vertues to rule the heart and affections Secondly vertues regulating a mans words and actions Wee must seeke how to governe these in a way of duty and vertue But then againe for our severall conditions I shall name two more which will comprehend all that I desire First vertues to regulate every age and sex the particulars are men and women young and old every sex and age Secondly vertues for the ordering of every state and condition rich or poore learned or unlearned and in proportion to order us in every severall state and condition in affliction and prosperitie And these are the second branch of the first of those specials that are recommended two speciall vertues required in respect of our severall conditions as there were two before in respect of our severall parts But now in regard of our severall states and relations in which men are there be foure more The first two of which are to order us in a more private way The second two to regulate us in a more publique way As wee are single persons living in a solitary life there are morall ethicall vertues which must order our conversation suitable to the rule of dutie And then as we are publique persons in a family these are oeconomicall vertues to order families in the particular relations thereof husband wife parents children masters servants guests and hoasts There be ethicall vertues and oeconomicall vertues for the ordering of a more private way And when we come more publique to bee parts of a greater community there must bee vertues for that Now there may bee a double community which we may live in and in which we should have vertues to carry our selves as we ought to doe in such places There is a community Ecclesiasticall a Church society and body And there is a community Politicall and Civill and there are suitable vertues required to carry our selves as members of these bodies either Ecclesiasticall or Politicall There remaines now only the second branch of things to be done and practised viz. the helpes We have gone through the duties generall and particular I shall in a word recommend in the last place those things that I comprehended under the name of helps to the performance of duty And they are either More generall and publique or More particular and private The more publique helpes are the due and conscientious use of the ordinances of God appointed as First hearing of the word And second receiving of the sacrament And the due observation of times instituted by God and constituted by him First the observation of the Lords day in its continuall course Secondly of Fasts in a Christian way These are the more publique helpes and yet there may be some relation to privatenesse in these But now more privately as a mans face is towards God or As a mans face is towards the world there are helpes for those duties As we must labour to converse with God or as we must converse with men which way soever we turne our faces there may be and are helps for the ordering of our life in both Now the helpe in private in regard of a mans converse with God are First diligent reading and meditation upon the Word of God and divine truths Secondly another part of our communion with God is the continuall exercise of prayer and thanksgiving Then as wee stand in relation towards the world and are conversant in the world there be two other helpes First the conscientious use and improvement of the communion of Saints Second our fidelity and conscientious cariage in our particular vocations where there will be many other things But in all those the maine will be how all these may be done that they may be most usefull in the advancing of a most christian course in the use of the Word and Sacrament and Sabbaths and fastings and reading and meditation and prayer and thanksgiving and the communion of Saints and the conscientiousnesse in a mans vocation I say how wee may doe all these so as they may be most usefull to further us in the way of duty These are the more generall helps There are some more particular according to the particular cases of men I will propound but foure maine cases to which I will reduce all the rest First some things to helpe a man in the ingresse into the way of Religion I am faine to make a word or two for memories sake Secondly in the aggresse Thirdly in the congresse Fourthly in the progresse You shall see more plainly what I meane by and by There be helpes to bring a man that is not yet in a way of godlinesse to come into it Wherein the principall thing will be the due examination of what is the right way and a mans owne estate whether he be in that way or no and that being made cleare we must consider the helps that will put a man on to resolve on the entry into that way and to use the helpes that may set him upon it to enter it which is the ingresse or entrance Secondly in the aggresse or setting upon a Christian course there will come in helpes and directions how to lead a holy life and dye a holy death how to order a mans time and mannage his dayes and houres in Christian and holy courses so that he may both in life and death carry himselfe as becomes a Christian and be in such a state as a Christian may be that is for the aggresse or setting upon the worke Then thirdly in the congresse wherein is to be treated of our spirituall warfare helps to direct us