prayer to God for vnderstanding for as wee cannot see the Sunne without his owne light so we cannot see the wonders of the word vnlesse the Lord manifest them vnto vs by his Spirit The third thing that is to be done that wee may read in iudgement is Application to make vse of that wee attaine vnto by reading in the reforming of our liues Many esteeme highly of the tree of knowledge with Eue but they regard not the tree of life when as the very life of our knowledge consisteth in the practise of that which we know As it is said of Hearers so it is true of Readers Not the readers of the word Ioh. 13.17 Iam. 4.17 but the doers shall be iustified And These things if you know them happy are you of you doe them Nay he that knoweth and doth not shall bee the more beaten and is guilty of the more sin As therefore wise men labour to make profite of all things they deale with so we should propound this end to our selues in all our reading that it may be profitable to teach to improue to correct and to instruct vs in all righteousnesse that we may become absolute and perfect in all good workes Some read onely to this end that they may know more then they did and this is vanity Some that they may bee knowne to know more and this is pride Some to make a gaine of their knowledge and this is filthy lucre Some to edifie others and this is charity Some to edifie themselues and this is Christian prudence such like words hath one of the Antients Another saith thus Then is our reading to be commended when we turne the words into workes And againe the Scriptures are Gods Epistle written to men to the end they should liue well And the Holy Ghost better then all Reuel 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this prophesie and keepe those things which are written therein Amen Now to God onely wise be honour and praise for euermore 1. Tim. 1.17 Amen Amen THE GROVNDS Of Diuinitie The prime and chiefest place of Diuinity is concerning God Heb. 11.6 Hee that commeth to God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them which seeke him and this is life eternall Iohn 17.3 that they know thee the onely very God and him whom thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST QVESTION HOw may we come to the sound knowledge of God Ans The best meanes to attaine such knowledge is by the holy Scriptures Esay 8.20 Iohn 5.39 Explication The knowledge of God is either Naturall or Reuealed That which is Naturall is either by the notions imprinted in euery mans minde whereby the conscience is conuinced or by the consideration of the creatures which naturall knowledge is vnsufficient to saluation Rom. 1.19 20. though sufficient to leaue vs without excuse The Reuealed Knowledge is that which is attained by the word of God who though he dwell in the Light which none can attaine vnto 1. Tim. 6.16 yet hath therein reuealed himselfe so farre as he saw fit for vs to vnderstand This knowledge beyond comparison is far more excellent then the naturall 1. Cor. 8.1 is sufficient to saluation in regard of Knowledge but not in regard of working or effecting it which onely is by the holy Spirit making this knowledge effectual to syncere faith loue feare obedience c. Quest What are the holy Scriptures Ans The holy Scriptures are all those bookes of the old and new Testament by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost written or approued by the Prophets and Apostles Explic. These are the writings of the Prophets which are contained in the Hebrew Canon of the old Testament Those the writings of the Apostles which are contained in the Greeke Canon of the New But all those bookes vsually contained in our Bibles from the end of the small Prophets to the Gospell of Saint Matthew together with the prayer of Manasses are called Apocrypha that is hidden which though they containe many wholesome things and for many ages haue béene read in the Church yet are to be distinguished from the other being neither equall in authority nor of any more credit then as they agrée with them They are called the Scriptures that is the Writings in regard of their supereminent excellency being vnto all other Writings as the Sunne vnto the lesser Starres both in regard of their péerelesse worth and also because that all other bookes obtaine a degrée of worthinesse according as they more or lesse accord with them They are called Holy Rom 1.2 because of the Authour which is God 2. Tim. 3.16 because of the Pen-men 2. Pet. 1.21 which were holy Men because of the matter which is the holy Will and Counsell of God Act. 20.27 because of the vse to make vs holy and perfect in all good workes 2. Tim. 3.17 It pleased God that the heauenly doctrine shold