keepe them as Psal 119.2 and .8 Luc. 11.28 Blessed are they which heare the word of God and keepe the same as is to be seene by conference of other places as 1. Chron. 28.7 If Salomon thy sonne shall indeuour to keepe my commandements I will establish his kingdome for euer And in Hosea 6.3 then shall we indeuour our selues to know the Lord. In which places the keeping of Gods commaundements is interpreted by the holy Ghost in the Scriptures to be an indeuouring to know and keepe them And this indeuor is euery day necessarily to be found in vs to please God euen as euer we did any day neither can it be neglected of vs at any time but God is offended For it is a neare companion to the feare of God euen a fruite of it which must be in our hearts continually Which is to be marked the rather for that we see how commonly it is neglected many dayes of Christians and how they thinke it meere bondage to be tyed to this care of looking to their waies without which yet they lye open to all the craft and malice of the diuel being taken of him at his will And therefore it is that when the Apostle hath charged the Ephesians to take vnto themselues the whole armor of God he addeth that they must stand fast in it and giue no place to the diuell So that as we must not be preassed with practise of that which is out of our power but rest with peace in this that we indeuour and go about it neither can there be lesse offered to God of vs then this but we shall be iustly charged to be secure and carelesse And this meant the holy Apostle when he said I indeauour alwaies to haue a good conscience both before God and men But we must remember that this indeuour must be heartie and constant heartie not constrained or hollowe that our beginning may be good as well as our proceeding and constant that we faint not but hold out therein For many make faire shewes but they are not sound and true from the heart and therefore soone vanish other meane well in practising that which they haue bene taught but seeing they do not strongly renew their couenant from day to day and that with as good courage and desire as they beganne first and nourish and preserue integritie they therefore breake off and waxe faint and wearie before they haue brought their worke to an end that is before death Wheras we should know that forasmuch as the diuels attempts will euer be great with new deuises and by new occasions in euery part of our life to breake off our care and yet we can neuer grow cold in it but it shall be to our cost seeing whensoeuer it shall be so it will be our great sin therefore we should go as chearefully about it as at the first we began it I meane to continue our care that so we may proue our selues to be constant and not charged as they in the Psalme 78.34 to be vnfaithfull in our couenant The third thing in this description is whereto our indeuour shall tend euen to this that we may please God in all things for God will not admit anie into his seruice to do it by halfes neither can we serue two contrarie maisters This is Saint Paules prayer for the Colossians That they might walke worthie the Lord euen that they might please him in all things and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Pray for vs for we trust that we haue a good conscience desiring to liue honestly in all things Now who doth not see that this is a worke of great weight and requireth the taking vp our hearts wholy from other hinderances that we may attend to this And therefore this much condemneth the backwardnesse and rebelliousnesse of such as looke not after this dutie especially we may say so if we adde the other two points in this description mentioned as that this must be daily and continue to our end Both which points are included by the Apostle in this one word alwaies when he saith Act. 24.16 Herein I do exercise my selfe that I may haue a good conscience both before God and man alwaies that is both through all the dayes of my life and to the end And hereto agreeth that of Salomon Prou. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feete and let all thy waies be ordered aright If all our waies must be ordered aright then no day can be excepted but euery daies actions and waies must be ordered aright So Paule Act. 26.7 when he would note the constant and continuall course of the fathers in a godly life saith thus The twelue Tribes instantly serued God day and night And this dayly walking with God is the life which honoreth God 1. Cor. 10.31 and that onely which worketh our ioy and peace 2. Cor. 1.12 as the last part of the description of the daily direction declareth By this which hath bene said though it may in some sort be gathered and that of the most of Gods children how the day ought to be passed of them yet for the simpler sort whō I do chiefly respect and regard through this my whole labour for their sakes I say I will adde vnto this direction somewhat more particularly a briefe summe of such rules as of necessitie must guide vs and which do bind the conscience to a daily practise of them which I may call the necessarie parts of it and they among others are these CHAP. 8. Of the necessarie parts of the daily direction being the second branch of the second part of this Treatise FIrst that euery day we shold be humbled for our sins as through due examination of our liues by the lawe of God we shall see them 2 Euery day we be raised vp in assured hope of the forgiuenesse of them by the promises of God in Christ 3 Euery day we prepare out hearts to seeke the Lord still and keepe them fit and willing thereto 4 Euery day we strongly and resolutely arme our selues against all euill and sinne fearing most of all to offend God 5 Euery day wee nourish our feare and loue of him and ioy in him more then in any thing and endeuour to please him in all duties as occasion shall be offered looking for his comming 2. Thes 3.5 6 Euery day our thankes be continued for benfites receiued and still certainely hoped for 7 Euery day we watch and pray for stedfastnesse and constancie in all these 8 Euery day we hold and keepe our peace with God and so lye downe with it And this is the direction which euery Christian must practise euery day in his life and these are the necessarie parts of it which may not be omitted any day at all without sinne nor carelesly and wittingly without great sinne To the which if it shold be said that they are darke and hard to be vnderstood much more