to carry our selves in time of distresse of conscience and in matter of Satans temptations which every Christian more or lesse will have and meet withall Lastly in the progresse helpe for perseverance how to hold out in daily proficiency and perpetuall perseverance to the end These are all the heads whereof There are foure in the porch and frontispice and foure times twelve in the pile and edifice the rest of the building Twelve generals concerning things to bee knowne and beleeved of God and man in generall And twelve concerning God and man in particular according to their particular states And twelve for matters of life duties to be performed And twelve helps that are to be used to help us in the performance of those duties And thus you have the whole building and according to the words of our text an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or a forme of sound and wholsome words FINIS SER. I. Doctrine The Object Generally propounded Words Sound and wholsome Words For the Substance of matter Soundnesse of Vse Soundnesse of manner A form of sound words The matter intirely collected Method aptly digested The speciall circumscription of the Object Divine truths Fundamentall truths The summe of them is Christ The parts are faith and love Summe of all is Christ Parts are Faith apprehensive Love active SERM. II. Act Have them The copy of them Written Printed The originall laid up in the Understanding Memory Affection Keepe them Patronize thē with Best abilities couragiously Authority cautiously Practise them sincerely fruitfully and constantly Propagate them seriously by planting watering Manner as A sacred Depositum A choice treasure The Persons Paul Timothy Every Christian Proofe By Scripture Examples Testimonies Reason Necessity Utility A Band of Verity Vnity Vnanimity Heresie To crontroversies A key of understanding A locke of memory A helpe of use to Profit by others To be profitable to others Application Generall Iustification of observers of this rule Persons whether Paul Timothy or the Church Manner whetherby Publik Creeds Confessions Private writings for Vnlearned in Catechismes Learned in a Body of Divinity Reprehension of Perfidiousnesse Negligence Folly Exhortation to The Church To take care For learners Children Youngmen Fathers Caution Let it be Choyce Close Charitable Changeable Ministers to Expound Expectation Dogmaticall Historicall truths Private Christians Force to duty Fear no difficulty SER. III Premise Generalls Nothing Perfect For matter Or Method But in away Prudentially Any forme is Tolerable though Indifferent this is Different Comprehensive Not pleasant Frontispice Happinesse True Religion True Church Scriptures Edifice Things to be knowne and beleeved Concerning God His nature Unity of essence Trinity of persons Works of God Kindes and species of them Creation Providence Objects of them Reasonable creature Angels Good Bad. Man Immortality of soule Conscience Things fundamentally premised Covenant Seales of them Law Sanctions Things formally considered Principles of human actions Grace of God· Our free will The fruits that grow from these Good workes Sins or evill workes Things particularly to be knowne concerning God and man In regard of the different states of men Substantially different State of innocency Of the fall Circumstantially different State of grace Under the old Testament Under the new Severall acts of God Perfecting our salvation From the state of sin to grace by acts Fundamentall by purpose Predestination Reprobation Redemption By purchase Formall Vocation effectuall Iustification actuall From grace to glory Incoate Sanctification priviledges Gubernation exercises Consummate Resurrection Iudgement Glorification Condemnation Life to be done and practised Duties to be performed by the strength of grace Generall Primary and predominant in duties to God and man Vertues Theologicall Philadelphicall Secondary and concomitant vertues Cardinall Circumstantiall Speciall Regulating our lives in the Parts Heart Affections Words Actions Conditions in respect of Sex Age Estate Condition States and relations More private In a single and solitary life Vertuess Ethicall More publique in a family Oeconomicall In a greater community Ecclesiasticall Politicall Helps to be used in Universall conversation Publique meanes Hearing the word Receiving the Sacrament Times Sabbath Fasting Private towards God Contemplative Reading Meditation Prayer Thanksgiving Towards man Active Communion of Saints Particular vocation Particular condition In the ingresse Examination Resolution Aggresse Holy life Death Congresse Spirituall warfare Progresse Perseverance
