The afflicted and retired mans meditations, concerning the excellency of the spirit With a discovery of the twofold-mind; the danger of the one, the comfort and safety of the other. First, here is observed, what it is for to be carnally minded. Secondly, means to suppress a carnal frame of spirit. Thirdly, the dreadful state of a carnal minded man. Fourthly, how the spirit is a Christians help. Fifthly, means to obtain the spirit. Sixthly, the characters of a spiritualized Christian. Seventhly, the glorious priviledges of a spiritual minded man. And a few meditations by way of observation: with a dialogue between Christ and a sinner; Christ and a Christian; Christ and the afflicted person: as also, a word to the remnant of the womans seed: with a loud call to all saints, to love one another upon the account of son-ship, and not onely upon the account of fellowship. Written by Samuel Bradley, who hath love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, who prayes for Zions unity.

The fourth Ʋse of Consolation.

Soul, Is Christ thy Life? this may Administer unto us choice comforts, in as much as the Living Streams, and choice springs of Divine Consolations are running forth to us, from the Pre∣tious Fountain for our relief; if Christ be thy Life, he will be the Life of thy Graces; yea, all that we have, is preserved and maintained by him, and because he lives, thou shalt live also; thy life is a hidden life, there is no enemy can prevail against thee, because Christ thy life is ingaged in the Front of the Battel; yea, our Lord Jesus, the Captain of thy Salvati∣on, is usually first in the Field, and before the Enemy can get into Battel Array, our Captain is upon them, and puts them to the rout before thy are aware of him; at his return, he comes off with the Victory, with his Colours displaying; and if at a∣ny time the Enemy makes any bold attempt to rally up, notwith∣standing before they can do any thing in order to their design, Christ, a Christians Captain, the Man of Gods Right Hand is upon them, and fall they must, before the Bow, Sphear, and Sword of the Almighty; for our dear Lord Jesus, is greatly concerned in the behalf of a Christian, for a Christians Life is in the Hand of Christ, safe and secure; all the Potent Enemies in the World, are in no capacity to take away his Life or Porti∣on from him; and this doth much tend unto a Christians great consolation: and that which doth further contribute unto a Christians consolation; there Life which they shall injoy by Christ, is Life Eternal. Oh! it is an endless Life, and though they die before they live, they die in order unto a better life, such a life as none can deprive them of.

Secondly, Is Christ a Christians Prince, and is this Prince, a Prince of Peace This may add unto a Christians comfort al∣so: They serve a most Noble Prince, one that will not onely make their Life comfortable, but Honourable also; who will not onely invest them with Peace, but also will furnish them with Grace; and such as attend on Christ the Prince of Peace, shall wear the Livery of the Spotless Robes of the Righteous∣ness of our dear Lord Jesus, and their Wages will be, Eternal

Life and Glory; and they shall have choice varieties to feed upon, yea, fare delicately every day; the best Provision in their Fathers House, the Prince of Peace, they shall be welcome unto, and their drink shall be on the Fountain of Living Wa∣ters, the Living Streams that makes glad the City of God; we shall find our dear Lord our Protection, as well as our Consola∣tion: Oh! such shall drink their fill at the Fountain, and be very high in his estimation, for he will not suffer any to do them harm; such shall find this Prince and his Court attended with Holiness; Holiness is in his Borders, yea, round about his Dominions: Oh! this is our King who is called Salem, the Prince of Peace: The consideration of all these things may afford us Divine comfort, and choice consolation in abun∣dance.

Thirdly, Hath God called thee, and blessed thee with Peace, who is a God of Peace? come let us then follow our calling, and Spiritual Vocation, and much rejoyce that we are called to Peace: Oh! let us endeavour for to promote Peace in all we set our hand unto to do, and do nothing that may not tend to Peace; Oh! then shall we have much cause for to rejoyce, when our Peace with God is maintained, when our dear Lord and we are one; when we find it our joy for to be with God, then it will be evident, God is with us. Oh! it is matter of great joy, for to come under the Fathers Blessing, who doth use to bless his children with Peace; therefore let us much rejoyce in our Portion, (namely, our Fathers Blessing) and that we are acquainted with the God of Peace, and know him to be our Peace-maker, who was graciously pleased for to make himself one with us, who was enemy to him: Oh! this is matter of great consolation indeed.

Fourthly, Hath God made with us a Covenant of Peace, and therein hath ingaged himself for to lead us in the Path of Peace?

Oh! bless the Lord, who hath in his R•••••• Love, provided food for thy Faith, for here is much communicated to us by God, for to strengthen our Faith in God, for God is ingaged in the Covenant of Grace to be our God, and hath entred into a League of Peace with us; Oh! Happy is that People, whose God is the Lord; yea, happy is that People that is in such a case. Soul, thou hast no cause to mourn, let what times will come, though

never so bad, or never so sad, Man, God is thine, and he is much concerned to own thee, to protect thee, to feed thee, to cloath thee, and for to have an Eye and Heart of love to thee at all Times and Seasons: Oh! here is matter of joy and com∣fort to such indeed; he will lead thee into no condition, but his Eye of Love shall be upon thee; our dear Lord will walk with thee, and he will not venture thee alone in the World, he will not onely cast an eye of love upon thee, but will also stretch forth his hand of love to thee for thy relief; yea, he it is that will guide thee with his Eye, and with his Hand, and will bring thee into the green Pastures, and lead thee besides the still Waters, where thy Soul shall meet with the feedings, and fil∣lings of Divine consolation, where no beast of prey shall ever have their will upon thee any more; but our dear Lord in rich Love will be a wall of defence unto thee, and none shall come at thee to do thee harm; and then he will make the Paths of Peace very pleasant Paths unto thee, wherein thy Soul shall walk with much delight, for there it is, that Christ & thee must walk & live together; yea, there it is, where thee and thy Love must imbrace each other: Oh! it is in the Pleasant Path of Peace, that thee and thy Love shall converse together, upon the high, and choice, and mighty things of his Royal Law; Oh! this Path of Peace, will prove a Path of Grace. All these things cast up and put to∣gether, it will easily be made appear, there is ground sufficient for a true Christian for to be rejoycing, in as much as Christ is his Portion, his Crown, his All, and in all; for Christ and a true Christian never meets, but he meets with a Blessing; al∣though a Christians communion with Christ, is oftentimes at∣tended with a cloud, yet our dear Lord will vouchsafe for to speak choicely unto him, yea, though it be through a cloud, as he was pleased for to speak unto his Servant Moses in the Mount; and for as much as God is a God in Covenant with us, he will never leave us nor forsake us, but will be a choice good to us, in all our straits and difficulties, and will guide us by his Counsel, and afterwards receive us into his Glory.

Notes

• Psal. 46 4.
• Rom. 8.33.
• Heb. 2.10.
• Joh. 10.28.
• 1 Tim. 6 15. Rev. 17 14.
• Phil. 3.10.
• 2 Chron. 16. ver. 20, 21, 22.
• Rom. 15 33. 1 Cor. 7.15.
• Job 22.21.
• Psal. 29 11.
• Ro. 5.8.
• Jer. 31.33. Ps. 144 15.
• Ps. 121 15. Joh. 21 15. Rev. 3.18. Psal. 34 15. Isa. 59.1. Psal. 23 2.
• Psal. 59 9, 10, 16.
• Prov. 3.17.
• Lam. 3.24.
• Exo. 40 36, 37.
• Heb. 13 5. Psal. 73.24.