Part 6

This holy _Ordinance_ is of such admirable use among the _Saints_, that even in the first, and purest times of _Christianity_, we read of _Christian yoak fellows_, consenting to a _separation_ from each other, for a time that they may give themselves to _prayer_, and _fasting_, 1. Cor: 7.

_Obj._ But some say _fasting_ as it seems to be more proper to the _Old Testament_, so seems it not so usefull in the _New Covenant_, when more _spirituall_ worship, and _spirituall_ joys seem more _suitable_, and _seasonable_.

[Sidenote: The excellent use of prayer and fasting.]

I answer, all the former _Scriptures_ declare it to be an _Ordinance_ of the _New Testament_, as well as a _prayer_ itself: And for the _use_ of it, it is most admirable for the _separating_, and _abstracting_ of the _mind_, and _spirit_, from earthly _occasions_, and _comforts_, for the devoting of the _soul_ to heavenly _consideration_, and _examination_ of our wayes, for the pouring forth of _prayers_, and _cries_ to _God_ in the many great, and mighty _straights_ which _Gods_ people passe through in this _vale_ of _tears_, and _Lamentation_. And indeed it is (as I may say) the taking of a _soul sweat_, or _soul purge_ for the avoiding and cleansing out our spirituall _Humours_, and _corruptions_.

[Sidenote: 3dly.]

[Sidenote: Spirituall taking of cold.]

Thirdly, as ever we would preserve our _spirituall health_, let us carefully take heed of spirituall _colds_ and _obstructions_: For as it is in the _naturall_ man, a _cold_ it self is a great _distemper_, and the _ground_ and _beginning_ of others, when the _warm streams_ of _blood_, and _spirits_ are stopt up, and obstructed: So is it, (and much more in the _spirituall_) when our heavenly _spirits_ are stopt by damp _colds_, and _obstructions_ of unnecessary frequenting of _cold societies_, and _places_ destitute of the _life_ of the _Sun_ of _Righteousnes Christ Jesus_.

The _Lord Jesus_ is a _Christians Garment_: O let us keep that blessed _garment_ always close about us, and in all places, and in all companies, and upon all _occasions_ expresse the _life_, and _power_ of _Christ Jesus_, longing to know, and to follow his blessed _words_, and _examples_ in _life_, and _death_.

[Sidenote: 4thly.]

[Sidenote: Gods people must watch against the surfeiting upon worldly comforts.]

Fourthly, take heed of _spirituall surfets_, that the feeding too much upon the _comforts_ of _yoak fellows_, _children_, _credit_, _profit_, (though sweet, and wholsome as _hony_) turn not to _bitternes_, and _loathing_.

_Gods_ children as _travailers_ on the Land, as _Passengers_ in a _ship_, must use this world, and all comforts of it, with _dead_, and _weaned_, and _mortified affections_, as if they used them not: If _Riches_, if _Children_, if _Cattel_, if _Friends_, if whatsoever increase, let us watch that the _Heart_ fly not loose upon them: But as we use _salt_ with raw and fresh meats, let us use no worldly comfort without a savoury _Remembrance_, that these worldly _Goods_ and _comforts_ are the common portion of the men of this perishing _world_, who must perish together with them. Let us muse upon their _insufficiency_ to content, and fill our _Hearts_, upon their uncertain coming, and going with _Eagles wings_: upon their _anxiety_, and perplexednes full of _Thorns_, & _vexations_: upon their _certainty_ of departing, how soon we know not. O let us therefor beg _grace_ from _Heaven_, that we may use earthly _comforts_ as a _stool_ or _ladder_ to help us upward to heavenly _comforts_, _profits_, _pleasures_, which are only _true_, and _lasting_, even _eternall_ in _God_ himself, when these _Heavens_, and _earth_ are gone.

[Sidenote: 5.]

[Sidenote: The power of meditating the joyes that are to come.]