I say I have ever apprehended would be a very good way and of very much use and purpose Now you shall finde that all the doctrines belonging either to speculative Divinity and to searching Divinity in the Schooles or else to practise Divinity I say you shall finde more of them as I conceive in this platform that I shall now suggest than in any that I yet saw to which premising only one thing more I shall come I premise therefore and I hope that no man will expect or thinke that I presume I shall prosecute it but only I desire to discharge my duty according to that measure of strength and life that the Lord shall vouchsafe me which makes me doe that I now intend viz. to give you a briefe delineation of all But I desire you not to expect that this can bee done with any mixture of pleasure or that it will be over easie or over facile to apprehend only I shall now run briefly thorow the whole as if a man should present you with the Scelleton or body of a man without either skin or flesh there is no beauty or pleasantnesse in such a sight yet there are all the substantials whereof the body is made there are the bones that are the very upholders of the fabricke of the body or as it was in the case of Ezekiels vision when he was carried into a field where there was nothing but dry bones there was no beauty in that sight but the beauty was afterward when those bones began to stir and move and came every one to their place and did close up with the flesh and the spirit of life came on them then it was a beautifull sight So now here in the meere naked demonstration of the thing you must not looke neither indeed is it propounded with that apprehension that it should be very delightfull or that there should be any thing in it to move that way but rather meerly for the profit of it because it may be a good guide for the comprehending and going on with through all As if a man be in a journey and hath his compasse with him by which he may know where he is it is but only for profit and therefore I hope men will beare with that dispense with the other viz. pleasantnesse though it seeme but rough to propound meerly naked bones without any beauty or comelinesse Now briefly to present the frame that I am to goe through I told you that long agoe I made the frame and then I intended to make the frame so to order it so as to bring it within the compasse of fifty two heads that is one for every Lords day in the yeare or if a man would make briefer dispatch of it hee might take two or foure heads at a time and so goe through the whole in lesse time I shall propound it the same way There be but two things by which I shall make the division of the modell or frame 1. There is first of all a frontispice or porch and Secondly there is the fabricke it selfe the whole pile and edifice There be foure things which I desire to propound in the very porch and frontispice in the entrance into all the matters of Religion and things to be knowne because they are of generall importance and use as being the very first and most sensible inquiries that will bee made in the entry into this profession The two former of them lay downe to us the marke that we should aime at The two latter the line or rule by which we must levell at that marke 1. The first inquiry will be concerning happinesse which is the very end and scope to which all that we are taught in the matters of Divinity even all the whole scope of Divinity tends that whereas there be severall arts and vocations in the world for the maintenance of this temporall life Divinity is that art which directs us in the way to get and attaine eternall life and to the true happinesse of a man all the lines of Divinity meet in that center and nothing is taught but for that and therefore this will be the first inquiry wherein the true happinesse of a man lyes And to omit the particulars that will be in that the resolution and upshot of that inquiry will come to this which will draw in the second that 2. However mens thoughts wander about their happinesse yet all the world cannot effect it neither the quintessence of any nor the concurrence of all these worldly things can make a man a happy man the only happinesse that is true and reall is only in our conjunction with God which is attainable only by our knowing worshipping and serving of God according to the true religion which is the upshot of this first inquirie and leads to the second generall thing in the porch And that is the true Religion the first inquirie is of the true happinesse the second is of the true religion But now there be many Religions in the world I will briefly name them There is the heathen religion which doth not acknowledge the true God but worship a false god There is the Iewish religion which acknowledgeth the true God and therefore differs from the heathen but doth not acknowledge him in Christ There is the Mahumetane religion which acknowledgeth the true God and acknowledgeth Christ too but doth not acknowledge Christ as the Messias and Saviour but subordinate to their Mahumet and therefore false in that And lastly there is the Christian Religion and so the upshot of all is there is no other religion true but the Christian religion which is professed in the true Church of God 3. And that leads mee to the third thing in the inquiry The first was wherein lyeth true happinesse the next what is the true religion which will lead to this happinesse and because that is said to be in the Church of God therefore the next inquiry will be which is the true Church of God There be many pretenders to the true Church there is a Greeke Church a great and large Church that professeth the doctrine of Christ there is the Romane Church that professeth Christ there be many other by-slips of Christians as Anabaptists Separatists and all kindes of sects and schismes which all professe Christ But it is none of these not the Greeke Church nor the Romane Church nor any other sect but there is a Church of the Protestants consisting of Lutherans and Calvinists and this will bee the upshot of the inquiry that the Church of God which are either Lutherans or Calvinists though different in some opinions yet both of them are within the compasse of that which is to bee acknowledged the true Church of God and the issue of this inquiry will be How wee may understand and come to descerne which is the true Church and the answer is by their adherence to the Scriptures 4. Which is the fourth head
