practice: An Art lately so taught, as I shall
neede onely to poynt at the choyce theames, suiting
and furthering this argument. I need not goe
far to fetch this fire: I may strike it out of
every word of this Epistle to Laodicea.
Behold the Lord God, especially thy Lord Christ in
his glorious titles and Majesty; for so hee beginnes
his visions to John; and his Epistles to the
Churches, exciting their dull hearts. By such
apparitions did hee set on fire the heart of Moses
in the burning bush; and enflamed Stephan,
his first Martyr: answerable and proportionable
to which, are our serious contemplations. Behold
him as one that seeth thee, and knoweth thy workes;
the rouzing preface of all these Letters. Casars
eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood.
The Atheist thinks God takes as much notice of him
and his prayers, as hee doth of the humming of Flyes
and Bees; and therefore, no marvell if his service
bee formall and fashionable. The faithfull Christian
by faiths prospective sees him at home, and heares
him saying, Well done thou good servant; which maketh
him to worke out his heart. Behold him as the
beginning of creatures, especially of the new creature.
Oh! what love hath hee shewed thee in thy redemption?
out of what misery, into what happinesse, by what
a price, to what end; but that thou shouldest bee
zealous of good workes? Behold him as the faithfull
witnesse, that witnessed himselfe for thee a good
witnesse, and heere faithfully counsels thee to follow
his patterne. Behold him as a speedie and royall
rewarder of his followers. Take thy selfe into
paradise, represent to thy selfe thy crowne, thy throne,
thy white robes; looke not on the things that are
seene, but on the farre most excellent wait of glory;
looke upon these, and faint if thou canst. Behold
also hee is a consuming fire, a zealous God, hating
lukewarmnesse not onely destroying Sodome with
fire and brimstone, and providing Tophet for
his enemies; but awaking also his drowzie servants,
by judgements (as Absolon Joab by firing his
corne) his Israelites by fiery serpents: whom
hee loveth, hee chasteneth, and keepeth them in the
fornace of fiery trialls, till they come to their
right temper. Hee standeth and knocketh:
if nothing will arouze us, a time will come, when heaven
and earth shall burne with fire, and Christ shall
come in flaming fire, to render vengeance with fire
unquenchable. Wee therefore that know the terrour
of that day, What manner of persons ought we to bee?
From God turne thine eyes unto man: set before thee the pillar, and clowde of fiery examples, that have led us the way into Canaan. Hee is but a dull lade that will not follow: The stories of the Scriptures, the lives of the Fathers, the acts and monuments of the Church, have a speciall vertue for this effect. The very pictures of the fires, and Martyrs, cannot but warme thee. If thou canst meete with any living examples, follow them, as they