Christianus per ignem. Or, A disciple warming of himself and owning of his Lord: with devout and useful meditations, fetch'd out of the fire, by a Christian in a cold season, sitting before it. A work though never out of season, yet more particularly, designed for the seasonable and profitable entertainment, of them that would well employ their liesure [sic] by the fire-side. : [Three lines in Latin from Alsted]

Author: Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728.2007-01

[Page]

Christianus per Ignem.

Or, A Disciple WARMING of himself AND OWNING of his Lord: With Devout and Useful MEDITATIONS, Fetch'd out of the FIRE, By a Christian in a Cold Season, Sitting before it.

A Work though never out of Season, yet more Particularly, designed for the Seasonable and Profitable Entertainment, of them that would well Employ their Liesure by the fire-Side.

Ig [...]eus esse debes, hoc est, Fervidus, in Colendo Deo [...]o, ut ne ille immittat in te ignem a Coelo, et [...]andem te adjudicet igni infernali! Alsted. Theol. Natur.

Boston: Printed by B. Green, and J. Allen, for Benjamin Eliot at his Shop. 1702.

[Page 2]

A Praefatory POEM To the Little Book, Entituled, Christianus per Ignem.

THe Fire of Meditation burns
What Sense into the Fancy turns.
And all is G [...]ist that comes to Mill
Where thinking is with grace & skill
For all men know the busie mind
I to one Object not confin'd.
The touch, the taste, Eye, Ear and Smell,
Matter provide for musing well.
Invention, Judgment, Memory,
And Conscience have a faculty,
To make all praise him that made all:
The Sanctify'd thus bless Him shall.
There is a Stone (as I am told)
That turns all Metals into Gold:
But I believe, that there is none,
Save pious Meditation.
Yet if there be, sure this excels,
That  [...] them Gold, and all things else.
[Page 3] The Brass, the Iron Doggs, and Tongs,
And Bellows that have leather Lungs
Fire, Wood, Brands, Ashes, Coal▪ and Smoke,
Do all to Godliness provoke:
The flame, the sparks, light, heat, and motion,
Are Metamorphosed to Devotion.
If Godliness be greatest gain,
And doth when Gold is dross, remain;
Conclude then this Caelestial Stone,
Out does the Philosophick One.

The thoughts are like a swarm of Bees,
That fly both when and where they please;
Those little folks both work and play,
About a thousand flow'rs a day.
Yet in their lawless range contrive,
To bring in Honey to their Hive.
Who look for method in their march,
At Honey making are not arch.
The Sally's of our Authors Soul
So fly about without controul:
Sometimes they clamber Heavens steep,
And sometimes into Hell do peep.
Good meditation both improve,
For both to Godly living move,
Methinks I see him climb the Sky,
Viewing the Flaming Fires on High,
And how the will of God, they do,
That we on Earth may do so too.
And then to Hell he doth descend,
To know the Sinners woful end:
[Page 4] He stands aloof, and hears the cry
Of Guilty worm; that cannot die,
But live in Lakes of flaming Fire,
That never! Never! shall Expire.
Then fir'd with zeal, like Lion bold.
Roars out, and tells what can't be told;
Warns men to fly from Wrath to come,
Before the Judge pronounce their doom.
So snatching brands from Fire and Death.
He may his Fingers burn therewith;
Yet better so, than burn our Souls,
By vexing God, and pleasing  [...]ools.
Our Author judg'd such thoughts as these
Would profit men, and God would please:
If so, he gets his Souls desire,
And spent his time well by the Fire.
Who live nigh to the Frigid Zone,
In Paenitentials may bemoan,
The loss of many precious hours,
The Fire side day and night devours:
For of all loss the Fire does bring
The loss of time's the saddest thing.
We have no cause to grudge at him,
Who fills his time up to the brim,
And works for God, himself, and friends,
Ev'n whilst he warms his fingers ends.

Come Reader if thou dost aspire
To warm thy self by Holy Fire,
Come set by this, or take a Coal,
Which will both light and heat thy Soul:
[Page 5] And will perfume, and purifie
Thy mind, and make it heavenly.
It will not scorch thine eyes nor skin,
Nor will it Carbonade thy Shin:
Yet Bones and Marrow penetrates,
And like to like it generates.
Thine Hearth to make an Altar tries,
Thy self a Living Sacrifice;
And turns the use of common things
To Ince [...]se and Burnt offerings.
It will digest thy Crudityes,
And save from slander, chat, and Ives.
And will redeem the time thou hast
By other Fire been wont to wast.
It teacheth the Refining trade,
And of what metal thou art made;
It takes away the dross and tin,
Makes Gold without, and Gold within;
It makes a New man of the Old,
And cast's him in another mould.

Now if thy musing burn not thus,
Thy Fire's an Ignis fatuus.
Fear lest the Founder melt in vain,
With but his labour for his pain:
Lest thou prove Silver reprobate,
Which God and man reject, and  [...]te,
And when the Great Refiner come,
Thou prove a Caput mortuum.

Excuse me, Reader, I have done,
But thou hast scarcely yet begun:
[Page 6] Come, read the Book, and by and by,
Thou wilt commend it, what need I?
And if the Authors Fire but burn,
Praise or dispraise will serve his turn.
But if these thoughts to thee seem vile,
Produce thine own, thou hadst the while;
If thine burn purer, I design,
To leave his Fire, and set by thine:
For I am cold, and need the best,
Mean while what warms me I have bless.

Nicholas Noyes

[Page 7]

THE INTRODUCTION.

ONE of the Best Things, that can be done for other men, by any man, who would make it his Business to Do Good unto all, is to suggest and supply Good Thoughts unto them. Tho it may be disputed, whether this be the First Proposition, whereof any man can be certain, as a New Philosophy has taught us, I think, therefore I am; yet it is no New Divinity to teach, that As Men Think, so they are. That Noble Faculty of Thinking, wherewith a man is enabled, and enobled above the Beasts of the Field, being well or ill employ'd, will either turn men into Fellows for Angels, or make men worse than the Beasts that perish. The Infinite Perfections of God, the Wonderful Mysteries of the Lord Jesus Christ, the amazing Circumstances of the Future State, the various Preparations of men in this world, and other Circumstances referring to that State; the Illustrious Operations of the Almighty both in Creation, and in Government; and His various Dispensations towards our Selves in [Page 8] particular; such things as these, are most proper, and worthy, and useful for a Rational and a Renewed Soul to Think upon. And a man full of Good, and Wise, and Right Thoughts upon these Great Themes, will be a Good man, and furnished for the Doing of much Good unto many others.

Meditation is therefore a Duty of so much Evidence and Consequence in Christianity, that they can be no Christians, nor acquainted in the least measure with the Divine Oracles, who do not confess their Obligations unto it: And yet it must be confessed, That one grand cause why Christianity so much Languishes, is because that so few Christains duly practice it. Our Bible very frequently commends unto us, Consideration, and a Meditating on God, and on His Laws: And thro' the want of this Meditation it is that all the Ordinances and all the Providences of God, are so ineffectual unto the most of men, and they continue so much without Life, and Light, and Peace all their dayes, and at last perish among those who do not Consider their Latter End.

One main Objection, which the Slothful Hearts of men make (tho' indeed their Sloth fulness be the main Objection!) against the Exercise of Meditation, is, their Ignorance of a good Method, for the Exercise. Now for a more Fired meditation, there is [Page 9] room in Truth for a vast variety of Method. For a Rumination on the Word of God, after the Reading or the Hearing of it, (which if we use not, what sort of Creatures are we?) there needs no other Method, but only that of the Word it self, which we have Read or Heard. But then there is a further Meditation, for which a Christian should now and then Retire, that he may therein Enjoy a glorious Conversation with the God of the Spirits of all Flesh: and there is one General Rule, to be offered about our proceeding in it. That is This; Let the Meditation be sure to consist of Two Parts: Let the first part be, to Inform our selves, and let the second part be to Affect our selves. In the first part, of our Meditation, we may either Handle a [...]ert, or we may Answer a Case, in both of which, the Method is only, to speak unto it as well as we can; or else we may Discourse on a thing, whereon if we would manage our Discourse to purpose, we may observe, In the first place. The nature, (or Definition) of the Thing; and the Titles which the Scripture puts upon it: Next the Destribution of the Thing; Thirdly, the Causes of it; Fourthly, the effects of it; Fifthly, the Subjects of it; Sixthly, the Adjuncts of it; Seventhly, the Opposites of it; & Eighthly, the Comparisons of it. In the Second Part of our Meditation, Let there be always these three [Page 10] Steps First, An Examination, of our own Hearts, and Lives, relating to what we are upon: Secondly, An Expostulation with our selves to Quicken our Better Conduct; Thirdly, A Resolution of a Better Conduct in certain special Instances of Obedience. Let numberless Ejaculations be intermixed throughout the whole Exercise; & then let all Expire in a more Set Prayer, for such Graces of Heaven, as may be most agreeable to our Meditation.

A Christian, that would conscientiously maintain a course of such Meditation, [Suppose, for the most part, a Quarter of an Hour, or more, every Evening,] would find incredible Advantages arising from it. The Advantages would be such, that from a sense of them, I remember with what a Pathos, the famous Dr. Hall concludes his Exhortation of his Reader to the chearful practice of it; Let him Curse me upon his Death Bed (says he) if looking back from thence, to the bestowing of his former times, he acknowledge not these Hours, placed the most happily in his whole Life; if he then wish not, he had worn out more Dayes in so profitable and Heavenly a work.

But then there is another sort of more Transient Meditation, wherein the Christian that shall accustome himself unto it, will find a Lasting Satisfaction. All the Creatures of God about us, are so many Preachers from God unto us: and there is no Speech nor Language, [Page 11] where their voice might not be heard, if men who have Ears to bear, would but hear it. As there are Footsteps of the Divine Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness, to be seen upon all the Creatures, Praesentemque docet quaelibet Herb [...] Deum; so there are also Numberless Lessons of Morality, which by the Help of the Analogy between the Natural and Spiritual World, (that, if we may use a Jewish phrase, are both Sealed with the same Seal,) we may learn from them. That passage of the Psalmist. Psal.119. 99. I have more understanding than all my Teachers, for thy Testimonies are my Meditation: I remember, in the Pirke Avoth, one Ben Zoma so reads it, I learn understanding from all my Teachers. Truly, we have a world of Teachers about us; and if we were duly disposed unto Meditation on the Testimonies of God, it would be a Delight unto us, to be Learning understanding from them all. To fetch excellent, and enriching Instructions out of the Creatures, that surround us, is most certainly one of the Highest Uses that we can put them unto; Yea, we are in a inexpressible manner, the Candidates of the World to come, when we put the Creatures unto such Blessed Uses: And we have this Liberty of the Sons of God, that whoever be the Possessors of the Creatures, we may even without asking the Owners leave, or breaking the Eighth Commandment, thus use all that we see, and make it perhaps a thousand [Page 12] times more serviceable unto us, than it is unto him that possesses it. It can't but be a great Sign, and Cause, and Fruit of Spiritual Mindedness in a Christian, to have a mind set upon Spiritualizing the most Earthly Objects that are before him: And if it Require not, yet it will Produce, not only Spirituality, but also Ingenuity, more than a little, thus to set all the Creatures of God on speaking unto us. Truly the Light is sweet; but usually a Ray of Light is much the Sweeter, for descending from Heaven unto us, in some Earthly Garments of Similitude. And if also we may be Foolishly Impatient at the Reproofs of our Neighbours, and by that Impatience perhaps may discourage them from doing us the kindness of their wise Reproofs, we may now obtain those to Reprove us, that cannot Offend us. What an admirable, what a profitable Chymistry, Syrs, have we now before us! A Chymistry, by which we may turn the meannest Objects whatsoever, into what is far better than Gold, than much fine Gold! And for this Chymistry, we have indeed one singular Advantage; That no Employment, no Company, no Place, need hinder us from it. We may any where, every where, Apply our selves unto it; and especially in the little Fragments of Time, that intervene between our more Stated Businesses. There will also be this very notable of it. That when-ever we have been at the pains to [Page 13] make any Occasional Reflections on any thing, there are not only Good Thoughts for the present raised in us, but the Sight of those Things upon any occasion afterwards, will be ready to raise the same Good Thoughts again, and make our mind, for the continual Feast of it, as that of the Righteous is: For, Anima Justi Caelum est. Let no man be so vainly Impertinent, as to deride the Art, (& Heart,) of making these Occasional Reflections. We have not only the Writings of the Incomparable Robert Boyl, of Sr. William Waller, of Dr. Spurstow, and other persons of the finest Heart strings, recommending this Art unto us; but we have above all the most unexceptionable Example of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to recommend it. Our Glorious Lord Jesus Christ; when He saw a Vine, or a Field, or the Bread on the Table, or a stately House, or but an Hen and Chickens, His Holy Soul presently Sally'd forth to some Occasional Reflections thereupon, which had much of Admonition in them. To abound in these works of the Lord, will be no small Conformity to our most Exemplary Saviour: and it will therewithal most gloriously transfer this World, from the First, unto that Second Adam.

The Method of proceeding in our Occasional Reflections, needs not be tied up unto many strict Rules about it. I remember, Hugo de Sancto Victore tells us, That there is a Three fold Voice of all the Creatures unto us, [Page 14] Accipe, Redde, Fuge. All Creatures may put us, in mind, first of something that we do Receive of God, in them; next, of something that we should Return to God for them; and thirdly, of something that we should Avoid, both of Transgression in them, and so of Punishment from them. And it were a very sutiable Method of Thinking, to touch upon each of those Three Heads in our Occasional Reflections Or at lest, we may do well to oblige our selves unto the forming of a certain Triangle in them, with first, Going [...] to observe the properties of the Creatures themselves; then Coming back to Advise our selves, with Instructions brought from them; and Lastly, Darting up to Him that Si [...]teth in the Heavens, our Petitions, for such Compassion and Assistance, so we now see we need.

Behold, Reader, a Book of Occasional Reflections, all made upon one of those Creatures, that we have daily before us: And if one of them, could afford so many Good Thoughts, unto one of so dull, and so vain a mind, as that which the Author of this Book, has to complain of (and yet he himself now finds, it might have easily afforded him as many more!) What an Immense Treasure of Good Thoughts might we find in all the rest? The Reason, why the Author singled out the fire, for his Chymistry to Work upon, (the [Page 15] very thing that other Chymistry does principally Work withal,) was, partly, because one day perswading some of his Intimate Friends, to try their skill at Occasional Reflections, he accidentally let fall this Encouragement; He would give them a Demonstration, that as dry a Subject, as for instance, that of the Fire then before us, would yield a Christian a whole Book full of Meditations; And he was obliged then to give the Demonstrations: [making some good progress in it, as long agoe as the year, 1683.] And partly, because he was not insensible, That we all spend very much of our Time at the Fire: Every body is concerned with it, and Relieved by it: and he imagined, That by the way of Occasional Reflections thereupon, he might convey those Good Thoughts unto his Friends, which would so more beneficial to their Inward, than the Fire is to their Outward man. Go then, my Little Book. If thou do any Hurt unto the Interests of Religion, or bring any Strange Fire to the Altars of God, I am willing thou shouldst have the Fate of those vile Books, which being thrown into the Fire, made a witty Spectator say, Nunquam vidi Clariorem Ignem, I never saw a brighter Fire! But certainly, 'Tis Good, and not Hurt, for Christians to be warmed (even by the Fire,) into a Fervency of Spirit, serving the Lord. And God can make this Little Book, of the Fire, to be helpful, [Page 16] (as once a Pillar of Fire was) to Lead some of His People unto their Everlasting Rest. This Little Book may help, like them whose Office it was, to preserve the Sacred Fire, even to keep the Fire of zeal for Piety and Charity in some or other from going out. Tho' Reading by Fire light is not good for the Eyes, yet it will do their neither the Eyes, nor the Hearts of the Readers any Damage, I hope, to Read of the Fire and see many Good Thoughts by the Fire light. A Philosohus per Ignem, is counted a man of some Attainments: And he will attain something too, that shall be, Christianus per Ignem, Try, Syrs, whether this Little Book will do any thing to make you such. The Law of God was not the worse for being once uttered in the Fire, and for being on that score, A Fiery Law. Christianity, tho' drawn but with a Coal, is altogether Lovely.

[Page 17]

Christianus per Ignem. Or, A Disciple WARMING himself And OWNING his Lord.

JOHN XVIII.18.‘They made a Fire of Coals (for it was cold,) and they warmed themselves; & Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.’

THERE is now before us to be seen, A Disciple at the Fire-side; but it is a very Terrible and Amazing thing, that we may see in this Disciple. It will be seasonable to Entertain you, with such a Sight, on so Cold a Day as this, when the Season drives us all so much unto the Fire side. You shall all Return, if you please, within this Hour, to your own Fire [Page 18] side; and that every Minute of your own being in the mean Time here, may not seem an Hour, I'll keep you all this Time, at the Fireside, where our Lord Jesus Christ was Den [...]'d by a Disciple of His own; but with a Design thereby a preserve you, from the Danger of doing like this Disciple

The Time of our Lords being Arraign'd, and Condemn'd, for us, had this Remark upon it; It was Cold. May that Circumstance add some warmth unto our Meditations on the Sufferings of our Lord. When we Remember, that the Agonies which our Lord in a Cold Night Endured for us, were such as notwithstanding His then Lying on the Cold Ground, threw Him into a bloody Sweat, it may well make us cry out, Lord, what means the Heat of this Anger? And beholding the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ unto us, in these His direful Agonies, we must acknowledge, The Coals of this Love, were Coals of Fire, having a most vehement Flame. What a deplorable Thing is it, that a Disciple, who had newly seen these Agonies of his Lords Love unto Him, should when Warming himself by a Fire of Coals, in that very Night, find his own Love unto his Lord so Cold, as to Deny Him!

That this Time should be so Cold, may be perhaps by some a little wondred at, because the Spring was now advancing; the month of March was now begun▪ the Harvest in that [Page 19] warm Climate was at hand. Our Biddulph, a famous English Traveller being in Jerusalem, at this very Time of the year, found the Day so hot, that he wondred how Peter could now be so Cold, as to creep unto the Fire side; but when the Night arrived, he found such misty, damp and chill Dews fall, as resolved his Doubt; for it was very Cold indeed. And the Jewish Rabbi's, in some of their Canons, do suppose Frost and Snow sometimes happening, at the [...]oming in of N [...]san, a little before the Passover. Tis true, the Greek word here used for Cold, is used in profane Authors, to signifie the Intensest cold of the Winter; but here, if it signify no other than the wet cold of the AEquinoctial Nights, that was cold enough, to call for a Fire among men that valued their Health; And Austin therefore gives this Account of it, Non Hyems erat, et tamen Frigus erat, quale solet etiam aequinoctio verno aliquan [...]o contingere.

It was one pungent Article, in the Sufferings of our Lord, That He was Deny'd and Reproach'd by one of His own Disciples; even by a Peter, one of the most considerable among all His Disciples. The First Adam Sinn'd, by Denying of God; the Second Adam Suffer'd, by being Denyed of man. And it seems, one circumstance which led Peter unto this Transgression, of Denying his Lord, was the occasion, which the Cold gave him, to warm himself among those that were no Friends unto his Lord.

[Page 20] We have accordingly, Two Things before us; and when the Cold is driving us, to warm our selves at the Fire, [...] may be very profitable for us, to warm our Souls with the Thoughts of such Things. First, We have a wonderful and horrible Transgression of the Apostle Peter▪ And Next, We have one little Occasion among many others leading him thereunto. Accordingly, it shall be

Our First Observation.
An Eminent Professor, may, and, if Left unto himself he will, become a Scandalous Denyer, of the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

We know, What hath been, may be. Upon Peters Fall, we may read that Admonition, Admonetur omnis aetas, id fieri posse, quo [...] aliquando factum est. It may set our Souls even on Fire with Astonishment, for us to Read what hath been, in the Instance of Peter; whereto, I pray, give now your Attention.

The Denyal of the Lord JESUS CHRIST by Peter, is Reported by all the Four Evangelists, among the Sufferings of our Lord. For indeed the Sufferings of our Lord thereby, were not a little aggravated: That one, who should have appeared as a witness to the Innocency of his Lord, should now so Desert Him, and so Deny Him, and so Adjure Him. [Page 21] No doubt, it made the Enemies of our Lord, the more to insult over Him, and flout, See how bravely this Doctor hath instructed his Disciples! This doubtless hardened those Enemies in what they were about: And our Lord over hearing the speeches of Peter, therefore look'd back with inexpressible Grief upon him. In the mean Time, sit still with admiration at the Flaming Love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was now Suffering for them that were at this Time Sinning. Tho' our Lord were sensible, that Peter were now Denying of Him, yet He would not give over the work of Dying for Peter, to save Peter from the Sin of his Denyal, that Peter might not be Deny'd by the merciful God of Heaven, that the plagues which Peter was wickedly wishing to himself might not come upon him, according to his wicked wishes. Behold, Syrs, Behold, a Love the Flames whereof are more ardent, than those at which you would now warm your selves. But I am very prone to suspect, that there was a further special Design of all the Evangelists, in reporting Peters Denyal of the Lord; and I believe Peter himself did, for that among other causes, desire every one of them, and Mark above the rest, that they would particularly tell the Story of his miscarriage in their Gospels. Tis This; Peters Denying of our Lord, gives an irrefragable and ungainsayable Demonstration, to the Truth [Page 22] of what he asserted afterwards in witnessing for our Lord. By Peters Denying our Lord' before He Dyed, there is produced an irresistible proof of the Truth in his Testimony that our Lord Rose from the Dead. Had our Lord continued in the State of Death, you may be sure, Peter would have persisted in his Denial of Him. If our Lord had been found an Impostor, by His remaining under the Bands of Death, Peter having thus Deny'd Him, would have gone on to Deny Him, and Revile Him all his dayes. But now, instead of This; you have this very Peter afterwards writing two Epistles, and Preaching more than two thousand Sermons, and Exposing himself to more than ten thousand Torments, that he might assure the world, of his Lords Resurrection from the Dead. When Peter went about every where commending and proclaiming, and adoring his Dearest JESUS, as the Messiah of God, it was a mighty Confirmation to the Truth of his Testimony, to Remember, This is the man, who once Deny'd and Foreswore that JESUS, whom he now so magnifies! Thus our Incontestable Religion, like the Fire before you, will fetch Fuel and Support from every thing. Oh! Be amazed at the deep Counsils of God; Peters Denial of Christ, is one thing that helps to render the Christian Religion for ever undeniable!

The Narrative of this unhappy Business, [Page 23] the Denyal of our Lord, by Peter, is given us by the Four Evangelists, with some variety. They all reckon up Three several Times of Peters Denying the Lord; and the first of the Three which was on the challenge of a Damosel, is very variously described. The Reconcilation is easy: Several Speeches were uttered by the Damosel unto Peter, and about him; and Peter made several Answers, whereof one of the Gospels does Relate one, and Another, another. The Damosel first says to the Standers by, (as Luke hath it,) This man also was with Him; And then turning to Peter, she says (as John hath it,) Art not thou one of this mans Disciples? Whereupon she peremptorily affirms, that she had seen Peter with Him, saying, (as Matthew and Mark have it,) Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. This drew out the several Answers of Peter, which the Evangelists have severally Recorded; All which together make up the First Action of Peter in Denying his Lord; and That where with our Discourse is now more immediately concerned. All this occurr'd, at Peters first coming to the Fire side.

Now, tho' we should be by the Fire side, where the Cold would not make us to shake, yet it might make us even Shake, to consider the Horror of the Fact by Peter there [Page 24] committed. There were horrible Aggravations of it!

For a Peter, to Deny his Lord! A Peter, Who was a Disciple, yea, an Apostle, yea, a principal one! A Peter, who had lately made an Eminent Confession of the Blessed Jesus, as being, The Christ, the Son of the Living God! A Peter, who had seen the Caelestial Transfiguration of the Blessed Jesus in the Mount, and heard a voice from the Excellent Glory proclaiming Him, The Beloved Son of God! A Peter, who had been a famous Preacher of the Blessed Jesus, and from Him Received a power to work Miracles in His Name! For such a Peter to Deny His Lord! O most amazing! And for him to Deny such a Lord! still worse; to Deny the Lord, of whom he had a little before, upon thorough Conviction said, Lord, Thou hast the words of Eternal Life; we believe, and are sure, that thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God! To Deny the Lord, that was now undergoing all sorts of Sufferings and Miseries for him; yea, to Deny Him, with a complication of Impiety? To cast off all Dependence upon God, and upon His Providence and Faithfulness, and look on all our Lords Praedictions, as Impostures! To be run down by a sorry, silly, little Door Keeper, and be more afraid of a little Maid, than of the God, who Made the World, and of the Lord, who shall Judge the World! To give unto the Lord, a [Page 25] positive Promise of Dying for Him, and in a few Hours to break this promise, and not so much as venture on Speaking for Him! To go on impaenitently, from one Denial to another, and this, although the Lord had a few Hours before expresly F [...]re-warned him of doing so; and he had at least an Hours Time to Recollect himself, and consider what he was doing! Finally, To Lye against his Conscience, and Appeal to the God of Truth, for the confirmation of the Lye; and Swear, and Curse, an Damn, and with direful Imprecations, to wish all the Curses of Heaven upon him [...]l [...], if this Lye were not the Truth. I am amazed! I am amazed. Lord, What a thing is this! Christians, I believe you begin to grow into some Heat of Indignation, at so vile an Action. But let us rather make our more profitable Reflections upon it.

Upon the Fall of Peter, the general Reflection to be made, is That which the Ancients made upon the Fall of David; Non Cadendi, sed Resurgendi Exemplum, in illo nobis est propositum: audiant qui non ceciderunt, ne cadant; audiant qui ceciderunt, ut surg [...]nt: non sint delect atio minorum, Lapsus majorum; sed sit Tremor minorum Lapsus majorum. Let the Fall of such a man, teach them that are not Fallen, how to prevent Falling and them that are Fallen, how to Rise out of their Falls. The Fall of so great a man, is a matter, not of [Page 26] Pleasure, but of Terror, to them that are Less than he.

But let us descend unto a few more particular Admonitions.

Reflection I.

A very grievous Apostasy, tho' not a Total Apostasy, not a Final Apostasy, may befal a man of Real Christianity. The Christianity of Peter, was not utterly extinct, nor utterly did his Faith fail, when he fell into the Action of Denying the Lord that bought him. It was by the Fire-side, that Peter was guil [...]y of this Action; and by the Fire side sometimes we may see an Emblem of his Condition in it. You may think, there is no Fire left, when yet you'l find raked up in the Embers, a Coal, that will be afterwards improved into a mighty Flame. The Faith of Peter was a Coal covered in the Embers; he still had a principle of Christianity in him, which was ready, when the present Sifting was over, to have asserted, as once he did, his Jesus, to be, The Christ, the Son of the Living God. Nevertheless, it was a terrible Swoon of Apostasy, which this famous Christian was fallen into. The Perseverance of the Faithful, is an Illustrious and Important Article of, The Faith once deliverd unto the Saints. To Deny the Perseverance of the Faithful, or, to affirm, That every Believer shall not certainly persevere in the Faith, is a very dangerous H [...]resy, of men that are not found in the [Page 27] Faith. It must be granted, That Hypocrites may prove Apostates. There is a Show of Grace, that may be Lost; a Seeming that may be taken away. A Temporary Faith will prove no more than Temporary. [See Heb.6.4] Yea, it must be granted, That if the Saints were Left unto themselves, they would fall away Totally and Finally. Angels themselves did so. The Dragon would sweep down Stars from Heaven, if they were not kept there, by the mighty power of God. But for all this, The Perseverance of the Saints, is infallibly secured. The Great God of Truth, has both Declared, and Promised, the Perseverance of the Faithful in their Faith. It is declared, in 1 Joh.3.9. Whatsoever is Born of God, his seed remaineth in him. It is promised, in Joh.10.28. My Sheep shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my Hand. Again, The Eternal Election of God, assures the Eternal Perseverance of the Faithful. All the Faithful are Ordained unto Eternal Life, [Act.13.48.] Now if any that are Ordained unto Eternal Life, should fall short of it, or lose their Faith, it would be a Disappointment unto the Decree of God; The Decree of God would be Defeated; yea, the very Knowledge of God, would be Deceived. This were impossible: 'Twere Blasphemy to imagine it. [See 2 Tim.2.19] Once more; The Faithful are purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ, and United to Him. Should they not persevere, the Death of the [Page 28] Lord Jesus Christ, would be of none effect unto some, for whom it is Designed of God; the price paid for some would be Lost; yea, the Lord Jesus Christ would lose one of His Members. This, This also is impossible.

Nevertheless, 'Tis very sadly true, That Believers may in some degree, and a sad one, become Apostates. Grace may decline and wither grievously, in a true Child of God. Some that have a Saving Faith in their Hearts may yet grievously fall away from some ancient and vigorous efforts of that Faith.

Wherefore Syrs, Examine your selves, and if you find, That you are overtaken with any Apostasy, Oh, don't ly in this condition. Recover, ye Backslding Souls, Recover; and hear your Saviour calling after you, Will ye also go away?

