assistance and exercise of Faith an vnutterable sweete communion and humble familiarity with his holy Maiestie In a word to liue in Heauen vpon earth Proofes Gods Couenant and commandement to Abraeham and in him to all the faithfull vnto the Worlds end requires it Gen. 17. 1. The practise and protestations of the Saints and seruants of God seale vnto it Enochs walking with God chap. 5. was an happy preparatiue to his extraordinary translating to glory The Lord before whom I walk saith Abraham chap. 24. 40. will doe thus and thus I will walke before the Lord in the Land of the liuing saith Dauid Psal. 116. 9. O Lord God of Israel saith Salomon 2. Chron. 6. 14. There is no God like thee in the Heauen nor in the Earth which keepest couenant and shewest mercy vnto thy seruants that walke before thee with all their hearts I haue walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart saith Hezechiah 2. King 20. 3. And herein doe I exercise my selfe to haue alwaies a conscience voyde of offence toward God and toward men saith Paul Acts 24. 16. which sounds the same way Let their money perish with them who esteeme all the gold in the World worth one dayes societie with Iesus Christ and his holy Spirit said that Noble Marquesse of Vico well skilled and experienced in an heauenly conuersing with his God Reas. 1. And it must needs be so For howsoeuer naturall men and worldlings out of their obnoxiousnesse and secret terrors slauishly retyre doe not willingly neither dare they draw neere to that God which to them is a consuming fire yet all those who haue truly tasted how gracious and glorious he is shall find their hearts out of a secret sence of Gods loue vnto them first kindlily inflamed with infinite desire to liue vnder the comfortable influence of his pleased countenance to enioy his holy Maiestie with constant peace and an humble spirituall accesse and acquaintance continually His spirit of Prayer infinite loue exercise of repentance temptations and troubles from Satan pressures and oppressions from the World losse of inward peace faintnesse of Faith want of spirituall strength assault of some speciall sinne sweetnesse of meditation daily fauours showred downe vpon him without number and aboue measure sore-thought of the great and last Account motions of the blessed Spirit spirituall desertion c. but aboue all the inexplicable blessâ—…dnesse goodnesse and excellency of that highest Maiestie it selfe driues him to his God many times a day 2. All Gods loues vnto vs His louing kindnesses protections preseruations bounty patience diuine illuminations spirituall blessings in a word euery linke of that golden chaine of Mercy Grace and Glory farre thicker set with sweetest blessings in all kinds then the Heauen with Starres which our happy Soules haue doe or shall enioy from the first springing of it vp if euerlasting could haue any beginning out of the adored Fountaine of his free Grace to the last moment of eternitie in highest heauenly blisse if eternitie could possibly euer determine should be so many keene spurres deepest oblâ—…gations strongest chaines to draw our hearts most greedily to this infinite delight in him and thus with an humble familiaritie to conuerse with his holy Maiestie 3. Consciousnesse of our former walking comfortably with God sanctified by the life of Faith will mightily and incredibly support our spirits and courage in the times of confusions and feare The hearts of sensuall worldlings for want of reconcilement and acquaintance with God in calme and comfortable times sinke and tremble in the Day of distresse and Gods dreadfull visitations as the heart of a woman in her pangs and fall asunder in their brests like drops of water But that happy One who in his prosperity hath made God his portion and walked humbly in his presence shall in the time of trouble stand like a strong vnmoueable mountaine impregnable against the rage of wind and weather against the cruell incursions of all aduersarie power when the wicked shall tire the Mountaines with bootelesse cries to couer them he shall be able to say with Dauid The Lord is my refuge and my strength c. therefore will I not feare though the earth be moued and the Mountaines fall into the midst of the Sea He shall by the mercies of God and humble dependance vpon his omnipotent Arme encounter and entertaine the terrours euen of the euill day of the houre of temptation of the King of feare and last Iudgement with confidence and peace 4. Thy walking with God will make thee extraordinarily powerfull and mightily preuaile in prayer one of the greatest blessings and sweetest comforts which can be named or enioyed in this life As the Kings Fauourite who stands still in his presence and vnder the immediate and gracious influence of his Royall eye doth farre sooner and much more easily obtaine both his owne and friends suites then those who are more estranged from the Court So it is in this case 5. But aboue all that which should most quicken and keene vs to this duty is that particular interest we haue by Iesus Christ in Iehoua himselfe blessed for euer A mysterie which if I should offer to open and enlarge I should be endlesse and yet come infinitely short Oh then let vs infinitely loue and learne exactly the most sweete and heauenly Art of walking with God! For a more comfortable illightning and guiding vs wherein before I come to giue some generall instructions giue mee leaue to premise these quickning preparatiues 1. Looke that thou lyest not in any one knowne sinne against thy conscience hating to be reformed do not cherish allow or goe on in any lust corruption or lewd way in thine heart life or calling suffer not any worke of darknesse or seruice of Satan to reigne and domineere in thee For if so thou art so farre from abilitie or possibilitie of walking with God or delighting in him that thou wearest the Diuels brand and art yet most certainely one of his See and search the true meaning of such places as these 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 6 8 9. Iames 2. 10. Ezech. 18. 21. Psalm 66. 18. and 119. 6 101. Ezech. 18. 30. Matth. 18. 8 9. 2. Cor. 7. 1. Sutable hereunto is the concurrent iudgement and doctrine of our best Diuines and worthiest Writers graciously instructed vnto the Kingdome of Heauen These are their seuerall assertions to the same sense in their owne words 1. A man can haue no peace in his conscience that fauoureth and retaineth any one sinne in himselfe against his conscience 2. A man is in a damnable state whatsoeuer good deeds seeme to be in him if he yeeld not to the worke of the holy Ghost for the leauing but of any one knowne sinne which fighteth against peace of conscience 3. So long as the power of mortification destroyeth thy sinfull affections and so long as thou art vnfainedly displeased with all sinne and doest
mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirit thy case is the case of saluation 4. A good conscience stands not with a purpose of sinning no not with an irresolution against sinne 5. The rich and precious boxe of a good conscience is polluted and made impure if but one dead Flie be suffered in it He meanes any one knowne sinne lyen and delighted in impenitently 6. Where there is but any one sinne nourished and fostered all other our graces are not onely blemished but abolished they are no graces 7. Most true is that saying of Aquinas That all sinnes are coupled together though not in regard of conuersion to temporall good for some looke to the good of gaine some of glory some of pleasure c. yet in regard of auersion from eternall Good that is God So that he that lookes but toward one sinne is as much auerted and turned backe from God as if he looked to all In which respect Saint Iames sayes He that offendeth in one is guiltie of all 8. Euery Christian should carry in his heart a constant and resolute purpose not to sinne in anything for faith and the purpose of sinning can neuer stand together Thou seest then if Satan keep possession but by one reigning sinne it will be thine euerlasting ruine Thou shalt then bee so farre from euer enioying any humble holy acquaintance with our God that thou art gone body and soule for euer One breach in the walles of a Citie exposeth it to the surprize of the enemy one leake in a ship neglected will sinke it at length into the bottome of the Sea the stab of a penknife to the heart will as well speed a man as all the daggers that kild Caesar in the Senate-house If thou hedge thy Close as high as the middle Region of the Aire in all other places and leaue but one gap all thy grasse will bee gone If the Fowler catch the bird either by the head or the foote or the wing she is sure his owne It is so in the present case If thou liue and lye with allowance and delight in any one knowne sinne without particular remorse or resolution to part with it thou as yet carriest the Diuels brand he hath thereby markt thee out for his owne As obedience is vniuersall and Catholike if sincere so repentance if true is also generall It sâ—…rips vs starke naked as a worthy Diuine saies well of all the garments of the old Adam and leaues not so much as the shirt behind in this rotten building it leaues not a stone vpon a stone As the flood drowned Noahs owne friends and seruants so must the flood of repenting teares drowne our sweetest and most profitable sinnes The premonition therefore I tender in the first place is this Thou canst neuer possibly be fitly qualified either for the right vnderstanding or sauing practise of this sacred and sweetest Art of walking with God except thou resolue to stand for euer sincerely at the swords point against all sinne Euen thy bosome sinne must be abandoned if thou look for any blessing in this kinde Thou must put off the shirt from thy sinfull soule for as the shirt is to the body so is the beloued sinne to the soule it sticks closest and neerest and is done off with most adoe And because this darling-pleasure minion-delight Peccatum in delicijs as the Fathers call it is Satans strongest Hold his Tower of greatest confidence and securitie when he is driuen out elsewhere and so by consequent most powerfull and peremptorie to keepe a mans heart estranged with largest distance and incompatible auersion from all holy acquaintance with God I will in short labour to illighten and dis-intangle any one who vnfainedly desires an vtter diuorce from this bosome-deuill by telling him first what it is secondly what his is thirdly how he may be deceiued about it 1. As in euery man there is one element one humour and ordinarily one passion predominant so also one worke of darknesse and way of death And it is that which his corrupt and originall crookednesse vpon the first electiue suruay and prospect ouer the fooles Paradise of worldly pleasures fleshly lusts and vanities of this life by a secret sensuall inclination and bewitching infusion of Satan singles out and makes speciall choice of to follow and feede vpon with greatest delight and predominant sweetnesse afterward by custome and continuance growes so powerfull and attractiue that it extraordinarily endeares and drawes vnto it the heate of all his desires and strongest workings of his heart with much affectionate impatiencie and headlongnesse and at the height by an vnresistable tyranny it makes all occasions and occurrences friends and followers the deepest reach of policie and vtmost proiects of wit Religion conscience credit with the world the vniuersall possibilitie of body soule outward state seruiceable and contributarie vnto it as the Captaine and commanding sin as to the Deuils vice-roy domineering in the wasted conscience In some it is worldlinesse wantonnesse ambition opposicion to godlinesse vsurie pride reuenge or the like In others it may bee drunkennesse the swaggering vanitie of good fellowship gluttony pleasures of Play-house hanting gaming scurrill iesting c. obstinate insatiablenesse in allowed recreations idlenesse or such like 2. Thou mayest discouer it by such markes as these 1. It is that which thy truest friends thine owne conscience and the finger of God in the Ministerie many times finds out meetes with and chiefely checks thee for 2. It is that which if it breake out into act and be visible to the eye of the world thine enemies most eagerly obserue and obiect as matter of their most insultation and thy greatest disgrace 3. That which thou art lothest to leaue art oftenest tempted vnto hast least power to resist and which most hinders the resignation and submission of soule and body of all thy courses and carriage heartily and vnreseruedly to the Word and will of God 4. It is that which God oftnest corrects in thee euen in the interpretation and guiltie acknowledgement of thy selfe-accusing heart It may be at seuerall times thou hast bin afflicted with some heauy crosse in thine outward state losse of a child some fits and pangs of bodily paine terrours and troubles of mind or some such proportionable visitations now in all these and like afflictions vpon the first smarting apprehension thy conscience if any whit awaked on its owne accord seized vpon that sinne we now seeke for as the principall Achan and author of all thy misery 5. If euer thou wast so sicke as out of extremitie to receiue sentence of death against thy selfe and despaire of recouerie if thy conscience was stirring this sinne afrighted thee most and gaue the deadliest blow to driue thee to finall despaire And if thou shouldest die in it without repentance which God forbid it would infuse most hellish vigor and venome into the neuer-dying worme which would thereby more mightily gnaw vpon thy
