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
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
for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143. 2. Dan. 9. 18. Tit. 3. 5. 7. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags c. Isai 64. 4. 6. God reveales to a soule Christs righteousnesse and the soules interest unto it Joh. 16. 14. To comfort the soule and cause the soule to love God againe he doth not comfort us in the sight of our own righteousnesse before he declares and comforts the soule in the righteousnesse of Christ Righteousnesse in him That righteousnesse which justifieth us before God as it is not ours so it is not in us but as it is Christs righteousnesse so it is in him In the Lord have I righteousnesse and strength in me you shall have righteousnesse and strength Isa 45. 23 24 25. The cause or forme of our justification is by a reciprocall translation of our sin unto Christ and his righteousnesse unto us both which is done by God for us That we might be made Whatsoever Jesus Christ hath done and suffered was for those whose sinnes were laid upon him who are stated in him Ephes 1. 4. and are fully pardoned by him Rev. 1. 5. By the obedience of one man viz. Christ many are made righteous Rom. 5. 19. By his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 5. The bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. In him God considers his to be in Christ before they had a beeing in themselves Ephes 1. 4. and he never lookes upon his children out of him for they are never out of him They dwell in Christ Joh. 6. 56. and shall ever live Joh. 9. 25. and be found in him Phil. 3. 8. Christ and all true beleevers are so united together that they are but one one body one spirit bone of his bone oh what union is like to this that is so reall full and intire wonderfull glorious spirituall eternall and infinite 1 Cor. 6. 17. Gal. 5. 30. c. Joh. 15. 5. Joh. 17. 22 23. If our faith in Christ were as strong as our union with Christ wee should ingrosse and possesse all that is in heaven and nothing in the earth could trouble us The state of a beleever in Christ as considered in him is an estate of perfection We are complete in him Col. 2. 9 10. 13. As Christ is so am I as I am so is Christ Joh. 1. 17. What is Christs is mine what is mine is his Christs righteousnesse is mine I am all righteous I need no more nor no other righteousnesse as I am in Christ I am as righteous and as acceptable as Christ God seeth no sin in me because there is none for I am all faire there is no spot in me Song 4. 7. Song 2. 10. Ephes 5. 25 26 27. For as he is even so are we in this world 1 Joh. 4. 17. Thou hast cast all my sinnes behinde thy backe Isa 38. 17. As far as the East in from the West so far hath he removed our transgressions from us Psal 103. 12. Seventy weeks are determined upon the people and upon the holy Citie to finish the transgressions and to make an end of sinnes and to make reconviliation for iniquitie and to bring in an everlasting righteousnesse to seale up the vision and prophecy and to anoynt the most Holy Dan. 9. 24. I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soule shall be joyfull in my God for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse Isa 61. 10. All Saints are alike clothed with Christs righteousnesse the meanest the weakest as the best and is as acceptable by it as the best oh they are all alike perfect righteous and glorious as they are in Christ oh here is strong consolation for thy fainting heart to refresh it selfe withall Drinke O friends and make yee merry O welbeloved yea drink drink abundantly in this fountaine that is bottomlesse and therefore can never be drawne dry Song 5. 1. In the most perfect Saints as they are in themselves there is much sin 1 Joh. 1. 10. and God doth see it yet God cannot condemne them to wrath for it no more then God can condemne Christ for it who shall appeare without sin Heb. 9. 28. They being in him who hath suffered for it and Justice neither will nor can exact the payment of a debt twice now it 's justice in God to justifie Rom. 3. 25. yea God is as just in pardoning a sinner by the bloud of Christ as he is just in condemning any and now thou hast a full pardon by justice as well as mercy therefore drinke freely Song 5. 1. For us That which is spoken in generall to beleevers every beleever is to apply it to himselfe in particular so Paul he loved me and gave himselfe for me Gal. 2. 20. For us for me The word and promise of God that it is for me is that which my soule should fix its eye upon and by faith for ever relie upon and be a full satisfaction to my soule knowing that the word and promise of God is the onely ground of my faith and is securitie sufficient for my salvation As soone as the soule is convinced that Jesus Christ is made sin for me and that I am made the righteousnesse of God in him all the soules doubts feares objections vanish and Christ is beleeved in and lived upon with thankfulnesse and joy Jesus Christ being made sin for me is as good for me yea better for me then if I had never sinned as much better as a spirituall body is better then a naturall as much better as the image of the heavenly is better then the image of the earthly yea as much better as strength is better then weaknesse and as heaven is better then earth 1 Cor. 15. 43 44. to 55. But saith a discouraged soule I cannot beleeve the Lord Jesus was made sin for me Why not for thee Because my sins are greater then others be for my sins have all the aggravations upon them that can be For mine are many So were theirs in the second and third Chapter of Jeremiah yet notwithstanding God pardoned them all as appeares Jer. 3. 21. to 25. But my sins are great and hainous So were theirs and so were Manassehs as appeares 2 King 21. 4. 9. 11. 16. and so was the womans Luk. 7. 47. and so was Pauls 1 Tim. 1. 15. yet God pardoned them all as he hath done others But my sins are against the Gospel So was Pauls he persecuted them that professed the Gospel and made havock of the Church entring into every house haling men and women and committed them to prison Act. 8. 3. And Christ died for them that slew him Act. 2. 23. 38. But mine are afâ—er many mercies So was Solomons who sinned against God after the Lord appeared unto him twice 1 King 11. 9.
