this may grow and he that hath least may not bee discouraged This knowledge must not bee weighed and esteemed of us as a thing common and of no value but loved and liked otherwise no fruit will follow For the second practice is that seeking to walke worthy the Lord and please him in all things Colos 1.10 which must bee both inward and outward Inward when as in resolution of our mindes and desire and purpose of our hearts we are prepared and ready to bee set on worke and bee imployed in any good service to God or our brethren Psal 119.10 Acts 11.12 this must bee often blowne up in us for if this bee lost through forgetfulnesse sloth and carelesse negligence or over-whelmed with sorrow feare or such like passions or dulled and made blunt in us through lightnesse and vanity then are we unfit to honour God in any service Outward when in our lives wee expresse and declare the same by endeavouring at least to please God in one commandement as well as in another Act. 9.3 Thus much of the rules The vertues which further us herein follow First uprightnesse when in a single and true heart we love desire and doe any thing especially because God commandeth and for that end Deut. 18.13 Ephes 6.14 Ioh. 1.47 Many actions otherwise fervent enough for want of this sincerity are but froth as were the hot enterprises of Iehu against Idolaters and cause them who have long pleased themselves therein to cry out of their doings though admirable to the eyes of others to say they were but hypocrisie for many are the starting holes in the den of our hearts and many waies wee can deceive our selves and others also by false pretences in good actions we must therefore labour that howsoever our best actions are mixed with corruptions yet wee may have the same reioycing with the Apostle that in singlenesse of heart wee serve the Lord. The second is diligence whereby a man is ready to take all occasions and opportunities to the doing of some good and to shunne idlenesse and unprofitablenesse 1 Pet. 1.5 The third is constancy in nourishing all good desires and holy endeauours untill his latter yeares bee better than the former and so finish his course with ioy By these two great matters are brought to passe and for want of these two and through the contrary sloth and inconstant unsetlednesse euen the most of the godly doe not finde the sweet fruit in their life which is to bee found Fourthly in humility and meeknesse all our duties must bee practised if wee will follow Christ Matth. 11.29 These two are not particular vertues which sometimes onely may haue use but such fruits of the spirit as necessarily are required in all actions so that at no time humblenesse of minde and meekenesse of spirit may bee wanting And therefore they are oft-times in the Scripture set down together as Eph. 4.2 Co. 3.2 and so urged as doth shew that although there bee many goodly gifts in a man yet if he hath not these they shall loose their credit and beauty amongst those which behold them and withhold their commoditie from him who wanteth them By all this that hath beene said it is evident that the life of the believer is a continuall proceeding in the departing from evill and endevouring after duties and a setled course in repentance and a constant walking with God not an idle and uncertaine stumbling upon some good actions whiles a great part of his life is neglected and not looked after But some may say here wee have a desire to doe these things but wee want power and ability whereunto I answer that The best desire is in vaine except wee have with it an assurance of God his favour and helpe through faith for it is faith that overcommeth all lets 1 Jo. 5.4 this letteth us see that he which hath saved us from the greatest danger of hell will much more save us from the lesser of being overcome of our corrupt lusts And if any shall say that Saint Paul himselfe did not finde power to overcome the body of sinne It is evident The holy Apostle did not overcome all rebellion of the old man to the end he might alwaies have a marke of his unworthinesse and sinne remayning in him and thereby remember that it was of onely mercy that he was pardoned and the grace of God that kept him from falling away from him and that for both these causes he might bee abased and kept humble under so great grace as hee had received and last of all that hee might from time to time finde sweetnesse still in the forgivenesse of his sinnes But although hee was not perfect here as an Angell yet was not he carryed of his lusts into grosse iniquities for God his grace was sufficient for him and so shall it be for us if wee doe as oft and as earnestly desire it for every christian in his measure may looke for the like grace that Paul had even strength to performe in some good sort the duties which seeme so difficult and impossible unto him Which is not so to bee understood as if every godly christian doth feele or obtaine this for that might discourage many but to shew what God his children may confidently looke for and how their estate may bee bettered and their spirituall liberty increased For many good people doe not know what their heavenly father hath provided for them but onely receive so much light as whereby they see the way to his kingdome according to the knowledge that they have of his will thereafter they declare and shew it forth in their lives but nothing as they might or as some others doe THus of the rules and vertues which helpe us to the practice of a godly life Now to shew wherein it doth consist The duties are these First