Alciat observes in one of his Emblems,' that a dog then barketh most when the moon is at fullest ; but whether it be by some special in- fluence that it then worketh on the dog, or whether it be occasioned by the spots in the moon represented unto him in the form and shape of an- other dog, I shall not conclude ; but yet let the dog bark never so much, the moon will run her course. She will walk her station securely through the heavens, though all the dogs in the town bark never so fiercely at her ; so a man that hath an interest and propriety in God, and knows it, * Alciati, Emblemata, 1535, &c — G.
Lam. III. 24).] an aek for all god's noahs. 109
he is like the moon, he will hold on his course heavenwards and holi- nesswards, though all the lewd and debauched wicked wretches in city and country should bark at him, and deride him, and oppose him, and speak all manner of evil against him. Propriety and interest in God will make a man set light by all such paper-shot, yea, it will carry him through the pikes, not only of evil tongues, but it will also carry him through the most fierce and eager opposition that either Satan himself, or any of his instruments, can possibly raise against him. But,
[4.] Fourthly, Declare and evidence your propriety and interest in God, hy your sweet and noble carriage and deportment towards those that have an interest and propriety in God. Look, as a child carries it in a different way to his father to what he doth to others, so you must carry it in a different way towards those that have an interest and propriety in God, to what you do towards those that have no interest nor propriety at all in God, Though a wife be very kind and courteous to all comers and goers, yet she carries it in a very different way to her husband from what she doth to all others ; she carries it with a great deal more kindness, and sweetness, and tenderness, and familiarness, and nobleness, &c., towards her husband, than she doth towards others, whether they be friends or strangers ; and just thus should you carry it towards those that have a propriety and interest in God. I have not faith enough to believe that such men have any interest and propriety in God, who carry it very strangely, and proudly, and churlishly, and scornfully, and deridingly, and tyrannically, and disdainfully, and en- viously, and maliciously, and rigorously, and sourly, and bitterly, &c., towards those that have an interest and propriety in God, and yet carry it at the same time very fairly, and sweetly, and courteously, &c., towards such wretches that have no interest or propriety in God at all, yea, to such that blaspheme his name, and that profane his Sabbaths, and that pollute his ordinances, and that trample upon his mercies, and that de- spise his warnings, and that are given up to their own hearts' lusts, and that live as if there were neither God, nor heaven, nor hell. But,
[5.] Fifthly, Evidence your interest and propriety in God, by doing such things for God, which such as have no interest in God cannot do, nor wilt not do, nor have no heart nor mind to do. Evidence your interest in God, by doing singular things for God, Mat. v. 44-48; by doing such things for God that are above their reach that have no interest nor propriety in God at all; as by denying yourselves, your sinful selves, your natural selves, and your religious selves; and by keeping a singular guard upon your own hearts, words, and ways; and by stepping over the world's crown to take up Christ's cross, as Moses did, Heb. xi. 24; and by lessening yourselves to greaten Christ, as John did, John iii, 30-Ji2 ; and by lifting up of Christ above your lusts, above yourselves, above the world, above outward privileges, above your per- formances, above your arts, parts, and gifts, as Paul did, Philip, iii. 7-9 ; and by blessing a taking God as well as a giving God, as Job did, Job i.; and by rejoicing and glorying in all the afflictions and sufferings that befall you for Christ's sake and the gospel's sake, as the apostles and primitive Christians did; and by choosing to suffer rather than to sin, as those worthies did ' of whom this world was not worthy ;' and by keeping of yourselves from the defilements, pollutions, and abomina-
110 AN ARK FOR ALL GOD's NOAHS. [LAM. III. 24.
tions of the times, as some in Sardis did, Rev. iii. 4 ; and by following of the Lamb wheresoever he goes, as those hundred, forty and four thousand did, who had their Father's name written in their foreheads, chap. xiv. 1-5. 0 sirs ! it is infinitely better not to challenge any in- terest or propriety in God at all, than to pretend high as to interest and propriety in God, and yet to do no more for God, nay, it may be not so much, than they that have no interest nor propriety in God at all. But,