The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Use. 4 Is it so that the faithful soul is thus nearly knitted to Christ, as the member to the body, or the branch to the vine? then all you that believe in Christ, observe from hence a ground of strong consolation, against all the contempt of the world, and the misery that can betide, and against all the temptations that Satan can lay against you, to cause you to fall finally, or totally.

Vse. 4 Is it so that the faithfull soule is thus neerly knitted to Christ, as the member to the body, or the branch to the vine? then all you that beleeve in Christ, observe from hence a ground of strong consolation, against all the contempt of the world, and the misery that can betide, and against all the temptations that Sathan can lay against you, to cause you to fall finally, or totally.

First, it is a ground of great comfort and consolation to carry up the soul, and lift up the heart against all the contempt and disgrace, against all the troubles, and miseries, and persecutions, that can betide or befall you, or can be cast upon you, in this wandering pilgrimage of yours: when a Christian begins to turn his face heaven-ward, and go home to the Lord, then all his friends fly away, and depart from him: David complains, that his honours stood afar off, and he was a mocking to the enemy, and a contempt to those that were before near unto him; so it will be with you, nay, it is so with most that live in the bosom of the Church: how often can many of you speak of it, when the Lord hath given you a heart to walk with him, and depend upon him? how often are you made the off-scouring of the world? your carnal friends detest your persons, and scorn your societies; why? raise up your ⟨p. 21⟩hearts with the consideration of the former truth; ye that do endure it, or may fear it, comfort your selves: doth man cast you off? doth man cast you out? Christ will receive you, why then are you discouraged? what though the servant frown, if the Master welcome? what though we be not with the wicked, if we be with Christ, and Christ with us; why are we then discontented? it is that which comforts a party that matcheth against her parents mind, when her parents frown, this comforts her heart, though she hath not their love and society, yet she hath the love and company of her husband, and that contents her: so it is with every believing soul, you have matched against the mind of your carnal friends, they would not have you take that course; Oh then they tell you, Woe and beggary will befall you; well, though you have matched contrary to the minds of your carnal friends, or master, or husband, yet comfort thy self, though thou hast the ill will of an earthly husband, yet now God will be a husband in heaven, thou mayest sing care away, and be for ever comforted and refreshed: it was that which God himself gave for a cordial to cheer up Jacob, in that long and tedious journey of his, when he was going into a far country,