thereof 2. JOY and Rejoicing in God in things Divine and Spiritual we are secure and happy The end of Temporal Rejoicing is many times clouded in sudden and unexpected Sorrow Such was Belshazzar's Feast with a thousand of his Princes Dan. 5.1 5 6. The scene of Joy was changed into sudden Astonishment at the sight of that dreadful Hand which decypher'd his doom upon the Palace Wall Secular Joy entertaineth deluded Men as that old lying Prophet of Bethel did the Man of God first feeding then afflicting with the sad Intimation of ensuing Destruction 1 Kings 13.11 22. Acquaint thy self with true good that thou mayst rejoice securely They most delight in Secular things who are ignorant of Eternal 3. LET not thy Heart be too much transported with Secular Joy they that superabound in Mirth and Joy in Prosperity are too much cast down and dejected in Adversity For both Extreams proceed from impotency of Mind In every Exultation look with a thankful Heart on the Lord that gave it and with a prudent Heart on that which may quickly change this Scene of Mirth into Heaviness Taste thy Joy as the Israelites did their Passover with bitter Herbs and prepared to be gone Exod. 12.8 Let the thoughts of Sorrow season all thy Mirth lest a sudden Surprizal astonish and vanquish thee For foreseen Dangers least prejudice the Wise. 4. KEEP Innocency and a good Conscience These shall Comfort thee as Lamech said of his Son Noah Gen. 5.29 The Wise Man tells you Prov. 15.15 All the days of the afflicted are Evil but he that is of a Merry heart that is a good Conscience hath a continual Feast Wicked Mirth Sardonick Laughter and foolish Jesting as they demonstrate much Levity so do they dangerous Uncomposedness Vanity and weakness of Mind In such Laughter the heart is Sorrowful says Solomon Prov. 14.13 And the end of that mirth is heaviness And Eccl. 2.1 Behold this also is Vanity Again The heart of the wise is in the House of Moorning But the Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth Eccl. 7.4 5. WE read that Christ Wept over Jerusalem Luke 19.41 and over Lazarus John 11.35 But we never read of his Laughter 'T is a rare Government of the Mind to have Mirth season'd with Wisdom wherein a prudent Cheerfulness commendeth Mirth well regulated in an holy thankful use of that we enjoy as the best of things meerly Secular To imitate the Austerity of Cato or the Sullenness of Crassus who is reported to have Laughed but once in his Life or to be an ever Weeping Heraclite or an ever Laughing Democritus is to launch out into vain and unsafe Extreams Indeed of the two Tears are to be preferred before excessive Laughter For too much Mirth is a symptom of Folly which fluctuates from the Heart and a true Signet of Forgetfulness or ignorance of this mutable Life 6. AND indeed Voluptuousness is Satan's Hook which produces to Destruction it is the Mother of Sin and the Nurse of the never dying Worm And as Oil killeth Insects but Vinegar restores them so Joy and Pleasure destroy incautious Sinners but sharp Afflictions safely Cure them So that they at last arrive to that apprehensive sense of understanding That it is good for them to be Afflicted Psal. 119.71 Never rejoice at anothers Affliction for it is Odious to the Almighty and seldom evadeth such Revenge as pointeth out the Sin 7. IT is a Maxim of Wisdom to weigh the Joy which will prove an excellent Gage for thy Heart For the Prophet Jeremy tells you Chap. 17.9 That The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it If thou rejoicest in Evil thy Heart must be agreeable to it but if thou delightest in Goodness then a secret Power and Spirit of Sanctity ruleth in thee Observe in Musical Instruments how some Strings sound at the Moving of others and accord very Harmoniously So it is with the Strings of thy Heart which internally Assenteth to any wicked external Action The uncircumcised Heart rejoiceth at that Obscenity that vexed Righteous Lot The Holy are cheerful and glad like the wise Merchant Matt. 13.44 45 56. Who when they find the treasure of God's inestimable Mercy opened to them go away rejoicing with that happy Convert Acts 8.39 While he that hath no interest therein sitteth numbring the Minutes and thinking every Divine Exercise long goeth away either as Ahab with Indignation or with Sorrow like the rich young Man in the Gospel Matt. 19.22 8. DANGEROUS Perturbations of the Mind are in the dominion of Sorrows and there is as much occasion of prudent Rules to be used as of a Rudder in a Storm In every affliction examine well thy Heart for the Cause Wherefore is the living Man Sorrowful Man suffereth for his Sin Let us search and try our ways and turn again unto the Lord Lam 3.39 40. It is a vain attempt and a high presumption to seek for any Relief from Affliction but by this means all other Lenitives are as Draughts of Cold Water in a hectick Fit it is more Inflaming like David's Harp to a moody Saul where the vexing Spirit returneth with greater Violence 9. PLACE thy Sorrow upon Sin which is the right Object It is the vulgar Error and danger of many to be dejected for that loss which indeed cannot prejudice their Bodies but take a delight in Sin which woundeth the Soul and may make them for ever Unhappy We many times grieve for that which should occasion us to Rejoice And St. Paul tells us Rom. 8.26 That all things work together for good and whom the Lord loveth he Chasteneth Heb. 12.6 Next let us consider the comfortable effects of God's Chastisements It yieldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousness unto them which are Exercised thereby Heb. 12.11 We are impatient and roar out as Men under the hands of a skillful Chirurgeon when he exerciseth the Lancet or Cauterie to Cure us It was David's Complaint who said I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my Heart Psal. 38.8 Yet in the issue confessed It is good for me that I have been Afflicted and declares this Experience Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word Psal. 119.67 71. 10. GIVE not thy Heart over to excessive Sorrow for there is a Worldly Sorrow to Death and a Sorrow to Repentance not to be Repented of 2 Cor. 7.10 Exorbitant Grief is like the immoderate Overflowing of Nilus a presager of dangerous Sterility Stand ready prepared for sharp Encounters Ships are built to endure Storms and raging Seas And prudent Minds are composed to endure and make good use of Sorrows Let every Distress awaken thy mind to fly to thy Redeemer And then Afflictions will appear like that Rain which fell on the Ark the more it poured down the more that was lifted up and saved from the fury of the Waves Or like Moses Rod to open a way through the briny Floods to
foolish and unhappy Owners 2. WHAT are Honors where a qualification of Mind is wanting to manage them Those Phaetons precipitate themselves and set the World on fire What are Riches without a Mind well qualified but snares and easie ways to Hell All things duly weighed to a prudent Mind which can limit it self within the desires of Necessaries a little is enough but to an ambitious Mind nothing can satisfie Alexander had a monstrous Mind when he was grieved that there was but one World for him to Conquer 'T is the Mind that maketh truly Rich or Poor That contented in every Estate aboundeth in its own Happiness but discontented can be blessed in none 3. THE way to gain Riches is not so much by adding to an Estate as by depriving the Mind of that foolish desire of having Superfluity beyond use Temporal Riches are but a burden to him who hath truly placed his Affections on Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through and steal Matth. 