that pertaine to God Commandement 1. For we must desire to know him as his word doth reveale him unto us in his nature properties and workes wee must acknowledge it is allowed and in heart yeeld and consent unto the truth of those things which wee know of him that then we may safely and boldly beleeve in him and cleave unto him Thus knowing our selves to be safe under his wings we must grow to put our confidence in him and from hence will arise another even by hope to looke for that helpe which in confidence we assure our selues of from the Lâ—rd and through this confidence and hope wee must become patient in in aflictions and ioyfull in every condition of life Further because wee know all good things to flow unto us from God therefore unto him wee lift up our hearts for the obtaining of those things which we want unto him we render thanks for all blessings received and are affected with all our hearts and strength to love him more than all the world besides and desire to enioy the more full fruition of his presence in the meane time walking before him in
shall give an account as of all other things so especially of our getting using and forgoing of our goods and commodities Matth. 25.14 Luk. 6.2 THere is a third kinde of lets whereby many beleevers are hindred from going on in a godly course viz. All kindes of outward things which of themselves are not evill but are made by Satan occasions to hurt and wound our soules 1 Afflictions though sent of God for our great good as is to bee seene Heb. 12.7.11 Psal 119.71 1 Cor. 11.13 Iam. 1.2 Yet are by Satan and our owne corruptions made occasions of impatience fretting pensivenesse and many other evils against which we must arme our selves before they come that then our unruly passions may not break out so impatiently Iohn 16.33 2 So in prosperity he subtilly maketh drunken our hearts with love of our good puffes them up with pride and high mindednesse c To these dangerous evils shall the godly themselves bee drawne except they carefully prevent them It is therefore a speciall point of wisedome in time of peace that we beware that wee leane not upon outward things for then wee shall easily bee cast downe with every blast of adversity 3 Another occasion of unsetling our hearts are houshold affaires and things that concerne our maintenance by the unwarie use wherof men become unquiet wayward distracted and unlike Christians A wise man therefore will unburden himselfe of these multitude of worldly dealings which wil not suffer the minde to bee freed and will so subdue his affections that he may have them in order as well in one thing as in another 4 By change of company dwelling and acquaintance men receive much hurt Gen. 19.30 5 The sight of godlinesse to be contemned and licentious courses to be maintained is a great scandall Psal 73. 6 Familiarity with the wicked is of great force Many other occasions there are by our senses conveied unto us against which wee must daily strive by keeping on our Armour standing on our watch following that direction which God hath given and depending on that grace which hee hath promisâ—d ever remembring that we doe not cast off feare of danger for occasions of sinne shall never bee wanting no not in things lawfull and good nor Satan waiting upon them with secret extenuations of sinne and hiding the punishment NOW because there being so many lets in the waies of godlinesse and those so hardly passed and difficult enterprises are alwaies commended by the good that followeth them it is necessary that the great priviledges which belong to a godly life should bee explained that so the godly may know their owne happinessâ— and strive to enjoy it the wicked may see what great good things they deprive themselves of and to all men the Christian life may bee in better account which now of all sorts is too much underprised and so neglected and of some contemned and scorned To omit therefore all those benefits which are common to them with the wicked although these also are farre more sweete and savory to the godly than to others and those also which are proper to some of the faithfull in respect of their callings those onely shall bee named in which the wicked have no part nor portion and yet all the faithfull may possesse one as well though not so much as another These are either such as are given us in this life to be enjoyed for our encouragement or else those which God hath in store for us in the life to come THe first and chiefest of them which are given us in this life is that all true Christians may know themselves to bee beloved of God and that they shall bee saved 1 Ioh. 3.1 5.13 Ioh. 1.12 and that by better evidence than any man can have of the things hee holdeth in this life This is not so well knowne at the first but after experience gathered of the unchangeable love of God towards us our confidence is increased yea the longer wee enjoy this priviledge the better wee know it neither can it be lost wholly or finally Ob. Some of Gods Children after they have beene thus perswaded have fallen to doubting againe Answ True Christians are renewed but in part and therefore some are by the subtilty and malice of Sathan brought to the neglect or carelesse using of the meanes whereby faith is confirmed and so to doubting and many not so offending doe too too easily give place unto distrust thereby depriving themselves of this great priviledge This priviledge is the greater because of the unspeakeable glory and everlasting joy which it bringeth with it whereas other delights are but fleeting and momentarie Which greatnesse will easily appeare if wee well consider the unspeakeable woe and horror of such desperate persons as feele the want of this happinesse either here or in hell AFter God hath vouchsafed the faithfull this honour that they may know themselves to bee beloved of him here and that they shall be saved hereafter hee doth not then leave them but is alwaies with them and haâ—h a speciall care of them above others nay when he is angry with others Rom. 5.5 Psa 30.6 7. Luk. 13.34 Deu. 32.10 1 Tim. 4.10 Matth. 