The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

now the Lord help us, now the Lord be merciful to us and deliver us, what means shall we use? what course were we best to take? In the mean time Jacob calls upon them, Why stand you here gazing one upon another? away, get you down to Egypt presently, and buy us food; you will never get provision to sustain us, by plotting and talking one with another; you will never get any come to sustain you, by looking and gazing one upon another; no, no, down to Egypt with all speed, there corn is to be had, that we and those that belong unto us may live and not die; so it is with the souls of Gods children, the poor distressed heart partly through the Devils cunning and subtlety partly also through our own ignorance and folly, we stand gazing at our corruptions, and it begin to think and wonder what will become of us; no means prevail, no mercies melt, no judgements humble, no reproofs awe us, the famine grows strong, ⟨p. 108⟩my corruptions fierce, and my case heavy, that I know not almost what course to take; why stand you thus gazing after this fashion? what, do you think to get grace upon these terms, by discouragements and disquieting your selves, and vexing your own hearts thus? No, no, away to Egypt, to the promise of life, to the Lord Jesus for help and assistance, and then you shall have mercy and grace abundantly bestowed upon you, and that freely with your money in the mouth of your sacks again, you shall have grace that you need, and sufficiently bestowed upon you: Look as it is with Elijah, when he was to depart from Elisha, and be taken up into Heaven, Elisha craves one thing of him, and that was this, 1 Kings 2.9. That the Spirit of Elijah might he doubled upon Elisha; now mark how Elijah answered; Thou hast asked a hard thing, saith he, nevertheless, if thou canst see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be granted to thee.

now the Lord help us, now the Lord bee mercifull to us and deliver us, what meanes shall wee use? what course were wee best to take? In the mean time Iacob calls upon them, Why stand you here gazing one upon another? away, get you downe to Egypt presently, and buy us food; you will never get provision to sustaine us, by plotting and talking one with another; you will never get any come to sustaine you, by looking and gazing one upon another; no, no, downe to Egypt with all speed, there corne is to be had, that we and those that belong unto us may live and not die; so it is with the soules of Gods children, the poore distressed heart partly through the Devils cunning and subtiltie partly also through our owne ignorance and folly, wee stand gazing at our corruptions, and it begin to thinke and wonder what will become of us; no means prevaile, no mercies melt, no judgements humble, no reproofs awe us, the famine growes strong,