The path of life and the way that leadeth down to the chambers of death, or, The steps to hell and the steps to heaven in which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, and 9, and then there be no remedy ... : set forth in copper prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible.

The path of life and the way that leadeth down to the chambers of death, or, The steps to hell and the steps to heaven in which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, and 9, and then there be no remedy ... : set forth in copper prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible.

Table of contents

Title page

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II. VNION.

[Figure]III. REGENERATION.

IV. IVSTIFICATION.

V. RECONCILIATION.

VI. ADOPTION.

[Figure]VII. REDEMPTION.

VIII. GLORIFICATION.

THE Ages of Sin, or Sinnes Birth & groweth. With the Stepps, and Degrees of Sin, from thought to finall Impenitencie.

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[Figure]GLORIATION•

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THE Path of Life, And the way that leadeth down to the Chambers of Death.

OR, The steps to Hell, And the steps to Heaven.

In which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery, they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, 9 and then there be no remedy.

So seeing themselves having ascended towards Heaven, they may not be sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the Promises.

Set forth in Copper Prints, that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible.

LONDON: Printed by M. S. for Thomas Ienner, at the South-entrance of the Royall EXCHANGE. 1656.

Vocation Calling is a worke of ye spirit wherby whom he hath chosen to be his he bringes to know it and by the call of [...]he outw [...]rd word & inward spi [...] he is brought to such a hoppe as workes ye harte to morning and brokennes and is turned from darknes to light and from the power of Saton to God [...] 26 Actes 18

I. VOCATION.

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CAlling is a work of the Spirit; by the voyce and call of the outward word and inward spi [...]it, crying to their soules thus, Come out of her my people and return[Page]to me: come out of thy former corrupt estate, of sin, subjection to Satan, curse, misery, leud customes, error of the wicked, hell, & return to the blessednes wch thou hast lost. Calling is that whole workmanship of God, whereby he pulls the soule from a bad estate to a good; be it longer in working or shorter, dark [...]r or clearer, easier or harder, its the drawing it from da [...]knesse to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26.18. that from whence its drawn, is an unregenerate estate: that whereto is faith, It may be conceived to stand in these two parts, either the preparing work of calling, or the finishing: The former is that by which the Lord finding the heart uncapable of a promise, brings it and prepares it to be such a one as may see it self capable and under a condition of beleiving: for it succeeds the condition of the Law, and instead of doe this, saith, believe this and live; it is partly legall, and partly evangellicall: when the Spirit of God by both, leaves such an impression in a troubled soule under the Spirit of bondage to so much hope as works the heart to mourning and brokennes, to desire of mercy, to esteem it, and to be nothing in its own eyes in comparison of it; together with unweariednesse till it hath obtained it: all which are the preventions and assistance of the Spirit of calling, drawing the soule home to God, by such steps and degrees as the soule is capable of, for when the soule thus prepared sees that the promises belong to her, and that she may and must believe it, then the Spirit stamps this gift of faith to receive it. If the Law hath thus setled a load upon conscience then she may conclude that she is under a condition of ease, and hope of pardon; if thou feel then that the Lord hath thee at his infinite advantage, thou mayst conceive some comfort in the midst of thy frights, and allthough thou mayst finde it hard to graple with the promise as thou wouldst; yet (as one who is under an exactor) [Page] would chose to put himselfe upon the mercy of his adversary, rather then be quite undone, (if he will not shew him favour yet he is but as he was, an undone man) but perhaps his enemy may be moved with compassion towards him: so here, a poor soule may and ought to choose the hazard of a promise (allthough hard to believe) rather then be desperate and disdaine to come in to seek reconciliation: Let all then who would be under hope prove themselves to be under streights; for no other a [...]e under a posibility of mercy, but lie under the absolute condition of wrath; when they see the season let them ply fittest medisons, as a word in season is as apples of gold, sure it is that for lack of Counsell Gods people doe miscarry often times, as appears in their agonies and f [...]ars, that when their spirit is unable to sustaine it selfe, they are ready to faint and give over, yea sometimes lay violent hands upon themselves, oh in such a state discern [...]he state of such a poor soule and pitty it, Be ye oh Priests of the Lord cloathed with sackcloath, 2 Chron. 6. 41. Doe not apply your selves harshly to a heart overloaden allready, rather give wine to snch that they may forget their sorrow, Prov. 31. 6. Blessed is he that considereth wisely of such a condition, let terror serve for the desperate and refractory sinners, that they may come under Gods chain, but such as are bound in it already must not be oppressed more, as if there were no succour for them, no balme in Gilead; but let this door of hope stand upon the latch ready to open unto them, for God will not be angry for ever least flesh should faile: Although our hope be small yet because our strength is great; con [...]ider whether it is not better to venture upon uncerstain hopes then upon assured woe; thy case is as the four leapers, 2 Kings 7. 4. If we say, we enter into the City, then the famine is in the City, and we shall dye there; and if we sit here; we dye also: now therefore come and let us fall in [...]o [...]he host of the Syrians, if they save[Page]us alive we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but dye: so they ventred, and the Lord was with their resolutions, doe thou so in the strength of God and prosper. It is a sweet signe that the Promise is digested by the soul, and not suffered to passe away as a sound of waters; when thou canst not chose but fasten upon it in some confused measure, yet thou seest not any certain escape, as a man in the waters strugling for life though he be not sure to avoyd drowning, yet in his coufusion is able to lay both his hazards in the ballance, and resolves upon the lesse, on the one side he knowes that the mercy of water is cruell drowned he must without helpe, on the other side he sees a reed put towards him which he cannot tell whether he shall be able to reach, or whether that will save him; what doth he? he chuseth an uncertain hope before a certain death, here I dye, here I may live, if I might escape how happy were I? the reed is offered me to save me, I can but perish, if I perish I perish, but I will surely make towards it, I will not perish wilfully: wait upon the Lord, let there be no crevis of light but thou mayst spy it, for as the Lord would have loos hearts to be beaten from their holds, so he studies how to speak to fainting hearts least they fail, Isa. 57.18. God hath comfort for thee, and thy mourners, yea for them afar off as well as nere, if thou seek not thy own ends abhorring to think themselves well because the Law hath them under bondage till the Gospel have comforted them.

II. VNION.

THis supposeth the cutting off a sinner from God and all influence and communion with his grace, and by faith so bringeth the soul unto God, that its united, made one, and incorporated againe into him, by the flesh of

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Vnion The sole can no more reciue ought from God tell it be maried vnto Christ and be on with him by faith than bodey & soule can imparte or reciue to or fro tell on hence issueth all ve [...]tew vigor and power into vs that is meate for our support either earthley or Sprituall tell our Vniō be pefected in glorey 4. Ru [...]h 11.12

Christ united to his Godhead, and its the work of the Spirit of Christ making the Lord and the soul one spirit, & causing the soul to pertake by vertue thereof of all that [Page] power of his both in priviledges and graces which follow, for its sure the soul can no more receive ought from God till it be one with him by Christ, then Christ could have merited any thing for us, till the Diety and flesh were really united together, and no more then the body and soul can impart or receive to and fro till they be one, Ephes. 5. 13. Iohn 2. 17. by all wich its evident that till we be one with God in Christ we are without him in the world, the Lord abhorring all r [...]lations that want union, but if once united then he is in us we in him, he dwels in us we in him as inhabitants in his house and the soul in the body, he is one with us we are of him, 1 Cor. 1.30. in him, Iohn 17. flesh of his flesh, he is our husb [...]nd and we are his spouse, and therfore hence floweth all vertue vigour and power into us that is meet for our support either earthly or spiritu [...]ll till our union be perfected in glory, we are ingraffed into him as a science into a stock which fet [...]heth all its nourishment thence, as the to seals of baptism and the Lords supper doe tipifie there being no possibility of the communion of the latter without the union of the first.

Union is the first priviledge of the condition of a man called issuing from hence, being indeed the complement of faith, for fai [...]h determines calling and begins union whereby the beleiving soul is so brought home and knit to God in Christ that it loses her former corrupt estate of cutting off from God and puts on a new of being one with the Lord and he with it, that so that soul may be fraight with true titles and intrest to all good things which either the Lord can convey or the soul receive, and that in a farre better kinde and measure then ever Adam was.

Union with God is necessary to all that would partake of his grace, for as it was in the Creation till the Lord had breathd the spirit of life and himselfe in him, Adam could have no communion with God, so it is in the second [Page] creation, no benefit, no fruit thereof can come to the soule, till this second creation and union be, but this as by a channel the rest follow, reconciliation with amity, adoption with worship and liberty, &c. hence it is that our Saviour presseth this, He that abides not in me, is as a branch cut from the vine, which withers; contrarily, he that abides in me draweth life from me and nourishment, he liveth in me, as the living arme receiveth vertue of motion and strength to be useful to the body from the head.