6.20 That which must once be lost is nothing worth which Consideration possibly made Stilpo answer like a Philosopher who when Demetrius had taken Megera and out of a noble Care to give him Protection from Plundering asked him if the Soldiers had taken ought from him he answered No for said he I saw no Man that would take any Knowledge or Learning from me 4. THE Mind is Sacred and out of the reach of violent hands so that to make thee happy which is the scope of a prudent Desire the way is not to labour so much and disquiet thy self in things External but to compose thy Mind aright to value and make a good Use of what thou hast to get true Wisdom and Understanding and well-ordered Affections quietly to endure want or enjoy plenty In which there is not only an admirable skill and strength of Mind requisite but also an holy Habit. No Precepts can suddenly make a Man practically wise or good which must make us resolve quickly to study this Divine Philosophy And indeed Experience here discovereth a marvellous Stupor and Incogitancy of most Men. In any bodily Dissection we speedily consult the Physician but in our Soul's Distempers we not only delay our seeking help but are too often impatient of offered Remedies That which thou designest to do well speedily put in practice 5. SOLOMON's advice is Prov. 4.23 To keep thine Heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of Life Many think it enough to keep their Tongues and their Hands But it highly concerneth all Christians to keep their Hearts from Satan's Snares there he beginneth all his Stratagems which afterwards break out into Words and Actions It is true that bare Suggestions without any delight or consent of our own are no more our Sins than any Robbery or Murder committed without our Consent or Knowledge But except we are vigilant over our Thoughts and carefully stand upon our guard Satan's deluding Influences will create a Delight and excite in us a Consent and concession to them Therefore the Counsel of the Wise Man is this Prov. 7.25 Let not thine Heart decline to her ways go not astray in her paths 6. CHECK the first beginnings of Sin in thy Thoughts use them roughly at the door and think of the Prophet Elisha's saying 2 Kings 6.33 Is not the sound of their Masters Feet behind them We must there chiefly observe and extinguish Sin where 't is born and quench the Sparks before they break out into masterless Flames We must crush the Cockatrice in the Egg before it proves a fiery flying Serpent We neglect not the biting of a Serpent but presently seek remedy to keep the Venom from the Heart With how much more care and diligence should we look to the biting of the Old Dragon Rev. 12.9 who is able if a little neglected to kill Body and Soul Of evil Seeds spring evil Plants Murder from Revenge in the Heart Adultery from Lust unextinguish'd there and God justly castigateh evil Intentions though they do not always break forth into Actions 7. KEEP a good Conscience and put on Sanctity The Wicked meditate on Evil and the Prophet Esay affirms cahp. 59.7 That their Thoughts are Thoughts of Iniquity Wasting and Destruction are in their paths As our Actions follow our Thoughts so do they leave Impressions in them which prove occasions of their further Operation and Solomon tells you Prov. 12.5 That the Thoughts of the Righteous are right but the Counsels of the Wicked are deceit Love good Thoughts and thou shalt be furnished with them as Flowers spring out of Buds so good Desires flow from Celestial Thoughts We often think of those we Love and are ambitious of their Acquaintance Think often of God for his Love will cause thee to detest all thoughts of Evil and will hinder the approaches of that old malicious Serpent to thy Heart 8. FIX thy Thoughts on something certain The Heart is a spiritual Labyrinth in whose perplexed turnings we often lose our selves and the best fruits of idle and extravagant Fancies are but as the Eyes continually rolling up and down seeing nothing intentively but a wandring Mind It is a signal Token of a composed Mind if it can contain it self and not launch out into those vain Evagations and wandring Thoughts From whence waking as out of some feverish Dream after much thinking we can give our selves no true account what the Mind has busied it self about but that in long thinking we thought on nothing to the Purpose 9. THE Mind is Man's most active Faculty In a Moment with the flight of a Thought it mounts from Earth to Heaven and back again from Age to Age from Present to Future Like Lightning it shoots from East to West vanishing in the Appearance It is not a little skill to arrest it so as that we may say with David Psal. 108.1 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed Without this we can neither Hear nor Pray otherwise than prophane Hypocrites provoking God's Anger by drawing near him with their Lips when their Hearts are far from thinking on him 10. SEEK Peace with God through Faith in Christ for therein consists the true Composure and happy Rest of the Mind The Prophet tells you Isa. 57.21 There 's no Peace to the Wicked neither is there any true Rest out of Christ Jesus Sin is the distemper and disquiet of the Soul Until that Jonah be cast over-board we can never appease the Surges of a troubled Mind This thou mayest seek by hearty sorrow for thy Sins this restringent Acrimony shall heal the Fountains that Death and Barrenness may no more fluctuate from the Mind into thy Words and Actions 'T is a good symptom of Recovery when the Disease changeth Place So when we are pleased with Repentance who were wont to please ourselves with Sin 't is a token that Sin declineth in us 11. BY Committing thy works unto the Lord thy thoughts
Medium carry such an even temper as that Prudence may claim that priviledge to fit at the Helm without the Interruption of either Extreams Take the Prophets Counsel Isai. 8.13 Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts and let him be your Fear and your Dread and he shall be your Sanctuary But fear not their Fear who say a Confederacy The present fear of God Createth us an Eternal Security Fear him and he will banish all other fears from thee Behold the Psalmist how he is fortified Though I walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil for thou art with me Psal. 23.4 And Psal. 118.6 The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me And in Conclusion the fear of the Lord immergeth all other fears 3. IN every danger impress on thy heart the Omnipotency of God and endeavour to have an Affiance in him He that pursues this Rule shall act safely When a Fiery-Furnace was threatned Shadrach Meshac and Abednego answered the Incens'd King Our God whom we serve is idle to deliver us Dan. 3 17. And David tells you Psal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them And when our Enemies seem most formidable there are more for us than can be against us As it appeared in the case of the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.16 It animated the Royal Prophet to cry out In the Lord put I my trust how say ye then to my Soul flee as a Bird to your Mountain Psal. 11.1 All Confidence in Men even their Councels or an Arm of Flesh is unhappy and must come to nothing but God endures to all Eternity Which made the Psalmist declare Therefore will we not fear though the Earth be removed And though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea 4. TAKE Solomon's Counsel and hearken unto the Word of God Pro. 1.33 Whose hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil And Prov. 3.23 34. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid Herein shall be made manifest Gods Power Truth Providence Mercy and Justice that thou mayest trust in him according to the Expression of the Psalmist They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal. 9.10 Love the Lord thy God with a sincere heart And the more thou lovest him the more thou wilt rest assured of his Love and Protection and the more perfect thy love is the more it casteth out fear 1 John 4.18 5. TAKE Job's advice Chap. 22.24 Depart from iniquity and say of it as the Princes of the Philistines said of David Let him not go down with us to the Battle lest in the Battle he be an Adversary to us 1 Sam. 29.4 Fix thy self to seek the Lord as Jehosaphat did when the Armies were upon their March towards him against whom he Atchieved a Glorious Victory 2 Chron. 