Fifthly, to maintain a spirituall _health_ and _chearfulness_ is of no small use (as _Paul_ writes to _Timothie_) sometimes to help our _cold stomacks_ with a little _wine_ or _strong drink_ of the _hope_ of the _joyes_ to come: Lay hold (saith _Paul_ to _Timothie_) of _eternall life_: and as the _Souldier_ meditates upon the _glory_ of his _victories_: The sick _passenger_ at Sea upon his _sweet refreshings_ on shore: the _Traveller_ upon his _journeys end_ and _comforts_ at his home: the _Labourer_ and the _Hireling_ on his _wages_, the _Husbandman_ on his _harvest_: the _Merchant_ on his gain: the _woman_ in _travail_, on her _fruit_: so let us sometimes warm and revive our cold _hearts_ and fainting _spirits_, with the assured hope of those _victories_, those _crowns_, those _harvests_, those _refreshings_ and _fruits_, which never _eye_ hath seen, nor _ear_ hath heard, nor never entred into mans _heart_ the things which _God_ hath prepared for them that love him: Of which however it pleaseth _God_ to give his servants a _taste_ in this _life_, yet the _harvest_, and the _vintage_ are to come, when they that suffer with _Christ Jesus_ shall reign with him, and they that have sown in _tears_ shall reap the never ending _harvest_ of inconceivable joyes.

[Sidenote: 6thly.]

[Sidenote: Bitter and untoothsome things may yet be of a blessed and wholsome use to Gods people.]

Sixthly, as it is in the _restoring_ of the _body_ to _health_, or in the _preserving_ of it in an healthfull _condition_: it is often necessarie to use the help of _sharp_ and _bitter_ things, _bitter pils_, _bitter potions_, _bitter medicines_, _sweatings_, _purgings_, _vomitings_, _blood-lettings_, &c. So is it with our _souls_, and _spirits_, and preservation of the _health_ and _chearfulness_ of the spirituall and the _inner_ man.

[Sidenote: Two sorts of bitter afflictions.]

The _sharp_ and _bitter_ things which it pleaseth _God_ to make use of in these cases are of two sorts.

First, such as himself is pleased to use towards us in the _way_ of his fatherly _afflictions_ of all _sorts_: on our _spirits_, our _bodies_, our _yoak-fellows_, _children_, _servants_, _cattel_, _goods_, &c. out of which, yea also out of the _injurious_, and _slanderous_, and persecuting dealing of others, yea and out of our own _sins_ and failings his most holy and infinite _wisdom_, fetcheth all sorts of _cleansing_ and _purging_, yea and sometimes a _cordiall_ and healing _physick_.

The second sort of sharp and _bitter_ means are such, as we _voluntarily_ use and _apply_ our selves unto our selves, for the _slaying_ and the _purging_ out of the _filthy humours_ and _corruptions_ of _pride_, _securitie_, _uncleanness_, _self-love_, _covetousness_, and what ever else remains behinde of the _body_ of _death_ in us.

[Sidenote: The Scripture the true storehouse of soul physick.]

It is true that the _word_ of _God_, and all his holy _Ordinances_, they are not only of a _feeding_, and _nourishing_, but also of a _purging_, and _cleansing Nature_, of a _preserving_, and a _restoring Quality_: and therefore out of these, we must take _direction_ for all our _spirituall Remedies_, against those _foul distempers_, unto which our _spirituall_, and _inner_ men are subject.

[Sidenote: 1.]

[Sidenote: The remembrance of our sins bitter, yet an wholsome pill.]

First, then it is an _wholsome_ though _bitter pill_, often to call to mind our _many_, our _great_, our _known_, our _unknown_ transgressions against; the _Lord_ as a _Creatour_, against the _Lord_ as a _Father_, against the _Lord_ as a _Redeemer_, against _Christ Jesus_, against his holy _Spirit_, against his _Ordinances_, against his _Saints_, against our _selves_, &c. Yea the _sins_ and severall _corruptions_ of our _Natures_, _callings_, and _conditions_, to which we yet are subject, and lye open, and without _supply_ of _Grace_, and _strength_ from _Heaven_, we shall fall, and tumble into, as well as the strongest of _Gods servants_, of whose wofull _falls_ we read of in holy Scripture.