match because said she I shall not finde a second Ualdaura for so her husband was called Whence it appeares that this worthy woman was wedded to her husbands soule not to his body no infirmity or deformity whereof could coole or weaken the manlinesse and feruency of her loue Such choyse as this were the way to make wiues neuer weary of their husbands Whereas affections fastened onely on a mans outside are subiect to the tedious misery of inconstancy and change and torture of many wicked and impossible wishes according to the vanity and vexation of its transitory obiect Against which heare the indignation of an ancient Father But thy husband saith he is growne vnhandsome and homely Hee once pleased thee wouldest thou euer bee choosing an husband The Oxe and the Horse like their mate And if the one be changed the other knowes not how to draw but wants as it were halfe of himselfe But thou refusest thy yoke-fellow and wouldest often change Helpefulnesse to her husband must bee vniuersall apprehending and improouing with all readinesse and loue all opportunities to doe him any good in soule or body name estate c. In a speciall manner she must learne and labour with all meekenesse of Wisedome and patient discretion to forecast contriue and manage as her more proper and particular charge household affaires and businesses within dore as they say For which see a right noble glorious patterne Prou. 31. For the pride vanity idlenesse and luxury of these last times wherein there is so much hell vpon earth such an impetuous raigne and rage of sinne in all sorts hath transported also that sexe into many monstrous degenerations So that our great women in these daies would bee very loth to worke after this sample though set by the holy Ghost himselfe Yet heretofore right Noble Princesses and daughters of mighty Kings made conscience of a particular Calling and disdayned not to put their hands to huswifery See Gen. 18. 6. And 27. 14. 2. Sam. 13. 8. But aboue all let here be assistant to him in setting vp and forward the rich and Royall trade of grace in erecting and establishing Christs glorious Kingdome both in their owne hearts and in their house This is that one necessary thing without which their family is but Satans seminary and a nurcery for hell And therefore let her be so far from drawing a contrary way a cursed villany of some wicked wiues abroad in the world or dead-heartednesse this way which is the graue of all spirituall graces that in case of negligence slacknesse she should labor by all wise modest seasonable insinuations to stirre vp and quicken her husband to constancy and seruency in religious exercises of prayer reading catechizing conference daies of humiliation and other household holy duties As the two greater lights of Heauen doe gouerne this great world with their naturall so let the husband and wife guide the little world of their family with the spirituall light of diuine knowledge and discretion When the Sunne is present in our firmament the Moone out of a sence as it were of a naturall reuerence to the fountaine of all her beauty and light doth vaile her splendor and retire her beames But when he is departed to the other Hemisphaere she shewes her selfe and shines as a Princesse amongst the lesser lights When the husband is at home let the wife onely if need be serue as a louing remembrancer to him to keepe his turnes and times of illightning and informing the ignorant darke and earthy hearts of their people But in his absence comes her course when her graces of knowledge and prayer c. ought to shew forth themselues and shine vpon them to preserue them from coldnesse and that dreadfull curse which hangs ouer the head of those that know not God and shall certainely fall vpon those Families that call not on his Name See Ierem. 10. 25. For conclusion of the point crowning of the marriage-state with sound and lasting comfort in the meane time and with euerlasting peace pleasures at last Let man and wife ioyntly labour to sweeten and sanctifie their mutuall carriages both common and seuerall duties each to other with often and constant meeting together in prayer For perswasion to which practise Consider such places as these Gen. 25. 21. 1. Cor. 7. 5. 1. Pet. 3. 7. That precise passage in Ambrose You must both speaking of married couples rise in the night to prayer and God is to bee intreated of you with ioynt supplications Continually saith Chrysostome teach her profitable things and pray together If besides Family-prayers wherein the more generall affaires of the household are to bee commended vnto God man and wife make conscience also of this more priuate duty betweene themselues wherein many particulars are to be petitioned onely proper and indiuiduall to that neere society I say if they set themselues vnto it with sincerity of heart it may be a notable helpe and by Gods blessing prooue a soueraigne antidote against any roote of bitternesse heart-rising dissention or discontent betwixt them wrath and ill-will towards any lurking in the heart doth vtterly dampe and empoyson the power and comfort of prayer much more towards one tyed vnto thee with so many deare and perpetuall bonds so that prayer together will make them leaue iarring or iarring will make them leaue praying against all immodesties dishonours and defilements of the marriage-bed against want monstrousnesse and miscarriage of children against wearinesse saciety and light esteeme one of another against plunging themselues insensibly into the gulfe of worldly-mindednesse the canker and cutthroate of all grace comfort and noblenesse of mind c. This priuate morning and euening sacrifice offered to the Throne of grace with heartinesse and life will spiritualize that I may so speake their loue and renew it daily vpon their hearts with fresh ardent and heauenly embracements It will marueilously sweeten all reproaches and contumelies cast vpon them for their profession by enuenomed tongues when they shall come together in priuate and complaine vnto God and begge at his mercifull hands patience and Christian fortitude to take them in submission to his will and conformity to his Sonne as so many crownes of glory to their heads and of ioy vnto their hearts Acts 5. 41. 1. Pet. 4. 14. Iob 31. 36. It will sweetly seale vnto them in the meane time their assurance of meeting together hereafter in Heauen and when the time of sorrow shall come and stroke of death diuorce them for a time consciousnesse of their former blessed communion in prayer will not onely serue as a counterpoyson against all slauish bitternesse of immoderate griefe incident to hopelesse worldlings but crowne their hearts at parting which is a precious thing with incomparably more true inward lasting contentment then if they two had couetously hoarded and heapt together all the wealth both of this and the other golden world Thus much
SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALKING with God DELIVERED IN THE LECTVRE AT KETTERING IN NORTHhamptonshire with enlargement By Robert Bolton Preacherof Gods Word at Broughton in the same County The second Edition corrected and amended with a Table thereunto annexed AT LONDON Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Edmund Weauer and are to be sold at his shop at the great North doore of Pauls Church 1626. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND TRVLY NOBLE EDWARD Lord Mountague of Boughton a fruitfull increase of all heauenly graces and all watchfull preparation for the Glory that shall be reuealed Much Honored and Noble Lord ALthough the eminency of your other personall worth great Wisdome and noble parts a sufficient attractiue to euery honest heart by reason of the particular interest it hath in the common state of goodnes or your speciall bounty to my selfe which ought to stir vp an ingenuous minde to apprehend any opportunity of due and deserued acknowledgement or your publike deportment in the face of our Country so worthy and Honorable and managed with such true honesty graue moderation and noblenesse of spirit which cannot but draw from euery heart truely sound to our great Lord in Heauen and His Royall Deputy our highest Soueraigne vpon earth a great deale of reuerence loue I say though any of these seuerally might exact from me a more exact and able demonstration of the thankefull deuotions of my heart yet my Lord and you may beleeue mee there is another thing besides all these which was the strongest and most predominant motiue to quicken mee to this Duty and Dedication euen your sincere and inuincible affection to the Gospell of Iesus Christ His faithfull Ministers and most precious Wayes And this to tell you the truth is farre the fairest and most orient flower in the Garland of all your goodnesse and incomparably aboue all your Greatnesse were you aduanced euen to desert nay to the highest top of all earthly felicities and mortall honour For howsoeuer the world euer beside it selfe in point of faluation and starke blind in the right apprehension of Heauenly things doth ◅ote vpon guilded miseries stinging vanities golden setters and wickedly deemes pursuite of purity the height of folly yet I can assure you in the Word of life and truth the richest and rarest con◅luence of all humane happinesses the most exquisite excellencie and variety of the greatest worldly pompe and splendour that euer the Sunne saw since the first moment of its creation or shall looke vpon while it shines in Heauen is but dust in the ballance to one graine of grace it is but dung to an humble minde sauingly illightened with a forecast but of the least glimpse of that incomprehensible endlesse glory which shall shortly be reuealed It is all in the true valuation but as a vaine smoake which doth not onely vanish as it riseth and vtterly looseth it selfe at the highest but also drawes teares frō a mans eyes nay at last wrings the very heart-strings of euery impenitent soule with that extremest euerlasting horrour which would burst ten thousand hearts seriously and sensibly to thinke vpon before-hand It is not onely vanity but also vexation of spirit Let worldly wisdome say what it will and hold them melancholike and madde who by the helpe of the holy Ghost hold a constant counter-motion to the course of the world and corruptions of the time that they may keep a good conscience the richest treasure and dearest Iewell that euer the heart of man was acquainted with who infinitely desire rather to be religious then rich to bee good then great to enioy the fauour of God then the soueraignty and pleasures of all the kingdomes of the earth yet assuredly when all is said and truely summed vp it is onely the true feare of Gods blessed Name a zealous forwardnesse for his glory goodnesse and good causes at this day vnhappily and to the ruine of infinite soules called by the world pragmaticalnesse and Too much precisenesse which can truely beautifie and adorne both all other personall sufficiencies and indeed sanctifie and blesse all publike imployments and seruices of State For the first A Professor euen something Popish doth yet truely teach that Heroicall nobilitie is an illustrious eminency shining in a man by the heauenly infusions of supernaturall grace whereby he is made by adoption the sonne of God the Spouse of Christ the Temple of the holy Ghost without which all other Nobilities are nothing not worth a button Suppose a faire and goodly horse to the eye as exquisitely featured colourd paced as that fained by Bartas to be managed by Cain yet if he wāted mettle he were worth nothing to a man of spirit Giue me the most magnificent glorious Worldling that euer trod vpō earthly mould richly crowned with all the ornaments and excellencies of nature art policy preferment or what heart can wish besides yet without the life of grace to animate and ennoble them hee were to the eye of heauenly Wisdome but as a rotten carkasse stucke ouer with flowers magnified dung guilded rottennesse golden damnation And that which is more dreadfull when the sunne of his short Summers day is set the hot gleame of transitorie prosperity past and the bitter tempestuous winters night of death approacheth from which all the Gold and Pearle of East West can no more deliuer him then can an handfull of dust I say then shall bee powred vpon his head that terrible showre of snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest His soule sinkes immediatly in a moment into the depth of remedilesse misery and is desperately plunged for euer into the bottome of the burning Lake His body descends into the graue as into a dungeon of rottennesse horror arrested as it were by the second death in the deuils name and at length haled and dragged vnto the terror of that great and last Day where no creature can rescue him no mountaine couer him from that vnquenchable wrath neuer-dying Worme which shall euer lastingly day and night feed vpon his soule and flesh Wheras now on the other side that poore neglected One who hath in truth giuen his name vnto Christ and his gainefull seruice perhaps by the World most disdainfully and contemptuously trampled vpon euen into the dust with the feet of cruelty and pride at least most certainly euer made extremely vile and contemptible by the villany of tongues and cruell mockings yet is such an One as the World is not worthy of in the meane time in the meaning of the holy Ghost a Crowne of glory in the hand of Iehouah as beautifull and amiable as the bloud of Christ and his righteous roabe can make him crowned full gloriously with Gods owne comelinesse which hee hath put vpon him designed from all eternitie in due time for so his sanctification now assures him to weare an euerlasting Crowne of blisse And when his pilgrimage is past
