losopher's stone: but the believer hath the thing, the secret itself of tranquillity and joy, and this turns all into gold, their iron chains into a crown of gold. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.

This is the blessed and safe estate of believers. Who can think they have a sad, heavy life? Oh! it is the only lightsome, sweet, cheerful condition in the world. The rest of men are poor, rolling, unstayed things, every report shaking them, as the leaves of trees are shaken with the wind, Isa. vii. 2; yea, lighter than so, as the chaff that the wind drives to and fro at its pleasure, Psalm i. 4. Would men but reflect and look in upon their own hearts, it is a wonder what vain, childish things the most would find there. Glad and sorry at things as light as the toys of children, at which they laugh and cry in a breath. How easily puffed up with a thing or word that pleaseth us! Bladder-like, swelled with a little air, and it shrinks in again in discouragements and fear upon the touch of a needle's point, which gives that air some vent.

What is the life of the greatest part but a continual tossing betwixt vain hopes and fears-all their days spent in these? Oh! how vain a thing is a man even in his best estate, while he is nothing but himself! His heart not united and fixed on God, disquieted in vain, how small a thing will do it! He need no other but his own heart, it may prove disquietment enough to itself; his thoughts are his tormentors.

I know some men are, by a stronger understanding and moral principle, somewhat raised above the vulgar, and speak big of a constancy of mind; but these are but flourishes, an acted bravery. Somewhat there may be that will hold out in some trials, but far short of this fixedness of faith. Troubles may so multiply, as to drive them at length from their posture, and come on so thick, with such violent blows, as will smite them out of their artificial guard, disorder all their Seneca and Epictetus, and all their own calm thoughts and high resolves: the approach of death, though they make a good mien, and set the best face

on it; or if not, yet some kind of terror may seize on their spirits, which they are not able to shift off. But the soul trusting on God is prepared for all, not only for the calamities of war, pestilence, famine, poverty, or death, but in the saddest apprehensions of soul; above hope, believes under hope, even in the darkest night, casts anchor in God, reposes on him when he sees no light, Isa. 1. 10. Yea, though he slay me, says Job, yet will I trust in him; "not only though I die, but though he slay me; when I see his hand lift up to destroy me, yet from that same hard will I look for salvation."

My brethren, my desire is to stir in your hearts an ambition after this blest estate of the godly that fear the Lord, and trust on him, and so fear no other thing. The common revolutions and changes of the world, and those that in these late times we ourselves have seen, and the likelihood of more and greater coming on, seem dreadful to weak minds. But let these persuade us the more to prize and seek this fixed, unaffrighted station; no fixing but here, where we make a virtue of a necessity.

Oh! that you would be persuaded to break off from the vile ways of sin, that embase the soul and fill it full of terrors, and disengage them from the vanities of this world to take up in God, to live in him wholly, to cleave to, and depend on him, to esteem nothing besides him. Excellent was the answer of that holy man to the emperor, first essaying him with large proffers of honour and riches, to draw him from Christ. Offer these things (says he) to children, I regard them not. Then, after he tried to terrify him with threatening,-Threaten (says he) your effeminate courtiers ; I fear none of these things.

Seek to have your hearts established on him by the faith of eternal life, and then it will be ashamed to distrust him in any other thing. Yea, truly, you will not much regard, nor be careful for other things how they be. It will be all one, the better and worse of this moment; the things of it, even the greatest, being

both in themselves so little and worthless, and of so short continuance.

Well choose you; but all reckoned and examined, I had rather be the poorest believer than the greatest king on earth. How small a commotion, small in its beginning, may prove the overturning of the greatest kingdom! But the believer is heir to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. The mightiest and most victorious prince, that hath not only lost nothing, but hath been gaining new conquests all his days, is stopped by a small distemper in the middle of his course: he returns to his dust, then his vast designs fall to nothing; in that very day his thoughts perish. But the believer, in that very day, is sent to the possession of his crown; that is his coronation-day; all his thoughts are accomplished.

