The blessed and infinite wise God,1 who made my soul for himself, and knoweth it will never be satisfied without himself, commanding me in all company to converse with his sacred Majesty, and calling me sometimes to solitude, that being freed from worldly distractions, I might have more of his society; I Wish that my nature may be so suitable to his holy being, and my love so great to his gracious presence, that though his providence should cast me alone into a Prison, yet enjoying his favour there, I may esteem it sweeter and pleasanter then the stateliest Palace. It is both his precept and my privilege, that in the greatest company I should be alone to him; and in my greatest solitude, in company with him. There is not the most solitary place I can come into, nor the least moment of my life, but I have still business with my God, and such as is neither easy, nor of mean concernment. All my transactions with men about House, or Land, or Food, or Clothes, or the most necessary things of this present life, are nothing to my business with God about my unchangeable being in the other world. If they were all laid in the balance with this, they would be found infinitely lighter then vanity and nothing. My understanding ⟨p. 438⟩is ready to be overwhelmed with the apprehension of an endless eternal state. All my business with meat, or drink, or sleep, or family, or friends, or mercies, or afflictions, nay, or the means of grace, or ordinances themselves, is no more worth or desirable, then they tend to the furthering my everlasting good. All other things are but as passengers, to which I may afford a short salute, but it is my home, where I must abide for ever, that my heart must be always set upon; and it is my God, upon whom this blissful endless life depends, that I have most cause to be ever with; O my soul, by this thou mayst gather with whom to deal, and about what to trade when thou art alone; tell me not henceforward, in the words of the lazy worldling, I am idle, for I have nothing to do; Hast thou pardon of sin, the Image of thy God, an interest in thy Redeemer, freedom from sin, the Law, the wrath to come, a title to life and salvation, to get and secure, without which thou shalt be a firebrand of hell for ever, and hast thou any while, any time to be idle?
THe blessed and infinite wise God,1 who made my soul for himself, and knoweth it will never be satisfied without himself, commanding me in all company to converse with his sacred Majesty, and calling me sometimes to solitude, that being freed from worldly distractions, I might have more of his society; I Wish that my nature may be so sutable to his holy being, and my love so great to his gracious presence, that though his providence should cast me alone into a Prison, yet enjoying his favour there, I may esteem it sweeter and pleasanter then the stateliest Palace. It is both his precept and my priviledge, that in the greatest company I should be alone to him; and in my greatest solitude, in company with him. There is not the most solitary place I can come into, nor the least moment of my life, but I have still business with my God, and such as is neither easie, nor of mean concernment. All my transactions with men about House, or Land, or Food, or Cloaths, or the most neces•ary things of this present life, are nothing to my businesse with God about my unchangeable being in the other world. If they were all laid in the ballance with this, they would be found infinitely lighter then vanity and nothing. My understanding ⟨p. 438⟩is ready to be overwhelmed with the apprehension of an endless eternal state. All my business with meat, or drink, or sleep, or family, or friends, or mercies, or afflictions, nay, or the means of grace, or ordinances themselves, is no more worth or desireable, then they tend to the furthering my everlasting good. All other things are but as passengers, to which I may afford a short salute, but it is my home, where I must abide for ever, that my heart must be always set upon; and it is my God, upon whom this blissful endless life depends, that I have most cause to be ever with; O my soul, by this thou mayst gather with whom to deal, and about what to trade when thou art alone; tell me not henceforward, in the words of the lazy worldling, I am idle, for I have nothing to do; Hast thou pardon of sin, the Image of thy God, an interest in thy Redeemer, freedom from sin, the Law, the wrath to come, a title to life and salvation, to get and secure, without which thou shalt be a firebrand of hell for ever, and hast thou any while, any time to be idle?
- 1The Introduction:
