diligence to walke with God Oh why is it whence is it that now it is not as once it was there is not that connaturalnesse as formerly the word works not on thee as formerly the Sacrament works not on thee as formerly the word of threatning reveales wrath and thou tremblest not the word of promise reveales goodnesse and thou lovest it not fidelity and thou beleevest it not the Sacrament opens the bloud of a Saviour and thou thirstest not thou rejoycest not thou art growne dull under all and bar ren after all thy dead heart argueth that thou art a dying soule 5 The same may be said for our conversation and wayes if they be now dead in respect of sinfulnesse or dead in respect of unprofitablenesse that wee are now become as the Heath that brings forth nothing or as the Briar which brings forth thornes that we turne all religion into a discourse or censure or dispute we can eat and drink and talke and sinne how have the shadowes of death covered us how chill and languishing are our graces turned Well seriously consider of these things you who heare me this day and looke to it that you be not a dying people more fearefull would your condition be then the condition of others for first you have more enlivening meanes then any people on the earth no City like unto you for publike offers or for private opportunities yee are even exalted unto heaven in the abundance and choyce of spirituall helpes and therefore your decayings would have more in the account then other mens the more meanes of strength and life accidentally make dying diseases to be the more deadly 2 Wee cannot but approve your flocking to the word and service of God in season and out of season as if you would take the kingdome of heaven by force if now under so faire a complexion you should be in a consumption that the vitals of godlinesse should slacke and pine away in your hearts and private walkings this dissonancie would be not only shameful to your profession but also uncomfortable to your conscience 2 Againe another way persons may discern whether they be dying and decaying By an observation of the acts or operations of their graces as if they be faint and more inconstant Simile you see that the root is lesse able when but a little fruit appeares on the tree and that the Spring is fallen when the streames scarce runne which yet were wont to flow when graces are scarce active or are uneven in their generall actings surely there is some spirituall languor in thee O Christian thy faith doth not commit things to God as heretofore and thy love is not so setled on Christ as heretofore and thy patience cannot beare in any measure as heretofore and thy sorrow is dry and thy zeale is cooled c. Simile If thy eye cannot see so well but growes darker and thy foot cannot goe so well but growes lamer and thy shoulders cannot beare so well but grow weaker it is an argument that naturall vigour is decaied The same may be said for our spirituall condition if graces exert not themselves in a former vigour c. Note I pray you to observe that graces are given unto us for three ends and uses 1 To be inclining principles to gracious or holy acts 2 To be inlarging principles to pious performances 3 To be cleansing opposing principles of sinful corruptions 1 They are inclining principles to gracious acts the nature of man without grace is like a dead man who hath no disposition to walke but when grace comes into the soule it doth enliven it and inable it and incline or dispose it unto holy operations to minde to will to desire to doe heavenly works as you see in Saint Paul when converted that renewing grace enclined him quite to another way and to other acts to pray to preach Christ c. Now where is that ancient disposition in thee unto good duties whence is that wonderfull unwilling esse and untowardlinesse of spirit in thee how comes it to passe that if thou dost serve the Lord it is as if it were of constraint there is a kinde of aversenesse and hanging backe thou doest not minde him in any measure and his law is not in thy heart 2 Againe they are inlarging principles they do not onely inable a man to good performances for the matter but also for the manner they make us a willing people in the day of our offerings and to delight to doe the will of God and to be glad in going to the house of the Lord. But now there is not that rellish of godlinesse there is not delightfulnesse of service there is not that libertie and alacrity of spirit thou art become a dull and heavy Christian as if there were not that suteablenesse ' twiâ—t thy heart and holy duties thou art growne very slothfull and carelesse and negligent in thy worke 3 Lastly they are cleansing and opposing principles of corruptions therefore compared to water which washeth out the spots and to fire which fetcheth off the rust and as our corrupt flesh is said to lust against the spirit so the renewed spirit is said to lust against the flesh and they are contrary one to the other still in opposition and conflict And so the time hath beene that thou hast found it that grace did humble and cleanse thy heart from the love of sinne and raised tender feare about it and singular hatred and opposition of it yea the very thoughts of sinne were an heavy burden to thee how often by reason of the rebellion in nature hast thou cryed out with Saint Paul O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me c. Is it thus now why is it not thus now is sinne quite subdued or thinkest thou that grace and sinne will ever be at truce nay but why dost thou suffer those contemplative evils to lodge in thy minde or those delightfull imaginations to tickle and invegle thy affections nay how darest thou to be tampering with acts if not sinfull yet doubtfull and as like sins as can be and which occasion sinne yea and sins prevaile much on thee as pride vanitie c. and under all this thy heart smites thee not restraines thee not the time hath beene thou durst not have beene or done this for a world c. Object But if the case be so may some tender conscience reply then I feare my estate is not right for I never had so much adoe with a sinfull nature all my life as of late daies and if the greater power of sinne shewes the more weakened estate of grace I am then the person in a dying condition Sol. To this I answer briefly 1 You must distinguish betwixt the turbulency of sinne and the prevalency of sinne the spirituall condition is not decaying because sinne is more molesting and rebelling but because sinne is more prevailing and leading 2 Betweene sinne in conflict and sinne in subjection
