trading cares of this world which eat up' all their time, thoughts, and studies ; so that there is no room for Christ, or one serious hour about salvation. It is too true an observation which Sir Walter Raleigh makes upon the common mechanics and poor Isu- bourers, their bodies are the anvils of pain, and their souls the hives of unnumbered cares and sorrows, whilst the voluptuous and rich spend their time and studies in purveying for new pleasures, and filling their heads with projects of that nature. The poorer sort have their heads and hearts filled day and night with anxious thoughts and cares how to get bread, pay their rents or debts, and struggle through the miserable necessities that pinch them on every side ; many children, it may be, to provide for, and little or nothing out of which to make it : here is brick that must be made, and no straw to make it of; he borrows here to pay there: debts increase, and abilities decrease ; he toils his body all the day, and when his tired carcase calls for rest to enable him for new v/ork to-morrow ; the cares of the world invade him on his bed, and keep him sighing or musing there, when, poor man ! he had load enough before for one.
And now, what room is there left for salvation work ? or how can any spiritual seed that is cast into such a brake of thorns pros- per ? " The cares of this life, (saith Christ) spring up, and clioak "it,'' Mark iv. 19. Tell not them of heaven and Christ, they must have bread ; talk not to them of the necessity or comfort of a pardon, they must pay their debts to men. O the confused buz and clutter that these thoughts and cares make in their heads ! So that no other voice can be heard. And thus multitudes spend their whole lives in a miserable servitude in this world, and by that are cast upon a more miserable and restless state for ever in the Avorld to come ; one hell here, and another hereafter. And what shall be done for them ? Is there no way for their deliverance ? O that God would direct, and bless the following considerations to them, if it may be expected they may at any time get through the brake in which they are involved, and find them at leisure to be- think tliemselves !
The siocth way to hell shut up, hyjive considerations.
1. Bethink thyself, poor soul ! as much as thou art involved and plunged in the necessities and distracting cares of this life ; others, many others, as poor and necessitous, and every way as inucli embroiled in the cares of the world as you are, have minded their souls, and taken all care and pains for their salvation, not- withstanding: yea, though millions of your rank and order are des- troyed by the snares of rhe devil, yet God hath a very great num- ber, indeed the greatest of any rank of men among those that are
A TllEATISE OF THE SOUL OF MAN. 199
low, poor, and necessitous in the world. The church is called the " congregation of the poor,"" Psal. Ixxiv. 20. because it consisteth mostly of men and women of the lowest and most despicable con- dition in this world; they are all poor in spirit, and most of them poor in purse. " Hearken, my beloved brethren, (saith James) hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom .?" James ii. 5.
Now, if others, many others, as much entangled in the neces- sities, cares, and troubles of the world as you, have yet struggled through all those difficulties and discouragements to lieavcn ; why should you not strive for Christ and salvation as well as they ? your souls arc as valuable as theirs, and their discouragements and liindcrances as great and as many as yours.
2. Consider your poor and necessitous condition in the world, hath something in it of motive and advantage to excite and quicken you to a greater diligence for salvation than is found in a more full, easy, and prosperous state ; for God hath hereby imbittered this world to you, and made you drink deeper of the troubles of it than other men : they have the honey, and you the gall ; they have the flower, and you the bran ; but then, as you have not the pleasures, so you have not the snares of a prosperous condition ; and your daily troubles, cares, and labours in it do even prompt you to seek rest in heaven, which you cannot find on earth. Can you think you were made for a worse condition than the beasts ? What, to have two hells, one here, and another hereafter ? Surely, as low, miserable, and despicable as you are, you are ca- pable of as much happiness as any of the nobles of the world ; and, in your low and afflicted condition, stand nearer to the door of hope than they do. Ah ! methinks these thoughts do even put themselves upon you, when your spirits are overloaded with the cares, and your bodies tired with the labours of this life. Is this the life of troubles I must expect on earth ? Hath God denied me the pleasures of this world ? O then let it be my care, my study, my business to make sure of Christ, to win heaven, that I may not be miserable in both worlds. How can you avoid such thoughts, or put by such meditations which your very station and condition even forceth upon you ?
3. Consider how all the troubles in this world would be sweet- ened, and all your burdens lightened, if once your souls were in Christ, and in covenant with God. O what heart's ease would faith give you ! what sweet relief would you find in prayer ! These things, like the opening of a vein, or tumour when ripe, would suddenly cool, relieve, and ease your spirits ; could you but go to God as a Father, and pour out your hearts before him, and cast all your cares and burdens, wants and sorrows upon him ; you
200 A TREATISE OF THE SOUL OF MAN".
would find a speedy out-let to your troubles, and an inlet to all peace, ail comforts, and all refreshments ; such as all the riches, honours, and fulness of this world cannot give : you would then find Providence engage itself for your supply, and issue all your troubles to your advantage ; you Avould suck the breasts of those promises in the margin *, and say, all the dainties in the world can- not make you such another feast ; you would then see your bread, your clothes, and all provisions for you and yours, in God's promi- ses, when you are brought to an exigence, and would certainly find performances as well as promises, all along the course of your life.