Usel. Now, for use of this, it should teach us how to think on God, not as all justice and power, hating sin and sinners, but as a Father, now lay- mg aside terrible things that may scare us from drawing nigh to him, and as a God, stooping down to our human nature, to take both it and our miserable condition upon himself, and see our nature not only suffering with Chnst, but rising, nay, now in heaven united to God; and this will leed the soul with inestimable comfort.
* This is told of Nero.— G.
THE saint's happiness. 73
Use 2. Secondly, Labour to be more near to him, by the more full partici- pation of his Spirit. Those that have not Christ's Spirit are none of his. By it we in Christ have access to God ; and therefoi-e the more spiritual vre are, the nearer access we have to the secrets of God. In our first estate, we are altogether flesh, and have no spirit; in our present estate of grace, we are partly flesh and partly spirit; in our third estate in heaven, we shall be all spiritual ; yea, our bodies shall be spiritual, 1 Cor. xv. 44. It is sown natural, but it shall be raised spiritual, and shall be obedient to our souls in all things, and our souls wholly possessed and led by the Spirit of God, so as then God shall be all in all with us ; and for means hereunto,
First, Labour to be conversant in spiritual means, as in hearing of the word, receiving of the sacraments. God annexeth his Spirit to his own ordinances ; and thence it is that in the communion with God in the ordinances, men's apprehensions are so enlarged as they are many times spiritually sick, and do long after the blessed enjoying of God's presence in heaven. But take heed how we come, think what we have to do, and with whom. Come not without the garment of Christ ; and it is no matter how beggarly we are, this food is not appointed for angels, but for men. And come with an humble heart, as Elizabeth. Who am I, that (not the mother of my Lord) God himself from heaven should come to me ! ' Luke i. 43.
Secondly, Converse ivith those tliat draw near unto him. God is present where two or three are assembled in his name, warming their hearts with love and afiection, as it is said of the two disciples going to Emmaus, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while we walked in the way, and conferred of the sayings?' &c., Luke xsiv. 32. Oh, it is a notable sign of a spiritual heart to seek spiritual company ; for when their hearts join together, they warm one another, and are hereby guarded from temptations ; nay, the wicked themselves in God's company will be restrained. Saul, a wicked man, amongst the prophets will prophesy now, 1 Sam. x. 12. If by good company carnal men themselves do in a manner draw near to God, how acceptable ought this to be to us, and how powerful in us.
Thirdly, And especially, be much in prayer ; for this is not only a main part of this duty of drawing near to God, but it is a great help thereunto. God is near to all that call upon him ; for then are those most near to God when their understandings, afiections, desires, trust, hope, faith, are busied about God ; and therefore as Moses's face did shine with being in the presence of God, so those that are conversant in this duty of prayer have a lustre east upon their souls, and their minds brought into a hea- venly temper, and made fit for anything that is divine. I could wish that men would be more in public prayer, and that they would not forget private prayer, if ever they intend the comfort of their souls, not only hereafter, but even during this present life. For every day's necessities and dangers in the midst of many enemies, the devil, flesh, and world, ill company, and strong corruptions, should invite us to cast ourselves into the protection of an almighty Saviour. There is not a minute of time in all our life but we must either be near God or we are undone.
Fourthly, Observe the first motions of sin in our hearts, that may 'grieve the Spirit of God ' in the least manner, and check them at the first. Give no slumber to thine eyes, then, nor the reins to thy desires : ' Thou, O man of God, fly the lusts of youth,' 2 Tim. ii. 22. The best things in us, if they come from nature in us, God abhors. Rebuke therefore the first
74 THE saint's happiness.
motions, before they come to delight or action. God abhorreth one that gives liberty to his thoughts, more than one that falleth into a grievous sin now and then, through strength of temptation; and such shall find comfort sooner of the pardon of their sins, for they cannot but see their otlences to be heinous, and so have ground of abasement in themselves ; but the other, thinking of the smallness of their sins, or at least that God is not much ollended with thoughts, do fill themselves with contemplative wickedness, and chase away the Spirit of God, that cannot endure an un- clean heart. We must therefore keep ourselves pure and unspotted of this present world, 'for the pure in heart shall see God,' Mat. v. 8; and ' without holiness none shall ever see him,' Heb. xii. 14. The least sin in thought, if it be entertained, it eats out the strength of the soul, that it can receive no good from God, nor close with him, so as it performeth all duties deadly and hollowly: Ps. Ixvi. 18, ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer;' and hence it is that so little good is wrought in the ordinances of God. Men bring their lusts along with them. They neither know the sweetness of the presence of God's Spirit, neither do they desire it. It is a true rule that every sin hath intrinse- cally in it some punishment; but it is not the punishment that is the proper venom or poison of sin, but this, that it hinders the Spirit of God from us, and keeps us from him, and unfits us for life or for death. But this inward divorce from God's Spirit above all it is the most bitter stab that can befidl any one that ever tasted of the sweetness of Christian pro- fession. Now, for the better keeping of our thoughts, we should labour to watch against our outward senses, that by them thoughts be not darted into us. ' The eyes of the fool are in the corners of the world,' Prov. xvii. 24, saith the wise man; and therefore let men profess what they will, when they go to lewd company and filthy places, where coiTuptions are shot into them by all their senses, they neither can take delight to draw near to God, nor can God take any delight to draw near to them. Dinah, that will be straying abroad, comes home with shame; and that soul that either straggles after temptations, or sufi"ereth temptations to enter into it uncontrolledly, both ways doth grieve God, and that good Spirit that should lead us to him. As for such as live in gross sins, as lying, blaspheming, swearing, drunkenness, adultery, or the like, let them never think of drawing near to God. They must first be civilised before they can appear to be religious ; and thev contrarily proclaim to the whole world that they say to God, ' Depart from us, for we will none of thy ways,' Job xxi. 14; so as God draws away from them, and they draw away from him.