will move slowly and thy feet like those of a sicke man will move staggeringly and wearily there will be much a doe to doe a little good thy services will be like the thinne rayes of gold which can hardly be discerned for the multitude of ashes and drosse Now this is a sad thing when at the most it is the most that a man can doe to beleeve or to grieve for sinne or to love God and feare him or to pray unto him whereas heretofore he was able to beleeve and rejoyce to mourne and lament c. 3 A dampe upon our communions with GOD there is a double communion One is direct which is our active communion with God another is reflexive which is Gods gracious communion with us now by a dying in our spirituall conditions there ariseth a cloud and a dampe upon this reciprocall communion Wee cannot so behave our selves to God and God will not so behave himselfe to us as in former daies Note 1 For our communion with God it will grow more strange lesse confident and more gainlesse small for heart lesser for trust and least of all for benefit and successe 2 For Gods communion with us it will be eclipsed both in the effective and assisting part of it as also in the affective and comforting part of it hee will not give thee his hand or his eye as formerly David found upon his great decay not onely a cloud in Gods face but also a strangenesse in Gods spirit Psal 51. Psal 5â— 12. We doe by our notorious decaying debarre our selves of much help from God and of all manifesting favour for the present Desertion is ever the consequent of decaying 4 A vexation and restlesnesse in the conscience when we take our leave of grace wee must take our leave of peace and comfort A dead man many times rests in peace but a dying Christian is never without trouble the remaining grace serves most to trouble us for our decayings in grace Spirituall comfort usually attends us either upon great griefes for sinne or upon great progresses in duties And spirituall troubles usually follow us either upon great adventurings in sin or upon great remissions in holinesse for conscience will trouble us as well for loosing what is good as for committing what is evill 5 A great silence in heaven the decaying Christian shall either heare of much displeasure from God or little and no good from him The ordinances to which he now more perfunctorily applies himselfe shall either bee dumb and speake no incouragement or bitter and speake no strength or peace His prayers which now are more cold and formall shall either have no answer or else the answer is more feare and trouble in spirit God seemes to have no minde to speake unto that man who now hath scarce any minde to speake unto his God 6 A strange suspition of the reality of a spirituall condition if grace be often put in dispute when the Christian cannot perceive it to thrive how much more questionable will it be when the same Christian perceiveth it to abate and decay usually it must be more then meere grace which must assure us of grace forasmuch as nothing resembles hypocrisie more then to be formall in our duties and with it to be withering in our dispositions A dying Christian looks very like to a dead hypocrite 7 To all these may be added other evils as horrid temptations externall miseries feares of death c. but I may not insist on every thing Q But here it is demanded how may we know whether wee be in a dying condition or not A. I know no better way to discerne this then by a just comparison of things present with things past as also by a faithfull observation of our owne spirits and graces thus then 1 Looke first upon your judgement and mindings 2 upon your wils and affections 3 upon your hearts and consciences 4 upon your worship and services 5 upon your waies and conversations so may you discerne whether you be dying or not 1 For your judgements and mindes formerly in these there were strong endeavours to know the truths of God and to search out the mysteries of salvation and admirable appretiations of holinesse and Gods favour and sweet meditations on the will of God the minde was eminently taken up with God and Christ and grace and obedience and heaven Is it so now or rather doe not worldly things seeme great in our eyes are not our mindings more for inferiour good then for spirituall good divine studies are they not rare and poore and transient glancings where is that study to know God or to see his favour in Christ unto thee where is that reverend regard of the truths of God where is that diligence to know the estate of thy soule where is that sweet delight thou tookest once to know Iesus Christ as thine 2 For your wils and affections time was that thy will was a flexible will easie to obedience submissive to the divine will cheerefull in the duties of godlinesse much closing with divine promises ravished with love to Christ fearefull to offend carefull to please desirous of nothing more then Gods loving kindenesse strictly hating all evill joyfull in this alone that God was thy portion flouds of teares swelled thy griefe heavenly