Works

after which thou wilt write, and the pattern which thou wilt follow, and be a follower of others as they are of Christ Jesus. Did Christ work so hard for thee? did he lose his food, and sleep, and wear out himself, that his strength was dried up like a potsherd, and his heart was melted like wax in the midst of his bowels ? and wilt not thou spend and be spent for thy Savior? I would say for thy own soul; for in serving him thou servest thyself. Think of it when thou art trifling away thy time, and neglecting thy spiritual watch, and dull and dead in holy duties, how eager and earnest, how zealous and sedulous thy Lord Jesus was in working out thy salvation; he did not play, nor dally about the work of thy redemption, but made it his business, and did what he was called to with all his heart, and soul, and strength.

CHAP. XV. The excellency of this Calling, and the Conclusion of the Treatise.

FOurthly, Consider the excellency of this Calling. As it is said of God in respect of beings; Who is like thee O God! Among all the God's none is to be compared to thee. So I may say of godliness in respect of Callings, What is like thee O Godliness! amongst all callings none is comparable to thee.

1. It is the most honorable Calling. The Master that thou are bound to, is King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's, the Fountain of honor, and Lord of glory; One of whom the greatest Princes and Potentates of the world hold their Crowns and Scepters, to whom they must kneel and do their homage; One to whom the whole creation is less then nothing. The work that thou art employed in, is not servile and mean, but high and noble; the worship of the great God, walking and conversing with his blessed Majesty, subduing brutish lusts, living above this beggarly earth, a conversation in heaven, a conflict with, and conquest over this dreggy flesh and drossy world, and powers of hell, to which the greatest battles and victories of the most valiant warriors that ever drew the sword are worse then children's play. To conquer our passions is more then to conquer kingdoms. Th • mistocles is renowned by Cicero for telling some who disparaged him for his ignorance in playing on the Lute; That he knew not how to play on the Lute, yet he knew how to take a City. To subdue one lust is more then to subdue a thousand Cities. Thy fellow servants are the elect of God, glorious Angels and Saints, who are higher then the Kings of the earth; Princes in all lands, a crown of glory, a royal diadem, a chosen generation, the excellent of the earth, vessels of Gold, the Children of the most high, of whom the world is not worthy. The Privileges of this calling and company are eminent. Adoption, remission, growth in grace, divine love, perseverance • n holiness, an eternal kingdom, are all contained in the Charter granted to thi • Corporation. The covenant of grace, that hive of sweetness, that mine of gold, that cabinet of jewels, to which all the world is but an heap of dust, is their part and portion, and contains more in i • for their comfort, then heaven and earth is able to contain.

To serve God is one of the fairest flowers in the Saints garland of honor; hence the Lord's kinsman glorieth in being the Lord's servant, and the Lord's Mother calleth herself his handmaid, Jude ver. 1. Luk. 1. 38. If the meanest offices about earthly Princes are esteemed honorable, what an honor is it to wait on the King of heaven? The Saints duty is their preferment, and that service which is commanded them a privilege. The great Apostle boasteth of his Chain for God as his glory and credit, and holdeth it up as a mark and badge of honor: For the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain, Act. 28. 20. and begins one of his Epistles with this honourary Title, Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ, Philem. 1.

It is not earthly riches that make a man honorable; we mistake in calling and counting rich men the best men in the Parish: Riches without godliness are but a gold ring in a swine's snout, for which the brute is nothing the better. It is not aiery applause or worldly preferments that will make a man honorable. Titles are but like feathers in the hat, or glistering scarfes under the arms, which add not the least worth to the man that wears them. A great letter makes no more to the sense of the word then a small one. Worship, Honor • Grace, Highness, Majesty, make nothing to the real intrinsic value of any person. The ungodly Monarchs of the world are but beasts in God's account. Anti • chus Epiphanes, whose name signifieth Illustrious, whom the Samaritans styled the Mighty God, is called by the Holy Ghost, because of his ungodliness, a vile person, Dan. 11. 21. In his days shall stand up a vile person. All honor without holiness is fading, as well as fancied rather then real. External nobility though it glister in the face of the world, is but as Seneca saith, vitrea, brittle as glass, and compounded of earth. The Potentates of the world are often like Tennis-balls, tossed up on high to fall down low; Hence some of the wiser Heathen have called them Ludibria fortunae, the scorn of fortune. Haman honored one day, the next day hanged. Gelimer the Puissant Prince of the Vandals, Bellisarius, Charles the fifth and Henry the fourth Emperors, and many others experienced the brittleness of worldly glory. But that honor which is from above is true and eternal. Plutarch tells us the Roman nobles, as a badge of their nobility, wore the picture of the Moon upon their shoes, signifying as their nobility did increase, so it would decrease. All privileges, all prerogatives, all titles, all dignities without godliness, are vanishing shadows. It is the new creation that rendereth the children of Abraham like the glorious stars in heaven.

The world looks on the Saint (possibly he is poor and mean in the world) as the Jews looked on Christ; As a root out of a dry ground, and so saw no form nor comeliness in him ; but they who could pierce into the inside of Christ, could see that in him dwelt thee fullness of the godhead bodily ; and they who can see into the inside of Christians, behold the Kings daughter all glorious within. As the precious stone Sandastra hath nothing in outward appearance, but that which seemeth black, b • t being broken poureth forth beams like the Sun. So the Church of Christ is outwardly black with affliction, but inwardly more bright and glorious then the Sun, with thriving virtues and celestial graces. The power of godliness in a mean Christian is a rich treasure in a mean Cabinet; but vice in robes, in scarlet, is poison in wine, the more deadly and dangerous.

