VSE IV. Of Exhortation, To all in General. (4) to VSE IV. Of Exhortation, To all in General. (6)

VSE IV. Of Exhortation, To all in General. (4)

6. If you would obtain the Kingdom of Heaven, bind your hearts to God by sacred Vowes. Vow to the Lord that (by his Grace) you will be more intent upon heaven than ever, Psal. 56.12. Thy vowes are upon me, O God. A Vow binds the Votary to Duty; he looks upon himself as obliged by his Vow to cleave to God. Bees when they fly in a great Wind ballast themselves with little stones that they may not be carried away with the Wind; so we must fortifie our selves with strong Vowes, that we may not be carried away from God with the violent wind of temptation. No question a Christian may make such a Vow, because the ground of it is Morally good, he vowes nothing but what he is bound to do by vertue of his Baptismal Vow, namely to walk with God more closely, and to pursue heaven more vigorously.

7. If you would obtain the Kingdom embrace all seasons and opportunities for your Souls, Eph. 5.15. Redeeming the time. Opportunity is the cream of time; the improving the seasons of Grace is as much as our Salvation is worth. The Marriner by taking the present season while the Wind blowes gets to the haven; by taking the season while we have the means of Grace, and the wind of the Spirit blowes, we may arrive at the Kingdom of heaven. We know not how long we shall enjoy the Gospel; the seasons of Grace like Noahs Dove, come with an Olive-branch in their mouth, but they soon take Wings and fly. Though they are sweet, yet swift. God may remove the Golden Candlestick from us as he did from the Churches of Asia. We have many sad symptoms, Gray hairs are here and there upon us, Hos. 7.9. therefore let us lay hold upon the present season; they that sleep in Seed-time will beg in Harvest.

8. If you would go to the Kingdom of Heaven you must excubias agere keep a daily Watch; Mark 13.37. I say unto all, watch. Many have lost Heaven for want of watchfulness. Our hearts are ready to decoy us into sin, and the Devil lyes in ambush by his temptations; we must every day set a spy, and keep centinel in our Souls: Hab. 2.1. I will stand upon my watch.

(1.) We must watch our Eyes; Iob 31.1. I made a covenant with my eyes. Much Sin comes in by the eye: When Eve saw the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, then she took; Gen. 3.6. First she looked and then she lusted; the eye by beholding an impure Object sets the heart on fire; the Devil oft creeps in at the window of the eye. Watch your eyes.

(2.) Watch your Ear. Much Poyson is conveyed through the ear. Let your ear be open to God, and shut to Sin.

(3.) Watch your Hearts: We watch suspicious persons; The heart is deceitful, Ier. 17.9. Watch your heart; 1. When you are about holy things; it will be stealing out to vanity. When I am at Prayer, saith S. Hierom, Aut per porticum deambulo aut de foenore computo, either I am walking through Galleries, or casting up Accompts. 2. Watch your heart when you are in Company. The Basilisk poysons the herbs he breaths on; the breath of the wicked is infectious. Nay, watch your hearts when you are in good Company; such as have some good in them, yet may be some grains too light; they may have much levity of Discourse, and if no scum boils up, yet too much froth. The Devil is subtle, and he can as well creep into the Dove, as he did once into the Serpent. Satan tempted Christ by an Apostle. 3. Watch your hearts in Prosperity; now you are in danger of Pride. The higher the Water of the

Thames riseth, the higher the Boat is lifted up; the higher that Mens Estates rise, the higher their Hearts are lifted up in Pride In Prosperity you are in danger not only to forget God, but to lift up the heel against him; Deut. 32.15. Iesurun waxed fat and kicked. It is hard to carry a full Cup without spilling, and to carry a full prosperous Estate without sinning. Turpi fregerunt saecula luxu divitiae molles. Sen. Trag. Sampson fell asleep in Dalilahs lap; many have fallen so fast asleep in the lap of Prosperity that they have never awaked till they have been in Hell. 4. Watch your hearts after holy Duties. When Christ had been Praying and Fasting then the Devil tempted him, Mat. 4.23. After our combating with Satan in Prayer, we are apt to grow secure, and put our Spiritual Armour off, and then the Devil falls on and wounds us. O if you would get Heaven be alwayes upon your Watch-tower, set a spy, keep close centinel in your Souls: Who would not watch when it is for a Kingdom.

9. If you would arrive at the Heavenly Kingdom get those three Graces which will undoubtedly bring you thither.

(1.) Divine Knowledge. There's no going to Heaven blindfold. In the Creation, Light was the first thing which was made; so 'tis in the new Creation, Knowledge is the Pillar of Fire which goes before us, and lights us into the Heavenly Kingdom. 'Tis light must bring us to the inheritance in light; Col. 1.12.

(2). Faith. Faith ends in Salvation; 1 Pet. 1.9. Receiving the end of your faith, Salvation. He who believes is as sure to go to Heaven as if he were in Heaven already; Acts 16.31. Faith toucheth Christ, and can he miss of Heaven who toucheth Christ? Faith unites to Christ, and shall not the Members be where the Head is? All have not the same degree of Faith; we must distinguish between the direct act of Faith, and the reflex act, Affiance and Assurance; yet the least seed and spark of Faith gives an undoubted title to the Heavenly Kingdom. I am justified because I believe, not because I know I believe.

