what book soever you read or Minister you hear when you do understand what they mean you are to examine whether it be a truth or no which they teach but as for the Scripture you are not to say How can this be but whether this bee the meaning of the words for the sense of the Scripture when once known is not to bee examined any further since there is no truth more evident by which the Scripture it being taken for the Word of God can bee tryed for since it is Gods Word it is as true as that God is true for since truth is essential unto God it is all one to deny that God is true as to deny that God is as since roundness is essential to a circle it is all one to say it is not round as to say it is not a circle 7. Wee are to read it applyingly Indeed divers commands were personal divers are in respect of their Office as to Ministers Magistrates divers were typical those that were personal as the command to Abraham to offer his Son so is not to bee applyed to any other save only to the equivalency of it viz. that nothing should bee so dear unto us but though in case God do require it wee should bee willing to part with it As for those commands that are typical they are ceased those that belong to any one as having such an Office are not to bee applied to any but of that office but as for the promises wee must not think that they were made to those to whom they were made because they were such or such but because they were so qualified viz. the promises were not made to Abraham as Abraham but to Abraham as believing Abraham and that promise which was made personally to him and confirmed with an oath was not made or confirmed by an oath that Abraham should have strong consolation only but that all the heirs of promise should have strong consolation also Heb. 6.14 17. compared together 8. Thou must read it frequently But because I have spoken more largely in that little Treatise viz. Directions to Christian Perfection I shall proceed to nominate what other books I would advise you to read CHAP. V. Wherein is set down a Catalogue of several books for the ignorant and poorer sort who in respect of their poverty cannot buy and of their ignorance cannot understand books of greater value and depth AFter my commending of the constant daily serious understanding reverent applying believing and conscionable reading of the holy Scriptures to all persons whatsoever 1. Bee they never so learned since the very Angels themselves desire to look into those mysteries though they despise the learnedst book that ever were writ by men as wonderfully below them 2. Though they bee the holiest knowingest and most experienc'd Saints since the Prophets and Apostles who themselves were pen-men of Scripture did read and meditate on and admire and study the Word of God as David Daniel Peter c. and did account it not less sure than the Revelations that God gave them Wee have a surer word of Prophecy 2 Pet. 1.19 and the more experience wee have of Gods goodnesse should not make us abate at all of our earnest desires of the Word of God for if wee have tasted how good the Lord is wee should still as much desire the sincere milk of the Word that wee may grow thereby delighting and being affected with it as wee were with that Sermon or that truth of Gods Word by which wee were converted as wee were the first day that wee were born of God 1 Peter 2.2 3. I say after such reading of the Scripture that the truths therein contain'd may be better understood and the commands thereof better practis'd to those specified in the title of this Chapter I commend these books following 1. The Plain-mans Path-way to heaven a book which partly because it goes by way of Dialogue as also because it answers the common objections of simple people against Religion as also because it writes very plain and stoops to the capacitie of the meanest I do highly commend it to such people to read The next is The Practice of Piety These two books I think next to the Scripture have done as much good as any two books in the Christian world The next book I shall commend is Mr. Balls Catechisme a book of great use and much solidity The next which is of super-eminency in its kinde is The Confession of Faith the larger and shorter Catechismes of the Assembly of Divines Another book of small price and bulk which after you are wel grounded in the principles of Religion set down in the former is a book called The fiery Pillar which hath very much in a little You may add to these for the better stirring you up to holiness and discovering of your spiritual condition Mr. Wheatleys New birth and his Sermon of the Redemption of time and Fenner of final impenitence and Mr. Shepherds sincere convert and sound believer Mr. Scudders daily walk is also a solid and very useful book Mr. Perkins his six principles and Mr. Dod upon the Commandments I am not willing to omit For those that are of a troubled conscience Doctor Sibbs his Bruised Reed and Souls Conflict As also Simmons his Deserted Souls case and cure are very good of which the two former are the plainest Mr. Baxter of the same subject 2. For those who in respect of their estates and capacities are able to buy books of greater price and understand books of higher knowledge FOr those that desire to encrease further in knowledge let them read Amesius his Medulla and Cases of Conscience and Calvins Institutions which are all translated into English for those that have large families especially of children I shall commend Bâ—ards Theatre of