Church fruitfull to you beneficial to any I shall rejoyce my prayers shal be for their successe and for your happinesse Yours in the service of your Faith A. B To the Christian Reader CHRISTIAN READER ACcept I pray thee from the hands of one of the meanest of the sons of the Prophets this insuing Treatise I know it might have been tendered unto thee by the hands of some more eminently learned and better known in the Church on whose judgment thou mightest more safely have reposed thy self yet well knowing the worth of it to be such as that it will discover it self I rather choose to let my meannesse appear than not to perform the debt I owe to the memory of the Reverend Author I am not ignorant that this undertaking of mine together with the Sermons themselves will be exposed to many censures some there are whom no Sermon pleaseth longer than it is in hearing or otherwise than it is extant in their own broken notes but these forget that respect should he had unto the publike good there are many precious labours of godly men that are not fit to vanish into the air or to be buried in obscurity Others take offence at the imperfection of them because not left written by the Author but onely taken from his mouth I confesse if the Author had published them himself they would have come forth more refined and better digested than now they do yet the good they may thus do prevails more for the sending of them forth than some imperfections that usually accompany the taking of other mens Sermons may do to suppresse them If my judgmâ—nt fail me not there is so much compleatnesse in them as that though the Author might have uttered Plura more in lines yet be could not have said Plus more in substance and effect to any point that he hath handled Others will except against them and accuse them as Lucilius did the writings of Fabianus Papyrius because they are so plain to such I shall in the behalf of the Author borrow that Apologie that Seneca made for him Mores ego non verba composui animis praedicavi non auribus Epist. 100. They are indeed so plain as that the simple may understand them and yet not so unpolished as that the friendly and judiciously curious may scorn them what is here presented to thee is expressed in the Authors own words without adding to them or detracting from them as well as it could be taken from his mouth it is published by and compared with the exactest copies that could be gotten The methodicall Analysis prefixed before the Sermons was left under the Authors own hand as it is here tendred unto thee though he did for the most part write all in Latine yet this Analysis was left in English which you have inserted in the Margent answerable to the severall particulars treated on Let not any prejudice forestall thee I shall onely say unto thee as Philip to Nathaniel Come and see reade and consider and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Thine in the service of the LORD A. B. The ANALYSIS Of the Chapter and of the Observations as it was made by the Author and left under his own hand for the help of memory 2 TIMOTHY 1.13 1. Analysis 1 Generall 1 Of the Epistle 1 Circumstances of 1 Persons written 1 To Timothy 2 By Paul 2 Time 1 During bands 2 Before dissolution 2 Substantiall scope 2 Of the Chapter 1 Entrance 1 Salutation vers. 2. 2 Introduction contains his love 1 Great proved by 1 Prayer for him 1 Night and day 2 Without ceasing 3 With thanksgiving 2 Desire to see him 4. 2 Grounded approved from his 1 Tender love to Paul tears 4. 2 True faith to God 5. 1 Lineall 2 Cordiall 3 Growing improved to impart by writing 1 Scope Sum 6. Stir up grace 2 Reason 7. Given for courage 2 Continuation where a double 1. Admonition Be thou not 1 Negative 8. pressed from 1 Nature of Gospel 9 10 1 Ashamed of 1 Testimony 2 Mee 2 Afraid 2 Condition of Paul his 1 Cause of suffering 11 12. 2 Confidence 12. 2 Affirmative 1 Hold 13. 2 Keep 14. 2 Provocation from example of 1 Inconstant Deserters 15. 2 Constant Adhaerers propounded with Prayer Praises 1 First 1 Prays mercie to houshold 16. 2 Praises 1 Charity 2 Constancie 3 Zeal 16 17. 2 Second 18. 