yoong man in Ecclesiastes They will reioyce in their youth and inioy the delights of sinne though it be but for a season But they marke not that answere to him in the Gospell Thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasure therefore now thou art tormented nor to the yong man by the Preacher what was said Know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement No such thing I say they do consider but all that they obserue is this How the better that men are for the most part the lesse they are set by as it is said I haue seene the iust to perish in his iustice and the lesse men fashion themselues after this present world the lesse they may they see depart from a good conscience and be merrie after the common maner which these obiecters count an irkesome and tedious thing Againe they see that as the most part of men among whō the godlie liue haue them in some indignation and vile acount so that they doe by meanes thereof sustaine mocks taunts checks and complaints before their betters with cruell threatnings and in persecution times that they are conuented imprisoned railed on yea and oft times put to death These things I say they only looke at with carnall eyes and therefore are easily brought to beware that they come not neere their course but they neither consider that they suffer for righteousnesse sake and therefore that they are blessed neither that they themselues and such as they are liue in darkenesse and after the lust of their eie and heart and that their pleasures wanze away as the cracking of thornes vnder a pot and afterward they must come to their heauie and vnwelcome account Besides this though they haue sorrow and vexation dailie in their liues by meanes of their sinne vnlesse they breake it off through foolish mirth and vanitie for a while yet partly they see it not neither count it any as to be cast into fretting frowardnesse strife debate c. And if they doe purchase any trouble by their deserts ill doings as shame charge by the purse and other punishment yet they will chuse to suffer much this way rather than they will be driuen from their will and the inioying of their fond liberties And now let all wise men iudge what these kinds of men haue gained by following their sinfull course let I say the vttermost of their gaine and pleasure be considered and what troubles they haue shunned in shunning to liue godly But when they haue done seeing the Lord hath sufficiently confirmed this that plagues abide the vngodly that they may be sure of it that their sin shall finde them out let none looke to prouide well for himselfe that way namely to shunne and be farre from the sincere practise of a religious and godly life to the end he may be free from troubles for he can no other way more certainly and speedily multiplie them And whereas it is obiected that the best of Gods seruants are not free from troubles but suffer much for their profession and a good conscience it is granted But their troubles for those causes are of another kinde namely fatherly chastisements to holde them in from perishing with the world or trials of their patience faith and other graces of God in them or such as they suffer for good causes and so weepe and lament when the world is iocund and mery and therefore they turne euer to their profit as I shall haue occasion to shew more plentifullie in another place more fit for that purpose And to conclude let all know this that though a sinner doe euill an hundred times and God prolongeth his daies yet that it shall be well with them that feare the Lord and doe reuerence before them And thus much of the first point in this second branch of this priuiledge that the godly may liue void of manie and great troubles and therefore that such as doe not may thanke themselues for it whether we vnderstand inward distrust and feare or outward punishments that are fruits of sinne CHAP. 10. Of the second branch of this priuiledge concerning the afflictions of the faithfull namely That God deliuereth them out of manie when the wicked still remaine in theirs THe second point is that they may also assure themselues that the Lord will deliuer them and that of very fauour out of many troubles though they see not how euen as I haue shewed that some shall not touch them at all For although they themselues see not how nor any other likelihood but that they shall long oppresse them yea vtterly consume them yet euen then doth the Lord know how to deliuer them and hath many waies which we could not see to rid them out of so great calamities and so he doeth either before they haue long lien vpon them or at least before they haue beene driuen to any extremitie by them and before they haue had their course as in the deliuerances of Dauid mentioned 1. Sam. 19.20.23.24 26. chapters thorowout is to be seene And this he doth as oft as it is expedient when in the meane season he dealeth not so with the vnbeleeuers but when the other escape they come many times in their roome as the wise man saith The godly escape out of trouble by the Lords deliuering of them and the wicked are come in their stead Now for proofe of that which I said that God deliuereth them out of many what is more plaine then that which the prophet saith If the Lord had not beene on our side may Israell now say if the Lord had not been on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs c. But praised be the Lord who hath not giuen vs a prey vnto their teeth Our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fouler the snare is broken and we are escaped The Apostle prooueth it also in his words We would not haue you ignorant brethren of our affliction which came vnto vs in Asia how we were pressed out of measure passing strength so that we altogither doubted euen of life but God deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs in whom we trust also that he will deliuer vs. The dangers of Gods people vnder the gouernment of king Ahashuerosh who knoweth not How had that wicked Haman by malice and subtiltie obtained of the king commission to take their goods and put them to death The day was set and all preparation made for the bringing of it to passe and yet before it could be effected how did the Lord at the humble sute of Mardocheus and the Queene Hester in prayer and fasting seeking vnto him turne away the plague from them and deliuering them bring their enemies and Haman the first of all the rest as he was the chiefest into
the Thessalonians that they abounded in these and were ready to doe whatsoeuer he commanded them and Dauid praied that he might not wander from Gods commandements What is heere commended in them but that which these mislike and speake against at this day in vs who labor for some measure of it Is that il in vs which was good in them There want no proofes nor examples to teach what we should doe in this behalfe but the flesh rocketh asleepe euen many good Christians But whatsoeuer these Obiecters alledge who haue not tasted of these dainties let vs be most glad to heare and more glad to learne that the beloued of the Lord may dwell in safety vnder his protection all the day long And if we haue not knowen so much as that God hath left vs such direction to inioy his presence in some continuall maner amongst vs then let vs now learne and beleeue it that we may reape fruite of it accordingly and not be so haled this way and that way in the world with cares and vexations and snared and allured with earthly pleasures and delights neither vnsetled so with vnreasonable and vngodly persons that we can hardly once in the day yea sometime through the weeke haue liberty and abilitie so much as one quarter of an houre to solace our selues with holy meditation and remembrance of heauenly things for thus it hath beene with many of the deare seruants of God of such slauery they haue beene holden vnder who yet I doubt not but they shall without neglecting any necessarie businesse shake off much needlesse tediousnes in their liues and see their estate much altered to the contrary liberty and holy reioicing if they will duely regard what God hath said of this daily keeping of a good course and not what carnall Obiectors say to discourage them And thus much of the first obiection CHAP. 3. Of answering this obiection That no such direction