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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77219	The afflicted and retired mans meditations, concerning the excellency of the spirit With a discovery of the twofold-mind; the danger of the one, the comfort and safety of the other. First, here is observed, what it is for to be carnally minded. Secondly, means to suppress a carnal frame of spirit. Thirdly, the dreadful state of a carnal minded man. Fourthly, how the spirit is a Christians help. Fifthly, means to obtain the spirit. Sixthly, the characters of a spiritualized Christian. Seventhly, the glorious priviledges of a spiritual minded man. And a few meditations by way of observation: with a dialogue between Christ and a sinner; Christ and a Christian; Christ and the afflicted person: as also, a word to the remnant of the womans seed: with a loud call to all saints, to love one another upon the account of son-ship, and not onely upon the account of fellowship. Written by Samuel Bradley, who hath love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, who prayes for Zions unity.	Bradley, Samuel.	1663 (1663)	Wing B4125B; ESTC R230878	75,596	102

The AFFLICTED and RETIRED Mans Meditations Concerning the EXCELLENCY of the SPIRIT With a Discovery of the Twofold-Mind the Danger of the one the Comfort and safety of the other First Here is observed what it is for to be Carnally minded Secondly Means to suppress a Carnal frame of Spirit Thirdly The dreadful state of a Carnal minded Man Fourthly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Fifthly Means to obtain the Spirit Sixthly The Characters of a Spiritualized Christian Seventhly The glorious Priviledges of a Spiritual minded Man And a few Meditations by way of Observation With a Dialogue between Christ and a Sinner Christ and a Christian Christ and the Afflicted Person As also a Word to the Remnant of the Womans Seed With a Loud Call to all Saints to Love one another upon the account of Son-ship and not onely upon the account of Fellowship Written by SAMUEL BRADLEY who hath Love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity who prayes for Zions Unity Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another Printed for the Author in the year 1663. TO THE Impartial Reader READER FOr the satisfaction of many or any who desire to follow the Lord Jesus in sincerity I am here engaged to write a small Epistle to the furtherance propagating and owning of this following Treatise wherein is contained and couched many glorious Truths which did concern all persons to look after in former Ages of the World but now more especially we that live in this last Age wherein Errors do abound and great Mistakes do arise in many whom I desire the Lord would be pleased to help to understand between Truth and Error by his own Spirit Mat. 22.29 which is the best Teacher in the world though at this day it is much slighted and little looked after by the sons of men Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest be pleased carefully to read and seriously consider this following Treatise with a single heart and eye 1 Chron. 12.33 Acts 2.46 and impartial affections then doubtless in the conclusion thou wilt not think thy time ill spent I do further desire that thou mayest daily search the Scripture and bring the things contained in the ensuing Treatise to the Touchstone of God's Word to the end thou mayest with the noble Bereans of old Acts 17 11. be enabled to discern between Truth and Error between Life and Death to know wherein thy Life lieth yea wherein it doth consist 1 Thes 5.21 and labour to be obedient unto that command Try all things and hold fast that which is good And also remember my dear Friend that the Bereans were counted more noble than them of Thessalonica they hearing the words of Paul which were cried up for strange Doctrine yea Heresie at that day they searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things Paul asserted and preached were truth or not Even so although many things herein contained may be counted rediculous or erroneous Yet courteous Reader let me desire thee to prove thy self a Berean in this matter Search the Scripture and see whether it be so or not Further my desire is that the Message may not be slighted by reason of the meanness of the Messenger but rather look upon him that sends this Message into the World observe when the great Men of the world have a Token to send unto a Friend they do not alwayes make use of rich great or noble Men to conveigh it but many times employ the meanest Servant of the family in that service to give out the token though it be never so rich a gift or pretious a jewel Rev. 17 14. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19 16. Heb. 12 25. So many times it is with the great God of Heaven and Earth who is the King of kings and Lord of lords he hath in this little Cabinet a token of his choice love for to present to you his friends nay further it is presented to you that are yet Enemies if you will but imbrace it the imbracing of it tends to Life the rejecting of it tends unto Death though sent by a mean servant and think it not strange if it be refused slighted or counted erroneous And you my Friend the Messenger be not discouraged in your labour for consider the best Doctrine the truest Doctrine the gloriest Tidings and rarest Sermon that ever was preached by the mouth of our dear Lord Jesus himself was by the Scribes and Pharisees rejected and also questioned where he had his Doctrine and said He had a Devil and was Mad. The blessed Apostle Paul was also counted and called a Pestilent fellow a teacher of strange Doctrines a Ringleader of Sectaries a Turner of the World upside down Acts 17 6. vers 18 Acts 24 14. and what not yet after that way which they called Heresy did this blessed Apostle worship the God of his Fathers believing all that was written Reader if in this little Treatise you meet with any thing doth not agree with the Word of God and the doctrine according to godliness after diligent search and due enquiry into the Scripture the pretious word of God renounce it as not worthy the owning or imbracing I shall speak by way of allusion to the noble Apostle in another case I do judge the Author hath the Spirit of God by which this ensuing Discource was penned I speak the truth of God I lie not Though true it is the dearest of Gods children are subject to miscarry yea many failings and temptations doth attend them and the Lord did formerly suffer the Author hereof in measure to fall yet through mercy not totally nor finally but he is recovered out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay and the Lord hath set him upon a rock Psal 40 2 3. and established his goings and put a new song into his mouth in making of him since instrumental in turning many souls to righteousness notwithstanding those foul Jer. 20.10 false and scandalous reports are gone forth concerning him yea many hard speeches thoughts have arisen not only from the world but from many who I hope Job 19.2 vers 3. vers 4. are the pretious Sons of Sion This one thing as one who doth tender the Cause of Christ and much honour the pretious Sons and Daughters of Sion do I beg of you Let no hard thoughts or evil reports any more take place in your affections without good enquiry of the same This I urge the more for that tender love I bear unto Christ and his Truths Cause Kingdom and People and I dare not speak or write more then I do know or can affirm concerning the Author Mark since

his Carnal Mind the deeper he falls into sin and the more he sins the higher he aggravates his misery and if his Carnal Mind is not changed and so leave him before Death seize on him the man is for ever undone without recovery Now all these things considered it should make us dread the thoughts of being Carnally minded So I proceed to the second Particular namely to lay down some Particular Helps which may with the Blessing of God prevent a Carnal frame of Heart The first Means to prevent a Carnal Frame of Heart First Soul wilt thou prevent a Carnal frame of Heart from seizing on thee Labour and likewise endeavour to get thy heart in Heaven whil'st thou art upon earth It is that which is much the concernment of a Christian to settle his Heart upon his Treasure Now where is a Christians Treasure but in Heaven therefore a Christians Heart should be in Heaven Oh! this was the Blessed Doctrine that flowed from the Lips of our dear Lord Jesus Where your Treasure is Luk. 12 34. there will your hearts be also It is usually seen in things Temporal that where mens Treasure is there is their Hearts as for example the Rich mans Treasure is his Riches where is the mans heart upon his Riches The Honourable mans Honour is his Treasure and his heart is upon it Another mans Treasure is his Pleasure and his Heart is setled there so a true Christians Treasure is in Christ and his heart is affected with none but Christ It was the Fathers pleasure to enrich his Son with the Treasure of Wisdom and Knowledge to the end that we might be enriched by him Col. 2.3 For of his fulness shall we all receive Grace for Grace Do we live by him and shall we not be in love with him Joh. 1.16 Shall all our comforts and special enjoyments of Grace and Happiness flow from him and shall not we live to him Shall Dear Jesus protect us and also bless us with Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places and shall we not own him to be our Soveraign Lord the King Oh! shall Christ manifest love to us and shall we manifest unkindness unto him Shall Christ set his Heart upon us and shall we set out Hearts upon any besides him Oh! shall Dear Jesus be willing to give Royal entertainment to us and shall we be unfree for to entertain him Oh! what an unbecoming frame is this that the Lord of Life shall vouchsafe for to stoop unto us and what shall we not bow unto him Shall the Prince of Darkness have entertainment by us and shall not the Prince of Peace have room in out Hearts