in the everlasting Covenant wherein is set forth the Nature Conditions and Excellencies of it and how a sinner should do to enter into it and the danger of refusing this Covenant Reâ—ation Also the Treasures of Grace Blessings Comforts Promises and Priviledges that are comprised in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with Beleivers By Obadiaâ— Sedgwick B. D. The Parly of Beasts or Morphandra Queen of the inchanted Island with Reflexes upon the present state of most Countries in Christendom By Iames Howel Esq The dead Saint speaking to Saints and Sinners livingâ— in several Treatises viz. The fulness and greatest evil that is in sin on 2 Sam. 24. 10. The love of Christ to his Spouse on Cant. 4. 9. Nature and Royalties of Faith on Iohn 1. 15. The slowness of heart to believe on Iohn 1. 50. The causes signs and cure of Hypocrisie with motives and helps to sincerity on Isa. 58â— 2. The wonderful workings of God for his Church and his people on Exod. 15â— 11. Never before published By Boltâ—â—â— D D. Quarto's AN Expositâ—on upon the nineteen last Chapters of Ezekiel By Will. Gâ—eenhil An Exposition on the first eighteen verses of Iohn By I. Arrowsmith An exposition on the book of Canticles By R. Robotham A Treatise shâ—wing the right ordering of the Bee By Sam. Purchas An Exposition on the 15 16 17. Chap. of Iob By I. Caryll An Exhortation from the Churches of Bohemia to the Church of England By Iohn Amos Comenius The Plain Doctrine of the Justification of a sinner in the sight of God justified by the God of truth in his holy Word and the Cloud of Witneâ—â—es in all ages By Charles Chauncy of New England The whole Tryal of the Marquiss of Arguile An Exposition upon the 4. Chap. of the 2. Epist. to the Corâ—nthians By R. Sâ—bbs Comfortable Sermons on Psalm 24â— Preached before the Lady Elizabeth her Grace By Daniel Dyke B. D. God save the King in a Sermon preached the day after his Majesty came into Londonâ— by Anth. Walker Preacher of the Gospel An Antidote against Anabaptism wherein the baptizing Infants taking Tythes c are fâ—lly vindicated by Aylmor Haughton The Conversation as heavenly and as natural in two Treatises by D. Stoughton Jesus Christ the mystical or Gospel Sun sometimes seemingly Eclipsed yet never going gown from his people opened in a Sermon at Pauls Church before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor Aldermenâ— c. March 28. 1652. the day before the lâ—â—e Solar Eclipse by Fulk Beller M. A. A Sermon Preached before the Honourable House of Commons at their late Monethly Fast being on Wednesday Iune 30. 1647. by Nath. Ward A Declaration of the Faith and Order owned and practised in the Congregational Churches in England agreed upon consented unto by their Elders Messengers in their meeting at the Savoy Oct. 12. 1658. Mesolabium Architectonicum that is a most rare and singular Instrument for the easie speedy and most certain measuring of Plaâ—ns and Solids by the foot invented long since by Mr. Tho. Bedwel Esq A Changlâ—ng no company for lovers of Loyalty or the Subjects Lesson in point of sacred submission to and humble compliance with God and the King The beauty of Magistracy in an Expositioo of the 82. Psalm where is set forth the Necessity Utility Dignity Duty and Morâ—lity of Magistrates by the labours of Tho Hall B. D. and Pastor of Kings Norton and George Swinock M. A. and Pastor of Great Kimbel Large Octavo's FOur profitable Treatises very useful for Christian practice viz. The killing power of the Law the spirâ—tual watch the New Birth of the Sabbath by the reverenâ— Fenneâ—â— late Minister of Rotchford in Essex Enchirid on Iudlâ—um or Iehoshaphats charge to his Judges together with the Catastrophe Magnatum or King Davids lamentâ—tâ—on at Prince Abners Incinerationâ— by Iames Livesey Minister of the Gospel at Atherton The greatest loss upon Mat. 15 26 by the same â—uthor Meditations Divine and Moral by Henry Tabb M. A. The Psalms of K. Davâ—d translated by K. Iames. Willâ—ul impenitency the greatest Self-murther by that able faithful and laborious Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. W. Fenner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Almost Christian discovered or the False professor tryed and cast by Matthew Mead. Spiritual Wisdom improved against Temptation by the same Author Pharonnida an Heroick Poem by VVill. Chamberlain The good old way of Perkins improved in a plain Exposition of Perkins Catechism by C. Broxholme A Treatise of Self-denial with the Necessity and Excellency of it by Thâ—â—philuâ— Polwheele The Hippocrâ—tes Ladder by John Sheffield The Christian compleatly armed by R. Robinson A practical discourse of prayer wherein is handled the nature and duty of prayer by T. Câ—bbet The Righteoâ—s mans tower by Ier. Dike Mount Ebal levelled or a redemption from the â—urse by El. Wales with Mr. Calamies Epistle Tentations their nature danger cure to which is added his Remains by R. Capel A Wedding-Ring fit for the finger â—ogether with the Non-such Professor by W. Secker The History of the Turkish Wars in Hungary Transilvania Austria Silesia and other Provinces of the German Empire from the first invasion of Amurath the second Anno. 1432. to this present year 1664. to which is prefixed a shorâ— discourse of the state and government of the said Provinces The spiritual taste described and a glimpse of Christ discovered in two parts grounded on Psalm 34. 8. and Mal. 4. 2. by Râ—b Dingley M. A. Small Octavo's CAtechizing Gods Ordinance in sundry Sermons by Mr. Zach. Crosâ—on A bridle for the tongue or a â—â—eatise of ten sins of the tongue viz. Cursing Swearing Slandering Scoffing Filthy Speaking Flattering Censuring Murmuring Lying and Boasting on Iam. â— 26. by W. Gearing The Pastor and the Clerk or a debate real concerning Infant Baptism by Iohn Ellis Habakkâ—k's prayer applied to the Churches present occasions on Hab. 3. 2. and Christs counsel to the Church of Philadelphia on Rev. 3. 11. by Sam. Balmford The Rudiments of Grammar The Rules composed in English verse for the great benefit and delight of young beginners by Iames Shirley The Ladies Dispensatory containing the Natures Vertues and Qualities of Herbs and Simples useful in Physick reduced into a methodical order for their more ready use in any sickness or other accident of the body The godly mans Ark in the day of his distress discovered in divers Sermons the first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Moor. Whereunto is annexed Mrs. Elizabeth Moors Evidences for Heaven composed and collected by her in the time of her health â—or her comfort in the â—ime of sickness by E. Calamy B. D. The Gale of Opportunity and the beloved Disciple by Thomas Froysal Sion in the house of mourning because of sin and suffering being an Exposition on the 5. Chap. of the Lamentations by D. S. Moses unvailed or those figures which served unto the pattern and shadow of
thy heart right as mine is Is there the fear of God truth of grace in thy heart then give me thy hand come up into the Chariot be thou my friend The Choice of a Christian must flow from another fountain then worldly profit namely the amiableness of the Image of Christ in the person The heat and light of a wicked mans love as a lamp is fed with and floweth from some earthly substance and is extinguished when that is denyed but the heat and light of a Saints friendship as the solary rays springeth from an heavenly cause and therefore will continue The Apostle speaketh of love out of a pure heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. That iâ— pure love a pure stream which ariseth from a pure heart a pure spring that is not onely the grace of God secret in a Christian but the grace of God seen in his Companion whom he loveth It is clearly visible that many associate with Christians not for their vertues but at a venture they were possibly the first they fell in league with or upon some other respect for they know others as high in holiness whom they slight nay possibly hate whereas he that loveth grace in one loveth grace in all It s an infallible sign of a crooked nature saith Cicero to be affected with none but Praetors and great men It s little sign I am sure of grace to joyn onely wiâ—h those Saints that are rich or high in the World If thou admirest holiness in scarlet and robes and contemnest it in sackcloth and russet I must tell thee thou art grosly deceived for thou admirest the Scarlet and honour not the holiness at all I do not deny but amongst Christians a man that hath the opportunity may choose out some rather then others to be his most intimate companions Christ though he loved all his Disciples yet had one especially the beloved Disciple who leaned on Iesus bosome Amongst all the Apostles he vouchsafed to three onely the favour of his extraordinary friendship When he raised up the Rulers daughter he suffered none to go in save Peter Iames and Iohâ— When he was transfigured he took up with him onely Peter Iames and Iohn In his bitter and bloody Agony these three were taken out from the rest Luk. 8. 