can be obserued daily BVt I hauing thus shewed the cause why I tooke this in hand and answered them who may thinke that no direction for a Christian through the day is of necessitie to be imposed vpon him now I will proceed to satisfie the reasonable about this particular direction or the like in effect by answering such obiections as may be brought against the same Some perhaps will obiect and say It cannot be daily obserued of any man neither haue they heard that good men in other ages haue beene giuen to any such speculatiue life except the monks and friers and other of that rable they will not deny but it is good sometime to giue our selues to praier and other good exercises but euery day to doe it and to be tied vnto them and to other duties before mentioned were a toile intolerable which no man can like of a taking away of all delight from our liues Againe they say What should become of mens labour and businesse in the world how should it go forward Also they say It were a strange world to see men liue now after such a sort and a bringing in of Monkery againe These and such like obiections although they proceed from very euill men and are vttered of them with a scoffing spirit yet for want of knowledge and due consideration they may be at the first the thoughts of many simple well meaning men for whose cause I will answere them because I would be loath to leaue such in any doubts which might trouble and hinder them But they who obiect thus might more iustly haue alledged other reasons why they thinke it so hard to keepe any such daily direction that is to say partly their owne ignorance vnacquaintednesse with this course vnablenesse and partly the taunts mocks and other discouragements which prophane and vngodly men would persue them with who should walke so vnlike other men of the world by the practising heereof First therefore I will answere their doubt in that they thinke it impossible and then their reasons why they thinke it cannot be without great inconuenience If it were impossible to bring our selues to such a course for heere is no perfection to be dreamed of by me but an holy directing of our selues daily towards the kingdome of heauen why would the prophet Dauid haue said Blessed is the man that exerciseth himselfe and meditateth in Gods law day and night Also why would he haue said it of himselfe That all the day long he was considering it in his minde that is to say meditating on it It is manifest whatsoeuer particular maner or order he vsed heerein that he did tie himselfe daily to this course that is to say to see that he walked homeward that he might not be carried aside or out of the way either with the deceitfull inticements of this world or any discouragements but much hath beene said in the former treatises to this purpose And such examples this present age of ours God be praised doth affoord he vouchsafe to multiply the number of them for one an hundred who do so passe through the affaires of this world that the Christian life is vnto thē not in word as it is with many which deceiue themselues but indeed and sensible account daily their chiefe treasure And all that I require is no more but that faith and godlinesse may be continued increased in the beleeuers and that they prouide for the same purpose that though the malice of the diuill doth lay many lets in their way yet that they bridle bring vnder their corruptiōs to the maintaining of a pure hart a good conscience vnfaigned faith which worketh by loue to the praise of God their owne comfort The which will not be brought to passe through security negligence but whiles they giue al possible diligence hereunto set themselues in some good order and daily direction for the preseruing of the same So that if there be any before others in this practise who by experience haue found how mightily God hath blessed them in this estate who is as ready to do the same to the rest that desire it haue prooued that it is possible yea and easie through God who maketh it so to passe the day in well doing with peace or when it is worst with them to be free from euill for the most part rather then wearisomely and vnwillingly as the most doe let such be patterns and examples to those which are not so forward Let one learne of another in meekenesse of spirit that which he hath not as yet attained vnto and not hold this opinion That none can doe more then they themselues doe nor goe beyond them who yet haue scarcely at all or very slightly gone about this practise themselues There is no reason in it that such as serue God in the day as it falleth out at a venture without any certaine purpose of care or vsing the meanes for the quickening of their
least conceite of them and finde not the least part of our nature to incline to them though otherwise we complaine of great frailtie as to haue thoughts to blaspheme God to be tempted to lay violent hands on others not moued thereto by any hate or malice or to deuoure our selues to dispaire and distrust of Gods mercie and grace all which sinnes with such other the partie hath neuer had delight in when hee was yet ouertaken with some other sinnes and had his heart drawne after them indeed and yet he is feared with the guiltines of those which he euer loathed And when the diuell can fasten vpon such as this weake person is in this wise he especiallie laboureth to dimme their knowledge and iudgement that they may haue no sure hold of any point of doctrine which may soundly comfort them that thus he may like a Lyon deuoure them more speedilie For when they cannot be perswaded in their iudgement that God can or will pardon them how are they able to desire or pray for it when it shall be beaten into them that they haue no faith nor any better things in them than reprobates how can they be moued to stirre vp that weake faith which they haue no more can they desire good meanes as counsell reading or any such like when he hath stricken this deadly blow in their consciences that God hath forsaken them And this be spoken of the diuels tempting the children of God when and whom it pleaseth the Lord for their triall and that without the helpe of outward meanes or any occasions to worke by the which I purposed to speake of to no further end but for the helpe of such as are sometimes deceiued and so oppressed after the same manner Here is no fit place to satisfie them who would be glad to know more of this matter To proceede therefore and so to draw to an end herein As he doth oft without any meanes deepely fasten vpon the weake consciences of Gods people to feare and dismay them so doth he the same much more easilie by the helpe of outward meanes so that when he hath couered their hearts with darkenes and brought them into a dreadfull feare of Gods wrath and plucked their armour from them whereby before they had resisted him he holdeth them at this vantage that euery thing which is before them is made matter to increase their distressed estate And therefore if they see a knife all their thoughts are to destroy themselues if they goe by water they are vehemently perswaded to drowne themselues and so are they tempted to strangle themselues if either the place giue them any occasion or the instrument wherewith they should doe it So if they see any merry their heauines is the more increased seeing say they we shall neuer come out of deadly sorrow and