The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

First, because God the Father hath all things to do with the soul of a believer: all the suits that are to be made against a poor soul, they come from God, and if he will cease the suit, who can follow it? if he will say he is satisfied, and well apaid, then who can take any advantage against the soul? Look as it is with the Lord of a manor, haply he hath an ill neighbour lives under him, and doth him much damage many ways, and the Noble man at last is resolved to follow the law against him: therefore the poor man comes in and desires pardon of all that he hath done amiss, and promiseth never to do the like, and the Gentleman out of his noble disposition acquits him, and forgives all: now imagine some of the servants come in and raise clamours and complaints against him, and all the servants of the family are against him: well, the poor man makes them this answer, I have wronged none of you, therefore if your Lord be contented to acquit me, I care not what you say, I have not wronged you, neither do I fear you: this is that which should cheer up our hearts infinitely, that God the Father is the Lord of the manor, even the Lord of the whole world, and if there be any transgression done against thy neighbour whatsoever, he ⟨p. 149⟩is the Lord of the manor, it were no offence to steal, but that he hath forbidden it; and it were no offence to be disobedient to Parents, but that he hath said, Honour thy father and mother, &c. The goods of thy neighbour are the Lords, and the damage that is done is against the Lord: Now if God the Father do mercifully acquit you, and saith he will pardon the breach of all his Commandments, if God acquit us, what need we fear or care what the Devil says against us? it may be the Devil will come in and commence a suit against us, and say, what, you be saved? yes, that's a likely matter, are you not guilty of this and that? well, brethren, we have done the Devil no wrong, against thee only have I sinned, saith David, it was against the commands of my good God and his holy Spirit, it was against my Father and my Redeemer, and they will pardon my sin: God saith, I will forgive all that wrong done to me, then let the Devil go and shake his ears:

First, because God the Father hath all things to doe with the soule of a beleever: all the suits that are to bee made against a poore soule, they come from God, and if hee will cease the suit, who can follow it? if he will say hee is satisfied, and well apaid, then who can take any advantage against the soule? Looke as it is with the Lord of a manour, haply hee hath an ill neighbour lives under him, and doth him much damage many wayes, and the Noble man at last is resolved to follow the law against him: therefore the poore man comes in and desires pardon of all that hee hath done amisse, and promiseth never to doe the like, and the Gentleman out of his noble disposition acquits him, and forgives all: now imagine some of the servants come in and raise clamours and complaints against him, and all the servants of the family are against him: well, the poore man makes them this answer, I have wronged none of you, therefore if your Lord bee contented to acquit me, I care not what you say, I have not wronged you, neither doe I feare you: this is that which should chear up our hearts infinitely, that God the Father is the Lord of the mannour, even the Lord of the whole world, and if there be any transgression done against thy neighbour whatsoever, hee