Gods Judgments as also Clerks Martyrology not but these two last books as well as the rest are fit for men of riper Judgements to read but because they are most fit for children and others of weak capacity for examples are easily remembred and understood and take deeper impression generally than precepts The Theatre of Gods Judgements sets down the Judgements of God upon blasphemers murderers swearers drunkards Sabbath-breakers disobedient children and therest of the sins against the ten Commandments and the Martyrology setting down the innocence holiness constancy of the Martyrs as also the mighty supports comforts that God gave unto them in their sufferings it will exceedingly provoke them up to an holy resolution to suffer for his sake who never leaves his comfortless nor forsaken and that which I very much intend in the reading of Martyrology is that they may bee brought to an utter hatred and detestation of Popery for they shall finde that there have been more massacred and butchered and greater cruelties and breaches of oaths vowes covenants by the Papists than ever were used since the world began by all the enemies of God and for a further
is for their sakes that are simple Prov. 1.4 Psalm 19.7 Psalm 119.130 3. The way that they would have simple people take is far more intricate for they would have them believe the Church but the marks whereby the Church is to bee known as Antiquity visibility c. one cannot know except one reads over the Fathers Centuries c. which requires more time and learning a thousand-fold than that which they pretend is too difficult for them viz. reading the Scriptures They take away the Scriptures which is the Word of Truth and give them images which they call Lay-mens books which God himself faith are Teachers of lies and for their saying that hence all our errours and heresies come that every one is suffered to read the Scripture they speak contrary to that of Christ Mat. 22.29 And for this reason learned men should rather bee forbidden to read the Scripture than others since generally all Hereticks have been learned men dare they blaspheme God and say as they must if this were true Lord thou hast commanded us to read the Scriptures and hast said that they are able to make us wise to Salvation and that the cause of errour is the ignorance of the Scripture yet we finde that it is the cause of all errours and heresies and therefore though thou hast strictly commanded it wee do as strictly forbid it But I must crave pardon that I mix any thing of controversie in a Treatise that I intended to bee purely devotionary therefore I must crave pardon also that I have handled this controversie rather in a popular than Scholastical way since my main end of publishing this Treatise is not for the wise and prudent but for babes in our Saviours sense Mat. 11.25 therefore I shall now return to my former way of more practical matter and shall set down some spiritual directions for reading the Word of God with profit Directions how to read the Scripture 1. REad it as the word of God there is abundance in this very direction for if wee consider the incomprehensible Attributes of God they would all inflame us with fervent desires to read it and infallible demonstrations to believe it and strong endeavours to obey it and indeed would inable us in all other respects to read it as wee ought to read it for did we believe it to bee the Word of God as John his Revelation or Daniel his wee should doubtless read it according to these several following directions For though it is true Daniel and other of the Prophets and Apostles were more sure that their Revelations were the Word of God than wee are that the Scripture is yet not then they were that the Scripture was and is 2 Pet. 1.17 18. and indeed wee ought to take heed that is read mark and consider it until the Spirit of Christ shall arise in our hearts and make us as certain of the divine truth of it as they were therefore the first great thing is to confirm our selves of this truth that the Scripture is the Word of God But this caution I must give that wee must take heed to go about this work meerly by the strength of humane reason without craving the assistance and light of the Spirit of God not but that there are such invincible arguments and demonstrations that except one bee resolved to finde out cavils wee cannot but yeeld to this truth yet God is such an enemy to the pride of humane reason that God doth hide his truths from those that come to discover them with a carnal eye Mat. 11.25 Therefore the second direction is to read the Word of God prayingly and thou art to pray not only that God would convince thee that this is his Word but that thou mayest read it with these several following qualifications 3. Thou art to read it reverently not as other books not as books of Phylosophy and History c. but there ought to bee upon thy Spirit the awe and fear of God I do not mean that this reverence that I speak of should bee shown to the paper on which the Word of God is printed though these also as the dead bodies of Saints are not to bee used with dishonour and despight but this reverence is to bee shown to the truths promises and commands c. the sense of the Scripture do not account them as light and trivial things but read them with fear and trembling as both the matter and author of the Scripture require 4. Read the Scriptures attentively exceedingly observing and marking what is writ in them as a man that is try'd for his life diligently