2 Speciall 1 Prays mercie to soul 2 Praises ancient kindnesse 2 Observation It is a matter of great consequence for all to have and keep a form of sound and wholsome words in the grounds of Religion as a sacred depositum and rich treasure 1 Explication 1 Proposition 1 Object in 1 Generall 1 Words 2 Wholsome for 1 Substance of matter 1 Truth 2 Use â— Form of words 3 Form 1 Matter intirely collected 2 Method aptly digested 2 Speciall 1 Divine 2 Fundamentall 1 Summe Christ 2 Parts 1 Faith apprehensive 2 Love active 2 Act 1 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} have them 1 Written 2 Printed 1 Copy of them 2 Originall laid up in treasure of 1 Memory 2 Understanding 3 Affection 2 {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} keep them 1 Patronize with 1 Ability Cautiously 2 Authority Couragiously 2 Practise sincerely 1 Fruitfully 2 Constantly 3 Propagate seriously by 1 Planting 2 Watering 3 Manner as a 1 Sacred depositum {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 2 Choice treasure {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} 4 Persons 1 Paul 2 Timothy 3 Christian 2 Proof 1 Scripture 1 Examples 1 All the Epistles 2 Hebrews 6.1 2 Testimonies 2 Reason 1 Necessity 1 Rom. 12.6 2 Tim. 2.15 3 1 Pet. 3.15 4 Rom. 6.17 2 Utility 1 Band of Unity Verity 2 Bar against Heresie Controversies 3 Key of Understanding 4 Lock of Memory 5 Help of Use to 1 Profit by others 2 Profit others 2 Application 1 Generall 1 Justification of observers of this Rule 1 Persons with other 2 Manner wherefore by 1 Paul 2 Timothy 3 Church 1 Publick 1 Creeds 2 Confessions 2 Private writings for 1 Unlearned catechists 2 Learned bodies 3 Reason 1 Fidelity 2 Zeal 3 Wisdom 2 Reprehension of the 1 Perfidiousnesse 2 Negligence 3 Folly 3 Exhortation to 1 Church 1 Care provide for 2 Caution let it be 1 Learners 1 Children 2 Yongmen 3 Fathers 2 Teachers 1 Choice 2 Close 3 Charitable 4 Changeable 2 Ministers 1 Expound 1 Historicall Truths 2 Dogmaticall Truths 2 Expatiate 3 Christians 1 Force to duty 2 Fear not difficulty 2 Particular 1 Generals 1 Promise nothing 1 Perfect for both 1 Matter 1 Prudentiall 2 Tolerable 3 Indifferent 4 Different 5 Comprehensive 2 Method but in a way 2 Pleasant 3 Particular of Divinity 1 Too Scholasticall 2 Comprehended already 2 Desire of 1 God 2 You. 2 Specials 1 Instruction 4 Truths 2 Errors 3 Doctr 2 Expedition 1 Whole work 2 A point a day An exact Systeme of Divinity PRESENTING 1 A Porch or Frontispice premising
is committed to the Church of God than those divine truths that God hath been pleased to reveal and commit unto us they are such as the glory of God depends on them and the salvation of a man depends on them two of the most important things the Church nay that the World hath and therefore we should keep them as we have respect to the glory of God or as we tender our own salvation which is more than our lives I I say Gods glory and our salvation which is much more than our lives is committed to our trust when those Divine truths are deposited with us 4. The Persons that are obliged that is the last thing to be explained whom this injunction concernes Here is but one directly expressed and that is Timothy but yet we may extend it and that with good analogy and upon good ground and reason further as 1. Paul he must have a care of it of keeping of it himself and committing it to the care of others and stirring up and provoking others It concernes Paul they that are highest and most principall in the Church it concernes them principally and originally that they should have a care of them they should be the the first wheels the primum mobile that set all the others on work and have a grand care of keeping this depositum 2. All Timothies all the ministers of Gods Word who are Gods {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} his dispencers his stewards and whom God hath reposed speciall trust in It is committed to their care in an especiall manner and they should looke to it 3. The whole Church of God and every Christian as this is a depositum though committed personally to some yet not meerly for their personall good but for a publique and an universall good Divine truths and the integrity and purity and soundnesse of them is a thing that concernes not only though chiefly the Ministers but it concernes the whole Church of God and all Gods people that they should be preserved without violation without contamination being given for a publique good and the publique good of all and every one in particular depending on it so that it concerns all and every one in their places Thus of the explication 2. The Proofe I shall come now briefly so farre as the point will extend and the thing bee requisite and convenient to demonstrate and prove the truth of it and then to descend to the application as farre as will concerne my present scope First of all premising this that I shall not endeavour no not so much as meddle with the proofe of every particular or presse the confirmation of every particular contained in the explication as being not so requisite but to carry the maine summe of the point We see this to be a cleere and a divine truth that it is the duty of all especially Ministers whom God hath especially intrusted to look to the preservation of the purity of a forme of sound doctrine of sound and wholsome words we may see it I say 1. By Scripture and 2. By ground of reason 1. Out of Scripture besides this place wherein it is punctually and fully expressed and no wonder because the injunction belongs in a more especial manner unto Ministers and there being not in many places this charge committed and particularly directed to them but in this Epistle of Paul to Timothy wherein it is principally set downe but yet it is divers times repeated in Scripture And I shall give some other places which warrant the same thing 1. The Apostles recommend this to us by their owne example I will give but one generall instance in that kinde and one particular The generall instance of the duty