But that you may never be overtaken with any Total and Final Apostasy, Behold, What you have now to do. Get beyond the utmost essayes of Hypocrisy, and you will get beyond the Hazards of the utmost Apostasy. You know who said, Soundness and Integrity will preserve me. Make sure of a Real Change in your Hearts, and give a real and hearty consent unto the New Covenant in all the Articles of it: So you will have this one among the precious Articles of that Covenant fulfill'd unto you; Jer.32.40. I will put my Fear into their Hearts, and they shall not De [...]art from me. Let [Page 29] it herewithal be Remembred, Though Faith make you sure of perseverance, and preservation, yet you must not count your selves excused from the means of your preservation. As in Act.27.24, 31. Tho' it had been said unto Paul, God hath given thee all them that Sail with thee, yet Paul said unto the Centurion, Except such and such abide in the Ship, ye cannot be Saved. The Doctrine of perseverance is no Enemy to Holiness; we are not under the less obligation, but under the more Encouragement, for to Work out our own Salvation Wherefore having first Exhorted you, to Beware of being Scandalized at any thing that may seem to bear an ill Aspect on Christianity, whether the Frowning Providences of God, or the foolish Behaviours of men, I only add these two words. Let the best of us be Fearful. If an Apostle, & a Pillar may fall, say, Why may not I? If we Fear, we shall not Fall: In Te Stas, et non Stas▪ 'Tis presumption that is follow'd and punish'd with Apostasy; [See 1 Cor.10.12.] And let all of us be prayerful. Especially keep alive Secret Prayer, if we would not have some open Fall. Apostasy usually begins at the Closet door. Pray with David, Lord, Hold up my Goings in thy paths, that my Footsteps may not Slip. And pray with Beza, Domine, quod Caepisti, perfice, ne in portu naufragium accid [...]. The Threefold Advice, thus given us, will be notably confirmed by interweaving here some [Page 30] Reflection upon some occasion of Peters Apostasy.

First, It is plain, That Peter had been too Confident, and Arrogant. What Confidence was it in him, to say, Luk.22.23. Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into Prison, and unto Death! What Arrogance, to say, Matth.26 33. Tho' all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended! The Ancients Descant with much Ingenuity, on Peters pride, as the cause of Peters fall. And at last Bernard concludes with this Instruction, Sibi ipsi fiders, non Fidei sed perfidiae est, nec-confidentiae sed Diffidentiae magis in seipso habere Fiduciam.

Secondly, I [...] is also plain, That our Lord Jesus Christ had given this Admonition unto Peter; Mat.26 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. But Peter shamefully neglected the Duty of Praying with Watching, whereto he had been Admonished. This Negligence exposed him: and it will expose all that are guilty of it: He that keeps not much on his Knees, is not far from a Fall.

Thirdly, I [...] is likewise plain, That Peter, tho' he had promised, I will never be offended, was now offended, at the Disasters befalling our Lord Jesus Christ. When Peter saw the Enemies of our Lord falling backward, at His Voice, Now, who so mettlesome as he! But when Peter saw our Lord fall into the hands of His Enemies, and Led away by [Page 31] them to all sorts of Miseries, Then he has no more to say, but, I know Him not! It is a grievous thing to take up any prejudices against the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Truths, and Wayes, from the Afflictions that we see attending of them. Our Lord therefore said, Mat.26.31. All ye will be offended because of me.

Reflection II.

To chuse Evil Company, is a Folly, that will be Accompanied with a world of Evil. What was it that betray'd Peter? It was his falling into Evil Company. He who does That, knows not into what he shall Fall. We read, Luk.22.55. When they had kindled a Fire, and were sat down together, Peter sat down among them, And by Sitting down among those, who Blasphemed and Reviled the Lord Jesus Christ, where he durst not Reprove them, he came at length to do like the rest of the Company. It was a Note long ago made upon this matter; Vide quam noxia sint prav [...]rum Colloquia, quae cogunt Petrum, ut neget Christum, quem inter Discipulos Confessus erat Dei Filium. Alas, The Devil has not a stronger Enchantment for the Children of men, than Evil Company. Syrs, If you would be preserved from Denying of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and from Destroying your own SOULS, be very cautious of your Company; under the [Page 32] awe of that awful word Prov. 13.20. A Companion of Fools shall be Destroyed.

Reflection III.

Sin is a Fruitful, as well as a Fearful Evil, and one Sin, seldome goes alone. When Peter had begun to gratify the Tempter, where did he stop? The beginning of his miscarriage, was that, Mat 26.58. He followed the Lord Jesus Christ afar off; and held back from sticking so close unto Him, as he should have done. But whither did that slavish Fear carry him on? It carry'd him on, to the Renouncing and Forswearing of the Lord, and this with a prodigious Reiteratton of it. Sin does harden the Heart. If a man be once prevailed withal to Sin a little, he will shortly Sin a great deal. A Sinner is, as we read, 2 Tim.2.26. In the snare of the Devil. Syrs, If you come into that Snare, you cannot imagine how you will find your selves more & more Entangled in it: Oh, Beware of the very first and least Entanglements!

Reflection IV.

Tho' a mans Fall from God, may be very Criminal, very Tragical, yet he may Arise by Repentance, and when he does Repent, he shall arrive to Forgiveness. We all hear the [Page 33] Fall of Peter, as one of the Terriblest Things, that ever we heard. But what a wonderful Thing is This! Fallen Peter is recovered by Repentance. Our Lord Jesus Christ Looked on him, [Lord, Bestow such an Heart melting Look, on these backsliding Hearts of our!] and what was the effect of it? We read, Mat.26.75. He wept bitterly: The Ancients add, until his Tears had worn Furrowes in his Cheeks. Oh! the astonishment, and indignation of Soul, wherewith he now cried out of himself, What have I done! What have I done! The Cock, that watchful Creature, no sooner Crow [...]d, but the Soul of Peter was awaked out of the desperate Sleep, which had been upon him. And Lyre reports from elder Antiquity, that Peter ever after this, would Rise at the Cock crowing, and continue, Weeping, and Mourning, and Praying, till Sun rise. Well, but more wonderful yet! The Repenting Peter is made a most amazing Example of that Forgiveness, which the God of all Grace has to bestow upon the Returning Sinner. Oh! The Sovereign Grace of Heaven! Judas is Damned, but Peter Saved. When our Lord, was Risen from the Dead, one of the Angels, with whom there is Joy over a Returning Sinner, sends a Message of it unto all the Disciples, but by Name unto Peter. Peter accordingly found his Risen Lord, Reconciled unto him; and as a Token and Effect of it, the Lord gave him opportunity [Page 34] with Disposition, to Repeat his Affection to Him, [yea, and this by the Fire side also! See Joh.21.9] as often as his Denial of Him had been Repeated. Yea, This very Peter was afterwards made a worker of glorious Miracles; He who might admire that the Lord had not struck him Dead, for sinning so atrociously against Him, was used by the Lord for to Strike other Sinners Dead; yea, and for to Raise others from the Dead. And he who had by Sin given Scandal both to Jews and Gentiles, was used, first as a most successful Preacher of the Gospel to the Jews, and afterwards, he was the first that Preached the Gospel of Salvation from Sin, unto the Gentiles. Yea, that very Peter, who with his Tongue, had horribly denyed the Lord Jesus Christ, and obeyed the Evil Spirit, by the Fire side. (and that he might be quietly by the Fire!) had the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus Christ, within a little while bestowed upon him, with a Symbol of a Fiery Tongue, enabling him to speak in many an Unknown Tongue, the Magnalia Dei, before thousands of Witnesses! Oh! What Glorious Things, will the God of all Grace do for a Returning Sinner! Let the Sinner sincerely Return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy, unto our God, and He will abundantly pardon.

All of this Discourse, and much more, might we have with Peter, if we could now [Page 35] meet him at the Fire side. But we may be sure, That Peter would lay no cha [...]ge upon us more powerful than this; Above all, take heed, O Christians, take heed of Denying the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that this cha [...]ge may the more closely affect us, we must Remember a Remark of Austin upon Peters Denial of his Lord: Petrus negavit Christum, cum se negaret ejus esse Discipulum; Sic non solum ab eo negatur Christus, qui dicit eum non esse Christum sed etiam ab eo qui cum sit, negat-se esse Christianum. When Peter denied himself to be a Disciple of the Lord, he denied the Lord Himself. Syrs, we Deny the Lord Jesus Christ, if we Deny to make Profession of Him, or to yield Obedience to Him. If we don't Behave our selves, as it become the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, or if we Deny to follow His Directions, we Deny the Lord Himself. Yea, if we Deny not our selves, we Deny our Lord.

But then there is one special season for our Watchfulness, in this matter: And that shall be specified in

Our Second Observation.
Sometimes the Cold of the Weather, and the Winter, proves to men an Occasion, of their Denying the Lord, who made the Cold, and all our Succours against the Cold.

[Page 36] Quid prosuit Petro Exterius manus pidesq [...] ad Ignem Calefeciffe, animo interim interius obriguisse! Says one upon it. What Good got Peter by the Fire, when he did so much Ill at the Fire! and what signified his warming o [...] his Hands and his Feet, while the zeal of his Heart for his Lord, had such a Cold upon it. Alas, The Cold of the Weather, and the Winter, often betrays us into a Moral Cold, which is infinitely worse than the Natural; and our want of being at the Fire, puts out the Fire of Religion in us. The Psalmist could say, Psal.147.18. Who can stand before Gods Cold! Even the Constancy of our Souls, in the Service of God, is often impaired and impeded by His Cold; tho' methinks, its being His Cold, should rather pinch us to the doing of our Duty in some respects, than chill; us from it.

We will briefly, and as the Cold now upon us, will allow us, Enquire,

First, How do men sometimes Deny the Lord on the Occasion of the Cold?

Know it, Syrs, That when Duty to the Lord, is omitted, by reason of the Cold, then the Lord is Denyed for the Cold. The Neglect of Christian Duties, is called, A Denial of the only Lord God, even of our Lord Jesus Christ. We read of some, who, In works Deny Him. When the Cold puts us by the Doing of such Good Works, as might be done by us notwithstanding [Page 37] the Cold, we practically, Deny the Lord, because it is Cold. We Deny that our Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour, we Deny that He is our Sovereign, we Deny, that He is our Example, when we Deny to keep the Precepts which He has commanded us to keep with Diligence. Impiety is called, 1 Tim.5.8. A Denying of the Faith. If we are Impious, we are Denyers of the Lord.

Now the Cold is often made an unjust, and an undue pretence for mens omitting of their Duty. Many a man is that Sluggard, who, (Prov.20.4) will not plough (nor do many another Duty) by reason of the Cold. Sometimes, by reason of the cold, we omit the Duties of Piety. Our Supplications are Frozen, when the Frost has taken every thing else: Our Meditations are sapless, when the Sap is gone from all the Fields about us; we needlesly absent our selves from the House of God, when we can be warmer in our own Houses; and object the Snow, or the Wet, as a Lion, in the way: We lay aside Working about our own Salvation, when our Hands are Sealed up from doing our other work: We lay aside the Wars of the Lord, or our combate with our interior Adversaries, when Retired into our Winter Quarters. Piety cools, with every thing else.

Again, Sometimes by reason of the cold, we omit the Duties of Charity, Our Charity is often as cold, as the Time, and because of the [Page 38] Time. When we are Eating and Drinking at our Winter Tables, we are not grieved for those that want Meat or Drink: Nor are we grieved for the poor, who have no Covering, while we are well Covered, and are Shivering over a Brands End or two, (the Widows Fire,) while we are more than sufficiently Warmed, Our own circumstances, that should rather Excite us, to do all the Good we can, unto those that are not so well circumstanced, congeal us rather into an Insensibility of other peoples; and the Love of many waxes cold.

Once more; Don't we often mispend our Hours, by reason of the cold? Is not advantage taken, when our Clocks won't go, for such a mispence of Time, as if we dream the Time also Stood still! What Gaming, what Superstition, what Profanity, and (which is to say All the rest, and All the worst!) What Evil Company, is the Winter often made an occasion for? Truly, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is in some degree Denied, by a such miscarriages.

We will then Enquire,

Secondly. How men may come rather to confess, than to deny the Lord, on the occasion of the Cold?

A Croud will do best in the Cold, I will croud close together a few Instructions.

First, Consider, O Christians, That the more Self denial you undergo, for the Serving of the Lord Jesus Christ, under the Obstructions [Page 39] of the Cold, the greater will be the Recompence which the Lord Jesus Christ will bestow upon you, at the Spring of Heavenly and Eternal Glory, The more that our Devotions do cost us, the greater is the comfort and sweetness of them, even in this world▪ and the greater the Reward that is to come, in the World to come. The Martyrs, that were Frozen to Death, went unto the pleasant Climate of Paradise. Even those Bodies, that have suffered the Hardships of Cold, in the Service of the Lord, shall one day be made Chariots of Fire, for the Spirits of the Faithful. Syrs, I say unto you, 1 Cor.15.58. Your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

Consider also, That there is a worse cold, than that of the Winter, against which we are to be fortified and cautioned. There is the Cold of our Formality, against which our wish must be, Oh! That I may be servant in Spirit, serving the Lord! And, there is the Cold of our Unregeneracy, against which, our wish must be, Oh! That this dark time of my Inactivity for serving the Lord, were over with me! But, Let us nextly, Beware of perverting and abusing the Dispensation which God gives us, because of the Cold. Because our Lord hath said, Mar.9.13. I will have mercy and not sacrifice; Let us not upon the Excuse of showing mercy to our selves, defraud the Lord of that Sacrifice, which we may be able to bring [Page 40] unto Him. Deal fairly with Heaven; And let us not be so unmerciful unto our selves, [for in the issue, we prove so!] as to withhold from the Lord, what we may, without any bearing against the Sixth Commandment, bear to do f or Him, left we Sacrifice our selves unto His terrible Justice, who will not be mocked!

Finally; When we are Warming our selves by the Fire, like Peter, because of the Cold, Let us be warming our selves, with suitable Reflections. The Psalmist could say, Psal.39.3. While I was musing, the Fire burned. Syrs, While we have the Fire burning on the Hearth before us, let us be musing, on such things, as may cause another Fire to Burn within us; even a Fire of Zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ, and the concerns of the Caelestial Kingdom. Even the Fire it self may be made a notable matter, for abundance of Holy, and Useful, and Ingenious Reflections. When we behold the Fire before us, there are very many points of Christianity, which we may fetch out of it. I call to mind, That there is a call given, Psal. 148 8. Praise the Lord, o fire. I now say, Praise the Lord, O Christian; and let the Fire cause thee to Praise the Lord, and make thee a better Christian. I have met with a Note in the Incomparable Alsted; That as the Lion fears nothing so much as the Fire, so the Devil fears nothing so much as our Godliness, which is [Page 41] the true Fire of the Soul. Well, but now I may tell you, That the Fire on the Hearth, may be made very subservient unto that Fire of the Soul, and help to keep alive our Godliness. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, carries us along thro' [...] Godliness, by being a Spirit of Burning within us. Oh! Beware of Quenching that Spirit, by Disobedience or Sensuality, more than you would beware of leaving your selves utterly without Fire, in the sharpest Winter. But be sensible, That very particularly, by the Good Thoughts extracted out of the Fire it self, the Spirit of the Lord, may do very much of the Office, of a Spirit of Burning upon us.

The Approach to the Fire.

IT is related in the Journal of the Apostle Pauls Voyage to Rome, That being Shipwreck'd upon Malta, [Act.28.2.] The barbarous people showed no little kindness, for they kindled a Fire. If I should now only kindle a Fire for my Friends; tho' they might count it no little kindness, yet it were no more, than what might be shown by a barbarous Maltese. I will therefore essay to do my Friends a greater kindness, while indeed I shall therein do my self the greatest kindness, of all, by making the Fire which we have kindled, yield a Diviner sort of warmth unto us, than what is [Page 42] ordinarily [...]est by the most of them that approach the Fire. Let us address our selves unto it.

It is a passage in Lev. 26. 30. I will cut down your Images. But what if I should read it, I will cut off your Fire places? The Original word used here would invite us to Read it so: and when we consider the Sun Images mentioned in the Prophets, [Isa.17. & and Ezek 6.4.] we shall be yet more invited so to Read it. The Idolaters had places where in they kept Sacred Fires; called, [...], by Strabo, and [...] by others. There are who derive both Name and Thing from Ammon, who is the same with Cham, which is the Root of the Hebrew word now under consideration. R. Bechai tells us, That those Fires were not at first altogether of such an Idolatrous Character and Intention; but they were intended as expressions of Thanksgiving to God for the Benefits of the Sun. We have in Procopius, a Description of a [...]. ‘Chosraes (he says) went from the Assyrians, to the Land of the Ardabiganians, which lies to the Northward. Here is a great [...] or, FireHouse, which the Persians worship above all other Gods; where the Magicians, keeping a perpetual Fire, perform their chief Rites, with greatest exactness, and on the greatest occasions make use of it, as an Oracle.’ We have another Description of such a [...] in Benjamin, when he comes to Chenagam, and [Page 43] he says, That the Fire there is called, A Divinity. Others do speak of them. Teixer a lays, That even to his Time, they were continued among the Persians. They were in short, huge Furnaces kept with Superstitious Rites in Honour of the Sun.

We have not so learned Christ, as to have our Idolatrous, Fire places. But we shall Serve Christ if our Ordinary Fire places become Serviceable to us, on Religious Accounts, as well as Natural Ones. The Fire places, at which we daily warm our selves, may do as Good as dispense unto us, many an useful Oracle, if we will Receive the Lessons, which may from thence arrive unto us. Let the Fire places on our Hearth be as much without any Superstitious Respect from us, as any place within or about our House. Yet let our Devotions to God, be, inflamed by the Thoughts which th [...]se our Fire places may Raise in our minds. This, This will be a Laudable Christianity. And we will proceed to the Christian Attempt.

Meditation I.
On the Fire proving it self to be indeed the Fire.

I See the Fire before me; But how do I know, that it is the Fire? The Philosopher long ago answered, Qui tam Stulte quaerunt, Ignem tangant. Truly, the proof of it, is better [Page 44] Felt, than Spoke. I feel that it is [...] Fire; I have a Sense of it, that I can't easily describe in words, unto another man; I need no Arguments to convince me of it; and if there were Arguments to the contrary, shap'd with never such unanswerable Sophistry, I should think it Answer enough unto them, I know 'tis otherwise!

This Meditation carries me to consider, How do I know the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God! And that which makes the consideration more agreeable, is, That this Word, is called, Jer.20 9. A Burning Fire. It is a Thing of more than ordinary consequence unto every Christian, to be well established in this point, How may a Christian indeed know, That our Bible is the Word of God, or, a Book of Truth, and a Rule of Life, given by Inspiration from Heaven? For, the influence of the Bible, on our whole Behaviour here, and Blessedness hereafter, depends on our Faith of this point; & our grand Enemy labours nothing more, than to keep our Faith hereof as Feeble as ever he can To confirm our Faith of our Bibles being the Word of God, we are, not unfurnished with moral Arguments enough to silence the contradiction of Sinners. It is infinitely reasonable to Believe, That the most High God has committed unto Writing, some where or other, what He would have us Think, and to Do, in order to our Glorifying of Him. [Page 45] Now, if our Bible, be not the Writing, where in the Will of God is to be found, it is no where to be found at all; for there is none that can stand in competition with i [...] there is no where else to be met withal, any Scheme of the way for our coming to the Enjoyment of God, that can give any tolerable [...] is action to a Reasonable mind And who else but God, could be the Author of it? [...] men, and Ill Angels, would never have conceived a System of such an Holy and Heavenly Tenour, and so opposite, yea so Torturous, unto their own vicious Inclinations. Good men, and Good Angels would not have Lyed for God, and have imposed their own Inventions upon their Maker. And indeed, the Remarkable Providence of God, in preserving our Bible, so uncorrupt for so many Ages, notwithstanding the horrible plots of Earth and Hell, to have utterly extinguished it, (which can't be said of any other Composure) This proclaims, That it is dear to God, yea, that God Himself espouses it, as being the Author of it. The Bible testifies very many other Things, and at the same time testifies to its own Divine Original: Tis found infallibly True in all its other Testimonies; it is a Tried Word, and it never fails: Why should it not then be own'd as True in this one Article also, when it asserts its own Divinity? But after all, the main proof which a Christian has, for his Bibles being [Page 46] the Word of God, is of that sort, that assures him, The Fire is indeed the Fire; even a Selfevidencing, and scarce utterable Demonstration. The Sacred Writings, carry with them, and in them, a Demonstration of their Divine Original and Authority, unto the Souls of the Faithful, wherein it appears to them, with no less clearness than the Light and the Heat of the Fire before them The Holy Spirit of God, working on the Hearts of the Faithful, causes them to see (or, I should rather say, to feel,) such a Majesty in the Bible, such a glorious Constellation of Noble and Charming Mysteries, and such a Directing, such a Sanctifying, such a Strengthening and Comforting Efficacy, that they are certain, it could proceed [...] none but the Holy Spirit of God. Their Hearts are accordingly, so struck, and warm'd, and mov'd, and chang'd by the Holy Spirit of God, breathing in and from the Bible, upon them, that tho' perhaps they can't always put their Arguments for it into Form, yet they are sure, (Fire is Fire) it can be no other than the Word of God; and whatever Arguments may be produced unto the contrary, they will keep to their conclusion, and rather Dy, than give up the Cause.

But as the Fire passes from one Billet unto another, so let my Thoughts here, in passing along, at least glance upon one Subject more.

There are certain Enjoyments with which [Page 47] the Spirit of God favours the Souls of His Faithful People; and especially the perswasions of a particular Faith, which they sometimes Enjoy, in their Prayers, for this or that particular Smile of God on their Affayrs. This particular Faith, is not so much the Duty, as the Dignity, and Priviledge, of the Faithful, and not granted unto all, but here and there, according to the Sovereign pleasure of Heaven, gloriously irradiating their minds, and with a certain powerful, Heart mel [...]ing, Heavenly Afflatus, assuring of them, That God hath granted the Thing, which they have asked of Him. Well, tho' this particular Faith, has a counterfeit, wherein many have been deceived; yet such a Thing there is, that is a special Operation of the Spirit of God, and perhaps of His Holy Angels, on the minds of His Holy Children. The Question is, How do I know this Operation from a counterfeit? My Answer is, That no words of mine can answer the Question; I know it, as I know the Fire to be the Fire; I feel it, but no words of mine can express, how it feels.

Meditation II.
On the Benefits of the Fire.

I AM going to Discourse with and on my Fire; and fetch from it many Lessons of [Page 48] no little Importance. But the very Season in which I do this doe [...] fi [...]st Arrest me, to pay; Debt of Thankfulness unto the Bountiful God for my Fire, before I can go any further. Tis a Winter morning; and the Cold of the Winter so assaults and pinches me, that were it n [...] for the warmth of my Fire, I suppose [...] benum'd Hand, instead of Writing a Reflect on, would be Folded with the Arms of the Sluggard, How proper is it for my Open'd an Quicken'd Hand, now to write the praises o [...] my Almighty Benefactor, among whose Numberless Benefits, those of the Fire are to b [...] Numbered, with a particular Accent upon them!

Should I Pen a voluminous Oration, [...] Laudem Ignis, it would be upon a Subject [...] worthy, and so noble, that it would be [...] from deserving to be put among the, Disserttiones Ludicrae, where some witty men have tried their wi [...] in the praises of Objects, to contemptible to be spoken of, Indeed unto P [...] tarch will I leave the Decision of the Question, Whether be the more profitable of the two the Fire or the Water? But instead of composing the Praises of my Fire; let me rather Touch (for it can be but a Touch) on the Praises due to God for my Fire.

In the Accommodation, which my Fire gives to very many of my circumstances, I enjoy great Blessings of God. Tho' my Fire has [Page 49] not immediately come down from Heaven, to me, like that upon the Israelitish Altars: Yet I can, by ascending but a very few Steps of contemplation, see the God of Heaven bestowing my Fire upon me. Those Igneous particles, which when more loosely Diffused, make Heat, and when more closely collected and compacted, make Flame, are a creature of God, and no inconsiderable part of His Creation. The Fuel, which gathers these Igneous particles together, and puts them, and feeds them, in their motion, for my present Comfort, is bestow'd upon me, by the Kindness of God: nor should I be able to subsist, if He had not been [...]o Kind unto me.

I could but pi [...]ty the poor Indians in the Marian Islands, when I found Le Go [...]ten in his late History of those Islands, reporting, That before the Arrival of the Spaniards there, they had never seen any Fire; and the First Fire that Magellan kindled, they look'd on, as a terrible Animal, which devoured the wood, and kept at an huge Distance from it for fear it should Hurt them. If those Islands, had been of the same Latitude, and a Climate of the same Cold, and Frost and Snow, with our Country, the condition of those Indians must have been altogether Insupportable. The supports that we receive by our Fire, are so Convenient, yea, so Necessary, that if we never make our Fire, an Article of our Thankgsiving [Page 50] to God, it is because our Sou [...]s are Frozen into a very Vile Insensibility. While there are Pagans who worship the Fire as their God, it becomes us Christians to worship our God, with a due Thanksgiving for the Fire.

And now, I cannot but observe; There is utterly a Fault among us. This is, That the more Common, and Customary, Obvious and Ordinary Mercies of our Lives, are least of all Acknowledged. If a Religious Man. were Admitted unto a Fire, but once or Twice in a year, how thankfully would he take Notice of it, and say, O my good God, I thank thee, for this Relief [...]! But because we come to the Fire every Day, and every Hour of the Day, our good God, has few or no particular Thanks for His Goodness in it. O Stupid Ingratitude! Why should a Succour in certain peculiar & unusual Exigencies, produce our Thanksgiving to God; and yet God be Honoured with no Thanksgiving for those Enjoyments, wherein we are continually Succoured against all the Danger of those Exigencies! Oh, That my Fire might now Warm this dull Heart of mine, to Resolve upon more Explicit Praises of God, as well for my Fire, as for those other Mercies which have nothing in them to Lessen them, except what indeed should rather Heighten them unto me; namely, Their being Daily Mercies.

The Salvages of these Regions, have thought, the Fire, must needs be a God, because [Page 51] when a poor man is ready to perish with Cold in the Winter, one Spark of it, will in a few Minutes blaze out so Serviceably, as to Save his Life. Instead of so rude a Fancy, Let me rather say, There is much of God in the Fire; and let me particularly see the Bounty of God Sparkling there. But let my Thanksgiving for the Fire, pass [...]on, to celebrate the Bounty of God, in those Blessings, which men See Every Day, and yet therefore See not, meerly because they are to be Seen Every Day.

Mantissa.

WHile I am thus Writing on the Benefits of the Fire in General, Methinks, I am called upon thereby, not only to be Thankful for the Fire, but also to be Useful like [...]. No Trade, nay, no Man, can subsist well without the Fire; which was therefore called, [...] by the Philosopher. Tis a very Serviceable, a very Profitable, Creature. And, O my God, shall not thy poor Servant be so too!

There is no man Sincerely Converted unto God in the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, coming like an Heavenly Fire upon his Heart, but he becomes, as we read of the Converted Onesimus, A Profitable man; though before he were otherwise. Nevertheless, to be Ultimus Bonorum, or to do no more good than the least of Good men, should not be the [Page 52] Highest Aim of every man. While others aspire to be Richer and Greater, why should it not be my Ambition, to be more Serviceable? I will say with him, Divitijs abundet per me licet, qui [...]anque voluerit: In operibus mea sit Abundantia.

It was justly ask'd, Can a man be profitable unto God? No, That he cannot; And when he has done all that he can do, (were it a Million times more than it is,) he must own, Lord, I am an unprofitable Servant. The most glorious Use, that I can be put unto, is, To be made a Subject of those Graces, and a Doer of those Gracious Actions, which the ever blessed God, who makes me so, shall Behold with Delight, and which may Excite all other Beholders to magnify Him for ever.

But there are many ways, wherein I wish I may be Useful unto my Neighbours. May I be such a Child of Abraham, as to be made a Blessing, which is indeed a Peerless Blessing?

I wish, That I may be of so ingenuous a Temper, as to reckon the conferring of Benefits and Kindnesses, the Sweetest pleasure upon Earth.

I wish, That in all the Relations which I Sustain, I may with all ingenuity contrive, How to make all my Relatives the better for me.

I wish, That all my Talents, my Learning, my Estate, and my Interests of all Sorts, may be Employed in doing all sorts of Good, for all sorts of men.

[Page 53] I wish, That I may frequen [...]ly have my Meditations on that Question What Good is there, that I may do, in my several Capacities?

I wish, That whatever Company I fall at any time into, I may seriously ponder, Whether I may do no Good in the Company before I leave it.

I wish, That I may be one of those who come under the character, under which Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, are described by Grotius, Homines demerendis hominibus nati, qui omnem Benefecij Coliocandi occasionem, Ponebant in Lucro.

And, when I do no more Good, or am no longer Useful, I wish, I may Dy!

Lord, Let me not out live my Usefulness.

Meditation III
On the Light cast by the Fire upon the Objects about it.

ALL the Objects here capable of having direct Rays from the Fire shot upon them, how Lightsome are they? All clothed with Garments of Light! The side of the Chimney, the Wall of the Chamber, the Iron Back, the Brazen Tongs, and their Fellow-Servants, are now distinguished, with an agreeable Brightness. They entertain the Beams of Light, which the Fire darts upon them, and by entertaining [Page 54] thereof, they have a particular Brightness, and Beauty upon them.

