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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	believe_v	faith_n	word_n	3,386	5	4.6780	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91363	A little cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly varieties, and soul-reviving influences. Wherein there is a remedy for every malady, viz. milk for babes, and meat for strong men, and the ready way for both to obtain and retain assurance of salvation: being an abridgement of the sum and substance of the true Christian religion; wherein the cause of our salvation, the way, the guide, the rule, the evidence, the seals, &c. and the connection of these points together, and dependancy of them one upon another: this I have endeavoured to do orderly, exactly, methodically, with much plainness and clearness. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1657 (1657)	Wing P4237; Thomason E1575_1; ESTC R209217	254,040	517

uncertain he that understands not the true nature and doctrine of Justification cannot enjoy true stable and constant peace but remains unstable apt to be led away with every wind of Doctrine in the right understanding of this point is treasured up a fountain of soul-reviving consolation Surely by what hath been said it doth most plainly appear that a Christians happiness depends not upon his own doings but on Christ who is of God made unto us Righteousness Sanctification c. who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace See 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Heb. 13. 8. Sanctification admits of degrees Justification neither of Rules nor degrees when we cannot apprehend God in a way of Sanctification yet we are then comprehended of God though our actual righteousness be but as menstruous rags and often fail us yet then even then we have the righteousness of Christ presented to us Isa 45. 24. Surely shall one say in the Lord have I righteousness and strength their righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isa 54. 17. And this Righteousness as it is ours by imputation so it is perfect and endureth for ever and is the foundation of all blessedness therefore let us rest satisfied with Christs righteousness and add nothing to it let our hearts say with David Psalm 71. 15 16 19 24. I will make mention of thy righteousness even of thine only and wait upon him in Faith prayer and patience who hath promised that he will be as a dew to Israel and that he shall grow as a Lilly and cast forth his fruit as Lebanon Hosea 14. 6 7. Of Faith the quality object acts seat subject inseparable concomitants and degrees of Justifying Faith the difficulty of believing and the faculty of mistaking about it FAith gives courage and confidence in greatest difficulties and dangers but unbelief raiseth fear where no fear is Psalm 23. 4. Believing is the ready way the safest way the sweetest way the shortest way the only way to a well-grounded assurance now Faith is An habitual frame or a believing disposition of heart whereby man is inclinable to believe whatsoever God hath said in his word Or It is a grace of God whereby the heart and will of a sensible sinner doth take and embrace Jesus Christ as tendred in the Gospel in his person and offices and doth wholly and only rest upon him for pardon of sin and for eternal life Gods eternal decree is the original cause of it Acts 13. 48. The instrumental cause of it is the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. The immediate and singular cause of it is the Spirit of God Gal. 5. 22. That the will or heart of a man should be brought off from it self and to abhor its own condition and sufficiency and to take Christ as God tenders him to be the only rock upon which a man must build his salvation and to be the only Lord to whose Law and will we must resign up our whole soul this ariseth not from natural causes or mans own free will Of the Object of Faith NOW the object of Justifying Faith is the whole Trinity God the Father the ultimate object God the Son the immediate as he is joyntly one with the Father in justifying a sinner John 14. 1. ye believe in God believe also in me now whole Christ is the object of Faith Christ you know is God and man and he is to be considered as a Priest as a Prophet and as a King now God tenders him in all these to sinners and Christ is willing to bestow himself on them as one who can and will assuredly save all that come to him but saith Christ if you would have me to be your Priest to save you you must also be willing to have me to be your Prophet to instruct you and direct you and to be your King and Lord to command you you must resign up your selves to my Scepter and Government for I am a Lord as well as a Saviour and I will be taken as both or else you shall have part in neither I will be taken as Lord and King to command all the heart to dispose all the waies to rule the very thoughts Of the subject of this Faith THE subject of this Faith is a sensible sinner there are two sorts of sinners 1. Some generally corrupted both in their natures and in their lives and they are as unsensible as they are sinful they know not their own vileness these are not the subjects of this precious Faith 2. There are sensible experienced sinners who loath themselves and groan under the burden of their sins I must confess there are several degrees of this sensibleness neither dare I to assume the height and latitude of it unto the terms or horrour and terrour and dejections before he can believe in Christ no though these sharp throws are manifest in some yet let us not make them a rule for all but this be sure that the heart looks not towards Christ until it feel it self to be sinful and lost then and not till then the soul looks out and enquires after a Saviour and anon he finds it written that Christ ●ame not to call the righteous but sinners and that Christ was sent to find that which was lost and that the whole need not a Physitian but the sick and that he is sent to preach liberty to the Captives Of the Seat of Faith THE seat or habitation of Faith is the heart or will or both Rom. 10. 10. with the heart man believeth unto righteousness Acts 8 37. and Philip said if thou believest with all thy heart thou mayst now before Faith takes up his seat in the heart or in order to it 1. There is a looking to Jesus John 19. 37. 2. There is a coming to him Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. 3. There is a leaning upon him Cant. 8. 5. 4. There is an embracing of him Cant. 2. 6. 5. There is a taking hold of him John 1. 12. Col. 2. 6. 6. There is a believing in him and that with the heart and there is the seat of Faith Of the ground of Faith THE ground of believing is the word of God the Scriptures of truth he that doth say he doth believe in God having no Scripture ground he doth deceive himself the ground of Faith is without our selves not a light in us or any thing done by us the ground of Faith is God in his word doth offer us Christ and Christ cals us unto him and saith he will in no wise cast us off but if we believe in him we shall have eternal life now this is a word of truth and this word of his is worthy of all acceptation and whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope John 20. 31. But these things are written that we might

believe and that believing we might have life through his name 1. The Scriptures of truth are the ground of Faith as they do give a man sufficient ground and warrant to believe whatsoever is contained in them this was the ground of Abrahams faith and of Davids faith remember the word upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. 2. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a sure word as we are not to believe any thing that is not contained in Scripture so we need not doubt of any thing that is promised in them they are the faithful sayings of God 3. The Scriptures are the ground of Faith as it is a touchstone to try all doctrines by Isa 8. 20. John 5. 39. 4. They may be said to be the ground of Faith as they hold forth all things necessary to salvation and all things necessary to be believed Again they may be said to be the ground of Faith because in them the Lord doth command us to believe 1 Joh. 3. 23. Joh. 6. 29. Again in the Scriptures there are many solemn invitations to poor sensible sinners to come and take milk and wine and the water of life freely And many precious promises to those that do come with many examples left upon record how well those have sped that did come all these are grounds and encouragements to believe The Springs of Faith how God doth beget it in an unbeliever THere is no natural power in man to produce a cause within its self this great grace of Faith is no fruit of the wisdom of the flesh nor is it the birth of a corrupt will The immediate and sole cause of Faith is the Spirit of God He it is who is greater then the heart who can perswade and draw the heart and change and renew the Spirit There be means appointed by God which he doth ordnarily bless for the production of faith as he hath ordained means for the revelation of Christ so he hath sanctified means to lead the soul unto him to implant Faith 1. God lets the soul see that it is the command of God that he should believe and that faith is the gift of God without which we can do nothing acceptably it is through grace that men believe yet men are to use the means now the great and ordinary means by which God works faith in the hearts of men it is the preaching of the word See Act. 13. 48. When the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as were ordained to life believed Rom. 10. 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Ephes 1. 13. In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation 2. The preaching of the word doth discover to the soul its extream misery and great need of Christ and makes him say men and brethren what shall I do to be saved 3. It is that which casteth down all the reasonings arguments and disputes of the mind against the conditions of Christ and renders all the terms of Christ upon which he will be taken as most equal fair and resonable 4. It is that which clears the way for the soul against all its fears and unbelieving doubts it layes before the sinner the freeness of Gods mercy the fulness of Christs Redemption the willingness on Christs part to accept of him 5. It is that sets the soul in a patient expectation to lie at the Pool for ever to attend the assemblies of the Saints and to enquire in his Temple till the soul can take a close with Christ by true believing 6 Means to get faith take one promise and charge that upon the heart and if the heart be stubborn and will not yeild then take another if that will not do then take another and lay that home upon the heart and never leave this work till you have gotten some smal measure of Faith 7. Make as much conscience of those commands that require you to believe as you do of those commands that do require you to hear read and meditate and pray Lastly consider for thy encouragement that blessed text Psalm 147. 11. The Lord taketh pleasure in those that hope in his Mercy See Psalm 33. 18. The Impediments Lets and Hinderances of Faith AS the Eunuch said to Philip here is water what hinders me that I may not be baptized so may I say to my self and others here in the Gospel is Christ set out to the life here are arguments fair enough to draw on our souls to Christ what hinders that we do not believe and receive Christ The first impediment to the getting of Faith is gross ignorance whatsoever is contrary to knowledge the same is contrary to Faith the soul must have light for all its motions for the eye to see and the understanding to perceive and for the heart to embrace those ignorances that is a hindrance to faith fals in these three parts 1. They are ignorant of their own sinful condition 2. They are ignorant of Gods just disposition towards them 3. They are ignorant of Christ and all his excellencies what he is God or man or both they know not him in both his natures neither in his Offices Actions Passion Benefits Vertues they understand not how God hath manifested love in Christ to what end he was made man what is in him more then in any other Alas they think not of these things Now how is it possible for the soul to believe or to be perswaded to believe in Christ or to labour for this precious faith which is a stranger to it self to God to Christ 2. A second impediment of Faith is a vain confidence of natural righteousness this was it which kept off many of the Pharisees the text saith that they trusted to their own righteousness they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own rigteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God Rom. 10. 3 6. 3. A third impediment of faith is the honour of the world how can you believe saith Christ which receive honour one from another John 5. 44. again Mat. 19. 22. He went away sorrowful without faith for he had great earthly possessions John 7. 48. Have any of the Pharisees believed on him Motives to believe or divers Arguments from Jesus Christ himself to perswade us to believe 1. OUR Lord Christ doth lay his command upon us John 14. 1. ye believe in God believe also in me John 6. 29. this is the work of God that ye believe on him whom he hath sent 1 John 3. 23. this is his Commandment that we believe on the name of the Son of God even Jesus Christ 2. The second motive is or may be thus consider that Christ plainly saith that he that will not believe shall be damned John 3. 18 36. Excellency prevails much with an ingenious nature and necessity with the worst

our selves to be justified from our sins by faith in the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 6. Our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of Christ 1 Joh. 5. 3. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments so again Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my commandments See the 21. and 23. ver 7. In our obedience to him he doth manifest these things to us that we have right to the tree of life Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the City that is in the obedience he shall have the manifestation of that 2 Pet. 1. 11. For so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And so he is manifested to be the Author of salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5. 9. Behold obedience to God is the way of conveyance to us so it is a lively evidence to others that we are the Lords Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples because our faith which is the evidence of things not seen to us is proved to others to be true by its works Jam. 2. 18. Behold here is the Lords going downward from the causes to the effects now we must go upward from the effects to the causes 1. God shews us what is our duty and puts us upon doing it and for the doing of it those that behold it and hear of us judge us to be true Christians 2. In the doing of it God manifests himself more and more to our souls in the keeping of his appointments there is great reward for so an entrance is administred to us abundantly 2 Pet. 1. 11. 3. The cause of our obedience is our love to God If ye love me keep my commandments 4. The cause of our love was our seeing that God did love us first 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. 5. The cause of our faith in Christ is the preaching of the Gospel Rom. 10. 17. 6. The cause of the preaching the Gospel to us was Christs dying for us 7. The cause of Christs dying for us was Gods great love of pitty to us-wards even when we were dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 4. So then Gods love was the cause of sending his son o deye for our sins Christs dying and rising again is the cause of the Gospe●s being preached The preaching of the Gospel is the cause of our believing Our believing is the cause of our justification from sin the knowing of our selves free from sin by the blood of Christ is the cause of our love to Christ our love to Christ is the cause of our obeying of him and in onr obedience is the manifestation more and more conveyed to us So by our obedience others have some evidence of our faith in Christ Mans life is or should be guided by these vertues 1. FAith whereby we believe in and lay hold on God for something promised 2. Hope and that is either for pardoning mercy or for glory 3. Charity whereby we love God as the only good and his people and our enemies in obedience to his command 4. Prudence 1. In our hearts to guide our thoughts 2. In our mouths to order our speeches 3. It should be in our words to grace or adorn our actions 4. In the intelligence to understand things present 5. Prudence to guess at things to come 6. Prudence to recal matters past 5. Temperance which moderates our desires and brings the Appetite under a rule of reason that it may not exceed the rule of moderation 6. Perseverance which continueth in doing and suffering valiantly 7. Justice which giveth every man his due without self-love fear or ranckor it binds us to give due to God to our parents and kindred verity and equity in all that we do in order to our duty herein 1. Sense perceiveth 2. Imagination representeth 3. Understanding formeth 4. Wit deviseth 5. Reason judgeth 6. Memory preserveth 7. Intelligence apprehendeth 8. Contemplation in the prosecution perfecteth Several Divine Sentences First of Christ HE that was the Son of of God became the son of man that we who were the sons of men might become the sons of God He was made sin for us that knew no sin that we might be made the right●ousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. The more vile Christ made himself for us the more dear he ought to be unto us therefore let us beware of Christ-dishonouring and soul-undoing opinions All good things are in Christ eminently perfectly and eternally Faith in the blood of Christ the witness of the Spirit of Christ a sense of feeling and the love of Christ and the hope of reigning with Christ are the only things to be desired Christ is as well the fountain of common gifts as of saving grace A true Christian cannot find fulness in the creature nor sweetness in sin nor life in any Ordinance without Christ he will weep over other mens weaknesses and rejoyce at their graces We must lean more upon Christ and less upon our own strength lest with Peter we rest upon some old strength and fall before a new temptation Christ can heal a soul speedily perfectly freely and eternally Oh that Christ should shed his blood for those sins that we never shed one tear for A true Christian doth labour for unity in the Church as well as purity he loves to see Christs coat without rent as well as without spot Phil. 3. 15. Christ did admit his spouse into the garden sweetly though she kept him out of her house sluggishly What a poor soul doth for Christ sincerely that our precious Saviour takes sweetly though it be done ill he doth accept it well Nay though we carry our selves in our choicest performances very weakly yet he doth carry himself towards us very sweetly and doth accept of that which we do kindly although done in much infirmity let us enter into his service and we shall soon experience his sweetness Christ doth weigh the heart of the giver more then the value of the gift and delights to see his people give cheerfully though they cannot give bountifully Let us give over measuring his mercy by the narrow scantling of our dark understandings though difficulties may arise and Christians hearts may fail yet the work of Christ shall go on c. Of affliction for sin in Sentences GOD is as severe in punishing as he is gracious in pardoning his house of correction is his School of instruction God had one Son without corruption but no Son without correction he had one Son without Sin but no Son without Sorrow A Soul may be dearly beloved although soarly afflicted sin and punishment are linked together if thou wilt be sinful thou must be miserable Oh what is the state of a man

not eat lest I die the devil saith ye shall not die upon this the woman did eat and gave to her husband and he did eat and thus through Satans temptations our father and mother rebelled against our God Oh father Adam what hast thou done For through it wast thou that didst sin yet thou art not fallen alone but we all that came of thee as being then in thee we are infected by thee and so are become Satans conquest out of whose hands there is no redemption unless the Lord Jesus Christ come down from heaven and lead captivity captive and open the prison doors and let the prisoners go free all Adams posterity are pertakers of his sin and misery Of Providence IF we look upon Gods providence in some few particulars only we shall wonder seeing Joseph disgraced and imprisoned David persecuted Christ arraigned and condemned Paul accounted one of the worst of men Innocent Naboth stoned true Churches as in Hesters time ready to be swallowed up Many things may fall out by Gods providence contrary to our desires that are not contrary to our good 1. Consider that God takes notice and knoweth all things 2. He upholdeth and governeth and disposeth of the world so as it pleaseth him 3. This providence reacheth to every thing so that the smallest things are governed and upheld by him 4. That of all creatures God hath most care and respect to man 5. We are to consider that the good or evil that befals a bad or good man or woman is not without but by Gods providence 6. That God doth whatsoever pleaseth him in heaven and earth 7. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means and yet he is free to work without above and against them as he pleaseth 8. As the providence of God doth reach to all creatures in all things so after a more speciall manner he taketh care of his Church and people and disposeth all things to the good thereof God can look sowrly and chide bitterly and strike heavily even when and where he loves dearly Abraham Job Jacob and David Moses Ieremiah Ionah Ioseph Paul and many others met with many things that were contrary to their desires and endeavours that were not contrary to their good God hath a continuall care over all his creatures once made sustaining and directing them with all that belongeth to them and effectually disposeth of them all to good ends Ephes 1. 11. Rom. 11. 36. Ier. 23. 23. Col. 3. 11. Psal 139. 2. 119. 91. Of Mans recovery GOD who at first made man in his own Image and made him Lord of the creation endued him with wisdom knowledge and understanding above all other creatures and made him for so noble an end as to serve him here and reign with him hereafter man soon fell from his blessed state yet was not the love of God obliterated but more abundantly manifested in sending his dear Son to take our nature and yield obedience to his righteous law make satisfaction for our transgression and to bring in an everlasting righteousness and to make proclamation to us that his Father so loved the world that he gave him his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should have everlasting life Iohn 3. 16. And whosoever did come to him should in no wise be cast off Iohn 6. 37. Adams righteousness from which he fell was but a righteousness of the creature but the righteousness of Christ is the righteousness of the Creator Adams righteousness was a mutable righteousness that might be lost a righteousness that might be sinned away but the righteousness of Christ is an everlasting righteousness that cannot be sinned away Prov. 8. 18. Dan. 9. 24. Psal 119. 142. Of Vocation or effectuall calling VOcation is Gods acquainting men with his gracious purpose of salvation by Christ and so inviteth them to come unto him Heb. 2. 14. and so revealeth unto them his Covenant of grace Mat. 11. 27. 16. 17. John 14. 21. Psal 25. 14. and so bringeth them out of darkness to light Acts 26. 18. So God becomes in Christ their Father he doth not only outwardly by his word invite but inwardly also and powerfully by his spirit allure and win their hearts to cleave to him inseparably unto salvation Psal 25. 14. 65. 4. Acts 2. 39. Or effectuall calling is the work of Gods spirit in us whereby he doth first convince us of our sins and misery enlightning our minds in the knowledge of Christ and renewing our wills he doth perswade and invite us to embrace Jesus Christ freely tendred to us We read that many were called to the wedding but they made their excuses and most of those that came were compelled to come in Luke 12. 23. the Lord doth force none by violence but draw them by perswasions The Gospel cals many outwardly that after perish eternally Our vocation depends upon Gods election not upon our preparations how was Paul disposed and affected when Christ called him God is for us in predestinating us God is for us in calling us God is for us in justifying us God is for us in glorifying us if God be thus for us who can be against us he hath predestinated us before we were he hath called us when we were averse to him he hath justified us when we were sinners he will glorifie us and cloath us with his own righteousness That we may be neither drawn enticed or forced from our Religion let us build upon a right foundation IT is impossible that any soul should enjoy a firm and setled peace whose confidence towards God is grounded upon conditionall promises or his own best and choicest performances For the wanting in himself the condition of the one and not yeilding a perfect exact universall perpetuall obedience to the other the Law will be condemning Conscience accusing and the heart misgiving and all proclaiming that there is still in all thy duties imperfection something polluted and something defective so that thy most spirituall duties are not wound up to command they are all tainted with disproportion to rule and beleprosed with spots so that it is in vain to expect a bed of rest in the barren wilderness of our own performances for that bed is shorter then that a man can stretch himself on it and the covering is narrower then that a man can wrap himself in it Oh the spots the blots the blemishes that are to be seen upon the face of our fairest duties so that we may say with the Church Isa 64. 6. all our righteousness are as filthy rags which if rested upon will as certainly undo us and everlastingly destroy us as the greatest evill that can be committed by us the consideration of this was the cause of those words Hos 14. 3. Neither will we say any more to the works of our hands ye are our gods For in thee the fatherless find mercy Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the Hills and from the

with his lips Psalm 106. 33. and so his meekness was tryed to the highest Again to instance one more for all if Paul have a greater revelation then the other Apostles he must have a thorn in the flesh even the messenger of Satan to buffet him so the woman Mat. 15. 22. to the 28. She had a strong faith that Christ was able to help her daughter and the mercy she desired was but external to wit crums now Christ did try the truth and strength of this faith in a threefold seeming denyal but in all tryals the Lord doth proportion them according to the strength of those that he doth afflict See 1 Cor. 10. 13. The Lords people have divers corruptions and so do need divers corrections How to know what sin God aims at in affliction THE Lord saith in his word hear the voice of the rod Micah 6. 9. which if we did heedfully observe we might find out the sin that God ayms at in the affliction 1. When we find in Scripture that such and such a punishment is denounced against such and such a sin we may find by the effect the proper cause pride with dejection and contempt whoredom with barrenness idleness with poverty worldly sorrow with death 2. Consider if thou wouldst find out the sin God afflicts thee for consider God doth punish thee by way of retaliation like for like as when we have dishonored God he doth cast dishonour upon us and having wronged our inferiours our superiors wrong us or if we lavish our tongues against others we are paid home with the scourge of tongues thus David was justly dealt with 2 Sam. 12 10 11. 3. When we are taken in the very act of sinning so Jon. 1. 12. flying was followed with a tempest and the I sraelites murmuring for flesh were punished by God whilst it was between their teeth Numb 11. 33. 4. When our sin in its own nature bringeth forth such a punishment so a lazy Christian doth always want four things comfort and content confidence and assurance Idleness in natural things brings forth beggery and want drunkenness begets dropsies and surreits so the sin of uncleanness brings forth weakness and filthy diseases so immoderate carking is attended with consumptions 5. If thou wouldst know the sin that brought these afflictions on thee observe what thy conscience doth most check thee for Josephs brethren in their troubles calls to mind their cruelty to their troubles calls to mind their cruelty to their brother Joseph which was indeed the cause of their cross Gen. 42. 21. When a man may be said to suffer for well-dong and when for evil doing FIrst for well-doing 1. That man that doth suffer for well-doing in the account of God according to his word his person must be holy he or she must be in the main godly 2. The cause that they suffer for must be good it must be for righteousness sake viz. either for his believing in Christ pleading for him or practizing of his commandments and so his affliction will be better then the prosperity of the wicked Psalm 37. 15. They shall have more comfort in scantness obscurity then wicked men have in plenty credit and great felicity 2 Cor. 4. 8 9. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed we are perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed 3. He that doth suffer for well-doing he must suffer in a right manner first humbly secondly patiently and meekly thirdly cheerfully fourthly he that doth suffer for Christ must have good ends c. 1. He must suffer humbly we read of Christ whose footsteps we ought to follow that he was led as a lamb to the slaughter he opened not his mouth 2. As he did suffer humbly so he did suffer patiently 3. He did suffer cheerfully 4. He did not revile again when he was reviled when he was threatned he did not threaten again 4. He that doth suffer for Christ must have good ends in his suffering viz. 1. To bare witness to some truth of Christ contained in the Scriptures 2. To bare witness for the name and glory of God 1 Pet. 4. 13. But when a man doth that which is evil and doth suffer for it this is not thank-worthy with God See these Scriptures 1 Pet. 2. 20. 1 Pet. 4. 15 19. Many men that suffer and glory therein suffer only for their faults and are in no wise acceptable to God The Lord is many times better then his word never worse THE Lord promised to Israel only the Land of Canaan but besides that he gave them two better Kingdoms Numb 32. 33. Solomon did only pray for wisdom and the Lord gave him more wisdom then he asked and riches and honour to boot 1 King 3. 11 12. Jacob told the Lord that if he would give him raiment to put on and bread to eat God should be his God and the Lord gave him that and ten times more Gon 28. 19. compared with Gen. 32. 10 For with my staff I passed ●ver this Jordan and now I am become two bands Gen. 33. 4 5 6. So again 1 Sam. 1. Hannah begged a son and the Lord gave her a Son and a Prophet too she desired a single mercy and the Lord gave her a double mercy Gen. 17. Abraham and said O that Ishmael might live before thee the Lord granted that and gave him an Isaac to boot ver 19. Mat. 15. 22. to the 28. The woman of Canaan did only beg of Christ the life of her daughter and Christ gave her that and said moreover be it unto thee even as thou wilt Again we read Ephes 3. 20. That he is able to do exceedingly above all that we can ask or think these words are so full that they can hardly be exprest So again sometimes we only ask temporal mercies and he gives us both temporal and spiritual mercies Sometimes a soul doth beg only support under temptations and the Lord doth give that and more to wit a deliverance out of temptation So again we find Mat. 18. 23. to the 27. That the Lord gave him more then he desired he desired but dayes of paiment and the Lord forgave him the whole debt So again Act. 3. 2 3. The cripple did only ask of Peter and John an alms and they gave him a mercy more worth to him then the whole world they cured him of his lameness Mercies and deliverances are many times nearest to us when we think they be furthest off WE read Act. 27. 20. When all hopes of being saved was taken away then Paul stood up and told them from the Lord that there should not be so much as the loss of any mans life amongst them So Luk 24. 15. When two of the Disciples were walking together and were sad about the death of Christ Christ risen from the dead talked with them and they knew it not Gen. 21. 16. to the 19. we read that Hagar was weeping for her son

who was dying for want of water and there was a well of water by her and she did not know it till the Lord opened her eyes Joh. 20. 11. Mary stood at the sepulcher weeping for the absence of Christ and Christ stood by her and talked to her before she knew it Again we read Gen. 44. 45. chap. that Josephs brethren were taken prisoners and they rent their cloaths saying how shall we clear our selves and Joseph their brother stood by them and they knew it not even then when they were trembling and terrified at his presence in a word the Lord doth many times bring about a swifter a fuller and more universal help and deliverance then heart could imagine See Zach. 14. 6 7. But at Even tide it shall be light So that we may all conclude with David Psal 77. 19. Thy way is in the sea and thy paths in the deep waters and thy footsteps are not known The Lord doth many times hand forth his mercies to us by the rule of contraries GOD promised to Abraham a son and that his seed should be as the stars of heaven and the Lord made good this by the rule of contraries there was fourteen years between Gods making the promise and giving him a son and he was about one hundred years old before he had a son and Sarahs womb was barren and after this son was born God calleth upon Abraham to offer him up yet notwithstanding all this the Lord made good his promise and Abraham staggered not at the promise of God Rom. 4. 20 21. Again we find Exod. 14. when the children of Israel were in the greatest streight and at the furthest distance from all humane helps not knowing what to do then even then the Lord delivered them Luke 21. 28. When ye see these things come to pass then lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh one would have thought ruin was nigh to see such things come to pass John 9. 15. Christ put clay upon the blind mans eyes one would think clay should have made him more blind Hest 3. 12 13. All the Jews were designed for death Hest 8. 9 10 11 12. This design contrary to all expectation was discovered and revoked and the Jews preserved by the rule of contraries so Joseph had a promise by way of vision to be made a great man but contrary to this he was sold into Egypt and there cast into prison yet at last he got the mercy we might instance in Job and many others but this may suffice to prove this truth that God doth oft times hand forth his mercies to us by the rule of contraries c. This would be of great use to Christians if more considered The Lord doth not despise the day of small things WE read Zach. 4. 10. That the Lord doth not despise the day of small things and it was but a day of small things for Nicodemus to come to Christ by night and yet he was received and embraced one would have thought that if Christ would have dispised any he would have despised him who was so weak as being either afraid or ashamed or both to own Christ in the day and so he cometh to him by night one would have thought Christ would have said to him Nicodemus is thy desire after me so weak and faint that thou dost fear to come to me in the day or am I so unworthy as not to be owned but out of sight hast thou either so low an esteem of me or bearest thou so little love to me go return as thou camest I will not accept thee in the dark who wouldst not acknowledge me in the light no no Christ hath not one sillable of this but he entertains him imbraces him and instructs him c. It was but a day of small things with that woman Mat. 9. 21. That had spent all and grew worse and worse and knew not whither to go then she resolves to go to Christ It was but a day of small things with that man that came to Christ Mar. 9. 22. saying if thou canst do any thing help us he doubted whether Christ could help yea or no It was but a day of small things with the Prodigal Luke 15. to say when he knew not whither to go I will arise and go to my father yet he was received embraced welcomed and honoured well may we say as in Mat. 12. 20. A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench So again it was but a day of small things with David to have thoughts to build an house unto the Lord yet that was accepted as fully as if it had been done Again we read Isa 40. 11. He will gather his lambs with his arms and he will carry them and that in his bosom It is true he doth carry our sins on his back and hath received all the lashes due to us for them ask blind Bartimeus and he will tell you that Christ doth not despise the day of small things he did but ask for mercy and presently received the mercy Mar. 10. 46 47 48. So it is but a day of small things with us in respect of our faith love knowledge and power over our corruptions hope patience and self-denyal yet who hath despised the day of small things Zach. 4. 10. The order of causes how God comes downward from the causes to the effects and how we must go upward from the effects to the causes IT will make much for our information and consolation to consider what order and method the Lord doth take to unvail his love to man and what order and method man should take to apprehend and enjoy this love viz. God goes downward from the causes to the effects and we must go upward from the effects to the causes the web that God hath weaved we must unweave he goes from election downward we must go from regeneration upward thus shall God and we meet in the middle way we must prove our selves to be called and he will acknowledge us to be elected consider and weigh these ensuing things 1. The cause of salvation is Gods love 2. The way is Jesus Christ 3. The guide is the Holy-Ghost 4. The rule for our footsteps is the Scriptures 5. Faith is the evidence 6. Hope is the Anchor of the soul and Baptism and the Lords Supper are the seals 1. Gods love to sinners was the cause of sending his son to dye for them Job 3. 16. Rom. 5. 6 8. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Tit. 3. 4 5. 2. Christs dying for our sins and rising again for our justification is the cause of the Gospels being preached to sinners Mat. 28. 18 19. Mar. 16. 15 16. 1 Cor. 15. 13. 3. The Gospel being preached to sinners is the cause of their believing Rom. 10. 14 15 17. Ephes 1. 13. Act. 13. 48. 4. Mans believing is the cause of his justification from sin Act. 13. 38 39. Rom. 3. 26 28. 5. Our knowing

wind of death yea their falling began with their building Quest Whether a godly man may buy and sell eat and drink travel and discourse with an ungodly man or men Answ We find in the Scriptures that a good man is to love his enemies and to do good unto all Gal. 6. 10. The Lord doth cause the Sun to shine and the rain to fall upon them therefore beware of judging and condemning them are they proud who can tell but God may humble them are they unclean who can tell but God may cleanse them we ought to be courteous in our behaviour towards them Gen. 23. 7 12. Abraham bowed himself to the people of the Land Christ was tender hearted towards them he wept over them that were to shed his blood and we are to own and commend what there is of God in them so it is said Christ did love the young man in the Gospel for those natural parts that there were in him God is the fountain of common gifts as well as of saving grace The Lord doth make use of them to bring out of their loyns many precious men and sometimes he doth make use of them to help the woman and sometimes to awaken his people and put them upon their guard but in all our conversings with wicked men take heed to these things 1. Walk warily and circumspectly before them Phil. 2. 15. For you are in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having therefore your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles ver 15. For so is the will of God that with well doing we put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 2 Beware of envying at their prosperity because God hath prohibited that Psalm 37. 1. Consider they have their reward here in this life Prov. 24. 19. There is no reward to a wicked man in another life 3. Beware of cracking a good conscience to procure their favour as Judas did consider their favour is fickle and it is a madness to lose the favour of God to gain the favour of his enemies 4. Beware of omitting those duties that God requires of you for fear of them this is to life up man more then God Consider omission may damn a man as well as commissions and hereby we shall gratifie carnal men by omitting of good duties for fear of them and by this we shall stagger those that were coming on in the wayes of God 5. Beware of too deep a familiarity with them and that for these reasons First because they have no communion nor fellowship with God Ephes 2. 12. They are without Christ in the world and have communion with Satan 1 John 5. 19. The whole world lyeth in wickedness Again deep communion with them is very dangerous to your souls Joseph by this began to swear by the life of Pharaoh and Peter being a little in bad company how soon could he swear and lye both one after another Quest Whether recreation be lawful and if so what recreation and when to be used and how long and how oft Answ Recreation in some pleasant and harmless exercise is lawful as might appear by the testimony and practices of many good people sometimes making use of their liberty therein observing these and the like rules 1. In and by things lawful not vain as filthy or slanderous songs 1 Cor. 15. 33. Psal 69. 12. 2. Not foolish talking and unsaintlike jesting Ephes 5. 3 4 3. Not dicing carding stage-playing and fidling 4. We are not to use recreation as we do meat and drink but as wine seldom and little at a time 1 Tim. 5. 23. Then there are times in which no recreation is either lawful or expedient 1. On the Sabbath or Lords day it is altogether forbidden Isa 58. 13. 2. In the time of mourning for it becomes no body to be jolly when God is angry Isa 22. 12 13. Mat. 9. 55. 3. It must be done in a fit time as our occasions will bare that we may redeem time and not set spurs to a running horse as it were a benefit to be rid of time that is neither for our profit here Proverbs 21. 17. nor our safety hereafter Mat. 25. 30. 4. It must be made use of in a fit manner for no more then we are willing to lose 5. It must be carried on soberly not over earnestly it is dangerous for a man to give up himself too much to pleasurable things 1 Cor. 7. 31. for wisdom must be the moderator of our mirth and content Eccles 2. 3. 6. This also must be done in good company not with men of evil manners lest we bring our selves to be in danger to be partaker of their sins Quest In as few words as may be answer me to these eight things 1. Election what it is 2. The causes of it 3. The ends of it 4. The effects of it 5. The Subjects of it 7. The properties of it 8. The signs of it Answ I have spoken to Election before in its place but seeing here are more particulars then there I have spoken unto I shall answer each briefly 1. As to election what it is consider that it is a special decree of God touching the conferring of eternal salvation by Christ the Redeemer to certain men of meer mercy and good will 2. As to the causes of election it is the love of the Trinity God Almighty Father Son and Holy Ghost The manner of working peculiarly to each of them the Scripture expresly sheweth that the Father and the Son did elect us Ephes 1. 4. John 15. 16. In which we may not exclude the Holy Ghost who hath one common God-head with them 1 Joh. 5. 7. So that the cause which moved God to elect was his meer good will and nothing else as appears by these ensuing undeniable reasons 1. By the word of God he hath predestinated us according to the good pleasure of his will Ephes 1. 5. Rom. 11. 5. So then we are not elected for foreseen faith for every cause is before the effect now faith is after election Act. 13. 48. So in the next place we are not elected for any foreseen works for the Apostle doth exculde all works from being either causes of election or reprobation Rom 9. 11 12. 3. The ends of election may be reduced to these three heads 1. The glory of God and the celebration and declaration of his mercy Romans 9. 23. Ephes 1. 6. 2. The second end is that we should be ho. ly Ephes 1. 4. He did not chuse us because we were then holy but that we might be holy 3. The third end is the salvation and glory of the elect therefore they are said to be ordained to eternal life and prepared unto glory and chosen unto salvation Acts 13. 48. Rom. 9. 23. 2 Thes 2. 13. 4. The effects of election are the mediation of Christ adoption vocation saving faith justification glorification in a word Gods election is the root of all gifts of God in

love thereof they willingly parted with much of their earthly goods and possessions to lay up treasure in heaven Abraham and Sarah left their own country and possessions to look for a City whose maker and builder is God Heb. 11. 10 15 16. David preferreth one day in this place before a thousand elsewhere Psal 84. 10. Elias earnestly besought the Lord to receive his soul into his Kingdom and went willingly though in a fiery Chariot King 19. 4. Saint Paul having once seen heaven continually desi●eth to be dissolved that he might be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. Saint Peter having espyed but a glimpse of eternal glory in the mount wished that he might dwel there all the dayes of his life Mat. 17. 4. saying Master it is good for us to be here c. Christ a little before his death prayeth his Father to receive him into that excellent glory Joh. 17. 5. And the Apostle witnesseth Heb. 11. 2. that for the joy which was set before them they endured the cross and despised the shame 1 Pet. 5. 4. and when the chief Shepheard shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away c. this eternal condition admits of no change or alteration decay or consumption waste or diminution mans eternal condition admits of no comparison revocation or conclusion c. What use we may make of all these precious things 1. EXcellent arguments may be drawn to pres-Christians to a holy life 2 Pet. 3. 11. see ing then that all these things must be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness and ver 14. Wherefore seeing ye look for such things give diligence that ye may be found in him in peace It is our duty to live in a continual expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus with our loins girt and our lamps burning for blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing 2. Consider that here is a fountain opened for Christian comfort and ground for patience in all troubles that there shall be an end a Christians hope shall not be cut off if in this life only we had hope we were of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15. 19. But here lyes the comfort and patience of true Christians theywait for another world and they know it is a just thing with God to give them rest after their labours 2 Thes 1. 9. and a crown after their combate 2 Tim. 4. 8. and after their long Pilgrimage an everlasting habitation 2 Cor. 5. 1. Be patient saith the Apostle and settle your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh James 5. 8. 2 Pet. 2. 9. When they that have sown in tear shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. 3. Consider that assurance of that blessed state may be attained in this life we know faith Paul 2 Cor. 5. 1. That if our earthly house of this tabernacle be destroyed we have a building not made with hands eternal in the heavens these things saith John I have written unto you that ye may know that ye have eternal life 1 John 5. 13. I am sure saith Job 19. 25 26 27. that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet shall I see God in my flesh whom I my self shall see and mine eyes shall behold when I awake saith David I shall be satisfied with thy Image Psal 17. 15. 4. The consideration of this should provoke us to be such as may be made meet for this inheritance of the Saints in light and to endeavour to attain and retain the earnest of the Spirit whence we may be alwaies able to say we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. and to fill the soul with strong consolation against the sufferings of life and the fear of death and to work an answerable conversation that whether absent or present we may so walk as we may be accepted of him 5. The consideration of this should put us upon a patient waiting for and a longing expectation of our change which draweth on a pace and not to put that off as most do to the last year and when that is come to the last moneth of that year and then to the last week of that moneth and then to the last day of that week and then to the last hour of that day and then to the last minute of that hour and so time shall be no more and we shall not find repentance although we seek it with tears 6. Consider that the cause of our salvation and so of our glorious condition is Gods meer love and favour without any merit of ours Luke 12. 32. It is our Fathers good pleasure to give us a Kingdom Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Ephes 2. 8. By grace we are saved through faith and not of our selves it is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. everlasting life is the gift of God and though eternal life be called a reward yet it is not of merit but of mercy let this be grounded in our hearts that the Kingdom of heaven is not a stipend of servants but an inheritance of Sons which they only obtain that lay hold on his mercy Romans 5. 8. compared with 1 Tim. 6. 12. and 19. 2. Now as hath been said as the love of God is the cause of our salvation fo Jesus Christ is the way Joh. 10. 9. Joh 14. 6. 3 The holy Spirit is the guide in that way as in Joh. 16. 13. 4. The Scriptures of truth is the rule Gal. 6. 16. Isa 8. 20. 5. The evidence of this salvation is faith Heb. 11. 1. It is true the instrumental cause offering and proclaiming salvation is the Gospel but the instrumental receiving and applying it is faith and the cause sealing it inwardly to our souls is the Spirit of God the external and instrumental seals thereof are the two confirming Ordinances Baptism and the Lords Supper 6. The anchor of this salvation is hope Heb. 6. 19. 7. The effects of this salvation is love to God because he loved us first and a holy conversation if ye love me saith Christ keep my commandments and they that have believed in Christ must be careful to maintain good works which are found and required in the way to the Kingdom but they are not the cause of reigning Of the end of the world THE consequents of the last judgement is life eternal in heaven or hell and the end of the world having finished the former let me point to the latter and I have finished what I intended we read Mat. 24. 3. that Peter James John and Andrew Mark 13. 3. came to Christ and desired him to satisfie them in these three questions 1. Concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 2. Concerning