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
from duties or Ordinances either by taking up all thy time or by pleading that thou art unworthy to come into the presence of God when and upon that account hinders thee from coming when hee calls thee all sorrow as to these effects is to bee mortified 3. If the sight and sorrow for thy sins discourage thee and makes thee to think that it is in vain thou shalt never overcome such corruptions such sorrow is not from God The Apostle sayes that hee forgot the things that were behinde in this sense wee must forget our sins and forget our graces that is wee must not look upon our former sinful life from thence to draw such sad conclusions that our sins are too great to bee pardoned or of too deep a dye to bee cleansed or our corruptions too strong to bee conquered neither must wee look upon our former duties and graces as if now wee might slack our pace CHAP. VI. Of letting the Truths of God lie loose upon us THe first great impediment of holiness is that we let the truth of God lie loose upon us they are not fastned by the Master of the Assemblies as nailes in a sure place few there are that take up their Religion upon any other grounds than because their Parents and the Nation in which they were born and brought up have and do profess it But I shall not prosecute this any further since it is done in that singular book Pinks Tryal of our sincere love to Christ few there are that do truly and really believe what they profess they are rather asham'd to deny those truths which all amongst whom they live profess than that they in their hearts do believe them to bee true which appears partly by this that when Sects and Heresies are multiplied and abundance fall off from the truth so that the sname of holding such errours is taken off than they do own those errours which before they believed but were ashamed to profess but especially by this that they deny those truths by their lives and conversation which they profess with their tongues it is true that there may bee conviction without conversion nor can the understanding make the will love those truths as good which it self believes as true yet though conviction cannot work conversion yet doubtless generally it would work Reformation the way to gain firm and strong perswasions of the truth of God is to build our faith upon strong and irrefragable grounds the chief if not the onely is the Word of God there are too few Christians that if they were ask'd how they could prove the fundamentals of Religion could not bring one Text of Scripture to prove them Therefore I do advise all Christians to get two or three plain and evident places of Scripture to establish themselves in every truth they hold to which purpose I cannot but commend that singular and invaluable though low priz'd book the Assemblies Confession of Faith and larger Catechisme for in the margent thereof are set down the choicest places of Scripture for proof of the several truths therein specified The second advice for the getting of a firm perswasion of the truths of Religion is to begin with fundamentals it is the devils policy to set us upon the Pinacle truths of the Temple at first as some now do as soon as they think of Religion they enter upon the points of Election and Reprobation by this means they are dazled and grow giddy and fall headlong into perdition There are scarce any Arts Trades or Sciences but there is a method in teaching of them the rudiments are first to be learned and afterwards the higher truths or practises as whosoever intending to learn upon the Lute should begin with the difficult'st lesson at first would bee discouraged and disinabled from proceeding any farther so in the truths of Religion the plainest and most fundamentals are first to bee learned and then those which are less fundamentall The third advice is to venture something upon the truths you know and would strengthen your faith in them nay may I say unto you though you do not believe them to bee true but onely think that they may be true do as those do who are desirous to know the mysteries of nature if the experiment will cost them but little and bee of great concernment to him hee will make experiment of it So in the mysteries of Religion would you know whether the Doctrine of the Gospel bee true or no our Saviour tells how you may make the experiment keep the Commandments of God it will cost you but little so to do and then you shall know c. John 7.17 So if you will know whether that saying be true Mark 10.30 make a tryal of it leave something for Christ if ever occasion bee leave lands houses c. but though extraordinary times of persecutions fall not in thy daies so that thou shalt have no opportunity to make such an experiment yet leave thy lusts and unlawful games and pleasure the esteem of the world when the truths of the Gospel require it of thee and try whether it shall not bee an hundred fold advantage to thee even in this World it is true it may bee God will pay thee in Diamonds which thou layest out in farthings in peace of conscience in spiritual graces or comforts whereas that which thou didst part with for his sake was it may bee some worldly profit pleasure or credit or that which is much worse some filthy lust But concerning further directions for the begetting and strengthening of our faith and to preserve us from errours I refer the Reader to the Preface of my Annotations upon the 4 5 6 7 Chapters of Matthew CHAP. VII The next Impediment is want of consideration THe second great Impediment of Holiness is want of consideration There are many truths not only such glorious truths as the Gospel but even such truths that even the very Heathen themselves did and do believe the bare knowledge whereof though it hath little excellency in it self yet if they were truly considered and improved would bee of singular use and advantage to us who is there amongst us that knows not that hee must die yet how few do consider and improve this plain truth wee let the truths of God lie by us and store them up as divers Ladies do their rarities and curiosities in their closets onely to shew them to those that come to see us so wee make use of the truths of God to discourse of them and rather as matters of ostentation to boast of and pride our selves in than as things by the improvement whereof wee may gain everlasting life or as great persons do of their gardens sometimes to walk in them and enjoy the pleasure of the beauty and sent of the flowers that grow there than as the Bee doth to draw honey from them There was a certain Kingdome that revolted from their Prince and stood in open defiance against him