(3.) Love to God. Heaven is prepared for those that love God, 1 Cor. 2.9. Love is the Soul of Obedience, the Touchstone of Sincerity. By our loving God we may know he loves us, 1 Iohn 4.19. and those whom God loves he will lay in his bosom. Ambrose in his Funeral Oration for Theodosius, brings in the Angels hovering about his departing Soul, and being ready to carry it to Heaven, asked him, What that Grace was he had practised most upon Earth, Theodosius replyed, Dilexi, dilexi, I have loved, I have loved; and strait-way he was by a convoy of Angels translated to Glory. Love is a sacred Fire kindled in the breast, in the flames of this Fire the devout Soul ascends to Heaven.

10. If we would obtain this Heavenly Kingdom let us labour for Sincerity; Prov. 28.18. Whosoever walketh uprightly shall be saved. The sincere Christian may fall short of some degrees of Grace, but he never falls short of the Kingdom; God will pass by many failings where the heart is right; Numb. 23.21. True Gold, though it be light, hath grains of allowance; Psal. 51.6. Thou desirest truth in the inward parts. Sincerity is the sauce which seasons all our Actions, and makes them savoury; it is the ingredient into every Grace: It is called Faith unfeigned, 2 Tim. 1.5. and Love [gap] in sincerity, Eph. 6.24. Coyn will not go currant that wants the Kings stamp; Grace is not currant if it be not stamped with Sincerity. Glorious Duties sowred with Hypocrisie are rejected, when great Infirmities sweetned with Sincerity are accepted. If any thing in the World bring us to Heaven it is Sincerity: Sincerity signifies plainness of heart, Psal. 32.2. In whose Spirit there is no guile. The plainer the Diamond is the richer.

(1.) Sincerity is when we serve God with our heart; we do not only worship him but love him. Cain brought his Sacrifice, but not his Heart: This is Gods delight, a Sacrifice flaming upon the Altar of the Heart. A sincere Christian, though he hath a double principle in him, Flesh and Spirit, yet he hath not a double heart, his heart is for God.

(2.) Sincerity is when we aim purely at God in all we do. The Glory of God is more worth than the Salvation of all Mens Souls. A sincere Christian though he comes short in Duty yet he takes a right aim. As the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun; so a Godly Mans actions do all move towards the Glory of God

11. If we would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom, let us keep up fervency in Duty, What is a dead form without the power? Rev. 3.16. Because thou art luke-warm, neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Fervency puts life into Duty; Rom. 12.11. Fervent in Spirit serving God; [gap], Boyling over. Christ prayed [gap], yet more earnestly, Luke 22.44. When the Fire on the Golden Censer was ready to go out, Aaron was to put more Coals to the Incense. Praying with Devotion

is putting more Coals to the Incense; 'tis not Formality but Fervency will bring us to Heaven: The Formalist is like Ephraim, a Cake not turned, hot on one side and dough on the other. In the external part of Gods Worship he seems to be hot, but as for the Spiritual part of Gods Worship he is cold. Oh if you would have the Kingdom of Heaven keep up heat and fervour in Duty. Eliah was carried up to Heaven in a fiery Chariot; if you would go to Heaven you must be carried thither in a fiery Chariot of Zeal: 'Tis violence takes the Kingdom of Heaven.

12. If we would arrive at the Heavenly Kingdom let us cherish the motions of Gods Spirit in our hearts. The Marriner may spread his Sails, but the Ship cannot get to the Haven without a gale of Wind; so we may spread the sails of our endeavour, but we cannot get to the Haven of Glory without the North and South-wind of Gods Spirit blow; how nearly therefore doth it concern us to make much of the motions of Gods Spirit; motions to Prayer, motions to Repentance. 2 Sam. 5.24. When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thy self, for then shall the Lord go out before thee: So when we hear as it were a voice within us, a secret inspiration stirring us up to good Duties, we should then bestir our selves; while the Spirit works in us, we should work with the Spirit. Many Men have Gods Spirit striving with them, he puts good motions in their hearts, and holy purposes, but they neglecting to prosecute these good motions, the Spirit is thereby grieved, and being grieved, withdraws its assistance, and that assistance being gone there is no getting to Heaven. Oh make much of the motions of the Spirit, it is as much as your Salvation is worth. The Spirit of God is compared to fire, Acts 2.2. if we are careful to blow this spark, we may have fire to inflame our affections, and to light our feet into the way of peace. If we quench the Spirit by our neglecting and resisting its motions, we cut our selves off from Salvation. The Spirit of God hath a drawing-power, Cant. 1.4. The Blessed Spirit draws by attraction, as the Loadstone the Iron. In the preaching of the Word the Spirit draws the heart up to Heaven in holy longings and ejaculations. Now when the Spirit is about thus to draw us, let us take heed of drawing back left it be to perdition: Heb. 10. We should do as Noah, when the Dove came flying to the Ark, he put forth his hand and took it into the Ark, so when this sweet Dove of Gods Spirit comes flying to our hearts, and brings a gracious impulse as an Olive-branch of Peace in its mouth. O take this Dove into the Ark, entertain the Spirit in your hearts, and it will bring you to Heaven.