the most worthy Saints are wofully haunted with too many distractions and violent intrusion of idle vaine and impertinent thoughts euen in holy duties religious exercises and solemne vse of the ordinances which without extraordinarie watchfulnesse and wrastling on their parts would vtterly bereaue and robbe them of all the sweetnesse power and profit of those blessed meanes and by little and little quite transforme them into forme and perfunctorinesse If in the best then and heauenliest businesses the vanity of our owne mindes and malice of the Deuill presse vpon vs with such importunitie and restlesse assaults with what furious and impetuous incursions and vastations of conscience are they like to oppresse vs in our idle houres ill spent time and pursuit of pleasures Consideration whereof me thinkes should cause Christians who alone are truely sensible of the interruption and discontinuance of their sweet communion and societie with Christ and smart many times for the estrangement of their thoughts and affections from God onely to haue recourse to recreations in case of true neede for necessitie I say and seasonably euen as they vse physicke so may they expect Gods gracious protection from the hurtfull preuailing of those sensuall distempers and licentious ranging of their thoughts which are wont to enrage and empoyson the mindes and affections of carnall men all the while and to make account so often as they are haled by the cunning ensnarement of old companions the tyrannie of former custome or vnmortified yeeldingnesse of their owne deceitfull hearts to immoderation and excesse in this kinde so often to expose their hearts by Gods iust permission as a prey to temptation and vanitie Whereby they may bee in continuall danger either by little and little to bee drawne backe and drowned againe in the froth and fooleries of their disauowed pleasures which were an horrible thing or else at least to bring vpon themselues from time to time as they transgresse in this kinde much vnnecessarie discomfort and dissettlednesse in their Christian course dis-rellish in Religious exercises deadnesse of heart disacquaintance with heauenly comforts losse of that dearest Thing and earthly Paradise peace of Conscience which perhaps they shall hardly with much adoe recouer a long time after 6. Sixthly consider Chrysostomes precisenesse against wasting time this way The present time saith he is not for melting into 〈◊〉 but for lamentation and mourning And yet doest thou vainely mis-spend it in merry conceits The Deuill gnasheth the teeth roares and foames and flashes out fire against thy saluation and doest thou sit still and Iouially iest it out Doe wee play and sport our selues Beloued Wilt thou learne the conuersation of the Saints Heare what Paul saies Act. 20. 31. By the space of three yeeres I ceased not to warne euery one night and day with teares 2. Cor. 2. 4. Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote vnto you with many teares 2. Cor. 11. 29. Who is weake and I am not weake Who is offended and I burne not 2. Cor. 5. 4. For we that are in this Tabernacle doe groane being burdened And the Apostle desiring that I may so speake euery day to depart this life Doest thou laugh and play Our time here is a time of warre of fight of watch and ward of harnessing of standing in the face and fury of the enemy and doest thou demeane thy selfe like a dauncer Doest thou not see the faces of Souldiers in the fight how sad they are how contracted how terrible with frownes how full of horrour Doest thou not behold the austore piercing intention of their eyes an extraordinarie excitation of heart leaping and panting in their brests c. His meaning imports thus much Doth an ordinarie Souldier in the field against a mortal man earthly enemy recollect and vnite all the spirits and powers of body and soule with all efficacie and earnestnesse for the encounter And shall a Christian Souldier that wrastles not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spirituall wickednesses in high places who is euery moment furiously assaulted and hunted euen like a Partridge in the Mountaines by the deuils open rage the ambushment of the World and the endlesse treacheries of his owne false heart trifle away his time and turne aside to toyes 4. No incrochers vpon heauenly comforts no diminishers of our delight in God no deuourers of spirituall ioy For this is a very deare and diuine thing to bee prized and preserued as a sweet and celestiall Iewell far more worth then heauen and earth which the world can neither giue nor take from vs neither must any stranger meddle with it Wee may take an estimate of its excellency by casting our eyes vpon 1. The intolerable bitternesse of the contrary I meane spirituall horrour which we see sometimes by wofull experience doth enrage the guilty consciences of some forlorne wretches with such restlesse furies and vnutterable anguish that at length extremest I know not whether madnesse or cruelty they lay violent and villanous hands vpon themselues In which case such an hell vpon earth is horrour of conscience they care not a button for the sweetnesse of life the rufull cries of their owne deare children the heauy lookes of their yoke-fellowes the abhorred infamy they bring vpon their owne names families kindred buriall posteritie Oh how they spurne at with a vile disdainefull contempt Pleasures Riches Honours Crownes Kingdomes Worlds of gold any thing euery thing as miserable comforters Nay it is so stinging that they will rather venture vpon that other Hell to which they are posting in a Coffin of blood a thousand thousand times more horrible then endure it any longer If sence then of diuine indignation taking secret vengeance vpon the guilty conscience of an impenitent Rebell puts him as it were into hellish flames aboue ground what an heauen vpon earth is a sweet feeling of Gods reconciled face and his euerlasting mercies through Christ sealed and set on by the holy Ghost and testimonie of a good conscience And how deliciously doth an humble soule so honoured with a foretaste and first-fruits as it were of eternall ioyes graspe the Lord Iesus in his ordinances and blisfully sunne it selfe in the loue and light of His countenance 2. The practise of the prophane in their insatiable restlesse pursuite of false ioyes and painefull pleasures which at best are but as crackling of thornes vnder a pot and flashes of lightning before euerlasting fire They hunt after them euen into hell and light a candle at the Deuill for lightsoâ—…nesse of heart by haunting Ale-houses Tauerneâ—… Brothel-houses Play-houses Conuenticles of good-fellowship sinfull and vnseasonable sports a thousand kinds of vanities and fooleries which are nothing but the Deuils Wakes and reuellings of Hell And all this little poore carnall mirth is purchased many times with much shame losse misery beggery rottennesse of body discredit damnation At what an high