is this you shall finde that almost every Epistle of Paul and in some proportion it is observable in all the rest of the Epistles I say almost in every Epistle there is an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} i. e. there is a delineating a drawing of a platforme of wholsome words according to the substance that is here mentioned and according to this object faith and love For all matters of religion are matters of faith or matters of love in the practice and exercise of faith and this is commended to us in all the Epistles the former part and the greater part of all the Epistles is to deliver matters of faith to rectifie mens judgements and season them rightly with the knowledge of divine truths necessary to salvation and the latter part of the Epistles is to descend to practicall duties to the fruits of faith in the matters of love which is the compasse of all Christian duty And amongst others that first Epistle of all is to this purpose which was not placed first for order of time because first written nor so much for the order of dignity because the Romanes were the principall people in the world it is not therefore I say placed first of all the Epistles but because it containes this more fully and expresseth a form of sound and wholsome words there doctrines of faith and duties of life that issue and flow from faith as fruits of it are more cleerly distinguished and more fully expressed than in any other although it is in some sort in all Now besides this generall instance I shall give but one particular instance and that is in Hebr. 6.1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the beginning or principles of the doctrine of Christ let us be led forward to perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance unto dead workes and of faith towards God There is expressed both what the principles are and what that same forme of sound or wholsome words is the doctrine of Baptisme as in the next verse laying on of hands resurrection from the dead There are some few heads repeated which are as milke for babes the forme of sound words which are at least for beginners in the first beginnings and rudiments of Christianity and those that are the first points in religion The Apostle gives for babes a form of catechising a forme of sound and wholsome words And there is intimated in that place that as there is a shorter and briefer forme of sound and wholsome words for a manuduction or entrance to beginners so there must bee a larger fuller forme and more compleat that did extend farther and comprehend more in the knowledge of Religion and the things that belong to it for those that are come to more perfection and ripenesse of yeares 2. But besides these examples there be divers testimonies which seeme to ayme at the same thing I will mention two or three In Rom. 12.6 the Apostle there begins to direct every one for the discharge of their duties in their severall places in the Church according to the right manner and among the rest the rule that is given for those that are Ministers called there in a generall sense of the
word Prophets he saith Let him that prophesieth prophesie according to the analogy of faith {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I know there may bee some disputes what may be the true and exact meaning of the analogy of faith For present I take that which is not contemptible nor from a contemptible author viz. Calvins interpretation which is that by faith is meant there the prime and fundamentall axioms of faith the fundamentall truths of Religion and all doctrines that are delivered in the Church must hold analogy hold proportion with those prime and fundamentall truths which are the forme of sound and wholsome words by which al other must be regulated and squared that they may hold analogy and proportion with that And in this same Epistle the next Chap. 2.15 he saith Study to approve thy selfe to God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth now this seems rather directly to ayme at or at least directly to suppose that there should bee a forme of sound or wholsome words in the delivery of which a man should approve himselfe so as that he needs not to be ashamed and according to the analogy of which he should divide the word of God aright holding proportion with it though I confesse there may be another interpretation though it seeme not so sutable to that place as to be able to speake a word properly to every one as it may concerne him to the weake to strengthen them to the strong to build them up farther and farther to the tempted to arme them so some would have the meaning of it to be but this seemes not to me to be the right for the dividing of the word of truth aright seemes rather to intimate a dispensing of it in such truths and soundnes as may agree with the forme of sound and wholsome words And in the 1 Pet. 3.15 the Apostle there requires not only of Ministers that they should have a forme of sound and wholsome words and that they should be able to deliver themselves in that fashion but hee seemeth to require there so much of people of Christians by that precept that he doth injoyne them there that they might be able or ready to give an account or reason of their hope that is in them that is to be able to apologize for it and to