170. In the ark there was manna, which was a type of our sacraments ; and the Testament, which was a type of the word preached ; and the rod of Aaron was a type of government. Wheresoever, therefore, there is spiritual manna, and the word preached, and the rod of Aaron in the go- vernment, there is a true church, though there be many personal corruptions.
171. The bitterest things in religion are sweet. There is a sweetness in reproofs ; when God meets with our corruptions, and whispers to us that those and those things ai'e dangerous, and that if we cherish them, they will bring us to hell. The word of God is sweet to a Christian, that hath his heart touched. Is not pardon sweet to a condemned man, and riches sweet to a poor man, and favour sweet to a man in disgrace, and liberty sweet to a man in captivity ? So all that comes from God is sweet to a Christian, that hath his heart touched with the sense of sin.
172. It is not happiness to see, but sight with enjoyment, and interest. There are but two powers of the soul, understanding and will. When both
204 DIVINE MEDITATIONS
these have their perfection, that is happiness : when the understanding sees, and the will draws the affections. So there are these things concur to make up our everlasting happiness, the excellency of the thing, with the sight of it, and interest in it.
173. We see by experience that tlicre is a succession of love. He that loves for beauty will despise when he sees a better ; so it is in the soul, between heavenly and earthly things : when the soul sees more excellency, and more fraitfulness in heavenly things, then the love of earthly things falls down in his heart, as Saint Paul saith, Philip, iii. 7, ' I account all things dross and dung in comparison of Christ.'
174. In prayer we tempt God, if we ask that which we labour not for. Our endeavour must second our devotion ; for to ask maintenance, and not put our hands to the work, it is as to knock at the door, and yet pull the door unto us that it open not. In this case, if we pray for grace and neglect the spring from whence it comes, how can it speed ? It was a rule in the ancient time, 'Lay thy hand on the plough and then pray' (c). No man should pray without ploughing, nor plough without praying.
175. AVisdom is gotten by experience in variety of estates. He that is carried on in one condition, he hath no wisdom to judge of another's estate, or how to carry himself to a Christian in another condition ; because he was never abased himself, he looks very big at him. And therefore, that we may carry ourselves as Christians, meekly, lovingly, and tendei'ly to f)thers, God will have us go to heaven in variety, not in one uniform con- dition, in regard of outward things.
170. There is no condition but a Christian picks good matter out of it, as a good artsman sometimes will make a good piece of work of an ill piece of matter, to shew his skill. A gracious man is not dejected over-much with abasement, nor lifted up over-much with abundance, but he carries himself in an uniform manner, becoming a Christian, in all conditions ; whereas those that have not been brought up in Christ's school, nor trained up in variety of conditions, they learn to do nothing. If they abound, they are proud ; if they be cast down, they murmur and fret, and are dejected, as if there were no providence to rule the world.
177. There is a venom and a vanity in everything, without grace, where- with we are tainted ; but when grace comes, it takes out the sting of all ill, and then it finds a good in the worst.
178. Christianity is a busy trade. If we look up to God, what a world of things are required in a Christian, to carry himself as he should do : a spirit of faith, a spirit of love, a spirit of joy and delight in him above all. And if we look to men, there are duties for a Christian to his superiors, a spirit of subjection ; to equals he must carry a spirit of love ; and to in- feriors a spirit of pity and bounty. If we look to Satan, we have a com- mandment to resist him, and to watch against the tempter. If we look to the world, it is full of snares. There must be a great deal of spiritual watchfulness, that we be not surprised. If we look to ourselves, there are required many duties to carry our vessels in honour, and to walk within the compass of the Holy Ghost ; to preserve the peace of our consciences ; to walk answerable to our worth, as being the sons of God and coheirs with Christ. He must dispense with himself in no sin ; he must be a vessel prepared for every good work ; he must baulk in no service that God calls him unto : and therefore the life of a Christian is a busy trade.