2.3 Entertain a good Conscience it shall be a Wall of Brass unto thee The safety of that makes a man assume the Courage of a Lyon But if we perceive the smoak of Infernal Brimstone ascend there we must needs faint like the men of Ai when they beheld their City on Fire Josh. 8.20 Guilt of Sin in the Conscience creates Sordidness in Men they may possibly express Transcendent Words who possess a Timerous Conscience but as one said of the fearful Dog He must needs fear who hath no peace in himself 6. CONSIDER with David Psal. 37.37 The end of the Saints and Apostles sufferings which hath ever been happy and they are the more Partakers of Christ's Glory for bearing a share in his sufferings Consider how long they have suffered and then thou canst not fear any of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that you may betryed be thou faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 True it is Flesh and Blood claims Allowance for its Infirmity but the more we can apply to our hearts the end of the Saints and the quiet fruits of Righteousness to them that are exercised the less we must needs be sensible of the Malignity of any Creature 7. ENDEAVOUR for Peace with God give him no rest till he speaks unto the Voice within thee thy Conscience And firmly resolve not to let him go untill he Bless thee and assure thee of thy Remission in Christ Jesus He hath nothing to fear or molest him whose sins are forgiven When the sting of Death is taken out who would not be Valiant Which occasioned St. Paul to express himself 1 Cor. 15.57 But thanks be to God which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And St. John says in his first Epistle Chap. 5.4 And this is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith 8. IN thy greatest Fears pray most fervently Even so did our Saviour being in an Agony He prayed more earnestly So did Jacob in fear of his Brother 's long studied Revenge Gen. 32.9 Pray and beseech God that he would illuminate and open thine Eyes to behold his saving Health God many times sounds his Allarm to awaken our drouzy Souls and open our Mouths to earnest Prayer which in Prosperity are too prone to the Spirit of Slumber and Coldness Fear hath many Tongues and can open the Mouth of the Dumb Even Jonahs Mariners in their Fear will pray and instigate others to the same Duty That one Example of Athis Croesus's Son sheweth what the violence of Fear can do he who before was dumb on a sudden cryed out O Cyrus spare my Father and by our Misfortunes learn that thou also art but a Man A Prayer against Fear O Almighty Lord God who art in thy Wrath and Indignation dreadful against Sinners I humbly acknowledge and confess that there is not one of thy Judgments but what the Guilt of my Sins have long since deserved even the miseries of this Life terrors of Death and future Condemnation But O thou great God of Consolation assure me of a full and free Pardon and a remission of all my Sins and Seal my Peace with thee through the Blood of a Crucified Jesus Fill my Heart and Affections with that measure of thy Love as may exclude all servile fear Give me the testimony of a good Conscince to comfort me against all vain fears of the Wicked Lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me and give me that assurance that thou art and will be my Defence and Confidence 2. AND O thou who rulest in Heaven and Earth from the Angel to the Worm the lowest of Creatures and from the swayer of the Scepter to the drawer of Water Thou art Omnipotent and canst do what thou pleasest and no other God besides thee can Deliver after this sort Lord let it be thy Divine will and
Supream Court of Judicature within us and above us and a silent Register of our Thoughts and Words It is a thousand Witnesses as the Apostle says Accusing or Excusing Rom. 2.15 Such is the Impartiality of this Judge that no Bribery can tempt him to Justifie the Wicked nor Condemn the Just but he is the first Revenger of Impiety and an excluder of the Guilty from Absolution 2. IN true Tranquility of Conscience the Heart is cheerful in every Estate and Condition Rom. 5.1 3. and dreadeth no Judge nor Witness It is a continual Feast the Soul's Paradise the Mind 's fair Haven an unvaluable Possession which renders every owner Happy It is an immoveable Comfort the first Fruits of Heaven and Riches which shall never be taken away As no Wind can move or shake the Sun-beams so neither Life nor Death Prosperity or Adversity can Transfix this While this is secure tho Men receive many sharp Encounters as the Citizens of Ai did Josh. 7. Yet are they confident to resist they can resolve with that pattern of Patience Job 13.15 Tho he Kill me yet will I trust in him But if that fail and the Smoak ascendeth their Hearts are under a great Consternation Josh. 8.20 3. THE Almighty Woundeth and Healeth Deut. 32.39 Job 5.18 But it is with his Justice and Mercy The Wise Man says Prov. 6.32 33. We wound our selve by Sin and God healeth us by Afflictions as Chirurgions do with the Lancet and Cautery Sins are the Thieves which rob us and leave us wounded us by the way till the good Samaritan appears with his Wine and Oil to cleanse supple and bind up our Wounds He scourgeth the Conscience with a sense of his Anger to make us sensible of our Sins and to bring us to an abhorrence of them And thus he sometimes Disciplines us with external Afflictions 4. GOD sometimes wounds the Heart and terrifies the Conscience by the Word Preached and then we are Pricked at the Heart and with St. Peter's Auditors cry out Men and Brethren what shall we do Acts 2.37 Sometimes he smites the Conscience with an inward sense and apprehension of his fierce Wrath and severe imminent Judgments in which as the Psalmist complains of Psalm 55.4 5. An Horrible fear overtaketh them like the Earthquake at Horeb preceeding the Still small voice of Mercy 1 Kings 19.11 12. In sense of a Spiritual Desertion while he hideth away his Face Spiritual Wants or permission to some grievous Temptation cold Fits of Despair and Buffetings by the Messengers of Satan in all which tho there be means of Comfort appointed yet none can prevail till the Spirit of God the Comforter return and Heal. 5. THE same Hand giveth the Wound and prescribeth the Plaister as it was said Hos. 5.13 The Assyrians and Jareb could not heal Judah and Ephraim of their Wound so no Mortal Creature can administer Comfort whereby to heal a wounded Spirit till he who correcteth in Measure approaches and bindeth it up Jer. 30.11 c. He only he says the Psalmist Psalm 147.3 He healeth the broken in Heart and bindeth up their Wounds Even he who was Wounded for our Sins and bruised for our Iniquities and by whose Stripes we are Healed Isa. 53.5 CHAP. XXVII What things principally wound the Conscience THERE are some things which Principally afflict and wound the Conscience and comes up as the Prophet mentions 1 Sam. 13.17 like those Philistim Spoilers in three Companies to destroy and drive Men into Despair And the first Apparition and Assault is the apprehension of God's Wrath for some Hainous Sin committed An Instance we have in Cain having Murdered his Brother cryed out My Sin or Punishment is greater than I can bear Gen. 4.13 And Judas having betray'd his Lord and Master durst not approach to him to beg Mercy by reason he apprehended an implacable Anger in Christ. 2. IT is certain according to the Apostles saying That the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience Col. 3.6 And that his Wrath is revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men Rom. 1.18 And that the Impenitent by their hardness of Heart treasure up to themselves Wrath against the day of Wrath That theâ—e shall be Indignation and Wrath to them that obey not the Truth Rom. 2.5 8. But when thou who art of a wounded Spirit and broken Heart hast well considered perhaps thou wilt find that these things are of no Concernment to thee but to those who live in Sin 3. THE second Obstacle in wounding the Conscience is sense of Spiritual Wants as Hope Faith assurance of Salvation the Spirit of Sanctification and Prayer These being the Graces of the Almighty and the Presence of his Holy Spirit in the Regenerate may yet for the time be an hidden Treasure an Immortal Seed under the frozen Clods without any appearance of Life And the truly Devout may weep and complain like the Penitent Magdalen in the Garden for the loss of Christ when at the same season he is discoursing with them but they are ignorant of his Presence John 20.14 4. THE third Obstacle is fear of some strong Temptations and Tryals at which the afflicted and affrighted Conscience is Amazed as the Disciples were when Jesus slept in the Storm and the Ship was Over-mastered with Waves and ready to Travel to the bottom of the Sea upon Death's Errand Matt. 8.24 25. Or like St. Peter on the Water when he beheld the rough Billows come