the contrary and to follow after faith and to lay hold on eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 11. 2. By beleeving we come to know our interest in Christ and of our salvation by him Whosoever beleeves in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3. 15 16. He that beleeves in the Sonne hath everlasting life vers 36. see Joh. 6. 40. 3. By beleeving we honour God He that receives his testimony hath set to his seale that God is true Joh. 3. 33. Joh. 5. 10. therefore none can beleeve too soone or too confidently or too constantly 4. If yee beleeve not surely yee shall not be established Isa 7. 9. There is no true quietnesse and settlement of soule without beleeving also thou standst by faith thou fallest into sinne by unbeliefe Rom. 11. 20. Heb. 9. 12. The word preached is precious and powerfull yet it profited them not because it was not mixed with faith Heb. 4. 2. 5. It 's faith that rids the soule of all its distempers doubts feares discouragements Rom. 5. 1. we may not separate the Spirit from faith nor faith from the Spirit 6. By faith in Christ thou shalt be kept in perfect peace it will sweetly transcendently refresh thy soule Thou wilt keepe him in perfect peace because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. Being justified by faith we have peace with God Rom. 5. 1. By faith we apprehend Christ our justification the fruit of which is joy and peace 7. By unbeliefe we adde sin to sin in the highest nature if we beleeve not what God saith our act of unbeliefe accuseth God to speake falsly He that beleeveth not hath made God a lyer 1 Joh. 5. 10. It is impossible for God to lye The strength of Israel cannot lye 1 Sam. 15. 29. Nor can it be any dishonour to God nor hurt to thy selfe to hope in his mercy and to beleeve in him therefore when thou art tempted to unbeliefe set before thee the evill of unbeliefe 8. As bad as thou canst be have been received to mercy Jesus Christ came to save sinners This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1. 15 16. When thou layst in thy bloud behold it was a time of love Ezek. 16. 8. He justifieth the ungodly Rom. 4. 5. While we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 5. 8. 10. therefore have hope Feare not but beleeve Luk. 8. 50. The Lord will command his loving kindnesse in the day time and in the night Psal 42. 8. Hope thou in God vers 5. Be not afraid onely beleeve Mark 5. 36. 9. Unbeliefe straitens thy heart and stoppeth thy mouth hinders thy thankfulnesse and praising of God thou shalt be dumb because thou beleevest not Luk. 1. 20. 10. Unlesse we beleeve we can never glorifie God He staggered not at the promise of God through unbeliefe but was strong in faith giving God the glory Rom. 4. 20. Quest From whence is it that many of the Lords children have so many doubts and feares Answ It ariseth from many severall causes as 1. From ignorance of the fulnesse and freenesse of the promise Isa 55. 2. or mindlesnesse and heedlesnesse of the promise Heb. 2. 1. 3. And from corruption in the heart opposing grace Rom. 7. 4. And from the bodies distemper with melancholy 5. or from the conscience being inlightened which sides with the Law against it selfe Rom. 7. 24. 6. or from unskilfulnesse in the Word of righteousnesse Heb. 5. 13. 7. And from unbeliefe which takes the Law and applies it to it selfe which occasioneth feares and feares doubts 8. And from loose walking with God 9. Or from the Spirits not operating in the soule the Spirit when it acts speakes peace and causeth faith to act more strongly Rom. 8. 16. Meanes to quiet and settle a troubled soule in assurance of the love of God God gives peace to his by meanes as appeares 2 Thes 3. 16. Commune with thy heart and make diligent search to find out what it is that troubleth thee Psal 77. 6. Aske a reason of thy soule why it is disquieted why it is cast downe Psal 42. 11. Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted Psal 42. 5 6. Examine from whence all thy discouragements come they come not from God for his voyce is onely comfort unto his people he hath declared himselfe to be mercifull and gracious and slow to anger and plenteous in mercy He hath not dealt with us after our sinnes nor rewarded us according unto our iniquities Psa 103. 3 4. 8. 10. c. His voyce is comfort Comfort yee my people speak yee comfortably to Jerusalem cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquitie is pardoned Isa 4. 1 2. I know the thoughts that I thinke towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evill Jer. 29. 11. Nor come they from Christ he doth not trouble nor discourage any He binds up the broken-hearted he proclaimes peace liberty he comforts all that mourne he gives beautie for ashes the oyle of joy for mourning and garments of praise for the Spirit of heavinesse c. Isa 61. 1 2 3. Luk. 4. 18. He is gracious and pitiâ—ull He will not quench the smoaking flax nor breake the bruised reed Isai 42. 3. His voyce is full of love tendernesse all his words are sweet words as Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Feare not it is your Fathers pleasure to give you a kingdome Luk. 12. 32. Cast youâ— care upon me I will care for you Phil. 4. 6. Christs voyce is open to me My sister my love my dove my undefiled Song 5. 2. On sweet words of Christ to his Nor come they from the holy Spirit of God he is the greatest and most sweetest comforter he causeth no discouragements but removes them all by revealing and applying to the soule the love of God and carrieth the soule by faith from all discouragements to God who is love peace where the soule is to rest Psal 116. 7. and to be filled with his sweet peace Therefore all our discouragements do proceed 1. From the Devill who is an enemy to faith He taketh the word out of mens hearts lest they should beleeve Luk. 8. 12. 1 Thes 3. 5. 2. Our own hearts Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evill heart in departing from the living God Heb. 3. 12. 3. Or the lying vanities we have chosen but they that harken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercy Jonah 2. 8. Give no way to any discouragement at all though it doe seeme never so just and reasonable c. This was Davids sin to admit of a parley with that which might tend to discourage him saying Will the Lord cast off for ever doth his promise fayle for evermore I said this is my infirmitie Psal 77. 7 8 9 10. As soone as he saw his infirmitie he had other thoughts of God saying Who is so
no more Heb. 10. 17. So that now wee may draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith for he is faithfull that promised vers 22 23. Let not thy comfort depend upon thy personall Sanctification because from it there can no sure selected constant comfort flow To seek comfort from Sanctification and not from their Justification in Christ is a cause of much trouble in many a weake beleever for Sanctification hath nothing to doe with Justification nor salvation as any cause of it Also Sanctification admits of degrees but Justification admits of neither rules nor degrees and is more glorious then Sanctification our Justification depends not upon our apprehending of it nor in our receiving of it but upon the effectualnesse and merit of what our sweet Lord Jesus hath done for us Heb. 10. 14. 18 19. So that now wee may well have boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus vers 20. Justification is apprehended by faith Heb. 11. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Faith doth evidence to us our justification for the Scripture saith all that beleeve are justified Act. 13. 39. It is possible to have a full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. therefore faith is an unquestionable evidence and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Justification is not apprehended and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Sanctification is not evident but doubtfull and so cannot evidence to us our Justification the effects of Sanctification cause men to question their Justification therefore no effect of Sanctification can evidence to the soule its Justification and that soule that by Faith apprehends his Justification by Christ not onely knoweth it but may live upon it injoying the sweet fruit of it peace joy strength without any considering the effects of Sanctification in himselfe And seeing Christ is made Sanctification to a beleever 1 Cor. 1. 30. why may not a beleever live upon his own and say I have Sanctification in Christ which is perfect my actuall righteousnesse doth often faile me but Christs righteousnesse indures for ever Psal 111. 3. therefore I will fetch all my comfort from Christ and my Justification by him and as wee are not to conclude our Justification from any effect of Sanctification so wee are not to conclude that apprehension of Justification to be from God as shall take men off the meanes and rules of Sanctification because it is to the dishonour of God for men not to walke holily according to the word of God Tit. 2. 14. Prize and preserve the peace of thy conscience Be sure yee allow your selves in no sinne but in the power and strength of Christ to hate and abhorre with the greatest indignation all sinne and the appearance of evill it is better to dye then to sinne there is that which accompanieth sinne which strikes at a beleevers peace and comfort and will damp straiten and oppresse their comfort joy and peace in God unlesse God doth wonderfully strengthen their faith in him And such as live by faith and injoy sweet peace in him have found sin to be an enemy and a let to their faith and comfort it having often unsetled and disquieted and clouded their soules peace though indeed it ought not so to doe for we are to remember that sweet place Heb. 10. 17. Their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more This alone is able to settle a soule it being full of sweetnesse and life Doe not trouble thy selfe with any thing that may befall thee in case thou wert certaine great troubles shall befall thee be not troubled at any trouble much lesse for future trouble nor thinke not to incounter with supply a future trouble with a present strength if many and great troubles come God is alsufficient and will remove them or give strength to beare them when they come 1 Cor. 10. 