delights satisfied thy soule mercies were blest threatnings feared c. If in stead of these thy will growes weary and surly hard to be perswaded often clattering with the divine will impatient of strict obedience indifferent to please slow to hearken to the counsels of God and the mercies of God and the threats of God are of small efficacie sin is not so watched and loathed God alone is not so delightfull and sufficient thy heart grows more insensible of sinne and hardly mournfull thy delights are lesse in heavenly things Ah now how is the mighty fallen how is the noble plant degenerated c. 3 For your hearts and consciences compare them now with what formerly they were how quicke was conscience to direct how apt was conscience to checke how tender was conscience to offend how unquiet was conscience till peace was made how exact was conscience to obey Is it so now thou canst sin and conscience strikes not God strikes thee but conscience strikes thee not conscience strikes thee and thou carest not conscience is growne sleepy and drowsie almost dead and scared thou canst omit duties or performe them carelesly slip and fall and lie and either conscience saith nothing or thou reformest nothing 4 And for thy worship and service of God how pretious were the ordinances unto thee how delightfull thou hadst rather have spent a day with them then a hundred daies in other employments what secret impressions made the power of them upon thy heart what griefes what joyes what degrees of perswasion what expectations of hope what furtherance unto holy duties what conflictings with and conquests over sinne and temptations what more serious care and
Lord pardons all the sinnes of thy unconverted condition upon thy initiall repentance so he will pardon all the sinnes of thy converted condition upon renewed repentance and therefore hee cals upon backsliding and declining people to returne unto him and promiseth both to heale them Hos 14. 4. and to Hos 14. 4. love them freely ibid. which is as much as to pardon them but see the pardon expresly Micah 7. Mic. 7. 18. 18. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his beritage c. 3 If thou wilt set upon the strengthening work the Lord will worke in thee sufficient strength for the worke There is a difference betwixt a man in his conversion there indeed he is without all strength hee can doe nothing and the Christian in his restauration there is now some living ability in him which can yet doe a little act a little strive a little at least in bewailings and desires Now if thou doest in any sincere degree set upon the right and full meanes of thy recovery the Lord God will come in with his owne strength Hee will strengthen what hee hath wrought in thee and will work the will and the deed in thee his own works in thee Object But then you will reply what meanes may a decayed Christian use to recover and strengthen himselfe againe Sol. I conjecture that the best course is this 1 A serious consideration of Seaven Meanes their condition this is the counsell which Christ gave to the Church of Ephesus decaying in her first love Remember from Revel 2 whence thou art fallen seriously consider take to heart peruse and judge over thy estate what it was formerly what it is now what strength then what weaknes now how much glory God had then what dishonour God hath now what good thou diddest then what evill thou doest now what peace in conscience then what woundings in conscience now what estimation among the Saints then what strengthening of the hands and opening of the mouthes of the wicked now And this is an excellent meanes to worke upon thy spirit or rather to worke of thy spirit David considered his wayes and turned his feet to Gods testimonies 2 A deep humiliation which will follow upon this thou must breake through all businesses and pleasures and impediments and retire thy selfe in a more solemne manner more then once or twice and set thy selfe before the Lord and fall down before his footstoole with shame and confusion of face with bitter weepings and lamentations with sound judgings and condemnations of thy selfe Ah how thou shouldest exquisitely afflict thy soule that thou shouldest be so mad and vile to lose a God to lose any thing of the graces of a God for a sinnes sake or a worlds sake That the Lord should shew thee more love then another and intrust thee with grace the least dram where of is more pretious then all the world and yet thou shouldest decline from the Lord not answer this trust not use those talents which have yeelded so much profit and comfort being improved but decay in them and fall behinde hand yea even under mighty meanes of strength alwaies continued unto thee and these things should cut and grieve and afflict and humble thy soul exceedingly 3 A solid resolution thou must with full purpose of heart resolve not to rest in thy decayed condition but to shake off all the causes and occasions of thy decayings If any wickednesse hath got into thy heart thou must put it farre away from thy tabernacles and if the morsels have beene sweet thou must cast them out with godly sorrow as bitter as gall and wormwood If carelesnesse and slothfulnesse of spirit hath caused thy decayings thou must with the Church in the Canticles stand no longer upon how shall I rise and put on my coat but rise thou must and get out of thy slothfull bed and thrust from thee a neglecting and negligent disposition Or if the world hath caused thy decayings either in the profits of it and gaine or in the honours of it and respects or in the friendship of it and acquaintance thou must resolve to bid them all farewell Think on it O Christian what gets he for profit who loseth in his graces or for honour who abaseth himselfe in his graces or for love who loseth himselfe in the favour