Plowing before him cryeth out Save Master we Perish Matt. 14.30 When it evidently appears they cannot Perish who are with Christ nor they cannot be Safe who are without him CHAP. XXVIII Divine Considerations of the Afflicted AS God is Just so he is Merciful he is no enexorable Radamanth but he is easie to be entreated Concerning whom we have a Word more sure than any Testimony of Man for the Almighty in Exod. 34.6 being his own Herald thus proclaims himself The Lord merciful and gracious long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth keeping Mercy for Thousands forgiving Iniquity and Transgression and Sin Now if that which others report of the Kings of Israel 1 Kings 20.31 That they were merciful Kings Could perswade them to seek Mercy and to enjoy their Lives and Liberties how much more should that which God who cannot lye hath declared himself Tit. 1.2 move the afflicted Soul humbly to Petition him for Mercy who is more ready to grant it than we are or can be to entreat it for ask it we never could except his preventing Grace and holy Spirit invisibly moved us 2. GOD delights not in the Death of Sinners but in their Conversion Ezek. 18. And as it is a true Prognostick of a Guests being welcome by the good Aspects and Deportment of the Family So it is an evident signal that a Penitent Sinner is welcome to Heaven by the Angels loud Exultations If God in his good Pleasure would have destroyed thee how often
Consider that he suffered and underwent what thou couldst not perform yet not for himself for he knew no Sin but it was to work thine and the World's Salvation If through Faith in him thou canst have Peace with God thou shalt not only bear but rejoice in Tribulation knowing as the Apostle says that it worketh Patience Rom. 5.3 If thou wilt preserve Innocency and a good Conscience thou wilt advantageously acquire peace and contentment of Mind which shall Compose thee in the midst of Tumults in things External But as a Seditious City or a Discorded House cannot be Happy so a discorded Mind cannot be at Unity in it self 5. KEEP within the Jurisdiction of thy proper Business Employment or Calling Undertake not neither propound to thy self any thing too great for thy Management Over-grasping thy Hand Enervates it and torments it with fruitless Pain And aiming too ambitiously crucifies the Heart when they fall from the Precipice of their vain Proposals Art thou endowed with Riches Actively offer them to that use for which they were sent which is God's Glory Is thy Fortune slender Contract thy Mind within its Limits which is to Necessity not Opinion We read of a Philosopher in his Journey which drank Water in his Hand and cry'd out With how few Vtensiles is Nature content I could wish many would follow his Example that they might enjoy that Peace and Tranquility of Mind 6. BUT many become their own Tormenters and Authors of their own Discontents proposing such strange Fabricks of their Babels erecting airy Castles and Towers to Heaven adding House to House and Land to Land Province to Province and Kingdom to Kingdom chasing for their main Concernments in the dangerous attempts of doubtful Adventures Grandeur and affluence of Riches They go Remote to find that which with Prudence may be produced at Home in our own Bosoms which is to be satisfied in that which God hath allotted for us with a contented Mind 7. IT was remarked of Pyrrhus that active Epirot that Fortune made him happy enough with Sufficiency to live Peaceably at Home if he could have contented himself only with the Sovereignty over his own Subjects But his insatiable Avarice which neither the Sea Mountains Inhabitable Deserts nor the Confines which separate Asia from Europe could Limit instigated him perpetually to seek out new matter of Trouble to himself and others Which his faithful Friend Cineas did once Prudently tho without Effect intimâ—â—◠〈◊〉 him whereupon new Overtures of honourable and profitable Undertakings for the Tarentines occasioned by Cineas Quaeres Pyrrhus had said When we have Overcome the Romans there can neither Grecian nor Barbarous City in all the Country withstand us but we shall Conquer all the rest of Italy with Ease And what shall we do then said Cineas Pyrrhus replying telleth him of Conquering commodious Sicily Again he demanded That being Won shall our Wars end Pyrrhus replied The way was then open enough to attain great Conquests and who would not afterwards go into Africk and so to Carthage But when we have all in our Hands said Cineas what shall we do in the end We will then good Cineas said he be quiet and take our Ease make Feasts every day and be as Merry one with another as we can possibly Cineas having brought him to that point said to him My Lord What hindereth us now to be Quiet and Merry together since we enjoy that presently without farther Travel and Trouble which we should now go seek for Abroad with such shedding of Blood and so manifest Dangers And we know not whether we shall ever attain unto it after we have both suffered and caused others to suffer infinite Sorrows and Troubles 8. LEARN to obtain a faithful dependance on Gods Providence This ground of Content the Holy Ghost proposeth Heb. 13.5 Let your Conversation be 〈◊〉 Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee When Men too much depend on second Causes they are impatient at every Cross. They would impiously prescribe God the time as Jehoram would 2 Kings 6.33 and rebellious Israel Exod. 32.1 Or in the Means as Naaman 2 Kings 5.11 But in assurance that God will never fail us we must patiently expect his help In every Affliction remember that God beholdeth thee and his Providence will give the issue with the Tryal 9. ART thou in Want which excites thy Discontent Then call to mind what thou broughtest into this World and what thou shalt carry out Thou hast not such Possessions Houses Riches Apparel as some have yet no Man liveth so poor as he was Born This was that which that Exemplar of Patience said in all his Losses Naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and Naked shall I return thither Job 1.21 So St. Paul maketh it a ground of his Exhortation to Contentedness We brought nothing into this World and it is certain we shall carry nothing out 1 Tim. 6.7 Kings and Princes are cast out Naked in the day of their Nativity and are beheld as Weeping little Masters of the World The Great Saladine will inform you what they carry hence who ordered that at his Funeral one should carry a Shirt or Winding-sheet on the Point of an advanced Lance and go before the Herse and proclaim thus Saladine the Conqueror of the East carrieth hence with him only this of all that he hath gotten 10. FEED not the bitter humour of Discontents for the growths thereof are sad and dangerous Give not over thy mind to heaviness and afflict not thy self in thine own Counsel Ecclus. 30.21 The exhileration of the Heart is the Life of a Man and prolongeth his days Some Minds are like the Sea which instantly turneth sweet Showers into its own Bitterness because they indulge to Impatience pleasing themselves with that which tormenteth them But the prudent in every Affliction elevate their Souls to God seeking Comfort in him and consider of the Life to come where there shall be no more Curse Rev. 22.3 no more Discontent but every Heart shall be filled with Joy A Prayer for Patience and Contentment MOST Gracious God I humbly acknowledge thy fatherly goodness in measuring to me those Corrections which my Sins daily provoking thy Justice most justly deserve and thy stupendious Mercy in sparing me whom in thy severity thou mightest not only have made the most Miserable of all Men living but mightest have cast me into that Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone Lord as thou hast in a bleeding Jesus afforded me this Mercy so for his sake blot out the Hand-writing of all my Offences Lay no more upon me than thou wilt enable me to bear and never suffer me frail Dust and Ashes for any Temptation to fall from thee but give me a blessed issue out of every Tryal 2. AND O holy Father correct me not in thine Anger lest I perish in thy fierce Wrath neither chasten me in