When I see the Reflection of the Light, on the Objects about the Fire, methinks, I am furnished with Light enough, to make a Reflection of my own upon it. This Light leads me unto that Glory, that shall be Enjoy'd by the Saints in the Heavenly World; and unto the very Fountain of all their Glory. If unto the Fire, I should Resemble the Glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST, who shall one day appear in Flaming Fire, the Resemblance, might with many Good Thoughts be prosecuted. It is enough, that our Lord, the Sun of Righteousness, is compared unto the Sun, which is an Ocean of Fire; and that Caelestial and Wonderful Fire ball, corresponding with the little Flashes on my Hearth, in the property of Luminositie, the comparison that is now to be made, will be sufficiently vindicated. Nor will it be unserviceable unto this purpose, to remark, that in some Languages (particularly the Syriac and Chaldee) the same word that is used for Fire, is used also for Light. The Splendor of my Fire, tho' so sparkling and so dazzling, that the most lively Limner can't paint it out unto the Life, is but a black Shadow, of the Glory which the Disciples in the Holy Mountain, saw resting on the Transfigured Lord of Glory. One of them that saw it, has reported unto us. That it was a Majesty [Page 55] attended with an Excellent Glory; Another of them has reported, That it was the Glory, as of the only Begotten of the Father. Now, that which I would assert is, That unto Communications and Irradiations, from the Glory of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, all the Saved shall be everlastingly beholden, for all the Glorious Excellencies, which they shall ever Enjoy in their Spirits, or in their Bodies. The Church is that Moon, that borrows all her Light from the Messiah. The Lord JESUS CHRIST, by Shining on the Children of God, and of the Resurrection, conveys to them the Accomplishment of His promise, That they shall Shine as the Brightness of the Firmament, that is to say, as the Stars for ever and ever. The Beams of the Lord JESUS CHRIST shall fall upon His people Admitted unto the Sight of Him; and His Amiableness beheld by His people, will be both the Cause and the Copy of whatever Amiable Thing shall ever be beheld in Them. The Glory of God in the Face of JESUS CHRIST. Exhibited unto our Faith here, and unto our Sight hereafter, is that which produces, all our Grace, our Joy, our Crown. And if ever there be any Thing Admirable in them that Believe, it is the JESUS CHRIST on whom they have Believed, that shall be Admired in them. In this world, They that behold the Glory of the Lord, in His Glorious Gospel, and in the Institutions of His Gospel, where they [Page 56] Learn what He is, and what He does, are Changed into His Image from Glory to Glory. Christians that Express and Advance their Christianity, by conversing much with the Lord JESUS CHRIST, contract that Likeness to Him, that is the Glory of all that are adorned therewithal. Would I be a Bright Christian? Let me abound in Meditation on the Lord JESUS CHRIST; By Him therein Shining on me, I may arrive to such a Glory. There is no Glory nor Honour, but what Lies in Conformity to the Lord JESUS CHRIST. This, as I take it, will be found the most adaequate Notion of Honour: Now by our Contemplation, we obtain a Conformity to Him. The more a man does Look upon the Lord JESUS CHRIST, the more is the Image of His Healing Lord, Revived in him, and the Image of the Old Serpent that hath destroy'd him, Destroyed. Let a man Acquaint Himself much with the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and there will thereby this Good come unto him; That he will be Endued with those vertues, which will not only render him one of the Saints that are the Excellent in the Earth, but also meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. If Moses by Sojourning a while among the Angels in the Mount of God, obtained such a Shine upon his Face, that his Countreymen were not able steadily to gaze upon it, certainly a man by being much in Communion [Page 57] with the Lord of Angels, will obtain much of that Wisdom, that shall make his Face to shine. But, Oh, to what a Glory shall we then come, in the World to come! The Second Person in the Adorable Trinity, having assumed an Humane Creature to subsist in the same person with Himself, hath poured into that capacious Vessel, as much of the Divine Glory, as any Creature is capable of Receiving, yea, or of Discerning. Now, Lord, in that Light of thine, we shall see Light! God thro' Him Shining on the Inhabitants of the Heavenly Mansions causes them to Shine with an Immortal Glory; Their Taking in, and Striking back, the Glory of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, will be the Thing that shall render them glorious, throughout Eternal Ages: 'Tis by This, that they shall Shine in the Kingdom of their Father. The Spirits of the Faithful in the Heavenly World, will be rendred all glorious wi [...]hin, by the Graces that they shall be Endued withal, But their Union and Fellowship with the Lord JESUS CHRIST, will help them to those Graces; of His Fulness they shall Receive them. The Bodies of the Faithful will be Raised in Glory; there will be a strange Lustre thereupon. But from the Glorious Body of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, they shall acquire all their Beauties. They are the words of the Apostle, in I Joh. 3. 2. We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; in which [Page 58] few words, there is as exact an Account of the Blessedness in the Future State, as any I can hope to meet withal on this side of it.

This then will I choose for my Heaven. The Heaven that most men propound, is nothing but a Deliverance from Hell; and their Notions about that Hell too, are gross enough. The Heaven propounded by some Good men, even in Books professedly written thereupon, is chiefly made up of Negatives, or a Rest from Evils on Earth. Let my Heaven be in a Near Approach to my Lord JESUS CHRIST: It shall be my Glory, to be with my Lord JESUS CHRIST, beholding of His Glory. My Lord JESUS CHRIST is the Tree of Life, in the midst of Heaven, from whence I expect that I shall gather all my Heaven. This let me labour for, and pray for, and wait for, until my Change do come!

Some Right Thoughts, not unfit for a Child of Jacob, take hold on the Heel of those that have hitherto Entertained me: and my Fire has Enkindled in me some further Desires, and Wishes. I see, that when there Intervenes any thing between the glowing Coals in my Fire, and the Brightned Walls of my Room, a Darkness arises then so far thereupon. The Fire shines not upon an adjacent Object, if there be any thing between That and the Object. And am I not now informed, what is the Reason of the Darkness upon the Minds of [Page 59] men? Whatsoever does Interrupt the Communion between the Lord JESUS CHRIST and my Soul, brings thereby a Darkness upon me. In the Light of Life Enjoy'd by the Saints above, there is no Darkness; Why? because there is nothing to intercept the most Intimate Communion between the Lamb, who is the Light of the City of God, and the Saints who Walk in the Light of that City. But in the Darkness of this World, a Christian has frequent occasions, with the Philosopher, to ingeminate his cry of, Darkness, Darkness; and the occasions will continue, till he arrive where the Dark Shadows flee away. Alas, The Darkness, which attends me, is like that on Egypt; it may be Felt: I feel it in a woful Ignorance, and grievous Disorder, and lamentable Confusion and Sottishness, and Horror of Guilt upon my Spirit. And now, by Fire-light I see the Cause of it! I would I could say, I have half a Cure, now I know the Cause It lies here▪ something there lies between me, and my Lord JESUS CHRIST, who would Enlighten me. The Truth is, The very drawing of the Curtains of my Earthly Tabernacle about me, has this Influence upon me, That I am experimentally taught the meaning of those words, Present in the Body, and Absent from the Lord: The Flesh is between Him and me: Oh, Why do I no more say, I desire to be dissolved, that I may be with my Lord. But [Page 60] that which is yet worse is, That my Corruption [...] do send up that ugly Smoke, which hinders the Shine of my Lord JESUS CHRIST from comforting of me; And sometimes I lay too many Logs on the Fire, verifying the old Observation, In multitudine Negotiorum periclitatur pietas. I take too many Diverting Businesses upon me, by which I Restrain those Emanations from the Fountain of Light, wherewith I might otherwise, be Irradiated. Be advised, O my Soul; be well advised!

Meditation IV.
On the Mending of the Fire.

THE Fire in a little while I see falls into circumstances, that call upon the Company, Will some body please to mend the Fire? The Materials that supply the Fire with Fuel, are in a little while so wasted, that the Remainders of those Materials fall into Disorder; if the Fire be not mended, it will soon be ended; and if thing [...] be not quickly restored, and repaired into a better Order about the Fire, it will not be long, before none will be the better for it.

But when I see some body going to Mend the Fire, I think we that Sit by it, want mending much more than the Fire it self. That Call, Mend the Fire, is not of a millionth part [Page 61] of so much importance, as that call, Jer. 7 3, 5. Amend your Wayes and your Doings; and again, Throughly Amend your Wayes and your Doings. I am sensible, [My God, make me more Sensible!] That there is very much Amiss in my Heart, and in my Life, much that wants to be mended. I have heard a great and a just cry made, for, A Reformation The method of obtaining a general Reformation, would be for every one, to mend one. A whole Army is presently Turn'd about, when every man in the Army Turns himself.

Wherefore, What shall I do? The first thing to be done, in answer to that Question, is for every man to put another Question; even that, What have I done? It would be an agreeable thing, for a man to take a well express'd Catalogue of Things Required & of Things Forbidden, in the Ten Commandments of God. Beholding himself in that Glass, a man may come to see his own criminal Omissions, and Commissions, and know what there is to be mended in him. When a man has gone thus far towards the mending of himself, let not his next work be, according to the preposterous Divinity of our Dayes, to make Vows, That he will do no more Amiss. Those ill timed Vows will be broken on the next Opportunity, or Temptation to break them. No, the Next work is to Confess and Bewayl, all that we find Amiss before the Lord, and therewithal [Page 62] to Impl [...]e, and Adore, and Accept the Pardoning Mercy of God thro' the Lord JESUS CHRIST; and by Faith to entreat and expect a Pardon from God, thro' the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son, which cleanseth from all Sin. Un [...]i [...] a man do by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for Atonement and Righteousness, come into the Covenant of Grace, 'tis very certain that Sin will have Dominion over him. And until God be Reconciled unto a man, thro' the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ applied unto him, he will remain a Slave to the Lusts, into the dreadful Hands whereof, he is put over by the spotless Justice of Heaven. While a Sinner is in this unpardon'd, and unhappy State, all hi [...] Resolutions to Amend what is Amiss with him, will signify no more, than the Green Wythes, which once bound the Champion: without passing from the Fire, to come at a similitude for them, They will be as a Threed of Tow is broken, when it toucheth the Fire. But having sought the Pardon of what we find Amiss with us, Then 'tis time to proceed, and purpose, and resolve against our miscarriages, We must humbly ask of God, the Help of His Grace, to Amend what is Amiss with us, under this encouragement, That our Lord Jesus Christ has purchased this Grace for us, and His New Covenant has promised it. Encouraged and Fortified with this consideration, a man may do well considerately to Draw up, [Page 63] the several Points of Amendment, that he would propound unto himself. Let a man distinctly Contrive, what points he will desire to Amend, in his Thoughts, in his Words, in his Calling, in his Family, in his Company, and in the several Relations that are stain'd by him: Let him think, How would I be, or do better in each of these points? and have Written Memorials of them, to be afterwards Reflected upon.

There are many Seasons very proper to be taken, for this our Self=Amendment. It is especially seasonable, when a Christian has heard a good Sermon, then to Retire, and Ponder, What am I call'd upon to Amend, by the Sermon that I have heard? One being ask'd, What can you Remember of the last Sermon? Replied, I can't Remember so much as I would; but I do not Forget, that I was told of a Fault, which I hope, 'twill be my care to Amend Excellently well Remembred! And it would be a thing further seasonable, and very serviceable, for a Christian sometimes to set apart a whole Day for Devotions in secret places; and make it not only a Day of Humiliations for what is Amiss in us, but also a Day of Reformations. A Christian does never keep such a Day, but the Fire is mended with him; every thing lies abundantly more to Rights, and his Love, and Zeal is in a more flaming ardour. Nevertheless, As our Fire must be often mended; after [Page 64] the first mending of it, there will soon be occasion to mend it over and over again; so a Christian will assuredly find, that when he has rectifyed himself into the best Self Amendment that he can he will soon grow out of frame; it won [...] be long before he must over and over again, be at pains to Reform what is Amiss.

In fine, I can't see the Fire mended, without that wish, which is more Charitable than Censorious; Lord mend us all! But I must add, Lord, no man wants it more than my self!

Meditation V.
On the Burning of the World.

WHen I see what Havock the Fire makes of the Fuel, whereof it hath taken Hold, it becomes me to give Thanks unto the Great Keeper of Israel, that my House, with all the valuable Treasures in it, is not by any unhappy Accident made the Fuel of devouring Flames. The Fire we say, is a Good Servant; but a Bad Master: and I am the most ungrateful Wretch in the world, if I don't particularly and explicitly Give Thanks unto God, that while the Fire is the Servant of my Comfort, my Estate falls not into the devouring Jawes of such a Master. Great Cities have sometimes been horribly Destroy'd by Fire, [Page 65] as well as little Cottages; And the Multiplication of such Disasters and Destructions, in our Age, (especially by the Arms, of a certain, OG, or, Burner,) has been thought by some, to be somewhat praesagious of that Conflagration, which the Oracles of Heaven foretel to our Sinful Earth. Whether such Desolations by Fire, be any Proesage of this Grand one, I am sure, those little ones that are on my Hearth, will serve as a Figure of it, and lead a Devout mind unto the Contemplation of an Universal Conflagration.

May the cry of Fire! now Awaken my Soul, unto some serious Thoughts on the Flaming Fire, wherein our Lord is e're long to be Revealed from Heaven! There is, in the Creation of God, a Creature called, [...]ire; which is a certain Fluid, consisting of parts extreamly small, and light and very su [...]ile, active and susceptive of motion. An Aggregate of these parts, in such a Number, as to be visible unto the Eye, is what we call, Fire, and Flame; a lesser, thinner, and more dispersed Collection of them, is Heat, and Warmth. Fire and Heat, only differ in that circumstance. The Fire on the Hearth, is but an Assembly of these Igneous particles, which, as by a sor [...] of magnetism, naturally come together, where they have once begun to assemble, and put on the Figure that we see, when they operate upon combustible matter, to separate the parts [Page 66] of it. Now, there is a nearly uniform, and perpetual Fire, disseminated thro' the Body of the Earth, and especially the interior parts of it; and unto this Fire are to be ascribed, not a few of those Phoenomena, which our Terraqueous Globe hath within it, or upon it. Among other things, done by this Fire, one is, that it bears up the Water of the Abyss, every where towards the Surface of the Globe, as near as possible in right Lines, unless where the Denser Strata thereof do more intercept the [...], and there it passes thro' but very slowly, and the rest gl [...]d [...]s along, till it find Apertures convenient for it. When this Fire, being diverted from is ordinary course, is Assembled in a greater quantity than is usual, it causes an unusual Intumescence in the Water of the Abyss, which pu [...]s it into very great Commotions: and making at the same time, the like Effort upon the Earth, which is expanded upon the Face of the Abyss; it occasions that Agitation of it, that we call, An Earthquake; whereby the superincumbent Strata, are horribly shockt, and rent, and the very Foundations of them are undermined, and perhaps whole Cities, and Mountains, and Countreys do sink down to rights into the Abyss underneath, and the Rising Water, makes a Lake, where those Countreys were Formerly Inhabited. Yea, huge Floods are vomited up, from the Abyss, o [...] the other Water [Page 67] that had communication with it, and the Sea it self, without the least Breath of Wind stirring, undergoes the greatest preturbation imaginable, and swells perhaps to make whole miles of Desolation. The Fire in this hideous Disturbance now makes its own way [...] also, by Volcano's and by Springs, and Baths, and the cracks of the opened Earth, and, qua data porta— wherever it can. Countreys much subject unto Earthquakes, have commonly some of those Fiery Vents, which we call, Volcano's; by means whereof, the Earthquakes do less mischief, than otherwise they would. And such Countreys having also much Sulphur and Nitre in them, hence Ensue the dreadful Thundrings and Lightnings, that use to be at the Explosion of those Minerals, when they are Fired; and those with other Minerals then Fired, may cause the Mortalities that Earthquakes use to be succeeded withal.

But that which I hasten to observe is, That there is a Terrible, and an Amazing Use, which the God of Heaven, will make of the Subterraneous Fire, to bring a Conflagration upon Earth, when the Time for the Restitution of all things, is arrived. It is entred among the Divine Oracles, 2 Pet. 3. 6. 7. The World which then was, being over flowed with water perished: But the Heavens and the Earth which are now [...]punc; are kept in store, reserved unto Fire, against the [Page 68] Day of Judgment, and the perdition of Ungodly men. The World was once Drowned in a Watery Flood; but the Almighty has given us assurance, that such a Flood shall never happen any more. The Rainbow is now consecrated by God as a Token, for the assuring of that Covenant. But still there is another tremendous Desolation to come upon the World, by a Fiery Flood, celebrated under the Name of, Diluvium Ignis, in the Writings of the Ancients. The Pagans themselves were not without prospects, of this Formidable Revolution upon the World. Hence the Poets tell of, Pyrrba, (that has Fire in the signification of it) the Wife of their Deucalion; and the Philosophers often speak of an [...] a Conflagration, with which the World is to be devoured Josephus relates, That our Father Adam left Praedictions of it: But in the Sacred Scripture, 'tis praedicted with a very frequent Inculcation. About this Conflagration, 'twere easy to start many curious Questions: but I would be more afraid of coming too near this Fire, with a faulty curiosity, than the old Gentleman was of prying into the Top of AEtna (a continual Monitor of the Conflagration) whereby the foolishly lost his Life. So much however, one may venture to Enquire and Answer. If we Enquire, How far the Conflagration will reach? We may Answer, It will probably reach no further, [Page 69] than this Lower World: these Heavens, with all the Hosts of Birds or of Devils in them; and this Earth, with all the Works of Art or of Nature in it, shall be concerned in the Devouring Fire; we have no cause to think, that it shall rage beyond our Atmosphoere, Yea. There are broad Intimations, in the Prophecies [consider, Dan. 7. 11, 12. and Isa. 66 24. and Ezek. 39. 9, 10. and Rev. 14. 20.] that the Conflagration will be at first partial, and liesurely and progressive: And that the first Efforts and Effects or it, are like to be felt by Italy, whose horrendous Volcano's, together with the [...] Shakings and Breakings of the Earth, in the Bowels of it, would suggest further suspicions of such a Catastrophe impending over that Seat of the Beast. Rome is the Sodom of the New Testament; and the Fate of old Sodom is impending over it, which was a Conflagration, intended for a Type of that which is to come. At, and with the first Essay of the Conflagration, our Lord JESUS CHRIST is to come; now we are sure, The Antichrist is to be destroy'd [2 Thes. 2. 8] With the Brightness of His Coming. And, since the period set for the Duration of Antichrist, is now so near Expired, what cause have we to suspect that the Conflagration may Begin even in our Dayes; and what manner of persons in all Holy Conversation and Godliness, ought we to be, that look for such things! But then, whether [Page 70] the Consummation of the Conflagration will be, before the End of the Thousand years, which are thus to Begin with a Conflagration? And, what will be the Difference between the Inhabitants of the New-Heavens, and of the New Earth, during the Blessed Thousand years? And how the Inhabitants of the New Earth, Enjoying the Soyl Refined by the prodigious Fires, will, according to the promise, Build Houses and Inhabit them, and Plant Vineyards and eat the Fruit of them, and have an Off spring that shall be the Blessed of the Lord; These are, Things hard to be understood!

I therefore Dismiss them; & I will instead thereof lay this Charge upon my Soul. O my Soul, when I have the Fire before me, Let thy Thoughts run sometimes upon that Great, and Last, & Horrible Fire that shall purify the World at the Appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, & in the Day of the Lord that shall Burn like an Oven. Realize, and Antedate the Time, When our God shall come, and a Fire shall devour before Him, & it shall be very Tempestuous round about Him: The Time, when a Fire shall go before the Lord, that shall Burn up His Enemies round about, and Lightnings will Enlighten the World, and the Earth shall Tremble, and the Hills melt like Wax, at the presence of the Lord: The Time, when the Lord shall come with Fire, to render His Anger with Fury, and His Rebukes with Flames of Fire: For, By Fire will the Lord [Page 71] plead with all Flesh, and the Slain of the Lord shall be many. Let me Blow up this dismal Fire in my frequent Meditations on it; and Warm a Cold, and a Dull Heart, at this Fire of the Lord. But then let this Fire cool my Love, to the Things of this World; and let me not Lay up for my self Treasures on Earth, where the Fire will consume all before it. Since this world shall, as one Expresses it, be one Day burnt for a Witch, be thou, O my Soul, no longer Bewitched with it.

Meditation VI.
On the Fire of Hell.
Descendamus viventes, et non descendamus morientes. Chrys.

IN some Countreys 'tis a Custome, when a Light is brought into the Room, to wish [Deus det vobis Lucem AEternam,] God grant you Everlasting Light: But when I come to a Fire in a Room, it shall be my wish, God save me from Everlasting Fire! I find my self unable to bear the Fire: if the Fire on my Hearth were to touch my Flesh, I should soon cry out of it; the Torture of being scorch'd in the Fire would be intolerable; perhaps there is no other Torment more intolerable, than that which the Fire gives to our Nerves, when it [Page 72] se [...]zes on them. And yet I am led now to think, of something that is more intolerable than the Fire, and that on the score of its being so, is called the Fire. I remember, Bernard advises us to Meditation on Hell, saying, you must often go down into Hell by your Meditation while you Live, and you shall be sure not to go down to Hell when you dy. And another Pathetically says; Whether you think of it or no, Hell fire burns, and your not thinking of it, will bring you thither That there is a punishment reserved for wicked men, in the Future State, there are few men sunk down into such Bruitishness in their wickedness as to Deny, Tho' ungodly men don't livelily Believe it, and for the support of their Ungodliness, are at pains to make themselves Question it, yet they have their Waking Hours, wherein their Guilty Souls, are terrified with Apprehensions of, A strange punishment for the Workers of Inquity, in another world. It is asserted in Scripture, it is affirmed by Reason; the Demonstrations of it are Irrefragable, That there is another World, wherein a due punishment is reserved by the Wrath of God, for all His Enemies. This punishment, as it is called, Hell, so it is called, Fire, and from the Temper of the Fire now before me, I may Learn, that the Fire of Hell, will be intolerable. If there were nothing else to prove it, but This, here would be proof enough. There are Impious men, [Page 73] who have taken Innocent men, yea, very Vertuous ones, and have Rosted them to Death in the Fire, with lingring and horrid Agonies, and Exercised a thousand other exquisite Cruelties upon them. Now these Monsters of Impiety, never did receive any Recompence of their Cruelties in this World, any more than Alva, or Bonner. It followeth then, that in another World, there must be Miseries intended for these Humane Devils, at least, as Exquisite, as being Rosted [...]o Death in the Fire. This must follow, if you confess a God, and confess the Justice of God. But which yet more evidently proclaims the punishment of the Damned in the Fire of Hell to be intolerable, is, the Nature, and Author, of the punishment. Now the principal punishment in the Fire of Hell, is the Wrath of the Infinite GOD, immediately smiting of the Soul. The Conscience of a Sinner, which is a Faculty by his Creator put into him, to be a special Instrument of Him that Created it, This being set on Fire, by immediate Impressions, from the Wrath of God upon it, will fill the Sinner with terrible Dolour, and Horror, and Anguish throughout Eternal Ages. We read, That a Fire of Indignation shall devour the Adversaries; but we also read, That our God Himself is a consuming Fire. For, as a Sinner does Deserve more, so he can suffer more than any Creature can inflict; and therefore, [Page 74] the Omnipotent God Himself, will with inconceivable Expressions, and Impressions of His Wrath, like Flashes of hot Lightning, smite the Souls of the Criminals, that are to be a Sacrifice of Infini [...]e Vengeance; & God shall make them as a fiery Oven in the Time of His Anger; the Lord shall swallow them up in His Wrath, and the Fire shall devour them Now that the Wrath of the Lord God Almighty immediately striking and scalding and vexing a Rational Soul, by Sin rendred the Fuel for an Everlasting Sacrifice, will be as intolerable as any Fire, certainly no man can question O Lord, who knows the power of thine Anger! Even according to thy Fear, so is thy Wrath. But that there is no Fire so intolerable, as this Wrath, is more particularly evident, from the sad case of some who have in this Life had a Wounded Spirit, and felt only a few sparkles of Hell fire, shot into their Conscience. These Wretches have upon a doleful experience proved it, That a wounded Spirit none can bear; but they have, as with Cains ghastly mark upon them cried out, My punishment is greater than I can bear. The Trouble of a Guilty Conscience, when the breath of God has begun to kindle that stream of Brimstone, in many a Sinner upon Earth, has been intolerable so much beyond the Fire, that here in our own Land, a man that had been much given to Gaming, and by consequence to other Lewdness, falling into a [Page 75] wounded Conscience, kept roaring out, Oh! I am all on Fire under the Wrath of God! I am all on a Light fire under the Wrath of God! And then actually made choice of strangling rather than life. Nor are many months past since here was a Lying, Thievish, Wicked Fellow, that of a Tailor, started up a Preacher; but God soon visited him with a wounded Conscience, in which he kept roaring out, That he was Damned; and he would fain have thrust his Hands or Feet, into the Fire, that so (he said) he might feel something of what he was going to suffer through all Eternity. I have also read of one Rogers, who under a wounded Conscience, declared, That he wish d but for this mitigation of his miseries. To ly for ever as the Back log, behind the Fire on the Hearth. Most significant were the words of another, Lying under the Terrors of a wounded Conscience: who hearing some Talk about the Fire, and other most cruciating wayes of Dying, horribly cried out, Oh! All of this, is but a Metaphor, to what I do feel! Now, if in the Suburbs of Hell, we have seen Sinners under more intolerable circumstances, than those of Burning in the Fire, what shall we think of Hell, it self? Thou, even thou, O God, art to be feared; and who may stand in thy sight, when once thou art angry?

But it is Enquired, Whether there may be any Material Fire, felt by the Damned, in the [Page 76] World to come? We know, That our Lord Jesus Christ shall be Revealed from Heaven, in Flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not His Gospel: and the Armies that fill this Earth and Sea, and the Air about it, shall in this Fire undergoe an amazing Dissolution and Desolation. When the Territories of Antichrist first of all have perish'd in this Fire, and it has proceeded in the Execution of its Office, to burn up the Chaff, that so there may be none but Pure Grain left for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, it shall retire to that Receptacle which God has intended for it. But the ungodly being Raised from the Dead, and Fitted with proper Bodies to receive the punishment of their Ungodliness, our Lord Jesus Christ by His last Sentence upon them, will banish them into that Fiery Receptacle, of Everlasting Fire with the Devil and his Angels. We find by incontestable Experiment, That there is a certain matter in the World, which burns of it self, and will burn for ever, and needs no Fuel to Support it: It is Natural and Essential Flame, able for ever to maintain it self, without any foreign Aliment. God will amass a dreadful Portion of this matter, and make it the Troublesome Element of the Damned, from whence the Smoke of their Torment shall ascend for ever and ever.

And here it will not be amiss, to bestow an Illustration, upon that obscure Text, Mark 9. [Page 77] 49. Every one shall be Salted with Fire, and every Sacrifice shall be Salted with salt. Every One, must not be understood of Every man, but Every one whose worm dieth not, and whose Fire is not quenched, whereof we read in the words immediately preceding The Import of this passage, will be better perceived, if we consider, That our Lord Jesus Christ here uses the last words in Isaiahs Prophecies. It is there said; they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have Transgressed against me; For their worm shall not Dy, neither shall their Fire be quenched; and they shall be an Abborring to all Flesh. Upon these words, the Jews write thus; ‘Is not the Finger of a man, If it be put into the Fire, immediately burnt? But God gives power [or, Being] unto wicked men, to Receive Torments.’ And Kimchi particularly does write thus. T‘hey shall see the Carcases of them full of Worms, and Fire burning in them, and yet the Worms dy not.’ The words of our Saviour have Respect hereunto; Their Worm dyeth not, and the Fire is not quenched; for Every one of them shall be Seasoned with Fire it self, to become unconsumeable. As Salt preserves from corruption, here the Fire it self shall be of such an operation, as to render the objects of it capable of being for ever tormented in it. Whereas tis added, And [...] Sacrifice shall be Salted with Salt; we may remember, tis said, [Page 78] Lev. 2. 13 With all thine Offerings thou shalt offer Salt In the former clause, the Allusion was to the Fire of Gehinnom, where Dead carcases, with other Filthy things, were consumed: a Fire for that use constantly preserved and maintained. The Dead carcases in this Prophecy, crawl with Worms, and instead of Salt, that secures against Worms, they shall be cast into a Fire that shall [...] them, and yet even in that Fire, the Worms dy not. But in this latter clause, there is an Allusion to the Fire of the Altar. He that is a true Sacrifice to God shall be seasoned with the Salt of Grace, to Incorruptible Glory. This refers to what the Prophet had said: They shall bring their Brethren out of all the Nations, for a Gift unto the Lord, as the Children of Israel, bring an Offering in a clean Vessel, into the House of the Lord. The Holy Persons, who are to be treated with that Honour, after the coming of our Lord, shall be Seasoned with the Salt of the Grace of God.

Upon the whole now, with what Praises, Oh! with what Raptures of Praises, ought I to adore the Goodness and Mercy of God, in providing for me, and Revealing to me, & Inviting and Uniting me to, that Blessed Saviour, whole Blood has Quenched that Fire of Hell, which was Burning against me! And since I have no other way to be delivered from the Fire of Hell, but by Believing on the Lord [Page 79] Jesus Christ, who delivers from the wrath to come, Lord, I commit my self into thy Saving Hands; I humbly and gladly accept thy Offered Righteousness; and I plead with God, thy Obedience to Him, as the only Righteousness which can deliver my Soul from Death. I do here withal submit unto all thy Offices and entreat that in the Execution thereof on my behalf, my Deliverance from the Fire of Hell, may be fully accomplished.