of his God Ah poore soule thou mayest curse the day that ever thou knewest what did belong to thy drudgings in the world and unto thy great friends in the world and thy society with such and such persons at first thou didst converse with them with a regretting spirit then with a silent spirit then with an yeelding spirit many many a day hast thou come home with conscience accusing and smiting of thee unto which hadst thou hearkned thou hadst been much preserved well well if ever thou wouldest recover thy spirituall strength thou must peremptorily resolve on it to sever from wicked society better farre to be a poore man and a rich Christian then to thrive any way and bee decaying in grace 4 An active reformation Remember said Christ from whence thou art fallen and doe thy first workes so say I now goe to thy old workes againe be trading for thy soule set up prayer againe and reading againe and hearing againe and holy meditation and conference againe and solemne humiliations againe stir up those coales and cinders of grace there is life yet in thee oh act thy life faith can doe something for thee though it cannot see comfort for thee yet it can see helpe and strength for thee godly sorrow can mourna little set it to work perhaps it may quickly rise to a floud upon particular surveyes and so set repentance on work yea and all thy soul thy minde thy judgement thy memory thy affections to worke in all the duties of thy generall and particular condition 5 Ardent supplication for it is the Lord who must shew this power in thy weakenesse Psal 86. O turn unto me and have Psal 86. 16. mercy upon me give thy strength unto thy servant Beseech him to pitty thee beseech him to succour and helpe thee to be thy strength and thy salvation to beat downe and weaken the sinnes which have so much weakened thee to crucifie thy heart to the world which hath so much crucified thy heart unto thy God To breath upon thy graces as hee did upon the dry bones to stirre up and revive them by his Almighty spirit to put his hand of power upon thy hand of weakenesse as the Prophet did upon the Kings c. Yea and never give him over till then that though thou hast beene a backsliding childe yet hee is a gracious Father though thou hast been unfruitfull yet hee is faithfull though thou art weakened yet he is the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth who fainteth not who can give power to the
of good so but withall ever and anon he is doing of some evill his weakened graces cannot beare him up against strong occasions and temptations his gold lies much in the ashes Simile and like a lame man he is not only halting in his best motion but ever and anone quite downe the snuffe gets above his candle 4 For delightfulnesse hee is almost a stranger to exact Christians and doth not honour them so much as formerly but secretly feares their company and judgement he is perhaps more ashamed or else more afraid of them his conscience is yet so apprehensive that hee interprets every glance as a secret checke of his decayings Thus is it not with the strengthened Christian whose graces are high carefulnesse great usefulnesse large godlinesse even and* great delights taken psal 16. 1. up amongst the best and choicest Christians Hee himselfe still growes better and others by him 5 In respect of consolation the declining sunne creates the longer and darker shadowes and the decaying Christian brings on himselfe either the sharper terrors or deeper griefs the sicke bed is full of paines neither his owne spirit nor Gods Spirit speake peace unto him He who of bad begins to be good may have much tranquility but he who of good becomes lesse good ever becomes more undelightfull to God and most unquiet with himselfe Simile The ship which goes out in low ebbes fals foulest on the sands so Christians who ebbe in graces shall alwaies flow with sorrowes But it is otherwise with the strengthened Christian for rising graces breed stronger comforts and longer there is not onely no troubling accusation but a most surpassing excusation in conscience he hath a better heart and shall therefore finde a more quiet spirit for conscience speakes peace answerable to our being more good and doing of it Alas that thou shouldest still walke like a Benoni a childe of sorrow whereas the other Christian lives like a Barnabas a sonne of consolation 6 In respect of affliction the weakened in active graces is ever most weake in passive duties generally hee hath more crosses and or himselfe lesse wisedome and strength to bear them because hee is growne worse therefore his afflictions are increased and because his abilities are sunke therefore the afflictions crush and prick him much the more Sampson who could easily breake thorow many cords and barres yet when weakened a few Philistines were too hard for him He cannot be so patient nor yet so confident nor yet so diligent in a suffering condition His weakened graces can neither administer strength nor yet subdue those workings of impatience so that he is almost sunke and split with calamities his decayed ship can scarse abide any foule weather But when personall sicknesses come and the apprehension of death at which times his conscience is thoroughly wakened ah how bitter how terrible are the thoughts and disputes of his heart at such a time much like those of him who apprehends his condition not to be good Oh how the pulses of his disturbing and disturbed conscience worke what reflexions on his former waies what comparison of his former flourishings with present decayings what feares of approching before the Lord what smart sentences on himselfe what sudden and vehement exclamations Oh Lord saith he I would not yet dye I am fallen much from my God Lord spare me a little that I may recover my strength my decayed