13. Mind seriously those promises of God that are sutable to thy condition separate thy selfe to meditate upon them as Prov. 18. 2. hide them in thy heart as Mat. 13. 44. There is strength and sweetnesse in the promise thou maist venture thy soule upon God in his promise and live upon it thou knowest not but God may reveale his promise to thee and settle it sweetly and fully upon thy soule by his almightie power as Ephes 1. 19 20. Therefore let not Gods promises be strange to thee but feed upon them eat them Eate O friends drinke abundantly O beloved Song 5. 1. Leave not the promise untill thou beest refreshed revived raised ravished with Gods rich grace and infinite free love and thy heart inlarged with thankfulnesse and obedience unto God againe for the exceeding riches of his mercy Eph. 2. 9. His plenteous Redemption Psal 130. 7. Treasure up experiences of Gods goodnesse unto thy soule but who among you will give eare to this who will hearken and heare for the time to come Isa 42. 23. Remember the dayes of old I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. Thou hast been my helpe Psal 63. 7. I was brought low and he helped me see 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. Psal 89. 49. Keepe thy heart calme and quiet from all passions as feare griefe c. The still soule can best heare and know Christs voice his still voyce but where feare vexation and distempers dwell they are not aware of Christ nor themselves and commonly they that feare most have least cause as they had the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the Angel said unto them Feare not for behold I bring you tidings of great joy Luk. 2. 9 10. When the soule is troubled with any passion it is not at the command of faith Luk. 24. 41. the violence of their joy hindred their faith Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Quietnesse is the stay of the soule to doe or receive Be contented with thy present estate and fill not thy head heart or hand with any more businesse then thou must needs Consider Heb. 13. 5. Take heed of the cares of this life Luk. 21. 34. 15. Trouble not thy selfe with needlesse supposed feares if thou doest thou drawest upon thy selfe reall sorrow and unnecessary discontent there be many that are possessed with bitter sorrows from supposed sufferings Order thy conversation aright To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. Want of wisdome to dispose of of diligence to dispatch what necessitie requires to be done in the right time and place hath produced such inconveniences as hath unavoydably caused trouble a disquieted and an unsetled spirit Walke with God in his wayes ordinances they are for thy comfort strength joy and peace in him there is no quiet to those that worship the beast Rev. 14. 10 11. Use Gods means but live not upon ordinances but upon God in them for meanes alone are not sufficient to doe
can desire Christ above all things in the world if they might have their choice unlesse Christ have their hearts and they dearly love him and beleeve in him for Christ is precious to them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 7. and to none else So the seat of faith is in the heart which is in the understanding and will but more principally in the will so that if our wills be renewed our hearts are renewed Rom. 8. 5 6. Paul saith To will is present with me good I would doe so then with my minde I serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 18 19. with 21. 25. it appeares that the will is one with the minde and the heart is one with them these three are one and alwayes goe together and are alike spirituall Christ saith Where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6. 21. that is the mind and affections and by affections in Eph. 3. 2. is meant the heart for the heart and affections are one thing There be them that beleeve and yet they know not whether they beleeve or no so that it is possible for them to call their faith unbeliefe as the blind man did Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbeliefe which must not be understood of unbeliefe for it is not a lawfull request to pray that sin may be increased for unbeliefe is a sin and the ground or cause of the soules departing from God as Heb. 3. 12. Many mistake faith some have thought comfort joy or ravishments of soule with God to be faith and so have concluded because they had not them they had no faith It is not mens beleeving but the object of faith that gives faith its denomination or name for there be divers kinds of faith there is a naturall faith as Luk. 8. 13. and a divine faith or the faith of Gods Elect Titus 1. 1. Faith and its object is not to be separated because faith and its object is one and the same it is too strict therefore to give a distinction or definition of faith without its object He that beleeveth that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God shall be saved All is included in this he that beleeves this must 1. Know Christ to be the anointed Luk. 23. the Saviour of his people from their sinnes Mat. 1. 21. 2. To beleeve in Christ to rest upon him to live or stay upon the Lord Pro. 3. 5. To beleeve in him Rom. 10. 9. 11. Psal 17. 6. To cleave to God Deut. 30. 20. Joh. 23. 6. Acts 11. 23. Psal 119. 30 31. to hope in him Psal 147. 11. 3. To own and confesse Christ Simon said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God Mat. 16. 16. Rom. 10. 9. Any man may say that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God yea the Devils confesse this I know thee who thou art Jesus Christ the Sonne of God therefore this cannot be the faith of Gods Elect and so not the faith of the Gospel 1. There are three things to be considered in the nature of faith first illumination secondly for the soule to trust in Christ for pardon and life and the third is the application of him The first is when a man consents to the Word that it is true and this is called faith and this the Devill doth Thou beleevest there is one God thou doest well the Devill doth so James 2. Mark 5. 8. Acts 16. 17. The second is to beleeve that Jesus is the Christ which implies a seeing and knowing all to be in Christ for life and salvation and so to rest upon him for it he that thus beleeves in Christ is brought by Christ over to Christ and so centred upon him that he will never goe from him Joh. 6. 58. My soule wait thou on God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. and this no Devill never did The third is to beleeve with an application of Christ as their own in particular therefore to beleeve in Christ is more then an illumination or a saying so or reformation for where faith comes old things are done away and they are new creatures there is a light set up in that soule now they know all is by Christ and that there is no way or meanes of life but by Christ and close with Christ and rest upon him Secondly the Scriptures cleerly prove that to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel for the Word of God is the ground of faith and the soules salvation depends upon the truth of what God saith and faith looks onely to what God saith and rests upon it and sets to its seale that God is true And that so to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel I prove by these Reasons 1. Because this is the faith which the Apostles preached and witnessed unto and the faith which is recorded unto us in the Scriptures Acts 18. 28. 1 Joh. 2. 22. 2. Because none can say knowingly that Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 3. 3. Because upon the profession of this faith Christ builds his Church Mat. 16. 16. 18. 4. Upon the profession of this faith the Baptisme of Christ is dispensed as Act. 8. 37. 5. They who have this faith dwell in God and God in them 1 Joh. 4. 15. 6. This faith flesh and bloud cannot reveale but God reveales it to the soule Mat. 16. 16 17. 7. Such are borne of God whosoever beleeves that Jesus is the Christ is borne of God 1 Joh. 5. 1. 8. This is the faith that overcommeth the world 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. 9. Because such as have this faith are pronounced blessed Mat. 16. 17. and shall never dye Joh. 11. 25 26. 10. Because he that hath this faith shall be saved If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life whosoever beleeveth in me shall never dye beleevest thou this shee said unto him yea Lord I beleeve that thou art the Christ the Sonne of God c. Joh. 11. 25 26 27. To beleeve this Record implies an assent that it is truth with a resting or hoping to have interest in it to be made one with it is faith though it be a lesser degree then a full and certain assurance of life by him for himselfe in particular see Isa 45. 21 22. Those in Mat. 5. 3 4 5. who mourne and hunger and thirst after Christ are blessed and shall be satisfied though they want the application of Christ therefore besides the illumination which wicked men and Devils may have as well as a beleever there is a two-fold act of faith the first is a direct act to beleeve Christ is in whom is life c. this is to beleeve the Record God hath given concerning his Sonne and that he