observes the witnesses and sentence of the Judge because his life lieth at stake so do thou mark and observe the Word of God for it is thy life Deut. 32.47 5. Read the Word of God understandingly for to read and not to understand is like looking on a sealed book therefore when thou readest mark those places verses of whose truth or meaning thou doubtest and enquire the next opportunity thou hast of some faithful Minister and enquire the meaning of them what passages thou dost not understand at the first reading upon further examination or enquiry thou mayest understand it The Virgin Mary what shee did not understand but wonder at when shee first heard shee laid up and pondered in her heart that shee might afterward understand So the vision that was shown to Peter Acts 10. though hee understood not what it meant at the present yet hee did seriously consider what God meant by it It were an excellent work if there were a clear Comment upon the Bible that might only fill up an ordinary margent and yet explain the Text so fully that wee might have a competent understanding of it I commend the Annotations commonly called The Assemblies Annotations on the Bible Dixon and Hutcheson what they have done this way and those that shall think it too great a labour to read the Scripture over with these Comments may make use of them only for the understanding of those places that are difficult to them but it is a great pity and shame that several of the Gentry spend their time either in vain and sinful recreations or in such studies as Histories Mathematicks c. and let the Bible lie by as a book not worthy to bee understood by them especially since they profess themselves to bee Christians and confess that it is the Word of God As if a Lawyer by profession should spend his whole time in other studies and understand nothing or very little of the Laws of the Land People generally think that it belongs onely to a Minister as a Minister to study and understand the Scripture but it generally proceeds from their undervaluing of the mysteries and their distasting the holiness of its commands 6. You are to read it believingly for when once you understand it the next thing is to believe which is not so in any other writing in the world for
detestation of Popery against which we need now especially more than ever to arm our selves You may read Mr. Squires Lectures or Sermons upon the 2. of Thes 2. I shall also commend to those who have a larger purse Mr. Hildersham upon the 51. Psalm and fourth of John books that are written as the oracles of God who is the fullest of Scripture and the best Text-man that ever I read or as I think is extant in the world and is so singularly eminent a book so plain and so profitable that it may bee understood by the lowest capacities and admired by the greatest Divines that was famous through the Christian world for learning and for piety and humility of those that were acquainted with him The Arch Bishop of Armaugh did exceedingly prize Hildersham Doctor Prestons works are singularly good the best of them is his Tract of Gods Attributes Mr. Baxters Saints everlasting rest is a book for piety and working upon the affections so eminent that I do not know any beyond it I must not forget to commend that solid Orthodox spiritual book Anthony Burgesse his spiritual Refines There is also a small rational spiritual searching and very eminent book called Pinks Tryal of our sincere love to Christ Memorandum that through ignorance not knowing the books or through inanimadvertency or for want of judgment or because I would not multiply Authors it may bee I have not named many Authors which are better than those which are here nominated but these are very good and the best that I think I know in their kinde and for those persons and that end for which I have given these directions CHAP. VI. The next great help for the attaining of holiness is communion with Saints and first of solemn conferences and how to mannage them THere are many rare spiritual advantages that are to bee gain'd by our communion with Saints by conferences and combinations with them by their example gifts graces c. of which I shall speak in order Now conferences are either occasional or solemn As for occasional conferences I shall say little onely I shall advise that you should improve your acquaintance with every Saint according to your intimacy with them mark what grace they are most eminent in as suppose it bee humility observe their carriage especially as to that grace for their example will bee much more eminent in that than in other graces so that from their carriage you will understand that which I have spoke of in the beginning of this Treatise wherein the power of Godliness consists as to humility If their eminency lies in their ability to confute errours then enquire of them what are the best arguments against such and such an errour if they are most able for the resolving of spiritual doubts or cases of conscience direct your discourse that way as Scholars use to discourse with other Scholars of that wherein they are most eminent But I shall especially treat concerning solemn and set conferences and those may bee mannaged several wayes to much advantage some of them I shall mention The first way is for a number of understanding and experienced Saints to meet 1. at a prefixt hour for else it will occasion the loss of much time if that be not observ'd 2. Let the question they intend to speak to bee given the week or meeting before