But if the Fire or Hell, be so Intolerable, what an unaccountable Madness will it be, for a man by Sin, to throw himself into that Fire? It is a proverb for the greatest Aversation imaginable; I have no more mind unto such a thing, than to run my Hand into the Fire. Alas, If any Sin, be so dear unto me, that I can pa [...]t with it no more than my Right-Hand, not my Hand only, but my whole Body will be cast into the Fire of Hell. One that was Tempted unto Leadness, o [...]d thus very significantly resist and repel the Tempter, Hold your Hand one Quarter of an Hour in the Fire on the Hearth before you, or else don't Expect, that I will for your sake burn in the Fire of Hell for ever. Truly, To Sin is to run into the most Formidable Fire: Sin is therefore worse than a Brutish Folly; in Sin a man does worse than play the Bruit. O my Soul, when I am sollicited unto any Sin, Let me set the Fire of Hell before my Eyes, and realize the hideous Condition of them that are burning in that Intolerable Fire; and Resolve, [Page 80] like one who had no Faith of this Fire in him, and yet having a price of Unchastity proposed unto him, said, No, I will not buy Repentance at so dear a rate!

Utinam ubique de Gebenna dissereretur; Non enim sinit in Gehennam incidere: Gehennoe meminisse. Chrysost. hom. 13. ad Rom.

Meditation VII.
On the And-Irons.

P. Henry.

THere was once a Prince in the English Nation, concerning whom it was thought by some, that some words which he spoke, hastened upon him the Fate that made him Speechless. Among the memorable words of that Prince, I have read, that being invited unto a Merchants House, where he saw a great pair of Brass And Irons, he had this Reflection thereupon. These gaudy Appearances of shining Brass, are not the Pillars that h [...]ld up the Fire; (as your Bishops and your Doctors are not:) but they are the little Creepers of Iron which bear up the Fire. So, it is not your Prelates which uphold the Church, but it is your inferior Ministers, which take pains in their places, that uphold it; and not General Councils, nor the Dignified Clergy. If any be offended at this Reflection of Prince [Page 81] Henry about the Fire, their Offence will signify little to his Ashes.

All the Remark that I shall make upon it, is This. Those And-Irons that are most Serviceable, are most Honourable; not those that are most Gaudy, and fini [...]ied with various Ornaments, for nothing but an useless Ostentation. It is not unlikely, That the most Useful men in the Church of our Lord, may not be those that are brighten'd and burnish'd with fine Titles, and have most of Pomp to set them off. It may be, they have rather been such as have said, Odi istos Titulos. Let my Temper, and my Station be such as may do most of Service, tho' I should have less Notice taken of me; Let me chuse the circumstances wherein I may do the best Service, tho' they should be those which may have most of Meanness otherwise attending of them: yea, though I must also therein have an heavy Burden lying on me; as on the Brand-Irons. It is possible, the Work which I have to do for the Church of God, may oblige me to a very Hot place: Lord, strengthen me to bear the Heat of all my Temptations, till the Times of Cooling do come! It is possible also, That the Name of Dogs may be thought good enough to be bestow'd upon those, who are to do this work. It's no matter, if we do so much Good, that men can't easily do well without us.

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Meditation VIII.
On the Lighting of a Candle at the Fire.

GOing this Evening, to write a short Reflection upon my Fire, it was necessary my Candle should first be Lighted, and it being at the Fire it self that it was Lighted, this very circumstance affords me something to Reflect upon.

If I compare Contention unto the Fire, I shall have Scripture and Reason enough, to justify the comparison. And now, though I hope, I shall not be a man of Contention my self, yet I would fain fetch Light from the Contention wherein I see other men engaged. Let the Heat of Contentious people afford Light unto me, and let me Learn many Instructions of Wisdom, out of their Foolish Contentions.

Whatever Contentions do happen, they may soon Teach me, What a strange Efficacy Satan has, upon Humane Spirits and Affayrs, when God shall permit a perverse Spirit for to be mingled in a Neighbourhood, or in a Nation: And, How Selfish men are, how Absurd, how Froward, how deaf unto Reason, and how little sense they have of their own Mortality, when once Passion has got the Upper hand of them in their little Quarrels, wherein they strive to get the Upper hand of [Page 83] one another. Some Light in these Evil points may do me some Good. But then there are Numberless other points, wherein I may come to be Enlightned, from the Contentions that fall out, among the Writers of Controversies. 'Tis a very raging sort of a Fire that appears in the Controversal Writings that fill the World. Now in perusing of Polemical Writings, I would have no other concern with them, except only to Light my Candle. The Adversaries, have by their being so, a sharp edge set upon the Wits, to find out, and set forth, even the whole strength of their cause. In Reading the Fiery Discourses of these Adversaries, I would critically, and accurately Examine, where lies the very nicety of the Difference between 'em, and what are their strongest Arguments, by which either side is maintained. Abundance of Light, may be gained, by an Indifferent Reader, of Books written [...]o manage a Difference. And I cannot but adore the Wisdom of Heaven, in ordering it. That so much Light is diffused through the Church of God, by the Contentions of eager and angry Disputers. God from the Corruptions of men contending about His Truth, has caused the Light of His Truth, to Irradiate His Church in the World.

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Meditation IX.
On the Warmth received from the Fire.

FOR what is my Fire Enkindled and Maintained? It is that I, with my Friends may be cherished with a Warmth from hence conveyed unto us. And actually finding the Fire to warm those that are about it, I find my Heart hereupon warm'd in an agreeable Meditation and Resolution.

By Religious Conference, a Christian becomes like a Fire to warm those that are about him; he is herein, as 'twas said concerning one of the Ancients, [...]. One great Reason, of the strange Cold upon Christianity among us, is, the Indisposition to Religious Conference, among the Professors of it; and that Cold Reciprocally becomes a Reason of this Indisposition. When we come together, we are sufficiently free in our Discourses upon any Trifl [...]s whatsoever; and it is well if they don't proce [...]d unto Censures and Slanders of the Absent: But if any man let fall'a word of Christ, and Grace, and Heaven, and the Exercises, or, the Temp [...]a [...]ions of Experimental Christianity, the silent Company seem astonish'd, as at a man of a strange Language. Alas, If Good men, when they come together, would modestly, seriously, prudently employ [Page 85] more of their Discourses oil the Grand Affairs of powerful and practical Christianity, they would be able to give a better Account unto the Lord Jesus Christ, if He should suddenly demand, What manner of Communications have you? When we are Speaking one to another, 'tis certain, The Lord hearkens and hears: and it was a significant Action of an Holy Young man, who being in the Company of some Christians, that managed their Discourses very Impertinently, he [...]observed wrote their words down in Short hand, and then reading the same over to them, said, Would you be willing to have such poor Talk as this, Entred in the Book of Gods Remembrance? Oh! That Christians would more endeavour those Gracious and Savoury Discourses, which would render them like the primitive Saints, of whom it was said, It a fa [...]ulantur, ut qui Sciant Dominum audire: and which would warm all that are about them into a more lively sense of Religion.

Lord, give me such a warmth of Piety in my own Heart, that with Words fitly spoken; wheresoever it may be fit for me to speak, I may give the Hea [...]ers occasion to say, like those Disciples, Did not our Heart burn within us while he talked with us? It was noted of the Blessed Ursin, That no man came [...]near him, without going away, Aut Doctio [...], aut Melior, either the Wiser, or the Better, for [Page 86] him. I would watch against Formality, watch against Hypocrisy, watch against all Indecency and Indiscretion in my Discourses; and yet I would aspire after this Usefulness, and such an useful Warmth in them, that I would at last be able to say; I could ordinarily be content, for to be Reproached by that man, who is half an Hour in my Company, before I have thought, whether I may speak nothing, that may be useful unto him.

Christians may be now Sitting together by the Fire side: But I have, this proposition to make unto them; Christians, Let not Religion freeze among you by the Fire side:

Meditation X.
On Green Wood in the Fire.

OBserving a Stick of Green Wood laid on the Fire, I thought on those words of our Lord, Luk. 23. 31. If they do these things in a Green Tree, what shall be done in the Dry? And I took the Gloss of the Blessed Old Theophylact upon it: ‘If the Romans may do such things to me, that am a Tree full of Sap, and Fruit, what shall not they do to you, that are a people destitute of both: If you had any Good in you, you might have been spared: but now you are [...], As a Dry Tree, fit for nothing but Fire and Perdition.’

[Page 87] The Jewes called Good men, Green Wood, and Ill men, Dry Wood: [compare, Ezek. 20. 47.] By the same Token, they have an Old Adage among them, Two Dry Sticks will soon burn up one Green Stick: Meaning, That Good men which are few, will soon find many Ill men too hard for them. I see Green Wood cast into the Fire, as often as I see Gracious, and Watchful and Fruitful Christians in Affliction: which is a Sight of daily Observation. But what is the use that I should make of such a Sight? It was a Saving of R. Solelomen, Cum Deus Judicium facit in Justis, timetur et Laudatur; nam fi in illis hoe facit, quanto magis in Impiis? Let me with an Humbling and Trembling Heart, confess before the Lord; Lord, Thy Fiery Rebukes are dispensed unto far more Holy and Useful men than I am; I adore thy Sovereignty, that such a Dry Stick as I, be not presently consumed in the Fire of thy Wrath: And I would walk in Fear before thee: my Flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgments.

When I see any thing of a Green Tree laid on the Fire, I would call to mind those words of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 4. 18 If the Righteous scarcely are saved, where shall the Ungodly and the Sinner appear? The sinful Wretches that Sin has made so combu [...]tible. And I would call to mind those [Page 88] words of the Wise man, which the Apostle had in his mind; Prov. 11. 31. Behold, the Righteous shall be Recompenced in the Earth; much more the Wicked and the Sinner.

Meditation XI.
On throwing a piece of Leather into the Fire.

ONE casting into the Fire, a bit of Leather, its moving, its wriggling, its twisting one way and another, carried some show of Sense with it: It seemed as if it had the same sense in it, which there would have been in the Creature to which it once belonged: One is ready to expect a Cry from it. A thing wholly Insensible, does in the Fire I see, put on a Semblance of mighty Sensibility.

An Hypocrite is one without a principle of Life: He is one altogether destitute of that Life, wherein God is Known, and Serv'd, and Glorified. He has no Living Sense of Spiritual and Eternal Objects. But when an Hypocrite is cast into the Fire of some Affliction, he seems as if he had some Life in him: his Prayers, and his Vows, and his Devout Resolutions, and various Devotions, look very Sensibly, when some Grief or Fear is Afflicting of him. One would think, who but a Child of God, could be so serious, and so Sensible, as we see this Afflicted Hypocrite? Oh, There's no Relying [Page 89] on the Showes, that men make in their Affliction. I will mention but one Observation to confirm it. I have often been concerned with Criminals under the Sentence of Death, having their Souls in a Fire of Agony. In this Fire, and Fright, Oh, the sorrow for Sin, and hatred of it, Oh, the hope in Christ, and love to God, and resolutions never to Sin on any Terms any more, which these Wretches have now Show'd unto me. I could scarce imagine it possible for any but Regenerate Souls to speak so sensibly well; many of these have been Reprieved, and Pardoned by the Government; but of them all I never knew two, but what proved afterwards meer Devils Incarnate. All I will add is This; If men be not Religious in Prosperity, as well as in Adversity, there is no true Life of Religion in them. They that never stir, but in the Fire, let them then stir never so promisingly, are yet alienated from the Life of God. O my Soul, Read, Psal. 78. 34, 36.

Meditation XII.
On the Fate of the Wood successively Laid on the Fire.

I Call to mind a Remarkable thing prophecied and promised, Zech. 12 6 I will make the Governours of Judah, like an Hearth of Fire among the Wood, and they shall devour all the people [Page 90] round about. Many Sticks and Logs of Wood, cast on an Hearth of Fire, seem to threaten the Suppression and Extinction of the Fire. But the Fire is not so to be suppressed; no, the Wood it self shall be consumed; and let never so many parcels of it be brought one after another, they shall all be in like manner consumed.

The Enemies of the Church, are cast by Satan, upon it, with an Intention to suppress it, cover it, bury it, and smother it for ever. But all the Enemies, whether Seducers, or Oppressors, that are by Satan cast upon it, shall be but like Sticks and Logs of Wood, thrown upon an Hearth of Fire; instead of putting out the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall be destroy'd every one of them. The Experience of all Ages, has notably demonstrated, and Illustrated this Observation; That the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been like an Hearth of Fire, unto all its Adversaries; They that have Adversaried the Church, have but cast themselves like Wood upon an Hearth of Fire: At the long run, they have put out nothing; but been themselves Devoured.

If my Friends now Sitting by the Fire side, will pursue this observation, by falling into a Discourse upon the History, that will verify it, they will fall upon a Noble Subject, and Employ themselves a thousand times more [Page 91] profitably then if they should make Slanders or Satyrs upon their absent Neighbours to be their Entertainment.

I will only add; That Governours (or persons in Authority) appearing for the Evangelical Interests, have a very particular Encouragement, in this Oracle of God. They, above others, must expect, That many pieces of Wood will fall upon them. Yet let them not be discouraged, for, They who fight against them, shall not prevail against them. Reforming Magistrates, and all Eminent Reformers, will, thro' the wonderful Providence of God, prove like an Hearth of Fire, to the Wood that goes to keep them under.

Meditation XIII.
On the Miracle of the Son of God appearing in the Fiery Furnace.

Quanta est credentum Gloria Flammis,

Ardentis Fidei restincta est flamma camini!

Sedul.

WHen I Sit by a very Strong Fire, and see and feel the Terrible Glowing of it, I call to mind the most memorable Story of the Three Worthies, who, because they would not worship Nebuchadnezzars Golden Image, (perhaps a remembrance of the Image, by which the Four Monarchies has been in his Dream represented unto him) were cast into [Page 92] a Fiery Furnace, made seven times more Fiery than ordinary: But, behold! The astonished Emperour, observing the effect of his own cruel Edict, cried out, Lo, I see Four men loose, walking in the midst of the Fire, and they have no Hurt; and the Form of the Fourth, is like the Son of God. If any ask, where was Daniel himself at this time, that he should bear no part in the Miracle? I find this Question ask'd in the Jewish Talmuds, and one Answer there given, is, That he was then sent into Egypt, upon a public Negotiation. But now, while I behold the Fierceness of the Fire on my Hearth, [or in the Stove] Heated beyond what is use to be, and how Unhabitable, and Intolerable a place, the midst of that Fire is, I will a little Divert my self with a Meditation, on the Miracle thus wrought in that Fiery Furnace, where the Three Martyrs, as the Apostle speaks, Heb. 11. 34. Quenched the violence of Fire. And here in the first place, I cannot but Enquire, Whom did the Chaldean Emperour understand by, The Son of God, when he so called the Illustrious person, that he saw in the midst of the Fire? Now, for the satisfaction of this Enquiry, I am informed, That the Learned Gentiles of old, illuminated with such a Tradition from the Jews, had some Apprehensions, not only of One Supream Deity, but also of a Trinity in this Deity. The Chaldeans particularly had some rude Apprehensions [Page 93] of this Mystery, and their King was doubtless well versed in their Mysterious Doctrine. Pythagoras that Lived among them, owns it: and the Oracles of the Chaldoeans, the [...] mentioned by Hierocles, Damascius, Porphyrie, and other profess'd Pagans assert. That the World was made by Three, and that a Trinity, whose Head was an Unity Shines thro' all things. The Names by which they distinguished the Three, in this Trinity, were, Oromasdes, (whom they expresly call'd, The Father, which implies, A Son,) and Mithras, (which they sometimes called, Mether, & Mather,) & Arimanes, (which they also called Armianius,) on each of which they look'd, as on God Almighty, & the Creator of the World. Antiquity assures us, That from the Mithras, (whom they styled, The Second Mind) the Persians did use to call any Mediator by that very Name. I will not recite here, what notable hints we find in Plutarch particularly, concerning these things. I hasten to add, They often understood the Sun by Mithras; but then they had yet an higher Notion of him, as, The Maker of all things, and therefore of the Sun it self. They distinguished between, The Intellectual Sun, and, The Visible Sun; as 'tis evident from the Orations of Julian, who calls the Second in their Trinity, by the Name of, The Sun. Compare Mal 4. 2.] They fancied the Sun to be the Representation of that Second, as the Fire [Page 94] to be the Representation of the Sun. 'Tis probable, That Nebuchadnezzar in his Image did represent the Sun, the usual Idol of the Babylonians; & that the Representation might be the more compleat, the Fire of an horrible Furnace (devoted unto the Service of that Idol) was added hereunto. Those that would not worship the Sun, the Idolaters of those Ages, did use to cast into the Fire: and the Jews tell us, that Abrahams coming out of Ur, was his being delivered out of this Fiery Trial. Such a Fire was now near unto the Image Erected by Nebuchadnezzar; and probably the Idolaters, would have them to be worship'd Both together: for which cause the Three Confessors here answered, We will not Serve thy Gods, in the plural Number. Now Nebuchadnezzar seeing in the Furnace, a Fourth, who was of a glorious Appearance, a Transcendent Majesty, a Countenance more than Humane, he might imagine, That this was most likely to be the Intellectual Sun, the Second Principle of their Trinity; whom his Country men, as Porphyrie in the Life of Pythagoras tells us, held for to be like Light without, & like Truth within; and the Mediator between Spirit and Matter. Hence, 'twas very Natural for him to cry out, The Form of the Fourth, is like the Son of God. But lest it be thought, that the glare of that Fire has dazzled me, I will now pass on to observe, what [Page 95] it is that preserves, and supports, and upholds the people of God, when they are cast into the most Heated Fire of Affliction: It is the Special Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by His Holy Spirit, wonderfully visits the Hearts of His Children, when they are in the Hottest Fire of Affliction, and especially when their Affliction is that of Persecution for their Fidelity to their Lord. It is one of His promises, Isai. 43. 2. I will be with thee; when thou walkest thro' the Fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the Flame kindle upon thee. Our Lord Jesus Christ being thus present with His Faithful Ones, by His Holy Spirit, applying His Promises to them, & injecting of Divine Consolations into their minds, they don't feel the force of the Fire, they are as if nothing ail'd them, & they Enjoy more of true Liberty, than if they were out of the Furnace. The Divine Consolations of the Martyrs, are the wonder and the proverb of Christianity: The Martyr Books are filled with amazing Instances. We find some of them, Triumphing in the midst of horrid Flames; and I have had the pleasure to be acquainted with a French Protestant, who from the midst of a thousand inexpressible miseries, at the bottom of a doleful and a dismal Dungeon, in France, wrote this among very many charming passages to his Wife, then in this Countrey, ‘My Soul is swallowed up in a [Page 96] River of chaste Delight, in the midst of all the Evil they make me to suffer; the thought of the Divine Goodness, is so much the more sweet, in that God causes it to be frequent, and sensible, to the forcing of my very Flesh to Glorify Him with Joy. This is what cannot be comprehended unless experienced.’ This my Excellent Friend, being Encountred by the French Priests, told them, Syrs, I would not change the pleasures of my Dungeon, for all the Glories of the Louvre. Get me burnt at a Stake as soon as you can, and you shall see me in the midst of the Flames dy Singing the praises of God. Being strangely delivered by means of the English Embassador, he after wards lamented unto me, That he wanted the Joys of his Dungeon, and he longed now to Dy, that he might go to the Joyes of Heaven. This, This 'tis, O my Soul, to have a Christ with us in a Furnace.

Meditation XIV.
On things not consumed in the Fire.

THE most of those Things, that be Arrested by the Fire, I see Consumed in it. But I see some Things, as Alumen Plumosum, and especially Metals, and most of all, that King of all Metals, Gold, outlive the Force of the Fire. Some of my Gold Rings fallen into the Fire, were after long lying there, taken [Page 97] out unwasted. This leads me, to a Meditation, & Illustration of a passage in, 1 Cor. 2. 12, 15. If a man build upon this Foundation, Gold, Silver, Precious Stones, Wood, Hay, Stubble; every mans work shall be made manifest: For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be Revealed by Fire; and the Fire shall try every mans work, of what sort it is. If any mans work abide, which he hath built thereon, be shall receive a Reward. If any mans work shall be Burnt, he shall suffer loss.

We are to suppose a stately Edifice; the Walls whereof are of Marble and precious Stones; the Pillars are partly of Gold, and partly of Silver; the Boards are of choice Wood. Tho' the Roof of such an Edifice, do not use to be Thatch'd with Hay and Stubble, yet such may be the Fault of the Teachers in the Churches, as to make it so.

Now the Work, that men have thus been doing about the Doctrine of Christianity. The Day shall declare it.

Tempus cuncta docet, quo non est certior Ignis.

And, It shall be Revealed by Fire. Houses in length of Time, use to be seized by Fire, either thro' Chance, or War, or Lightning from Heaven. And then the Gold that is about such Houses, is utterly incombustible; the other Materials do more or less Resist the [Page 98] Fire; but the Hay and Stubble is presently burnt up. A Fire shall come upon the Doctrine of Christianity, that has been taught in the Churches. What Fire? 'Tis a gloss of Grotius upon it; Incendio respondet Lux quoe ab Ecclesiis omnibus uni Ecclesioe Laberanti allucet. God will One Day stir up His Churches, to Examine the Doctrine of Christianity that has been taught among them. Where Teachers have taught things agreeable to the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall Receive a Reward, and be Honoured in all the Churches of the Lord. Where Teachers have taught such Ill and False Things as they did at Corinth, they shall be Censured in the Churches of the Lord, and it will be with Difficulty (as out of a Fire!) if ever they arrive unto the Eternal Salvation of their Souls.

And now, O my Lord Jesus Christ, I make it my earnest Prayer unto Thee, That if thou Accept me, and Employ me, to write Books for the Service of thy Churches, Thou wouldst mercifully preserve me from writing any thing, that will not Endure the Fire. Let me never Advance any thing as a Doctrine of Christianity, that shall be Hay and Stubble; but what shall remain Eternal Gold, after the most Critical, Accurate, Exquisite, and Fiery Examination of it.

[Page 99]

Meditation XV.
On the Torment of the fire.

I Do not Approach to the Fire, so near as to meddle with it, without being made sensible, That the Torment of being Burnt in the Fire, is very Terrible; perhaps no Torment so very Terrible! Being sensible hereof, I cannot but give Thanks to God, for preserving me and mine, from the painful Affliction of being scorch'd in the Fire; which is an Affliction, that from one Disaster or another, men do often fall into. But then, I do also with Astonishment call to mind, the Courage of those Martyrs, who have courageously and cheerfully undergone the Torment of Burning, for their Faithfulness to the Truths and Wayes of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was of old said, Isa. 24. 15. Glorifie ye the Lord in the Fires, even the Name of the Lord God of Israel in the Isles of the Sea. Truly, in the British Isles of the Sea, more than on any part of the Earth beside, there have been called forth Martyrs, in the strictest sense, to Glorifie the Lord in the Fires. The popish and monstrous Figment of Transsubstantiation, and the Abominable Doctrines depending on it, was formerly endeavoured there to be thrust down the Throats of Good men with Burning Five brands. That Sham [Page 100] Law, De H [...]eretico Comburendo, tied many Hundreds of Godly persons, of both Sexes, of divers Qualities, & of all Ages, to the Stake. And I would now Glorify the Lord, for the Grace and Strength with which His Holy Spirit inspired those Blessed Champions. It was a wonderful Operation of the Holy Spirit, on the minds of those brave Christians, That rather than they would pollute their Souls, by Denying the Evangelical Truths, wherewith Heaven had illuminated them, or by practising the Antichristian Wayes of Idolatry, they would Expose their Flesh to all the horrible Torment of Burning to Death. Certainly, these Heroic Souls had a very powerful Fear of the Divine Anger, to avoid which they were not Afraid of the cruel Flames; and certainly, they had a very powerful Faith of their own Resurrection from the Ashes, & of a State of Heavenly Blessedness both before and after the Resurrection, or they would not so cheerfully have gone to the Flames that made Ashes of them. The Martyr Bilney, the Night before his Burning, thrust his Finger into the Fire, to try whether it could be born or no. Now I am Sitting before my Fire, I am Trying, whether I should be able to bear Burning for the Cause of God. Lord, I cannot, I cannot! except thy Spirit strengthen me: But, O Omnipotent Spirit, thro' thee strengthening of me, I can do all Things, And I do also [Page 101] think, 'Tis Better to Burn for the Sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, than to incur the Fate of that Apostate, who gave that as the Reason for his Apostasy, I cannot Burn, I cannot Burn! and behold he was quickly Burnt unto Death in his own House casually Fired over his Head. Nor may I forget the words of the Martyr Hooper the Night before be dyed: When I think of the Fire. I begin to be afraid, for I fear how the Fire will burn; but when I think of the Fire of Hell; the Fear of Eternal Fire, makes me willing to Endure a Temporary Fire! While I adore the Almighty Spirit, Which possessing of the Martyrs, carried them forth unto this Elevated pitch of Christianity, I cannot but make some Reflection upon another Wonder, which is also to be ascribed unto a Possession of the same Spirit of God, and of Glory When the Martyr Hawks gave to his Distressed Friends, a sign that he found the Flames to be Tolerable enough, it presently turn'd their Distress, into a Rapture of Admiration and Satisfaction. But then, with what surprize must one have heard the Martyr Baynham in the Flames cry out, I feel no more pain, than if you strow'd Roses under my feet! Indeed some of the Martyrs, especially Hooper and Ridley, (who had once been too Fiery in their treating one another,) felt Anguish enough in the Fire. But some of them it seems had such an Efficacy from Heaven [Page 102] upon them, as to render them almost insensible of any Anguish there. This was the Lords Doing, and it should be marvellous in our Eyes!

Nil crus Sentit in Nerve, cum Animus est in Coelo. Tert.

Meditation XVI.
On the Burning Bush,

WHile I Sit by a Fire, where I see one piece of Wood after another Consumed, I call to mind a memorable point of History, which the Renowned Moses, that First-born of all Historians, whom even the Pagan Writers of After-Ages, do celebrate for A man of a great Soul, has left upon Eternal Record; and whereof Moses was an Eye-witness, himself. If I should see the Wood on my Fire, one Hour after another not consumed, I should with Astonishment call it, A Great Sight. But the Church of Israel, was to receive a famous Deliverance under the Conduct of Moses, one of the first things that Entertained that Eminent person was This; Exod. 3. 2. The Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a Flame of Fire, out of the midst of a Bush; and be Looked, and, Behold, the Bush burned with fire and the Bush was not consum [...]d.

[Page 103] Our Moses was now on a Mountain, which had Bushes naturally growing on it; and one of those Bushes Exhibited unto him, in those amazing circumstances, did represent the State of the Church, which was then a Bush in the Fire of sore Distresses, but was to out live all the Flames of this Distressing Fire.

Indeed the Ancients considered an Higher Mystery in this Burning Bush; They considered it, as a Figure of the Messiah, wherein the Bush of His Humanity, is possessed, and yet not consumed, by His Divinity, which is, A Consuming Fire. Thus 'tis Gregories gloss upon it, Per Succensum Rubum ostensum est, quod ex illo populo exiret, qui Igne Deitatis carnis nostroe Naturam, quasi Rubi Spinam, acciperet; et inconsumptam Humanitatis substantiam, in ip [...] Divinitatis Flamma servaret.

But we will at present, rather take this Burning Bush, to be the Church of the Messiah; and we will now say with Moses, I will now turn aside, and see this Great Sight. The Thing which is to be seen, is This; That although the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, be like a Bush all on Fire, yet this Glorious Bush will never be consumed, but be gloriously Preserved, Rescued, and Enlarged.

The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, is on a diverse account fitly compared unto a Bush. Particularly, There is much Lowness, much Meanness, much Contempt, Commonly attending [Page 104] the Church of our Lord. It is called, A Low Tree. Tho' the Church have no less a Lustre than that of the Moon in Heaven, belonging to it; yet in outward Appearance, and in vulgar, Opinion, the Church is a poor Bush; yea, the All wise Dispensations of Heaven, towards the Church on Earth, have usually been such, that there has been room for that Complaint, We are brought very Low. The Church is therefore in the Visions of Zechariah styled, A Myrtle grove; a Myrtle is but a low and a mean sort of a Shrub. As the Church has but low and mean thoughts of it self, and the Members thereof do not aspire to be in Worldly Grandure, like the proud Oaks of Bashan, so Worldly people have but low and mean thoughts of the Church, and look upon it, like the proud King, upon, The Thistle in Lebanon.

Again, 'Tis a Dangerous thing, for any to fall foul on the Church of our Lord. The Bush wherein there was given a picture of the Church, was one, as the Hebrew word intimates, that had prickles on it: And we are told by Travellers, the Bushes thereabouts, are so prickly, that if a Bird Light on one of them, he can hardly scape without a Deplumation. This we may be sure of; They that go to wrong the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, will find it a prickly, tearing and wounding thing. Indeed, it is not the Disposition of them [Page 105] that are the genuine Children of the Church, to do Hurt for Harm; and much less to be, as Thorns, which the man that shall touch, must be fenced with Iron, and the Staff of a Spear. But it is the happiness and priviledge of the Church, that through the jealous Care of God concerning it, its Adversaries do not find it safe to meddle with it; its Motto is, Nemo me impune Lacessit. A certain little Benjamite, was once Ravening like a Wolf on the Church of our Lord; but he was told from Heaven, That he was kicking against the pricks. Many a man sets himself to molest the Church of God; he thinks, He'll handle them without Mittens! But those fool hardy creatures procure miserable Scratches to themselves, by what they do. All that have hitherto gone to damnify this Bush, tho' as big men, as Pharaoh, or a Senacherib, the Bush hath scratch'd them to Death; yea, the Almighty God has taken this Bush and scourg'd its Adversaries to Death, with its Tribulations. Vain men! Lay Hands on this Bush, if you Dare: Consider what you do; 'Twill tear you to pieces, and there shall be none to deliver you.