very spectacle of commiseration to euery spirituall eye euen as that body is which adorned with a goodly feature and many other admirable beauties yet wanteth eye-sight the comfort of life whereby it walkes in perpetuall darkenesse and desperate danger Goodnesse though attended with contempt and disgrace is incomparably more amiable in the eye of an honest Cato much more of an holy Christian then all the vaine-glorious boisterous representations of any greatnesse or pompe Memorable and remarkable to this purpose was the magnanimitie and resolution of that holy Prophet 2. Kings 3. 14. As the Lord of hosts liueth before whom I stand Surely were it not that I regard the presence of Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah I would not looke toward thee nor see thee Miserable then is the vanity and vaine-glorious slauery of such as with great eagernesse and impotency hunt so ambitiously after high dependances and hold it a strange happinesse to insinuate into the bosome of the worlds Fauourites though it be by basenesse bribery an vniuersall obsequiousnesse and vile accommodations They many times with vaunting intimation also to others proudly applaud and please themselues for their accesse countenance and entertainement with Great men as though it argued in them some rare extraordinary sufficiencie and worth when as perhaps it is their owne flattering insinuations and intrusion their instrumentall agencie and imployment in some ill offices lewd seruices which brings them into such request and acceptation But let such know it is a thousand times more comfort and true credit to be receiued with Christian loue and armes of grace into the heart and affections of a good man then to be entertained with greatest brauery and worldly applause into grace and fauour with the greatest gracelesse One vpon earth For alas when a man hath done all he can to please the humours of vngodly great Ones by an vnconscionable satisfaction of their carnall desires and to gratifie them hath vnhappily grieued his owne conscience hee can at last when Gods dreadfull visitation and flaming vengeance shall seize vpon him for that sinne looke for no better reward and reply than that cold comfort and cutting answere which Iudas in the extremity of his anguish and horrour receiued from the High Priests and Elders Matth. 27. 4. That cursed man came vnto them ready out of the rage of his vexed conscience to teare his traiterous heart out of his body with his own bloody hands and threw the thirty pieces of siluer amongst them and cryed out I haue sinned in that I haue betrayed the innocent blood But what recompence doe they returne for his imployment in villany to serue their turne Their reply is What is that to vs See thou to that And such a man shall certainely in the day of distresse bee enforced to take vp some rufull complaint proportionable to Wolseyes heauy groane Had I beene as carefull to serue the God of heauen as my great Master on earth He had neuer left me in my gray haires And wee see in the meane time fauour is deceitfull and transitory euen in priuate men much more in great personages The volubility of whose nature is soone glutted and very variable for kinds of satisfaction A thousand experiences in all Stories and times teach vs how irregular and many times retrograde the reuolutions of highest fauours runne They haue their paroxysmes and declinations and euer at length their most certaine expiration and euerlasting period But on the other side consciousnesse of hauing held an vnfained fruitfull correspondence and communion with Gods people the onely excellent Ones by all neerest and dearest engagements and Obligations of a profitable and comfortable fellowship in the Gospell and mutuall entercourse of godly conference heauenly counsell spirituall encouragements consideration one of another confirmation in grace and well-grounded testification of meeting together in heauen will incomparably more refresh the trembling heart of a dying man than if he had been crowned all his life long with the Imperiall glory of all earthly kingdomes And in the meane time there is nothing in this world to be admired but the illustrious splendour of heauenly graces shed and shining from Gods mercifull Throne by his sanctifying Spirit into the soules of the Saints Neither any thing so to bee desired no such prerogatiue and Paradise in this vale of teares as a mutuall communicating of their diuine brightnesse and the sweete ioy issuing thence a very glimpse and earnest of euerlasting glory to the humble hearts one of another 4. When thou visitest others or thy selfe inuitest them take notice euer before-hand with as punctuall and special suruey as thou canst possibly of their humours dispositions carriages opinions and behauiours and thereupon premeditate and prepare conuenient and seasonable matter whereby thou maist more successefully addresse and apply thy selfe with all meekenesse of wisedome and patient discretion to insinuate interpose argue answere reprooue reply and so demeane thy selfe in thy whole discourse that through thy default neither the glory of God the honour of his Truth the reputation of Christianitie or thine owne conscience receiue any indignitie disgrace diminution or wound Would Christians take this counsell hold this course they would at such times not so often depart with spirituall discontent and so smitten with consciousnesse afterward of their silence omissions cowardlinesse and vnprofitablenesse in company For want of care and conscience in this point countrey people meet many times in their Conuenticles of goodfellowship at Ale-houses Bake-houses Gossippings as they call them c. as at a common Mart of Tale-telling back-byting disgracing their neighbours raging against Professors sawcily and vnseasonably medling with and miscensuring other mens matters yea and would you thinke it sometimes euen highest Mysteries of State reuiling the Ministerie especially if managed with manifestation of the Spirit and an holy impatiency to see the deuill domineere and reuell it in the blood of the peoples soules without contradiction When they come together at such times euery one opens his packe of tales for I haue told you heretofore that a Tale-bearer is compared to a Pedlar as the word in the Originall cleerely intimates who hauing furnished himselfe and filled his packe with variety of peddling and petty stuffes trots vp and downe for vent from house to house where he finds best custome and speall entertainement I say at such meetings it is their manner to open euery one his packe of false and slanderous tales which they haue raked and scraped together by their owne malicious surmises listnings whisperings pragmaticall inquisitiuenesse into other mens businesses or some odde idle Intilligencers whom they entertaine for that purpose and there out of an itching humor of talkatiuenesse and tattling they lay abroad such rotten wares to the empoysoning of the eares of those that heare them the defaming of their brethren farre better then themselues and certaine remonstration to their owne consciences that they are as yet the children of the deuill the