acceptable to him if they extend to Fruits of Regeneration and uniting us to Christ dedicateth us to a Capacity of his Sanctifying Spirit and enableth us in some measure to vanquish Sin and perform that whâ—ch is holy in his sight Now the Apostle mentions St. James 2.18 Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by thy Works And St. Paul says Rom. 3.28 A Man is justified by Faith only without the Deeds of the law 3. THOUGH our best Performances cannot justifie us before the Almighty because imperfect yet are they never separated from true Faith and they are the Path-way to the heavenly Jerusalem though they cannot finish our happy Arrival Therefore to the Young-Man's Query who desired to be justified by Works our Saviour replies Mat. 19.16 Keep the Commandments Thus he was convinced who had not yet learned the Righteousness of Faith which saith Believe and thou shalt be Saved thereby implying that yet he was wanting in some things who was excellent in others and therefore must seek Salvation by Faith and the way to Heaven by Sanctity This is a Condition not an Obligation of our Salvation for as we can never acquire Salvation by it so we can never expect any without it because our very best Endeavours and Performances we owe to God's Honor and Glory 4. IT is not sufficient to have a good Intention either to speak or to do good for Satan is well-pleased that Men should draw near unto God with their Lips if their Hearts be far from him or that they speak well if they will perform Evil. Words at best are but Feminine Virtues but Works are Mâ—sculine Of these the Spiritual Pharoah giveth charge to smother them But we desire to convert our Words into Actions and not only to speak but to Effect holy Performances 5. ACTIONS Humane Natural or Civil are no otherwise here concerned than as they are in order to the Moral and so regulated by the Law and holy Word of God in the affirmative or negative Precepts which is the only Rule of all our Moral Actions towards God or Man Neither Examples Prescriptions Universality of Consent nor Commands of Men must be prevalent with us against the express Word of God For these claim Privilege only in those things which God's Law alloweth and refereth to our Authority CHAP. XXIV Rules in External Actions FIRST Neither Propose nor Act any thing Evil or Unjust for any Worldly profit Honours or Pleasures For it is an apparent detriment to acquire the World with the loss of thy Soul Mat. 16.26 What can Secular Honours advantage thee when thou art condemned by the Almighty Should all the World extol thee and thou be Canonized a Saint in the opinion of the multitude or thy Actions be highly applauded equivalent to Herod's Speech and be rendred Supernatural God's Angel may smite thee and the Worms destroy thee What are Pleasures In their Birth they look towards a Precipitate End and the Vicissitude of this Scene serveth only to aggravate the misery Like that ungrateful sound which reached the Ears of Dives in Hell Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things Luke 16.25 Present remembrances of past pleasures embitter the Torment 2. LET God's Law be thy Rule and Counsellor and weigh all thy Actions by his Standard before thou Execute any Purpose David could not enterprize before he had consulted God's Oracles Nor the very Heathens before they sent for the double Effataes of their Priests When the Word of God is our Rule we abhor setting up strange God's in our Hearts like those who adore their own Inventions in Will-worship and voluntary Religion wherein all even the most zealous and painful Actions as Pilgrimages superstitious Fasts foolish Penance and idolatrous Oblations or costly Dedications shall be rejected with a Who required this at your Hands Isa. 1.12 And the Prophet tells you Micah 6.7 8. The Lord will not be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousand Rivers of Oil And He hath shewed O Man what is good And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God 3. IN Religious Acts God left not Israel to their own disposing in minor things but commanded Moses See thou make all things according to the Pattern shewed thee in the Mount Heb. 8.5 Also when God's Word is our Rule we will neither lay Snares upon our own Consciences placing Religion in those things which God hath left Indifferent as they who prohibited certain Meats or Marriage 1 Tim. 4.3 Nor will we dispense with that Word in any one point which any humane Authority pretends or imposes to the Contrary 4. IN all thy acts and designs before thou execute them duly and seriously consider the Event which is like a Ship 's Rudder tho it comes last it directs first and last Endeavour to gain a fore-sight and consider the Sequel O that they were Wise saith the Lord That they understood this That they would consider their latter End Deut. 32.29 By which means thou wilt in all sinful Actions with the Holy Apostle be ever ready to conclude That the end of those things is Death Rom. 6.21 5. IN all thy actions fix thy self in the presence of God by following David's Example Psalm 16.8 Ever remember thou art in his Sight and that neither thy Thoughts nor Actions can be excluded from him for neither Solitude nor Darkness can vail thee from his All-seeing Eye Psalm 139.11 12. In all thy Undertakings accustom thy self to the rule of Charity for that is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.10 and the Fruit of God's Spirit Gal. 5.22 And there can be no performances acceptable to God if we omit this Duty and Command of the Apostle Let all things be done in Charity 1 Cor. 16.14 6. IN all Religious Duties act not the Impostor for the Hypocrite doth but personate act and counterfeit the Saint he seems good but is doubly Impious as the Orator said of the Servilii which were very like but not the same so resembling that they were not dâ—stinguished abroad amongst Strangers but were known at home by their own Acquaintance But when the Hypocrite hath deceived all the World he can never defraud his own Conscience Therefore let this advice be thy faithful Monitor to be just and sincere in thy Deportment before God and Man Let Christ's Rule be thy constant Pattern Whatsoever ye would that Men should do to you do ye even so to them For this is the Law and the Prophets Matt. 7.12 7. TRANSACT nothing which must cost thee a bitter Repentance When the Philosopher had a great price set him upon Folly replied I will not buy Repentance so dear Never act any thing against thy Conscience for fear or favour of Men but rather esteem a good Conscience before all Treasure on this side Heaven In some things we Sin all But happy is he
like Crimson they shall be as Wool CHAP. XXX Divine Considerations of our Repentance forgiving Enemies and the Love of God CONSIDER why Christ came into the World The beloved Disciple informs you John 3.16 Because he so loved it God sent him to save Sinners not only them who had broken some of his Commandments But as St. Paul saith He came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief 1 Tim. 1.15 He came to call as himself professeth Not the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance Mat. 9.13 Mark 2.17 He called the heavy laden not fallaciously but indeed to ease and disburthen them of their Sins Mat. 11.28 He saved the Publicans and notorious Sinners and to manifest the same in contempt of Pharisaical Calumnies conversed with them 2. CONSIDER that God who commanded us to forgive not only seventy times but oftner would not enjoin us that which himself could not or would not perform He is essentially and so infinitely gracious that his Mercy is more than thousands of Oceans which can never be exhausted Man hath but a slender Stock a finite Mercy at the best and such as may be diminished and vanquished by Injuries He that enjoineth Man to forgive without Exception could not in his Justice command and require Man to forgive more than himself in his abundant Mercy could or was willing to assent to Add to this a Consideration of his tender Love He hath planted a Paternal Love and Care not only in Parents for their Children but lest we should suppose it rather habitual than natural taught by Precept or Example rather implanted by the Almighty in their Natures in the very brute Beasts of the Field and Birds of the Air for the Preservation of their Young All this Love in the Creature is but momentany but in God it is Essential Infinite and Unchangeable 3. NOW consider did God