Quest. But how shall we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion?

Answ. The motions of the Spirit are alwayes agreeable to the Word. If the Word be for Holiness so is the Spirit: The Spirit perswades to nothing but what the Word directs; which way the tyde of the Word runs, that way the Wind of the Spirit blows.

13. We obtain the Kingdom of Heaven by uniform and chearful Obedience; Obedience is the Road through which we travail to Heaven; many say they love God, but refuse to obey him; doth he love the Princes Person who slights his Commands?

(1.) Obedience must be uniform, Psal. 119.6, Then shall I not be ashamed, Lo Eboth, I shall not blush when I have respect to all thy Commandments; as the Son goes through all the signs of the Zodiack, so must we through all the duties of Religion: If a Man be to go an hundred Miles, and he goes ninety nine Miles, and there stops, he comes short of the Place he is to travel to; if with Herod we do many things that God commands, yet if we lye in the total neglect of any duty we come short of the Kingdom of Heaven; for Instance, If a Man seem to make Conscience of duties of the first Table, and not the duties of the second; if he seem to be religious but is not just, he is a Transgressor, and is in danger to lose Heaven; a good heart is like the Needle which points that way which the Loadstone draws, so he moves that way which the Word draws.

(2.) Obedience must be chearful; I delight to do thy Will O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart, Psal. 40.8. That is the sweetest Obedience which is chearful, as that is the sweetest Honey which drops from the Comb freely: God doth sometimes accept of willingness without the work, but never of the Work without willingness; Zach. 5 9. There came out two Women and the wind was in their wings. Wings are swift, but wind in the Wings denotes great swiftness; an Emblem of the swiftness and chearfulness which should be in Obedience; we go to Heaven in the way of Obedience.

14. If we would obtain this Kingdom, be much in the Communion of Saints; one Coal of Juniper will warm and inflame another; when the heart is dead and frozen the Communion of Saints will help to warm it, Mal. 3.16. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another. Christians should never meet (saith Mr. Bolton) but speak of their meeting together in Heaven: One Christian may be very helpful by Prayer and Conference

to another, and give him a lift towards Heaven. Old Latimer was much strengthened and comforted by hearing Mr. Bilnyes Confession of Faith. We read that when Moses his hands were heavy, and he was ready to let them fall, Aaron and Hur staid up his hands, Exod. 17.12. A Christian who is ready to faint under Tentation, and lets down the hands of his Faith, by conversing with other Christians, he is strengthened and his hands are held up; a great benefit of holy Conference is Counsel and Advise: If a Man, saith Chrysostom, who hath but one head to advise him, could make that head an hundred heads to advise him, he would be very wise: A single Christian hath this benefit by the Communion of Saints, they are as so many heads to advise him what to do in such a case or exigence: By Christian conference the Saints can say, Did not our heart burn within us? Communion of Saints we have in our Creed, but 'tis too little in our practise: Men usually travel fastest in Company, we travel fastest to Heaven in the Communion of Saints.

15. If we would attain to this Kingdom of Heaven, let us be willing to come up to Christs terms; many will be cheapening, and bid something for the Kingdom of Heaven, they will avoid gross sin, and will come to Church and say their Prayers; and yet all this while they are not willing to come up to Gods Price, that is, they will not renounce the Idol of self Righteousness, flying only to Christ as to the Horns of the Altar; they; will not sacrifice their bosom-sin; they will not give God Spirit-worship, serving him with zeal and intenseness of Soul, Iohn 4.24. they will not forgive their Enemies: they will not part with their carnal profits for Christ; they would have the Kingdom of Heaven, but they will not come up to the Price: If you would have this Kingdom, do not article and indent with Christ, but accept of his Terms; say, Lord, I am willing to have the Kingdom of Heaven whatever it cost me; I am willing to pluck out my right eye, to part with all for the Kingdom; here is a blank paper I put into thy hand, Lord write thy own Articles, I will subscribe to them.

VSE IV. Of Exhortation, To all in General. (5)

16. If we would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom, let us attend to the holy Ordinances; thus God brings Souls to heaven; Act. 27.31. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved. Some People would leap out of the Ship of Ordinances, and then God knows whether they leap; but except ye abide in the Ship of Ordinances ye cannot be saved; especially if you would get to Heaven attend to the VVord preached: It was by the Ear, by our first Parents listening to the Serpent, that we lost Paradise; and it is by the Ear, by the hearing of the word, that we get Heaven, Isa. 55.3. Hear and your Soul shall live. God sometimes in the preaching of the word drops in that holy Oyl into the Ear which softens and sanctifies the heart: The word preached is called the Ministry of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. because the Spirit of God makes use of this Engine to convert Souls: If the word preached doth not work upon Men, nothing will, not Judgment, or Miracles, no, nor though one should arise from the Dead, Luke 16.31. If a glorified Saint should come out of Heaven, and assume a Body, and tell you of all the glory of Heaven, and the joys of the blessed, and perswade you to believe; if the preaching of the word will not bring you to Heaven, neither would his Rhetorique do it who rose from the dead. In Heaven there will be no need of Ordinances, but there is while we live here: The Lamp needs Oyl, but the Star needs none. While the Saints have their Lamp of Grace burning here, they need the Oyl of Ordinances to be continually dropping upon them; but there will be no need of this Oyl when they are Stars in Heaven. If you intend to get to Heaven, be swift to hear; for faith comes by hearing, Rom. 10.14, 17. Peter let down the Net of his Ministry and at one draught catch'd three thousand Souls. If you would have Heavens Door opened to you, wait at the Posts of Wisdoms Door.

