The Exceeding Great COMFORT AND BENEFIT Of having walked before GOD in TRUTH And with a PERFECT HEART And of having done that Which is good in his Sight Set forth in several Discourses on Isaiah 38. 2 3. By Richard Stafford formerly of Magdalen Hall in OXFORD For our Rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not with Fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor. 1. 12. I have Fought a Good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that Love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. London Printed and are to be sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIX TO THE CHRISTIAN READER AS the Apostle did Write to those of his time so I according to the knowledge given me would willingly do the same as to the People of this my Generation and Countrey Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stiâ— you up by putting you in Remembrance Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle Moreover I will Endeavour that you may be able after my Decease to have these things always in Remembrance Which good Endeavour of St. Peter was so brought to pass only by his Writing down those very Words which are now Printed and thereby made known unto us For if Peter or Paul had only spoken those Words unto the few Christians then present with them but had never Written them they would have been like A Voice Crying in the Wilderness which is emphatically remarked concerning John Baptist by Esaias in Mat. 3. 3. for John spake four or five Sentences which are there Recorded and Written for him by the Evangelist But he himself Writing nothing hereof was as a Voice of one crying in the Wilderness which we know instantly perishes in the utterance and seems as nothing afterwards In the Wilderness thereby is signified the Church or Servants of God they being fewest in Number as that place hath fewest Inhabitants His Servant Job who had the character from God to speak â—f him the thing that was right saith on this wise Oh that my Words were now Written Oh that they were Printed 〈◊〉 Book That they were Graven with an Iron Pen and had in the Rock for ever Job 19. 23 24. Moreover There is the express Commandment of God to Isaiah Now go Writâ— it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it â—ay be for the time to come for ever and ever Isa 30 8. A word spoken or a voice uttered Perishes in the Speaking â—â—d Vtterance And tho' it never so much affects the Auditory for the present time yet it goes off as a Flash and is soon forgottn both by Speaker and Hearers But a Word or Sentence written that remains and People may at any time have Recourse and turn unto it Hereby also it may be effectually Prevented thâ— People shall not become forgetful Hearers of the Word as tâ— which the Scripture saith Whoso is not a forgetful Heareâ— but a doer of the Work this Man shall be Blessed in his deed And accordingly the Prophet having obeyed the aforementioned Commandment of God herein so as to have Wrote down his Words they stand and remain longer then any Gates of Brass or Bars of Iron or the most Ancient Buildings in the World for time hath defaced them and the place of them knoweth it no more But the words of Isaiah are as fresh intire sound and perfect to and at this very day all one as they were in the first Moment be uttered them or as they were in that hour wherein he first Wrote them down God having been pleased to preserve his Writings in the World For by the way there hath been great Opposition against these kind of things by Satan and his Incarnate Instruments and the Powers of Darkness The Bible it self wherein then were all the Books of Moses was very â—nigh lost in the days of Josiah when there was but one Copy thereof accidentally found to have been hidden in the Temple It being supposed that some Idolatrous King a little before had Destroyed or Burnt them all As the like was usual with the Persecutors of the first Christians Who again would hide them and rather lose their lives then give up and surrender their Bibles Wherein they were more Noble then some now a days who say They do not much value the outward Letter if they should be tryed but the tenth part so far for they say they have it in their Heart â—ut by their good leave it would not long remain in their â—eart if neither they nor others for them had it not also Writâ—â—n in Ink and Paper for to turn unto Read and seek out of it 〈◊〉 any time Thâ—s also discovers the Sin and Hypocrisie of those of the Romish Church who say they are Christians but they are not but of thâ— Synagogue of Satan and Antichrist for they also have used the very same methods to Suppress or Burn all such Bibles as aâ— in the National Tongue of any Countrey and all those Booâ—s which contain words of Truth which spring up any where aganst their own Errour Idolatry and Superstition Which agâ—in is the duty of all such as are Children of the Truth to prâ—â—erve and keep a foot in the World as the others seek to destâ—ry and suppress them for as to this the Rule is certain althâ—ugh it is not altogether so clearly apprehended by many That as words of Goodness and Truth are kept up above board and mâ—de known Openly and Vniversally on this Earth wheâ—e Sâ—tans seat is So his Kingdom doth accordingly by degrees fâ—ll and lose Ground in the World As contrariwise the Kingâ—om or Interest of Christ who is the Eternal Word would 〈◊〉 much increase and prevail in the World According as â—ood words and true words and right words are made Publick â—nd received in the World This is a Truth of great Importance 〈◊〉 would to God it were understood throughly by all Persons of whatever opinion or denomination for they should not seek their â—wn party but the things of Jesus Christ and done accordingly Another Reason of my willingness to write and Publish Books not which Minister to Contentions and Strivings for they are unprofitable and vain Titus 3. 9. But such as are to the use of Godly edifying may be gathered from what is said in psal 102. 18. This shall be written for the Generation to come and the People which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For by my sending Books or Printed papers unto them I may Preach unto People at many miles distance and put them in mind that they may obey the word of the Lord as in my presence
