12 13. Can babes work and yet if they die in that estate they shall not misse of glory 1 Job 2. 12. It is one thing to be justified and another to be sanctified so it is one thing to live another to be borne and to worke is distinct from both there is as much difference between some of the Lords as there is betwixt willing and doing some are termed carnall 1 Cor. 3. 1. others spirituall Thou maist be begotten but not borne if in bondage and then it is not the season of growing as another season is If thou beest ignorant or in temptation thy understanding is clouded and thy heart being distempered with feare so as Job 23. 8 9. and thou art not fit to judge of thy growth is a new borne babe 1 Pet. 2. 2. fit to judge of its growth Also consider it may be thou art in Gods way and so thou doest not use his meanes or not rightly consider Psal 1. 3. with Song 4. 12. there thou shalt grow I am much tempted by Satan that I have no grace Satan tempts Christs babes to cast away their confidence which is forbidden Heb. 10. 35. therefore if Satan tell yee that yee have no faith thou maist reply if I have it not in the act to my knowledge I may have it in the grace it selfe if he say that he knows and you know you have no grace at all Reply the Devill knows not and if I should thinke so I may be deceived as fire raked up in ashes appeares not and gives neither light nor heat so corruption doth hide and obscure grace 1 Cor. 3. 1. And if I have no grace why let yee me not alone as yee doe others and as yee did me when I tooke my fill of sin then ye told me I had faith when I had none I have found yee a lyer therefore I will not hearken unto you and I am the more confident I have grace because ye tell me I have none He is a lyer and the father of it Joh. 8. 44. But suppose I have no grace there is no reason why I should despaire because every one of the Lords were once without grace in the estate of nature At that time yee were without Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel strangers c. having no hope and withouâ— God in the world but now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ Eph. 2. 12 13. which in time past were not a people but are now the people of God which had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy 1 Pet. 2. 10. Many are ordained unto eternall life which did not actually beleeve nor had any grace at all I nor any doe not know but I may be one of them also therefore I know no reason to despaire nor will despaire doe me any good it is better to use the means wait upon God trust him with my soule if mercy come I shall be happy and shall have cause to praise him There is nothing too hard for God Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane Jer. 32. 17. Mat. 8. 2. I cannot pray nor doe any thing to purpose therefore I have no grace Unbeliefe deads the heart and hinders thy living upon Christs strength It is so with thee that thou mightst see a need of Christ Joh. 15. 5. and live upon him who hath promised to be a full supply to his If God hath given thee a desire to obey him say not it is nothing because God saith it's something 2 Cor. 8. to 11. he gives this and if this be all thou hast it is accepted vers 12. and he will grant thy desire He will fulfill the desire of them that feare him he also will heare their cry and will save them Psal 119. 19. Christ will not quench the smoaking flâ—x Isai 42. When we see no fire we know there is fire by the smoake holy desires cannot be in a soule that hath no grace Psal 145. 19. Desire after grace is an act of spirituall life an act is from a faculty a faculty is from life and being a dead man cannot desire none can desire that which they beleeve not to be nor that they doe not love desires if spirituall they flow from faith love and are a part of what it desires A will to obey may be all that a beleever can find in himselfe at some time To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not for the good I would I doe not but the evill I would not that I doe Rom. 7. 18 19 20 21. Presse after obedience to God yet know our greatest holinesse cannot justifie us before God For by grace are yee saved through faith and that not of your selves c. Not of workes lest any man should boast Ephes 2. 8 9. Even the strongest of the Lords are but weake creatures and the highest perfection they can attaine unto in this life is a fight of our imperfections and a desire and endeavour to obey and to live upon Christ by faith see Phil. 2. 12 13. And was not Paul one of the most strongest beleevers see Rom. 8. 37 38 39. yet what saith he of himselfe and his words are the word of God That which I doe I allow not for what I would that I doe not but what I haâ—e that doe I To will is present with me c. Rom. 7. 14. to 25. He had no power to doe what he would yet he lived by faith in the Sonne of God Gal. 2. 20. I find no willingnesse to duties I find no relish in them so that I often omit them Unwillingnesse to duties argueth much corruption from whence omissions often flow God may have begun his work in thee although it be thus with thee it may arise from divers causes as from unbeliefe doubting of acceptance of person and dutie and it 's no wonder if such have little list to obey also eying infirmities and not Christ also with them and not exercising grace especially faith little love to Christ loving temporall things deads the heart and makes it carnall weaknesse of grace or from Gods not affording present strength sloath and ease that slayeth the soule undiscreet doing duties out of their season ignorance of the nature of duties and what God requires in some causes ignorance of the sweetnesse of spirituall duties So the soules sicknesse which hinders the soules relish of spirituall things also weaknesse of body is a great enemy to action My flesh and my heart fayles but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Psal 73. 26. he never fayles Surely I am deceived I have no grace because I am not able to subdue my passions This declares rather weaknesse of grace then otherwise and it 's certain it is not from a want of truth of grace if
no more Heb. 10. 17. So that now wee may draw neere with a true heart in full assurance of faith for he is faithfull that promised vers 22 23. Let not thy comfort depend upon thy personall Sanctification because from it there can no sure selected constant comfort flow To seek comfort from Sanctification and not from their Justification in Christ is a cause of much trouble in many a weake beleever for Sanctification hath nothing to doe with Justification nor salvation as any cause of it Also Sanctification admits of degrees but Justification admits of neither rules nor degrees and is more glorious then Sanctification our Justification depends not upon our apprehending of it nor in our receiving of it but upon the effectualnesse and merit of what our sweet Lord Jesus hath done for us Heb. 10. 14. 18 19. So that now wee may well have boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the bloud of Jesus vers 20. Justification is apprehended by faith Heb. 11. 1. Joh. 8. 56. Faith doth evidence to us our justification for the Scripture saith all that beleeve are justified Act. 13. 39. It is possible to have a full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 22. therefore faith is an unquestionable evidence and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Justification is not apprehended and when faith is hidden and doubtfull Sanctification is not evident but doubtfull and so cannot evidence to us our Justification the effects of Sanctification cause men to question their Justification therefore no effect of Sanctification can evidence to the soule its Justification and that soule that by Faith apprehends his Justification by Christ not onely knoweth it but may live upon it injoying the sweet fruit of it peace joy strength without any considering the effects of Sanctification in himselfe And seeing Christ is made Sanctification to a beleever 1 Cor. 1. 30. why may not a beleever live upon his own and say I have Sanctification in Christ which is perfect my actuall righteousnesse doth often faile me but Christs righteousnesse indures for ever Psal 111. 3. therefore I will fetch all my comfort from Christ and my Justification by him and as wee are not to conclude our Justification from any effect of Sanctification so wee are not to conclude that apprehension of Justification to be from God as shall take men off the meanes and rules of Sanctification because it is to the dishonour of God for men not to walke holily according to the word of God Tit. 2. 14. Prize and preserve the peace of thy conscience Be sure yee allow your selves in no sinne but in the power and strength of Christ to hate and abhorre with the greatest indignation all sinne and the appearance of evill it is better to dye then to sinne there is that which accompanieth sinne which strikes at a beleevers peace and comfort and will damp straiten and oppresse their comfort joy and peace in God unlesse God doth wonderfully strengthen their faith in him And such as live by faith and injoy sweet peace in him have found sin to be an enemy and a let to their faith and comfort it having often unsetled and disquieted and clouded their soules peace though indeed it ought not so to doe for we are to remember that sweet place Heb. 10. 17. Their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more This alone is able to settle a soule it being full of sweetnesse and life Doe not trouble thy selfe with any thing that may befall thee in case thou wert certaine great troubles shall befall thee be not troubled at any trouble much lesse for future trouble nor thinke not to incounter with supply a future trouble with a present strength if many and great troubles come God is alsufficient and will remove them or give strength to beare them when they come 1 Cor. 10. 13. Mind seriously those promises of God that are sutable to thy condition separate thy selfe to meditate upon them as Prov. 18. 2. hide them in thy heart as Mat. 13. 44. There is strength and sweetnesse in the promise thou maist venture thy soule upon God in his promise and live upon it thou knowest not but God may reveale his promise to thee and settle it sweetly and fully upon thy soule by his almightie power as Ephes 1. 19 20. Therefore let not Gods promises be strange to thee but feed upon them eat them Eate O friends drinke abundantly O beloved Song 5. 1. Leave not the promise untill thou beest refreshed revived raised ravished with Gods rich grace and infinite free love and thy heart inlarged with thankfulnesse and obedience unto God againe for the exceeding riches of his mercy Eph. 2. 9. His plenteous Redemption Psal 130. 7. Treasure up experiences of Gods goodnesse unto thy soule but who among you will give eare to this who will hearken and heare for the time to come Isa 42. 23. Remember the dayes of old I have considered the dayes of old and the yeares of ancient time Psal 77. 5. Thou hast been my helpe Psal 63. 7. I was brought low and he helped me see 2 Tim. 4. 17 18. Psal 89. 49. Keepe thy heart calme and quiet from all passions as feare griefe c. The still soule can best heare and know Christs voice his still voyce but where feare vexation and distempers dwell they are not aware of Christ nor themselves and commonly they that feare most have least cause as they had the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid and the Angel said unto them Feare not for behold I bring you tidings of great joy Luk. 2. 9 10. When the soule is troubled with any passion it is not at the command of faith Luk. 24. 41. the violence of their joy hindred their faith Let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Quietnesse is the stay of the soule to doe or receive Be contented with thy present estate and fill not thy head heart or hand with any more businesse then thou must needs Consider Heb. 13. 5. Take heed of the cares of this life Luk. 21. 34. 15. Trouble not thy selfe with needlesse supposed feares if thou doest thou drawest upon thy selfe reall sorrow and unnecessary discontent there be many that are possessed with bitter sorrows from supposed sufferings Order thy conversation aright To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psal 50. 23. Want of wisdome to dispose of of diligence to dispatch what necessitie requires to be done in the right time and place hath produced such inconveniences as hath unavoydably caused trouble a disquieted and an unsetled spirit Walke with God in his wayes ordinances they are for thy comfort strength joy and peace in him there is no quiet to those that worship the beast Rev. 14. 10 11. Use Gods means but live not upon ordinances but upon God in them for meanes alone are not sufficient to doe
lust Wee oft doe least good to them to whom we owe most There be many good things will decay if let alone but evill things let alone will increase Parents thinke they doe their children great good when they can make them rich and great in the world they make them the greater sinners for then they shall have little else to doe but to waste the creatures and live in excesse idlenesse lust pride and oppression Glory When we thinke wee most seeke the glory of God we too often most seeke our owne What a man trusts in he glories in and what a man glories in he trusts in and is confident of Healing God sometimes healeth corruption by not healing it Hope The Saints hope is in heaven in God The naturall mans hope is to get honour fine cloaths good cheare ease and pleasures Hearts Many mens brains deceive their hearts What the heart likes best the minde studies most Habits In acquired habits the act goeth before the habit and prepares for it but in infused habits it is contrary for as we have first the facultie of seeing before we see so we have first the infused habit before we exercise the operation of it Humilitie One may be humbled but not humble When we are content to be admonished of our faults sharply by our inferiors we have some humilitie Honour The honour of men is a very shadow a vanitie The more men desire honour the lesse they deserve the lesse they often have Hatred That sin which a childe of God loved most before conversion he hates most when he is converted Joy While we live here we have joy and griefe mixed this life nor our bodies will not admit of perfect joy Outward joyes make a great noyse but never truly heate and comfort the heart There is no sound joy in earthly things they reach not the heart but the fancy In temporall things our joy is greater then the cause in spirituall things the cause is greater then the joy Every heart seekes joy such as it is Spirituall joy opposeth carnall and carnall opposeth spirituall the more we relish heavenly the lesse we relish earthly Now joy is in the Saints when they are in heaven they shall be in joy Ignorance Ignorance is the cause of prophanenesse and all evill Devotion with ignorance breeds superstition and Idolatry and persecution Hope with ignorance causeth presumption Feare with ignorance causeth desperation Impossible things It is impossible to be conformable to Christ and to the world to please God and the world Of idlenesse An idle person is fit for nothing but sinne and temptation An idle life is much loved and entertained of most men Knowledge That knowledge that is from God subjects the soule to God That knowledge that is onely in the braine is notionall and neither subdues sinne nor Satan If we know good things wee cannot but love and affect them Love That love which is not constant is false Love is most active when it is least knowne and cannot be requited Love and labour goe together as our longing is to injoy God so is our love to him if wee greatly love the Lord wee greatly long to injoy him for as our love is to any thing so accordingly is our indeavour to injoy it Such love the way of God who hate all things that are contrary unto it and practise it when it is most despised Such things as we love we keepe with care possesse with joy and lose with griefe Live We live in that we mind and love and are made like the things we love The most seeke life in the regions of death where it is not Many in this naturall life have comforts few crosses frequent pleasures short and paines lasting Light Light causeth them that see it to follow it Libertie We are more prone to desire libertie then to know how to use it Many of the Saints abuse their libertie they have in Christ It is the greatest libertie to injoy God and to have a free heart to serve him Such as plot and plead for libertie for the flesh are very carnall Of losses There is no losse in losing for God What we lose for God shall be made up unto us in God The benefit which follows the losse of outward things is that they are never troubled with them more Motions Forced motions cannot be perpetuall Minde When our minds are not fixed they rove every where and are no where to purpose Such as mind the things above savour them and have interest in them Mirth When men are most chearfull merry they are most free and bountifull Naturall mirth ends in sadnesse and sorrow In naturall mirth when wee are most merry we are neerest to danger The mirth of the wicked is vanitie and madnesse Mercies Many possesse many mercies and yet want the comfort of them Wee injoy more mercies then we are aware of Occasions The more secret and colourable any occasion of evill is the more men are indangered by it Obedience Our obedience to God is most direct when there is nothing else to sweeten the action Of peace Men cannot give peace untill the Lord speake peace to the soule there is no peace Where there is no peace there may be quietnesse or silence Gods people are a peaceable people Passion The causes of anger and passion are ignorance and pride Promises The wicked desire promises for peace and not for strength against sinne The promises make the people of God not carelesse but more fruitfull and serviceable There were never any ashamed that rested onely upon God in his promise One promise from a man will please some men more then ten from God Of prayer There is no dutie in Religion that is so much counterfeited as the duty of prayer is Verball prayer causeth great deadnesse Some pray when they should sleepe and sleepe in prayer and pray when they should work but wisdome divides to each its proper time and season Of povertie The heires of the earth are oft pinched with povertie and Saints who are Kings lie in prison It is better to be poore and weaned from the world then rich and covetous Men are much afraid of povertie yet it never did any hurt Pride The proudest men are the weakest and most troubled with discontent Principles When that which is taken for a principle of truth is a principle of error the more it is relied on the worse it is Pleasure Such as have their eyes open see outward pleasures to be very meane things Sin is desired for the pleasure of it but there is in sinne more griefe and misery then pleasure The more carnall a heart is the more it affects naturall pleasures Sinfull pleasure ends in sorrow Quietnesse When quietnesse is in the heart there is not much disquietnesse in the tongue He can easily be at peace with men who knows he is at peace with God Reports Such as cannot with patience beare ill reports cannot live a comfortable life Such as
time and cut off needlesse expences too by time that time is sweet and precious in which the soule beholds God and glory and hath communion with him when wee consider how farre short we come of our dutie we may say with griefe and sorrow Lord what is man a very vanitie And notwithstanding wee come farre short of what we ought to doe wee are not to sit downe discouraged but to live by faith in all infirmities above infirmities beholding and enjoying thy joy and peace with God when thou art at the worst as knowing no infirmitie can lessen the love of God to those who are his yet are wee to take notice wherein wee come short with griefe looking up to him by faith for more strength to serve him better esteeming it a great priviledge to be circumspect in all our actions to God and man There be some other sever all things contained in this Treatise which I trust will be of use to some and as for the directions concerning the Scriptures they have been observed by many to be necessary to cut off many errors I have added some other things my whole aime and scope in all I have written is first to sustaine comfort and incourage the discouraged soule from sinking in despaire by reason of their many and great sinnes secondly to withdraw the soule from the life of its own hand to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation Thirdly that the soule might know and live in the assurance of the love of God which will fill the soule full of life sweetnes and joy Fourthly that the soule should obey Christ and live to his glory and suffer for him Fiftly to prevent errors and to recall such of the Lords who have through mistake fallen into them by the wiles of Satan You are not to expect vaine Philosophy nor intising words of the wisdome of man for here it is not I have desired and endeavoured to make the truth appeare by the evidence and demonstration of the holy Scriptures as that which is most safe and profitable for our soules to venture themselves upon and seeing they are to be our onely rule search the Scriptures to see whether what I have declared be so or no and I trust you shall find it true and sweet though others through mistake may call it error Now the Lord of heaven and earth enable thee and all his to looke up to him to be taught by him to enjoy him and to walke so before him that they may honour him and that their joy may be full Extoll him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah and rejoyce before him Psal 68. 4. The most mightie whose name is Jah his servant SAMUEL RICHARDSON Faults escaped in the Printing Page Line Word Read 33. 23. filled fitted 55. 3. Eph. Colos 56. 10. live leave 111. 23. Pauls parts 185. 26. shau shall 219. 3. sure faâ—re 265. 17. difference discerne 256. 26. save serve 276. 6. meanes mens consequences 315. title free grace free will 318. 12. of ours dash out 325. 12. men if men 365. 14. noyse voyce The other mistakes correct or passe by in love THE MISERABLE ESTATE of a Man by nature ISAI 44. 20. He feedeth upon ashes a deceived heart hath turned him aside that be cannot deliver his soule nor say Is there not a lie in my right hand THese words declare the dead and miserable estate of a man by nature 1. In this he is described to be one that is without knowledge and understanding for he hath shut their eyes that they cannot see and their hearts that they cannot understand vers 18 19. They are in the state of nature in the state of death as appeares vers 16 17. 2. The food he eateth is described to be ashes 3. He hath an appetite unto them he lives upon them he feedeth upon ashes 4. The end of his feeding is that he might live and deliver his soule 5. But he is mistaken he is deluded he is turned aside 6. The cause of this delusion is from his owne heart which deceives him and turnes him aside 7. Here is the strength of his delusion in that he cannot say Is there not a lye in my right hand 8. The sum of all is his soule is taken prisoner by Satan he is a captive to him and so kept by him that he cannot deliver his soule Ashes That is to say 1. groundlesse hopes 2. false conclusions 3. Idolatry 4. duties 5. ordinances 6. comforts 7. joyes 8. ravishment 9. or what else soever yee can name except Jesus Christ is ashes Jesus Christ is the true bread other things may be taken for bread and in appearance have the same colour and forme like this bread but let them seeme what they can they are no bread indeed but ashes But Christ is the true bread his flesh is meat indeed and his bloud drinke indeed He is the living bread which came downe from Heaven if any man eate of this bread he shall live for ever Joh. 6. 32. 35. 48. 51. 55. c. Feedeth upon ashes This implies he hath an expectation to injoy satisfaction from them his going to them application of them contentednesse with them declares he hath satisfaction in them and lives upon them The words opened By heart is meant the understanding and will Deceived heart mis-informed by Satan darkened Aside from Christ in whom is deliverance rest and satisfaction Turned him viz. the understanding and will hath a power to turne the soule Soule is meant the whole man a principall part being put for the whole Deliver escape the danger he is in A lye viz. that is that which will deceive me in not being unto me that I take it for that which will not be that to me I need that which will not performe that it promiseth to be to me Hand that which holds mystically the understanding c. Right hand that is most eminent for use viz. in those things which are most eminent that are of greatest concernment the soule is deceived 1. A naturall man is sensible of the want of something he needs for his soule therefore he saith Wherewith shall I come before the Lord shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves of a yeare old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of oyle Shall I give my first-borne for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sinne of my soule Micah 6. 6 7. All this is ashes 2. There is not any life or strength to be expected from ashes they are no food fit to eate as ashes naturally corrupts the body and destroys it so here they fill the soule with corruption and will kill and destroy the soule at last as they that have no bread must dye for hunger Luk. 15. 17. 3. The food naturall men live upon is ashes they have no better food to live upon bread they have none they know not where any
can desire Christ above all things in the world if they might have their choice unlesse Christ have their hearts and they dearly love him and beleeve in him for Christ is precious to them that beleeve 1 Pet. 2. 7. and to none else So the seat of faith is in the heart which is in the understanding and will but more principally in the will so that if our wills be renewed our hearts are renewed Rom. 8. 5 6. Paul saith To will is present with me good I would doe so then with my minde I serve the Law of God Rom. 7. 18 19. with 21. 25. it appeares that the will is one with the minde and the heart is one with them these three are one and alwayes goe together and are alike spirituall Christ saith Where your treasure is there will your heart be also Mat. 6. 21. that is the mind and affections and by affections in Eph. 3. 2. is meant the heart for the heart and affections are one thing There be them that beleeve and yet they know not whether they beleeve or no so that it is possible for them to call their faith unbeliefe as the blind man did Mark 9. 24. Lord help my unbeliefe which must not be understood of unbeliefe for it is not a lawfull request to pray that sin may be increased for unbeliefe is a sin and the ground or cause of the soules departing from God as Heb. 3. 12. Many mistake faith some have thought comfort joy or ravishments of soule with God to be faith and so have concluded because they had not them they had no faith It is not mens beleeving but the object of faith that gives faith its denomination or name for there be divers kinds of faith there is a naturall faith as Luk. 8. 13. and a divine faith or the faith of Gods Elect Titus 1. 1. Faith and its object is not to be separated because faith and its object is one and the same it is too strict therefore to give a distinction or definition of faith without its object He that beleeveth that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God shall be saved All is included in this he that beleeves this must 1. Know Christ to be the anointed Luk. 23. the Saviour of his people from their sinnes Mat. 1. 21. 2. To beleeve in Christ to rest upon him to live or stay upon the Lord Pro. 3. 5. To beleeve in him Rom. 10. 9. 11. Psal 17. 6. To cleave to God Deut. 30. 20. Joh. 23. 6. Acts 11. 23. Psal 119. 30 31. to hope in him Psal 147. 11. 3. To own and confesse Christ Simon said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the living God Mat. 16. 16. Rom. 10. 9. Any man may say that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God yea the Devils confesse this I know thee who thou art Jesus Christ the Sonne of God therefore this cannot be the faith of Gods Elect and so not the faith of the Gospel 1. There are three things to be considered in the nature of faith first illumination secondly for the soule to trust in Christ for pardon and life and the third is the application of him The first is when a man consents to the Word that it is true and this is called faith and this the Devill doth Thou beleevest there is one God thou doest well the Devill doth so James 2. Mark 5. 8. Acts 16. 17. The second is to beleeve that Jesus is the Christ which implies a seeing and knowing all to be in Christ for life and salvation and so to rest upon him for it he that thus beleeves in Christ is brought by Christ over to Christ and so centred upon him that he will never goe from him Joh. 6. 58. My soule wait thou on God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. and this no Devill never did The third is to beleeve with an application of Christ as their own in particular therefore to beleeve in Christ is more then an illumination or a saying so or reformation for where faith comes old things are done away and they are new creatures there is a light set up in that soule now they know all is by Christ and that there is no way or meanes of life but by Christ and close with Christ and rest upon him Secondly the Scriptures cleerly prove that to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel for the Word of God is the ground of faith and the soules salvation depends upon the truth of what God saith and faith looks onely to what God saith and rests upon it and sets to its seale that God is true And that so to beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God is the faith of the Gospel I prove by these Reasons 1. Because this is the faith which the Apostles preached and witnessed unto and the faith which is recorded unto us in the Scriptures Acts 18. 28. 1 Joh. 2. 22. 2. Because none can say knowingly that Jesus is the Lord but by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 3. 3. Because upon the profession of this faith Christ builds his Church Mat. 16. 16. 18. 4. Upon the profession of this faith the Baptisme of Christ is dispensed as Act. 8. 37. 5. They who have this faith dwell in God and God in them 1 Joh. 4. 15. 6. This faith flesh and bloud cannot reveale but God reveales it to the soule Mat. 16. 16 17. 7. Such are borne of God whosoever beleeves that Jesus is the Christ is borne of God 1 Joh. 5. 1. 8. This is the faith that overcommeth the world 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. 9. Because such as have this faith are pronounced blessed Mat. 16. 17. and shall never dye Joh. 11. 25 26. 10. Because he that hath this faith shall be saved If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 10. 9. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life whosoever beleeveth in me shall never dye beleevest thou this shee said unto him yea Lord I beleeve that thou art the Christ the Sonne of God c. Joh. 11. 25 26 27. To beleeve this Record implies an assent that it is truth with a resting or hoping to have interest in it to be made one with it is faith though it be a lesser degree then a full and certain assurance of life by him for himselfe in particular see Isa 45. 21 22. Those in Mat. 5. 3 4 5. who mourne and hunger and thirst after Christ are blessed and shall be satisfied though they want the application of Christ therefore besides the illumination which wicked men and Devils may have as well as a beleever there is a two-fold act of faith the first is a direct act to beleeve Christ is in whom is life c. this is to beleeve the Record God hath given concerning his Sonne and that he
came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2. Chron. 20. 12. Look unto me and be saved Isai 45. 22. and so trust in Christ for life from a hope of mercy but this hope is without a certainty these are blessed as appeares Mat. 16. 17. Turne ye to the strong hold ye prisoners of hope Zach. 9. 12. Secondly the reflect act of faith which is to beleeve Christ came to save them from their sinnes as Mat. 1. 23. to know I beleeve he that hath this measure or degree of faith trusts in Christ from a knowledge of an interest in him we beleeve and are sure Joh. 6. 69. He that hath this act of faith hath the former but there be some which have the first act of faith but have not attained the second yet their hearts are turned unto Christ and fixed upon him and they long for him hope in him and rest upon him alone for life and salvation these have faith which causeth them to depend on Christ which none can doe but such as are possessed with Christ though at present they may not know it yet are they blessed Mat. 5. 6. and in his Name they doe trust Mat. 12. 21. The Apostle saith These things have I written unto you that beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God that yee may know that yee have eternall life and that yee may beleeve on the Name of the Sonne of God 1 Joh. 5. 13. So that these words declare they did but weakly beleeve and that they did not know that they were possessed with eternall life yet they were therefore they had not that particular knowledge or assurance of the love of God yet did beleeve in Christ Some conceive they have no grace because they never had so deep a measure of sorrow for sin as some others have c. The word of God declares that those that beleeved had not one and the same measure of sorrow the Scripture declares no sorrow in Lydia receiving the Word Act. 16. 14. but it is said that the Jaylor trembled being in feare Act. 16. 29. The word of God is to be our Rule Isa 8. 20. and not mens conceits The greatest measure of sorrow griefe feare terror for sinne that ever any had made them not to be loved of God nor to obtain mercy from God nor did sensiblenesse of sin ever drive the soule to Christ but ever from Christ as Peters sensiblenesse of his sin caused him to bid Christ to depart from him Lord depart from me for I am a sinfull man Luk. 5. 8. therefore a deep sensiblenesse of sin hinders the soule in beleeving of Christ and drives it further from Christ Thou hast no cause to complain if God deales more gently with thee then he doth with some others it's a great mistake to thinke that God delights in slavish feares or teares What is the greatest sensiblenesse of sin worth that proceeds not from faith and floweth not from the apprehension of pardon love in so evill requiting God look not to sensiblenesse of sinne but to Christ thy very sensiblenesse of sin is not free from sin and it deserves nothing but death but in Christ is life If thou wert ever fatherlesse which is for the soule to be stripped of all that none of thy workes nor means nor men nor Angels nor nothing besides Jesus Christ can stand thee in any stead nor satisfie thee being resolved to wait upon Christ untill he please to manifest his free love in pardoning thy sinnes this is the worke of God in thee yea this is a great and sweet work of the Gospel and such a work as never was in any but such as shall be saved If thou renouncest all thy own sufficiency so as thy best duties cannot satisfie thee certain it is there is a better sufficiency come in place I feare my faith is not the faith of Gods Elect because it is attended with so many doubtings Feares and doubtings are no fruits of faith but of unbeliefe and as feares and doubts increase the stronger is unbeliefe in the soule so the soule is ready to judge that where so great unbeliefe is there is no faith yet the Scriptures declare that in those who had true faith the faith of Gods Elect yet at the same time have had much unbeliefe also in them so as they have been filled with doubts and feares Joh. 13. 1. And from hence it was that he in Mark 9. 24. called his faith unbeliefe because he was sensible of his great unbeliefe and was not unbeliefe strong in Thomas when he said he would not beleeve Joh. 20. 24 25. And seeing that a child of God may have true faith notwithstanding they may also have many feares and doubtings thou knowest not but the cause may be so with thee therefore take heed that yee deny not your selves to have faith lest yee call weak faith no faith and light darknesse and grace sin for to doe so is very evill Woe unto them that call evill good and good evill that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5. 20. those that put faith for unbeliefe doe so pray to God to strengthen thy faith as he did Mark 9. 24. and use meanes to remove such things as strengthen unbeliefe and hinder the sight of thy faith as ignorance is one cause of doubting also an over-sensiblenesse of infirmities sleighting Gods meanes neglect of duty or a formall performance or nourishing sinne more or lesse pronenesse to sin harkening to Satan to sense to carnall reasonings nourishing feare and unbeliefe c. Also endeavour to doe that which is a means to strengthen thy faith know the perfection of the state of a beleever in Christ in which the weakest and most imperfect beleever is as perfect as much justified accepted and as happy as the best live upon Christ alone make choice of and mind the sutablest promises for thee to feed and strengthen thy faith walk with God pray in faith aske his Spirit and thou shalt have it Luk. 11. 23. this Spirit will revive and fill thy soule with joy and peace in beleeving and make thee so wise and strong in his time that thou shalt not cast away thy confidence any more Heb. 10. 34. And as Gods love which is perfect full free is discovered to thy soule in the same measure thy doubts and feares are cast out for perfect love casts out feare And although you are to use meanes yet meanes are but means not causes of increase of grace it 's the operation of the Spirit of God in the soule which is as God pleaseth therefore looke up to God for faith I feare my faith is but presumption I feare the ground of this is thy not knowing or not minding what faith is and what presumption is What faith is see objection 15. and concerning presumption this word may
us any good 1 Cor. 1. 21. Doe not sleight nor refuse Gods consolations let them not seeme small unto thee are the consolations of God small with thee Job 15. 11. O soule own that comfort God gives thee if it seeme small to thee it s thy own own it lest yee live to complaine saying as David did My soule refused to be comforted Psal 77. 2. and to wish yee had that yee despised be thankfull to God for what thou hast received and hold that fast and let nothing goe that may tend to thy peace rest satisfied in Christs righteousnesse and adde nothing unto it I will make mention of thy righteousnesse even of thine onely Psal 71. 15 16. 19. 24. Thy righteousnesse is an everlasting righteousnesse Psal 119. 142. see Psal 22. 31. 35. 28. 50. 6. 51. 14. Jer. 33. 16. The perfection of Christs righteousnesse is held forth unto us and doth alwayes lie before us for us that we might ever be comforted with it and rejoyce in it with thankfulnesse for it seeing it so perfect and full of divine consolation Oh here is enough to refresh and satisfie all the Lords to all eternitie so that we have enough we need no other nor no more righteousnesse Meditate on Gods goodnesse unto thee let his loving kindnesse be ever before thy eyes Wee have thought of thy loving kindnesse O God Psal 48. 9. Beleeve in God I in Christ want of faith or want in faith is the cause of trouble in the soule Yee beleeve in God beleeve also in me and let not your hearts be troubled Joh. 13. 1. Faith in Christ quiets and settles a troubled soule Thou canst not be too confident in resting upon Christ in his free grace Psal 30. 5. therefore come boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4. 16. Those who know God will trust him with their bodies and soules and that upon his word All that know thy Name will trust in thee Psal 9. 9 10. but a foole neither will nor can doe so O foole and slow of heart to beleeve Luk. 24. 25. But those who are made wise by God will trust in the word of the Lord Isa 26. 3 4. and say in his word doe I hope Psal 130. 5. When the Lord pleases to settle a soule in the assurance of his love he causeth the soule to trust in his word Remember thy word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 119. 49. God by his word conveys that to the soule which is sutable to its wants and by his power and authoritie settles it upon the soule Above all take the shield of faith Eph. 6. 16. Feare not beleeve Luk. 8. 50. Yea cleave to God in his promise even then when thou art in thy greatest feares and most sensible of thy unworthinesse trust in him at all times God is a refuge for us Selah Psal 62. 8. If at all times then at the worst times also yea even then beleeve and heare nothing against thy beleeving God in his promise Abraham beleeved against hope Rom. 4. 18. So should wee doe oh beleeve God intends thy good Christ came to seeke and to save the lost Luk. 19. 10. Lost viz. in the sight and sense of thy own sin and misery and in thy own sufficiency Improve thy doubts feares temptations against beleeving to incourage thee in beleeving for hast thou not by experience found that it is but in vaine to hearken unto any of them Consider often and well these places Rom. 16. 20. Heb. 10. 35 36 37. Rev. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 4. 19. 5. 7. And search the Scriptures Reading helpeth mens judgements memories affections confirmes our faith and fits us to answer the temptations of Satan Renounce all lying vanities hearken unto none of them First hearken not to the voyce of thy heart it is a lying vanitie it will deceive thee Pro. 3. 5 6 7. Isa 44. 20. Secondly hearken not to Satan Thirdly hearken not to sense Thomas said he would not beleeve unlesse he might see and thrust his hand into his side Joh. 20. 24 25. But this sensuall practise is to be abhorred by us for this is to consult with flesh and bloud which cannot discerne spirituall things 1 Cor. 2. 14. and is condemned by God Gal. 1. 16. So some persons will see such a holy frame of spirit in themselves and feele such a sin subdued c. before they will beleeve yet faith looks not to such things as these but onely to God in his word therefore wee must not live by sight but by faith 2 Cor. 5. 7. and blessed are they that have not seene yet have beleeved Joh. 20. 29. Fourthly hearken not to carnall reason if it be hearkened unto thou canst not beleeve nor submit to God nor be setled for doth not reason say that a Virgin cannot bring forth a childe and a woman of ninetie yeares is past conceiving a childe therefore reason saith it cannot be and so contradicteth God himselfe Gen. 17. 16 17. Mat. 1. Also can reason beleeve that by faith the walls of Jericho fell downe and that the Saints stopped the mouths of Lyons and quenched the violence of fire by faith yet faith did it Heb. 11. 30. 33 34. Or is it likely or possible to reason for a man to walke upon the Sea as Peâ—er did Mat. 14. 29. And did not Christs command seeme vaine to Peters reason that he should cast in his net into the Sea seeing he had cast it in so often and fished all night and catched nothing Luk. 5. 8. Can reason conceive how the dead who are eaten with beasts or fishes or turned into dust can be raised to life or that the Sea can be divided the Sunne goe backward or the Rockes yeeld water in abundance surely there cannot be any reason given for them And seeing sense and corrupt reason is so contrary to God in his word why should we hearken unto them when they say the soule hath no grace because sense seeth none and that God will not pardon their sinnes because there is no reason to reason why he should nor no way to reason which way it can be yet it may be for with God all things are possible Mat. 19. 26. They that hearken unto lying vanities forsake their own mercies Jonah 2. 8. 5. Live not upon duties 6. nor upon good report 7. nor upon groundlesse hopes 8. nor upon peace 9. comfort 10. joy 11. raptures 12. ravishments though they all be true or false live upon God alone and upon nothing else besides God in Christ if thou doest live upon any thing else as thy foundation is unsound so it will deceive thee and whatsoever their sparkes may be they must and shall lye downe in sorrow Isa 50. 10. Let not thy comfort depend upon Gods actings or dispensation to the inward or outward man if thou doest thou canst not be setled for they are oft changeable and coÌ„trary one to another one day
24. Sight is higher then presence To be transformed into glory We are changed into the same image from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. This shall be more full in glory Then shall wee appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. To have full communion with God Wee shall be filled with the fulnesse of God Ephes 3. 19. Union is higher then sight communion is higher then union as it flowes from it full communion is more we shall have as much as we shall desire wee shall be filled with it wee shall injoy the quintessence of all sweetnesse fulnesse goodnesse in God and shall be raised inflamed and ravished with him and be wholly taken up with admiring and praising him without any intermission or wearinesse this is our greatest good and blessednesse and the end of our being To be for ever with the Lord So shall wee be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. Eternall communion with God As it is written Eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. It transcends the utmost expectation of the most inlarged heart Wherefore comfort one another with these words vers 18. Faith beleeves the promises of glory and so lives comfortably in expectation of fruition when faith shall end in vision our eternall joyes draws on apace in the meane time lay hold on eternall life let faith beleeve it and hope expect it and patience waite for it to make this life tolerable bepatient indure all it will not be long ere glory come and continue for ever for this cause wee faint not 2 Cor. 4. He that lives by faith in glorification lives a sweet comfortable life in Christ his righteousnesse and is fruitfull sincere and content Lastly To dye by faith Which is to resigne up our soules to God beleeving death shall be a passage to glory When Christ who is my life shall appeare then shall I appeare with him in glory Col. 3. 4. These all dyed in faith Heb. 11. 13. The righteous hath hope in his death Pro. 14. 32. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them Rev. 14. 13. When I awake I shall be satisfied in thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. Why should I feare that I would not escape what hurt will it be to me to enter into glory I cannot have my happinesse unlesse I goe unto it THE SAINTS DAILY DUTY AND DESIRE The severall Branches of the Saints daily duty and desire to walke with God every day 1. WHen I awake to thinke on GOD and to be thankfull to him for rest and sleepe and preservation from sin Satan and dangers satisfying my soule with the Lord craving his strength to walke with him all the day long reverently and seriously to minde him and obey him When I awake I am still with thee Ps 139. 18. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likenesse Psal 17. 15. see Act. 11. 23. Commune with your heart upon your bed and be still Psal 4. 4. It is good to season strengthen and perfume our spirits if time will permit with some sweet thoughts of God as that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. He is not changed Here is strong consolation in this sweet meditation My meditation of him shall be sweet Psal 104. 34. It is good for me to draw neere to God Psal 73. 28. To make him the object and end of all my actions O that my understanding had a more full cleare and glorious sight of him and a more perfect inward eternall and full communion with him then should my will and affections be more satisfied and more inflamed with unwearied desires high and restlesse aspirations after fresh additions of intercourses and communion with him The sight of God to a Saint is glorious and the knowledge and often meditation of him will raise and inlarge the soule Every childe of God hath in him an earnest desire to have communion with him to injoy his blessed presence and to see his glory As the Hart panteth after the water-brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God My soule thirsteth for God when shall I come and appeare before him Psal 42. 1 2. Nor will a seldome communion satisfie them it must be frequent and full it is a contempt of God to be willing to live without him and so much he injoys God as he seriously minds him and so much as wee desire God we follow after God for desire is the soules following of God and as God draweth we follow Song 1. 4. Unlesse the Lord fix and fasten the heart upon himselfe it will be fixed on things below and wander after vanities and fill both head and heart with them he that knoweth what it is to injoy God is sensible of the want of him and thinkes he can never have enough of him his soule will faint for him because nothing lesse then God can content him Psal 119. 81 82. Jer. 14. 8. Psal 13. 1. Exod. 33. 13 14 15. 18. So the soule lives where it loves and where it loves it lives and there is nothing more active and stronger then love for love is as strong as death the coales thereof are coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Song 8. 6 7. 2. Live by faith Every day to live by faith in all estates and conditions the communion the soule hath with God is by faith in justification in sanctification in infirmities in graces in meanes using in duties and for a supply of all wants every day to live the life of faith in glorification 3. Watch heart That every day I watch my heart to keepe it continually still cleane spirituall content and that I observe warily the first and secret motions of my heart least I be unawares catched and insnared in sinne and that I doe not receive any thing without it be warranted in the word of God Keepe thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Pro. 23. 17. Thy heart is deceitfull take heed of it consider Jer. 17. 9. Heb. 3. 12. Luk. 6. 45. If wee cease to watch our hearts they quickly become vaine Consider how it was with David 2 Sam. 12. 9. and Peter Mat. 26. 72. our experience might teach us that our hearts are worse then wee tooke them to be when wee are crossed or tempted wee shew what metall wee are made of the best have cause enough to looke to themselves if one sinfull thought be admitted concerning the sweetnesse and pleasure of sinne the will is ready enough to accept the motion consent forecast the accomplishment the affections adde heat and strength the heart travels with iniquitie and in time by opportunitie sin is brought forth and delight and custome wraps a man up in sinne that he cannot get out such carelesnesse may cost
every day I be well imployed especially in my retirednesse and solitary seasons to prevent needlesse feares thoughts of the pleasures of sinne past present or to come lest such thoughts cause sinne upon supposition Experience may teach some that Satans temptations have come more frequenter and stronger when alone and that they have then sinned more freely in their imaginations oh cursed contemplation that pollutes soule body with sensuall filth Gen. 38. 9 10. and renewed guilt nor is it good for a weake beleever to affect solitarinesse Satan is more bold when thou art most solitary and his temptations then take a deeper impression 27. Watch to speake for truth c. Every day as occasion is offered that I earnestly contend for the truth Jude ver 3. own it maintaine it and those that are unjustly accused and count it a glory to be reproached and disgraced for Christ and his truth 1 Pet. 4. 14. 28. Watch to doe duties Every day to catch at all opportunities of receiving and doing good shunning evill and with constancy nourish all good and holy desires and consider what times we live in and what they afford and how I may be most usefull and fruitfull that I may finish my course with joy My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my love my faire one and come away Song 2. 10 11. Our sloth and our corrupt selfe love ease carelesnesse inconstancy unsetlednesse hindreth us more then we are aware of of going to our beloved 29. Watch against covetousnesse Every day to take heed and beware of covetousnesse and earthly mindednesse Consider Mat. 25. 14. Luk. 6. 2. Mat. 6. 25. to the end Phil. 4. 6. 1 Tim. 4. 8 9 10. Jam. 5. 1 2 3. Pro. 23. 5. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Luk. 2. 7. Mat. 8. 20. To avoyd covetousnesse meditate on such places as these Covetousnesse deceives and hurts all Jam. 5. 3. If we had riches wee cannot keep them they shall soone be taken from us or us from them Let such as thinke they cannot be happy without outward riches consider if earth be better then heaven where there is none of this thicke clay to load themselves withall Hab. 2. 6. 30. To looke for trouble Every day to expect trouble and crosses and looke upon all that befals me as appointed and ordered by God for my good in his wisdome love and mercy that so I may be thankfull for them and not fret knowing nothing can befall me without the will of God and that it is sent in love and is best for me and that God will supply with his all-sufficiency whatsoever I shall need and that I desire not freedome from trouble but a free spirit and an inlarged heart to God in it and to expresse in every trouble wisdome patience humilitie comfort willingnesse contentednesse thankfulnesse and faith in God and that I indeavour to comfort others in their trouble We should not looke to be exempted from troubles the whole course of a Saint in this life is a life of trouble and suffering yea more then other men Psal 73. 5. All our crosses c. are Christs servants they are under Christ they come and goe at his command and they are sent to doe them good and are called backe when they have done what they come for therefore be not impatient at them fret not Psal 39. 9. A Saint should be so fixed upon God that nothing below should move him so as to disquiet him for to say they cannot indure and beare such a crosse oâ— trouble is an expression as is unfit and unsutable for a Saint Phil. 4. 11. 13. Our spirit should be above and rule and over-rule things below and not be ruled by them a Saint should be under nothing beneath it selfe if we should rejoyce in trials c. inward outward temptations desertions conflicts outward troubles and death it selfe is to make us capable of a fuller injoyment and communion with God Jam. 1. 2. c. how much more should we be content and patient 1 Thes 4. 18. Lord I will beare any thing because my sinnes are forgiven me a conscience so set at libertie can with ease undergoe a great burden Bees gather honey of bitter flowers as well as sweet and cannot we doe so from bitter conditions outward bondage is not much to an inlarged and free spirit what can doe much hurt when all is well within all is light and easie to him that can deny himselfe What God takes away one way he can give it in another which will be better How ever it be yet God is good and good to me who will ever remaine so to be and be the same to me We have his promise that wee shall not want any thing that is good for us Psal 349 10. Therefore when I thinke I want I will not beleeve I want and that I have what I want when I doe not see it when I see not outward things I see God can give and I may have the comfort of them without them esteeme God above all and set him against all what God conveyd before by meanes he instilles immediately from himselfe the immediate comforts are the strongest see Joh. 16. 32. and when all forsooke Paul yet God stood by him and so it was with Christ Psal 69. 20. Saints that are poore and under abasement may be richer in faith Jam. 2. 5. and have more experience of Gods faithfulnesse care and love and see more of their own hearts be more humble more spirituall and live more upon God and more weaned from the world then those Saints who are richer the meanest are as happy and as free from cares as the richest and their sleepe is as sweet therefore take we heed of sin and then let come what can Sin not to avoyd trouble for that is the way to bring greater trouble upon thee for sin defiles distracts insnares and straitens a soule where the spirit is inlarged it is not much troubled at outward bondage if it be lightsome outward darknesse will not be burdensome if the Spirit be sound it can beare troubles sicknesse nothing can be very ill when all is well within what can be grievous to him whose eye is fixed in heaven and knowes it to be his owne Heb. 12. 2. We should not looke so much at trouble or freedome from it as to God for profit by it comfort in it strength to beare it oh let no trouble trouble thee for when God seemes to leave thee he is neere to helpe thee when he hides himselfe he seeth and will provide helpe for thee as Gen. 22. 14. He is all sufficient Gen. 17. 1. and he is faithfull that hath said all is ours 1 Cor. 3. 23. And that wee shall not want that which is for our good Psal 34. 9 10. The same faithfulnesse will make it good therefore I shall not want what ever can come should each Saint say 31. Watch to shew mercy Every day as occasion is
the Church of Christ they have the power of Christ because Christ is theirs and Christ and his power are never separated Mat. 28. 20. Ergo they have the power of Christ as 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. Therefore they have authoritie to administer the Ordinance of Christ They grant many have right to Baptisme by the free gift of God and the bloud of Christ Ans Be it so I cannot beleeve that God gives his a right to any thing that would doe them no good and if the injoying the Ordinance be good how can we thinke that God so orders it that they cannot come by it Psal 34. Christ purchased no priviledge for his which they may be as well without is not Gods power as great as his love and as the Communion of Saints Baptisme and the Supper are the priviledges of the Saints given them in love so God hath appointed a way for them to injoy them and so to affirme holds forth as much wisdome and love in God to them as to say God hath given them a right to such priviledges but hath not afforded them any way or meanes for them to come by them that they might injoy them But this subject is handled at large in John Spilsberies Booke intituled Gods Ordinance It is foretold that Antichrist shall come with signes and wonders as Mat. 24. 23 24. and 2 Thes 2. 9 10. We are not to looke for Christ to come in this way yet it may be said of some Except yee see signes and wonders to sense yee will not beleeve Joh. 4. 48. OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES Of the attributes of God THey are fountaines of comfort and rocks of strength to his and those that eye them live comfortably upon them Of affections The affections doe oft perswade the judgement Our affections oft deceive our selves and others and goe for spirituall when they are naturall In our greatest earnestnesse wee have most cause to examine our hearts and affections All the disquietnesse and distempers within us and by us is occasioned by the want of bounding and well ordering our affections Our affections of joy and sorrow will exceed their bounds unlesse they be forced When the object is spirituall and the motive is spirituall the affection is spirituall If our affections anger griefe joy c. doe fit us to pray they are spirituall else not Our affections come farre short of that which we thinke we have in our judgements Our affections declare to us what we love Wee have many occasions of doing good but we often want hearts and affections to improve them The quicknesse of our affections depends much upon the spirits of our bodies If our affections were answerable to our apprehensions of God c. they would destroy our bodies because they could not beare it Of actions That which is the ground cause and end of a mans action in that he lives whether it be God or selfe in those actions that concerne our selves we often exceed in but such actions as are for God chiefly we are hardly drawne unto but easily drawne from If Satan cannot corrupt the action he will indeavour to corrupt the judgement and affection Many conceive that some of those things God commands are needlesse but it is a great error Of afflictions Afflictions are little light short and seasonable though they oft seeme to be many great and long Affliction breeds patience humbleth and mortifieth selfe teacheth a Saint experience and sends him the oftener to God God is alwayes present with his yet in afflictiō they least see him by reason they looke so much to the affliction if oppressed with it but some see God best in afflictions God is as sweet and may be as much injoyed in adversitie c. as in prosperitie not any affliction could trouble a childe of God if he knew wherefore God did send it Of assurance of the love of God He that hath assurance of Gods love can trust himselfe with God in any estate and strait He that hath assurance of the love of God can part with any thing for God Of Christ Christ is sweet in meditation more sweet in contemplation most sweet in fruition Union with Christ is equall alike to all who have union with him and union with Christ is the greatest happinesse and honour a beleever can injoy Such as have union with Christ should spare no cost for him although no cost of ours can procure him Christs servants are for the most part poore and they appeare to the world very silly and contemptible Of corruption Corruption cannot be reformed Corruption neither will nor can subdue corruption Of Counsell There is much safetie in many counsellors who are wise and faithfull Such as follow their own counsell doe often prove burthens to themselves and others Of Creatures The creatures are full of emptinesse The reason why we are so subject to be drawne away with the creatures is because we see not the emptinesse of them We oft love creatures more before we had them then when we had them because we expected more from them then was in them All things below are fading part wee must with them and with life also ere long So much as the creature takes away in parting so much our life was in it He is not troubled at the coming and going of the creatures when the heart is fixed on God The love of creatures hinders us in good things but the wise use of them doe much further us A childe of God useth many things spiritually which others use carnally God often bestows abundance of outward things upon some not for themselves for they need them not but that they might supply the wants of others and many of them keepe them for themselves Concupiscence Concupiscence is strong and raging and hardly tamed yet it is to be attained with difficultie Comfort Wee oft seeke comfort in creatures which have no power to comfort all my comfort is in Christ if I live he will provide for me if I dye he will receive me Custome Forme and custome are deadly enemies to spiritualnesse Custome without truth is but an old error Custome so shuts mens eyes that they cannot see the true visage of things Custome makes hard things easie and bondage no burden and addes delusion to blindnesse The rich observe customes but the poore pay deare for them for they are starved by them if that which is spent at burials were wisely bestowed upon the poore it were farre better and so in other needlesse customes Of Conscience Sinning against conscience exceedingly hardens the heart Conscience can see best in darknesse and speake most lowdly in silence Conscience is a very tender thing a small thing will trouble it but a blind conscience will swallow up any thing The naturall conscience will be satisfied with the outside of a dutie Crosses Crosses are not pleasing to the flesh but profitable to the Spirit The more crosses a Saint hath the more they doe him good and is the more
referre thee GRAVE COUNSELS Concerning actions LEt all your actions have a good foundation a word of God to warrant them else they are evill to do things not required by God is the error of the wicked 2 Pet. 3. 17. God will say Who required this at your hands as Isa 1. 12. consider Deut. 12. 32. Ephes 4. 14. First looke that what yee doe be lawfull next consider that it be expedient the circumstances of time place persons must be wisely considered to a good action is required that all the circumstances be good also Next looke to your ends why yee doe what yee doe for the end and scope of an action conduceth to the being of it if two duties come together doe the chiefest first unlesse workes of mercy and necessitie hinder and looke to doe every dutie required of thee to doe one and neglect another is uncomely give each dutie its due respect and looke with what affections yee doe what yee doe serve the Lord with the best and serve him fully for measure and degree he that doth these things his conversation is beautifull and savoury Concerning the judgement and affections Ever suspect your judgement and affections when the cause concernes your selves Often call your affections to account When your affections exceed their bounds aske thy soule the reason of it Let not your judgement be taken captive by your affections Make not your affections knowne in company as little as may be unlesse the cause be extraordinary Concerning afflictions Sleight not affliction nor let it over-presse thee it 's appointed 1 Thes 3. 3. Rom. 8. 29. There is a fruit of the least crosse looke more at the fruit then deliverance from the crosse the longer it continues the more thou maist get by it Labour to know the cause of every affliction All that are the Lords are to stay themselves in the love of God and attend upon him for the time manner and measure of their deliverance Bondage Esteeme that bondage that causeth thee to sin or keeps thee from God Conscience Conscience is a very tender thing and must be tenderly used Prize and preserve a tender Conscience and hearken to the noyse of it Take heed yee wound not your Consciences to please your affections Creatures Use the creatures so as thou beest not unfitted by them to serve God and man God gave not the creatures to hurt us Companion In the choice of a companion consider what soundnesse of judgement there is what knowledge and sensiblenesse of their own inward corruption and whether they speak of others infirmities with compassion never trust him who will conceale any sinne he seeth in thee Crosses Be not offended at crosses they may doe thee much good and let out sinfull selfe Concupiscence To avoyd concupiscence be temperate in all things dyet sleepe apparell recreation c. And feare thy selfe watch thy senses and avoyd the occasion of it as persons times places be frequent in fasting and prayer and looke up to God for strength against it Desires We had need to use meanes to moderate our desires to things below We should rather endeavour to make our desires equall to our estates then to make our estates equall to our desires Excuses Be afraid to cover over any evill with an excuse Of errors If you would be kept from errors pray to God search the Scriptures and be well grounded in the principles of truth Of others falls Let the consideration of the many great falls the Saints have had cause thee to feare thy selfe A friend Esteeme him thy friend that would hinder thee in sinne Griefe Discover not thy griefes to many and choose such as are able and willing to helpe thee The Lord is loving and pitifull able and willing to help it 's best to complain to him Of good To doe good we live therefore thinke not much of doing a little good though it be with great trouble Esteeme not that to be the chiefest good that may be taken from thee Concerning thy estate Judge not thy estate by thy knowledge affections and actions but by the principle Men. Be sure yee try men well and have good experience of their faithfulnesse before yee trust them with much Reproofes Receive reproofes willingly and profitably Reproaches Sleight not reproaches he that is not guiltie may be guiltie in part or hath been or is in another kind c. so it 's but a mistake thou maist be guiltie in the same kind it may be sent to humble thee and give thee warning of the same sinne Of successe Judge not of the goodnesse of thy action by the successe but judge thy successe by the goodnesse of the action c. Of sinne Judge not sin alwayes by the matter or act of it but by the rule and greatnesse of the authoritie of the commander that forbids it and bring in all the circumstances and aggravations of it Of speech When thou speakest of thy selfe speak modestly without vanitie and boasting Time Redeeme the present time to do good depend not upon the time to come which is uncertain and not at thy disposing Counsell to the unmarried 1. THinke not of marrying untill yee have first sought God by earnest prayer for strength and contentednesse to live a single life 2. Use such meanes as may best enable and fit thee for a single life observe a wary and temperate dyet company fasting and prayer meditation on God c. diligence in thy calling it may please God by these and the like meanes thou maist attaine the gift of chastitie 3. Be informed of the conveniences and inconveniences of a married life consider whether you be able and willing to drinke of the bitter cup of discontents which the married oft drinke of what cares and burdens attend that state If upon the use of meanes for some space you finde God inclines your heart to marry feare nothing but cast thy care upon God and be as wise as thou canst and venture upon a wife or husband 1. Pray to God to give thee a wife or husband that may be a meet helpe for thee a vertuous wife is called a gift of God the crowne of her husband crownes are precious and honourable happie is he that hath such a crowne Her price is farre above Rubies Pro. 31. 10. No jewell is to be compared unto her shee is worth the asking 2. Doe nothing rashly snatch not up the first that comes to hand prove shee well or ill shee may please well for a moment and be a thorne in thy side for ever after 3. If thou beest the Lords marry in the Lord love such as the Lord loveth that which is desireable in a man is his goodnesse Pro. 19. 22. So in a woman men seeke wealth and beautie though they have no Religion but these things cannot supply the want of Religion great portions and great stomacks high spirits costly fashions and great expences oft goe together externall things will quickly blast and the most resolved