came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Look unto me and be saved Isai 45. 22. and so trust in Christ for life from a hope of mercy but this hope is without a certainty these are blessed as appeares Mat. 16. 17. Turne ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope Zach. 9. 12. Secondly the reflect act of faith which is to beleeve Christ came to save them from their sinnes as Mat. 1. 23. to know I beleeve he that hath this measure or degree of faith trusts in Christ from a knowledge of an interest in him we beleeve and are sure Joh. 6. 69. He that hath this act of faith hath the former but there be some which have the first act of faith but have not attained the second yet their hearts are turned unto Christ and fixed upon him and they long for him hope in him and rest upon him alone for life and salvation these have faith which causeth them to depend on Christ which none can doe but such as are possessed with Christ though at present they may not know it yet are they blessed Mat. 5. 6. and in his Name they doe trust Mat. 12. 21. The Apostle saith These things have I written unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that yee may beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God 1 Joh. 5. 13. So that these words declare they did but weakly beleeve and that they did not know that they were possessed with eternall life yet they were therefore they had not that particular knowledge or assurance of the love of God yet did beleeve in Christ Some conceive they have no grace because they never had so deep a measure of sorrow for sin as some others have c. The word of God declares that those that beleeved had not one and the same measure of sorrow the Scripture declares no sorrow in Lydia receiving the Word Act. 16. 14. but it is said that the Jaylor trembled being in feare Act. 16. 29. The word of God is to be our Rule Isa 8. 20. and not mens conceits The greatest measure of sorrow griefe feare terror for sinne that ever any had made them not to be loved of God nor to obtain mercy from God nor did sensiblenesse of sin ever drive the soule to Christ but ever from Christ as Peters sensiblenesse of his sin caused him to bid Christ to depart from him Lord depart from me for I am a sinfull man Luk. 5. 8. therefore a deep sensiblenesse of sin hinders the soule in beleeving of Christ and drives it further from Christ Thou hast no cause to complain if God deales more gently with thee then he doth with some others it's a great mistake to thinke that God delights in slavish feares or teares What is the greatest sensiblenesse of sin worth that proceeds not from faith and floweth not from the apprehension of pardon love in so evill requiting God look not to sensiblenesse of sinne but to Christ thy very sensiblenesse of sin is not free from sin and it deserves nothing but death but in Christ is life If thou wert ever fatherlesse which is for the soule to be stripped of all that none of thy workes nor means nor men nor Angels nor nothing besides Jesus Christ can stand thee in any stead nor satisfie thee being resolved to wait upon Christ untill he please to manifest his free love in pardoning thy sinnes this is the worke of God in thee yea this is a great and sweet work of the Gospel and such a work as never was in any but such as shall be saved If thou renouncest all thy own sufficiency so as thy best duties cannot satisfie thee certain it is there is a better sufficiency come in place I feare my faith is not the faith of Gods Elect because it is attended with so many doubtings Feares and doubtings are no fruits of faith but of unbeliefe and as feares and doubts increase the stronger is unbeliefe in the soule so the soule is ready to judge that where so great unbeliefe is there is no faith yet the Scriptures declare that in those who had true faith the faith of Gods Elect yet at the same time have had much unbeliefe also in them so as they have been filled with doubts and feares Joh. 13. 1. And from hence it was that he in Mark 9. 24. called his faith unbeliefe because he was sensible of his great unbeliefe and was not unbeliefe strong in Thomas when he said he would not beleeve Joh. 20. 24 25. And seeing that a child of God may have true faith notwithstanding they may also have many feares and doubtings thou knowest not but the cause may be so with thee therefore take heed that yee deny not your selves to have faith lest yee call weak faith no faith and light darknesse and grace sin for to doe so is very evill Woe unto them that call evill good and good evill that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5. 20. those that put faith for unbeliefe doe so pray to God to strengthen thy faith as he did Mark 9. 24. and use meanes to remove such things as strengthen unbeliefe and hinder the sight of thy faith as ignorance is one cause of doubting also an over-sensiblenesse of infirmities sleighting Gods meanes neglect of duty or a formall performance or nourishing sinne more or lesse pronenesse to sin harkening to Satan to sense to carnall reasonings nourishing feare and unbeliefe c. Also endeavour to doe that which is a means to strengthen thy faith know the perfection of the state of a beleever in Christ in which the weakest and most imperfect beleever is as perfect as much justified accepted and as happy as the best live upon Christ alone make choice of and mind the sutablest promises for thee to feed and strengthen thy faith walk with God pray in faith aske his Spirit and thou shalt have it Luk. 11. 23. this Spirit will revive and fill thy soule with joy and peace in beleeving and make thee so wise and strong in his time that thou shalt not cast away thy confidence any more Heb. 10. 34. And as Gods love which is perfect full free is discovered to thy soule in the same measure thy doubts and feares are cast out for perfect love casts out feare And although you are to use meanes yet meanes are but means not causes of increase of grace it 's the operation of the Spirit of God in the soule which is as God pleaseth therefore looke up to God for faith I feare my faith is but presumption I feare the ground of this is thy not knowing or not minding what faith is and what presumption is What faith is see objection 15. and concerning presumption this word may
guide thy feet in the way of peace Luk. 1. 78 79. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in thee Isa 26. 3 4. What was that which brought thee so low but poring so much upon thy sins untill thou wert filled with despaire and thy omissions and commissions against conscience increased thy horror do the contrary and first beleeve then repent and see that yee daube not your selves over with your duties and know that which is a great cause of mourning is no cause of despaire therefore cast not away your confidence Heb. 10. 35. for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37 38. Therefore say as the Prophet said When I sit in darknesse the Lord shall be a light unto me he will bring me forth into the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Micah 7. 8 9. I am in great misery and want outwardly by reason of poverty if God did love me I should not be so much neglected as I am Thou shouldst not reason so what thinkest thou of the condition of those who wandred about in sheep-skins goat-skins in deserts mountaines dens and caves of the earth I feare they were more destitute of outward comfort then thee and suffered more hunger cold and nakednesse then thee hast thou not a house not a bed to lie on the places where they wandred afforded not these things unto them art thou destitute afflicted and forsaken so were they whom God loved and esteemed the world not worthy of Heb. 11. 37 38. Poverty and want hath attended and kept company with many a deare childe of God Job was poore yea the Churches of Jesus Christ have been poore the Church of Corinth was poore 2 Cor. 8. 14. The Church of Smyrna was poore Rev. 2. 9. The Church of Macedonia was in deep poverty 2 Cor. 8. 1 2. And our Lord Jesus Christ was poore 2 Cor. 8. 9. And thou maist be very poore and yet God may love thee as he loves Jesus Christ Joh. 17. 26. The poore receive the Gospel and the profession of the Gospel of Christ have made the rich poore in that for Christ they have suffered the losse of all things Phil. 7. 8. In thy greatest want be content to be like Christ in poverty as well as in glory Joh. 17. 24. for the time will quickly come in which you shall feele no want nor suffer no hunger cold or nakednesse There is no state and condition under the Sun that is free from Satanst ēptations those who have more abundance of outward things he suggests insinuates unto them that these things are all they are like to have that seeing they have a heaven here of outward contents they must not expect another hereafter And to those who have greater gifts and parts he saith they are not given to them in love but onely for the benefit of others and is ready to discourage them Satan is ready to get an advantage of us wee are not ignorant of his devises 2 Cor. 2. 11. The Lord teach his to know the depths of Satan Rev. 2. 24. to know his stratagems and to resist him And as there is no state under the Sunne free from trouble so it is a sweet comfort unto all that are the Lords that there is no state and condition but as God can so he will support his in and under it and make it sweet and comfortable unto them yea the best for them for all things shall work for good to them that love God 1 Cor. 10. 13. Rom. 8. 28. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 35. 38 39. I cannot see God surely God hath forsaken me Sometimes God hides himselfe from his as the Scripture declares Verily thou art a God that hidest thy selfe Isa 45. 15. I opened to my beloved and he had withdrawne himselfe Song 5. 6. Behold I goe forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him on the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himselfe on the right hand that I cannot see him Job 23. 8 9. Our carnall reason and corrupt heart and Satan with his suggestions are so neere us before our eyes that we cannot see God and wee hearken so much to what they say that we minde not the voyce of the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. It is one thing to know and another thing to know that wee know Christ said they knew they said they knew not Christ said Whither I goe yee know and the way yee know Thomas said unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest how then can we know the way Christ spake true and they knew not that they knew Joh. 14. 3 4 5. So shee saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus When their eyes were opened they knew him Luk. 24. 31. Paul prayed that they might know the hope of their calling Ephes 1. 18 19. When God hideth his face we are to wait upon him and look for him Isa 8. 17. for he will returne againe but Sion said The Lord hath forsaken me my Lord hath forgotten me Can a woman forget her sucking childe c Yea shee may yet will not I forget thee Isa 49. 14. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercy will I gather thee Isa 45. 7 8. When God absents himselfe from his his love and care is the same unto them as it is when he most manifests himselfe to them Another is discouraged saying I thought I had true faith but since I fell into a great sin I am perswaded if I had been the Lords I should not have been so left of God as I was to sin so as I did Say not so but consider that even some of the children of God he hath suffered to fall if not into the same sinnes yet as great David sinned in adultery and murder how greatly did Solomon sin after he obtained mercy 1 King 11. 9. And Peter denied Christ with an oath yet his faith was not voyd or nought Christs prayer was heard I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not Luk. 22. 32. therefore his faith never fayled him These examples are recorded in Scripture to set forth the glory of the riches of Gods free grace Eph. 2. 4. That men may know what God can doe and that great sinners might not despaire or faint under their sin therefore Christ saith All sinnes shall be forgiven unto the sonnes of men and blasphemies Mark