dispaire if they see a dogge they wish that they were so when they should eate their meate they thinke it wil increase their damnation and dare scarcely take the meanest scraps to relieue nature And if any Scripture be recited to them oh it belongeth not to them they say they are past hope and whatsoeuer we answere them be it neuer so fit for them and to doe them good yet they are neuer satisfied but raise new obiections against themselues as being nothing satisfied by that which was spoken to them It were infinite to set downe their speeches and thoughts like vnto these which I haue now mentioned which the diuell draweth from them by such occasions as he worketh by but all this is as we see through their owne letting goe their hold of Gods promises and mercies in Christ which yet sometime they haue imbraced and felt great comfort in or at least could not deny but that they had part in them And it is the vnspeakeable goodnes of God that they are not vtterlie swallowed vp but kept through his secret grace though not seene of them and that all other of his deare seruants are not plunged into the same depth of distrust and dispaire that there might be no one to comfort and counsell another but discouragements on eueryside For it is not to be attributed to Sathan or any want of subtiltie readines to hurt ablenes malice and crueltie that either the one sort is at all preserued or the other more freed from the like measure of languishing and feare or which is the senselesse sicknes and disease of this age and farre more dangerous from bold securitie and presumption but as I haue said the Lords keeping of them both Neither is it any meruaile to vs though it be not marked of the vnbeleeuers because the Lord hath his eye euer vpon his beloued ones as Dauid speaketh Psalm 41.12 That he may see that no hurt befall them euen as a mother hath her eye alwaies on the young child which beginneth to goe that it get no knocks But now to conclude ye will aske what remedies are to be vsed against such sore assaults First I say that seeing their consciences beare them witnes how much these temptations are repugnant to their desires and liking and chiefely raised and procured by Satan in them who abuseth their simplicitie therefore there is no cause why they should be so discouraged and out of heart although he hath haled and violentlie carried them to such miserie as though they had taken glorie in offending God this I say let them marke as soone as they be fit to heare it and the rather they are to count them to proceede from him than from themselues because they are such as are altogether contrarie to their former conuersation and to nature it selfe and such as haue no enforcement nor inticement but from him They are further to consider how much it doth displease God that they are remoued from their faith and giue place to the spirit of error and therefore they should gather more godly boldnes and confidence in him on the one side and more strength against Sathan on the other side For if God calleth and incourageth vs to trust and beleeue in him and we standing in need thereof would most gladly as we will all say in such a case imbrace his promises made in Christ Iesus who is he which should hinder vs If the Lord will iustifie and cleare vs who shall condemne vs Neither let them after all this be still obiecting that they feele small strength of faith and hope as many of Gods deare children doe for thereby the enemie may take great encouragement to their owne disaduantage for what if they feele not the sweete taste thereof which sometime they felt shall they iudge therefore themselues to be vtterly bereaued thereof If the soule be now sicke and tasteth not the sweete meates of consolation which it was wont was it therefore alwaies so Will they measure themselues by that which they presently feele when the soule hath lost her taste Or rather by the times past as the
as may leade thereunto And this is commaunded to the vnmarried and to those which are married but yet with some consideration and regarde had in the same The vnmarried that they see that through an especiall gift of God their abstaining from marriage be according to the rules before set downe And for this cause that they be very wary and circumspect in the vse of all lawfull liberties as of meates drinkes apparell sleepe recreations and that they giue themselues deuoutly to all exercises of godlines and amongst the rest to fasting with prayer as they in wisedome shall see cause alwayes remembring that the vnmarried are they who may best care for the things of the Lord how they may please him By the which meanes notwithstanding if they shall feele and perceiue that they cannot serue God with peace as in time past but that their mindes and bodies are haled and distracted the one by strong lusts carrying them the other by burnings they must know that they are called to the vse of the remedie which God hath in this case prouided for their behoofe and reliefe that is the change of their estate marrying in the Lord. The married couples being cut off as I haue said from all other saue themselues must know that their sinne is tenne fold greater then the others if they shall be found either secretly attempting or openly defiling themselues whereby it may be seene that they doe not regarde and conscionably seeke to preserue the chastitie of their neighbour a thing prouided for by the Lord most principally in this precept but rather let them know how to vse their libertie rightly which God hath in this behalfe graunted them That is to say that they marrying in the Lord may also liue in the Lord together and to speake more plainly as they haue married with hope they shall finde more helpe thereby vnto godlines then they could haue inioyed alone without it seeing mariage was ordained by God himselfe an helpfull estate many waies Genes 2.18 so they dwell together according to knowledge to performe the more easily all duties one to the other for their mutuall helpe and comfort in the communion of their goods graces and persons But though God accounteth the mariage bed vndefiled and the vse of it lawfull for the increase of posteritie and the subduing of concupiscence yet to the end that Gods people may remoue from them much vnseemely prophanenes therein which the irreligious sort inueÌ„t to themselues who neuer vse to looke further into their liberties if they vnderstand once that they be lawful and to the end they may haue the right vse thereof God hath taught them to sanctifie the mariage bed with prayer and thanksgiuing and that nothing be done betwixt themselues to the wound of conscience or the breaking of their peace And that is the true vse of it when they are made the more fit and cheerefull thereby to all duties of holines or at leastwise neuer the vnfitter which is to liue in mariage euen as if they were not maried and so liue more happily whereas to liue otherwise is a great abuse thereof And as for the Papists malicious railing on maried persons that they liue in y e flesh and serue not God as Pope Siricius to their shame be it spoken y t God hath made knowne his wil in this commandement as cleerely as in the rest and giuen grace to theÌ„ which feare him to obey him in the same either minister or priuate person more then to them who in pride hypocrisie or in blind intention haue vowed against