he written both that it might be the better conueied vnto succéeding posterities and also that it might bee the safer preserued from corruption there beeing an infallible standeth for the examining and determining of all doctrines and opinions which should arise If the worship of God and the doctrine of saluation hath béene meruailously depraued now it is written what think wée would it haue béene if it neuer had béene written Vse Whosoeuer then desires the true and sound knowledge of God are to bée admonished to procure themselues Bibles and diligently to reade in them or if they cannot reade to heare others that they may fetch euen from the Fountaine it selfe the doctrine of saluation and also that they may euen discerne the bookes wherein the same is infallibly contained For though it be possible for a man to bee saued holding the summe of the heauenly doctrine without the distinct knowledge of the seuerall bookes yet it is the duety of all Christian men and women so farre as they haue meanes and are capable of it to endeuour to attaine to the Historicall knowledge of the Bible and bookes Canonicall therein contained First that they may with all thankfulnesse honour the holy Scriptures aboue all other Writings Secondly that they may make the best profite of the Preaching of the Word which they cannot doe who when Authorities are alleaged and places quoted are not able to distinguish the worth of the authority as whether it bee Diuine or Humane Thirdly for the more certainty of their faith when they can themselues find and examine by the holy Scriptures those things which are Preached In which regard the men of Berea are commended as an example vnto vs. Act 17.10.11 For all doctrines of men are to bee examined by the Scriptures and no further to be credited then they haue warrant from the same This condemnes them which are negligent this way which negligence is by too well knowne experience found to bée the
key so should wee lay vp the word which wee haue receiued The word is a well of life but as Iacobs well it is very deepe Preaching is the drawing of this water our hearing the fetching of it But as wee goe not to the riuer for water to spill it by the way so if we spill and loose the word wee haue receiued what profite shall wee haue And because we are nimble to apprehend and strong to retaine euill things but slow and weake to good things we must earnestly pray and entreate the Lord to sanctifie and to strengthen our memories that that which we haue once heard we may often remember to the benefite of our soules Amen That which is to be done after we haue heard is Meditation the very life of our Hearing and Reading and it is a reuoluing in our mindes and a repeating againe those things which wee heare and read without the which I dare bee bold to say that neuer any did or shall profite in the study of the Word This meditation is either with God or man Meditation with God is either when we giue thanks or pray concerning things heard or read When thou hast heard praise God for it and pray that by the finger of his Spirit it may be written in thy heart and that thou maist finde in thy selfe the liuely formes of the doctrines deliuered It is a good degree of profiting by the Word when we can conclude the things we heare and reade in the forme of a prayer Meditation with Man is either with our selues or others With our selues when wee make triall what we can remember of that wee heare and reade and heere wee must not stay but proceed to the heart and conscience and examine them vpon euery point wee haue heard As if thou hast heard that which before thou knewest not blesse God and labour to bee more confirmed in the truth If any thing hath bene reproued that either thou art guilty or not guilty If guilty blesse God that thou art admonished of thy fault and from hence make thy rise to repentance If thou beest not guilty praise God for preseruing thee from such sinnes so condemned in his word If thou hast heard a vertue or good duety commended then either thou hast not practised it or thou hast If nor beginne heere in the name of God if thou hast praise God for such grace and let such exhortations encourage thee to proceed in wel-doing Meditations with others is when either with our family or with any other of the godly brethren we do reuerently and discreetly conferre of the things deliuered The benefite heereof must needs be great for as two eyes see more then one so when wee meete to conferre of that which we haue heard that which one forgetteth another may remember and that which is not well vnderstood by one is it may bee better marked by another Luk. 24.31 The two Disciples thus coferring had their