us any good 1 Cor. 1. 21. Doe not sleight nor refuse Gods consolations let them not seeme small unto thee are the consolations of God small with thee Job 15. 11. O soule own that comfort God gives thee if it seeme small to thee it s thy own own it lest yee live to complaine saying as David did My soule refused to be comforted Psal 77. 2. and to wish yee had that yee despised be thankfull to God for what thou hast received and hold that fast and let nothing goe that may tend to thy peace rest satisfied in Christs righteousnesse and adde nothing unto it I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal 71. 15 16. 19. 24. Thy righteousnesse is an everlasting righteousnesse Psal 119. 142. see Psal 22. 31. 35. 28. 50. 6. 51. 14. Jer. 33. 16. The perfection of Christs righteousnesse is held forth unto us and doth alwayes lie before us for us that we might ever be comforted with it and rejoyce in it with thankfulnesse for it seeing it so perfect and full of divine consolation Oh here is enough to refresh and satisfie all the Lords to all eternitie so that we have enough we need no other nor no more righteousnesse Meditate on Gods goodnesse unto thee let his loving kindnesse be ever before thy eyes Wee have thought of thy loving kindnesse O God Psal 48. 9. Beleeve in God I in Christ want of faith or want in faith is the cause of trouble in the soule Yee beleeve in God beleeve also in me and let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Faith in Christ quiets and settles a troubled soule Thou canst not be too confident in resting upon Christ in his free grace Psal 30. 5. therefore come boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4. 16. Those who know God will trust him with their bodies and soules and that upon his word All that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9. 9 10. but a foole neither will nor can doe so O foole and slow of heart to beleeve Luk. 24. 25. But those who are made wise by God will trust in the word of the Lord Isa 26. 3 4. and say in his word doe I hope Psal 130. 5. When the Lord pleases to settle a soule in the assurance of his love he causeth the soule to trust in his word Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. God by his word conveys that to the soule which is sutable to its wants and by his power and authoritie settles it upon the soule Above all take the shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. Feare not beleeve Luk. 8. 50. Yea cleave to God in his promise even then when thou art in thy greatest feares and most sensible of thy unworthinesse trust in him at all times God is a refuge for us Selah Psal 62. 8. If at all times then at the worst times also yea even then beleeve and heare nothing against thy beleeving God in his promise Abraham beleeved against hope Rom. 4. 18. So should wee doe oh beleeve God intends thy good Christ came to seeke and to save the lost Luk. 19. 10. Lost viz. in the sight and sense of thy own sin and misery and in thy own sufficiency Improve thy doubts feares temptations against beleeving to incourage thee in beleeving for hast thou not by experience found that it is but in vaine to hearken unto any of them Consider often and well these places Rom. 16. 20. Heb. 10. 35 36 37. Rev. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 4. 19. 5. 7. And search the Scriptures Reading helpeth mens judgements memories affections confirmes our faith and fits us to answer the temptations of Satan Renounce all lying vanities hearken unto none of them First hearken not to the voyce of thy heart it is a lying vanitie it will deceive thee Pro. 3. 5 6 7. Isa 44. 20. Secondly hearken not to Satan Thirdly hearken not to sense Thomas said he would not beleeve unlesse he might see and thrust his hand into his side Joh. 20. 24 25. But this sensuall practise is to be abhorred by us for this is to consult with flesh and bloud which cannot discerne spirituall things 1 Cor. 2. 14. and is condemned by God Gal. 1. 16. So some persons will see such a holy frame of spirit in themselves and feele such a sin subdued c. before they will beleeve yet faith looks not to such things as these but onely to God in his word therefore wee must not live by sight but by faith 2 Cor. 5. 7. and blessed are they that have not seene yet have beleeved Joh. 20. 29. Fourthly hearken not to carnall reason if it be hearkened unto thou canst not beleeve nor submit to God nor be setled for doth not reason say that a Virgin cannot bring forth a childe and a woman of ninetie yeares is past conceiving a childe therefore reason saith it cannot be and so contradicteth God himselfe Gen. 17. 16 17. Mat. 1. Also can reason beleeve that by faith the walls of Jericho fell downe and that the Saints stopped the mouths of Lyons and quenched the violence of fire by faith yet faith did it Heb. 11. 30. 33 34. Or is it likely or possible to reason for a man to walke upon the Sea as Peâ—er did Mat. 14. 29. And did not Christs command seeme vaine to Peters reason that he should cast in his net into the Sea seeing he had cast it in so often and fished all night and catched nothing Luk. 5. 8. Can reason conceive how the dead who are eaten with beasts or fishes or turned into dust can be raised to life or that the Sea can be divided the Sunne goe backward or the Rockes yeeld water in abundance surely there cannot be any reason given for them And seeing sense and corrupt reason is so contrary to God in his word why should we hearken unto them when they say the soule hath no grace because sense seeth none and that God will not pardon their sinnes because there is no reason to reason why he should nor no way to reason which way it can be yet it may be for with God all things are possible Mat. 19. 26. They that hearken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercies Jonah 2. 8. 5. Live not upon duties 6. nor upon good report 7. nor upon groundlesse hopes 8. nor upon peace 9. comfort 10. joy 11. raptures 12. ravishments though they all be true or false live upon God alone and upon nothing else besides God in Christ if thou doest live upon any thing else as thy foundation is unsound so it will deceive thee and whatsoever their sparkes may be they must and shall lye downe in sorrow Isa 50. 10. Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or dispensation to the inward or outward man if thou doest thou canst not be setled for they are oft changeable and coÌ„trary one to another one day
24. Sight is higher then presence To be transformed into glory We are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. This shall be more full in glory Then shall wee appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. To have full communion with God Wee shall be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Union is higher then sight communion is higher then union as it flowes from it full communion is more we shall have as much as we shall desire wee shall be filled with it wee shall injoy the quintessence of all sweetnesse fulnesse goodnesse in God and shall be raised inflamed and ravished with him and be wholly taken up with admiring and praising him without any intermission or wearinesse this is our greatest good and blessednesse and the end of our being To be for ever with the Lord So shall wee be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. Eternall communion with God As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. It transcends the utmost expectation of the most inlarged heart Wherefore comfort one another with these words vers 18. Faith beleeves the promises of glory and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition when faith shall end in vision our eternall joyes draws on apace in the meane time lay hold on eternall life let faith beleeve it and hope expect it and patience waite for it to make this life tolerable bepatient indure all it will not be long ere glory come and continue for ever for this cause wee faint not 2 Cor. 4. He that lives by faith in glorification lives a sweet comfortable life in Christ his righteousnesse and is fruitfull sincere and content Lastly To dye by faith Which is to resigne up our soules to God beleeving death shall be a passage to glory When Christ who is my life shall appeare then shall I appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. These all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. The righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14. 32. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. When I awake I shall be satisfied in thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. Why should I feare that I would not escape what hurt will it be to me to enter into glory I cannot have my happinesse unlesse I goe unto it THE SAINTS DAILY DUTY AND DESIRE The severall Branches of the Saints daily duty and desire to walke with God every day 1. WHen I awake to thinke on GOD and to be thankfull to him for rest and sleepe and preservation from sin Satan and dangers satisfying my soule with the Lord craving his strength to walke with him all the day long reverently and seriously to minde him and obey him When I awake I am still with thee Ps 139. 18. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. see Act. 11. 23. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still Psal 4. 4. It is good to season strengthen and perfume our spirits if time will permit with some sweet thoughts of God as that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is not changed Here is strong consolation in this sweet meditation My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. It is good for me to draw neere to God Psal 73. 