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IF any ones Heart is on the sudden pierced quite thorough, that man in∣deed perceives nothing of the true or∣der of Death: but if first his Hands were cut off, next his Arms, and his Feet, and then his Thighs, and so all the Rest of his particular Members, until they come to his heart, then indeed is he made to know all degrees and the whole order of dying
The Judgment of God reacheth all the Creatures that exist in Man, and many, whilst all is well with them, would rush into various Errours, unless the Judg∣ment of God did hang over the Head of Man.
For every particular iniquity the Judg∣ment of God is to be expected, for the Just God hears and sees all, and observes every word, and will punish for it: Let therefore a man fear and beware of God. Even as Christ will exercise Judgment on the Earth: so also is there a Spiritual signification of that particular, viz. That the very same shall be done in a man, and there also will he punish and suppress all iniquity. We have a Similitude of this in Wax. Soft wax is capable to receive all Impressions: but that which is hard must be put into the Fire. For as the Earth is reserved last for the Fire; so in like manner is the Heart of man.
If there happen to a man Reproach, Disgrace, Loss, Revilings, and other Ad∣versities, all these are, according to Christ's Example, to be endured with Patience, nor must such Complain, or Murmur,
or Judge. Many are much troubled, if they be injured, but if they could bear it Patiently, they would do better, and please God. When a man can by his own lost, turn away the loss of another, he ought to suffer his own proper loss, that that others loss may be prevented. And this point is to be learned thorough Tribulation and Griefs, otherwise it will never bring forth fruit: They who thus desire the inward Cross, that so they may be freed from the Eternal, they al∣so have not the inward one: and al∣though they seek it, yet they cannot find it. They reject the external, and therefore the internal cannot be taken up by them.
The state of Christians is of all men in the Earth, the most miserable Estate, and the most Subject to sufferings. If a Christian's inside could be beheld, no man would desire his Condition. If any of the Sons of men in the whole world, is made subject to afflictions, certainly tha•• happens to a Christian, and yet not∣withstanding, he seeks not how he may be freed from Death and the Cross, which
belong unto him. On the other hand also, if any man amongst all those who live in the World, is found to be chearful and merry, certainly that also does be∣long to the Christian. The countenance of Christ is so dejected and Harsh, that he who sees him, will refuse him.
It is certainly no small affliction to have all that cast away, which we have wrought for with all our Labour: yet after that, God on a Sudden raiseth up somewhat, which can stand in his Sight: and then it is, that God worketh in a man, but the man himself is at Rest from work: whatsoever then is in the man, and shineth forth from him, all that is God, and the man himself be∣longeth to God, and therefore we are not to look at the Person which is the man, but God who is in him, (as I may say) is made man in him, and putteth him on, and is and worketh all things in him, and Shineth forth thorough him.
A man that adhereth to the Earth, hath joy: and he that adheres to Heaven also, hath joy: but he that is between both these, and toucheth neither of them, is
affected with great Dolours, and hath nothing that may uphold him.
A man alwayes hath somewhat, which he thinks is yet to come hereafter, and he waits for it with joy: but where there is no such Expectation, there is nothing but Affliction: and even this must be sent from God into the man, if it is to beget in him any breathings. A man must come so far, that all things do for∣sake him, before he can be promoted further. And if this case is brought forth, as in Relation to the Grosser Creature, it afterwards returns also more subtile, as to that Claritude called Angelick: yea and more subtile as to God himself, if he can be injoyed without Angels.
Although we must thus stand in deser∣tion, perish so often, and loose our selves as to the Creature, Angels, and God, and so every one ought by and thorough desertion to be Sowen, Corrupted, and to conceive Fruit, and again to be Sown yet in the conclusion the buisiness will come to the best Issue and the man shall be everlastingly preserved and quieted in God, when he shall bring forth Frui••
out of his Seed with wonderful profit and increase, and shall have an External harvest.
That the Claritude of the Apostles was so excellent and that thy did discern all much clearer then others, even that was to be Gained by them thorough many Sufferings: and their condition was con∣joyned with so much bitterness, that they could not for that reason deliver them∣selves. An elect: man liveth in afflicti∣on as a Fish liveth in Water. He that is not Dead, cannot exercise himself in the Resur∣rection of Christ, but before that, he must suffer Patiently, that he may be Exercised in the Passion and Death of Christ. If the Magistrate can so punish a Malefactor, that he shall transgress no more, how much more shall God do the same.