The union of Grace is not like that of creation, neither in the measure, nor in the instrument of it; not in the measure, for in the creation there was a total and imediat union in that kinde, and it was a perfect one having Gods image in it without let or impeachment; but this union of Grace is an imperfect union for measure in this life, because the reliques of corruption and the old Adam as drosse mix themselves with the soul, suffers not God and it to knit fully, but as it is with the science put into the clift of a stock, if there be any drosse in the clift between the stock and the science it cannot be close and grow perfectly: so here, the Lord and the soul cannot be so nere in this life, because there is fo much scurf within us that God and we cannot close, God being contrary or disagreeing with Baal; and this appears further in this, that the estate that answers Paradice is not of Grace, but that to come in glory, when corruption and sin and death shall be swallowed up in corruption, full righteousnesse and life, not that there is not even here a true and reall union, but not a full and intire one: The instruments of unions are unlike, for that of creation needed no other tie or bond save the immediate presence of God in his image, which had then no sin nor let to divide it; but the union that is now, is incumbred with lets and enimies, must needs be maintained by a band of greater perfection [Page] then any is in us; the nearer infused grace of light and holinesse joyned Adam and God, and that free will in his nature upheld that Image of God in her exercise and action; but it is otherwise now in this decay of nature, there must be wrought in the soule another instrument to knit us to God, and hold his grace in continuall exercise; Fai [...]h must needs be the knitter of this union, because it resists that perfectly which cuts us off from God, I mean guilt and curse, I say, it selfe is imperfect, yet it resists perfectly, because it is given by God to this purpose to receive a perfect discharge, in Christ, from all that sin which cuts us off, and from that excommunication and seperation from God, which came there by faith: then is that which eff [...]cts this union in this life absolutely that holinesse which is infused here into us is imperfect, and therefore cannot fully knit us to a perfect God, faith onely can hold Christ to the soul, who is this life of union, and so keep us close and knit to God, even when our image of God in holiness is weak by this means; so soon as faith hath abolished that which formerly cut off union it sets the soul in state of union as before, and so breeds in it the true life of grace through pardon and forgivenesse and coming to God. Faith rests not in this her uniting quality, true it is she holds this her work through the whole life of believers, to cover the defects of Gods image and to help true and full union on foot supplying all wants, but she still strives to settle the b [...]ginning of holinesse also in the soul and an union, thereby also it applies it weakly and in part, yet it truely applies it, and even here infuseth by the Spirit a most true being of Gods image, and makes the soul partaker of the divine nature thereby, even that partisipation which in glory shall be one and the same for kinde though fuller for measure. The Spirit effects this union by the word of Promise and the Seal, according as Christ was given by God to bring [Page] all unto him and to present them unto him spotlesse and unblameable, so doth the word convey this Promise of Christ to the soul, as by Christ it comes to passe that those who are cut off were afar off aliens from the community of Israel and the life of God were made near and one, Ephes. 4. 16.

The effect of this union, inhabiting, and indwelling of the spirit in that soul which is become one with himselfe that so it may injoy communio [...] and f [...]llowship with him in that Intercourse of all graces, protection, upholding, and rule as seem best to himselfe; so that now God in Christ by the spirit is that to the so [...]l which before her lusts were all in all, Lord and K [...]ng, light and defence, Heaven and happinesse, as we see that the owner dwells in his house, the King in his Kingdome, and the soul in the body, both for the welfare of the posessed and the honour of the posessor, the same house of the soul, the same seat which was before is still, but new rule and law, much adoe there is between Christ and old usurping inmates, lust, world, selfelove, pride, and revenge, yet the soule gives that presidency to her Lord and resignes up keys & posessions to him, she is under his authority, she swayes here by this kingdome set up in her, defends his house from all thieves and intruders, he makes laws and wrights them in their hearts, so that as the wife is the glasse of her husbands purposes, will, and affections answering him as the face doth the face in water, so doth the Church answer Christs ruling her, not withstanding her disquieting with old tirany of corruption in the world, whatsoever influence, power, or authority, any had, either civill, matrimoniall, or of family, can bear over their body or the soul over the naturall body, that may be said of this Lord, who is Father of all the families of his Church, Husband of his Spouse, Lord of his subjects, the soul of his body, to act, direct, defend, provide for, and be all in [Page] all to her, till he bring her to glory, as a principle union causeth communion, so doth he communicate himself, all his wisdome, humblenesse, holinesse, experience, to her, imparts himself to her as her needs are, in her streigts he is her redemption, in her fears peace by justification, in her complaint of corruption her sanctification, to mortifie her, renew her, and so of the rest; this is to make her an habitation to himself by the spirit, not now and then to come stranger like, or upon pleasure, as to a banquet house for a day, but to walk in the midst of her to chase away all distempers, and to allow her to walk before him in and out as his own, receiving honour from her as the brightnesse of his image, and affording to her protection for his own glory.

It is true all hang bies and time-servers, who have it at their tongues end, they are Gods, and they shall be saved how few soever they are, but they cannot prove it by any ingrafting of union, no plucking off from the old stock appears in them, no planting into a new, no life of grace, no Christ to be theirs, no bringing to God by his flesh and the union of it to God, no promise to fasten upon by which there may come one spirit of God to be between them and God, and to unite both, as the spirit knit the soul and body in one, so faith to handfast them, to marry them, to cut off their old seperation, to forgive and reconcile them, and to restore them by the union of favour, acceptance, and life, to the union of Gods Image, his qualities and holiness; away you counterfeits, this rule argues that you are none of the Lords, because old union continues; can a twig live in two stocks at once, if it cleave to the one must it not renounce the other? therefore tremble, ye are still cut off as branches that withereth and are as yet none of Gods, but in the gall of bitternesse.

Regeneration The infant that is born doth not mor [...] beray ye na [...]urall li [...]e by weaping breathing feading sleaping then the li [...]e of a beleuing sole once brought forth apea [...]s in ye operation and wor [...]kes of ye new creature fo [...] that by prou [...]ing one the as drey bones breath enters into them and they liue 37 Ezekell 4

III. REGENERATION.

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THe begetting of the soul to God, which is none of his before the other be an instamping of the Image of God really in the soul.

[Page]Most men quite omit to oversee this Regeneration of faith, and begetting the soul to God, thinking there is no Regeneration, save only renewing of the will, and changing of the corrupt nature of old Adam from bad to good; so hereby they grow to this absurd error, namely, to imagin that whencesoever any duty of mortification or holinesse is urged, by and by, and without any more adoe they are the parties spoken to, and s [...] of themselves can mortifie their own lusts, cease to swear lye or blaspheam.

Most eminent is that of Tit. 3. 5, 6. According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost which h [...] shed on us abundantly through Christ our Saviour, that being justified by his grace we might be made heirs of life: who seeth not an evident Regeneration of the soul unto God to be wrought before renewing of Gods Image. A like place is that of I [...]mes 1. 18. Of h [...]s own will he beg it us, that w [...] might be a k [...]nde of his first fruits of the creation: What is this first fruits? the early work of faith, creating the soul again to God, and giving it the birth right of the first born beloved and accepted of God, by the word and faith, which is the instrume [...]t of the spirit, by which Paul had begotten them to God.