But we past on to observe, That the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a Bush on Fire: Lord, preserve me from ever adding Oyl unto the Flame! For, first, there is the Fire of Affliction, which the Church of our Lord must Encounter withal all Affliction is compared unto [Page 106] Fire; but especially, an Affliction by the Judgments of God rendred Epidemical: which sets people on Fire round about and burneth them: And most of all, Persecution; wherein men are Scorched, and Fall by Flame. Now, the Name of the Church all along hath been, O Thou Afflicted: And there never was a Time, wherein they that would Live Godlily, did not in some respect or other, Suffer Persecution. The Church must not, think strange of a Fiery Trial. If I am never so little a Twig of the Burning Bush, I must have the Sanctifying Fire of Affliction on my Enjoyments; I must at last Fly into Heaven out of such a Fire, if ever I would Enter into Life. There is also the Fire of Contention, wherein the Church of our Lord is too often Embroiled. When a Strife arises any where, there is a Fire in that Strife. There is a certain Heat of Spirit, and an Heart-burn, enkindled among those that Quarrel with one another; and in their Lips, there is as Burning Fire. Alas, for the Flames, that have all along Raged in the Church of God! The scandalous Contention, that hath set the Church on Fire in every period! We cannot all see with the same eyes; and God for Holy Ends, has left His people to buffet one another in the dark. I am sorry to say it, but it is too notorious to be denied, (and the Jews themselves have taken so much Notice of it, as to pretend, that this [Page 107] is one thing that prejudices them against Christianity) the Church has generally been under the Reproach of that wretchedness, Thro' the Wrath of the Lord of Hosts, the Land is darkened, and the people shall be as the Fuel of the Fire. Old Adams World must have Thorns in it: and that we may remember, we are not arrived unto the Second Adams World, the Church must have its Thorns, in the Treats, which we rashly give to one another. Yea, the Bush of the Lord has been, in its Dayes of Temptation, too like a Bramble bush, from whence a Fire has gone forth to devour the Cedars of Lebanon. In the Primitive Church of the New-Testament, how early did the Apostles complain, I hear there are Divisions among you! It was not long before they fell to Haereticating and Excommunicating one another; and the Schisms arose, that Burn, like the unquenchable Fire of Hell, to this very day. Even in the Church of the Reformation, how many Divisions have arisen, which have been managed with so much Fire, that as the Jesuite writes, concerning the Books of the Lutherans against the Calvinists, You would think you saw, not men, but so many Devils engaging one another! Lord, make me a man of a cool Spirit, and, Libera me ab implacabilibus Theologorum Odijs.

And now, Let me behold the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Bush not consumed, but gloriously preserved in the midst of the Fire, [Page 108] and give to the Churches Lord, the Glory of its preservation. It is de facto, sensible unto us, That our Lord has at this day a Church on Earth, yea, this Church has been in some degree always visible. I would, behold this great sight, with raptures and wonders, and thousands of Praises to that Lord, of whom having obtained Help the Church continues to this day. But why is not the Bush consumed? When the Bush was once all on a Light Fire, it gave this Account of it, It is of the Lords mercies, that we are not consumed. The presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, with His Church, is the Churches grand preservative. When the Burning Bush was not consumed, we read, there was, The Angel of the Lord, in that Flame of Fire. It seems to have been, that Angel, who is, The Lord; even our Lord Messiah Himself; an Angel, whose Name is, Jehovah, and, I am that I am, There is no Fear, the Church will be Consumed. so long as it has the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Safeguard of it. We read, of, The Good will of Him that dwelt in the Bush. I would sing of that Good Will, as the First Cause, why the Bush is not consumed. This Bush we have an order to Sing unto it, as unto that Vine, I the Lord keep it! I will keep it night and day. The Church is no other than that Number of men. Whom God the Father has given unto the Messiah, to be the Spectators, and Partakers of His Glory. [Page 109] The Spirit of the Messiah is therefore, always at Work, to maintain this Church of His; and can it be lost? No; All the High Trees in the World, have been and shall be consumed, but,O Bush of the Lord, Thou shalt Endure, and thy years shall have no End. Why, Because thy Lord Himself Endures: The Name of the Bush is Jehovah Shammah. And, Si nos ruimus, ruit et Christ us.

But then the Angels of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, are the Guardians of the Church, & the Instruments of preserving it. They were on Mount Sinai, and are on Mount Sion! Tho the Angels are Seraphims, or Burners, they help to keep the Bush, that it shall not be Burnt. A notable piece of the Bush, namely, Daniel, had been Consumed; if it had not been for Angels. Though the Bush be among Lions, that would pull it up by the Roots, and may say, I ly among them that are set on Fire, yet the Angels defend it. The Burning Bush is not consumed, because the Angels of the Lord Jesus Christ, are a Wall of Fire about it: Hezekiah saw once, what one Angel was able to do: One Angel gave Daniel to see him do great Things for the Bush. Did not an Angel once hew down an huge Tree, that hurt the Bush! And what can't the vast Legions, and Armies of those bright Spirits do?

I would no more then, be discouraged; but Hopefully and Joyfully Believe, That the [Page 110] Church of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be still preserved. Uzziahs unbelief about the Ark I would not admit about the Bush. No, I expect, That the Burning Bush will very quickly become a Tree, the Heighth whereof will reach to Heaven, and the sight thereof to the End of all the Earth. Most certainly, The Day is at Hand, where the Bush of God, will take deep Root, and fill the Earth; Hills will be covered with the Shadow of it, and the Boughs thereof will be like the Goodly Cedars But then 'tis also to be expected. That the Implacable Adversaries of the Burning Bush, will be them▪ selves consumed, by the Burning Wrath of God. That incombustible thing, The Church of the Lord shall be taken out of the Fire; but let some in the World be assured, there will remain for them a fearful expectation of [...] fiery Indignation that shall devour the Adversiries.

Meditation XVII.
On the Kindling of a Fire in the Lords Day.

If Works of Necessity and of Compassion, may be done on the Sabbath, which is a Day set apart for the Services of Religion, and not allowing Servile Offices to be done upon it; the Kindling of my Fire this Day, which is our Christian Sabbath, altho' it were done for the Relict of my Flesh, is not to be Numbred [Page 111] among the Works of the Flesh: If there were a Necessity of my Attending the Services of Religion this Day, there was a Necessity of my defending my self by a Fire against the Cold, that would else have crampt those Holy Services: And while I am Engaged herein, such is the Compassion of the Lord, who will have Mercy rather than Sacrifice, that He permits my Interior to treat my Exterior, with the Compassion of a Fire provided, without which my Sacrifice had been that of a Fool. But if it were proper to Kindle a Fire, on the Sabbath, I am sure, it will not be less proper to Employ and Apply my Fire unto the Sacred purposes, which are most of all proper to the Sabbath; and let the Fire kindle in my Soul, those Thoughts, by which the Sabbath will be Sanctifyed.

Now the first Entertainment, offered unto my Thoughts on this occasion, is, that prohibition, which the Lord gave, in Exod. 35. 3. ye shall kindle no Fire, throughout your Habitations upon the Sabbath Day. I might have known, tho' Munster had not informed me, that the Jews take this precept in the Letter, & therefore Hire Christians to kindle their Fire on the Sabbath. But I remember, That the Priests were to Burn the Sacrifice of the Sabbath, which could not be done without the kindling of a Fire; for tho' the Fire which came down from Heaven was constantly upon the Altar, [Page 112] where it continued until it was Renewed in the Temple, which they call'd, The House of Eternity; yet by a daily supply of NewFuel, was that Fire maintained. The Priests were to Lay Wood every morning on it, and so soon as the Old Fire had scattered the particles which it prey'd upon, a New Fire must needs be kindled. The Remembrance hereof inclines me to the Judgment of some Learned men; ‘That the Text under consideration must not be taken in that Latitude, which at the first view it seems to have. And if it must have some limitation, it cannot better be Restrained than to what is Expressed in the Context. The Thing treated of, is, The Work of the Tabernacle. Though many Cautions had been given, concerning the Forbearance of Servile Work on the Sabbath upon any private Account, yet some would be ready to think, that work tending to the preparing of Materials for the composing of that Sacred Thing, the Tabernacle, might be lawful. For the prevention of such Thoughts, before the Description of what was Requisite, in Entred upon, this precept is laid down, That in order to any such Work, whether the melting of Silver, Gold, or any other Metal, which might be necessary about the Sanctuary, not to much as a Fire should be kindled.’

But be this prohibition understood, one [Page 113] way or t'other, as the different Inclination of mens Understanding may carry them; 'Tis evident from it, That a Sabbath is to be Sanctified. We are assured, Gen. 2 3. That from the Creation of the World, God Sanctified the Seventh Day, or commanded that it should be Separated, and Dedicated, unto Sacred Services, How? Surely not meerly be ordering that it should be kept Holy by the little Nation of Israel, twenty four hundred years afterwards. No, the Patriarchs long before Israel. did use to keep an Holy Sabbath, Even, [Heb. 4. 11.] from the Foundations of the World. And some think, that Noah in the Ark, [Gen.8. 8, 10, 12.] had respect unto such an Holy Sabbath. Very Positive is the Fourth Commandment in the Law of our God, Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy; But how often must a Sabbath Day Recur? It follows; Six Dayes thou shalt labour, and do all thy work, but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. It must be One Day in Seven; but the Specification of which Day, must be Left unto the Lord our God: the Commandment refers no more to the Saturday Sabbath, than to the Sunday Sabbath. There is cause to suspect, That the Weekly Sabbath was utterly lost, among the Israelites, in the Time of their Egyptian Captivity and Idolatry; and by consequence, that the true Seventh Day from the Creation, could not easily be Recovered, [Page 114] for do but Read the Stromes of Clemens Alexandrinus, and you will be satisfied, That no Nation but Israel, for many Ages after the Dayes of Moses, had any such measure of Time, as that of Weeks, among them, When the Great Lord of Time, Revived among His People, the observation of an Holy Time unto Himself, in a Weekly Sabbath, it was the Seventh Day, from the Falling of Man [...] in the Desert; and from thence forward, the Seventh Day as often as it recurred, was to be the Weekly Sabbath, in the Church of God; until the Coming of Him, in whom the Man [...] hath its Antitype. The Sovereign Lord, who hath Honoured the Number Seven, with Great Mysteries and Periods running upon it, hath required a Seventh part of our Time to be kept Holy unto Himself. But our Lord JESUS CHRIST, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, and of that Grand Millennial Sabbatism, whereof our Weekly Sabbath, is a praefiguration, hath directed us, now to keep for our Weekly Sabbath, another Day, even the Day following that which the Israelites were directed unto: and we are not sure, that those Learned men are mistaken, who think, that this our Christian Sabbath, is the true Seventh Day from the Creation. Our Lord Jesus Christ lay in His Grave, all the Day of the Jewish Sabbath, and in that Grave it was Buried for ever; His Rising out of His Grave, [Page 115] on the Ensuing Day, gave us another Day for our Christian Sabbath, which is a Figure of that Millennial Sabbatism, that is to arrive at the Resurrection [...] the Just. [...], (which name signified [...] Beggar,) and his Disciples, would have [...]ept the Primitive Christians, in Bondage to the Observation of Dayes, besides Months and Times and Years; which Dayes can be interpreted of none but the Sature dayes, which were the Choicest of all Dayes among the Jews, and as Phil [...] calls it. The Queen of Dayes: And which above any Dayes held them in a Degree of Servitude unto infinite Niceties: Now our Apostle most agreeable tells the Galatians, [Ch.4. 10.] That this war to Turn again unto Beggarly Elements. The Jewish Treatise, Of the Sabbath, Enjoyned the keeping of Saturdayes but our Apostle says to the Colossians, [Ch. 2. 16.] Let no man judge you from that Section, or condemn you, for doing amiss in your not keeping the Jewish Sabbath Dayes, as well as their other Holidayes. But what? Are we then at Liberty to observe no Sabbath Holy at all? An Holy Soul, would count that Liberty, a cursed Slavery, tho' all the Seneca's in the world, should scoff at him for it. No; There is a Day of the Week, which the Holy Spirit hath expresly called, [Rev. 1. 10.] The Lords Day. That by the LORDS DAY, is meant no other than the same Day of the Week, [Page 116] which we now call so, we have as much Evidence, as that HMEPA KYPIAKH signifies, The Lords Day; the Evidence of Incontestable Tradition. [...]. therefore in his Epistle to the Magn [...] which was written within Eight or Ten Years, after Johns Writing his Revelation, has these memorable words, That instead of the Jewish Sabbaths, we should keep the LORDS DAY, on which our Life Ros [...] from the Dead. And this Day, can be called, The Lords Day, for no other cause but because it is to be kept Holy unto the Lord,

Well then; If it were no Fault in me, to kindle my Fire on the Lords-Day, certainly 'twill be no Fault in me, if my zeal to keep the Lords Day, be now enkindled into a vehement Flame. If the Question were put unto a Christian in the Primitive Times, Dominisum Servasts? Do you keep the Lords Day? His Answer would be, Christianus sum, intermittere non possum, I am a Christian, and therefore I dare do no other. Truly our Christianity obliges us to keep the Lords-Day; and our Christianity will either Flourish or Wither, according to our keeping of it. While I have my Fire now before me, to preserve me from chilling in the Devotions of the Lords Day, I will venture to say, The Lords Day, is as a Fire unto all our other Devotions. It is a sad Remark, to be made upon too many Churches of the Reformation, which in this point want [Page 117] still very much to be Reformed. They indulge themselves in loose Principles, and in loose Practices, about the Lords Day; and it is to be observed, That the Holy Religion of our Lord, which is this Day, most of all to be Inculcated as well as Exemplified, has by this loosness of theirs been exceedingly damnified; There is too little of the Power of Godliness to be seen in those Churches, tho' the Doctrine of Godliness be still held and preach'd among them. They have called, The strict Celebration of the Lords; Day, Figmentum Anglicanum, an English Fiction. But it is no Fiction, that England & Scotland where the Lords Day is kept better than in the other Nations of Europe, have had more of the Power of Godliness, than all the other Nations. And those other Nations, as they have broken Gods Rest, so God has broken Theirs; astonishing plagues have been disresting, and distressing of them. A Worthy Divine, as many years ago as the Dayes of my Grandfather, seeing in Print, an humble Confession of the Sins, that had brought upon Germany the Troubles then harassing of it, said, I see the Troubles of Germany are not over yet, I see no Confession of their Sabbath breaking! And the Event has confirmed it. If we would Thrive on Temporal Accounts, we shall find the due Celebration of the Lords Day very much contribute unto it. It is said, If thou call the Sabbath a Delight, and the Holy of [Page 118] the Lord, I will cause thee to Ride upon the Migh places of the Earth. It has been the Remark of some Judicious Observers, That their Success usually is as their Sabbath is, and from their keeping of the Lords Day, they can form a probable conjecture, how it will fare with them all the Ensuing Week. But much more, if we would Thrive on Spiritual Accounts, Let us be in the Spirit on the Lords Day, and our Spirits will reap an incredible advantage from it. We shall be made Joyful in the House of Prayer, by vast accessions of Light, and Life, and Joy, unto our Souls, if we duely improve the Market for such Good Things, which is on the Lords-Day held among us. What shall I say more? May I believe that word of God, Isa.56. 2. Blessed is the man who keeps my Sabbath, from polluting of it. The Sin of Sabbath breaking should be terrible to me, since I hear that Thunder once uttered from Heaven, by the God of Heaven, Ye bring fierce wrath, by profaning the Sabbath. I am now sitting by the Fire kindled on the Sabbath; but I am led now to think on a Fire to be kindled against them, who break the Sabbath: I find it threatned, Jer. 17. 22. If you will not hearken unto me, to Sanctifie the Sabbath day, Then will I kindle a Fire, and it shall devour, and it shall not be quenched.

May I then have my Heart Inflamed with an Holy Zeal, to keep the Lords-Day with an [Page 119] Exemplary Holiness. Let me on this High Day not allow my self in Low Employments; but let me Employ my self in Heavenly Exercises and Meditations; and as far as I can, let me be in the Spirit on the Lords-Day.

But one of the Meditations wherewith especially I would Entertain my self on, The Lords Day, shall be, That Sabbatism, whereof our Weekly Sabbath is a Figure, and a Symbol: Even that Sabbatism, whereof one of the glorious Characters will be, That no Fire shall be kindled on it: all War shall then cease; and there will be an uninterrupted, and interminable peace, among the people of God. Until the arrival of that Blessed Sabbatism, there will always be much Fire in the world; yea, and in the Church; Even that worst Fire of Contention. But in that Sabbatism, they Learn War no more; The Holy Spirit of the Messiah, will then marvellously possess, and instruct, and unite, His people: Yea, the Prince of Peace Himself, will visibly appear, at the Beginning of that Sabbatism, and the Sign of the Son of Man appearing, all Nations will with one accord, yield Subjection to the Father of that World to come. It is an Incomparable, and a most agreeable Sabbath Work, to be swallow'd up with Contemplations of that great Sabbatism: the Approach of it, the Nature of it. And inasmuch as it seems to Commence at the Ruine of, The Antichrist, [Page 120] whose period of Twelve Hundred and sixty years, is doubtless very near Expired, Behold, how much Fire may this Thought add, not only unto my Contemplations, but also unto my Expectations of it?

Meditation XVIII.
On the Coals.

I Know not, whether there are more Coals at this Time, in my Fire, than there are Thoughts, in my mind, which may take Fire from them. Lord, Graciously and Mercifully Touch my Pen with a Coal from thine Altar, that so it may in an Holy strain write some of those Things, which a polluted Sinner, that yet serves at thine Altar, is now for that Service Meditating.

And now, first, Methinks, I should be as loth to commit a Sin, as to handle a Coal. If I should go to take up a Coal in my Hand, it would both Smutt me, and Scorchme. I am certain, a Sin taken into my Heart, would have the like, and worse effects upon me. Every Sin is of a Filthy consequence, and by it, even the Conscience is defiled. And Sin admitted, and allowed, will scald the Conscience, at last into as much anguish, as ever the bloody hand of Ravilliac, burning with his Knife in it, suffered at his Execution. Oh, that I were now as much afraid of every [Page 121] Sin, and all the Works of the Flesh, as of a Coal to be clapt upon my Flesh. The Purest Nazarites, once contaminated with Sins against the Holy Laws of God, may have that Lamentation made upon them, Lam. 4 8. Their Visage is now blacker than a Coal. Wherefore, Let me take heed, lest I Blacken my self by the Coals, and not Abhorring that which is Evil, It is the Wise mans Disswasive, relating to the particular Sins of Unchastity, Prov. 6. 27, 28. Can a man take Fire in his Bosom, and his Cloaths not be burnt? Can one go upon hot Coals, and his Feet not be burnt? So,—Now let me by this Consideration, be Disswaded and Affrighted from all other Sins. They are so many Coals; why should I meddle with them! I remember Old Mela, in his Book, De Situ Orbis, tells of a silly people, who had not known Fire, and when they first saw it, they were so taken with it, as to Embrace it, until it horribly burnt 'em. O my Soul, Thou knowest, that Sin is a Coal; it will infalliby do thee a Damage; be not then like that silly people; keep at a due distance from such a Dangerous Evil. What a Frozen Creature am I? A principle, as cold, as the Venemous Juice, with which the Salamander does Extinguish the ardent Coals on which it is cast, [whence the Vulgar Error, of its Living in the Fire] surely hath possession of me, or else I should esteem every Sin, too dangerous a [Page 122] Thing for me to be free withal. It surprizes the Spectators, to see Jugglers, put ardent Coals into their Mouths: But is it not more surprizing, that mens mouths are filled with Offences against the Holy God! There are Contrivances, which the Writers of such Curiosies do suggest; How men may without Harm take up ardent Coals into their Hands: But I never could see it contrived, how men may Work Wickedness with their Hands & not bring upon themselves a mischief,

While I am in this Meditation, I call to mind, the parable, by which the Sins of Dishonesty, have been sometimes painted out unto us. To carry Burning Coals into his Nest, was in the issue, no Advantage to the Thievish Bird of Prey. Should I convey an Handful of these Burning Coals, into the Boxes, wherely my Papers, and the best of my other Treasures, what mad work should I make! Truly, those men, that add unto their Estates, by Fraudulence, by Oppression, by any Dishonesty, do but convey Burning Coals among all their Treasures; and what, may we foresee, will be the Issue? He gets Riches, and not by Right, He shall leave them in the midst of his Days, and at his End shall be a Fool.

And yet, there is a sort of Coals, that we may become free withal. 'Tis required, Prov. 25. 21, 22, [And repeated, Rom. 12. 20.] If thine Enemy be Hungry, give him Bread [Page 123] to eat; and if he be Thirsty, give him Water to Drink; for thou shalt heap Coals of Fire on his Head, and the Lord shall Reward thee. The Lord help his poor Servant, ever to avoid all Revenge upon Personal Enemies; but rather to Wish them, and Do them, all the Good that is possible for their Evil It were a very lamentable Thing, for a Christian who hath suffered any Injuries, and Reproaches, to manifest his Forgiving of his Personal Enemies, by making those very Injuries, to be the occasions of his Praying by Name for them, for whom it may be, he never so pray'd before. And Christianity will be further Exemplified, if we don't Shun, but rather Watch, all opportunities to show Kindnesses unto them, that have been most Unkind unto us. But how will this, Heap Coals of Fire on the Heads of of my Adversaries? If I should Answer, That then the Righteous God, will take my Adversaries into His Hand, and Revenge the wrongs done to me, with Judgments that shall fall as Burning Coals upon them that have wronged me, the Answer would be true; but I must have a care of having this Intention, in my silence, my patience, my forbearing to Retaliate. Wherefore, I will rather put a sweeter sense upon it. My Gentleness towards my Adversaries, will perhaps melt their Hearts, as much as if Coals of Fire were thrown upon them; and the Envy and Maliee, [...] which [...] [Page 124] treat me, will become as uneasy to themselves as if Coals of Fire were Lying on their Heads, and the Torment which a Reflection on their own past Baseness towards me, will give unto them, will be as bad as if Coals of Fire were vexing of them. All I shall add, is, That it is an hard Lesson, which is now prescribed unto me; & therefore, even with the ardour of Coals of Fire, I would pray, as the Disciples of our Lord once did, on the Hearing of this Lesson, Lord, Increase my Faith.

Meditation. XIX.
Upon some Dead Coals.

THough the Dead Coals on the Hearth, will not Warm ones Exteriour, I will try whether my Interiour can't fetch as much Warmth from them, as from the Living ones. I am therefore from these Dead Coals, to receive some Living Admonitions.

A Dead Coal, would first most naturally put one in mind, of a Dead man. The Extinction of a Coal, does (at least as with a Coal) draw a Picture of Mortality. And she that had but one Son, being afraid of his Death, Expressed her Fear, 2 Sam. 14. 7. of Quenching the Coal that was left. Now, when I see how much longer some Coals do last, than others, it invites me to think, how Long Lived some, in [Page 125] comparison of others, are. Since the unaccountable Abbreviation of Humane Life, unto the Term, at which it hath stood for near Four Thousand years, we see, That while some Coals are put out by thousands of Accidents, before their Time, there are men who not only Live to the Term of Threescore years and Ten, but also keep some Light and Heat, unto a much Greater Age; yea, and this although they never took such a Temperate & Accurate way of Living, as did the famous Cornaro, to prolong their Lives. Though the Countreyes where they Live most meanly and hardly, are the Countreys where they generally live the longest; and hence the Gentleman, who this present year [1700.] Published, An Account of the Islands of Orkney, mentions it as no rare thing for People there to live unto a very great Age; and that among other Instances which are no Rarities, a Gentleman is yet living at Strousa there, whose Father begat him, when he was One hundred years old, and lived until he saw this mans Children: Yet all Countreys have afforded some Exemples of Long [...] vity. To Recite the Exemples, would be to transcribe and pillage, whole Chapters, from those who have written Curiosities. I will only make just so much Improvement of this Reflection, as to say, That for the Duration of my Life, I entirely Refer it, and Submit it, unto the God of my Life, the God, who is the [Page 126] Author and Giver of my Life. So far as the Fear of God will prolong my Life, and so far as Abstinence, and Patience, will (as beyond all Elixirs they will!) contribute unto it, I am desirous to make use thereof. But, I am far from Desirous, to be so long from the Lord Jesus Christ, (where to be is by far the best of all, 7128) as I see some of my pious Neighbours are; And I am very Desirous that my Life may not last any longer than my Work. Whereas also my Broken Health Exceedingly forbids me the least Expectation of being a Macrobius, and, Non Annis sed Factis vivunt mortales, tis my earnest Prayer, Lord, let me live long in a little Time! and if I am to Dy quickly, I wish I may be worthy of that Epitaph, Diu vixit, licet non diu fuit.

But seeing a Dead Coal, I enquire, what made it so? And this Enkindles another Thought. If the Dead Coal were lying among the Living ones, it would be no longer so Dead. Lively Christians in like manner (say I) keep one another Alive, by being Together. The Company and the Conference of Lively Christians, has a mighty Tendency to keep Christianity Alive among them. A Dead, Stupid, Formal Frame of Spirit, is the usual Effect of keeping at a Distance from the Society of Lively Christians. It has been particularly found, that Religious Meetings wisely managed, have had a more than ordinary tendency to [Page 127] preserve the Life of Religion among a People. Wherefore, let those Pastors, that would approve themselves Faithful unto the Interests of Religion in their Flocks, Countenance and Encourage Religious Meetings, for Prayers, and Repeting of Sermons, and for Discoursing on the Things of God. And let them very peculiarly direct and Excite their Young People, to the maintaining of such Meetings. It will be found that the Life and Power of Godliness will be marvellously maintained by such Things, And it will be found, That where persons withdraw from the Fellowship of Lively Christians, and Forsake the Assembling of themselves together, it won't be long before the Coals goe out. May I value and enjoy the Fellowship of Lively Christians; and may I, by Serious and Modest, and Fruitful Speeches in their Fellowship, both have and give those things, upon which it shall be said, While we spoke, did not our Hearts burn within us!

Meditation XX.
On the Blowing of the Fire.

MY Fire not burning to my mind, the Bellowes (whose Name I suppose, comes from the [...] Saxon Bilig, which was perhaps from the Latin, Rulga, a Satchel) are taken in hand, for the Blowing of it, Without [Page 128] Blowing, it seems, the Fire will not Burn. I suppose it will be allow'd me, That the Fire shall be a lively Metaphor of Prayer, because it is a Divine One. In allusion to the Fire on the Altars, it was said, The Smoke of the Incense, which came with the Prayers of the Saints, ascended up before God: And alluding to that Morning a [...]! Evening Fire, it is Enjoined on the Masters of Families, Continue in Prayer. The Warmth requisite unto Prayer, and the Heaven ward motion of it, [For, What is Prayer, but, [...];] are enough to Embolden the Metaphor. But alas, what ado must there be, to make this Fire burn? There must be a deal of Blowing upon me, as by the Providence of God, so by His Holy Spirit, before by Prayer will be inflamed into a proper Ardor. This Thought falls in well enough. The Spirit of God, is by the Son of God, from whom He does proceed, compared unto the Wind, and there are many Elegancies, to favour the Comparison. There must now be a work of that Holy Spirit on a man, before it can be said of the man, Behold he prays! And He is, for that Reason styled, The Spirit of Prayer; and it is assigned, as His Office, to Help our Infirmities in that eminent Act of Religion. I am sure, There is need enough, of such a work: For I shall not see the Excellency and Necessity of the Good Things, for which I am to Pray, [Page 129] except the Holy Spirit Convince me thereof; nor shall I Exert those Graces, wherewith God in the Lord Jesus Christ is to be acknowledged when I Pray, except the Holy Spirit both Infuse those Graces, and Excite them and Assist them. We are commanded expr [...], To pray by the Holy Spirit; which if it had been a Gift Miraculous or Extraordinary, or to cease after the Apostolical Age, the Apostle would never have Exhorted All Christians to Exercise it. For any to Deride, Praying by the Holy Spirit; cannot but be very dangerously to Blaspheme one of His peculiar Operations. I wish, that my Prayers then may be such, as Nazi [...]nzen relates the Prayers of his Father made at the Eucharist, were; Made by the Holy Spirit of God And, Lord, keep me from grieving, and vexing thy Holy Spirit, by indulging my self in Sin, le [...]t He withdrawing from me, leave me under all the Calamities of a Prayerless and a Frozen Soul! But, Oh, Thou Holy Spirit, Blow thou upon this Dead Heart of mine: and, Quicken me, that I may call upon thy Name.

The Blast of this Meditation is no soener over, but another succeeds. Having only a little Coal, and indeed scarce a Coal, but a Spark, before me, to Blow, I find, That if I Blow it with Fury and Fierceness, I shall utterly Lose it. But I must therefore Blow it very Gently; and with a little Gentleness in my [Page 130] thus managing of it, I shall anon bring it into a Flame, that will be very serviceable to me.

Nutritur vento, vento resting uttur Ignis;

Lenis alit [...] Grandier Aura necat.