vnderstanding opened And the men of Berea their faith confirmed Act. 17.11.12 And this is wisely to heare The Lord blesse al his people with this grace for Christs sake Amen Thus much concerning wisedome in hearing the Word Now followeth to be declared how wee should read the holy Scriptures wisely That we are wisely to reade teacheth our Sauiour Mat. 24.15 Let him that readeth consider and wee finde by other experience that our affaires vndertaken rashly and without due consideration succeed not That we may reade wisely three things are necessary 1. Reuerence 2. Order 3. Iudgement First Reuerence is required in our reading of the holy Scriptures both in regard of the Maiesty of the Authour of them which is the liuing God and also in regard of the worthinesse and weightinesse of the contents and matter of them which is the hidden and great mystery of godlinesse concerning Iesus Christ and eternall life The summe of the word of the Lord is The word the Lord In these two respects besides many other the Scriptures are farre more excellent then all other writings whatsoeuer Therefore when thou takest thy Bible remember the Lord whose word it is and sanctifie thy exercise therein with a godly and deuout prayer for leaue and for an vnderstanding heart yea as Moses at the setting forward of the Arke and at the resting of it deuoutly prayed Numb 10.35.36 So whensoeuer thou readest begin and end open and shut thy booke with prayer For as they which come to the Lords Table and eate and drinke vnworthily and irreuerently eate and drinke their owne iudgement not considering the Lords Body 1. Cor. 11.29 So they which come irreuerently to the reading of the Scriptures as to the reading of any prophane or common booke reade to their owne iudgement for not considering the Lords Booke As we reade that the Lord commanded Moses to put off his shooes when hee drew neare the burning Bush Exod. 3.5 because the ground whereon hee stoode was holy ground So when wee drawne neare to the Lord in offering to reade his word hee commaundeth vs to put on holy and reuerent affections because the Booke wee reade is a holie Booke For which way soeuer we turne or cast our eies in euery leafe and page thereof the holy and reuerent name of the Lord is engrauen As Peter therefore writeth of speaking If any man speake let him talke as the word of God 1. Pet. 4.11 so may I say if any reade let him reade as the words of God For as many thousands of the Bethshemites were sore punished for their irreuerent gazing vpon the Arke 1. Sa. 6.19 as we reade also of Vzzah 1. Ch. 13.10 So verily the iust Lord striketh many Readers with blindnes and hardnes of heart for irreuerent vsage of his holy Scriptures When thou readest therefore be reuerent and pray Pray for this is the way to obtaine wisedome Iames 1.5 Luke 11.13 and to obtaine the Spirite which spirit leadeth in to the knowledge and practise of all trueth Iohn 18.13 and which reuealeth vnto vs the hidden things of God 1. Cor. 2.10 Vse reuerence also For the feare of God is the beginning of wisedome Prou. 1.7 And the secret of the Lord is reuealed to them which fear him and his couenant to giue them vnderstanding The Lord put in our hearts this feare for Christs sake Psa 25.14 Amen The second thing required in the reading of the word is Order and Methode which is a great furtherance of knowledge and a singular helpe of memorie An army disranked in and out of battell aray neuer getreth the victory so neither doth disorderly and confused reading get any great measure of grounded knowledge As Saint Luke wrote the Gospel in an orderly manner from point to point Luke 1.3 so wee are to reade the word in an orderly manner going forward from point to point Memorable is the example of one Alphonsus a King of Spaine who notwithstanding the affaires
cause that after long Preaching many remaine very grosly ignorant Q. What doe you meane by this word Testament Ans By Testament I vnderstand the vnchangeable Couenant betweene God and man Gen. 17.1.2.7.9 Ier. 31.1.31.32.2 Cor. 6.18 concerning the mercy of God by Christ to man and mans obedience to God Q You say that the holy Scriptures are the Bookes of the Old and New Testament Are there then two Testaments Ans I beleeue that the Testament or Couenant of God is but one in regard of Substance though in regard of Circumstance it be said Gal. 4.24 that there are two Expli The Doctrine of Grace offering to men in the name of God saluation and binding man to obedience and thankefulnesse to God is called in regard of the forme of conuention agréement betwéene God and man a Couenant and in regard of the maner of confirming it a Testament being in many things like