A30579:599
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
GOSPEL Conversation. › THE MISERY OF THOSE MEN THAT HAVE THEIR PORTION IN THIS LIFE.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. By the working of your hearts about your present Portions. As first.
1. Whether you enjoy what you have for it self, and whether your hearts be terminated in what you do enjoy: One that is godly, and hath his Portion beyond these things, he enjoys the Creature; I but it is God in it he enjoys: It is sweet to me, that I can see and taste the love of God in it: I but a carnal heart enjoys the creatures, and runs away, and is terminated there, looks at the Creature, but at little in God; as divers of your Hospital Children, here, look more at the Men that were their friends, to bring them into the Hospital, when they were Fatherless and Motherless, and Sisterless, than they look at the Founders of the Hospital, they little think of them, to thank ⟨p. 343⟩God for them, but if they meet with him, that was the next cause to bring them in, they will thank him for his kindness. So it is with men, they look at that Creature that was the first means of bringing them in; but a godly heart looks at the root of all: I remember it is said of one that came into the Treasuries of Venice, he saw tables of Gold, and Silver there, and he points down and looks at the bottom of the table, and one asked him, Why is your eye so at the bottom? Oh saith he, I am looking at the root of all this. Oh! alas, it is a small matter for a man that hath a great Trade to have a great Portion: So many men, look not so much at the Root; whereas a godly man, though he hath but a little, yet he looks at the Root, at the love of God, and the Covenant of grace, that is the Root of all; and this is the thing that satisfies his heart: When a man takes a portion of physic, he puts it into the Posset-ale, the Posset-ale is not the thing that makes the Physic work, though it is that that is the greater part, but it is the Physic in it. So it is the goodness of God that satisfies a gracious heart, and not the Creature that is operative so much upon a gracious heart: and then you may examine how your hearts are set upon these things of the world.
1. Whether you enjoy what you have for it self, and whether your hearts be terminated in what you do enjoy: One that is godly, and hath his Portion beyond these things, he enjoyes the Creature; I but it is God in it he enjoyes: It is sweet to me, that I can see and tast the love of God in it: I but a carnal heart enjoys the creatures, and runs away, and is terminated there, looks at the Creature, but at little in God; as divers of your Hospital Children, here, look more at the Men that were their friends, to bring them into the Hospital, when they were Fatherless and Motherless, and Sisterless, than they look at the Founders of the Hospital, they little think of them, to thank