10.30 Psal 1.3 23.1 Rom. 8.31 23. 1 Sa. 2.3 Psal 1.1 He esteemeth them not onely as his houshold servants but as his friends Ioh. 15.15 his Sonnes and heires Rom. 8.17 his precious treasure Exod. 19.5 yea he honâ—reth them so farre as hee calleth them and maketh them kings Exo. 19.5 All which is both certaine and constant unto the faithfull but it is not so with the wicked so that by this it appeareth that the estate of the poorest child of God is farre better than the best of the ungodly yea better than themselves sometimes would have asked or thought of THose who are thus cared for of God receive grace from him to live according to his Will that at death they mâ—y enter into his glory for he teacheth them to be fruitfull in good life and also to avoide the foule offences As for the first viz. a holy life whereunto God enableth his by his owne power it is a great prerogatiue in that they need not account the Christian life combersome unsavory heavie and tedious as many do but an easie yoake light burthen and pleasant race this is in the Scripture called blessednesse as Psalm 1.2 84.2 Luk. 11.14 Many indeed there are even good people which in great part goe without this priviledge but the cause is that they draw not by faith daily strength from Iesus Christ to subdue their lusts but trust either to their owne strength or in other meanes untill being frustrated of their desire they either fall into great vexation or else plaine sâ—curity and loosenesse For the remedy whereof they must labour to be stedfast in faith not yeelding unto distrust but learne to know that God who hath taken care of his will not leave them in their infirmities but according
in holy Scripture This perseverance then being so precious and yet so certaine let us then nourish the hope of it in our selves daily by keeping in us a willingnesse to die 2. By frequenting meditation of the vanity of this world and all that therein is Col. 3.1 Thirdly by holding fast our rejoycing in Christ 1 Cor. 5.31 by mortifying of sin and keeping our hearts from the love of it Col. 3.5 Lastly by inuring our selves to beare small afflictions and so to deny our selves that we may the better undergoe greater when they shall be sent NOw that whereon all the former doe depend and whereat they aime is the unspeakeable glory which was prepared for us before the begiâ—ning of the world begun in this life and to be fully and perfectly enjâ—yned in the life to come This for our capacity is shadowed out by many earthly comparisons and resemblances of those things which doe most delight us as honour treasure riches beauty friends pleasure joy inheritance c. Our company there shall be Christ with his holy Angells blessed Apostles Prophets Martyrs Confessors c. The habitation it selfe is permanent and everlasting and so are all the treasures that are enjoyed therein The estate of Princes is not to be compared with that happinesse All the glory which was in this world even before the fall was but a shadow in respect of this the glorious and unspeakeable joy which Gods children hâ—ve here is great 1 Cor. 2.9 and making a day of their life better than a thousand of other mens Psal 84.10 yet this is but a taste of that which is to come For then all teares shall be wiped from our eyes for sin and death shall be no more This priviledge added unto all the former doth sufficient commend the happy condition of Gods children especially to those that know these things to belong to themselves and find the comfort of them But this effectuall Knowledge of Gods will to apprehend them by faith in particular is a particular gift of God to his Elect not enjoyed of any other no not of the greatest and most judiciall Clarkes and Divines Matth. 13.11 which doth indeed make this gift more precious in that Gods children have grace to draw down all good from God in his promise which naturall men cannot doe for flesh and blood giveth not this to any But God draweth his children to the knowing and believing of it First by his Word and secondly by their owne experience which bringeth most neere and familiar communion with God by his Spirit from whence springeth most unspeakeable joy THese being the great Priviledges which our God hath appointed for his and called them to partake of most lamentable it is that many should be so ignorant as not to desire to know them so carelesse as to reject them so obstinate as to tread them under foote and so to leade a life full of misery for want of them The Christian life is termed in Scripture a pilgrimage Obiect a sowing in teares c. Therefore we had need of Answ nay therfore we have these priviledges for otherwise wee could never undergoe the tribulation which wee shall meete with and the afflictions do rather increase than diminish their happinesse We see no such glorious things in Christians Obiect These are spirituall things Answ and therfore not easily discerned being especially inward besides wicked men will not acknowledge that glory which they see because it reproveth