayer where- 
 in we make ufe of the voice, which is necefifary in pub- 
 lick, and may fometimes have its own advantages in 
 private ; and another wherein, tho 5 we 
 utter no found, yet we conceive the ex- The advantages 
 prefftons and form the words, as it were, p ra ^? ta 
 in our minds ; fo there is a third and 
 more fublime kind of prayer, wherein the foul takes a 
 higher flight, and having collected all its forces by long 
 and ferious meditation, it darteth it felf (if I may fo 
 fpeak) towards God in fighs and groans, and thoughts 
 too big for expreflion. As when after a deep contem- 
 plation of the divine perfections appearing in all his 
 works of wonder, it addreffeth it felf unto him in the 
 profoundefl adoration of his majefty and glory : or 
 when after fad reflections on its viienefs and mifcarriages, 
 it proftrates it felf before him with the greatefl con- 
 fufion and forrow, not daring to lift up its eyes, or 
 utter one word in his prefence : or when having well 
 confidered the beauty of holinefs, and the unfpeakable 
 felicity of thofe that are truly good, it panteth after 
 God, and fendeth up fuch vigorous and ardent defires, 
 as no words can fufficiently exprefs, continuing and re- 
 peating each of thefe acts as long as it finds it felf up- 
 held by the force and impulfe of the previous medita- 
 tion. 
 
 This mental prayer is of all other the moil effec- 
 tual to purify the foul, and difpofe it unto a holy and 
 religious temper^ and may be termed the great fecret 
 
 of 
 
7+ Life of G Q 
 
 and it may be the apoitle hath a 
 I ajth, that tbc ') i I 
 ■.Kterccjjion ] 
 
 , as the i 
 may bear, : ; . fct 1 d re- 
 
 commend this fort of prayer, 8 fcof 
 
 we have fo man] 
 , and every pctitj 
 time, and fo great an intention or' fpirit, that i: were 
 not eafy therein to ill : to I 
 
 that the deep (igh$ and he rich 
 
 ipany it, 
 nature, and make it hard to continue 
 But cei itions, will 
 
 d i more than a rreat many linen: and melting exprcf- 
 
 Hoi 
 
 Thus (my dear friend) I have brictly prop 
 
 the method which 1 judi; r to: 
 
 m il ing the foul into # holy frame; and 
 .. . , ; means which ler 
 
 divi ttill b< pra&tfcd for 
 
 ig . d idrandi and 
 
 therefore I Dial 
 
 md 'tis the frequent f 
 
 of that ' • anent, . 
 
 in the !• ul. All die inftrui i meet 
 
 il this on 
 fcl to it, ■••■ - ■■ 
 
 1 
 fcv( 
 
 itions 
 
in the Soul of Man, 75 
 
 ligations on our felves; then are our minds raifed to the 
 higheft contempt of the world, and every grace doth 
 exercife it felt with the greatelt activity and vigour ; 
 all the fubje&s of contemplation do there prefent 
 themfelves unto us with the greater!: advantage ; and 
 then, if ever, doth the foul make its mofl powerful 
 towards heaven, and affault it with a holy and 
 acceptable force. And certainly the neglect or carelefs 
 performance of this duty, is one of the chief caufes 
 that be- dwarfs our religion, and makes us continue of 
 fo low a fize. 
 
 But it is time I mould put a clofe to this letter, 
 which is grown to a far greater bulk than at firft I in- 
 tended : if thefe poor papers can do you the fmalleft 
 fervice, I mail think my felf very happy in this under- 
 taking ; at leaft I am hopeful you will kindly accept 
 the fincere endeavours of a perfon who would fain ac- 
 quit himfelf of fome part of that which he owes you. 
 
 A Prayer. 
 
 f A N D now, O mod gracious God, father and 
 
 c A fountain of mercy and goodnefs, who haft 
 
 c bleflfed us with the knowledge of our happinefs, and 
 
 ' the way that leadeth unto it, excite in our fouls fuch 
 
 c ardent defires after the one, as may put us forth to 
 
 * the diligent profecution of the other. Let us neither 
 
 ' prefume on our own ftrength, nor diltruft thy di- 
 
 l vine affiftance j but while we are doing our utmofl 
 
 ' endea- 
 
-6 Tie Life of G 6 D 
 
 4 endeavours, us full to x for 
 
 ' fiicc Is. Open , O God, i reach us out 
 
 f of thy law. Bids us with an 
 
 out duty^ and a knowledge to 
 
 1 vcrft things, p that our ways wei :ep 
 
 4 thy ttatutcs, then (hall we not be afhamed when 
 
 < we have reipect unto all thy commandments. Pof- 
 1 fefs our hearts with a generous and holy difdain of 
 ? all thofe po^>r enjoyments which this world holdcth 
 
 * out to allure us, that they may never be able to 
 c inveigle our auctions, or betray ps to any fin : 
 
 ■ Turn away our t Iding vanity, and 
 1 quicken thou us in thy law. Fill our f uls with 
 1 fuch a deep fenfe, and full perfuafion of thofe great 
 
 * truths which thou haft rcveal'd in the gofpel, as 
 
 * may influence and regulate our whole converfaticn, 
 1 and that the life which we henceforth live in the 
 ' flefli, WC may live thro' faith in the Son of Cod. 
 4 () that the infinite perfections of thy bleffed nature, 
 
 * and the aftonHhing exprefOoos of thy goodness an4 
 
 * love, may conquer and over-power our hearts. 
 c that they may be constantly riling tOWar< in 
 \ flames ot devoutefi aitcaion, and inUirging them- 
 4 livls in finccre and cordial \o\ :iie 
 
 1 WOfld tor thy fal;e; and tiiat wen: ur 
 
 < (elves from all fitthineis offlefli and fpirit, pa -ting 
 
 * holin Is in th; u which i er 
 
 ■ hi. p. to behold and I , O God> 
 
 * giant that t! and 
 c what we our (elves ai , maj both hum! ay 
 
 1 ui b ng- 
 
 We 
 
 J d.i'uc to rcfign and . onduft 
 
 :4 
 
in the Soul of Man. *jj 
 
 c of thy holy Spirit, lead us in thy truth and teach 
 € us, for thou art the God of our falvation, guide 
 
 * us with thy counfel, and afterwards receive us 
 c unto glory, for the merits and interceflion of thy 
 
 • bkfled Son our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 T H 
 
-3 ) 
 
 — --— 
 
 s 
 
 Ll 
 
 111' 
 
 Superior Excellency 
 
 OF I H 1- 
 
 RELIGIOUS. 
 
 Pro v. xii. 26. 
 
 TTv R s is n 
 
 Neighbour. 
 
 bo confidcrd 
 vantage 01' pict) and 
 
 the befl 
 
 and Ikv.-. : :itc- 
 
 . 
 
 I 
 this m\ .. 
 
The Superior Excellency > &c. 79 
 
 grofs miftakes about it, and prejudices againft it, fines 
 it is Co natural to us to love that which is good, and 
 delight in that which is amiable, when things are not 
 mifreprefented. 
 
 Certainly all who are enemies to holinefs have 
 taken up falfe meafures, and difadvantageous notions 
 of it. The fenfual perfon hateth it as harfll and uh- 
 pleafant, doing violence to his carnal appetites, and 
 looks on Religion as a contrivance to deprive and rob 
 him of the pleafures of this world, by propefmg thofe 
 of another. The politick wit flights it as toolifh and 
 imprudent; and tho' he acknowledge it a neceffary 
 inftrument of government, a good device to over awe 
 a multitude, yet he counts it a great weaknefs to be 
 further concerned in it than may be confident with, 
 and fubfervient to fecular defigns. Again, the Gallants 
 of our age defpife it as a bafe and ignoble temper, un- 
 worthy of a high birth and genteel education, inci- 
 dent to meaner fouls, proceeding from cowardly and 
 fuperftitious fear, depreffing the mind, and rendring it 
 incapable of high and afpiring thoughts. Hence they 
 make it their biifineft ... contempt upon Piety > 
 
 and advance the reputation of thofe vicious courfes 
 which themfelves have embraced; and becaufe there ar G 
 yet fome left, who by practifing and recommending 
 Vertue y do oppofe and condemn their lend practices, 
 they ftudy to avenge themfelves on them by the per- 
 fection of their tongues, and all the feoffs and re- 
 proaches they can invent and utter ; which hath proved 
 a mean, moll unhappily fuccefsful, to deter many weak 
 minds from goodnefs, making them choofe to be wick- 
 ed, that they may not be laught at. 
 
 It is to difcover the groflnefs of this miftake, and 
 expofe the abfurditks and unreafonablenefs of thefe 
 
 principles 
 
I and y , to vindicate the 
 
 ol Pi 
 fouls, that w . h; 
 
 tells us in Oiort and plain terms, tha 
 re excellent than bis net 
 
 Noni cap be lb li 
 
 as not ro know, that th * Riibteouf*$Js i 
 trucft ac> n importcth only the obfervation of 
 
 thefc duties we owe out neighbour, yet it is 
 taken more largely, for Piety and Ft \ and 
 
 good reafon too, iince there is no part or' our durv but 
 we owe it as a debt unto G d ; no txercife of religion 
 but it is an art or" juftlCC ; whence the clear imp^ r: 
 of the text is, that whatever excellency other perions 
 may pretend to, the pious and religious men tr< 
 truly noble and generous perfons in the world, as the 
 Pfalmift expreffeth i: 5 7 
 the t 
 
 N o w we (hall not trouble y rthet 
 
 , or with 
 any di 
 lull rate I 
 
 undoubted evidences of not and excellency 
 
 proper to t Lnd to ti ;;fe it ; where 
 
 we may have ooctfion to hint at fuch ch 
 pious man, as, befides I 
 
 haps : put us in mind our duty 
 
 which we ai\ 
 
 therefore mi) be ufi ill even to thofe who have tin 
 embraced the pi 
 
 Bit n< to (p ik "'• tfK noblenefs and i 
 
 I- : /:, i: may tx 
 
 a: id extract, 
 bility which i me un 
 
of the R e l i g i o u s. 8 1 
 
 v might take occafion todifcover the folly of glorying 
 in the antiquity of an illuftrious houfe, or the famed 
 vertue of worthy anceftors, who perhaps, were they 
 alive, would difown their degenerate progeny ; but I 
 fhall not infill upon this, it is a vanity which hath been 
 chaftifed Efficiently even by heathen fens. Nay, we 
 fhall fo far comply with the common fentiments of the 
 world, as to acknowledge, that high birth and liberal 
 education may contribute much to elevate the minds 
 of men, and accuftom them to great thoughts. But 
 fure whatever advantages any may pretend to by their 
 birth, there are none to be preferred to the children of 
 Godj the blood-royal of heaven, the brethren of Chrift, 
 of whom we may fay, that as he is fo are they, each 
 cne refemlling the [on of a king. 
 
 I f we trace the lines of earthly extraction, we mall 
 find them all meet in one point, all terminate in duft 
 and earth ; but in the heraldry of heaven, we fhall 
 find a two-fold pedigree. Sin is the off-fpring of hell, 
 and wicked men are of their father the Devil, whofc 
 work they perform : on the other hand, holinefs is the 
 feed of God, and the faints have obtained to be called 
 the fons of the moft high ; and think not thefe are empty 
 titles, and big words, to amufe the world ; no, they 
 are equally juft and important : Pious men are really 
 partakers of the divine nature, and fhall obtain an in- 
 tereft in the inheritance which is entailed on that re- 
 lation. Never were the qualities of a parent more 
 really derived unto their children, than the image and 
 fimilitude of the divine excellencies are flamped upon 
 thefe heaven-born fouls ; fome beams of that eternal 
 light are darted in upon them, and make them fhine 
 with an eminent fplendor ; and they are always afpir- 
 ing to a nearer conformity with him, fliii breathing 
 
 G aftei: 
 
m 
 
 7 
 
 writ, and 
 dtil 
 
 the 
 
 I ' i an, rhat 
 y who obferve them mi n to 
 
 c - ; bj tl at in the 
 
 I will c. 
 
 til Icon: ■ 
 
 1 1 , v i n g of the i 
 
 excellency, in regard i birth and extraction 
 
 pr r his qualities and endowments, 
 
 (lull b gin with th derftanding, his L. 
 
 , -mk\ wifdom. i us, that a 
 
 fine if* any man in the world is to be account. 
 i , it is the pious man ; his I 
 
 ■ about the nobleft iates 
 
 i big wh oQ 9 
 
 admired, but llill a d n< matter to aftonifli 
 
 God, 
 
 trend Dr. ffll 
 
 it: u I accounted an c 
 
 lk lent p\ to undei (land the laws o 
 
 <f the land, tl i of tlu w< In c in 
 
 II how much mo I now th s of heaven I 
 
 ial In us of ri| the will oi th I 
 
 c< univerial , and the coft that a nntr 
 
 <( whei * And if we have : 
 
 mind to the ftudi 
 
 d for it, having his (acuities cleared 
 . his undcrilandii tned by dh tempi 
 
 "IS. 
 
 Bd 
 
of the Religious. 8? f 
 
 But his knowledge doth not reft in fpeculations, 
 but dire&eth his pra&ice, and determined! his choice. 
 And he is the moil; prudent as well as the mod knowing 
 perfon. He knows how to fecure his greateft interelt, 
 to provide for the longed life, to prefer (Hid treafures 
 to gilded trifles, the foul to the body, eternity to a 
 moment : he knoweth the temper of his own fpirit, 
 he can moderate his paffions, and over-rule his carnal 
 appetites, which certainly is a far more important piece 
 of wifdom, than to underftand the intrigues of a ftate, 
 to fathom the counlels of princes, to know the pulfe of 
 a people, or ballance the interefts of kingdoms. Yea, 
 Piety doth heighten and advance even moral prudence 
 it felf ; both obliging and directing a man to order his 
 affairs with difcretion, it maketh the fimple wife ; and 
 what was faid by holy David, and twice repeated by 
 his wife fon, will hold good in every man 5 s experience, 
 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wifdom. 
 And thus much of the knowledge and wifdom wherein 
 the righteous man excelled! his neighbour. 
 
 W e proceed to another of his endowments, the 
 greatnefs of his mind, and his contempt of the world : 
 We can never take better meafures of a man's fpirit, 
 than from the things he delightethin, and fets his heart 
 upon, ghialis amor, talis animus. To be taken up 
 with trifles, and concerned in little things, is an evi- 
 dence of a weak and naughty mind ; and fo are all 
 wicked and irreligious perfons, their thoughts are con- 
 fined to low and mean things, defigns of fcraping to- 
 ther money, or fpending it in luxury, or of fatisfying 
 a paffion, or pleafing a lull, of obtaining the favour of 
 great ones, or the applanfe of the vulgar. The greateft 
 happinefs they aim at, is to be a mailer of the country 
 where they live, to dwell in (lately houfes, and to be 
 
 G a backed 
 
&4 5Tw Super. ■ E y 
 
 ked with a train of attendants, to . .met 
 
 fare delici* afly, and Rich like attains h a wife 
 
 man would think himfelf unhap he could not do- 
 
 (pile. 
 
 B u i the pious pcrfoa hath his thoughts far ll 
 thefc painted vanities, his felicity is not parched up 
 
 ( " mean (hreds, it is fimple, and conprized in one 
 chief good j bis foul advanced] it felf I 
 
 GotlS towards the author of its bcfa fountain of 
 
 dnefs and plea lure, I 
 
 be Ac fin. 
 
 T h B know ledge of nature hath puted a g 
 
 mean to enlarge the foul, and breed in it a contempt 
 or earthly enjoyments ; he that hath accustomed him- 
 (ell to conlider the vaitnefs of the univafc, and the 
 fmall proportion which the we live in V 
 
 the reft of the world, may perhaps come to thi 
 or the pofleffions ot (on of that fame which 
 
 can at mod fprcad it 'mall cot this 
 
 earth. Wh I this, lure lam, that the know- 
 
 d, and the frequent thou{ sn,muft 
 
 Heeds | Sua! to derate and .. 
 
 disc the mind. W'henop.ce the foul b) Dplatiou 
 
 is railed to any right apprehen 
 (e&ionsj and the forc-tafte* , how will 
 
 this world, and all that is in it, vanifh and di 
 1 With what holy difdaio will I 
 down upon things, which arc the highefl 
 oil ambid us All the fplendor 
 
 cunts, all the pageantrj 
 dai eyes, than the (aim Lull 
 
 • it hath the 
 
 11. : litl 
 
of the Religiou s. 8$ 
 
 or that fortune, who fits higheft at table, or goes firft 
 out of the door; his thoughts are taken up with 
 greater matters, how he mall pleafe his maker, and 
 obtain an intereft in that land of promife, fome of the 
 fruits whereof he hath already tailed. And from 
 thence arifeth that conftant and equal frame of fpirit, 
 which the pious man's mind maintains in all the changes 
 and viciflitudes of things"; while he who hath not his 
 fpirit ballanced with religious principles, is lift up and 
 caft down like a fhip on the fea, with every variation 
 of fortune, and partakes perhaps of all the motions 
 of this inferior world, whereunto his heart and affec- 
 tions are faflned. And certainly he muft be far more 
 happy and generous both, who fitteth loofe to the 
 world, and can with the greateft calmnefs and tran- 
 quillity poffefs his own foul, while all things without 
 are in hurry and confuflon. Private difafters cannot 
 difcompofe him, nor publick calamities reach him ; he 
 looks upon the troubles and combuflions of the world, 
 as men do on the ruin and defolation of cities wherein 
 themfelves have little intereft, with no other concern- 
 ment than that of pity, to fee men trouble themfelves 
 and others to fo little purpofe : Si fracJus illabatur 
 crbis. If the world mould make, and the foundations 
 of the earth be removed, yet would he reft fecure in a 
 full acquiefcence to the will of God, and confident 
 dependence on his providence. He jloall not be afraid 
 of evil tidings , and his heart is fixed, trufiing in th& 
 Lord. 
 
 And this, r by the affinity, will lead us to another 
 endowment, wherein the excellency of the righteous 
 man doth appear, and that is that heroick magnani- 
 mity and courage wherewith he is infpired, and which, 
 makes him confidently atchieve the moft difficult a&ions* 
 
 G 5 and 
 
7 I y 
 
 that he Is 
 
 t fuhim 
 
 - 
 
 I 
 valour doth more appear b; than by doii 
 
 aod dou the batdeft trial , crc 
 
 it not foe (offering tor coward id 
 
 the Id n. m -ii i 
 
 I 
 
 as the d d men 
 
 uily 
 
 mud b. 
 
 bui i in • 
 
 tiau man 
 anoc be 
 mention ' ; bacfa their c 
 
 lUa 
 
 pa- 
 
 I 
 ; but well bad 
 
 burnout 
 
 pcrverfe ft* i pid 
 
 id and 
 
 :ncJ 
 
 v, i: n. 
 
 I . / 
 
 or 
 
 futo 
 
 I , but alaj> ! what i i to 
 
of AReligious, 87 
 
 infinite number, not only of men, but even of women 
 and children, who have died for the profeffion of their 
 faith, neither feeking or expecting any praife from men ? 
 And tell me who among the heathen did willingly en- 
 dure the lofs of reputation ? Nay, that was their idol, 
 and they could not part with it ; and certainly it is a 
 great meannefs of fpirit to be over-awed with fear 
 of difgrace, and depend upon the thoughts of the 
 people ; true courage doth equally fortify the mind 
 againfl all thofe evils, and will make a man hazard 
 his honour, as well as other things, when cccafion 
 calls for it. 
 
 Now if the celebrated actions of the heathens 
 come fhort of true courage, what fhali we fay of the 
 furious boldnefs of the hectors of our age, who pretend 
 to prowefs and gallantry by far lefs reafonable me- 
 thods ? When blinded with paffion, and animated 
 with wine, they are ready enough on half a quarrel, 
 to hazard their own, and their neighbour's life and 
 foul too in a duel ; yea, they will not [land to brave 
 heaven it felf, and to provoke the Almighty by their 
 horrid oaths and blafphemies ; and one mould think that 
 thefe mull needs be the hardieft and moll valiant people 
 in the world ; if they are not afraid of the Almighty, 
 fure nothing elfe fhould fright them. And yet you fhall 
 find thefe very perfons, when call on a bed by ficknefs, 
 or brought to the fcaffold by jultice, to betray a mi- 
 ferable faintnefs and pufjlanimity, they are forced 
 now to think on the terrors of death, and the more 
 terrible confequences of it - 3 and their counterfeit cou- 
 rage being deilitute of thofe props which formerly 
 fuftained it, doth now difcover its weaknefs. Nor is 
 it any wonder; for what mould make a man willingly 
 leave this world, unlefs he expected a more happy con- 
 
 G 4. ditiott 
 
He S:r Excellency 
 
 dition in another ? ( rttai at b fb&j 
 
 the foal with a true and manly courage, bur a 
 confidence in God, and hopes ol 
 
 f 
 
 t '?i a ti<M % and 
 ir. 
 I i <> m courage and magnanimity s to that 
 
 which is the genuine ifliie, and ordinar; : ot 
 
 of the righteous perfon. 
 is a privilej rated by all men, tl 
 
 many run the grtateft hazards tor the very name or" it, 
 but there are tew thai .11 not fpcal 
 
 tl 
 
 J tied ; whi 
 
 constrained, and their i - to 
 
 be pitied than blamed. But wicked and ious 
 
 pel bns arc under a tar more flum 
 
 flayes i i their own lufl ; , and fui nee 
 
 and tyranny or' their irregular : 
 quently talk'd • 
 
 or two for the illufl I .ate 
 
 man, and you fhall find him frequently tranlpoi 
 
 and o\ .red by his anger, and I 
 
 ex: winch a little time ra 
 
 and hie becomes as d with himfelf, as 
 
 ; and the 
 
 y that fame paiEon which 
 ,e is a v 
 which take up h 
 i night 1 H 
 
 ... (awn and flatter, an 
 
 the 
 i.c may 
 
of the Religious. 
 
 thofe whom he hates ; which doubtlefs is done with 
 a great violence and conftraint. The drunkard when 
 he awakes, and hath (lept out his cups and his fro- 
 lick humour, and finds his head aking, his ftomach 
 qualmith, and perhaps his purfe empty ; and reflects 
 on the folly and unhandfome expreffions or actions he 
 may have fallen into in his drink, how will he con- 
 demn himfelf for that excefs ! What harangues fhall 
 we have from him in the praife of temperance ! What 
 promifes and refolutions of future fobriety ! and yet 
 on the next occafion, the poor flave fhall be dragged 
 away to the tavern by thofe whom he mult call his 
 friends 5 and thank them who put that abufe upon 
 him, which a wife and fober perfon will rather die than 
 fuffer. Further, the luxurious would fain preferve or 
 recover his health ; and to this end finds it requifite to 
 keep a temperate and fober diet ; no, but he mull: not, 
 he is prefent at a feaft, and his fuperior appetite calls 
 for a large meafure of delicious fare, and his palate 
 mull: be pleafed, tho 3 the whole body mould fuffer for 
 it • or he hath met with a lewd woman, and tho' his 
 whole bones fhould rot, and a dart ftrike thro' his 
 liver, yet he mull: obey the commands of his lults ; 
 he goeth after her flraightway, as the ox goeth to the 
 /laughter, or as a fool to the correction of the flocks. 
 Now there can be no greater evidence of flavery and 
 bondage, than thus to do what themfelves know to be 
 prejudicial. It were eafy to illuflrate this bondage 
 and thraldom of the foul, in all the other inftances of 
 vice and impiety, and certainly what St. Peter faith of 
 fome falfe teachers, may be well applied to all wicked 
 perfons, While they promife freedom, they themfelves 
 are the feroants of corruption, for of whom a man is 
 overcome, of the fams is be brought in bondage. 
 
 Bur 
 
7' tor. Excellent 
 
 But the I hath broken 
 
 tin, a;, nc the 
 
 km thai 
 bul, whi by did pretend i 
 
 h doth fway and moderate all thoft 
 paiiious and impetuous arkctior. , nldhhw 
 
 a man ii merit of I 
 
 and makes him matter of hi 
 and defires, that he may do with 
 judgeth molt boned and c at. And thus 
 
 r, as mi: lan 
 
 th the b:;ieil lla I 
 
 h b :; particular 
 
 appear, is in a charitable 
 
 ul, than foe a man 
 I up about private and ill; it ; 
 
 . fo if they be well, not to care what beoometfa 
 
 tiie fell or" the world ! on 1 five 
 
 an ejnii 
 
 I 
 
 . I i 
 
 I 
 
 [ sd •• his 
 
 that they 
 
 l whom is a 
 
 [lent 
 . 
 
 ions, 
 as 
 
of the Religious. ^% 
 
 as from the integrity of their life, and exactnefs of their 
 practices. 
 
 H i s charity doth not exprefs it felf in one particu- 
 lar inftance, as that of giving of alms, but is vented 
 i:as many ways as the variety of occafions do call for, 
 and his power can reach to. He affifteth the poor 
 with his money, the ignorant with his counfel, the 
 afflicted with comfort, the fick with the bed ef his 
 skill ; all with his bleflings and prayers. If he cannot 
 build hofpitals, yet he will ftudy to perfuade thofe who 
 can ; if he hath no money to redeem captives, yet 
 will he imploy his intereft in the court of heaven for 
 their deliverance ; tho 3 he cannot recover a dying child 
 to the afflicted parents, yet will he endeavour to per- 
 fuade them to fubmiflion and refignation, which will 
 render them more happy • and will go hard but he 
 will find fome way, either to benefit or oblige every 
 man with whom he converfeth. Let no man upbraid 
 us with the contrary practices of many high preten- 
 ders to religion, who are notedly felfifh and churlifh 
 perfons ; we are not to defend the actions of all who 
 would be thought godly • nor muft you take your 
 meafures of piety from what you obferve in them ; but 
 look thro' the gofpel, and you fhall find charity and 
 bounty fo paflionately recommended, fo frequently in- 
 culcated, and fo indifpenfibly required, that you may 
 eafily conclude there are no chriilians in earneft, but 
 thofe who pra&ife it. Yea fo peculiar is this liberal 
 and benign temper to holy and religious perfons, that 
 nothing but a faint refemblance, and falfc imitation is 
 to be found elfewhere in the world ; other mens feeming 
 bounty is always marred by the bafe principle it pro- 
 ceeds from, and felfilh end it tends to. The apoitle 
 hath told us, that a man may give all bis goods to feed 
 
 the 
 
% 
 
 (ball | ! haps 
 
 , or a willii 
 
 Trouble of a miferablc 
 but v 
 
 ■eft in his diftributiotis. Tins made the 
 bypoc ' laim thcit rich tram] 
 
 and this ptykes their fucceflbrs in our times, i 
 have their g rks ot this I 
 
 .ft advantage, that pop them oq 
 
 walls and publick regiftei 
 
 To the fame principle mud v in the 
 
 world paj considerable inftancc 
 
 rcat houfe, and w til turn idled 
 is more ordinal tftcft 
 
 of pride and rain tl an oi humility or b 
 
 It is a part of their fplendor and ftatc, and : 
 the fame end that 
 
 and admir'd I -. orld. 
 
 by the perfons whom they entertain 
 leafl of : irity, and 
 
 i they have man] 
 
 , as an inn-1 , r arc 
 
 than he ; the 
 
 th mod to 
 . io lie 
 d with 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 wherein the 
 
 ... 
 
 abovd 
 
of the R E L i g i 6 us, §$ 
 
 febove the vaporous fphere of fenfual pleafure, which 
 darkneth and debafeth the mind, which fullics its 
 luftre, and abates its native vigour, while profane 
 perfons, wallowing in impure lufts, do (ink themfelves 
 below the condition of men. Can there be any fpark 
 of generofity, any degree of excellency in him who 
 makes his belly his god, or places his felicity in the 
 )i embraces of a (trumpet ? We fpoke before of the fla- 
 il very, we fpeak now of the deformity of thefe fins ; 
 ill and (hall add, that one of the mod (hameful and mi- 
 I ferable fpedacles in the world, is to fee a man born to 
 1 the ufe of reafon, and perhaps to an eminent fortune, 
 i drink away his religion, his reafon, his fenfe ; and To 
 I expofe himfelf to the pity of wife men, the contempt 
 of his own fervants, the derhton of his children, and 
 : fools ; to every danger, and to every fnare • and that 
 this muft pafs in the eyes of many for a piece of gal- 
 ! lantry, and necefiary accomplishment of a gentleman* 
 Good God ! how are the minds of men poifoned with 
 perverfe notions, what unreafonable meafures do they 
 take of things? We may expect next they (hail com- 
 mend theft, and make harangues to the praife of par- 
 ricide • for they are daily advancing in the boldnefs 
 of their impieties, and with confidence avowing them. 
 Other ages have pra&ifed wickednefs, but to ours is 
 i referved the impudence to glory in them. But would 
 : men but open their own eyes, and give way to the fenti- 
 ments of their own minds, they would foon alter their 
 maxims, and difcover the miferable deformity of vjqe, 
 and the amiable beauty and majefty of religion • that 
 it doth at once adorn and advance the humane nature, 
 and hath in it every thing generous and noble, cheer- 
 ful and fpiritual, free and ingenuous, in a word, that 
 the righteous is more excellent than his neighbour. 
 
 Before 
 
9+ 77)c Suj. !ency 
 
 Bi proceed farther, it will be ncc: 
 
 to take off fern: pr ariic 
 
 againft 1 s And excellency of r And 
 
 firll is, that it enjoineth 1 and humility, 
 
 which men ordinarily I n as an . 
 
 difpolition. What! will they fay, can ever tl 
 afpire to any thing that is excellent) v. 
 oblige him to lie low and grove d ; who 
 
 thinks nothing of himfelf, ind is o all the 
 
 world think nothing of him } Is this a dil 
 for any but thofe ¥ 
 
 fufter miferies and affronts? Such arc mens thought* 
 of humility, which God loves lb much, that 
 fay he fent his own Son from h ach and rc- 
 
 tuhend it But if we ponder the matter, we fhall 
 find that arrogancy and pride arc the ifli bafc 
 
 and filly minds, a glddind arc 
 
 railed fuddenly unto unaccuftom ht; nor 
 
 any vice doth more palp: 
 
 a man of that honour n which 
 
 it makes him aim at. 
 
 ( ) n the other hand, we (hall : 
 and fneaking quality, but the ; ht and fub- 
 
 limi the mind, and tl. 
 
 - 
 
 ment oi 
 
 high born and well edi: maintcJ 
 
 with the len »wl 
 
 do noi doat upon ti - little tl. 
 
 b re their own, i 
 
 - 
 a<h -due thcr to dc~ 
 
 who v.aut th m ; but the] 
 ant then little attaii 
 
of the Religious. 95 
 
 have hitherto reached, and are flill afpiring to higher 
 and more noble things. And it's worth our notice, 
 " That the moil deep and pure humility doth not fo 
 <c much arife from the conflderation of our faults and 
 " defe&s (tho' that alfo may have its own place) as 
 " from a calm contemplation of the divine perfections. 
 u By reflecting on our felves we may difcover fome- 
 cc thing of our own finfulnefs and mifery, and thereby 
 " be filled with a kind of boifkrous and turbulent 
 <c grief and indignation ; but by fixing our eyes on the 
 <c infinite greatncfs and holinefs of God, we are moil 
 cc fully convinced of our own meannefs : this will fink 
 " us to the very bottom of our beings, and make us 
 u appear as nothing in our own fight, when beheld 
 <c from fo great a height." And this is really the 
 greateft elevation of the foul, and there is nothing in 
 the world fo noble and excellent as the fublimity of 
 humble minds. 
 
 Another objection againil the excellency of a 
 religious temper is, that the love of enemies, and par- 
 don of injuries, which it includeth, is utterly incon- 
 fiftent with the principles of honour. Now tho' it be 
 highly unreafonable to examine the laws of our Sa- 
 viour by fuch rules as this, yet we mail confider the 
 matter a little. Nor fhali we feek to elude or qualify 
 this precept, as fome men do, by fuch glofl'es and eva- 
 fions, as may fuit with their own pra&ices ; nay, we 
 fhall freely profefs, that there is no falvation without 
 the obfervation of it: a man had even as well aban- 
 don chriftianity, and renounce his baptifm, as obfti- 
 nately refufe to obey it. But if we have any value for 
 the judgment of the wifeft man and a great king, he 
 will tell us, that it is the honour of a man to ceafe 
 from fir if e, and he that is flow to wrath is of great 
 
 under" 
 
1)6 7?jc Superior Excellency 
 
 I . meek and holy perfba livtth ib 
 
 tty injuries: ar,d blunts the edge of the 
 
 ftcft by his patience and conflancy ; and ha:h 
 COmpftffion towards thofe who offend him; 
 
 lorry for the prejudice they do tl >, than tor 
 
 that which they intended him. And let all the v> 
 judge, whether it be more generous to pity and I 
 even thofe who hate us, and to pardon the 
 
 ice$, than peevifhly to quarrel OC P- t: y ' 
 
 fion, and make men fear our paffion, hate our bum 
 and abandon our foci. ty. So that uhat is herebtOU 
 as an objection againil religion, might with reafon 
 enough have been brought as an initancc of i:s nc- 
 bknefs. 
 
 H \ v i N G thus illuflrated and confirmed whit is 
 afferted in the text, :s more excellent 
 
 than bis nc: , let us improve it in a check to that 
 
 proianc and atheiilical fpirit of drollery and (coffing 
 at religion, which hath got abroad in the world. 
 Alas 1 do rfien confidet what it is which they make the 
 butt of their fi 2s and reproaches? Hai bing 
 
 c-lfe to exetcifc their wit and vent their jefts upon, but 
 
 that which is the mod noble and excellent thing in the 
 •world? What defign can they propofe unt Ives 
 
 by thiSMfld ° : ' hnpiety? v. id they 1 
 bnuHhed from l °f the earth, and forced to 
 
 tire for mime? What a goodly world fboi thed 
 
 have oi it ; what a tine harmony and i 
 Certainly the earth would then become a kind 
 
 h tumult* and Editions, rapines and murders, ie- 
 
 I malice, and open frauds by every vice and every 
 
 ca l. nly Come Little remainders of piety 
 
 nnd virtue in the world that keep it in any tolerable 
 
 oc make it poffibk to be Inhabited. And 
 
 mail 
 
of the R e l i g i o u s. 97 
 
 muft not thofe be wretched perfons, and woful enemies 
 to mankind, who do what they can to reduce the world 
 to fuch a miferable condition ! But let them do what 
 they will, they but kick againft the pricks - } religion 
 hath fo much native luftre and beauty, that notwith- 
 standing all the dirt they ftudy to call upon it, all the 
 melancholy and deformed fliapes they drefs it in, it 
 will ftill attract the eyes and admiration of all fober 
 and ingenuous perfons ; and while thefe men ftudy to 
 make it ridiculous, they ihall but make themfelves fo. 
 And O 1 that they would confider how dear they are 
 to pay for thofe dull and infipid jefts wherewith they 
 perfecute religion, and thofe who pra&ife it or recom- 
 mend it ! What thoughts are they like to have of them 
 when ficknefs ihall arreft, and death threaten them; 
 when the phyficians have forfaken them, and the poor 
 defpifed minilter is called in, and they expecting com- 
 fort from him they were wont to mock ; and per- 
 haps 5 tis little he can afford them. O that they zcere 
 wife, and underftood this ; thai they would confider 
 their latter end ! 
 
 .There are others who have not yet arrived to 
 this height of profanenefs, to laugh at afl religion, but 
 do vent their malice at thofe who are more confeientious 
 and fevere than themfelves, under prefumption than 
 they are hypocrites and diifemblers. But befides that 
 in this they may be guilty of a great deal of unchari- 
 tablenefs, Yis to be fufpecxed, that they bear fome fecrec 
 diflike to piety it felf, and hate hypocrify mere for its 
 refemblance of that, than for its own vicioufnefs : 
 other wife whence comes it that they do not exprefs 
 the fame animofity againft other vices? 
 
 ; Hither alio may we refer thofe expreffions which 
 rpmetimes drop from perfons no: fo utterly debauched, 
 
 H but 
 
t)8 7 
 
 yet art that 
 
 this man is too holy, and that man too rclig; 
 i: it were poffible to exceed in theft things. Wl 
 
 .1 a man app O neat to God ? Can he be 
 
 like his Maker? Is it poffible to I , or 
 
 over- happy ? I confefs a man may 
 of his religion, and be too much in feme parda 
 exercUes ot it, negleding 
 this is not an excels of piety, but a i 
 and rcafon would teach D rather I 
 iirmitks for their pious inclinati in to bla 
 
 piety for their infirmiti< 
 
 Lit me therefore intreat yoaall, efp thoft 
 
 whofc birth and fortunes render them more con(j 
 in the world ; to countenance holinefs which 
 
 is fo excellent j and beware that you do nor COOtril 
 to that deluge of wickednefs that overflowed] the 
 earth, by [coding at the mod ferious things in 
 world : and if I obtain this, I fhall m. 
 one thing more, but V. ►; that 
 
 you would alfo abandon in \our 
 
 ow\) pi may i i and 
 
 th y iu, I 
 
 - when tl ■ b nmon. V 
 
 is n . the mod i ulgar a i nary tl the 
 
 rid ; drift, I 
 and virtiN , 
 
 • . 
 
 i 
 
of the Religious* 99 
 
 fct'iae wifdom ; with an eminent greatnefs of mind, and 
 icontempt of the world ; a great liberty and freedom of 
 fpirit,- an undaunted magnanimity and courage,- aa 
 extenfive charity and goodnefs ; a venerable temperance 
 and purity ; an amiable meeknefs and humility : So 
 fhall you render your felves honourable, and more ex- 
 cellent than your neighbours in this world ; and be par- 
 takers of immortal honour and glory in the world to 
 come* Amen. 
 
 h i 
 
 iHg 
 
( ioo ) 
 
 
 f jt H BM 
 
 ■fSPN 
 
 T II 1- 
 
 tNDISPENSIBLE DUTY 
 
 o F 
 
 Loving our Enemie s. 
 
 Lul B vi. 2-. 
 
 /?/// I fty unto you which btar % L 
 your EnBMIB . 
 
 HILE we trtvd thro* the wildcrocfi 
 
 y$£^T ^H ° r l,: " v -'^ r, " : - 1 l " thecomfon of 
 
 ' on 
 0OCT( and mi:: « and 
 
 ir bl ■ ur, wb 
 
 intern ;\ and U 
 
 pi- 
 
 i 
 
The Indifpenfihle Duty> &c. 101 
 
 procure to us both the good things of this world, and 
 that which is to come, has taken efpecial care to join 
 and unite the minds of men in the itrideft bonds of 
 friendfhip and love : He hath been at great pains by 
 his precepts, and by his example, by earneft perfuafions 
 and powerful motives, to fmooth our rugged humours, 
 and calm our paflions, and take off the roughnefs and 
 afperity from our natures, which hinders us from join- 
 ing and cementing together. Now were we to con- 
 yerfe with none but fuch as are chriftians in earneft, 
 we mould find it no hard matter to live in concord 
 and love, we mould meet with no occafion of quarrel 
 and contention, and lhould only be obliged to love our 
 friends, becaufe all men would be fuch. But well did 
 our Saviour know, that his part was to be but fmall 
 in the world, that many would oppofe the profeffion, 
 and many more would neglect the practice of that re- 
 ligion which he taught ; and that his followers, befides 
 common injuries incident to others, were to meet with 
 much enmity and hatred for their mailer's fake : and 
 therefore, that amidfl all thcfe florins they might 
 maintain that conftant ferene tranquillity, that amiable 
 fweetnefs and benignity of fpirit, without which they 
 could neither he like him, nor happy in themfelves; 
 he was pleafed to enjoin fuch an ardent affe&ion and 
 charity towards all men, as no neglect can cool, no 
 injury can extinguifh, To love thofe who have obliged 
 us, is that which nature might t;each, and wicked men 
 pra&ife ; to favour thofe who have never wrong'd us, 
 is but a piece of common humanity ; but our religion 
 requires us to extend our kindnefs even to thofe who 
 have injured aud abufed us^ and who continue to do, 
 and wifh us mifchief, and that we never defign ar\y 
 other ^revenge againft our mod bitter and inveterate 
 
 g 3 enemies^ 
 
id 77jc Tndifaenjtbh Duty 
 
 enemies, than to wifh them well, and do ihetD all the 
 good Wc can whether tiny will or not • lot f* 
 
 • • bim t OU tfr faith, Lone ycur 
 
 But alas ! how little is this minded I 
 part of thofe who call themfelves chriftitns; otl 
 
 broken and flighted, bur tl. ufly 
 
 baffled and difcredited by us. In other CM IC- 
 
 knowledge oar fault, but ftudy to quality and c.v.ufc 
 it by the frailty of our nature, or violence of a tiny; 
 tion (we are all Tinners, it is a fault indeed, but v. ho 
 can help it.) Now tho' theft evcufes, God knot 
 are very frivolous, and will be ot no force in tl. 
 day of our accounts, yet they imp'. of mo- 
 
 defty and ingenuous acknowledgment, and men may 
 repent and forfake what they alread' .:nn; but in 
 
 the inftance of loving enemies, arid pardoning 
 fences, many are [o bold and impudent, tl 
 of obeying, they quarrel v. ith the law as impoiTibl. 
 unjull, palling fent< 
 mult be judged. H& 
 
 that we ih wild lore thoft thar hate us ? \ llity 
 
 bet R een that aa and z\v 
 
 beat, or enmity beget affe&ion ? Muft wc be 
 the injuries we meet with? Or reward him 
 that offers them ? Muft wc diflbivetnc princi 
 
 our nature, am. -.ay Income 
 
 r' y. Ham ? Theft, i id fi 
 
 D1 . (Cons Ot : ftO ' e OS, and d- 
 
 ( brifl mul i i ■.'. n in hi , and re 
 
 ." t'u rig m ol his Itws, of pro- 
 
 rid, 
 will ra- 
 pterntl Ban dif* 
 
 cord^ 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 103 
 
 cord, than live at peace with thofe that have wrongM 
 them- 
 
 I t can therefore never be unfeafonable to prefs a 
 duty fo very neceflary, yet fo much neglected ; the text 
 J have chofcn for this purpofe is very plain and clear, 
 love your enemies j but becaufe many do ftrain the 
 precept to fome fuch fenfe as may fuit with their own 
 practice, we mail firft fearch into the importance of it, 
 and then perfuade you to perform it. The full mean- 
 ing and importance of the precept will appear, if we 
 confider, ift> Who they are whom we are commanded 
 to love • and idly, Wherein the love we owe them 
 does confill. 
 
 The perfons whom we are commanded to love are 
 called our enemies ; and left we mould miftake them, 
 they are clearly defcribed in the following words, the 
 fountain of their enmity is within • they are thofe who 
 hate iis y who envy our happinefs, who wifh cur milery, 
 and abhor our perfons and fociety. But were this fire 
 kept within their breaft, it might well fcorch themfelves, 
 it could not prejudice us ; but out of the abundance of 
 the heart the mouth fpeaketh : Their malice does fhar- 
 pen their tongues ; they are farther defcribed as thofe 
 that curfe us, they vent their wrath in oaths and im- 
 precations, fecret calumnies, and open reproaches; 
 nor are their hands always bound up, they life as de- 
 fpitefully, and procure us mifchief. Now if our love 
 mult be extended to all thefe, we mall hardly find any 
 whom we dare fafely exclude. Of our private enemies 
 there can be no queftion; but what mail be faid of the 
 enemies of our country, and of our religion ? Firfl for 
 the enemies of our country, I fee no warrant to exclude 
 them from our charity ; we may indeed lawfully op- 
 gofe their violent invafion, and defend our rights with 
 
iv ! fie D 
 
 the I publick magiftrate, 
 
 to whom i committedj but ill thii 
 
 . i little in ilicc and hatred a> .. 
 . ptintfli a malefaci r 
 
 cm as a ifticCj and the (bldiac as the 
 
 CUtioner. But charity will c bligc a prince neve: 
 have rccourfe to the (word, till diet tail, 
 
 to blunt the edj aring as much as n 
 
 I f, the (bedding of innocent with all ether 
 
 L, . . ities that nfe to accompany it, and to a. 
 any rcafi nablc capitulation 
 
 \Y . com- next to the enemies o( our religion, and 
 cd there ■ many who arc to tar from think 
 them to be among the num. 
 
 k upon it as a pa:; 
 their duty to hate and malign them ; their i con- 
 
 tinually venting it fell in fierce invectives againfi Anti- 
 chrifij and every thing they are pKalcd to call Anti- 
 chtifiian. And ire ready to apply all tl 
 
 phecies and im] the Old 1 eftajaent n 
 
 thdtt i si it < un ; 
 
 and otdinari tlic 
 
 diffci arch 
 
 (hall i>. m ; . in i J a- 
 
 ft the ion and tyi , or the 
 
 .m taith: yea, p you 
 
 taa) 
 in feveral ways 6f expre(Cng tu. 
 
 Lire and 
 
 ■ . men difparagc 
 
 t v. inch the I low 
 
 much do they miftl chriltia. Arc 
 
 .iter enemies w, 
 
 Eefline 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 105 
 
 profefling it > And yet thefe were the perfons whom 
 our Saviour commanded hisdifciples to love, andhim- 
 & If did pray for thofe that crucified him ; and feverely 
 checked the difciples, when by a precedent brought 
 from the Old Teflament, they would have called for 
 fire from heaven on thofe who would not receive them ; 
 telling them they knew not what fpirit they were of, 
 i. e. they did not confider by what fpirit they were 
 prompted to fuch cruel inclinations ; or, as others explain 
 ft, they did not yet fufficiently underitand the temper 
 and genius of chriftianity, which is pure and peaceable^ 
 gentle and meek, full of fweetnefs, and full of love. 
 If men would impartially examine their hatred and 
 animofities againft the enemies of their religion, I fear 
 they would find them proceed from a principle which 
 themfelves would not willingly own. Pride and felf- 
 conceit will make a man difdain thofe of a different 
 perfuaiion, and think it a difparagement to his judg- 
 ment, that any fhould differ from it. Meer nature 
 and felf-love will make a man hate thofe who oppofe 
 the intereft and advancement of that party which 
 himfelf has efpoufed. Hence men are many times more 
 t difp leafed at fome fmall miflakes in judgment, than 
 the greateft immoralities in practice; yea, perhaps, 
 they will find a fecret pleafure, and wicked fatisfa&ion, 
 in hearing or reporting the faults or fcandals of their 
 adverfaries. Certainly the power of religion rightly 
 prevailing in the foul, would mould us into another 
 temper ; it would teach us to love and pity, and pray 
 for the perfon, as well as hate and condemn the errors 
 they are fuppofed to efpoufe : It would make us wifh 
 their conversion, rather than their confufion, and be 
 more defirous that God would fit them for another 
 world, than that he would take them out of this. We 
 
 may 
 
ic6 7 
 
 may tod «d ir wi ked 
 
 is charity r 
 from being the unh mentsof the 
 
 Id ; but be that can v s and ruin to 
 
 Their peribns, znd delights in their fins, or in ti 
 jnifcry, hath nv i of the Devi] than the Chriftian. 
 
 T h o s you h 
 whom our charity muftlx i Hows to be 
 
 j onfidered what is the nator iem« 
 
 1 (hail not now fpend your time in i i us 
 
 fpeculations . nature - maftcr-paii: n. 
 
 It is the pi im 
 
 Cures, and fcts | man'* ha* 
 
 tred, grief, and joy i i, and Bowing 
 
 from his love. .... > you, that 
 
 there is a i kind , a certain • 
 
 and melting ion implanted in us by i co- 
 
 wards our : us 
 
 £0 thofe p is an 
 
 :n k ] ..• htfal nni . . 
 
 from (i me cfp f humours, and n 
 
 the main 
 aie n< t command, r 
 
 to this rate ] 
 
 It at till: . 
 hath nothing (; rh a 
 
 him in our 
 
 D 
 
 .. 
 
 • nand in i 
 
 ( i . ' ; . { 
 
 I :ii CO fa our 
 
 a linccre 
 and c | to all i will incline us 
 
 to 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 197 
 
 to perform all the good offices we can, even to thofe 
 who have offended us. But the nature and meafures 
 of this love will more fully appear, if we confider 
 what it does exclude, and what it does imply. 
 