so much more in my absence Hereby also People may be able after my Decease to have thâ—se things always in remembrance That being Dead I may yet speak Heb 11. 4. and thus Preach to the succeeding Generation even whilst my Body shall be in the silent Chambers of the Grave and leave my mind behind mee in my Books and writings eveâ— when my Soul is gone out into the other World That the people which shall be created may be thence exhorted put iâ— mind or instructed to praise the Lord. The more universal and enduring If any mans Work abide He shall receive a Reward 1 Cor. 3. 14. any god is it is so much the better and should rather be endeavoured o be done Whereupon it appears that the Writing and Publiâ—ing of such a Book as The Practice of Piety or the Whole Luty of Man if it should be alike received in the World would â—e a doing more good throughout this Nation and for the Generations to come then if one should Preach constantly every day into the most Numerous Congregations for Twenty Forty or Siâ—ty Years and longer none usually doth But here it may be surmised and said Of making manâ— Books there is no end Which Solomon doth not here finâ— fault withal for himself Wrote several but he brings this saying in to shew what should be the Epitome and Tendency oâ— them all Namely To fear God and keep his Commandments Which until it be done Vniversally and Constantly by all People whatever from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for so is his requiring and expectation in these days Jer. 31. 33 34. The Wisdom of God saith as to this Matter For precept must be upon precept precept upon precept line upon line line upon line The Holy Ghost doubles it over and over here a little and there a little Isa 28. 10. Since the Wisdom of God hath Ordained that it should be so and it must be so This should hence forwards put to silence that Ignorant Objection of foolish Men who say What need is there of such abundance of Books and Sermons in the World Let such â—awfully Remember and Consider it again That the Foolishness of God is Wiser then Men and his own Spirit saith expreslly For precept must be upon precept precept upon precept line upon line line upon line here a little and there a little And further by thâ—se my Son be Admonished in this thing to admire and comply with the Wisdom of God for by his Ordaining that it should be so and it must be so herein Yea he Loved the People Wherefore they should do according to what is after Written All his Saints are in thy hand and they sat down at thy Feet Every one shall receive of thy Words Deut. 33 3. Wherefore again People should be Admonished in no wise to reject see John 12. 48. this Counsel of God against themselves but to receive of his Words for the Saints and Servants of God do receive of the Words of God Every one shall receive of thy Words I have one thing more to Admonish the People of this my Generation and Countrey of and to exhort them unto which doth concern them all Say I these things as a Man for doth not the Law and the Gospel say the very same for it was the Requiring of God of old time Who is the same to day yesterday and for ever That none should appear Empty before the Lord. But every one was to do somewhat according to his Ability They that could not go to the price of a Lamb were to bring a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons And by what is written in the Gospel of her who Cast in her Mite whereof two make a Farthing into the Offerings of God By this it appears that even day Labourers and Vine Dressers yea the poorest of the People should not serve God with that which cost them nothing 2 Sam. 24. 24. But it is expected from them that even they should Honour the Lord with their Substance for he is to be served by all that is within and without us even with the Fruits of our Labour and consecrate their Gain unto the Lord and their Substance unto the Lord of the whole Earth Mich. 4. 13. Towards the Publishing and Propagation of his Eternal Truth according to their several Power and Abillity For if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not But this is yet more especially required and expected from them that are Rich in this World for the Gospel and miserable will be the end of those who shall not obey the Gospel doth Charge them that they be Rich in good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate This is a Faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly That they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works These things are Good and Profitable unto Men. So that the most High God requires and expects from them more especially that they should Honour him with their Substance and give out of their Abundance and Propâ—rtionably to their Ability be ready to distribute for the Service and Propagation of his Eternal Truth If they would buy good and Godly Books and give them to Poor People laying an Injunction upon them and having a Promise from them to read and consider throughly of the things contained therein This would be the best kind of Charity for this would be a doing good to their Immortal Souls Whereas Common and Outward Alms is only a Temporal kindness unto the dying Body As it is Written Be not thou Afraid when one is made Rich when the Glory of his House is Increased for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away his Glory shall not descend after him So it is sensibly seen that Rich People do Sicken and die all one as the Poor and Needy And then they will find To what purpose was this Waste For that same Money which they expended in fine Cloaths Gayety or Retinue in making a Figure in the World as a Dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their Image in Gluttony and Drunkenness which is making provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof in Pride Pleasure Prodigality Gaming or other vain things This might have been given to the Poor or it might have been Expended in making known thy Truth Isa 38. 19. which seems to be the best of Works for the Reason afore-mentioned and then it would have done themselves more good and have stood them in more stead then the Riches they used to the hurt of the owners If the Rich People have not heretofore or shall not henceforward that day is coming on and hastning when even the Rich among the People shall intreat thy Favour Psal 45. 12. Obey and do according to this Exhortation and Admonition The word
