O how many hundred Professors of Religion, who can easily bring their hearts to ordinary duties, as Reading, Hearing, Praying, Conferring; could never yet in all their lives, bring them, and keep them to a heavenly contemplation, one half hour together! Consider here, Reader, as before the Lord, whether this be not thine own case. Thou hast known that Heaven is all thy hopes; thou knowest thou must shortly be turned hence, and that nothing below can yield thee rest; thou knowest also, that a strange heart, a seldom and careless thinking of Heaven, can fetch but little comfort thence; and dost thou not yet for all this, let slip thy opportunities, and lie below in dust, or mere duties, when thou shouldst walk above, and live ⟨p. 662⟩[…] ⟨p. 663⟩[…] ⟨p. 662⟩with God? Dost thou not commend the sweetness of heavenly life, and judg those the excellentest Christians that use it; and yet didst never once try it thy self? But as the sluggard that stretched himself on his bed, and cried, O that this were working! So dost thou talk, and trifle, and live at thy ease, and say, O that I could get my heart to Heaven! This is to lie a bed and wish, when thou shouldst be up and doing. How many a hundred do read Books, and hear Sermons, in expectation to hear of some easy course, or to meet with a shorter cut to comforts, then ever they are like to find in the Word! And if they can hear of none from the Preachers of Truth, they will snatch it with rejoicing from the Teachers of Falsehood; and presently applaud the excellency of the doctrine, because it hath fitted their lazy temper; and think there is no other doctrine will comfort the soul, because it will not comfort it with hearing, and looking on. They think their Venison is best, though accompanied with a lie, because it is the easiest catched, and next at hand, and they think will procure the chiefest blessing, (and so it may, if God be as subject to mistake as blind Isaac.) And while they pretend enmity only to the impossibilities of the Law, they oppose the easier conditions of the Gospel, and cast off the burden that is light also, and which all must bear that will find rest to their souls; and in my judgment, may as fitly be styled enemies to the Gospel*, as enemies to the Law (from whence they receive their common title.) The Lord of light, and Spirit of comfort, show these men in time, a surer way for lasting comfort.
O how many hundred Professors of Religion, who can easily bring their hearts to ordinary duties, as Reading, Hearing, Praying, Conferring; could never yet in all their lives, bring them, and keep them to a heavenly contemplation, one half hour together! Consider here, Reader, as before the Lord, whether this be not thine own case. Thou hast known that Heaven is all thy hopes; thou knowest thou must shortly be turned hence, and that nothing below can yield thee rest; thou knowest also, that a strange heart, a seldom and careless thinking of Heaven, can fetch but little comfort thence; and dost thou not yet for all this, let slip thy opportunities, and lie below in dust, or meer duties, when thou shouldst walk above, and live ⟨p. 662⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 663⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 662⟩with God? Dost thou not commend the sweetness of heavenly life, and judg those the excellentest Christians that use it; and yet didst never once try it thy self? But as the sluggard that stretched himself on his bed, and cryed, O that this were working! So dost thou talk, and trifle, and live at thy ease, and say, O that I could get my heart to Heaven! This is to lie a bed and wish, when thou shouldst be up and doing. How many a hundred do read Books, and hear Sermons, in expectation to hear of some easie course, or to meet with a shorter cut to comforts, then ever they are like to finde in the Word! And if they can hear of none from the Preachers of Truth, they will snatch it with rejoycing from the Teachers of Falshood; and presently applaud the excellency of the doctrine, because it hath fitted their lazy temper; and think there is no other doctrine will comfort the soul, because it will not comfort it with hearing, and looking on. They think their Venison is best, though accompanied with a lie, because it is the easiest catched, and next at hand, and they think will procure the chiefest blessing, (and so it may, if God be as subject to mistake as blinde Isaac.) And while they pretend enmity onely to the impossibilities of the Law, they oppose the easier conditions of the Gospel, and cast off the burden that is light also, and which all must bear that will finde rest to their souls; and in my judgment, may as fitly be stiled enemies to the Gospel*, as enemies to the Law (from whence they receive their common title.) The Lord of light, and Spirit of comfort, shew these men in time, a surer way for lasting comfort.
- *Antinomists. Many are hindered, because they refuse to give themselves to Prayer or Meditation, except they feel themselves brought to it by devotion; and except it be when these duties delight them, and go to their hearts; otherwise, all seems to them unprofitable. But these kind of men are like him, that being vexed with cold, will not go to the fire, except he were first warm; or like one that is ready to perish with famine, and will not ask meat, except he were first satisfied. For why doth a man give himself to Prayer or Meditation, but that he might be warmed with the fire of Divine Love? or, that he may be filled with the gifts and grace of God! These men are mistaken, in thinking the time lost in Prayer or Meditation, if they be not presently watered with a shower of devotion: For I answer them, That if they strive as much as in them lieth for this, and do their duty, and are in war, and in continual sight against their own thoughts, with displeasure, because they depart not, nor suffer them to be quiet: Such men for this time, are more accepted, then if the heat of devotion had come to them suddenly, without any such conflict. The reason is, Because they go to warfare for God, as it were, at their own cost and charges, and serve him with greater labour and pains, &c. Gerson, part. 3. fol. 386. De monte contemplationis, cap. 43. Read this you Libertines, and learn better the way of Devotion from a Papist.Antinomists. Many are hindered, because they refuse to give themselves to Prayer or Meditation, except they feel themselves brought to it by devotion; and except it be when these duties delight them, and go to their hearts; otherwise, all seems to them unprofitable. But these kinde of men are like him, that being vexed with cold, will not go to the fire, except he were first warm; or like one that is ready to perish with famine, and will not ask meat, except he were first satisfied. For why doth a man give himself to Prayer or Meditation, but that he might be warmed with the fire of Divine Love? or, that he may be filled with the gifts and grace of God! These men are mistaken, in thinking the time lost in Prayer or Meditation, if they be not presently watered with a showre of devotion: For I answer them, That if they strive as much as in them lyeth for this, and do their duty, and are in war, and in continual sight against their own thoughts, with displeasure, because they depart not, nor suffer them to be quiet: Such men for this time, are more accepted, then if the heat of devotion had come to them suddenly, without any such conflict. The reason is, Because they go to warfare for God, as it were, at their own cost and charges, and serve him with greater labor and pains, &c. Gerson, part. 3. fol. 386. De monte contemplationis, cap. 43. Read this you Libertines, and learn better the way of Devotion from a Papist.