How can you affright him? Bring him word his estate is ruined; Yet my inheritance is safe, says he. Your wife, or child, or dear friend, is dead; Yet my Father lives. You yourself must die; Well then, I go home to my Father, and to my inheritance.

For the public troubles of the church, doubtless it is both a most pious and generous temper to be more deeply affected for these than for all our private ones; and to resent common calamities of any people, but especially of God's own people, hath been the character of men near unto him. Observe the pathetical strains of the prophets' bewailing, when they foretell the desolation even of foreign kingdoms, much more for the Lord's chosen people, still mindful of Sion, and mournful for her distresses, Jer. ix. 1, and the whole book of Lamentations. Psalm cxxxvii. 5: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem. Pious spirits are always public, as even brave Heathens for the commonwealth. So he, in that of Horace,* Little regarding himself, but much solicitous for the public. Yet even in this, with much compassion, there is a calin in a

* Invenit insomni volventem publica cura

Fata virum, casusque urbis, cunctisque timentem,
Securrumque sui.

believer's mind; (how these agree, none can tell but they that feel it ;) he finds amidst all hard news, yet still a fixed heart, trusting, satisfied in this, that deliverance shall come in due time, (Psalm cii. 13,) and that in those judgments that are inflicted, man shall be humbled and God exalted, Isa. ii. 11, and v. 15, 16; and that in all tumults and changes, and subversion of states, still his throne is fixed, and with that the believer's heart likewise, Psalm xciii. 2. So Psalm xxix. 10: The Lord sitteth upon the flood: Yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. for ever. Or, sat in the flood, possibly referring to the general deluge; yet that then God sat quiet, and still sitteth King for ever. He steered the ark, and still guides the church through all. So Psalm xlvi., throughout that whole psalm. In all commotions the kingdom of Christ shall be spreading and growing, and the close of all shall be full victory on his side, and that is sufficient.

Of this, a singular example is in Job, who was not daunted with so many ill-hearings, but stood as an unmoved rock amidst the winds and waves.*

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In this condition there is so much sweetness, that, if known, a man might suspect himself rather selfishly taken with it than purely loving God. Such joy in believing, or at least, such peace, such a serene calmness, is in no other thing in this world. Nothing without or within a man to be named to this of trusting on his goodness, he is God, and on his faithfulness, giving his promise for thy warrant. He commands thee to roll thyself on him. The holy soul still trusts in the darkest apprehensions. If it is suggested thou art a reprobate, yet will the soul say, "I will see the utmost, and hang by the hold I have, till I feel myself really cast off, and will not willingly fall off. If I must be separated from him, he shall do it himself; he shall shake me off while I would cleave to him. Yea, to the utmost I will look for mercy, and will hope better; though I found him shaking me off, yet will I think he will not do it." It is good to seek * Ille velut rupes immota manebat.

after all possible assurance, but not to fret at the want of it; for even without these assurances, which some Christians hang too much upon, there is in simple trust and reliance on God, and in a desire to walk in his ways, such a fort of peace, as all the assaults in the world are not able to make a breach in; and to this add that unspeakable delight in walking in his fear, joined with this trust. The noble ambition of pleasing him makes one careless of pleasing or displeasing all the world. Besides, the delight in his commandments, so pure, so just a law, holiness, victory over lusts and temperance, hath a sweetness in it that presently pays itself, because his will.

It is the godly man alone who, by this fixed consideration in God, looks the grim visage of death in the face with an unappalled mind; it damps all the joys and defeats all the hopes of the most prosperous, proudest and wisest worldling. As Archimedes said, when shot, Avocasti ab optima demonstratione. It spoils all their figures and fine devices. But to the righteous there is hope in his death: he goes through it without fear, without Caligula's Quò vadis? Though riches, honours, and all the glories of this world, are with a man, yet he fears, yea, he fears the more for these, because here they must end. But the good man looks death out of countenance, in the words of David, Though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, yet will I fear no evil, for thou art with me.

SERMON XIII.

MATT. xiii. 3:

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold a sower went forth to sow, &c.

THE rich bounty of God hath furnished our natural life, not barely for strict necessity, but with great