And I will persecute tliem with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and I will deliver them to be removed to all the king- doms of the earth, to be a curse, and astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach among all nations, whither I have driven them.' But why will God do this ? ' Because they have not hearkened to my word, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them ; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord,' See 2 Kings xvii. 13-15. Now mark, though these temporal judg- ments are not visible among us, yet spiritual judgments, which are the worst of judgments, are very visible. Though there be no sword, no famine, no pestilence, jet there is spiritual madness, spiritual drunken- ness, spiritual giddiness.^ Oh the blind minds, the corrupt judgments, the hard hearts, the seared consciences, that are to be found among the professors of this age ! As there are no mercies to spiritual mercies, so there are no judgments to spiritual judgments. Jer. xiii. 12 ; Ezek. xxiii. 33 ; 1 Tim. iv. 2 ; Titus i 15. Oh the slightness, the coldness, the deadness, the barrenness that is abroad in the world ! God suits his judgments to men's sins ; the greatest sins are always attended with the greatest judgments. In these days men sin against more glorious means, more great love, more cleai" light, more tender bowels of mercy, &c., than formerly ; and therefore God gives men up to more sad and dreadful spiritual judgments than formerly.
The}^ say when Hercules drew up Cerberus from hell, he led him in a chain, and he went quietly till he came to the horizon and saw the peeping of the light, but then he pulled so strongly that he had like to have pulled the conqueror and all back again. Ah it is sad when men had rather live in darkness, and die in darkness, and to hell in darkness, than they will see the light, enjoy the light, and walk in the light ! Many fret at the light, and at those that bring it, as the Ethiopians once a year solemnly curse the sun. Such souls stand in much need of pity and prayer.
And thus, according to my weak measure, I have given out what God has given in from this scripture, and shall follow it with my prayers, that it may be a word of life and power both to w'riter, reader, and hearer. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria in jEternum.
* The lamps went out, and Leander was drowned, said he in the history.
By a strange whim of public opinion, the 'Cabinet of Jewels' passed through only one edition in the outset — 1669 (4to). Its title-pa^e is given below.* See our Preface for remarks on a modern reprint. The Scottish edition of 1762 (Glasgow, 8vo) had an enormous circulation among the peasantry, as shewn by the long list of Subscribers. — G.
Box of precious Ointment.
Being a plain Discovery of, or, what men are worth for Eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world. Here is also a clear and large Discovery of the several rounds in Jacob's Ladder, that no Hypocrite under Heaven can climb up to. Here are also such closs, piercing, distinguishing and discovering evidences as will reach and suit those Christians who are highest in Grace and spiritual Enjoyments ; and here are ma- ny Evidences, which are suited to the Capacities and Experiences of the weakest Christians in Christ's School : And here Christians may see as in a Glass, what a sober Use and Improvement tliey ought to make of their evidences for Heaven ; and how in the use of their gracious evidences they ought to live. First, upon the free grace of God. Secondly, upon the Mediatory righteousness of Christ. Thirdly, upon the Covenant of Grace : With several other Points of grand Importance, &c.
By Thomas Brooks, formerly Preacher of the Gospel at St. Margarets, New-Fishstreet.
Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, 2 Pet. i. 10.
Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith ; prove your own selves, know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be repro- bates ? Or, 'A^oKifioi, unapproved or rejected.
Omnis anima est aut sponsa Christi, aut adultera Diaboli. Austin.
London, Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock at the first Shop in
Popes-Head-Alley in Comhil, at the sign of the three Bibles, or at
his Shop in Bishops-Gate-Street, near great St. Uellins, 1G69.
To the Right Worshipful Sir John Frederick, Knight, and the Lady Mary Frederick, his pious consort. To Mr Nathaniel Heme, and Mrs Judith his virtuous wife ;
All confluence of blessings, both for this life and for that which is to come, from the Father of mercies and God of all consolations.
Honoured and beloved in our Lord Jesus,
Though I crowd your names together, yet I owe more than an epistle to each of your names ; but the Lord having made you near and dear one to another more ways than one, I take the boldness to present this treatise to you jointly. Here is nothing in this book that relates to government of church or state. The design of this treatise is to shew what men are worth for eternity, and how it is like to go with them in another world. There are none of the sons of men but bear about with them precious and immortal souls, that are more worth than ten thousand thousand worlds. If the soul be safe, all is safe ; if that be well, all is well ; if that be lost, all is lost. The first great work that men are to attend in this world is the eternal safety and security of their souls ; the next great work is to know, to be assured, that it shall go well with their souls for ever.^ And these are the main things that are aimed at in this discourse. The soul is the better and more noble part of man. Upon the soul the image of God is most fairly stamped. The soul is first converted, and the soul shall be first and most glorified. The soul is that spiritual and immortal substance that is capable of union with God, and of communion with God, and of an eternal fruition of God. Plato, though a heathen, could say that he thought the soul to be made all of eternity, and that the putting the soul into the body was a sign of great wrath from God.
* Granctensis tells of a woman that was so affected with souls' miscarryinp^s, that she besought God to stop up the passage into hell with her soul and body, that none might have entrance. 0 anima ! Dei imignita imagine, desponsata fide, donata Spiritn, &c. — Bernard. 0 divine soul ! invested with the image of God, espoused to him by faith, &c. [Serm. in Cant. — G.]
236 A CABINET OF JEWELS.
* Each living corpse must yield at last to death, And every life must lose bis vital breath. The soul of man, that only lives on high, And is an image of eternity.' 1