Tamberlain tomb was rifled by the Turks and his bones worn by them for Jewels, though their enemy, and one that had conquered them in divers combats, and captivated their Emperor, and carried him up and down in an Iron Cage for his footstool. God makes his people honorable in the eyes of the wicked: Since thou wast precious in my sight thou art honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. The sons of them that afflicted thee shall bow before thee, and thine enemies shall lick the dust, Isa. 43. 4. A wicked King Iohoram honoreth and waiteth on a Servant of God, Elisha; Herod reverenceth the Baptist. Grace is a powerful, though silent Orator, to persuade all that see it to love and honor it. What Diogenes spake of learning, is truly applicable to grace, or the knowledge of God in Christ; It makes young men sober, old men happy, poor men rich, and rich men honorable.

When Agesilaus was ready to die, he charged his friends that they should not make any picture or statue of him; for saith he, If I have done anything that is good, that will be my monument; but if otherwise, all the statues you can make will not keep my name alive. The Egyptians in their funeral orations never commended any for his riches (because they thought them the goods of fortune) but for his righteousness and justice.

Piety is a lasting pillar, that causeth the righteous to be had in everlasting remembrance. Time shall not out-live the Saints honor; grace renders him more illustrious then ever the Mausolean mountan did that Carian. As the hairs of Tarandrus are not to be pierced with any weapon; so the name of a Saint cannot be hurt by all the slanders and calumnies of the wicked. They who are Sainted in Heavens Calendar, and whose names are enrolled in the Lambs book of life, are truly honorable and eternally glorious, maugre the malice of Men and Devils. The disgrace which the wicked cast on the righteous is at worst, but like the noise of some loud tongu'd gun, ceased as soon as heard; but the honor which God and Scripture put upon the godly, is a pillar which endureth to all eternity; such a monument as neither age, nor time, nor envy, can waste or wear out. Demetrius under all the obloq • y and contempt which his countrymen cast upon him, could comfort himself in this, that Though the Athenians demolished his statues, yet they could not extinguish his virtues, the cause of raising them.

Sin is so base and beggarly, so loathsome and shameful a thing, that not only the children of God, but even wicked men have been unwilling to own it, and ashamed to be taxed with it, or found out at the commission of it. When Godliness is so high and honorable, so noble and excellent a Mistress, that those who deny the power of it, will take upon them the form of it; they who hate its work, will wear its livery. There are hardly any jewels of grace, but for each of them vice hath counterfeit stones O! how noble a Mistress, how honorable a Lady is that, whom all pretend relation to, and even those that hate her would not be thought her enemies, but blush to be taxed as strangers to her.

2. It is the most comfortable and delightful Calling • Satan would represent Christians under ugly vi • zards, and Christianity frightful, to make men loath both the one and the other; As he transforms himself the Prince of darkness, and his ways which are darkness, into an Angel of light and seeming light, so he endeavors to transform Christians, who are children of light, and their holy ways, which are paths of light, into children of darkness; and paths of darkness. He endeavors to make men think the power of godliness Antipodes to all cheerfulness, but holine • s is far from such a crabbed face, and austere countenance as he would have us fancy. No trade hath so much mirth with it and in i • ; Joy is one essential part of this Calling, The kingdom of God consisteth not in meats and drinks, but in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17. The servants of God do not only rejoice in the fore-thoughts of their reward, to think of the time when their Indentures shall expire, and they shall enjoy the glorious liberty of the sons of God; We rejoice in hope of glory ; but also in their work, they are joyful in the house of prayer, they sing at their work: Thy statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage ; nay, at the hardest and most tiresome of their work. We rejoice in tribulation; My brethren count it all joy; when ye fall into divers temptations. Joy is the beam which is darted from the S • n, the stream which floweth from the fountain of godliness: It is observable that the beginning, the lest degr • e of grace causeth joy, great joy, what then will its growth and perfection do? When Christ did but call to Zacchaeus he came down hastily, and received him joyfully, Luk. 19. 6. When the Eunuch was converted he went home rejoicing, Act. 8. 39. When the Samaritans had received Christ into their hearts at Phillips preaching, there was great joy in that City, Act. 8. 6, 7, 8. The Jailor after his heart-quake, rejoiced, believing in God with all his house, Act. 16. 34. The joy of the Saints as it is invisible, so it is unutterable In whom believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pe • . 1. 7. For the measure of it, its compared to the joy of harvest, to the joy of the bridegroom and bride on their Wedding day, Isa 9. 3. Hosea 2. 19.

Hence it is that Grace and Godliness are compared to, and set forth by those things which are pleasant and delightful, and bring joy with them. As Music, the joy and delight of the ears; a feast, the joy and delight of the taste; to light, the joy and delight of the eyes; life, wine, which rejoiceth the heart; perfumes, which delight the sent; good, the joy of the will; truth, the joy of the understanding; godliness hath joy proper and suitable for every sense, whether outward or inward. As the higher the Sun is the greater its light is; so the holier, the Christian the greater his joy is. The more clear the fire burns, the more comfortable it is; smoke fetcheth tears from our eyes. When grace burns clear, its refreshing indeed; tis the smoke of sin that turns our houses into Bochims, places of weeping ; when good men step awry not pondering their goings, then they wrench their feet, or put their bones out of joint, and so put themselves to much pain.

Indeed, wicked men who are ignorant of the mystery of godliness, becuase they see no sun-shine in the faces of godly men, judge it to be foul weather in their hearts; As the Roman Soldiers, when they entered into the Sanctum Sanctorum, and saw no Images, presently reported the Jews to worship the Clouds ; but a Christians joy is as far out of wicked men's sight, to discern it as out of their power to remove it; A stranger intermeddleth not with his joy; your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy shall no man take from you. A wicked man's joy is most in his face; As a Black-a-more, he is white nowhere but in his Teeth. Seneca compares him to a Commander in a desperate battle, who least his Souldie • s should run away, sets a good face on it, when he is inwardly terrified, and full of fear; he is like one in an high desperate fever, having a good color when his heart is heavy, and he is at the gate of death. The Godly man's joy is most in his heart, he is like that f • sh which hath a rough outside, but a pearl within. When there are storms without, there is music within, peace of conscience, which passeth all understanding. A wicked man is as a book of Tragedies, bound extraordinary, gay and guilt on the outside, but full of doleful, dreadful stories within, or as Alexander said of Antipater, he was white without, but purple within; his face may be white and smiling, but his conscience is red and fiery. But the godly man's inside is his best side, though his full sacks of joy and delight are not opened till he comes to his Fathers house, yet the blessed Jesus gives him, as Joseph the Patriarchs, sufficient provision for the way. The Law gave the first fruits of the earth to God ; the Gospel gives the first fruits of Heaven to men, which are both an earnest and a taste of their glorious and everlasting harvest.