_Obj._ It is a part of the _Lords New Covenant_, that he will forgive our _sins_, and remember our _iniquities_ no more.

[Sidenote: Gods children bound to beg for pardon of sin.]

I answer, unto all the _promises_ of all sorts, (_Ezek. 36_.) it pleaseth the _Lord_ to adde this Gospel _Proviso_; For all this I will be sought unto saith the _Lord_, according to that most holy direction, of the _Lord Jesus_, to pray daily, not only for _daily Bread_, but also for _daily forgivenes_.

_Obj._ The Lord hath forgiven them already in _Christ_, what need to pray for forgivenesse of them again.

_I answer_, We must marke the _Lords Ordinance_, for all this I will be sought unto: _Prayer_ and other _spirituall Ordinances_ hath the Lord appointed for our _souls_ good, as well as _corporall meanes_ for our bodily comfort.

[Sidenote: Godly sorrow not inconsistent but subservient to spirituall joy.]

Hence the many examples of the servants of _God_ throughout the whole Scripture, both before _Jesus Christ_ and since, _David_, _Peter_, _Mary Magdalen_, breaking forth into heavenly showres of godly _teares_. Hence the _Paschall Lambe_, (the figure of _Christ Jesus_) was appointed by the _Lord_ to be eaten with _bitter herbs_, implying and teaching that _Jesus Christ_ himselfe, his _blood_, _pardon_ of _sin_, _Life_ and _Salvation_, and all the _spirituall_ and _eternall sweets_ that here below we finde in _Christ Jesus_, they have not their _native_ and proper rellish without the helpe of such sharp and bitter _hearbs_.

[Sidenote: Gods councels absolve not us from menes & endeavours.]

What though therefore in _Gods councel_ before the _world_ was, all his works of _creation_ and _redemption_, _vocation_, _justification_, _glorification_ are knowne to him and acted by him? I say, in the most inconceivable deep _councels_ of his will, according to which he worketh all things, _Ephes. 1. 11_? yet were it _presumptuous madnesse_ in us, and a tempting of the _jealous eyes_ of the most _High_, to neglect the _wayes_, and _meanes_, and _paths_ of _mercy_ for _Soul_ or _Body_, which his most holy _Wisedome_ out of _infinite Grace_ and _goodnesse_ hath appointed to us?

[Sidenote: The due consideration of Gods justice is an heavenly though bitter pill.]

A second sharp and bitter _pill_ to purge out spirituall _corruption_, is a due and serious pondering of the _nature_, of the _justice_ of the most _High_; notwithstanding all the infinite _sweetnesse_ of the _Ocean_ of his _mercy_, and notwithstanding all the _colours_ and _pretences_ which we poor sinners invent to our selves, to hide from our eyes, the _greatnesse_ and _dreadfulnesse_ and terrours of it.

Well therefore might _Job_ say: therefore am I troubled at his presence, and when I consider I am afraid of him; and _David_, _Psal. 119_. My _Flesh_ trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy _judgements_.

_Object._ But _John_ saith, perfect _love_ casteth out _fear_.

_I answer_, The true love of _God_, never casteth out the true feare of _God_, but only that which is false and _counterfeit_, that which is the fear of a _Beast_ of _slaves_ and _Devils_.

Hence it is that the _Spirit_ of the fear of the _Lord_ was poured upon the _Lord Jesus_ himself.

This _feare_ is an holy _awe_ or _reverence_ proper to a true and heavenly ingenuous child of _God_, even (first and chiefly) to _Christ Jesus_, the _elder Brother_ (in a sence) of all the _children_ of _God_. To cherish which holy _fear_ of _God_, let us cast our eyes upon the fiery flashes of his severe _justice_ revealed unto us in a three-fold time, the time _past_, _present_, and to _come_.