The word presents to the soul her losse of God, not in a few beams or rayes of his, but his whole divine nature, life, and being; life we know is the excellency of being, things thar are without life are in a sort esteemed not to be, and those creatures that have a kinde of life without motion and sence, although they have a growing life, yet are but half subsisting, as trees, and plants, a Gnat in respect of her life is a more excellent creature then a Cedar, the porest cripple is of more excellent nature then the goodliest Elephant, a reasonable being and life exceeds a sensable life as much as a sensable exceeds a naturall or vegetable, how much more then doth a divine and spirituall being exceed a reasonable, if a mere supernaturall [Page] life of common in lightning and knowledg of Gods revealed will, which is but a quality, doth so much exceed reason, as the spirit of an Angel exceeds that spiri [...] of a godly man, how much more then doth a spirituall life and being of a beleiver exceed a supernaturall life of knowledge alone, all which I speak to shew that Adam lost, when he lost the spirituall being of his Creation, the Image, life, and nature of him that created him after his own pattern. This losse of our being, and true life of God, the Lord, by his Law presents life to that son [...]e, in which he purposes to quicken up his second life of grace, by the Lord Jesus, that quickning Spirit, 1 Cor. 15. By this loss man is stript and deprived of the glory of God, that is, that excellent beauty and honour, which that life of God did reflect upon him: so that Iacob said of Re [...]ben, Thy dignity is gone. I say not that sin hath bereft man of his being, but that divinenesse of being sustained hi [...] reasonable nature in a most firm manner of subsisting, so that there is a desolation of this Image, and nothing left save the bare ruines of a frame without beauty or amiablenes. He is become a meer emptinesse, a Chaos, and dunghill of confusion, the very relicks of himself: even as the sad and dismall earth, being bereft of the Sun, and influences of Heaven, differs from the sweet season of May, or the summer, wherein she is clad with all her beauty. It is a sad sight to see a Carkas [...]e voyd of life and breath of man, but to see such a Carkasse as wants life, to creep, and breath, and stink in the loathsomnesse of it, were worse: what a sight is it then to behold a man indued with naturall life and breath, to walk and crawle up and down voyd of the life of his life, dead, a meer Carrion, breathing death, death of grace in his naturall life, and stinking even above ground, even in the nostrills of God and man, who are able to smell and discern: Breathing corruptions in Gods nostrills, and casting the noysome savour of [Page] it before men; loathsome Oaths, drunkennesse, swearing, cursing, deceit, lying, falshood: Not to speak of inward loathsomenesse, of self-love, carnall ease, unclean thoughts, infidelity, hypocrisie, security, prophanenes, and the like; all these the Lord by his word discovers to the soule. And besides, that foule delusion of his heart, which makes him to think his wound to be healed, when he can keep it sweet: As if a Prince cast out of his Throne, justly deposed from his Crowne, into a Dungeon, should applaud himself in some of his best Robes and apparell: So it is here, when hypocrites can furnish themselv [...]s with some of Gods attire, and pride themselves in their knowledge, parts, wealth, wit, credit, and esteem, or some gifts of restraint, and morrall vertues, and abstainance from evill, so they conceive themselves thereby to be the persons they are not, and take a counterfeit shew of Parots tongues, or an Apes laughter, or an Image chattering, to be the true life of grace, these the Lord doth discover to the soule effectually and stirringly, where he will regenerate and beget again, he will cause the odiousnesse of spirituall death and deprivall of God, to pierce the soule to the quick, and will give it sence and conscience thereof.

No little infant having lost father, mother, and friends, all at once, no idiot deprived of his wit and understanding, are more sencelesse of their condition then this soul is, for being deprived of God, it is withall a fool deprived of the sences of it, and as a fool pleaseth himselfe as much in his babble as in all the inheritances he hath lost; so doth this foole in his painted sheath of carnall qualities and indowments of nature, which in truth doe as little grace him, as the gawdy Coat of a fool stript of his wits: As it was with Nebuchadnezzar, being driven from his Kingdome and men, to live among Beasts. Whether really or in his opinion he lost as well the reflection [Page] of his mind to tell him in what case he was as his understanding it self, yea much more; so is it here a most miser [...]ble spectacle, to behold a creature miserable, and thinking it self posessed of all rich cloathing and furnished with all necessaries. Once the Counsel of France fearing the mutiny of the people, upon the death of the King, devised a policy to array the dead body with all his wonted atire, & robes, putting the Scepter into his hand, & a Crown upon his head, so placing him upon his bed, and all his Chamber richly beset, and his curtains about him, and his pale face painted, that so by his being given out, and by some beheld, might delude the people: So it is here, the dead soul be [...]ooled with her own delusions, being wholy miserable, pleaseth her self with a dream that she is otherwise, and this serves her instead of life it self: Where the Lord will Regenerate to a new life, he brings the soul to the sence of her losse, by the light of his Law shining as in dark places, as the light of the morning discovers to a man, robbed in the night, at once what a condition he is left in, and seases it with a spirit of misery and beggery, really ignorant now what to doe, wringing his hands, and saying, what shall be [...]ome of me? how shall I live and passe my life? how sh [...]ll I avoyd the pinch of beggery, the shame of an undone man, that sorrow that will ensue? I say, when once the Lord savingly works this, for else it may vanish, he doth in season present the soul with the news of another life to prevent utter sinking, and stays the heart thereby; he shews it, that as lost and forlorne as she is, yet there is a way to restore her former integrity againe.

Now as touching the way of the Lords first in lightments of the soul in it; And secondly applies and fastens it upon the same, he enlightens it into kindnesse. First about the order of this way: Secondly about the way it selfe. Touching the order of it he tels her, That for as [Page] much as she once had this life and Image of God created in her, and hath wilfully lost it; therefore before he can restore her to it the second time, his justice, which is wronged by her sins, and hath justly accused her for it, must first be satisfied, and the soule must apprehend this Sanctification to her selfe as her own, and by this means her guiltiness and curse must be washed off, and removed out of his way, for otherwise how can he and the corrupt soul be brought together, what communion can there be between sin and purenesse? Secondly, He enlightens the soul in the way it self, to wit, that in his wisdome and love he hath granted his own Son, true God, and the nature which was offended, to suffer the imputation of guilt, and the death which it procured in the nature, and for the nature of guilty man, and by this suffering he satisfied justice to the full; so that hereby by the way that sin had shut up might stand and lie open, for the restoring of poor lost souls to their former nature and life of God again. Having thus enlightned the soul about this way, he then applies it to the soul, and that by a second closer work of his grace, for he applies this work of Regeneration by the instrument of his word and promises, which is as a seed of his Regeneration, cast into the womb of the soul by hearing it preached; as St. Iames saith, Of his good will begot he us by the word of truth: This word carrieth with it a forming power of the second birth, even a creating of God in the soul. Againe, Secondly, The efficient cause is the spirit of Regeneration, taking the word and casting it into the soul, there hatching and cherishing the same till it hath formed Christ therein, who is the second Adam, the true way and life, that quickning spirit. And Thirdly, He effects this in the soul by the power of faith, which receives this seed of the word, and this quickning of the spirit, and posesseth the soul therewith.

[Page]Faith doth these two things. First, it receivs the way of this life into the soul, which is the putting away of guilt and curse, which Adams sin contracted, and that is pardon and forgivenesse. Secondly, it receives therewith, and at once, the actual and real properties, and nature of God to inherit and dwell in the soul; and howsoever when Divines speak of this work, they must properly settle Regeneration upon the latter, yet in working and practice it is most certain that it consists in them both, I say, Faith, as St. Peter speaketh, doth make us partakers of the divine nature in both, though the conceiving of such a mystery exce [...]ds us; The Lord offers to a lost soul this word of promise, I will that thou O dead soul shalt live in my Son, I being satisfied by his death, am content that thy soul receive again this life of mine again, I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, wherefore turn ye your selves and live, yea awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give you life, the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of God, and they [...]hat hear it shall live; these and the like promises do offer life to all dead souls that need it, both life here, and hereafter glory.

Conception the least step of this life, by which the soul retains and keeps this seed of life, suffers it not to passe away and be spilt as an hypocrites, but digests and holds the Promise to its s [...]lf, till it have bred it longing of the appetite, lustings af [...]er a kinde of alterations of spirituall appetite, and a desire after this life; this is that Isaiah means, Chap. 55. 4. Incline your hearts and he [...]rken unto me; that is, be so affected with this p [...]omise of life, that you do incline towards it and make to it, that we walk in Gods way appointed to bring you to it, be aff [...]cted seriously with the excellency of this life [...] and the happy change that God offers you, that your souls do diligently ensue it in the means; so that in this first work is contained the whole work of the Lords preparing the soul [Page] for the receiving of this life, standing in those many affections created in the same by the glad tidings of this word of life; that is, it stirs the soul to mourn for so long living a dead life, and resi [...]ing the offers of life, and resting in the shew of a false conception, it doth long after this exceeding great priviledge to be partaker of the nature and life of God, it doth prize it above the most excellent inferiour life of this world, though it were Solomons felicity in comparison of it, it empties it selfe and is voyded from all other hopes and desires of life, even as the womb that conceives must be clear from all former conceptions, it useth all means which God hath appoynted with all eagernesse of soul restles till it obtaines it.

