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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	election_n	faith_n	work_n	2,826	5	6.4066	4	true

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

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

him he also sets his love upon him and manifests it unto him So that as election to life is by God the Father and redemption by God the Son so justification sanctification and restauration into the Image of God is by the Holy-Ghost So that in the unity of the God-head there be three of one substance power and eternity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy-Ghost the Father is of none other begotten nor proceeding the Son is eternally begotten of the Father the Holy-Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son See Math. 3. 16 17 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 1 4. 1 Joh. 1. 14. And that the Holy-Ghost is God will appear by these Scriptures Act. 5. 3 4. Peter reproving Annanias for lying said he did lie to the Holy-Ghost and so he lyed not to men but to God so again Isa 6. 9. I heard the Lord speaking which place Paul expounds of the Holy-Ghost Act. 28. 25. Of Gods Decrees WHatsoever God doth in time that did he decree to do from all eternity So that Gods decree is that whereby he hath from all eternity set down with himself whatsoever shall come to pass Ephes 1. 11. If any ask what things are decreed by God I answer 1 all things 2 with their causes 3 with their effects 4 circumstances and 5 manner of being Act. 2. 23. 4. 27 28. Ephes 1. 11. 1. This decree is most wise Rom. 11. 33. 2. Just Rom. 9. 13 14. 3. Eternall Ephes 1. 4 5. 1 Cor. 2. 7. 4. Unchangeable Heb. 11. 17. 5. Most free Rom. 9. 18. 6. The cause of all good Iam. 1. 17. Now the parts of this decree is two-fold first concerning Angels Secondly concerning man and of this decree concerning man there be two parts First Election Secondly Reprobation 1 Thes 5. 9. Iudg. 4. 5. As concerning Angels they also are of two sorts First good Secondly bad First good or excellent 1. For their nature 2. For their gifts 3. For their offices 4. For their estate Secondly bad or evill Angels God from all eternity hath determined of all things together with their causes effects circumstances of place and time means manner and end to the manifestation of his own glory Psal 99. 4. Mat. 10. 29. Rom. 9. 20 21. 11. 36. Pro. 16. 4. Of Election ELection is the decree of God of his free love and grace and mercy choosing some men to Faith holiness and eternall life for the praise of his glorious mercy 1 Thes 1. 4. 2 Thes 2. 13. Ephes 1. 4 5 6. Rom. 8. 29 30. The causes of election was none other but his meer good will and pleasure Luk. 12. 32. Rom. 11. 5. 9. 11. 16. Ephes 1. 5. 2 Tim. 1. 9. The end of election is the manifestation of the riches of his grace and mercy Rom. 9. 23. Ephes 1. 6. Quest Was not Christ and faith and holiness the causes of election Answ No the sending of Christ faith holiness and eternall life are only the effects of Gods love by which he manifesteth the infinite riches of his grace Ioh. 3. 16. 1 Ioh. 4. 10. Acts 13. 4. Titus 1. 1. Col. 1. 12. Rom. 6. 23. God ●eerly out of his good pleasure without the fore-fight of any good in the creature according to his unlimited soveraignty elected a certain number by name unto eternall salvation and he hath decreed to effect all the wayes and means for them and in them to bring them thereto see 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Pet. 2. 8. So some are elected unto life out of all sorts of people Mat. 20. 16. Rom 9. 24. Rev. 7. 9. That unto which God hath elected them is 1. To the Adoption of Sons 2. Sanctification of life here 3. And eternall life hereafter The first and only moving cause of Election is the good pleasure and love of God Ephes 1. 5. Rom. 9. 18. Ephes 1. 11. So that Faith is not the cause but the effect of election Act. 13. 48. God is no respecter of persons and yet he elected some and left others when he found no difference A man may come to know in time that he was elected before time 1. We come to apprehend this by Faith 1 Thes 1. 4. 2. By our effectuall calling 3. By our justification 4. By our sanctification Rom. 8. 30. 5 By the testimony of Gods Spirit Rom. 8. 9 16 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10 11 12. 2 Pet. 1. 2 3. 2Cor 1. 21 23. Of Reprobation REprobation is the wise just and absolute decree of God passing by and leaving some men unto themselves to suffer them to fall and to enflict upon them eternall punishment deserved by their sins for the praise of his unspeakable great justice Rom. 9. 11 13 22. Iude 4. Ier. 6. 30. The causes of this decree is the absolute will and good pleasure of God Mat. 11. 26. Rom. 9. 13. The end of this decree is not the condemnation of the creature 〈…〉 ●●●ifestation of Gods Justice Rom. 9. 22. Yet election and reprobation in a sense are not the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation Election and reprobation they are but precedent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the causes and the execution thereof It is the fore-appointment of certain Angels and men unto everlasting dishonour God of his own free will determining to pass them by refuse or cast off and for sin to condemn and punish them with everlasting death Prov. 16. 