The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. XI.

The miseries of life, in respect of our selues.

THus haue wee cause to be wearie of life, in respect of God, the euill angels, and the World. Now if there were none of these to molest vs, yet man * 1.1 hath enough in himself to marre the liking of this present life. For,

1. The remainders of corrup∣tion * 1.2 of nature still lie like a poy∣son, a leprosie, a pestilence in thee: thou art vnder cure indeed but thou art not sound from thy sore, thou art La•…•…rus still. This very consideration made Paul wearie of his life, when he cried out, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliuer mee from this body of death? Rom 7. And if in this respect we be not of Pauls mind, it is because wee want of Pauls

goodnesse and grace. And thus corruption of nature is the more * 1.3 grieuous, if we consider either the generalitie of the spreading the infection, or the incurable∣nesse of it, or the ill effects of it.

For the first, this is a lepro∣si * 1.4 that spreads all ouer. There 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no sound part in vs, our 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ our memories, our wills and affe∣ctions: yea our very consciences are still impure within vs: there is no good nature in vs in any one faculty of our soules, but there is a miserable mixture of vile infection.

Secondly, this is the worses, because this is incurable. There * 1.5 lieth vpon vs a very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of sinning, wee cannot but offend. Of the flesh it is well said, I can neither liue with the•…•…, nor without thee. The flesh is an in∣seperable ill companion of our li•…•…▪ wee can go 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, &c.

Thirdly, if wee consider but some of the effects of this cor∣ruption * 1.6 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as▪

1. The eiuill warre it causeth in our soules: there is no busi∣nesse can bee dispatched, that concernes our happinesse, with∣out a mutiny in our owne hearts. The flesh is a domesticall Rebel, that daily lusts against the Spi∣rit, as the Spirit hath reason to lust against the flesh, Galatians 5. 17.

2. Secondly, the insufficiency * 1.7 it •…•…eeds in vs for our callings. The greatest Apostle must in this respect cry out, Who is suf∣ficient for these things? Though Gods wor•…•…e be all faire worke, yet we see that euery man is ex∣tremely burthened with the defects and mistakings, and in∣sufficiencies which befall him in his course of life.

2. It works a perpetuall mad∣nesse * 1.8 in the heart of a man, in some respects worse then that of

some lunatickes: For they are mad at some times of the yeere, onely, or chiefly; but man is sel∣dome, or neuer free from this inward madnes of heart. Salomon saith, The heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill, and madnesse is in their hearts while they liue, and after thnt, they goe to the dead. Now this madnesse appeares in this, that men can neuer bring their hearts to a settled content∣ment in the things they enioy, but death coms in vpon them, be∣fore they know how to improue the ioy of their hearts in the bles∣sings they enioy, whether tem∣porall or spirituall. This vile cor∣ruption of nature diffuseth gall into all that a man possesseth; so as it marreth the taste of euery thing.

4. It fils our hearts and liues with innumerable euils; it in∣genders, * 1.9 and breeds infinitely swarmes of euill thoughts, and desires, and abundance of sinnes

in mens liues and conuersations, so as godly Dauid cries out; In∣numerable euils haue compassed me about, and I am not able to looke vp. They were more then the haires of his head, therefore his heart failed him, Psal. 40. 12.

5. It is continualy madnes, to be∣•…•…ray vs to Satan and the world, in all the occasions of our life.

6. It will play the Tyrant, if it get any head: and leade vs capti•…•…e, and giue wretched lawes to the members: yea, eue∣ry sinne, which is the brat bred of this corruption, is like a fury to fright and amaze vs: there is a very race of diuels bred in vs, when Satan and the flesh ingen∣der together in vs.

2. And as wee are thus misera∣ble * 1.10 in respect of the remainders of corruption, so are we in respect of the remainders of the punish∣ment of sinne vpon our spirits: Our hearts were neuer fully free since the first transgrssion, our

minds are yet full of darkenesse; that euē godly men do seriously cry out, They are but as beasts; they haue not the vnderstanding of men in them: And in many passages of life they carrie them∣selues like beasts, Psalme 32. 9. Eccles. 3. 18. The ioyes of Gods presence are for the greatest part kept from vs: our consciences are still but in a kind of prison: when they goe to the s•…•…at of iudgement to giue sentence in any cause, they come forth with fetters on their legs, as priso∣ners themselues; besides the ma∣ny personall scourges light vpon our soules in this life.

3. Lastly, the very condition of our bodies should not bee o∣uerpleasing * 1.11 to vs: our deformi∣ties, and infirmities, & the dan∣gers of further diseases, should tire vs out, and make vs account it no louely thing to be present in the body, while wee are absent from the Lord. And thus of the mise∣ries

of our liues also. Now it re∣maines that I should proceed to the second sort of contemplati∣ons, that is, those that are remoo∣uals: namely, such meditations, as take off the obiections, which are in the hearts of men.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The causes in our selues why we should not be in loue with life: as.
• * 1.2

  1. The re∣mainders of corrup∣tion of na∣ture.
• * 1.3

  Which is the more grieuous.
• * 1.4

  1 Because it is spred all ouer vs.
• * 1.5

  2 Because in vs v•…•…cu∣rable.
• * 1.6

  3. 4 Effects of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of na∣ture in vs. 1. Ciuil war within vs.
• * 1.7

  2. Insuffici∣encie for our calling
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. A stirring kinde of madnesse.
• * 1.9

  4. Swarms of euill thoughts and actions
• * 1.10

  2. In res∣pect of the remainders of the pu nishment of sinne.
• * 1.11

  3 If wee respect the condition of our bo∣dies.