The quickning power of the spirit of Promise, whereby the Lord infuseth this life of God into the soul, which is nothing else save the souls breaking through the manifold struggles and strifes which selfe and unbeliefe doe work within, her self doth obey the voyce and command of the Promise, that so it may live, as we see the nature of all fruits hath many changes, pangs, and strives within the womb ere it come to the birth; So here, the soul hath manifold resistance and oppositions in her selfe against the Promise, but cannot tell what to say of her self, whether she should live or no, often gives over the Promise as to good, discourageth her self by the presence of a body of death which still abides, and a weak base heart chusing to lye stinking in her grave of death, and sottish ease, and lusts, that so she may turn back to her old vomit, and avoyd the trouble and difficulty of this new birth: when the soul comes out of the womb into the light; that is, discovers her self to be alive, and apprehends, as I may say, her own life that God hath begotten her unto himself, which is the highest step and degree of life which is bred in her, for as the fruit in the womb being quickned, yet wanteth the full proportion of its parts [Page] till the forming power of generation do by weeks and months more and more perfect and fashon them all to a comely being, and creature, which at last is brought forth: so here, the poor soul having received the life of God into her by her weak and poor Faith, scarce felt and perceived, yet by the secret power of the spirit goeth from degree to degree, that although she hath no other life at the birth then in the quickning, yet this life is more apparent and visible every day then other, till at last the spirit fall in travel, and bringing forth Christ formed in the soul, so that the soul appears unto her self, and not others, to live and to beleive, because now she is in the light perfect and brought forth, so that the infant that is bo [...]n, doth not more beray the naturall life by weeping, laughing, breathing, feeding, sleeping, stirring, feeling, growing, then the life of a believing soule once brought forth appears in the operations and works of the new creature; and this is the effect of the sealing spirit of Baptism added to the Promise, and stablishing the weak Faith of this poor infant, till it know it selfe to live and declare it to others by the fruits of Regeneration.

IV. IVSTIFICATION.

WHich is contrary to the estate of guilt and curse by sin, and by this benefit the soul obtains an earnest of quietnesse, and peace towards God, and that by clearing him, and acquitting him, at his Tribunall, as if she had never offended fully and perfectly.

A most peculiar bl [...]ssing, contrary to those garboyls and horrors which conscience felt being under wrath, as also to that rotten peace which he walked with through error, either one or other of these is the state of all justified ones, but when as once the soul is set at liberty and [Page] discharged by proclamation from these, there being no enemy to accuse, neither will the Lord hold thy soul gilty, but speaks peace to it, so that by this means it draws new breth and lives at other tearms of content and complacency then before; look what peace and welfare Adams innocency reflected upon him before he sinned, that doth Justification cast upon the soul by forgivenes, fears are all scattered by this perfect love of God received by Faith, no guilt or accusation by sin, or any enemies without or within can now take place: look how different the sta [...]e of poor man is when he is molested with suites and put in fear of loosing his whole estate by the wrong of an adversary, from that which he feels after he hath got the day and is past all former fears; such is the odds between the sinfull and the Justified soul, she turns unto her rest, as David speaks [...] and eats, drinks, sleeps, and works in peace, that her flesh which was withered, and her bones consumed with the scorching h [...]at of conscience, the wound whereof who can bear? now returns as the flesh of a little childe, hence the holy Ghost never ceaseth to magnifie this benifit, as Isa. 57. I create the fruite of the lips, peace to him that is neare and afar off; its a work onely belonging to God, and above the first creation, for the Lord is the onely former of the conscience, and therefore its a work equall to Gods power to create peace in it, and to restore it being lost, is far greater; the Sea raging and calmed, doth not more differ then the peace of conscience from the rage and distemper of it; therefore its said, that Christ setled peace and stilled this raging Sea of conscience, Eph. 2. 15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, so setling peace through the blood of his crosse; so that by this means we may turn our mourning into dancing, the Lyon and the Lamb may feed together, and the Childe may put his finger into the hole of the Aspe, inward peace, being outward, with Angels,

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Iusstification Looke what peace & welfaire Adams inosencey reflec [...]ed vpon him before he had sinned yt doth Iustisication cast upon ye sole by forgiunes feares are all scatred by this perfect loue of God r [...]iued by faith eauen as Nebozar [...]idan Captain of Nebocadnesors gard said to [...]mprisoned Ieremiah eauen this day haue I losed the from ye [...]onds wich war vpon thy hands 40 Ieremiah 4 verce

with men, with Devils, Death, and enemies: So againe, Christ is called Isa. 8. The Prince of our peace, noting, that it was the work of the Priesthood assisted with [Page] his Kingdome to purchase it, and likewise his third work of Prophesie was taken up in it, for he was an annoynted Isa. 61. to that purpose, To preach glad tidings of peace (Rom. 10. 15.) to the meek; and to this purpose he is called a witnesse, both of declaring his truth, and also declaring the controversie between Gods justice and our soules; for look how one sufficient witnesse in a Court may by his verdit settle a mans whole estate upon him, and recover his wright; so the Lord Jesus by his blood bears witnesse that our sin and curse is gone, setling pardon and salvation upon us, desiding the question, and making peace; and in this sence we read Heb. 12. that The blood of the Covenant speaks better things then that of Abell, that cryer in Cains conscience nothing save revenge and horror, but this cryeth peace; to conclude, the like is that which 1 Pet. 3. 20. the Apostle saith of Baptism, The seale of the Covenant in the blood of Christ that saves us not by washing away the filth of the flesh but by the answer of a good conscience to God by the resurrection of Christ: what is that? surely this, that when the Lord asks the soul in what plight it is, the conscience steps out and answers, Lord it is well with me, it was as ill as it could be, but now its as well as can be, thou hast changed all in a moment, for in stead of war I have peace: This is the first step to all other benefits, no peace, no joy, no liberty, no adoption, nothing at all, its the first ripe fruit of the Paradice of God, equalling the fruit of the tree of life, dost thou look upon a believer, thou seest a precious object, a son of peace, he carries that within his bosome which cost the Son of God his heart blood which far exceeds all Gold and Pearls, for which he hath peace within, he is at league with all fears, and in the suburbs of all prosperity, he hath peace with every stone of his field, and may visit his habitation wit joy, his life, health, wife, children; so that they say, away base companions, ye have fought long [Page] enough in my m [...]mbers, Iames 4.1. and wasted my peace, I will not buy you at so dear a rate, as sorrow and repentance, nor forfeit my peace for all the fruit I have got by you, which is shame and death; that peace of God that passeth understanding shall so rule me that I'le renounce you all before I'le loose one dram of my peace; bring me such peace as Christ hath brought me by forgivenes, and then I will say somewhat to you, but [...]ill then farewel for ever: Nay, yet more, this peace followeth them in afflictions; when the Lord se [...]ms to have a controversie with them, [...]nd to write bitter things against them, in their married estate, children, name, health, calling, succ [...]sses in their Ministers, neighbours and best friends; for this world is full of time-servers, even then they have peace to stand by them, and as Isaiah [...]aith, Chap: 27. 4. they have already taken hold of peace, and had peace that is held in their [...]treets; as one said, I will bear my paine patiently, because I know [...]he hardest, and that I shall never feel the paine of the wicked; therefore I should not fear if I were in the vail of death, for thy rod and staffe do comfort me; if now my peace were to make, it were wofull with me, but I bles [...]e God, I am now in peace, and in joy the fruit of it. Nay, lastly, this peace is joyned with a complacency and joy of heart, telling the soul its happy and t [...]erefore cannot lye hid in the soul idely; but as [...]eaven which seasons and savours the lump, so doth this aff [...]ct the heart with a liking and joy in her welfare; no fool is so tickled with his Paradice, as this soul is really joyed in this benefit; all yee that would have your teeth water after these dainties, behold them and be in love with them to desire them your owne por [...]ion, buy this Jewel but sell it not, beware you grow not to slight it, nourish it in your souls: First, by abhorring all sinnes, that wast the conscience, and other spirituall secret filth, wch might spring up as a bitter root to defile their sweet [Page] peace, poyson not this welspring of life from whence all the issues of life and death doe proceed in, shew peace if we desire holinesse, Heb. 12. take heed of any secret closings with sin upon any false colours, dispensations, and distinctions, in a nibling kinde, and dallying with some kinde and degree, as when we dare not attempt greater, for when once our peace staggers, surely it will prove defiled; keep it therefore as a Jewel, intire, sound, and honest, and so we shall finde it even as the tender eye-sight if it be lasht never so little, nay if it have but a more fallen into it, it is troubled straight way, so will our peace be, therefore preserve it from the daily soyl of appearances of lawfull liberty, from the incroaching of ease, worldlinesse, formality, and the like; renewing it often by faith in the Covenant of pardon, and renewing our own Covenant, that by daily and often reckning we may long keep him our friend, who hath given us our peace as the pledge thereof.