All sorrow proceeds from sin ; As the shadow followeth the body, so doth grief follow guilt. Lust like rotten flesh or wood, will breed worms to gnaw in the sinners bowels; Therefore its no wonder that Nabal, Saul, and Belshazzar, when their lusts flew in their faces, died, or were ready to die with horror. If a godly man sin willfully, and wound his soul, its no wonder if he feel the smart and pain of it. When David steps awry, and slips with his feet, and falls dangerously, he may well keep his bed, and water his couch, and cry out of his aches and broken bones; yet the very sorrow of a Saint for sin against his God, hath more real joy and delight in it, then all the skin-deep pleasures of gigling Gallants. Crates could dance and laugh in his thread-bare coat, and his wallet at his back, which was all his wealth. The Saint can rejoice in his saddest afflictions, though he seldom live in Palaces, yet he always lives in a Paradise, having (if he be careful to keep a good conscience) a constant youth of joy, and perpetual spring, as that place they write of under the AEquatour; The tears of those that pray, saith Austin, are sweeter then the joys of the Theatre.

Its true, godliness doth abridge men of sinful pleasures, but its the more pleasant for separating itself from that which is worse then poison. Agesilaus could taste by a natural appetite, that such pleasures are more fit for Slaves then Freemen; Averroes and the rest of the Arabian Philosophers, are ashamed of that sensual and beastly Paradise, which their Mahomet provided for them, as most unworthy the soul of man, and infinitely sho •• of true delight.

Godliness doth not deny us our natural delights, only rectify and regulate them, lest we should surfeit on them. It do • h not deny us drink but drunkenness, nor meat but gluttony. Nature even in things in themselves lawful, would run out unlawfully, if she were not restrained; Grace only keepeth the reins in its own hands, least that skit • ish Colt should through its wantonness break its own n • ck. It is as the Pale to the Garden, to preserve the flowers in it from Beasts, or as an hedge to a Field, to keep what is in it within bounds. As Leonidas the Captain, perceiving that his Soldiers left their Watch on the City Walls, for the Ale-houses, commanded that the Ale-houses should be removed to the City walls, that they might both enjoy their pleasure, and discharge their duties together. Godliness alloweth men the comfort of their Relations, and Possessions, only it so limiteth our delight in them, that we may not by them be hindered from working the work of God, and minding our eternal salvations.

Godliness brings more noble and excellent pleasures. Others are puddle-water, those pleasures which godliness giveth, are pure and clear streams, such as flow from God himself; There is more sweetness in one drop of the Fountain, then in all the waters of the Sea; There is more joy, more comfort, in a little communion with God, then in the greatest confluence of creature-enjoyments. Austin saith, How sweet was it to me on a sudden to be without these sweet vanities; thou Lord who art the true sweetness, didst take them frem me and enter in thyself, who art more pleasant then all pleasure, and more clear then all light. The world, as they say of Fairies, deprives of true children and puts changelings in their room; deprives men of true substantial joy, and gives them shadows in the room; but godliness on the contrary, deprives oft painted poisons, and gives them wholesome and real pleasures. All the comforts of this world to a person void of grace, are but as a sack of perfumes, and medicines, and cordial drugs to the back of a galled horse, which may vex and enrage his sores with their weight, but do not ease or abate his pain with their virtue. A Saints life, notwithstanding his greatest sufferings, whilst it is blessed with the smiles of his father, is an heaven upon earth; but the sinners life, notwithstanding his honors, and pleasures, and riches, and relations, whilst under the wrath of an infinite God, and anguisht with the gripings of a guilty conscience, is little less then an earnest and taste of hell. Grace is sugar to sweeten all our crosses, and sin is vinagar to sower all our comforts. The iron seems to embrace the load-stone with great delight, and to be wrapped with an amorous ecstacy. So as Thales thought it animal, and yet that motion is void of the least sense of pleasure. The wicked man seems by his smiling face and gigling countenance, to be the only merry man, when he is as far from true pleasure as from true piety. The least Be finds more delight in making and tasting a little honey, then the great Sun and all his glorious attendants in their high and perputual courses. The meanest Christian hath more comfort in making sure his salvation, and tasting the sweetness of his Savior; then the Kings of the earth, and their Courtiers, in their abundance of all earthly comforts.

