Lastly we have heard who can make right use of these things delivered? only the wise and prudent: such only can understand heavenly things to purpose: his secret is with them that fear him: and Wisdom is (only) justified of her children. 1When others have no heart given them to perceive Gods ways aright (as Moses speaketh) Transgressors fall in Gods right ways, whilst the just walks comfortably in them. O then let us hate sin every day more and more, and be in love with Religion and the ways of God: for that's the true good, which is the everlasting good, that better Mary's part, 2which shall never be taken away: Whosoever drinks of this living water shall never thirst again. 3The best things of this world, have but the shadow, not the substance of goodness. Let us then be wise for our selves, and pity our selves in time whilst it is called to day, because (as our Saviour speaks) The night approacheth, 4wherein no man can work. O then, let us often examine our hearts and covenant with them, let us see our sins as they are, and Gods goodness as it is;5 that our scarlet sins may be done away as a mist from before him. O banish away our Atheism, which by our sinful conversation proclaimeth us to be of the number of ⟨p. 481⟩those fools, who have said in their heart, that there is no God. This serious consideration,6 always makes first a stop, and then a Returning: to believe indeed that there is a God, who made the world, and a judgement to come. This God (by Moses) calleth true Wisdom indeed, To remember our latter end: 7O (saith he) that they were wise that they would think of these things: of which things? the miseries which attend sin here and hereafter, and the blessings and comforts which follow a godly life both here and hereafter.8 That they would remember their latter end, the neglect whereof Jeremiah showeth was the cause: that they came down wonderfully and had no comforter: because they remembered not their latter end.
Lastly we have heard who can make right use of these things delivered? onely the wise and prudent: such onely can understand heavenly things to purpose: his secret is with them that feare him: and Wisedome is (only) justified of her children. 1When others have no heart given them to perceive Gods wayes aright (as Moses speaketh) Transgressors fall in Gods right waies, whilst the just walks comfortably in them. O then let us hate sin every day more and more, and be in love with Religion and the wayes of God: for that's the true good, which is the everlasting good, that better Maries part, 2which shall never be taken away: Whosoever drinks of this living water shall never thirst againe. 3The best things of this world, have but the shadow, not the substance of goodnesse. Let us then be wise for our selves, and pitie our selves in time whilst it is called to day, because (as our Saviour speaks) The night approacheth, 4wherin no man can work. O then, let us often examine our hearts and covenant with them, let us see our sinnes as they are, and Gods goodnesse as it is;5 that our scarlet sinns may be done away as a mist from before him. O banish away our Atheisme, which by our sinnefull conversation proclaimeth us to be of the number of ⟨p. 481⟩those fooles, who have said in their heart, that there is no God. This serious consideration,6 alwayes makes first a stop, and then a Returning: to beleeve indeed that there is a God, who made the world, and a judgement to come. This God (by Moses) calleth true Wisedome indeed, To remember our latter end: 7O (saith he) that they were wise that they would thinke of these things: of which things? the miseries which attend sinne here and hereafter, and the blessings and comforts which follow a godly life both here and hereafter.8 That they would remember their latter end, the neglect whereof Ieremy sheweth was the cause: that they came downe wonderfully and had no comforter: because they remembred not their latter end.
- 1Psal. 25.14. Mat. 11.19.
- 2Luk. 10.42.
- 3John. 4.14.
- 4John. 9.4.
- 5Isa. 1.18.
- 6Psal. 14.1.
- 7Deut. 32.29.
- 8Lamen. 1.9.
