'a going out' was promised to tliem; for when a comfortable worldly estate is good for the church, it shall have it. Secondly, there is a going out of the bonds of sin, by httle and little in this world ; and because here we are in a warring estate, and our freedom here is but from the dominion of sin ; there is another ' going out ' at the last day, when we all shall go perfected out of the graves, body and soul being freed from sin ; and then shall our joy be full. But in this world there is a going out to good duties, for true believers have hearts enlarged to ' go forth' in good duties. Their hearts are set at liberty, being freed from damnation, and free to walk in good courses; for where grace enables us to go, it enables us freely to go, so as God's people are a free people. In the building of the tabernacle and the temple, they did offer ' freely,' and David praised God for it, 1 Chron. xxix. 1-i, and Ezra likewise, Ezra ii. 4; and the reason is, because these have Christ's Spmt, which is a Spirit of hberty, 2 Cor. iii. 17; and it is a promise, Ps. ex. 8, that Christ's people shall be willing. God's people are all volunteers, doing holy duties freely ; for they are freed from exaction and coaction. The SpLrit that witnesseth the one worketh also the other, and setteth them at liberty. And as this is true, so it is also true that it is dearly bought. It cost Christ's blood, who redeemed us ' to serve him without fear,' Luke i. 74 ; and that we might be a holy people, zealous of all good works, Titus ii. 14; and therefore our lukewarm, cool carriage shews that we are not yet at liberty. And that is the reason we cannot spend an hour in good duties, but it is very irksome and tedious to us. It was otherwise with Zaccheus after his con- version; how free in charitable works ! And with the jailor, how cheerful was he in feasting the apostle, whom a little before he had tormented ! In the primitive church, how willingly did they endure persecutions, living together with one heart, one mind, and had all things common. Acts ii. 44. Thus is it in some measure in all Christians, when they are once heated by this Sun of righteousness. In the next place, God's people do not only go forth, but grow up, and go on in a continued motion; for it is promised that the soul shall grow strong in grace as well as the body in natural strength. And as nature doth enable the body, so doth grace enable the soul, giving ever a desire of hberty to grow up, and to grow in strength, thereby to overcome all weaknesses of the soul whatever, by those holy means appointed to that end. And this is necessary in regard of God, that he might have the more glory; for when we pray or do any good duty with strength, as when we can be resolute in the defence of a good cause, God is honoured therely, and his truth honom-ed, and his wisdom justified. And it is likewise necessary w regard of others, that they may be won, and strengthened by our examples, they seeing that such things are possible to be done ; and thus are they also won. When in our actions to one another we do them with all our might and cheerful- ness, how grateful and lovely is it to them ! And likewise in regard of ourselves; for the stronger we grow, the less burdensome will our profes- sion be to us. For why are we so untoward and dead, that goodness comes from us as fire out of the flint, by force, but because we want this habit, that should grow upon us by practice '? Therefore it is we are not grown yet; and therefore cannot pray privately, nor hear conscionably,* but with almost an insensible heart. And likewise this is necessary in regard of oppositions, which is such as must be gotten out of the fire, whatever good we labour for. We daily feel the strength of our own cor- * That is, ' conscientiously.' — G,
THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 175
ruptioDS of outward oppositions by indispositions of others and scandal of the times, and therefore we had need grow up.
Now, for means hereunto, we should fii'st purrie and cleanse the soul of weakeninr/ matter. Practise the duty of repentance daily ; and though it be bitter, it is better to burn, to cut and lance here, than to die hereafter. It is better to renew our repentance daily, than to go on in security to des- peration. And as it is in the body that is sick, the more it is nourished the greater is the strength that the humours do gather ; or as it is in leak- ing ships, the longer we sufier the leak to open, the more danger the ship is in. The best of us daily gather ill humours, partly by reason of our own corruptions within us, partly by reason of the corruption in others with whom we converse ; and these make us like sick men, either with- out stomachs, or with stomachs that can digest none but unwholesome meats ; and these once purged out, makes us hunger after goodness, and stronger than before, and more intense in our love to Christ, as Peter was after his bitter tears.