for their discourses will bee much more mature solid and deliberate 3. Let every one speak to the question succinctly pertinently orderly and when all the rest have spoken let the Minister for I judge it convenient hee should bee one give his judgement and resolution of the point This hath been one way that I have known of mannaging Christian conferences another hath been this some select experienced prudent Saints of a long standing met together they begin with a short but fervent prayer for a blessing upon their conference the subject of their conferences was only spiritual experiences viz. every one told the manner and method of their conversion which took up several meetings they communicated their answers of prayers those that have been in desertions if they remember how they fell into them what their doubts were and how resolv'd and how afterwards they were delivered at other times to communicate their experiences as to joyes and as to the manifestations and discoveries that God made of himself unto them what promise or other place of Scripture was the golden pipe that conveyed these cordials to them for the Spouse desires to bee kist with the kisses of his mouth for joyes that spring not from the Word of God are to bee suspected They told also what were the effects of those joyes Another subject of their discourse was to tell what they knew of other Saints and their experiences concerning the former matters Another was to tell what their life and conversation was and the rules they walked by as to eating drinking sleeping c. At another time they have brought forth the chief places of Scripture which they have written down wherein they have found most relish most support best directions in matters concerning their conversation or those that they accounted most eminent upon any spiritual account especially in those cases for which it is hard to finde out places of Scripture to direct us in As for example What example what place of Scripture have you to prove that the thoughts that Christ had of his own excellencie makes him more ready to give an example of love and humility to his people methinks that is a singular place John 13.3 4. that Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that hee was come from God and went to God hee riseth from Supper c. What place doth set forth the superexcellencie of God most Nehemiah 9.5 Blessed bee thy glorious Name that is exalted above all blessing and above all praise And so Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods Who is like thee glorious in holinesse fearful in praises doing wonders And when all was done one repeated the substance of what was spoke and this they did one by one in their course one one day and another the next Another way was this divers Christians being met together and the subject being proposed the meeting before every one brought their answers in writing confining themselves to half a quarter of a sheet of paper which papers that no one might know whose papers they were that were to bee read were put into a book by them that writ them that whatsoever was amiss in any paper they that own'd it might not have the shame of their errour or ignorance it not being known whose it was then all the papers being read what was amiss was corrected and what was wanting was added what was doubted of was resolved by the Ministers that were present when all was done the papers were committed to one who wrote all of them into a book where they did not speak
the conversion of his brother who came home next munday a much reformed man in so much that hee frequently afterwards kept daies of humiliation by himself alone and gave evident tokens of his conversion and lived and dyed I verily beleeve a child of God I knew both the Brothers very well A Christian Gentlewoman of mine acquaintance being very dangerously sick sent to a Christian Friend of hers about twelve miles off desiring to see her before shee dyed sending her word that shee was afraid shee would come too late she went up to prayer desiring of God that in case shee might come time enough to do any Christian service to her friend hee would encline the heart of her husband to bee willing to let her go for he never used to bee willing that she should go any whether from home when shee came down from her prayer her Husband met her and told her that such a friend of hers was sick and wish't her immediately to go and did forward her exceedingly and it pleased God shee came in time to bee a help and comfort to her Christian friend with whom I am very intimately acquainted About the year 1646. We kept a publike fast in New-Sarum in the County of Wilts where a woman whom to my knowledge I never saw before nor since sent a Bil to be prayed for largely setting forth how shee was vexed by Satan and accordingly the bill being read effectual prayers were made for her deliverance from that sore and strange affliction the next Lords day following the fast the same Woman sent another Bill desiring that thanks might bee rendered to the Lord for hearing the prayers of that Congregation on the womans behalf and for his mercy in delivering her from the Devils power On both those daies there was a Citizen present who cursed both the Minister and woman in his heart saying within himself this is a meer juggle a holy Sister forsooth must bee brought in pretending to be possessed of the Devil and then prayers must bee made for her deliverance and after thanks must bee returned for the mercy obtained by