give Man suppose David so much Love and Mercy as that upon the Mediation of the Tekoite he could presently be reconciled to a Rebellious Absolom hath he given thee Bowels of Compassion and an ardent Zeal for thy Childrens Good and Safety to mourn for their Transgressions and to be ready upon the least appearance or signs of amendment to enter into a Reconciliation with them and canst thou conceive that God will not be much more ready to Pardon thee if thou canst heartily Repent and Implore Forgiveness through the Merits of a Crucified JESVS the Son of his Love and in whom he hath proclaimed from Heaven He is well pleased Matt. 3.17 4. THE Custom among the Molossians was whom Plutarch mentions that the Petitioner should take up the King's Son in his Arms and so kneeling before the Altar nothing was denied for the Protection and Safety of the Suppliant So Themistocles found favour with King Admetus So likewise will our Heavenly King give Audience to our Petitions if we present him in the Arms of Faith his Beloved Son Christ Jesus with the Merits of his Death and Passion A wounded Spirit a broken and a contrite Heart is an acceptable Sacrifice to God and that which he will not despise Psalm 51.19 Thou canst not reasonably think thy Case detestable for that which God approveth and loveth in thee and hath so mercifully Cherished in those he dearly loved The Royal Psalmist the Man after his own Heart felt this which thou art afraid of My Heart saith he is Wounded within me Psalm 109.22 5. CONSIDER seriously that a calm Conscience is not always the best nor a Tempestuous the worst There is a Lethargy and Stupidity of an evil Conscience in a Carnal Security This Calm is such a Storm wherein the Soul like the Men of Laish is quiet and secure until some Spiritual Danites awake it and the Sinner goeth on like Agag thinking surely that the Bitterness of Death is past As some Heart-sick Patient in whom Nature's strength is so far decayed that he is insensible of the undiscovered approaches of Death now imminent even such is the calm Conscience of a secure Sinner 6. NOW if that Angel Guardian the Conscience which God and Nature has placed within the Breast of a Righteous Person be sometimes at Variance and upon the seasonable point of Admonition for some Sin Unrepented we may infer it to be like the Ship in which Jonah fled followed with Storms untill he was cast forth whereby his Happiness might be the greater But the danger is desperate with those when the Mind is Drowsie and will not be awakened from its Guilt and Impenitency but are given up to the Spirit of Slumber those I say if at any time their Conscience within 'em whispers and severely Checks 'em then are they ready to cry out as Ahab to Elijah Hast thou found me O mine Enemy If we are not sensible of our Wounds the sign is Mortal therefore let us not our selves remove from that wholesome Discipline or fly that Chirurgion whose Lancet threatens none but the imposthumated Parts but rather chuse wisely that main skill of knowing whether our Consciences thus lull'd up in treacherous sleep or disturbed by that Voice within us which of these two I say prognosticates the most Danger CHAP. XXXI The Examination of the Conscience concerning our Repentance c. TO this a serious Examination is requisite wherein I shall lay down these Particulars First some Reasons why we must seriously examine our Consciences Secondly The main Lets incident thereto Thirdly Certain Rules by which we may throughly Examine Fourthly Interrogatories to be proposed to the afflicted Conscience Fifthly Some Conclusions necessary to be drawn from the Whole 2. FIRST We ought to Examine our selves for certainly God hath not so often Commanded it in vain Lam. 3.40 Psal. 4.4 1 Cor. 11.28 2 Cor. 13.5 Secondly Without this we cannot know our Sins and so not Repent nor have any solid Comfort in Impenitency We are extream apt to mistake our selves which if we do we can have no sound Comfort in the Testimony of a good Conscience which presupposeth Faith and Illumination Thirdly Without this we cannot possibly know which way we are going the Broad way to Destruction or the Narrow to Salvation which were very necessary to comfort us if we go right or to recal and rectifie us if wrong Fourthly Without this we can never make a right use of God's Chastisements nor obtain any comfortable way out of 'em Neither can we distinguish his Operations of Mercy in us when he Humbleth us here that we may be Exalted hereafter 3. NOW the common Obstructions to this Duty are first an Evil Conscience which being wounded by a deep Guilt cannot endure any Searching Secondly Native Hypocrisie misrepresenting us to our selves by denominating us highly Pious and looking upon it as an important Injury not to be counted so Thirdly distracting Cares of this Life and Carnal Security which say with those Jews Hag. 1.2 The time is not come These make Men refer their Repentance to the last Hour even to
the hazard of their Immortal Souls 4. NOW the Rules to be observed are these First Earnestly endeavour to find out and abandon all thy known Sins Secondly Rest not in outward appearances but entertain the illumination of God's Word into the secret and dark recesses of thy Heart For the Woman in the Gospel first lighted and then swept the Room Luke 15.8 Thirdly Judge thy self as impartially as thou wouldst do an Enemy Skillful Painters place their Work at some distance from 'em that they may be able to judge and amend their Errors So must thou fix thy actions upon some other Person like David who could noâ— behold his Sin in himself till Nathan shewed it him in another 2 Sam. 12. I need not instance in Judah Gen. 28. Or in Ahab 1 Kings 20.4 5. BEGIN Early and be constant in this Duty If thy Thoughts after some slender pursuit return as those Men of Jericho with a Non est Inventus Josh. 2.22 Know that thou hast more need of greater diligence to repeat often thy Examination Examin thy self by the whole Law of God And enquire what thou hast done in opposition to Sin Few wicked Men but are content to observe some of God's Laws if thou wilt grant them Naaman's Plea only The Lord pardon thy Servant in this thing And sometimes Herod Ahab and Pharaoh will have certain fits of seeming Devotion and Repentance The Brazen Serpent will not Sting And Men's Corruptions are most apparent when opportunity gives them Birth 6. NOW The Interrogatories to be propounded to thy Conscience are these First doth Sin reign in thee so that thou yieldest a willing obedience to it Or doth it bear sway and tyrannize over thee For between these there is an immense difference True it is all Men sin but Sin reigneth only in the Unregenerate Let not sin reign in your mortal Body Rom. 6.12 And St. Paul further tells ye that the Regenerate sin Rom. 7.15.19 That which I do I allow not for what I would that do I not but whâ—t I hate that do I For the Good that I do I would not But the Evil which I would not that I do From this Inference ask thy Conscience whether thou wouldst have committed this Evil which now wounds it If not it is no more thou but Sin that dwelleth in thee 7. DOST thou detest all Sin because it is contrary to God's Holy Will And rather more for the love of God than for fear of his Judgments Dost thou not only grieve for every Sin which thou hast committed but also for the â—ravity and Corruption of thy Will and the infirmities of Flesh and Blood disabling thee to the purer service of God If thou art in this State thou art not disesteemed in the Eye of the Almighty Neither will God ever Condemn thee for that which he hath given thee a competency of Grace to abhor and condemn in thy self For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 1 Cor. 11.31 The Unregenerate Person Idolizes Sin but is afraid of the Punishment but the Regenerate abhors it therefore God will not judge him for it but will rather say what he said to the Woman taken in Adultery Neither do I Condemn thee go and Sin no more John 8.11 8. WOULDST thou embrace Sanctity and is it thy Heart's desire to serve God in sincerity So that thou can'st say with the Church Isa. 26.8 The desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee If thou dost hunger and thirst after Righteousness be assured thou shalt be satisfied Matt. 5. Dost thou in the inward Man