28. To make him the object and end of all my actions O that my understanding had a more full cleare and glorious sight of him and a more perfect inward eternall and full communion with him then should my will and affections be more satisfied and more inflamed with unwearied desires high and restlesse aspirations after fresh additions of intercourses and communion with him The sight of God to a Saint is glorious and the knowledge and often meditation of him will raise and inlarge the soule Every childe of God hath in him an earnest desire to have communion with him to injoy his blessed presence and to see his glory As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God when shall I come and appeare before him Psal 42. 1 2. Nor will a seldome communion satisfie them it must be frequent and full it is a contempt of God to be willing to live without him and so much he injoys God as he seriously minds him and so much as wee desire God we follow after God for desire is the soules following of God and as God draweth we follow Song 1. 4. Unlesse the Lord fix and fasten the heart upon himselfe it will be fixed on things below and wander after vanities and fill both head and heart with them he that knoweth what it is to injoy God is sensible of the want of him and thinkes he can never have enough of him his soule will faint for him because nothing lesse then God can content him Psal 119. 81 82. Jer. 14. 8. Psal 13. 1. Exod. 33. 13 14 15. 18. So the soule lives where it loves and where it loves it lives and there is nothing more active and stronger then love for love is as strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6 7. 2. Live by faith Every day to live by faith in all estates and conditions the communion the soule hath with God is by faith in justification in sanctification in infirmities in graces in meanes using in duties and for a supply of all wants every day to live the life of faith in glorification 3. Watch heart That every day I watch my heart to keepe it continually still cleane spirituall content and that I observe warily the first and secret motions of my heart least I be unawares catched and insnared in sinne and that I doe not receive any thing without it be warranted in the word of God Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Pro. 23. 17. Thy heart is deceitfull take heed of it consider Jer. 17. 9. Heb. 3. 12. Luk. 6. 45. If wee cease to watch our hearts they quickly become vaine Consider how it was with David 2 Sam. 12. 9. and Peter Mat. 26. 72. our experience might teach us that our hearts are worse then wee tooke them to be when wee are crossed or tempted wee shew what metall wee are made of the best have cause enough to looke to themselves if one sinfull thought be admitted concerning the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne the will is ready enough to accept the motion consent forecast the accomplishment the affections adde heat and strength the heart travels with iniquitie and in time by opportunitie sin is brought forth and delight and custome wraps a man up in sinne that he cannot get out such carelesnesse may cost
delivering them over to Satan their lusts to be hardened God oft punisheth sin with sin Rom. 1. 74. Sundry interrogations in Scripture as Rom. 10. 14 15. have the force of a negative that is to say they cannot Some againe do so aske a question as they require have an expresse answer Psal 15. 1. Rom. 11. 1. 3. 12. It is to quicken attention or to urge more vehemently the affection or to prepare way for some weightie discourse 75. The title God is sometimes put absolutely and in the singular number then it notes the Creator or the essence Sometimes it is used with an addition as in Exodus I have made thee God of Pharaoh or in the plurall number Psal 84. I have said yee are Gods and vers 1. In the assembly of Gods then it belongs to the Creator see Rom. 1. 7. Sometimes essentially as Joh. 4. 24. God is a Spirit So the word Father is sometimes put essentially for the deity Mat. 6. Our Father Sometimes distinctly The Father is greater then I. Ignorance in these Rules causeth errors concerning God 76. Words of knowledge and sense doe signifie besides action and affections as God knoweth the wayes of the righteous Psal 1. 6. And that he knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2. 19. Apoc. 2. 3. is meant he knowes them with love favour and approbation to reward and crown them Also it is said whom he foreknew Rom. 11. 2. with 1 Pet. 1. 2. is meant his eternall love imbraceth these as his owne for he knew barely before all reprobates and devils and their works too but not with favour and allowance Also the word Remember is a word of sense yet it often importeth care love delight 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me Gen. â—8 77. Legall and Evangelicall promises must not be distinguished by bookes but by the nature and condition of the promises for Legall promises may be found in bookes of the New Testament as Rom. 2. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. 10 5 Gal. 3. 10. 12. And Evangelicall promises of grace are in the old Testament as Psal 132. 1 2. Jer. 32. 31 32. c. Observe them according to these two rules following 78. If promises of temporall or eternall things are propounded upon condition of workes they are Legall Christ onely hath kept the Law and they which beleeve are to claime them by this tide conveyed to them by faith in Christ 79. All promises for this life or a better which are made as one condition of beleeving repenting working for these are workes though imperfect are onely effects and fruits of faith and not conditions nor causes but are onely to declare what persons God will save Godlinesse hath the promises c. 1 Tim. 6. He that beleeveth c. Joh. 3. And to understand them in any other sense is Legall see Psal 1. 1 2 3 2 Cor. 7. 10. 80. Touching such places where morall duties are commended and commanded they must be understood according to these Rules following as 1. though no word be spoken oâ— Christ yet it must be understood that he alone is the whole cause of every part of our salvation Act. 4. 12. 81. All morall duties are then commended in any partie when the partie which doth them is first in Christ and his sinnes pardoned through his death as 1 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 6. Our best duties are imperfect if in Christ accepted if out of Christ mens best duties cannot cause them to be accepted 82. All good workes must have a pure heart Gods glory for the beginning and the end having a conscience to God in obedience to his Word unlesse the person be accepted the bare deed or action cannot please God 83. Where blessednesse is promised to morall duties doing those places are not to be considered as causes thereof for Christ is the cause of all out onely to declare what persons they are which God doth save and what the Saints dutie is to doe 84. These duties must not be understood in the strictnesse and rigour of the morall Law but of a continuall and unfained desire purpose and indeavour to doe them This rule prevents scruples and feares which weake ones have through the sense of their wants and failings 85. The Scriptures use to call them sonnes which by nature are no sonnes to them whose sonnes they are called but they are sonnes legally and by succession thus Salathiel being sonne of Neri naturally Luk. 3. 27. is legally and by succession made the son of Jechoniah whom he succeeded in the kingdome as Mat. 1. 12. 86. After this manner Zedekiah or Jehoiakim 1 Chron. 36. 10. and his sonne 1 Chron. 3. 16. His brother by generation his sonne by right of succession By this Rule the two Evangelists Matthew and Luke are reconciled in their Genealogie for Luke followeth the naturall order and Matthew the legall order 87. Many things are said in Scripture by anticipation and recapitulation 88. In Scripture some things are spokeÌ„ well when righteous things are taught rightly as Repent and beleeve c. Or secondly when evill things are taught evilly when wicked things are perswaded as To curse God and dye Or thirdly when good things are uttered evilly when some right thing is said with a perverse mind as Joh. 9. Be thou his Disciple Or fourthly evill things well spoken and dishonest things uttered in honest termes as David went in to Bathsheba and Rom. 1. 26. 89. The Scripture speaks many things in the person of the ungodly men whose crooked words it doth report unto us as well as their deeds 90. That word which seemeth to forbid goodnesse or to command wickednesse is a figurative speech as Vnlesse a man eate my flesh c. This is wickednesse because the word is pure it cannot allow any thing against honesty of manners or veritie of faith 91. Tropes and figures in Scriptures are not to be accounted lies as for Christ calling Herod a Fox and himselfe a Vine a Dore c. Because there is no purpose to deceive in them but by meet resemblance to expresse the truth 92. Similitudes are rather to make darke things plaine then to prove any doubtfull thing similitudes are not argumentative as Stewards in Joh. 15. 93. To make allegories and figures where none are in exposition is licentious dangerous and hurtfull 94. In things that be subordinate the affirming the one doth not sollow the denying of the other 95. All interpretations must be fit as well as true 96. It is a ready way to all error to interpret Scripture by prejudice in favour of some opinion of our owne 97. In Scripture a betrothed woman is called a wife Mat. 1. 20. and so of the man Deut. 22. 23. Because betrothing is an essentiall part of marriage yet the solemnization is necessary unto comelinesse and avoyding of offence 98. That interpretation is corrupt that builds not up in faith and love 99. A figurative speech in Scripture does more