it If they had complained that the maried estate is through the ignorance and prophanenes of the world much blemished and for so honourable an ordinance of God defaced the most being careles in the vse of their liberties they had spoken to good purpose and might haue had many to confirme their saying But to chalenge holines as proper to themselues in their vowing against it is rather arrogancie and follie then sound reason which requireth a substantiall answere especially except they could shew vs more glorious proofes of holinesse in their professed Votaries CHAP. 17. Of some duties to men in the 8.9 and 10. commaundements ANother part of righteous dealing with our brethren is that they be not iniured by vs in their goods which God hath giuen them for their necessarie vse and comfort in this life And therefore as we would desire our selues to inioy with safetie and without feare the portion which by Gods goodnes is fallen vnto vs euen so should our neighbour liue by vs without daunger or iust cause of complaining that he is any way annoyed by vs. Loe this is the order which God hath taken and strongly prouided for that if he be regarded amongst vs we shall not dare be bold to iniurie one another in the smallest piece of his commodities but giue him his owne as the commaundement chargeth vs saying Thou shalt not steale and as another Scripture saith Owe nothing to any man but this that ye loue him And if we loue him how can we grieue him in withholding that from him as was said before which is deare vnto him So that where the case is plaine that any thing is another mans we cannot so much as lay claime to it but God is despised of vs. But seeing it is doubtfull oft times whose the right is and the most contentions and vncharitablenesses arise from hence that it cannot easily nor cleerely be seene into whose it is indeed here therefore although men without Christ will not easily be aduised yet the Lord hath prouided â—hat his seruants shall be ordered for the retaining of loue and righteous dealing That partly they shall forgoe somewhat of their owne right as Abraham did to Lot if it shall be thought expedient rather then to breake the bond of loue partly if it bee in such a matter as is made doubtfull by the subtiltie negligence or other default of either partie as when a bargaine is made and yet left vncertaine in some point which after breedeth contention the damage ought to fall on him through whom it came and if it be otherwise so difficult that it cannot betwixt themselues be determined let other men of wisedome take it in hand that if it be possible suite of law may be auoyded and yet if that cannot be let it in loue be prosecuted Thus much generally to shew that God will haue equitie maintained in the comming by and inioying of our commodities and no man wronged in the least part of his goods by vs. But for the more cleere beholding of our duties in this branch of obedience or righteousnes seeing they are many it is very expedient to lay them foorth more particularly according to the diuers states of men Therefore as some are meerely poore men and by Gods appointment and ordinance doe liue by almes other can in some sort
words there is more required then in this place I vrge but yet euen that also For the Apostle teacheth that if anger be kindled in vs for want of heed-taking yet that we should soone allay the same but if through the hardnesse of the heart after sinne is committed it is not by and by acknowledged and repented of but it remaineth and boyleth in vs yet we must force our selues to relent and craue pardon of it before the Sunne go downe and so before we dare giue our selues to rest lest the diuell preuailing so farre with vs we find it harder afterwards to remoue it Now we know that other sinnes are in a like detestation with God that anger is and therefore that they must be no more suffered to abide within vs then it and consequently if we be priuie in our selues to any like sinne that we haue offended we should expell and driue out the same as poison that it lodge not nor remaine with vs. And to doe this it is necessarie that we take some conuenient time to vs both to search and enquire what we haue done and withall to purge ourselues from it accordingly But here if any thinke that this was not intended of the Apostle that wee should before we fall asleepe consider how we haue passed the day neither will I precisely vrge the houre or time so particularly for indeed he requireth it to be done sooner rather then that it should be deferred so I say likewise that if this care be conscionably kept at some other time of the day that there be peace maintained betwixt God and vs it is well but if that be not perfourmed before at least before our lying downe it ought to be which also is the time very fit to commend our soules into the hands of God not knowing whether we shall rise in the morning Besides if it be required by the holy Ghost in the Epistle to the Hebrewes that we take heede that there be not at any time and so any part of the day in vs an euill heart we being forgetfull and slow to obserue such a charge can any deny but that he doth there as well require that we should sometime looke backe to see how we haue regarded the charge that is giuen vs And is any time ordinarily and for the most part fitter for that businesse then whē we haue ended the day except some speciall sinne committed in the day do require a more speedie examining of our selues before And if Iob as we read of him did euery day of his childrens banquetting together offer sacrifice to God and pray for them and commaund them to cleanse their hearts and sanctifie thēselues for so it is said that Iob did euery day adding this reason Lest they might therin offend God is it any maruell if we in our own person do retaine this care euery day and vse this practise For euen as men who are in great occupyings do not onely write their takings and their layings out but do also at euen conferre them together lest any delay of time should cause forgetfulnesse and yet this labour they thinke needfull about things that shall perish so is it much more necessarie in the accounts of our soules that we should do that is daily looke what we gaine or loose that we may procure to our selues thereby most sound safetie and prouide also the better for the time to come to do the like and that with more ease There is nothing against this dutie so much as the prophane custome of the world to whom all goodnesse and controlling of their licentious courses is vnsauourie and therefore vnwelcome and ridiculous But let such go know we that if we desire to giue an easie reckoning to God at our latter end it is our wisedome and the best prouision we can make for our selues to yeeld with all conscionablenesse a reckoning to the Lord at the end of euery day and so much the rather because we loue no after reckonings to be brought against vs which may iustly be feared when we haue not indeuoured faithfully to do the same frō day to day but are accused by our consciences that we haue dealt too slightly yea hollowly somtime too much fauouring our selues in passing by many particulars which we were willing to be forgottē buried That which we may reade in heathen Poets as Pythagoras and others concerning this matter may and ought worthily to put to shame a number of Christians They