stand up in the defence and maintenance of it Now if a man be not well grounded in a forme of sound and wholsome words if hee understand them not remember them not nor be versed in them he will never bee able to give a reason an account of his faith and hope much lesse will he be able to maintaine and defend it against the hereticall and superstitious cavils and objections that will be raised against it which every Christian is bound in some degree to ayme to get an ability of and indeed it will be the foundation of his stedfast standing for no man can be stedfast in that which he knowes not nor feeles the bottome of Therefore we should bee versed in the grounds of Religion in a forme of sound and wholsome words that containes the principles of faith and that we may be able to know what is our duty And there is something to the same purpose in the Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the heart the forme of doctrine which was delivered to you But I shall omit that for the present and I shall give the ground of this 2. The ground and reason of it that which makes this appear to be a truth and a considerable truth that we should all labour to get and hold fast a form of sound and wholsome words even the sum of religion is because 1. There is a great necessity of it 1. Not only in regard of the Commission and injunction that lieth upon us the trust that God hath committed to us as I did intimate before we are but depositors and God hath committed this to our care and charge charged us with it and expects our faithfull discharge in it not only because of this I say but 2. In regard of the manifold oppositions and danger of corruptions of divine truths by the subtilty of Sathan and his instruments and their malice If Christians and the Church of God did not throughly acquaint themselves with it and bottome themselves on it they could never be able to justifie the wayes of God and the truth of God nor to vindicat that from the many subtill windings which the Serpent will use to corrupt and pervert the truth I purpose not largely to expatiat but only to give a hint of things and therefore I shall but adde a second 2. It is of great utility as there is a great necessity of it if we would not have the truth overwhelmed nor errors to be spread over and overgrowne in the face of the Church So there is an infinite benefit and advantage and utility that redounds to the Church of God by this course of having both in general in particular by every Christian of a form of sound and wholsome words there is I say an infinite benefit and utility besides the necessity of it that would redound to the Church of God in generall and to every Christian in particular by this Let me name but some few and but name them 1. Those truths the main truths of Religion being preserved pure and sound and uncorrupted will be a great band of Verity Vnity and Vnanimity 1. Of verity it will be a band to hold together all the truths of God if the main ones be kept if the fundamentall principle be purely kept it will be a band to hold and soder together all the other truths and to rectifie them if there should be any swerving And as a great band of verity so it will be a band of unity in the Church of God and unanimity For herein lyeth the unity of the Church of God not that every man agree in every particular opinion concerning every particular thing but if they do agree in the main foundation of Religion in those things which are sufficient to salvation and such are sound and wholsome words such as that all that are to be saved are to be saved by beleeving and practising of them If they be retained though there be other differences yet this will be a band of unity to make them close and soder together 2. But then secondly as this will be a band so it will be a bar too A barre against Heresie and Controversie It would be a bar against heresie This will be as it were a bar of fortification to keep out the entry and incroaching and prevailing of heresie If we stand upon our guard and upon good ground in the maintenance and defence of the maine truths there will be no breach for heresies to enter in then it will much keepe them off But the neglect of our watch
grounds As before a dye that is perfect and durable there must be some preparative that makes the ground if you would have it a good colour if you put your cloth to receive it at first the first tincture though it be that which will properly give the dye will not doe it if that it be not prepared before so it is in this case if a man have not some forme of sound and wholsome words if a man have not laid some foundation all things will be like an Iland in the sea and he cannot come neer it to comprehend it But if he have laid a ground-work before he can reduce what he heares to that and so by the helpe of it standing upon his forme as on his bottome hee can come to reach and comprehend all other particulars 2. It helpes a man to mention no more as to profit by others so to be profitable to others and this is a thing which concernes not onely Ministers whose office it is to teach and instruct others but it also concernes every one in their place thou shalt teach thy children and thy family Deut. 11.19 There is some teaching and some conveyance which every Christian is bound unto in their place