 First then it excludes all harm thoughts, and 
 groundlefs fufpicions : the apoflle telleth us, that 
 charity thinketh no evil, that it hopeth all things, be- 
 lieveth all things. To entertain with pleafure every 
 bad report of thofe who have offended us, and to put 
 the worft conftrucYion on their doubtful actions, is both 
 a clear evidence of our hatred, and an unhappy me- 
 thod to continue it. Were once the love we recom- 
 mend feated in the foul, it would foon call out thofe 
 reftlefs jealoufies, four fufpicions, harm furmifes, and 
 imbitterd thoughts ; and difplay it felf in a more can- 
 did and gentle difpofition, in fair gloffes, and friendly 
 cenfures, in a favourable extenuation of greater faults 
 and covering of leffer : It would make a man interpret 
 all things in the belt meaning they are capable of, and 
 choofe rather to be miflaken to his own prejudice, by 
 a too favourable opinion, than to his neighbour's, by 
 a groundlefs jealoufy ; and even in this fenfe it may 
 be, that charity cover eth a multitude of fins. 
 
 A g a 1 n, the love which we owe to enemies, ex- 
 cludes all caufeiefs and immoderate anger : it fuffereth 
 long, and is not eafily provoked, endureth all things. 
 Our Saviour tells us, that whofd is angry with bis 
 brother without a caufe, floall be in danger of the judg- 
 ment -, and if his anger exceed the caufe, he is equally 
 guilty. All anger is not vicious, we may be angry 
 and not fin. This pafiion, as all others implanted in 
 us by God, is innocent when kept within its due 
 bounds, it has its proper office in the mind, as the 
 fpleen in the body, but its excefs and diftempcr fwells 
 
 into 
 
io8 The IndifptnfibU D:/fv 
 
 To make ic allow: '., .ft not ex-^ 
 
 cecd thb caufe, nor the p cbc 
 
 circujnilancesj it mult be goyern'd by dtfb 
 
 within the bounds of reafon, th-: lk DOC 
 
 tonh into indecent exprcfiGons, or riakat and blame- 
 able iftioos : and turther, it mutt not be too pi 
 and lading, we rnuft not let the fun let upon cur anger. 
 t^/' tells us, that the P\:b ^.rc.y.s pa* careful 
 to obferve the very Letter of this precept, tor it* anger 
 had boiled up to the height of an injur. 
 
 K fun lit they would falute each other, and ; 
 theit friendfhip ; they were afhamed that the fame I 
 which had difturbed the c i; 
 
 alio trouble the quiet and repofe of the night, kit 
 mingling with their reft and dreams it fhould become 
 prevalent and habitual in them. And fure we owe aa 
 
 infinitely greater deference to the precepts of our bkiVed 
 
 Saviour, and his holy apoftles, than they did to tluit 
 matter's reafonings and advices. And tho' we fhould 
 not take this precept in its ilrieleif ami literal li^niti- 
 cation, yet this we muit know, that the lame Dftffion 
 and refentment which was innocent and rational in its 
 firfi rile, may become vicious and criminal by itl 
 linuanee. A*gtT m.iy kindle in the breaft of a wife 
 man, bu \s only i 
 
 will lead us to a j / thing, which the precept i: . 
 mi. 
 
 T nil ommanded, d 
 
 all rooted malice and rancour, :':< m I 
 
 fj and refentment o[ inj 
 and harm fuilain'd by them is over. Certainly 
 
 is nothing more contrary an a p.. 
 
 with; and t! who 
 
 dom 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 109 
 
 feldom remember a courtefy, or forget a wrong. It 
 is ordinary for fome, who dare not profefs intentions 
 of revenge, to exprefs their refentment in fome fuch 
 threatning as this : That they will forgive the injury, 
 but never forget it. I hope they do not mean they 
 will pafs it at this time, and revenge it afterward : 
 this would but make the fin the greater, by being more 
 deliberate. Is it then, that they intend them no harm, 
 but will ceafe to do them good ? This is a lame and 
 imperfect charity, exprefly contradictory to the pre- 
 cept in the text, enjoining us to blefs them that curfe 
 us, to do good to them that bate us, and to pray for 
 them that defpite fully ufe us. Nor muft we expect 
 the bleffing of God, if this be all we allow to others, 
 for with what meafure we meet, itjhall be mea fared to 
 us again. There is but one way we may lawfully re- 
 member an injury, and that is fo as to be more cautious 
 in trufting one who hath deceived us ; or expofing our 
 felves to the power of him who has wrong'd us : In 
 this cafe religion does allow and direct us to join the 
 ferpent's wifdom with the dove^s innocency. But then, 
 I am fure, it is neither neceflary nor fit to threaten 
 thofe who have wrong'd us, with our refolutions to 
 remember the injury : We may be as cautious as we 
 pleafe without it, and thofe threats do nothing but 
 rankle and difpleafe our adverfary, which ought to be 
 no part of a chriftian^s defign. A meek and charitable 
 perfon will be loath to have his memory infefted, and 
 his thoughts four'd with refentment of wrongs ; and 
 if they occur to his mind, he will make no other ufe 
 of them, than to put himfelf on his guard ; unlets from 
 thence he take occafion to benefit and oblige the per- 
 fon who has offended him, and as our text exprefly di- 
 jeebj to do him good, to blefs and pray for him. 
 
 Again, 
 
IIU . / ) 
 
 A G I i tf, this precept docs exclude and • 
 the taking or procuring an) tg$ t wc 
 
 Bean fuch a iimple c\il cone to our ad\ a .is docs 
 
 bring DO real benefit or rep 
 
 certainly it is not unla- • k the reparation of 
 
 own right by an authorized j QOT yet to pro- 
 
 vide lor the poblick fecurity, by the punifluni 
 offenders, unkfs fome f; aimftar, s it fo. 
 
 This may many times b. i ithout prejudice or 
 
 hatred, yea with great kindtufs and companion to- 
 wards the perfon ot tfaa . r. But ir "v. .ny 
 charity or love to our adverfa:' fhall be really 
 aflliaed With the evil that befall them, and t! 
 will never willingly pn cure i m [elves that trouble by 
 indicting it on them. It is an evidence of a v. Lk.d 
 and malicious humour, to plctfc our felvcs in the D 
 fery of another, or delight in an evil that brings us no 
 good. Whatever latitude the Jc r s:s eitiur had or pre- 
 tended to, it is DOC lawful tor us to defi 
 ox troth for toot l\ unk - OOUld fay, that his eye 
 WOnld fcrve our head, or his hand , or his 
 1 . in allay our torment, which he i... d to us. 
 1 ROM hence we may judge what is to be thought 
 
 . to rei cnge the fmalkit inju 
 even an uncivil escpreflion, with the death of the oiun- 
 der ; ncvti being fatisfied till they have ventured two 
 
 lives, and as many fouls in the c< mbat : a thing which 
 be named among chriitiar.s, but with the 
 
 f.une deteftatioa we have againfl the vileft anions ; foe 
 wl. ■ ■ . it may be 
 
 painted with, It 19 reall] i I , : : 
 
 rcious and formal kind of murder. )N s i- 
 
 I his, 
 with 
 
of Loving our Enemies. lit 
 
 with the wickednefs of attempting another's life, it 
 joins the ralhnefs and folly of expofing our own. 
 
 Lastly, The love which we owe our enemies, 
 does exclude all fupercilious and fcornful contempt and 
 neglect of them ; which I mark the rather, becaufe 
 fome think they have fufficiently obey \1 the precept, if 
 they overlook an injury, as thinking the perfon below 
 their revenge. Mean while their corrupt nature re- 
 limes as much pleafure in the fcorn and difdain of their 
 enemies, as it could in the revenge of the injury • their 
 wicked humours are not ftarv'd, but only change their 
 diet. Of this nature was the anfwer of the philofo- 
 pher, to fome who incited and provoked him to re- 
 venge, if an afs kick me, I pal I kick him again? 
 This is but a lame and milhapen charity ; it hath more 
 of pride than goodnefs: We mould karn of the holy 
 Jefus, who was not only meek, but lowly: we fhould 
 contemn the injury, and pity the weaknefs, but mould 
 not difdain or defpife the perfons of our enemies. 
 Charity vaunteth not her [elf, is net puffed up, doth 
 not behave her felf unfeemly. 
 
 Having thus difcover'd thofe things which are 
 inconfiilent with charity, and excluded by the love of 
 enemies, it remains that we mew what it docs import 
 and require. 
 
 First then, it imports an inward kindnefs and 
 affection, which if it does not amount to that paflionats 
 tendernefs which we have for our near relations and in- 
 timate friends, yet it implies a good will towards 
 them, and friendly concernment in their intereft • if 
 we love an enemy, we fhall wifti his welfare, and re- 
 joice in it, and be unfeignedly forry for any difafter 
 that befals him, fo far mall we be from rejoicing in 
 his misfortunes. And certainly had we a right feafe 
 
112 
 
 Tflk InJtfpenfible Duty 
 
 of things, wc fhould be more troubled for th 
 which our enemy does CO his own foul b\ 
 us, than tor the prejudice we fuflain by him. Our 
 companion towards him would diminilh, i: doc I 
 gether fwallow up the refentment of what wc G 
 irom him. 
 
 Bi'T our kindnefs and good will I 
 mies mull not red in empty v. ifhes, but c^ 
 in kind words and friend 1\ 
 
 to bat enemy, it muft be in fuch fmooth. md 
 
 obliging terms, as are mi'ft like to mollify and gnin 
 him ; that b] 'fi fivers \\ 
 
 and (htiti all grievous ''icb fur up anger. 
 
 When wc fpeakof him, it fhould be asaj\anta:;. tifly 
 as we can with truth, concealing or qualifying hid 
 faults, and praifing Whatever is ■ ti iohkttj sod fore 
 mull be Angularly bad, in whom 
 
 thing to commend. 
 
 Ao ai n-, we mull perform I 
 
 ofEcCS which their i. 
 
 can reach. / ; 
 
 , ive muft fiidUm; if uft 
 
 m drink ; fojbal 
 
 lioiiity his obdurate temper, am 
 
 his evil by ou\ go \! ; but not to aggrtvai 
 
 and puniihnlent, as (bole fhiftakethc d foe tho 1 
 
 that be man) dines th - 
 
 any part o( our deli. mi. 
 L i s t i v, becttife all that 
 enemies (ignifies littl tuft empl 
 
 in the court of heaven in their b. ha] , b 
 that he would turn their hearts I i bin 
 
 an . m with the \w II their 
 
 e y have d 
 
 
of Loving our Ene m i e s, i i 3 
 
 \rith all things neceffary for their prefent welfare, or 
 future happinefs. Pray for them that defyitefully life 
 you ; and this is the fureft evidence of cur charity to 
 them : Mild words may be defign'd as a fnare to entrap 
 them, and courtefy may be done them to ferve our va- 
 nity, or a generous kind of pride, which may make 
 us delight to have our enemy indebted to us, as know- 
 ing that it is more glorious in the eyes cf the world 
 to raife a fallen adverfary, than to trample on him. 
 But it mud be only obedience to God's commands, 
 and fincere love to our enemy, which can make us 
 take him into our clofet, and into our heart, to (hare 
 our prayers with him, and make him partake of the 
 fruits of our devotion, and to have that fame concern- 
 ment for his interefts, as for our own, at once recom- 
 mending them both to our heavenly father. 
 
 B y this time, I hope, you underftand the importance 
 of this precept of our Saviour, Love your enemies ; it 
 remains that we exhort you to the performance. And 
 I mall begin with an argument, which may be of force 
 to give the firft ailault to our rebellious inclinations, 
 and make way for further and more mild perfuaiions ; 
 and it (hall be the indifpenfible neceffity of the duty. 
 We mud not look upon this as a matter which we may 
 do or omit at pleafure, nor yet as a counfel of perfection 
 highly commendable, but not abfoluteiy neceffary to 
 falvation : it is as indifpenfibly required as any other 
 duty of our religion, and he who refolvcs not to obey 
 in this inftance, may renounce his baptifm, and aban- 
 don chriftianity. None can efcape the obligation of 
 the precept, unlefs he be fo rarely happy as to have no 
 enemies ; nor muft any think to redeem themfelves from 
 this by fome other performance. Let our opinions be 
 never fo orthodox, and our zeal in maintaining them 
 
 I never 
 
I i 4 Tie bid: \U Duty 
 
 never f _nr, 
 
 .-.:, and out 
 rer (bib ng • yet il a i : } 1 i s 
 
 ■e none of ChrilVs difciplcs ; ( . 
 
 I 
 
 Mgi/r, : 1 '-...■: ■ pro- 
 
 / m ail my goods to fad t 
 >' J 
 
 r/ty and love, even to mine enemi 
 
 nothing. And our Saviour bin 
 terms, that **/*/} ' ffes t 
 
 neither wil \ ea he hath taught us 
 
 to pray for pardon in lildl tcrm% as imports a drcadlul 
 
 ■ oui Pelves, if we ore m:.! 
 
 ful, while WC beg that God would pa:. , in the 
 
 . e manner that we pardon thofc who fin againf: us | 
 
 bingas it were if o ; i • • firm- 
 
 ; out of our own mouths, that (entente which fhall be 
 
 nounced againfl i m (b will 
 
 will tak< v< . . 
 
 with others. A thofc who do not love t' 
 
 i b r own condemnation in praj 
 
 ■ ii in th« holy 
 
 this, that many 
 I i | p bfl the tabic I 
 
 ties: but 
 
 13 ! what a I I ink they 
 
 I fin by I they 
 
 ic partu ipation of th facra- 
 
 Or to be adi ctcr- 
 
 in that ma- 
 them uni i him 
 
of Loving our Enemies, x i 5 
 
 in that holy ordinance? Do not deceive yotir feives^ 
 never fhall any enter into thofe bleffed manfions, thofe 
 regions of peace and love, whofe heart is not fir ft in- 
 fpired with charity, and foftned into a compliance 
 with this very precept : and it were as abfurd to think, 
 that a man may be malicious and revengeful all his 
 days, and yet go to heaven, there to learn meeknefs 
 and charity, as to think that a man may be luxurious 
 and difhoneft in this world, and become temperate 
 and honeft, and happy in the other. In a word, what- 
 ever fhifts we may make to deceive our felves, the 
 command is clear and exprefs, the fanclion fevere and 
 peremptory, we have but our choice of thefe two^ 
 love of enemies ', or damnation. 
 
 Nor can this feem unreafonable to any who con- 
 fiders that God is the author of our natures, the crea- 
 tor of all our faculties, and therefore may juftly rule 
 our inclinations, and difpofe of our love and affection ; 
 and yet he is content (if I may fo fpeak) to bargain 
 with us, and to buy off our natural, or rather wicked 
 refentments, offering us his own mercy and favour, 
 freedom from hell, and everlafting happinefs, on this> 
 amongft other conditions, that we love our enemies. 
 
 Nay farther, the duty is in it felf fo reafonable, 
 that the more fober of the heathens, who had nothing 
 above reafon to teach them, have acknowledged it, if 
 not as necefiary, yet as highly becoming, and an emi- 
 nent inftance of a virtuous and generous mind. 'Plato 
 could fay, that injury is by no means to be done y nor 
 to be repaid to him that has done it. And when a ma- 
 licious perfon faid to Zeno, Let me perijlj if I den't do 
 you a mifchief; his anfwer was, Let me pcrijh if I 
 ikn't reconcile thee to pie. Antoninus tells us frequent- 
 ly, tfbat all reafonabk creatures are bom for one anc- 
 
 I 2 ther 3 
 
1 1 6 
 
 . ' 
 
 \nii many 
 other 
 
 tu the (aim 
 
 ; of the ( lod i in ptraifliing 
 
 I that 
 
 >;nd perj nfifts 
 
 kcr. 
 I • i i I .■ . of heath. 
 
 ligation of this pt f loving our enemies no 
 
 deduc ther, which 
 
 to be highl) 
 I 
 
 defires to be 1 >ved and i , to have 
 
 pardoned, Iced, am 
 
 plj \\ : Or if any be fo I 
 
 yet I hope there is non< fo mad, but 
 
 vour 
 
 than . 
 
 can we think it linn 
 
 k ihac 
 
 I 
 
 wil- 
 li 
 
 ,*. and 
 
ef the Religious. 117 
 
 and extravagant partiality, can teach us to make fo un- 
 reafonable a difference betwixt our felves and others. 
 
 Again, the reafonablcnefs of this duty will far- 
 ther appear, if we compare it with that malice and 
 revenge which it doesoppofe. Can there be any thing 
 more againft natural reafon, than to delight in an evil 
 which can bring no benefit to us ? Yet this is the very 
 nature and effence of revenge ; for if the damage we 
 fuftain can be repaired, it is no revenge to feek it : and 
 if it cannot, it does no way alleviate the evil of the 
 accident, that we draw him that caus'ditinto as great 
 a mifery : nay unlefs we are unnatural, and without 
 bowels, it will augment our trouble to fee any evil 
 befal him. And he is a miferable perfon indeed whofe 
 delight is in inifchief, whcfe gcod is the evil of his 
 neighbour : yea, I may fay, that he who returns an in- 
 jury, is many times more unreafonable, than he who 
 ofter'd it : for he who firft wrongs another, hath com- 
 monly fome temptation of advantage by it, which re- 
 venge cannot pretend to ; but if he has done it out of 
 meer malice, yet he is not worfe than the other who 
 returns it ; there being as much fantaftick pleafure in 
 fpite, as in revenge, both are alike miferable and extra- 
 vagant. 
 
 And who are they againft whom we bend our ma- 
 lice and revenge ? Are they not men, partakers of the 
 fame nature, defcended from the fame flock with our 
 fclves, fellow-citizens with us in this world, and with. 
 whom we fhould hope to live for ever in a better ? 
 And fhould we not bear much with thofe who are fo 
 nearly related to us? Nay more, they are the work- 
 rnanfhip of God's hands, and for any thing we know, 
 either are, or may become his children and friends : 
 and dare we pretend any love to God, if we do no<* 
 
 I 3 fpare 
 
1 1 
 
 doM 
 us an) are in fo tar toolifh and de- 
 
 ilr: 11; and wh /.ic!) a mad- 
 
 ia., an injuri * what 
 
 is d 'iiu 7 , for he can never wound hi 
 through his own (ides, nor pre;:. 
 
 , v. ithout hazarding his own eternal concernment, 
 :md therefore h< S our pi: rhan on: 
 
 Xy I m re might be br monftratt 
 
 fonablenefs or' what our S in the r. 
 
 but I hope what has been I laid mr. e to 
 
 are larrd With ir : and it" this* I ihcu 
 
 duty feem abfurd or uni , fw may!.. 
 
 the caufe froiti the apoftle, i 
 
 i. : 
 
 fi ' h is the carnal il 
 
 ma: 
 
 dutj , our to pmv 
 
 mi rtd, and we (hall find it roe, 
 
 vhi . inc . 
 
 . 
 ; 
 B i rd pi a ce, i 
 
 ble, but 
 ill : ir i: . 
 
 c greatcfl ci muft 
 
 1'. had the na- 
 
 , that I I 
 
 D : but tho* 
 
 vec 
 
 • I I 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 119 
 
 yet even thofe who look at a diftance may perceive fome- 
 thing of amiablenefs in it, efpecially comparing it with 
 the trouble and uneafinefs of that vice it would deliver 
 lis from : Malice and revenge are the mod reillefs and 
 tormenting paflions that can poffefs the mind, they keep 
 it in continual hurry and diforder, they gnaw a man's 
 heart with anguifh and vexation, and imbitter all his 
 enjoyments ,• they marr the pleafures of the day, and 
 interrupt the repofe of the night : Solomon defcribes 
 thefe men, they fleep not except they have done mif- 
 pbieff and their fleep is taken away except they caafe 
 fome to fall * 
 
 O n the other hand, the meek and peaceable man, 
 whofe mind is brought to a compliance with this pre- 
 cept, is above the malice of his enemies : It is not in 
 their power to vex him : amidit all the affaults of inju- 
 ries and affronts, he is firm as a rock, which no winds 
 can fhake, no waves remove. He is happy in thecalm- 
 nefs and ferenity of his fpirit, and is fure either to con- 
 vert or fhame his adverfary by his patience and friendly 
 behaviour. And then the confeioufnefs of performing 
 his duty, and affurance of future reward, afford him 
 infinitely more pure and folid pleafure and delight, than 
 any can expect by indulging and gratifying their re- 
 vengeful humour. 
 
 The advantages of this duty will more clearly ap- 
 pear, when we take a view of thofe prejudices, which 
 commonly are entertained againfl: it ; which mail be 
 our next work. 
 
 First then, fome cry out upon this precept as en- 
 joining impoflibilitieSj doing violence to the very con- 
 
 l 4 ftitution. 
 
 Prov. iy. 6. 
 
1 
 
 Dure, and obligi 
 1 it is 
 
 to 
 in, as 1 
 
 i , thqs to impeach the divine laws? It is im- 
 1 Bble, therefore God ll. i have i 
 
 i: > fuch is thcii ra- 
 
 tional to argue thus | 
 
 re it mi- been 
 
 . 
 God / 
 
 [cue < d 
 
 f. 1: is iod 
 
 I : it is the v.ork 
 rtiiy the 
 
 bleat 
 the ] 
 
 don an injury, 
 
 cutoi s I Wl 
 
 ivc not yet 
 
 (in< i 
 
 fork, ai . 
 i o mpli id then 
 
 . i (hall i 
 
 rfoimam 
 
 and 
 
of Loving our Enemies. 121 
 
 he deferves, and fo we mould draw upon our (elves a 
 fecond injury by not requiting the fir ft. 
 
 But we have already told you, that this precept 
 dees not forbid the exercife of juftice by thofe to whom 
 the fword is committed, when the publick fecurity 
 calls for it ; as a parent may at once love and correct 
 ft) may a judge be in charity with the per- 
 fon he does punifh; and tho 5 it mould be granted, 
 that by pardoning injuries, we do expofe our felves 
 to new ones ; yet would this amount to no more, but 
 that we may fuffer hardships by our obedience to 
 God, which I hope is not enough to difpenfe with our 
 duty. But truly the matter goes not commonly thus, 
 for if we confult either our own obfervation, or the 
 experience of others, we mall find, that meek and 
 charitable perfons are molt feldom expofed to injuries, 
 or engaged in troubles. He muft needs be a defpe- 
 rate wicked perfon, who will offer a fecond injury to 
 one who hath requited the iirft with kindnefs and love: 
 fuch a fweet difpofition will mollify the hardeft hearts, 
 and charm the moft froward humours, efpecially if we 
 carry our felves with fuch prudence and difcretion, 
 as may teftify that we are acted by a noble and ge- 
 nerous charity, and not by aftupid infenfibility. How 
 often does a [oft a'nfwer turn away wrath ? And the 
 overlooking of an injury prevent farther trouble, throw- 
 ing water upon the fpark, before it break forth into a 
 flame ? Hence if we look upon meek and quiet perfons, 
 we fhall ordinarily find them happy in the peace of 
 their families, and favour and kindnefs of all their 
 neighbours : whereas the angry, quarrelfome, and ma- 
 licious perfon is an eye-fore to all about him, his 
 neighbours fhun him, his feirvants dread him, and all 
 abhor and avoid him. And therefore the obfcrvation 
 
 of 
 
12 2 1 1 ) tty 
 
 our Lord, is i :n c\pofing 
 
 us toi that by the m I 
 
 prove the bed n ire our tranquillity. P< 
 
 ball be the reward pi :. 
 
 Bu i laftly, fomc will tell us, that the love of 
 mies, and pardoning injuries i- IllCOflfiftent with the 
 principles of honour, and will expole us to oOBtcnpt 
 and deriliun. But alas! to what a lad pa fs arc wc 
 com:, i r r.-ithcr rcafon nor religion may prJ.erilx the 
 rules ot honour; it* our noth : mud be takefl 
 
 Ron the language of the (bos of Bel:.?/, ot 'flrife and 
 vie-'. It" to imitate the Deity in his nv»it glorious 
 
 attribute of mercy and forgivenefs, and become per- 
 fect as ov.r I | is per*-. :', be 
 anted a ball and difhonourablc thing; and ir" tor 
 this rain imaginary iantaftick fhadow of rep; 
 wc will violate all laws, humane and divine, and 
 feit eternal happinefs. But who arc they that 
 think the worfe of \ n: j \ aii> 
 empty (ooU, fomc profane athciftical wrd 
 judgments m t not \ iloabl , n r then ; 
 having. Or uhat can the) 
 arc meek m y, imitat thai bktibd ma: 
 whom toforve? And why do we < 
 
 name of christians, ifwi be aiham'd ot the fpirit 
 life of chriftianity ? Why d 
 
 nam. < : , or Ion 
 
 revengeful c. r, if wc norc 
 
 S and c\ Hut i: w D ha\ 
 
 as SoJomcfi, he 
 will tell us 
 
 ;' tbm 
 
 i 
 
 X n s 
 
of Loving our Enemies, 123 
 
 Thus you fee how unreafonable thofe prejudices 
 are which keep men from the practice of this neceffary 
 duty, it remains now, that we hint at fome helps for 
 the performance of it. 
 
 The heathens were pretty ingenuous in devifing 
 motives of patience ; they would tell us, that if 'we 
 were newly offended, it was too foon to refent it ; if 
 long time fince y it was too late. If the offender be too 
 flrotig for us, it were folly to contend : if he were too 
 weak, it were ajhame: Are we offended by afriend 9 
 let us remember our old friendjhip ; if by an enemy y 
 let us do him a kindnefs, and he will do fo no more. 
 But chriftianity will direct us to better means for com- 
 pofing the foul into the meeknefs and charity which it 
 does require. 
 
 i The firft I (hall recommend is humility. Let us 
 learn to have low thoughts of our felves, and then we 
 both fhall have fewer enemies, and be more inclined to 
 love them. Pride and felf- conceit makes us over- 
 rate every petty injury, and inclines us to revenge ; 
 but if we conlider what poor contemptible things we 
 are in our felves, and what we have deferv'd, if not 
 from men, yet from God, whofe inflruments they are 
 for our correction, we fhall be little concern'd at what 
 the world calls affronts, and eafily reconcil'd to thofe 
 who have wrong'd us. 
 
 Secondly, Let us learn to have a low efteem of 
 the prefent world, and all things therein ; and this will 
 cut off the occaflons of our hatred and animofities ; 
 men may wrong us in oiir fortune or reputation, but 
 they cannot rob us of piety and virtue, of the favour 
 of God, and eternal happinefs. And therefore if our 
 minds be once raifed above thofe tranfitory vanities, we 
 cannot meet with injuries worth the refenting : If wc 
 
 aim 
 
i 24 I Duty 
 
 .awn, tod the glory o: .;, we 
 
 (hall not I to quarrel and contend abour any trifling 
 
 d 1 v, T - •:■ qucnt and 
 Id conduce much to alia;. :red, and 
 
 d , fe us to mcckneftand charity. Naturalifts tell us, 
 that when fwanni i ; bees fight in 1 
 difperfed by throwing dult among them, 1 
 our thou; . upon t . 1 
 
 mult all 1! turn, we (hould 
 
 our quarrels and ani:: bile WC i about 
 
 {mall things, littk 
 
 on apace, and will fwallow np the vk 
 quiilicd, him that is in the right, and him that is in 
 the wrong. 1 I b k up 1 the prii ai - 
 or publ: rid an 
 
 hundred years ago; where arc ti, 
 then J They arc all | >wn into the dark and G- 
 
 Dcath hath decided theft 
 and within 1 
 fend us all d 
 and il 1 ill with us 
 
 Xha hould 1 ur h ur lift 
 
 1 H I think 
 
 employment for I 
 
 B i 1 iftly, and ab wc all, I 
 
 1 
 
 1 •'.: 
 
 cs, 
 bow 
 I 
 
vf Loving our Enemies. 125 
 
 fcene of his fufferings, he was acted by that fame 
 charity and love to his enemies, which he calls for ac 
 our hands. It was this which moved him to defcend 
 from heaven, and cloath himfelf with the frailties of 
 our nature, and endure the troubles of a calamitous 
 life, and the pains of a bitter death, to deliver us from 
 that eternal mifery whereinto we had plung'd our 
 felves. And may not his goodnefs and mercy to us 
 mollify our hearts, and overpower the corruption of our 
 revengeful nature, and infpire us with earned defires 
 and refolutions to imitate his blejTed example ? After 
 all that he hath done and fuffer'd for us, can we be 
 guilty of fuch a mameful ingratitude, as to deny him 
 this poor fatisfa&ion and acknowledgment, to pardon 
 an enemy for his fake ? Has he died for us when we 
 Were his enemies, and fhall we refufe to live at peace 
 With ours ? Remember with what patience he endured 
 the contradi5fion bf /Inner s again ft himfelf, with what 
 humility he did condefcend to wafh the feet of that 
 wicked mifcreant, who was at the fame time refolv'd to 
 betray him ? With what mildnefs he did bear the fu- 
 pine negligence and ftupidity of his difciples, whoflept 
 in the time of his agony ? What charity and meeknefs 
 did he evidence toward thofe who fought his life ? He 
 could have called for legions of angels to deilroy them, 
 or made the earth to open her mouth and fwallow them 
 up : But he would not employ his miraculous power, 
 fave only for their good, reiloring a fervant's ear, and 
 reproving the prepollerous zeal of him who cut it off. 
 Yea, while he hung upon thecrofs, and was approach- 
 ing to the gates of death, all the cruel pains of body 3 
 and far more intolerable preffure of fpirit which he 
 then fuftainedj did not leffen his wonderful tendernefs 
 
 and 
 
i 6 Tie Indijpt Duh> Sec 
 
 and arteaion fee his bloody murderers : I 
 
 ../, fir t'c-y I !'.'. L-: us be fre- 
 
 quent and fcriuus in the medication of thefi thill 
 and it we have any veneration for the example or 
 Saviour, and any fenfe of his infinite mercy, d 
 difpofc us to the practice of His precepts, and I 
 obedience of his laws, and particularly the iobfa 
 of this neceiTary, this reafonable, and delighttul dm 
 that wc I<rvc our enemies. 
 
 I II I 
 
{ I2 7 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 Neceflity and Advantage 
 
 O F 
 
 EARLY AFFLICTIONS, 
 
 Lam. iii. 27, 28. 
 
 It is good for a man that he bear th& 
 yoke in his youth : he Jitteth alone and 
 keepeth filence^ becaufe he hath born it 
 tipon him. 
 
 pi3Siiii3| H E great difference and contrariety be- 
 twixt the maxims of the worlds and 
 thofe which religion doth propofe, is iri 
 nothing more obfervable, than in taking 
 the meafures of happinefs and felicity. 
 
 The world accounteth him a happy man, who t n joy- 
 
 edi 
 
cth a perpetual calm and fun-Aline of profperity, wl 
 
 ■ant and J never orei my 
 
 cloud, nor his tranquillity interrupted bj us 
 
 accident, and v. ho was nc 
 other change^ but tint which brought him tl 
 and freft rdiih ot" ft ill fi 
 
 ments. But religion hath taught us to I 1. upon thib- 
 as a condition Bill of d tied 
 
 than envied, t d. It hath 
 
 taught us to confider afflictions as infta the di- 
 
 vine goodnefs, as t< kens ; ; 
 tbe Lord 
 
 and that tl ia- 
 
 tio: , and may prove ufetul ana I 
 
 van. UJfed is : >; (tilth the Plalmift) 
 
 i 01 I: is | 
 
 / ': / 
 
 And the prophet in the text, /: 
 j He was i ided 
 
 with the hca\ i( hat 
 
 for the publick I 
 his own particular 
 
 they t; 
 
 7 
 
 Biftion; 
 
 . 
 
 . mourn, bo i i the 
 
 tin 
 
 fwordj and the tew that R 
 
 
of Early Afflictions. 129 
 
 wer£ ftarving for hutiger. The people did figh and 
 feek bread, they gave their pleafant things for meat to 
 relieve their foul ; the children and fucklings did fwoon 
 in the ftreets, their foul was poured out into their mo- 
 ther's bofom; the women did eat their fruit, their 
 children of a fpan long ; and the prophet had a large 
 fhare in thefe calamities, both by his own intereft, 
 and his companion towards his neighbour. / am the 
 nan, faith he, that hath feen afflicJion by the rod of his 
 wrath, furely againft me he is turned, he turned his 
 hand againft me all the day. 
 
 B u t after he had thus bemoaned himfelf, and given 
 fome vent to his paflion and forrow, he puts a flop to 
 the current that was grown too impetuous, and turns 
 his thoughts another way ; he acknowledged! the juflice 
 of God's difpenfations, and that it was a favour that 
 they fufter'd no more : this I recal into my mind, there- 
 fore have I hope : It is of the Lord's mercy that we are 
 not con fumed, becaufe his compaffions fail not i they are 
 new every morning ; nay, when he had further ponder'd 
 the matter, he finds himfelf indebted to the goodnefs 
 of God, even for the afflictions he endured. ft is 
 good for a man, &c. 
 
 The bearing of the yoke is an eafy and obvious 
 metaphor, importing the reflraint of liberty, when our 
 defires are denied, and we have not our wills, cannot 
 ramble up and down as we pleafe ; and alfo the pref- 
 fure of afflictions which gaul and torment us, under 
 which we fmart and groan Such is the yoke which 
 the prophet tells us, it is good for a man that he hear. 
 A ftrange doftrine indeed to fleih and blood, and O 
 how few do believe it ! we judge of things by their 
 outward appearance, and as they affect us at prefent, 
 
 K now 
 
- 
 r ?} . id 
 
 d in that w. 
 and tin pica fant. lilt 
 
 our 
 
 ■ • 
 
 meet with . 
 ft s of blind but the rcful 
 
 atad unerring pi 
 
 of that 
 
 \L baketh no and mifuks ot 
 
 rthy ot" his 
 
 wilv. , i uch 
 
 poor er< d in the 
 
 Id, to behold oar ans: 
 
 lr is our hap all 
 
 us wandring 
 
 ilder 
 
 n our gn 
 
 : nd with the 
 
 I I nds 
 
 afunder, ami i it" wc 
 
 only 
 
 
of Early Afflictions. t^t 
 
 only his hatred to fin, but his affection unto lis will 
 oblige him to alter his method, and take the rod in 
 his hand, and try what feverity can do. God's de- 
 fign in afRicting us, is excellently expreflfed by the au- 
 thor to the Hebrews, ch.xii. v. 10. He chajtneth as 
 for our profit, that we may be partakers of his bolinefs. 
 Holinefs is the higheft perfection, and greateit. happi- 
 riefs we are capable of; it is a real participation of the 
 divine nature, the image of God drawn on the foul ; 
 and all the chaftifements we meet with are defigned to 
 teduce us to this bleffed temper, to make us like unto 
 himfelf, and thereby capable to be happy with him to 
 all eternity. This will more clearly appear, if we re- 
 flect on the natural temper of our minds, and the in- 
 fluence which profperous or adverfe fortune is wont to 
 have upon them. 
 
 And firft we are naturally proud and felf-conceited, 
 we have an high efteem of our felves, and would have 
 every body elfe to value and efteem us. This difcafe 
 is very deeply rooted in our corrupt nature, it is or- 
 dinarily the firft fin that bewrays it felf in the little 
 actions and paflions of children, and many times the 
 laft which religion enables us to overcome : and fuch 
 is the malignity of its nature, that it renders us odious 
 and vile both in the fight of God and man, It can- 
 not but be infinitely difpleafing to that great and 
 glorious Majtfty, to fee fuch filly creatures, whom he 
 hath brought forth out of nothing, and who are every 
 moment ready to return into it again, and have nothing 
 of their own but folly, mifery, and fin ; to fee fuch 
 creatures, I fay, either fo blind as to value themfelves, 
 or fo unreafonable to defire others to value them. Good 
 men muft needs hate us for it, becaufe God doth fo ; 
 and evil men hate us for it, becaufe they are proud 
 
 K 3 themfelves 
 
I 3 2 :tage 
 
 themfvlves, ind are fo j. i the attempts of oti 
 
 Ives, as of 
 and diminifli them. Pride ilooc is the ind 
 
 fountain oi almoft all the difbrders in the workl, of all 
 OUC troubles, and of all our fins, and \\c (hall n< 
 be truly happy, or truly good, till we to think 
 
 nothing of our felves, and be content that all the 
 think nothing of us. Norn thetc is nothing hath a n 
 natural tendency to foment and heighten this nan 
 corruption a than conftant profperity and fuccefs. '1 
 Pfalmift, (peaking of the profperity of the wick 
 v. ho are not in trouble as others, neither are they 
 plagued like other men, prefently fubjoineth tbeefl 
 tbcrefori ft ■ .' ' ..'..- ' . I *. 
 
 Sanctified alHtdions contribute to abate and mortify 
 the pride of our hearts, to prick the fwelling im- 
 pofthume, to make us (enfible of our weukneis, and 
 
 convince ns of our fins, t tbGadof '' r 
 
 of men, and feal tbeir injl , ywitb- 
 
 /';; cords cf . ■ c 
 
 Alllia i< put us o\\ the (larch to find out 
 
 the herewith wc ha * tnd 
 
 ke us ra heinonfnefi and maHg- 
 
 nity 1 1 their nature. / Ep iraim 
 
 / td I 
 
 . ■ : \ ki ; 
 . / 
 
 • / was cbaftifed 1 re- 
 I fmot igb % 
 
 I WM\ 
 
 • Pfcl.lxxiu , . ■.-. i. 8, p. 
 
 , . xx xi. iS, 19. 
 
of Early Afflictions. 133 
 
 / was aJJoamed, yea even confounded, becaufe I did bear 
 the reproach of my youth. 
 
 Another diftemper of our minds, is our too 
 great affection to the world, and worldly things. We 
 are all too apt to fet our hearts wholly upon them, to 
 take up our reft, and feek our happinefs and fatisfaction 
 in them • but God knows that thefe may well divert 
 and amufe a while, they can never fatisfy or make 
 us happy; that the fouls which he made for himfelf, 
 can never reft, till they return unto him, and therefore 
 he many times findeth it neceflary either to remove our 
 comforts, or imbitter them unto us • to put aloes and 
 wormwood on the breafts of the world, that thereby 
 we may wean our hearts from it, and carry them to 
 the end of their being, the fountain of their bleifednefs 
 and felicity. The few and little comforts of this life, 
 (faith a perfon of great quality and worth) notwith- 
 standing all the troubles and croffes with which they 
 are interlarded, are apt to keep the hearts even of good 
 men, in too great love of this world; what would be- 
 come of us if our whole life mould be altogether prof* 
 perous and contenting, without any intermixture of 
 croffes and afflictions ? It is too probable we mould 
 never look any farther, but conclude with Peter on the 
 mount of transfiguration, Lord, it is good to be here. 
 As Almighty God hath a very great affection to us 
 fo he is very defirous of our love ; not that it bringeth 
 any advantage to him, but becaufe it is our greateft 
 happinefs and perfection, he beftoweth his mercies to 
 gain our hearts; but when we begin to doat on the 
 gifts, and forget the giver, he becomes jealous, and 
 takes them away, that he may not have any rival m 
 our affection. And certainly it is no fmall advantage 
 50 ha^ve our hearts in any meafure looftn'd from the 
 
 k 3 y^y, 
 
134 
 
 s us 
 
 - 
 - 
 
 this 
 it v. i 
 
 ■ 
 rifco, and tl 
 thrcatocth I 
 m I 
 
 their 
 
 the] 
 
 I d I ■ 
 
 re- 
 our 
 
 * 
 
 
of Early Afflictions. 135 
 
 infenfible, that we feldom value any of the divine 
 mercies, till we find what it is to want them ; we put 
 very little value on our food and raiment, and the or- 
 dinary means of our fubfiftence, unlefs we have been 
 Sometimes pinched with want; we confider not how 
 much we are indebted to God for preferving our friends, 
 till fome of them be removed from us. How little do 
 we commonly prize our health, if we have never had 
 experience of ficknefs or pain ? Where is the man who 
 doth ferioufly blefsGod for his nightly quiet and repofe ? 
 And yet if ficknefs or trouble deprive us of it, we then 
 find it to have been a great and invaluable mercy, and 
 that it is God who giveth his beloved Jleep. 
 
 Once more, profperity rendreth us infenfible of 
 the miferies and calamities of others : thofe who were 
 at eafe in Zion did not grieve for the afflictions ofjofeph 
 But afflictions do {often the heart, and make it more 
 tender and kindly 3 and we are always moil ready to 
 companionate thofe griefs which our feives have fome- 
 time endured 3 the fufferings of others make the deepeft 
 impreflions upon us, when they put us in mind of our 
 own. It is mentioned as a powerful motive to engage 
 the children of Ifracl to be kind and merciful to Gran- 
 gers, that they knew very well the heart of a fir anger % 
 having been fir angers them feives in Egypt. Now this 
 tender and companionate temper doth well become a 
 chriitian, whofe duty it is to weep with thofe that weep 9 
 and to have as deep a fenfe and feeling of the griefs 
 of others, as he is wont to have of his own. 
 
 These, and many more advantages do fanftified 
 $nd well improved affli&ions bring to a chriitian, on 
 the account of which it is good for him that he hath 
 horn the yoke. But I haften to that which is mentioned 
 in ;he text a only by the way (that I may not need to 
 
 K ^ return^ 
 
136 Tie Ncccffity a>:d Advantage 
 
 return) let me take notice of the k$ is here 
 
 mendon'd as the fitteft :or a man to bear ai It 
 
 is got ' ' t bear the yd 
 
 \\ 1 are All v. llling to put orf the evil day, and i 
 mud needs bear the yoke, we \. 
 
 delayed till we grow old, we think it fad to have our 
 morning overeaft with clouds, to meet withaftorm 
 before we have v. ell launched forth from th we 
 
 arc wont to indulge and applaud children and young 
 folks in their tn licks and jovial boa ind tell 
 
 them, they will have time enough h nhles 
 
 when they grow older j we turn thai 
 into a ferious advice, R< mtO ab y 
 
 tcf thine 
 eyes. But the divine wifdom, which koowcth what is 
 fit for us, doth many times make ch 
 years, as the mod proper to tccuftom us to the I 
 of the yoke, and a little conlideration v. ill make us 
 difcover the advantages ol this feafbn tor differing afflic- 
 tions ; they being at that time melt 1 \, mod 
 tolerable, and moll advan:. they 
 are then mod mccllar\ . mh is the I our 
 
 lift wherein we arc in greatefl danger to run into 
 wild and extravagant courfes ; our bio d is hoe, ind 
 fpirits nnftayed and giddy, wc haw 1 
 to be govern'd by others, and too little wifiiom tog 
 vern our (elves. The yok< is then efpecially needful 
 
 to tame our wildncfs, and reduce us to a due itayedrufs 
 and COmpofure <>! mind. Then alio it is moil fupport- 
 able, the bod) is Qrong and healthful, kfs apt to be 
 affected with the troubles of the mind ; the fpirit ftout 
 and vigorous, will not fp tafily break and link ui 
 them. Old ngc is a burden, and will (^on faint UftdeC 
 any fupervenient load, the fmalkfl trouble is enough 
 
 H 
 
of Early Afflictions. 137 
 
 to bring down grey hairs with forrow to the grave - 
 and therefore {ince we mull: meet with afflictions, it is 
 certainly a favourable circumftance to have them at the 
 time of our life wherein we are moll able to endure 
 them. And laflly, the leflbns which afflictions teach 
 us are then molt advantageous when we learn them 
 betimes, that we may have the ufe of them in the con- 
 duct of our after lives. An early engagement into the 
 ways of religion is a great felicity, and the means 
 whereby this is to be erfecled can never be too foon 
 adminifired. Youth is more foft and pliable, and evil 
 difpofitions are more eafily cured, before time and 
 cuilom have hardned us in them. A tree needs little 
 force to bend it when it is young, and there needeth 
 the lefs of the rod, if the child be brought under dis- 
 cipline betimes. And thus on many accounts it is good 
 for a man to bear the yoke in his youth. 
 
 W e proceed to that particular advantage of sffl : c- 
 tion which is mention'd in the text, he fitteth alone 9 
 and keepeth fiknee, becaufe he hath horn it upon him. 
 The words are capable of a two-fold interpretation, 
 and both fuit well with the purpofe ; for we may ci- 
 ther underftand them properly of folttude and filence, 
 or metaphorically, of patience, and quiet fubmijjinn ; 
 both of which are the good effeds of fanftiried and 
 well improved afflictions ; and accordingly we mail 
 fay fomething to both. Nature hath made us fociable 
 creatures, but corruption hath carried this inclination 
 unto excefs ; fo that raoft perfons think it an intolera- 
 ble burden to be any confiderable time alone ; though 
 they love themfelves out of meafure, yet they cannot 
 endure their own converfation, they had rather be 
 hearing and difcourfing of the moll naughty and tri- 
 vial things, than be fitting alone and holding their 
 
 peace. 
 
ntagc 
 peace. ( 
 
 nan u free of trouble 
 
 ::n- 
 
 « 
 
 IC mouth, to 
 
 com par. , and lie ii; 
 
 to him, >nc and ke. - 
 
 1 list] 
 
 , /' 
 
 ,:ich \\L 
 
 (uftain b d with - and on 
 
 haod, I .'-iit in 1 
 
 maV acnt, v. . 
 
 incline 
 
 D .. 
 
 i. • 
 
 i he is ft! ;. man m 
 
 and 
 
 I, thai mucji 
 i a rcmUfiu 
 
 :th and ; the 
 
of Early Afflictions. 139 
 
 bent of our minds, and difpofeth us to foftnefs, and 
 eafy compliances. We find it hard enough at any 
 time to compofe our fpirits to that ftayednefs and fe- 
 verity which religion doth require ; but if we be too 
 much in company with others, it is altnoft impofTible 
 to maintain it. That chearfulnefs and complaifance 
 which is judged neceflary to render converfation agree- 
 able, doth eafily degenerate into levity and fin ; and 
 we are very ready to difpleafe our Maker, when we are 
 too intent on pleafing our friends. This loofe frame 
 and diffipation of mind, which fociety doth occa(ion 3 
 made a good man complain, ex homnum confortlo 
 jfemper venio minus hoino\ that he always came out of 
 company lefs a man. 
 
 Another prejudice we receive by fociety is, 
 that it fills our minds with noxious images, and forti- 
 fies our corrupt notions and opinion of things. Our 
 hearts are naturally too much addided to the things 
 of the world, we mind them too much, and put too 
 high a value upon them; and the difcourfes we hear 
 redouble the temptation, by bringing them continually 
 into our thoughts, and fetting them off to the greateil 
 advantage. When we are alone in a fober temper, 
 and take time to reflect and confider of things, we are 
 fometimes perfuaded of the vanity and worthlefnefs of 
 all thofe glittering trifles whereunto the generality of 
 mankind are fo fadly bewitched ; but when we come 
 abroad, and liflen to the common talk, and hear people 
 fpeak of greatnefs, and riches, and honour, with concern 
 and admiration, we quickly forget our more fober and 
 deliberate thoughts, and fufter our felves to be carried 
 away with the ftream of the common opinion ; and 
 tho* the effe& be not fo fudderj and obfervable, yet 
 
 thefe 
 
t ^o The Ncccffn v and A k wit age 
 
 theft clifcuirfcs tre (till making (on and infen- 
 
 fible impreffions upon us. 
 
 Thus alfoii our judgment co nupt e d about the 
 qualities and endowments of the mind. Courage and 
 
 gallantry, wit and eloquence, and Other lop mplifh- 
 ments of this nature, are magnified and extolled be- 
 yond all mcafurc, whereas humility, and mcckixfs, 
 and devotion, and all thofc chriitian gra _h ren- 
 
 der a foul truly excellent and \ | as 
 
 mean and contemptible thin tho 1 men have not 
 
 the impudence formally to ma! mparHbo, and 
 
 prefer the former, yet their very air, and I dif- 
 
 courfmg about theft things, Cufficiently teftifics tl 
 opinion. With what afreet ion and concernment will 
 they repreftnt a gallant or learned man, but how faint- 
 ly do they utter the character of a good man 1 And (a 
 incenfuring mens tailings, they exaggerate the fmalleil 
 inft. aknefi or imprudence, but I: .itly 
 
 pnoughofthe greateft crimes. Drtmkeqpds and 
 
 dom are mention \i in fuch terms, a :le dn[~c 
 
 of their heinous nature, and tend to leilen the horror 
 
 :ld have of them ; ambition and re v enge , and 
 
 i other plauiiblc vices, arc rather allowed than 
 
 ind while we converft in the world, and 
 
 re ft Llftom'd to fuch reprefentations of things, our 
 
 thereby exceedingly corruptees and we 
 
 ertain falfc and pernicious maxima j and fo hard it 
 
 d our (eh inft the contagion, that we 
 
 Slence, than be coiuinu- 
 
 . to the temptation. 
 
 i ;hai i. mention but another ofth 
 
 mmonly attended. The mod 
 tS arc the faults 
 
 wofiritur, wW 
 
 ah i 
 
of Early Afflictions. 141 
 
 nliena defcribitur. We meet and talk, and fall to de- 
 fcribe the life and deportment of others ; were this one 
 theme of difcourfe difcharged, we would oft-times find 
 but little to fay; I fcarce know any fault whereof good 
 perfons are fo frequently guilty, and fo little fenfible ; 
 they know perhaps the things are true, and they have 
 no malicious defign in reporting them, they tell them 
 only as they do the publick news, to divert themfdves, 
 and gratify their friends. But would we confult our 
 own hearts, and apply the great rule of rigbteoufnefs, 
 of doing unto others as we would be done unto our 
 felves, we mould foon be convinced of a great deal 
 more guilt and iinfulnefs in fuch difcourfes, than we 
 are wont to apprehend. How ill do we take it to have 
 our own failings thus expofed, and to hear that any 
 perfon hath made as bold with us, as we are wont to 
 make with others ? Again, how loath would we be, 
 that the perfons of whom we fpeak fo freely, mould 
 over-hear our difcourfe, or be informed of it ? Now if 
 the practice had nothing blameable in it, why mould 
 we be fo fhy to avow it ? 
 
