There is no greater encouragement, or stronger motive, to stir a man to an eager, and earnest pursuit of the means then to purpose unto him an end, wherein at length his heart may repose, as in a concurrence of all comforts and contentments. To which, there is no possibility of attainment, but by pureness of heart, holiness of life, constancy in a course of sanctification; which only lead unto the face, and presence of God, where, and with whom alone is the highest perfection of bliss, a river of infinite pleasures, the well of life, and endless rest of all created desires. For the capacity of mans soul, cannot possibly be filled with the sufficiency of any creature; no, not with a world of creatures; for they are all ⟨p. 2⟩nothing to the worth of a mans soul; Christ himself having preferred it in valuation:1 What shall it profit a man, though he should win the whole world, if he lose his own soul? And therefore can never be free from motion and vexation; until it reach unto, either in certain hope, or actual fruition, an object, infinite, as well in excellency of nature, as duration of time. Blessed then was the wisdom of the disposer of these heavenly Songs of David; whether it was himself, or Ezra, or whomsoever, in that he prefixed this excellent Psalm, as a preface to all the rest; wherein is proposed, and comprised a matchless happiness; whereby the godly man, may even in this life flourish like a Palm tree, 2and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon; refreshed continually with rivers of joys, and comforts, shed into his heart by the spirit of God: and may stand like mount Zion unas•onished and unremou•d,3 at that great, and fearful day, when the wicked shall call for the mountains to cover them, and wish they had never bin. What ingenuous mind would not be inflamed with zeal, to the prosecution of those means, which lead unto an end as full of happiness, as the Sun is full of light, and the Sea of waters? What heart not possessed with an iron s•ew, would not thirst, and long after found, and undissembled sincerity, even as the Hart brayeth after the rivers of water, and as the dry ground gapeth for drops of rain? sith by it alone we purchase, and put on an unconquerable resolution, issuing from an assurance of being in Christ, and from the clearness of a good conscience:4 whereby we may walk even.
THere is no greater encouragement, or stronger motiue, to stirre a man to an eager, and earnest pursuite of the meanes then to purpose vnto him an end, wherein at length his heart may repose, as in a concurrence of all comforts and contentments. To which, there is no possibilitie of attainment, but by purenesse of heart, holinesse of life, constancie in a course of sanctification; which only leade vnto the face, and presence of God, where, and with whom alone is the highest perfection of blisse, a riuer of infinite pleasures, the well of life, and endlesse rest of all created desires. For the capacitie of mans soule, cannot possibly be filled with the sufficiencie of any creature; no, not with a world of creatures; for they are all ⟨p. 2⟩nothing to the worth of a mans soule; Christ himselfe hauing preferred it in valuation:1 What shall it profit a man, though he should win the whole world, if he lose his owne soule? And therfore can neuer be free from motion and vexation; vntill it reach vnto, either in certaine hope, or actuall fruition, an obiect, infinite, as well in excellencie of nature, as duration of time. Blessed then was the wisdome of the disposer of these heauenly Songs of Dauid; whether it was himselfe, or Ezra, or whomsoeuer, in that he prefixed this excellent Psalme, as a preface to all the rest; wherein is proposed, and comprised a matchlesse happines; whereby the godly man, may euen in this life flouris• like a Palme tree, 2and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon; refreshed continually with riuers of ioies, and comforts, shed into his heart by the spirit of God: and may stand like mount Zion vnas•onished and vnremou•d,3 at that great, and fearefull day, when the wicked shall call for the mountaines to couer them, and wish they had neuer bin. What ingenuous mind would not be inflamed with zeale, to the prosequution of those meanes, which leade vnto an end as full of happines, as the Sunne is full of light, and the Sea of waters? What heart not possessed with an iron s•ew, would not thirst, and long after found, and vndissembled sinceritie, euen as the Hart brayeth after the riuers of water, and as the drie ground gapeth for drops of raine? sith by it alone wee purchase, and put on an vnconquerable resolution, issuing from an assurance of being in Christ, and from the clearenesse of a good conscience:
- 1Matth. 16.25.
- 2P•alm. 92.12.
- 3Psalm. 125.1.
- 4Prou. 13.1.