defray the charge Otherwise to beginne and not able to make an end were but to lay a ground-worke of his disgrace and scorne in the losse of his cost and paines A Prince which would wisely make Warre must first haue a true triall of his owne and dexterity to discouer his enemies strength otherwise to bid him battaile were but to incense him more and thrust a title into his hands to defeate him of all hee hath Hee that seriously sets himselfe to seeke God in truth and to saue his soule indeed must cast vp his reckonings before-hand what will be required at his hands and consult with his owne heart whether willing to forgoe all such contentments hopes pleasures preferments worldly comforts which are incompatible with a good conscience and the path that is called holy and to endure all those troubles and indignities from the angry world which ordinarily are wont to crowne the heads of all Christs Souldiers else most certainely he will shrinke in the wetting Hee must resolue by the inuincible noblenesse of his Christian courage to digest the hate and opposition of dearest friends neerest kindred the raylings and reproaches of men most abiect and contemptible in respect of those whom they reuile he must bee content to become the drunkards song table-talk to those that sit in the gate and the byword of basest men viler then the earth c. In a word he must prize and preferre his sweetest Sauiour His truth cause and seruice infinitely before the whole world Now besides my blessed change thus qualified and this glorious worke of the Holy Ghost vpon my soule by the helpe of God I haue stood at the staues end with the darling pleasure and minion delight of my former damned time euer since I was new borne I haue euer since made conscience of all sinne and to performe all holy duties I haue had respect to all Gods Commandements and all his Ordinances I haue loued dearely my blessed Lord and all things that belong vnto him His Titles Attributes creatures workes of Iustice and Mercy His Word Sacraments Sabbaths Ministers Seruices Children Presence Corrections Comming I haue since delighted in the Saints the onely excellent Ones vpon earth whom I heartily hated before I haue dayly with as great earnestnesse and feruency as my poore dull heart could possibly complained and cryed vnto my God in Prayer against mine owne sinnes passionate distempers rebellious risings the malice of Satan the allurements of the world corruptions of the times the cruelties of strange iniections and horrible temptations my many and often faylings frailties and imperfections Vpon due and impartiall examination I haue happily ridde mine hands of all that consuming pelfe which any way crept into mine estate by wicked wrongful meanes in the dayes of mine iniquitie For scarce any man in the state of nature but deales falsly in one kind or other I haue desired and endeauoured to adorne my profession as well with workes of iustice mercy and truth as by the outward acts of pietie Herein I haue exercised my selfe to haue alwayes a good conscience void of offence toward God and toward man c. And in all these passages and particulars both of my conuersion and conuersation had I onely reposed vpon the outward act and rested in the worke wrought I had vtterly fainted and beene quite vndone in the day of aduersitie But truth of heart was the touchstone and sinceritie is the sinew of all my assurance and comfort this way I haue beene I confesse yet full sore against my will and the hearty desire of my soule haunted and hindred in passing thorow the pangs of my new birth and managing my Christian businesses with the violent intrusion and insinuating mixture of many imperfections distractions temptations wants weakenesses infirmities and faylings priuie pride secret hypocrisie distrusts and deadnesse of mine owne naughty heart I was much wanting by reason of the naturall rebellion of mine hard heart to those workings of the Law and Gospell mentioned before I haue come farre short of that sorrow for sinne which I desired and of that heauenly-mindednesse in performing holy duties which was required But then I haue from time to time grieued and groaned vnder those too many frailties and defects as vnder an heauy burthen I haue many a time bitterly bewailed them in secret they haue made mee walke more humbly before my God and towards men I haue continually complained heartily against them at the Throne of Grace I haue sincerely desired and endeauoured after all those meanes which might restraine and mortifie them and made conscience to discouer and decline their vnwelcome insinuations and so I haue gone on still in the holy Path with sincerity of heart and in obedience vnto God still vpholding mine heart with consideration of the sweet and mercifull disposition of my dearest heauenly Father who euer if the heart be vpright and truely humble takes the will for the deed and accepts vs according to that which we haue and not according to that which we haue not And therefore I am most sure neither by the helpe of God shall all the deuils in hell driue me from this hold that they are all buried for euer in the righteous and meritorious blood of my blessed Sauiour And so I hold vp my head still against all contradiction of carnall reason naturall distrust Satans cruell suggestions being well assured That hearty humiliation and grieuing vnder weakenesse in well-doing is as true a fruit of sanctification and marke of true conuersion as spirituall abilitie to doe well It is not so much the muchnesse and quantitie as the truth of grace not so much the exactnesse of the outward act in performing holy duties as sincerity of heart which qualifies a broken hart for comfort in the promises of life and assurance of Gods loue Though I know well there was neuer any who tasted truely grace but hee sincerely thirsted and endeauoured after more Neuer did any man well in the worship and seruices of God who did not bewaile his wants and faylings therein and truely desire and labour to doe better It is the propertie of Pharises and formall professours to conceiue that they are spiritually rich enough already and haue need of nothing but the better the Christian is the more sensible hee is and heartily complaining of his spirituall pouertie naughty heart and manifold imperfections Heere now then may wee see in this Discourse of the true Conuert comforting himselfe in the point of his spirituall estate other kind of stuffe sincere matter sounder grounds more speciall workings of the holy Ghost then any one of the fore-mentioned deluded Ones was euer practically and experimentally acquainted with Neither is this all The true Christian hath yet more noble immediate and demonstratiue euidences to strengthen his heart in the assurance of Gods euerlasting loue vnto him through Christ and present possession of his fauour For with submission to better