 I have only hinted at thefe things, but he who 
 fhall ferioully ponder them, will acknowledge there is 
 no little prejudice even in thofe entertainments, which 
 pafs for very innocent in the world, and that he fhun- 
 neth much guilt, and many fnares, who fittetb akfie 
 and keepeth filence. But folitude and retirement do 
 not only deliver us from thefe inconveniencies, but alfo 
 afford very excellent opportunities for bettering our 
 fouls : Thofe hours we mifpend in needlefs vifits, and 
 idle talk, if rightly improved, might fet us a great 
 way forward on our journey to heaven ; while we are 
 too bufy in making or entertaining acquaintance 
 
 with 
 
t 4. ige 
 
 iany times tall out* 
 and our fell 
 
 ane an J irr 
 
 . . • Ir • : 
 mud , and the m 
 
 in piety and g 
 
 t, tod r it is 
 
 that the devout foi.l t. 
 
 conl 
 
 i 
 
 die 
 
 • punor l 
 
 r more of 
 
 I 
 
 the original i I 
 
 as 
 
 of it :iltly 
 
 ..... 
 the ^ )>.: 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 .1 pletfiireSj which d< 
 
 vhcu 
 
of Early Afflictions. 143 
 
 when having got out of the noife and hurry of the 
 world, they fit alone and keep filence, contemplating 
 the divine perfections, which mine fo confpicuoufly 
 in all his works of wonder, admiring his greatnefs, 
 and wifdom, and love, and revolving his favours to- 
 wards themfelves ; opening before him their griefs and 
 their cares, and disburdening their fouls into his bo- 
 fom ; protcfting their allegiance and fubjection unto 
 him, and telling him a thoufand times that they love 
 him ; and then liftning unto the voice of God within 
 their hearts, that full and quia voice, which is not 
 wont to be heard in the ftreets, that they may hear 
 what God the Lord will fpeak \ for he will fpeak peace 
 unto his people, ana ta his faints, and vifit them with 
 the expreflions of his love. No wonder if thrfe blefied 
 fouls who have tailed the pleafures of holy retirement, 
 and found themfelves as it were in the fuburbs of hea- 
 ven, grow weary of company and affairs, and long 
 for the returning of thofe happy hours, as the hireling 
 for the ihades of the evening : no w r onder they pity 
 the foolifh bufy world, who fpend their days in vanity, 
 and know not what it is indeed to live. 
 
 But here I would not be miftaken, as if I recom- 
 mended a total and conflant retirement, or perfuaded 
 men to forfake the world, and betake themfelves into 
 defarts -, no certainly, we muft not abandon the flations 
 wherein God hath placed us, nor render our felves ufe- 
 lefs to mankind : Solitude hath its temptations, and 
 we may be fometimes very bad company to our felves. 
 It was not without reafon that a wife perfon warned 
 another, who profefs'd to delight in converting with 
 himfelf, vide ut cum homine probo ; have a care that 
 you be keeping company with a good man. Abufed 
 •folitude may whet mens paflions, and irritate their lufts, 
 
 and 
 
1 44 Tfc Necejjii v and A i g* 
 
 r.iui prompt them to things which C wHd tt+ 
 
 ilrain, and this made one fay, that -s much 
 
 c, muft eitber be a flint or a devil, M 
 which inclines men moll to retirement, is often too 
 much nooriflied and tbmented by it, and thcfC is a 
 pcevtfh and fullen loncliiuTs, which fine people ar. 
 
 under their troubles, whereby they teed on difconten: 
 thoughts, and find a kind of pcrvcrfe pLafure 10 re- 
 filling to be comforted. But all this fays no more, but 
 that good things may be abufed ; and excels rdct 
 
 may turn the moll whoUbnc lex id hlCU And 
 
 therefore, tho' I would nor indifferently tend 
 
 much folitude unto all, yet fure I may lay, it l 
 good for the moll part of men that they were lets in 
 company, and more alonr. 
 
 T h o s much of the rirft and proper fenfe d( 
 c.Jn:c and keeping f fence i we told you it might I 
 import a quiet and patient fubmilfion to the will 
 God, the laying of our hand on our mouth, that no 
 expreffion of murmur or difcontent may efcftpc I 
 1 WMS (htwb, faid the Pfalmill, / 
 
 ■ufc tbcu dtdft it*. And the prophet dd 
 our Saviour's patience, that le WMS cpprcffed y and I 
 eiffliflcd, yet be rpened no: brougbt 
 
 eis a Limb to tl , mi as a ftier 
 
 Jbearers is d:in;l\ fo be opened net bis mcutb. Iiu.. 
 
 a medeft and nnftffe&ed fiknoi is a good way to ex- 
 
 prefs our liibnii fuVn to the hand of God under afllictions. 
 The heathen moralifts, who pretend much to patK' 
 Mild never hold their peace, but delired alWtJW b 
 nali/.c thcmfclves by fomc fetches of wit, and cxprdl 
 
 of 
 
 * I'ul. xxix. 9. | Ifi. liii. 7. 
 
t>f Early Afflictions. 145 
 
 of unufual courage; but certainly the mute and quiet 
 chriftian behaved himfelf much better, loquaciffimum 
 illud filentium, that eloquent and expreffive fiknce faith 
 more than all their vain and iloical boaftings. We 
 cannot now infift in any length on this chriftian duty 
 of patience, and fubmiflion to the will of God ; we 
 fhali only fay two things of it, which the text irnport- 
 eth ; firft, that this leflbn is moil commonly learned in 
 the fchool of afflictions, be fittetb alone and keepetb 
 filence, becaufe be bath born it upon bim. In that fore- 
 cited place oi Jeremiah, xxxi. 18. Ephraim bemoaning 
 himfelf, acknowledged that be bad been as a bullock 
 unaccufiomed to the yoke, which maketh the greater re- 
 lu&ancy againfl it. Children that are much indulged, 
 are the more impatient if they come to be eroded, and 
 there is too much of the child in us all. The apoftle 
 tells us, that tribulation workeib patience *. Cuflom 
 makes every thing more tolerable unto us, and if it 
 pleafe God to fan&ify the firil ftroak, the fecond is re- 
 ceived with the greater fubmiflion. The other thing I 
 have to fay on this duty is, that this advantage of 
 afflictions is very great and defirable, that it is indeed 
 very good for a man to have bom the yoke in bis youth \ 
 if he hath thereby learned to fit alone and keep filence 
 when the band of the Lord is upon bim. There is 
 nothing more acceptable unto God, no object more 
 lovely and amiable in his eyes, than a foul thus pro- 
 ftrate before him, thus entirely refign*d unto his holy 
 will, thus quietly fubmitting to his fevereft difpenfa- 
 tions ; nor is it lefs advantageous unto our felves, but 
 fweetneth the bktereft occurrences of our lire, and 
 
 L makes 
 
 * Rom, v. j. 
 
1 4.6 Tie NeceJJity and Advantage^ fee. 
 
 makes us relifh an inward and facte pleafure, not- 
 withflanding all the fmart of tffliftioo ; (o that the 
 yoke bo :pportable, the rod it (elf comforts 0$, 
 
 and we find much more delight in flittering the will of 
 God, than it" he had granted us out own. 
 
 N W to this God who lovcth us, and corrected! 
 us for our proHr, that we may be partakers or' his holi- 
 defs, and thereby of his happinefs, to God the Father, 
 Son, and bkiied Spirit, be all honour, praife, and 
 glory now and for ever. A 
 
 That 
 
( 147 ) 
 
 That there are but a fmall 
 Number favecl 
 
 Luke xiii. 23. 
 
 Then /aid one unto him. Lord, are 
 there few that be faved : and he 
 /aid unto them> &c. 
 
 HOSE who have fo much charity and 
 goodnefs as to be nearly touched with 
 the interelt of mankind, cannot but be 
 more efpecially concerned about their; 
 everlailing condition, and very anxious to know what 
 fhall become of poor mortals when this fcene is over, 
 and they ceafe to appear on the ftage of the world, 
 
 L 2 being 
 
That thcr: ate hit 
 
 ive an account of their d tent 
 
 on it. And feci .re arc d 
 
 of departed fouls 
 rtcd into happineft, and others dootn'd to 
 b y nd any thing that we can conceive, this 
 . put them upon tarthcr enquiry, how mankind is 
 like Co be divided) whether heaven or hell flu 
 the | (hare* Such a laudable coriofity as this it 
 
 was, that put one of our blefled Saviour's followers to 
 pronofe the queftion in the text, / 
 t : ? Our Saviour had Ik en U 
 
 the great fj lid have, h<uv lik 
 
 little leaven, that qui. a hole lump 
 
 it is put into, chriftianity fhould foon propagate itlelf 
 through the world, and many nations e 
 
 • i: ; this diieiple it feems was dcfilOUS to 
 
 know, wl ct] er th< efficacy ihould beanfwexahlc 
 
 ( Kent, whetherit ftiould take as d< 
 
 i thofc that own'd it, as it was to Ipread ii 
 
 and a the fac< earth ; in awa ether 
 
 the greatefl men were to be ft [called 
 
 this a laudable cut;- !;:;,, and there IS rcaion to think 
 
 it fo, ;.. - our Savi ur himfelf, who beft knew the 
 < afion and importance 1 1 it, doth not cluck but fa- 
 ti v the ei ; iiry, which he was not wont to do v. 
 the queftions were ufdefs or blameable. Th Ic who 
 c quir'dioto the time of the general judgment, received 
 no other tea unt but that it was i 
 
 among th rts which God rcferved tor himi 
 
 : rid Again, wh asked f the tim li*£ m 
 
 ,: . I r , I etelh them i u 
 
 it i'< r them, ii at all to 
 
 1. I )ut here, as the qud 
 
 fecap \ . a zeal to the honour H 
 
 God, 
 
a ftnall Number faved. 149 
 
 God, and concernment in the happinefs of mankind, 
 fo the refolution of it might be very ufeful ; and ac- 
 cordingly it is improved by our Saviour ; who at once 
 refolves the doubt, and preffeth a very weighty exhor- 
 tation in the following words, ftrive to enter in, &c« 
 We are not at this time to profecute the whole impor- 
 tance of this latter verfe, for that we refer you to an 
 excellent fermon, intitled, tfhe way to happinefs ; we 
 fhall only confider the anfwer which is implyM in it to 
 the foregoing queflion ; to wit, that the number of thofe 
 who. are to be faved is really very fmall. 
 
 I t is on this point we defign to fix our meditations 
 at this time, and indeed there is fcarce any do&rine 
 that needeth to be more inculcated; for amongft all 
 the ilratagems whereby the great enemy of mankind 
 doth plot and contrive their ruin, few are more un- 
 happily fuccefsful, than the fond perfuafion he hath 
 filled them with, that heaven and everlalling happinefs 
 are eafily attainable. What one faith of wifdom, 
 multi ad [apientiam percent ffent nifi putaffent fe per- 
 veniffe, we may, with a little alteration, apply unto 
 this purpofe; that many might have reach'd heav ■ if 
 they had not been fo confident of it. The doors of 
 the chriftian church are now very wide, and men have 
 accefs unto them upon eafy terms ; nay, this privilege 
 defcends unto men by their birth, and they are reckoned 
 among chriftians before they come well to know what 
 it means. The ordinances and myfteries of our reli- 
 gion are common to all, fave thofe whom grofs igno- 
 rance, or notorious crimes do exclude ; there are no 
 marks on the foreheads of men whereby we can judge 
 of their future condition, they die and are laid in their- 
 graves, and none cometh back to tell us how it fareth 
 wjth them, and we defire to think the belt of every 
 
 & J particular 
 
150 Hat there arc but 
 
 particular perfon. But whatever charirv be in this 
 there is little prudence in the :.cc that many draw 
 
 from ir, who think they may live as their UTS 
 
 do, j I die tppily as they ; and fincc the grc a t e ft 
 
 y DJ ! .1 ;. . :.: a 
 
 very if all o: 
 
 perl :i a flock or' fheep on. a I 
 
 the firft letpeth over, and the reft not knowing what 
 is become of thofc that went I them 
 
 loll companions into that h in. En- 
 
 tered and fcl blind the minds of 
 
 men, that 1 be put from the be 
 
 that v : 1 :.. . « d I : y tain ha I | 1 i: 
 
 is, that ni twkhftanding of all we are t<ld to the con- 
 trary, the opinion 1 :oadiufs of the way tl 
 leads to heaven, and th. § unto ir, is ilill the 
 mr nick, and I think the mod danger ashen 
 Many of the commonalty are fo ignorant as to aro* it, 
 and the ftrange fecurity o( • lowing perfons doth 
 as loudly pi claim it. [know h< and an un- 
 welcome errand, wh M minds 
 fuch 1 pleafimt ^nd Battering error, but 
 
 at Hull we <.l\ (hall wc Puffer them to Qeep on and 
 everlafting flames awake them ? 
 their blood on 1 ds, and ini 1 
 
 our Lives in their ruin, by ■ ig to adrertttc them 
 
 their ha: No, my friends, duty docfa oblige 
 
 us, and the holy Scriptures will warrant us to aiii:rc 
 
 u, that there arc rer] % /, that 
 
 :,d that 
 I 
 fiom f. 
 
 T hat 
 
 I :.. v 
 
a fmall Number faved. 151 
 
 That this certain tho' lamentable truth may take 
 the deeper impreflion on our minds, we fhall firft pro- 
 pofe fome confiderations for the better underftanding 
 what great things are required in thofe who look for 
 everlafting happinefs, and then reflect on the actions and 
 ways of men ; that comparing the one with the other, 
 we may fee how little ground of hope there is for the 
 greateft part to build on. 
 
 First then, confider the nature of that divine 
 Majefty, whofe prefence and enjoyment it is that makes 
 heaven it felf deferable ; and think how inconfiftent it 
 is with his infinite holinefs, to admit impure and im- 
 penitent finners into the habitation of his glory. Cer- 
 tainly he is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can- 
 not look on iniquity *. He is not a God that hath plea- 
 fare in wickednefsy neither Jloall evil dwell with him : 
 the foolifb Jball not ftand in his fight f . It is Grange 
 what conceptions foolifh men muft entertain of Al- 
 mighty God, who can imagine that thofe who have been 
 all their days wallowing in (in, fhall be admitted into an 
 cverlafting fellowship with him. Sooner fhall light and 
 darknefs dwell together, and heat and cold in their 
 greateft violence combine, and all the contrarieties of 
 nature be reconciled. Can two walk together except 
 they be agreed ? Can there be any converfe betwixt 
 thofe whofe natures fuit fo ill together ? Sure they who 
 think to come fo eafily by happinefs, muft imagine 
 God altogether fuch a one as themfelves, elfe they could 
 never hope that he would choofe them, and caufe them 
 to approach unto him. But O how widely fhall they 
 find themfelves miftaken, when he fhall reprove them y 
 
 L 4 and 
 
 Hab. i. 13. f Pfil. v, 4, ;>, 
 
152 Thai are but 
 
 ms in order I \ m t and hall 
 
 nfafion, that he is 1 \ wfumiwrfin 
 
 Men ^vz wont to tram-; a 
 don oi G d According to their own wUhing, as il 
 were all made up of mercy, and juftkc were but an 
 
 empty name; and this is the common meltcr againft 
 every convincing reproof. But this temerity (hall at 
 tly con: nee it (elf, and ted that juiticc 
 which it will doc believe: there is the 
 
 attributes of God, that one or them (hall i wallow up 
 another; mercy is open to all that fbrfeke tbc 
 but juftice (hall fcizc on thofe who continue in du 
 1 bat compaflion which ma [ his den 
 
 Son fort ol mankind, will r.. \ail 
 
 d m and deliverance or" any impenitent Go- 
 ner s abufed goodnefs will certainly turn into rury, and 
 infinite 1 being c (hall bring down u 
 
 Tinners all the dreadful efiecjts Dent ven- 
 
 geance. 
 
 I n I 1 r> f. r fi . what that ! .hich 
 
 ew J . doth fo themfclves, 
 
 ther it be likely that it mould be fo eafily 
 
 artaii v. Glorious k (pi ken ot 
 
 tha: thai is 1 ccellent or 
 
 1 this world, is bom (hadow it forth 
 
 in the h Ij f< riptures. We ai and 
 
 ares, and rii ers of pl< and 
 
 . ing waters, and of an exceeding eternal 
 
 B 1 all thefe do not fuffice to 
 
 full apprehenfion oi the happinefi weex- 
 lid, it d^th m I yet 
 (hall be Th • -'de- 
 
 but to a dill cur minds a I ..d give 
 
 us 
 
a fmall Number faved. 153 
 
 us fome confufed apprehenfions of the things eye hath 
 not feen, nor ear heard; nor can it enter into the heart 
 of man to conceive^ what God hath prepared for them 
 that love him ; faid that beloved difciple that lay in the 
 bofom of our Saviour. Can we then expect that fo 
 glorious a prize (hall be gainM without any labour? 
 Shall fuch a recompence be bellowed on thofe who 
 never were at any pains about it ? What toil and tra- 
 vail doth it coft a man, to gather together that white 
 and yellow earth which they call money ? With what 
 care and pains do others afcend to any degree of pre- 
 ferment ? What induftry and ftudy do men imploy to 
 reach a little knowledge, and be reckoned amongll the 
 learned ? And (hall heaven, and everlaiting happinefs 
 Aide into our arms when we are afleep ? No certainly, 
 God will never difparage the glories of that place, to 
 beftow them on thofe who have not thought them worthy 
 of their moft ferious endeavours. But as the greatnefs 
 of that happinefs may juftly difcourage all the lazy 
 pretenders to it, To the nature of it leaves fmall ground 
 of hope to the greateft part of the world. I wonder 
 what moft men do expect to meet with in heaven, who 
 dream of coming thither ? Think they to feait and re- 
 vel, and luxuriate there, and to fpend eternity in 
 foolifh mirth, and vain talk, in fport and drollery, and 
 fenfual pleafure ; which are all the exercifes they are 
 capable of, or find any relifhor fatisfaction in ? Away 
 with all thofe tfurkifh notions, whereby we difparage 
 the happinefs we pretend to; the joys of that place are 
 pure and fpiritual, and no unclean thing (hall enter 
 there. The felicity of blefled fpirits ftandeth in be- 
 holding and admiring the divine perfections, and find- 
 ing the image of them mining in themfelves, in a per- 
 fect conformity to the will and nature of God, and an 
 
 intimate 
 
i 5 4 Thai there arc but 
 
 intimate and delightful fociety and communion with 
 him ; and Qui] fuch fouls be bkifed in feeing and par- 
 .ivinc likenefs, v. ho never loved it, and 
 k any thing rather than to coi. ith 
 
 him ? A little rcfleftion on the common temper ot mens 
 minds, may allure us, that they are wry far from tl 
 nuetnds and aptitude/fir the if. .e cf the f.;r.:s 
 
 in light *, which the apoftle (peaks of The notion 
 and nature of blefledncfi mofl (ore be changed, or eUe 
 the temper of their Ipirita : Either they muft hates* 
 hearts, or a new heaven created tor them before they 
 be happy : It is a farange infatuation i 
 
 i men in the gall of bittemefi fliould think it is 
 I with their fouls, and fancy themfclves in a cafe 
 
 t the enjoyment: o( divine pleafi. 
 I M the fourth place, let us reflect on the attempts 
 and ura of thofc who have gone to i be- 
 
 fore us, how they did fight and itrive, Wteflle and run, 
 for obtaining that glorious prise ; and we (hall let I 
 improbable it is, that the greatefl part of nun fhould 
 
 with fo little pains. .V •', A 
 ' f * ' , D , and all thofi ai 
 
 n holy writ, i done ot d fo 
 
 it thing! dB that i 
 
 the] 
 
 , :.s \ . u n i \tb 
 
 where, 
 
 cs, the aui 
 • ., • 
 
 i 
 
 
a fmall Number faved. 155 
 
 yea, moreover, of bonds and imprifonments, they wert 
 ftoned, they were fawn afunder, were tempted, were 
 flain with the fword, they wandred about in Jheep 
 skins, and goat skins, being deftitute, afflicted, tor- 
 mented, of whom the world was not worthy, they wan- 
 dred in de farts, and in mountains, and in dens, and in 
 caves of the earth. Such alfo was that holy violence, 
 wherewith the chriftians of the iirft and golden ages 
 did force open the gates of heaven, and took pofleflion 
 of it. The ardent affe&ion wherewith thefe blefled 
 fouls were inflamed towards their maker and redeemer, 
 made them willingly give up their bodies to be burned 
 in the fire, for the glory of God, and the propagation 
 of the chriftian faith. Their conftancy in their furTer- 
 ings did amaze their bloody perfecutors, and out- 
 weary the cruelty of their tormentors, and they re- 
 joiced in nothing more than that they were accounted 
 worthy to fuffer jhame for the name of Jefus. And 
 what mail we fay of their univerfal charity and love % 
 which reached their very enemies ? Of their humility 
 and meeknefs, juftice and temperance, and all thofe 
 other vertues which many of the heathens themfelves 
 did obferve and admire ? Behold, faith one, how the 
 chriftians love one another, tftefe are the men, faith 
 another, who fpeak as they think, and do as they fpeak. 
 Pliny, after an exact enquiry, writeth to Strajan the 
 emperor, that he could never find any other guilt in 
 the chriftians, hut that they met together before day 
 break, to fmg a hymn to Chrift as if he were God, and 
 then to bind themfelves with a facrament or oath, not 
 to do any mi f chief: but, on the contrary, that they 
 fhall not rob, fteal, or commit adultery, or falfify their 
 words, or deny their truft, &c. This was the crime of 
 chriftians in thofe firft ages, to engage themfelves not to 
 
 commit 
 
156 Tfiat there are but 
 
 commit any crime \ and h it fell out that any of them 
 were guilty ot drunkenncfe, or ondeannefc, or toy 
 
 other of thofc (ins, which alas! arc fo lightly cenfnrtd 
 in our days, they were fevcrely punifhed ; nay, b W 
 bitterly did themfelvcs lament it } They needed not in 
 thofc days to be purfued by tedious pco ceflcSi or drag- 
 ged againft their will to the profeflion of their repen- 
 tance; they would fue for it with tears, and (land 
 many years at the door of the church begging to be re- 
 ceived : the cenfures ot the church were : ked 
 upon as very fcrious and dreadful things ; and the}' who 
 would encounter death in the moll: terrible form, would 
 tremble if thtcatned with excommunication. Now tell 
 me, I pray you, what you think of thefe men } Did 
 they fuper-crrogate, and go beyond their duty, or 
 were they fools in doing thefe things, when half the 
 pains might have ferved the turn ? Did heaven and hap- 
 pinefs coft. them fo much labour, and think yon to he 
 carried fad allccp, OC rat hi r, while you are bending 
 you: quite another way ? If you cannot look lb 
 far back, or it yon imagine thefe but romances, like the 
 p .tick accounts of the 1 age, wherein all men 
 v. .re happy and good, I (hill then de: : . to take 
 notice or a few ptrfons, whom tl Inefi 
 
 hath refcued (torn that deluge of wickedoe& which 
 
 h I world. There arc perhaps lome Z\ 
 in a city, or in a country, who live very far 
 
 men, md may be accounted 
 i unpared with them j they have 
 
 pollution that is in the wot Id, and bfl 
 
 the i inities of it ; their ifl 
 
 are . . -wd theil I to pkaie and 
 
 ughts and nfk&V dj arc in 
 
 a j;: holy and pure, their com eiil innocent 
 
 and 
 
a fmall Numher faved. 157 
 
 and ufeful, and in their whole deportment they obferve 
 fuch drift rules of holinefs and vertue, as others may 
 think needlefs or fuperftitious : and yet thefe very per- 
 fons are deeply fenfible of their own imperfections, 
 and afraid enough to come fhort of heaven. I fpeak 
 not now of thofe fcrupulous perfons whom melancholy 
 doth expofe unto perpetual and unaccountable fears, 
 much lefs of others who make a trade of complaining, 
 and would be the better thought of for fpeaking evil 
 of themfelves, and would be very ill pleafed if you 
 mould believe them. I fpeak of rational and fober 
 men, whofe fears arife from their due con fi deration 
 and meafures of things, from the right apprehenfions 
 they have of the holinefs of God> and the meaning 
 and importance of the gofpel precepts. And certainly 
 fuch holy jealoufies over themfelves ought not to be 
 judged needlefs, fince St. Paul himfelf, who had been 
 wrapt up into the third heaven, and thereby received 
 an earned of eternal happinel's, found it neceffary to 
 take care, left that by any means while he preached to 
 ethers himfelf floould he a caft-away * I know it is 
 ordinary for men to laugh at thofe who are more 
 ferious and confeientious than themfelves, to wonder 
 what they aim at, and to hope to be as fure of hea- 
 ven, as they. But ere long they fhall difcover their 
 miftake, and fhall fay with thofe fpoken of in the book 
 of Wifdom : tthis was he whom we had fometime in 
 derifion, and a proverb of reproach, we fools accounted 
 his life madnefs, and his end to be without honour : how 
 is he numbred among the children of God, and his lot 
 is among the faints ! ^therefore have we erred from the 
 
 way 
 
 1 Cor, ix. 27. 
 
15 s That there arc but 
 
 \httoufnefs [::■ | I 
 finned unto us, and tic j . 
 upon us. 
 
 To come yet clofer unto our prefent pmpofe, a fc- 
 rious confideration of the lav. 5 and precepts of t lie 
 gofpcJ, will fully convince us of t 
 gate, and narrownefs oj 'bat leads unto c 
 
 life ; we cannot name them all, nor infill upon 
 any at length; lock thro' that excellent fcrmon on the 
 mount, and lie what our Saviour doth require of his 
 followers. You will find him enjoining fuch a : 
 tound humility, as fhall make us think nothing 
 (elves, and be content that others think nothing 
 umeekjufs which no injuries can oncroeme, noatn 
 nor indignities can exafperate , a clajhty which 
 flraineth the light of the eyes, and the wandring of the 
 defireSj fuch an unherfai charity as will make us 
 tender other mens welfare as our own, and never to 
 take any revenge Igtinit our mofi bitt. but 
 
 to wifll them well, and to do them all the good we 
 can whether they will or not. Whatever 
 
 glofles men are bold to put on oui s 
 
 the ottering the other cheek tO him v. ho (mod the One, 
 and the giving OPT coat to him who hath taken OUT 
 cloak, doth obligl US to fuflfet injuries, and part with 
 femcthing of mir right, tor avoiding ftrife and conten- 
 tion. The pulling out our right eye, and cutting 
 our right hand that offends doth import the 
 
 nod gainful callings, or i nts, 
 
 I hire unto us, and the ulc 
 thofc e>rporal aullerities that are OCCefl I 
 ftrainr of our lull and corrupt ft! I 
 
 father and mother tor the fake ( h at 
 
 I imp!) the loving of him inlini: 
 
a fmall Number faved. 159 
 
 deareft relations, and the being ready to part with them 
 when either our duty, or his will doth call for it. And 
 we muft not look upon thefe things as only counfels of 
 perfection, commendable in themfelves, but which may 
 yet be neglected without any great hazard : No cer- 
 tainly, they are abfolutely neceflary • and it is a folly 
 to expect happinefs without the confcientious and iln- 
 cere performance of them all. IVbofoever floall break 
 one of thefe leaf commandments, and floall teach men 
 fo % he fhall he called the leaf in the kingdom of heaven; 
 that is, according to all interpreters, he floall have no 
 interefi in it. You fee then by what Uriel: rules he 
 muft fquare his actions, who can with any ground 
 hope to be faved. But now I muft tell you further, 
 that he muft not be put to the perform a nee of his 
 duty merely by the force and fan ct ions of thefe laws: 
 True religion is an inward, free, and felf-moving prin- 
 ciple ; and thofe who have made a progrefs in it, arc 
 not acted only by external motives, are not merely 
 driven by threatnings, nor bribed by promifes, nor 
 conftrained by laws, but are powerfully inclined to 
 that which is good. Tho' holy and religious perfons 
 do much eye the law of God, yet it is not fo much the 
 authority and fanction of it, as its reafonablenefs, and 
 purity, and goodnefs, that doth prevail with them- 
 They account it excellent and defirable in itfelf, and 
 that in keeping of it there is great reward • and that 
 divine love wherewith they are acted, makes them be- 
 come a law unto themfelves. £)uis legem det am anti- 
 bus ? major eft amor lex ipfe fibi. In a word, what 
 our blefled Saviour faid of himfelf, is in fome meafurc 
 applicable to his followers, that it is their meat and 
 drink to do their father's will. And as the natural ap- 
 petite is carried out towards food, tho* we ftiould not 
 
 reflect 
 
I 60 Tidt there arc but 
 
 reflect on the neceffity of it for the prefervarion of oaf 
 
 lives; (btretbey carried with a natural and unj reed 
 
 pcopenfion towards that which is good and "ommfnd- 
 
 able. 
 
 H 1 r 11 a 1 t o we i tag of tboft qua- 
 
 lifications which are necellary tor obtaining an cntra 
 into heaven ; it is high time we WCCC calling 1 
 upon the world, to f( the tempers and actions 
 
 of men agree with them. And if firfi we look back 
 
 upon the old world, we fhall lie how food wickednefi 
 
 did overfpread the G the earth, and all BeA had 
 
 corrupted his way ; and of all the multr at were 
 
 then in the world, only and his ; 
 
 found worthy i eliige j nay even 
 
 in it there Was a curled tbet of a wicked 
 
 generation. After that the church ot G 
 
 fined unto a wry narrow corner, and 
 
 cover'd the face of the earth, only P ..'•/:.>.; wa$ en- 
 
 lightned with theknov of God; h 
 
 1 rd unto Jjccby bis ftatutcs 
 
 Ifr 
 
 f r bis ju jj 
 
 wor- 
 ts : Xhd ti< ns 
 wa ; d unto t .^nd their religious my- 
 (ieries were (till of the groflefl impurities. 1 Dull not 
 now enter 1 n the debate, whether ei then 
 might poilibly have been (aved, we arc ma - rn'd 
 to fecurc our own (alvation, than to dii bout 
 theirs ; and M I taxdk lay, that amongrt all tl 
 of 1 ted heathenSj [could never meet with 
 
 
a fmall Nu?nber faved. 1 6 r 
 
 character of a truly good man,- and tho* I love not to 
 decry morality, yet that pride and felf-conceit which 
 mingled it felf with their faireft actions, makes me 
 look upon them as indeed fpkndida peccata, a more 
 fpecious kind of fins. But fuppofe fomething could 
 be faid for Socrates and Plato, and two or three others, 
 what is that to thofe huge multitudes, who without all 
 peradventure, ran headlong into everlafting deftruelion ? 
 But let us leave thefe times, and look upon the prefent 
 condition of the world : it is a fad account of it that 
 is given by Breerwood in his Enquiries, that dividing 
 the whole world into thirty parts, nineteen are Pagan, 
 fix are Mahometan, and only five remain for Chriftians 
 of all perfuafions. I fhall not warrant the exactnefs 
 of his reckoning, but certainly the number of chriftians 
 carries but a very fmall proporron to the reft of man- 
 kind • and of thefe again, how few are there orthodox 
 in their religion. I dare not condemn all thofe who 
 live in the Komiflo communion, but fure they lie under 
 very great difadvantages, and befides the common dif- 
 ficulty of chriftianity, their errors and fuperftitions 
 are no fmall hindrances unto them. 
 
 But we may perhaps think cur felves little con- 
 cerned in them ; let us confider thofe who live in com- 
 munion with our felves, and fee what is to be thought 
 of the generality of them ; and firft we fhall find a 
 very great number of them fogrofly ignorant, that they 
 know not the way that leads to life ; and truly it is not 
 fo broad that people mould keep it by gutfs; and 
 however they imagine, that their ignorance will not 
 only be excufable in itfelf, but afford a cloak to their 
 other wickednefs, yet dreadful is that threatning of 
 the prophet Ifaiah^ It is a people of no underjianding > 
 therefore he that made them will not have mercy 
 
 M w 
 
2 7/3.// there arc but 
 
 I 
 
 rsand re 
 and adu 
 
 * guilty (n fiich beiuous , and b 
 
 :Li our To v. hat a (mall 
 
 (hou Id we quick little i roer would 
 
 Ind think I 
 
 < , i the Li 
 
 :li ru condemn 
 urs, but the apofllc bath i 
 hand 
 
 f God? 1 
 
 i ■ r 
 
 i 9 I 
 I u thee 
 
 .all nun 
 
 i. 
 
 at- 
 
 ' i 
 count ; 
 
 
a fmall Number faved. 163 
 
 never found big enough without it. I cannot (land to 
 reckon up all the aggravations of this fin, it is cer- 
 tainly inconfiftent with a religious temper ; and this 
 alone, if there were no more, would damn the greatell 
 part of the chriitian world. And what fhall we fay 
 of all thofe other vices, which are fo frequently prac- 
 tifed, yea and defended too among us ? for alas ! we 
 are arrived at that height of impiety, that vertue and 
 vice feem to have fhirted places, evil and good to 
 have changed their names. It is counted a gallant 
 thing to defpife all divine and human laws, and a 
 childiili fcrupulofity to forbear any thing that may- 
 gratify our lufts : a ftrong faith is accounted an argu- 
 ment of weak judgment, depend ance upon providence 
 is judged want offorefight, and that there is no wit but 
 in deceiving others ; no man is reckoned generous, un- 
 lefs he be extreamly ambitious ; and it is want of cou- 
 rage to forgive an injury. O religion, whither art 
 thou fled ? In what corner of the world mail we mid 
 thee? Shall we fearch thee in courts and palaces of 
 great men ? Pride and luxury hath driven thee thence, 
 and they are too much concerned in the bufinefs and 
 pleafures of this world, to mind thofe of another. 
 Shall we feek thee in the cottages of the poor ? Envy 
 and difcontent lodgeth there, their outward want takes 
 up all their thoughts, and they have little regard for 
 their fouls. Shall we go into the city ? Cheating and 
 extortion, and intemperance, are almoll all we can 
 meet with there ; and if we retire into the country, 
 we fhall find as little innocence in it. IVe may leak 
 for judgment^ but behold opprejjion ; for right cou[nefs y 
 but behold a cry. 
 
 After all that we have hitherto faid, fome may 
 think themfdves fafe enough, being confeious of none 
 
 M 2 of 
 
i 64 t there at 
 
 V fc vices which wc btvc nam'd : but alas! 
 
 ill be tar from the kingdom 
 h ven. Religion Hands not in 1 es, and: 
 
 I from grofs and fcandalotlS vices, is a poor 
 
 plea for heaven: look how thy foul is furnilhed v. 
 
 c divine graces, which ought to qualify d 
 i:. I Ihall name but one, and it is the / 
 
 v body pretended] to it; but O bow few arc 
 th re iii the world that underftand what it means; thlt 
 feel the power and efficacy of it on their own fpiril 
 
 Love is that weight w 
 :. I ill is carried toward- ..nd 
 
 enter. Thofc who are ac- 
 quainted with this noble paflton, even in its wandrings 
 ns from its proper objeft, when it is 
 rd on fome (illy creature like our fclvesj thefc, I 
 fay, do know v. liar mighty effc&S it is wont to pro. 
 I ce in the fouls where it prevailed* ; how it makes 
 them almofi forget their own interut, md nind 
 
 that :';ur- how careful they .. 
 
 r advantage die perfbo, and how 
 ..:..:'. t d I . 
 
 md ho* hardly thej endure to be tbfent 
 in m them. See 1. thru findefi any thing 
 
 ible to theie effi 5, in th 
 
 thou pi unto God. Ai ndhonoui 
 
 the sll things unto tl defl thou 
 
 1 . d all thy friends t than his 
 
 holy 1 Is k tl 
 
 imis to plead him, 
 ever) (in ? Is tl thing in 
 
 thee, but thou wouldfi part with (be his and 
 
 Q he (hould m will rather than 
 
 thine . is i. 1 rfe with 
 
 him ? 
 
me, that tho' things be 
 
 a fmall Number faved. 165 
 
 him ? And doth every thing feem burdenfome, which 
 detains thee long from him? If we would examine our 
 felves by thefe meafures, I fear mod of us would find 
 our confidence built on a fandy foundation. 
 
 Perhaps you will tell 
 not fo well at prefent, tho 5 you have not yet attained 
 thefe endowments that are neccffary to fit you for 
 heaven, nor have indeed begun to endeavour after 
 them i yet hereafter you hope all mail be well : you'll 
 repent and amend once before you die. But confider, 
 I befeech you, my brethren, what it is that you fay; 
 when think you that this promifed reformation mail 
 begin ? Some two or three years after this, when you 
 have pleas'd your felves, and indulged your lufts a 
 little more ? But what affurance have you to live fo 
 long? Are not your neighbours dropping down every 
 day about you, who expected death as little as you ? 
 And fuppofe you live, what greater probability is there 
 of your reformation at that time than now ? Had you 
 not the fame thoughts and refolutions feveral years ago, 
 which yet have taken no effect at all ? Will you not 
 have the fame temptations and fnares ? Will your lufts 
 be more eafily overcome, when ftrengthned by longer 
 cuftom I Will it be more eafy to return, after you 
 have wand-red further out of your way ? Belike it is on 
 a death-bed repentance you have grounded your hopes; 
 you refolve to part with your lufts when you can keep 
 them no longer, and ferve God Almighty with the 
 dregs of your time. I fhall not ftand to tell you what 
 fhrewd objections are propofed by fome great and 
 learned men againft the validity and acceptablenefs of 
 fuch a repentance ; fome of them perhaps have been 
 too peremptory and fevere. True and unfeigned re- 
 M 3 pentanqe, 
 
the tin d, 
 
 hai - But ii ;• what i ue 
 
 : , th( II 
 
 .... . and tl 
 . 
 have outf-lii 
 
 inot but ack 
 
 . and thai an unfit 
 
 . 
 
 on our bed ! \ i:» I uis 
 
 i and put u\x the bi . . , \. Ihall be 
 
 h\ cd, 
 
 Whi n v. i faid all that 
 
 ,v will r. r I 
 
 . it 
 
 it with \ 
 
 .. 
 
 ..bit 
 I ' : what and n , 
 
 n to (et rules uni 
 . 
 I 
 
 to 
 
 I ? lr all thu 
 b • ra- 
 
 
a fmall Number faved. 167 
 
 will have none of his reproof, if we court damnation, 
 and throw our felves headlong into hell, how can we 
 expect that he fhould interpofe his omnipotency to pull 
 us from thence, and place us in heaven againft our 
 will? Thofe blefled regions are not like our new plan- 
 tations, which are fometimes peopled with the woril 
 fort of perfons, left they mould be altogether defolate. 
 There are thoufands of angels, and ten thoufand times 
 ten thoufand that fland about the throne : we know 
 little the extent of the unirerfe, or what proportion 
 the wicked or miferable part of rational beings doth 
 carry to thofe that are happy and good ; but this we 
 know, that God was infinitely happy before he had 
 made any creature, that he needeth not the fociety of 
 the holy angels, and will never admit that of wicked 
 and irreligious men. But that I may haile towards a 
 clofe. 
 
 T'h e doclrine we have been infilling on is fad and 
 lamentable, but the confederation of it may be very 
 ufeful ; it muft needs touch any ferious perfon with a 
 great deal of grief and trouble, to behold a multitude 
 of people conven'd together, and to think, that before 
 30 or 40 years, a little more, or great deal lefs, they 
 lhall all go down unto the dark and filent grave, and 
 the greater, the far greater part of their fouls mall be 
 damned unto endlefs and unfpcakable torments. But 
 this may ftir us up unto the greateft diligence and 
 care, that we may do what we can towards the pre- 
 vention of it. Were the k\-\k of this deeply engraven 
 on all our minds, with what care and diligence, with 
 what ferioufnefs and zeal would minifters deal 
 with the people committed to their charge, that 
 by any means they might fave fome ? How would 
 parents, and husbands, and wives, imploy all their 
 
 M 4 diligence 
 
1 68 f Tl\it there arc hut, ccc. 
 
 diligence and induftry, and make nfc of the mod ufc- 
 tul met limiog their netrcfl relations, and 
 
 pulling tl Bl the brink or" hell } Ltftl 
 
 would each of us ufc, 
 
 (elves from this common ruin, and making our calling 
 and ele&ion fore? This, I fay, is the ufc of whit we 
 
 have been (peaking, and may Almighty God (o accom- 
 pany it with his bk fling and power, that it may be (o 
 happily effectual to fo excellent a purpofe. And unto 
 this God, c?i\ 
 
 I H E 
 
1 169 ) 
 
 THE 
 
 Duty and Pleafure 
 
 O F 
 
 Praife and Thankfgiving, 
 
 Psal. cvii. 15. 
 
 that men would praife the Lord for 
 his goodnefs, and for his wonderful 
 works to the children of men. 
 
 HERE is fcarce any duty of religion 
 more commonly neglected, or more 
 ilightly performed, than that of Praife 
 and Thankfgiving. The fenfe of our 
 wants puts us upon begging favours 
 from God; and the confcioufnefs of our fins conftrains 
 
 us 
 
, -o Tie D --e 
 
 hi* v. • 
 
 But alas! how (mall a p 
 h an in 
 
 • and heart 
 the divine bounty : 
 this nature which v. , arc many times a formal 
 
 : y, a preface to uflier in our petitions for what 
 . rather than any lincerc expreffioo i 
 
 thankful refentment at tfc 1 | . 
 
 : was the temper or" the holy Pfidu 
 rftionate acknowl ts or* i and 
 
 i tint y of God, in the cheerful c 
 
 make up a confiderable part of his divhv. fn- 
 
 ing fongS. How often do we find him exdriog and 
 difpofing hlmfelf to join voice, hand and heart t< 
 ther in this holy and delightful empl 
 
 e bUj's 
 bis I V 
 
 is fixe I : J will fii 
 
 I v 
 .. 
 
 , be im if 
 
 him: • 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 B 
 
 
of Praife and lljankjgiving. 171 
 
 cattle^ creeping things, and flying fowls ±. Bkfs the 
 Lord all his 'works in all places of his dominion *. 
 Many fuch figurative exprefTions occur, and allowance 
 muft be made for the poetical drain, but in the text 
 we have a proper and paflionate wilh ; O that men 
 would praife the Lord, &c. 
 
 O that men, &c. Man is the greateit prieft of this 
 lower world, by whom all the homage and fervice of 
 the ether creatures is to be paid to their common Lord 
 and Maker : God hath made him to have dominion over 
 the works of his hand: he hath put all things under 
 his feet. All floe ep and oxen, yea, and the he aft of the 
 field, the fowl of the air, and the fiflj of the fea, and 
 whatfoever paffeth through the paths of the feas. And 
 the divine bounty in maintaining of thefe poor crea- 
 tures redoundeth unto him, and therefore 'tis highly 
 reafonable that he mould pay the tribute of praife for 
 them, who are not capable to know their dependance 
 on God, or their obligations unto him. Fbe young 
 lions are faid to roar and feek their meat from God ||. 
 tfbe young ravens do cry unto him *-*. But thefe are 
 only the complaints of languifhing nature, heard and 
 relieved by the God of nature ; but not directly and 
 particularly addrefled to him. Man alone is capable 
 to entertain communion with God, to know his good- 
 nefs, and to celebrate his praife. 
 
 O that men would praife the Lord. Praife is the ac- 
 knowledgment of the goodnefs and excellency of a 
 perfon- and tho' the defire of it, in us who have no- 
 thing of our own but folly and fin, and whofe bell 
 
 per- 
 
 rfzPf.odviii. !, &c. * Pfal. ciii. 22. f PC viii. 6, &c. 
 [j PC civ. 21. ** Job xxxviii. 41. 
 
i -- Duty and PI 
 
 dhertot i 
 
 nip id prcfump:: 
 
 God, :he 
 
 11. .... HMUk :his grcn; 
 Door, and i: rinuallv 
 
 ' 1 I 
 
 ! happin 
 pK x t is a fitnds and in the thi 
 
 aiv> n it : 
 
 iv>r. 
 
 1 Ids is the rai- 
 
 : the hol e ; and it" o taftc 
 
 the plci res 
 
 r the divine 
 
 toodrufs. 
 
 I 
 . 
 ive t s or i 
 
 Otu 
 
 i be will, as 
 
 , that he a'.. 
 
 rc- 
 
 tk$ cktldrtB of t 
 (pctad and 
 
 ..... I :hc 
 
of Prdife and Thank] giving. 173 
 
 whole creation in its arms ; it not only difplayeth it 
 felf mod illuflrioufly to the blefled inhabitants of the 
 region above, but reachcth alfo to the meanefl worm 
 that crawleth on the ground. The beads of the field, 
 and the fowls of the air, and the fifties of the fea, and 
 the innumerable fwarms of little infects which we can 
 hardly difcern with our eyes, are all fubjects of that 
 almighty care ; by him they are brought forth into the 
 world, by him they are furnifhed with provifion fuita- 
 ble for them : Thefe all wait upon thee, (faith the Pfal- 
 mifl) that thou mayft give thetn their meat in due 
 feafon * : tfhat thou groeft them they gather ; thou 
 openeft thine hand, they are filled with good. But here 
 to excite us to thankfulnefs, he makes choice of an in- 
 fiance wherein we our felves are more nearly concerned, 
 and exhorteth to praife the Lord for his wonderful 
 works to the children of men. If the goodnefsof God 
 to the holy angels be above our reach, and his bounty 
 to the inferior creatures be below our notice, yet fure 
 we muft be infinitely dull if we do not obfcrve his 
 dealings with our felves, and thofe of our kind. As 
 our interefl maketh us more fenfible of this, fo grati- 
 tude doth oblige us to a more particular acknowledg- 
 ment of it. 
 
 Thus you have the meaning and importance of 
 the text. I know not how we can better imploy the 
 reft of the time, than by fuggefling to your meditations 
 particular in fiances of this goo dnefs, and of his wonder- 
 ful works to the children of men. 
 
 Let us then reflect on the works both of creation 
 and providence, let us confider in what a goodly and 
 well furnifhed world he hath placed us, how he hath 
 
 ftretched 
 
 * Pfal. civ. 27. 
 
1 7 + 
 
 or" 
 
 . reef, an 
 
 In the :. 
 
 and makes the darki Mm, and i 
 
 all the beaaty and luftn and truly tl 
 
 is j , it is to 
 
 )L'S 
 
 is night * : mi, and all thin 
 
 hufl nan may ettj >y 
 
 and 
 lighten I 
 
 hav i fupply his room. I 
 
 - 
 
 this 
 
 Lords, 
 
 ■•> 
 i 
 
 i . 
 
of Praife and Tha?jkfgiving. 175 
 
 field, the fowl of the air, the fijb of the fea, and what- 
 foever pajfeth thro' the paths of the fea *. By the art 
 and induftry of man the fwifteit fowls are caught, the 
 fierceft creatures tamed, the flrongeit beafts are over- 
 come, and all made ferviceable unto him : the horfe 
 helpeth our journey both with fpeed and eafe, the 
 oxen labour the ground for us, fheep afford us meat 
 and cloaths; from the bowels of the earth we dig 
 fuels, metals, and Hones, which are ftiil the more 
 plentiful, as they are ufeful and advantageous to us: 
 thofe Hones which ferve for building are almoft every 
 where ready at hand, whereas rubies and diamonds, 
 and other fuch gliltring trifles, are found but in a few- 
 places of the world, and gotten with a great deal of 
 toil; and to what hard mi p mould all fort of artificers 
 be pur, if iron were as fcanty as gold ? The fur face 
 of the earth yieldeth grafs for the cattle, and herb 
 for the fervice of man, arid wine that maketh glad the 
 heart of man, and bread which ftrengthneth his heart ; 
 thefe it arfordeth unto us from time to time; and while 
 we are fpending the productions of one year, God is 
 providing for us againft another. There is no fmali 
 variety of feafons and influences, which concur for 
 the production of that corn, which we murmur fomuch 
 for when we want, and value fo little when it dotii 
 abound. The winter cold muft temper and prepare 
 the earth ; the gentle fpring muft cheriih and foment 
 the feed ; vapours mull be raifed, and condenfed into 
 clouds, and then fqueezed out and lifted, into little 
 drops, to water and refrefh the ground ; and then the 
 
 fu miner 
 
 Pf. viii. £7,8. 
 