What Soul is Christ free to die that thou mayest live and wilt not thou live to him that died for thee If this should be true doth it not plainly appear our Hearts are not where they should be on Christ a Christians Treasure Soul learn to live more in the sence of his Love to thee and then it will grieve thee that he is not more loved by thee labour to keep in remembrance the excellency of his love Rom. 8.32 Ho 14 4. Jer. 31.3 the freeness of his Grace the fulness of his Bowels and Affection and the everlastingness of his kindness towards thee and then see whether or no he will not be the object of thy love and delight continually To get our hearts in Heaven will conduce much to the weaning of our hearts off from the Earth The more we exercise our thoughts upon Heaven and Heavenly things the more we shall loath those things that are Carnal Yea the more we exercise our minds upon those things that are Spiritual the less we shall mind the things that are Carnal and the more we set our affections on things that are above the less we shall affect the things beneath In a word Soul wouldst thou enjoy more the Spiritual and less of the Carnal mind Labour for to carry thy self a stranger to that which is a stranger to Christ and be not a companion for those that will not keep company with Christ The second Means to prevent the Carnal Mind If thou wouldst be set free or delivered from a Carnal Frame of Heart exercise thy self then in those things that tend much unto the Honour of God Prov. 3.9 1 Sam. 2.20 1 Thes 4.4 Study more the Honour of God than thy own good let God be Honoured by thee what ever becomes of thee If thou wouldest have thy Heart kept from a Carnal Frame be active for God labour for to promote the Works of Holiness let every opportunity be improved for Christ and let our works be so managed that in what we do let us propound unto our selves such aims and ends that may tend to the advancing of the Name and Glory of Christ Jer. 13.16 Acts 12 23. 1 Cor. 1.31 that it may evidently appear to the view of all that our minds in such proceedings are not Carnal If we would Honour God in what we would do for God let nothing be attributed unto the creature but let us set the Crown upon the Head of Christ If any thing be done that savours of the Spiritual Mind know that it is Gods own Work and Stamp in thy Soul therefore ascribe all Glory to him are we redeemed from the Carnal Mind in any measure the work of the flesh or the old Nature then here is no cause of boasting for us For it is not by Works of Righteousnesse that we have done but according unto his mercy he hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit which is richly shed on us Tit. 3.5 6. through Jesus Christ our Lord. So that God hath left nothing to feed the Carnal Mind with but if we have any thing to Glory in it is in the Free and Rich Grace of God in Christ for it is by his Grace that we are justified and not by our works Tit. 3.7 It is by the Grace of God in Christ we become Heirs according to the Hope of Eternal Life It doth much tend unto the Glory of God and the preventing of the Carnal Mind to give that Honour to Christ that is due unto him and then it will appear that we so do when we can lay our own Righteousoness or what ever it is that we can call ours at the Foot of Christ and be found in him not having our own Righteousness which is by the Law Phil. 3.9 and to be found in the Righteousness of God by Faith Oh! this is that which tends to the Glory of God when we thus advance Christ and make him the top of our Glory and not our own Righteousness yea this is that which is a great means to prevent the Carnal Mind The third Means to prevent a Carnal Frame of Heart Thi●●ly The third Means by which we may prevent a Carnal Frame of Heart is For to fix our eyes upon Spiritual Objects

their hands it much prevents them of their Spiritual gain whereby they should become Servants unto God and bring forth the fruits of Holiness whose end tends unto Everlasting Life Holiness is a Commodity in high estimation with such who are in any measure set free from the first Nature which is a State of sin and Everlasting Life is the Fruit of Holiness and the portion of a Spiritual Minded Christian The third Priviledge of a Christian Thirdly Such as are Spiritual are such as live a hidden Life and descerned by none but such as are truly Spiritual That a Christians life is a hidden life observe the Words of the Apostle For ye are dead Col. 3.3 speaking of such whose affections were in Heaven and your life is hid with Christ in God The Spiritualized Christians life is secured you may as well harm the Lord Jesus as harm his Life Let the enemy do what he can he cannot hurt him yea though you put him to death he shall yet live yea at a better rate then ever Lu. 12.33 and though you take from him all his Treasure without doubt his best Treasure cannot be taken from him that let the enemie do what he will unto the Spiritual Christian he receives no hurt or dammage for his life