51. Mat. 17. 5. and 26. 37. But if I might advise thee Reader in such a Choice I would give thee these two Cautions First That thou prefer those whom God prefers I mean such as have most grace It s a sign of a Coward to choose a weak enemy and its a sign of little grace to choose the weakest Christian friends He that hath most of Gods heart deserveth most of thine I am ready to think that Peter Iames and Iohn that had more of Christs love then the rest had more of his Likeness and Image then the rest I confess some respect in the choice of a bosome friend ought to be had to his prudence Some men though holy are indiscreet and in point of secrets are like Sives can keep nothing committed to them but let all run thorough A blab of secrets is a Traytour to society as one that causeth much dissention It s good to try him whom we intend for a bosome friend before we trust him As men prove their Vessels with Water before they fill them with Wine If we finde them leaking they will be useless as to that purpose Too many are like the Dead Sea in which nothing saith Aristotle sinks to the bottom but every thing thrown into it swims at the top and is in sight Nakedness in mind is as well a blemish as nakedness in body It s wonderful folly which some persons manifest in stripping themselves naked before every one and unbosoming themselves whoever stands by Pictures that have no Curtains before them gather much dust and so do those minds that are ever open and exposed to every mans view Others are like the Sea full of wealth and worth of great abilities in spiritual things but there is no coming at it they are so concealed that none is ever like to be the better for it Those golden Mines that are never known enrich none There are a middle sort of Christians between these that like a secret box in a Cabinet is not seen without some difflculty but as occasion is it is opened and then many jewels of rare value appear The Bow that is hardest to bend doth the most service for it sendeth forth the Arrow with the greatest force The Nut that is hard to crack hath the best kernel These Christians may as likely as any be thy bosome friends Though some respect I confess may be had to sutableness of disposition in him whom thou choosest for an intimate friend As in marriage so in friendship its best when there is some equality and likeness in pairs as of Tongs or Gloves there must be a parity Such friendship founded both in grace and nature is like to be lasting 2. That in prefering some thou castest no contempt upon others The smallest piece of peaâ—l is worthy of esteem the little violet is pleasant The poorest Christian he that hath the least grace deserveth our love and observance Christ takes notice of two mites of a little strength of some good thing and shall not we Math. 12. 43. Rev. 3. 8. 1 King 13. 14. Babes in Christ being unable to help themselves have most need of good Nurses Weak Saints who can hardly go alone do most want an helping hand A Saint that is mean as well as a mean Saint must be countenanced It s good to countenance godliness in the rich but its evil not to encourage it in the poor Our love must like the oyntment powred on Aarons head which ran down not onely to his beard but to the very skirts of his garment be drawn out to the highest and fall down on the lowest Saints David by this shewed the life and truth of his love I am a Companion of all that fear thee and keep thy Statutes Psa. 119. 63. Of all None that hath thy fear but shall find me their friend Though I am their King and above the highest yet for thy sake I can chearfully be Companion to the lowest SECT V. THirdly In thy Choice have respect to spiritual ends and accordingly improve it Attend and intend thy own and thy Companions soul-good in it Fâ—iendship hath a key to the heart which it may use nâ—t only to let it self into its secrets but also to introduce its own conceptions He hath a great advantage of perswading another to and encouraging him in holiness who is already entertained as his friend into his heart Where the person is so acceptable the instruction will be the more welcome We carry others sometimes along with us to our friends houses and they are kindly entertained for our sakes Now to improve this interest any other way then on Gods behalf is sacriledge How abominable were it then
endeavour to revive me When I fall he will do his utmost to recover me He will rejoyce with me in my joys and sympathize with me in my sufferings in every condition to his power be a futable consolation O that the value and vertue of this Pearl may make me esteem it at an high price and the more wary that I be not cheated in my Choice Lord thou hast ordained the communion of Saints to be for mutual comfort and counsel let me choose those for my friends that will be faithful to their own and to my soul. I Wish that I may manifest to my own conscience the truth of my conversion by my Companions and that I am passed from death to life because I joyn with and love the brethren Beasts flock together Sinners joyn hand in hand and Saints are of the same heart and walk together towards the same Heaven My Associates will discover my nature whether Vertue or Vice be my Master My Comrades will speak to what Captain I belong If I joyn with the black Regiment of the Prince of Darkness it s a sign I am an enemy to the Lord of Hosts The members of Christs Mystical Body go in company It s presumed they are unchast Women who company with known Harlots and it s supposed they are dishonest men who are familiar with Theives If Christ and grace be predominant in me I cannot like and love their enemies An holy soul cannot delight in prophane sinners goldâ— will unite it self with the substance of gold but not incorporate with dross An heart truly good cannot brook those that are evil All creatures desire to joyn with such as are of the same nature Fish Fowls Birds Beasts all every one strive to be with them that are of the same species Confederacy in sin is the livery by which the black guard of Hell is distinguished from the rest of the rational creatures True friendship is the Cognisance of true Christians By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another Love is the badge of the houshold of faith which witnesseth to what Lord they appertain Where love is in truth to their persons there will be a delight in their presence For what is love but a motion of the soul towards and its complacency in the object beloved In vain do I pretend my self a Disciple without sincere love which is the life of a Disciple Love to my God is the soul of Religion which keeps it in being in motion without this the whole body of it decayeth and dyeth All my performances if this be lacking are but as an unsavoury Corpse without either loveliness or life Love to my brethren is the sign of Religion which ever sheweth it self at the door where the substance is within He that loveth him that begetteth must needs love him also that is begotten The Child is acceptable for the Fathers sake The Picture is amiable because of the Person it representeth O how grossely do they delude their souls that think they love the Head when they hate and despise the Members that say they affect and prize Christ above their