In this Thing I have an Admonition given me, How Reproofs are often to be managed: Even like the Bellows, with a Gentle Blast. When our Neighbours do amiss, 'tis our Duty to Advise them, caution them, and Reprove them. If the Reproofs be given with Fury and Fierceness, they will probably be lost; the Offender will Stand upon his Guard against all that we say, and be under an Insuperable Prejudica against us, as being his Enemies in all that we say. But let the Reproof be Dispensed with words of a Gentle [...]; Confess and Comm [...]nd what is Laudable in the Delinquent, use none but Living [...], and let him feel that whatever we speak, proceeds from Love, Now Perhaps, We lave gained our Brother.

I [...] a Good Saying of Seneca, ( [...] I may quote, without coming into the Plot of these Treacherous and Impious Christians, who make Seneca's Morals, the highest Measures and greatest Lessons of their Christianity.) Ut Corporum it a Animorum [...] sun [...]; soepe quod Explicavit [...], pertinacia trahentis abrup [...]u [...] est.

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Meditation XXI.
On the Flame.

To Look much on the Flame, is perhaps not Good for the Eyes; but it will be Good for my Soul, when Looking on the Flame, to think on that Glorious Lord, in the Description of whom, 'tis one Article, Rev.1. 14 His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire. Indeed, our Lord JESUS CHRIST is represented, as Cloathed with Fire. For when we read, in the Vision which the Prophet Ezekiel had of Him, From the Appearance of His Loins even upward, and from the Appearance of His Loins even downward, I saw as it were the Appearance of Fire; I do with Vitringa understand it, of the Flammeous Colour and Aspect, of the Toga Talaris, or long Priestly Garment, wherein our Lord appeared. And, Omnia Dei sunt Flammea. Accordingly, as it would put out my Eyes, if I pore too near the Fire with them, so it would be as perillous as Criminal a Curiosity in me, to approach too near unto the Divine Majesty of the Son of God; with presumptuous Enquiri [...]s after what is not Revealed: And, Scrutator Majestatis opprimetur a gloria. But that the Eyes of our Illustrious Lord are more peculiarly compared unto a Flame of Fire, This is a Thing that affords [Page 132] peculiar Instructions unto us. And there are especially two Things wherein I am here instructed. First, I am to Remember, That the Eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ, penetrate into the most secret Recesses imaginable. The Eyes of that Omniscient Lord, penetrate like Lightning, which is a Flame of Fire, into the most Remote and Hidden Corners in the World. He needs no other Light, but that of His own Eyes which are a Flame of Fire, to discover the darkest matters. Oh, let me Study to Approve my Heart, with all Sincerity, unto that Lord, who because He hath Eyes like a Flame of Fire, will make all the Churches to know, that He Searches the Reins and the Hearts of the Children of men. I am also to Remember, That there will be no Standing for Wicked men or Things, before the Eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Eyes of that Omnipotent Lord, will dart forth Judgments, like a Flame of Fire, upon those that shall oppose His Interests. Great Wrath will, as both Homer and Virgil take notice of it, produce a Flame of Fire in the Eyes. Let me take he [...]d of provoking the Lord Jesus Christ, lest He that has Eyes like a Flame of Fire, do Revenge the provocations, by shooting forth Fiery Emanations of His Displeasure.

Teach me, O Lord, always to behave my self as before the Eyes of a Lord, that hath Eyes like a Flame of Fire

[Page 133] But I may, without any Difficulty in the Transition, pass over from hence to a Contemplation of those Blessed Spirits, the ANGELS, of whom it is said, Heb. 17. They are a Flame of Fire: And this the rather, because it is also said, of Them, Zech. 4. 10. They are the Eyes of the Lord. The Angels of God, even those Wonderful and Excellent Spirits, which compose the Heavenly Host, are very fitly called, Seraphim, or, Burners, for their Flaming Zeal, as well as upon other accounts. And he that would approve himself an Angelical man, (which the Pastors of Churches, who are called Angels, are concerned above others to do) must be a man of a Flaming Zeal for God, and for His Truths, and for His Wayes, and against the Sin that is Offensive to Him. 'Tis very certain, That there are Good Angels, even Rational Substances, which are Spirits, that were made by God, in the Beginning of Time, for His own more special Service and Honour. This is doubted by none, but men under an horrible possession of the Evil Ones. That there are Evil Angels, we have had among our selves more than Mathematical Demonstration; and this is an Irrefragable Demonstration, That there are Good Ones too. Tho' Moses do not expresly mention the Angels, in his History of the Creation. yet the Repetition of that History in the Hundred and Fourth Psalm seems to make an Express [Page 134] mention of them. Indeed, the Nature, the Office, the Degrees of Angels, do come on to our observation, by slow Degrees in the Book of God. The Story of the Bible is carried on Two Thousand years, even as far down as the Dayes of Abraham, e're we find any Angels visibly Exhibiting themselves unto the World. The Coming of the Messiah, the Lord of Angels, is in the Sacred Story, made somewhat plain, before the Angels themselves are much Exhibited in these Oracles. And possibly, towards the End of the World, the Truths concerning Angels, will be marvellously recovered, out of the Darkness as yet upon them, and more Discovered unto the People of God, than ever since the World began. However the Angels are now mentioned above two Hundred and sixty times in the Bible of God; and it becomes all that Enjoy the Bible, not only to Believe, but also to Study, with a due Modesty, the Ministry of Angels for the Chosen of God, under the Conduct of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in the Scriptures of Truth, 'tis abundantly intimated, That the Good Angels do compose an Heavenly Army, and there is a most Heavenly Order in that Army. Possibly the Order wherein the Army of Israel in the Wilderness, was disposed, might be a little imitation of it; and the Almighty God might be called, The Lord of Hosts, with relation unto both. The Traditional [Page 135] and Platenical Spec [...]ations o [...] the Ancients, and the Vanity of the Schoolmen, who are vainly puff'd up in their fleshly mind, in their Determinations, about the Angels, afford a poor Direction to our Thoughts upon them. If we Speak not according to the Testimony of the Scripture, when we Speak about the Angels of Light, it is because there is no Light in us Now the Scripture doth assure us, That there is atleast one Archangel, and the Name of that Archangel, is Michael, a Confession of the matchless Majesty in God. But some apprehend, no less than Seven Archangels, [From Rev 3. 1.] and I do my self incline to that Apprehension. There are Angels also that seem to be under the more Influences of these Leaders, who with their Leaders, are all under the Command of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, the Lord of Glory. Yea, there are Multitudes, vast Myriads and Millions of them: An Innumerable Company. If the Saints of God, who are to fill up the Room left in Heaven, by the Fallen Angels, be a Great multitude, which no man can number, what may we [...]ustly suppose the Number of the Good Angels? The Bad Angels are so many, that sometimes a Numerous Crue, have been at Liesure to vex one miserable man How Numberless then may we suppose the Good Angels, from whom these are but a Crue of Deserters and Revolters? When our Lord spoke of His Father sending [Page 136] Twelve Legions of Angels, it was not because His Father had no more; but only because there was none but Himself, and His Eleven Disciples, to be then protected, and a Legion a piece, every one would own, was Protection enough. Now a Legion according to Vegetius, did consist of 6100 Footmen, and 726 Horsemen, Here then are supposed more than Fourscore Thousand Angels. But indeed, There are Thousands of Thousands! And so many, that without making any Breach, upon that vast Congregation of Angels, which are Day and Night about the Lord in His Temple, every Elect person may have at least One Angel, (whether always the same, or no, is questionable) by the special Deputation of Heaven, to be with him, Defend him, Direct him all the Dayes of his Pilgrimage. The Scripture is plain, for their having Their Angels; and the Church of God in the First Ages, were fully of this Opinion. Well then, If I give Thanks to God, for the Benefits which I receive in the Flames on my Hearth, what Thanks do I owe unto God, for these Heavenly Flames of Fire, which are the Ministers, from whom His Faithful Servants do receive inestimable Benefits? The Good Angels, consider, That their Everlasting Lord is a Man, yea, that it is a Man United unto the Second Person in God, and Lying in the Bosom of the Infinite God for ever: and that [Page 137] the Welfare of man, is a thing full of Satisfaction to that man, who is God as well as man, Accordingly, at the Command of the Lord Jesus Christ, they Fly swiftly, like Flames of rapid Fire, to do for His people, those Good Offices, About which they will more fully inform us, when we shortly a [...]tive among them. There are many Evil Disasters, [...]en as many as Jobs of old, whereto we should be Exposed, if there were not the Angels of the Lord Encamping about us. How comes the Church in general to be Preserved? The Lord of old promised, A Wall of Fire; The meaning of That is, A Guard of Angels. They put many Good Notions, and Good Motions into our Minds, dissolving therewithal the Enchantments of the Wicked One, that else would be too hard for us. They prevent our Sinning against their and our Good God; and rate off the Lions that would else make a prey of us. They comfort us in our Dying Hours, and at our Death, carry off our Souls unto Paradise, in spite of the Efforts of the Prince of the power of the Air to imprison us; and at the Resurrection, they will be in yet more inconceivable wayes comfortable and serviceable to us. The stupid Mortals, who are insensible of such Good Offices, to be done by the Angels of God, for His Children, do Err, not knowing the Scriptures, Now the Angels do not expect our Thanks, unto Them, for [Page 138] these Good Offices, but unto the Lord Jesus Christ for them. Oh, that my Heart were more Inflamed with Gratitude unto the Lord, whose Goodness has favoured us, with such Flames of Fire, to be Ministring Spirits, sent forth to minister for them. Who shall be Heirs of Salvation.

But then, how much concerned ought I to be, lest I provoke the Good Angels, and render my self obnexious to terrible strokes from these Flames of Fire. To forfeit their Assistance, is calamity enough; What will it be then, to Incur their Displeasure? They are Mighty Angels, and one of them, has before now, made Mighty Armies, and Mighty Monarchs, to fall before him; and it has been thereat cried out, Who among us shall dwell with the Devouring Fire? Who among us shall dwell with Everlasting Burnings?

Wherefore, Let me avoid all Unholiness, lest the Holy Angel; be offended at me, It is a good Note of Chemnitius, Caveamus [...]e vit [...] lmpuritate, hosce Sanctos Custodes a nob [...]s abigamus. And now, Let behave my self as under the Eye of Angels; putting this unto my Conscience when I am tempted unto any vile Thing; Would I venture to do this, if an Angel clothed with a Flame of Fire, were visibly before me. Let me also labour to be Like the Angels, wholly Dedicated unto God, alwayes at work for God, and like a Flame of Fire, in [Page 139] my Nimble Readiness to Do His Commandments Finally, Let me beware of doing any injury unto any man, that may be dear unto the Angels; lest the Angels, (and his Angel) gain Commission to Revenge it.

We read of an Angel with a Flaming Sword. It is particularly said, Gen.3. 24. There were Cherubims, and a Flaming Sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life. That which is commonly rendred Flaming Sword, is the Flame of Cutting; or a Dividing Flame. This Dividing Flame, or Fiery Division may be answerable to the Wall of Fire, which God promised by the Prophet Zechariah, to make about Jerusalem. Some Learned men of late, conjecture, That it was the Accension of some inflammable matter, about the Garden of Eden, which excluded all corners to it, until such Time as the Beauty of the place, was defaced. Now, we know, that even to this day the Countreys thereabouts, have abundance of Naphtha and Bitumen; yea, ancient Histories tell us, that in Alexanders Time, there were Volcano's there; and still the Fields there, even yet, at some Times of the year, seem all on Fire. But this matter was uncer Angelick management.

Remember, O my Soul; Thro' the Lord Jesus Christ, get and keep in good Terms with the Angels of the Lord, lest a Flaming Sword be turned upon thee.

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Meditation. XXII.
On the Nimbleness of the Flame.

I am looking after some Qualities of the Flame, to consider, with such Reflections, as may have a Tendency to encourage Good Qualities in us that are about it. And methinks, the Nimbleness of it, gets before its other Qualities, and first offers it self to be considered. How Nimbly it moves? How Swiftly it proceeds! How Swiftly it Ascends! and gets beyond its Pyramidical Bounds, into the Invisible World! The Swiftness required unto the Pronunciation of that Verse, in the Dactyls whereof an Ingenious Person, did Poetically Limn out, (or, Sound out) the Nimble Flame, [...]erne Levem Stipulam [...]repitantibus urere flammis,

Is not equal to the Swiftness of that which it endeavours to decipher.

Delay not, O my Soul, to Reflect agreeably, My Work is to move and mount Upwards, until I am carried at length, into the Upper World, where the Eyes of Flesh that have seen me, shall see me no more; and the Ru [...]e of these motions, is to be found in the Commandments of God, Let me now be Nimble in my Obedience to those Divine Commandments, and obey them with a Velocity, like that of Abraham [Page 141] of whom it was said, me rose Early to comply with the calls of Heaven, and of David, by whom it was said, I made Hast, and did not Delay, It hath been the Observation of some Eminent Preachers, That they rarely Preach with more Success, than when they Preach about the Danger and [...]lly, of mens Delay to Turn unto God. Lord, I mourn, that I have been so slow, and made it so long [...]re may Soul began to move upwara [...] I must with shame con [...]ess Nimis Sero Te amav [...]. But since I am now,by the Grace of God, what I am, let me by the most Lively Sermons and Visits, labour to Quicken my Neighbours, unto the Activity of a Flame, in their Conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me Livelily set before them, the madness of their Procrastinating, with a Pretence of Expecting, A more convenient Season.

But then, there are many Actions of Piety and Charity, which I have to do, and many, Provisions which I have to make for the Future State. Now, in all these points, I wish, that I may, with the Swiftness of the Flame set about them, and whe [...] I have set about them, with the like Swiftness, Dispatch them. For all such points, usually, Qui non est bodis, cras minus aptus erit. The Pagan Deities themselves. did not count the Snail, or the Ass, to be fit Sacrifices for them. Let me always Abhor to Defer a Duty; Behold, Now is the [Page 142] Acceptable Time! Remember, O my Soul, There are very many points, about which, the Flame now before thee, utters a Cry, like that of Jonathan to his Lad, Make Speed, Hast [...] stay not.

Meditation. XXIII.
On the Purity of the Flame.

I must not yet lay aside my Conference, with the Flame. Its Purity, which admits nothing Heterogeneous, to lodge in it, would Stir up a pure mind, unto the Remembrance, of something that is much to be Desired. So Pure indeed is the Flame, that our English word Pure, seems derived from the Greek word of the same sound, [...], which signifies, Fyre; and possibly the old Saxon word, Fyre, may be of [...]hat Original. The Flame is Pure; and, Oh, that I were so too! The Purity of the Ascending Flame, does put one in mind, of a passage, in the famous Catechisim of David;

Q.Who shall Ascend into the H [...]ll of the Lord?

A. He that hath a Pure Heart.

A Pure Heart, like a Pure Flame, will admit nothing to be lodged in it, but what shall be of an Heavenly Tendency, and pleasing to the God of Heaven. And when I Learn from the Oracles of God, of what consequence it is to have, A pure Heart; particularly, That it shall be Blessed with the Sight of God; I will no [Page 143] longer count it a Disgrace, to be, A Puritan.

I have within me a Conscience, whereof, if I make, the Flame to be a Picture, I draw it by the Light of a Proverb, that fell from the Pen of Solomon, The Spirit of a man is the Candle of the Lord. But then I read of some, Whose Conscience is Defiled. Every Sin is a discomposing of that Flame, with some Vile Pollution cast into it: And if Sin be not pardoned, and Removed, with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ cast into the Flame, the Polluted Conscience, will but Burn the more fiercely for it, throughout Eternal Ages. Oh, That I might preserve all Purity of Soul; and Cleansing my self from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, O let me keep alive a Pure Flame of Love to God, in my Heart, Purified by Faith, continually. There is a promise, which I am to plead with God, that I may obtain this Favour from Him, I will Purify the Sons of Levi.

Meditation XXIV.
On the Ascending of the Flame.

ONe of the most visible Things about the Fire, is the Flame; and one of the most sensible Things about the Flame, is the Motion and Ascent of it. But our Hissing Flame, does not move upward, without calling upon us, as the Primitive Christians, when they were beginning [Page 144] their Acts of publick Worship, did use to be called upon, Sursum Corda! or, Let your Hearts move upward! If naturally the Flat side of my Heart Ly towards Heaven, and the Sharp side of it Ly towards Earth, I wish my Heart may be turned, even turned into the contrary posture of the Flame, which I am now thinking on. An Heavenly Tendency is the property of every Godly man; His Conversation is in Heaven May I now express it, in my own Desire and purpose to labour after that property.

The motion of the Heart, is in its Thoughts, its Loves, its Hopes an its Joyes. May mine always be upward, and Heavenward Lord; Enflame this miserable Heart of mine, with thy Love, and it will be so!

But a Christian that would keep a constant Flame of Devotion in his Heart, always Ascending towards God and Christ and Heaven, cannot more effectually do so, than by filling every day of his Life, with that sort of Prayers, which we call Ejacul [...]to [...]. By the Daily and Hourly Use of Ejaculatory Prayers, a Christian may have his Heart, like a Flame, continually mounting upward, unto the Heavens, and Our Father which is in the Heavens.

Now, It is impossible for me to mention all the Numerous, and indeed Numberless, Occasions, for Ejaculatory Prayers; but if a Christian will Watchfully improve such Occasions, [Page 145] as are now to be mentioned, he will be Taught of God, how to improve the rest.

A Christian has abundant Occasions for Ejaculatory Petitions, both on the behalf of himself and of others.

The Favours of God, for our Inward man, may on many Occasions be supplicated with our Ejaculations. As now; we may take Occasions for such Ejaculations and Supplications, from the Ordinances of God. Before we set upon any signal Exercise of Religion, there is Occasion for some such Ejaculations, as That; O Lord, Assist me to draw water out of this Well of Salvation; or, Let the words of my mouth. and the thoughts of heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord. And all the while, we are in the Exercise, there is Occasion for multiplied Ejaculations. While we are joining with another in Social Praying, we may fix our wandring hearts, by annexing such a pertinent Ejaculation unto all that he utters, as, Lord, I own it! or, Lord, I ask it! When the Congregation that sat under our Lords Ministry, heard Him, (who was It) speaking about the Bread of Life, they presently made an Ejaculation upon it; Lord, give us this Bread for ever. Thus in the Hearing of a Good Sermon, a Studious Head, and a Gracious Heart, may tack a serious Ejaculation upon every thing that shall be offered. The Preacher it may be, while he is getting his own Sermon (I say not, by Head, [Page 146] but) by Heart; before he comes abroad, makes many scores of Ejaculations, thereupon, Why may not the Hearer digest the Sermon into as many Ejaculations, when it shall be publickly p [...]onou [...]ed [...]? Possibly, not one Head, and [...] Text, in all the Sermon may pais without some Ejaculation from the Soul of such a labour us Heater, Echoing back to the words of God. And when the Sermon is o [...]er is there no Occasion for us to go out of the [...], with such an Ejaculation as that; Lord keep these things, in the imagination of the Thoughts of my Heart for ever! How shall we worthily Approach to the Lords Table? Do it Prayerfully. Oh! what plentiful and wonderful Occasions for Ejaculations there! Our Meditations; it will be most convenient for us, to inte [...] mix multitudes of Ejaculations in them; In the Singing of a Psalm, yea, and in the Reading of & Chapter, would we do to purpose what we do? We may Try, whether we can't form some Ejaculation out of every Verse, as we go along.

Moreover, From all the Works of God, we may take [...] Occasions for such Ejaculations. The Works of Creation; we should [...] now and then be creating of Instructions [...] our selves out of them. A Fruitful Heart will make the whole Creation Fruitful, and fetch fine Lectures and Lessons from all the Creatures of God. But now, Dismiss not [Page 147] any of those Reflections, without some Ejaculations from thence unto the Lord. The Works of Providence: and especially those which more immediately sall upon our selves; as they come from God, so they should make us go to Him. When we see any Comfort conferr'd on us, here is a Room for an Ejaculation, Lord. Help me to Employ this Talent for thy Glory, When we feel any Trouble inflicted on us, here is a Room for an Ejaculation, Lord, Help me to Bear and Hear thy Rod.

Furthermore, We may Supplicate the Favours of God, for our Outward man, by our Ejaculations on many Occasions. Every new matter of Care brings with it a new matter of Prayer. What shall we do, but by a short E jaculation carry it unto the Lord? It would be a glorious Thing if we could Resign all our New Concerns every Hour, unto the Disposal of our God, Who performeth all things for us But it cannot explicitly and comfortably be done, without Ejaculations. And thus the Smile of God may be asked on all that we have to do. When a Servant of Abraham had some Affairs of his Masters, to look after, he had this Ejaculation upon it, Lord, send me good Speed! A weighty Question should not be answered without the pause of a preceding Ejaculation unto that Lord, from whom is, The Answer of the Tongue The Occasions of such Ejaculations are exceedingly multiplied, and [Page 148] multifarious. Yea, how often in a Day, have we Occasion to wish, Lord, Let thy Good Angels, have the charge ever me! or, Lord, my Help is in Thee, who didst make Heaven and Earth!

To proceed; It is not seldom, that we have Occasions of Ejaculations for the Whole Church of God; That Ejaculation Lord, Save thy People; or, Lord, Let thine Enemies be scattered! how often is it called for? Elder persons may ve [...] fi [...]ly Bless the Younger, with Ejaculations over them. It was no improper Ejaculation, that Joseph had ever Benjamin, The Lord be gracious to thee, my Son. And methinks, a Parent may find it almost an hard thing, to behold his Children without some such Ejaculation over them, Lord. Make, and Save, and Use this Child, as thy own for ever! And have those that are more Equals, no Benedictions for one another, to be conveyed in charitable Ejaculations? Yes, The Ejaculations that passed between Boaz and his Reapers, The Lord be with you! and, The Lord bless you! are calculated to the Lips of us all towards one another. It was the Ruse, which one prescribed unto himself, When I think of my Friend, let it be with a praying thought! Be sure; whenever we are informed of any Neighbour in any Affliction, then our charitable Ejaculations are be spoke upon it: God pitty them! &, God strengthen them! and, God succour them! these Ejaculations [Page 149] for the Afflicted, are not Impertinent Yea, while we walk in the Street, or Sit in a Room, with our minds, otherwise wholly unemploy'd, it is pitty to lose this Time. Is it not possible for us, now, to use our Wit as well as our Grace, in contriving of some Suitable Blessing, for such and such persons as are them before us, & then shape it into some Ejaculation for them, which we will never discover un'o any, but unto that God, who knows our thoughts afar off.

A Christian has abundant Occasions for Ejaculatory Thanksgivings too. May we lay hold on all Occasions, for those Ejaculations, The Lord be magnified! and, Bless the Lord, O my Soul! All the Occasions which may occur, for our Prayers, do sollicit sometimes for our Praises too. And every Dispensation of God, may be an Occasion of some Ejaculation to Him from us. The Primitive Believers, when they talk'd of their Sufferings, they did it with such an Ejaculation thereupon, as, Deo Gratias, or, The Lord be thanked! And shall not we then talk of our Enjoyments in such a Strain! When any conspicuous Mercy is bestowed upon us, then certainly we may discover our gratitude by some grateful Ejaculation immediately upon it, saying, Lord, Thou art Good, and thou dost Good! Yea, whenever any Attribute of God, is by an Effect, manifested unto us, we may by Some adapted Ejaculation celebrate [Page 150] that Attribute. Straitways then direct such an Ejaculation, as, Lord, How great is thy Power, thy Wisdom, thy Justice, thy Soveraignty, and thy Bounty!

And this is one Remarkable Expedient, whereby, whether we Eat or Drink, or whatever we Do, we may Do all to the glory of God. We may string every distinct Action of our Lives, upon a Threed of Holiness, by such an Ejaculation over it, Lord, may this be done for thy Glory.

Thus have I described a method of become a Flame, continually Shooting up towards Heaven, in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long. I must conclude it, with an Ejaculation, Lord, make me thus Angelical!

Meditation XXV.
On the Uniting of the Flame.

I See Flames ascend from several parts of the [...] near one another; yea, I see Flames [...] from the several sorts of the Fuel But I se [...] th [...] as they Ascend, they all unite. Flames do [...] and [...] Incorporate, and one can [...] Difference.

I would to God, There were as much Union among all the true Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Devotions of Good men, are like Flames ascending before the Lord Oh, [Page 151] Oh, that they were now United. I never much admired, the violent pressing of Uniformity; but there may be Unity without Uniformity. Indeed, I have read of two persons, who much maligned one another while they Lived, that when they Dyed, being together Burned in the same Funeral Pile, the Flames that ascended from each of them, sensibly divided. But I am sure, the minds of Godly men (those pure Flames!) will be perfectly United after Death, Ubi Luthero cum Zuinglio optime jam convenit. But why should they not be better United in their minds, while they are Alive? Our Prayers, are to be Flames, going up to Heaven: Union is advised in all Relations and Societies, That our prayers be not hindred. If the Great Hearer of Prayer, see His Praying Saints, Agreeing together, and, Of one Accord, in their asking of His Blessings, and all their Prayers, combining into one Flame, There He will command the Blessing. Lord, Let there be a concurrence in the Prayers of thy Faithful people; and Let my prayers be heartily and readily joined unto Theirs.

Yea, I will conclude, with this Consolation, That the Flames are more United than is commonly Believed. It was a comfortable Note of Mr. Philip Henry. ‘Notwithstanding the sad Divisions in the Church, yet all the Saints, as far as they are Sanctified, are One; One in Relation, One by Representation; Of [Page 152] One Inclination. One in their Aims, One in their Askings, One in their Interests, and One in their Inheritance. Yea, they are One in Judgment and Opinion; tho' in some things they differ, yet those things wherein they are Agreed, are many more, and much more considerable, than those things wherein they differ.’

Meditation XXVI.
On Passing through the Fire.

SItting by the Fire, I call to mind frequent passages in the Divine Oracles about, Passing through the Fire: and I call to mind especially that prohibition, Lev. 18. 21. Thou shalt not let any of thy Seed pass thro' the Fire, to Moloch. It would now by the Fire side, be Edifying and Entertaining, to Enquire after the meaning of this matter.

And in the first place, we may Enquire, Who was Moloch? Now, I will not with Selden, and Grot [...]us, and others, urge, that Moloch was the same with Saturn, the Daemon whom the Phoenicians chiefly served with their horrible Technothysies. I will not with K [...]cher say, that Moloch was the same with Mars, tho' he might have a Coptical Commentary, where the Names of all the Planets being recited in order, in the place of Mars there is [Page 153] Moloch. I will not say with Arias Montanus, That Moloch was the same with Mercury; though Malach do signify, what they made Mercury, a Messenger. Nor will I say with Cyril, that Venus was by the Ancients worshipped under the Name of Moloch; nor with Sanctius, that Moloch was an Idol peculiar to the Ammonites; nor with some others, That some certain King, by way of Eminency called so, (which Moloch signifies) tho' the particular Name of the Gentleman be now forgotten, were intended. I will rather concur with the Learned Spencer (however in the main Design for which he has Employ'd his Learning, I differ from him;) That Moloch was a Name common to all the Gods, (especially, The Sun) worshipped in the Images of the ancient Pagans. And therefore Baal, which was also a Name common for all False Gods, is promiscuously used for Moloch. [Compare, Jer. 19. 5. with Jer. 32 35.] Indeed, there is extant at this day, an ancient Inscription, which in the word, [...], brings both Names into One. Moloch signifies a King, and it imports Government, and Majesty: whereof, 'tis no wonder, if the Devil is ambitious. But it is also likely, that Malach, the root of his Name, signifies, to Worship, to Adore, to reckon as a God; for tho' the Lexicons take no notice of such a sense, yet the Ethiopic Language countenances it. Thus the [Page 154] Kings of Hamath and Arphad, are called, Th [...] Gods of Hamath and Arphad; [Isa 37. 13, with Isa 36. 19.] And Hercules, when called, [...], or Melicertoe, by the Sidonians, was originally, Melech Kirtha, or, The Tutelar God of the City.

But we will in the next place, Enquire, What was passing thro' the Fire to this Molech? Now, 'tis very certain, That some of the Pagans, especially when certain Distresses were upon them, did use an Immolation of their Children unto Moloch. [Ponder, Ezek. 16 20, 21. with Jer. 7 31. and Jer. 32. 35. There I shall see the signification of Passing thro' the Fire.] As we read of the Sepharvites, [2 King. 17. 31.] That they Burnt their Children unto Adramelech, [or, Deus potens:] and Anamelech, [or Deus respondens.] Thus, other Historians, and particularly Josephus, relate such horrid practices to have been usual among the Canaanites; whom therefore the Book of Wisdom, calls, Unmerciful Murderers of their Children. The Ambiguity of the Diabolical Oracle requiring this Rite, may have been one thing that betray'd the woful people into it. As when Apollo demanded of the Pelasgians, [...], which might signify, either, A man, or, A Torch: So very ambiguous was the phrase of, passing thro' the Fire. And therefore, the Hard Word, which the Elder Ages had understood in the Harder Sense of Combustion, the [Page 155] Later Ages, found out a Softer Sense of Purgation, for it; and they began to think, that Moloch would be content, as Tertullian speaks, Traducto Corpore Flamma. For this Februation of the Children to Moloch, two pyles were kindled, and persons were carried thro' them, in token of their consecration to Moloch. And thus tho' tis said of Ahaz, 2 King. 16. 3. He caused his Son to pass thro' the Fire; yet it seems, we find the Son surviving this Traduction; it being that very [...]ezekiah, who afterwards proved [O the Soveraign Grace of Heaven!] Such a notable Destroyer of these Idolatries. Theodoret is of this Opinion; who adds, ‘I my self have seen it in some Cities, that once in a year they kindle Bonfires in the Streets, and not only Boyes, but Men, do Leap thro' those Fires, and Children are by their Mothers carried thro' them; and it appeared a sort of Expiation.’ Perhaps, this Remark by the way, might raise in ones mind, some Thoughts upon the Rites of Bonfires in our Days; especially, when we find them so condemned by the primitive Christians; and we find the Pagans confessing with Varro, Ignem magnum transiliunt, his pal [...]libus se expiari credentes; and Ovid.