The Wi • e man tells us concerning the ways of wisdom, wherein a Christians daily walk is; Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, Pro. 3. 17. And the Saints find them so by experience. The word of God, which is the rule of their work, is sweeter to them then the honey and the honey comb, and they delight to do the will of God. The sinners life is an uncomfortable life, be • ide those inward gripes and horror, which sin causeth in the conscience at present, and its end the sting in the tail, which is the eternal fire; there is trouble, and fear, and shame, and vexation in the very act or commission of many sins. To forgive an injury, which is one piece of Christianity, is pleasant and delightful; but to revenge an affront, what heats and colds, what passions and perturbations doth it cause? To love our neighbors, and wish their welfare, is a sweet thing, a reward in itself, it hath meat in its mouth; but to envy my neighbor, because he is richer, or more honorable, or hath larger gifts, and more friends then myself, is as rottenness to the bones, it wasteth and consumeth the inward parts, as rust eateth out iron, according to Solomon's phrases. A Contented man hath an heaven upon earth, all the year with him is spring-time or summer, like a child he takes no carking care for food, or raiment, or house • rent, but minds his duty, and leaves all to his father who knoweth what he hath need of: But the Cov • tous, who like the barren womb, hath never enongh, pines with fear of want, & can neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep quietly, lest he should lose what he hath, or not have sufficient to hold out; nay, he will not allow himself convenient food or raiment, though he have never so much; but like a beast feeds on thistles, when he hath all sorts of provision upon his back. Temperance hath health, and strength with it, and thereby renders the other comforts of this life savoury and comfortable; so also Chastity. But • luttony, and Drunkenness, and Whoredom ; bring weakness and sickness on men's bodies, and embitter all other blessings, besides the fear of being discovered, to the shame and disgrace of the Authors, which tormenteth not a little. There is comfort in dealing honestly and righteously, but if a man will cheat, and cozen, and filtch, and steal; no wonder, if he tire his head with plots and projects • o carry it on cunningly, and secretly, and terrify his heart with apprehention that it will be known, and then he shall be branded for a knave, or suffer the penalty of law in a more severe degree.

The sinner is hurried hither and thither by his opposite Lord's, and contrary lusts; and torn piecemeal by them, as a man by beasts, which draw the parts of his body contrary ways. The Commands of sin are harsh and heavy: No Tyrant ever put his subjects upon more crabbed, painful work; But the Commandments of God are not grievous, 1 Joh. 4. 3. Sin is s • avery, and its servants, worse then those that row in Turkish Gallies; but God's law, is a law of liberty, and they walk at liberty who seek his precepts. The ways of sinners are called crooked ways, rugged ways, which are unpleasant to travail in; but the ways of God are called strait ways, plain paths, which are delightful to passengers. I am confident the true Christian hath more true pleasure in suffering for Christ, or one act of mortification, or victory over one lust, then the highest earthly Potentate hath in his largest dominions, in the multitude of his subjects, in the richness of his kingdoms, and in all the honor that is done him, or good things enjoyed by him all his days.

3. It is the most profitable Calling. Reader, this argument is Achilleum, or instar omnium, the strongest argument, and instead of all; with most men gain is the great God of this world, that commandeth all their heads, and hearts, and hands; to whom they bow down the knees both of their bodies and souls. The thief & murderer are quickened by this to their hellish trade; Come let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil, Prov. 1. 9, 10. The Shechemites upon this ground, will endure the pain of Circumcision, and throw up their former religion; Shall not their beasts, and their cattle, and their substance be ours? The Soul - for this, will scale the Walls, and leap upon the Pikes, and run upon the Mouth of the Cannon. The Husbandman for this, will rise early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefullness, toil and moyl all day, and make a drudge, a slave, a pack-horse of himself all the year. The Merchant for this, will plough the Ocean, dance upon the surging billows, suffer many dangers and deaths through his whole voyage. The Shop-keeper for this, will crowd into any hole of the City, break his sleep, waste his health, run about hither and thither, early and late. Gehazi, Achan, Judas, Balaam for this, will venture their bodies, their souls, any things, all things. Profit is such a bait, that all will bite at. The Devil, that Arch Politician, who hath had so many thousand years experience; besides, his extraordinary natural knowledge, could not judge any Topics more likely then this to take with our blessed Savior. All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. The gods themselves were said by the Athenians to be corrupted with Philip's gold, that their Oracles still were in favor of him. Money is the absolute Monarch, which can put men upon the most dangerous defignes: Therefore Cassius (surnamed the Severe ) one of the wisest of the Roman Judges, in all doubtful Causes that came before him, would demand, Cui bono, Who gained, or had the profit ? well knowing that that is the bias which turneth men aside to wrong others; and the heady, wanton horse, which breaks through the fence to trespass upon neighbors.

Now Reader, If profit will prevail with thee, Godliness with contentment is great gain. All the gold of the world is dross, all the diamonds of the world are dirt, all the gains of the world are loss to this gain of Godliness. Egypt watered by Nile hath four rich harvests, say some, in less then four months. Solinus saith, the Egyptian fig tree beareth fruit seven times in a year: Godliness brings forth 30, 60., 100. fold increase; It giveth an hundredth fold in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting. After ye had your fruits unto holiness, in the end everlasting life, Mat. 19. 29. Rom. 6. 22. Did the sinner but believe Scripture, that speaks the infinite reward of holiness, he would quickly set up this trade, Pinder the Poet saith, in regard of the fertility of Rhodia, and the wealth of the inhabitants, that it rained gold in that country; The fruit of wisdom is better then silver, and the gain thereof then fine gold. She is more precious then Rubies, and all thou canst desire is not to be compared to her, Prov. 3. 14, 15.

Lucian fancieth all the Heathen gods and goddesses sitting in Parliament, and each making choice of that tree which best pleased them. Jupiter chose the Oak for its strength, Apollo the Baytree for its greeness; Neptune chose the Poplar for its length; Juno chose the Eglantine for its sweetness; Venus chose the Myrtle-tree for its beauty; Minerva sitting by, demanded of her Father Jupiter, why since there were so many fruitful trees, they all had chosen barren ones. He answered, Ne videan • ur fructu honorem vendere, Lest they should seem to sell honor for fruit; Minerva replied, Well, Do what you please, I for my part make choice of the Olive for its fatness and fruitfulness. They all commended her choice and were ashamed of their own Folly. This fiction doth fitly represent the foolishness of men at this day in choosing the honors and preferments, and glory of the world, which are barren and unfruitful things of no w • rth in the other world, before that honor which is from God, and the eternal weight of glory, and also the convictions of their consciences another day, which will force them to be ashamed of their own folly, and to commend the choice of a Christian for preferring grace and godliness, which will stand him instead in an hour of death, and day of judgment, and bring him in unspeakable gain, before the aery honors and withering vanities of this life.