is secured in the hand of a Friend Heb. 13 5. that will never leave him nor forsake him It is a Christians Mercy that their Treasure comes another way out of the reach of the enemy This truth is confirmed upon Record for so saith the Apostle 1 John 5 11. This is the Record That God hath given unto us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son By this you see a Christian is safe enough and if we can but make Christ our Friend we need not fear who ever is our enemy and this is the comfort of a Spiritual Christian Psal 23 1. he shall have his portion that is appointed unto him by Christ it shall be given who is chief Executor by the Fathers appointment our dear Lord will be very ready to give every Child his dew our Lord will also be very careful to set a guard over sin and Satan that they may not rob the Children of their portion Rom. 6.14 and the Spiritual Christian will often give our Lord a visit at the Throne for his Portion now our true knowledge of what we are or what we have in Christ it is by the help of the Spirit of Christ And we know that the Son of man is come 1 Joh. 5.20 and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true Mark and we are in him that is true even in his Son Jesus Christ this is the True God and Eternal Life Mark this I pray That true saving and sanctifying knowledge is the Pretious gift of Jesus Christ that whatever we have of this kind comes in the way of a gift from God You may further observe that as Christ is said to be in us Christ in you the Hope of Glory so we are here said to be in him That there is no parting of Christ and a Christian This mistery the Carnal Man sees not neither indeed can he see it the Reason is Because the Natural Man receives or discerns not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 because they are foolishness unto him He sees not the Glory and Excellency that is in the things of Christ neither indeed can he know them because they are spiritually discerned and the truth is they are out of his reach He that is Spiritual 1 Cor. 2.15 discerneth all things yet he himself is discerned of no man He is led by the help of the Spirit to a sight of Christ and a taste of the choice things of God but the Carnal man is a stranger to such concernments Mark this makes a Christians life a hidden life because he cannot be seen by the Carnal Man nor is he discerned by him so God in his Wisdom carries a Spiritual Man out of the reach of a Carnal Man that let him do what he will in his Cain-like Spirit he cannot come near him Gen. 4.8 nor find him out or touch his Life And this is the Priviledge of a Christian The fourth Priviledge of a Christian Fourthly To be Spiritually Minded is to know Christ's Birth and such know Christ to be a Prince of Peace The Evangelical Prophet Isaiah doth prophesie choicely of our Lord Jesus For unto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given Isa 9.6 the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Mark to know Christ born is good but to know Christ given to us is better to know Christ a Saviour is that which doth Administer that to us which is good Oh! the Knowledge of Christ given by the Father for us should much ingage us to give up our selves to Christ First Because when Christ shall Reign as King Phil. 3.10 thou shalt Reign with him Secondly Because Christ is a rare Counsellor that will counsel thee here and plead thy Cause for thee hereafter who is Wonderful in Counsel there is none can or will state the cause for the good of the poor sinner as Christ will he will not onely state thy cause but plead thy cause when he hath done Pro. 22.23 and bring thee off with Honour at the last Day Oh! give up thy self to him and put thy cause into his Hand for he is a friend that will never fail thee worth the owning and esteeming Oh! set an high esteem upon him therefore Thirdly He is the Mighty God alass all the ●ods of the Earth are but Idols unto him Fourthly He will be thy Everlasting Father as he is the Everlasting Father one that will not cast thee off nor turn thee out of his favour upon every thrifle Heb. 13 5. but will have a special care of thee Fifthly Give up thy self to Christ because he is the Prince of Peace a Prince that will produce Peace to thy soul one who doth excel in virtue Oh! give up thy self to him and be contented for to live under his Power Dominion and Government for he will have no Government but that which is right and good Then Peace shall be in thy Borders and quietness in all thy Dwellings for he is a Prince of Peace The fifth Priviledge of a Christian Fifthly Such as are Spiritually Minded are Peace-makers and such are the Children of God and shall be blessed of God The Carnal Mind breaks a Christians Peace and so becomes a Peace-breaker but the Spirit makes up a Christians Peace again so he is a Peace-maker and lives under the Blessing Our dear Lord in his Sermon on the Mount published this Truth from his own Mouth Mat. 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Oh!