Creatour is as directly opposite and contrary to the having a Good mind towards God as Darkness is unto Light It is also contrary unto a Perfect heart for this is an Imperfection to a Witness Yea such an Imperfection that unless it be remedied and taken away it will lay the Creature in Punishment and Misery As for mine own Part although in my common or week Day Life and conversation I have spoken and done Many Things which are contrary unto different from and not according to the Pure VVord of God yet I do not therefore dare to Hate or Reproach that same Word Nor yet for none doth so as to the VVord abstractedly to the Person of him who ministreth or speaketh forth the same VVord against this my Sin and Errour For I know this would make the Guilt of my Sin seven times yet Greater and Consequently Uengeance would be taken on me sevenfold when the Lord comes to Punish the VVorld for their Evil and the wicked for their Iniquity But I Judge it safe to lay my Hand upon my Mouth and hold my Peace and where I see my self faulty to Endeavour to mend And where I have not already attained neither am already Perfect Phil. 3. 12. There to Go on to Perfection Heb 6. 1. Avoiding the Errour and deceit of the VVorld herein of always Purposing and Resolving and not performing accordingly or of complaining and yet not mending But we should still Press forwards and Undeavour Unfeignedly so to do Not to attain unto absolute Perfection is the Infirmity of the Flesh but not to endeavour after it is the fault and failure of the Spirit Here again it must be acknowledged that to walk before the Lord with a Perfect Heart is sooner said then done For it is the whole which God requires of Man It being the first and Great Commandment Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God With all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind This Particle All being Annexed to all the Faculties and Powers thereof makes it a Perfect Heart For so it is where is all or the whole of a Thing Besides this Appeal which Hezekiah makes unto God in his Pining Sickness not by way of self Commendation but as a stay and support to his Mind under that outward Evil of Body The Spirit it self gives a very Good Character of him And he did that which was Right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his Father did He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him 2. Kings 18. 3 5. So that his doing according to all that David his Father did who was a Man after Gods one heart in all Things saving the matter of Vriah the Hittite Thus in reality and in Truth Hezekiah did walk before the Lord with a perfect Heart By this also may be seen that the Spirit of God keeps a Register of each Man or VVomans Life And God who is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteonsness is accepted with him Who accepteth not the Person of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more then the Poor for they are all the Work of his hands doth in alike manner keep a Book Put thou my Tears into thy Bottle are not these things noted in thy Book Wherein the several deeds here done in the Body of all the Particular Men and Women of all Generations and Countreys from the greatest of them unto the least of them are written and noted all one as we see it written thus and thus of the several Kings of Judah and Jerusalem how they did carry it towards the Lord God for so we may read it thus or thus recorded of the Inhabitants of the Earth in the Scriptures of Truth There is an Emphatical and Pertinent Scripture to our present purpose in Hos 10. 2. Their heart is divided now they shall be found faulty A divided heart is not a perfect heart and as long as it remains thus divided we hence see that it will be found and pronounced faulty that is defective or wanting in the sight Estimation Judgment and Account of God And yet alas Is not this the case of us all or of most of us Is not our heart divided one part is towards God and another part is for the World and for the Men and Things therein According to what Paul speaketh of himself So then with the mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Rom. 7. 25. He that doth not observe and feel the like within himself is Blind Ignorant and knows nothing as he ought to know Doth not one part of our heart Savour the things of God And again another part of our heart doth Savour the Things of Men. I discern and experience it so in my self Now this is but a divided heart which God in Hosea finds fault with And when he saith in the Proverbs My Son give me thine heart It may be truly reasoned and concluded that he will have a whole heart or none And hereupon the word of Instruction and Exhortation arises on this wise that this same divided heart must be cut off Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hearts that ye be no more stiff-necked or rather changed and renewed that all the heart may be brought into intire obedience Subjection and Conformity to God till it becomes a good and perfect heart which He is well pleased with and delights in and will accept off for want whereof it is that we neither find God nor yet doth he hear our Prayers The heart hankers after some Carnal Lust or other Sin or Act of Disobedience Consider of this throughly and amend thy ways and thy doings O my Soul and therefore the Lord hath withdrawn himself and hides his Face and doth not manifest himself unto us as He dâ—d in former Days But your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his Face from you that He will not hear Isa 59. 2. So that where we cry and the Lord doth not hear or where we do not find such an Answer and Return to Prayer as we have experienced heretofore there let us examine our selves whither there be not some Sin or Iniquity which is the Cloud that hinders that our Prayers do not pass through in us which God is displeased with Here our heart is divided and found faulty for with some part of it it obeys or serves some Sin or Lust O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had Dominion over us Isa 26. 13. And we do not seek or serve him our whole heart But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou shalt seek him with all thy heart and with all thy Soul Deut. 4. 29. And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall