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Minifters. He that retires upon this account, doth indeed imprison himself, but it is, that he may attain to true and perfect liberty, triumph over the flavery of fin, lead his corruption cap tive, and free himself from the dregs and drofs, which corrupted Nature hath brought upon him: Little doth the fenfual man think, what felicity he robs himself of, by fcorning this retirement. Here Heaven would look more beautiful to him, than in a Croud; here he might in a manner with St. Stephen, fee the Heavens open, and his Saviour standing at the right hand of God; here he might truly enjoy himfelf, and look with pity on thofe men, who, like Spirits, which are fometimes feen in Mines, with great labour, do nothing at all to any purpose; and when they have tired, and wearied themselves in the World, like Flies, burn themselves in that Candle, about which they have been hovering.

Come Sinner, prepare thy Pencil, mingle the richest Colours thou canft get, Draw thy finful careless life, give it a beautiful Virgins Face; Draw all the charms that thy fancy can find out; herè, Draw the Adoration the World payes unto her, there the bowes and cringes, whereby both great and small infinuate into her favour. On her Head draw a Tree, whofe Fruit is Gold, and the Dew whereof hardens into Pearls; let her right hand grasp a Crown, and her left drop

gifts. on her Clients, and Votaries. But then, when this proud Peacock is drawn thus, in all her dazling Circles, forget not to draw her ugly feet, I mean an unquiet, roaring, difturb'd, diftracted, trembling Confcience; for, into this difmal shape, doth that lovely Mermaid end. On the other fide, I'll paint a Wilderness, a Grove, which wife Nature made, and in it I'll represent a devout Soul kneeling, and with the Publican, fmiting upon her Breaft; then will I draw Heaven, and out of that Heaven, Grace and Mercy in the shape of an Angel, flying down with this Meffage, Fear not, I have Redeemed thee, thou art mine; and holding a Bottle under to catch her Tears: immediately upon this, the Holy Ghost shall be feen defcending, fpreading his Beams, and warming that Soul, and invigorating it to refift the World, the Flesh, and the Devil: by and by the Glory of God shall and crown all with Peace and appear, Joy, and infinite content, and Eternal Hallelujahs.

And now Sinner, which of these Pictures wouldst thou chufe? Do not the homely feet of the former fright thee? Can all the Beauty thou feeft in that painted Harlot, countervail the mifery it dies into? Is an ever-gnawing Confcience, matter of fport and laughter ? when all these painted Gaudes muft break into a difmal Dungeon 3 wilt thou laugh a while, that

thou

thou mayft mourn and lament for ever? but if thou art fo fond of this dangerous Garden, that nothing can reclaim thee from being delighted with it; take thy choice, give me the other Landskip. I know this World, Men are fo fond of, e're long will have an end, and their pleasures will have an end, and their fins will have an end, and their glory will have an end; but where these end, God's Juftice and Indignation begins; Bleffed is the man, that hath then the God of Ja cob for his refuge, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble: what, if I enjoy none of the Worlds wanton Solaces? I know where better and stronger Confola tions are to be had; what if Thorns and Bryars furround my Lilies, and Rofes, I know they are but to preferve them, and to hinder the Devil from tearing them to pieces these Thorns are my Safeguard, which will e're long be done away, and when I am out of the reach of all Enemies, my Lilies will continue fresh, and flourishing for ever: What need I covet the World, when I am made to live above the World? What should I love this Earth for, when I have a God to love? Why should I dote on Nature, when I am in the state of Grace? God hath made me many glorious Promises, How can I forbear rejoycing under the thoughts of them? By Grace I am made partaker of the Divine Nature; wonderful

:

Dignity!

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vid. Eufeb. Nierem. De

Ador. lib. 1. cap. 12.

Dignity! Being advanc'd fo high, Why should I be enamour'd with a little Duft? Seq. when God hath made me a King, Why should I debafe my felf, or ftoop to the mean employment of a Peasant? I know God doth not fee as man doth fee, a Soul that loves him above all, is more esteemed in his fight, than the proudeft Monarch; nor do rags fright him from fixing his habitation there, where he meets with an humble, broken heart: let others glory in their great Titles, in this I'll glory, that I am a Child of God. Who can exprefs the Honour God bestows on those that give their hearts to him? To be a Child of God is infinitely greater Honour, than to be of Kin to Princes, or to have the Blood of Nobles running in my veins. A Father expreffes greater endearments to him, that participates of his Nature, and draws his fubftance from him, than to him, that's only like him in the face; How far greater love then may. I conceive in God to a Child, which by Grace is a partaker of Divine Nature, than to the bleffed Angels themselves? The whole Creation in a manner participates of the Divine Nature; but all other Creatures are but Pictures, painted Images of that glorious Nature; he that is a Child of God, is a lively Image of hist Father, which is in Heaven, and he hath Fellowfhip and Communion with the Father, and his Son Jefus Chrift. What Mysteries are these things

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to

to a poor Worldling? but Oh how comfortable to him, that feels the good Spirit bearing wit nefs with his Spirit, that he is a Child of God! If God be my Father, then all the Riches he hath are mine; if he be my Father, he cannot but take special care of me; for, Can a mother forget her fucking child, that she should not have compaffion on the fruit of her womb; yea, fhe may forget, yet will I not forget thee: Behold, 1 have engraven thee on the palms of my hand, Efay 49. 15, 16. Fathers fometimes expofe their own lives to fave their Sons; God hath done infinitely more for me, for he affumed humane Nature, and expofed his life for me, who was his Enemy, and a Traitor to him, that I might become his Son.

By Grace I am the friend of God, if God had not taken me for his Child, yet how excel. lent, how incomprehenfible would the favour be, that he vouchfafes to take me into the number of his friends? What a stir do men keep to purchase the Friendship of great Men? How little do they esteem the Friendship of the Almighty? They have not Souls clear enough to admire the Mercy; their understandings are too earthy to adore fo great a bounty; it requires too much Spirit and Mind, to be ravished with fuch compaffion. A Friend is often loved better than near Relations; What may not I promise my felf from this Love and Friendship

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