17. If you would arrive at Heaven, have this Kingdom ever in your eye: Our blessed Lord looked to the Joy which was set before him, and Moses had an eye to the Recompence of Reward, Heb. 11.26. Let the Kingdom be much in our thoughts; Meditation is a means to help us to Heaven.

Quest. How doth it help?

Answ. 1. As it is a means to prevent sin, no Sword like this to cut asunder the Sinews of Tentation; it is almost inpossible to sin presumptuously with the lively thoughts and hopes of Heaven: It was when Moses was out of Sight that Israel set up a Calf and worshipped it; so it is when the Kingdom of Heaven is out of sight, I mean out of Mens thoughts, that they set up their Lusts and idolize them; the Meditation of Heaven banisheth sin; he who thinks of the weight of Glory, throws away the weights of sin.

2. The [gap] on the Kingdom of Heaven would excite and quicken Obedience, we should think we could never pray enough, never love God enough who hath prepared such a Kingdom for us, immensum Gloria calcar habet: Saint Paul had Heaven in

his eye, he was once caught up thither, and how active was he for God, 1 Cor. 15.10. This would oyl the Wheels of Obedience.

3. It would make us strive after Holiness, because none but such are admitted into this Kingdom, only the pure in heart shall see God, Mat. 5. Holiness is the Language of Heaven, it is the only coin will pass currant in Heaven; this considered would make us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1.

Thus you see how the Meditation of Heaven would be a means to bring us thither.

18. The last means for obtaining the Heavenly Kingdom is, Perseverance in Holiness, Rev. 2.10. Be thou faithful unto death, and thou shalt receive the Crown of Life. In Christians non initia sed finis laudantur, Hierom.

• 1. Is there such a thing as persevering?

• 2. How doth a Christian come to persevere?

• 3. What are the Incouragements?

• 4. What Helps?

1. Is there such a thing as persevering till we come to Heaven? The Arminians deny it, and truly that any one holds out to the Kingdom is a wonder; if you consider,

1. What a world of Corruption is mingled with Grace; Grace is apt to be stifled, as the Coal to be choaked with its own ashes: Grace is oft like a Spark in the Sea, 'tis a wonder it is not quenched: 'Tis a wonder sin doth not do to Grace as sometime the Nurse to the Child, overlay it that it dye; so that this Infant of Grace is not smothered.

2. The Implacable malice of Satan; he denies that we should have a Kingdom, when he himself is cast out; it cuts him to the heart to see a piece of dust and clay be made a bright Star in Glory, and he himself an Angel of Darkness; he will Acheronta movere, move all the Powers of Hell to hinder us from the Kingdom; he spits his Venome, shoots his fiery Darts, raiseth a storm of persecution, yea, and prevails against some; Rev. 12.4. There appeared a great red Dragon, and his Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven, and did cast them to the Earth. By the Dragon is meant the Heathenish Empire; now when his Tail cast so many to the Earth, it is a wonder that any of the Stars keep fixed in their Orb.

3. The Blandishments of Riches: The Young man in the Gospel went very far, thou art not far from the Kingdom of God; but he had rich Possessions, and these golden weights hindred him from the Kingdom, Luke 18.23. Ionathan pursued the Battle till he came at the Honey-comb, and then he stood still, 1 Sam. 14.27. Many are forward for Heaven till they tast the sweetness of the World; but when they come at the Honey-comb, then they stand still and go no further; Faenus pecuniae funus animae. Those who have escaped the Rocks of gross sins, yet have been cast away upon the Golden Sands: What a wonder therefore that any doth hold on till he comes to the Kingdom.

4. A wonder any holds out in Grace, and doth not tire in his march to Heaven; if you consider the difficulty of a Christians Work, he hath no time to lye fallow, he is either watching or fighting; nay, a Christian is to do those Duties which to the eye of sence and reason seem inconsistent: While a Christian doth one duty he seems to cross another, e. g. he must come with holy boldness to God in Prayer, yet must serve him with fear; he must mourn for sin, yet rejoyce; he must be contented, yet covet, 1 Cor. 12.32. contemn Mens Impieties, yet reverence their Authority: What difficult work is this; a wonder any Saint arrives at the Heavenly Kingdom, to this I might add, the evil Examples abroad, which are so atractive, we may say, the Devils are come among us in the likeness of Men; what a wonder is it that any Soul perseveres till it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven; but as great a wonder as it is, there is such a thing as perseverance; a Saints perseverance is built upon three immutable Pillars.

(1.) Gods Eternal Love: We are inconstant in our Love to God; but he is not so in his Love to us, Ier. 31.9 I have loved thee with an everlasting Love; a havath gnolam, with a Love of Eternity. Gods Love to the Elect is not like a Kings Love to his Favourite, when it is at the highest Spring-Tide it soon ebbs; but Gods Love is eternized; God may desert, not disinherit; he may change his Love into a Frown, not into hatred; he may alter his Providence, not his decree: When once the Sun-shine of Gods Electing Love is risen upon the Soul, it never sets finally.