strength before I go hence and shall be no more seene It is not so with the strengthened Christian but as in active duties hee is more forward so in passive duties he is more sufficient in losses in crosses yea in death it selfe hee is more submissive and confident he can with Iob be as willing to receive evill at the hand of God as good and doth not only rejoyce in his favours but in his strokes and is as ready to go to his father as to serve God his good master 7 In respect of Gods manifestation the Lord is pleased diversly to manifest himselfe to his people sometimes in admirable motions and suggestions of his spirit sometimes in more quick excitations of their spirits sometimes in singular confirmation of them with assistances for extraordinary works sometimes by secret impressions of his favour and love upon their consciences which doth revive their hearts as wine and satisfie their soules as with marrow so David speakes Psal 63. But now the weakened Christian he darkens this heaven over his head he hath not that comfortable sight of God that assurance of his favour that joy of the holy Ghost David lost the joy of the spirit and the voyce of gladnesse the arme of God is Psal 51. not so revealed in him for doing of good nor the face of God so open unto him at all Whereas the strengthened Christian findes it otherwise he hath a better heart and a fairer day his communion is sweet with the Lord hee still seeks the Lord and often findes him enjoyes him in his power and enjoyes him in his gratiousnesse the Lord meets him that worketh righteousnesse and remembers him who remembers the Lord in their waies Now thinke on these things O thou fallen and decayed Christian and rest not in thy weakenesse but recover and strengthen thy spirituals againe Three things I will let fall Three things which perhaps may fetch and quicken thee againe 1 Though thou art far sunk yet thou maiest be raised again 2 If thou doest rise again the Lord will graciously pardon thy decaies 3 If thou wilt set upon the strengthening worke the Lord will worke in thee sufficient strength 1 Thou maiest be raised and strengthened againe and that may appeare thus unto thee 1 Repentance is possible for any sinnes which are committed and if renewed repentance be possible then a recovery againe is possible for as much as our recovery again consists very much in a renewed repentance 2 Yea and we have examples of weakened Christians strengthened againe as we know in David exceedingly wounded but yet recovered and Peter grievously falling but graciously rising againe 2 If thou doest strengthen thy condition the Lord will mercifully pardon thy former decayings I confesse that there may be sore grounds of feare to intangle and depresse the spirit of a decaid Christian for his sins by which he hath decayed may perhaps be hainous for the kinde and also high for the circumstances being against knowledge against the workings of conscience against the workings of his graces against the tender love of God in Christ shewed to him more then to another so that his heart may strongly misgive him whether the Lord will ever looke upon him more and accept of him into favour But this I say that be thy decayings what they will either for the matter of them or causes of them or circumstances of them if thou doest rise againe by a renewed repentance I assure thee that the Lord will pardon thee and accept of thee in Christ looke as the
faint and to them that Esay 40. 28. have no might he can increase strength Yea and that yet there is something of his owne in thee though very little yet something and that holinesse which he did once implant by a mighty hand he is now as able to revive and strengthen it by his Almighty power 6 Carefull application now goe to the healing and strengthening waters thou hast knowne the waies of God and his goings in the Sanctuary how he hath wrought wonders for the dead many a Creple hath got strength there and many a disconsolate soule hath found comfort there in his word and in his Sacrament there hath his arme beene revealed David grew by his great sinnings into great languishings but the Lord sent Nathan the Prophet unto him and his faithfull dealing was a meanes of his happy renewing What we pull downe by hearkning to the voyce of sinne that may be built up againe by hearkening to the voyce of Gods spirit But then this must thou doe if ever thou wouldest be strengthened viz. Strive for a plain and pliable heart which may yeeld subjection to whatsoever law or course the Lord shal direct thee unto by his word if the word As the Iewes in Ieremiah offer thee a restoring plaister but thou wilt not apply it and prescribe unto thee strengthening methods but thou wilt not follow them now thy heart may grow more hardened but thy graces will never be strengthened But this doe strive to yeeld up thy soule in an humble subjection to the heavenly ordinances that if they say forbeare thy heart answers I will forbeare if they say doe thy heart answers I desire to doe thy will Cooperate with the word received when it hath got into thy soule and stirred thee in any kinde when thou perceivest any healing vertue gone from Christ by it unto thee oh blesse the Lord and get home work it againe upon thy soule by holy meditation yea and yet againe by holy petition Simile Thou must even doe in this kinde as Benhadads servants did in another they watched the words which fell from the King of Israel and improved them so must thou watch what motions the Lord puts into thy heart in private and cherish them watch what impressions the Lord makes upon thy spirit by his word and not onely excite thy heart to embrace them but work them often and often upon thy conscience and this is the way to make thy weake sparke to grow unto a flame 7 And lastly there must bee