a Testament For first as in a Testament or last Will the Testators minde is declared so is the will of God in his word Secondly as in a Will so héere is a Testator which is Christ a Legacie which is eternall life Heires which are the Elect an instrument and Writing which are the Scriptures and Seales which are the Sacraments Thirdly and principally as a Testament is in force by the death of the Testator Heb. 9.16.17 so the Couenant of God is ratified by the death of Christ This Couenant is and hath béene alwaies one and the same to Abraham and the Elect before Christ Rom. 4.23 24. the same that it is to vs for all are saued by Christ they by him to come wée by him come in the flesh Acts 15.11 But because God in his manifold wisedome otherwise propounded it to the Fathers otherwise to vs Euen as a Physition administreth after one manner to a child after an other to a man growne for the diuersitie of their age and temperament therefore it is said to be double God bringing them and vs after a diuers manner to the knowledge of saluation by his Sonne Christ For before the comming of Christ the manner of the Couenant to the Fathers was darke burdensome and costly they being gouerned and tutored by the ministery of the Law a seuere Schoole-maister Gal. 3 24. vnder hard conditions as the yoake of many diners Ceremonies to be abolished Heb. 15.10 Gal. 3.10 and the burden of the Curse and hence it is called Old but vnto vs all things are after a more plaine easie and frée manner without the same strict exaction of the law of obedience to be performed in our owne persons Act. 13.38.39 the grieuous burden of the Curse and the intollerable yoake of Ceremonies being remoued from our neckes by the preaching of the Gospell and for this it is called New Therefore Saint Augustine said that the new Testament was hidden in the Old and the Old manifested in the New Wherefore when you read in the Scriptures that the old Testament was but for a tune Heb. 8.6.7.8.9.10.11 and to be abolished c. and that the new is better and such like vnderstand this opposition and abolition not in the bookes for the bookes of the old Testament are the word of God which abideth foreuer nor in the substance or matter but in regard of circumstances afore spoken Notwithstanding this the Law it selfe or Decalogue which by a figure is sometimes called the Couenant must be holden to be a diuers kinde of doctrine from the Gospell and bringing forth in respect of vs contrary effects 2. Cor. 3.7.8.9 and the Gospell not to bee a new Law differing from the old onely by a further degrée of perfection or by addition of Councels as the Papists teach Vse 1. Remember that to be in couenant with God is the fountaine of all thy happinesse which Couenant the Law is not but it is the Copy as it were of the Articles points agréed vpon betwéene God and thy selfe declaring not why God is thy God but what he requireth of thée nor why thou art receiued to grace but what thou promisest to do As then when thou sealest to Couenants or Indentures which are for thy great aduantage thou labourest well to vnderstand what thou sealest to and art careful to kéepe conditions on thy part so this requireth that thou shouldest know the law of thy God with the particular points thereof and if thou expectest the aduantage of the couenant that thou shouldest precisely kéepe the conditions on thy part which if thou doest not but transgressest it is as if thou shouldest deny thine owne hand and seale Vse 2. Remember also that the Scriptures are Christs Testament wherein thou hast a rich bequeathment of eternall life As men neglect not to haue the Copies of their fathers wils wherein the inheritance is giuen them and aske counsel and are very conuersant in them that they may vnderstand euery tittle in them Iohn 5.39 Col. 3.16 so shouldest thou be diligently conuersant in the word of God Q. Of what authority are the holy Scriptures An. I beleeue that they are of a diuine Authority whereby we are infallibly certaine of the Doctrine contained in them Psal 119.9 Esay 8.20 Gal. 6.16 Phil. 3.16 2. Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.19 and necessarily bound to beleeue and obey the same Being therefore called the word of God and the perfect and onely Canon of our faith and life Expl. The Scriptures are two waies taken essentially for the doctrine contained in them and accidentally for the writings wherein such Doctrine is expressed now in both these they are Diuine but Canonicall properly the first way The whole Scripture is the rule but not the whole of the Scripture as in a Carpenters Rule euery thing that is of the Rule is not the Rule The Scriptures are Diuine and infallible because God is the Author who can neither be deceiued nor deceiue by word signe or writing They are Canonical 2. Tim. 3.16 2. Pet. 1.20 21. Esay 8.20 Rom. 15.4 1. Tim. 3.14.15 Ioh. 20.31 because written to this end namely to be the rule of our Faith and Life And of this authority they are in themselues though all the world should contradict it or be ignorant of it As the sunne was the measure of the day night before either man or beast were made to behold it That they are diuine it must néeds be Deut. 5.32 Eze. 20.29 2. Tim. 3.16 because of God the Author and Canonicall they must nées be because diuine which two agrée together as the cause and the effect Vse 1. Hence wée learne that by the Scriptures as by a supreme Iudge all controuersies in Religion are to be decided Euen as all difference and strife about weight is ended by an euen and iust ballance so all dissention in the faith is by the vnpartiall beame of the Sanctuary which is the Scriptures easily certainly compounded Yea we attribute this
goe out vncleane Well Rom. 1.28 2. Thes 2.10.11 this of all other is most fearefull and the high way to a reprobate minde These especially and so all other sinnes must be carefully auoided and vnfeignedly repented of Wisd 1.4 For wisedome entreth not into a defiled soule And as the eye if it be euill affected cannot discerne the obiect so the minde infected and the conscience polluted with these and the like sinnes cannot possibly vnderstand the things of God Sathan by these meanes stealing out of our hearts the pretious seed of the good word of God Those things which are to be performed before the hearing of the word are especially two The first is prayer If wee must pray before the receiuing of our bodily meate much more before this heauenly food of our soules And in our prayers wee must commend our Teachers and our selues vnto the Lord. For our Teachers we are to pray for three things First that their lippes may preserue knowledge Secondly that they may be faithfull in deliuering the whole counsell of God vnto vs. And thirdly that they may powerfully and wisely speake to our consciences For our selues also we are to pray for three things First for the pardon of our sinnes Secondly that our mindes may be opened to vnderstand Thirdly that our hearts and affections may be sanctified to obey the holy word For oftentimes we do not that we know to be best but that vnto which our affections carry vs. An honest and a good heart is a notable signe of Gods Spirit The second thing to be done is timely and seasonable resorting with the rest of Gods people to the house of God Negligent comming that is when we come one stragling after another howsoeuer it be ordinary almost in all places yet it argueth a grosse carelesnesse and neglect if not contempt of the worship of God If our loue vnto the word should be measured hereby it would soone appeare to bee a great deale lesse then our loue to Faires Markets Feasts and merry-meetings as they call them vnto the which we will be sure to come with the first O that wee had but halfe the care to come to the market and feast of our soules which is the mistery of the word Why should we not bee like to Peter and Iohn in striuing to out-run one another to the house of God Iohn 20.4 as they to the Sepulchre of Christ In the time of Nehemias the people gathered all together Nehem. 8.1 and called for the reading of the Law Act. 10.33 And Cornelius and his houshold were all ready waiting for Peter to heare the word Luk. 5.1 And the people pressed vpon Christ to heare him The forwardnesse of these is for our imitation In hearing three things are requisite first Attention second Intention third Retention The 1. ordereth the body the 2. the vnderstanding the third the memory Attention is when the whole body but specially the eare and the eie are reuerently composed to heare the word Eccle. 4.17 Of the eare we reade Be more neere to heare Luke 4.28 Of the eye The eies of all that were in the Synagogue were fastned on him that is on Christ when he began to teach them Of the reuerent carriage of the whole body Constantine the Great may be an example who as Eusebius reports though he were the most noble Emperour that yet the world hath seene for the most part would stād at the preaching of the word and not sit downe though admonished of his Nobles Luk. 10.39 Marie also is an example hereof Wherefore to sleepe to talke to reade to gaze vp and down in euery corner which is the marke of a foole as Salomon teacheth are specially to be auoyded So also departing out of the Congregation without iust and reasonable cause as the people stayed for Zacharie though in regard of the vision hee held