(2.) A Saints Perseverance is built upon the Covenant of Grace; [gap] a firm impregnable Covenant: This you have in the words of the sweet Singer of Israel, 2. Sam. 23.5.

God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things and sure. 'Tis a sweet Covenant that God will be our God; the marrow and quintessence of all Blessing; and it is a sure Covenant, that he will put his Fear in our heart, and we shall never depart from him, Ier. 32.40. This Covenant is inviolable, cannot be broken; indeed sin may break the Peace of the Covenant, but it cannot break the Bond of the Covenant.

(3.) The third Pillar Perseverance is built upon is the Mistical Union: Believers are incorporated into Christ, they are knit to him as Members to the Head, by the Nerve and Ligament of Faith, that they cannot be broken off, Eph. 5.23. What was once said of Christs natural Body is as true of his mistical Body, Iohn 19.36. A bone of it shall not be broken. As it is impossible to sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are once mingled, so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united ever by the Power of Death or Hell to be separated: How can Christ lose any Member of his Body and be perfect? You see on what strong Pillars the Saints Perseverance is built.

2 Quest. How doth a Christian hold on till he comes to the Kingdom? How doth he persevere?

Resp. 1. Auxilio Spiritus: God carries on a Christian to perseverance by the Energy and vigorous working of his Spirit: The Spirit maintains the Essence and Seed of Grace, it doth [gap] blow up the Sparks of Grace into an holy Flame; Spiritus est Vicarius Christi, Tertul. 'tis Christs Deputy and Proxy, is it every day at work in a Believers heart, exerting Grace into Exercise, and ripening it into perseverance: The Spirit doth carve and polish the Vessels of Mercy, and make them fit for Glory.

2. Christ causeth perseverance and carries on a Saint till he comes to the Heavenly Kingdom, vi orationis, by his Intercession: Christ is an Advocate as well as a Surety; he prays that the Saints may arrive safe at the Kingdom, Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able to save them, [gap], to the uttermost, (i. e. perfectly) seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them; that Prayer he made for Peter on Earth he prays now in Heaven for the Saints, that their Faith fail not, Luke 22.32. that they may be with him where he is, Iohn 17.24. and sure if he pray that they may be with him in his Kingdom, they cannot perish by the way: Christs Prayer is efficacious; if the Saints Prayers have so much force and prevalency in them: Iacob had power with God, and as a Prince prevailed, Hos. 12.4. By Prayer Eliah unlocked Heaven: If the Prayers of the Saints have so much power with God, then what hath Christs Prayer? how can the Children of such Prayers miscarry? how can they fall short of the Kingdom, who have him praying for them who is not only a Priest but a Son? and besides what he prays for as he is Man, that he hath power to give as he is God; thus you see how a Christian comes to Persevere till he comes to the Kingdom.

Object. But methinks I hear some Christians say, if only perseverance obtains the Kingdom, they fear they shall not come thither, they fear they shall faint by the way, and the weak legs of their Grace will never carry them to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Answ. Wert thou indeed to stand in thy own strength thou mightest fall away; that Branch withers and dies which hath no Root to grow upon; thou growest upon the Root Christ, who will be daily sending forth vital influence to strengthen thee; thou art imbecil and weak in Grace, yet fear not falling short of Heaven; For,

1. God hath made a promise to weak Believers; what is a bruised Reed but the Emblem of a weak Faith, yet it hath a Promise made to it, Mat. 12.20. A bruised Reed he will not break. God hath promised to supply the weak Christian with so much Grace as he shall need, till he comes to Heaven: Beside the two Pence which the good Samaritan left to pay for the Cure of the poor wounded Man, he passed his Word for all that he should need beside, Luke 10.35. So, Christ doth not only give a little Grace in hand, but his Bond for more, that he will give as much Grace as a Saint shall need till he comes to Heaven, Psal. 84.11. The Lord will give Grace and Glory, that is, a fresh supply of Grace till it be perfected in Glory.

2. God hath most care of his weak Saints, who fear they shall never hold out till they come to the Kingdom; doth not the Mother tend the weak Child most? Isa. 40.11. He will gather the Lambs in his Arms, and carry them in his Bosom. If thou thinkest thou art so weak that thou shalt never hold out till thou comest to Heaven, thou shalt be carried in the Arms of the Almighty, he gathers the Lambs in his Arms; Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah marched before hi[gap] People, and his Power is their Rear-ward, so that none of them faint, or dye in their March to Heaven.

3. Quest. What are the Encouragements to make Christians hold on till they come to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Answ. 1. It is a great Credit to a Christian not only to hold forth the Truth, but to hold fast the Truth till he comes to Heaven; when Grace doth flourish into perseverance,

and with the Church of Thyatira our last works are more then our first, Rev. 2.19. This is insigne honoris a Star of Honour: 'Tis matter of renown to see gray hairs shine with golden vertues: the Excellency of a thing lies in the finishing of it: What is the excellency of a Building? not when the first stone is laid, but when it is finished; so the beauty and excellency of a Christian is when he hath finished his Faith, having done his work is landed safe in Heaven.