V. RECONCILIATION.

COntrary to the blemish of enmity with God, and God with us, bringing us into amity and favour with him againe, Eph. 1. 5. Paul calls it our acceptation and belovednesse with God: finding of mercy with God is a ground of finding favour in his sight, then we return to our former esteeme and beauty in the eyes of God, we stand before him as favourites finde accesse to him, going in and out with welsprings, Col. 1. all former treachery being forgotten, and this addeth yet a further weight to the former benefit. Peace is not perishing as a blessing, yet admission to former royalty and dignities is more: Princes oft pardon their subjects, as David did Absolom, granting them their lives for a prey, when yet they keep

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Reconcilliation As fauorites we find accesse to him going in & out with well pleasing all former [...]reachorey being forgotten peace in not per [...]ybing is a blessing the admishion to former royallteyes digneyteyes is more so that the ring the Robes the fated Callfe is brought out for the reconsiled Prodigall 15 Luke [...]

them far off their presence, and suffer them not to return to their places, nor to injoy their favours; but the Lord having as great power to purge the heart of a traitor as to [Page] pardon the offence, admits every justified person to be his friend, cloathing him with a robe of righteousnesse, Hos. 14. 2. Calling her beloved which was not beloved.

The benefit of reconciliation offered by Christ, is the firme solid argument and friendship of the soul with the Lord of Heaven, who before was our deadly adversary; the soul which was before an enemy to God, and by him denounced, persued, and outlawed, cut off from the liberty and protection of a subject, is now by this means restored againe to love and amity, as if never any traitor before; i [...]s now become the Lords Hephsiba, his delightfull one, amiable one, his favourite and fri [...]nd in most inward manner, yea received into dearest account and acceptation; for from hence issueth a Covenant of God made with the soul and the soul with him.

Deare brethren, break into leagues, and swear brotherhood, surely the Lord loves his with his heart as his own [...]oul, his Covenant with them is most firm & everlasting, an absalute Covenant, for its establis [...] ed in the blood of the Covenant, which to day yesterday and for ever holds firme and sure; by vertue of this Covenant he is not a [...]hamed of us, but vouchsafeth us to be his, Deut. 25. 17, 18, 19. The Lord hath avouched yee this day to be his peculiar people, as [...]e hath promised yee, &c. As the Lord disclaimed us and disowned us in Adam, so by the reconciliation of the second Adam he vouchsafeth and acknowledgeth us to be his; and hence all the names and titles in Scripture, of dearnesse, and peculiarnesse, of belovednesse, of faire ones, Doves undefiled, such as in whose love the King can delight his Ammi and Ruhama, his Jewels, and secret precious ones, and the like.

Hence our behaviour and course becomes acceptable, as Ab [...]ls Sacrifice for his persons sake was accepted; so that in all our services [...] & allegeance we are well pleasing through him in whom first God was well pleased, and [Page] that not in one act or two of special nature, but in all our course, in our walking in and out with him as a favourite with his Prince; yea he loves us not the worse for our blemishes, but covers them, and looks upon us as his, upon his own gifts, not our shame, saying, Thou art black yet comely; so that he can content himsel [...]e in us, when as our in [...]irmities are many and great, as a lover who cannot espy any indeficient thing, face, gestures, speech, carriages, of her whom he loves.

Hence also flow the most excellent favours of his spirit conferred upon us, that he might the more take pleasure in us, as the Bridegroom doth in his Bride & Spouse whom he hath adorned; hence are those habilliments, of the ring, the shooes, the robe, the fat Calfe brought forth for the reconciled prodigall; hence those pearls wherewith the Lord inricheth his married Bride, Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee to me in righteousn [...]s, judgement, loving kindnesse, and mercy: These are the Jewels of highest price, which the Lords treasure can afford, humblenesse, meeknesse, the clean linnen of innocency, purenesse, uprightnesse, love, tendernes, contrary to her filthy raggs, which he takes from her, and all that he might joy in her: nay I might say, that Reconciliation is the true ground of a Church it selfe, and a body of the Saints, at lest the beauty of a Church; If Uni [...]n be the ground, Reconciliatition is that which affords lustre and beauty to it.

The all-sufficiency of God as a fountaine is set open by this [...]luce of Reconciliation, for hereby the Lord can beteam the soul all support, and all that is needfull for this and a better life, as we see inward friends will strip themselves ere they will let one another want: and this all- [...]ufficiency reacheth to soul and body, all things are yours as you are Christs and Christ Gods; we see Princes delight in casting royall favours upon favourites, nothing falls beside them; hence are the boons of all spirituall [Page] prerogatives of Saints of all the Ordinances of God bestowed upon his Church, Paul, Apollo, Cephas, all gifts, and all administration are cast upon them, to serve for their good preaching, and all her efficacious Sacraments, and all their sealing powers, Communion of Saints, and the like, the secrets of his will hid to others; hence also are all earthly blessings, which the good will of him who dwelleth in the bush can confer, all are theirs posession and right, and made pure unto them; marriage with her blessing is their credit, love, esteem, wellfare and riches, long life and good dayes, their dwellings, posterities, and the like; they may say, they are all mine given me of God, nay although they be common favours even in these they tast a peculiarnesse, the ungodly finde all blessing [...] to be common, the godly tast a peculiarnesse in the common [...]st; their sleep is sweet unto them, their health is precious, and they can visit their house with joy, the enmity of the whole frame is reduced to an amity with them, there is a league made with Heaven, Earth, and Hell, that nothing shall hurt them, Heaven shall not be as brasse, nor the Earth as iron, the beasts of the field shall be at league, enemies shall turn friends, because their ways please God; diseases, plagues, famines, death shall not hurt them, no afflictions shall sting them as a fiery dart, but as sent in love, and from very faithfulnesse for good, Psal. 119. Hos. 2. yea and I will hear the Heavens, and they shall hear the Earth, and the Earth shall hear the corn and the wine and the oyle, and they shall hear Jezerel. Most excellent is that in Col 1. 20. That Christ hath brought all shattered peeces of the world together againe into one head, glory to God, and good will towards men, and peace on Earth; Reconcliation reacheth to this.

He discovers himselfe to such a soul that he hath offered to her a price of Reconciliation, even the blood of [Page] the Covenant, not onely to compound and mitigate some extremities of enmities, but even to abolish it all and nail it to his Crosse: this ransome sati [...]fies Justice, for all the damages and affronts given to Gods Majesty, this breaks down the wall of separation, and cansells the records of Heaven, wherein all our rebellions were written, and all those curses which God denounces against such, that perfect agreement might be made, not raking the dunghill of our corruptions to pick out inditements, but cutting off all quarrels, and establishing a Law of forgetting them, and Covenant of amity for ever wi [...]h the soul.

Reconciliation fastens the offer of being reconciled to God upon [...]his poor soul by the instrument of faith, the best make-peace that ever was, which faith overpowers the enmity of the soul by the exercise of amity and mercy in God, and as it were compells it to be reconciled, she apprehendeth so much compassion in the bosome of God as to drownd all enmity [...]herein, as in the bottome of the Sea, and so to kisse the Son, swear allegance and come in. This have I said of the way to attain this benefit of Reconciliation somewhat more largely, that by this other benifits may be conceived, both by Ministers in their manner of handling, and by private Christians in the savour of applying these priviledges, which if they were rightly discerned great light would appear, not onely in the offer of Christ, but even in all the new Testament, which runs still upon one or other of these.

Adam and the Lord fell out, and their enmity was as the bars of a Pallace, but now by this Reconciliation they become nearer then ever: this Covenant is eternall as the Rainbow, it walks without fear of any preminary or Out lary from God wheresoever it goes, yea his very affections shall be no mark of his wrath, for all whom God loveth he chastne [...]h, Crosses aud Covenants doe not interfere; but even then a soul may say, thy Covenant [Page] is sure mercy O Lord, thou hast afflicted me in very mercy, Psal. 119. If I sin thou wilt chasten me with the rod of men, but thy loving kindnesse thou wilt never remove, thy league is not as the league of sworn brethren in evill, as Simeon and Levi, but pure, therefore firme: oh let this honourable priviledge draw all to partake of it.

Abhor all base roots of bitternesse, rising up to defile this amity, and weaken it. First, abhor all enmity of unbeliefe, suspition of God, distrust of his promises, as if he meant nothing lesse; this is the deepest villany, never leave till thy large heart can better answer the Lord then Iehonadab answered Iehu's question, is thy heart right as mine: ye doubtlesse make us of all Ordinances especially the Supper of Christ, the Simball of this amity, to seal it up to thy soul, beteam him to so much faith as to abhor to revive that enmity which Christ hath slaine, and nailed to his Crosse. And Secondly, take heed of all falshood in thy Covenant with God; if thou be loose to him, and yet expecteth him to be close to thee, thou wilt be deceived.