Reader, If thou wilt give conscience free liberty to speak its mind? I know it will tell thee, that no calling is comparable to this for profit.

The gain of Godliness is real gain, rich gain, certain gain, eternal gain.

1. Its real, if the word of truth may be trusted, its fruit is therefore called substance, in distinction from earthly riches, which are shadows. I will cause them that love me to inherit substance.

2. Its called also true riches, other riches are feigned; hence also godly men are said to be rich towards god, and other men to be rich in this world. Its rich gain, as it hath relation to the best part, it makes the soul of man truly precious, as it is serviceable to our last end, and prepareth man for the fruition of God, and also as its reward is inconceivable. The vessels of mercy shall swim in an Ocean of glory. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard nor can the heart of man conceive what God hath laid up for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2. Its reward is beyond all expression, above all apprehensions, no comparison can fully resemble it, no understanding conceive it.

3. Its eternal gain; Other gains are fading, deceitful brooks, dying flowers, withering goards, and vanishing shadows; Riches are not forever, Pro. 29 Man in honor abideth not, Psa. 49.2. The pleasures of sin are but for a season, Heb. 11. 25. But this gain is forever. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, both in the nature of it, tis incorruptible seed, and in the fruit of it, which is the gift of God, eternal life. Though other trades shall all fail, as useful only in this needy World; though other callings shall vanish, and time itself shall be no more, yet this trade, this calling, shall r • n parallel with the life of an immortal soul; though gold be a corruptible metal, the gain of this calling is better then much fine gold; its an inheritance, undefiled, incorruptible. Our work, whether in doing or suffering the Will of God, is but for a moment, but it works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. O what an happy good, what an excellent gain, is that which is eternal! Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall never be taken from her. When thy Lands and Houses shall be taken from thee, thy place and dwelling shall know thee no more; when thy Friends and Relations shall be taken from thee; Son of Man, behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke ; when all the comforts of this life shall serve thee as vermin and lice do a dead man; though they stick close to him in his life, run from him at death; this Calling will stand by thee, encourage thee, never leave thee nor forsake thee. In other things thou chosest for that which is most lasting. If thou buyest an house, or beast, or suit of apparel, thou art desirous to have that which is most durable and strong. O why shouldst thou not chose that good which is everlasting! When Demetrius had taken Megara, and his Soldiers plundered the City, he fearing the Philosopher Stilpo might receive some loss, sent for him, and asked him whether any of his men had taken anything of his; Stilpo answered, No, for I saw no man that took my learning from me. Godl ⁱ ness is such Wealth, such Learning, as will abide with thee in general plunder; indeed neither men nor Devils can rob thee of it.

4. Its certain gain. He that sets up of this trade, may be trusted; for none ever brake of this calling. God himself, whose is the earth, and the fullness thereof, is bound for them, and hath undertaken for their perseverance, and growth, and gains. The Merchant that trades into the other world, is not properly a Merchant-venturer; for the Gospel, which is the Ensurance Office, hath engaged infinite power, and love, and faithfulness, for the security and safe return of all the Vessels which he sends forth; The Promises are all yea and amen, the sure mercies of David; The Covenant of grace, which containeth all their gains and riches, is stable in all things, and sure, 2 Cor. 1. 20. Isa. 55. 6. 2 Sam. 23. 5.

If there were a free trade proclaimed to the Indies, and every man that went, promised as much gold as he would desire, and a certainty of making a good voyage, who almost would stay at home? what crowding would there be to Port-Towns? and what hast to take shipping.

Reader, Though God will not suffer this to be, in reference to earthly treasures, knowing out of his infinite wisdom how hurtful they would be to immortal souls; yet he offereth thee all this and infinitely more, in calling upon thee to mind godliness; He saith to thee, as Joseph to his brethren, Gen 45. 18. Come unto me, and I will give you the good of the Land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the Land; Come unto me and I will give you the good of Canaan, and ye shall eat the pleasant fruits of that Land flowing with Milk and Honey.

O Reader, didst thou know the worth of this jewel, thou wouldst trample upon all the wealth of this World as dung, in comparison of it. Little dost thou think or imagine the advantage, the virtues of this Diamond; It is the true Loadstone that draweth all good to it. Luther saith of one Psalm, This Psalm hath done more for me, then all the Potentates of the World; I may say to thee, This calling will feed thee with bread that came down from Heaven, and clothe thee with fine linen, the robes of God's own righteousness; twill protect thee and maintain thee, twill advance and honor thee, twill enrich and ennoble thee in life, refresh and rejoice thee in death, crown and reward thee after death, do more for thee then all the Princes or Potentates, Relations or Pos • Possessions, Persons or Comforts upon Earth can do.

In thy prosperity and enjoyment of outward good things, godliness would like Sugar and Spice, correct their windiness, and make them wholesome and profitable to thee. It would like Elisha's Meal and Salt, make thy Meat sweet and savoury, and thy drink pleasant and refreshing to thee. It would make thy bed soft and easy, thy garments warm and sweet scented. Twill so far abate thy appetite to this luscious food, that thou shouldst not feed immoderately to the surfeiting thy soul.