[Sidenote: The dreadfull rejection of the Angels]

For the time past, how dreadfull is that we finde of the _rejection_ and _ejection_ of so many glorious heavenly Spirits the _Angels_, tumbled down for their sin of _Pride_, from the heighth of _Heaven_, and their glorious attendance upon _God_, to the depth of _Hell_ in horrible _slavery_ to everlasting sinnes and torments.

[Sidenote: The dreadfull sentence upon all mankind.]

How dreadfull was that dolefull _Sentence_ upon the whole race of _mankinde_, for the Sin of the first _root_, our first _Parents_ in _Paradice_? How wonderfull those _Plagues_ and _Destructions_ upon _Pharaoh_ and the land of _Ægypt_, for their oppressing Gods people.

[Sidenote: The destruction of _Egypt_ and _Sodom_, & the whole world.]

And (before that) how fearfull and horrible was that _destruction_ and _burning_ up of _Sodom_, and _Gomorrah_ and other _Cities_ with _fire_ and _brimstone_ from Heaven?

And (before both these) how wonderfully fearefull and universall was, the _destruction_ of the whole _world_, in that choaking, and All-o'erwhelming _flood_ or _deluge_.

[Sidenote: Fearfull stroaks of Gods justice upon _Israel_.]

How fearfull were the stroaks of _Gods_ displeasure upon his owne people of _Israel_, in their many _Destructions_ and _Captivities_? How fearfull the rejection of the ten _Tribes_ wholly swallowed up and lost for so many _ages_ and _generations_?

[Sidenote: Upon the _Jews_ and _Jerusalem_.]

How lamentable were the _destructions_ (and especiall that by _Titus_ and _Vespasion_) of the holy _City_, that glorious _Jerusalem_, in the slaughter and captivity of 1100000 thousand _Jewes_, _men_, _women_ and _children_?

How fearfull was the rejection of that whole _Nation_ of the _Jewes_, ever since but a _curse_ and a _scorne_ to all the rest of the _Nations_ of the world to this day?

[Sidenote: Upon the Son of his love the _Lord Jesus_.]

And (above all) who can but tremble at the _impartiall flames_ of _Gods justice_ on that _green_ and _innocent_ tree, his owne, and only begotten son _Christ Jesus_, when he stood surety in the room of _sinners_ to make _satisfaction_ for their _transgressions_?

_Object._ Grant _Gods justice_ and _fierce wrath_ to be so hot, so fiery and fearfull towards his _enemies_, yet, what need his _children_ fear his _justice_, since that it is satisfied and his wrath appeased towards his people, by the _sufferings_ and _blood-shed_ of _Christ Jesus_.

[Sidenote: The heavy & dolefull stroaks of Gods righteous hand upon his own people in this world.]

_I answer_, It is so evident, that although _Christ Jesus_ his blood, hath quenched the fire of _Gods eternal wrath_ toward his people, and sweetened the bitter _Cup_ of all present _Judgements_ and _afflictions_: yet for his _Name_ and _Justice_ sake in this world, _Gods children_ have temporally felt the fearfull stroks of his displeasure, and judgment must begin at the house of _God_.

Hence that dreadfull _blow_ of _Gods_ righteous _hand_ upon our first _Parents Adam_ and _Eve_, cast out of _Paradice_ with their _posterity_ (even the whole race of _mankind_) notwithstanding their belief in the _promised seed of Christ Jesus_.

Hence the heavy _stroakes_ upon _Lot_, upon _Lots wife_, upon _Moses_, upon _Aaron_, upon _Sampson_, upon _Eli_, upon _David_, upon _Hezekiah_, upon _Josiah_, &c.

_Object._ But some may say, _God_ sees no sin in _Jacob_, &c.

[Sidenote: Gods holy end in his sore afflictions upon his people.]

_I answer_, Their calamities are Judgements, that is righteous sentences of the most high, _Judgements_, though not eternall Judgements: these vindicate _Gods_ name and _Justice_ before an unrighteous _world_, and beare him witnesse of his _impartiality_, even towards his owne _children_; these humble and bring his people to repentance and confession, and quicken their pace, and their hearts, to watch against future _sins_ and _provocations_.