euen Bellarmine himselfe speakes proportionably in another case Vpon a passage in Austin acknowledging the interior efficacy of Gods Spirit giuing testimony to our hearts concerning the truth of that which is contained in the Scriptures saith he This light of faith is a certaine testimonie of God by which it is said to the secret cogitations of our hearts That is true thou needest not to doubt thereof Here is an immediate testimony of the Spirit granted for the confirmation of the truth of the Word why may not the like bee expected for an assurance of the worke of the Word Mighty and remarkeable was the worke of the Spirit this way vpon the heart of that Noble Martyr Robert Glouer vpon the first sight and representation of the Stake so sweetely seasonable is God in all his refreshings For two or three dayes before his death hee was full heauily oppressed with the spirituall miseries of a dead heart and spirituall desertion In which time no doubt hee cried mightily vnto God and often reflected the eye of his renewed conscience vpon a truly beleeuing penitent humble holy and heauenly heart resolued to sacrifice its warmest blood in the mercilesse fire for the testimony of Iesus and yet no comfort would come But in the very nicke and needfull time as you may see in the Story the blessed Spirit did suddenly shine into his darke and desolate soule with the glorious beames of his owne immediate comfort and so sensibly filled it with such ouerflowing Riuers of spirituall ioyes that no doubt they mightily abated and quencht the ragefull fury of those Popish flames wherein hee sweetely fell asleepe It was a speciall and immediate springing of the holy Ghost in his heart which made Master Peacock after many dayes of extremest horrour professe that The ioy which be felt in his conscience was incredible We feele and acknowledge by daily experience that Satan doth immediately iniect and shall not the blessed Spirit after his holy and heauenly manner immediately also suggest sometimes Neither is this to bee reputed an extraordinary reuelation or Enthusiasme without or beside the Word of God I heartily abominate all Anabaptisticall fooleries and phrensies For that which the Spirit so reueiles vnto our consciences we our selues may collect and conclude out of Gods Word vpon the conscience of our faith repentance other sauing endowments and holy graces shining in our soules and vprightly exercised in our whole conuersation When wee by these meanes haue assured our soules that we are the children of God which is the testimony of our owne renewed spirits the Spirit of God as another witnesse secondeth and confirmeth this assurance by diuine inspiration and by sweet motions and feelings of Gods speciall goodnesse and glorious sauing presence and so acording to the Apostles phrase Rom. 8. 16. beareth witnesse with our spirits Wherefore if any man presume vpon or pretend any immediate suggestion or reuelation for his spirituall safetie and euerlasting well-beeing and yet want vtterly the testimony of 〈◊〉 renewed conscience to the same purpose the testimony of vniuersall obedience of not lying willingly and delightfully in any one knowne sin of crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts c. I can giue him none but this cold comfort hee is cursedly coozened by the Deuils counterfeit glory of an Angell casting into his abused imagination such groundlesse conceits which in time of triall will vanish into nothing and flye away as a dreame By the way let me tell you that though this last manner of assurance bee more immediately from the Spirit yet conceiue that the other also are not effectuall vpon the heart without the excitation illumination and assistance of the same blessed Spirit For the first consider that forecited place 1. Corinth 2. 12. For the second when the conscience through the ministrie of the Law doth testifie to a man his state in sinne and vnder the curse it is through the spirit of bondage that it doth testifie then when it doth testifie to him his state of grace and freedome from the curse it is much rather from the Spirit of Adoption No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost For the third I doubt not but the blessed Spirit as a comfortable Remembrancer refreshed Hezekias memory when he cryed to the Lord Remember now O Lord c. Isai. 38. 3. But how shall a man discerne and difference a true perswasion and the testimony of the Spirit from a groundlesse presumptuous conceit and the Deuils delusion If Bellarmine aske me I will easily stop his mouth First by demanding him how his Saint Francis and S. Antony knew assuredly that their reuelations of the certaine remission of their sinnes were from the Spirit of God especially sith with him they were reuelations quite besides and without the Word For he holds that this proposition Francis is truly iustified Antony hath his sinnes forgiuen and so of other particular men is not to be found in the Word either immediately or by euident consequence which we vpon good ground contradict if the particular men be true beleeuers Secondly by that saying of Ambrose vrged by Catarinus in the Councell of Trent The holy Ghost doth neuer speake vnto vs but doth make vs know that it is Hee that speaketh But if the doubtfull Christian truly troubled about it would be taught and informed in the point or if it be possible that the Pharise the deluded One should heartily desire to be illightened I aduise that they would consider vpon these following markes of difference 1. A sound perswasion vpon good ground by the Spirit is euer agreeable and answerable exactly to the Word The inward testimony of the Spirit and outward testimony of the Word doe alway sweetely accord and one answeres to the other as face to face in water And therefore if that thy present state wherein thou conceiuest thy selfe to bee sure and safe inough for saluation bee disabled and condemned by Gods Word thy confidence is vaine and Satan deludes thee The Scripture tels vs That whosoeuer is borne of God doth not commit sin 1. Ioh. 1. 3 9. which is not to be vnderstood simply of the act of sinning For who can say My heart is cleane But in this sence He makes not a trade of sinning he sinneth not with purpose pleasure and perseuerance he doth not liue lie and delight in sinne he suffers it not to reigne in him If then thou allowest any lust in thy heart or goe on in the willing practise of any one knowne sinne or sensuall course and yet bee well conceited of thy selfe for comfort in the World to come the Deuill coozens thee God will not heare the prayers but wound the hairie scalpe of euery such a one For instance If thou lyest in lying for it s one thing to be ouertaken that way out of feare or ere thou be aware another thing to continue in