2. You that have made a progress in Religion, have not many Miles to go before you come at the Kingdom of Heaven; Rom. 13.11. Now is our Salvation neerer then when we believed. You who have hoary hairs, your green Tree is turned into an Almond-tree, you are near to Heaven, it is but going a little further and you will set your Feet within Heaven Gates; Oh therefore now be encouraged to hold out, your Salvation is nearer then when you first began to believe: Our diligence should be greater when our Salvation is nearer: When a Man is almost at the end of the Race will he now tire and faint? will he not put forth all his strength, and strain every Limb that he may lay hold upon the Prize? Our Salvation is now nearer, the Kingdom is as it were within sight; how should we now put forth all our strength that we may lay hold upon the Garland of Glory: Doctor Taylour when he was going to his Martyrdom, I have (saith he) but two Stiles to go over and I shall be at my Fathers House. Though the way to Heaven be up hill, you must climb the steepy Rock of Mortification, and though there be Thorns in the way, viz. Sufferings, yet you have gone the greatest part of your way, you are within a few days march of the Kingdom, and will not you persevere? Christian pluck up thy Courage, fight the good fight of Faith, pursue Holiness, 'tis but a while and you shall put off your Armour, and end all your weary Marches, and receive a Victorious Crown; your Salvation is nearer, you are within a little of the Kingdom, therefore now presevere, you are ready to commence and take your Degree of Glory.

3. The blessed promise annexed to Perseverance; the promise is a Crown of Life, Rev 2.10. Death is a Worm that feeds in the Crowns of Princes, but behold here a living Crown, and a never-fading Crown, 1 Pet. 5.4. and Rev. 2.28. He that overcometh, and keepeth my works to the end I will give him Stellam matutinam, the Morning Star: The Morning Star is brighter then the rest; this Morning Star is meant of Christ; as if Christ had said, I will give to him that perseveres some of my Beauty, I will put some of my illustrious Rays upon him, he shall have the next degree of Glory to me, as the Morning Star is next the Sun; will not this animate and make us hold out, we shall have a Kingdom, and that which is better then the Kingdom, a bright Morning Star.

4 Quest. What are the means conducing to perseverance, or what shall we do that we may hold out to the Kingdom?

VSE IV. Of Exhortation, To all in General. (6)

Resp. 1. Take up Religion upon good Grounds, not in a Fit or Humour, or out of worldly design, but be deliberate, weigh things well in the Ballance, Luke 14.28. Which of you intending to build a Tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost: Think with your selves what Religion must cost you, it must cost you the parting with your sins, and what is may cost you, it may cost you the parting with your Lives; consider if a Kingdom will not countervail your Sufferings; weigh things well and then make your choice, Psal. 119.30. I have chosen the way of thy Truth. Why do many Apostatize and fall away, but because they did never sit down and count the cost.

2. If we would hold out to the Kingdom, let us cherish the Grace of Faith, 1 Cor. 1.24. By Faith ye stand; Faith like Hercules Club it beats down all Oppositions before it; 'tis a conquering Grace.

Quest. How comes Faith to be so strong?

Resp. Faith fetcheth Christs strength into the Soul, Phil. 4.13. [gap]. A Captain may give his Soldier Armour, but not strength: Faith partakes of Christs strength, and Faith gets strength from the promise; as the Child by sucking the Breast gets strength, so doth Faith by sucking the Breast of the Promise; hence Faith is such a wonder working Grace, and enables a Christian to persevere.

3. If you would hold out to the Kingdom, set before your Eyes the Examples of those Noble, Heroick Saints who have persevered to the Kingdom; Vivitur Exemplis, Examples have more influence upon us then Precepts, Iob 23.11, 12. My Foot hath held his steps: Though the way of Religion hath Flints and Thorns in it, yet my Foot hath held his steps, I have not fainted in the way, nor turn'd out of the way; Daniel held on his Religion, and would not intermit Prayer, though he knew the writing was signed against him, and a Prayer might cost him his life, Dan. 6.10. The blessed Martyrs persevered to the Kingdom through Sufferings; Saunders that holy Man said,

Welcome the Cross of Christ, my Saviour began to me in a bitter Cup, and shall I not pledge him? Another Martyr kissing the Stake said, I shall not lose my Life, but change it for a better, instead of Coals I shall have Pearls. What a spirit of gallantry was in these Saints; let us learn Constancy from their Courage. A Souldier seeing his General fight valiantly, is animated by his Example, and hath new Spirits put into him.

4. Let us add fervent Prayer to God, that he would inable us to hold out to the Heavenly Kingdom: Psal. 119.117. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. Let us not presume on our own strength. When Peter cryed to Christ on the water, Lord save me, then Christ took him by the hand, Matth. 14.30. but when he grew confident of his own strength, then Christ let him fall. O pray to God for auxiliary Grace. The Child is safe when held in the Nurses armes; so are we in Christs armes. Let us pray that God will put his fear in our hearts that we do not depart from him; and that Prayer of Cyprian, Domine quod caepisti perfice, ne in portu naufragium accidat, Lord perfect that which thou hast begun in me, that I may not suffer shipwrack when I am almost at the haven.

3. Branch. Let us press forward with the greatest diligence to this Kingdom: And here let me lay down some powerful Perswasives, or Divine Arguments, to make you put to all your strength for the obtaining this blessed Kingdom.