Hence saith the _Spirit_ of _God_ expresly, _1. Cor. 11_. For this _cause_ (that is for his childrens abuse of the _Lords Supper_) many are _weak_ and _sick_, and some are falne _asleep_; _God_ chastiseth his own people, true _christian Churches_, for the abuse of his holy _Ordinances_ and _appointments_.

[Sidenote: Gods justice visibly seen in the present sorrows of all sorts.]

In the second place, let us cast our eyes abroad and behold the direfull signs and tokens, of _Gods_ severe Justice executed at this present in the _world_. How lamentably doe we see before our eyes the daily and continued effects of that first _wrath_ upon mankind, in so many _sorrows_ of all sorts for the first transgression.

Let us consider of the great constant _reproach_ and misery over all the _Nations_ of the _World_, by reason of _Gods_ righteous _Sentence_ in the division of so many _Tongues_ and _Languages_.

[Sidenote: The horrible desolations of late years.]

O come and see (saith _David_) what _Desolations_ (_Psal. 46._) the _Lord_ hath wrought in the _Earth_? How many _hundred thousands_ of _men_, _women_ and _children_ have of late years been swept away in the _world_, by _wars_, _famines_ and _pestilences_?

And since we are commanded to _weep_ with them that _weep_; O that our _heads_ were _fountains_, and our _eyes rivers_ of _waters_, that wee might weep with _Germany_, weep with _Ireland_, yea, weep day and night with _England_ and _Scotland_ (to speake nothing of other remote _Nations_) in laying againe and again to _heart_ the stroakes of _Gods_ most righteous _judgements_, in their most fearfull slaughters and _desolations_.

[Sidenote: The wonderfull spirituall judgements upon the Nations.]

[Sidenote: The direfull judgement upon the Jewes.]

The effects and marks of these most dreadfull _blowes_, every _eye_ is forced to see but yet there are some _stroakes_, more fearfull and yet not easily perceived; such are the righteous _judgements_ of _God_, giving up the _Nations_ of the _world_ to so many horrible and blasphemous _worships_, _idolatries_ and _superstitions_. To speak nothing of whole _Nations_ and _Kingdomes_, that know not at all the true and living _God_, how _cold_ and _hard_ is that _stone_ that lyes upon the _mouth_ of that wonderfull _grave_ of _unbeliefe_, wherein the _Nation_ of (_Gods_ choice and love) the _Jewes_ lye buried and o'rewhelmed to this day?

[Sidenote: The direfull judgement of Mahumatanism, and Antichristianisme.]

Who can but _wonder_ and _tremble_ at so many hundreth thousand and millions of men given up for so long a time (in so many and so mighty flourishing _Nations_ of the world) I say, given up to those two monstrously bewitching _Worships_ of _Mahumatisme_ and _Antichristianisme_, the dire effects of _Gods_ most righteous judgements upon the _Easterne_ and _Westterne_ professors of the knowledge of _God_ in _Christ Jesus_?

[Sidenote: The lamentable captivity of Gods own people to Antichristian worships.]

Adde to these that most fearfull and deplorable _captivity_ of the very _soules_ and _consciences_ of _Gods_ owne people (for so many hundred years) under false and superstitious _Worships_. A righteous _judgement_, though not so easily discerned, yet in it selfe most dreadfull, and exceeding all the temporall calamities in the _world_.

[Sidenote: The dreadfull and eternall judgement yet to come.]

But (thirdly) from these two times of _past_ and _present_, let us cast our eyes on the third which is yet to come, as _sure_ and _wonderfull_, will shortly be these two most wonderfull and dreadfull _downfals_ of those two so mighty _Monarchies_ (so great enemies to _Christ Jesus_) the _Turkish_ and the _Popish_: according to the Prediction of the holy _Prophets_. How fearfull the _effusion_ of the _Viols_, in part fulfilled, and yet to be powred forth in their season? And not a little wonderfull is that mighty _destruction_ of the _Nations Gog_ and _Magog_ gathered as the _sand_ of the Sea against the camp of the _saints_ of the holy _City_.