VI. ADOPTION.

ANswering to her contrary misery through sinne, to wit, bastards, and losse of the right and blessing of Children. Adam was the Son of God by Creation, Luk. 3. By his fall he lost it, is become a bastard, stript himselfe of his royalties, birthright, and inheritance, the dignity of the first born, dominion and Lordships of the creatures, title to Paradice and immortality.

Adoption is the enfranchisement of the soul into her former estate of Sonship againe, being freed from the spirit of bondage and slavish fear, Gal. 4. 6. For as a man freely, and without desert, takes one that is not his own

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Adoption The Lord restors a sinner to his fauour liulyhud sunshipp Lordshipp & coheireshipp with Christ God doth in him aknoledg ye for his Child hare of God & Cohaire wth Christ he powers into ye ye spirit of grace & supplicatio yt as Iacob thou maist wrastell wth him & preuaile is Hosea 34.

Child to become his own, changing his name, adopting him into his family, and setling his inheritance upon him, which belonged to one descended from his loyns: [Page] so doth the Lord here, he restores a sinner to former livelyhood, sonship, Lordships, with Christ the heir of all; and [...]his benefit aptly follows the former, for having received us to f [...]vour he doth as a Prince reconcile [...] to a Traitrous son, restore him to the right of his Crown; so do [...]h the Lord for all his, not onely restoring them to the old but to a far better then they lost even the right of a Saint in light: As a son resembles his father, so did we of the Lord Almighty, resembling our origin [...]ll in all light and holines [...]e, we carried both in mind will affections sences body gestures authority and presence the glory of our Fa [...]her about us, were to God most accepted in our walking before him, [...]o the creatures most honourable and awefull as Gods deputies, in the sight of the Angels most excellent, and in our selves most happy by the reflex and view of our own integrity of [...]onship; so that we had whatsoever an earthly vessel could contain; being thus heirs of all and sons of immortallity, planted in a Paradice of exquisite perfection, even in the habitation of our glory, when we were full of it we prostituted our selves willing to trangresse the bonds of Children, and sons, and the Law of our creation, so that we must either be better then sons, and the law of our creation, and be equall with God, or else nothing; and so by yeelding to the Devill we fell from God, eate the forbidden fruit, tainted not our spirits onely and beings but our blood also, and became most degenerate bastards and slaves in our condition not having one dram left in us of that saint like nature temper and integrity which we had, instead of bearing the Image of Heaven we bear the Image of Ear [...]h, stript of our honour and put down to the lowest forme of basenesse, and made meer shaddows of what we had been, forfeited all our royalties, not onely of inward content, esteem, peace and beholding the face of God as children, but also of outward titles to the Earth and to Paradice [Page] dominion of creatures, brotherhood of Angels, and being thrust out of the Garden we became drudges of the Earth, slaves to Satan, and lived in continuall fear of death and wrath as prisoners, and to hide our heads in.

The eternall word, and also flesh, by the power of the holy Ghost, did by his bloody satisfaction ever intreat [...]ur Father, pacifies his justice, and washed off our r [...]bellions and guilt with the curse thereof from us, that so we might passe into the former priviledge of Sonship, aud whatever honour of grace appertained thereunto, and that by adoption; for as a rich Prince having lost his Son, takes another Child, not his own, and strips him of his name and family, and causes him to take his own name upon him, and [...]o become his own, and gives him right to all that he hath, and makes him his hei [...]e; so doth the Lord take us poor lost bastards, strips us of our names, and takes us into his stock, arrays us in his own robes, sets us at his own table, causeth us to forget our fathers house, all the basenesse thereof, restores us to the right of Sons of the Almighty, begat of his own seed and Spirit, and gives the Liberty of Sons, the title to all his creatures, with purenesse without fear of ever being cast out any more, till we come to possesse Heaven with himselfe for ever: Indeed there is difference between Gods adoption and mans, for man adopts no Child if he have one of his own, but the Lord having a most beloved Son of his, yet adopts us to be coheirs; a man adopts Sons such as may in some kinde content him, but the Lord adopts bastards shewing that he looks not at any thing in us but what his grace can beteem us: a man adopts to an earthly estate of better quality then be [...]ore, but the Lord adopts to a better estate in nature even from earth to heaven to a better then Adam lost; a man adopts to an inheritance which may leave the heir as bare of it as it [...]ound him, [...]he Lord adopts to an estate unchangeable which [Page] can nevet be lost as Adams was but is eternall and undefeatable, in these our priviledges of adoption exceed our creation, and now we become better sons then ever, as Iob after his [...]ecovery greater [...]hen before, even the first fruits of his creatures and the birthright of them.

Here we are heirs under age and in our minority, we seem therefore little to differ from servants, ye [...] from abjects, wondering often with our selves yea doubting how God should mean us such excellencies hereafter and yet endure that we should be so base the while, we are as the Doves among the pots [...]ulled with the colour of corruption smeared with the basenesse of affections, tanned by the sun of persecu [...]ion, made the scorn of men and spectacle of Angels, yea we serve for meere tenisballs, for bastards, to tosse up and down, but yet we are even here Iacobs of God having the birthright, Iacobs seed was almost 500 years old ere they recovered the birthright. In a word this world is a totall eclipse of our adoption in respect of other mens esteem; yet the seed of God for our regeneration abides constantly in us, as the Sun by his means, it is with us in secret far otherwise then the malignant world could imagin; if the Iews could have known the Lord of life they would never have killed him, but our honour is purposely hidden from them that our basenesse might conforme us here to our head.

A true Son and daughter of God partakes of the Sonship of Christ their head, the Angels worship Christ the same when he was brought into the world, and for his sake the Angels are ministring Spirits, for the good of us and ours, the Father acknowledging Christ saying, This day have I begotten thee, so doth God in him acknowledge thee for his Child and himselfe thy Father, the Father made Christ the heir of all things and all things which the Father hath are thine as thou art Christs, Christ was pittied by the Father in that he feared, and thy Father [Page] will be afflicted with thee in all thy afflictions.

Christ was faithfull in all Gods house, as a Son fulfilling all righteousnesse; if [...]hou be a Son thy faithful fear and obedience should shew it, the Lord Jesus being the Lord of all yet denyed all even to a pillow to lean his head on and a hole to hide himselfe in, and thou if a Son shalt and wilt deny thy selfe and take up thy Crosse and learn obedience by suffering dispise the world and compute all dung to win his acceptance: Briefly, if a Son then thou art an heir of God and co-heirs of Christ; whatever is wanting here shall be supplyed in Heaven, yet here thou shalt partake all the good things of God, for why whom doth a Father provide for but for his Children? whose is all that he hath save theirs? Again, if a Son then thou knowest the way to the Throne of grace even to the Father in the mediation of Christ, and there canst with the spirit of a Son groan at least unutterable desire to the Lord that thou mightest be once free from bondage to this body of death, from unbeliefe, and an unsavoury heart, from worldlinesse, from the errour of the wicked, and this sinfull world, and the like. Oh with humble confidence thou wilt make known thy request to God, and that in secret, such as none but thy selfe can be privy to, and wilt improve this liberty, then strangers and slaves shall not dare to come nere; by these few try thy self, and if thou finde the spirit of Adoption to be a stranger, leave not till the Lord have created it, if he have done it stand fast in this priviledge and maintain it by thy awe & fear of thy Father, not lest he should cast thee off againe, but because being once a Son thou shalt never be disposessed either of thy right here or thine inheritance hereafter, rely upon thy Father, bear thy selfe upon him not to presume to offend him or to try conclusions what a Father can bear, but to fear him, to keep thy heart in awe childlike tender to prize thy priviledge [Page] and wonder that thousands should be left as bastards, and others cast out as Ishmaels, and thou taken in as a Son and kept in the house not to be cast out, blesse the Lord for [...]his and seek no other base props as if they could bear thy priviledge or add to it honour nothing so far as to come into competi [...]ion with a Father, Abraham hath forgotten thee, but thou art our Father O Lord, Isa. 63. hold thy Sonship by faith, that so thou mayest hold with all [...]he love of thy Father, and count it a secret blessing which no servant or stranger can partake of or understand, in all thy base revolts rest not in any of thy false amends by duty, till the thought of thy Father hath received thee to thy former condition, use him as a Father, and think not that thou canst come too often unto him in prayer, learn to acquaint with [...]im and (Iob 22.) be no stranger, walk in and out with a mixture of fear and confidence, for as he is a consuming fire so yet he rejoyceth to get his childrens hearts, rest on him, consider what an unspeakable debt of love is in a fathers heart, Ioab told David, and so Absolom had lived he would not have cared if himself and his had dyed, why he was his child and all his treachery could not put ou [...] love from him, if once rhou be a child of this father thou mayest go to him for rescue against all enemies, Isa. 63. 15. thy name may be Elimelech or Abimelech, my God my Father is a King he will be even with them that touch his annoynted, Eph. 1. 18, 19. see there [...]he great hopes which a Son of this father hath title to, what indeavors are so poor which a father respects not in a child, who shall ever seperate a Son from his Father, could Satan come betwe [...]n God and Iob. Chap. 1. Children, wives, servant [...], friends, bretheren, all carnall relations may fail, this is everlasting, Isa. 63. 16.