consent to the Law of God 'T is Infallibly certain if thou dost pursue after Holiness without which none can see God thou art esteemed of the Almighty For our best Perfection at present is this not that we are throughly Pious but that we chase after it 9. HAST thou with the Kingly Prophet Psalm 119.6 a respect to all God's Commandments so that thou dost not in thy Heart dispense with any of them for Pleasures Profits or any secular Advantage but wouldst earnestly enjoy that Priviledge of keeping them all If so let not slip the Anchor of thy Hope but receive Comfort For hower Satan's Delusions may allure thee and thy own Corruptions may betray thee yet thy minor serving of thy Creator without Exemption or dispensation to any Sin concludeth thee in a State of Regeneration the Denomination following the better Part as appears in St. Paul's Expression of himself in the same case Rom. 7.25 With the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of Sin That is groaning under the Tyranny but not dispensing with its Reign 10. DOST thou resolve to oblige thy self to avoid Sin Then God will accept thee 2 Cor. 8.12 David said I will keep thy Statutes and I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy Righteous Judgments Psal. 119 8.106 It is evident he made a breach of his Performance tho his Intentions were quite contrary 2 Sam. 12.9 Dost thou conscientiously and diligently use the means to take cognizance of thy Sins as by applying the word of God home to thy Conscience for by the Law comes the knowledge of Sin Rom. 7.7 Dost thou carefully shun all occasions and incentives moving thee and enticing thee to Sin and Wickedness It is a vanity in him to detest Drunkenness who will not restrain his boon Companions It is impossible for him to hate Adultery who fixeth his Eye upon the Lascivious and is entangled in the snare of the Adulterer Such are apt then to forget what was mentioned in our Saviour's Sermon on the Mount Matt. 5.28 Whosoever looketh on a Woman to Lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart And Solomon's Advice is very proper Come not near the Door of her House Prov. 5.8 For Opportunity and Occasion is Lust's Pander 11. ASK thy Conscience whether it can presume to sin wittingly and willingly And whether it can be sedate in any known and unrepented Sin If it be disturbed dissipate thy Fear for this very disturbance of Conscience which so much appals thee is a principal Mark of a good Conscience It is true as the Woman sang of Saul and David 1 Sam. 18.7 Saul hath slain his Thousands and David his ten Thousands So Despair hath cast away some but Presumption Multitudes Hath not thy Conscience at some time in a particular Measure been refreshed by a Divine assurance of thy Interest in a Saviour a resolution to forsake all thy Sins Peace with God and Salvation by the Merits of Christ We commit a gross Mistake if we always judge of our State by present Sense For there are certain hours of Tentation wherein the light of Grace is obscurely Eclipsed to our Sense and the stupid or afflicted Conscience feeleth no present Illumination of God's Spirit which yet in due time shall return and compensate our Tryals with
greater advantage of Assurance 12. NOW the Conclusions necessary to be considered are these First The Almighty's Judgments are ever just yea when Flesh and Blood says with Nichodemus How can these things be John 3.9 When the too Curious Inquests after them are to be Stayed with a Nay but O Man Who art thou that Repliest against God Rom. 9.20 And so also his Mercies are as the unsounded Deeps beyond all apprehension of carnal Reason often Medicable by Wounding and Afflicting the Guilty Conscience Comforting by terrifying introducing to Glory and Immortality through Corruption killing Sin in the Flesh by Death the Fruit of Sin and guiding to Heaven as I may say by the Gates of Hell and fear of Damnation 13. THE most Notorious Sins committed in Ignorance and Incredulity after Repentance are no Arguments to Despair For the Apostle tells you 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers â—f themselves with Mankind nor Thieves nor Covetous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall Inherit the Kingdom of God and such were some of you But ye are Washed but ye are Sanctified but ye are Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God And the same Apostle was a Blasphemer and a Persecuter and Injurious but obtained Mercy forasmuch as he did it ignorantly and in unbelief 1 Tim. 1.13 In his Conversion these Sins fell off as the Viper of Melita from his hand without any danger to his Life Acts 28.5 So God pronounceth of the Convert by the Mouth of his Prophet Ezek. 18.22 All his Transgressions that he hath committed they shall not be mentioned unto him 14. SINS of the Regenerate though violent Perturbations of Mind or Tentations ensnaâ—ing them are not to be reckoned among Symptoms of Reprobation or Apostacy Such was Peter's denyal and Davids Adultery and Murder Therefore the Apostle's Counsel is very charitable Gal. 6.1 If any Man be overtaken in any fault ye that are Spiritual restore such a one with the Spirit of Meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted And Christ hath taught us without distinction of great and little Sins to say daily forgive us our trespasses This Life is a Spiritual Combate a Truceless War against the Powers of Darkness wherein the Strongest may be and often are carried away Captive and yet be healed and recovered Eph. 6.12 Their Captivity concludeth not their not being true Israelites who would fain return 15. EVERY Sin against Knowledge doth not presently infer a Reprobate Mind The most Exquisite and Dexterous are sometimes taken in Satan's snares St. Peter though forewarned denyed Christ through sudden apprehension of fear Not out of Malice but infirmity We nay the best of Men are but partly Flesh and partly Spirit so that we can neither perform the good we are inclin'd to nor avoid the evil which we behold and detest St. Paul and all that are Regenerate doth allow the Law of God yet sometimes feel another lawless Law carrying them away Captive to Sin Rom. 7.23 16. THOUGH every Sin against Conscience is very dangerous and every perseverance therein the very Suburbs of Hell yet every such Enormity excludeth not Repentance and Remission Because sin not only allureth but sometimes exerciseth the rage of a Tyrant and Captivates us against our Wills There may also be a Lethargy or Epilepsie of the Soul There is such mischievous subtilty in Satan that his Snares though visible are not always avoided whose Messengers though felt with grief of Soul are not always overcome yet he that gave Waters to the Horeb Rock Exod. 17. 6 7. can smite our harder Hearts and make the Waters of Life flow Plentifully to Repentance never to be repented of 17. THOUGH every Relapse into Sin is very dangerous yet if a man be not entangled and vanquish'd those breaches may be repaired by Repentance 2 Pet. 2.20 And Solomon tells you The Just man falleth seven times a day Prov. 24.16 Satan doth not always present New Scenes but sometimes dresses up his Old Artifices therewith to beguile Though our Infirmities are numerous God's Power is made manifest by sustaining us that though we fall we shall not fall away Though Satan's power subtilty and restless malice are very potent yet he and his Messengers are limited by their Chain and can receive no Commission if it be but to enter into a Herd of Swine but from the Almighty Mat. 8.31 And the Apostle tells us 1 Cor. 10.13 That God will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able So that we may resolve that neither Life nor Death nor any Creature shall be able to saparate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.39 CHAP. XXXII Rules of Practice FIRST use thy utmost endeavour to possess the Testimony of a good Conscience which thou canst by no means attain but by being vigilant over thy Soul and with a fixed Constancy resisting Temptations Every Sin yea even the least woundeth the Soul afresh Be not secure of minor Sins but let a good Conscience be most precious unto thee part not from it for any Pleasures Honours or Riches of this World but rather part from Life it self Enjoy a tender Conscience A seared one like Callous Flesh is insensible of that which toucheth it to this Custom creates a proneness to sin and takes away the sense of it 1 Tim. 4.3 Tit. 15. 