1. This is the great errand for which God hath sent us into the World to prepare for this Heavenly Kingdom; Matth. 6.33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. First in time, before all things; and first in affection, above all things. Great care is taken for the atchieving Worldly things; Matth. 6.25. To see people labouring for the earth, as Ants about a Molehill, would make one think this were the only errand they came about: But alas, what is all this to the Kingdom of Heaven? I have read of a devout Pilgrim travelling to Ierusalem, who passing through several Cities, where he saw many stately Edifices, Ware and Monuments, he would say, I must not stay here, this is not Jerusalem: So when we enjoy Worldly things, Peace and Plenty, and have our presses burst out with new Wine, we should say to our selves, this is not the Kingdom we are to look after, this is not Heaven: 'Tis Wisdom to remember our errand. It will be but sad upon a Death-bed for a Man to think he was busying himself only about trifles, playing with a feather, and neglected the main thing he came into the World about.

2. The seeking after the Heavenly Kingdom will be judged most prudent by all Men at last. Those who are regardless of their Souls now, will before they dye wish they had minded Eternity more; when Conscience is awakened, and Men begin to come to themselves: Now what would they give for the Kingdom of Heaven? How happy were it if Men were of the same mind now, as they will be at Death. Death will alter Mens opinions; then those who did most slight and disparage the wayes of Religion, will wish their time and thoughts had been taken up about the excellent Glory. At Death Mens eyes will be opened, and they will see their folly when it is too late. If all Men, even the worst, will wish at last they had minded the Kingdom of Heaven, why should not we do that now, which all will wish they had done when they come to dye.

3. This Kingdom of Heaven deserves our utmost pains and diligence; it is Glorious beyond Hyperbole. Suppose Earthly Kingdoms more magnificent than they are, their Foundations of Gold, their Walls of Pearl, their Windows of Sapphire, yet they are not comparable to the Heavenly Kingdom; [gap], Chrys. If the Pavement of it be bespangled with so many bright shining Lights, glorious Stars, what is the Kingdom it self? 1 Iohn 3.2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be. This Kingdom exceeds our Faith. How sublime and wonderful is that place where the blessed Deity shines forth in his immense Glory, infinitely beyond the comprehension of Angels.

(1.) The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of Honour; there are the glorious Triumphs and sparkling Crowns. In other Kingdoms there is but one King, but in Heaven all are Kings: Rev. 1.6. Every Saint glorified partaker of the same Glory as Christ doth; Iohn 17.22. The glory thou hast given me I have given them.

(2.) This Kingdom is a place of Joy; Matth. 25.21. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. To have a continual aspect of Love from Gods face, to be crowned with Immortality, to be [gap], as the Angels of God, to drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for ever, this will cause Raptures of Joy. Sure it deserves our utmost pains in pursuing and securing this Kingdom. Iulius Caesar coming towards Rome with his Army, and hearing the Senate and People fled from it, said, They that will not fight for this City, what City will they fight for? If we will not take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven what Kingdom will we take pains for. It was the speech of the Spies to their

Brethren, Iudg. 18.9. We have seen the land, and behold it is very good, and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land. We have had a lively description of the Glory of Heaven, we find the Kingdom is very good, why then do we sit still? Why do we not operam navare put forth our utmost zeal and industry for this Kingdom? The diligence of others in seeking after Earthly Kingdoms, shames our coldness and indifferency in pursuing after the Kingdom of Heaven.

4. The time we have to make sure of the Heavenly Kingdom is very short and uncertain; take heed it doth not slip away before you have prepared for the Kingdom. Time passeth on apace, Cito pede praeterita vita: It will not be long before the silver cord be loosed, and the golden bowl broken, Eccles. 12. The skin wherein the Brains are inclosed as in a bowl, this golden bowl will soon be broken. Our Soul is in our Body as the Bird is in the Shell, which soon breaks and the Bird flyes out; the Shell of the Body breaking, the Soul flyes into Eternity. We know not whether we shall live to another Sabbath: Before we hear another Sermon-bell go, our Passing-bell may go. Our Life runs as a swift stream into the ocean of Eternity. Brethren, if our Time be so minute and transient, if the taper of Life be so soon wasted, or perhaps blown out by violent death, how should we put to all our strength, and call in help from Heaven that we may obtain the Kingdom of Glory. If time be so short, why do we wast it about things of less moment, and neglect the one thing needful, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. A Man that hath a great work to be done, and but one day for the doing of it, had need work hard: We have a great work to do, we are striving for a Kingdom, and alas we are not certain of one day to work in, therefore what need have we to bestir our selves, and what we do for Heaven, to do it with all our might.