176 Th: Duty and Pltafure 
 
 dimmer teat mult ripen mddigift the com before it 
 
 tic to be cnl doiW 1 ■ f I ti (faith the 
 
 l J ilmift) tfiri ic.iterefi r. prtatlj cv.richcfi it with 
 
 reft 
 ■ r it : T 
 
 tetefi tb$ ri f abuiU 
 
 tic jury 
 
 i blcfj'cfi tic J; ■ the 
 
 ■ ' 
 little hills / v 1 
 
 lath flocks: 
 
 O L r \ 
 
 rj .' 
 
 . v is i eat at 
 
 , /'.;/>/ 
 40 J . great engines ol tn 
 
 mere:, whf I .ry count ry i 
 
 the productions of 1 /on- 
 
 ul and aft on idling contri 
 
 uld be eafily tranfported to I 
 fuch Boating houfes, and carried 
 the wings 1 wind ; 1 b< ibl< 
 
 find ( ut their way in the wid 
 
 unaccountable i 
 
 I 
 
 - 
 
of Praife and c Tha?ikfgivi?ig. ijj 
 
 the ftormy winds, which lifteth up the waves thereof: 
 Sfbey mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the 
 deep, their foul is niched hecaufe of trouble ; they reel 
 to and fro, and ft agger like a drunken man, and are 
 at their wits end. 'then they cry unto the Lord in their 
 trouble, and he bringeth them out of their difirejfes : 
 He maketh the ft or m a calm, fo that the waves thereof 
 are ftill. tfhen they are glad, hecaufe they are quiet : 
 fo he bringeth them to their de fired haven. O that 
 men, &c. 
 
 But now we are fallen unawares from the works of 
 creation to thofe of providence. Indeed it is hard to 
 keep to any exad method in a fubjecx fo copious, where 
 one thing doth obtrude it felf upon us before we have 
 done with another. Let us call back our thoughts to 
 a more orderly confideration of that bountiful provi- 
 dence which followeth us from time to time. VV 7 e are 
 infinitely indebted to the divine goodnefs before we fee 
 the light of the world : * He poureth us out as milk y - 
 and curdleth us like cheefe. He cloaths us with skin 
 and fleflo, and fenceth us with bones and finews, he 
 granteth us life and favour, and his vifitation preferv- 
 etb our fpirit. This is fo entirely the work of God, 
 that the parents do not fo much as underitand how ic 
 is performed ; for who knoweth the way of the fpirit 
 (how it cometh to enliven a piece of matter) or how 
 the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with 
 child ? \ I will praife thee (faith the Pfalmifl) for J 
 am fearfully and wonderfully made ; marvellous are thy 
 works, and that my foul knoweth right well : My fub- 
 
 N fiance 
 
 Job x. 10. t PfiiKcxaonx. 
 
i 78 T,- J)- ty and Plea 
 
 en I was made ftp 
 curioufly 
 
 tm- 
 ■ rubers 
 
 yet 
 H r.lfo arc 
 
 ftbtm! 
 N inc months ordinaril] ming of this 
 
 curious and wonderful pi fore it b .J to the 
 
 view of the world j and then the prifooer is rel .. fed 
 from that nar nfinement, and the bm i 
 
 and the child arc delivered t< The m 
 
 ■ b and pan; . .* a matt 
 
 is bom into X the poor infant isnak.d 
 
 and weak) ready t< • and cold, \\x\- 
 
 [e to do any thing for it (elf but weep and cry: 
 But he that brought it into the world bath already 
 pi i ■■ its fuftentation in it ; the mod .ifts 
 
 arc filled with a wholf n is liquor, 
 
 faileth not from tim time, but is ?d, 
 
 like th il, till the child 
 
 B it was J be 
 
 rn 
 
 ... 
 
 Ron, which prompts and 
 
 to help 
 
 ■ 
 
 • i- 
 iers 
 
 ■.rjy 
 
 > _^____ — _________________ I,,, ■ • 
 
of Praife and Thanh/giving. 179 
 
 draw out the breafts, and give fuck to their young ; 
 yet certainly it is an effect of the divine wifdoxn, that 
 infants may not want thofe fuccours which would 
 never have been fo effectually fecured to them by a 
 law. Mean while the poor infant is fo weak, and fo 
 unable to endure the kail violence, and withal expofed 
 to fo innumerable dangers, that the mother's folicitude 
 and care would be to little purpofe, if it were not 
 preferved by a higher and invifible power, which 
 watcheth for its fafety, when the mother and nurfe 
 are fad aileep, and keeps it from being over-laid. 
 
 A s we grow in years our neceflities multiply, and 
 dangers increafe rather than diminifh, and we are dill 
 more and more obliged to God for the fupply of the 
 one, and our prefervation from the other. We think 
 perhaps, we have now fet up for our felves, and can 
 provide what is neceffary by our own induftry, and 
 keep our felves out of harms way j but there cannot 
 be a more foolifh and unreafonable thought, there need- 
 eth but a little confideration to undeceive us. All 
 that we project and do for our felves, dependeth on the 
 integrity of our faculties, and the foundnefs of our 
 reafon, which is a happinefs we can never fecure unto 
 olir felves. I choofe this inftance the rather, becaufe it 
 is a mercy unvaluable in it felf, and I fear very feldoiri 
 confidered by us. O what an unfpeakable bleffing it 
 is, that we are preferved in our right wits, that we 
 are not roaring in fome Bedlam, or running furioufly 
 tip and down the ftreets ; nor have our fpirits funk 
 into that lillinefs or flupidity, which would make 
 every little child to mock and deride us ! It is poflible 
 enough that this mould befal the wifeft and mod: fkd- 
 faft of us all. A ftroke on the head, a few more de- 
 
 N % grees 
 
i c a Tie Dti -'C 
 
 I : 
 
 <nd 
 
 mutable 
 
 twin a wife man and a tool. Next to 
 
 . much arc we u c good- 
 
 ikTs tor our health and 
 
 us pares tad 
 and delicate, that th thing 10 t 
 
 to entangle and 
 
 Hand, will C tnetimc 
 
 and pain, as render a man infenfible its 
 
 he ra j eth i i the world : An i md 
 
 any thin human body, v. ill ju :dcr tha: all 
 
 the parts an. kept in order I 
 
 ..: wc th ccount it, to fii 
 
 bing in our head, i 
 i in our i i, no fever in i bl L n 
 
 humours vitiated, none of thofe innum 
 brol wn, but all the organs p. 
 
 cr functions, and a fprii 
 ft much :. 
 
 and 
 
 s Wl it a bleffing is it 
 i 
 
 I rolli 
 
 that 
 
 And whi - ood 
 
 and 
 
of Praife and Tha?ikf giving. 1 8 1 
 
 and raiment, of our houfes, and manifold accommo- 
 dations, of the kindnefs of our neighbours, and the 
 love of our friends, of all the means of our fubfiltance, 
 and all the comforts of our lives ? We are made up 
 (as it were) of a great many feveral pieces, have fuch 
 a variety of intereils and enjoyments concurring to our 
 prefent happinefs, that it is an unfpeakable goodnefs 
 which continueth them all with us from time to time ; 
 that when we awake in the morning we mould find 
 our minds clear, our bodies well, our houfe fafe, all 
 our friends in health, and all our interefts fecure. He 
 is a wall of fire about us, and about all that we have, 
 by night, and by day, and his mercies are new every 
 morning. I cannot fland to fpeak of ail thofe more 
 publick mercies, the peace and tranquillity of king- 
 doms, and all the happy effects of fociety and govern- 
 ment : I fhall only fay, that it is a fignal inltance of 
 the divine wifdom and goodnefs in the government of 
 the world, that fuch a vaft number of perfons, only 
 acted by fell:- love, mould all confpire for the publick 
 intereft, and fo eminently advance one another's wel- 
 fare : that magiftrates mould fo willingly undergo the 
 trouble of government, and a heady and inconiiderate 
 multitude mould be commanded, and over-awed by a 
 fingle man ; certainly it can be no other but that fame 
 God who ftitteth the noife of the waves, that can pre- 
 vent or compofe the tumults of the people. 
 
 Hitherto we have considered thofe initances 
 of the divine bounty which relate to our temporal con- 
 cerns ; but fure we were made for fome higher, and 
 more excellent end, than to pafs a few months or years 
 in this world to eat, drink, deep and die. God hath 
 defigned us for a more lafting and durable life, and 
 
 N J. hath 
 
t 8 2 22 Dwj ' /; */ Plcafw 
 
 hath dingly made Ik 
 
 I bodies, but hath an infinitely 
 Iter regard to thofi fpiritual and immortal fub- 
 fttnees which be bach I i into us. And here in 
 
 all rcafon WC ought to begin with that great and fun- 
 damental mercy, which is die root and fpring of all 
 his Other mercies I the fouls of mm y 1 mean 
 
 incarnation and death oi his only be g ot te n S 
 But irfa that 
 
 ftiould I cn and heard? Oordnlnd i me 
 
 almoit afraid to meddle with fo high a theme ; that 
 
 eternal Son ^( God, the wifij the 1 u 
 
 the Maker and 1 aid ithhim- 
 
 (ell with the infirn unman nature, and 
 
 come down from the habitation oi his glory, ai 
 
 up his abode among the wretched >md rebellious 
 
 children of men, to reclaim them from their V 
 
 nels and folly, and reduce them to their duty, and 
 
 their happinefs : that he fhould have gone Dp and down 
 
 in the world upwards or thirl . af« 
 
 tion and con evil, 
 
 erever be 
 
 came ; and at lafl lh uld d up his life in 
 
 unij 1 1 i tl i and torment, to be a propitiation 
 
 our (ins, Th ;ht never to 
 
 i Ipoken or I is it 
 
 ritudc and I 
 ( ) • 
 
 iich m I iflume 
 
 it wc DO 
 
 [t is t Ut hat! 1 and 
 
 ial to the grca: 
 Id ic | • ; to blan 
 
 God 
 
of Praife and Thankfgiving. 183 
 
 God hath both faid and fworn> that he hath no plea- 
 fur c in the death of finners, but would have them ra- 
 ther repent and live ; and indeed his way of dealing 
 with them, doth diffidently declare the fame : with 
 what long- differing patience doth he wait for their re- 
 pentance, what pains doth he take to reclaim them ! 
 
 It is an aftonifhing thing, to confider what indig- 
 nities and affronts are every day done unto that infinite 
 Majefty by finful duft and afhes, and that he doth 
 not avenge himfelf by their total overthrow ; that they 
 fhould violate his laws, and defpife his threatnings, and 
 defy him (as it were) unto his very face, and yet he 
 mould pity and fpare them, and wait to be gracious 
 unto them. Were the government of the world com- 
 mitted to the meekeft perfon on the face of the earth, 
 he would never endure the outrages which are com- 
 mitted againfl; heaven, but would prefently lofe all his 
 patience, and turn the whole frame into ruin : But 
 God is love, his thoughts and ways are not like thofe 
 i>f men ; hut as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
 fo are his thoughts and ways higher than ours. And 
 when the obitinate wickednefs of finful creatures doth 
 (as it were) force and extort punifhment from his 
 hands, what relu&ancy, what unwillingnefs doth he 
 exprefs to this work ? This ft range and unnatural 
 work, as himfelf feems to term it. How Jb a 11 1 give thee 
 up, O Ephraim ? How Jbali I give thee up ? O that my 
 people had hearkned unto me> that Ifrael had known 
 ray ways ! O Jerufalem ! O Jerufalem ! &c. 
 
 Again, as God waiteth patiently for our refor- 
 mation, fo he doth make ufe of many methods and 
 means to bring us unto it. He hath publifhsd the 
 gofpel through the world, and brought down the 
 
 N 4 knowledge 
 
[84 2$i Dm 
 
 knc ' : ,]\ the - 
 
 pofition of hath t: | a 
 
 ■ 
 j 
 
 care of 
 heaven, and as rift's fiend, \ 
 
 ' . . 1 
 of hi 5 j but who can i :iiat 
 
 favour and loi 
 thofe bl 
 app i himfel , 
 
 their i pcth 
 
 j image upon them j 
 
 with his hol l tn.ir heart wi 
 
 that feci tl. ... 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 . 
 t 
 
 M 
 while tl - 
 
 i I i 
 
of Praife and Thankf giving. 185 
 
 glory, (hall get above the clouds, and all thefe ftormy 
 temptfts which are here below ; and be carried into 
 thoie blefted regions of calmnefs and ferenity, of 
 peace and joy, of happinefs and fecurity • when wc 
 fhall come unto the innumerable company of angels, 
 and the general affemhly of the church of the fir ft - 
 horn, and the faints of juft men made perfecJ ; and 
 to Jefus the mediator of the new covenant, there to 
 behold the glory of God, and all the fplendor of the 
 court of heaven, to view and contemplate that infinite 
 power which created the world, that unfearchable wi£- 
 dom which ordereth all things, that unfpeakable gcod- 
 nefs which exerteth both ; nay, fo to fee God as to 
 become like unto him*. And beholding with open face 
 the glory of the Lord, to he changed into the fame 
 image from glory to glory \. To receive the continual 
 illapfes of the divine goodnefs, and the conftant ex- 
 preflions of his favour and love; and to have ouc 
 own fouls melted and dilTolved into the flames of 
 reciprocal affection, and that fire fed and nourifhed 
 by uninterrupted enjoyments ; in a word, to be con- 
 tinually tranfported into extafies and raptures, and 
 fwallowcd up in the embraces of eternal fweetnefs, 
 and to be loft as it were in the fource and fountain of 
 happinefs and blifs ! || Lord, what is man that thou 
 takeft knowledge of him ? or the fon of man, that 
 thou makeft fuch account of him ? % What is man % 
 that thou Jhouldft thus magnify him ? And that 
 thou Jhouldft fet thine heart fo much upon him ? O 
 
 that 
 
 * 1 foh. iii. 2. f 2 Cor. iv. 18. 
 
 jj Pfal.wxL^ J, £Job vii. 17, 
 
i 86 The Duty and Pkafurc, 8cc. 
 
 ' ere fore praife J for Us 
 
 goodntfs : ar.il for Us WO* b to tie ci.il- 
 
 drei. >:. O fi* r ji 1 1 unto tbt Lord, for be [ 
 
 is 4 ' his mercy ir.lurctb for ever. BUJfed b$\ 
 
 the l ' ' Lord ftim tbis time forth, a 
 
 evermore. Amen. 
 
 pN 
 
( i8 7 ) 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 NATIVITY 
 
 O F O U R 
 
 SAVIOUR. 
 
 P s a l. ii. ii. the latter part. 
 Rejoice with Trembling. 
 
 H E obfervation of feftivals being one of 
 thofe balls of contention, which have 
 been tofs'd fo hotly in the religious de- 
 bates of this unhappy age, it may per- 
 haps be expefted, that we mould begin with a vindi- 
 cation of this day's folsmnity 3 from the exceptions that 
 
 are 
 
1 8 8 On tl 
 
 are A that the one ! 
 
 . 
 '1 enough fparc the pains, I 
 irr: ; for ;. . arc 
 
 tnbled in thi the 
 
 lav. wnprafi mnotdii 
 
 to thofc thi 
 
 and debate about matters of 
 
 b.i: religion, 
 
 w( did all i 
 
 of I . . which h 
 
 Let mot . defpift 
 
 let 
 
 \ and 
 
 which v. the piety and ti 
 
 tho r from us in lb (mall matl 
 
 rni°ht hope tl. . would not be haiiy : nm 
 
 us, if in compliance with th< | I - I cient 
 
 rch, and I ; r own, \<.<j 
 
 i i of t with thankfulnefs, to 
 
 St that red 
 
 on : . d at t!; : | in that 
 
 \ I r \ er, 
 hard and d to 
 
 nan 
 
 it ; to vindicate it 
 
 ids, 
 
 than wad 
 
 lade 
 
 luir 
 
 I H 1 
 
On the Nativity. 189 
 
 The text which we have chofen may feem fome- 
 what general, but yet it is eafily applicable to the 
 prefent occafion ; efpecially if we remember that it is 
 an inference drawn from a prophecy, which tho' it 
 had its literal completion in the eflablimment of David's 
 throne, yet it was in a myflical, and a more fublime 
 fenfe fulfilled in the incarnation and kingdom of the 
 Median, as the apoftle in feveral places informeth us; 
 for to which of the angels hath he faid at any time, tfbou 
 art my Son, this day have I begotten thee * • whence 
 he infers, that the angels themfelves are inferior to 
 Chrift, of whom this was fpoken. The only diPacuity 
 of the words lieth in the ftrange conjunction of thefe 
 paflions, joy, and est ream fear, which trembling feems 
 to import, but this will be more fully clear'd in the 
 fequel of our difcourfe. Mean while ye may obferve, 
 that both thefe words, fear and trembling, are ufed in 
 the text, and in the fcripture phrafe, ufually import 
 humility, and diligence, folicitude and caution, and the 
 fear of difpleafing, as being the mod proper qualifica- 
 tions of our obedience, either to God or man. Thus 
 are we commanded to work out our falvation with fear 
 and trembling\ ; and fervants are commanded to obey 
 their mafters with fear and trembling || • fo the Corin- 
 thians are faid to have received fit as being fent to 
 them, with fear and trembling ** 5 and Chryfoflom faith 
 of the angels, that they affift with fear and trembling. 
 All which places do import fuch care and diligence, 
 as are very neceffary and reconcileable to chearful fer- 
 vice. Reverence and fear to offend will be happily 
 joined with holy joy in the performance of our duty, 
 
 there 
 
 * Heb. i. y. fEph.ii, 10. |J Eph. vi. j. **zCor. viivij. 
 
iqo On the Nativity. 
 
 there befog nothing more pleafant than to fcrvc him 
 diligently whom * md tear to difpki 
 
 Thus much for the explication. 'I is too (hort 
 
 to be divided into many parts, but doth naturally fiftl] 
 afundet into two, the former exciting tad encouraging 
 our joy, the latter qualifying and moderating the fame. 
 Firft, WC are allowed j yea and commanded to 
 and then we are caution'd to do it with trembling- 
 and accordingly our dUcourfc (hall run in tbc 
 heads • firftto c ■.!.• rtry< u to i hearfulncfi and joy, then 
 to fct the right bounds and limits to the fan; 
 having done this in general, welhallend redraw 
 
 both thefc home to the prcfent 
 
 Xo begin with the firft. Joy and chearfblne(s an 
 fo tar from being inconfiftent with religion, v. 
 
 Hghtly ordered, that we find them many times alK , 
 
 and recommended in fcripture. Thus in the laO i 
 
 of the 3 id 
 
 yc righteous : cv. 
 
 in bsart. And in verfi I , 
 
 //; ; /. • /, Oji sfe is cc 
 
 upr. ' '. S i P/ ixxviii 
 
 let tbitn t tie;;, i 
 
 PC cxlb I ittti hi 
 
 gi ry j lit I And that 
 
 yon may not think this a liberty proper only ut the 
 
 former difpen&tions, but that chriftiana arc 
 
 greater (evcrity, tl doth no lefi than three 
 
 tim this admonition to I 
 
 in 
 
 i ■ in relation to this perha] 
 hermit Pal Uus t having joo fcholars, ufcd never to 
 
 clifmhs them without this adm< niti n, 
 
 tbitrful} forgttmtt) I i W : thi^ 
 
On the Nativity. 19 i 
 
 feas the conftant le&ure he repeated, as often as 
 St. John was wont to do thefe words, My little chiU 
 dren, love one another. 
 
 None of our natural inclinations were made in 
 vain, and joy is neither an ufelefs, nor a fmall paflion^ 
 but if rightly ordered, may become an eminent exer- 
 cife of religion, as proper a concomitant of thankfulnefs, 
 as forrow of repentance. Our devotion never foareth 
 higher, than when it is carried on the wings of joy 
 and love, when our fouls are filled with the fenfe of 
 his goodnefs, and we heartily applaud the Hallelujahs 
 of the bleffed fpirits, and all the praifes of the crea- 
 tures ; and as joy is an excellent inftrument of devo- 
 tion, fo a conftant ferenity and cheerfulnefs of fpirit is 
 a fit difpofition for our other duties : I mould be loath 
 to countenance any levity or diflblution of fpirit, and 
 I hope, before we have done, we fhall leave no ground 
 to fufpect fuch a defign : and yet I would not have 
 you imagine, that innocence and feverity are infepara- 
 ble companions, or that a free andchearful countenance 
 is a certain fign of an ill mind, or that men ought al- 
 ways to be fad under the notion of being ferious. I 
 would not have you in love with a ftadied face, nor 
 think it a crime to laugh, or fcrupuloufly to refufe fuch 
 innocent and ingenuous divertifements, as you find 
 ufeful to refrefh your fpirits, and preferve their alacrity j 
 for chearfulnefs enlightens the mind, and encourages 
 the heart, and raifeth the foul (as it were) to breathe 
 in a purer air : it misbecomes none but the wicked, in 
 whom it is commonly a light mirth, and foolifh jollity $. 
 as a curious drefs may fet off a handfome face, which 
 yet will render thofe who are ugly, more ill-favoured: 
 fo doth chearfulnefs exceedingly become good fouls ; in 
 bad men it is moll ridiculous, On the other hand, a 
 
 fed 
 
102 On the A\:. 
 
 fad and fallen humour, a dam] ifh, morafc, 
 cboly dtfpofidpDj 
 
 that at b.ll it mud be I 
 
 knefi io the thoic in 
 
 it purpofel) sd or cberilhed, m 
 
 icrcr oenfiire, being difhon 
 
 or neighbours, prejudicial I , and at. 
 
 highly unreasonable. I ill, it is dilhom arable to C; 
 on whom we profefs Co dep bo thro* cur mo- 
 
 rofenefs may be mil r a hard an,. 
 
 It you lhould obferve any man'b fen 
 fad and dejeft d, and < 
 
 it, you would b :hat tlu 
 
 ill treated at home, an . an unkind tyrani 
 
 pcrfon : and t. 
 
 ur of oar mafl , it carefully i .. id toy 
 
 thing from which thole that are Grangers to i. : 
 apt to take occaii in- 
 
 to [coos thoughts of him 
 injurious to 
 the comforts < I 
 more chearful o it I 
 
 to (blitu with tl 
 
 ways fallen. Th y are n I .wy 
 
 to others, who arc fobad 
 will they eafily end:. 
 
 fant, when they ca; II as to 
 
 (mile, Peeviflm 
 nions ol melancholy, and i i ..nd 
 
 friends to plcafe them 10 I n'd 
 
 to f ntent. I , there is 
 
 a greater mifchief in the i 
 
 s to religion, and i a who pretend 
 
 tn a to be always i'ad and melancholy, . by 
 
On the Nativity. 193 
 
 deterr'd from tiie ftudy of piety, as that which would 
 imbitter their lives, and deprive them of all their 
 comforts; and they are apt to imagine, that if once 
 they ihould undertake acourfeof godlinefs, they mould 
 never after enjoy a pleafant hour, but by a melancholy 
 humour, and aultere behaviour, become a burden to 
 themfelves, and a burden to ail about them. Then 
 they will think devotion a comfortlefs employment, 
 when they fee men come from retirements with fad and 
 neavy looks, morofe and untowardly deportment; 
 whereas really the fpirit of religion is in it felf moil 
 amiable, and mod lovely, molt chearful, free and in- 
 genuous, and it is only mens weaknefs, and not their 
 piety, that ought to be blam/d for any jfuch diforder 
 in their minds. 
 
 Again, melancholy and fadnefs is prejudicial to 
 our felves, being an enemy to nature, and hurtful to 
 bodily conititutions, efpecially when it grows prevalent 
 and extreme, and therefore men are oblig'd to be chear- 
 ful for the fame reafons they take phyfick, and to guard 
 againft melancholy as we would do againil a difeafe. 
 Befides, it is very troublefome to our fpirits, and wilL 
 make us fmart even when we know not why : although 
 melancholy mufings may be a very delightful entertain- 
 ment to the mind, yet in a little time they grow to be 
 t r ery troublefome, contrary to the nature of other births, 
 :hey pleafe us much while we bring them forth, but 
 I prove a miferable torment when they are born. But 
 which is much worfe, it doth exceedingly indifpofe for 
 :he duties of religion. The eyes are riot more daikned 
 .rvith fumes and vapours, than the understanding is, 
 Lvhen thofe fullen exhalations gather about us. Clogs 
 ire not a greater impediment to the feet, than this 
 "tumour to the motions of the foul j it inclines not only 
 
 O to 
 
O/i the * 
 
 , and 
 
 than I, but to d< Lti ( thet •■• 
 
 cult which may be d e with cafe, and thoft 
 
 i have any confiderable difficulty. It 
 
 dffpirits us, and will not :. 
 
 Are imagine u > nothing; altho' perhaps 
 
 in a heat it may pulli lis 6 rwardj yet ttfiiddc 
 us, arid makes us thi cannot go; ir'it cat 
 
 tire it makes us wild, and wheu il : that 
 
 flame, it ka\ ad and lumj 
 
 L l y, in chri- 
 
 \ . ;. unrcafonablej Forwhyffiould 
 tncy good a matter, 
 
 and who arc allui'd of an infinite reward for tl 
 tul fervice? IT the favour ot a prince, or hopes of fomc 
 idvantage, can fupport and civ. minds 
 
 of men, - hare 
 
 the fri id (b many divine bit 
 
 .: pofTcffion, and th more 
 
 and [ . i(n a perpetual 
 
 What mould afllUt them, or caft them 
 1- it ■ | . 
 
 i >ns in of this \. are flrfln- 
 
 d pilgrims on earth, annot in reafon be 
 
 much ■ their ac< omm an inn, 
 
 » (hortly to leave 
 
 mforti 
 than I Y. v 
 
 then lii' then 
 
 hall, what thou wanted ? Perhaps 
 
 Inft ' rtunc, I 
 
 many who live happily enough 
 
On the Nativity >, 195 
 
 thou wanted money, but thou haft thy health ; if that 
 be impaired, thou enjoy eft the ufe of thy reafon, which 
 is infinitely more valuable 5 thou haft loft a friend, 
 but perhaps thou haft many behind, and fhall that lofs 
 do more to make thee fad, than all the reft to make 
 thee chearful ; Or wilt thou, like a peevifn child, 
 throw all away, becaufe fomething is taken from thee ? 
 I fay not that moderate fadnefs is blameable on fuch 
 occafions, but that our grief ought not to be indulged 
 till it grow habitual ; and fure whatever our croffes 
 and our fears be, we ought chearfully to acquieice in 
 a conftant dependance on the divine providence ; hav- 
 ing that infinite wifdom and goodnefs, and power, 
 which made, and doth govern the world, to care for 
 us, and the promife of God for all thofe things which 
 he fees neccflary or convenient for us. What is it 
 then that mould dejecl: us, and deprive us of that joy 
 which the text alloweth and commendeth ? Is it the 
 fenfe of our weaknefs, and the fear of miffing that 
 eternal happinefs for which we were created ? If thou 
 be altogether gracelefs, fuch thoughts would fddom 
 trouble thee ; but if thou be really concerned in reli- 
 gion, and have a mind to heaven in earned, if thou 
 haft begun thy race, and art preffing forward to ob- 
 tain thy prize, thou haft no reafon to be difcouraged 
 or caft down ; God loves thee better than thou doft 
 either him orthyfelf, and holinefs is the genuine iflue 
 of the divine nature, and therefore he cannot hide 
 his face from it, he cannot defert it as an outcaft thing 
 In the world, nay he is ready to cherifh and affift it, 
 and perfect that gracious work which himfclf hath 
 begun. Away then with groundlefs fears and defpon- 
 dent thoughts, which difnonour Gcd, and werken 
 
 O 2 your 
 
1^6 On the Nai 
 
 your own hands ; encourage you . the af- 
 
 (urance of the divine afliftance, and chcaruiliy perform 
 that which is incumbent upon your l'dvc , 
 fadnefs of your fpirits, and chide your (elf into bcttet 
 temper, as D.i r j:d did, in Pfdt*S xlii and \liii, he 
 took up his drooping mind with this encouragement, 
 Why art thou cafi dozir., my f 
 
 But perhaps you will tell me, that chearful tem- 
 per which we recommend, is very improper for t. 
 bad times wherein we live; and tho' we had no trouble 
 on account of our own intercfts, the miferL >.crs 
 
 might oblige us to fadnefs, and blunt and damp all 
 our joys: I anfwer, companion indeed is a chri: 
 virtue, and a good man will be concerned in the mi- 
 fcries under which he fees his neighbour groan, 
 be ready to aflilt him with his counfel, his labour, ( C 
 his purfe, if that will relieve him ; but he is not oblij 
 to furfer the calamities of others to link (o i into 
 
 his fpirit, as to diftlirb the peaee and harmony of his 
 foul ; dfc fince the world is a great holpital or* mi 
 and we fee well nigh as many mifcraL\ 
 men, we mud needs draw as much millry Qfl I . 
 as all theirs doth amount to, and Co defcrve more t 
 
 pafTion than any of them. Again, if we part 
 
 the mifcrics of Others, lb may we in their happinefs; 
 it we (light to mourn with thole that mourn, fo WC 
 
 ought to rejoice with them that rejoice; and tho' mi- 
 
 (cry is tar more trequent in the world than happi: 
 this can be no mcaiurc for the whole creation ; and tor 
 any thing we know, tor one linful wretch there ma\ be 
 ten rhouland holy and happy Ipirits. II . all 
 
 themifery in the world carries no proportion to the 
 infinite happinefs of Almighty God, which ought to 
 
 be 
 
On the Nativity. 197 
 
 be the higheft object of our joy, and may drown 
 and fwallow up all the excufes or pretences of excef- 
 five fadnefs. We ought to rejoice in God, not only 
 that he is our God, but that he is God infinitely holy, 
 and infinitely happy, that he is felf-blefTed, glorious 
 in all things, and that his enemies cannot reach nor 
 unfettle his throne, this is the molt certain, and con- 
 ftant, the mod pure and heavenly joy. 
 
 There remaineth yet one occafion of grief, which 
 fome may think enough to banifh all joy from a chri- 
 itian foul, and that is the multitude of fins whereof 
 we and others are guilty ; and certainly contrition and 
 zeal for the honour of God, are very neceflary duties ; 
 yet we were not born only to mourn, nor is the la- 
 menting of fin all we have to do in the world :- we 
 love to fee a fervant fenfible of his fault, but would be 
 ill content if on that account he did nothing but weep. 
 Sadnefs in contrition is neceffary to make our repen- 
 tance ferious, and fadnefs of zeal to teftify our con- 
 cernment in God's intereft, but on neither of thefe ac- 
 counts ought we to grieve without term or meafure. As 
 we ought to. grieve that we have offended fo. gracious 
 a God, fo ought we to rejoice that the God whom we 
 have offended is fo gracious ; a»d fince the greatnefs 
 of God's mercy is as far above our fins, as the hea- 
 vens are above the earth, our faith and joy in God's 
 mercy ought to be far above our fadnefs for our fins. 
 Whereas the blafphemies and oppofitions of God's 
 enemies, by his wifdom and power, fhall turn to his 
 glory ; our fadnefs for thefe oppofitions muft end in 
 joy, for that almighty power and fovereign glory, 
 which the enmity of Satan, and the world, and the flelb^ 
 doth but make more confpicuous by pulling againft iu 
 
 9 1 m 
 
3 
 
 E y thi time 1 iat ; joy and 
 
 mc 
 I - 
 
 r. but that i: i : a 
 
 ma) ,...-.< ccafr ax>i j y ; i- 
 
 ven, ir puis him in mind ot the mantions time arc 
 
 preparing for him ; ii on th 
 
 L of hN I who made and governs 
 
 fair^ : nfiders . . and revolt.:, 
 
 human >m to remember that an un- 
 
 erring pfftVHJ | wr-rule all their I 
 
 and niaUs then vc to great and 
 
 deligns ; ii" he live long, !.. Jot" the la; . 
 
 1;. ;s aUoy io his work in; and ir 1. 
 
 he i -iiat he is To 
 
 ;L ; it he tx ^hbours, 
 
 be i . . i in the opportui 
 ii tbjpy be richer than he, 
 . 
 
 ious thai 
 
 ni:i',\ n 
 
 ejoicc in his go* i 
 i that 
 
 in | ,ue rhat bankrupt ; [*or like tb in 
 
 ; ncr in perpetual trouble like nnlcllor 
 ■ 
 
 B*jT joy is :i r;i::^i: | nature, thai: 
 
 H t. :r ally 
 
 gjPQUjld for il 
 
 bid hulki-i'-, m the ili lack (>r 
 
 liry 
 
On the Nativity. 199 
 
 lity and frolickfomc mirth : But it mould be confidered, 
 that our exhortation to chearfulnefs and joy, prefup- 
 pofeth men to be good and religious, and is addreffed 
 to them on that preemption ; for we mould never en- 
 courage men to rejoice and be chearful, while they are 
 at enmity with their maker, at feud with the infinite 
 Majeily of heaven, whofe leaft frown is enough to 
 confound them. We would not have men to dance on 
 the brinks of hell, nor wantonly exult in the way that 
 leads to deftruftion • another temper would better be- 
 come their unhappy condition, and they ought to be 
 thinking how a timely forrow may lay a fure founda- 
 tion for a lading joy. Again, the joy which we com- 
 mend, is a quite different thing from that levity and 
 diffolution of fpirit, which fome perfons would cover 
 under that name. We allow not that light airy tam- 
 per that is inconfiilent with gravity and ferioufnefs ; 
 we would not have a man's whole life become a fport, 
 nor mirth to become his whole employment ; of fuch 
 laughter we may fay with the wife man, that it is maeL 
 and of mirth x what doth it ? The chearfulnefs we have 
 been fpeaking of, mult fpring from the fenfe of the divine 
 goodnefs, and the confcience of our fincerity in . his 
 fervice 3 tho* we are not to refufe the afliftance of inno- 
 cent acts to raife and recruit our natural fpirits when 
 they faint and fail within us. Finally, that our chear- 
 fulnefs and joy may be allowable, it muft be rightly 
 .temper'd; which leads me to the fecond part of the 
 text, which if it do not check, it doth at leaft mix and 
 qualify our joy • rejoice we may, but it mud be with 
 trembling. Trembling is a natural effect and fign of 
 fear, and is here put for the thing fignified. Now fear 
 may feem to be the moll ufelefs and unprofitable pafTion 
 
 O 4 in 
 
2CO 
 
 in the mind, i: is hich prcftges mifchief, and 
 
 anticipates our mikrus, giving them a being 
 they had any, and troubling us with the apprchen: 
 of thofe ails which may never befal us, and ttindrlng 
 us to guard againft many which we might have pre- 
 vented ; betraying thofc fuccors which retb, 
 as the wife foo of JD v: ; tells us. The hiftorian fpei 
 ing of the Pcrrlm, who in their flight flung aw 
 weapons of < , addeth this obfervatibn, Ada f :wor 
 ipfi auxilt ' rej \ Rich is the nature of tear, that 
 it not only mal e from danger, but from thofc 
 helps and fuccours which ihould keep i: i ' it as 
 faid of 1 lis tierce and (lately horfe, nu.ilem 
 ijli eqw- . d urn cc \ -;;; uti ?:cfctuHt y 
 What a brave horfe is loft for want of skill to manage 
 him ; (o we may fay ot fear, that they who would 
 difchargeit, do lofc an ufeful paftion, not knowing I 
 to order it. Fear doubtlefs is an excellent inftrumenr, 
 both of reafon, and of religion, and as all our paffii 
 fo efpecially lear, areas winds, which alrho' the 
 times drive US upon rocks, yet rightly improved may 
 fwell our Kirs, and carry us on ro the I lure we 
 Would bit. Hence we find it fo nmaiided 
 in fc: ip:urr, and fo profitably praaifed by wife and 
 holy ptrfbrts. 'J'lve queftion then is, what kind of fear 
 and trembling is enjoin \J here in the text. And tirft, 
 as t m ft; certainly the wrath and difpfeafiire ot 
 God is the ftiofl proper and fuitablc objed of our tear; 
 it is this that W< [ Dghl to 1 N 1. i w as rive grcatcll c\il, 
 and Colhufi with rii arid this fear, if 
 rightly feated in our fouls, will rdak hfial 
 againfl the fmallcfl fins, and mafci rry 
 of others. Bat ttu God's 
 
 difplcafurc 
 
On the Nativity, 201 
 
 difpleafure be more excellent and ufeful, yet the fear 
 of our own mifery is not to be condemned. It is ufe- 
 ful not only to wicked perfons, whom tho' it do not 
 make good, yet it keeps them from being worfe • but 
 alfo to holy perfons, whom the fear of hell hath many 
 times helped forward to heaven. Our Saviour himfelF 
 advifeth us, to fear him who can caft both body and foal 
 inte hell-fire ; and that we may not forget it, he drives 
 it home with an ingemination, yea> I fay unto you fear 
 him ; where we are to obferve, that qui imports as 
 much as quia \ the defcription of the perfon carrieth 
 the reafon for which we ought to fear him. It were in- 
 deed to be wifhed, that our fouls were knit unto God 
 by the more noble and generous paflion of love, and 
 that we needed neither rewards to draw us to our 
 duty, nor punifhnents to chafe us to our happinefs; 
 and that we loved goodnefs as Cato was faid to do 
 virtue, becaufe he could not do otherwife j but this i$ 
 with the hiftorian, votum accommodare non hiftoriam, 
 to prefent a wifh rather then a character of an ordinary 
 chriftian \ or as Xenophon did with Cyrus, to defcribe 
 rather what he mould be, than what he is ; per f eft 
 love, as St. John tells us, caft eth cut all fear • but 
 while our love is imperfect, it leaves room for fome 
 fear. Hell is certainly in our creed as well as heaven, 
 and as the fear of it is ordinarily the firft ftep of con- 
 version, fo it may be of ufe to quicken us, and pufh 
 us forward all along through our journey toward hea- 
 ven. But if chriflians fear may have hell for its ob- 
 ject, what kind of fear may this be ? In a word, it 
 ought not to be fuch an anxious and troublefome fear, 
 as may difturb our tranquillity, or extinguifh our joy 9 
 pr difcourage our "endeavours, but fo rational and mo- 
 dell, 
 
1'0 2 (). U 
 
 .. d 
 ;> j 11 our jo\ , 
 \ cot i: . 
 
 thus much of the duty rt 
 in the tt 1 *U tone hua to appl 
 
 erals to :1 A - prefent - 
 mis dfty t$ comnumorate the ggcatcfi btej&ng 
 :d on the children ot' men ; a 
 
 bL n all the nations ot the wo;. n- 
 
 c - "n\l, and yet whole traits dons . unci to 
 
 man, as ir i: ha J. . . d aim 
 
 alo . . and rck ice 
 
 th~ in :rn*d 
 
 in it. Tlufe mcuntJiKs dp Lap for j 
 
 illcd v. ith a fruitful fhoucr, tor v. 
 tin us fpirits did behold G 
 
 a man, and man 
 .la:;, and tile hapj 
 tiiL . trd with tru adi 
 
 ilery and joy, for the felicity of thci 
 and did with th< 
 
 : lent up 
 dvcrtifed the blcffcd r mira- 
 
 her mod 
 i accident, t A 
 
 firft news of that ii 
 nber this da; 
 fi 
 
 is glori : 
 
 un< 
 
On the Nativity. 203 
 
 underftanding, the angel faid unto them, Fear not, 
 for behold I bring unto you tidings of great joy, which 
 fjjall be unto all people • for unto you is born this day in 
 the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chrifi the Lor a \\ 
 and fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of 
 the heavenly hoft, the whole choir of glorious fpirits, 
 who all join'd in this heavenly anthem, Glory to God on 
 high, on earth peace, and good-will towards men. And 
 may not. that help to heighten and advance our joy and 
 our thankfulnefs ? Can we be infenfible of our happi- 
 nefs, when angels do fo heartily congratulate it ? 3 Tis 
 a nativity which we celebrate, and any birth doth much 
 rejoice perfons interefted ; a woman forgets her pangs 
 when a man-child is born into the world. 
 
 But that our joy and thankfulnefs may be the more 
 excited, we mail firfb confider the excellency of the 
 perfon who was born • fecondly, the delign of his 
 birth ; and thirdly, glance a little at the circumftances 
 of it. 
 
 First then, he was no common and ordinary 
 perfon whofe birth occafions our joy: if we 111 a 1 1 but 
 fix. our eyes on his humane nature, and confider thofe 
 excellencies that, were obvious to the eyes of the world, 
 we fhail yet acknowledge, that never fuch a perfon 
 appeared on the face of the earth. It is he whofe na- 
 tivity was promifed immediately after the fall, and fo 
 exa&ly pointed at by the prophets many hundred 
 years before it happened, that the Jews could tell the 
 place, and the very heathens had fome knowledge of 
 the time; for the world was big with expectation, 
 that the prophecies mould then be fulfilled whieh fore- 
 told the birth of a great perfon. Laftly, it is he whofe 
 very infancy not only ftartled a king, and made him 
 
 fear 
 
204 On the I 
 
 fear bis throne, but alfo affrighted the powers < i 
 md iilcnced the heathen oracles, klk r 
 
 childhood puzzled the knowledge of 
 tfceaged, and confounded th( doiAots of the lav. ; who 
 
 ruled the courfe oj nature, and made the ttr«>nr^ winds 
 obey him, and could walk on the billows o( the leu aS 
 on a pavement ; who fed multitudes by his word, and 
 healed all manner of difeafes without medicine ; who 
 could command then to leap that were cripple, and 
 make them fee the heavens and the day, who had been. 
 born blind ; and who could caft devils Otttol their pof- 
 feffions, and rettore the frantick to their wits; who 
 could break the gates of death, and open the door- 
 the grave, and call back the fpirits to the buried 
 carcafes. 
 
 I t is he who by the minittry of twelve hfhcrmcn, 
 made his religion, tho' contrary to the corrupt afl 
 tions, and carnal interetts of men, quickly fubdue the 
 known world, and made it fubmit to a crucified kiiic:. 
 The do&rrne which he taught, matter \i the undcrttand- 
 ing of the mott learned philofophc :hc 
 
 fpirits of the mott valiant Commanders, and k u:-wi: 
 the cunning of the fubtktt politicians, it cancell'd the 
 
 ceremonies of the J ew % confounded the wifdom oft 
 
 £, and inttructed the rudenefs of the 1 I ; 
 
 and remains ftill in the world a conttan: the 
 
 author's wifdom and power. And what Hull w 
 
 c)i the goodnefs and moral SI of that humane 
 
 nature, wW miraculoi -power: N 
 
 all his mira, fauiCCS ofth IS ot 
 
 other. Should wc fpeak of his ardent piety and 
 
 God, and I -< nour, 
 
 amiable meckntfi and humility his uni rity 
 
 and 
 
On the Nativity. 2D 5 
 
 ind compaflion even toward his bitter enemies, his 
 venerable purity and temperance, that noble contempt 
 of the world, and all thofe other virtues which fhined 
 fo eminently in his whole coriverfation ; a fermon were 
 too little for every particular. But this is not allj he 
 was not only far above other men, but infinitely above 
 the angels, being perfonally united to the divine na- 
 ture ; he was God as well as man, and by communica- 
 tion of properties, it may be faidj that he whom we 
 now behold in a cradle, hath his throne in the heaven* 
 and filleth all things by his immenfity $ that he who 
 is wrapt in fwadling cloths, is now clothed in infinite 
 glory ; and he whom we find in a (table among beaits, 
 is the fame with him encircled with millions of angels ; 
 in a word, that great perfon whofe nativity we cele- 
 brate, is divinely embodied, God made fleJJj. This 
 union of the divine and humane nature, is a myftery 
 great enough to confound our underflanding, but not 
 to trouble or make our faith, who know many things 
 to be, which we cannot know how they are, and are 
 not able to give any account of the union betwixt the 
 foul and the body, or of the parts of nature among 
 themfelves, which yet we never call in quelHon. 
 
 And thus much of the dignity of ChriiVs perfon, 
 which is the firft ground of our joy ; we proceed to 
 the fecond, the defign of his birth. He was Lord 
 of the world, but came not into it to exercife dominion, 
 nor as the Jews expected, to procure their temporal 
 redemption, and reitore the kingdom to Jfrael : He 
 came not for fo mean a purpofe as the Jews expected, 
 to procure their temporal redemption, to make his fol- 
 lowers rich and honourable, fortunate or confpicuous 
 in the world ; nay, both by precept and example he 
 
 ? au g n ? 
 
 "* ^^<l^2^^:-^^^^^" 
 

 6 On th< \ 
 
 tcmn and dcfpifc al 
 
 to deliver his people fror. 
 ;i, and from ch n d t< 
 
 how by a h ■ rhcy might ubrain ai 
 
 iuppinefs. He came not indeed to purchn. 
 liberty to li;>, without hazard, and then to i 
 our iniquities with his rightcoufnefs, to let us live 
 we lilt, andadiirer Nay, it bad 
 
 Ixen confiftettt with his lot J, to hm procured 
 
 pardon tor obftinate and ; n «T fig 
 
 gttittbofl S to have obtain uithout 
 
 (hnftiftcatton 1 Had we been delii tn all 01 
 
 punifhnunt, fin it felt would hive made us miserable. 
 But Chrili came into the world to lave his ; from 
 
 their tins •, as weH as from the difm bqoencefl 
 
 or" tfiem ; and to procure for us, that be; 
 on: - t memii 
 
 'gbteoufm 7 yf # 
 
 In a word, .■: World 
 
 glory o( God, and the hap] te earth, by 
 
 ftoring us to t :or- 
 
 mity to him. And certain!] I 
 
 evil of Guy or the n hell, of th< 
 
 botifM 5, i t ; ; ' .'i, it mull needs be a 
 
 ma: . him, \ 
 
 doth delivci m the OIK 
 
 the other. 
 
 1 , of the ( 
 
 of the nativity whi 
 
 themfeh es full n. \\ c 
 
 
On the Nativity. 207 
 
 jhall only obferve our Saviour's coming into the world 
 after that manner, which did bell fuit with his defign. 
 Indeed when a man ihouid hear of the Son of God's 
 coming down from heaven, and making a progrefs 
 into the lower world, he would be apt to think that 
 his appearance would be with the greateft fplendor 
 and magnificence, and that the glory of heaven ihouid 
 continually attend and (ignalize his perfon : at leaft, 
 that all the princes in the world mould be fummon'd 
 to attend his reception, and that the heaven ihouid 
 bow at his prefence, and the earth tremble at the ap- 
 proach of his Majefty, and that all the clouds ihouid 
 clap together in an univerfal thunder, to welcome his 
 appearance ; but inftead of all this pomp and grandeur^ 
 he (lips into the world (as they fay) incognito y is born 
 in a village, difcover'd by fome poor ihepherds, and 
 found by them in a liable, and fuch an homely cradle 
 as that afforded, only attended by his poor mother, 
 who, tho* of royal blood, had nothing but good- 
 nefs to make her eminent • and his education was an- 
 fwerable to his obfeure birth,- and his whole life a 
 eourfe of humility and felt-denial. Now certainly this 
 far bed agrees with the defign of his appearance, who 
 came not on fo mean an errand as to dazzle the eyes 
 of mankind with the appearance of his glory, nor to 
 amaze them with the terriblenefs of his Majefty, much 
 lefs to make a ihew of the riches and gallantry of the 
 world among them, but to bring life and immortality 
 to light, and lead men to eternal happinefs. In order 
 to which it was neceflary, that by his example, as well 
 as do&rine, he ihouid difparage the vanities of the 
 world, and bring them out of that credit and efteem 
 they had gotten among fooliih men. 
 
2oS On the Nc 
 
 I shall proceed no further on this ful 
 bopC it doth appear, chat WC have gi. p to re- 
 
 joice in the exaltation of the humane nature, and the 
 gretC falvation purchafed CO us by the incarr.atn : 
 the Son ot God. I mail add, that even tins joy ad- 
 mits or" holy tear, even on this occalion we mud re- 
 joice with trembling. Salvation is come into the 
 world, but wo to them that neglect it ! The gofp. 
 pr. ached, but there is great danger in flighting it, 
 let us therefore tear, left .<• prajw/i being left i 
 Iring into its rejl, any of us Jljould cot 
 Little cauie have obltinatc linners to ie joicc pa this 
 rdtival, the time is coming that they (hall wifh, that 
 cither Chrift had never come into the world, or they 
 had hcVer heard of him ■ B. iid is fet fir the 
 
 rife and fill of \. And they that are not the 
 
 better, mall be the worfc for his coming. One way I 
 mull name, that many men lit this child teir own 
 
 fall, when they make this (biemn anniverfary, an i 
 portunity of finning and debauchery, as if i: were in- 
 deed a drunken 11 K$bus l and not a ' us, \vh 
 they worlhipped. What, Sirs b., became 
 man, mud we then >me bealls ? Or think we 
 to honour that child with diih lutenefs, who came to 
 
 the world on defigos of . This i: is, no i 
 
 that gives many men a prejudice againft the fcfliva] 
 
 it fclf, and perhaps is their moft fpecious nt. 
 
 \\'e know an aufwer, but you may, and ought to af- 
 t'ord another, by removing any ground tor (v^h a, 
 pretence, indeed a torenoon's llrmon will | :n- 
 
 pen 
 
 ♦ HcJ. i». I. 
 
On ihe Nativity. 209 
 
 penfate an afternoon's debauch ; nor will your fervice 
 in the church juftify your intemperance at home. But 
 as hereby at leaft fome time is redeemed frcni the too 
 frequent courfes of the day, (o I wiih the time we 
 fpend here, may have fome influence towards the right 
 improvement of the reft -> that our behaviour on this 
 folemnity may be fuch, as fuits with the infinite holi- 
 nefs of that perfon whom we profefs to honour, that 
 we may ferve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with 
 t'remblwg. 
 
 THE 
 
[ 210 ) 
 
 N I H E 
 
 PASSION 
 
 O F O U R 
 
 SAVIOUR 
 
 Lam. I. 12. 
 
 Is it nothing to vou, all yc tba by\ 
 
 behold^ and fee if there hi row{ 
 
 like unto my Jorro:r. 
 
 C to morrow, God willing, to be 
 imployed in one mofl 
 
 folemn offices of our religioo, to 
 
 and fuffi I th| 
 
 blefled *f*f*s % tod to i I 
 
 - of hil i And how 
 
 Laftiag 
 
On the Pajjion. 211 
 
 lading interefts of our fouls depend upon the right 
 performing of this work ? 
 
 It is not time now to difcourfe of the nature and 
 ends of that facrament we are about to celebrate, we 
 are to fuppofe you already inftrucxed in thefe ; we fhali 
 rather fix our thoughts on thofe things which may have 
 a more immediate influence to difpofe us for fo near 
 and folemn an addrefs unto God, and to aflift and 
 direct us in it ; and I know nothing more proper for 
 this purpofe, than the ferious confederation of thofe 
 fufferings of our Saviour, which are to be fymbolically 
 reprefented unto us in that holy ordinance. 
 
 This paflionate complaint of the prophet Jeremy % 
 which we have read, though in its firft and litterai 
 Fenfe it may refer to the fad condition of the Jewijh 
 nation, and the holy city, under the Babylonify cap- 
 tivity, (as many prophecies concerning the Mefliah, 
 had a litterai completion in thofe who were his types) 
 yet certainly in its higheit. and fulleft fenfe, it is only 
 applicable to our bleffed Saviour ; of him alone it 
 could be faid, in flriclnefs and propriety of fpeech, 
 that there was never forrow like his forrow. 
 
 Let us then confider the words as our Saviour's 
 complaint of the dulnefs and ilupidity of men, who 
 go up and down in the world, who come and pafs 
 without regarding his fufferings, which were fo grievous* 
 wherein themfelves are fo nearly concerned ; and from 
 i thence I would confider thefe three things. 
 
 I. T h e greatnefs of our Saviour's fufferings ex- 
 preffed in thefe words, See if there be any forrow like 
 unto my forrow. 
 
 II. O u r interelt and concernment in them,inilnuated 
 in that pafllohate interrogation, Is it nothing to you ? 
 
 P % III. 
 
J\ 2 On the Pa 
 
 III. Tii it his fuffc be paflfcd 
 
 by, but uul coniidcred, Is tt tutling 
 
 ..-; pjfs I j ? &C 
 
 I. L r i us refle& on our Saviour's fu , butO 
 
 where fhall we begin to recount them } His whole li 
 from the manger, his uneafy cradle, unto hi and 
 
 grave, was a continued tract or" furrerincjs ; he did all 
 along anfwer that c given of him by the pro- 
 
 phet, # man of J , itf. 
 
 To fay nothing of the meannd , and 
 
 the pains of circumcifion, the in- 
 
 fancy, , ;ry and v. ant, his travail ar„. 
 
 his (afting and v.at. I and his tears, and 
 
 all the other infirmities incident to our humane nature, 
 and inconveniencies attending a p or and ftraitned 
 eftate, he could not but k y fad and affii&ed 
 
 life, considering that he li - . and wit 
 
 generati< n, and theconti 
 
 to the* follies and mifcan heat 
 
 and 
 
 6f fomc, and I co- 
 
 vei and inju ion, the 
 
 ma'. .its that 
 
 abounded in 1 1 V.'. arc C mmonly 
 
 1 i I : 
 
 Fore do apj I uc if 
 
 i i 
 
 ti is put 
 
 l i 
 / 
 
 i 
 
On the Pajjion. 213 
 
 have been pierced, by every blafphemous word that 
 he heard, by every wicked action he beheld ? Doubt- 
 tefs it was no fmall forrow that made him cry out, O 
 faithlefs and perverfe generation, bow Jong Jhall I be 
 with you, bow long flo all I faffer you* ? Nor was he a 
 little moved, when his zeal did carry him to that fe- 
 verity, which, if we did not confide* the caufe, would 
 feem very unlikely to the wonted meeknefs of his fpirit, 
 in whipping the traders out of the temple. Add here- 
 unto his tender compafTion towards men, which could 
 not but make him exceeding forry, to fee them fruftrate 
 the method of his mercy, and ruin themfelves by their 
 enmity againft him; to hear them reproach the holy 
 do&rine which he taught, and undervalue the miracles 
 which he performed, or elfe condemn them as the un- 
 lawful effects of magical skill, that tho* be came unto 
 his own, yet bis own received bim not f ; tho* he fpake 
 as never man fpake, and did fuch works as would have 
 converted lyre and Sidon, yet did they bafft? their 
 own reafon, and perfiil in their infidelity, becaufe, for- 
 footh, they knew the place a.id manner of his educa- 
 tion ; as tho' his being reputed the carpenter's fon, 
 had been a fuffictent anfwer to all that he could fay or 
 do. This was the occafion of his tears over that 
 wretched and ungrateful city ; O Jerufalem, Jerufa- 
 lew, thou that killeft the prophets, and ft one ft them 
 that are fent unto thee, bow often would I have ga- 
 tbered thy children together, even as a ben gatbereth 
 her chickens under her wings, and ye would not % A // 
 Pbou bad ft known, even thou, at haft in this thy day, 
 
 P 3 the 
 
 * Mat. xvii 17, f John i. u. ± Mat. xxiii. 3-7. 
 
2i4 O.v the Tajfion. 
 
 arc hi 
 
 V, I have n I bofl nil the fad pan I 
 
 v.hich occur in th. . or our Sa\ : . (ct 
 
 us fix our eyes a little on fome of the lail | and 
 
 WC (hall find them the blftfkcfl I 
 
 the humane nature. At the approach of death, it is 
 faid, be begun to be forrowful, as if he had never tele 
 any grief before; his former aillictions were like fcat- 
 Ocrcd drops of rain, but in tin's gtctt , all the 
 
 fountains beneath, and all :. en WCTC 
 
 opened; the wrath of God agamit a li rid, the 
 
 malice and cruelty o; pen, the rage and iw \ ils, 
 
 break out together againlt him, if we take the meafure 
 of his futferings by the apprehcnlions which he had of 
 them before, we (hall find, that when he is talking 
 with his diiciplcs about them, and encouraging him- 
 felf and his followers with the ailurancc of the reward 
 fet before them, yet he doth not dillcmblc the fear 
 and trouble wherewith he was \ my fcul 
 
 XfOUbleiy r.i. .' . | ' I <rom 
 
 tiis bour\i && Certainly, iftlure had ban BOOMCC 
 in his luti- than what is comm< ideot to 
 
 human nature, as to endure pain or d.ath, he who 
 
 had a perfefi innocency, eft and molt entire 
 
 rcliguation, the lulUii ailu: reu aid to come, 
 
 would n.ver i Q half lb much affrighted uitn 
 
 the appt.. DDL The | :hat fad 
 
 night's trail into the 
 
 hands of linnets, pretend us with a and 
 
 amazing 
 
 • 
 
On the Pajfion. 215 
 
 amazing fpeftacle: look into the garden, and behold 
 the Son of God proftrate with his face upon the ground, 
 in the faddeft difcompofure of fpirit that could poflibly 
 confift with his perfect innocency ; he was forrowfui 
 and very heavy, and tells his difciples, My foul is ex-* 
 ceeding forrowfui, even unto death : it feems, had he 
 remained long in this condition, his own grief would 
 have killed him. Here it was that he fuffered that 
 which the Evangelift calleth an agony ; but what the 
 nature and meafures of it were, he alone can tell who 
 did feel it • it is not poffible for us to comprehend the 
 mixture of that bitter cup, yet we may guefs at fom.e 
 of the ingredients of it. And flrft, without queilioa 
 he had a clearer forefight of that painful and curfed 
 death which he was fo ihortly after to undergo; this 
 king of terrors did reprefent himfelf unto him in his 
 greateft pomp, clothed with all the circumftances of 
 horror ; and even this could not but be very dreadful, 
 perhaps more to him than it would have been to fome 
 other perfon. There is a fort of natural floutnefs and 
 courage depending much on the temper and conftitu- 
 tion of the body, and which doth commonly accom- 
 pany the rougher! and moll ftubborn natures, when 
 thofeof a more fweet and benign difpofition, are many 
 times obnoxious to deeper impreflions of fear ; and it 
 will not derogate from the honour of our bleffed Sa- 
 viour, tho* we mould fuppofe, that amongft other in- 
 firmities, he might be much liable to this natural and 
 innocent paffion. The true greatnefs of the foul doth 
 not confift in the vigor of the natural fpirits, nor the 
 fturdy boldnefs of an undaunted humour; but in a 
 holy ftedfaihiefs and refolution to undergo thofe things, 
 which are dreadful to nature. 
 
 P 4 Bu T 
 
2i G o r* xjjk 
 
 B ' t certainly the fear or death - 
 onl' -It thing 
 
 fpirit at that time 5 he had tnotl gad- 
 
 (til profp ft, the heinous and 101 
 mankind, whole nature he n, and ini- 
 
 quities he was to bear: he law the whole 1 
 in wickednefij tnd ready 1 eternal I 
 
 he i.i ■■ the anger ol God kindled, and his band 
 np, and he knew that the - would light u; 
 
 himfdFj and tiiat the chal our pe.; 
 
 to be upon him. 
 
 A N t) d B it added not a little noto I 
 
 that I 1 .. knew that all he had done, and all that he w 
 about to fuffer, would be flighted and d 
 grcaieft part of mankind ; it grieved him to thi 
 tint many thoufands, who w.re to be called by his 
 name, would prove fo baft and unthankrul, as 1 1 re- 
 ject his love, and baffle his pi 
 word of his blood and B 
 a (trumpet, another hi , a rli:i\. 
 
 money, to the h I the un- 
 
 foeakable 1 indiu fs or' a dyii ... bar. 
 
 B*i 1 1 1 1 y, in this agony 
 will] the 1 i lenl pa • hich rack a 
 
 his j ilnts, and till in tfa 
 
 night, and in th< open 1 
 
 did ifliie forth and 1 bled 
 
 dov n tint 1 the ground. 
 
 1 
 
 But 
 
On the Pajfion. 217 
 
 But now he awaketh his drowfy difciples, and 
 calls them to rife and be going, tot behold be is at hand, 
 that betrays him ; and fcarce had he fpoke the word s 
 when behold the traitor, and with him a great multi- 
 tude from the chief prieits and elders of the people ; 
 they come out as againit a thief with fwords and ftaves^ 
 for to take him; that monfter of ingratitude gives them 
 the fignal* and with an horrid impudence dares ap- 
 proach his infamous and facrilegious lips to that fa- 
 cred and venerable face j which we may reckon as the 
 firfl wound he received from his enemies. O what an 
 indignity, to be kiffed by a traitor, an apoftate, an 
 enemy to God, poflefled by the Devil, and who was 
 to be lodged in hell ere twenty four hours expired ! 
 And O the infuperable meeknefs of our bleiied Saviour, 
 who furTers the indignity, and checks it with no harfher 
 terms than this ; Friend therefore art thou come ? Ju- 
 das, betrayeft thou the [on of wan with a kifs ? Then 
 he turneth unto the armed bands, and faid unto them^ 
 Whom fcek ye ? ^they an fiver ed him, J e fits of Naza- 
 reth. Jefus faith unto them, I am he. The meeknefs 
 of this anfwer aftonifhed the foldiers, and the power; 
 that accompanied it, made them go back and fall to 
 the ground. And why did they not fall into hell? 
 The wicked enterprize they were prefently about to 
 do did juitly deferve it, and how eafy was it for him 
 to have done it ? But his goodnefs reftrained him, he 
 meaned them no harm, but intended his fall to help 
 them to rife ; that the confideration of it, and the 
 other evidences of his divinity, might one day bring 
 them to a fenfe of their (in \ nor will he any further 
 employ his miraculous power, but only in the cure 
 of an enemy, whom his too forward difciple had 
 
 wounded, 
 
2i 8 On the Pajfwn. 
 
 grounded. But this doth DOC abate their malice, the/ 
 lay h H 00 him, and time; him auay in glttt hurry 
 and uproar, through that city where he had done fo 
 much good, and into which lie had been lai ed 
 
 with joy and triumph, and loud acclamations, BUJfed 
 is lc that comcth in the name oj the Lord They carry 
 him from Annas to C . ; \s % from C fl yfcu to Pilate, 
 from Pi/rffc to // ', fi^om Hitod to Pilate again, 
 treating him with all the indignities, all the inflances 
 of ("corn and contempt that their malice could fugged 
 unto them. Now tho' our cxtream impatience of i. - 
 OOtninies and arlronts, do much pro, n the pride 
 
 and baughtioefs of our fpirits, yet is there in them a 
 contrariety even to the innocent confutation of the hu- 
 man nature ; fhame and difgrace arc tn ic to all 
 ingenuous fpirits, fo that tho* they could not raife any 
 immoderate pafTion in our bleffed Saviour, yet his 
 bleifed fpirit had a great abhorrence and detefbu 
 that bafe and unworthy U&ge, which uas infinitely 
 heigbtned by the worth and excellency ot the pa 
 who differed it. What loyal heart i \x of 
 the indignities done by the rude foldiers to our larc 
 
 f rereign, but with rq d abhorrence? But alas! 
 
 what are tluy, if compared with thole that were put 
 upon the king ol heaven I When i and rc- 
 
 pruched him, whenti. U mm 00 the cheek, and 
 
 and thole hands which had CUItd fc many diiealls, 
 
 a\k\ defiled thfl ( with fpittle, which faints 
 
 I all which he fuflered 
 with that i the prophet had foretold, 
 
 *7i I to tic fmsterSj and I. b to 
 
On the Pajfton* 219 
 
 them that pluck off the hair, he did not hide his face 
 from fbame and fpitting. They would needs be in- 
 genious in their fcoffings, and mock him in all his 
 offices ; he was a prophet, and they defire him to pro- 
 phefy who it was that did fmite him; he was a prieft 3 
 and they bid him fave himfJ. : as he did others; he 
 was a king, and they crown him with thorns, and 
 array him with fcarlet, and put a reed in his hand, 
 and in fcorn falute him, King of the Jews. Add unto 
 {his the violence done unto his virgin modefty, when 
 he was ftript naked in the view of the rude multitude. 
 It is reported of fome virgin martyrs, that God pity- 
 ing their grief and trouble to have their nakednefs dif* 
 covered, when they were to be ftript of their clothes, 
 did cover them with a veil of light, and fent them to 
 a modeft and defired death ; but the holy Jefus, who 
 refufed no fhame, endured alfo this of nakednefs, that 
 we might be clothed with righteoufnefs. 
 
 But tho' it pleafed their malice to have him ex- 
 pofed to all indignities imaginable, yet nothing would 
 fatisfy it but his torment and his death ; he hath al - 
 ready had trial of cruel mockings, and now he mull 
 have fcourgings too ; they whip him with violent and 
 unrelenting hands, tearing his tender flefh, and making 
 long furrows in it. And now behold the man ! behold 
 him in that fad miferable plight wherein Pilate brought 
 him forth, thinking to have appeafed the malice of the 
 Jews, his head pierced with briars, his face blue with 
 ftrokes, his hands bound, that he couid not fo much as 
 wipe off the blood which trickled down his eyes, his 
 whole body difcoloured with the marks of the fcourge; 
 from the top of his head, to the ible of his foot there 
 was no foundnefs in him, IV as there ever any for row 
 hke unto his forrow ? There 
 
220 Or. the Pajfoik 
 
 T • ...'■■ £ f 
 
 anil could prevail v. 1 
 
 r to 
 n *way, fo Hot and v. ( 
 with wl idy endured, that be i 
 
 eight of his croft, bat r muft carry 
 
 ic for him ; but d( nail him unto ir, hat 
 
 wp betwixt , as the moil o< i ndec 
 
 of the three. Ic cannot be exprcfled how painful this 
 kind ith was, the very Rrcachiog forth or the arms 
 Without any weight, can hardly be endured any coo- 
 
 Bible time; but when the weight or the body did 
 hang npon them, and thereby tear the wounds that 
 Were made in the hands ; \\\v.\\ this torment was con- 
 tinued till pain alone had overcome the power of na- 
 I ire, and breed the foul to dil ithout any hurt 
 
 to th vital parts, (carce any could be invented more 
 dreadful and cruel ; to (ay nothing of the fhame thac 
 attended it, b/mg only dettin'd tor the meaneft flat 
 and the greatefi offenders ; th- s o| 
 
 their i ndki d, or the | crimea, m 
 
 unworthy of any refpect In this fad and painful 
 pofture did t hang, without any thing to 
 
 afort him : the hi ly angels who WCtC accultom'd to 
 
 fervc hintu xafioos, do now dUappear, not 
 
 one of them toftrengthen i re him; as for dm 
 
 mi(! i arc they all, thj 
 
 , ) { toll OVet him, I companion 
 
 dds unto them by h dif- 
 
 iken him, one ol mem had betrayed 
 
 bim, a third run awav from 
 [ht not be • im. 
 
 of the 
 
On the Pajfion. 221 
 
 t'-ty, but their companion did fo little eafe his grief, 
 that he deiired them to referve their tears for the cala* 
 mities that were to befal themfelves • Daughters ofjc- 
 rufalem y weep not for me, but weep for your [elves, and 
 for your children *. He beheld the two perfons that 
 were the deareft to him in the world, his mother, and 
 friend) fitting under the crofs, but all that they could 
 do was but to lament and mourn, and this but re- 
 doubled his forrow ; his bleffed mother was bathed in 
 tears, and felt the effe&s of old Simeon's prophefy, that 
 a [word Jhould pierce through her foul', and the beloved 
 difcipkj who was wont to lie in his bofom, lay dill 
 very near his heart ; and it was a real fuffering unto 
 him, to fee the anguifh and forrow whereinto his fuf- 
 ferings had caft them. Whither then could he look for 
 comfort, but unto heaven ? To whom could he flee, but 
 to the arms of his Father ? But O what ftrange, what 
 aftoniihing words do we hear, My God, my God, why 
 haft thou for faken me ? Wonder, O earth • be afloniihed, 
 O ye heavens ! A.t this, men and angels admire and 
 ftand amazed! Goodnefs and innocence it felf forfaken 
 by the author and fountain of goodnt fs, the Son of God 
 deferted by his heavenly Father! Certainly the foul of 
 our bleffed Saviour was (till united to the divine nature, 
 and was (till as dear unto his Father as before ; only 
 the joyful ftnfe of the divine love was fufpended for a 
 while, the faculties of his foul were difcompofed, and 
 a veil as it were drawn before the eyes of his mind, 
 which intercepteth the light of hisFather's countenance . 
 and that he felt not thofe refrefhing emanations which 
 in the courfe of his life the deity conveyed unto him ; 
 
 and 
 
 * Luke xxiii. 38. 
 
222 O/i the Pa Jf ion. 
 
 and ill that fod moment his mind fcems to have been 
 tb intent upon his fufl thtt he uas diverted 
 
 the actual conftdetation of that glory which he pur- 
 chafed by them. Now to be thus fafpci m the 
 perfeA vifion of God, to be divorced as it were 
 himfclf, and to lofe the fenfe of thofc inwa;\ rts 
 which were wont to fuftain him in ail his idvcrfitiefl ; 
 how Cutting mult it needs be to his foul, (b pure and 
 holy, and which had fo high a value for the divine 
 | vt ? Confidet then and lee, if i ny 
 for row like unto this fan 
 
 N o w it is rinifhed, the (harp c 
 one cry more, and the bkil-.u '/. ■ ' WW Hewn < 
 
 it" the 
 powers of heaven and earth be : the earth 
 
 trcmblcth and (haketh, the rocks rent, the graves arc 
 opened, the vail of the temple v. as rent in two, the 
 fun himfclf (hrunk in h tnd darknek, 
 
 the face of the earth; which a tC4 
 
 is faid to have obferved at that time, and .ncc 
 
 to have concluded^ thtt cither the G (of- 
 
 fered violence^ or that i . /as about 
 
 to dilfolve: OtA Dr. .'..•*, tint: 
 
 :::.)'. ThllS I yo« 1. me rude 
 
 bnperfed bints i f I is and unf| 
 
 Ings, but O how : do we undcrftand to 
 
 very good purp .1 It Wi I the ancient 
 
 fhthers of the ( their lio 
 
 have t 1 nil t] i.lar pti arc 
 
 fet down in his | d b] all 
 
 of them called for [IN arur all Hint up .uth 
 
 tins fuppiication : By \\ir.c unknown fort, i 
 
 Jc, 
 
On the Pajfton. 223 
 
 firings felt by thee y but not diflinftly known by us\ 
 have mercy upon us and fave us. 
 
 II. W e proceed in the next place to confider the 
 interefl that we have in the fufferings of our Saviour \ 
 is it nothing to you ? Have you no intereft nor con- 
 cernment at ail in them ? Much, certainly, every way ; 
 we were the occafion of his fufferings, and the benefits 
 of them redound unto us. When we fee a perfon un- 
 dergo any fad and grievous punifhment, we cannot 
 choofe but enquire into the grounds and cccafions of 
 their fufferings ; and the rather if they have the re- 
 putation of innocence and integrity- and here not 
 only the moft innocent, but the mod excellent perfon 
 that ever was in the world, undergoes thofe dreadful 
 fufferings which we mentioned before, who never had 
 done any fin at all, neither was guile found in his 
 mouth * ; fo that the judge who condemned him, be- 
 hoved flrft to condemn himfelf by a folemn acknow- 
 ledgment of his innocence ; he had gone up and down 
 all his days doing good unto men, and fcattering blef- 
 fings where he came, healing the lick, reitoring fight 
 to the blind* and making the lame to walk, the dumb 
 to fpeak, and the deaf to hear ; feeding the hungry* 
 and inftrucling all that would vouchfafe to hear him ; 
 for which of all thefe good works is he punifhed ? 
 Death is the wages of fin, how comes he to die that 
 knew no fin ? The prophet Jfaiah gives us the anfwer, 
 f Surely he hath born our griefs, and carried our for- 
 rows : yet we did efteem him ftricken, f mitt en of God± 
 and afflified. But he was wounded for our tranfgrejfwns y 
 he was bruifed for our iniquities : tbe chaftifement. of 
 
 our 
 
 J ) Pet. ii. 2£« f Ifa, liii. 4. 
 
.'4 On the PaJ/i .. 
 
 cur pe U 
 I 
 
 I jul f of its all 
 
 iff t 11 
 ■ . • 
 
 The mcc or* mankind, I God, 
 
 Were becorile liable to his wtath, and all the dr. 
 effc&s of his vengeance j I :, tHe 
 
 w H^om of tl - Father, lits were always 
 
 with the fonsofmen, refolreth to make up ti 
 and rcftore Us again unto hu I but firft 
 
 he dauft repait the honour of God, and ilvure the au- 
 thority (>; ifot I 
 but by fomefignal evidence o 
 
 (in, and f<>mc valuable iinifll- 
 
 ment which had beendenouci infl it; and tl 
 
 fore himfelf 
 
 appear in the limilitude of finful li.fh, to lead a 
 miferable and afflided li .'.orld, and at laft 
 
 flfer it up 
 
 . . nd ■ 
 
 : ■ 
 in '/ us. 1 i the 1 ■ i ft im 
 
 - 
 vain do v. -, the 
 
 malice of the bare 
 
 s and oui . .touf- 
 
 iuib and ambiti< n < 
 
 nape, 
 
 i . 
 
On the Pajfion. 225 
 
 tempt, our cxcefs and intemperance made him hunger 
 and thirft, our levity and fooliih mirth were the occa- 
 iion of the anguifh and bkternefs of his foul, our kn^ 
 fual and Mnful pleafures were the occafion of all the 
 pains and tortures which he endured; and is it nothing 
 unto us ; fhall we think our felves unconcerned in 
 thefe fad effects, whereof we were the unhappy caufe > 
 
 Again, we are concerned in our Saviour's fuffer- 
 ings, as the benefits of them redound unto us ; by his 
 firipes we are healed. * IVe have redemption through 
 his bloody even the forgivencfs of our fins. God was 
 in Chrift reconciling the world unto himfelf, not im- 
 puting their trcfpafies unto them; we have acccfs 
 unto the throne of God, and f boldnefs to enter into the 
 belie ft by the blood of Jefus> by a new and living way 
 which he hath confecrated for us thro' the veil, that 
 is to fay , his flefh. But this is not all, God hath not 
 only fent him forth as a propitiation through faith in 
 his blood, for the remiffion of fins that are paft\\ y but 
 doth alfo for his fake bellow on us that grace, whereby 
 we may be enabled to ferve him in holinefs and righte 7 
 oufnefs all the days of our lives. An amnefty or a<% 
 of oblivion for part offences woukl never have ferved 
 the turn, we mould prefently have run our felves 
 upon another fcore ; nay, fin it felf had been enough 
 to make us miserable* tho' no other punifhment had 
 been inflicted upon us: and therefore he does not only 
 cover our fins, but cures them ; he forgives all our 
 iniquities, and healeth all our difcafes; as we arc 
 juftified by his fufferings* fo we are fanftified tGJ 
 
 Q_ thro 9 
 
 * Col. i. 14. f Heb ; x. i5 : io. f] Rom. iii. 25-, 
 
226 On the Pafjion. 
 
 • rtferitiz of the bndy cf Jr . ? crice fr 
 
 all * In I word, by the merits or" our Saviour we 
 both reconciled unto God, and ma, of the 
 
 divine nature ; v both delivered from everlafti 
 
 darknefv, and made meet tor the inheritance oi the 
 faints in light: And now is it nothing tti I ! ( ...-. mt 
 think our felvcs unconcerned in theft (ilflferingS, from 
 which we reap (o great, fo unfpeakable advantage 
 
 111. H \ v i n g fpoken or the greatnefs of our Sa- 
 viour's (offerings, and the intcrefi which wc 
 them, v. e think wc fhould need to fay little or' the third 
 particular which we propoftd ; you cannot bHI 
 convinced that we ought to regard and conlidcr them- 
 Were it nothing to us, tl i verj (trangenefi of the thing 
 would deferve notice; the h :1s defire to pry 
 
 into this inyilery, they will contemplate and admire 
 it to all eternity ; and furely we are far more nearly 
 concerned. What an unaccountable dulncfs ani 
 guicc is it then for men to go up and down the a rid 
 
 amufing themfelves witl , hearing 
 
 of news, about matters of the fmallcft in and 
 
 never tb confider the (tupendious fufl of their 
 
 flying Saviour j they walk to and fro, they come and 
 
 pais, and (catCC VOUchfkfc to la k upon him , or if I 
 
 chance to call their eyeS that way, it is a very Bv rt 
 
 and overly view, they dy turn them away ; 
 
 this OCCafioiti the complaint of the text, J 
 
 to you, all But . i bo 
 
 ild in ol • of our moA fei 
 
 hmd Iblemn k whole world 
 
 1 i ying a profpeu ; here it is thai 
 
On the Pajfion. 227 
 
 may beft learn the horrid and heinous nature of fin, 
 which could not be pardon 3 d at a (mailer rate ; here 
 it is that we may difcover mod of the divine bounty 
 and goodnefs to mankind, and the inexpreffible love of 
 our bleffed Saviour and Redeemer^ which are the moil 
 important leffons that we can learn : This made the 
 bleffed apoflle to determine to know nothing but Chrift 
 and him crucified '■; to count all things but lofs to the 
 excellency of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus his Lord f- 
 Let me therefore exhort you to fix the eyes of your 
 mind, and call up your molt ferious attention ; reach 
 hither the hand of your faith, and thrufi it into the 
 hole of your Saviour's fide; put your fingers into the 
 print of the nails, lay to heart all the paflages of his 
 lamentable ftory ; and this cannot choofe but melc 
 your hearts, unlefs they be harder than the rocks, and 
 deafer than the bodies in the grave. Let us fix our 
 eyes, I fay, on this aftonifhing object, till || our eyes 
 affect our heart, that while we are mufing the fire may 
 hum : Let us mourn for thofe fins wherewith we have 
 crucified the Lord of glory, and be grieved that ever 
 we fhould have put him to fo much anguifh and pain ; 
 and let us vow a perpetual enmity againit our lufts and 
 corrupt affections* which would crucify him afrefh, and 
 put him unto open fhame. Let us confider and admire 
 the wonderful love of our dying Saviour, that our fouls 
 may be kindled with reciprocal flames, wherein we 
 may offer up our felves as a living and acceptable fa- 
 crifice unto him ; that thus Chrift dwelling in our hearts 
 by faith, we may be rooted and grounded in love ; com* 
 Q. 2 frehending 
 
 t Rom. viii, |] Lam.iii. ji» 
 
228 
 
 On the Paffion. 
 
 pretending Wftb all f.ur.ts u t : e breadth, r.rA 
 
 length, and depth, and height ; and k n o wing the Icrjc 
 of Cbrifi which paflitb hfcwhJg$ t t'at f, w$ m*j 
 
 filed wHb all the fulnefs cf God. Such meditations 
 tad extrcifes as theft will purify and raifc our fouls, 
 and bed difpoft us tor approaching to the tabic of the 
 Lord ; and the Lord pour out upon us the fpirit cf 
 grace and fupphcation, that we may look upon him 
 whom we have pierced, and mourn tor him as ODC 
 mourneth Tor his only Con, and be in bittcrncf* tcr him 
 as one that is in bittern*. fs fbl his firft born. 
 
 ;V\ 
 
( 229 ) 
 
 PREPARATION 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Holy Sacrament. 
 
 Josh, iii, 5, 
 
 §anElify your f elves : for (o morrow the 
 Lord will do wo/iders. among you. 
 
 HEN God is to make any fignal dif- 
 covery and manifeftation of himfelf to 
 his people, tic calleth. them to folemn 
 preparation, that they may be in a fit 
 pofture to, attend and receive it. Three- 
 eminent inftances whereof we meet ^ith in the travels 
 
 <u 
 
23° A Preparation fur the 
 
 fhc firfl u 
 
 . i m . to 
 
 , and en ch thetn, 
 
 the Lord I 
 
 r, tf/fJ be n 
 
 third (I > I i. rf// 
 
 the peoph. Thus alfo when he was at once to &ii 
 
 and punifli the Inordinate appetite of that people v. ho 
 loathed the manna, and Lfift< h, by bringing 
 
 innumerable quails from the Tea, and caufing them to 
 fall about tluir camp, he commanded Mcftt to fay 
 unto the people, .S ?s agdiUfl tomorrow^ 
 
 OH I jeJbaU \ A third inftancc is that of the 
 
 text, the Lord had brought his people to the borders 
 of C , '^^\ was n« ive them the f*ifi*g and 
 
 pofieflion of that promifed land : he was to divide the 
 watcrt of Jordan bofore them, and thereby both fa- 
 cilitate their pfefldge, and aflurc their p. (leition: Here- 
 Wd '/. ' ■ h y c fi' Ji ' * /; - :o ' ^4* tie h I h 
 
 yoUj and thai 
 fro . 'c Ihttitcs, and 
 
 tbi Hivttis, and tic r r, and i 
 
 of t . I ' / r I ; 1 f-'Jfetb 
 
 < ■ : ' ■ . .' ft av//* ro 
 
 . _/r<7 r/' 
 
 7" «// rA 
 
 Now 
 
 to 
 
 1 * 
 
Holy Sacrament. 231 
 
 to difpofe them for fo great a mercy, Jojhua gives them 
 this advertifement in the text, Sanflify your felves • for 
 to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you. 
 
 And fure this fame advertifement mud needs be 
 very feafonable to us, who are expecting that God will 
 manifeft himfelf to morrow in this place, in a way no 
 lefs glorious, and far more comfortable and advan- 
 tageous, than any of thofe we have mentioned unto 
 you. We hope he will defcend from the habitation 
 of his glory, that he will rend the heavens, and come 
 down into this houfe, not j- with fire y and blacknefs y 
 and darkncfs, and tempeft, and the found of a trumpet^ 
 and the voice of words , which they that heard, intreat-. 
 ed that the word fhquld not be fpoken unto them any 
 more ; becaufe they could not endure that which was 
 commanded : But with the gentle and enlivening flames 
 of love, with the refrefhing beams of divine light, with 
 the flill and quiet whifper of his holy Spirit, which 
 are only heard in calm and lilent fouls. He is coming 
 to proclaim another law, a law of liberty and love^ 
 to enter into a new and better covenant with us, not 
 according to that covenant which he made with the 
 houfe of Ifrael, in the day when he took them by the 
 hand to lead them out of Egypt ; but this is the cove*. 
 nant he maketh with us, that he f will put his. laws 
 into our minds y and write them in our hearts,; and he 
 will be to us a God, and we jhall be to him a people ; 
 that he will be merciful to our unrighteoufnefs y and- 
 remember our iniquities no more. 
 
 T o morrow the Lord will give us flefh to eat, not 
 the flefh of quails, and feather'd fowls, to fuftaia this 
 
 Q. 4 €ra fy 
 
 * Hsb. xih 1 8, ip ? 20, f Heb. viii. 9, 10, iu 
 
ija A Preparation for the 
 
 crafy and decaying trnmr, bur the flejb and blood ft 
 fnn rf a: in, that Belli which is mc tod that 
 
 bloud nrM;t /j" rfr/J»A $ndhod s which | Dfc and 
 
 cvcrlafling happinefs to the foal, and t 
 mortal bodks to a blefled refurre&ii n : 
 my fitfby ani dt'tnkitb my 'Hood (faith our Stvt< 
 1 ■: - fnal lift) and 1 wilt rat f$ bim up .it tbi I. 'ft 
 day • 
 
 To morrow the Lord will open a paflagt for his 
 people towards ttlC », place them as ic 
 
 were in the confines of that promsfed /.?/:/, in the 
 fuburbs of happinefs and glory \ at kail he will fhew 
 them a token tor good, and fign I ind fecurity 
 
 unto it : and tho 1 floods 6J fin and (brrow . .tdy 
 
 to overwhelm their (bills, he will rcllrain and divert 
 them j Shy Hoods of gnat 
 
 r.ot co-- I unto them \. What fitter terms could 
 WC therefore choofe to bclpeak you in, than thofe of 
 this holy man, SaaStify your /elves : fort \c. 
 
 Thb words contain an exhortation, and a u 
 infbecing it ; in applying thcAi to the pi 
 we (ball invert the order, and hai ter part 
 
 of the text firft, becaufc o[ the Influence it lu:h on 
 the former ; we (lull firft tell you what tb ft wbnd 
 art which the Lord \i to do amonc? us to morrow, 
 the cohfiiIcrat|oh of them being ot gi 
 ( u ire us i ire * ui I 
 
 to ihftruQ and dir&l us In it. 
 
 1 What then ai i thol! rs we a 
 
 fee? A little brekd broken and divided uooog us, a 
 
 !oh. ft sa 
 
Holy Sacrament. 233 
 
 little wine poured forth and drunk : Is there any thing 
 to furprize or amaze us here I What better is this than 
 our ordinary entertainment at home ? Are not Abanz 
 and Pbarpbar, rivers of Damafcus y better tbatk all tbe 
 waters oflfrael* ?, Such may be the thought of profane 
 and ignorant fools. For the outfide of this ordinance is 
 very poor and mean, hath nothing in it that may dazzle 
 or delight the vulgar eye, that may pleafe or affect a 
 carnal mind : but thofe whofe eyes are opened to right 
 apprehenftons of fpiritual and divine things, can eafily 
 fee thro' this coarie and contemptible veil, and difcern 
 aftonifhing wonders in this ordinance, wonders of 
 power, and wifdom, and love. 
 
 If we condder what is reprefented to us in this 
 facrament, we have therein occafion to behold the 
 mod wonderful and aftonifhing fpectacle that ever 
 was feen in this lower world, the only begotten Son 
 of God fuffering for the fins of the world ; the Lord 
 of glory hanging betwixt two thieves ; for in this or- 
 dinance Jfifus Chrift is evidently fet forth as crucified 
 before our eyes\. We may read and hear of it at other 
 times, but this is a more clear and fokmn reprefenta- 
 tion of it, our dying Lord commanded us to do it in 
 remembrance of him. ~ Here our thoughts are more 
 fixed, and' our meditations higher raifed, we gQt a 
 nearer and more advantageous profpect, and our faith 
 comes not only by the ear, our other fenfes contribute 
 unto it, that we may fay in fome ferife, with the be- 
 loved difciple, that we have not only heard, but have 
 feen with our eyes, we have looked upon it, and cur 
 
 hands 
 
 * zKinssv. 12-. f Gal.iii, i. 
 
234 ^ Preparation ft \ 
 
 ■ i of life *. Tis true tnerc 
 pight have be^n contrived a mure fallible rcfcmblance, 
 
 and tragical rcprcfentation of the death of Chrifl 
 that fpcaaele represented upon the fcuic, would per- 
 haps atria ^ ur ftpfe and fancy DM re, and might 
 fc.oncr draw t.ars from our eyes, and occafion Cos 
 warm and atketionate paifion. But it is a mean and 
 low devotion that is Lured in the interior : ot 
 
 the foul, whieh outward objects do excite by the 
 tural flrength, without the exercife ot" the foul's rc//- 
 fii\cnn? j and rs •' Wld tb( (as one 
 
 hath well obferved) lt the representation of Chrii 
 " death in the facrament i dcTcd, that it might 
 
 « both belp the foul, and leave it Something to do in 
 €i torming its own appreheniions and refentment." In 
 it we (be fo much as to awaken our Souls, I 
 fo much as to keep them awake without themfeh 
 the outward object fetVCS to excite our faith, but I 
 leaves it to its prop.r cxercife and i 
 
 takes the hint which : it, and in the 
 
 facramcntal bread and wine can In hold the blood and 
 wounds ot our bicflcd Saviour : it placed) OS IS u v. 
 
 at the too: pi bis ctofs, and 
 
 «hplc tiantaction. Ar.d thus that holy ordir.ar.ee v e 
 are to celebrate, patents to our \icw the VOpderfel 
 redemption ot mankind, which ihall be the admira- 
 tion ot nun and angels to all eternity; fothai 
 were no: more, on this account we might (a; 
 
 ft* 
 
 | 
 
Holy Sacrament. 235 
 
 But this is not all, this facrament doth not only 
 feprefent a wonder that is already paft, but exhibits 
 one anew : the bread and wine that we receive, are not 
 bare and empty figns, to put us in mind of the death 
 and furTerings of Chrift : Our Saviour calls them his 
 body and bloody and fuch without queftion they are to 
 all fpiritual purpofes and advantages. We are not ob- 
 liged to believe, that after confecration the bread and 
 wine do vanifh, and the body and blood of Chrift 
 fucceed in their room, our fenfe and our reafon do af- 
 fure us of the contrary, the fcripture doth no where 
 affirm it, nor did ever the ancient church believe it, 
 nor is it poflible to conceive the ufe or benefit of this 
 ftrange and unintelligible change. * It is the Spirit 
 that 'quickneth, the fiejh profit eth nothings thefe words 
 of our Saviour are fpirit and life, are to be underftood 
 in a vital and fpiritual fenfe. But tho* thefe elements 
 be not changed in their nature and fubflance, yet they 
 undergo a mighty change as to their efficacy and ufe, 
 and that food which could before but yield a little re- 
 ■ frefhment to the body, is now become a mean to nou- 
 rifh and ftrengthen the foul, an inftrument to convey 
 unto us all thofe bleffings that the body and blood of 
 our Saviour can afford us. 
 
 A s under the law a part of fome facrifrces W2S 
 burnt on the altar, and a part was eaten by thofe for 
 whom they were offered, fo our blefled Saviour having 
 offered up himfelf on the altar of the crofs, as a pro- 
 pitiation for the fins of men, did fubftitute thefe holy 
 fymbols in place of his body and blood, that we by 
 
 feafting 
 
 * John vi, 6]< 
 
2^6 A Preparation for the 
 
 feafting on then might get an intereft in chat bcrl 
 and b{ partaken of the atonement that \sas 
 Made, and the pardon that was purchnfed by him. 
 
 Agai n, in this facrament Chrift doth convey him- 
 felf into the fouls of men, and taketh Wronger p< iililion 
 of them; as eftef thf fop Satan cntrcd into JuJ.'s, I 
 with chefc holy elements Chrift entretfa into the hearts 
 of his people, becomes the rood and noiirifhment of 
 theit fouis, 1.. :th himfclf thro* all their faculties, 
 
 and fpiri:, that they 
 may have no will ( i Qffcftions of their oun, nodefioJ 
 nor inclinations different from his, but tha: every pulfe 
 may apfwec the motions of Ins heart, and all theif 
 powers be situated and enlivened by his fpirit. In a 
 word, that |t may not be any more they, iut drift 
 /' -t li-cth u tlcm*. Thus are we fed and nourifhed 
 by the body and blood of Chrift, while the po\ur of 
 the Godhead doth ditfufe its virtue and operation into 
 the human nature, to the enlivening the hearts of 
 thofc who do rightly receive theft iaciamcnral pledges. 
 
 A N D thus I hops you lee what wonders the Lord is 
 to do among us j it was a fignal miracle he wrought 
 at the tea ft, I turned water il , but fure 
 
 it is a greater, and more important one, to turn 
 bread and wine into his bejy and blood, in that: fenfe 
 we have been explaining: It was a great matter to 
 I multitude w)th a tew loaves and fmail hfrus, but 
 ItCf it is to make •* little bread and wine become 
 r liniment to fa many (\>uls: and were 
 
 our eyca opened g of fpiritual things] 
 
 wc 
 
 • 
 
Holy Sacrathent. 23^ 
 
 tfe fhould fee greater wonders wrought, and more gra- 
 cious miracles performed by the body and blood of our 
 Saviour, than thofe which were done by the touch of 
 lis facred body, while he lived here among men. I 
 hall conclude this point in the words of St. Chryfoftom> 
 :>nly defiring they may be underftood according to 
 what hath been already faid, making fome allowance 
 "or the rhetorical and hyperbolick ilyle, o]ttv \J%<1op 
 ti/e<V liSvphov, &c. " When thou doft behold the 
 " Lord of glory offered up, and the prieft performing 
 " the facrifice, and the people round about, dyed and 
 " made red with that precious blood, where, I pray 
 * thee, doft thou conceive thy fclf to be ? Canft thou 
 fC think thou art yet upon earth, and converfing 
 " amongft mortal creatures, or art thou not rather on 
 " a fudden tranfported into heaven ? Doft thou not 
 " lofe all thoughts of the body, and with a pure 
 " mind, and naked foul, behold the things that arc 
 < c done above ?" O the wonderful mercy and goodncfs 
 of God! he who fitteth with the Father above, is at 
 the fame time prefent here below, and gives himfeif 
 to all who will receive and embrace him. — Compare: 
 this if you will with another miracle ; imagine you fee 
 the great Elias with an infinite number of people about 
 him, the facrifice laid upon the ftones, and all the reft 
 quiet and filent, while the prophet poureth forth his 
 prayers, then the fire coming down on a fudden from 
 heaven, and confuming the facrifice. Truly thefe 
 things are ft range and full of wonder, but yet are far 
 inferior to our facred and tremendous myfttries ,• for 
 here the prieft doth not bring fire, but the Holy 
 Ghoft ; he prayeth not that a flame may defcend from 
 heaven to confume the holy things before him, but that 
 
 the 
 
22 8 -// Preparation^ fa . 
 
 IhrinegnUK influencing the faaihce, may the 
 inflame the hearts and fouls of all the people, and ren- 
 der them more pure than iilver tried in the fire. Doubc- 
 lefs \i,ha\ theic iacrcd and venerable myfteries arc 
 performing, the holy angels do (land by, and the 
 place is lull of bU(kd and glorious fpirits, uho delight 
 to look and pry into them ; and all the orders of the 
 bcaveoly holt fhout and raife their voice together. 
 
 [tie r*fl m mgfita] 
 
 F 
 
( 239 ) 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 Importance and Difficulty 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 MINISTERIAL FUNCTION. 
 
 Preached before the Synod of Aberdeen. 
 
 2 Cor. II* 1 6. 
 Who is fufficie?it for thefe things f 
 
 Everend and dearly beloved men, bre- 
 thren, and fathers, it is one of the ad- 
 vantages of that peace and tranquillity 
 wherewith Almighty God is pleafed to 
 blefs this poor Church, that the ofiicers 
 of it have liberty of aflembling together on thefe occa- 
 
 fions, 
 
240 Of the Importance and Disunity 
 
 Boos, tor mltttial counfel and tffifttnrt tn th: exer 
 ot' their holy fuiuSioo : and indeed it* there were no 
 matter atldnj yet ought we glaoly 
 
 to embrace the opportunity of feeing one anorh. 
 bees, not only that we may maintain and exprefs a 
 brotherly conefpoodcoce and affection, b that v.c 
 
 mav animate and excite one another Oft \rmcd. 
 
 fures ot~ diligence and zeal \ as coals being gather'd to- 
 gether, do mutually receive aid pTOpi 
 
 degrte&oi vigbtirand hent. Thislhave al. \. A 
 
 upon as none of the meaneft advam no- 
 
 dical meetings, and (hall think my (ell very happy it" 
 my poor etldcavonrs in the perform! 
 
 doty, may, by the divine bleiling, contribute any ti 
 towards this excellent and defirable purpoic. To this 
 end I have made choice ol 1 text, which 1 hope may 
 ariord us Tome ufeful meditations tor ftirrii 
 
 atoakehing in our ton's a 1 
 
 kgementS under which w< 
 
 Xm blcflcd apoftle, in the t'orrm-r verfe, and 
 
 binning df this hi w: r :ic- 
 
 cefs the gofpel did meet with :•. m it 
 
 ed ; that it was not like thofc weak and 
 
 harmlefs m , which . are 
 
 Cure to do no hurt, but lik hich arc 
 
 uibrtable and llrcngthning to tiie who] bll( 
 
 trouble! 
 
 a vital it a 
 
 1 1 1 ill who rcjeA 
 
 for 1 . } y to t 
 
 it a 
 
 And then he tfl ■■''■' n t I 
 
 eonli d.-r 
 
of the Minifterial FunEtion. 241 
 
 confider what a great matter it is to be imploy'd in 
 thofe adminiftrations wherein the happinefs and miiery 
 of mankind is Co nearly concerned, -^ tU cs^}; t<wt* 
 Sec. and who is fufficient for theft things ? 
 
 W e fhall not detain you with an explication of the 
 words ; two things I conceive are imply'd in them, 
 I. The importance. II. The difficulty of the minilterial 
 fun&ion : for if a bufinefs be of fo fmall concern, it is 
 little matter who have the management of it ; there is * 
 no great harm done if it mifcarry, any bedy is fuffi- 
 cient for that thing. On the other hand, let the mat- 
 ter be never fo weighty, if there be no difficulty in it> 
 there needs no extraordinary endowments in thofe to 
 whom it is committed : common prudence, and a little 
 care, will fuffice, there is no likelihood that it can 
 mifcarry. But the work of the miniftry is at once fo 
 important, and fo difficult, of fo great confequence, 
 and fo hard to be performed, that there is a great deal 
 of reafon for an emphatick interrogation, Who is fuffi* 
 cient for thefe things ? 
 
 Firft, Let us fix our thoughts awhile on the weight 
 and importance of the miniftry, and we mall find thac 
 it is a greater burden lying on our moulders, than if 
 the greateft affairs of this world were devolved upon 
 us, and we did hold up the pillars of the earth. This 
 will appear, whether we confider the relation we ftand 
 in to the Almighty God, or the charge of the flocks 
 we have committed to us. 
 
 T o begin with the firft. That infinite Majefiy 
 which created, and doth continually uphold the earth, 
 and all things in it *, as the juft owner, and Lord of 
 
 R the 
 
 * Pfal. xxiv. i, 2, 
 
242 Ofl T 
 
 , and mull 
 i laim i ■ 
 
 TV I 
 
 hfs cf 
 
 '". \ 
 
 -fid 
 . 
 
 ' teat. A 
 i h in all 
 
 and to : 
 hem to I I [in, tho* 
 
 all 1 
 
 . 
 All men an 
 I, and . 
 caufe th manki id arc t 
 
 I in world! and have their t 
 
 ■ 
 in I - it hath 
 
 n • \ : 
 
 , and m 
 fi( ( s <»; reli 
 thing. R ligion i vnn'i g< but it 
 
 . 
 man at his I the 
 
 tv ■ ham ; '; 'r i i:. p, th m 
 
 in | i g in the 
 
 , if i . v.... r. 
 
 b ' 
 
 1, t( | 
 
 
of the Minijierial Function. 243 
 
 homage and fervice to God, and to praife him for all 
 his works. Ye ought to maintain a corrcfpcnder.ee 
 betwixt heaven and earth, to deprecate the wrath of 
 God, and avert his vengeance and plagues from man- 
 kind: Your bufinefs is the fame with that of the hcly 
 angels: You dwell in the houfe of God, and fhould be 
 continually praifing him. And this is an employment 
 fo holy, that were our fouls as pure as cherubs, as 
 zealous and active as the blefied fpirits that are above, 
 we fhould yet have reafon to cover our faces, and to 
 be fwallowed up in a deep fenfe of our own infuftici- 
 ency for thefe things. And what is finful dull and 
 aihes, that he fhould ftand in fo near a relation unto 
 the Lord of glory ? What is man (O blefied God) 
 that thou fhouldft choofe him, and caufe him to ap- 
 proach unto thee ? Zbat be jhould dwell in thy courts y 
 and be fatisfied r Joith the goodnefs of thy houfe, even of 
 thine holy temple *. The pricfthood under the law 
 was a very facred and venerable thing, and no profane 
 hand might intermeddle with the meaneit offices than 
 belonged unto it ; all the zeal, and feeiningly religious 
 care that Uzzah had for the tottering ark, ferved not 
 to excufe his preemption when he intruded upon the 
 Levitical function : but certainly as the gofpd mini- 
 ftry is fo much more excellent and fublime, being in- 
 truded wich the adminiilration of thofe holy lnytteries 
 Which were but fhadowed in the former, how pure and 
 holy ought thofe lips to be, by which God fpeaketh 
 unto his people, and by which they fpeak unto him ? 
 which fometimes pronounce thofe poweriul and effectual 
 fentences of abfolution and excommunication, that are 
 
 R 2 fo 
 
 * PfaUlxv. 4 , 
 
244 Of the L and Difficulty 
 
 I > (i • . which 
 
 imploycd i handle 
 
 . Hi funt y fairh I 
 
 ■ v >. III f J, & .: men 
 
 I r«t th.- pr.n^s of the I th, and to 
 
 <l v. 1] ;n b . rati « i mictcd ; by 
 
 <l thefc weput on Chrift, and arc buried with tbcS 
 
 G ifo become m of that 
 
 <l hcadj u\v^n which account thcfii .1 function is 
 
 41 more than that of king and 
 
 w v. : u. t t onto parents 
 
 *' themfclv< 
 
 ; !1 of the flefti, bat I the authors 
 
 II tint natis that ad 
 " t. , y, thro' grace, we be© me tl - 
 
 K o m (I High." And a^ain, the thei 
 
 fpenkir.^ of it in thefc 
 
 tern 
 i 
 
 iiac 
 :'iac 
 
 11 for 1 I on 
 
 ■ CAS 
 
 I ,:ics 
 
 I d of 
 
 fouls \ 
 
 - 
 . ' decn 
 
 i l 
 
 :• i: 
 
 aid think ns ln- 
 
of the Minijlerial FunEiion. 245 
 
 cc veiled with it mud needs be raifed above the com- 
 <c mon condition of men, and exempted from humane 
 fc affections, and as it were already placed in heaven." 
 Thus far this holy father j nor can I pafs by what he 
 fays of that ineffable privilege of the celebration of the 
 holy facrament, tho* fome of his exprefllons being fi- 
 gurative and hyperbolical, [have been abufed by the 
 Komifo party ; Dum confpicis dominum in immolation* 
 i^ facer dot em facrificio incumbent em, &c. " When thou 
 " doft behold the Lord of glory offered up, and the 
 < c prieft performing the facrifice, and the people round 
 " about dyed as it were and made red with that pre- 
 fC cious blood, where I pray thee doft thou conceive 
 " thy felt to be ? Doft thou think thou art on earth, 
 <c and converting among mortal creatures ? Or art 
 " thou not rather on a fudden tranfported into hea- 
 (c ven ? Doft thou not lofe all thoughts of the body, 
 " and material things, and with a pure mind, and 
 " naked foul, behold the things that are done in thofe 
 " regions above ? And when the minifter has invoked 
 " the divine fpirit, and performed thofe reverend and 
 " dreadful myfteries, and holdeth the Lord of all things 
 " in his hand, tell me, I befeech you, in what order 
 u of things we are to place him ? What uprightnefs, 
 <c what purity is required of him ? What hands mould 
 " they be that adminifter thofe things ? What lips 
 " that utter and pronounce thofe words? For at that 
 u time the holy angels Hand by the prieft, the place 
 " is full of blefled fpirits, who defire to look into 
 " thofe things ; and all the orders of the heavenly hoft 
 " do fhout and raife their voice together, as we may 
 <* eafily believe, if we confider the work that is in hand. 
 I cannot ftand to relate all that this excellent perfon 
 
 & % fp^aketl\ 
 
 >j. 
 
 
 
2±6 Of . ' D\ 
 
 ■ 
 
 i ince of the nuniftei 
 
 (u 
 
 V. s ;.. . doc iotn 
 
 with I 
 
 nor with th itc, or th 
 
 c fmall i 
 
 t . 
 
 contril i li 
 
 i .. 
 
 tal ; 
 
 pr< cceded .. 
 
 t , ; but \ 
 
 - 
 
 ( 
 
 depend 
 
 I 
 
 \. 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 1 1 
 
 t* lit 
 :n. >;c the 
 
 dati i 
 
of the Minijierial FunSiion. 247 
 
 Cbrifium & legem inter jecJi prophet ce. (Saith St. Greg, 
 Nanz.) " At this both the law and the prophets did 
 ct aim." Hue exinanita Deltas, hue affiimpta earo, 
 hue nova ilia mixtio. " To this pupofe did the Deity 
 iC empty it felf, and was clothed with the humane na- 
 " ture ; to this purpofe was that ft range and wonder- 
 <c ful conjunction, God and man united together/' 
 Hitherto did all the a ft ions, and all the fuffe rings of 
 our bleffed Saviour aim, for this he was born, and 
 for this he did die; and (hall we undervalue the price 
 of his blood, or think it a fmall matter to have the 
 charge of thofe for whom it was ihed ? It is the church 
 of God we muft overfee and feed, that church for 
 which the world is upheld, which is fanftifted by the 
 .Holy Ghoft, on which the angels themfelyes do attend ; 
 what a weighty charge is this we have undertaken ? 
 Who is fufficient for tbcfe things ? 
 
 T h a r thefe matters may yet take the deeper im- 
 preflion on your hearts, let us farther cpnfider the 
 dreadful confequences of nil fc art i age in the difcharge of 
 the minifterial function ; and we iliall find that it re- 
 flects a great deal of diihonour on the divine Majtfty, 
 and on our bleiTed Saviour ; that it doth very much 
 hazard the fouls oi our people, and certainly ruin cur 
 own. I fay, it doth reflect diihonour on Almighty God, 
 as the faults of fervants do commonly prejudice the re- 
 putation of their raafters, and the failings of ambsifa- 
 dors are imputed to their princes. We (land- in a nearer 
 relation to God, and are fuppofed tobebtft acquainted 
 with his will, and to carry the deepeft impreftions of 
 his nature on our minds ; and ignorant people will en. 
 tertain the meaner thoughts of the holinefs of God, 
 when they mifs it in thofe who are called his fervants, 
 
 R 4, Qertaii 
 
2 4-^ ( Importance an 
 
 Certain!; no Anall h the ft . 
 
 mifcarri bring upon I 
 
 and the 
 final] affront that is hereby put on the bid 
 t rithout q \ than all the ma] 
 
 r his o;u-n enemies is 
 hereby he iscru Ificd afrcfh, and put unto open fhaj 
 And Oh v gr t i$ the hazard our per- e do 
 
 run or failings, ei ra as much as the 
 
 wort a n be 
 
 not fai timely warning, the ("word 
 
 their fins. < ' • 
 
 crb oi a 
 and mifcarri 
 a minifter doth hazard the foals of others it d 
 
 ( | i i o n ; which mad. v 
 
 j : mnifiris i - 
 
 / ; words fo terrible, that 1 tremble to 
 Eftrlifbi and yet if a man (hould fp 
 and fin- ke, if fl «ld ( me out is mouth in- 
 
 Head d an 
 
 eye like lightning, he could not fuffici 
 tlu dread - lint that an .ml pnflor Hull 
 
 make. What horror and confufioo Ouul 
 into at the I ill d i , to hear the blood 
 ( pod plead : th m, I i Mi 
 
 fay, 1 my b 
 
 negld • . God died fbt tl fc I 
 
 l I Ml 1. | 
 
 blood . 
 
 By thl the 
 
of the Minifterial Fun&icn. 249 
 
 work of the miniftry is of great weight and impor- 
 tance, that much doth depend on the right difcharging 
 of it, and that mifcarrymg in it is the moil dangerous 
 thing in the world. 
 
 II. The fecond thing we had to fpeak to, is the dif- 
 ficulty of managing this charge aright ; and this will 
 appear if we confider, 1. The end and dcfign of the 
 minifterial function. 2. The impediments we have to 
 overcome in the profecution of that end. And, 3. The 
 feveral forts of duties and exercifes incumbent upon us. 
 As for the firft, The great bufinefs of cur calling is to 
 advance the divine life in the world, to make religion 
 fway and prevail, frame and mould the fouls of men 
 into a conformity to God, and fuperinduce the beauti- 
 ful lineaments of his blelTed image upon them, to en- 
 lighten their underitandings, and inform their judg- 
 ments, rectify their wills, and order their paffions, and 
 fanctify all their affections. The world lieth in fin, 
 and it is our work to awaken men out of that 
 deadly lleep, to refcue them out of that difmal 
 condition ; we are the inftruments of God for effectu- 
 ating thefe great defigns, and tho ? we be not account- 
 able for the fuccefs, when we have done what lieth in 
 our power, yet nothing below this mould be our aim, 
 and we Ihould never ccafe our endeavours, until that 
 gracious change be wrought in every perfon committed 
 to our charge : And if any think this an eafy work, 
 let them pitch on fome perfon of their acquaintance 
 whom they know to be addicled to fome one particular 
 vice, and try whether it be eafy to reclaim him. Per- 
 (uade the drunkard if you can to forfnke his cups, the 
 covetous wretch to part with his money, reafon but the 
 wild gallant into fcrious thoughts, and a grave and 
 
 fober 
 
2 5 o Of 
 
 traentj J 
 
 , an J p 
 
 . 
 
 ail in than ; j 
 
 . 
 
 il 
 . honour, to 
 and yet you fh 11 fil 
 i . But I 
 
 G i ; . 
 
 | 
 
 in the conft 
 
 Gnu 
 
 divine love, and i 
 
 that 
 
 i 
 n I 
 
 this, 
 
 i » Ly 
 
 they 
 
 in it. 
 
 ; 
 
 An paf- 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 311 J 
 
 s 
 
 Hid 
 
 capreffiopj 
 
of the Minijleri-al Fuii&tq?i. 251 
 
 expreffions are : if it be hard then to perfuade our (elves 
 to be good, it is fure much harder to perfuade others 
 to be fo. 
 
 Consider in the next place the enemies we have 
 to encounter with, which oppofe the defign of our im- 
 ployments; we wreftle not again ft fiejh and blood \ hut 
 again ft principalities and powers ; all the forces of hell 
 are up in arms againfl us, all the powers of darknefs 
 do continually oppofe us, and little do we know thofe 
 hidden arts whereby thefe accurfed fpirits do apply 
 themfeives to the fouls of men, to fugged and infinuate 
 their temptations. The world alfo, with all its cares 
 and pleasures, is daily righting againfl us, and there 
 is no ellate or condition in it, but what is furrounded 
 with a thoufand temptations. The poor are fo much 
 taken up in providing for the neceffities of this life, 
 that they can hardly be perfuaded to think upon ano- 
 ther; the rich are commonly drowned in fen ftial plea- 
 sures, and cur Saviour tells us, It is e after for a camel 
 to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man 
 to enter into the kingdom of heaven. The influence of 
 fcnfual objects is very ftrong, and tho' the pofiefiions 
 of the other world be as far beyond our enjoyments 
 here, as this world is above, nothing, yet becaufe the 
 things of this world are prefent, and are ever and anon 
 offering themfeives unto us, and bearing upon our 
 fenfes, therefore they do too frequently prevail againfl: 
 all the perfuafions of reafon and religion too. And 
 what (hall we fay of the evil company, and bad exam, 
 pie that inveigles the fouls of men : we perhaps fee 
 them once a week, and bring them to fpme degree of 
 fobriety, and a found mind, but then their wicked 
 neighbours, and the companions of their fin, do meet 
 
 them 
 
2 5 )ifficul 
 
 the iy, and I ;mci exam 
 
 L impi 
 
 ;i th. in , mid 1. 
 
 co recover in a ■ 
 eft have arc th 
 
 , their lulls and corrupt tacit 
 nations. When phyficii tc cure of b < 
 
 I of the : le fa 
 
 ready to c ni beir prefcriptioos ; I 
 
 is in deali g with the uills 
 and making them confent to be I: they hug the! 
 
 I Oiun the m D s and I 
 
 [ire to b 1 knee it i do nil th 
 
 to keep us (Iran buls, an* 
 
 paii il their in 
 
 to do in th m We have juftlj 
 
 i mfeflion, but alas ! i 
 in the other extreme ; and . 
 d to tell i\ cry thi their pafl 
 
 quaint thenp with n . ail Pci - 
 
 and trot 
 
 of n 
 
 . .. . 
 
 p Ipit, '. id 
 
 1 
 uay. It v 
 
 . 
 enquire h >■■ 
 
 i i 
 \ 
 
of the Minifterial Fun&ion. 253 
 
 of this nature, and it is hard to do any thing towards 
 a cure, when they will not let us know the difeafe. 
 
 The difficulty of the minifterial fun&ion will fur- 
 ther appear, if we will confider the feveral duties and 
 exercifes of it; we fhall but touch at fome of them at 
 prefent, and may perhaps have occafion to fpeak more 
 in the application. 
 
 Catechizing is a neceflary but painful one, it is no 
 fmall toil to tell the fame things a thoufand times to 
 fome dull and ignorant people, who perhaps fhall know 
 but little when we have dene ; it is this laborious ex- 
 ercife that does fometimes tempt a minifter to envy 
 the condition of thofe who gain their living by the 
 fweat of their brows, without the toil and diilraction 
 of their fpirits. 
 
 Preaching is an exercife that many are ambitious of, 
 and none more than thofe that are leaft qualified for it ; 
 and it is probable, the defire of this liberty is nofmali 
 temptation to fome of our giddy people to go over to 
 that fed and party, where all ranks, and both [cxcs 9 
 are allowed the fatisfaction to hear themfelves talk in 
 publick : but 'tis not fo eafy a matter to perform this 
 task aright, to {land in the prefence of God, and to 
 fpeak to his people in his name, with that plainnefs 
 and fimplicity, that ferioufnefs and gravity, that zeal 
 and concern, which the bufinefs requires ; to accom- 
 modate our felves to the capacity of the common 
 people, without difguiting our more knowing hearers 
 by the infipid flatnefs of our difcourfe ; to excite and 
 awaken drowfy fouls, without terrifying and diflurbing 
 more tender confeiences ; to bear home the convictions 
 of fin, without the appearance of fome perfonal re- 
 flection ; in a word, to approve our felves unto God 
 
 as 
 
( 
 
 I 
 
 J) 
 
 no with it, I: i a] rd I 
 
 • 
 Rich care and prtldenc 
 
 tl Bagtti us peri b i i nor I 
 
 cm by needttft I 
 
 rfomemen 
 y. 
 
 I and m 
 
 mi 
 
 c 
 
 wrii 
 
 . ( ) 
 I 
 
 5. 
 
of the Minijierial FunSiion. 255 
 
 When their fouls do as it were hang on their lips, and 
 they have one foot (as we ufe to fay) already in the grave ! 
 The minifter is feldom fent for till the phyfician has 
 given the patient over, and then they beg him to drefs 
 their fouls for heaven, when their winding fheet is 
 preparing, and their friends are almoft ready to drefs 
 the body for the funeral. Now tho* fome of thefe 
 have lived well, and, like the wife virgins, have oil in 
 their lamps, yet it is a great matter to calm them, and 
 to difpofe their (ouls for that great change they are pre- 
 fently to undergo. But alas ! it fares other wife with 
 the greateft part ; they are yet Grangers to the ways 
 of religion, the work of their falvation is yet to begin, 
 and their lulls to be mortified, their corruptions fub- 
 dued, the whole frame of their fouls to be chanced : 
 and tho' they have fcarce fo much ftrerigth as to turn 
 them on their beds, yet their warfare againft princi- 
 palities, powers, and fpiritual wickednefs is but newly 
 commenced ; their work is great, their difadvantages 
 many, and the time very fhort that is before them. 
 Perhaps they are dull and infenfible, and we ihall 
 hardly pcrfuade them of their danger ; they will ac- 
 knowledge they are Tinners, and fo are ail others as 
 well as they; they trufl in the mercies ofChrift, and 
 have confidence enough of their falvation, and cannot 
 be perfuaded they want any thing that is neceflary for 
 the fame. Others of thefe again are feized with fear, 
 and call for the minilter to comfort them ; what mail 
 he do? Shall he tell them that all their terrors are 
 ju(t, and it is now too late to repent ? I know fome 
 divines are peremptory in this cafe, and think they 
 fhould be left in defpair: but fure it were a fad im- 
 ployment for a miniikr to go to vifit a dying man, only 
 
 to 
 
? }6 Oft ! / / ■•'.. • 
 
 and withal 'lis COO gl 
 I i us to I God. 
 
 i 
 bill 
 
 • 
 
 r ii . 
 
 irm i foul, 
 
 lhat I to all pofliblc 
 
 I Dt ; 
 
 oc to lay bcfi - 
 
 pons pf i at will be 
 
 bard and 
 
 l the 
 
 ■un function j ii ..; deal 
 
 ot reafon tl 
 
 r kV A wcij 
 
 angels fhouldcrs might (hrink M Hence ic • :he 
 
 holy men of < Id h : 
 
 c it; Ji ^ who is fa 
 
 niffion* ..1,1 J 
 
 i i •, ' 
 
 willing* 
 ly, j ea, • 
 
 And in the ... i ieoi church, themon 
 peri ' > the m nrc 
 
 this cl the 
 
 CS in 
 19 and * M rrpS 
 i be laid the 
 
 I 
 
 
of the Minifterial Function. 257 
 
 mail bloody perfecutors. Three times did Amhrofe 
 flee from Milan, and it is reported, that after he had 
 'travelled hard all night, he found himftlf next morn- 
 ing at the outer gate of that city he endeavoured to 
 avoid. Gregory Nazianzen being taken in his Bight* 
 and ordained by force, did compofe that excellent ora- 
 tion which is at the beginning of his works, wherein 
 he doth fo well exprefs the greatnefs and the danger 
 of the miniftry, that the reading of it (and I wifh it 
 were frequently and attentively read) might, I think, 
 do much to quell the confidence of the moil confident 
 intruders. Auguftine entred by chance into the church 
 of Hippo, juft as the bifhop Valerius was fpeaking to 
 the people concerning the choice of a minifter, of whom 
 they flood in great need ; he was prefently pitched 
 upon, and almofl ordained by force, after he hsd with 
 tears deprecated the charge, and in thefe ft range terms, 
 £uid vultis ut per cam ? intimating the hazard he 
 mould -thereby run. And Chryfoftqm profefTeth of him 
 felf, that when he was chofen to a bifhoprick, his foul 
 and body were almofl parted afunder, fo great was the 
 grief and fear that feized upon his fpirits : and that he 
 did many times wonder how it had ever entred into the 
 minds of thofe that chofe him, or what great offence 
 that church would have been guilty of, which had pro- 
 voked God to fufTer it to be committed to fuch an un- 
 worthy perfon. So fenfible were thefe excellent men 
 of the difficulties of this holy function, even in thofe 
 firft and golden ages of the church ; and certainly they 
 are much augmented to us who live in thefe dregs of 
 time, wherein religion is almofl banifhed out of the' 
 world, the principles of it called in queflion by many 
 pretenders to judgment and wit, and the practice not 
 
 S only 
 
2 5 S Of the Importance and DiJ; 
 
 only d bur derided ; infomuch that mm are 
 
 ftlgla by th? contempt that lieth 
 
 a ic. jlftf/i ^ '•'* *• riduuli fiatit : We 
 
 I or Wick* to right againit, an J uio 
 
 .,,:,'- r tbifi tbsqp t 
 Xuufi having profeaitcd the importance or' the 
 tc r, it is tiose to make fame application ot' it. And 
 fir ft I lhill ru:o:v.s my fclf to thofc or' the laity who 
 vouchlafe us their p , thil they may not thiflfc 
 
 their time mifpent in f ok hours 
 
 Yo" fee, d$ar p$$pk t what a « anddificuk 
 
 charge they have to whom your fouls arc g mmittcd ; 
 whence is it then that fome or count the mini- 
 
 fterial runaionthe moft ufelefs imployirunt in the com* 
 monwealth, and that which might be moft ealily fparcd } 
 And that miniilers have caly lives, gaining their Living 
 by the breath of their ;/, ..\.*, as fome of you arc 
 pkakd ro word ir ? Wher.cc is it that this holy calling 
 COigc$ to be lo much ddpUcdf BOd that the names or 
 Kl:k: ' \ | If of ig- 
 
 nominy and contempt? And v. hatever advantages ot 
 birth and education a n yet his im~ 
 
 ployment is thought en .,vadc him, and put 
 
 him bclovt everyone that can p;e;c;iu to riie name of 
 a gentleroaa ? 
 
 •i N, how comes it that tl nings 
 
 c\ tly ciur and op; 
 
 Con htvc left u k'd upon 
 
 with an evil eye? Aj man, who lias 
 
 fpent ins time, and mu i ic, in th( 
 
 cj I 
 vi I . laJ to ; i uid 
 
of the Minijlerial FunSlion. 259 
 
 yet be maligned for a [mall annuity during life, which 
 perhaps amounts not to the gains of the meaneft trades- 
 men ? And yet if thofe perfo'ns had chofen another 
 employment, had taken Galen or Juftinian for their 
 mailers, perhaps they would have had parts and abilites 
 Sufficient to have advanced themfelves to wealth and 
 honours, as well as others, and would not have been 
 envied for it. My beloved, I account him not worthy 
 of the name of a Minifter of Chrift, who cannot pa- 
 tiently fuffer injury, contempt, and envy ; but certain- 
 ly it is no good part in the people to put theft upon 
 them : it is a fhrewd token that they have a fmall re- 
 gard to piety and religion, and that their own fouls 
 ^re the things about them for which they have the lead 
 concern. Learn, I befeech you, dear chriftians, learn 
 to take more rational meafures of things, think how 
 much you are indebted to the divine goodnefs, which 
 hath taken fo great care of your everlatting happinefs, 
 as to fet apart an order of men, whofe bufinefs it mall 
 be to promote and advance it. Do all that ye can to 
 encourage and aflift them in their work, give them the 
 encouragement of your conftant attendance, and aflift 
 them, by helping to inftrud thofe children and Ser- 
 vants who are under your Several charges. Apply 
 your felves frequently to them for advice and dire&ion, 
 and be often putting up that important queftion, What 
 Shall we Jo to be faved ? Yield them that fubmiflion 
 and obedience which is due unto them in the Lord, go 
 not to church to fit as judges , and cenfure the fermon 
 when you return : if you be not pleafed with it, your 
 ignorance or indifpofition may be the caufe, and modefty 
 mould oblige you to filence : if you be taken with what 
 you have heard, Spend not your time in talk about it, 
 
 S a. practice 
 
it o Of the Importance and Difficu! 
 
 pra^icc is ; Rwarc of 
 
 thai fpiritua] and conceitedi rbicfa mak-.s ■ 
 
 ' .'c Vj fir. \ . .ict 
 
 11 j j as an heinous (in. Fi Dp 
 
 .;• duty ia the apoftle's words, Obi) l 
 ;'. tr you, mid fubmit your fthes s for :' 
 
 tcb for your fouls % as they thai wuft gi 
 
 i$f t for 
 is unprofitable for you |. 
 
 1 m i g h t in the next place take an r\ 
 what hath been laid, to pn rcat obligatioo that 
 
 licth on ; - HI of churches, to feck cur, and to n.. 
 
 :: of thofe, whom they judge to be bed qualirkd 
 fi C fo high aud weighty a charge; and might QkW, 
 that it is no fmall guilt that he draws upon him 
 who prefents a perfon to the (Ms % of whofe 
 
 prudence and fidelity it may be he hath fo little conf- 
 dence, that he durfi nor intrufl him with the manage 
 pnent of his fortune, or the tutory of Ins child; while 
 perhaps Other! are overlooked, that might be capable 
 to do much more fcrvice in the church, merely bees 
 
 . have not the good lu»A to be , oc recom- 
 
 mended to the patron, or becaufe they have let's moo 
 
 ( r mere confcLnce than to ba: the living. But 
 
 1 forbeat this, and (hall crave liberty of this venerable 
 
 occafion nethingthat 
 
 to mj iking a little 
 
 to I 
 
 r, whofe dllij aim at tl • ?ry 9 
 
 and who are : in the vineyard ol God, 
 
 when 
 
 4 
 P 
 
of the Minijierial FunSiion. 26 r 
 
 when the prefent labourers fhall be called off to receive 
 their reward. You fee, firs, what a dreadful and im- 
 portant charge it is to which you afpire ; confider, I 
 befeech you, what great pains are neceflary to fit and 
 qualify you for it. Ordinary callings are not learned 
 without a long apprenticeship, and will the art of go- 
 verning fouls be learned on a fudden ? It is not the 
 knowledge of controverfy, or the gift of eloquence, 
 much lefs a ftrong voice and bold confidence that will 
 qualify you for it. The errors that abound among 
 us, make it neceflary indeed that you mould know 
 how to deal with the adversaries; for the clergy are 
 many times put to the pafs the Jews were at the 
 building the fecond temple, With one hand they muft 
 luild the houfe of God, and with the other they muft 
 hold a weapon*: Yet certainly your greatefl work lies 
 within, in purifying your minds, and learning that 
 wifdom which is neceflary for foil Is. Begin then, I 
 pray you, and preach to your pa {liens, and try what 
 good you can do to your friends and neighbours ; ftudy 
 that gravity and ferioufnefs, that humility and felf- 
 denial, that purity and mortification, that becometh 
 thofe who may one day ftand in fo near a relation to 
 God, and bear fo eminent a charge in his church. Be 
 not too hafty and forward in rufhing into publick, it 
 is better you be drawn than run. Nazianzen com- 
 plains of feme in his time, who with profane hearts, 
 and unwarned hands, did rum into the hoty fttncJion, 
 and before they were fit to receive the facrament, 
 would take upon them to celebrate it ; and tho* they 
 be not come unto the age of men, if they have learned 
 
 S 5 feme 
 
 * Nth. W. i£. 
 
26 2 Of the hn ( Dj 
 
 topic pious words thmk tbemfelvej fit to fee perfects 
 
 then ( > i *' fur am ! O tl um! &wcr 
 
 ft) am .\ cunabulis Samuel! & unius? 
 
 This, 1 IS the humour of fome in his c.«ys, and 
 
 I raid the cafe is DOC much better in ours : but 
 
 it you be truly fcnfiblc ot what you arc to undertake, 
 you w< uld think no time too much co be ipent in pre- 
 paration for it. 
 
 It remains yet that I nddrefs my (elf briefly to you, 
 my reverend I rethrow a t reveren rx Wc 
 
 have been endeavouring to lay before you the Impor- 
 tance and difficulty o\ your imploymcnt, and ye know 
 them much better than we can tell you ^ but thefe 
 things ought not to diibouragC \"U, or make you faint 
 under the weight, but rather to animate and c\circ 
 your care, As Al Gild OPCC of an eminent 
 
 hazard he bad encountred, SO :itb 
 
 a J mger 1 gc ; fo may I fay of your 
 
 ;k, that it is a bufinefs worthy your /.eal, and the 
 love and af&fllOO which you owe unto \vur bl.iVid 
 Mutter; and indeed ye can gifC 00 gicnt.r tcflimony 
 of it, than by a faithtul and COPfcicqtious difehare: 
 the duties ol your calling. It your uo;k is g| 
 
 yqdt i - ' ard i^ infinitelj gi nni- 
 
 gptcj at afliftancc L T p and be doing, 
 
 I th< ! ord (hall be with you ; qoIj 
 
 ful to maintain fuch a ekep and t the 
 
 uneler, as may a-Miken us unto the 
 
 grcatcil diligence and watchfiiincCs botl 
 and others. 
 
 A , i 
 
 t&C up an ipftru&or, who have mu 
 
 no irp my own ; yet fine : 1 . m 
 
 to 
 
of the Mini fieri al FunSiion. 263 
 
 to be altogether filent, I lhall offer to you the apoftle's 
 exhortation to < Tttus y ii. 15. and take liberty to infill 
 a little upon the particulars of it. tfhefe things [peak 
 and exhort, and rebuke with all authority , let 720 man 
 defpife thee. tfhefe things fpeak, here he pointeth at 
 that which ought to be the matrer of our doctrine and 
 inftruction, we are not to entertain our people with 
 fubtiie fpeculations, metaphyfical niceties, perplexed 
 notions, and fcolifli que ft ions which in gender ft rife, but 
 let us [peak the things which become found doCfrine *. 
 Let us frequently inculcate the great and uncontroverted 
 truths of our religion, and trouble our people no fur- 
 ther with controverfy than neceflity doth require ; let 
 us ftudy to acquaint them with the tenor of the gofpel- 
 covenant, and what they mull do to be faved ; to in- 
 form them of the particular duties they owe both to 
 God and man ; for the apoflle had before been (peak- 
 ing of the duties to be recommended to every one ac- 
 cording to their feveral capacities and relations: and 
 indeed it were not amifs, that in catechizing, minifters 
 would bring home the articles of faith by practical im- 
 provements, both teaching men their particular duties, 
 and pre fling them to the performance. But it is not 
 enough to fpeak thefe things, to tell men what is in- 
 cumbent upon them, we muft bcfides endeavour to ex- 
 eite and ftir them up by the maft powerful and ef- 
 fectual perfuafions ; the judgment being inform'd, we 
 muft do all to influence the affections, and this is the 
 proper life of our preaching ; which tho > it be over- 
 Valued by thofe who place all religion in hearing, yet 
 Certainly it is of excellent ufe, and ought be managed 
 
 S 4 with 
 
 * 2 Tim. ii. 5*3. 
 
264 ( ' andDtffi 
 
 1 t the matter be 
 ana grave, the method p ir, the 1 
 
 AC hand, nor to 
 gfcod men ire DO! aware what con- 
 tempt on religion by their ccar: mcly 
 allufions, anil the filly and trivial make 
 life of; nor mould cur expreffioos bl : ind c:~- 
 feminate, n r our pronunciation d or ch: 
 R ligtCII is I rational and manly thing, and \\eh\ould 
 drive to recommend it with the grcatcrt adi 
 but tbove all let us ihidy luch a zeal fed 
 
 Bowing fr m the deep (bile of the thing we lj 
 being regulated with prudence and . 
 
 : to reach the hearts of the hearers. 'I he vulgar 
 that (it under the pulpit (as the excellent //. 
 (peaks) arc c mmi nly as hard jmd dead as the 
 they Gi on, and need a mountain of foe to kindle them. 
 
 The bed way is, to preach the things tirit CO OUT Ulvcs 
 
 and. then frequently \ A in whole pfdea 
 
 and whole bufinels we are doing; and I think it 
 is no final! ad t to tins purpofe, that I 
 
 neighbouring 1 K oonfidei 
 
 done with 1 point! that they 
 may raifc theii fouls 1 I, and that the y 
 
 m ij 1 tioa 
 
 B 1 when we have d ne all that wc can by ;. 
 lick And ition, w< very 
 
 little without 1 irticular ap d to the 
 
 eu nnd 1 - will 
 
 blind 
 
 admooiti 
 And thei 
 . 
 
of the Minifterial Fun B ion. 265 
 
 rebuke with all authority. Now thofe whom we arc 
 to rebuke, are either perfons of a different perfuafion, 
 who difTent from our religion, or withdraw from our 
 ordinances, and thefe mull: be dealt with very patiently, 
 and with much long-fuffering. Tis not to be expe&ed, 
 that an hafty conference, or an abrupt difpofition, 
 mould prevail with thofe who have been long habituated 
 to falfe perfuafions, and perhaps have drunk them in 
 with the firft of their ferious thoughts and religious 
 inclinations. We mull firft ftudy to combate the per- 
 verfenefs of their will, the prejudices of the world, the 
 defire of vi&ory and applaufe, their preingagement in 
 a party, and their fhame and unwillingnefs to yield, 
 and drive to render them meek and pliable, and fin- 
 cerely defirous to know the truth. When we have ob- 
 tained this, they will be both more eafily convinced, 
 and more inexcufable, if through weaknefs they (till 
 continue in their errors. But let us never reft in having 
 drawn over a perfon to our party, till we have en- 
 gaged him to ferioufnefs in the practice of religion ; 
 for if he continue a ftranger to that, it is little matter 
 whether lie be Proteftant or Papft> Pagan or Mahome- 
 tan y or any thing elfe in the world ; nay, the better 
 his religion is, the more dreadful will his condemnation 
 be. It was an excellent faying of an eminent and holy 
 perfon yet alive in our church, That he would rather 
 be inftrumental in perfuading one man to be ferious in 
 religion* than the whole nation to be conformifts. The 
 other fort of perfons we have to rebuke, are thofe of 
 our own religion, for the vices and failings of thei? 
 lives ; and this muft be done with a great deal of cou- 
 rage and zeal, of prudence and difcretion, of meek- 
 nefs and love. More knowing and ingenious perfons 
 
 may 
 
266 Of the Importance and Difficui 
 
 may be dealt with fomctimes by fectet infinuations, 
 and oblique reflections on the vices they arc guilty 
 and we may fomctimes leek a way to reprove their 
 failings, by regretting and condemning our own ; but 
 that artifice is not ncceiTary tor the vulgar : having 
 proteikd our love and good intentions, it will be be ft 
 to fall roundly to the matter. Now this does fuppofe 
 a great deal of care, to acquaint our fclves with the 
 humours and conversation of our people, and the name 
 of watchmen that is given us implicth no lefs j and 
 tho* the lamentable vaftnefs of fome of our charges, 
 make it importable to do ail we could with, jprt mult 
 we not tail to do what \vc can. It is an exedient prac- 
 tice of fome I have thchappinds to be acquainted with, 
 who feldom mifs any day wherein they do not apply* 
 themlelvcs to fome or other or' their people, and t- 
 about the affairs of their fouls. 
 
 Another thing which may be implied in re' 
 iti^ "jctib d'.l r.:i:lm!y, is the confeienrious eMrcifc at 
 that authority which Chrift hath given us in the pub- 
 lick cenfurcs and 1 ..urch j but of this 
 
 I fhall fay no more, fave only that it were an intolerable 
 presumption, Mid honid facrikge, to makcufc orthefe 
 
 II fave the ends i and pri\ rnge. 
 T i! i lad claufc ol the r WC cited fninds 
 
 fome what ftrange, Lit fltflMfl defpifc tkee ± fure no 
 body d 'be dcipil'ed, and it vs ni : always in the 
 
 power ot man to hinder i: : bur the meaning ot the 
 words is, I re fhottld be nothing in our carriage 
 
 and deportment, which may defervc contempt. We 
 ought itill to have that apology ot the .ndi- 
 
 nels, &uiA put em ? Conttmptumne me ? /■ ;- . \ >i 
 ' 1 1 
 
 poM 
 
of the Minifterial FunSiion. 267 
 
 fojjit. There is nothing that doth expofe aminifler to 
 fo much contempt, as a vicious and irreligious deport- 
 ment ; even thofe who are profane themfelves, and love 
 vice in their other companions, do ^W abhor it in a 
 clergyman, as thinking it too grofs and difingenuous^ 
 to pra&ife all the week what he hath been condemning 
 on Sunday. I fhall not infill upon the grofTer fort of 
 vices, Nolo tarn male ominari de ecclcfia, I would not 
 bode fo much evil to the church, as to imagine the 
 clergy capable of them, I fhall point but to a few 
 things, which tho' lefs heinous in their nature, tend 
 much to the contempt and difrefpect of the clergy. 
 
 And firft, the lead imputation of covetoufnefs doth 
 a great deal of mifchief this way j and ye know it will 
 be reckoned covetoufnefs in you which is not fo in 
 others ; you will be more blamed for taking your own, 
 than they for encroaching on their neighbours ; and 
 therefore to prevent this imputation, fo far as the mean- 
 nefs of a mmfler's provifion, and necetfity of his fa- 
 mily will permit, he fhould fhew himfeif frank and 
 liberal in his dealings, efpecially with the poorer fort. 
 
 Another occafion of contempt is, the too much 
 frequenting the company of the laicks, and a vain and 
 trifling converfation among them. It was a wife fay- 
 ing, whoever he was that fpoke it, £>UQtidiana chrico- 
 rum cum laicis converfatio contempt ibiles ipfos reddit * 
 and that oiHierom to Nepotian is very obfervable, Fa- 
 cile contemnitur clericus fi ad prandium invitaius fepius 
 veniat. A minifler in his converfation ought carefully 
 to avoid all foolifh and exceffive jelling, and immode- 
 rate mirth. I could never think it a good chara&^r 
 of a clergyman, to call him a merry fellow, or a nota- 
 ble droll, and yet I do not condemn all chearfulnefs 
 
 and 
 
 
268 Of the Importance and Difficulty 
 
 and freedom, nor the innocent ni it : bur it 
 
 is one thing to make life of thefe now and then 
 they come IfitfW way, and another to fearch and hunt 
 after them ; and thole who have the knack of it, arc 
 ready enough to tall into excefs. 
 
 A third thing which will bring a clergyman into 
 contempt is, an unallowable pa: : hearing his 
 
 matter difhonourM by the oaths and pi 
 thofe of whom he ftandeth in My b: . 
 
 we had no more but the common principles o{ ingenui- 
 ty and honour, they might nuke us r-.unt thefc as 
 greater affronts than it men mould fpit in our fa 
 and yet this is but one o{ the mcanefl 
 that lie upon us, to check theft exorbitances witty 
 the grcateft fevetity. 
 
 I s li \ i i. name but another, and it is this, u'nen 
 men, on defign to avoid this contempt, v. 
 difclaim their imploymenr, by imitating the habit and 
 deportment of fecular perfons, when tfa • the 
 
 gentleman Co much, that tiv . ;L\man; 
 
 if we be afhamed of our own imp odet 
 
 if others defpife it. Fa i wm were the tfa 
 that worthy gentleman, and excellent mimfttr t whom 
 
 I named before, that , Mr //.-•;•- 
 
 who the fame night that he v d into the 
 
 office of the miniltry, his friend, lv I I 
 
 u back on my aipiring thoughts, and 1 th k my (el 
 
 <i more h i ban it' 1 had att ■ hat I lb 
 
 " bitioufly thiii; and I Id the 
 
 II court with an impartial eye, and l 
 
 w is made up of fraud, and ;i: . , and Battery, and 
 41 many fuch i th tinted pleafures. My 
 
 * 4 greatefi ambition Horn hence. II be, that I 
 
 41 bring 
 
 
of the Minifterial FunBion. 269 
 
 ? bring glory to my Jefus, whom I have this day 
 " taken to be my matter and governor, and am fo 
 " proud of his fervice, that I will always obferve and 
 " obey, and do his will, and always call him, Jefus a 
 f my matter. I will always contemn my birth, and 
 <c any title or dignity that can be conferred upon me, 
 I when I mail compare them with the title of being a 
 I prieft, and ferving at the altar of Jefus my mafter/* 
 
 I am afraid I have incroached too far on your pa- 
 tience, I mall clofe all with the ferious obtettation of 
 our great apoftle to fimothy, which you may believe I 
 durft not utter in my own name, but in the name of 
 the great mailer of us all - } I charge you before God, and 
 the Lord Jefus Chrif, who JhaU judge the quick and 
 the dead at his appearing, and his kingdom, preach the 
 word, he infant in feafon and out of feafon y reprove, 
 rebuke, exhort, with all long-fuffering and doctrine * 
 And the Lord of his mercy fo aflift and profper us all 
 in his own work, that we may be the happy inftruments 
 of advancing his kingdom, and thewelfare of fouls, thro" 
 Jefus Chrift our Lord. To whom, &C. 
 
 * z Tim. iv. i. z. 
 
 A 
 
( »7« ) 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at the 
 
 FUNERAL 
 
 Of the Reverend 
 
 Henry Scot/gal, M- A. 
 
 By G. G. D. D. 
 
 P III L. I. 2 1. 
 
 For to me to Ik Cbrifti and to dm 
 is gain. 
 
 T hath been the uftul prtfticc of all na- 
 I m eta world, ofwhatfoevei 
 
 , of pcrl'u.ili.Hi, to leave upon i 
 
 IgCS, the live! and memorable 
 wbQ htfC been eminent 
 
 «oog diem Bar i good things. And he - 
 
A Sermon at the 'Funeral^ &c. 271 
 
 this praftice may have been abufed, fometimes to ferve 
 the intereft of a fed: or party, or other undue ends ; 
 yet that the memory of good men ought thus to be 
 tranfmitted to poiterity, may be deduced both from 
 fcripture and common reafon, it being fit thus to mani- 
 feli the grace and goodnefs of God in men, and there- 
 by to advance his glory and kingdom, and to make 
 their light fo ihine before others, that they may be ufe- 
 ful inftru&ions to the world, and incentives to follow 
 their examples. To this we owe the remembrance of 
 all thofe good and great men recorded in the Old 
 Teftament ; nay, on this is grounded the eftablifhment 
 and purity of our moil holy religion : we have left us 
 the memorials of the life and doctrine of our bleiTed 
 Lord and Matter in the holy gofpels, and the ads o£ 
 his apoftles whom he fent to convert the world. And 
 the pious chriltians of fucceeding ages, according to 
 this pattern, were careful, both by publick difcourfes 
 and writings, to awaken their own and after- times, 
 with the remembrance of the zeal and piety of holy 
 and devout perfons. 
 
 And now, if by the general practice and confent 
 of all men, records of exemplary piety and goodnefs 
 be thus ufeful to poiterity, even tho* they be ftrangers 
 to the perfons of thofe whofe lives and actions are 
 tranfmitted to them ; I am fure we have much more 
 reafon to think, that fome feafonable and ufeful me- 
 ditations, at fuch a time, and in fuch a place as this is* 
 may have fome influence on our minds, when we have 
 here before us the remains of our departed friend, whrr 
 hath fo lately left this world, whofe prefence and con. 
 verfation was fo comfortable to us, whofe innocence 
 and goodnefs were fo exemplary, whofe good will, 
 
 affection, 
 
272 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 affection, and beneficence v. ere fo fincerc and ui. 
 whofe remembrance is io dear to us, 
 the ftay and honour of our church, and fo univerfally 
 beloved and eltccmed by all : Sure the fenfe of all thefc, 
 and the light of all this funeral attendance, MODOC but 
 cad our fouls into fome deep thought*, and to this I 
 doubt not but your hearts bear witnefs. Would I 
 could fay fomething ufeful for your meditations, and 
 datable to your prefent temper and this fubject ! God 
 affift and direa our thoughts. 
 
 Whin 1 Defied upon th< lite and fpirit of our 
 friend, (of the which I have had the honour and hap- 
 pinefs to have been (a frequent an oMenrer) and when 
 I confider the conftant temper and difpoiition of his 
 foul, as to this and the other world, the great resigna- 
 tion of his mind, his willingnefs to itay lure, that he 
 might do fome fervicc to his ever blciled Maker and 
 Redeemer, and yet his cheanul thoughts and apprclun- 
 iions of that happinefs that is above, and Ins ardent 
 breathings after it, methinks I hear always from him 
 the words of St. P>;u/ y J8 me to Jr. ! to 
 
 die is friin. 
 
 I 1 h I 1 i not trouble you with any large expla- 
 nation, nor with the various readings oi thefe words, 
 we (hall only confuler them in tluir moft obvious fenfe 
 
 and meaning. The blefled ipoftic being in bonds it 
 
 Rov;t, writes this letter to the PI ihfj: 1 exhort 
 
 then to 1 perfeverancc in the (kith of 4 , and to 
 bare their oooverfiition fui i it, and that they 
 
 might , by bis bonds, he tells them 
 
 happy fruits of them , how mucli they bid COI*- 
 
 du< ' the goipel, that theknow- 
 
 , with fuch coofiincy fot that 
 
 Eeiigion, 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 273 
 
 religion, which he had Formerly fo zealoufly oppofed, 
 was fpread throughout that city, and manifeft in the 
 palace itfelf : fo that thereby many were converted to 
 the faith of Chrift, and others ftrengthned in it, and 
 made more bold to preach the gofpel, fo that Chrift 
 was preached every where, by fome out of envy at the 
 glory and fame he acquired in planting the gofpel there, 
 and by others in fincerity, and out of love and good 
 will. So that he hoped, whether by life or death, 
 Chrift mould be magnified in him ; if he lived, by 
 his conftant preaching his gofpel, and living his life • 
 if he died, by figning the truth of it with his blood. 
 For to me to live is Chrift, " the whole of my lire in 
 f this world, the end of my living here, the great 
 f aim of all my thoughts, and defigns, and actions, is 
 P Chrift; to be endued with his fpirit, and lead his 
 W life, to fpread his gofpel, and enlarge his kingdom ; 
 f. I have no other defign than this. God knows, and 
 " the world fees, whether I miud riches, or pleafures, 
 P or glory among men : no, I have confecrated my life 
 <c and fpirit to my bleiTed Lord and Mafter, and they 
 f fhall be imployed in his fervice. Chrift is my life, 
 iC fo that I live, yet not fo much I, as Chrift that liveth 
 " in me/' 
 
 Few words, but full of fenfe and truth ; they are 
 not like thofe airy expreiTions, which when fearched 
 into have nothing but fancy and imagination at the 
 bottom of them, but they contain the very marrow of 
 chriftianity, and the whole of a chriftian fpirit, the 
 compleat character of his life, and a perfect inftruction 
 for ours ; and this will appear if we confider a little 
 more diftinctly their importance. For one to live 
 to another may be faid in two refpecls. 1. When he is 
 
 T endued 
 
274 A Sermon at the Ft: 
 
 as the G 
 mind, si 
 V 
 
 and ves him above all, 
 
 nothing mor< bis interelt, and 
 
 faring his defigns, and d^ And in L 
 
 1) indeed cannot be 
 may confidcr the I 
 
 f, or Chrift Is my life. 
 I f, As he was endued with the fpirir, an, 
 :d mailer. Bi j( ; .. i 
 (kith Ik, / f C i I ad indc 
 
 is the great defign of chrifl and the tnu 
 
 f a chriftian. All our duty, and all ol: 
 ncl nfifts in being Like unto God, and the 1 
 
 : dependant , and Cubje&ion to him, that 
 
 nable creai 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 he hath d him ; he \ 
 
 ifelf witl Ih, and b d 
 
 : 
 
 is, :\ud how wc muft be like him. 
 W( km •• ho« ( iod would ii re lie 
 
 . . ■ 
 .h, and were vifll 
 
 God, .... 
 