wrote that a man should looke backe at the end of the day how and in what manner it hath bene spent and passed which cogitation it is to be feared hath not once entred into the heart of many which professe to know God in Christ For such as see any cause of going about it this I will say to helpe them forward that the more circumspect they haue bene in obseruing of their wayes and the more diligently the gouerning of the hart and life be kept throughout the day the more readily and willingly shall they go about this view of the day-spending at their lying downe neither shall it be cast off or neglected and vntowardly taken in hand but when they haue bin too secure slight in doing the duties of the day Neither would I lay vpon any a burthen which they be not able to beare calling God to record that I seeke in this as in the rest which I haue sayd onely the glory of God and the further peace and comfort to all the faithfull and the high pricing and estimation of a godly life which will be much set by where the life is so looked to in the day as I haue wished and at our lying downe viewed in this manner and therefore wishing euery one according to the light and grace which he hath receiued to consider whether he can say any lesse but that they walke most safely most confident who go about as they shall be able to make an end of the day in this maner And the reason why this is required as the last worke beside prayer in the familie is because a Christian hath somewhat to mention and deale about and complaine of particularly concerning himselfe which he cannot so well be satisfied in when he prayeth in company And he that hath most warily looked to himselfe in the day and ioyned with the family in duties of humiliation at night shall see cause inough to adde this duty to both as we reade it written of Maister Bradford who had much inward communion with God that he was neuer satisfied in the duties he did through the day and namely in praying at the Chappell when he was fellow of a colledge and in his chamber with his puples vntill he had also powred out his heart to the Lord by himselfe alone But yet notwithstanding this which I haue sayd speciall regard ought to be had of the many bodily infirmities diseases and sicknesses with the feeblenesse of
and doctrine with all their might it is because they are not they whom they would be taken to be that is sound-hearted But then could it not be a priuiledge properly belonging to the children of God if hard-hearted or double-minded persons might be partakers of it But they labouring to shake off godly sorrow for their sinne and checke of conscience all that they can and as long as they are able by mirth and pastime or in continuance of time to forget it if for all their shifting fencing it off the Lord sometime strike them with terrour and holde them vnder by strong hand and cause them to quake yet they doe not seeke his face but either bow themselues onely for a day like a bul-rush as Ahab or els they are swallowed vp into vtter despaire as Iudas Neither can such haue any release at all So much the greater fauour let others I meane Gods seruants count it that they may in their repentance for their sinne hope stedfastly for pardon yea and ought to say euery one vnto their soules Turne vnto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath heard thy grones and reiecteth not thy prayers Why art thou cast downe and disquieted within me wait on God he is my present helpe for he is more ready to grant than we to aske For if the sonne of God make them free then are they free indeed An exceeding priuiledge is this to them and therefore who seeth not that they resting thus perswaded may be of good comfort For indeed this priuiledge is giuen of God as a remedie and therefore may and ought of all that haue need of it to be receiued and by all meanes to be imbraced which if it be forthwith the wound and sore is healed which yet without such a medicine and helpe had beene desperate and vncurable a remedy farre vnlike to popish contrition confession auricular to a priest and their blasphemous satisfaction Oh therefore that this might enter deeply and were thorowly setled in the hearts of such as mourne and pine away for that they haue prouoked God to anger Oh that they knew that their teares are put into the bottle of gods remembrance and how ready he is to receiue them into fauour and to blot out all their offences who hath therefore said See that yee despise not one of these little ones and againe Reioice and be glad yee that mourne in Sion c. for I will dwell in the middest of you and to his prophets and ministers Comfort my people comfort them at the heart And further I say Oh that such had beene rightly grounded in faith at the first which hath beene as much or rather more the fault of the vnskilfull builder and teacher of them then their owne For this may most truely be affirmed that for want of well grounding them they haue vpon euery light and small occasion beene shaken and vnsetled in their faith as in the least accusation of their conscience in any affliction or in the feare of death But if they could see the bountifulnesse of gods loue towards them how vnwoorthy soeuer they seeme in their owne eies they should not goe so long heauy and disquieted suffering the enemie to oppresse them and as though there were no hope for them in their God But yet I say this on the other side Oh that some did not looke too hastily to be receiued into fauour and vse meanes too slightly for the same yea I say againe Oh that some did not too prophanely or blockishly and ceremoniously seeke to God and returne to him in holownesse of heart which maner of abasing themselues doeth hold them in a woorse case then the other And thus to drawe to an end of this matter I trust it doth appeare what a singular priuiledge this is that the Lord graunteth free accesse to those who after their conuersion haue sinned any way against their conscience to bewaile their sinne before him and to be perswaded of forgiuenesse of the same which being knowen of them they need not hold backe from him as manie of his deare children for a long time haue done but come home againe and that earely seeing God who hath smitten them will heale them and he who hath called himselfe a God of great compassion and mercy would haue his poore people to feele and inioy it The same I say likewise of dulnesse idlenesse vnprofitable barrennesse of the heart and such other corruptions which are wont to quench the worke of gods spirit in his children and to be the seed of many cursed euils the Lords will is that they should beleeue that he will giue them strength to weaken them as well as forgiue them and that they should thereby be incouraged to shake them off and breake out of them which if they were perswaded that they might doe would incourage them more heartily to resist and stop them CHAP. 7. Of the fifth priuiledge namely The gracious helpes by which he hath graunted them to grow in faith and godlinesse ALl this that hath beene said of these foure priuiledges last mentioned will be graunted in generall to be true I doubt not for all professors are literall and speculatiue Christians they say and doe not But when this doctrine should be brought to vse of them in particulars and when they are to be pressed with the practise of it then many will answer