lives when they reject and persecute Christians to the very death Lordâ— thou hast told me He that loveth not his Brother abideth in death All thy Children are my Brethren they have the same Father the same Mother O suffer me not to give conscience cause to witness against me that I am in a state of death of damnation for want of this brotherly affection but grant that the hot beams of thy love may so warm my heart that I may be always reflecting back love to thy self and thy Saints as an evidence of my eternal salvation I Wish that I may consider whom I choose for my Companions least I be disappointed in the ends of Company My God intendeth society to be helpful to his people in the best things But they are never likely to further me in holiness who walk in the broad way that leadeth to Hell Satans Servants will not teach me to do the Lords work That friendship is ill made which is soon broken no band can hold him who is a stranger to Religion Where there is no fear of God in the heart there can be no true friendship They who are two in disposition will scarce be one in affection Where there is no true likeness there can be no true love Can two walk together unless they be agreed Grace is the onely Cement which conglutinates hearts and maketh true friends A brutish Sinner and a Beleiver are contrary each to other An unjust man is abominable to the just and he that is upright in his way is abominable to the wicked the Eagle hath perpetual emnity with Serpents and Dragons and their seed So hath the Eagle-eyed Christian with the seed of the Serpent Beasts hate fire and so do those whom God calleth Foxes and Lions and Bulls the fire of grace that burneth in a Saints heart and flameth out in his life Lambs and Wolves Doves and Ravens cannot unite Jerusalem and Babylon Sion and Sodom can never be compact and at unity togeâ—her Can I expect love from that person that hath none for his own soul nor for the blessed God Can contraries meet and not fight Is there any hope of an amicable conjunction betwixt them that are not onely differing but opposite I am born of God he is of his Father the Devil My work is to do the will of my Father in Heaven his work is to do the lusts of the wicked one Self is the Byass by which he moveth Scripture iâ— the Compass by which I sail I am travailing towards heaven he is hastening to hell and is it possible for us to have one heart O that no worldly advantage might make me ever strive to strike a Covenant with them to whom I am thus contrary They must needs be false to me that are made up of unfaithfulness A true friend is another self a vicious man cannot be a true friend because he is never himself Sometimes he is drunk with passion and so loseth his guide and leaveth the dictates of reason those servants are often in rebellion and thâ—n like the troubled Sea he casteth up mire and dirt In his fury he will strike at friends or foes and discover what he knows and more many times Passion is an high Feaver wherein men talk idly therefore the wise man gives a special Caution against such Companions Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go Sometimes he is overcome with wine and then the Beast in him puts the curb into the mouth of reason and hath the command of it A Drunken man hath Nebuchadnezzars brutish heart and is fit onely to graze with Cattel Clitus is killed by his drunken Master and such a one speaketh and doth he knows not what He speaks what he should forget and forgets what he hath
in tâ—e other world I was as bad as the worst of them or at least I had slept as deep into that mire of prophaness and equalled or exceeded them in all manner of impiety if free grace had not with-held and prevented me I have the same root of bitterness and had doubtless brought forth the same cursed fruits if the hand of mercy had not new grafted me What thanks do I owe to my Redeemer who makes me to differ and what cause have I to love and laud to please and praise him world without end O friend if the Israelites blessed God for their preservation from those waters in which the Egyptians were drowned hast not thou cause to give thanks for preservation from that wickedness in which others are damned 3. Thy care and watchfulness should be the more increased The falls and failings of others should be Sea-marks and give thee warning to avoid those rocks and shallows if thou wouldst avoid shipwrack Thou hast the same poisonous seed therefore take heed lest thou committest the same sin These things saith the Apostle were written for our example to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they did 1 Cor. 10. 6 16. All these things happened unto them for examples and they were written for our admonition As the sins and sufferings of others are recorded for our instruction so God lets them be acted before our eyes for our admonition If he that walketh before me falleth and breaketh his neck I have the more reason to ponder the paths of my feet If a fire break out in one house every wise man will look the more to his own If enemies be near the walls the Garrison will be the more diligent to keep watch and ward Ah how foolish is that Mariner who beholdeth a Ship before him cast away upon some Rock and doth not steer his course with the greater care Thus the Sword of Goliah may be serviceable to a David and those weapons of unrighteousness which are designed for our destruction may be helpful to our preservation Those Kites that destroy Chickens do also eat up offals of Beasts and many noisom things which otherwise would infect the Air whence say some it s a Law in England that near a Market Town they should not be kill'd Unclean Beasts are serviceable to men and unclean men may be helpful to Christians SECT V. FIfthly Endeavour their reformation Thy duty is as a good Physitian to loath the noisom disease but to pity and strive to recover the Patient What difference is there betwixt thee and a carnal person if thou sufferest him to die and offerest not thy help for his cure Thy Father doth good to all he causeth his Sun to shine on the just and on the unjust O Remember that thou art his Son and that his pattern is worthy of imitation That piece of Iron which is rub'd with the Loadstone will draw another peice of Iron We read of Magnetical Rocks in some Islands that draw all Ships to them which have Iron Pins and hold them so fast that they are not able to stir Shew that thou hast been toucht with the Spirit that the Spirit of God dwelleth in thee by thy endeavours to draw others to God Christ never sat at Table with any sinners but he made better chear then he found If he sat with the prophane he did convert them if with the pious he did confirm them Luk. 7. Be not discouraged at the weakness of thy gifts or the small degree of thy graces but consider that the event of the enterprize depends upon him who sets thee a work and that its all one to him whether he have great means or small means or no means A poor contemptible Flie may hinder an Elephant from sleeping a poor upright Christian may awaken great sinners out of their spiritual sleep and lethargy A little Boat may land a man at a large continent A weak believer may help a soul to Heaven Endeavour to reform them these three ways 1. By wholsom Counsel Every place thou comest into should be like Libnah in which the Israelites pitcht a place of Frankincense perfumed by thy presence The breath of a man serves him both to cool his broth when hot and warm his fingers when cold The breath of a Christian should serve to put some warmth into them that are cold Heaven-ward and to cool and slack them that are hot Hell ward An wholsom tongue is a Tree of life Prov. 15. 12. Thy tongue should be like the Tree of life in Eden of which he that did eat was to live for ever Gen. 3. 22. or like that Tree of life in the midst of the street which bare twelve manner of Fruit and the Leaves of the Tree were for the healing of the Nations Rev. 22. 