Mo [...]que per ardentes stipuloe crepitantis acervos,

Trajicias celeri strenua membra pede.

Now as the Inhumane Cruelty, and Criminal Sacriledge, of the Israelites, in Burning their [Page 156] Children, was abominable unto God; so He forbad their Dragging of their Children through the Fire to Moloch; which they did, that they might not be obnoxious to the Strokes of any Doemon, or any Ill Eye, by their native Impurities, or to Dedicate them, and Initiate them unto the Service of the Idol; and express their Worship, first of the Fire, and then of the Sun, as a God.

But could the Idolaters offer up their Children to Moloch in the Fire? O my Lord Jesus Christ; If thou ever bestow Children upon me, I will offer them up unto thee, in a Flame of Love. They shall be thine; And, I pray, that thy Spirit, as a Spirit of Burning, may purify them for thy self.

Meditation. XXVII.
On the Sparks issuing from the Fire.

BEholding the Sparks to ascend in such Number, and with such Briskness, from the Fire, what can I so readily think upon, as those words of Eliphaz, Job 5. 7. Man is born unto Trouble, as the Sparks fly upward! The first Thought, which at the first View, now naturally rises like a Spark from the Fire, in the mind of a Devout Reader, would be This; That it is not more Natural for the Sons of the Burning Coal (as the Sparks are called here) to fly upward, [Page 157] than it is for the Sons of Sinful man to run into Trouble. It becomes me therefore to live to the continual Expectation of Troubles; yea, as many Sparks do arise together from the Fire, and these do no sooner disappear, but as many more Sparks do succeed, so I must Expect a Succession of Troubles: And it will not be unprofitable for me, to consider Sin, as the Fire at the Bottom, from which all these Troubles are produced. We need not quote any Pagan Authority to prove, Natum in curas hominum genus. General Experience gives us proof Enough. Christians are Forewarned by the Lord, who was Himself a Man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs, That in the World we shall have Trouble. The Disciples of the Lord, who Dyed upon a Cross, must all be Cross bearers, no less than that famous Prince who was called, Crouch back, from his wearing an image of the Cross on his Back. Being thus Forewarned, let me be Forearmed, and not be Surprized, when Troubles of all kinds come upon me; but be prepared with Faith, and Patience to encounter them.

Nevertheless, there may be some further Glosses made upon this matter. And among the rest, methinks, that of Coccejus is a little Elegant. Sicut Scintilloe natura eff [...]runtur, sed statim resolvuntur, et in cinerem descendunt, it a ho [...]o [...]alore quidem innato ad Tempus tollitur, ut scintilla igne suo, sed eo ipso resolvitur. Man coming into [Page 158] the World, flies and grows apace up to mans Estate; his Native Heat carries him up thereunto: and the Older and further he goes, the more Trouble he meets withal; but that Heat suddenly leaves him, and he falls down Lifeless Ashes, buried in the Heap of Incinerated Mortals. This Mortality is the Trouble, which of all other, is the most certain, that Man is Born unto. This Trouble of mans falling down into the Ground, from his greatest Beauty, is ordered by the Just and Wise Decree of God, it comes not forth of the Dust, [...] doth it spring out of the Ground. That I may improve this point a little further; Alas, How Troublesome a Meditation are we fallen upon! Man shoots forth into the World, like a Spark; There he shines, and glows, and mounts as high as he can: Some show Brighter, and some reach Higher, and some last Longer than others; But all of them, are no sooner come to be of some Significancy, than they go out, and sink down, into the common Heap of Ashes. This Trouble is man Born unto; And, Lord, I submit unto it. Yea, and I have this unspeakable Encouragement so to do; There is an Invisible Spark of Immortality in the Servants of God, which at the same Time, will Fly upward, until it arrive at the Empyroean Heaven; and it never shall go out, but be turned into a Star, in the Kingdom of our Father, throughout Eternal Ages.

Indeed such is the Troublesome Vanity and [Page 159] Levity of Mans best Estate, in this World, that some (as De Dieu) thus read the Text before us; Man is born unto Trouble, and the very Sparks (not only the Fire, which, Levia Sursum secum r [...]pit, but even the Sparks themselves, are enough to) carry him up.

Nor is this all the Remark that is to be made, upon this Noted Sentence in the Book of God: For I find some to take it after this manner; Man is born to (commit) Iniquity; but among men, there are some Sons of Light, that Fly upward, and are illustrious for their Eminent vertues, and are of Heavenly Dispositions and Inclinations. Lord, Let the meanest of thy Servants obtain such a Character.

Meditation. XXVIII.
On the Fire, Endangering the Clothes of One in the Company.

A Spark from the Fire before us, had insensibly flown and fall'n, on the Garments of one in our Company; but I was, more sensible of the Danger attending his, Garments, than he was himself; and presently advising him of it, I received his Thanks for the Advice.

I call'd now to mind, that charge of God, Lev. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hat [...]e thy Brother in thy Heart; Thou shalt in any wise Rebuke thy [Page 160] Neighbour, and not suffer Sin upon him: or, as it may be read, That thou hear not Sin [...] him. When I see any Sin upon my Neighbour, I see what is infinitely worse than a Spark of Fire upon his Garments. I am sure, it is said, Isa. 9 18 Wickedness burneth as the Fire. Now, 'tis [...] a Loving and Faithful Reproof, that I am to save my Neighbour, from the mischief, which this Fire threatens to do unto him. If the person to whom I direct such a Reproof, be no [...] very far gone in Wickedness, he will take it kindly from me; and, He that Rebuketh a man, shall afterwards find more favour, than he that f [...]attereth with the Tongue. And if by my Reproof any person, be brought unto a sight and sense of a sinful Error, it will be a Reproof of Life; the Life of his never dying Soul will be thereby promoted, and God will be glorified. But if I forbear to give a Reproof, when there is a Cause and a Time for it, I shall by my silence, make the sinful Error of another man my own; and I have a Fellowship with the unfruitful works of Darkness, if I do not Reprove them. Now, the Lord help me to discharge the Duty of a Wise Reprover, when there is a just occasion for it; yea, tho' in the Gate, they Hate him that Reproveth, yet let me have the courage to do my Duty. In administring a Reproof, let my Language be winning; le [...] [...]y Address be cunning; let me manage all with plain Scripture, and let me [Page 161] Employ hearty Prayer to God for the success of it. If I see Fire on my Neighbours Cloaths, Let me not say, Am I my Brothers Keeper? And if my Neighbour give me a Reproof, let me have the wisdom to call it, A Kindness, and, An Excellent Oyl. By no means would I be, like a Dog with a Thorn in his Foot, snapping and [...] at those, who would go to take it out: for, as, He that hateth Reproof is bruitish, [...], He that hateth Reproof, shall Dye.

Meditation XXIX.
On the Sap of the Wood, forced out by the Fire.

WHen I see the Sap forced out of the Wood, by the Fire, I sometimes think on [...] Tears of a Forced Repentance. The Sacred Scriptures report unto us, the Instances both of Persons and Peoples, from whom the Every Judgments of God have sometimes fetch'd Expressions of Sorrow and Remorse for their Sins against Him. And we see it in our daily experience, That Sinners under grievous Affliction, have seem'd very penitent, and with Tears have profess'd their penitence. But the Liquor which drops out at the end of the Consuming Wood, is not more loathsome, or De [...]is'd by any of us, that look upon it, than the Tears of a Repentance, produced by the meer Torture of the Divine Judgments upon us, are [Page 162] to the God who Weighs our Spirits. The Tears of Wretches under punishment, shed only because they feel themselves punished, are none of them any more in the Bottel of God, than that wretched Water which runs from our Brands Ends, is thought worthy to be preserved by us, in any of our Vials. One Tear proceeding from a genuine, and gracious principle, of Trouble and Anger at our selves for having offended the Holy God, and of Admiration at His Goodness, in providing for us, revealing to us, and Inviting us into the Methods of Reconciliation to himself, is of more account, than a River of those that are the Fruit of meer Vexation at our own uneasy circumstances.

Meditation XXX.
On Labouring in the Fire.

SOmetimes I see a Writing, or some other curious, and perhaps tedious, Effect of Labour, thrown into the Fire; and then what becomes of all the Labour? This however shall come of it! It shall engage me in a short Meditation, on those words of the Prophet, Hab. 2 13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of Hosts, that the people shall Labour in the very Fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

The Spirit of Prophecy here foretells the Downfal of Babylon: but it looks thorough & [Page 163] beyond the Downfal of the Literal Babylon, down as far as that of the Mystical; the Town built with Blood, the City established by Iniquity, the Sorceress that makes the Neighbours Drunk, and Entices them into the Fornication of her Idolatries. The Oracle now before us, reports one special and signal character of the Time, when this Blessed Revolution is at the Door▪ And the general Importance of the Oracle, is, That an extraordinary, and an Astonishing Disappointment, shall attend the expectations of people in all their Affairs. The wrath of God, like a Fire, shall so devour the Effects of all their Labour, that when men have never so much wearied themselves, to bring about their purposes, they shall find nothing but Vanity frustrating all that they have purposed. People shall be strangely unprosperous in their most Hopeful, and most Likely Affairs, and have all their Hopes from very promising Objects evaporated into nothing.

Indeed, all the Labour wherein we do not Serve our Lord Jesus Christ, is Labour in the Fire: 'Tis but lost Labour all of it. But now even in my Labour for the Lord Jesus Christ, there are two Unhappinesses of Labour in the Fire, which I would very warmly deprecate.

First, I wish, that I may not Labour in the Fire, in regard of Unsuccessfulness attending my Labour, and so sad a Fate of the Souls under my Ministry, that they shall perish in the Endless [Page 164] and Easeless Fire, of the Divine Indignation, from whence the Smoke of the Torment ascends for ever and ever. Oh! Let not this be the upshot of all my Labour to Teach, and Charge, & Warn the Souls under my Charge; that they shall be thrown into that Fire, where they shall cry out, with him, Luk. 16. 24. I am Tormented in this Flame!

Secondly, I wish that I may not Labour in the Fire, in regard of the Unusefulness of the Things done by my Labour, and their being [...]it for nothing but the Fire We read, 1 Cor. 3 [...]5. If any mans wor [...] shall be Burnt, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved yet so as [...] Fire Bel [...]armine himself confesses, a Difficulty, thro' an Al legory, in these words, tho' this Allegory is the main Foundation on which the Papists build such Hay and Stubble, as their Figment of Purgatory. The Apostle would have Pastors careful, how they Built up their Churches; whether with such Good Persons, & such pure Doctrines, as would Endure the Fire of Tribulation and Persecution, and the Examen of the Holy Spirit of God. If they do not, their Salvation, will at best be, but so as by Fire; which is a proverbial phrase, used not only in Sacred, but in Profane Authors, [...]o signifie, A narrow Escape out of an extream Danger: As the Roman Orator says of one, Ex Judicio velut ex Incendio, [...]udus effugit: And thus Chrystostom glosseth upon this place; As One, [Page 165] who when his House at midnight, is set on Fire, wakes and Leaps out of his Bed, and runs naked out of Doors, taking nothing that is within, along with him.

Meditation XXXI
On the Wood Lying too close.

WE know, That Air is necessary to Flame. And our knowledge of it, is notably confirmed, by the Experiment of the Air [...]ump, where Gunpowder it self, cast upon Hot Iron, will only melt and not flash in the Exhausted Receiver. And possibly to this may be owing the Experiment mentioned by my Lord Bacon, That if you hold an Arrow in the Flame for ten pulses, you shall find those parts of the Arrow which were on the Out side of the Flame far more burned and blacked, when that in the midst [...] the Flame, will be as if the Fire had hardly touched it. Yea, the Divine Oracles, [for such is the Fulness of them!] do seem to take notice of this Experiment, in Ezek. 15: 4 Where, first, Both Ends of the Vine stalk are devour'd and then the midst of it is burnt. But without those Experiments, we have enough of it every day, when our Fire will not burn, because the Wood lies too close The Fire will be smothered and obstructed, if the Air have not Access unto it.

This thought invites me, in the first place, [Page 166] to consider the Necessity of Air to Life in our selves: For, tho' I am not such a Psychopyrist as to call the Soul, a Fire, yet, I see not why Life may not be called so; and without Air, we see (howbeit there have been some rare Instances of persons that have Lived Breathless for many days together; it may be, Sal Ar [...]oniack has revived the Flame;) that it will be soon extinguished. I would therefore give Thanks to the Good God, who by His Air does uphold my Soul in Life; and I would look upon it, as a very signal point of Health for me to be cautious, what Air I choose to be much conversant in; and not look to survive any long while, because none of my caution can secure me from the unseen Miasmata of the Air, which will damp all before them.

Dismissing of this Thought, I presently fall into another; Namely, That Smothered Griefs, are worse things than Smothered Fires, and not so likely to go out. If a man have any Griefs, or Fears, or Cares upon his mind, let them have Air, and they will the sooner evaporate. All will be the more Lightsome with us, if we don't let them Ly too close upon our mind. He that has any Remarkable Guilt, lying with distress upon his Conscience, let him single out some Faithful Pastor, to whom what he confesses will be as it were but confessed unto the Lord. The Reveling of the matter, and his ensuing Prayers, and Counsils, and Cordials, will be of [Page 167] a blessed consequence unto an Heart that will be Hot, thro' a Fire burning in it, until it hath spoken with the Tongue. And let him that has any other Anguish, afford Vent and Air unto it, by some Agreeable Expressions of it: The Air will be a kindness to the Fire in the Soul; and all things will be the Better, and the Brighter for an Anguish not Lying too close upon it.

Meditation XXXII.
On the Smoke.

SEeing the Smoke ascend from the Fire, I conclude from the Smoke that there is the Fire. But yet I must except against an Uncharitable Proverb, There is no Smoke but there is some Fire; by which we often encourage our selves from little Whispers of these and those private miscarriages in our Neighbours, to presume that something would not have been so Whispered, if nothing had not been committed: For there has often been a Smoke of Reports, raised from a pure malice in the first Reporters of the Lies, where there has not been the least Fire, nor Spark of any real occasion for it, in the persons Belied. Many may complain of themselves, with the Psalmist, Psal 119 83. I am become like a Bottel in the Smoke; blackened with smoaky and sooty Reproaches; tho' they have never so Forgotten [Page 168] the Statutes of God, as to give any real occasion for the Reproachful to pursue them, with their Calumnies. But leaving this Reflection, and finding the Smoke to be very troubles me and vexations when it strikes into the Room, I call to mind those words of the Wise man, Prov. 10 26 As Smoke to the Eyes, so is the sluggard unto them that send him: that is to say, 'Tis a very great vexation. But then think I; Lord, How much mayst thou be offended at me, who am the worst Sluggard in the world, about the Errand upon which thou didst send me into the world! Thou hast sent me hither, to Glorifie thee, and to Testifie unto all the Truths and Wayes of thy Holy Religion: But like a vile Sluggard, I have used shameful Delayes about it. While I thus charge my self with such Wickedness, I behold in the Smoke, an Emblem of the Condition that is threatned unto the Wicked: For we read, As the Smoke is driven away, so shall they be; and, Into Smoke they shall consume away; yea, The Smoke of their Torment shall ascend for ever and ever. That I may be Saved, from this confusion, which I have deserved, I de [...]ire to repai [...] unto the Sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ; who in the Sufferings which he underwent for me, speaks of Himself, as, Dried in the Smoke.

I remember a condition of much Affliction, is thus painted out. Isa. 14. 31; There shall come a Smoke. And when I see, the solid Wood on the Fire, evaporating into Smoke, which Mounts [Page 169] up towards Heaven, I see the Vanity of all worldly Enjoyments, livelily described unto me. May I take off my Heart from Enjoyments, that are so easily Evaporated, and not set my Heart on the Things that will flee away towards Heaven, but on the Things of Heaven it self.

Methinks, in the Smoke I see likewise the picture of Pride: For it so bad, and ba [...]e, and black a thing as the Smoke proceed from the brightest Fire, so does Pride from our brightest and bravest Excellencies: but when a man thro' his Pride is got unto the highest, all presently vanishes into Nothing Reader, Which is it, Smoke or Pride, that is intended in this Description? Sese Erigit, sed mox deficiens, quasi n [...]n fuerit, evanescit, et cum e rerum opulentia intuneseat, in altum elata, quasi Exhalans, Evaporata ac dispersa, in Nihilum convertitur.

God preserve me, that I may not be Smoaked and Smutted, with that odious Vice.

Thus, tho' the Smoke be bad for the Eyes, I have now seen something by the Help of the Smoke!

I suppose, the Smoke of this Riddle, will not now be so Thick, but that any one may see through it.

Sunt mihi sunt Lachrymoe sed non est causa doloris;
Est iter ad Coelum, sed me gravis impedit Aer,
Et qui me genuit, sine me non nascitur ipse.

[Page 170] But let the Ingenious carry on Reflection: upon each of those Articles, if they please, a their further Liesure.

Meditation XXXIII.
On the Tongs.

AMong the Instruments that are useful and needful about my Fire, the Tongs are very often taken into the Hands of them that see occasion for them; and I will now take them into mine. Our name, Tongs, and the Ancient Saxon, Tong, I suppose comes from the Italian T [...]ngo, to Hold. I will now by my Tongs, Lay Hold on a Thought or two, not improper for a Minister of the Gospel: For, It the Employment, and Benefit of the Tongs methinks I see several points, whereof every Minister of the Gospel should be ambitious.

First, If by the Tongs, things are Laid in Order about the Fire, I also find an Eminent Minister of the Gospel, professing to Set things in Order, where he comes And I wish, that I may be so happy as to put things in Order, and keep them so, in every Society, whereto I may be Related. And again; If by the Tongs, those things that are in the Fire, are pulled out of it, I find this also directed unto a Minister of the Gospel, To pull Sinners out of the Fire. I wish accordingly, That by my [Page 171] Counsils, and Warnings, and Prayers, many Sinners may be pulled out of those Everlasting Burnings, wherein they are in danger to perish under the dreadful Wrath of God for ever. But then I remember, the Metal of the Tongs, and I must thence advise my self to look for Hot work, and become Strong, and Hard, (the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, can make me so) for the doing of it.

Meditation XXXIV.
On the quick passage of the Fire, from one Object unto another.

THE Fire, I see, nimbly passes, from one Stick to another: Yea, there are several sorts of combustible Materials lying together; but the Fire swiftly takes hold, first on one, then on another, and uses no great formality in the Transition. This puts me in mind of a Thing very observable in the Prophetical Writings, and which being well observed, would be a good Key to the meaning of them; and that is the sudden and obscure Transition of the Prophets from one Subject unto another. The Holy Spirit suggested unto their minds, first the Thoughts of Writing on such or such a Subject, and then assisted them as far as was requisi [...]e in the composition. But then at once the Holy Spirit carries them, like a Spreading [Page 172] Flame, into now, and rare, and rich thoughts, and surprizing Idea's, of the Messiah and His Kingdom; and what began in a [...]ort of Inspired Reasoning proceeds unaccountably to an Extatic Revelation. The First Subject is in a manner Deserted, and upon a New Hint, the Prophets perhaps without fully understanding, or comprehending the Transition themselves, are transported into predictions or the Messiah, and characters of His Person, and Office, and Actions. Many parts of the Bible will be the better Interpreted, if we do behold them, in the Fire Light of the Observation.

Meditation XXXV.
On the Progress of the Fire.

MY Fire is now grown and spread into a large Extent; All the Wood on my Hearth is arrested with it; and if it were not carefully continued where it is, it would within a few Hours pass on to Lay my whole House, yea, the whole [...]own in Ashes. A few minutes ago, there was but one little Coal, which has given Rise to all of This Fire

Scintilla e minima quantus tibi nascitur Ign [...]!

And now, I cannot but call to mind, those words of the Apostle; Jam. 3 5. Behold, how great a matter, a little fire kindles!

The Thing which the Apostle calls us more [Page 173] immediately to observe, is. That though an Evil Tongue seems but a little thing, yet vast Contentions and Confusions are produced by this little Thing. An Evil Tongue is very [...] compared unto Fire; and it is therefore said of an Evil man, In his Lips there is a Burning Fire. The provocation given by the Reproaches and Outrages of an Evil Tongue, does greatly inflame the Spirits of men; yea, for the continuance thereo', 'tis resembled Psal. 120 4 to Coals of Juniper, which as [...] the Hottest. so they [...] the Longest of any,(they may be kept, they, [...] a [...] [...]ear together) We read of a Coven Tongue, that came as a Fire, from Heaven; but o [...] this Evil Tongue, we are advised that it is a Fire kindled from Hell; and we may conclude, that, as one sales, A Tongue set on Fire from Hell, shall be set on Fire in Hell Truly, by one rash and raging and railing word of an Evil Tongue a man may be in Danger of Hell fir [...] The Hot words of such an Evil Tongue, will set on Fire the whole course of Nature, or Diffuse mischiefs into every condition of Life. In all the Changes, thro' which we roll along, in our whole Conversation here, an Evil Tongue will Embroil our Affairs with all sorts of mischiefs; There is no Calling, there is no Action, there is no person, wi [...]h whom we can be concerned, but an Evil Tongue, would involve all in most incredible mischiefs. I will therefore make this [Page 174] my earnest [...] God Psal. 141. 3 O Lord, keep the door of my Lips I pray, That I may never [...] wrathful quarrelsome, or offensive words, do the mischiefs that use to be done by an Evil Tongue; or enkindle that Fire, of wrath, which [...] produce any Disturbance in my Neighbourhood. I know, That Great Contentions do often arise from small Beginnings: and Maxima odia ac Bella ex L [...]vissimts causis. Wherefore I would exceedingly watch against those things, which the Wise man calls, The beginning of Strife; & with watchful wisdom avoid the Least Occasions of Divisions Oh! let me never come under that character, A man given to Strife is as Fire to the Coals!

But then, there is another Observation, of a more Extensive Importance, to be made upon the Quick and Large Extent of my Fire: And that is, the wonderful Extent and Progress of many things in the World, which at first seemed some of the smallest Things in the World. If we Reflect upon Things o [...] a more Civil Aspect: was not the Load stone, and so the Compass, (invented by Flavio Goia, a Neapoli [...]an, about the year 1470.) a Little Thing? But behold, how great a matter that Little Fire has kindled! Navigation is now Improved at an astonishing rate; and the Waters (as the Bible calls, the Sailors upon the Waters) Cover the Sea. But let us carry on the Reflection, unto the [Page 175] cause of Religion. It were enough to awaken the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, unto a Timely Suppression of Hoeresies and Impostures, and (as the Scripture directs) not giving place no not for an Hour, unto them, when one sees, how great a matter, a little Fire has Kindled. Ari [...] was a little Priest of Alexandria; yet that little Alexandrian Spark soon set the whole Christian World, on a Flame: Or, as Jerom expressed it, In Alexandria una Scintilla fuit, sed quia non statim Oppressa est totum orbem ejus flamma populata est. When Mahomet, that Filthy Whore master, who could not Write, nor indeed Read, first patch'd together his Non-sensical Alcoran, and this in so illiterate a City, that instead of Paper, they were forced first of all to write it on the Spadebones of Shoulders of Mutton, who would have dream't, that it would flame out into an Empire, which in Eighty years time took in more Kingdoms and Countrys, than ever the Romans could in Eight hundred: and that when it came to decline within four hundred years, there should spring out of i [...]s Ashes, many other Empires, whereof three are at this day, the most Potent on the face of the Earth? But then, let the Churches of the Lord, on the other hand encourage themselves when they see but, A Day of Small things, in regard of the Evangelical Interests. We read, Dan 2 35. A stone becoming a great Mountain, and Filling the whole Earth. The Christian Religion Preached upon [Page 176] the Resurrection of our Lord, prevailed so far, that within a year or two, it was an Object for Persecution, an hundred and fifty Miles from Jerusalem. And in Thirty years, it was travelled from the most Southern part of Syria, as far as Rome, above two thousand Miles, and a, Multitud [...] Ingen [...], an huge Multitude of Christians, as the Pagan Historian tells us, did undergo wonderful Tortures for it: And in Seventy years, a Pagan Governour could own, concerning Bithynia, Non civitates tantum, sed vi [...]os etiam atque ag [...]os Superstitionis illius contagio pervasit. When the Time for the Reformation came on, a Monk at Wittenberg, takes offence at the Cheats he saw committed by some Sellers of Indulgences: But in less than Forty years time, hal [...] Europe was filled with Churches, which from their Protestation against the Decrees of a Popish Diet, have been called Protestants; and Protestantism so far prevailed, That Be [...]la [...]mine cried out of Hae [...]sy possessing twice seven famous Countries and Nations. It was the letting fall of one word, that gave the Original to that admirable Work of God, The English Reformation But, behold how great a matter, one Thought may lead a man into! A Bulky Book might be written on this one Observation But instead of That, I will set my self to write as many Books as I can, that may be agreeable to those glorious Revolutions which I believe, the Lord is quickly going to bring [Page 177] upon the world: because, who can tell, what may issue from one poor little Coal; How great a matter, a little Fire may kindle! Who can tell, what may come of One Sheet, in the Spanish Tongue particularly!

Meditation XXXVI.
On Trials by the Fire.

MEtals are not the only Things that are Tried by the Fire; All Bodies have their Trials in it: The Fire will discover the Nature, the Texture, and the Temper of what is put into it. And I too must come into the Fire; Grant, O my God. That when I am Tried, I may come forth as Gold.

It becomes me, in the first place, to put my self as into the Fire, by a serious, frequent, exact Self-Examination. It is very certain, That I am fully known unto that God, whose Eyes behold, and whose Eye lids try, the Children of men, and of whom it is an Assertion, perhaps more than seven times repeated in His Oracles That He Tries the Hearts and the Reins. But it is of unspeakable consequence unto me, That I know my self; and that I may do so, [...] as much consequence, That I Try my self. To be very sollicitous, in Self Examination, would be both a Sign, and a Cause, of Sincerity. Hence, as when I have the Word of God [Page 178] before me, I would Examine, Whether my Heart be moulded into it or no! So there are many other seasons especially, That of my Approaching to the Table of the Lord, wherein I would Examine, What I am! The Rules for Self-Examination are often set before us in Discourses O [...] Practical Divinity; but the first Epistle of John, is to be prese [...]'d unto all Humane Discourses, that give the Marks of a penitent and a sanctified Believer. I will not so far enlarge on this point in this place, as to recite the many Schemes for Self Examination, which I have seen composed. But instead of all the rest, I will only relate, that once I have seen the Fire thus made for this purpose.

Question. I.

‘What is the greatest and only [...]leif of my Soul?’

Answer.

‘I have beheld the glorious and perfect Righteousness of my Lord Jesus Christ, provided by the Grace of God, for my Justification before Him; and He has by His Grace helped me to Accept that Righteousness, upon the offer of it.’

Question. II.

'What is the chief Desire of my Soul?

Answer.

‘If I know any thing of my self, 'Tis, To Glorify my Lord Jesus Christ.’

[Page 179] Question. III.

'What is the chief Delight of my Soul?

Answer.

‘I am certain, 'Tis. To find that I do Glorify my Lord Jesus Christ.’

Question. IV.

'What is the chief Trouble of my Soul?

Answer

‘I feel none, like That of the Sin remaining in me, which indisposes me to Glorify my Lord Jesus Christ; and which Grieves His Holy Spirit.’

He that can truly say these things, can Endure the Fire, and shall never be moved.

But then, in the next place, I am to Remember, That the Blessed God, by the Affliction, which He sends upon me, does cast me into the Fire, to manifest what I am. Affliction is a Trial; Yea, I can find, where the Book which miscalls nothing, has called it, A Fiery Trial. And thus we read, 1 Pet. 1. 6, 7. Ye are in Heaviness, thro' many Temptations, that the Trial of your Faith, being much more precious than that of Gold which perisheth, tho' it be tried with fire, may be found unto praise A Sickness is a Fire, a Reproach is a Fire, a Loss is a Fire, (and the uneasiness thereby given to our Spirit makes the comparison too sensible;) in which a Trial is made of us, whether we have the Spirit, not of Bastards, but of Children in [Page 180] us. Let this consideration mightily Enflame the zeal of my Soul, to be very watchful over my self, when I am in any Affliction. Let me now Remember, be the Affliction what it will, That the Heart searching Lord, is now Trying what is in my Heart; and let me therefore by Repentance, by Patience, by Humility, and Resignation, and by the Exercise of a Lively Faith, approve my Heart unto Him. Let it be my prayer and care, that under Affliction my conduct may be such, as that it may be said, Now I know, that thou Fearest God!