As the fiery bush which Moses saw in the Mount Horeb, though it was in a flaming fire, did not consume; Or as the shining worm, that being cast into the fire, doth not waste, but is thereby p • rged from its filth, and made more beautiful then all the water in the world could make it; So Affliction should not ruin, but reform and purify thee; In the greatest danger, this will be thy defense. Though others like the old world, are drowned, are destroyed in these waters, yet thou shouldst ride safely in a well pitched Ark, and to free thee from any fear of miscarrying, the Lord himself would shut thee in. When others are in the open air, on whom storms and tempests have their full force, thou shouldst be housed in God's presence-chamber, and kept secret by his side. As Gideon's fleece, thou shouldst be dry, when all about thee are wet. The whale of destruction may digest thousands of Mariners, but one godly Jonah is too hard for him. The torrent of fire that ran from. AEtna, and consumed the Country, yet parted itself to safeguard them that relieved their aged parents. When the Grecians had taken Troy, and given every man liberty to carry out his burden, they were so taken with the devotion of AEneas, in carrying out first his household gods, and (upon a second license) his old Father Anchises, and his Son Ascanius, instead of treasures, which others carried out, that they permitted him to carry what he would without any disturbance. Jeremiah in the Babylonish captivity, was tendered and regarded highly by the King of Babylon ; When Sodom was destroyed, Lot was preserved. It was storied of Troy, that so long as the Image of Pallas stood safe in it, that City should never be won. It is true of godliness; so long as the fear and love of thy God are within thee, so long as thou makest religion thy business, nothing shall hurt thee, everything shall help thee; godliness will bring in all gain, and at all times; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. A Child of God by adoption, is in some sense like the Son of God by eternal generation, heir of all things, 1 Cor. 3.30, 31. Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or Life, or Death, or things present, or things to come, all is yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Nay, the Christians riches are not only unsearchable, Ephes. 3. 8. but also durable, Prov. 8. 15. When a wicked man dieth, all his riches die with him. His treasue is laid up on earth, therefore when he leaves the earth, he leaves his treasure, Psa. 49. 17. When a godly man dieth, his riches follow him, Rev. 14. 13. His treasure is in heaven, and so when he dieth he goeth to his gains.

O Reader, what an argument is here, to provoke thee to piety, godliness is profitable in all conditions, in all relations, in both worlds! In prosperity, twill be a sun to direct thee, in adversity a shield to protect thee; in life twill be thy comfort, and which is infinitely more in death, that hour of need 'twill be thy enlivening cordial; The smell of Trefoil, is stronger in a cloudy dark season, then in fair weather. The refreshing savor of the sweet spices of grace, is strongest in the Saints greatest necessities.

When Death, the King of terrors, comes to enter the list, and fight with thee for thy soul and eternal salvation, for thy God, and Christ, and Heaven, and happiness, when all thy Riches, and Honors, and Friends, and Relations, would leave thee in the lurch, to shift for thyself, as Dogs leave their Master when he comes to the water ; Godliness would be thy shield to secure thee against its shot, and make thee more then a conqueror over it. Thou mightest call thy dying bed, as Jacob the place through which he travailed, Mahanaim, a Camp, for there Angels would meet thee to convey thee safe through the Air, the enemies country (of which Satan is Lord and Prince) to thy Fathers houses, where thou shouldst be infinitely blessed in the vision and fruition of thy God and Savior forever. Godliness would be the Pilot to steer the vessel of thy soul aright through those boisterous waters, to an happy port. The Arabic Fable mentions one that carried an Hog, a Goat, and a Sheep to the City; the Hog roared hideously, when the other two were still and quiet, and being asked the reason, gave this account of her crying, The Sheep and Goat have no such cause to complain, for they are carried to the City for their Milk, but I am carried thither to be killed, being good for nothing else. The Ungodly person may well cry out sadly, when sickness comes, for then guilt flieth in his face, and conscience tells him, death will kill him, he is good for nothing but to be killed with death, Rev. 2.25. he never honored God in this world, and God will force honor out of him in the other world. He may well screech out dreadfully at the approach of death, whose body death sends to the grave, and his souls to intolerable and unquenchable flames, but the godly man may bid death welcome, knowing it will be his exceeding gain and advantage.

Reader, When others like the Israelites are afraid and start back at the sight of this Goliath, thou mightest like little David, encounter him in the name of the Lord and overcome him. Thou mightest triumphantly sing in the ears of death; O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory! The Lord of life would sweeten death to thee, and subdue it for thee; nay, make it at peace with thee, that thou mightest say to death, as Jacob to Esau, I have seen thy face, as if it had been the face of God, who hath made thee to meet me with smiles instead of frowns. Death would help thee to that sight, to that knowledge, to that state and degree of holiness, for which thou hast prayed, and wept, and fasted, and watched, and labored, and waited many a day; as its said of Job, there was none like him in the earth ; so I may say of this calling, there is none like it upon the face of the earth ; the very enemies of it in their hours of extremity being judges. Ah who would not work for God with the greatest diligence, and walk with God in the exactest obedience, and wait upon God with the greatest patience; when he is assured, that in the doing of his commands there is such great reward; and those that sow to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting !

AN Alphabetical Table OF THE Chief Heads contained in the foregoing Treatise.

A

CHristians should Admonish one another.

285

How.

ibid.

Afflictions tend to a Christians advantage.

814,815

Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

44,45

B

Backbiting to be avoided.

271

The great danger and evil of it.

272, to 275

A Backbiter wounds three wi • h one arrow.

274

Christians must bear with one another.

288

A threefold burden Christians must bear for each other.

289

Their Civil, Spiritual and Natural burdens.

ibid.

The Beasts of the field may teach men.

453

Beasts teach man six lessons; Thankefulness to God; Dependance on God; The dread of God; Diligence in our callings; Innocency; Wisdom.

453, 454

Birds of the Air teach man eight Lessons •

454, to 457

Christians must use a conscience in buying.

17

C

CHristians should be diligent in their particular Callings.

511

Christians must avoid censuring.

266

The great evil of censuring.

267

How to apply ourselves to civil men in sickness.

577

Saints must be careful in the choice of their Companions.

90, 133

The benefit of Company.

86, 87, to 90, 138, 139

The great danger of evil Company to draw men to sin.

9 • , to 95. 133, to 135

to draw men to suffering.

95, to 99, 136

The Great advantage of good Company.

98, to 101. 241, to 247

A man's Company will discover him.

101, 102, 139

Christians should Company with them that are godly.

109,110,140,141

because they are godly.

116,117

Whether a Christian may not be more intimate with some godly Companions then others.

119

Two Cautions about it.