2. I have read of a person who led a dissolute life and was so wrought upon by the Counsel of a good man that he turned over a new Leaf and when his Companions asked the ground of that change which they soon observed in him and why he would not walk along with them in his old wicked ways he answered them I am busie meditating and reading in a little book which hath but three leaves in it so that I have no leasure so much as to think of any other business In the first leaf which is red I meditate on the passion of my Lord Iesus Christ and of that precious blood which he shed for the remission of my sins In the second leaf which is white I meditate on the unspeakable joys of Heaven purchased for me by the death of my Redeemer In the third leaf which is black I meditate on the intolerable torments of Hell provided and kept in store for the wicked and ungodly Prudent and pious advice may bring wandring sinners home to Christs fold There is a special art in baiting the hook aright so as thou mayst take sinners ere they are aware I being crafty caught you with guile 2 Cor. 12. 16. It s possible â—hou art amongst men that are moral and civil yet unsanctified by commending civility yet discovering its insufficiency thou mayst beat them out of their rotten holds and cause them to run to Christ for help Mat. 5. 20. It may be thou meetest with those that are openly prophane by bringing in wisely an example of Gods judgements on such persons thou mayst fright them from such lewd practices Sometimes thou mayst turn earthly discourse by degrees into heavenly and spread a Table and set a running banquet before them which they never thought of Do they ask for â—ant of other discourse what news After some prudent preface answer them that thou canst tell them good news from a far Country which is worthy of all acceptation namely That Iesus Christ came into the world to save sinners Do they ask how such and such do acquaint them concerning their bodily welfare and if it may be done conveniently
that the health of the soul is most to be enquired after as that which is of greatest weight and worth Do they ask into the price of Commodities thou mayst thereby raise their hearts to the Wine and Milk which is to be bought of Christ without money and without price This is true Alchimy and will turn all into Gold What heavenly fruit did our Redeemer gather from such earthly trees When the Pharises spake of eating with defiled that is unwashen hands he told them of inward defilements and what danger there was in unwashen hearts Mat. 15. 20. When the Woman of Samaria came to draw Water how soon doth he lift up his discourse to living Water of which whosoever drinketh shall never thirst John 4. 21. When the multitude followed him for the Loaves he improves that occasion to quicken them to labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life John 6. 25 26 27. Thus thou mayst Reader distil cordial water out of dregs and lees 2. Endeavour to reform them by thy gracious carriage in their Company A Christian is Gods Iewel Mal. 3. 17. and should always cast a radiancy and lustre before the eyes of others but especially amongst them that are wicked He is double guilty who â—â—lks disorderly amidst his Masters enemies Saints â—â—ould like Diamonds sparkle gloriously in a Ditch and as Stars shine the brighter in cold nights Be blameless and harmless without rebuke shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation Phil. 2. 15. Beleivers should like lights hung out in the City shine so brightly as to prevent others wandring and stumbling The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such lights as the Sun Moon and Stars are which do not keep their light to themselves but communicate it to others This gracious conversation is often profitable to the conviction of others They who as the Atlantes are ready to curse the Sun because it scorcheth them with its beams to hate the light because it discovereth their deeds of darkness may nevertheless in their consciences be so convinced of its beauty and glory that they may turn Persians to admire and adore it Shew thy self a pattern of good works that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil thing to say of you Tit. 2. 7 8. 1 Pet. 3. 15 16. Grace doth powerfully though silently oppose and overthrow Prophaness It forceth reverence from its bitterest enemies The righteousness of Noah condemned the old World The holiness of the Baptist did obtain respect from wicked Herod How did the Magnanimous Sanctity of the three Worthies triumph in the conscience of Nebuchadnezar and the innocency of Daniel in the soul of Darius Many a sinner hath been struck dumb by the exemplary and heroick faith and patience of the Saints Such a gracious carriage is sometimes helpful to the conversation of others They who stood out against the Word of God have been won by the Works of Men. Sanctified actions are unanswerable Syllogismes and effectual demonstrations Though the ears have been shut against pious precepts the heart it self hath been opened to a gracious pattern Abstain from fleshly lusts and have your conversations honest that whereas they speak evil of you as evil doers they maâ— by your good works which they behold glorifie God in the day of visitation 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. Good works are a means not onely of silencing but even of sanctifying evil workers and hereby those who spake evil of the children come to glorifie the father An holy life is a real confutation of unholy lusts and whereas counsel may perswade this compelleth the sinner either to embrace sanctity or to live condemned of himself Lewis the twelfth of France hearing ill of the Waldenses sent some to observe and pry into their lives who returning told the King That they were free from all scandal sanctified the Sabbath baptized and chatechised their children Whereupon the King their enemy swore that they were better men then himself or any of his Subjects The Church of God is compared to a Vineyard Luk. 20. 9. Pliny tells us that the smell of a Vineyard is such that it drives away all Serpents and venemous creatures The lives of Gods people should be spotless and exemplary that their enemies as in Tertullians days may honour them for their holiness Of Bueer it was said He so lived that his friends could not sufficiently praise him nor his enemies justly blame him So should every child of God SECT VI. 3. ENdeavour to reform them by faithful reprehension Reprehension is like a Dam which though it cause the waters to swell stops its violent course As Thunder it purifieth the air which otherwise would putrifie When thou comest amongst vicious persons thy spirit as Pauls amongst the Idolatrous Athenians must be stirred within thee and thy zeal must appear in reproving the offendors or else as a Pearl in a Toads â—ead it will be of no use Servetus condemned Zwinglius for his heat and harshness but he answered In other things I will be meek and mild but not in blaspemies against Christ. Good blood will not belie it self but when occasion is offered shew it self The zeal of Gods house did eat the Redeemer up and he whipt the buyers and sellers out of the Temple In the cause of God saith Luther I am and ever shall be stout and stern herein I take upon me this Motto Nulli cedo I give place to none That expression of Austin hath weight in it Qui non zelat non amat He hath no love to God who hath no zeal for God and truly he hath little love to his Neighbour Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 9. 17. First Here is no priviledge as to persons either reproving or offending 1. Reproving Thou shalt rebuke It s to be done in our own persons and not by a proxy 2. Offending thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy Neighbour All are our Neighbours made of the same earth bone of our bone flesh of our flesh capable of the same heaven God excludes none but offers both his grace and glory universally Whosoever will let him c. Rev. 22. 17. Secondly No dispensation granted as to crimes Thou shalt not suffer sin upon him If it be a sin it must not be suffered Thirdly No pleading of any excuse thou shalt in any wise rebuke him and not hate him To suffer any in unholiness is a sign of hatred and such seeming charity is the greatest cruelty Besides whilst we let such men alone in their prophaness we provoke God against our selves Iohn the Baptist rebuked Herod Nathan reproved David and Latimer Henry the eighth though the offendors were potent and high yet the ministers of God would not fear their faces but freely tell them of their faults Nay some Heathen have had courage