Redemption Christ [...]em [...]ue Sin and guilt payes ye price & ransum of his blud to make a satisfaction for them to Iustice & deliue [...]s ye sole from both gui [...] & dominion of sin fo ther is no place or pleading or sentance for punishment treding vpon lions & aders yong lions & dragon [...] trampling vnder foot 91 Psalme 13

VII. REDEMPTION.

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REdemption to two things. First, thraldome and [Page] slavery to sin, and so to all enemies who by sin strove to hold the soul under fear and bondage. Secondly, to the sting and dint of all such crosses as sin hath brought into the world, as the tokens of Gods displeasure for it. Touching the first, Redemption sets the soule at liberty from all that servitude and tiranny, it buys out and restores the soul to the liberty of the released and ransomed ones, makes it free onely to righteousnesse, and that for ever bears the eare for God, and yet not to make the soul slavish but a servant being delivered from all enemies, yea death it selfe, the last enemy, to serve the Lord in righteousnesse and holinesse alwayes: From hence issueth an heart in larged to God, so fearing him as fearing nothing else, not serving in the oldnesse of the letter but in the newnesse of the spirit, delivered from the Ordinances of Moses, the traditions of Pharises and Papists, the bonds imposed unjustly by bad men upon conscience. Hence, secondly, floweth a right to the protection and providence of God and to his holy hand over us and ours against the violence of outward enemies, or those crosses which threaten our lives, health, liberty, and welfare begun in this life ending at the resurrection. And lastly, to those two may be added freedome to Gods service, to finde it an easie yoak and a light burden, yea to count it our happinesse to deny our own wills, because bodies and souls are bought with a price, that we should not be at our own but at his will who dearly bought us, see 2 Cor. 5. 15. The will hath lost her freedome to all true good and is tyed to evill onely and continually, the conscience hath lost hers by guilt and accuseth in stead of excusing, or else excused deceitfully, or else is senslesse of either, sorrow begins at home by sin but ends abroad, for by this means whatsoever fear or evill sin hath incurred that the Devil abuses to hold the soule under by, as the wrath of God, the purenesse and terrour of the Law, [Page] the one to tempt the other to terrifie the day of account and last Judgement, the time of death which is the sentence, in this life eternall misery hereafter, besides many calamities here either felt or feared, from which though a sinner be actually saved, yet not secured of, but all the life long subject unto bondage; by these Satan enslaves the soul, so that either their bondage by sin i [...] used by the Lord as a step to deliver from bondage to sin; sin hath set up a court in the conscience of man, in this court the debt or crime impleaded is sin, the pleader and informer is Satan, the rule of proceeding is the Law of Justice, the evidence given or witnesse is conscience, the Judge the Lord, the penalty is death and distruction; during the substance of this court in what a pickle is man; the strong man Satan by this house of conscience holds this sinner bound and shut up under brazen bars and bolts not to be broken open by a mortall opposite but rules and keeps all at peace and at his own pleasure.

Now mark, as we see in Courts of men take away all copy holds and buy all free, and then the Courts are of small value, removes debts and pleas, and what should the Kings Bench come to? if the Court be down, what shall become of the Seargents, Writs, Arrests, Executions, Outlaws, or fines and forfeits? so it is here, the Lord J [...]sus begins with sin and guilt, he removes them, pays the price the ransome of his blood, it makes a satisfaction [...]or them to justice, and by this means delivers the soul [...]rom both the guilt and dominion of sinne, the chief thing being gone the rest fall off themselves, there i [...] no place for pleading, for sentence, for evidence, for punis [...]ment, in the fall of the Court all falls whic [...] [...]ppertains unto it at once, and the soul freed from the one is freed from the other together, and fears no Bayliffe, no ill conscience, no D [...]vil, but beholds all things disabled and cannot hurt, we are sould under sin and therefore [Page] thereby fear that God will punish the Law, Hell will excecute, we fear that we shall not believe or repent, we think God an enemy, fear his wrath, and tremble at both law and Gospel as things too pure & too sweet, rebelling and distrusting both one and other; now Christ redeemed us from sin and therefore from all bondage thereto and thereby.

VIII. GLORIFICATION.

GLorification of the whole man after the R [...]surrection in Heaven, it exceeds Adams happiness, consisting in the partaking of that purchased possession of glory and immortali [...]y, not of Paradice upon Earth but in the presence of God; this is that benifit which answers the per [...]ection of Adam though far above it, for it shall be a filling up the soul with the perfect Image of God in light and holinesse, and that by sight of the glorified sence beholding God as he is holy transform [...]d by the mirrour of his Majesty to glory, so far as our souls and bodies are capable to [...]he uttermost, and this b [...]nefit is the fulnesse of the former, it is the execu [...]ion of the election of God, for we were chosen to glorifie, its the perfection of our imperfect union in this life, its the end of our calling, for we are called to honour and immortallity, its the fulness of our Adoption, for we have here the right but there the inheritance of sons, its also our finall Redemption and sanctification, because there all tears shall be wip't awa [...] and death shall be no more, and we shall do the will o [...] God as the Angels, and be sanctified throughout in body [...] soul and spirit without spot or blemish, and so live eternally.

The Holy Ghost to describe the state of the glorified by presen [...] to us a perfection of all soul contentments

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It is a [...]illing vp of ye sole with a perfect Image of God in light & holines & yt by sight of ye glorified sen [...]e behold [...]ing God as he is & holey trancs [...]rmed by ye meror of his magestey from glorey to glo [...]ey so far as o [...]r sole & bodey are capiable to ye vtmost then shall ye rightiou [...] shine as ye sun in ye Kingdom of ye father 13 Math 43

for ever, so that look what poor wavering and fading contents the carnall mind or sences of sinfull man would weakly please it selfe in here, as we see Heath [...]s [...] and [Page] Turks promise carnall delights of pleasant fields, goodly gardens, rich apparrell, royall fare, exquisite beauties and the like, those the Lord presents us wit [...]all in Heaven, fully, perfectly, eternally, for measure, kinde, and continuance; lovest thou ease, here as a sabbath of spirituall perfect ease for ever; lovest thou marriage, here is a Spouse trimmed for the Bridegroom and deckt with all costly furniture to be knit to him without devorse and enjoy him for ever: Commonly look what men come short of in their d [...]serts, they fancy the enjoying of it to be their happinesse; and hence came those manifold filicities that we read men have framed to themselves, poor men would have riches, rich men love pleasure, Epicures seek honour and dignities, honourable ons seek transcendency and aff [...]ct Crowns victories and grope after that which is not, for death comes and equalls them with the basest and most abject and unhappy, but Heaven affords wealth and a treasure which no th [...]efe can dig through or steal, pleasures at the right hand of God for evermore, a throne and majesty to sit and judge the world [...] Crowns of gold, victory, and trium [...] [...] will not wither nor fade away, He [...] ever there is no sad thought of death to make them wearisome.

Doe men set up their delights in this world and the things which i [...] affordeth, Sun, and Moon, and Stars, and influences of Heaven [...] brave Cities and dwellings, Musick, feastings, apparell, learning and knowledge, or to stand before Princes, or long life, or perfect strength and vigour of body, or sweet friends inheritance, or liberty, or peace, or whatsoever, lo Heaven hath not one of these to fill her inheritance but all in one, for each soul to enjoy [...]his other world hath the eternall Son of God to be the light thereof, every little Star is as the Moon, the Moon as the Sun, the Sun seven times greater, the Heaven [Page] of this third Heaven is made of Cristall for purity, the influences thereof is the presence of God, there is a perpetuall spring time Summer and the Autumn of delight, and fruit far exceeding the happy Islands, the City thereof is Ierusalem above built of all precious stones pearls and gold both houses walls gates and pavements, their musique is the song of Moses and the Lamb such as conquers sing [...] their feast is the eating and drinking of a passeover in the kingdome, their Ordinances ar [...] the perpetu [...]l sacrifice of prayers and thanksgiving, joy and Hallelujahs from Sabb [...]th to Sabb [...]th uncess [...]ntly, the company thereof is innumerable Angels the souls of just & perfect men the generall assembly of the first born the God and Judge of all with Jesus the mediator of the Covenant, their apparell is with pure linnen without spot rich robes of Kings and Queens, their knowledge shall be as the Angels of God they stand before the face of God, their life is immortall without end, their bodies sences members in the vigor of age as some think like Christs middle age between thirty and forty glorified and inabled to be incorruptible and to see and enjoy God, their friends, God, the Lamb, Angels, and Saints, their inheritance, birth, mansion houses and territories not made with hands but immortall and undefiled et [...]rnall in the Heavens, the liberty of it is full redemption, the peace of it is the perfection of this peace here, which understanding, and the joy of it is exaltation so great that that it shall be a perpetuall extasie in respect of this and yet able to containe it selfe, and yet which is more that which eye hath not seen or eare heard nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive, hath God there prepared for those that love him, as the saying is, there is satiety without fulnesse, pleasure without wearinesse, eternity without dimention, quantity without defect, and what not even above all that the most curious or craving man can aske or think.