Now how shall any man teach that hath not learned He that never was in a shop cannot set up at first upon the score but hee must have something of his owne and it is impossible for him to teach another well that hath not himselfe some acquaintance with the platforme of sound and wholsome words that hath not taken some paines and made some progresse in that it will be impossible to teach I say at least judiciously or profitably to convey any thing to another But this now if a man had it would be a continuall treasury a store-house to furnish a man on all occasions to bee communicable profitably to others and withall not make any diminution at all of his owne store but rather adde to and increase it To come now to the Application There be two things that I intend to doe in the application of this point First to draw those inferences out of it according to my ordinary course of application which naturally arise from the consideration of the point and that being done In the second place to take the limit and occasion for you know I take this text to be as a porch and entrance to the discourse that I desire to prosecute to acquaint you in the generall with the whole platforme to carry it as it were over the stage which if God grant life and liberty which I doe not promise I intend to goe thorow only before I will acquaint you generally I say with the whole view and prospect as it were as Moses he had a prospect of the land of Canaan from mount Nebo so though happely I shall not live to be able to carry you to all the particulars in the whole platforme yet to set you as it were in sight to carry you on the mount to let you see the view and description of all that which I intend to goe thorow if God give ability and life which thing I conceive will bee very usefull and profitable to make way to that which I intend to handle in the particulars but I shall purposely omit this till the next time and only for present dispatch the generall application And in a word there be these three things I shall inferre hence 1. Here is a justification of the observers of this Rule and that is 1. Of persons whether Paul or Timothy or the Church If this be so then this justifieth the wisedome and fidelity and zeale of all the Churches of God and all godly men Paul and Timothy and others in all times that have been carefull to establish and preserve the forme of sound and wholesome words that it might receive no tincture of any corruption But as the Apostle Iude giveth an intimation and an item to Christians did contend for the faith once received Secondly of the manner of observing of it for this hath beene the care of the godly in all times who have beene carefull to walke according to this rule and have had plat-formes and that in many kinds I will give some taste of some few in a word It hath beene more publikely observed in their Creeds and Confessions Hence it was that the Church of God did gather together and compile as it were in a bundle in the short compasse of the Creed the summe of faith as the epitome of those things they beleeved and the ground worke of those things that are to be beleeved as necessary to salvation according to the measure of those times and the light and growth of those times judiciously and exactly for it is not to be supposed that the Apostles themselves did it but some others And this hath beene the ground that there is no Church of God but generally hath had and usually have their confessions of faith the summe of what they professe in their doctrines of Religion compiled together in so many articles as their wisedome thought meet to comprehend the most necessaries in and so to discharge that which the Apostle injoynes them to preserve a forme of sound words More privatly it hath beene the care of men and a commendable care according to this rule to deliver a forme of sound words both to unlearned and beginners in a way of Catechisme expressing the fundamentall things of Religion to the unlearned and in a systematicall way for the learned proficients to compose a body of Divinity in as narrow a compasse of substantiall and pithy principles from the top to the bottome as they could This hath beene the care of all the Churches publikely and privatly they have discharged their fidelity in this charge by their faithfull care that there might be still preserved and kept in the Church of God a forme of sound and wholesome words And it hath it been their wisedome to doe it for by this care they have not onely built up the godly with a trowell in one hand as it were and withall as with a sword did cut downe and stop the gap by which heresies would creepe in and it hath beene their praise to do it with zeale if it be such a sacred depositum such a choise jewell they are not at least to be blamed that Sacrifice themselves for it who may as David say The zeale of thy house hath eaten us up that have spent themselves in defence of it from all errors and heresies what soever 2. But then secondly this may be a just reprehension to all that either 1. Perfidiously deale with the truth instead of taking care to preserve sound truths doe sit upon their desks and beat their heads in studying how they may cunningly pervert sound and wholsome truths and how they may bring in darke errours and corruptions to poyson the people of