3. Think he did it ignorantly that had he known the consequence he would not have been guilty of such a crime Surely the man thought no hurt he spake on a sudden such words came out of his mouth before he was aware or he would never have spoken them I my self in an heat might have been as harsh When high winds blow storms will follow 4. If thou canst not be perswaded but the injury was wittingly offered then think He was overcome with some great temptation There were extraordinary fumes at that instant flying up into his head which made him talk idly and of which now he may be repenting before the Lord. The strong man was too hard for the weak Christian. Flesh and blood was easily conquered by Principalities Powers I may well forgive him his sin will cost him sorrow enough before his Father smile on him III. The Natural burthen as I may call it though it hath a relation to spiritual but not fully in the former sense of their infirmities Some by reason of bad instruments are but bunglars at their work They have naturally understandings very dull to receive and memories very slow to retain spiritual things They have ill constitutions of body and thereby the worse frames of soul and the more apt to be peevish and fretful Now we exhort you brethren that ye support the weak and be patient towards all men 1 Thes. 5. 14. All the persons in Gods family are not of the same height and strength though some are Old Men and Fathers and others are Young and strong yet some are little Children Babes in Christ some can go alone or with a little help if you hold them but by their leading-strings but others must be carried in arms and will require much love and patience to overcome their childish frowardness Christ winks at their weaknesses who hath most reason to be moved with them though his disciples were raw and dull and slow to believe and understand yet he bears with them Nay though when he was watching for them and in his bloody sweat his whole body being in a goar blood under the weight of their and others sins on his back and they lay sleeping and snoring and could not watch with him one hour he doth not fall fiercely upon them but calmly asketh them Could ye not watch with me one hour and afterwards excuseth it for them First From the natural cause There heads were full at that time ofâ— fumes Their eyes were heavy with sorrow They were full of grief for their dear Master and their sorrow hindring the digestion of their food filled them with vapours which ascending to their brains inclined them to sleep Secondly From the Moral cause they would but they could not The Spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak there better part would move more swiftly and do any thing at my call and command but their flesh draweth back and makes them drive heavily It s no wonder that their pace is so slow when like the snail they have such an house such an hinderance upon their backs The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Who can think of this infinite grace of the blessed Redeemer in making such an Apologie for them whom he had such cause to be full of fury against and not be incited to imitate so admirable a pattern There is another famous instance in the Old Testament and that is Gods patience towards peevish Ionah by which all may see how much he bears with his froward children First Ionah runs from his business God sends him to Niniveh he will go to Tarshish here was plain rebellion against his Soveraign One would have expected that the jealous God should have given him a Traytors wages and when he was at Sea have suffered the Ocean of waters to have swallowed up his body and the Ocean of fire and wrath his soul but loe he cannot permit his Ionah to perish he will rather whip him to his work then let him wander to his ruine But how gentle is the rod God cannot forget the love of a Father though Ionah forget the duty of a childe but will rather work a miracle and make the devourer his Saviour then Ionah shall miscarry T is true he was tossed with a violent tempest and thrown over-board but God provided him a shelter before the storm and prepared a Whale to swallow him down not for his destruction but his deliverance And the Lord spake to the fish and it vomited up Jonah upon the dry land Well now the childe is brought home you will look that he should make some recompence for his former disobedience by his faithfulness and diligence for the future that the danger he had been in the death he had so narrowly escaped the miracle which had been wrought for him and the extraordinary mercy he had so lately received should have melted him wholly into Gods mould and have made him like Abraham to have come up wholly to Gods foot But alas he addeth sin to sin and neither mercy nor misery prevail with him to know himself Indeed he undertakes the journey and message he was called to upon a second command but as unwillingly as the Bear goeth to the stake After he had pronounced a sentence of death upon the Ninivites and shewed them a warrant under the high Gods hand and seal for their speedy execution how ill doth he take it that upon their humble petition a Reprieve should be granted them he frets inwardly against God and through the exceeding heat of his heart his tongue blisters with casting Gods mercy in his teeth He was wrath for that in which he had cause to rejoyce His love to his brethren might have made him glad of their escape and his love to his God should have quieted him in all his wise and holy proceedings But it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry and he prayed unto the Lord O Lord was not this my saying in my Country for I knew that thou art a gracions God c. Therefore O Lord take away my life He quarrels with Gods providence and he doth as it were twit God with that which is the glory of all his Attributes and actions and the best friend the poor children of men have his Grace and Pity desiring rather the destruction of above sixscore thousand persons then that himself by the blind ignorant world should be reckoned a false Prophet Behold impatience in its largest dimensions Ionah will dye because so many thousands are allowed out of infinite kindness to live O what a nest of vermine was in the womb of this disobedience Here is pride both in preferring his own will before Gods and in his unwillingness to suffer a little in his repute in the eye of the people Here was passion to the height and that against God himself Here was murmuring against sparing mercy and the Divine pleasure Here was unbelief as if God could not repair his
my self when any reprove me for the evil in me let me accept it with thanks Make me able to say with that sweet singer of Israel Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me and it shall be an excellent oyl it shall not break my head I Wish that I may by no means repine but always rejoyce at the gifts and graces of others If the other members of the body thrive the heart doth not grieve but is glad at it It s ordinary for younger brothers to boast and glory in the large estate and great possessions which their elder brothers have left them by their Fathers Why should not my soul be joyful at the great share of spiritual riches which the onely wise God hath given some of my brethren If a man love sweet smels the greater degree of them he observeth in any place the moâ—e he is refreshed with them He that delights in Pictures if he see one in a room exactly and exquisitely drawn above all the rest that shall have more of his eye and his heart Is not grace compared to sweet Oynments and shall not I be comforted the more for the greatness of its savour Is not the Image of my God amiable in mine eye and ought I not to delight most in that Copy which is nearest the Original Surely if I envy any their spiritual excellencies I shew my self too like a Child of the Devil There is hardly any worm that