lively consociation by a naturall instinct the weaker things doe cling and winde up themselves by the stronger as the weake Ivie upon the strong Oake so thou must inwardly and affectionately joyne thy selfe with strong and lively Christians who skill the waies of grace and walke in them who are good and know how to doe good who have hearts to pitty thee heads to direct thee and armes to beare thee up Thou maiest exceedingly be repaired by their heavenly wisedome in counselling of thee and kept in by their tender watchings over thee and put forward by their daily exhortations of thee and refreshed by their seasonable comfortings of thee and led on by their strict and lively examples yea even stirred up by the observation of those blessed experiences which thou perceivest in them through a carefull communion with God as also much assisted by the successe of their prayers for thy particular condition Thirdly the manner Now be pleased to heare a little for the manner how yee 5 Particular are to set upon this strengthening work and then I have done with this proposition If thou findest thy selfe to be a weakened Christian then set upon thy strengthening worke 1 Presently Initia morborum cavenda say the Physitians and therefore their rule is principiis obsta c. we should set upon diseases as soone as diseases set upon us not trifle away the methods of recovery three things must be lookt into in time tides seasons diseases If wee presently oppose our decayings First we shall prevent the deadlinesse of diseases hadst thou opposed thy negligent carelesse spirit at the first thou hadst not now been bleeding under so many wounds thou hadst not stepped downe from one sinne to another thou hadst not gone so desperately from the Lord. Therefore watch thy heart and often examine it weekely nay daily thy languishings are by this manner sooner espied and sooner staied Secondly our strengthening will hereby become more easie it is easier to fetch a man from the brink then from the depth of the channell and for a Physitian to cure a distemper then to heale a disease There is usually in the first impairings lesse corruption and more strength of grace to oppose it and subdue it Beleeve it long decayings are the more uncomfortable and more difficult for recovery Therefore if thou fallest suddenly rise quickly remember one thing it is a very dangerous thing to suffer the soule to habituate it selfe to decayings all customes are hardly broken 2 Voluntarily it is true that though thou decaiest more and more yet the Lord may awaken thee at length and recover thee but doe not put the Lord to it The Physitian may perhaps heale a deeply languishing patient but it will cost the patient dearly and bitterly Ioab got little by not comming to Absalom for he at length fetcht him by setting his corne on fire if thou wilt not come in of thy owne accord but stand it out I tell thee the Lord will fetch thee in indeed but he will send a whirlewinde after thee as to Elijah he will send flames into thy conscience if thou wilt needs put him upon compulsory waies Nay but rather peruse thy decayings thy selfe and arraign thy selfe and judge thy selfe and afflict thy selfe and hye thee to make thy peace and to recover strength it argues the better heart to fall unwillingly but willingly to rise hereby peace is sooner made and strength sooner restored 3 Prudently when a tree is withering you need not poure buckets on every branch if you water the roots it is as if you watered all There is an holy part in recovering our graces againe if you can recover the roots you have hit the way to renew all Now there are two radicall graces as it were if they be strengthened all the rest will come to be strengthened viz. 1 Faith this is a root grace and this is a strengthening grace it is of singular power with God and with Christ and with the spirit of God It is that grace which laies hold on and applies all our strengthening helpes so that it deales at the springs of strength and brings away strength from them But this is not all faith is no sooner strengthened to lay hold on our strength but like those common officials in nature the stomack liver heart and brain it imparts this vigour to all the new man every grace gets when faith gets the more a man can beleeve the
slavishnesse many give up their soules and faith to the religion of others and like waxe are still fashioned to the opinions of great persons they are afraid of their displeasures and therefore even in points of religion will dance after their pipe 6 A sordid and eminent love of the world for which Demas forsooke Christ and Iudas sold his Master and Hymeneus made shipwracke of faith the unsatisfiable slave to the world will never be a faithfull servant to truth hee who hath already pawnd his soule will with as much ease sell off the truth Spira for its sake abjured the truth but ventured the losse of it and himselfe too 7 Many men are licentious and therefore unstedfast corrupt doctrines give more scope then the true and heavenly wee are apt to beleeve that soonest which pleaseth us most erroneous points are more for pleasure and divine truths are more for strictnesse and Simile therefore as those Grecians if I forget not the story gave up their weapons to enjoy their sports so many give up the truth to enjoy their easie and loose kinde of walking Vse 2 But for you I hope better things though I thus speake hitherto you have heard the good truths and waies of God and have held them fast I have not found you as other people of so unsetled and inconstant spirits And therefore as Christ said to the Church of Thyatira the same I will presume to say unto you Revel 2. 24. 25. I will Rev. 2. 24. 