4. Exod. 9. 16. Rom. 9. 17. 2 Tim. 2. 20. Mat. 25. 41. Of the Creation ALthough God made man of the dust of the earth yet he could have made him of nothing as he made all things else of nothing in six daies Heb. 11. 3. Exod. 20. 11. 1. In the first day were created the heavens and the earth and light Gen. 1. 1 2. Iob 38. 7. 2. In the next day was the out-spreading firmament or heavens the division of the waters above from the waters beneath Gen. 1. 6 7. 3. In the third day there was a two-fold work first a gathering of the waters in one place secondly a bringing forth of hearbs Gen. 1. 9 10 11 12. 4. In the fourth day was made the Sun Moon and Stars to give light on the earth and to be for signs and seasons and for dayes and years Gen. 1. 14 15 16 17. 5. In the fift day there was a twofold work the creation of all sorts of fish in the sea and fouls in the air Gen. 1. 22 23. 6. In the sixth day there was also a twofold work the creation of all sorts of beasts upon the earth and the creation of man whom the Lord made in his own Image Gen. 1. 24 25 26 27. 7. The seventh day the Lord made a Sabboth of rest and blessed that day above all other dayes and did also sanctifie it The

causes of this great work of creation was first his love to man and the shewing forth his own glory and the fulfilling of his decree to the end that God may be known and honored of his creatures c. his eternall power and God-head is seen in raising all things out of nothing By his word alone Isa 40. 12. Rom. 1. 20. Ier. 10. 12. 51. 15. And his infinite wisdom is made known by them Psal 104. 24. Of Angels ANgels are spiritual creatures compleat and immortall yet finite Heb. 1. 13 14. Col. 1. 16. Mat. 4. 11. 26. 53. Psal 68. 17. Mat. 22. 30. Luke 20. 36. Heb. 1. 7. Psal 104. 4. There be two sorts of Angels first good secondly bad The good Angels they praise God worship the Son they are heavenly messengers from the Father to defend the faithfull they have wrestled eaten been received as strangers had their feet washed they shall gather the elect from the four corners of the earth they shall come with Christ to judgement they be excellent creatures 1. For their nature Isaiah 6. 2. Daniel 9. 21. 2 Thes 1. 7. 2. For their gifts 2 Sam. 14. 17. Mat. 6. 10. Luk. 15. 10. 1 Cor. 13. 1. 3. For their offices Dan. 7. 10. Rev. 5. 11. 4. They be excellent for their estate Mat. 18. 10. 5. They be wise and of great understanding 2 Sam. 14. 20. They were the first creatures that ever God made there be also severall orders of Angels viz. Archangels Cherubims and Seraphins yet lay all these things together it will appear that righteousness of Angels is but the righteousness of creatures but the righteousness that the Saints are cloathed with is the very righteousness of Christ and in this respect the meanest Saint is more excellent then the most glorious Angel in heaven they are by God sent forth for the good of his people hence they are called ministring spirits and they minister to the Saints many wayes In their life by defending them from their enemies the Angels of the Lord pitch their tents about them that fear him Psal 34. 7. An Angel it was that slew the army of the Assyrians That delivered Peter out of prison as also preserved Lot Psal 91. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes Gen. 32. 5. An Angel encouraged Iacob when he feared his brother Esau an Angel it was Luke 1. 30. who bid Mary not to fear and who stood by Paul and bid him be of good cheer Act. 27. 24. By an Angel was the incarnation of Christ foretold to the Virgin and by a multitude of Angels was it proclaimed afterwards an Angel leads Philip to expound the Scripture to the Eunuch sets Peter at liberty to preach the Gospel bids Cornelius send for Peter to be instructed by him and prayes Paul to come over to Macedonia to help them none are so nobly attended as Saints they have a life-guard of Angels to encompass them about Angels are as carefull of the faithfull as a nurse of her sucking child they bear them up in their arms that they dash not their feet against a stone Of Man ALL men by nature are equally made of one earth and blood and every poor Christian is as dear unto God as a mighty Prince Man was wonderfully created and more wonderfully redeemed The Lord hath assigned his heart to wisdom the belly to avoidance the breast to health the liver to anger the gall to bitterness the spleen to laughter the kidneys to craftyness the loyns to strength the ribs to comeliness the Lord having finished the excellent frame of heaven and earth he cals a counsel to build that excellent tabernacle Man into whom he breathed the spirit of life this man did far exceed all other creatures that amongst them all not found any one fit or meet to be a companion for him or to have society with him and so the Lord made him a help meet for him this man was the master-piece of all Gods works to whom the Lord did give an unlimited prerogative over the beasts of the field the fouls of the air and the fish of the sea but man by his disobedience became inferiour to the most despised creatures and we all his posterity are more miserable and fuller of vanity then any of the unreasonable creatures viz. other creatures by the benefit of nature can stand upon their legs and seek after their food when young but man the Lord of them all must be swadled in clouts being no way able to help himself the young chickens as soon as ever they are hatched can run after their dam to seek for food and have that wisdom to hide themselves under her wings at the fluttering of the Kite the lambs calves and young costs stand suddenly upon their legs to seek their dams teats But man would perish if his mother by her naturall affection did not bring the nipple of her breasts to his mouth and rock him upon her knees Of the Soul THE soul of man is a spirituall substance immortall and invisible endued with memory understanding and will or the soul is a substance immortall invisible united to the body and endued with many admirable faculties as life sense and reason to this end principally that God might be truly honored and duely worshipped Or the soul is a spirituall invisible and immortall substance endued with power to understand and will this soul is at one instant both created and united to the body and by the power and faculties of the soul man is capable of happiness or of the the cheif good or greatest misery or thus the soul of the Saints is a spirituall and immortall substance created after the Image of God and renewed after the immortall Image of God in Christ the soul is a real and very being as the body is only of an higher kind the body is of the earth the soul is immediately from God Of Mans Fall THE devill himself being fallen cometh to the garden in the form of a Serpent Adam and Eve being in Paradise and looking upon themselves as indeed they were the most excellent piece of all the creation bearing the Image of God their Creator the Lord having left them a law he leaves them to the fredom of their own will the devil boards the woman thus hath God said ye shall not eat of such a tree it is a likely thing that the Lord cares what ye eat what do you think he stands upon an apple this is the first assault which the woman weakly resisteth and answered doubtfully we must not eat lest we die then the devil perceiving the woman to stagger and the ground of her faith to shake he plants all his pieces and purposes for a second storm and stands up and saith to the woman ye shall not die at all can there be any hurt in an apple Oh silly woman God he affirmeth and faith ye shall die the woman saith I must

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

3. He hath sealed it with his own seal and so it is become as the Laws of the Medes and Persians which alter not 4. He hath sworn to make it good in every part of it Psal 89. 3 35. Heb. 6. 17 18. 5. He hath given us the vertues or earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1. 22. 6 Christ the Mediator and Testator of it hath confirmed it by his own blood Heb. 9. 16 17 18. This Covenant is said to be everlasting First in respect of the promise made to Christ for us which was done before the foundation of the world Tit. 1. 2. Secondly as being to continue from everlasting to everlasting though the Covenant in respect of our own personal entring into it is made with us now in time and hath a beginning yet for continuance it is everlasting and without end it is never to be broken if once made in truth 2 Chron. 13. 5. It is called a Covenant of salt because it corrupteth not it faileth not as things that are salted use to last and continue hence it is that all the blessings of the Covenant are said to be everlasting forgiveness of sins is everlasting being once forgiven they are never remembred any more Jer. 31. 33. The peace and joy which comes thereby is everlasting your peace shall no more be taken from you and your joy is everlasting Isa 35. 10. Our salvation is an everlasting salvation Isa 45. 17. Our life is an everlasting life Joh. 3. 16. Several strong reasons why the Saints should walk holily notwithstanding the Covenant is free and justification is free and salvation it self is of grace not of works ALthough our qualifications doth not cause Gods love yet we might question whether God did love us if we were not qualified Some men will be ready to say if the Covenant of grace be thus every way free in those several particulars and if we are so freely justified by grace without works qualifications and conditions on our part we may live as we list c. To which give me leave to lay down the grounds and reasons why all men ought to walk holily and humbly in this present world and that for these ten strong reasons 1. Because the Lord hath commanded us in his word to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God Mic. 6. 8. 2. Because the Lord the Mighty God is glorified thereby Mat. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven 1 Pet. 2. 12. That they may by your good works which they shall behold glorifie God 3. Although the Covenant of grace is free and we are justified freely by grace yet we are to walk holily and without blame before him in love Ephes 1. 4. John 15. 16. Because it is the end of our election 4. Because it is the end of our Redemption 1 Pet. 1. 18. Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation but with the precious blood of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 15. He dyed for us that they which live should not live unto themselves but unto him which died for them 5. Because it is the end of our Vocation 1 Pet. 1. 15. But as he which hath called you is holy so be you holy in all manner of conversation 1 Thes 4. 7. God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 6. Because it is the end of our Creation Eph. 2. 10. Created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them 7. Because if our conversation be not answerable to our profession we walk 1. Unworthy of God Col. 1. 10. and 1 Thes 2. 12. 2. Unworthy of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. 3. Unworthy of our Vocation Ephes 4. 1. 8. The Saints should endeavour to out strip in all good things because they be the salt of the earth the light of the world a City set upon an hill that cannot be hid Mat. 5. 13 14. 9. Because of the great dishonour that we shall bring to God if we do not walk holily we cause his name to be blasphemed we crucifie Christ afresh and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of and grieve the Saints and harden sinners c. 10. Because the end of our lives and the dissolution of the world is at hand Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness See 1 Pet. 4. 3. 2 Pet. 3. 11. I know no further reasons unless it be these that I shall but name viz. First it is the way in which God hath appointed men to walk in as in Ephes 2. 12. Secondly that we may declare our selves to be the children of our heavenly Father as in 1 Pet. 1. 14. and Mat. 5. 45. Thirdly that we may be profitable to our brethren Tit. 3. 8. compared with 1 Pet. 3. 1 2. Fourthly that we may adorn the Gospel and stop the mouths of wicked men who will condemn sin in a professour although they will approve of it and delight in it themselves Fifthly because God will give unto every man according to his works Mat. 16. 27. Sixthly a Christian should walk holily that so he might give a check convince and put to shame and silence ungodly men 1 Pet. 2. 15. For so is the will of God that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men I might had I time add some motives to these undeniable reasons to put those that read these lines upon holy walkings as First he that doth order his conversation aright shall see the salvation of the Lord Psal 50. 23. 2 Pet. 1. 11. For so an entrance shall be administred to you abundantly Secondly it will be a great incouragement to others to walk so too 2 Cor. 8. 7. compared with verse 3. Thirdly it will be very profitable to thy self not only afterwards but in the present tence Psal 19. 11. And in the keeping of them there is great reward Of sanctification or a holy conversation according to a Gospel Rule But in all our actions and holy walkings let us be sure we have an eye upon these three things viz. 1. We must act from a right ground or principle 2. We must act by a right rule by precept rather then from example 3. We must be sure we have right ends low base ends spoil the highest undertakings 1. We must act from a right ground or principle there be three principles from which men do act two of them are too low and beneath a true Christian to act from viz 1. A natural principle from which the Phylosophers and heathens did many commendable things 2. Many men act from a legal principle as the Papists Quaker and Arminian these do many things that are commanded but not as it is commanded and so with God not accepted

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

but not such Spots as wicked men 2. Whereas it is said they had no spot or wrinkle in them it was as they were made comely by the comeliness that he had put upon them Ezek. 16. 14. And as they were covered with the robe of his own Righteousness Isa 61. 10. And so their Holiness and Righteousness was of the Lord Isa 57. 17. Hence he is in Jer. 23. 6. Called the Lord our Righteousness the nature of Grace and Sanctification in this life is but imperfect and growing unto perfection 1 Cor. 13. 9 10. Phil. 3. 12 13. Some Canaanites are still in the Land although we are entered into Canaan there is a Remnant of flesh as well as a Principle of the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. In this sense the Church is not actually purged but in purging from all defilements and at last there shall be no spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing Ephes 5. 26 27. So that compleat purity from sin and perfection is to be desired on earth yet reserved for heaven Rom. 6. 7. Ephes 5. 27. Heb. 12. 23. Rev. 21. 27. I have dwelt longer then I intended upon this question I must get it up again in being brief in the next We read Mat. 12. 31 32. The Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Quest What that sin against the Holy Ghost is Answ The sin against the Holy Ghost doth comprehend and take in three things Knowledge in the mind Malice in the heart persecuting some known Truths and persevering therein for the proof of this let me instance in three Scriptures first Paul was filled with malice in his heart but although a scholar he had no knowledge in his mind as the text saith he had mercy on me because I did it ignorantly now Peter he had much knowledge in his mind but no malice in his heart and so although he sinned out of knowledge yet he sined not this sin but upon the crowing of the cock and Christs looking on him he repenteth now take the knowledge that was in Peter and joyn it with the malice that was in Paul and in both these persecute the truth and persevere therein this is that grand sin for that grand sin hath these three properties 1. Knowledge 2. Malice 3. Perseverance in a way of wickedness for finalness maliciousness and universalness must be taken joyntly together not severally one from another if by them we would describe the sin against the Holy Ghost for a man may fall knowingly and maliciously yet unless he fall finally and so make a defection from the truth not through fear or infirmity but out of hatred blasphemy and persecution if he come not up to this he hath not committed this sin for we find all the former sins to be pardonable It is reported of Julian that committed this sin that he was from his child-hood trained up in piety and attained to great knowledge and when he came to the Empire he carryed himself with much clemency but after this he came to deny Christ in France and turned a most bloody butcher and barbarous persecutor to poor Christians after this being either wounded in a battle or a blow from heaven he took a handfull of his blood and flung it up into the air and burst out into a most wicked experssion against Christ and said thou man of Galilee thou hast overcome me and so miserably dyed Quest Is not Election the cause of salvation and Reprobation the cause of damnation Answ Election and Reprobation are not in any sense the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation Election and Reprobation they are but precedent and precurrent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the decrees and the execution thereof Quest How could Christ being but one make satisfaction for the sins of so many Answ How could father Adam being but one infect so many with original sin I hope you will grant that the second Adam was as well able to sanctifie as the first was to putrifie for though Christ was but one yet he was such a one as was greater and better then all and so able and sufficient to satisfie for all and to redeem all as well as he made all and the blood of such a one as Christ the son of God was of such an infinite value and price that it did surmount and surpass in dignity and worth all the souls in the world and his sufferings and merits were a sufficient satisfaction if intended and applyed to that end for to save so many worlds of men as there is men in the world Quest Did Christ fulfil the moral Law or ten commandments by his death Answ He did satisfie and perform for his people what the Law could require and exact from them and so became the end of the Law for righteousness or Justification to every one that believeth Rom. 10. 4. And so redeemed and freed them from the Curse of the Law Gal. 3. 13. By being made a Curse for them c. but it still remains in full force and vertue as a Rule of life as it is opened by Christ Mat. 5. There is some difference in the administration of it since Christs coming from the administration of it before his coming Quest Hath not Christ dyed for all men and tasted death for every man 2 Cor. 5. 15. 1 Tim. 2. 6. Answ The word All is not to be alwaies taken for every one for the word All hath many restrictions for this word All is very often taken in Scripture for all kinds as Paul exhorteth that supplication be made for all men that is some of all sorts and degrees as well Rulers as others 1 Tim. 2. 1. So it is said that Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians that is in all kind of wisdom so we read that Christ healed all diseases that is all manner of diseases All is sometimes restrained in Scripture to Gods peculiar people Christ saith I will draw all men to me John 12. 32. That is all men that the Father gave him John 6. 4 5. See Isa 54. 13. Again we read they shall be all taught of God not all the world sure but all Gods people Again I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh Acts 2. 7. These cannot be meant of all the wicked Again we read 1 Thess 2. 15. They please not God and are contrary to all men that is all good men Again we read Mat. 10. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake that is of all wicked men by which we may see how the word All is taken variously and therefore it is to be limited and determined to persons and things according as the text will bear and no otherwise and when as it is said he tasted death for every