their prayers and whereto doth all this tend but to win credit to them and their prayers But while the Citizen became thus a judge of unrighteous thoughts the righteous God met with him For immediately was the man surprized by Satan in like manner as the woman formerly had been as hee himself about a month after being weary of his life comming to me of his own accord confessed and after private conferences and both publike and private prayers hee found relief Here was a judgement turned into a blessing for by this means God was pleased I hope to work a good change in him About a year after another Inhabitant in that City was addicted to some courses displeasing to God and his friends especially his wife who desired nothing more than his Conversion and perceiving the next Lords day by the drift of a Text whereon the Minister then treated that some thing might bee handled the next Lords day following which would highly concern her husbands spiritual condition shee importunately sought God for him and invited him to bee present at the next Sermon but hee whether hee suspected any thing or no that shee had informed the Minister ought concerning him that so hee might fit his matter to his particular I cannot say but so it was when the morning of the Sabbath-day was come hee could by no means be perswaded to rise out of his bed till the Sermon bell had ceased and then said hee presumptuously now will I rise in spight of any but having raised himself half up hee was there held how they knew not but so as hee could not rise up nor lye down again this continued for some time till his wife by her earnest prayers obtained his release and then hee got up and dressed himself and made haste to the Church and by reason of some occasion falling out at that very time he came before Prayers or Sermon began and heard the subject which his Wife had desired of God he might hear At Ballyhaes in the County of Cavan after the English were almost all departed the Rebels stopt three Brethren viz. Thomas North Richard North and William North and because they was skilful workmen they stayed them to work for them at length there came to the house where they were a Jesuite a Priest and a Fryer with Souldiers attending them who told them unlesse they would turn Roman Catholikes they should be hanged who answered we hope you will satisfy our Consciences first about the truth of your Religion why said the Jesuite what do you make doubt of in our religion Sir said Th. North do not you affirm that some of you can keep the whole Law of God yea said the Fryer so can I then Tho replyed St. John teacheth us if any say he hath no sin hee deceiveth himself and there is no truth in him whether now shall wee beleeve St. John or you in the mean time the Priest found a Bible lying in the shop which the Fryer took and opened and perceiving it to bee an English Bible hee tore it in peices and uttered these words This is the Book which maketh so many Hereticks then said Thomas North Sir you said even now you could keep the morral Law but now you have broken both Law and Gospel which words so incensed them that they commanded the Souldiers to take the said Themas and to pinion his armes behind him and to carry him to the Gallowes which they did and when they came to the place of execution Thomas had a cloth before his eyes and hee desired so much liberty as to pray before hee went up the Ladder and obtained leave hee fell upon his knees and imagining that to be his last prayer continued therein a good while when hee had done hee raised up himself but heard no body about him then hee made a shift to pluck the cloath from before his eyes and saw no man and so came home to his brethren who unbound his arms and told him that the Jesuite Priest and Fryer had been there before him and told them their Brother was yet alive and that they were beaten with lightning from the Gallowes That was strange said Thomas that there should be lightning on such a fair day as this hath been for my part I saw none neither did I minde their departure my spirit being taken up in Prayer These passages the three brethren comming afterwards safe up to Dublin all justified to be true Dr. Teate CAAP. IX Of watching over one another and divers other great advantages that wee gain for the increase of holinesse from the acquaintance with Gods people ANother great advantage from our Communion with Gods people is from our serious and solemn engagement to watch one over another and faithfully to reprove whatsoever wee see amiss and whosoever will not onely patiently but thankfully receive reproof
commend this only upon that account not as a thing of absolute necessity but if any better way can bee found for the performance of those duties mentioned in this Chapter or a better model for keeping a Diary as I doubt not but many may be use them but in the mean time neglect not the using of any because you cannot have the best 5. I understand not this question it is somewhat like a question once proposed to me I pressing one of my Parishioners some years since to minde holiness make it his business and to spend one hour a day reading and praying c. and giving more particular directions for the daily time set apart for Gods service after by many evasions and excuses hee endeavoured to shift off this exhortation all which by Gods assistance I having taken off and answered hee at last in some discontent asked mee why I should offer to press him to spend an hour a day in the immediate service