2. APPROVE thy self in every Action to God fixing thy self ever in his presence who beholdeth a far off all thou thinkest or actest 1 Pet. 3.12 And value not whoever is disgusted if God approveth thee Walk not according to the Wisdom of the Flesh but by the Rule of Gods Grace which shall at last be thy rejoicing 2 Cor. 1.12 Resign not thy self to Sins Dominion which is impossible except thou wholly deliverst up thy self by consenting to thine own Captivity as the Ear-bored Servants who professed love to their Masters and so would not be Manumissed and freed from them Exod. 21.5 6. Detest Sin and it shall not prejudice thee No sin is so pernicious as that which is most facetious but espicially beware of presumptuous sins lest they get the Dominion over thee Psal. 19.13 Numb 15.30 31. Deut. 17.12 3. CONTEMPLATE on God's Justice and Mercy together let them be inseparable in thy Thoughts For if thou inspectest into his Justice only thou art liable to Despair upon the sight of thy sins And if thou viewest his Mercy only thou wilt with facility presume when thou beholdest that transcendent Immensity which is ever ready upon unfeigned Repentance to pardon Sinners The Sailers of Old upon the Yards of their Ships conjectured the Ignis lambens for a good or a bad fatality if they beheld but one flame they denominated it an unlucky Helena but if two they accepted it for Castor and Pollux Good Prognosticks of fair and prosperous Weather Even so it is in Mercy and Justice the Consideration of
them singly may prove pernicious but both linked together may compleat thy Happiness 4. LABOUR for true Faith in Christ who is the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 2.2 Whose Blood cleanseth us from all sin 1 John 1.7 And holding Faith and a good Conscience That we may avoid being Shipwrack'd 1 Tim. 1.19 1 Tim. 3.9 There was no cure for a wounded Israelite against the venome of Fiery Serpents but to look up to the Brazen Serpent which Prefigured Christ apprehensible by Faith the only Medicament for Sin-wounded-Consciences Permit but this very sense and apprehension of God's Wrath which now appaleth thee to induce thee the more arduously to detest all Sin and thou shalt thereby be ascertain'd that God hath wounded thee only to heal thee 5. REMEMBER that what the Law averrs it declares only to them who are under the Law not under Grace Rom. 3.19 They are under the Law who plead Not guilty and insist upon their Justification by works of the Law We are under Grace who perceiving our Sin and Misery by the Law fly wholly to him for Mercy who freely justifieth the Sinner Rom. 3.24 The Imprecations and Menaces of the Law are not to break the bruised Reed nor quench the Smoaking Flax but to depress the heart that is elevated with an opinion of self merit who safely go on to undo themselves after a presumptuous manner 6. LET thy Repentance be speedy that Sin take no root in thy heart Neither let thy Wound putrifie before thou apply the Remedy But ascend with all diligence to the Throne of Grace to implore Mercy before Wrath is gone out against thee Rely on this Second Table Repentance who hast lost the first of Innocency Condemn thy self and Christ will Justifie thee He only expects thy voice to give thee audience When thou comest with thy Accusation and confessest thou hast sinned then Christ he readily receiveth the Humble Penitent and Proclaims thy Sins are forgiven thee Observe how quickly the Pardon followed David's Confession no sooner had he acknowledged I have sinned against the Lord but Omnipotency declares by the Prophet The Lord also hath put away thy Sin 2 Sam. 12.13 St. Peter quickly Repented and as quickly found Mercy Esau stayed too long and so found no place for Repentance though He sought it carefully with Tears Heb. 12.17 If the Granado fired be suddenly retorted it proves prejudicial to the Assailant Such are the product of Satan's Fire-Works if thou cast out his Temptations and heartily repent thee where any of his Darts pierce thee 7. GIVE not thy self up to pensive Dedolency mundane Sorrow and fruitless Solitariness that will but animate the bitterness of Spirit Think not too much of thy Afflictions but dulcifie them with remembrance of God's Mercy towards thee Assume not to thy self a Worldly Sorrow that is unto death 1 Cor. 7.10 But comfort up thy self in God as David did Psal. 43.5 Why art thou so sad O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Trust in God for I shall yet praise him And Solomon tells ye A merry heart doth good like a Medicine but a broken Spirit drieth the Bones Prov. 17.22 And again a merry heart maketh a Cheerful Countenance but by the Sorrow of the heart the Spirit is broken Prov. 15.13 8. BE very attentive to God's Word For he is the God of all Consolation and the Word is his Mind and Revealed Will for the benefit of our Salvation It is a full Magazine and there is no Affliction incident to frail Mortality but may there meet with a proper Antidote There thou shalt find Rules to guide thee and preserve thee from sin There thou shalt have a prospect of the Divine Mercy of God in Christ Jesus to wash away the guilt of all thy Transgressions But then appear not only to be a hearer but a doer of the Word and Treasure up those Gracious Promises in thy heart so shalt thou in due season feel the Operation of the Holy Spirit distilling the former and the Latter-Rain upon the seed whereby it may take root and be fruitful 9. LASTLY Add Zealous and Frequent Prayer as God's Servants have practised in all their distresses Psal. 6.9 And be ascertain'd that he will not leave thee Comfortless but will at length appear with great assurance of thy Salvation and will infinitely recompence thy Patience in suffering and perseverance in invocating for pardon Satan is never more baffled and infatuated in his own Stratagems than when he gains a License to wound the hearts of those who are precious in the sight of the Almighty For as Romanus the Martyr told the Tormentor Look how many Wounds thou givest so many Mouths thou settest open to cry to God for help and indeed these Jewels cannot arrive to their Glorious Lustre without being Ground hard by Affliction The Prayer O MOST Gracious and Merciful Lord God rebuke me not in thine Anger neither chasten me in thy hot Displeasure My Soul is sore vexed but Lord how long wilt thou punish me Have Mercy upon me for I am weak Lord heal my Soul and deliver it for I have sinned against thee O save me for thy never failing Mercies sake I am weary of my continual Groaning mine Eyes are consumed with my grief of Tears But Lord hear thou my Supplication and receive my Prayer 2. O Lord I am sorely afflicted but quicken me in thy Righteousness according to thy word In thy loving kindness and multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my transgressions wash O wash me and purge me throughly from my sins and cleanse me from all my iniquities the magnitude and number being of that Extent that my guilt flyeth in my Face and I am afraid of thy Blessed Presence I acknowledge my self unworthy to look up to Heaven to appear before thee with a Petition of Mercy who have so incessantly provoked thy Justice The filthy Leprosie of my sins stink and are corrupt that they stop my own mouth but my heart readily answereth that I am of all men most unworthy of this thy Condescention in inclining thy Gracious Ear unto so wretched a Creature as I am 3. THESE Terrors of Conscience wherewith thou hast now afflicted my Soul are thy just Judgments The fears of Hell and eternal Condemnation wherewith thou hast wounded me are incomparably less than my sins have deserved But Lord remember them not who canst not forget the sufferings of thy blessed Son Jesus for them all Lord I am not able to answer thee one word of a thousand nor can thy Justice require that of me for which my Saviour and Redeemer hath satisfied Therefore I renounce my self that I may be found in a bleeding Jesus not having on my own Righteousness according to the Condemning Letter of the Law but that I may be Clothed in his Righteousness who hath long since Cancelled the Hand-writing of Ordinances that were against me and hath payed the debt for me 4. O Lord for