25. put upon you no other burden but that which ye have already holdfast what need I urge this with many motives 1 If it be truth why should it Motives be left is errour better then truth then should darkenesse be better then light 2 Can you better your estates by leaving of truths when the divels fell from truth they fell from heaven when Adam fell from truth hee fell from Paradise 3 Will not the truth keepe you if you keepe the truth as the ship doth the Pilot who keepeth it truth will keepe thy soule and graces together thy soule and Christ together thy soule and comfort together thy soule and prosperity together therefore it is called the girdle of truth because as a girdle it holds all together Thou partest with strength with joy with safety with blessing with happinesse if thou part with truth 4 The reward is sure if thou be faithfull not a meane reward but that of life even a crowne of life Rev. 2. 10. Rev. 2. 10. Rules Now that you may for ever hold fast divine truths take these rules or directions 1 Lay a solid foundation in distinct knowledge of them confused braines cause unsetled hearts rest not in Pilates demand what is truth nor in the Israelites hovering betwixt two opinions nor in that grosse salary of religion to take up truth upon trust for any man sake whatsoever were he the sharpest Ieremiah or the learnedst Paul or the comfortablest Barnabas be not satisfied this is truth because this that man saith but as the honourable Beraeans searched the Scriptures about the things which even Saint Paul himselfe delivered so doe you prove all things saith the Apostle receive truth upon an evidence of truth if the first truth which is the word of God and the rule and compasse will not approve it it is errour and not truth Object Yea but how may wee know truths for there are many religions and many opinions obtruded to the world the truth of which cannot so or sily be discerned Sol. I answer that true doctrine may be discerned from false doctrines 1 by the unity of them unum verum convertuntur truth is one or none there is but one way saith Aristotle to hit the marke but many waies to misse it errour is manifold and divers Simile like the image which Nebuchadnezzar saw mixt of gold and clay and as Aristotle speakes of Vices that they are contrary both to vertues and themselves so erroneous doctrines are opposite to truth and to themselves Simile there is no errour but is like a lyer apt to forget and wound it selfe but truth is single like Christs garment undivided as there is but one Christ so but one faith 2 The purity of them all false doctrine like treacherous physicke gives ease Simile or like a whore much in beauty when false in honesty what it wants in verity it makes up in liberty like ill wares which therefore have the larger allowances the doctrine which is unsound generally is licentious as is evident in the Mahometan or Popish tenents But truth is holy in it selfe and to us teaching it within the heart and ordering it in the life It is an adversary to sin because all sin is an adversary unto God 3 The efficacy of them usually corrupt doctrines adde to our notions but meddle not with our corruptions they swell us but doe not edifie us they are pils which onely worke upon the braine they neither bring true grace or sound peace with them onely this Satan makes the erroneous very violent that thereby they may thinke themselves in the right But the doctrine which is true is strong it is heavenly in its nature and mighty in its operation comes from God and brings to God makes the bad good and the good better there is no such salve to heale a corrupt heart nor balme to refresh a troubled conscience as truth 4 The antiquity of them errour is but the shadow and ape of truth the saying is id demúm verissimum quod antiquissimum Truth is the first borne for God spake it before the divell spake the other errors may be old but truth saw the light before them the whole farrago of corrupt doctrines amongst the Papists for transubstantiation invocation of Saints prayers for the dead merit supremacy their originals were of yesterday though they boast antiquity yet they dare not stand to the triall of Christ and his Apostles who must decide all truths 5 The simplicity of them errours came in by the Serpent at the first and are much of its nature full of windings and turnings all corrupt doctrines are deceiveable and subtile how many arts were fained by Arrius and the Arrian Bishops to bring in their damnable errour what forging of lyes and odious accusations of Athanasius that he was dishonest with a woman and cut off a mans hand as Eusebius relates and so the Iesuites about Calvin and Luther and Melancthon and Beza c. and so for the establishing of the Councell of Trent the Popes Cloke-bags were weekely filled with devices and carriages Yea and observe the very Papists at this day how deceiveably confident they are that al◠antiquity and testimony is on their side when either it is a packe of their owne writers onely or other authors which they have forged or else antiquity miserably lanced and cut and interlaced by their Index expurgatorius yea and I pray God that many of the opinions in this City be