120,121

Christians should endeavor the spiritual good of their Companions.

121, to 125,182

Saints may sometimes use, but should not choose the Company of sinners.

109,110

Objections against it answered.

124, to 128

Evil Company infectio • s •

156, 157

Saints may be the better for evil Company when they are called to it.

158, 159, 177

Wherein.

179, to 182

Christians must guard their souls in evil Company.

160,161

not needlessly expose themselves to sufferings.

167

Saints must not disown Christ in any Company.

172, to 175

Saints should endeavor the Conversion of sinners.

182, 183

How.

183, to 189

By good Company pious souls have been confirmed.

245

Erring Saints recovered.

ibid.

Dull Christians quickened.

246

Much sin prevented.

248

Christians must watch themselves in good Company.

• 62

What sins Saints are most prone to in good Company.

263

The Communion of Saints the most excellent Communion.

236, 250, 257

Wherein the Communion of Saints consisteth.

275

In a mutual communication of their gifts and graces.

ibid.

In joining in the Ordinances of God.

ibid.

In serviceableness each to other.

276

Wherein.

280, to 287

A Contented spirit a great help to godliness •

809

Nine Arguments to Contentedness in the most afflicted condition.

813

Christians should receive Counsel.

301

Penitent Christians should be comforted.

283

Its a duty to be courteous.

39

Courtesie is an ornament to Christianity.

40,41

D

EVery day to be begun with duty.

496

Arguments to it.

ib. to 499

Christians should exercise themselves to godliness, in their dealings with all men.

5

Its a sign of hypocrisy to be careless in dealings with men.

7, to 10

The credit of Religion is much engaged in our Dealings with others.

11, to 14

In our dealings with others we must be righteous.

15

Courteous.

39

Meek.

42

The Principle of a Christian in his dealings, must be gracious.

51, 52

The end of a Christian in his dealings must be minded.

53, 54

A daily performance of holy duties to be minded.

756

The necessity and benefit of daily duties.

757, to 760

Christians should exercise themselves to Godliness on a dying bed.

611,612

What it is to die in the Lord.

612

Three things in it.

ib.

In what respects Christ was obedient to the death.

6 • 5

Death is a serious thing.

619

Death will try men.

620

At death man is stated for eternity.

622

Satan is busy to assault at death.

ib. 623

A death bed is a special season to honor God.

624

Its the last opportunity.

627

How Christians should honor God on a dying bed.

628

In commending God and godliness to others.

629

In commending ourselves to God.

633

In praying for our Relations, the Church, our Benefactours, and our Enemies.

634, to 637

In exercising grace on a dying bed.

637

What graces Saints should especially exercise on a dying bed, Faith, Courage, Repentance, Charity, Patience.

637, to 647

Our whole life should be a preparation for Death.

633, 634

In what respects, or how a Saint may die with comfort.

658, to 662

Meditation of death a special help to holiness.

745, to 753

The great mischif of discontent.

811, 812

E

CHristians must spiritualize earthly things.

372,373

Several examples hereof.

374, to 380

The earth teacheth man four lessons.

457

Earthly things, unsuitable, unsatisfying, vexatious, deceitful, and uncertain.

828, to 840

Ejaculations profitable.

435

Christians must look to their ends in their actions.

53, 54

Frequent Examination of ourselves and our ways a duty.

523, 786

The great advantage thereof.

524, to 727.781, to 786

Examples helpful to encourage us heavenward.

841

F

FAith necessary if we would exercise ourselves unto godliness.

706

The excellency of Faith.

707

Faith destroyeth sin.

708

Overcometh the world.

712

Faith overcometh the affrightments of the World.

713, 714

Faith overcometh the allurements of the world.

716, 717

Faith enableth to overcome Satan.

720

the flesh.

722

Faith deriveth grace from Christ.

724

Faith sets all other graces at work.

725

Faith makes Ordinances profitable.

727

Nine Questions to them that neglect Family duties.

508, to 511

Fear, sinful when.

179

There can be no true Friendship betwixt a godly and a wicked man.

105, to 108

Who is thy best friend.

303, 345

G

SEtting God always before our eyes, a great help to godliness.

729, to 737

The knowledge of God a great help to holiness.

801, to 809

God's Omniscience.

493, 494

God's Patience, Vide Patience.

God's word, Vide word.

Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness. 695. Vide Means.

Godliness the most excellent Calling.

844

The most honorable.

ib.

The most comfortable.

849

The most profitable Calling.

858

Twelve serious thoughts to quicken all to Exercise themselves to Godliness. Vide, Epistle to the Reader.

H

THe heart, the great work-house of thoughts, words, and actions.

698

The necessity of a new heart in all that would make religion their business.

699, 700

The heart of man backward to good.

255

prone to evil.

364

must be watched.

369

Holiness is honorable.

844

Humility an help to holiness.

792

The Excellency of humility.

793, 794

Unrighteousness a sign of Hypocrisy.

7, 8

I

THe evil of Idleness.

820

The great mischief of Ignorance.

806

The Ignorant should be instructed.

280, 281

A serious consideration of the day of judgment, a special help to godliness.

765

Dreadfulness of the day of judgment to wicked men.

767, 776

The day of judgment will be comfortable to Saints.

772

Their godliness will be mentioned.

ibid.

Their names vindicated.

773

Persons publicly acquitted.

ib.

Their happiness will be perfected.

774

Justice to what resembled.

39

Justice, Vide, Righteousness.

K

THe Knowledge of God a special means of godliness.

802

Subjects should pay tribute to their King.

38, 39

L

LIfe is uncertain.

490

Life is short.

838

Love should be among Christians.

2 • 5

Why the Commandment of Love is called a new Commandment.

236

The fervency of Christ's prayer for love.

237

Sad effects of want of love among Christians.

239

M

MEans whereby Christians may exercise themselves to godliness.

695

A good Foundation.

696

Living by Faith.