them very long Euen so should we stay with reuerence till the Congregation be dismissed with the blessing of God Luke 1.21 More reuerence then must bee of a great many practised in hearing If Paul will haue women reuerently to behaue themselues in the congregation because of the Angels much more ought all both men and women behaue themselues reuerently because of the presence of God who is the Lord both of men and Angells of the which his presence we haue his promise and therefore Dauid called the meeting the saints in his time the presence of God Mat. 18.20 As therfore Iacob was stricken with great reuerence for the vision which hee had at Bethel Psal 42.2 said How feareful is this place Gen. 28.17 this is none other but the house of God this is the gate of heauen so should wee esteeme of the assemblies of the children of GOD worshipping in feare as Dauid Psal 1.7 remembring we are present before God himself as Cornelius The second is Intention and this is of the mind when wee diligently marke those things which are taught For if our thoughts wander Acts 10.33 and bee not bent on the things spoken we heare without profite Euen as wee see by experience that in a deep meditation though our eies be fixed vpon some certaine obiect yet we smally regard it so if the minde bee not present aswel as the body all is to no purpose For this is to be like the Iewes who honoured God with their lippes but their hearts were farre from him Wherefore heere is required that wee suffer not our hearts to wander but that we call home all the powers of body and soule to this holy businesse not onely marking some words and sentences but the Booke the Text the Parts the Doctrines the Proofs and the Vses This is Intention and this is commaunded to the Church Psal 45.10 Heare O daughter and consider incline c. And Cause thine care to hearken Prou. 2.2 and incline thine heart to wisedome and vnderstanding The third is Retention and this is of the memory when we lay vp the word of God in the heart as the virgin Marie the sayings concerning Christ Luke 2.51 Not so to lay it vp as the euill seruant the talent neuer to vse it but as Ioseph in the yeares of plenty laied vp corne for reliefe against the yeares of famine so should wee store vp the word that wee may haue it ready for our vse vpon all occasions offered And this is noted to bee the property of good ground Luke 8.15 Ioh. 14.23 To keepe the word But many are like to siues or broken vessels into which whatsoeuer is poured is lost That bodie thriueth not where the stomacke wanteth a retentiue faculty to keepe the meat till it be digested Euen so all the hearing in the world profiteth not if wee be not carefull to remember it Wherefore as a man hauing receiued a pretious iewel casteth it not at his heeles but layeth it vp charily vnder locke and
yet was a reprobate These may be necessary partes of Discipline enioyned to sinners to testifie their repentance as in ancient times but the essentiall parts of repentance are perpetually mortification of the olde man and viuification of the new If you shall desire to know the maner how God works repentance vnderstand that first by preaching of the Law and sometimes by crosses punishments c. the conscience is terrified for sinne and is sorrowfull but in a worldly manner for feare of wrath for the Law can worke no otherwise Then by the promise of the Gospel the conscience is chéered through the gift of GOD in assurance of mercy the sense whereof bréeds an other sorrow different from that wrought by the Law called godly Sorrow which is when we are grieued for sinne not so much because of the wrath following as because thereby we haue offended so gratious a father and then followes repentance which is a changing of the heart and purpose vnto a continuall care and indeuour to hate all euill 2. Cor. 7.10 and to auoyd it to loue all goodnes and to follow it So that repentance properly is the effect of the Gospel not of the Law though the Law be necessary to prepare vs thereunto And hence we say it is an effect of Faith which purifies the heart Concerning the practise of repentance Sée the Booke called the Nature and Practise of Repentance written by our worthy Maister Perkins Vse 1. Beware of a wonderfull subtilty of the Diuell whereby he carries multitudes to hell which is when men and women are perswaded that if they can sigh sorrow and wéep for their sins that then they truly repent When Ahab and Iudas did thus much and yet frie in hell There is a sorrow caused by the Lawe which may bee in a Reprobate whose sorrow is like vnto the sorrow of a thiefe and whose teares are whoorish teares for as these being taken in the maner many times