after1mmortalÇlory. 259 this life that are fed with, gall and wormwood , with tears and groans ; upon whom thewheel of oppreffion is toted, breaking all their bones, fo that they Peck for death, as for Pearls and hiddentreafures, as an end and period oftheir miferies. Others there arewho feeingthe vanity ofthethings ofthis life, and ballancing with them the tranfcendentexcellency of the Soul of man above the world,had rather be idke, or not be atall, than to be fo bafely and meanly improved, and rewarded, as the world doth remunerateher favourites. Othersmake bitter inveaivesagainft the body,as the only impediment to thefoul inher more pure fpecúlations, placing the happinefs of the foul, in the feparation from thebody ; all theft come farfhort of this divine affection, which hath not her rife from the miferies of this life, or from the vanity of the creature , or from the incumbrances of this cottage, but from a true apprehenfion of the love of God, from a deep panting after union with him, from a tafte of thepowers of the life to come, from a Soul inflamed with a coal fromGodsAlter. Look upon thefe Saints in my Text, they were in- deed exercifedbeyondmeafure, with thofe things which we call miferies,calamities, afflictions ; at the mention whereof we quake like Afpen leaves ; but were thefe tainted with impatiency z werethefegroans fuliginousvapours from a malcconten- ted fpirit ? Did they not account thefe affliftions their Jufis and Barriers, and Turnaments, and exercifcs of honour and Chivalry, at whichAngels, and Arch- angels were prefent with their Puget and approbations, God himfelf the chief Speftator, and rewarder of thefe exercifes, they themfelves triumphingand boaft- ing in their trysts, with the imprefs of the Apoftle on their fhields offaith ; We are perfwaded , that neither death nor life, nor Angell, nor Principalities , nor powers, nor things prtfent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any o- ther creature /hall be able to feparate we from the love of God which twin Chrift 7e- fus ; They were more Eagle-eyed bythe ftrength ofgrace,topry into thenothing- nefs of the creature, than all the Philofophers by the ftrength ofnature ; they did mortifie,and crucifie,and keep under the body, with the lufts thereof,and more truly deteft the corruption of the outward man, than any Platenijl wbatfoever: but were thefe the grounds, the rife of this celeftial affe&ion ? nothing lefs, to fee God, toenjoyGod, todwell with him, to converfewith him, to be diffolved, to be with Chrift; thefe tranfported their affeftions : not the emptinefs of the things below, but fulnefs of things above : not the bafenefs ofearthly things, but the glory of celeftial things, nor themiferies of this life, or of this crazie veffel, but the happinefsofthe life to come : they hadbut a glimpfe of thisftrange light darted into their fouls , and the whole world was darknefs unto it : they had a guff of fweetnefs cart into the palate of their fouls, and all things elfe were bitter and unfavoury: Chrift was placed in thefummity andheight oftheir fouls,and the defire of the full fruition of him caufed that fainting, that earneft longing in their fpi- ries. You will fay if this be (o,whátwill becomeofthe greateft part ofChriftians,who ateafraid to die ? who are fo far fromgroaning to depofe this Tabernacle, that they groan at the leaft intimation ofdiffolution ? It is true thatall men receivenot this faying,neither is it for everyone to attain to this perfeetion. As thereare two arts of faith, fo there are two forts ofChriftians : there is a prong faith, and a weak faith : and there are prong Chriftians, and there are weak Chriftians : the ftrong Chriftian is willing to die, and patientto live: the weak Chrifhan is willing to live, and patient to die : he goes when God calls, but he couldwilh that God would defer his calling; he bath good hopesofheaven, but he defires a little more toenjoy the earth : he loves Godmorethan all, yet his affections are not fully ta- kenoff fromall : he is notperplexed withthefears ofHell,yethe iinot ravilisedwith the joyes ofHeaven : He hath much ftrength but knows it not : as many a Spe&ta- for of a prize, is better able to perform it, thanhe that undertakes it ; but either through faintnefs of heart, or ignoranceofhis own ftrength, darenot put it to the hazard, but had rather commend another mans valour, than try hisown : whereas a ftrong Chriftian, a man grown in Chrift, fends a challenge to this Gyant Death, fingles him out, as a fit object of his valour, grapples with-him, not as with his L 1 z match,
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