And (to come to the full _period_ and _finall sentence_ of the most righteous _Judge_ of the whole _world_) with what _horrours_ and _terrours_ shall these _Heavens_ and _Earth_ passe away; this _Earth_ with the works thereof being consumed and burnt up? How inconceivably direfull will the last _eternall judgement_ be, when two worlds of men (the former destroyed by _water_, and this by _fire_) shall appeare, before the most glorious _Tribunall_ of the Son of _God_? When all the most _secret sins_ shall be brought to _tryal_, and an account shall be given for _every idle word_?

O who who can conceive the _terrours_ of that thundering _sentence_ [_Goe yee cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devill and his Angels, where the worm never dyes, and the fire never goes out_.]

_Object._ But some may say, Can these sayings be any other then a _Parable_ or _similitude_? for is the _Devill_ capable of any _materiall fire_? such as now is grievous and painfull to _flesh_ and _blood_?

[Sidenote: The Parables of holy Scripture are ful of heavenly kernels of Truth.]

_I answer_, Grant these sayings _Parabolicall_ or _similitudes_, as also that of _Dives_ and _Lazarus_: yet what are _Parables_ and _similitudes_ but _Glasses_ to represent unto us in more plain and easie wayes the holy _truth_ and mind of _God_?

[Sidenote: The worme that never dyes, and the fire that never goes out.]

The _Kernell_ of _truth_ is not the lesse sweet though wrapt up in the _shels_ and _husks_; Beyond all question therefore _Christ Jesus_ foretels most sure and inconceiveable plagues to all that know not _God_, and obey not his glorious _Gospel_: And by this _Worme_ that never dyes, and this _fire_ that never goes out, declares a _torment_ to be inflicted upon both _men_ and _devils_ which shall be extream like fire which shall be universall upon the whole sinfull _creature_, no part exempted, which shall be also _eternall_, never dying, never ending, yet we may adore _Gods_ righteous judgements and (working out _Salvation_ with fear and trembling) make sure of a _Jesus_ a _Saviour_ to deliver us from the _wrath_ that is to come.

[Sidenote: The meditation of death.]

In the next place (my deare Love) let us downe together by the _steps_ of holy _meditation_ into the _valley_ of the shadow of _Death_. It is of excellent use to walke often into _Golgotha_, and to view the rotten _skuls_ of so many innumerable thousands of millions of millions of men and women, like our selves, gone, gone forever from this life and being (as if they never had _life_ nor being) as the swift Ships, as the _Weavers shuttle_, as an _arrow_, as the _lightning_ through the aire, &c.

It is not unprofitable to remember the faces of such whom we knew, with whom we had sweet acquaintance, sweet society, with whom we have familiarly eaten and lodged, but now growne _loathsome_, _ugly_, _terrible_, even to their dearest, since they fell into the _jawes_ of _death_, the _King_ of _terrors_.

And yet they are but gone before us, in the _path_ all _flesh_ must tread: How then should we make sure, and infinitely much of a _Saviour_, who delivers us from the _power_, and _bitternesse_ of _Death_, and _Grave_, and _Hell_, who is a _resurrection_ and _life_ unto us, and will raise up and make our bodies glorious, like his glorious _Body_, when he shall shortly appear in glory.

It is further of great and sweet use against the _bitternesse_ of _Death_, and against the _bitter-sweet delusions_ of this world daily to thinke each day our _last_, the day of our _last farewell_, the day of the splitting of this _vessell_, the breaking of this _buble_, the quenching of this _Candle_, and of our passage into the land of _Darknesse_, never more to behold a sparke of _light_ untill the Heavens be no more.

[Sidenote: 3 Terrible uncertainties.]

[Sidenote: Meditations of death powerfull as to many heavenly purposes.]