hang downe their heads and wéepe and waile for feare of the present punishment which when it is ouer they returne to their former courses their hearts not being changed so many grieue by the preaching of the Lawe and yet their hearts remaine as corrupt and as willing if it were not for the Lawe to sinne as euer before whereas the Godly Sorrow which commeth from the Gospel changeth the very inclination and purpose of the heart to hate sinne and loue goodnes and to continue increasing in such grace though there were no Law to condemne nor hell to torment 2. Cor. 7.11 c. Examine then thy repentance hereby and by the notes Vse 2. Remember that the summe of of a Christians duty is to Eschew euill Psal 34.14 Esa 1.16.17 and to do good and deceiue not thy selfe with those same halfe Christians whose furthest obedience is to kéepe themselues not vnspotted for they regard not spots but vndetected of grosse euils such for the which men are carried to the Iayle who though they abound with small faults as they tearme them hauing prophane hearts and destitute of loue to the truth and do no good thinke themselues among the forwardest of such who shall be saued But soft the first step to heauen in the practise of obedience is to depart from euill but he that sets but one step and that an ill-fauoured one too is neuer like to come there mend that step and depart from all euill and step againe doing the good and so walk on then the reward is thine If thou holdest not vp thy hands to any strange God but if thou worshippest not the true God thou canst not be saued If thou plowest not and goest not to cart on the Sabaoth day it is well but if thou doest not the duties of the Sabaoth in the publique and priuate worship of God thou maist be damned As therefore we doe not content our selues that no wéeds be in our Gardens vnlesse there bée good Hearbes and Flowers so we must not onely be void of euill but filled also with the fruits of righteousnesse Phil. 3.11 being not priuatiue onely but positiue Christians But alasse what then shall become of them which haue not yet learned to set the first stép to leaue their Drunkennesse Swearing Lying Whooredome how farre are these from true Christians How farre from Heauen How néere to Hell c. Vse 3. Note that Repentance and true conuersion is a worke of great difficulty for sinne cleaues so fast vnto vs sitting as close as our skinne and is so familiar to our nature that till God perswade the heart by the worke of his Spirit it is as easie a matter to perswade a man to leaue his sinnes as to get him to endure his eyes to be pluckt out of his head and his limbes to be torne from his body Therefore called Mortification and crucifying the flesh with the lusts c. It is not a sigh and away and now and then a few sorrowfull words will serue the turne No sinne is impudent and will neuer out till it be kild and cast out If thou makest account that Repentance is an easie worke thou hast not yet repented as thou shouldst do Go to Remember thou must mortifie sinne and destroy it It is a Serpent in thy bosome kill or be kild if thou kilst not it it will kill thée euen thy Soule c. Q. What is the measure of sanctification which we attaine to in this life Ans This grace is not perfectly finished in this life Rom. 7.18 19. 1. Cor. 13.9.12 Phil. 3.13 but here it is only in part Expl. There are two sorts of benefites which we receiue by Christ One of such which are out of our selues as Redemption Iustification Another of such which are in vs as Sanctification Conuersion The first sort are perfected in this life as Now we are the sonnes of God So now wee are elected 1. Ioh. 3.1.2 iustified redeemed The second are not perfected in all their degrées but onely begun Wee are perfectly redeemed vnderstand in regard of the price for we looke for the redemption of our bodies We are perfectly iustified in regard of Christs righteousnesse and the sentence for we pray for more féeling of it and these shall bée more fully declared at the last day We are imperfectly sanctified there remaining euen in the best a great deale of corruption which lusteth against the Spirit and often maketh them bitterly to mourne as in the example of Paul Vse 1. Our sanctification cannot iustifie vs Rom. 7. because imperfect Vse 2. The life of a godly man is a continuall repenting to his dying day As a man that buyes an old house is alwayes mending so the true Christian because he discouers alwaies new corruptions is alwaies mourning repairing and mending somwhat Do with thy conscience as women do in dressing vp their houses they swéepe and rub and brush euery day because euery thing gathereth dust and euer and anon they are renewing