746

Setting God before our eyes.

729

A constant watchfulness.

734

Meditation of our dying day.

745

Daily solemn performance of holy duties.

756

Frequent thoughts of the day of judgment.

765

Calling ourselves often to account.

780

Avoiding occasions of sin.

787

Walking humbly.

793

Suppressing sin in the beginning.

799

The knowledge of God.

801

A contented frame of spirit.

809

Avoiding those things that hinder godliness.

819

Meditation useful.

388

What set Meditation is.

389, to 396

An example of set Meditation on the Word of God.

398

Another example on the patience of God.

466

Its a Christians duty to be meek.

42

The excellency of meekness.

43

Meekness a sign of a wise man.

44

The Christians meekness should not hinder his zeal for God.

46,47

A meek man a good Neighbor, in what respects.

48, 49.

N

NAture is corrupted, and must be renewed.

571

O

OCcasions of sin must be avoided.

787

Obedience must be universal.

8, 9

P

PAtience of God wonderful.

467

God's Patience amplified in twelve considerations.

467, to 476

The causes of God's patience.

476,477

The Application of God's patience.

485

The vanity of Pride.

795,796

Christians must look to the Principles of their ordinary actions.

50, 51

Men must pay what they owe.

20

Payments must be in good money.

21

Q

ITs good for Christians sometimes to put Questions to their own souls.

524

The manner how they should do it.

546, 547

The benefit of it in four particulars.

525, 526

R

REgeneration necessary.

695

Christians should rejoice in others graces.

308

The credit of Religion much engaged in a Christians public dealings.

11, to 61

Its the duty of Saints, to reprove them that sin.

165, 188, 285, 286

Reproof must be given seriously, seasonably, prudently, compassionately.

191, to 204

Its a Christians duty to take a reproof kindly.

302, to 306

Christians ought to be righteous in their dealings with all men.

15

In their works.

16,64,65

In buying.

17, 18, 19

Wherein Righteousness in buying consisteth.

20, 21,65

Christians ought to be righteous in selling.

22

Wherein it consisteth.

23, 24,25,66,67

The general rule of righteousness.

27,69

Christian • ought to be righteous in their words.

34,70

S

SAtan a strong, crafty, industrious, and cruel enemy.

336, to 339

Sinful shame, what.

174

Christians must be righteous in selling.

22

Its a sin to work upon the ignorance or poverty of the Seller.

18, 19

Its a duty to visit the sick.

554, 557

Great caution about it.

555

Its a special season of doing and receiving good.

559, 560

It may be the last opportunity.

565

We must be acquainted with the state of sick persons souls.

568

Suitable application must be made to the sick.

570

Five things chiefly to be insisted on to the carnal sick.

571, to 576

How to apply ourselves to civil men in sickness.

577

Three great lessons all should learn by sickness.

579

How to apply ourselves to Saints in their sickness.

578

We must deal faithfully with the sick.

581

Its a duty to pray with, and for the sick.

582

Much good may be gotten by visiting the sick.

584

We may learn our own frailty, the worth of health, the price of time, the excellency of grace.

585, to 588

Sinful silence, what.

165

What it is to be silent in evil times.

168

Sin to be suppressed in the beginning.

799

Open sins worse then secret in a threefold respect.

13

God hates sin.

467

How many ways we may partake of other men's sins by provocation compliance, Silence.

164, 165, 186

No true friendship betwixt Saints and Sinners.

104, 108, 141, 142

Christians should be careful of their carriage amongst sinners.

155

Christians should not needlessly accompany with sinners.

111. Vide company.

In what respect Sinners are said to be without.

155

Sinners join hand in hand to oppose the interest and Kingdom of Christ.

153

What it is to sit with vain persons.

112

Slothful Christians must be quickened.

282

Soliloquies a duty.

432

Its a Christians duty to be holy in Solitude.

354,355

The danger of neglecting our watch in Solitude.

362

The great benefit of seasonable Solitude.

357

To make conscience of our carriage in Solitude, is a good sign of sincerity. 365. Wherein it consisteth.

369, &c.

In guarding the heart against vain thoughts.

369

In spiritualizing earthly objects.

372

In solemn Meditations.

388

In Soliloquies.

432

Secret Ejaculations.

435

The evil of needless Solitude.

257

The sorrowful must be comforted.

283

T

CHristians must be thankful for restraining grace.

180, 181

Vain thoughts must be watched against.

369

Time is precious and must be redeemed.

263,264,578

Trees teach men ten lessons.

460, to 464

V

VAin thoughts, what.

370

Unrighteousness a sign of Hypocrisy.

7,8. 58

The folly of unrighteous men.

25, 28, to 34

W

THe life of man compared to a Walk.

1

The life of a Christian to a walk with God.

2

In what respects a Christians life is said to be a walking in the light.

2,3.

Christians must watch.

514

Watchfulness requisite in evil company.

155, 160, 161

Watchfulness a great help to Godliness.

734

Great reason for watchfulness.

741

We must watch against sin. 741. for doing good. ibid. in duties. 742. after duties. ibid. our senses. ibid. our tongues. 743. our heart especially.

744

Every Week-day to be devoted to God.

488

Motives to it. 490, to 496. Wherein it consisteth.

In beginning the day with God.

496

Diligence in our callings.

511

Redeeming time.

518

Constant watchfulness.

514

Self Examination.

523

Evening duties.

527

Our words should be the language of our hearts.

34

The excellency of the Word of God, largely described in its four causes.

398, &c.

The Word of God is true. 412. holy. 408. perfect. 411. powerful.

410

Why the Word of God is compared to light.

416

Why to rain.

419

World not to be loved.

821

The vanity of worldly things.

824

Worldly things unsuitable to our souls. 8. 8. unsatisfying. 830. deceitful. 828. vexatious. 832.

Z

ZEal, what it is.

179

Christians should be Zealous.

ibid.

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