them Againe these priviledges are more inward feeling than outward appearance Moreover there are many infirmities in the lives of professours which the world doe more gaze upon than upon their Christian conversation otherwise But yet their lives be glorious before God and shining lights to them that can see and discerne whilest they that carpe at them shall be most loathsome and abhominable AGainst the former Directions many things may be objected both by carnall cavellers and also by weake Christians Of the first sort is that there needeth no other directions to bee prescribed besides Gods word To which there needeth no other answer but that by the same reason all preaching were needlesse which if it bee as it should is out of the Scriptures but besides there is great need of such a Direction as this to be penned by reason of the great weakenesses which are in Christians some being slow of capacitie others short of memorie others very soone unsetled for want of good direction are ashamed or unwilling to open their griefes or else have no fit man to shew them unto so that besides other great harme which followeth the want of direction they are deprived of much communion with the Lord and comfort that ariseth from it IT is further objected that no such direction can bee observed daily But if it were impossible why doth the Prophet call them blessed that follow such a course Psa 1.2 and affirme so much of himselfe Psal 119.97 many such examples also wee have amongst us even in this age who doe not make themselves strangers unto God to heare from him or to send vnto him now and then but to walke with him daily as all are commanded to doe Nay many there are who of experience have found this way not only possible but easie to them and full of comfort who should indeed be patternes unto others for the best practisers are the best teachers neither can any idle professour looke for such ease and comfort as the painfull Christian that hath beene taught by long experience IT will be said that howsoever it be possible yet it is very toylesome and inconvenient depriving men of pleasure and hindering labour But the truth is there is no pleasure or comfort in the world like unto it that is the sentence of the holy Ghost Psalm 119.99 100. Prov. 8.11 Neither is this meant of serving God at times but continually even all the day long Psal 119 10.23.97 And whosoever hath any knowledge and experience by practice what reward there is in serving God doth justifie this to be true for why also should so many Christians part with all sinfull pleasures which they might enjoy with others and spend so much time and paines in Gods service if it were so irkesome It is not indeed a pleasure to all but to the upright in heart it is the onely delight though in this life there be some resistance nay it seasoneth and sweatneth all earthly liberties also making them truly pleasant to the godly which to others are mixed either with burthensome tediousnesse or hidden poyson Neither would this hinder labour and thrift for all godly thrift Christian gaining and lawfull prospering in the world doth arise from hence even when a man goeth to the workes of his calling with a minde at peace with God commending his affaires to Gods providence aimes at his glory lookes at his promise and so waits for a blessing and for want of this many in great toile and paines find no successe nor blessing of God and others that seeme to prosper have their wealth but as Iudas had his sop and the Israelites their quailes to become their bane and poyson AS causelesse also is their feare who say that the following of this direction would breake off all society and fellowship amongst men For this would breake off none but evill fellowship such as it were to be wished were abandoned all societies of Christians which if it seeme strange it will be onely to such as the Apostle Peter speaketh of in his first Epistle 4.4 BUt it is fit to satisfie the doubts which weake Christians are like to propound As first how they may attaine and keepe this Course For the answer whereof thus much 1 There must bee an earnest desire wrought by the consideration of the necessitie of it 2 There must bee a strife against untowardnesse and sloth 3 All earthly affections must be moderated and not clog us 4 There must in faith be expectation of fruit farer above the labour 5 It will be good at the first that doubts which arise be imparted to others of experience and that the proceeding be marked that wants may be supplied and good things continued This if wee doe the matter will not seeme so difficult and tedious unto us neither are lawfull callings any lets unto this Christian course For holy exercises and lawfull businesse a heavenly mind and earthly dealing may very well stand together SOme are also moved with the crosses that they shall meete withall in the world But they neede not be troubled so as to goe backe but rather to set forward thereby Deut. 82. Ioh. 16.33 The end of all this is that such as have received the Gospell and that have not beene carefull thus daily and perpetually to walke with God if it was of ignorance they must not be discouraged but onely shew that ignorance was the cause by amending now upon knowledge If it was of evill conscience against their knowledge their sin is the greater especially if they have fallen from the first love Therefore time it is that they should returne and seeke peace with God maintaining the same by carefull watching over themselves throughout the day that they offend in nothing FINIS