 ( • d, I 
 
 /:. Would we 
 I 
 G 
 . I 
 
 the 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 275 
 
 the new man, which after God is Created in rlghtecuf- 
 tiefs and true holinefs ? Confider Jsfus Cbrift fubject- 
 to the infirmities of our nature, and living the life of 
 God. Behold, he hath given us an example that we 
 mould follow his fteps ; he is the light of the world, 
 and they that follow him Jloall not walk in darknefs ; 
 in him was life, and his life was the light of men, tho' 
 darknefs comprehended it not. Confider the profound 
 humility of his foul, the great mecknefs of his fpirit, 
 •the entire resignation of his will to his heavenly father, 
 the unfpotted purity of his defires and arTe&ions, wholly 
 mortified as to this lower world, the ardency of his 
 love to God, and his zeal and delight to do his will, 
 his wonderful patience under the greate.fr fuHerines, his 
 uninterefted, fincere and boundlefs charity towards 
 men, doing good even to thofe who hated and perfe- 
 cted him, and dying for thofe who crucified him. In 
 ,thefe, and in all other graces he hath gone before us 
 and called upon lis to learn of him and follow him ; 
 for this end did he live and die, to endue us with his 
 fpirit, and change cur nature into his ; he humbled 
 himfelf to our nature, that he might make us partakers 
 of his ; he hath revealed unto us the nature of God, 
 and his undeferved grace and goodnefs to us • and our 
 unfpeakable mifery and corruption, and eftran cement 
 from our heavenly Father, and hath put us again into 
 a c '.pacity of being his children,, he himfelf becoming 
 ou elder brother. He hath raifed us unto the hopes 
 of :he enjoyment of God for evermore in bound I efs fe- 
 lic ty, that we might thus purify cur felves as Gcd is 
 pure He hath breathed his holy fpirit into the world 
 to tnipire us with his lire, and change us into his 
 linage and he hath told iis^ that without this we mail 
 
 T 2 never 
 
j~6 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 never fee the face of God. Wc have therefore all th<2 
 obligations in the world to make Chritt oar life. 2nd 
 to follow Jcfus ; this is the only mark and character 
 whereby God will ov.n and acknowledge us for his. 
 It is betides our grcateft glory and honour to imitate 
 fo bletfed an example, and a wonderful cxprtffion of 
 goodnefs and condefccnfion, for the Son or God CO come 
 down from heaven to give us this pattern. He is the 
 moll perrect example of purity and holinefs, in uhom 
 there was no fpot nor blemifh, who had no (in, neither 
 was guile found in his mouth, but his life was uni- 
 form, and always pure and conflant to himfelf; and 
 yet he hath given us the moll plain and familiar copy, 
 and the moll exactly fitted to the flatc and condition 
 of men in this world. He did not retire into cells and 
 cloiftcrs, as ir none could walk as he walk-.d but 
 monks and recltlfes ; but he converfed freely in the 
 world, and lived in cities and villages, in company and 
 OOQVerfe with others. His piety did nor break forth 
 into fevcre tailing, and an excefs of other anfte- 
 
 rities, in extacick raptures, and entbufiafticK fits, (ucl 
 as the lives of the famed faints of the R- ••..>'■■ church 
 
 are Ruffed with; but it was a plain III jofticc and 
 
 charity, mccknefs and humility, patience and c o ni enw 
 cuii-. i, and a readinefi to do >;.>od to ail men • a life 
 
 that is imitabk by all, from the greatell pri 
 .. if 1 :ancc of our | 
 
 Qfioo, tfa out (eh I ! os to 
 
 a th< extmpl , and '*ad the II * hrift, and 
 
 11 m DD in nothing R 
 
 purpofe i foe ! ■ tl t j ugb$\ 
 
 , it is 
 with bii that can 
 
 entitle 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 277 
 
 entitle us to an intereft in him, and that happinefs he 
 hath purchafed for us ; for if any man hath not the 
 fpirit of Chrift, he is none of his : So great and many 
 are the obligations that we have to follow Jefus. His 
 commands are nothing but the tranfeript of his own 
 life and fpirit ; we ought always to have him in our 
 eye, and in every difpoiition of our foul, in every un- 
 dertaking and defign, to confider how our bleffed 
 Matter would have done in thefe circumftances, and 
 afpire always to have the fame mind that was in him, 
 and never reft till Chrift be formed in us. 
 
 But alas ! how unlike are we to the holy Jefus I 
 Chriftians in name and profeflion, but not in deed and 
 in truth. How unworthy a character would it make 
 of him, to meafure him by the lives and fpirits of thofe 
 who call themfelves his followers? Alas ! in what paf- 
 fage or period of our life can we fay fincerely, To me 
 to live is Chrift ? Do we propofe to our feives the fame 
 defigns ? Are we endued with any fpark of his bound- 
 lefs charity I Do our fouls burn with love to God, or 
 have we fuch a fincere good-will to cur neighbours? 
 Are our defires and affeclions crucified to this world, 
 and enlivened towards heaven ? Yea, what conformity 
 is there in our outward lives, unto his moil holy life ? 
 Where is that forwardnefs to do good to all men, that 
 meek furTering of injuries, and ready forgiving of ene- 
 mies, and doing them good ? Is fcraping and fcram- 
 bling after wealth, and this world's trifles, is rioting 
 and Wallowing in fenfual pleafures, and living like 
 brutes, is contending for places and glory among men, 
 is ftrife and envy, contention and evil-fpeaking, and 
 other fuch like works of the flefh, are thefe, I fay, be- 
 coming the followers of Jefus Chrift ?. Is this to live 
 
 T 3 like 
 
F 
 
 ore 
 
 B 
 
 , who was Ton . wick h: 
 
 and 
 
 God, modi i 
 
 iflg 
 
 and ftri| is, 
 
 , and h 
 
 ! 
 
 , and in itc there- 
 
 with i ■ 
 
 I uni hhn ; whofi: h 
 ritj 
 
 .J to b tor 
 
 ved 
 to m:» 
 
 1,:.' | , [j Bl 
 
 I lived in 
 
 that his 
 .: 
 ( all things, and mi 
 
 npthinj 
 in i n 
 
 1 .;'•. i 
 
 ■ 
 
 the I 
 
 nod , the will, and t] - 'her, 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 279 
 
 being the outward life and convention, is regulated 
 according to the inward difpofitions of the foul; and 
 as a man's fentiments and difpofitions are, ftich is his 
 life. Now as the life of the body isftrangely difordered, 
 when the blood and fpirits do not run in their ordinary 
 courfe, but make convuhive and involuntary motions, 
 which are nothing ufeful to the body, nor guided by 
 the will : fo the life of our fouls is fo corrupted, as 
 that we may be faid to be dead while we live, when 
 our judgment is blind and falfe, our will perverfe and 
 crooked, our affections earthly and carnal, and we do 
 not follow the will of God : And this is the ftate of 
 our life by nature. What a ftrange blindnefs is there 
 in the fpirit of man ? We underftand almofl nothing 
 of the greatefl things, and judge perverfly of other 
 things. How little do we know of God, of our fouls, 
 of their mifery, or wherein their true happinefs confifts, 
 or of the ftate after this life ? And how perverfly do 
 we judge of the trifles of this life, as if our happinefs 
 and our all were fummed up in them? How corrupt 
 are the affections and difpofitions of our hearts ? We 
 love what we ought to hate, we truft what will cer- 
 tainly fail us, and diftruft that which mould be our 
 only confidence; we fear that which can do us no 
 harm, and are regard lefs of our greatefl: dangers; we 
 bufy our felves about trifles, or things that will cer- 
 tainly ruin us, and do not mind our greatefl interefts. 
 Now J e fits Chrift is come into the world full of grace 
 and truth, to renew the fpirit of our minds, and to 
 change the difpofition of our hearts, and the courfe of 
 our lives ; and the life that we ought to lead is by the 
 faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gavehirafelf 
 for us. We muft not live by fenfe, and our own foolifh 
 
 T 4 p aHions 
 
\ d A Sermon at the Funeral 
 pail' • nents ol things j botiocond 
 
 ., and that faith, that he by his word 
 II with. To , is 
 
 t Live by his faith, and to fivi 
 ' ' : , is to judge and cflecm of tilings as he has re- 
 \ sal D, and as he would have us, and according 
 
 to g d 3 on: hearts and lives; to love what 
 
 he bids us ! ;vc, and hate what he would have us to 
 hare, to hope and trufl in his pi to do what 
 
 he commands, and Ebrbeac and avoid what he forbids; 
 and to Mit lift in doing ins will, and (erving 
 
 his e. lie hath taught us to mal. 
 
 ment and cflimate ot things, to have a dccpfcnfcof 
 the unfpeakablc mifery and E one corrupted 
 
 nature, oi the infinite greatnefs, goodneft, and mercy 
 
 of God, and the W ill contrivance and value of 
 
 our redemption. II e has (hewn ih and the 
 
 degener* Is, and what great things they ace 
 
 capable of by the pure grace and favour ol G d j he 
 hat!-, [aid i pen the deceitful app - this prefenc 
 
 rid, and the great mom< joy 
 
 or mifery, that a waits us hen ifter j th made 
 
 kn ■'.' , . r,> us what great things he hath done and fuf- 
 
 U , and what boundLK COmpafllOO and love 
 
 uch undeferving creatures, Nowthefpring 
 that life we Ibould live by the faith ot J 
 , is to have our anderftandings renew I cn- 
 
 d, and to judge Gi and aright i ■ i 
 
 , according as be who is truth it (elf hath rc- 
 
 (j unto US ; and th.u nvt I ::y our curi 
 
 in knowing thegn, ot making them matta ranity 
 and talk to others; for then w< know nothing as we 
 
 ought : but to b • 
 
 tlum, 
 
qf Mr. Henry Scougal. 281 
 
 them, as to enliven our hearts, and guide our practices. 
 For then do we truly live by the faith of Chrift, when 
 the fenfe of our own finfulnefs and mifery finks us into 
 the deeped humility, and fincere abhorrence of our 
 felves ,* and the thoughts of the unfpeakable goodnefs, 
 love, and mercy of God, and what our ever bleffed 
 Redeemer hath done, fuffcred, and purchafed for us, 
 infpire our hearts with ardent love to them ; and this 
 becomes the fpring of all our actions, makes us delight 
 to do his will, and be well pleafed to fuffer it, and 
 ftudy always to promote his intcrelt in the world, to 
 make him be known and loved by all we can, and feek 
 his glory and honour in all we do, and not our own. 
 
 Thus to us to live is Chrift ; thus ought we to 
 guide our understandings by his light, to inflame our 
 hearts with his love, to fpend our lives in his fervice, 
 and direct our a&ions to his glory. But alas! how 
 generally are thofe who call themfelves chriitians void 
 of this life and fpirit ? Who is there that fincerely 
 makes an eftimate and judgment of things according 
 to the light oijefus Chrift ? That thinks himfelf truly 
 worthy to be hated by all > That really counts the 
 honours and promotions, the wealth and pleafures of 
 this world, as fo many fnares to his foul ? That hearti- 
 ly values the favour and approbation of God, beyond 
 the efteem and praife of men ? And however fome men 
 may have fome fruitlefs fpeculations in their under- 
 ftandings about fuch like truths; yet alas ! how few 
 fuffer them to fink into their hearts, and direct their 
 lives ? Where is the love of Jefus ; the lively hopes 
 and ardent defires after the glory that is to be reveal'd ^ 
 The true fear of God, or truft in him, or a fincere de^ 
 fire and delight to do his will ? And whatever profef- 
 
 lions 
 
2 8 1 si Serm I al 
 
 fions m Jpet Wti uits 
 
 for 
 i tree kn wn by its fruit } H arc 
 
 there that feem t .J Iran the hearty love of 
 
 Chrift ? Wherein do \vc (incertly aim at the good 
 
 i, and tl ir fouls } When do we 
 
 fingly prop cfelv< the glorj I and the 
 
 doing himfervice? V, ts are there in our 
 
 ition, that feem to fl 
 milky, and truly m lights d 
 
 it would puule us, 1 ethc a&i 
 
 - 
 ciples. V. - i and guide 
 
 meafures, the V vt ol reputation air, 
 
 for the convenient ks and pleafiirta rf this life, and an 
 avcrlion to the troubles of it, a defire or' tranfeendi 
 others in power, Wealth, Ol , a natural i 
 
 of fpirit, and inconflderation or mind; and, which is 
 
 the root of all, pride, and a blind and tnordifl 
 
 love. Thefc are the (pringa that put all in mo:: 
 
 thefc princ 
 
 mi iglc thea 
 
 impartial coi tion may n 
 
 thei 
 
 tereft. 
 r. 
 
 bct> >n he v . . J I blind i 
 
 I i. I 
 the 
 
 bur h 
 
 Son of G 
 
 : • 
 
 • i 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 283 
 
 counted all things but Hung and lofs for the excellency 
 of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus ? Who gloried in no- 
 thing fo much as his crofs, by which the world was 
 crucified to him, and he unto the world? Who reckoned 
 the fufferings of this prefent time not worthy to be com- 
 pared with the glory that is to be revealed ? W 7 hom 
 neither worldly advantage, nor the greateft croffes and 
 afflictions, neither the power or malice of devils and 
 men could feparate from the love of Chrift ? Who 
 gloried m nothing more than in differing for him, whofe 
 zeal was fo great, and his induftry and diligence fo 
 vigorous, and his care and management fo prudent and 
 wife in propagating his life and fpirit, and fpreading 
 his doctrine ? W T ho made fo fudden a change through- 
 out the world, and fo many nations his difciples? 
 Whofe divine letters have fo much tended to the efta- 
 blilhment and propagation of the gofpel, in that and 
 all fucceeding generations ? A (ingle paffage of one of 
 which occafioned the converfion of one of the greateft 
 fathers of the church. In which holy epiftles the chri- 
 ftian doctrine is fo well reprefented, wherein perfons 
 of all ranks and conditions have their duties fo clearly 
 defcribed, where bifhops, and pallors, and people, 
 rich and poor, husband and wife, parents and children, 
 mafters and fervants, the proiperous and the afflicted, 
 may learn their chrifltan duty, and deportment in their 
 feveral circumftances. 
 
 But I forbear to fpeak of that great apoflle of the 
 Gentiles, the prefent occafion leads us hither, normal! 
 I prefume to make a parallel. I know there is one 
 glory of the fun, another of the moon, and another of 
 Jhe ftars ; and one ft ar differeth from another ft l ar in 
 glory. As the happinefs of the other world, fo the 
 
 piety 
 
4 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 piety and goodflicfi of this, have their degrees and mcu~ 
 lures, I thill only confidcr for our inftru&ion, haw in 
 its own meifure the life and (pirit of our friend do 
 
 breathe forth the fame fentimencs : 7*o me to live is 
 drift: How his life and example, his C DfcrfttioQ 
 and inftruftions, his thoughts and deligns, the inward 
 endowments and difpoiitions of his foul, and A 
 waid deportment and actions of his lire, were, as to 
 the main, the fruits and effects of a christian fpirit, of 
 a holy and divine temper of mind ; and how they all 
 tended, and were employed to cncrcafc the fame in 
 himfclf, and it ir it up in others ; and to revive (bmc- 
 thing of the tneient chriftUn piety and goodnefs In 
 the world. 
 
 7*o vie to /iie is drift : Indeed well may it be bid 
 
 of his life, whole early beginnings and firft Uofibms 
 
 were fcafonM with pious inclinations, as well as the 
 
 maturer periods of it. The right managing ot infancy 
 
 and childhood, is ordinarily the lead of a parent's care • 
 
 and any piOUS exercifes are ufually the leaf! ofchildrcns 
 
 thoughts. Every trifle tickles their fancies, and tikei 
 
 up their fpirits \ little ptflions and envies, and other 
 
 I our natural corruption, begin to fprout forth 
 
 I tender age. But in out decetftd friend, 
 
 it wis bis bther's pious defign to devote him to the 
 
 (ervice of God and his church in this holy fonftion, 
 
 * h i did therefore take a [i in. 
 
 fancy and i . d, fo bis pi< US i 
 
 the (uit*bl< difpofitionol ins fpirit, did happily con- 
 
 ire with it ; tod of them 
 
 even in tfa He wis i 
 
 th' yhich 
 
 it upa 
 
 did 
 
vf Mr. Henry Scougal. 285 
 
 did ufualiy retire from them ; and that not out of ful- 
 lennefs of humour, or dulnefs of fpirit, (the fweetnefs 
 and ferenity of whofe temper did even then appear) 
 but out of a flayed nefs of mind, going to fome privacy, 
 and imploying his time in reading, prayer, and fuch 
 ferious thoughts as that age was capable of. Sometimes 
 he would be taken up with the thoughts of the law of 
 Mofes, wondring how altars and facrifices, and its 
 other ceremonies, were not now among the exercifes of 
 our worlhip ; at other times imploying himfelf in little 
 imitations of the exercifes of the holy fun&ion, as 
 preaching, and the like ; and among other inflances of 
 the happy fruits of fuch retirements, this deferves to be 
 remembred, that being once in a ferious reflection what 
 courfe of life he mould take, that might be conducive 
 to the falvation of his foul, and being in a deep mufe 
 of thoughts, he takes up the Bible to read a portion of 
 it ; and tho* he was always averfe to the making a 
 lottery of the holy fcriptures, yet he could not but 
 take notice of the firft words which occasionally he caft 
 his eyes upon, and which made no fmall imprefnon on 
 his fpirit. By what means jh all a young man learn to 
 purify his way ? by taking heed thereto according to thy 
 word. The diverfions he was then moft taken with, 
 did fpeak out the greatnefs of his mind and fpirit, and 
 he feemed to acl: all the grandeur of this world while 
 a child ; for when in learning the Latin tongue, he 
 began to underftand the Roman ftory, he retired ufu- 
 aliy with the moft ingenious of his fellows, compofed 
 little orations, and a&ed the parts of Roman fenators. 
 I cannot here omit that vaftnefs of memory, and for- 
 wardnefs of judgment, which did even then appear, 
 in that when he began to take notice of the daily 
 
 reading 
 
2 Q 6 Si Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 !vly fcriptures at home, he could ;. 
 onl\ at that time, whether the hi- 
 
 t parts j but aft.. ..pon the turn- 
 
 nch particular chapter, could call them to 
 remembrance ; and whereas thofc of that : tor 
 
 t j K . part remember only fomc littk incohu 
 
 pgfl I publkk fermons, he did ufually take up 
 
 C icopc, and give a brief account of the 
 And tho' children generally love only the I- ckty of their 
 fellows, or fuch as can entertain then with iv 
 
 ioolifh (lories yet fuch was the :ir, 
 
 and the love he even then had t 
 
 men, that when he had the h.aiin. 
 
 rious and reverend perfoos, who ufed to refect to his 
 
 father's boufe* be WAS caretul to attend CO them, and 
 liftcn to their wile and pious diicourfes. His imp: 
 
 ments in humane literature were beyond the ordinary 
 attainments of his age, bavin faired a 
 
 lingular and unaffefied y in the Lmm boo| 
 
 but alio a cotlA i;1 ^ c &* 
 
 in ti lc / , and t ' the orici I 
 
 piages i being i :i 7i 
 
 and other parti I N ^ as 
 
 i. bis appi 
 
 of his j 
 
 iirft 
 
 in vanity and i"u 
 
 I 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 287 
 
 men : and we may fee how much a prudent father's 
 wife and pious care, when it meets with a fit temper 
 and difpofition in a child, may contribute to plant the 
 feeds of thofe vertuous endowments and good inclina- 
 tions in that tender age, which will bring forth much 
 fruit in their riper years ; and with how much reafon 
 the wife man bids us, Train tip a child in the way he 
 fiould go> and when he is old he will not depart from 
 it. 
 
 But the paths of the juft are as the fuming light, 
 which fhineth more and more unto the perfect day ; 
 thefe were the early dawnings of piety and goodnefs 
 which appeared in him in thofe firft years of his age, 
 before he came to this corner of our land, and there 
 became flill more manifeft and confpicuous. His im- 
 provements had now fitted him for the univerfity, and 
 here he gave further proofs of a pious difpodtion, and 
 a capacious underflanding ; he was far removed from 
 thofe levities and foolifh cufloms, thofe little animofities 
 and itrifes, which the inconfiderate youth are fometimss 
 guilty of; but was even then grave and ftayed in his 
 deportment, as was obferv'd by all, yet free and un- 
 affected. The learning that was then in fafhion, tho* 
 he faw quite thro' it, yet it did not fatisfy his under- 
 Handing, nor could he perceive its ufe, fave to wrangle 
 pro and con about any thing. He was defirous to dive 
 into the nature of things, and not to be involved into 
 a ftrife of hard words, and a maze of nice diftinctions ; 
 and therefore by his own proper indufiry, and private 
 ftudy, he became even then mafter of that phiiofophy, 
 which has now got fuch footing in the world ; befides 
 a lingular proficiency he made in the feveral parts of 
 mathematicks, in hiitory, and other humane learning. 
 
 But 
 
288 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 But he was ilwtyi careful to beware of any phi) 
 phy, or talfc knowledge, chat was apt to have a bad 
 influence on the mind, and debauch the i'pirit, as to a 
 right fenfe or" God and religion, and never furr 
 himfelf to be tainted in the leaft with iiich ; and there 
 was nothing that more endear'd any philofophical tTU1 
 to him, than when they gave right apprehcnlions of 
 God, and jufl thoughts or" morality and virtue. His 
 mind being always comp fed to a religious urn: 
 even then made it his buiinefs, by the frequent read- 
 ing of the moft pious and uferul books, and a hippy 
 converfation, fan&ified by a conitant devotion, and an 
 unprejudiced mind, to frame to himfelr", amidft the vi- 
 rions opinions and diffractions of v./c///, right 
 apprchenfions of religion, and accordingly to fnit his 
 practice; fo that even then religion was the matter of 
 his ferious and impartial choke, tnd not meerly the 
 prejudice of cuftom and education. He ufed forrutimes 
 to write ctlays of morality, end occafiona] meditations ; 
 
 which as they were fingukirlv eloquent and lllgenti 
 Co they breathed forth the dew id, and 
 
 the ferioufnefs of his fpirit, and would wry well be- 
 come a riper age. It beklg the cuftom of the youth 
 to have private meetings about the ordering the con- 
 cerns of the cohurtcr.ccrntKts, where he was made con- 
 ftant prefidcnt among his fellows, his difcourfes to them 
 were fo grave and becoming (as lome ot tSum have 
 
 profiled) tlut they l ioked up \ them as the (ayingi a' 
 
 a grey head ; and thought they favour \1 of the wif- 
 
 c< m of a j'.t:.-\r. 
 
 Such was his dfl Qt and improvement tor 
 
 the tew years he rehded in the univcr.iry ; io that in the 
 eltccm oi all he did not a little honour that degree 
 
 which 
 
5 of Mr. Henry Scougal. 289 
 
 which is then given, of which fome are faid to be fo 
 much the reproach. And therefore he no fooner came 
 out of the univerfity, but he was thought worthy to 
 be a mafter, "where he had fo lately been a fcholar ; 
 and after having given fufficient proofs of his fitnefs, 
 by teaching for the next term the clafs of one who was 
 occasionally abfent, he was accordingly promoted. And 
 even in this ftation, to him to live <wa's Chrift ; he was 
 careful fo to behave himfelf in his own converfetion, 
 and in the exercifes of that office, as to preferve his 
 own confcience pure and void of offence, and to ferve 
 the interells of chriftianity, training up the youth in 
 fuch principles of learning and goodncfs, as to make 
 them mod ferviceable both to church and Hate. He 
 was careful not to drive on little defigns, or to main- 
 tain factions and heats in the fociety, but ftudied al- 
 ways to comjpofe them ; and when it would not do, they 
 were his regret:, but he was (lire not to make one of 
 them. He always prefer v'd his authority entire airu n^fh 
 the unruly youth, and would quickly compofe their 
 diforders and tumults, and yet gain their love and 
 efteem, and knew well how to entertain them with 
 freedom and kindnefs, and yet oblige them to that 
 refpect that becomes a fcholar towards his mafter. So 
 far was he from defigning his own private gain, that 
 when a tumult had arifen among the unruly youth, in 
 which there were fome under his care who could ealily 
 have purchafed their pardon by the payment of an in- 
 confiderable mulct, and the aflurance of their good be- 
 haviour afterwards, and when fuch was their perverfnef s 
 that they would not do it ; tho' his paying it in their 
 name would have done the bufinefs, yet rather than 
 do fuch a feemingly unworthy act, which might pro- 
 
 U ftitutc 
 
A I al 
 
 rity, and : them to the like tu- 
 
 multuous practices, he . . : ib mpelled, 
 
 his own considerable detrira rldlyin* 
 
 eerefts, having but a L Hems cartful 
 
 .limit the youth in the moil intelli ufe« 
 
 ful principles of humane ka ! ; and i: defetves 
 
 Do be remembred, that he was the Gift in this corner 
 of the land (perhaps in the I ation) wbotao 
 
 the youth that philofophy which b 
 preference by all the knowing •.. he look' 
 
 it as the mod proper for framing th merits, and 
 
 difpofing them to conceive things aright; 
 them <>ti from a difputing humour, m in 
 
 hard won ^ and in i 
 
 .v fomething when they knew nothii ight 
 
 it fcrv'd to enlarge and rai(e their appcthenfiora 
 Almighty God, by confidering the vaftnefs of 
 
 I , and the admirable wifdom aiui is that 
 
 appeared in the order of the world, and th. 
 
 even oi | miniu 
 
 difpos'd them to confider th nai m 
 
 iuai pi., i that it 
 
 inclined them to a more i g vd-wii: 
 
 wan 
 
 1 1 
 up 
 
 • 
 
 c. ' 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 291 
 
 open the folly and heinoufnefs of vice and impiety, and 
 the excellency and advantage of religion and goodnefs ; 
 and fuch other considerations as might both inflrnft 
 their minds, and gain upon their tempers ; and he 
 failM not to deal with each of them apart in private • 
 thofe who were of bad inclinations he ftudied to reform 
 and amend, and in whom he faw any appearance of 
 goodnefs, he was careful to encourage and cherifh them. 
 Thus he hath made appear by his praclice, that phi- 
 lofophy and religion are not enemies to one another, 
 but that the fober and difcreet ufe of our reafon makes 
 us more capable of the truths and graces of our re- 
 ligion. 
 
 But God had defign'd him for the more immediate 
 fervice of his church, unto which he had been devoted 
 from the womb ; and therefore by the counfel of fome 
 ferious and reverend perfons in the church, whofe ad- 
 vices were of great weight with him, he was called 
 forth to preach the gofpel, and a little after entred into 
 holy orders, and was imploy'd, as you know, in the 
 office of the miniftry in the country ; where, tho 5 his 
 flay was fo fhort, yet the proofs that he gave both 
 of his fitnefs for, and zeal in that holy function were 
 Angular : he found he had now more obligations lying 
 on him to piety and innocence of life, and as the am- 
 baflador of his bleffed Mailer, he mud be very tender 
 of his honour, and of perfuading thofe he was fent 
 unto to be reconcil'd to God ; and therefore he was 
 careful to lhun even all appearances of evil. He 
 ftudied, during his fhort flay, by catechizing to in- 
 ftru£l his people with the greateft plainnefs and affec- 
 tion, in the right fenfe and knowledge of religion and 
 their duty, and to fhevv them the folly and unreafona- 
 
 U 2 blenefs 
 
10,2 AS F *al 
 
 blenefs of th cs, wh. 
 
 Iged th.milv.es in a I He endeavour \i to 
 
 understand their tern rdingly to apply 
 
 himfelf to them ; he- was dee| little 
 
 of religion that generally appeared, tnd 
 
 fa .v any fpark ofgoodnefs, how ftrangely v.e,s he ch 
 with it; he more valued the humble innocence, and 
 chearful contentment and refignation of one poc; 
 man in that pine:, than all the nu . ) appear- 
 
 ances of others ; having o\'z in his mouth, Irtdofii cotlum 
 rapiuftt. He endeavoured to bring them to a d 
 and conftant attendance on thepublick worfhip, •. 
 he always went, and join'd with them a: the beginning 
 ot it; thinking it very unfit that the i 
 Almighty God, the reading fomc portions of the holy 
 Scriptures, making a confcffion of our chriltian faith, 
 and rehearfing the ten commandments mould be 1 
 upon only as a fr$h VtUfti for ufli pie to 
 
 the church, and the minilUr to the pulpit. 11 
 mons were always devout and llrious, av 
 and he endcavout'd to fit them to the car of the 
 
 people, ami be rcviv'd the a eof* ft 1 
 it as the moQ ed to have light 
 
 o\ this nation us'd to fcy) long texts and hort fcr- 
 mons. 
 
 B T 1 mud not (o (lightly pafs over his preaching, 
 in which ucl ocern'dj a wile man 
 
 ly wrii an effay, bo* t< life of 
 
 us, and it v. n i »bc wUh'd we wereinlfa 
 
 cd in making good , inch 1 mean as might have 
 
 an 
 
 1 • ■ 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 293 
 
 an influence on mens hearts and lives ; and Cure I think 
 all who heard him will acknowledge his practice to be 
 no contemptible pattern. He thought it mould be a 
 minifler's care to choofe feafonable and ufefui fubjects, 
 foch as might inftrucl the peoples minds, and better 
 their lives ; not to entertain them with debates and 
 ilrifes of words ; that he fhould exprefs himfelf in the 
 moil plain and affectionate manner, not in airy and 
 fanciful words, nor in words too big with fenfe, and 
 having a great many thoughts crouded together, which 
 the peoples underilandings cannot reach, nor in philo- 
 fophical terips and expreffions, which are not familiar 
 to vulgar underilandings ; nor in making ufe of an un- 
 ufual word, where there could be found one more plain 
 and ordinary to exprefs the thought as fully. He 
 look'd upon it as a moll ufefui help for compofing fer- 
 mons, to make the Sunday's fermon the fubjecx of our 
 mediation and mental prayer for the foregoing week, 
 £hat it may thereby (ink deep into our fpirits, and af- 
 fect our own hearts, which would make us more capa- 
 ble of teaching others. He thought it a fit expedient 
 for compofing us to aferious and affectionate preaching, 
 to propofe to our felves in the meditation of it, purely 
 the glory of God, and the good of mens fouls, and to 
 have this always in our eye; and in our preaching to 
 make frequent recollections of the divine prefence, and 
 fhort ejaculations towards heaven, thereby to preferve 
 us in that humble temper, that ferioufnefs and gravity 
 that becomes us in the prefence of God, and as the 
 ambaffadors of Chrift. And how conformable was his 
 practice to thefe rules ! The matter of his difcourfes 
 was always fo ufefui and feafonable, his words and ex- 
 prefTicns fo plain and proper, and well chofen, his de- 
 
 U 1 portment 
 
294 A Sermon at the F: 
 
 miog the fenfe 
 
 -.ce 
 
 : ate, and itc love 
 
 arid i mpanicd with 
 
 Rich n:i a,- (s and mildnefi, as tharm'd 
 
 men .at, 
 
 that I thint I may (ay id the words of the difcipk 
 
 Saviour, Did not f$ 
 
 1 unto us tic fenpturts f 
 How did the holy fpirit by him ei . 
 and af:lct our h. There ate i me kinds <>; u<;rds 
 
 etpreffiohlr, fomc rones and ways o rcc, 
 
 which will raile the palTions and a: 
 b fed tempers, tvrthoot at all enlightning their 
 
 n as muii.lv do<.s ; and there il 
 living open the nature and the real , but 
 
 in i> dry a manner, thru they Boat merely up*>n our 
 Ufld smattcrol fpeculatton and talk, and d n r t 
 
 {[xfe iiv. uts; and tho' then be w.u, 
 
 n . e ; : the fibethod 61 preaching, at 
 
 !.-.;'.■ 
 
 es on b ith (ides, But in rtns lure 
 
 H that lnard him, \ 
 
 let 61 utt< i d not 
 
 to enlighten their minds, m\^\ warm 
 
 I > tender v. . «r and 
 
 pi. lohi 
 
 hand to himult' in 
 
 l void all i hildilh metaphors, apifh 
 
 I 
 . 
 
 . | ... 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 295 
 
 fane, rather than the piety of the ferious ; and I dare 
 fay, the moil profane fcoffers of the nation were never 
 tempted to turn his expreflicns or geftures into ridi- 
 cule; nav, many of avowedly profligate lives, have 
 been extreamly affected with his fermons, which prick'd 
 them at their hearts, he laid them fo open to themfelves, 
 and made them fo fenfible of their brutifhnefs and dan- 
 ger, as they themfelves have acknowledged. 
 
 I cannot here omit the deep fenfe he had of true 
 eloquence, and his high value for it, profe fling he would 
 exchange for it all the other humane learning he was 
 matter of. He was fenfible of the little knowledge we 
 had in the ars voluntatis, how little we underftood of 
 the nature of mens patfions and inclinations ; and 
 what things were mod capable of bending their wills, 
 and prevailing upon their minds, according to their dif- 
 ferent tempers; and accordingly he judg'd there were 
 two effential defects in our belt kind of eloquence. The 
 one was, that in the meditating our difcourfes, we ra- 
 ther meerly confidered the iffues of our reafon, and the 
 nature of the thing we were thinking of, and did not 
 fo much reflect upon the temper of the perfons we were 
 to fpeak to, and what kind of reafonings, words, and 
 expreflions, would make the bed impreffion upon their 
 minds ; and therefore it was nothing ftrange, that 
 words let fly at random touch'd them fo little. The 
 other, that our hearts were not throughly endued with 
 thofe difpofitions we would work on others by our 
 words, and therefore it was no wonder all we faid 
 made fo little impreffion on them. 
 
 But I come now to the laft ftage and period of ht s 
 life, wherein itmoft eminently appeared, that to him to 
 live was Chrift, God had defigned him for a more 
 
 U 4 iirriverft! 
 
a 9 ^ A Sermon i 
 
 univ in bis 
 
 by cl the Aim v.ty, Ik i cd 
 
 i a private charge in the country, to a more gei 
 ral i up the youth for the holy mini:'-- 
 
 and the care ot mens t uls. I .re, 
 
 efpecially when they arc made b man}, 
 
 •re ufually attended with little , comb*: 
 
 and heats ; but as the purchafe DC ot his d-.i'ign, 
 
 fo tl ol his worth and [ :^\c 
 
 him tiu unanimous voice i 
 
 tC to that Ilati Ml, and the DoiveriaJ appro, 
 bat ind the i| lion he 
 
 'had of the weight and importance of : ice, and 
 
 his mean th of himfclr", made him deliberate 
 
 about it til] \: m Cting. Indeed both his na- 
 
 tural, acquired, and moral end >, made him be 
 
 judg'd by ail wortl . this charge. His memory 
 was lingular, and tho' he loved m things 
 
 than , yet tor inilancc, in days tim. 
 
 learned to i :;cs, 
 
 and could r^ad it i;i 2 
 
 thole v»h<> have lit ii 
 
 As to things of ip • - : " trn 
 
 a Lai l on his mind, tho* at La 
 
 - 
 I f bout it, d to 
 
 ind- 
 
 \tl affairs, as well 
 He did not fo mi. 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 297; 
 
 (cnfible that it often ferv'd to dull, confufe, and pre- 
 judicate mens understandings, and make them of im- 
 perious and dictating tempers ; and therefore he made 
 a prudent mixture of a moderate reading a choice of 
 ufeful books, and cpnfulting the living as well as the 
 dead, having a lingular art of benefiting both himfelf 
 and others by converfation and difcourfe; and he di- 
 gefled and improved all by retired meditations, and 
 fervent devotion ; fo that his learning feem'd rather the 
 iffues of his own mind, and the infpiration of the Al- 
 mighty, which teacheth knowledge. He imploy'd two 
 fummers in going to a neighbouring nation, in which 
 he made it his buiinefs to converfe with thofe who were 
 of greattit reputation for learning and goodnefs, where 
 as he gained their lingular elteem and good thoughts, 
 fo by ufeful converfation, and a ferious obfervation of 
 tempers and things, he improv'd his mind and know- 
 ledge. But indeed we may look upon his excellent en- 
 dowments as the reward of the pious difpofitions of 
 his foul, and of the good defigns he proposed to him- 
 felf in all his ftudies and endeavours ; and God knows, 
 in the undertaking this office, there was nothing. to be 
 had more before his eyes than the fervice of Jefus. 
 Cbrifty and the good of his church. He was deeply 
 fenfible of the great weight and importance of the holy 
 miniftry, and did much bewail the general failings in 
 the exercife of it, how every man minded his own things ' 
 and not the things of Jefus Chrift. And therefore he 
 made this the one great defign of all his endeavours in 
 that charge, the fitting and training up the youth for 
 that holy function ; and this was the great aim both 
 of his pubiick and private care of them. 
 
 H* 
 
298 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 11 : confiderM that they nght chiefly to mind and 
 fit themielves now tor that which would be their great 
 bufinefs v.h.n they were entred into the holy functi. n ; 
 and that this would not be fo much the managing or 
 CO O t P Of trfi cS and debates of religion, as the gnu)i 
 mens fouls to eternity ^ the refcuing the vicious from 
 their iins and vices, and prevailing upon them by 
 prudent methods, and directing the ferious to the tl 
 practice and cxercife of religion, and the noA pr< . 
 means for the practice of goodneft, and the avoiding 
 and refilling of temptations, and hov. they ought to 
 behave tlumfclvcs in all circumitances of life. He 
 thought it diffident that they underlie d the date and 
 importance of thofe controversies and di i^h 
 
 WCTC the grounds of the diviiions o( ( bar, for 
 
 their own inkruaion, and thofe who ltood in need of i: 
 under their cure ; but the other he look'd upon as their 
 main bulinefs. And therefore accordingly after he had 
 guarded them tgainfi the common artifices o\ the R r 
 a mi flkmaries in their making pr< andclcar'd 
 
 the mofl important difficulties in tl 1$; he pro- 
 
 pound two dd all his publick 
 
 rdfcS ; tl - •.-..; : I on- 
 
 fiderthc infiitation | nicy, tl ':: and difli- 
 
 cul: :ion 
 
 ot the minillry, the natUI It call we ought to 
 
 have to it, the net at are r .. d 
 
 to lit us for it, : ol ant i wn pi ii itc life 
 
 and con irgc 
 
 the md prlvi 
 
 the Light 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 299 
 
 he be, and whatever cafes and circumftances he fall 
 into ; and the branching out this into particulars, and 
 vindicating it from the corruption of the Jefuits and 
 others. So great and good were the defigns he pro- 
 pofed unto himfelf. As to matters of controverfy, he 
 ftudied rather to leffen than multiply, and faw that 
 men were apter to be reafoned out of their erroneous 
 perfuafions by a good life, than many arguments. He 
 thought it enough to make the youth underfland the 
 true date of matters in debate, and to confider the 
 mod: weighty differences, but he was careful to take 
 them off as much as poflible from the difputing humour, 
 and an itch of wrangling pro and con about any thing, 
 and many times by filence anfwered their impertinent 
 quibbles. There were no debates he was more cautious 
 to meddle with, than thofe about the decrees of God, 
 being fenfible how much chriltianity had fuffered, by 
 mens diving into things beyond their reach, Secret 
 things belonging to the Lord, and things revealed to us 
 and our children ; but he had always a deep fenfe of 
 the powerful efficacy of God's grace upon our fouls, 
 and that all our good was entirely to be afcribed to 
 God, and all our evil unto our felves. He ufed once a 
 year (when the youth were moft frequent) by a very 
 ferious and affectionate difcourfe in Englijb, to lay be- 
 fore them the weight and importance of the miniftry 
 how they fhould demean themfelves now while they were 
 candidates for that holy function, how carefully they 
 ought to avoid all fuch evil converfation, as might 
 give their minds a bad tincture ; what courfe of iludy 
 they ought to take, inviting them to a frequent refort 
 unto him, and exprefling a mofl affectionate concern 
 for them, 
 
 It 
 
joo A ' "rf! 
 
 I r IR to make his private 
 
 .:i hi inch tbcm as nfefal as ha pubBckj and by 
 
 this iadeed he hoped to do moil good They had al- 
 Wft] to him, and his counfcls and advices 
 
 I 0. ill fuited to the difpoiitions he perceived in them \ 
 he could ib modelUy and prudently tell them their tail- 
 
 s, as to make them p and amend them with- 
 
 out being offended j he was careful to lend and direct 
 them to the ufc of good books, tlld indeed one or" the 
 great ends of his buying fo many was to ferve them. 
 Thole who were ot" the mofi eminent endowments, and 
 bvii inclinations, hejlirr'd up to ferious thoo the 
 
 holy miniftry ; he gave them the aaoft undoubted 
 proofs of his love and care oi i eart 
 
 Be ely to them, and learn'd their inclinations and ituc 
 he dire, no to the beft meanj of , bettering their 
 
 l.earr, as well as informing their j its j prai 
 
 meditation, and frcouenti. ..no ma,. 
 
 fallible, that iel;-v. ill \'. ill OUT fin; 
 
 an entire resignation to the will ot G< d,- 1 
 
 fpring ci ail 1 1. 
 
 and conllani I and re: And 
 
 ats Kb of in. 
 
 ; that entiie c del MVlthj and di:. 
 
 rencc and i end 
 
 coileguc ; and that entiie an - 
 
 D] and I qp 
 
 the. 
 
 1 . ' , 
 
 in ■ ol ins blefTed MaQer ; and we 
 
 ■ heir 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 361 
 
 joint endeavours, thro' the blefTing of the Almighty, 
 we (hould have feen another face on our church. But 
 amidft all his pious defigns and cares, he is called by 
 his great Matter in an hour that we thought not of, 
 from his ftewardfhip here, to an higher imployment in 
 the other world. Who is that faithful and wife ftew- 
 ard y whom his Lord makes ruler over his houfloold 
 to give them their portion of meat in due feafon : Bleffed 
 is that fervant whom his Lord when he cometh foall find 
 fo doing; of a truth he will make him ruler over all that 
 he hath. 
 
 Indeed the end of his life was no lefs Chrift's 
 than the beginning, and whole courfe of it: the 
 time of his fkknefs was as chearfully fpent in (offering 
 the will of God, as the former was in doing ic. He 
 manifefted the greateft meeknefs and chearfulnefs of 
 fpirit throughout the whole courfe of it • he ufed not 
 the lead harm expreffion, either to any of thofe thai 
 waited on him, or concerning the prefent providence : 
 he exprefled a perfect indifferency as to life and death, 
 and an entire refignation to the will of God, to dif- 
 pofe of him as he thought meet. He found himfelf 
 never more fenfibie of the vanity of this world, nor 
 ever felt more ardent acts of love to God, than at that 
 time. He was wrapt in admiration of God's good- 
 nefs to him, and the little returns he faid he had made 
 to it : and acknowledged his own great unworthin efs, 
 and his humble confidence in the mercy and goodrcfso: 
 God, thro' the merits of his bleffed Saviour. And thus 
 meekly did he pafs his ficknefs, and refign his fpirir, 
 without any trouble from the world, or great pain of 
 body, or any anguifh of mind ; for mark the perfect 
 rnan^ and behold tie upright, for the end of that man is 
 peace. A N d 
 
A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 A N d new, iftef all, I cannot here omit what fenrice 
 he hath done tbc world, by permitting ittoenj -y tfa 
 excellent thoughts of his, about tie Life of 
 Soul of Man* Men may write b:^ volumes, and, as 
 one fays, talk much, and fay nothing ; but 'tis 
 matter to talk little and yet fay much; and Cure who- 
 ever conlidcrs the importance of the matter of that 
 book, the clear reprefentation of the lire and fpiril 
 true religion, and its graces, with the giett escellei 
 and advantages of it ; the propolal of the moll effec- 
 tual means for attaining to it by the grace or' God, the 
 piety and fcafon:.blcnefs, or the d with 
 
 the natural and affe&i (Ifttc an- 
 
 not but be fen lib! e of \ .us 
 
 •with the fpirit of true religu n, 1 1 enlighten our minds 
 "with a right ki^(^ and knowledge of it, to warm i 
 hearts with fuitable affe&i mis and breathi; ; it, 
 
 and to direft our lives to the \ And in- 
 
 deed it feems to have been in I glttt meafure thet; 
 fcript or his own life and fpirit, thole d ; and 
 
 virtues which he t th in 
 
 his own life and o i der- 
 
 but felt them. That faith, and love, ar.d I 
 rity, that purity and humility, whid 
 recommends and [peaks 
 throughout the wh I 
 W h • r i deep th D u : our re- 
 
 Ugipnl He fullered th. | his unduiland- 
 
 ing, to be man k and d . but 
 
 he let them 
 and direct 
 
 ■ 
 
 v. , the 
 
ef Mr. Henry Scougal. 303 
 
 wonderful mercy of our redemption by Jtfus Chrift, 
 the corruption and degeneracy, and iinfulnefs of our 
 nature, the excellency of goodnefs, and the happinefs 
 of heaven, and his deep fenfe of ail this, was the fpring 
 and root of all his other graces. 
 
 In how manifold inftances did appear the ardency of 
 his love to God ? He was ftill breathing with more ar- 
 dent defires after him, and was forry he could love 
 him no more ; he was frequently admiring his wifdom 
 and goodnefs in the government of the world, and the 
 wife difpofal of things. It was not the mean princi- 
 ples of cuftom, reputation, or vain-glory, or a fervile 
 fear, that made him carefully avoid all evil in his 
 practices, but the ardency of his love to his heavenly 
 Father ; and therefore his life was fo uniform and con- 
 flant to it felf, and carefully employed in doing all 
 the good he could, and any thing whereby God might 
 be glorified ; and he was flill fenfible how little he 
 could do worthy of his love. His own inclinations 
 were correfpondent to the refolutions of his pious father 
 from his childhood, and he had devoted himfelf for 
 the fervice of Jefus Chrifi in the miniftry. Thofe in 
 whom he obferved virtuous endowments, and the moil: 
 pious inclinations, he encouraged by all means to the 
 ferving of God in the holy fun&ion. He endeavoured 
 always after an abfolute resignation of his will to him, 
 looking upon this as the very life of all graces ; he was 
 very obferving of the various paffages of his providence 
 towards him, and very fenfible of his goodnefs in 
 crofling fome defigns, which he afterwards faw would 
 have been inconvenient for him. He was careful to 
 obferve all the fteps of providence, and when they 
 feem'd not to approve of his intentions, how eager 
 
 foever 
 
3C4 SI Sermon at the 1 al 
 
 focver his defirtS had been, he was fure nor to go ( 
 ttcp far:'.:.-. Ik was ardent and conitsnt in his devo- 
 tions towards God, his piety and zeal wen- very emi- 
 nent in the fUbtick WOrflrip^ when he uas the mouth of 
 the people; his devotion was fo raited, and the humble 
 fervour and (erioufiiefi of his fpirit io viiible, as d 
 highly inflame the d< of the ferious ; and wh 
 
 he made one of them, the humility and adoration of 
 his foul did appear in his outward behaviour ; and he 
 thought it one l'uitable evprellion ot it, to b 
 knee before that Majefty, before whom the angels 
 tremble. In the celebration and receiving of the h 
 communion, his foul feemM to be wholly JwAUowfed 
 up in the contemplation of '/' and his 
 
 votion was the admiration of all that faw him. } I 
 had been conftant in his private prayers to ( i o rem 
 
 his childhood \ and that great :'. devotion which 
 
 he recommends in bis b quenc p: 
 and he lent up fometimes fuch fl 
 
 fuch ardent fighs, and gros his 
 
 fpirit, as perhaps nndog'd h : . Ins 
 
 foul take its flight fo I aclc. 
 
 A n i) fure a foul • 
 oi God, i irity 
 towards men : and il tem- 
 per feera'd to Incline him I : haifh- 
 D< is in the i but it 
 fweetnefsand love, whi in his \ and 
 
 coir 
 
 the firfl 
 
 sod into a bo) I Us 
 
 od- 
 rrfillj and eva v man the object ot t; 
 
 Hii 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 305 
 
 His prayers and good wifhes were extended to all men, 
 and all the harm he could do his enemies (if there were 
 any fuch univerfal haters of mankind as to do him bad 
 offices) was to pray for them the more earneftiy to 
 God. He did not confine his charity within a kd: or 
 party, but loved goodnefs wherever he found it, and 
 entertained no harm thoughts of men, meerly upon 
 their differing from him in this or that opinion. He 
 was grieved at the diflradions and divilions of the 
 church, and that religion, the bond of love, mould be 
 made fo much the bone of contentions. 
 