the work of repentance has been wrought in his Soul I am one that have had very much familiar acquaintance with him with whom I do and for some season have walked in the Faith and Order of the Gospel and I hope in sincerity of heart I speak it I have not I say since the work of repentance was manifested known any thing but his Conversation his Life his Behaviour namely his whole Conversation is as becomes the Gospel of Jesus Christ And that he hath made it his whole work at all opportunities to propagate the Gospel to be instructing building up and helping forward of poor sinners in the pretious ways of dear Jesus and what he could not do by way of publick Preaching he hath laid hold of an opportunity by way of Writing not desiring to hide his talent in a napkin Further Reader know our lot is fallen in this last age of the world upon whom the ends of the earth is come in which the hour of temptation shall be which shall try all them that dwell upon the earth Rev. 2.10 Therefore 't is not a day for Ephraim to vex Judah nor Judah to vex Ephraim but every one of us in our places to meditate on the Royal Law of Love Jam. 2.8 and very profitable will it be for us to be looking into the Prophecies of the last times and to be learning of obedience that being fore-warned we may be fore-armed against the storm comes for who may abide when he appears Mal. 3.2 Rev. 14.1 but such who have been the faithful followers of the Lamb and they alone shall come to enjoy that glorious Paradise that was lost by our transgression in the first Adam and shall be restored again by the Lord Jesus into the primitive glory at his second and glorious appearance and Kingdom which God the Father will give unto his Son Jesus which is the man from Heaven whose heavenly Paradise will far exceed the Paradise of the Earth and be far more glorious it is that New Jerusalem the Wals thereof are garnished with all manner of pretious stones the Streets thereof are pure gold Rev. 21 18 19. as transparent glass which Paradise shall not be of the Earth nor from the Earth nor of a carnal mind as is shewn by the Author in this Book and yet it shall be placed upon the Earth for Rev. 21.2 Heb. 11 10. It shall come down out of Heaven from God being that City which the faithful Patriarchs look for which has a foundation whose builder and maker is God and it shall be the glorious habitation of Christ in the day of his reign The sight of this City by faith in the Promises of God made the holy men of old to acknowledge themselves to be but strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth and to seek a better Country ver 37 40. Heb. 11 24 25 26. It was that glorious Inheritance that Moses saw when he slighted Pharaoh's royal Court and Daughter choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the Lords People here than for to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and so come short of the Inheritance hereafter From hence Observe That those who will follow God here must look for their Reward hereafter For our blessed Lord saith Behold I come quickly Rev. 22 12. and my reward is with me to give to every man as his work shall be Therefore one word unto the World to poor sinners for my Lord and Master had a tender love to such The time would fail me to tell you what he underwent for you who wept over Jerusalem saying Oh that thou hadst known in this thy day the things belonging unto thy peace Luk. 19 42. Sinner through grace it is yet thy day England it is yet thy day London it is yet thy day It is yet your day Rulers Oh that you would be perswaded to begin to learn those things that belong to your peace Ma. 3.2 break off your sins by repentance for it belongs to your peace Kiss the Son least he be angry with you for it belongs unto your peace Beg of God to give you faith in the Promises for it belongs to your peace For being justified by faith Ro. 5.1 we have peace with God Come learn obedience to Christ for it belongs to your peace Leave off breaking up the Meetings of the Saints and persecuting of them for it belongs to your peace Break off the banishment imprisoning and hard using of the People of God Isa 1.16 for it belongs to your peace Wash you make you clean and put away the evil of your doings cease from all these evils from blaspheming swearing reproaching and learn to do well for it belongs to your peace for God will reckon with you for it 'T will not be long before it be hid from your eyes and then you will call Prov. 1.24 25 26. but God will not hear you shall cry but God will not answer but will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh as desolation Therefore be invited to come and embrace the Lord Jesus and the Lord give you understanding in what is here presented or enclosed and in all the truths of God for you here will read what it is to be Carnally Minded Ro. 8.7 and how such as live in the Carnal Mind must never expect to live with Christ therefore examine try and learn to know how to be Spiritually Minded which will produce Eternal Life with Christ in that Kingdom here treated on and in the Father's Kingdom to all Eternity Which is the desire of him who is the meanest in God's House the lowest of all Saints yet through grace a lover of Righteousness and a friend to Zion and a well-wisher to all Truth a Brother to all that love Christ in sincerity John Glyde The 16th day of the 11th Month 1662. To all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and who desire to be Faithful followers of the Lamb Grace Mercy and true Peace be multiplyed Dearly beloved in the Lord AMong many of the Providential appearances of the Lord to me I judge this to be none of the least that I should speak by Epistle in Print which was the least of my thoughts Surely Saints the Lord is about to speak when he opens the mouths of Babes and Sucklings Psalm 8.2 And seeing God hath put this opportunity into my Hand I shall endeavour to deal Faithfully between God and you and my own soul And so I shall crave your patience to consider three or four things which the Lord hath put into my Heart to commend to your consideration Me-thinks I hear the Lords people speaking in the Language of them in Isa 21.11 Watchmen What of the Night Give me leave to whisper among you O ye Saints among the loud cry of your Watchmen that the Lord speaks at this Day four-fold that is to say four things God speaks to be our work