[Page]The holy Ghost teacheth us to confine this boundlesse glory into these two tearms, either an negative or a positive happinesse, the former whereof stands in the absence and voydnesse of all which comes short of this or opposeth it, a piece of this happinesse stands in this, that Paradice upon Earth is gone, a created thing is turned into an uncreated; that here the misery of mort [...]llity is swallowed up and abollished, sorrow, poverty, sicknesse shame, bo [...]dage, infirmity, death, wrath, enmity, curse, are removed and all tears wiped away, the grace of faith, hope, pa [...]ience; here our excellency having brought to the door shall take leave of word, prayer, Sacraments, Ordinances betokening weaknes [...]e shall cease as needlesse things, much more corruption and imperfection of Grace, even as it was an addition of regret to Dives that h [...] being afar off saw Lazarus in Abrahams bosome, so shall it be a piece of Saint [...] Heaven that they have passed the second death and vengeance of the wicked, as it was Noahs happinesse that he shunned the lot of the old world: but the chief happinesse of Heaven is positive, when the persons of the elect shall be so inlarged in their souls and bodies and in each facul [...]y and member thereof, as to enjoy and comprehend and behold the Lord perfectly as they are comprehended; this is indeed the blessed union which Adam lost and yet never had in this perfection, for the minde to be filled with the fulnesse height and depth of Gods understanding, as the vessell cast into the Sea is filled with the water of it and can hold no more, and beholding in this mirrour of his the naked truth of all mysteries and secret ways and administrations of God now dark and hidden, election, provid [...]nce, afflictions of the Church, patience over the enemies thereof, and the like, there shall be a perfect age of knowledge; here we see through a grate weakly, but there perfectly; so the soul shall enjoy the image of Gods [Page] holinesse and be transformed into it, perfect love, obedience, righteousn [...]sse, and in both these shall have perfect joy and cont [...]n [...]ment, as being satisfied with this image. Let us lay up Treasures therefore before hand for our selves and look to it, that the Gospel have been the means to reveal this immortallity and light unto us, that it hath made us partakers by hope of that inheritance of the Saints in light, and a part with all that are sanctified by faith in Christ, be we sure that this hope hath caused all that fond and vaine bables of this world to stink as vile to us in comparison hereof as serving for nothing but to be consumed to dros [...]e, when this glory shall be rev [...]aled then their use shall be b [...]se, now we must use th [...]m bu [...] let us use them and not enjoy them, use them as Citizens of Heaven, where they shall bare no mastery, as Ioane Prest said ere she were burnt, Oh that the Lord would give us one spark of this grace, the want of which makes us more like such as are for the dunghil than Heaven, should the heir of a Crown play at putpin or span-counter with every base boy, how should then the hope and honour of a Prince shine in him.

What manner of persons should we be in spirituall respects also? if we look for such promises how should we purge our selves in body and spirit from all uncleanness [...] finishing our sanctification in Gods fear, if no Tode or venomous thing will live upon the Irish shore, shall we think any unclean thing can live there, Oh what manner of persons ought we to be the whilst purging our selves as he is pure?

FINIS.

THE Ages of Sin, or Sinnes Birth & groweth. With the Stepps, and Degrees of Sin, from thought to finall Impenitencie.

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[Page]

[figure]

Suggestion.

Originall—Concupis [...]ence Doth make

Our Nature like a foule great-Bellyed Snake:

For, wer not Sathan apt to tempt to Sin;

Yett, Lustfull-Thoughts would breed & brood, Within:

But, happie. Hee, that takes These Little-Ones,

To Dash their Braines (Soone) 'gainst repentant-St [...]nes.

[figure]

Rumination

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When lust hath (thus) Conceiu'd It brings forth Sin,

And Ruminating-thoughts Its Shape begin.

Like as the Beares oft-licking of her whelps,

That foule deformed Creatures Shape much helps.

The danger's great, our Sinfull thoughts to Cherish,

[...]to [...] thire growth, or thy poore Soule will perish.

[figure]

DELECTATION.

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[Page]

If, Sinfull Thoughts (once) nestle in mans heart [...]

The Sluce is ope, Delight (then) playes its part:

Then, like the old-Ape hugging in his armes [...]

His Apish-young-One; Sin, the Soule be charmes

And, when our Apish impious-Thoughts delight us

Oh, then [...] (alas) most mortally They bite us.

[figure]

CONSENT.

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[Page]

For, where Sin workes Content, Consent will follow;

And, This, the Soule [...] into Sins Gulfe, doth swollow.

For, as two rav [...]ning Wolves (for, tis theire kinde)

To suck Lambs-blood, doe hunt with Equall-minde:

Even so, the Soule & Sin Consent, in One,

Till, Soule & Body be quite overthrowne.

[figure]

Act.

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[Page]

Sin and the Soul [...] [...]us [...]ng stricken Hands,

The Sinner (now) for Action ready stands;

And Tyger-like swollowes-up, at One-bitt,

What euer impious Prey his H [...] doth fitt

Committing Sin, with eager [...]

Selling his Soule to worke [...]

[figure]

Iteration.

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From eager-Acting Sin, comes Iteration,

Or, frequent Custome of Sins perpetration;

Which, like great Flesh-Flies liting on rai [...]-Flesh,

Though oft beat-off, (if not kild) come afresh:

Hence, Be'lzebub is term'd Prince of fflesh-fflies,

'Cause Sin, still, Acts, vntill (by Grace) It Dies.

[figure]

GLORIATION [...]

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Custome in Sin takes Sense of Sin away,

This makes All-Sin seeme but a Sport, a play:

Yea, like a rampant-Lyon, proud and Stout,

[...]nsulting, o're his Prey, staulking about,

The Saucy-Sinner boasts & braggs of Sinne [...]

As One (oh woe) that doth a Citty winne.

[figure]

Obduration.

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When Sinne brings Sinners to this fearefull pass,

What followes, but a hard Heart, Brow of brass [...]

A Heart (I say) more hard then Tortess-back,

Which, nether Sworde nor Axe can hew or hack;

Iudgements nor Mercies, Treats nor threats can cause

To leave-off Sin, To Love or feare Gods Lawe [...].

[figure]

FINALL—IMPENITENCY.

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And (now, alas) what is Sins last Extent?

A hard-Heart makes a Heart Impenitent.

For, can a Leopard change his Spotted Skin?

No [...] Nor a Heart accustom'd (thus) [...] his Sin.

Then, Conscience, head long, casts Impenitence.

With horrid ffrights of Hellish Recompence.

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Information about this book

Title statement

The path of life and the way that leadeth down to the chambers of death, or, The steps to hell and the steps to heaven in which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, and 9, and then there be no remedy ... : set forth in copper prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible.

Jenner, Thomas, fl. 1631-1656.

Edition statement

1656

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A56582

ID [STC]

Wing P715

ID [STC]

ESTC R217054

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

09382462

ID [OCLC]

ocm 09382462

ID [VID]

42908

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A56582)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 42908)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1313:16)

Source

— The path of life and the way that leadeth down to the chambers of death, or, The steps to hell and the steps to heaven in which all men may see their ways, how far they have gone downwards to destruction, that they may make hast to recover themselves, least by taking the next step downwards to their everlasting misery they be not necessitated to take the 7, 8, and 9, and then there be no remedy ... : set forth in copper prints that by the outward and visible we may the easier see that which is inward and invisible., Jenner, Thomas, fl. 1631-1656..

Extent

45 p., 9 leaves of plates : ill.

Printed by M.S. for Thomas Jenner,. London :: 1656.. (Attributed to Thomas Jenner---DNB.) (Reproduction of original in the British Library.)

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