are not able to settle a soule 66 Of Meditation 268. 122. That Miracles are not essentiall to the administrator of Baptisme 325. O. The Saints are not their own but Christs 138 Obedience is the Saints duty 38 116. 130 P. Pray to God 127 128. Of Prayer 290. We should minde sutable promises 118. 65. Presumption what 66. Peace none can give but God 109. God is the portion of his people 139. The Saints should rejoyce in their portion 131. God will pardon a lost sinner 3. 26. The poverty of Saints 91 92. Q. Mens qualifications are worth nothing 34. The quiet soul is fittest to receive comfort 119 R. Mans righteousnesse is not onely imperfect but also filthinesse 11. Such as prize their owne righteousnesse know not Christs 121. 35. 37. Such as prize their own righteousnesse are in a sad condition 37 38. That righteousnesse which justifieth us is not in us 11 121. Christs righteousness is the Saints comfort 39. 22. Christs righteousness is perfect 10 Christs righteousness is sufficient to satisfie us at all times 98. 122 123. 26. The meanest Saint is as righteous as the best 14. 139. The Saints are to rejoyce in God 97. 107. Regeneration wherein it consists 72. Concerning reading the Scriptures 177. Carnall reason to be abhorred why 125. S. Christ saves none but the ungodly 23. Sin should humble the Saints 155. 159. 14. Sin drives the soule from God 5. 62. The greatnesse of sin ought not to hinder any in beleeving 39. 104. 18 19. 21. 112. What the unpardonable sin is 27. Of sensiblenesse of sin 62 63. To be convinced of sin what 40 41. 43. Why sin is left in the Saints 159 160. The sins of a beleever are laid upon Christ now they are Christs not their own 113. No man ought to allow himself in any sin 117 It's possible for a childe of God to fall into a great sin 95 96 24. Considerations against sin 233. c. The Saints have made the greatnesse of sin an incouragement to hope 22. Why God leaves sin in his 78 79. Whether the combate in men be from the Spirit or no 84 85. The sins of the Elect are forgiven them before they know it 31 32. Satan is not to be hearkened unto 9 10 29. What it is to live by sense 124 125. Why men seeke to save themselves 11 12. Such as God saves he causeth to understand the way of salvation 5 6 7. The satisfactiō of Christ satisfieth the soule 7 The holy Scriptures are the word of God 298 Sufficient grace is not given to all 307. T. Terrors should not hinder faith 80 81. 87. Temptations against beleeving should incourage us in beleeving 123. 86. How a soule tempted may answer Satan 73. Weake beleevers are not to apply the threatnings to themselves 111. How to prevent trouble 120. V. Causes of unbeliefe 105 124. Lying vanities are to be renounced 124. We should put a difference between Christs voyce and other voyces 108 109. 329. c. And between the voyce of the Gospel and the voyce of the Law 110. We should know Christs voyce and hearken unto it 108 109. W. To waite upon God what 32. 44. 95. Good works justifie us before men 151. Deliverance is before our working 35. 71. Of the freedome of the will c. 3. 10. 318. A Song of the love of God to such as are in Christ THe love of God hath been to me full great In leaving me in such a state to be And then to set me free from this estate He gave his onely Sonne to dye for me Which is a greater happinesse to me Then if I had not been in misery I was as vile as any man could be And my vile state did openly appeare When God in love did please to look on me And caused me a joyfull voyce to heare For passing by me he to me said Live Which voyce of his unto me life did give When I heard this sweet voyce of God to me Vpon my heart effectually it wrought That I was then so set at libertie That oft times I did ponder in my thought From sin Satā curse wrath hell so free That I feare not what they can doe to me Love caused God for me his Sonne to give Love caused Jesus Christ for me to dye Love caused God to say to my soule Live Love in my soule doth againe reply forth In songs how lovingly Christ did come A mighty price ransom of great worth What glorious sight of love is this I see That being had before the world could be Without al time boūds measure or degree Is this his love which he hath set on me One glorious sight of this so great love Will cause a soule for to be sicke of love This love made known to me made me to muse That ever God should be to me so good To give his Son for me and me to choose Which was his enemy and in my bloud When I fled from him after me came he I sought not him but he sought after me The love of God to me is passing great Which had a being ere the world began It boundlesse is and every way compleat And lōger doth indure then this world can Like love to this hath never yet been heard And there is none can be to this compar'd That many in their sins should be destroyed Whose first condition was as good as mine And yet to me this mercy is injoyd Thus being freed I shall in glory shine This shews his love to me was great free And could not be deserv'd at all by me Oh who could wish himself a thing so rare As to be hemd in and compact about With boundles love oh who can it declare Or who by fadoming can finde it out My heart my hand tong are all too weak Of matchlesse love to thinke or write or speak It is through faith appli'd so excellent It comforteth and elevates on high The saddest heart and fils it with content Yea it revives a soule ready to dye The apprehending it brings joy peace When it is clouded peace joy doe cease Each soule that doth this boundlesse joy possesse May well be swallowed up in admiration And to the praise of God may it expresse And often have it in his meditation Well may it cause him to serve feare and love This boundlesse lover ever God above A Song that Jesus Christ is all in all to his CHrist is his Fathers chiefest choice And I in him the very same Why should I not in him rejoyce Who am secured from all blame In God through Christ the Saints rejoyce When they know they
THE SAINTS DESIRE OR A Cordiall for a fainting soule Declaring that in Christs righteousnesse onely and in nothing else there is life happinesse peace strength comfort joy and all fulnesse of perfection Also the happy estate of a man in Christ the life he lives wherein he is exercised his experiences and his desires to enjoy God c. Surely shall one say In the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength even to him shall men come Isa 45. 24. I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal 71. 16. And these things write wee unto you that your joy may be full 1 Joh. 1. 4. By SAMUEL RICHARDSON I heard sweet Jesus Christ unto me say Rise my love my faire one and come away London Printed by M. Simmons and are to be sold by Hannah Allen at the Crowne in Popes-head-Alley 1647. To the Right Honorable Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX Captain generall of all the Parliaments Forces in ENGLAND and Oliver Cromwell Esquire Lievtenant generall to the said Forces such honour as is promised to all that honour the Lord Christ Right Honourable YOu two are so joyned as it were in one that it may be said of you which was said of Jonathan and David two mighty warriours that their hearts were so knit that they loved each other as their own soules they had such sweet experience of each others faithfulnesse that it was not in the power of Saul though a King to break it or cut it asunder and although many have attempted to doe the like to you yet their labour hath been fruitlesse it hath bin a joy to many to see the effects of love so freely flow forth from each to other interchangeably which is amiable sweet and lovely Moreover God hath raised you up and set you in high places where opportunities flow of doing good and which is more God hath given you hearts to improve these opportunities to his glory and the good of his people You have also had many and great experiences of his protection presence blessing even to admiration it is the Lord alone who hath wrought all your works for you surely you may well stand astonished at his dealings with you all you can doe is too little for him who hath done so much for you you know the sorrows sufferings and sighings of the people of God in this Kingdome have been many and great by reason of the Prelates Lording it over them in matters of Religion and their sorrows and sufferings are like to be greater if the plots and snares laid against them take place therefore now is the time for the righteous in authoritie to shew themselves for the people of God and such as sleepe and slumber had need quickly to be awaked that they might rowse up themselves shake off that feare and faintnesse which possesseth their hearts arme themselves with resolution courage to hazard all even life it selfe upon a possibility of doing the least good for to do good we live we rejoyce that God hath chosen you with many others whom God hath kept waking for such a time as this Next under God our eies are upon the house of Commons of England to deliver us from temporall slavery to free us from the oppression of men in matters of Religion we trust they will effect this work fully and God shall give them a full reward as good Job who was a father to the poore and the cause he knew not he searched out and brake the jawes of the wicked and plucked the spoile out of his teeth It is a great honour unto you that you have done valiantly so have been speciall instruments to save this Kingdome from destruction that God hath made you and your Armies so victorious but it is a greater honour unto you that you are of the number of those that love the truth and people of God and endeavour to rescue them from the hands of cruell and unreasonable men the people of God are in the love of God and which is more they are one with God therefore God takes the good done to them as done to himselfe abide by them and you shall be in safety hold together for they that seek their lives seek yoâ—â—â— also And as you have pleaded their cause with many other Worthies with you so still goe on prosper the Lord is with you you valiant men the Saints love you they pray praise God for you England fareth the better for you childreÌ„ unborn shall praise you blesse God for you the memorial of your names shal be for ever precious Most noble Worthies I may seeme to passe the bounds of modesty so to presse into your presence but such is your humility and love that you can passe by any defect in that kinde and accept of that which is presented in love And seeing God doth not despise the day of small things I trust you will not the great respect you have shewed to the truth and people of God hath imboldened me to present you with the best I have in love out of a deep respect unto you the perusall and acceptance of which I submit to your wisdomes and humbly take my leave and remaine Your Honours much oblieged SAMUEL RICHARDSON To all fainting and discouraged soules who are lost and fatherlesse BEhold I bring you tydings of great joy that Jesus Christ came from Heaven to seeke and save you Luk. 19. 