like Christ Great crosses are good physicke for great stomackes Contentment Earthly contents are present to our sense No earthly thing can give content Joy in God breeds content So much as wee deny our selves so much contentment we have Contemplation Divine contemplation makes us high in thoughts and rich in expectation Contemplation of Gods free love and the soules interest in it doth revive raise and inlarge the soule To contemplate on the things above is most pleasant of all things to them who have tasted the sweetnesse of them Covetousnesse Such as are not contented with that they have are covetous Distrust of God causeth covetousnesse which is the root of all evill So much as we are discontented with our estates so much covetousnesse there is in us Covetousnesse doth us and others more hurt then we are aware of Such as thinke themselves least covetous are most covetous A child of God knows not how to be revenged upon his selfe for his covetousnesse of the things of this world Contraries Every contrary the more it is resisted the more it appeares Deadnesse of spirit Deadnesse of heart is an enemy to action he that will support diligence must support chearfulnesse deadnesse is the grave of many graces Such as come to God unchearfully oft returne unthankfully Spirituall deadnesse is a great griefe to a childe of God Delayes Delayes a rise from sloath The more we delay the more we may By deferring wee presume upon that we have not and neglect that we have To morrow to morrow cozens many a man Death Death hath something to say to every man and would faine be heard but men are not at leisure Every man must dye The day of death is the first day of life He whose hopes are in heaven is not much afraid of death Death is to him no misery whose hope is in eternitie Death when it seemes to dispossesse a Saint of all it possesseth him of all things Such as are spiritually dead are not aware of it they onely mind and savour the things of the flesh Difficulties Difficulties are discouragements and handsome excuses are welcome to a sloathfull heart Love will carry on through all difficulties and to undergoe all manner of torments Dreames An evill dreame shews some evill that prevailes in the heart By dreames God may foreshew some sin to come which we are in danger to fall into which we are not afraid of Selfe-deniall They live the sweetest lives that most deny themselves There are very few that do deny themselves but many can deny Christ and his truth Selfe may be denyed a little in one kinde if it may please selfe much in another Distractions Distractions of minde in duties is either from our minding other things or resting in our own strength or from a not serious setting our minds on the thing propounded by us for that which the heart is throughly set upon it is so attentive to it that it can be present to no other thing at that instant especially to hinder the thing in hand The want of a wise ordering and dispatch of businesse causeth a great distraction in men Duties It is no wonder some doe so much because they expect heaven for what they doe Such duties as flow not from faith and love are legall and slavish Many will own and confesse their dutie in the generall that will wholly deny it in particular especially when it concernes themselves A beleever as he is a beleever he doth fetch all from God refer all unto God and doe all for God Examples The examples of men is not to be any rule to walke by Mens example is very forcible when it is universall The worst examples are most observed Excuses When we have sinned Satan and our corruptions help us to cover it with excuses which is to cover a lesser evill with a greater It is easie to frame an excuse for any evill Education Good education doth oft cause an outward reformation Evill education is a great provocation to sinne Excesses Men doe too little or too much men love extreames as many eate too little or too much worke too little or too much Most men are drowned in adversitie or drunke with prosperitie Extraordinary For men not to seeke themselves is extraordinary To practise the truth against great opposition to be the more humbled by knowledge and to goe against custome is extraordinary For a man to refuse to joyne house to house when he can is extraordinary For the rich to take reproofe willingly and profitably of the poore is extraordinary For to part with riches as freely as they were received is extraordinary Ends in duties The end rules the meanes and is above them A beleever is ever true to his end but he often failes in the meanes Error When errors prove profitable many will imbrace them Ignorance is the foundation of error It 's common for error to be called truth and truth to be called error Effects Effects are in order to second causes not to God who most certainly necessarily and wisely hath willed them and nothing falls out accidentally as referred to him whose wise intention reacheth every thing Favour of men The favour of men is a vanitie yet much desired The favour of men is an uncertaine thing soone got and soone lost Men desire the favour of men God denies it to some to exercise their faith weane them from the world or because we performe not our duties unto them Folly Many never see their folly untill it be too late Feares Feares make the understanding weake and the judgement dull Feares hinder the certainty of faith So much as we feare men wee forget and sleight God Faith Where God gives faith he gives trials also to exercise it Faith quiets comforts and strengthens the soule We injoy Christ by faith and not by feeling When faith is at the greatest then there is the least feeling As our faith is so are we incouraged to obey God The more faith the lesse feare God Gods presence in every place is a great comfort to his They that live upon God alone live most comfortably for there is satisfaction and no changes he feares nothing that can befall him he lives comfortably in all Grace Grace is exceeding strong especially faith love to carry a man through all God will exercise the graces that are in his The more grace any have the more need to pray because Satan is most ready to tempt such Griefe We cannot heartily be grieved for that sin in another of which wee make not conscience in our selves It is a griefe to a childe of God to speake of any good they finde a want of in themselves If we did not immoderately love outward things we would not grieve at the losse of them nor keepe such a doe to get them Of gifts The greater gifts spirituall or temporall the prouder the flesh is and the readier Satan is to assault Good A man may doe good in the strength of a
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