of God c. Had I prest any of the neighbours to it or did I ever press it to any other before Why should hee be the first that I should speak to So it is for you to ask Why should I bee the first that should keep a Diary Though let mee tell you thou art not the first as I suppose of thousands yet because Scripture is the soundation of all matters of Piety therefore I shall shew many places where the year the moneth the day of the moneth is set down when such and such things were done when the waters abated and the tops of the mountains first appeared when the Ark rested when the earth was quite dry the very day when Moses spake to the people such and such things the very moneth day and year of Solomons Reign and from the children of Israels coming out of Egypt is set down when the Temple began to bee built and the very day when it was finished the very year and moneth and day when Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem and when the famine began c. Gen. 8.4 5 13 14. Exod. 19.1 Deut. 1.3 1 Kings 6.1 38. 2 Kings 25.1 3 8 2 Kings 25.27 And as for the Prophet Ezekiel hee hath kept a perfect Diary of several times when the Word of the Lord came unto him and divers other circumstances added also besides the year moneth and day as of place where and persons with whom hee was as by these places following plainly appears Ezekiel 1.1 2. Ezek. 8.1 Ezek. 20.1 Ezek. 24.1 Ezek. 26.1 Ezek. 29.1.31.1.32.1.40.1 Why should the Spirit of God write down so particularly the year the moneth and the day surely it is for our instruction there may bee some spiritual advantage got by knowing the very day when the Lord did bestow such or such a mercy c. then only to know that God did bestow it on us but not know when This was not only the practise of Ezekiel but of other Prophets also as Jer. 29.1 2 Hagg. 1.1 Hagg. 2.1 10 20. so if you observe the book of Psalmes there are 99. that are ascribed to David 74. have his name prefixt 25. of them have no name prefixt yet some of them the Scripture it self entitles David to Acts 4.29 Heb. 4.7 and Ainsworth supposeth the rest of the 25. to bee his also Now you shall finde in those Psalmes as it were a Diary of the most remarkable passages of Davids life nay you shall finde in many of the Psalmes the very prayers and meditations that David had upon several particular occasions as in these Psalmes following 51.52.54.56.57.59.60 so Psal 3. and many others as by their several titles do appear How often do you finde mention of Nathan the Prophet Gad the Seer Ahijah the Shilonite Jaddai Shemmajah Iddo c. these were private Records or Diaries kept by them of remarkable passages that concern'd the Church of God and that expression is not this written in the book of Jasher Joshua 10.13 and 2 Sam. 1.18 cannot bee meant of any particular person for the same person could not live from Joshua till the time of David but the meaning is Is it not written in the book of the Just for holy men in those times and since used to keep Records of the special mercies and judgements of God as Grotius observes and the very title of the book of Chronicles signifies the words of daies Now it is evident that in civil matters also not only the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah did keep Diaries for where you read Is it not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah those are meant but even Heathen Emperours as Julius Caesar writ his own Commentary that is Diary so the word signifies Tyberius Caesar and Augustus Caesar had their Diurnos Commentarios as Gasper Sanctius in his Prolegomena to the Kings observes So Ahasuerus and the Kings of Persia had Secretaries by them continually to write down all that they did and said and all that befel them as Diodate upon Hester 2.23 observes I have been a little larger in this business because people think it is a new thing and that there are no Scripture proofes at all for it to prove it either a profitable or an ancient practise among the people of God but doubtless as I have said if there were no spiritual advantage to be got to know the particular times of matters the Scripture would never have been so punctual and particularly in setting of them down But to prosecute this a little further do but consider that whether you keep a Diary or no God doth Revel 20.12 and in his Diary are all your sins and all your good works set down surely if it were possible for us to see it every minute wee should see something written either in the black Register of our sins or in the Records of our good works and it would startle us if an Angel should be by us and we should see him write down every idle word as wee speak it and tell us this you must answer for at the day of Judgement it would make us more watchfull yet though wee cannot see this done nor read what is written in those books yet wee may do something towards it by keeping a Diary of our own and by judging and condemning our selves out of our own wee may prevent our being judged and condemned out of Gods Diary nor was David ignorant of this truth that God doth keep several books of Records to speak after the manner of men some where our sins are written down Psalm 51.9 for blotting out supposeth writing down and other where the members of our bodies are set down Psalm 139.16 A third book that David observes that God keeps is of the afflictions and tears of his people of their several wanderings when they are driven from place to place and as for their tears hee bottles them up and writes