gnaweth that unclean spirit more painfully then the grace which God gives his Children Their sins are his utmost joy their graces are his extream greif Would I be found in Satans livery at the last O that I might be so far from murmuring at that double portion of the Spirit which my God bestoweth upon some of his people that I might bless God heartily for it and beg of God to add to it an hundred fold how great soever it is The pretty Birds sing the more merrily the higher the Sun mounteth in the Heavens I have cause to be the more chearful the nearer any ascend to Heaven and the higher they mount in holiness My love to my God to my Brother nay to my self all command me to it My love to my God He that loves his Soverain will rejoyce that he hath any Subjects eminent above others for duty and loyalty They that have much spiritual strength will do my God much spiritual service The more grace they have the more glory they bring to God It s an honour to the Father of Spirits when his Children keep open house according to their estates cloathing the naked feeding the hungry soul and relieving liberally such as are in want I am no Christian if I be not tender of my Gods honour and joyful when that is exalted in the World Besides Love to my brother should quicken me to this duty If I love him as my self I shall both grieve at his soul-losses and rejoyce at his spiritual gains Love delighteth in the welfare of the party loved The hotter the beames of grace are in the party beloved the more they rejoyce the heart of the lover Why should any mans eye be evil towards his Brother because Gods is good to him Have others the less because some have so much Or is it not my own fault that I am not as holy and gracious as he God is a Fountain of grace always running over but he derives it to us according to our capacities If I go to the Well of Salvation and receive but little of the water of life I may know the cause my Vessel was no bigger Nay Love to my self may make me glad at others gifts and graces The greater the Saints estate is the more he will relievâ— others As the Earth though it sucketh in so much water as will give her self a competent refreshment conveyeth many springs through her veins for the cherishing and refreshment of others So the Saints do not onely advantage their own but also others souls Lord though in Hell there be little else but murmuring and repining at the good of thy chosen yet in Heaven there is no emptiness in themselves no envying at others every Saint there hath his joy doubled for anothers joy and is glorified in anothers glory Suffer not thy Servant to make his heart a little Hell by filling it with grief at the good of thy chosen But O make it thy lesser Heaven be thou pleased to dwell in it and then I shall begin the work of eternity in time magnifie and bless thee for thy love to them and praise and bless them for their likeness to thee Finally I Wish that I may so carry my self in all my converses with the Children of God here that I may meet them in the Fathers house and sit down with them at the Supper of the Lamb. Lord if Communion with thy Saints be so pleasant and delightful on earth how pleasant and delightful will it be in Heaven Here my communion with them is imperfect my flesh will not suffer me to receive the good I might from them nor their flesh allow them to do the good they might to me But there shall be no evil no occasion of evil no appearance of evil no sin shall clog the chariots of our souls no flesh shall fetter us from running to embrace and delight in each other but all shall be free to rejoyce and refresh one another Every Saint shall be as it were a fountain of Communion in the sweetest mannerâ— and fullest measure from every one shall flow Riâ—ers of water of life and every one enlarged to rellish and receive If Jonathan beholding a little grace in David on earth loved him as his own soul how doth he love him in Heaven Here our Communion is much lamed by the defects in our bodily organs we cannot impart our minds without our members which being defective make our Communion so but there we shall be as Angels seeing each other without eyes hearing each other without ears and embracing each other without hands Here our Communion is interrupted our particular callings our eating our drinking our sleeping our many occasions call us from it But there is no calling but our general calling of worshipping and enjoying our God no feeding but on the tree of life that groweth in the midst of Paradise no drinking but of the Rivers of Gods own pleasures and no night no sleeping but that rest which remaineth for the people of God O what darkness what night can be there where all the righteous shall shine infinitely brighter then the Sun in his noon day lustâ—e Here our Communion is hindered by the differences that frequently arise â— like Children of the same Father we quarrel and wrangle but there they will all be like-minded having the same love being of one accord and one judgement There indeed Jerusalem is a City compact together and at unity within it self There Pauls desire is granted
herein I shall give thee an example though I would desire thee to remember that the advantage of meditation is rather to be felâ— then read He that can paint Spikenard or Musk or Roses in their proper colours cannot with all his Art draw their pleasant savoâ—r that is beyond the skill of his pencil Let us O my soul a little retire out of the worlds company to converse with the word of thy God I cannot but hope the malefactour hath an high esteem for that Psalm of mercy without which he had lost his life I have reason to believe that thou hast no mean value for that Gospel of grace and the graece of that Gospel without which thou hadst lost thy soul thy God thy joy thy delight thine all and that for ever yet sure I am the price thou sets on it is far inferiour to the worth of this Pearl and besides I have observed of late wheâ—her partly because of its constancy with thee things common though never so necessary and excellent being less valued then meaner things that are rare or cheifly because of thy old seeming friend or rather real enemy thy flesh within thee that never speaks well of it because of its contrariety to the word from which it hath received its deaths-wound and therefore would die as the Thies on the Cross spitting out its venome and malice at it or what ever be the cause I perceive too much thou beginnest to decline in thy respect to it what else doth thy backwardness to read it thy carelesness in minding what thou dost read and thy neglegence in practicing it signifie Therefore let us take a turn or two together and argue the case lest it be argued against thee in an higher Court to thy cost and I charge thee before the dreadful God at whose judgement seat thou art to stand or fall for ever that thou attend to me seriously and not dare to give me the slip till the whole be debated for it is not a vain thing but iâ— for thy life What is this Word which thou art so prone to despise Consider it O my soul First in its Causes and then tell me whether the child be not worthy of love and esteem in the superlative degree for his parents sake 1. It s Principal Efficient cause is the glorious and supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth the Spring and Fountain of all excellency and perfection All Scripture is given by inspiration of God It s the Word of the Lord the Breath of his Mouth the Law of his Lips whoever were the Pens or Scribes his Mind indicted and his Hand wrot every sentence in it What a word must that be which is the result of infiniteâ— wisdom How precious are those Tables which are the writing of God himself How glorious is that beam of light which was darted from this Sun to whom a whole Firmament of Suns were worse then perfect darkness If the breath of a man be so sweet that his doctrine drop as the rain and his speech distil as the dew If the heart of a man can indict a good matter and his tongue resemble the pen of a ready writer O what is the speech of the tongue of a God! Never man spake as he spake his enemies themselves being judges The Queen of Sheba came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and blessed those Servants that waited at his Table and heard his wisdom But loe O my soul A greater then Solomon is here How blessed are they that wait at his Gates and that watch at the Posts of his doors 2. The Pen-men and Scribes of it were men of choice gifts and graces Some of them were like Saul higher by the head and Shoulders then their brethren in the fear and favour of God As Moses the meekest man upon the face of the earth David the sweet singer of Israel a man after Gods own heart Solomon who excelled in wisdom all that were before him or came after him Isaiah of the Blood-Royal an Evangelical Prophet or Prophetical Evangelist whose prophesie is clean and clear and curiously garnished with all kind of Rhetorick Iohn the beloved Disciple that leaned on the bosome of Iesus Paul who was wrapt up into the third Heavens and as famous for active and passive obedience as any in the world in his days All of them were men extraordinarily inspired and assisted by the Spirit of God Not onely the notions but the very phrases and words were imprinted on them and infused into them by God himself The writings of some Naturalists have been bought at a great price and thought worthy to be presented to great Princes but the best of them though the Prophesie of the Sybills which the Heathen so highly esteemed be included is but a bundle of folly and vanity to this book Prophesie came not of old time by the will of men but Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost O how excellent must that Scripture be of which such incomparable persons were the Pen-men or Amanâ—enses and to whom the infinite wisdom of God did dictate every word 3. The matter of them is heavenly and divine the epitome of all equity and righteousness the compendium of whatsoever is fit to be beleived or practiced The Scripture is a perfect rule both for faith and manners It informeth us fully in our carriage towards God and towards men how we ought to walk in all relations and conditions it forbiddeth evil all evil in the very thoughts it commandeth good whatsoever is good in the whole course of our lives It speaketh of such things as are far above reason and yet nothing that is contrary to reason The truths delivered in it are many of them such as no humane or created capacity could have possibly invented yet such as are all agreeable to a rational understanding It would have exceeded the wisdom of an Angelâ— to have thought of such a sweet mixture of justice and mercy as is discovered in the Gospel about the redemption of fallen man It teacheth the nature and excellency of God the trinity of persons the unity of essence the immensity of all his attributes how he is infinite in his being wisdom knowledge holiness mercy and faithfulness how he is a pure act without the least passion a perfect being uncapable of any addition eternal without either beginning or ending immutable without the least alteration incomprehensible beyond all coâ—ceptions omnipresent without any circumscription It instructeth us in the person and offices and states of the blessed Redeemer how he being the Son of God was partaker of the humane nature that the Sons of men might be partakers of the divine nature How God and Man were united in one person that Man and God might be united in one Covenant How the eternal God married our natures that he might exalt his boundless grace in marrying our persons How man
for his God and that it cost him so little pains and labour to be saved When Sampson was nigh his death and should have no more opportunities to exalt his God and advantage his Church he lifted up his heart to Heaven Assist me this once that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes So Reader when thou enterest thy Chamber and art betaking thy self to thy dying bed what weighty reasons hast thou to poure out thy soul and wrastle with God for Divine strength Lord I am now come in my own apprehension to the close of my days after which I shall never more enjoy a season to glorifie thy Majesty or further my own account I am going to do a great work which I never did before nor shall ever do again I acknowledge that I have been guilty of too much slothfulness and unfaithfulness in my life and have given these Philistines that are enemies to my soul too much advantage against me and occasion to mock and deride me O assist me now this once that I may do thee and thy Church some eminent service that I may be strong in faith an example of patience humility heavenly-mindedness and charity and be the death of those uncircumcised ones my cursed corruptions and be avenged on them for all the dishonour they have done to thee though I dye with them I come now to shew wherein thou oughtest to excercise thy self to Godliness on a Dying Bed First In Commending God and his ways to others The Words of dying men are living Oracles and do not dye with them It is the unhappiness of worldlings and wicked men that when they come to dye they cannot commend the work that they have followed the wages which they have merited or the Master whom they have served but it s the priviledge of Christians that they have cause to praise the sweetness of that love which they have tasted the equity of those Laws which they have obeyed the grace and mercy and bounty and faithfulness of that Lord whom they have prayed to and delighted in and worshipped and the vastness and richness and certainty and eternity of that reward which they are going to possess The men of this earth when they are dying do often cry out and complain of the falseness and unfaithfulness of the world and the flesh how they have cozened the cheated and deceived them and of their own folly and madness in toyling and moiling and drudging night and day to please and gratifie that which now in their extremity turns them off O how should the Children of God extol their Father and his care of them and kindness to them magnifie their Redeemer and his passion for them and affection to them exalt the Word and Ways of the Lord as those which they have found by experience to be the most comfortable and gainful ways The last breath of a Saint should be spent in his Gods service Oportet Imperatorem stantem mori was Vespasians Motto Oportet Episcopum concionantem mori was holy Iewels Motto Oportet Christia num glorificantem Deum mori should be every Saints Motto Dying Iacob will speak highly of Gods providence though he bring it in as it were in a Parenthesis The God which fed me all my life long to this day Gen. 48. 15. Dying Ioseph will praise the Lords faithfulness to his promise and pawn his body for its performance I die and God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land And Joseph took an Oath of the Children of Israel saying God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones from hence Gen. 50. 24 25. Dying Moses ascribes greatness to his God tells the Israelites He is a Rock his work is perfect all his ways are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 3 4. Dying Ioshua will appeal to the consciences of his hearers whether God had not kept touch with them to the least title I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one good thing hath failed of all that the Lord our God hath spoken Josh. 23. 14. As Moses and Ioshua did sound forth the praises of their God so also when dying they did perswade and exhort the Iews to godliness Deut. 32. 