10. You shall enjoy mercy life and glory by him for in him the fatherlesse finde mercy Hos 14. 3. You are they who hunger and thirst after Christ and his righteousnesse this desire is from the in-being of the light and life of Christ in you therefore thou art for the present blessed and shalt be satisfied Mat. 5. 6. Therefore you may be sure God is at peace with you he hath loving kindnesse for you which is better then life yea all is yours for God is yours and that for ever Is not this as good news from a farre Countrey welcome and savoury Oh what can be more sutable pleasant profitable or delightfull better or more desireable Christ will give you that peace which cannot be taken from you Oh the fulnesse sweetnesse gloriousnesse and infinitenesse of this peace it passeth our understandings we cannot fully impart it because we doe not fully know it for we know but in part yet a part wee know through grace though many see not this peace nor know not the way of it to whom I have endeavoured to declare that mystery of love and grace revealed to me desiring to obey Christs command When thou art converted to strengthen thy brethren And diddest thou know the freenesse fulnesse sutablenesse sweetnesse and durablenesse of Gods rich grace to a creature who is nothing in his own eyes who hath interest in it and therefore may apply it thou couldst not but be ravished with it Consider what God hath given
12 13. Can babes work and yet if they die in that estate they shall not misse of glory 1 Job 2. 12. It is one thing to be justified and another to be sanctified so it is one thing to live another to be borne and to worke is distinct from both there is as much difference between some of the Lords as there is betwixt willing and doing some are termed carnall 1 Cor. 3. 1. others spirituall Thou maist be begotten but not borne if in bondage and then it is not the season of growing as another season is If thou beest ignorant or in temptation thy understanding is clouded and thy heart being distempered with feare so as Job 23. 8 9. and thou art not fit to judge of thy growth is a new borne babe 1 Pet. 2. 2. fit to judge of its growth Also consider it may be thou art in Gods way and so thou doest not use his meanes or not rightly consider Psal 1. 3. with Song 4. 12. there thou shalt grow I am much tempted by Satan that I have no grace Satan tempts Christs babes to cast away their confidence which is forbidden Heb. 10. 35. therefore if Satan tell yee that yee have no faith thou maist reply if I have it not in the act to my knowledge I may have it in the grace it selfe if he say that he knows and you know you have no grace at all Reply the Devill knows not and if I should thinke so I may be deceived as fire raked up in ashes appeares not and gives neither light nor heat so corruption doth hide and obscure grace 1 Cor. 3. 1. And if I have no grace why let yee me not alone as yee doe others and as yee did me when I tooke my fill of sin then ye told me I had faith when I had none I have found yee a lyer therefore I will not hearken unto you and I am the more confident I have grace because ye tell me I have none He is a lyer and the father of it Joh. 8. 44. But suppose I have no grace there is no reason why I should despaire because every one of the Lords were once without grace in the estate of nature At that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel strangers c. having no hope and withouâ— God in the world but now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 12 13. which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2. 10. Many are ordained unto eternall life which did not actually beleeve nor had any grace at all I nor any doe not know but I may be one of them also therefore I know no reason to despaire nor will despaire doe me any good it is better to use the means wait upon God trust him with my soule if mercy come I shall be happy and shall have cause to praise him There is nothing too hard for God Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Jer. 32. 17. Mat. 8. 2. I cannot pray nor doe any thing to purpose therefore I have no grace Unbeliefe deads the heart and hinders thy living upon Christs strength It is so with thee that thou mightst see a need of Christ Joh. 15. 5. and live upon him who hath promised to be a full supply to his If God hath given thee a desire to obey him say not it is nothing because God saith it's something 2 Cor. 8. to 11. he gives this and if this be all thou hast it is accepted vers 12. and he will grant thy desire He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he also will heare their cry and will save them Psal 119. 19. Christ will not quench the smoaking flâ—x Isai 42. When we see no fire we know there is fire by the smoake holy desires cannot be in a soule that hath no grace Psal 145. 19. Desire after grace is an act of spirituall life an act is from a faculty a faculty is from life and being a dead man cannot desire none can desire that which they beleeve not to be nor that they doe not love desires if spirituall they flow from faith love and are a part of what it desires A will to obey may be all that a beleever can find in himselfe at some time To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not for the good I would I doe not but the evill I would not that I doe Rom. 7. 18 19 20 21. Presse after obedience to God yet know our greatest holinesse cannot justifie us before God For by grace are yee saved through faith and that not of your selves c. Not of workes lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 8 9. Even the strongest of the Lords are but weake creatures and the highest perfection they can attaine unto in this life is a fight of our imperfections and a desire and endeavour to obey and to live upon Christ by faith see Phil. 2. 12 13. And was not Paul one of the most strongest beleevers see Rom. 8. 37 38 39. yet what saith he of himselfe and his words are the word of God That which I doe I allow not for what I would that I doe not but what I haâ—e that doe I To will is present with me c. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. He had no power to doe what he would yet he lived by faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2. 20. I find no willingnesse to duties I find no relish in them so that I often omit them Unwillingnesse to duties argueth much corruption from whence omissions often flow God may have begun his work in thee although it be thus with thee it may arise from divers causes as from unbeliefe doubting of acceptance of person and dutie and it 's no wonder if such have little list to obey also eying infirmities and not Christ also with them and not exercising grace especially faith little love to Christ loving temporall things deads the heart and makes it carnall weaknesse of grace or from Gods not affording present strength sloath and ease that slayeth the soule undiscreet doing duties out of their season ignorance of the nature of duties and what God requires in some causes ignorance of the sweetnesse of spirituall duties So the soules sicknesse which hinders the soules relish of spirituall things also weaknesse of body is a great enemy to action My flesh and my heart fayles but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73. 26. he never fayles Surely I am deceived I have no grace because I am not able to subdue my passions This declares rather weaknesse of grace then otherwise and it 's certain it is not from a want of truth of grace if
heart and affection as one that longeth for it 7. Mixe the Word with faith beleeve it obey it beleeve it 's true and thine â— Pet. 2. 3. if tasted 8. Heare it as the word of God or else it can doe thee no good see 1 Thes 2. 13. apprehend and digest well what Gods soveraigntie of God is in a command and the tie of obedience of the creature to God meanes consider the insolency of the creatures that dare reject the Word of the Lord. Come buy and eate Isai 55. 1. buy gold c. Rev. 3. 18 Forsake all Mat. 19. 27. If thou seekest her as silver Pro. 2. 4 5. Hearken and eate Isa 55. 2. In eating is required appetite chewing taste relish pleasure and delight Nehe. 9. 25. Let the Word sinke downe Luk. 9. 44. Hide it in your hearts Psal 119. 11. After hearing 1. If God hath manifested himselfe any way in his Word be thankfull oh that the Lord should reveale himselfe to me and not unto the world Joh. 14. 22. Consider Mat. 13. 17. Psal 147. 20. 1 Cor. 14. 25. 2. Hold fast that thou hast lose it not in the ayre of the world let nothing rob thee of it let memory call upon consciscience and conscience upon thee 3. Examine and prove what yee have heard as 1 Thes 5. 21. Acts 17. 11. and consider Acts 8. 34. Rom. 3. 8. 4. What good soever thou receivest give glory to God not to man for he is but as an instrument in the hand of God He that planteth and watereth is nothing but God it is that gives the increase 1 Cor. 3. 7. It is not in the graces of men Also consider Acts 8. 1. with Acts 11. 19. 21. nor learning for Acts 4. 13. So then God doth all 5. Muse and meditate on what thou hast heard Thinke on these things Phil. 4. 8. Deut. 3. 39. Shee pondered Luk. 2. 19. Meditation helps memory and affection and works an inward feeling of it if God blesse it but if we meditate not on it it doth us no good 6. Apply what thou hast heard to thy occasions which are many 7. Practice what thou hast heard this is the end of hearing Deut. 5. 1. Mat. 7. 26 27. Wee have no benefit by it if wee practise it not Jam. 1. 25. God lookes for fruit if we injoy meanes Isa 5. 2. Mat. 21. 34. Luk. 13. 7. Where much is given much is required Luk. 12. 48. see Joh. 8. 47. Job 12. 40. Practice presently I made haste and delayed not Psal 1. 19. 60. Gen. 7. 23. with 22. 3. Abraham went presently that which we put off till hereafter is seldome done Consider Pro. 24. 33 34. Many motions through delay have come to nothing they were not to stay but to step in presently as soone as the Angel stirred the water Joh. 5. 4. 8. Omit not opportunities for thou knowest not whether God will blesse this or that Eccl. 11. 