 What prudent methods would his fincere love and 
 charity to others prompt him to, to undeceive them in 
 their errors? How meekly would he difcourfe with 
 tiiem about their differences? Calmly fhewing the 
 fmali importance of fome things, not worth the con- 
 tending for, and making appear the bad influence that 
 other things had as to holinefs and a good life, and 
 yielding in others again that were not contrary to the 
 defigns of religion, making them fenfible of the fin- 
 cerity of his foul, and his hearty good- will to them. 
 He was far from maintaining a difference upon the ac- 
 count of floutnefs of humour, or keeping up the re- 
 putation of a fed or party ; being defirous we mould 
 be all united in the generai religion of Jcfus Chrifi, 
 and ftudying to make friends, and unite the hearts of 
 thofe who had been divided by names and parties : 
 and thus if at firft he did not prevail over mens pre- 
 judices, yet he failed not to gain their hearts, and fo 
 by degrees made way for his feafonable difcourfes. 
 And O what holy charms and pious arts had he to 
 catch mens fouls, and to make them purfue their own 
 happinefs ; a chanty which he thought far fuperior to 
 
 X any 
 
3 cG A Set urn at the Vuntral 
 
 any that could be done foe the body (tho* I. 
 eminent in that land alfo) and of which he woold 
 
 (peak with the grcateft concern and emotion of fpirit. 
 
 HpW many arts had he CO better tiv.m, and m I thfcm 
 
 good and happy ? His love mad n intent 
 
 upon this, as tl m< . m ike the covetous 
 
 man bend ah ins thoughts and defigns to add to his 
 
 lire. How would he take advantage from c\ 
 thing, to make all things work together tor their good ! 
 He feem'd to be the viiiblc fpring that put all good 
 deGgnS in motion, for bettering the- date ofourchur.h. 
 He was the genius that put lite and fpirit into the fc- 
 rinus ftudiesand pious endeavours of tbofc he converted 
 with. Bow careful was he to propagate every where 
 right apprehenfions oi religion, and what a vifible in- 
 fluence had he among us in this matter ? What wife 
 methods had he to make his friends fcnfiblc o[ their in- 
 firmities and ladings, by freaking to them of his own ? 
 And to ftir them up to zeal and diligence in pi 
 good wirks, and to the u(c or" the molt effe&ual m: 
 for purifying their fouls, by telling them inftances of 
 
 the piety and lite <>r otl his acquaintance He 
 
 was careful even to make his ordinary convcriaticn 
 i;l for this end, both in giving the example of an 
 
 unaffe&ed modeft) andmecknefs, and dropping in al- 
 ways fomcthing that might muke them more in love 
 with religion and goodneft. The ttiects o\ his 
 and Care <>t me;. attended even tO th (c wl 
 
 him not, ai 
 
 quaintanccs, u i, to employ them. 
 
 tercfl I E their friendship and familiarity I 
 
 in p piety and | and allur- 
 
 .11 to the lending of good books, and (bcb other 
 
 .ins, 
 
of Mr. Henry Scoligal. 307 
 
 means^ as might ferve both to enlighten and purify 
 them ; and when he heard of the good fruits of fuch 
 defigns, how much would he be cheared with it? His 
 love and veneration for good men was lingular and 
 extraordinary, nothing he more delighted in than their 
 pious converfation, and he could fo well reprefent their 
 piety, and good life to others, as to make them ena- 
 mourM with it too. 
 
 H 1 s love and charity were eminent alfo in the 
 bounty of his alms, and the relief of the outward ne- 
 ceflities of others. The firft money he gained being 
 at the univerfity, he was careful to lay by a portion of 
 it for the poor, before he made any ufe of it for him- 
 felf, devoting as it were the firft fruits unto God ; 
 and this courfe he obferved throughout the reft of his 
 life, laying ailde always a portion of his income for 
 the relief of the necefiitous. This has been the practice 
 of many charitable perfons, as the bell: method to fe- 
 cure a {lock for their charity, to make them give it 
 with a liberal and willing mind, and to feek out fit 
 objects for it. Were this practice more frequently 
 obferved, it would undoubtedly make enriftians more 
 bountiful, and their charity and alms more profitable 
 to themfelves and others ; and a tenth thus chearfully 
 bellowed, accompanied with the other exercifes of a 
 pious life, would undoubtedly bring in its hundred 
 fold of bleflings in this world, and in the world to come 
 life everlafting. And as he was careful thus to provide 
 for charity and alms, fo alfo to difpofe of it aright, he 
 did not his alms to be feen of men ; many were revived 
 by his bounty, who knew nothing of it. He chofe 
 out fome fit perfons both in the city and the country, 
 who were acquainted with the necefilties and ftralts of 
 
 X a poor, 
 
p8 A Sermon at th F 
 
 poor, modeft, spew, to whom 
 
 quently gave money to rants j and:, 
 
 v. ltu fometimes lv 
 
 who were relieved in their ftraits the;, i by 
 
 whom. A noble example of chriftian charity ! 
 be God there ire yet fume (parks of it in the world. 
 God grant fuch pious exampks may encourage I 
 (lir up more to a chriftian imitation of them. Nor 
 was his charity fo exemplary only in the liberal dif- 
 penfing of portions of Iris ) early 1 . but alfo in 
 
 fuch a prudent difpofitM n of what the wifdom or pro- 
 vidence, and his pious lather's care had p tor 
 him in his la ft: will and tellament, as might molt tt 
 to the publick good and advant.. v. ill hi due 
 time appear. 
 
 B u i among the other exprellions of his love, his 
 friendfhip fore deferves a grateful remembrance, Friend- 
 ship, the flower or' fociety, the cafe of cur grLfs, the 
 heigbtnet and refiner of our joys, our guide and coun- 
 fellor, and the lite of angels ! Many have made tine 
 pictures of it, but the want friendfMpb 
 
 rvation and complaint of all men ; 
 but O! h •■. eminent an example wa Bncere 
 
 : riendfliip ; this was the darling 01 his (ou\ y 
 and the delight fpirit. He did I to 
 
 fcrvc litt and private ulterefts, b:-.t he* 
 
 lull dial love and 
 
 1 y would 
 
 and unbofotn his thoughts, and 
 his friend 111 c Ins intertfts i 
 
 ■ ... . ! It" th.- any 
 
 . i 
 
 tern : 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 309 
 
 them: and their happy events would fo refrefh and 
 chear his fpirits, that, as has been taken notice of, it 
 had even influence on his fickly body, and would give 
 it fome greater meafure of health. How readily would 
 he forego his own interefts to oblige his friend, and 
 deny himfelf, as is well known to fome, even in thofe 
 defigns and inclinations, for which ufualiy we have a 
 great concern when we are once engag'd in them. So 
 far was he from defiring to engrofs the love and kind- 
 nefs of his friends, that he made it his great buflnefs 
 and delight to propagate true friendfhip, and make 
 them friends to one another ; and in this he fludied to 
 render it the moil ufeful thing in the world, and to 
 make it ferve the great ends of piety and religion. 
 Thofe in whom he obferved the fpirit of true piety and 
 goodnefs, or any appearance and likelihood of the one's 
 having influence on, and bettering the other's life and 
 practice, he endeavoured to bring them into acquain- 
 tance and familiarity, to endear them to each other, 
 and to make their friendfhip ufeful for promoting true 
 piety and goodnefs, both in themfelves and others ; and 
 this perhaps is the moft effectual means for recovering 
 fomething of the ancient chriftian fpirit in the world. 
 Many methods have been fet on foot, under pretence 
 of effeexuating this defign. In the Greek and Roman 
 churches, men have formed new focieties, inftituted 
 new orders, engaged them to peculiar vows, and given 
 them particular religions, as they call them, fubordi- 
 nate to the general religion of Jefus Chrift. And 
 among thofe whom the grofs corruptions and tyranny 
 of the Roman church, both in faith and worfhip, have 
 thruft from their communion, many have ground lefly 
 feparated from one another, and formed diflinft fc£ts 
 
 X 3 and 
 
But 1. - have 00*. 
 
 propotii 
 experience may p*k € lnc world (enfible. 
 
 , | ... i- have ended in raiting the r and 
 
 ch of their peculiar < rdcr, in 
 its rules in oppofition to others in observing ar- 
 
 ticular inftitutions, which become m 
 mality and cuftom, h*vi •//- 
 
 ■■'hip, but Jc not ten mg cf r 
 
 ftiegce; and the reft of the people are ape to think, 
 they have not fuch obligations to pictj and 
 life, as if the careof that m on 
 
 t ' n ,, iad peculiarly afluafted i i them i title 
 
 G f f And the zeal and endeavors of the latter 
 
 arc ufunlly (pent in keeping up the reputation of their 
 ftft and party, in thefc things Specially therein tl 
 differ from ethers ; and this ordinarily makes the 
 {Indies and defignson all (idesco run into thischanneL 
 But perhaps, if inftead ot inch groundlcfs divifions 
 i . , : . | bifms, and peculiar inftitutioos and on. 
 
 , w nnon | t of bettering the date ^' n 
 
 gion, more care were had d tain and p; 
 
 an holy and (joc< dfliij gbt fee more 
 
 blefled frui lilft by the fi comintinica- 
 
 t •■., ol the their fa [ about religion 
 
 ; , b mutually clear'd, their minds united, and 
 they inftru&ed in the bed means oi purifying their 
 1 irts, inflamed « , and furred 
 
 up to ar as 
 
 i • an holy i 
 
 trticular i 
 
 I 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 311 
 
 others who profefs it to a fincere conformity thereunto, 
 O how defirable were it ! 'Twas thus methinks that 
 the Son of God did at firft fpread his religion in the 
 world ; 'twas thus that the zeal and piety of his firft 
 followers did continue it ; and 'tis thus that we muft 
 expect to fee the life and fpirit of it to breathe once 
 again amongit us. 
 
 And now I need not fpeak much of the purity and 
 cleanrfefs of his heart, and his great unconcernednefs 
 for this prcfent world, it having been the general ob- 
 fervation of all that knew him. He look'd indeed al- 
 ways as a itranger and pilgrim in it, and was dead to 
 it in heart and fpirit long before his body had taken 
 leave of it. Good God ! What a deep fenfe had he of 
 the meannefs and vanity of this world's hurry and 
 defigns, which he us'd to fay look'd to him like the 
 projects and fcuffle of children and fools. In his very 
 youth hi§ heajt was clear of any inclination to it, and 
 he would even then fay to his intimates, that, abftra&- 
 ing from the will of God, meer curiofity would make 
 him long for another world, it being a tedious thing 
 to fee flili the fame dull play acted over again here. 
 What little regard had he to the getting or keeping 
 of what the world calls wealth and riches ? Never was 
 he feen to have any project that tended that way ,• he 
 could fcarce expend any thoughts about his yearly in- 
 comes, but remitted (till the care of that to others, 
 without calling them to an account. How excellently 
 had he learn'd his matter's kffon, To take no thought 
 what he Jhould eat y what he Jhould drink, or where- 
 withal hejhould he cloathed! Never any thing he was 
 more unconcern'd in than this • whatever was fet before 
 him for the fuftentation of his body, he did eat of it, 
 
 X 4 asking 
 
3 * a A m at t ' / .. •• al 
 
 asking no queftions foripp , his thoughts 
 
 arid DCVd taken up v. i:h thofc actions 
 
 nimal life, etten when i I them, rod 
 
 while he fupportod nature, he 1 iiflered his cade 
 
 to have any complacency in them. }L thought lira: 
 to t. th k who pretended to a diriilian temperance, 
 us pleafure in their meats, making 
 them the liibjc I ol theit table talk, and as if they 
 owned their bellies for their gods, profeffing the 
 fuch and inch difhes with all their Ibals. that 
 
 the v. _ I nefs and infirmity of humane nature, by which 
 v. re I i tll f d with the beans, fhould become the mat- 
 ter of our vanity and rolaptuoufnefs, inftead of that 
 humble and abating fenfc we ought to have of our 
 fcl\ B 
 
 T h b innocence and purity of his life was obfcnra- 
 
 bl from his very childhood ; he I rr tinctured 
 
 wich the leaft appearances of thofc impurities which 
 are the reproach of the chriftian world. Ho* great 
 an example was he of chriftian continence and cctli- 
 
 b.uy to all that knew him. His \,iv air and convcr- 
 
 fation fhcwYJ how mu is mortified to the world 
 ia this all dif- 
 cntuies and " impu- 
 rity, and COUld HOC Clldu thoft 
 
 wh to wreft the talk i *ry dif- 
 
 oourfe that way. 
 
 A i the 
 never bewitch, lb i ... d troubles of it did 
 
 I ; i ppi ti :ic, but in all 
 
 , .. .. id c i 
 
 When he liv'd in the jr, the hardfiiips 
 
 rod I he thei d, wen the 
 
 talk 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 313 
 
 talk of all that knew him ; his coarfe fare, and hard 
 lodging, and unwonted folitude, the extreme coldnefs 
 of the feafon, and the comfortlefs fhelters he had againft 
 it, did excite the compaflion of others, but never lef- 
 fened the quiet and contentednefs of his fpirit, and he 
 fuffered them with as much patience, as if he had been 
 bred up from his infancy in the Vurkijh gallies. Any 
 traverfes that befel him in the circumftances of his life 
 and defigns, did never becloud his natural ferenity and 
 chearfulnefsof his mind ; and he ufed to fay in relation 
 to fuch difcontents, that as he bleffed Gcd, he was 
 not naturally melancholy, fo he thought an acquired 
 melancholy was fcandalous in a clergyman. 
 
 And O what a profound humility of foul did 
 (hine forth in his life and actions ! The admiration of 
 the perfections of the Almighty, in the contemplation 
 of which he has often taken up, had funk him into 
 truly mean thoughts of himfelf. All who had occafion 
 to converfe with h r ii were fenfible of the lowlinefs of 
 his mind, and yet he fcarce ever obferv'd thofe little 
 officious ceremonies or compliments, which we mud 
 oft-times make ufe of to cover or counteract the pride 
 of our fpirits, or which it prompts us to traffick with, 
 to purchafe the regard and efteem of others. He dif- 
 dainec: not to converfe with the meaneft, and look'd 
 upon 'Very man as his fellow and companion; and the 
 exemplary regard he had to young children, was e- 
 qually the exprefHon of his humility and his love; how 
 ready was he on all occafions to converfe with them, 
 taking a lingular delight in their harmlefs innocence, 
 and ufually after the example of the great mafter of 
 love, affectionately embracing and blefling them. And 
 fuch was the pious meeknefs of his foul towards others, 
 that if at any time his natural temper raifed any little 
 
 com- 
 
ni^ A &€*inon at the Funeral 
 
 commotion in his fpirit, (which was fcarce ever taken 
 qqcJ ret his entring into the holy function) yet 
 
 he quickly appealed it, and never flittered the fun to 
 co down upon his wrath. He was never {zzw to b< 
 of any of ins performances, nor yet to ufe the find 
 and more fubtle letch of vain-glory, in an elaborate 
 undervaluing of them, that others might cemmend 
 than ' but me expteffions of his mean thoughts of him- 
 felt were always fo natural, and (o full of fimplicity, 
 that one might ealily obferve them to arife from the 
 bottom of his foul, and all his actions and his con- 
 VCrfation made appear the truth and finceriry of tlum. 
 Tho* his piety and innocence were eminent in 
 eyes of all that knew him, yet lie had no fmall fa 
 of his own unworthinefs when lie fet himfelf in the 
 jj*jjt ef God's cou>. tld his purity, and 
 
 thought on his infinite goodmfs and mercy to him in 
 Jcfus Cbrifti (about which bis thoughts were frequent- 
 ly taken up) O how deeply was he humbled under the 
 (enfe of his Gnfulnefs and ingratitude, and the little 
 returns he had made to fuch undefemd goodiuf* 
 When we are in a total darkn. bem 
 
 one thing from another $ and an ordinary light will 
 dUcoverto a lineaments, and more remark, 
 
 able differences of things ; but irtcd in 
 
 •n the fun will fllCW us much impurity and 
 
 Dels wherewe thought al] to haw been pure andcl 
 
 And O With what ferioufiuis and lim. 
 
 enlightned bul exprefcthc fenfe he I 
 
 of his nature, and I 
 
 lift words he I :e to tfa 
 
 '.,-, uttered with an I 
 
 \fter hiving witneffed his refignation to the 
 
 bopes in hi • tod go 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 313 
 
 nefs; But, fays he, when you have the charity to re- 
 member me in your prayers, do not think me a better 
 man than I am, but look upon me as indeed I am a 
 rnoft miferable {inner ! A moft miferable {inner ! O if 
 the righteous fcarcely he faved, where JloaU the ungodly 
 and the wicked appear! 
 
 Bur I forbear to mention any farther the graces 
 and virtues which mined forth in the life and fpirit of 
 our friend ; the experience which many of you have 
 had of them in his converfation, will furnifh you with 
 a better fenfe of them than all I can fay. As to the 
 particular inftances I have given, there are more than 
 one or two here prefent who can bear witnefs to the 
 truth of them ; and I hope there are none here will 
 think me guilty of fo much impudence, as to utter 
 falfhood$ of him in a place where he was fo well known 
 and where there are fo many fo well acquainted with 
 moft of the important and private pallages of his \ik- m 
 No, I know you are fenfible how far fhort all I have 
 {aid comes of his true worth • he had need be endued 
 with the fame fpirit, that would fpeak aright of him, 
 and true goodnefs cannot be exprefs'd, but felt. 
 
 Give me leave only to join in with your medita- 
 tions, and to think with you on the leflbns we may 
 learn from the prefent difpenfation, according to our 
 different relations and circumftances. 
 
 And now, good people, let us confider his exam- 
 ple, and our early lofs of him : O that we would once 
 learn to be wife, and to live like chriftians ! You are 
 all fenfible what an eminent example he hath given 
 us ; and alas ! What hinders that we mould not be 
 followers of him, even as he alfo was of Chrift ! How 
 may we fee in him all our little pretences and prejudices 
 againft piety and goodnefs danYd and confounded? 
 
 Where 
 
1 1 6 A Sermon at the T. neral 
 
 v • is the mtn that will fay, he tides as much 
 plcafure in his jollity and cups, that his lulls and 
 . him as great a fertility of mind, arford 
 i much comfort, diipofc him to as much patience 
 and contentednefi in any condition, as were always 
 fcen to be the rewi rd and blefhng of the innoccr.ee and 
 goodnefs of his life? When did ever inch an uni\ 
 ciieem and 1 ve wait upon a bid man to his g 
 as we fee hath accompanied the pietj and virtue d 
 who was ambitious of nothing lefs than the gfaf] 
 while yet all mouths are opened in his pi 
 
 man (peaks good of him, and paribus of all 
 
 and pcrfuafions amongftllS lament his loft, and tk 
 his hearfe with tears? o hoi .1 and rtfign'd do 
 
 We fee the death ot the righteous, and how unlike 
 mud ours be to it, if we will not live their life ! What 
 an uniformity is there in the virtue and innocence oi 
 that life that fprings from true g -, and tfa 
 
 od ? And O how v< id mull we be of it ! H 
 palpable our hypocrify, if our a&ions contn i 
 
 1 [I w( bids God, and ;. | ci i] 
 
 to i ut neighbour ! 1 
 our (ins, and yet breathe and me< 
 others; and not a refpefi to all 
 
 mandnunts! It we mir look Upon I 
 
 and holy men of God in old time, as if they hid 
 
 ample 
 tion'd to our 
 -I. { • • 
 
 mptations and infirmities, 
 and J 
 
 / ... W 
 
 •]y fit for G 
 May not the piety and 
 mm ( 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 317 
 
 innocence of his youth, fhame us into a better mind, 
 and more chriftian lives ! For honourable age is not that 
 which ftandetb in length of time, nor that is me a fur ed 
 by number of years ; but wifdom is the grey hair unto 
 men, and an unfpotted life is old age. tfhus the righte- 
 ous that are dead, Jhall condemn the ungodly which art 
 living, and youth that is foon perfected, the many years 
 and old age of the unrighteous. 
 
 A n d O what fhall we fay of that divine provi- 
 dence, which hath taken this light from among us ! 
 The ways of the Lord are wonderful, and his judg- 
 ments are a great deep. One who was fo great an 
 example of piety, an ornament to his country and the 
 church, is quickly removed from us in his youth ; and 
 many who are the reproach of religion, the fcandal of 
 the world, and the ftiame of humane nature, are left 
 to old age, whether to fill up the meafure of their 
 fins, or to lead them to repentance, God knows. He 
 whom God had bleft with fo much light to inflrud us, 
 and virtue and zeal to direct us, who was fo helpful 
 to enlighten us by his fermons and difcourfes, and to 
 edify us by his example, is fuddenly fnatched away 
 from us. O that we may bear the rod, and him who 
 hath appointed it ! When we make no ufe of God's 
 talents (fuch are the inftructions, and counfel, and 
 example of good men) he takes them from us. Alas! 
 what an ill account can we render of this ? Could we 
 almoft imagine fermons more ferious, affectionate, and 
 heavenly ; and yet wherein have w r e been prevailed 
 with to better our lives, to forego one vice we were 
 otherwife inclined to, or to do that good we were averfe 
 to ? All the ufe we make of his example is, to feem to 
 approve and commend it, but wherein do we imitate 
 it ? Do we think that other helps would do better, 
 
 that 
 
'US A Sermon a! the Funeral 
 
 that other means and circumftanccs would have mere 
 influence on our lives ? Alas 1 my brethren, they that 
 not hear Mofes and the prophets, neither 
 . be perfuaded tho J one Jljould rife fro, 
 WC arc ulually mod fenfible of the worth of worldly 
 bluings, and mod thankful tor them, when God takes 
 them from us, and O that our appetite mi 
 at Kcafi quickned for fpirioul bleflings] O that our 
 prefent lofs may have this influence upon us, that 
 may be truly fenliblc of God's goodn. 
 
 this bleffinc fo long upon us, that went) 
 
 providence in depriving DG ol it, and that the impref- 
 lions he hath left on our minds ol his lift and .;nd 
 
 the feed oi the gofpel he hath (own in 
 God's { C bring forth fruit in us. Finally,;: 
 
 thren, what ' , 
 
 honefi, wbatfiever things are juft, See. / 
 which • >: 'd and md 
 
 feen in bim t do, and %l e God tf peace fuall 1 1 
 
 A N D you, my friends, who v, 
 care, his children, of whom 1 till 
 
 Chnft ihould be formed in you, wfc 
 tons to have fitted I ; d J , and the 
 
 care of iviils ; iltS I I bUm< \<i:r tears, OC 
 
 wichh Id >v ui grid ? MyJ ttbt 
 
 of J Bible 
 
 foe Dae toe Em, 1 know 
 
 youi own hearts arc fenfibl nd ail Kanfav. 
 
 O what in ufcful guide and i was he! H 
 
 dear \n ii unto him! Ho* una] humble 
 
 and ingenuous in H . wift and 
 
 pi US v. inllru. ions i od idl ices! 11 IK HU 
 
 are his i i taken up sb 
 
 them all i r?s I i his great defign ol 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 319 
 
 for the holy fun&ion! And how great and un- 
 fpeakable is your lofs ! O let us adore and fubmit to 
 the divine providence : Search and try your hearts, and 
 confider your ways, and reckon what fruit you have 
 brought forth worthy of fuch ableffing; and whether 
 you have not deferved the removal of that light, while 
 you have been fo little careful to be enlightned by his 
 inltru&ions, or warm'd by his piety and zeal. God 
 withdraws from us fuch ufeful bleffings, to ftir us up to 
 fhake off our (loth, and to a more ardent care and en- 
 deavour for the enlightning of our minds, and the 
 purifying of our hearts, for which his life and fpirit 
 would have been fo ufeful to us ; if you would let the 
 world fee what efteem you had for him, if you would 
 not be guilty of the abufe and mifimprovement of one 
 of the greateft bleffings you ever had, remember his 
 inftru&ions, follow his advices, and ftudy to be what 
 of all the world he was moil defirous you mould be, 
 make it appear that his labour is not in vain. Tou 
 have known his dofirine, manner of life, purpofe, faith, 
 long-jufferingy charity, and patience. You may re- 
 member how he behaved himfelf among you, what, 
 and how he inftruded you. You know how defirous 
 he was both to have you good men, and well fitted 
 for the holy miniftry. Confider how above all things 
 he directed you to the purifying of your hearts, and 
 the exercifes of true repentance. Think what gravity 
 he requir'd in your behaviour, what modefty and hu- 
 mility in your words, and converfation, anfwerable to 
 your defigning fuch an imployment, what abftrac~tion 
 from unfuitable bulinefs or company. Call to mind the 
 care he had of directing your ftudies aright, how he 
 diverted you from fuch learning as was not apt to give 
 you a fenfe of piety and religion, took you off from an 
 
 itchinrr 
 
3 20 A Sermon at the Fu?ieral 
 
 itching curiolity ah, ut qikftions and ftrifes of wo:\ 
 Which miniiicr to vanity and contention; pcrfua, 
 y< u to I of heart, truly pious dciigns, and fre- 
 
 quent dcVOtioO, as the belt difpoiitions and hclp^. 
 knowledge ; and directed you to fuch bouks and Sod 
 as might ferve to give you a right and deep fenfc of 
 cluiftianity, and or the importance and duties of the 
 holy function. Remember how much he bcwail'd the 
 unfexmly btfte, and unfit method* and arts which I 
 ufed, to thrult themklvcs into the holy miniftry | and 
 admired the different conduct of the holy mui 
 times, who, fenlible of its great v. eight, and app- 
 henlive of their own ittfilffidcncy, were almoft alv, 
 forced to it by the people, and the governors of the 
 church. Conlider, I befcech you, of what Imp 
 he thought it both for yout OWC fouls, andtbofi 
 might be your , II y D IcBC 
 
 means (iocercly to examine :lves bd rehaad 
 
 your fitnefs both in heart and r that fa 
 
 mens, and the pari your intentions, rung 
 
 truly the (ervicc , and d neat 
 
 (bids, and not I .. fordid ends ci vanir; 
 
 mindednefs, or ainbiri 
 
 may link into ] I that you m 
 
 in the things you I turn, tod hatn been 
 
 allur'd ofj I- 1. VI them. 
 
 A n d you whom prpvu ith entrufted with the 
 
 care and education me alfo to 
 
 call CO mind ;h. .ar tnend, while he 
 
 made Of}* OJ your 1 m know you have the 
 
 charges snetationj and that 
 
 I welfare both oft he < . d late, andtbdrown 
 
 good and happinefs, dotfa rery much depend upon the 
 rijjljt tornr, indl and tempers in their 
 
 younget 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 321 
 
 younger years; and that as the making this your great 
 delign in that imployment, doth moil tend to promote 
 it, fo you can never more ferve your own interefts in 
 it. All callings have their feveral temptacions, and di- 
 vifions, or floth, or intereft, or ignorance, may be the 
 bane of this. The ill management of it has a more 
 univerfally bad influence on the world, than that of 
 mofl other imployments, as the happy fruits of the 
 faithful difcharge of it doth as far tranfeend many 
 others. We are all made for eternity, and we cannot 
 go about any thing aright, if our eye be not Rx. 3 d 
 upon its end, and if all fubordinate ends have not a 
 refpeft to the great end of our being. The holy calling 
 has this for its immediate end and delign, and next to 
 it, yours has the nearefl relation to it. We are fee 
 apart to declare the light which Jefus Cbrift has re- 
 veal'd from heaven, by which he brought life and im- 
 mortality to light through the gofpel ; and you to clear 
 up the remains of the light of nature that is within 
 us ; and he that dwells in light inacceflible, is the foun- 
 tain and author of both. We ought to be careful that 
 men be not mifled by falfe lights, nor miftake darknefs 
 for light, and to perfuade them to live by the light of 
 Jefus Chrift ; and you are to beware, that we do not 
 take the prejudices of childhood, cuftom, and educa- 
 tion, our own or other mens fooliih fancies, for clear 
 notions and lights of our underltanding. As the bad 
 ufe of our reafon, and the confuiion of the light of na- 
 ture, has made men pervert or disbelieve the light of 
 J (us Cbrift, fo the iincere and right ufe of it doth 
 ftrangely difpofe us to receive that light, to admire 
 and love it, and to lead our lives accordingly. True 
 philofophy leads us to acknowledge and adore the au- 
 thor of our being, to admire his infinite perfections, 
 
 Y from 
 
j o o 
 
 A at the T ^-al 
 
 from ti, r, and ufefulods of his wc: 1 
 
 to be fcnflbl abfolute difpofal ot' all things and 
 
 otircntii idance upon him tor life, thoughr, and 
 
 motion. I: M the fpiritual nature ot' our im- 
 
 mortal fouls, and the m.annefs and vanity of len:i;al 
 pleafures \ it difcovers to us the fhortnefs of our rcalon, 
 and the little ground we have for vanity, either for 
 our knowledge, v. ho know lb few, and fo little of his 
 works, or for what we are or can do, who owe all to 
 him, and bear fo mean a proportion to the univerfe ot 
 bodies and fpirits. It lets us fee, that our only hap- 
 pinefs were to have our wills united to his, and thews 
 us, that WC mould love him above all, and have an 
 univcrfal love tor all men, ind that all our klicity 
 confifts in Undying thus heartily the common good ot 
 the world. It gives OCCafion to make li- 
 the ftrange corruption of our hearts, and how far we 
 ire from being what we lhould be; and i: ..blc 
 
 We .. ;ivc our telves thofe difpolitions I 
 
 fear, and reverence that wc owl i at Maker ; and thus 
 it leads us to the !', r of mail.: d makes 
 
 appear how mil I wehaveof his | d truth. 
 
 1 d mbl not but thefe, and filch like niiderati. 
 do i to make this your great view and dc- 
 
 .:: :. •.:. ruction* 
 
 and example, I on, and fuitable 
 
 the Ma rid, and the Re- 
 
 nerof mankind, wii , vien philofophyfc 
 
 and J OU y<-ur fclves 
 end was in makin; 
 1 lis pious and chriltian / 
 
 , ins private inftniftion and 
 .1 ;n, v. ill 
 
 ol it to man; 
 
 A 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 323 
 
 And now, my brethren^ what fhall we fay, or 
 whither ihali we turn our thoughts ! Alas ! our lofs is 
 great and unfpeaknble. How much do we {land in 
 need of fuch lights arid examples ! Abs! hew weighty 
 is our imployment ! What prudence and piety docs it 
 call for ! How dangerous is the neglect, or ill manage- 
 ment of it ! What need have we of men a monitor to 
 ihake off our {loth, and awe and inftru& us by his ex- 
 ample! cc Parifies are holy mips, as one * 'fays, whofe 
 c< curates are the pilots, and eternity the port they 
 c< muft guide them to. If it need fo much art, and 
 " fo long experience to fail upon the feas, what know- 
 u ledge and prudence does it call for, to pafs over 
 cc happily the fea of this world, where tempefts never 
 u ceafe > Alas ! who can think without fcnfible grief 
 <c and bitter tears, that the helm of thefe yeffels, which 
 <c contain fuch precious wares, as coft no lefs than the 
 " blood of God, ihonld be committed ordinarily to 
 " men of little experience, that they are not only ig- 
 " norant of the tempeite, fhelves, and banks of this 
 cc terrible fea, but even have not the ftrerigth and in- 
 " duftry to guide their own little vefTel back to the 
 €C road : And thofe ineilimable riches are frequently 
 " entrufled to thofe whom they will not truft with a 
 " purfe of 1 5 or 2d pieces. But even wiieh the pilots 
 " are able, who would not at laft lofe their courage 
 " to fee thcmfelves failing amidftfo many hazards, and 
 " with fo little fuccefs? How many ftupid ones fall 
 * c out of the veffel ? How many imprudent ones get 
 " out to fail apart in fhallops ? How many defperate 
 " ones throw themfelves over, and abandon themfelves 
 lt to the fury of the waves ? What difquiets, what 
 
 Y 2 €i griefs, 
 
 * Jbifrettensjig I s Abbe Jean, Sec p 370. 
 
324 A Sermon at the Funeral 
 
 t( griefs, and what trouble tor the poor pilot ■ He mud 
 c < runoi reachoutMs hand to thofcthat tall. 
 
 u I [c mini exhauft his lungs, in trying to call thofc chit 
 u flee away. He mufi even frequently throw himfelf 
 " into the (ea, to recover thofe whom the waves h 
 " up. It he watch not, the fall of the firft will 
 
 11 imputed to him. If he be Glent, be will anfwec for 
 
 c< the flight of the fecond. If he fear labour and tra- 
 
 11 vail, he will be accufed of the other's defpair. If, in 
 
 u a word, he want vigilance, ltrengrh, and courage, 
 
 <c be Will be guilty of as many bloodfheds, as he lets 
 
 <c fouls perifh." This is a faint image of ourcoi . 
 How may thefc thoughts fill us with aftooiflunem and 
 
 fear? What a rifque do we run, while wc are engai 
 in fuch a dangerous imployment ? What piety, and 
 prudence, and vigilance, and courage, docs it call : 
 Hovt ftraogely d< es our lloth and a one 
 
 another, and lull us into carclcfnefs, till the 1 .al- 
 
 low us up } What need have v. 
 
 us, to mind us ol our danger, to n d of 
 
 out (loth, and to flit us up by their example i And 
 
 what a buiiint IT friend tO US in this refped? 
 
 How did I k and fpirit in all g igns 
 
 am id flir us ut duty by his publick 
 
 and private care, as far as his influences could rca< 
 
 .. by his example - H m well did heanfwet thecha- 
 i..i i.r 1 d man, and m } His 
 
 innocency uas eminent and ob m his child- 
 
 hood, fo thai an that 
 
 were with d in 
 
 . h inline in- 
 
 im with lit know and a 
 
 .im wife 
 unto Gri\ ation. 
 
 to it by the 
 
 authority 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 325 
 
 authority and hearty approbation of thofe who are irrt- 
 powered by God, having the inward teftimony of a 
 good confidence, and of the purity of his intentions, 
 far from any defign of vain-glory or intereuV His 
 mind was ftored with all fort of knowledge, without 
 vanity or contention. His piety was eminent and lin- 
 gular, always accompanied with an unaffected humility. 
 His fpirit and difpofition was ever peaceable. His 
 love to God, and mens fouls, made him fludy the di- 
 vine art of becoming all things to all men that he might 
 fave fome. None was ever more mortified to covetouf. 
 nefs or filthy lucre. His charity and almfgiving were 
 exemplary, in all things fhewing himfelf a pattern of 
 good works ; in his doctrine he fhevved uncorruptednefs 
 gravity and fincerity, found words that could not be 
 condemned ; his difcourfe was always modeft, and his 
 converfation ufeful. He watched all occafions of doing 
 good to mens fouls, and would not let them flip. 
 Never man was more apt to teach, being gentle to all 
 men. Thofe that oppofed themfelves to the truth, or 
 were overtaken in a fault, he endeavoured to inftrucr 
 and reftore in the fpirit of meeknefs, avoiding foolifh 
 queftions and ftrifes of words. And by walking in all 
 good confcience before God and man, he hath among 
 other things given a lingular inftance of gaining the 
 love and efteem of all ; and of preferving his perfon 
 and his office from that contempt, which they fay is 
 fo generally thrown upon our order. So that even 
 fcarce any man defpifed his youth. How may we 
 behold in his life, as in a glafs, the virtues and Qua- 
 lities of a true minifter otjefus Cbrift ? What a living 
 inftruftion was it to us, whereby we might obferve 
 our own defecls, and be ftirred up to our duty ? Who 
 can fathom the myfteries of providence, or tell wha c 
 
 Y j judgments 
 
i : si ; '-al 
 
 o 
 
 the removal or 
 
 / :<s man 
 
 J men 
 
 :s from P 
 
 I ..at his li Ifcipfc may I 
 
 .: fame 
 
 fpirlt, flCt CO mind our own things, but the tilings of 
 
 J | ( .'nac wc may he •. . and 
 
 this mil h ; that the . 
 
 ^tftj felons, and rhcunivcrfal c fclhfefc, 
 
 may fiflik 4c b into 6ur1ictrtsi O re or" 
 
 Jcius, and the care df fouls, i i 
 
 and ur iludics, and mens, and 
 
 incrcafe our vigilance, and guide out lives; Srjeus> 
 
 I I :', C ft] ;.fo. 
 
 And now, my friends, what words or priet 
 CXpreTs our lofs? You whom nature or choice had more 
 trred to him; Jfod itfko IWIfc KtibdMd 
 iendfhip, and bleiVd with his conversation, 
 v.h a by his counfel, and & n his 
 
 tfrefende, Who Ms the rcliwV I -afc 
 
 of ydtir grieft. J 
 
 '.' unto ft 
 
 - the k t. But 
 
 .. do .. mourn \ nr p b the 
 
 rt, and every man con- 
 
 .......... .1 or" our cm 
 
 , i tHc v. I fld, Ind a pobft 
 
 i hitaii or heard him, claims a 
 Ih'ai - s Jii s particular tofi in 
 
 mbcrs a moll dutiful 
 lc f' n ; ur of tl 
 
 ul k?i (man ; Minds bewtil 
 H fi m a niend indeed ; tl.. i be- 
 
 moan 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 327 
 
 moan the want of a great owner and promoter of true 
 knowledge ; the youth lament their being deprived of 
 a moft pious, wife, affectionate and ufeful guide; the 
 poor groan for the lofs of their father; the devout find 
 the want of a pious director and pattern ; the church 
 feels her felf deprived of one of her pureft lights ; the 
 clergy are fenfible he was to them an enfample and an 
 honour ; the people acknowledge they had a bleffing 
 of him in his life and doctrine; the whole nation may 
 feel the want of a great promoter of true loyalty, and 
 all chriftian virtues and graces by his example and in- 
 ftruc~tions, and are fenfible what an honour he was to 
 them ; yea, the feveral fec"ts among us lament his lofs, 
 and feem to confefs, that a few like him would foon 
 heal our fchifms, and that his pious life, and meek 
 inftrucUons, if any thing, would foon have recovered 
 them from their errors. O how is our lofs fwallowed 
 up in the publick! My father, my father, the chariots 
 qf Jfrael, and the horfemen thereof! 
 
 But whither would our paffions drive us ? Shall we 
 forget the governor of the world, and who is the Lord 
 of life and death ? We muft not look on his removal 
 from us as a fatal neceflity, or a blind ftroke of chance 
 and fortune, as the fport of the humours and parts 
 that compofed his body : no, no ; the author of the 
 univerfe imploys dill that fame power, and wifdom, 
 and goodnefs, in ruling the world, that he did in 
 making it, in him we live, and move, and have our 
 being ; his hand is in every thing that befals us, all 
 that itrikes our fenfes, which we fee, or hear, or know 
 or feel within our felves, and impute to other initru- 
 ments, are really the effects of his power, and are or- 
 dered by him for great and wife ends ; a hair of our 
 head does not fall, to the ground without his leave. 
 
 Y 4 This 
 
 \ 
 
A I . al 
 
 us, ii in holy indifpenftbk 
 ( rod, ro be exe- 
 cuted had not Cent him into this 
 
 rt unto OS, but 
 bis own g] ry, and ot the 
 come. . upon this acci- 
 
 d rot in i: ftflf, but io G .. in his WlH Let us in 
 
 : thei . --. . . 
 
 the h | rtCjJ blcfs 
 
 the ( his providence, and (act that 
 
 .lir i\ which we haw k':n on this occal: 
 
 in i -ions, h I by 
 
 ail ',. i uniting our wills to 
 
 the ...... <: G dj and facrificing our natural paffloos 
 
 unto it ; Let us walk with him, in him, and for him, 
 . what be hath willed ix\ us, and foe us, to all 
 
 A D trulj if we look upon out dear friend, 
 
 i what be bath been, and what he now ts, and 
 [j be ro all eternity, it will ma! t the ■ 
 
 fenfible, how much we ought to reiign ou to, 
 
 heaven!-. 
 
 difpofal of him. Th i chriftian is a condnoal 
 
 d, crucifj ing our earthl) nof- 
 
 , and fob our wills to 
 
 his, and perfe&cd by death , 
 
 and fal cheats 
 
 . • i \\ their be irts and I kxL 
 
 1 1 
 
 nun ii 
 
 lie I 
 
 ■ :. indy 
 
of Mr. Henry Scougal. 329 
 
 eonftantly the corruption of his nature from breaking 
 out into any great impurity or crime, fubduing every 
 day his paffions, purifying his affections, ftudying to 
 do every thing in and for God, and endeavouring a 
 continual refignation of his will to him; and in this 
 we mull not regret his few years, and the fhortnefs of 
 his days, for with God one day is as a thoufand years , 
 and a thoufand years as one day. Length of life is not 
 to be meafured by many revolutions of the heavens, 
 but by the progrefs we have made in the great defign 
 for which we are fent into the world, and in this re- 
 fped he being fancJified in a little time, hath fulfilled 
 a long time ; fo that he hath truly lived much in a few 
 years, and died an old man in Eight and twenty. He 
 hath now finifhed the work that God had given him 
 to do ; he hath accompliuYd the thing for which he 
 was fent into the world ; by death he hath now per- 
 fected the facrifice of himfelf, and the will of God is 
 fulfilled in him. Whatever horror there may be in 
 death to the natural man, however terrible it is to the 
 wicked and impenitent, yet to the godly, to all that 
 confider it in Jefus Chrift, it is full of joy and comfort. 
 O death, where is thy fling ? O grave, where is thy 
 victory? 'the fting of death is fin, and the ftrength of 
 fin is the law. But thanks he to God, who hath given 
 us the viffory through Jefus Chrift cur Lord. He hath 
 made the king of terrors to become the object of the 
 moft ardent defires and wifhes of his own, for if to us 
 to live be Chrift, fure 
 
 Sfo die is gain. I will not now launch out into this 
 boundlefs ocean, to fpeak of the unfpeakable happinefs 
 of the other world, and of the great advantages of the 
 death of thofe whofe life is Chrift' s -, but O how may 
 this, after the example of the ancient chriftians, fill us 
 
 with 
 
I H E 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 \\ E Life or" God in the Sjoul of Man \ Or, 
 THc Nature and Exccllc I the Chriftipo 
 
 Religion. 
 
 Pa*c i 
 
 Wbt Otcafii n of this Difi 
 
 kes about Rttifi 
 What Religion is, 
 Its Firm im m t a*d A 
 Its freedom 
 
 Ritigion is a DrvitH Principl$ % 
 7*J:e natural Lr \ * I 
 
 lti 9 
 
 7 J i Divifi Lifi , wbittin it \ \ 
 
 tf, i.i 
 
 //m Da ibid* 
 
 //;< CO/I ' ' D 
 
 " n 
 
 tffj 
 
 1 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 
 His Humility, t p 
 
 *the Excellency and Advantage of Religion, 2% 
 
 <fhe Excellency of Divine Love y 2 $ 
 
 The Advantages of Divine Love, 2 <5 
 
 The Worth of the Objeft to be regarded, ibid. 
 
 Love requires a reciprocal return, 27 
 
 Love requires the Object to be prefent, 28 
 
 Divine Love makes us infinitely happy, 29 
 
 He that loveth God finds Sweet nefs in all his Difpenfa- 
 
 tions, 30 
 
 The Duties of Religion are delightful to him, 3 1 
 
 The Excellency ofuniverfal Charity and Love, 3 z 
 
 The Pleafure that attends it, 35 
 
 The Excellency of Purity, 3^ 
 
 The Delight it affords, ibid. 
 
 The Excellency of Humility, 3 j 
 
 The Pleafure and Sweet nefs of an humble Temper, 36 
 Defpondent thoughts which may arife in fuch as are 
 
 awakened to a fenfe of Religion, 3 p 
 
 TheUnreafonablenefs of fuch Fears, 41 
 
 We muft ufe our utmoft Endeavours, and then rely on 
 
 God's Affiftance, 44 
 
 We muft Jhun all manner of Sin, 47 
 
 We muft learn what things are finful, ibid. 
 
 We muft confide r the Evils of Sin, and refift the temp- 
 tations to it, 49 
 We muft conftantly watch our f elves, 5 2 
 We muft often examine our Actions, 5 3 
 We muft reft rain our f elves in many lawful things, 54 
 We muft ftrive to put our felves out of Love with the 
 
 World, 55 
 
 We muft confcientioufly perform the outward Actions of 
 
 Religion, 58 
 
 We muft endeavour to habituate our felves to external 
 
 atls of Devotion and Charity », &c. 60 
 
 Confideration a great tnftrument of Religion, 61 
 
 We muft confider the Excellency of the Divine Nature, 
 
 to beget Divine Love in us, 6z 
 
 We muft often meditate en God's G cod nefs and Love, 6 5 
 
 To 
 
The C O N T i: N T S. 
 
 <fo beget Charity, "j.e viuft re that all men are 
 
 nearly related unto God y t% 
 
 Stbat tl i /( //, 6y 
 
 <fo beget Purity , W$ muft angler lie Dignity r 
 
 Nature, 
 And meditate often OM the Joys n, ibid. 
 
 Humility arifetb from tie Senfe of OUT i\7.'//.vj, - \ 
 
 thoughts of God make us have an bumble Senfe { | 
 
 fekes, 7 : 
 
 Prayer another Inftrument of Religion, ibid. 
 
 Mtntal Prayer very profitable, 73 
 
 Religion is advanced by the f ;cb it 
 
 began, 74 
 
 ?f be frequent ufe of t II .-. i ■. :ordi- 
 
 r.'ary means to mcreafe liolinefs and Piety, ibid. 
 
 DISCOURSE I. 
 
 The Superior Excellency of the Religious 
 
 ON Prov. XII. 26. tc$ Righteous is man 
 than bis Neighbour, 
 
 JI. 
 The indifpenfible Duty of loving our Enemies 
 
 Oi\ LukeVl. 17. But I fay untc >j , I. | 
 
 your line mies, 6tC« loo 
 
 111. 
 
 The NccclTitynnd Advantage pfqurfy Affli&lQl 
 On L m$1tt* 111. 27, l8f It is g at be 
 
 bear the yok 
 
 etb fili 1 • - ffj I 2 7 
 
 IV. 
 That tfa but a fmall Nufl 
 
 On Lulu XllI 
 
 147 
 
 V j . 
 
The CONTENTS. 
 V. 
 
 The Duty and Pleafure of Praife and Thankfgiving. 
 On Pfal.CVll. 17. O that men would praife the Lord 
 for bis goodnefs, and for his wonderful works to the 
 children of men* 169 
 
 VI. 
 On the Nativity of our Saviour. 
 From Pfal. II. it. Rejoice with trembling. Wherein 
 of the Ufefulnefs of the two Paffions, Joy and Fear, 
 in Religion, 187 
 
 VII. 
 On the Paflion of our Saviour. 
 From Lament. I. 12. Is it nothing to you, all ye that 
 pafs by? Behold y and fee if there be any for row like 
 unto my for row y 210 
 
 VIII. 
 A Preparation for the Holy Sacrament. 
 On J cjbua III. 1. Sanffify your felves, for to morrow 
 the Lord will do wonders among you. This is im- 
 perfect, 229 
 IX. 
 Of the Importance and Difficulty of the Minifteriai 
 
 Function. 
 On 2 Corinth. XI. 1 6. Who is fufficient for thefe things ? 
 
 X. 
 
 A Sermon preached at the Funeral of the reverend 
 
 Mr. Henry Scougal, by G. G. D-D. 
 On Philip I. 21. For me to live is drift y and to die is 
 
 gaiUy 270 
 
 The 
 
+++.m$*+44W*+*W+*4$++++:4<r++ 
 
 The Infcription on the Au- 
 thors Tomb-ftone. 
 
 Menwricc Sacrum 
 
 Henricus Scougal Rcverendi in Cbrijh 
 
 Patris Patricii Epifcopi slberdoncnfis 
 flius ; Philofophice in hac Accidentia 
 regis per quadricn?num, totidemque annis 
 ibidem TbeologUB Profejfar : Ecclcfia: in 
 Auchterlefs uno anno inter /lite Pajlor. 
 Multa in tarn brevijjimo curricula dulicit, 
 prccjlitit) docuit. Coeli avtdu^ &f coelo 
 ma'turus, obi it sin no Dcm. MDC1 wvin. 
 /Etatis fiuv xx \ in. cJ bii 
 talitatis fofuit* 
 
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