They hope that it doeth not appertaine to them neither are they able they say thus to hold stedfastly the certaintie of gods fauour by faith and to subdue and ouercome their sinnes to lead a godly life nor to rise vp againe when they haue fallen dangerously thereby shewing that they doe not looke to be ledde by the word in their actions but I go not about to perswade such that they haue any part in these priuiledges And they might speake with good reason obiecting thus of all other as well as of themselues if God had not appointed and taught them by what helpes and meanes they may doe this But therefore we are to know that God hath bestowed this priuiledge vpon his children ouer and beside the former that by such meanes and helpes as he hath acquainted them with and taught them to vse they may be able to inioy the foresaid liberties which without them and by their owne strength they can not so much as go about and to preuaile so farre by inioying them that they may finde their liues more sweet and comfortable then other can in what estate or condition soeuer if they haue not their part in them And that it may be seene that these helpes are priuiledges as I haue said behold it briefely in the particular helpes and especially such are to be vsed daily as for example What a benefit is it that by praier we may come vnto our God for whatsoeuer we haue need of that is good for vs and may obtaine it that we may come
haue receiued the Gospell with ioy and been much cast downe by the force of the lawe But as their humbling hath been a bowing of themselues for a short time like a bulrush with the wind so their ioy hath been a suddaine flash of fleeting mirth not well grounded in them and an inlightning of them with the generall knowledge of saluation rather then a sealing of the assurance of their owne in their hearts for continuance Oh how many haue after the report made by others what great change the Gospell had wrought how many I say haue resorted to the hearing of it and giuen good and commendable hope of their owne change also and repentance who yet were soone wearie of the Lords yoke and of being subiect to his holy gouernment how many haue forsaken the fountaines of the water of life which could haue refreshed their soules in their necessitie with sound comfort and haue digged to themselues broken pits which can hold no water to comfort them And so haue started aside like a broken bowe and haue returned shamefully to their vomit and as the sowe which was washed to wallow againe in the mire Which I speake not as though God had not both called out of this life many amongst vs within these yeeres in her Maiesties raigne of singular hope and left a comfortable companie amongst vs still with others dailie comming on but to cast their shame as dung in their faces who haue fallen from that feruent desire of the sincere milke of the word which once they had to the world to prophanenes and to carelesnes These as the Scripture saith of Iudas went out from vs but they were none of vs for if they had been of vs they would haue continued still with vs. For when either prosperitie hath been graunted them they haue waxen wanton and haue turned the grace of God into loosenes or when affliction hath followed them they haue growne wearie of their profession saying as we reade in Eccles 7.12 That the former dayes were better and wished againe for the merrie world which they inioyed and the pleasant life as the Israelites did their flesh pots which they passed in ignorance of God and the lusts thereof in superstition and such like and so haue fallen from the grace of God and haue departed from him to whom yet they had professed themselues to haue been infinitly indebted as for his other benefits so especially for his Gospell in the which they seemed to take no small delight for a season But these when I consider their falsehood towards God and their double dealing that they would not giue their hearts to him to beleeue his mercies to be their onely treasures and so hold fast their confidence in him who would sufficiently haue recompenced their forsaking of the world I cease meruailing at them although they are fallen from an high account and estimation among the seruants of God vnto a vile and reprochfull estate to be reckoned with the vnbeleeuers some of them making this their chiefe religion rather to be iudges and censurers of their brethren then to hold and retaine loue and fellowship with them For whom yet I will not cease to intreate the Lord dailie that if any of them belong to him it would please him to awake them and to bring them home with the prodigal sonne in the sight of those who haue seene their reuolt that so not onely themselues may be saued though they take shame in the world but others also who were imboldened to sinne by their example may be reclaimed Thus the loue of these men hath constrained me a little to go aside in lamenting their miserie because I haue knowne many of them who hauing shined as lights for a season are become mistie cloudes to hinder light from others whom I also counsell to consider that they haue not been driuen away from their holy profession by persecution which if they had been might haue giuen better hope of them to their brethren that meere weakenesse had hindered them but they haue gone away from their first loue and broken off their fellowship with their brethren euen in the time of the Gospell flourishing and preached in some places with more power then when they were in the beginning most earnestly stirred vp to imbrace it yea and some of them then forsooke their good beginnings not when Moses was gone aside from them for the space of fortie daies but whilest he was amongst them and in the middest of their tents calling vpon them to be sound and constant and to goe forward as he had done long before and himselfe also to Gods glorie be it spoken of some with great courage and cheerefulnes of good example going before them And therefore seeing their sinne is the greater they are to be aduised to looke for better assurance of their saluation and whom they haue offended that so they may repent and now take surer hold of eternall life with the hand of their faith rather than by so weake and small occasions to let it goe For if they had in the feeling of their sinne feare sorrow and other distresses for the same been vnfainedly humbled their hearts mollified and they resolued to seeke the forgiuenes thereof and righteousnes thereby and that through the free imputation thereof by Iesus Christ they should soundly haue had their diseases healed their sorrow and doubtes expelled and true comfort ministred from their faith in him which would so effectually haue wrought in them and haue raised such an vnfained loue to God againe that they would for no cause haue been withdrawne but rather haue set themselues to growe in godlines with their brethren then in the least manner to haue returned to their former lusts of their ignorance from which they professed themselues to haue been purged This I haue written for their causes who haue been content to be deceiued with an opinion of happines and yet to be voide of it who because they haue had some light in the beholding of their sinnes and haue been wounded in conscience for the guilt of them and punishment due to the same haue therefore perswaded themselues that they haue been effectually called when yet they haue not seene nor found this that their sinnes haue been pardoned to them and in token thereof that they themselues haue been changed in will affection and conuersation and so haue become new creatures For though they alleage and that iustly that in the conuersion of Paul the people mentioned Act. 2.37 the returning of the people of Israel to God in the time of the Iudges and in the dayes of Samuel and in such other examples the holy Ghost setteth downe their trouble of minde their pricke of conscience and their great abasing of themselues which I graunt are wrought in such as haue been truly penitent yet there hath been ioyned also with these an earnest hungring
after Gods mercie an vnfained faith the spirit of adoption sealing vp their saluation vnto them and the liuelie fruites of the same They haue beleeued that God hath become their most louing father through Christ Iesus who was before their fearefull iudge and they haue hereby been inforced to loue him therefore and to seeke now to please him with all their hearts and these graces haue set them forward in a godly life to bring forth fruites beseeming their profession But these men furnish not themselues with faith a pure heart a good conscience change of their life through the louing of God but they let time end their griefe of mind and their woundes of conscience are healed outwardly with opinion that it is sufficient repentance onely to be sorrowfull some not abiding the gripes of griefe and yet not finding sound comfort against them haue cast them off and therefore in affliction are from time to time vexed with the returning of them againe because they were neuer driuen away kindly nor aright If they shall further defend themselues this way that they thought their course was good to be thus cast downe seeing the lawe was preached to them which constrained them thus to doe and if they will aske why we preached the iudgements of God to them if we saw it not meete for them to be humbled I answere first the law was neuer preached alone by any discreete teacher who himselfe was skilfull in the doing of his dutie but the Gospell with it Secondly the law was not nor is not preached to hold men vnder with the yoke of feare and bondage but to cause men to see their sinne more cleerely and thereby their punishment to be due that so they might come to themselues in truth and set more store by Gods mercie and Christs merits which onely can saue their soules and minister them comfort Thirdly we haue not as from God approued nor wished any to rest in any workes of the lawe or the best actions which they could doe when as yet they had no faith nor perswasion of the remission of their sinnes truly setled in them but to haste from thence with all speede and to trie themselues both by rules and doctrine as well as by their owne experience if Christ were in them that so through him they might become acceptable Now then if they haue heard and receiued one part of our Ministery and not the other if they haue placed happines in the repentance which they haue fancied and not in the knowledge of God through Christ which we haue vrged they haue been deceiued through the subtiltie of the tempter if they haue sought to please God for feare of his vengeance and not because they haue found deliuerance from death by his vndeserued fauour they haue laboured in vaine and been with-holden from the principall fruit of the Gospell preached But no meruaile for many are the sleights by the which the diuell keepeth his possession in such as are not yet escaped his wiles and snares in the which he holdeth them not without their own good liking He discourageth some from hope and confidence that they are the Lords because they haue been more deepely pricked for their sinne and longer holden in doubtfulnes then other of Gods children are and that none haue so great temptations and conflicts as they haue But haue not they these afflictions to bring them vnto God And others he dismaieth and holdeth vnder with the contrarie as that they cannot be Gods children because they haue neuer had that deepe sorrow and long lying in it for their sinne as many of their brethren haue had As though mens examples and not rather Gods word should be their rule to follow So he suggesteth this to some others that their estate could not be good seeing they haue not had their liues full of some outward crosses as some of the godly haue and yet on the contrarie many haue been long holden captiues with these cogitations that they durst not thinke themselues to belong to Gods election seeing they are euery while vnder one crosse or other Thus the diuell whose malice and subtiltie few doe know fewer doe well weigh but fewest of all doe wisely and carefully resist the diuell I say holdeth numbers occupied about these and such like points wherein the triall of their happines and certaintie of their peace doth not consist And because religion and holie doctrine doth affect them and that he seeth they will needes imbrace the same he laboureth to keepe them at this stay to hold themselues contented with that shadow though they be vncertaine of their estate to Godward and remaine in suspence and little hope of their saluation and so hee permitteth them to haue the letter of the Scripture in their mouth and to talke generally about religion or if occasion be offered about some questions and matters concerning the same but they hate vtterly to be reformed Who seeth not that he holdeth these in errour and bondage as grossely as he doth the other before mentioned who trouble themselues about opinions and conceits which are not the chief and maine points to occupie themselues about as though happines consisted in them but may faile of eternall life for all that when they haue all done For neither doth this commend a man to God whether he hath long continued in griefe of minde feare of conscience and doubtfulnes of saluation but that he be well freed and deliuered from such trouble and discharged of his feare I meane that hee can heartily thanke God through Iesus Christ that he seeth and feeleth himselfe set at libertie and by him is made happie for if the truth of God and his promise make him free then he is free indeed Neither is this with a man or against him in assuring himselfe of saluation whether his life be full of afflictions and crosses seeing God keepeth not alwaies an euen hand in these things for they are common both to good and bad but that a man know himselfe though a wretched sinner yet through faith to be iustified and acquitted before God and therefore is at peace with God in himselfe euen such as passeth all vnderstanding whether his crosses bee many or few There are many things of like sort with which Sathan doth blindfold sundrie of good hope as that for hauing some infirmities or falles breaking foorth in them therefore they cannot be beloued of God and when they finde that in some sort they can ouercome them then they think they are the beloued of God in neither of which a man is to place his safetie For both the deare Saints of God may possibly be led out of the way to commit somewhat offensiuely neither is he to promise well to himselfe who sometimes keepeth from sinnes which at other times he hath fallen into for it may be that there is no great occasion offered him that way or he is