The Romans, when their emperors and great ones died, and their bodies were buried, they caused an eagle to mount on high, thereby to signify the soul's immortality and ascent. He gave good counsel who said, ' Play not the courtier with your soul ; the courtier doth all things late, he rises late, and dines late, and sups late, and repents late.' A Scythian captain, having for a draught of water delivered up his city, cried out. Quid perdidi, quid ijrodidi ? What have I lost, what have I betrayed ? So many at last will cry out, what have I lost, what have I betrayed ? I have lost God, and Christ, and heaven, and have be- trayed my precious and immortal soul into the hands of divine justice, and into the hands of Satan I Who these men are that will at last thus cry out, this treatise doth discover. I have read that there was a time when the Romans did wear jewels on their shoes. Most men in this day do worse, for they trample that matchless jewel of their souls under feet ; and who these are this treatise does discover. One well observes, [Chrysostom] ' That whereas God hath given many other things double ; two eyes to see with, two ears to hear with, two hands to work with, and two feet to w^alk with, to the intent that the failing of the one might be supplied by the other ; but he hath given us but one soul, and if that be lost, hast thou, saith he, another soul to give in recompense for it V Now, who those are whose souls are in a safe estate, and who those are whose souls are in danger of beino- lost for ever, this treatise does plainly and fully discover. To describe to the life w^ho that man is that is truly happy in this world, and that shall be blest for ever in the other world, is the work of this ensuing treatise, Ps. xv., cxliv. 15. The grace of the covenant in us is a sure evidence of God's entering into the covenant of grace with us. To be in a gracious state is true happiness, but to know ourselves to be in such a state is the top of our happiness in this world. A man may have grace, and yet, for a time, not know it, 1 John V. 13. The child lives in the womb, but does not know it. A man may be in a gracious state, and yet not see it ; he may have a saving work of God upon his soul, and yet not discern it ; he may have the root of the matter in him, and yet not be able to evidence it, Ps. Ixxvii. 6, Ixxxviii. Now to help such poor hearts to a right understanding of their spiritual condition, and that they may see and know what they are worth for another world, and so go to their graves in joy and peace, I have sent this treatise abroad into the world. Will you give me leave to say,
(1.) First, Some men of name in their day. have laid down such things for evidences or characters of grace, wliicii, being weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, will be found too light. But here a mantle of love may be of more use than a lamp ; and therefore,
(2.) Secondly, Many, yea, very many there are, whose graces are very weak, and much buried under the earth and ashes of many fears, doubts, scruples, strong passions, prevailing corruptions, and diabolical sugges- tions, who would give as many worlds as there be men in the world,
EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 237
had they so many in their hands to give, to knowthat they have grace, and that their spiritual estate is good, and that they shall be happy for ever. Now this treatise is fitted up for the service of these poor hearts ; for the weakest Christians may turn to many clear and well-bottomed evidences in this treatise, and throw the gauntlet to Satan, and bid him prove if he can, that ever any profane person or cunning hypocrite under heaven, had such evidences, or such fair certificates to shew for heaven, which he has to shew. The generality of Christians are weak ; thev are rather dwarfs than giants ; they are rather bruised reeds than tali cedars ; they are rather babes than men, lambs than sheep,' &c. Now, for the service of their souls, I have been willmg to send this treatise into the world ; for this treatise may speak to them when I may not ; yea, when I cannot ; yea, which is more, when I am not. Famous Mr Dod would frequently say, he cared not where he was if he could but answer these two questions : 1, who am I ? and 2, what do I hear ? am I a child of God ? and am I in my way ? But,
(3.) Thirdly, Some there are who are so excessively and immoderately taken up with their signs, marks, and evidences of grace, and of their gracious state, &c., that Christ is too much neglected, and more rarely minded by them. Their hearts do not run out so freely, so fully, so strongly, so frequently, so delightfully towards Christ as they should do, nor as they would do, if they were not too inordinately taken up with their marks and signs. Now, for the rectifying of these mistakes, and the cure of these spiritual maladies, this treatise is sent into the world. We may and ought to make a sober use of characters and evidences of our gracious estates, to support, comfort, and encourage us on our wav to heaven, but still in subordination to Christ, and to the fresh and frequent exercises of faith upon the person, blood, and righteousness of Jesus. But oh how few Christians are there that are skilled in this work of works, this art of arts, this mystery of mysteries.^ But,
(4.) Fourthly, Some there are who in those days are given up to en- thusiastical fancies, strange raptures, revelations, and to the sad delusions of their own hearts ; crying down with all their might all discoveries of believers' spiritual estates by Scripture characters, marks, and signs of sanctifications, 2 Thes. ii. 9-11, as carnal and low; and all this under fair pretences of exalting Christ, and maintaining the honour of his righteousness and free gi'ace, and of denying ourselves and our own righteousness. Though sanctih cation be a branch of the covenant of grace as well as justification, yet there are a sort of men in the world that would not have Christians to rejoice in their sanctification, under a pretence of reflecting dishonour upon their free justification by Christ, Jer. xxxiii. 8, Ezek. xxxvi. 25-27. There are many who place all their religion in opinions, in brain-sick notions, in airy speculations, in quaint disputations, in immediate revelations, and in their warm zeal for this or that form of worship. Now, that these may be recovered, and healed, and prevented from doing further mischief in the world, I have at this time put to a helping hand. But,
* 1 Peter ii. 2, 3 ; 1 John ii. 12-14 ; Isa. xl. 11.
2 Where Christ was born, they were all so taken up with their guests, that he was not minded nor regarded; when others lay in stately rooms, he must be laid ia a manger, Luke ii. 7.
238 A CABINET OF JEWELS.