6. Concerning Reading To read with profit requires diligence wisdome preparation meditation conference faith practise prayer For the first consider Pro. 2. 12. Mat. 13. 54. 2. Wisdome is necessary for the choice of matter order time for the matter it must be sutable to our necessities and capacities for order first that which concerns the foundation and after the building also order is a helpe to memory and understanding and for want of order some read much but profit little also wisdome must difference the fittest time to read in respect of other businesse God hath made every thing beautiful in its time Eccle. 3. 11. 3. Preparation requires first humilitie and a sensiblenesse of our own insufficiency to teach our selves and prayer to God to teach us and to give us sound judgements and good affections Secondly Faith in Christ for him to open the booke that is sealed and the heart also beleeving he will blesse his meanes unto us Thirdly a heart prepared to learne Pro. 17. 16. Such as received the Word with a good an honest heart brought forth fruit Luk. 8. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a foole to get wisdome seeing he hath no heart to it After wee have reade meditate Meditation makes that we have read to be our own Blessed is he that meditateth in the Law day and night Psal 1. 2. And unlesse by meditation the judgement be refined and setled and worke it upon our affections and lay up what we reade in our minds all our reading and hearing will come to nothing Conference with others who are able to direct us is necessary to informe us in what we understand not The Word must be mixed with faith else it profiteth us nothing Heb. 4. 2. Luk. 18. 18. The end of reading is to practise and the best way to know is practise He that will doe his will he shall know it Without prayer we cannot well use the meanes nor expect a blessing by them 1 Cor. 2. David prayed and praised God Blessed art thou O Lord teach me thy statutes Psal 119. He that profits by hearing and reading 1. He must have his mind turned to Christ and fixed upon him in his Word as Psal 119. 15. Mark 7. 14. He must beleeve and he shall know 2. He must not be wise in his own eyes The humble he will teach Psal 34. Psal 119. 3. Pray continually 1 Thes 5. 4. Search the Scriptures Joh. 5. 39. 5. His end must be good 1 Cor. 10. 31. 6. He must love the Word Psal 119. 7. He must resolve to obey John 7. 17. Of Meditation MEditation is a serious reviving of those truths we have heard or the administrations of God towards us or others of that which we know wee further debate upon it that both mind and heart being seasoned with the savour thereof in applying it to our selves that wee may have some use of it in our practise and be furthered thereby to dutie In which the memory is exercised to remember some things past also the understanding gathering some other things as namely in finding out the causes fruits properties as when a man meditateth on the Word remembreth and museth on it so going from point to point applying generally some things unto himselfe and wisely examining how the case stands between the Lord and himselfe in those things whereby he hath his heart thereby stirred up to put some things in practise The worke wrought in the affections is that they are framed either to love or hatred joy or sorrow love feare according to the diversitie of the thing with the reasonable part hath seriously considered of Of the excellency of Meditation MEditation is a pondering in the heart a considering a weighing with our selves by meditation we retaine truths and are inriched by them and it makes them sweet unto us by it we ascend up to heaven it 's the life of all meanes the way to knowledge the mother of wisdome it refines the judgement and cuts off errors within
referre thee GRAVE COUNSELS Concerning actions LEt all your actions have a good foundation a word of God to warrant them else they are evill to do things not required by God is the error of the wicked 2 Pet. 3. 17. God will say Who required this at your hands as Isa 1. 12. consider Deut. 12. 32. Ephes 4. 14. First looke that what yee doe be lawfull next consider that it be expedient the circumstances of time place persons must be wisely considered to a good action is required that all the circumstances be good also Next looke to your ends why yee doe what yee doe for the end and scope of an action conduceth to the being of it if two duties come together doe the chiefest first unlesse workes of mercy and necessitie hinder and looke to doe every dutie required of thee to doe one and neglect another is uncomely give each dutie its due respect and looke with what affections yee doe what yee doe serve the Lord with the best and serve him fully for measure and degree he that doth these things his conversation is beautifull and savoury Concerning the judgement and affections Ever suspect your judgement and affections when the cause concernes your selves Often call your affections to account When your affections exceed their bounds aske thy soule the reason of it Let not your judgement be taken captive by your affections Make not your affections knowne in company as little as may be unlesse the cause be extraordinary Concerning afflictions Sleight not affliction nor let it over-presse thee it 's appointed 1 Thes 3. 3. Rom. 8. 29. There is a fruit of the least crosse looke more at the fruit then deliverance from the crosse the longer it continues the more thou maist get by it Labour to know the cause of every affliction All that are the Lords are to stay themselves in the love of God and attend upon him for the time manner and measure of their deliverance Bondage Esteeme that bondage that causeth thee to sin or keeps thee from God Conscience Conscience is a very tender thing and must be tenderly used Prize and preserve a tender Conscience and hearken to the noyse of it Take heed yee wound not your Consciences to please your affections Creatures Use the creatures so as thou beest not unfitted by them to serve God and man God gave not the creatures to hurt us Companion In the choice of a companion consider what soundnesse of judgement there is what knowledge and sensiblenesse of their own inward corruption and whether they speak of others infirmities with compassion never trust him who will conceale any sinne he seeth in thee Crosses Be not offended at crosses they may doe thee much good and let out sinfull selfe Concupiscence To avoyd concupiscence be temperate in all things dyet sleepe apparell recreation c. And feare thy selfe watch thy senses and avoyd the occasion of it as persons times places be frequent in fasting and prayer and looke up to God for strength against it Desires We had need to use meanes to moderate our desires to things below We should rather endeavour to make our desires equall to our estates then to make our estates equall to our desires Excuses Be afraid to cover over any evill with an excuse Of errors If you would be kept from errors pray to God search the Scriptures and be well grounded in the principles of truth Of others falls Let the consideration of the many great falls the Saints have had cause thee to feare thy selfe A friend Esteeme him thy friend that would hinder thee in sinne Griefe Discover not thy griefes to many and choose such as are able and willing to helpe thee The Lord is loving and pitifull able and willing to help it 's best to complain to him Of good To doe good we live therefore thinke not much of doing a little good though it be with great trouble Esteeme not that to be the chiefest good that may be taken from thee Concerning thy estate Judge not thy estate by thy knowledge affections and actions but by the principle Men. Be sure yee try men well and have good experience of their faithfulnesse before yee trust them with much Reproofes Receive reproofes willingly and profitably Reproaches Sleight not reproaches he that is not guiltie may be guiltie in part or hath been or is in another kind c. so it 's but a mistake thou maist be guiltie in the same kind it may be sent to humble thee and give thee warning of the same sinne Of successe Judge not of the goodnesse of thy action by the successe but judge thy successe by the goodnesse of the action c. Of sinne Judge not sin alwayes by the matter or act of it but by the rule and greatnesse of the authoritie of the commander that forbids it and bring in all the circumstances and aggravations of it Of speech When thou speakest of thy selfe speak modestly without vanitie and boasting Time Redeeme the present time to do good depend not upon the time to come which is uncertain and not at thy disposing Counsell to the unmarried 1. THinke not of marrying untill yee have first sought God by earnest prayer for strength and contentednesse to live a single life 2. Use such meanes as may best enable and fit thee for a single life observe a wary and temperate dyet company fasting and prayer meditation on God c. diligence in thy calling it may please God by these and the like meanes thou maist attaine the gift of chastitie 3. Be informed of the conveniences and inconveniences of a married life consider whether you be able and willing to drinke of the bitter cup of discontents which the married oft drinke of what cares and burdens attend that state If upon the use of meanes for some space you finde God inclines your heart to marry feare nothing but cast thy care upon God and be as wise as thou canst and venture upon a wife or husband 1. Pray to God to give thee a wife or husband that may be a meet helpe for thee a vertuous wife is called a gift of God the crowne of her husband crownes are precious and honourable happie is he that hath such a crowne Her price is farre above Rubies Pro. 31. 10. No jewell is to be compared unto her shee is worth the asking 2. Doe nothing rashly snatch not up the first that comes to hand prove shee well or ill shee may please well for a moment and be a thorne in thy side for ever after 3. If thou beest the Lords marry in the Lord love such as the Lord loveth that which is desireable in a man is his goodnesse Pro. 19. 22. So in a woman men seeke wealth and beautie though they have no Religion but these things cannot supply the want of Religion great portions and great stomacks high spirits costly fashions and great expences oft goe together externall things will quickly blast and the most resolved