not bolstered up with high clamours and with artificiall lyes But truth is naked and plaine it is neither of a cruell nature like Caine nor of a subtile spirit with Absalom nor of a lying spirit with Ahabs false Prophets it flatters no man nor beguiles any being truth it is not ashamed of light or triall and it alone can maintain it self against all contrary quarrels a good cause is like a good conscience even a bulwarke to it selfe like the sunne in its light and heat against all clouds c. 5 The duration of them truth like the sunne hath runne down through all ages not that all men have embraced it but that by some it hath still beene embraced some one or more hath still beene at the barre to beare witnesse unto it New men have still risen up and sometimes out of the ashes as it were of the dead to maintaine and either by tongue or pen or bloud to defend the truth but Erroneous doctrines as they want an inward harmony so also an outward consent like a deceitfull brooke they are spent after a while or like commotions in a state Simile though strong or long yet they come to an end at length either some speciall judgements on the ringleaders or the authority of Princes as Alexander against Arius or the prayers of the Saints or the decision of lawfull counsels have still cashiered these meteors but as it is said of divine mercy that it endures for ever the same is affirmed of divine truth it runs from one generation to another till Christ make his Church triumphant the militant Church shall be the pillar of truth 6 The conformity of them to the rule or word Erroneous doctrines like unsound flesh cannot abide handling and Simile like an ill favoured woman would have all glasses broken But truth like sound gold will endure a touch-stone truth will be found truth upon search bring it to the conscience it will worke as truth bring it to the death-bed it will uphold as truth bring it to the scriptures it will hold out as truth 2 When truths upon search are found to be truths then embrace them for the truths sake not upon personall and mutable causes or ends 3 Firme refolution after tryall by which our knowledge comes to be cleare and without doubt there must be now a plain resolution and purpose of heart in cleaving to such faithfully evidenced truths thou must by an immoveable faith as it were root thy very heart in the truths of Christ as Saint Paul though bonds and afflictions though good report or evill though death it selfe abide him for Christ come what will come disputes fancies errors troubles losses I have found the truth and it will I hold for ever 3 Loyall affection then it is loyall when it is inclusive to every truth c. exclusive to nothing but truth this loyall affection will make us to first doe secondly suffer thirdly cleave love truth and then truth will be held I held him and would not let him goe said the Church then in love with Christ Cant. 3. Love is the easiest key to open the heart to Cant. 3. Christ and the strongest locke to keepe sure the truth in our hearts when thou hast experimentally felt the heavenly strength and comfort of Gods truths then wilt thou certainly sticke unto them 4 Ioyne conscience to science O when people have the truths still sounding in their eares and ungodlinesse still stirring and ruling in their lives it cannot be that they should have strong hands who have wicked hearts Hymeneus made shipwracke of faith and of conscience both together 1 Tim 1. 19. Therefore strive to obey the 1 Tim. 1. 19. truths adde to thy faith vertue be a doing Christian as well as a knowing Christian 5 Be watchfull in prayer to God with David to uphold thee with Saint Peter to establish thee still to keepe thee that thou mayest keepe his truths excellent is that speech of Bernard S. Bernard in Psal qui habitat pag. 283. Basil neque enim quae habemus ab eo servare aut tenere possumus sine eo that God by whose light alone we know the truth by his strength alone we keepe it Thus much for the text and now for the occasion and here I cannot be long neither my affections nor yours will admit of large discourse onely a word of you and a word to you Of you so regardfull have you beene to my Ministery so loving to my person so faithfull in your maintenance so cheerefully encouraging generally from you all but chiefly from the chiefest that had it pleased the Lord to have given mee health the which I have scarce enjoyed one whole yeere together since I have beene heere I should not have stirred easily from such a people for the best preferment that could be conveniently offered unto me I speake my heart freely I cannot tell on which side the unwillingnesse is most whether on your part who are left or on my part who am constrained to leave you But to say no more of your goodnesse give mee leave for the close of all to leave a few Legacies with you being all my friends and hearken to my words as the words of a dying man for the Lord knowes how short my daies may be My Legacies are these 1 Lay out more time for your soules the soule is a precious thing the soule is a corrupted thing sinnes are in it much guilt is upon it there is a Christ that it needs holinesse that it must have heaven that it would have thy body is but clay thy soule a spirit the world a vanity thy soule immortall all is well if the soule be wel nothing is well if that be evill I beseech you pray more heare more know more confer more doe more and more for your soules when you come to dye you will then finde it to be all your worke O then whiles health is in you make it thy chiefest worke to seeke the kingdome of heaven and the righteousnesse thereof for your soules feed not the slave and starve the childe 2 Vpon good grounds make sure of a reconciled God live not in an unreconciled condition no enemy like an ill conscience and a good God study the right of thy sinnes and the bloud of Christ repentance from dead workes and faith in the Lord Iesus so shalt thou behold the face of God and live The waies of reconciliation with God and the setling of thy conscience about it may cost thee many prayers and teares and diligent studies but the love of God and heaven will answer and recompense all 3 Wisely improve all heavenly seasons the Lord hitherto hath continued unto you daies of peace and salvation heavenly opportunities publike and private and I beseech him for ever so to doe Now receive not the grace of God in vaine lay hold on these occasions if there be not wisedome to improve them there may be sadnesse for neglecting