5. To excite our diligence, let us consider how inexcusable we shall be if we miss of the Kingdom of Heaven, who have had such helps for Heaven as we have had: Indians who have Mines of Gold, have not such advantages for Glory as we; they have the light of the Sun, Moon and Stars, and the light of R[gap]ason, but this is not enough to light them to Heaven: But we have had the light of the Gospel shining in our Horizon; we have been lifted up to Heaven with Ordinances; we have had the Word in season and out of season. The Ordinances are the pipes of the Sanctuary which empty the golden Oyl of Grace into the Soul, they are scala ParAdisi, the Ladder by which we ascend to the Kingdom of Heaven: Deut. 4 7. What nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? We have had Heaven and Hell set before us, we have had Counsels of Friends, Warnings, Examples, the Motions and Inspirations of the Holy Ghost, how should all these spurs quicken us in our pace to Heaven? Should not that Ship sail apace to the Haven which hath Wind and Tide to carry it? The Tide of Ordinances, and the Wind of the Spirit. Surely if we through negligence miss of the Kingdom of Heaven, we shall have nothing to say for our selves; we shall be as far from excuse as from happiness.

6. You cannot do too much for the Kingdom of Heaven; you cannot pray too much, sanctifie the Sabbath too much, love God too much; you cannot over-do. In secular things a Man may labour too hard, he may kill himself with working; but there is no fear of working too hard for Heaven: In virtute non est verendum ne quid nimium sit, Seneca. The World is apt to censure the Godly, as if they were too zealous, and did over-strain themselves in Religion. Indeed a Man may follow the World too much, he may make too much hast to be rich. The Ferry-man may take in too many Passengers into his Boat, to the sinking of his Boat; so a Man may heap up so much Gold and Silver as to sink himself in Perdition, 1 Tim. 6.9. but one cannot be too earnest and zealous for the Kingdom of Heaven; there is no fear of excess here; when we do all we can for Heaven, we come short of the Golden Rule set us, and of Christs Golden Pattern; when our Faith is highest, like the Sun in the Meridian, yet still [gap], there is something lacking in our Faith, 1 Thess. 3.1. so that all our labour for the Kingdom is little enough. When a Christian hath done his best, yet still he hath sins and wants to bewail.

7 By this you may judge of the state of your Souls, whether you have Grace or no, by your earnest pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom. Grace infuseth a Spirit of activity into a person; Grace doth not lye dormant in the Soul, 'tis not a sleepy habit, but it makes a Christian like a Seraphim swift and winged in his Heavenly motion; Grace is like fire, it makes one burn in love to God, and the more he loves him, the more he presseth forward to Heaven where he may fully enjoy him. Hope is an active Grace, 'tis called a lively hope, 1 Pet. 1.3. hope is like the spring in the Watch, it sets all the wheels of the Soul a running: Hope of a Crop makes the Husbandman sow his seed; hope of Victory makes the Souldier fight; and a true hope of Glory

makes a Christian vigorously pursue Glory. Here is a Spiritual Touchstone to try our Grace by. If we have the anointing of the Spirit, it will oyl the wheels of our endeavour, and make us lively in our pursuit after the Heavenly Kingdom. No sooner had Paul Grace infused, but presently, Behold he prayes; Acts 9.11. The Affections are by Divines called the Feet of the Soul, if these Feet move not towards Heaven, it is because there is no Life.

8. Your labour for Heaven is not lost: Perhaps you may think it is in vain that you have served God, but know, that your pains is not lost. The Seed is cast into the Earth and it dyes, yet at last it brings forth a plentiful Crop; so your labours seem to be fruitless, but at last they bring you to a Kingdom. Who would not work hard for one hour, when for that hours work he sh[gap]uld be a King as long as he lived. And let me tell you, the more labour you have put forth for the Kingdom of Heaven, the more degrees of Glory you shall have. As there are degrees of Torment in Hell, Matth. 23.14. so of Glory in Heaven. As one Star differs from another in Glory, so shall one Saint; 1 Cor. 15.41. Though every Vessel of Mercy shall be full, yet one Vessel may hold mor[gap] than another. Such as have done more work for God, shall have more Glory in the Heavenly Kingdom. Could we hear th[gap] Saints departed speaking to us from Heaven, sure they would speak after this manner, Were we to leave Heaven a while, and live on the Earth again, we would do God a thousand times more service than ever we did; we would pray with more Life, act with more Zeal; for now we see, the more hath been our labour the greater is our reward in Heaven.

9. While we are labouring for the Kingdom, God will help us; Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. The Promise encourageth us, and Gods Spirit inableth us. A Master gives his Servant work to do, but he cannot give him strength to work; but God as he cuts us out work, so he gives us strength, Psal. 86.16. Give thy strength unto thy servant. God not only gives us a Crown when we have done running, but gives us legs to run; he gives exciting, assisting Grace: Lex jubet, Gratia juvat. The Spirit helping us in our work for Heaven makes it easie. If the Loadstone draw the Iron, it is not hard for the Iron to move▪ If God Spirit drawes the heart, now it moves towards Heaven with facility and alacrity.

10. The more pains we have taken for Heaven the sweeter Heaven will be when we come there. As when an Husbandman hath been grafting Trees, or setting Flowers in his Garden, it is pleasant to review and look over his labours; so when in Heaven we shall remember our former zeal and earnestness for the Kingdom, it will sweeten Heaven and add to the joy of it. For a Christian to think such a day I spent in examining my heart, such a day I was weeping for Sin; when others were at their sport, I was at Prayer, and now have I lost any thing by my Devotion? My Tea[gap]s are wiped away, and the Wine of Paradise chears my heart. I now enjoy him whom my Soul loves, I am possessed of a Kingdom, my labour is over, but my joy remains.