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
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
may'st easilie spiritualize It is stored of M. Dod who intending to marrie but being troubled with fears and cares how hee should bee able to live in that condition since his incomes were but small and but enough to maintain him in an unmarried condition looking out of the Window and seeing a Hen scraping for food for her numerous brood about her thought thus with himself This Hen did but live before it had these Chickens and now shee lives with all her little ones upon which hee added this thought also I see the Fowles of the Ayr neither sow nor reap nor gather into barnes and yet my heavenlie Father feeds them And if thou gettest that spiritual Art like the Bee to draw sweetness from everie flower and if thou canst turn everie thing thou hearest and seest into holy meditations these ejaculatorie prayers will come of themselves for holy thoughts of God end in holy prayers to God 4. Get a sense of thy own vileness and inabilitie of doing any thing that is good or resisting any thing that is evil and that will make thee cry to God upon all occasions whether of dutie or temptation 5. Hinder not the motions and breathings of the Spirit upon thee quench not the Spirit and the Spirit of God will inflame thee for when the fire of his love is kindled in thy heart what would hee but that it should burn nay wee must not only not hinder but earnestlie desire these breathings of the Spirit Cant. 4. ult Awake O North winde and blow O South winde upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow forth for if the fire bee blown the sparks will arise 6. Much frequent the company of Gods people for their companie will much inflame green wood will burne when it is mixt with that which is very dry and if thou canst get thy heart inflamed love will dictate and furnish thee with thoughts enough but I must give some few cautions 1. By this expression of ejaculatorie prayers I meane all manner of holy thoughts whether they are praises of God or prayers to God whether they bee any admirings as Lord what is man that thou regardest him or any abasing thoughts of our selves Psalm 73.22 how foolish was I and ignorant c. or whether by enquiries after God as when shall I come and appear before God Psalm 42.2 or with our own soul Why art thou cast down O my soul Psalm 42.5 6. so that I use the word Ejaculatorie prayers very comprehensively 2. Let thy ejaculatorie prayers bee frequent but not customary for as I have already said such kinde of customarie ejaculations whosoever useth them is neer of kin to a common swearer 3. Though they bee short let them bee fervent 4. Let them generally bee mental except thou art alone and if they bee vocal bee rather passive than active in them As David held his tongue until the fire burnt and hee could hold in no longer but burst out in this expression Lord let mee know my end and the measure of my daies 5. You must not leave off solemn duties and think to supply the want thereof by ejaculatory prayers for they are not to justle out but help one another This is as if the Priests should content themselves with keeping the fire burning alwayes on the Altar and neglect their morning and evening Sacrifice And as when Solomon first offered Sacrifice at the Dedication of the Temple there came down fire from heaven to consume it but afterwards they were to keep in the fire day and night by continual supplies of fewer So that if they let the fire go out they were not to expect that God should by fire from heaven consume their Sacrifices as oft as they were to offer them So it is with every soul that belongs to God at first God doth inflame the soul with fire from heaven but when once God hath kindled that fire wee are to keep it in by continual ejaculatorie prayers for else how can wee expect that God will alwayes kindle it anew when wee go to our solemn duties CHAP. IV. The next great help direction for attaining of Holiness is reading of holy books THe next direction and advice is to read holy books the chief and fountain of all the rest is the Scripture which is able to make us wise unto Salvation I confess it doth amaze mee to think that any one that dare own the name of a Christian should forbid the people of God to read the Bible but when I consider that Popery is upheld by cruelty and policy and that it is unpossible but that their errors should bee detected if their ignorance were dispelled then no marvell they should forbid the reading of the Scripture but because there is so much fear that their errours will bee spread I shall speak a word or two to this point 1. What reason imaginable is it that they to whom the Scripture is commanded to bee read should bee forbidden to read the Scripture but the Scripture is commanded to bee read even to men women and children Deut. 31.11 12. 2. How sensless is it to say I write and send a letter to such a man but I intend not that hee should read it Now it is plain that generally the Epistles of Saint Paul and others were writ to all the Saints in that City to which the respective Epistles are directed as appears by the titles of the several Epistles And for any one to say that Paul c. did not intend that they should read them notwithstanding they sent them to them is so sensless that the very naming of it is sufficient confutation But if any one desires further satisfaction in a thing so evident let them read the strict command of the Apostle that they should read it 1 Thes 5.27 I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle hee read unto all the holy brethren And in his Epistle to the Colosians hee commands them not only to read the Epistles writ unto them but the Epistle writ to Laodicea also and that those of Laodicea should read the Epistle writ to Coloss Colosians 4.16 3. Those that have been frequent in searching the Scripture and thereby to judge of the Doctrine that was delivered to them by St. Paul were commended then it is a commendable thing to read the Scripture except one can search the Scripture without reading of it Now it is plain the Bereans were highly commended for this very thing Acts 17.11 4. Our Saviour doth command the Jewes to search the Scriptures John 5.39 Paul commends Timothy for learning the Scriptures from a childe 2 Tim. 3. 15. and hee is blessed that reads and that meditates in it day and night Rev. 1.3 Psalm 1.2 Object But they say Alas how can poor simple people understand the Scriptures I answer 1. Ask God that question who commands them to read the Scriptures as hath been shewn already 2. One main end of writing the Scripture