But likening my Affliction to Fire, for its probatory Vertue, I hope, I shall also find it like Fire, for its purifying Vertue. Ovid Sings, Omnia purga [...]dax Ignis. And the Fire was, for its purifying vertue, used in the Lustrations of the Pagans. Now, If the Fire do consume the Filth of those things that are cast into it, and purge them, and cleanse them, Affliction will do so too: Tis a mighty purifyer: We read, Dan. 11. 35. It is to purge, and make white; we read, Isa. 27 9 By this Iniquity is purged. Indeed, it is not in the power of Affliction it self to purify them that are in it: We see That, in a sad Experience. But the Grace of God, co-operating in and with an Affliction, will have this Effect upon His Chosen: [Lord, may it have so, upon my Defiled Soul!] To purify us from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit, and perfect our Holiness in the Fear of God. I wish [Page 181] that Affliction may serve only, to make me more pure in Heart, and more full of, and set for, Whatsoever things are pure. 'Tis a deplorable thing, to be cast into a Fire of Affliction, and not gain much Purity, and Sanctity, by being there. I would therefore lay it as a charge upon my self, That whatever Affliction befals me, I must seriously Consider, [In the Day of Adversity consider!] O my Soul, In what point of Holiness, must thou be more purified and advanced by means of this Affliction!

But I will a little shift the comparison, and compare Grace if self unto the Fire. Without reading of Plutarch, who takes notice of that circumstance, it is noted by every body, That the Fire burns clearest and hottest, in the sharpest cold of the Winter. Adversity is a sort of a Winter; and the sharper the Winter of Adversity may be upon me, I wish, That Grace may burn in me, with the more sensible and powerful Operation.

Meditation. XXXVII.
On the Ashes.

MY Hearth has now an heap of Ashes upon it. But can my Heart Read nothing there? Methinks, I can Read several Admonitions written in the Ashes, though no one has formed any distinct characters on [Page 182] them. To find Salt in the Ashes, would be no difficulty: to fetch Grace from the Ashes, ( [...]hat Heavenly Salt!) would be a greater and a better Action.

Out of the Ashes, 'tis well known, we make the Soap wherewith our Cloaths are cleansed. On that passage in Luk. 14. 34, 35. The Salt is Good; but if the Salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the Land, nor for the Dunghil, but men cast it out. I remember, Monsieur Le Cler [...], thinks 'tis not Salt properly so called, that is there spoken of. He says, That Salt loses not its Savour; and that Salt which keeps its Savour is neither fit for the Land, nor for the Dunghill; and that if it keeps not its Savour, yet it is not cast out. He therefore supposes, That the Husbandmen call'd Ashes for Lye (which have the Salt of the Wood therein) by the Name of Salt. The Ashes 'tis very sure, lose their Savour, when they are diluted with Washing, and they did so, when of old they washed their Linnen in them. And being thus diluted, they are not fit either to manure the Ground alone, or mixed with Dung; for they have lost the Salt with which they were impregnated. Then indeed they are fit for nothing, but for to be cast out into the High way. However, Monsieur Le Clere, submits his conjecture unto the Judgment of the Learned, (and so do I) for he has no precedent for his conjecture, and the Critick [...] [Page 183] of that Gentleman are not always infallible. All I will say upon it, is this. Whether they wash'd their Cloaths with Ashes of old, or no, we'l see whether we can't wash our Hearts with 'em. They shall then do us more good, than a Washing with Nitre, and with much Soap.

And first, I remember, the famous Quercetanus, together with other Labourers in the Fire, have told us, That they can take a plant in its more vigorous consistence, and after a due Maceration, Fermentation, and Separation, Extract the Salt of that plant, which, as it were, in a Chaos, invisibly reserves the Form of the whole, with its vital principle; and that keeping the Salt in a glass Hermetically Sealed, they can, by applying a Soft Fire to the glass, make the Vegetable rise by little and little out of its Ashes, to surprize the Spectators. I am not sure, That this Report is to be Relied upon, and much less am I sure, of what they further tell us, That the Essential Salt of Animals being thus prepared and preserved, an ingenious [...] might raise the shape of them, at his pleasure. What I would Remark, is This. If Plants could be Revived out of their Ashes, or if the Oak, and Ash, and Walnut, would grow, from the Scattered Ashes, which I have now before me, it would unavoidably Le [...]d our Meditations to the Resurrection of the Dead. Yea, Whatever may be done by Nature, on and from the Ashes of my Wood, I am very [Page 184] sure, That I shall one day Rise out of my own Ashes. Resurrectio mortuorum Fiducia Ch [...] stiaro [...]um. He that is, The Life, and, The Resurrection to Life, has assured me, That after I am Dead, He will give my Incinerated Body a Resurrection to Life. We see a parcel of Quick silver may put off its Form, and put on that of a Vapour; and from a Vapour be transformed into an insipid Water; and from a Water be transmuted into a White, or a Red, or a Yellow Powder; and from this Powder be made a Salt; and from that Salt a malleable Metal; and yet a skilful Chymist, will reduce it, out of all those various Contextures, into its old Natural Form, of plain, shining, running Mercury. How much more, can an Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient God, bring back the Ashes of my Dead Body, into the Figure that it shall receive at the Resurrection of the Dead?

But now dismissing that Thought, the Ashes of my Fire, cause me to think, on the Terms wherein the Father of the Faithful addressed the God of Heaven, Gen. 18 27. Behold now I have taken upon me, to speak unto the Lord who am but Dust and Ashes. Well may Sinful man appear as Dust and Ashes, when he appears before that Infinite Majesty, which [...] a Consuming Fire. The Holy God had not [...] from Abraham, that He was going to Lay the Wicked Cities in Dust and Ashes, by Fire from [Page 185] Heaven. And now says Abraham, Lord, I deserve my self to be by Fire from Heaven, struck into Dust and Ashes! Truly, When I see the Ashes before me, I must confess, that I am worthy my self to be made Ashes immediately by the Fire of the Divine Indignation. Lord, If Sin can render any thing soon incinerable, I may wonder that I am yet any thing but a little Heap of Ashes. Yea, the best of men, when making their Prayers to God for the Worst of men, must confess, That the Fate and Fire of the worst of men, might justly be dispensed unto them.

Another thing observable to me in the Ashes, is, That tho' the Wood was of several sorts, distinguishable one from another, yea, preferrible one to another, yet now they are all in Ashes, there is no sensible Distinction of them, they ly together undistinguished. Behold, O my Soul, Behold the Effect of Mortality. Death is the grand Leve [...]ler. One Tree must be made Ashes as well as another: and when once we are made Ashes, What will be the Difference between Solomon and Diglus Petargus, between Croesus and Irus, between the Richest Emperour, and the Poorest Beggar! All Skulls are of equal Dignity in the Charnel house; and as Herbert Elegantly,

The Brags of Life are but a nine da [...]s wonder;
And after Death, the Fumes that spring
[Page 186] From private Bodies make as big a Thunder,
As those which rise from a huge King.

Indeed, I have Read concerning a Difference in Dust; namely, the powder of Diamonds, or princely Dust: Gold Dust, or the Remains of Noblemen; Pin Dust, or the Remains of Trades men; Saw Dust; or the Remains of Mechanicks; and Common Dust, or the Remains of the more unobserved sort of people. Yet even here 'tis confest, All is Dust. But in Ashes there is not so much Difference to be discerned. All that we can allow, is, That our Lord Jesus Christ, at the Resurrection of the Just, will distinguish the Ashes of the Saints, which are United unto Himself, from those of other men; more Effectually, than a Load stone would any Filings of Steel, mixed with the common Ashes. Were I all this while seeking satisfaction, in Creatures, I should be doing what the Oracles of God most expressively call, Feeding on Ashes. But while we are thus Thinking on Ashes, and learning the Instructions of Piety from them, I hope we are not Feeding on Ashes.

Nay, there is a notable Encouragement I now call to mind, afforded by the Ashes themselves, for that very Undertaking wherein we are now Engaged. But I will choose to recite it (which indeed may add unto the Encouragement) in the words of the Excellent Boyl; [Page 187] who invites Good men, unto this Exercise of making Occasional Reflections full of Devotion and Morality, upon the meanest Objects, from this consideration;

‘Tho' Grains of Sand and Ashes be but of a despicable smallness, [...]et the skilful Artificer brings Numbers of these, to afford him that noble Substance, Glass; by whose Help, we may see our selves, as in Looking Glasses, and discern Caelestial Objects, as with Telescopes; and with the Sun beams kindle disposed Materials, as with Burning Glasses.’

While we have been bringing of Lessons from the Ashes, we have been as good as making of Glasses from them, for all those Uses. My Ashes undergo an happy and useful Vitrification, when they yield these Lessons unto us.

But I will, in one word, give the sum of all the Lessons: It happens. (and it is a meer Hap,) to be a Wednesday, wherein I write these things. I have before I am aware, made it, an Ash wednesday. And tho' I don't keep the day, yet I'l write the word for the Day, Memento, Homo, quod Cinis es.

Addition.

I call to mind a little Riddle, that Heidfield has in the Sphinx Theological Phylosophica.

Quoe res mortua vivam sepelit, ut in ipso etiam Sepulchro maneat viva et vivis mortuos cibos m [...]lliat, esuique aptos reddat, unde vita conservatur!

[Page 188] But I leave the ingenious Reader sitting by the Fire side now to unridle it, and give him no further Help, than what is in my taking this place to mention it.

I call to mind also, the Rebuke bestowed by Job, upon his Friends, Job 13. 12. Your Remembrances are like unto Ashes, your Bodies to Bodies of Clay.

But I shall bestow no other Illustration upon it, than what I find given by that best of Poets, the Incomparable Sir Richard Blackmore, in his paraphrase thereupon;

I all your Counsils vain and Fruitless find,
Like Dust which flies before the driving Wind,
Your high discourses weak and tott'ring stand,
Like heaps of Clay, or Uncemented Sand.

I wish our Meditations then may not be like unto Ashes.

Meditation XXXVIII.
On the Fire brands.

REtiring to my Rest, I am very particularly careful, That the Fire brands do no mischiefs. How carefully do I separate these Fire brands, and Lodge them in several places and postures, and perhaps cover some of them [Page 189] with Ashes, thro' a Fear lest before I return, they lay all in Ashes.

Of all the Things in the world, I do most heartily wish, That I may not be a Fire brand. Indeed, when the Grace of God saved me from the Errors and the Dangers of my Unregenerate State, it might be said of me, as of Joshua, when saved from those of Babylon; Zech. 3 2. Is not this a Brand pluckt out of the Fire? And it is my Happiness to be such a Fire brand. But a Fire brand, is in our common Dialect, become a phrase for a Contentious man; one that bree [...]s Quarrels where he comes. Such a Fire brand is the Tale-bearer; yea, and such is every mischievous person. Hecuba dreaming, that she brought forth a Firebrand, the Augur told her, That her Son would be, (as he was) the Ruine of his Country. Now rather than leave me to be such a Fire brand, let the Lord Lay me aside, and even do what He please with me. Lord, make me, and keep me, of a peaceable Temper. Yea, let me Deny my self of a thousand satisfactions, rather than disturb the peace of my Neighbours and of the Churches. My Name shall be Irenoeus, if I can by any methods of Goodness and Patience, without evident unfaithfulness to the Evangelical Interests, obtain it. May I study exceedingly to he one of those Blessed Peace- makers, who shall be called, The Children of God; and may I never be a Sower of Discord, nor one [Page 190] of the Contentious, to whom God will render Indignation and Wrath.

Meditation XXXIX.
On the Fire's going out.

THE Wood on my Fire, was in a mighty Blaze, that seemed as if it would have been a lasting one, at its first Blowing up: Nevertheless, the Bellows giving over to Blow, the Fire gave over to Burn immediately. Methoughts, I now saw an Emblem of that Apostasy, which often attends Good Beginnings in Religion, where the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (that Heavenly Fire) never took yet an Effectual Hold upon the Soul. Many Beginners, in Religion, and Professors of it, seem very forward for the Services of Christianity, and make a mighty Blaze of Profession; but it is not a Lasting one: It goeth away. May the God of all Grace, make all our Young People, exceedingly apprehensive of, The Apostates Doom, and afraid of Turning aside unto crooked wayes, thro' the Influences of Evil Company, or any other Temptation, after they have made Good Beginnings in Religion, lest they have that awful word fulfill'd upon them, If any man draw back, my Soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hereupon Resuming the Bellows for a Second [Page 191] Blast, I Reserve and Revived the Fire, until it so arrested the Wood, as to carry all before it. And this put me in mind of an Astonishing Favour, which I had my self Received from Heaven, and which many more of the Elect have likewise Received. It is very commonly so, That the Elect of God, which enjoy a Religious Education, have by the Spirit of God excited in them, very Fervent Inclinations to piety, while they are in their Childhood: But when they advance into more of Youth, Temptation so prevails upon them, that for a while, all seems to be Gone out, and their former Inclinations are hardly to be discerned: Nevertheless the Spirit of God will not let their Youth proceed very far, before He, who had been Grieved and Quenched by their Vanities, [Lord, can I write this, and not mingle my Tears with my Ink!] does again Bl [...]w upon their Souls. A Fire is then Recovered, that shall never be extinguished!

Once indeed, Sitting by a Fire, where a Pot boiled over, I observed, That the Boiling over of the Pot put out the Fire, and left the Pot without likelihood of Boiling over any more: But therewithal I could not miss Reflecting, That there is a very wonderful Providence of God, often doing a thing of this Importance. God [...] permits the Fiery Lusts of men (whether of Anger, or of Ambition, or of Unchastity) to Boil over, in some [Page 192] Scandalous Excesses, and Actions. But God improves this Boiling over of their Lusts, to mortify the Lusts themselves, and put out the Fires of Sin and Hell in their Souls. Many a mans Boiling over and Breaking forth into Scandals, proves the occasion of his being a more mortified man, even in those very points all the rest of his Dayes. Austins Exemplary Chastity was the fruit of his having once Boiled over.

At last, While I was minding other matters, the Fire on my Hearth, was upon the point of Expiring, meerly because the Fuel was all spent, that should have supported it. I have been told, that Vulcan was of old feigned Lame for this reason; The Wood on the Fire, is the Staff which he is always calling for. I now Thought of several Things, that Need Recruits, if we would keep them from Expiration; But I thought of one among the rest, which I wish'd might never be Recruited. Sinful Contention is a sort of a Fire; and it is said of a Contentious man, (which, Lord, Let me neither Be, or Bear!) He is an Ungodly man who diggeth up Evil and in his Lips there is, as a burning Fire And it is said, As Coals are to Burning Coals, so is a Contentious man to kindle Strife. Now 'tis among the Observations of Wisdom, in Prov. 26. 20, 21. Where no Wood is, there the Fire goeth out; So where there is no Tale bearer, the Strife ceaseth. Wherefore, as [Page 193] coming at length to hear the Cou [...]refeu Bell, if any Contention do arise, where I am concerned, I would use all the care imaginable, That (while I may Contend earnestly for the Faith, or Order, Delivered unto the Saints,) I may avoid bringing any Sinful Fuel to the Contention, by any Tale bearing, any Whispering, any Slandering, or any Railing Accusations Let me rather cast such things, even where Constantine cast the Contentious Papers; That is, Into the Fire.

If a Quarrelsome Disposition be mischievous any where, tis in the Married Life, in the Conjugal-State. And upon the mention of This, I call to mind a Rabbinical Fancy: Isch signifies, A Man; Ischah signifies, A Woman; Hence they Note, In the Name of the Man, there is Jod, which is not in the Name of the Woman; In the Name of the Woman, is He, which is not in the Name of the Man: These two Letters make Jab, which is the Name of God; and these being taken away, there is nothing but Esch, in both Names; and that signifies Fire; This is to shew (they say) that as long as Man & Wife agree, God is with them; when God is not with them, and when they disagree, there is nothing but Fire in the House. But surely, the Coldest Wig [...]am were better than such an House!

But my Fire being thus gone out, I'l only mention the Description that Herodotus gives of the Fire; Bellua avidissima et inexplebilis, quoe quanto plura consumit, tanto foecundius se parit, et postquam [Page 194] devor [...]ndo suerit expleta, una cum re ipfa devorata emoritur.

Meditation. XL.
On throwing my Pen into the Fire. Dec. 31. 1700.

THus at length, in the Thirty Eighth year of my Age, I have Resumed and Finished the Reflections which I had begun, (and written many of them,) and then thrown by, many years ago. And having made an End of Writing my Reflections on the Fire, the old and worn Pen, with which I wrote the last of them, shall be thrown into the Fire. But before it goes, it shall enter for me a very Solemn Admonition.

There are Men, (as well as Pens,) who have written man, Good Things & thereby done considerable Service for the Churches of the Lord; but have been cast into the Fire after all: God has cast them into the Fire that never shall be Quenched. Many Learned, yea, many Devout, Writers have been Cast aways: because they have contented themselves with a meer Pen-and-Paper Piety: and going down to the Unquenchable and Everlasting Fire have had cause to say, Surgunt ind [...]cti e [...] rapiunt coelum; n [...]s, cum [...] Doctrina, mergimur in Infernum. Some writers have the Fancy to place their Pictures before the Title page of their Books; but they that write [Page 195] of Piety, should have their Books themselves to be their Pictures: They have no other way to prevent being thrown into the Fire.

I do therefore, with an Humble and a Trembling Supplication, beseech of thee, O my God, in my Lord Jesus Christ! That I may not only Write Good Things, but also Do what I Write, lest my Writings be made but the Fuel of the Fire that would be the just punishment of my Hypocrisy. Lord, Help me to Transcribe my Writings into my Life, lest I be all this while writing my own Condemnation to Death: and let thy Grace Help me not only to Write well, but also to Live well; that so instead of being thrown into the Fire, I may have a place in the Wings of the Heavenly Armies.

APPENDIX.
Upon a Stove.

GOing out of my Study, to take some Notice of my Little Folks in a Room accommodated with that great convenience for a Family of Little Folks, A Stove, I saw occasion to take another Pen in hand, for some Reflection. A Stove has no little Advantages of Cheapness, & Neatness & Safety, and Uniform warmth, in any part of the Room, at any time of the year, for to Recommend it; nor is there any thing, that I know of, in the Objection of its [Page 196] being Unwholesome (if it be not overheated,) for to Discommend it. But as my Stove has done me many another Service, it shall now Serve me with a Reflection, and Instruction of Christianity.

The Fire in my Stove does abundance of Service, to all about it, yea, (as it is placed,) in two Rooms at once. My House is not now a Bethzenun, or place of Cold, (as the Jews called the Country that lay near the Snows of Lebanon:) but I have an April, or September there, in the midst of January: and yet the Fire which does all that Service, keeps out of Sight; no body Sees it; People feel the Effect, while they see not the Cause.

Methinks, It advises me, to Do Good, and yet Ly Hid, as much as ever I can. There are certain points of Religion, wherein the Religion will be very much lost, if the circumstances of Secrecy & Concealment, be not observed. Our Saviour says, Let thine Alms be in Secret; & again, Pray to thy Father in Secret; and once more, When thou Fastest appear not unto men to Fast An Affectation to have our doing such Duties divulged, will be a Dead Flie, to spoil the Savour of the Duties, And very particularly, To give no Alms, but what shall be Seen, Savours of too much Hypocrisy. Tis true, That Good (quod fit [...]videtu [...],) which is Seen to be done, is not always to blame; our Light should shine before men: But, (quod fit ut videatur) what is done to be Seen, [Page 197] is indeed thrown away. The Hypocritical Jews, themselves, who laboured under an Invincible Itch, to have all their Alms as publick as they could, yet had their Conscience calling them, to more of Concealment. Hence, The Treasury of the Silent, where some good men, silently & privately conveyed their Charity for maintaining the Children of the Poor, was a Treasury of the most famous Account in the Temple. And hence it was a Proverb among them, He that doth Alms in Secret, is greater than our master Moses himself. Briefly, An Humble Christian, will watch opportunities, to Do Good; but he cares not, whether there ever be in this world the least Notice taken of it. He will Pray for many and many a man by Name and yet the obliged man himself shall never know of it. He will convey Reliefs to the Needy, and yet the Needy themselves perhaps will never know from whence they came. He will a thousand other ways it may be, seek to be a Blessing unto his Neighbours, but never seek for them to Bless him, or know his Influences.

And now, to have done, Sirs, Let my Stove afford an Apology for my Nameless Writing. I am in hopes, That this little Book, may like a Stove, dispense a little Warmth of Religion unto them, that shall allow it near enough. Luther complain'd of the Religion in his Time, Deest Ignis, Deest Ignis! It wants more Heat! May not we make the same complaint of ours? It [Page 198] may be, this Essay, may Revive something of our Languishing Heat! We read Job 28. 5. Of, A Land, out of which cometh Bread; & under it is turned up as it were Fire. (Perhaps, Paradise, with the Volcano's which vomited out Fire near it, may be referr'd unto!) I have been endeavouring a Book, out of which there may come Food, for the minds of the Faithful; and under it, all turns upon Fire. But I do for many Reasons, now (as well as often heretofore,) choose to write Anonymously. And hereby, t'will come to pass, that tho' the Author will be unavoidably known unto many in the next Vicinity, (which also he could be glad, he were not!) yet he will be preserved from the knowledge of the most in places that are further off. The Author most sincerely wishes that with as much Usefulness (according to his mean capacity,) as may be, he may enjoy the Satisfaction of one, Bene qui latuit; and be as Remote from View, as the Fire in the Stove. If any Good be done, I beseech you, Sirs; Let Man be Nothing; Let GOD, and CHRIST, and GRACE, have all the Glory.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

PAge 4. l. 29. r. fa [...] r. fit. p. 80. l 19. r. Handiro [...]s p 81. l. 4. r. End-iro [...]s. p. 83. l. 12. r. the r their. p. 102. l. 19 r. But when the—p. 157. l. 3. f. to r. in. p. 167. l. 20. Blot out, Not.

[Page]

The CONTENTS.

WE read, Isa. 6. 6. Of, A Live-Coal taken with the Tongs from off the Altar. The Incomparable Bochart asserts, That the word, which we render, A Coal, signifies, A Stone; and he confirms it with incontestable Authority from Antiquity. He says, That Red-hot stones were much improved in the Fires of the Ancients, to forward the various Designs upon which the Fires were kindled; and that there were such Red-hot stones upon the Altar, to help forward the Consumption of the Sacrifices.

Perhaps our Meditations may lye like Red hot-Stones in the Readers Fire And now, to lay the Red-hot Stones together in an Heap, that the Reader may take out which of them he please, at any time, [...] Touch his own Heart withal. Behold, the Contents.

The INTRODUCTION. P.7
A Winter-SERMON, on Peter by the Fire. 17
The Approach to the Fire. 41

Meditations.

1. On the Fire proving it self to be indeed the Fire. 43
2. On the Benefits of the Fire. 47
3. On the Light cast by the Fire upon the Objects about it. 53
4. On the Mending of the Fire. 60
5. On the Burning of the World. 64
6 On the Fire of Hell. 71
7 On the And Irons. 80
8 On the Lighting of a Candle at the Fire. 82
9 On the Warmth received from the Fire. 84
10 On Green Wood in the Fire. 86
11 On throwing a pice of Leather into the Fire. 88
12. On the Fate of the Wood successively laid on the Fire, 89
[Page] 13 On the Miracle of the Son of God appearing in the Fiery Furnace 91
14 On things not consumed in the Fire. 96
15 On the Torment of the Fire. 99
16 On the Burning Bush. 102
17. On the Kindling of a Fire on the Lords-Day. 110
18 On the Coals. 120
19. Upon some Dead Coals. 124
20. On the Blowing of the Fire. 127
21. On the Flame. 131
22. On the Nimbleness of the Flame. 140
23 On the Purity of the Flame. 142
24 On the Ascending of the Flame, 143
25 On the Uniting of the Flame. 150
26. On Passing through the Fire. 152
27. On the Sparks issuing from the Fire. 156
28. On the Fire, Endangering the Clothes of One in the Company. 159
29. On the Sap of the Wood, forced cut by the Fire. 161
30 On Labouring in the Fire. 162
31 On the Wood Lying too close. 165
32. On the Smoke. 167
33. On the Tongs. 170
34 On the quick passage of the Fire, from one Object unto another. 171
35. On the Progress of the Fire. 172
36. On Trials by the Fire. 177
37 On the Ashes. 181
38 On the Fire-brands. 188
39 On the Fire's going out: 190
40 On throwing my Pen into the Fire. 194
Appendix. Upon a Stove. 195

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Author: Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728.2007-01

Our First Observation.An Eminent Professor, may, and, if Left unto himself he will, become a Scandalous Denyer, of the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

Reflection I.

Reflection II.

Reflection III.

Reflection IV.

Our Second Observation.Sometimes the Cold of the Weather, and the Winter, proves to men an Occasion, of their Denying the Lord, who made the Cold, and all our Succours against the Cold.

The Approach to the Fire.

Meditation I.On the Fire proving it self to be indeed the Fire.

Meditation II.On the Benefits of the Fire.

Mantissa.

Meditation IIIOn the Light cast by the Fire upon the Ob­jects about it.

Meditation IV.On the Mending of the Fire.

Meditation V.On the Burning of the World.

Meditation VI.On the Fire of Hell.Descendamus viventes, et non descendamus morientes. Chrys.

Meditation VII.On the And-Irons.

Meditation VIII.On the Lighting of a Candle at the Fire.

Meditation IX.On the Warmth received from the Fire.

Meditation X.On Green Wood in the Fire.

Meditation XI.On throwing a piece of Leather into the Fire.

Meditation XII.On the Fate of the Wood successively Laid on the Fire.

Meditation XIII.On the Miracle of the Son of God appearing in the Fiery Furnace.

Meditation XIV.On things not consumed in the Fire.

Meditation XV.On the Torment of the fire.

Meditation XVI.On the Burning Bush,

Meditation XVII.On the Kindling of a Fire in the Lords Day.

Meditation XVIII.On the Coals.

Meditation. XIX.Upon some Dead Coals.

Meditation XX.On the Blowing of the Fire.

Meditation XXI.On the Flame.

Meditation. XXII.On the Nimbleness of the Flame.

Meditation. XXIII.On the Purity of the Flame.

Meditation XXIV.On the Ascending of the Flame.

Meditation XXV.On the Uniting of the Flame.

Meditation XXVI.On Passing through the Fire.

Meditation. XXVII.On the Sparks issuing from the Fire.

Meditation. XXVIII.On the Fire, Endangering the Clothes of One in the Company.

Meditation XXIX.On the Sap of the Wood, forced out by the Fire.

Meditation XXX.On Labouring in the Fire.

Meditation XXXIOn the Wood Lying too close.

Meditation XXXII.On the Smoke.

Meditation XXXIII.On the Tongs.

Meditation XXXIV.On the quick passage of the Fire, from one Object unto another.

Meditation XXXV.On the Progress of the Fire.

Meditation XXXVI.On Trials by the Fire.

Meditation. XXXVII.On the Ashes.

Meditation XXXVIII.On the Fire brands.

Meditation XXXIX.On the Fire's going out.

Meditation. XL.On throwing my Pen into the Fire. Dec. 31. 1700.

Our First Observation.
An Eminent Professor, may, and, if Left unto himself he will, become a Scandalous Denyer, of the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

Our Second Observation.
Sometimes the Cold of the Weather, and the Winter, proves to men an Occasion, of their Denying the Lord, who made the Cold, and all our Succours against the Cold.

Meditation I.
On the Fire proving it self to be indeed the Fire.

Meditation II.
On the Benefits of the Fire.

Meditation III
On the Light cast by the Fire upon the Objects about it.

Meditation IV.
On the Mending of the Fire.

Meditation V.
On the Burning of the World.

Meditation VI.
On the Fire of Hell.
Descendamus viventes, et non descendamus morientes. Chrys.

Meditation VII.
On the And-Irons.

Meditation VIII.
On the Lighting of a Candle at the Fire.

Meditation IX.
On the Warmth received from the Fire.

Meditation X.
On Green Wood in the Fire.

Meditation XI.
On throwing a piece of Leather into the Fire.

Meditation XII.
On the Fate of the Wood successively Laid on the Fire.

Meditation XIII.
On the Miracle of the Son of God appearing in the Fiery Furnace.

Meditation XIV.
On things not consumed in the Fire.

Meditation XV.
On the Torment of the fire.

Meditation XVI.
On the Burning Bush,

Meditation XVII.
On the Kindling of a Fire in the Lords Day.

Meditation XVIII.
On the Coals.

Meditation. XIX.
Upon some Dead Coals.

Meditation XX.
On the Blowing of the Fire.

Meditation XXI.
On the Flame.

Meditation. XXII.
On the Nimbleness of the Flame.

Meditation. XXIII.
On the Purity of the Flame.

Meditation XXIV.
On the Ascending of the Flame.

Meditation XXV.
On the Uniting of the Flame.

Meditation XXVI.
On Passing through the Fire.

Meditation. XXVII.
On the Sparks issuing from the Fire.

Meditation. XXVIII.
On the Fire, Endangering the Clothes of One in the Company.

Meditation XXIX.
On the Sap of the Wood, forced out by the Fire.

Meditation XXX.
On Labouring in the Fire.

Meditation XXXI
On the Wood Lying too close.

Meditation XXXII.
On the Smoke.

Meditation XXXIII.
On the Tongs.

Meditation XXXIV.
On the quick passage of the Fire, from one Object unto another.

Meditation XXXV.
On the Progress of the Fire.

Meditation XXXVI.
On Trials by the Fire.

Meditation. XXXVII.
On the Ashes.

Meditation XXXVIII.
On the Fire brands.

Meditation XXXIX.
On the Fire's going out.

Meditation. XL.
On throwing my Pen into the Fire. Dec. 31. 1700.