23. Iosh. 23. per tot So Paul meeting with those Ephesian Elders that should see his face no more doth solemnly charge them to take heed to the Flocks over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers I remember saith Senarclaeus concerning Alphonsus Diazius his Friend and Bed-fellow when He and I were at Newburg the night before he was Murdered he prayed before he went to bed more ardently and somewhat longer then ordinary after which he spent a good part of the night in discourse concerning the Works of God and exhorting me to the practice of true piety and truly I found my self so inflamed when I heard him that I thought I heard the Spirit of God speaking to me Mr. Knox gave good advice to all his Visitors among the rest the Earl of Morton came to see him to whom he thus spake My Lord God hath given you many blessings Wisdom Riches and many great Friends and now is about to prefer you to the Government of the Realm The Earl of Mart the late Regent being newly dead In his name I charge you use these blessings better then formerly you have done Seeking first the glory of God the furtherance of the Gospel the good of his Church and Ministers Be careful of the King to procure his good and the welfare of his Realm If you do thus God will be with you and honour you if otherwise he will deprive you of all these honours and your end shall be shame and ignominy These words the Earl called to mind nine years after at the time of his Execution saying that he had sound John Knox a true Prophet Mr. â—gnatius Iordan of Exeter one famous in his generation for Godliness was observed in his sickness to take all occasions to exhort others to constancy in the truth Zeal for God and to make sure of Heaven and when the Mayor of the City sent to visit him he said to the Messenger Remember me to Mr. Mayor and tell him â—rom me that he make sure of Heaven be careful to do justice and provide for the poor We should when dying in a special manner mind this work of commending God and Godliness to our Relations They are more affected then others with our sickness and so also with our sayings Our Counsel may probably do them good when we are turned into corruption Iacob calleth his Children together to bless them David layeth a strict command on his Son Solomon And thou Solomon my Son know the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind Cyrus upon his death-bed conjures his
answerable to my peril and my danger Lord when that day and hour draweth near that I must go hence and be no more seen do thou draw near in boundless mercy to my poor soul When I must enter into the Chambers of death and make my bed in the grave save me from the paws of Satan and the power of Hell that the bottomless pit may not shut her mouth upon me and give me to triumph in that hour of tribulation as knowing that neither tribulation nor persecution nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor life nor death can seperate me from thy love which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. I Wish that when I am going to the place of silence I may speak the excellencies of my God and make his praise glorious It is the unhappiness of worldlings and wicked men that they cannot when they dye commend the principles whence they have acted nor the vain pleasures which they have minded and pursued How many of them whose lives have been nothing but a bundle of false-hood and lies when God hath called them to leave the world have spoken truth and told their Friends and Relations that sin is an evil and bitter thing that carnal pleasures are guilded poisons that the greatest and choicest of worldly comforts though they may have honey in their mouths have a sting in their tailes and what a vain empty nothing the whole creation is How often have they complained how the world hath deceived them the flesh deluded them and Devil beguiled and destroyed them It is my priviledge as well as my duty to extol my Master whom I have served to commend the sweetness of his ways the pleasantness of his worship the reasonableness of his precepts the richness of his promises and the vastness of that portion which he hath laid up for his Children when they come to age I have sometimes tasted his work and ways to be sweeter then the honey and the honey comb I have viewed by faith his reward to be vastly glorious and beyond all apprehensions excellent O why should I not diswade others from their eager pursuit of foolish fading shadows and perswade and encourage them to earnest endeavours after real substance and durable riches The sinner who hath wallowed all his life time in the mire of filth and wickedness will when he comes to dye and begins to return to his wits from his own experience of the emptiness and unprofitableness of his ungodly courses and from the convictions of his natural conscience acknowledge a sober sanctified conversation to be safest and the ways of God to be most gainful and upon these accounts advise his friends and relations to forsake and abandon the lusts of the world and flesh and to follow after holiness as they would be happy eternally And have not I much more cause to shew my abhorrency of sin and love to my Saviour and his image when I am entering into my Fathers house The sinner hath onely found at last a fleshly life to be vain and fruitless and is like to pay dear for his learning but I have known the paths of piety to be paths of pleasantness and rejoyced more in them then in all riches The sinner hath onely the dim light of nature to shew him the loathsomness of vice and the loveliness of grace but I have the holy Spirit of my God to enlighten my mind in the knowledge of both The sinner hath only a carnal love to his Neighbours and Kindred he knoweth not what it is to love them in Christ and for Christ I have some knowledge of the love and Law of Christ of the worth of their souls of the price paid for them by the Lord Iesus and their unchangeable conditions in the other world O that my language to them might be somewhat answerable to the love of Christ to me Lord It is unrighteousness to die in debt to man and not to endeavour to make them satisfaction according to my power I am sure to dye in thy debt for I am less then the least of all thy mercies and unable to requite thee for the smallest of thy favours It is my comfort that all the recompence thou expectest is a thankful acknowledgement and hearty acceptance of thy grace and good will O what injustice and ingratitude were I guilty of should I deny thee so small a request Be pleased to help thy servant in his last hours both to accept unfeignedly of thy grace for his own good and to acknowledge thy good will and bounty and faithfulness to thy glory for the good of others I Wish that my lost breath may be drawn Heaven-ward I mean that I may enter praying into the house of blessing and praise I am no Christian if I do not give my self to prayer whilst I live It is one choice piece of my spiritual Armour whereby I have often assaulted and conquered my soul-enemies It is the Ambassadour which I have many a time sent to the heavenly Court that always received a favourable Audience and obtained his errand It is the Vessel which hath brought me food from far and ever returned richly laden if it were not my own fault It is the element in which I live the aliment by which I subsist the pulse the breath of my soul without which it must needs dye On my death-bed I have as much need of its succour as at any season My adversaries will then imploy their greatest power and policy to rout and ruine me I am but weak flesh and blood altogether unable to combat with Principalities and Powers and how can I expect supplies from the Lord of Hosts unless I send this Messenger to intreat it My wants and weaknesses at such a time will be more then ordinary Faith must then be acted in spight of all the frights and fears which a malicious Devil and an unbeleiving heart from the number and nature of my sins the strictness of the law and the justice of God may put me to Repentance must then be exercised and my sins lye nearer my heart then my sharpest diseases In patience I must possess my soul under all the pains and pressures which the wise God shall lay upon me I must then chearfully submit to the divine pleasure and by my willingness to leave all the world to go to Christ shew that I hate Father Mother Wife Child House Lands Life and all for Christ. Those graces and many other must be put forth at suâ—h a time none of which I can do by my own power and therefore have abundant cause to fetch help from Heaven by prayer Besides the distempers of my body will discompose my soul and unfit it in a great measure for all holy service Again my Benefactors my near Friends and Relations the poor afflicted Church of God do all call aloud to me to pray for them as the last kindness I shall ever do for them I profess