to trye how thy affections will flow out upon it Believe it rich wines will try thy brains It is sad of Pius Quintus so called because that when he was a mean man he was looked upon as a good man Magistratus indicat virum and had great hopes of his own salvation but when he came to be a Cardinal he doubted much about it and when he was a Pope he altogether despaired of it thus the place doth often discover the person Hot waters will manifest whether there be life in a man or no and a full great wind will try whether the vessell of thy soul be ballasted with grace or no. It s said of Caius Caligula there was never better servant nor worse Master Poisonous and profitable roots are both discovered in summer though they were hid all the winter That corruption which lay in the body undiscerned when the season was cold breaks out either in the face by pimples or in the other parts by some disease when the weather is warm But t is more likely that God will try thee by adversity God telleth Jerusalem that he would search her with candles Zeph. 1.12 That is as exactly as men search with candles prying into every corner of the house so God of the heart bringing forth their secret ways revealing their hidden wickedness the words imply both the manner how exactly God would do it and the means how terribly he would do it by some dreadfull judgment he would kindle a fire and search them by the light of that fire Reader if thou wilt not search thy soul by the Sun-light of his word expect that he should search thee by the candle light the fire light of his dreadful works The flail of tribulation will discover the chaffe from the wheat and the fire of affliction the dross from the gold Sharp weather will try whether thy body be sound or sickly A storm will discover the Mariner and a battel the Soldier God led Israel about in the wilderness to try and to prove them Deut. 8.16 Affliction is like Solomons sword that discovereth which is the true which the false mother or like Simeons sword which pierceth through mens souls that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed Now friend if God will try thee by some sharp affliction is it not better to prevent this by self-examination It may be God may try thee by disgrace or loss of thy whole estate or by loss of liberty limbs or life now how wilt thou do to bid adieu to all earthly comforts for Jesus Christ to welcom a prison kiss a stake smile at torments look a violent death in the face with colour in thy cheeks and courage in thy heart to endure this fiery trial by God that didst never try thy self before hand If thou hast run with footmen and they wearied thee how will thou do to run with horsemen Jer. 14.5 If self-trial in thy chamber or closet where are none but God and thy conscience to be witnesses and Scripture to be judge of the controversie be so irksom and grievous to thee how tedious will thy trial be by flames and torments Believe it when thou comest to the fire 't will be known whether thou art a full or an empty pitcher Blessed Bilny tried his finger by himself in the candle before his whole bodie in the flames at the stake O gather your selves together saith the Prophet Zeph. 2.1 Gather your selves together before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you Tremelius reads it Excutite vos verumque Excutite Examine unskin your selves rip your selves up dissect anatomize your intrails it s doubled to shew the fervency and earnestness of God for it the necessity and weight of it and mans antipathy and averseness to it before the decree bring forth c. before the judgement which is now in the womb of the threatning come to the birth of execution O Friend search thy self faithfully or be confident that God will search thee dreadfully Now as Job told his friends Is it good that God should search thee out Job 13.9 Is it good that he should as a Surgeon eat out thy dead senseless flesh by some stinging corrosive and cure thee of thy lethargy by putting thee into a violent feavor The Schollar that will not scan his own verses and try them by the rule findes that his master can make him do it under the rod. If God have thoughts of everlasting favor towards thee he will force thee to know and try thy self by some seasonable fire he will so shake the tree that it shall be known whether the fruit be rotten or found If God should not try and discover thee to thy self in this world yet he will certainly in the other world at the night of death and in the day of judgment Death will try thee that will be strong physick which will fully discover thy constitution Two or more children play together all day but when night comes one childe goeth to his father the other to his father every one to his own father it may be they were very like one another that strangers knew not yea nor neighbours to whom they belonged whose child was this or whose child is that but when night comes one father owns his childe takes him home the other father calls his childe to him takes him into his house Thus while men live they are not so well discovered whether they are of God or of their father the Devil but when the night of death comes they are tried to whom they belong He that is born of God goeth to his Fathers house He that is of his father the Devil goeth with Judas to his own place Rottenest stuffs are oftenest watered the deformedst faces are usually painted but the showre of death will wipe and wash all off Now if thou wouldst be gathered to thy father in peace examine and prove thy self make sure that there be some good thing in thee towards the Lord thy God O how sad will it be for thee who art now asleep to awake like the Jaylor at the midnight of death and to finde thy evidences for the new birth as he his prisoners in his own apprehension missing what an earthquake and heart-quake will then possess thee how pale and trembling wilt thou spring into the presence of God in the other world for thy particular judgement Ah how sad will it be to err to mistake then when an error can never never be mended when a mistake will prove soul murther an everlasting miscarriage O 't is bad for the vessel of thy soul to leak to mistake in the shallow waters of life and time but O how sad will it be to be mistaken at an hour of death and thereby to leak in the Ocean of Eternity Speed in his Chronicles observeth that in the dayes of Henry the eighth Campius the Popes Legate came
their right to glory and salvation 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that when the houses of our earthly tabernacles shall be dissolved we shall enjoy a building of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heavens So 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Job 19.25 2 Tim. 1.12 And all this assurance of adoption justification perseverance in grace fruition of glory which Saints have doth proceed from their assurance of their regeneration 1 John 3.14 We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the brethren Regeneration or holiness is the first fruits which do ensure the harvest and the earnest which doth confirme the bargain and ensure the full sum Now Reader having given thee some motives to quicken thee to try thy soul I shall lay down the markes and bring thee to the test And they shall be taken from the nature and effects of regeneration First examine thine heart by the nature of this true holiness Now there are two things in the nature of this new creature In every birth there is Generatio unius corruptio alterius saith the Philosopher something generated and something destroyed so in this new birth there is the production of grace and the destruction of vice the life of righteousness and the death of sin the setting up of the Arke and the throwing down of Dagon The sinfullness of our souls by our first births consisteth in their aversion from God and good and in their conversion to the evil one and evil in having the image of Satan imprinted on them and the image of God blotted out of them The sanctity of our souls by their second births consisteth in their conversion to God and their aversion from sin in having the image of the Devil razed out of them and the image of the Saviour stamped on them As we have born the image of the earthly so we must bear the image of the heavenly And these two parts of the good part are like two Buckets in a Well as the one namely the interest of God cometh up the other namely the interest of sin and Satan goeth down the higher the Sun getteth the more still it scattereth the darkness First there is in this new nature a dying to sin The Apostle calleth it a putting off the old man Eph. 4.22 and a dying to sin Rom. 6.11 Conversion like the ship-mans fatal star is never seen but before the wrack and death of sin The spring of grace is a living fountain and cleanseth it self of mire and dirt Grace like Christ increaseth and sin like the Baptist decreaseth The expression of the holy Ghost about this is worthy our serious consideration Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin for he that is dead is freed from sin Lo here sin is served by Christ the same sauce which it formerly served Christ Sin crucified him when he came in the likeness of sinful flesh and he slayeth it when he cometh into the soul by his Spirit but in the words of the Apostle observe Sins appellation and its execution For its appellation it is called first the Old man partly because it is derived and propagated from Adam the eldest of men partly in comparison of renovation and renewing the whole man It is called secondly the body of sin partly because mans corrupt nature like a body or stock brancheth forth into divers actual sins as members Col. 3.5 Gal. 5.19 partly because of the strength of it as also because men are as much naturally in love with their sins as with themselves But take notice of the execution of this old man of this body of sin in the regenerate The old man is crucified Sin like an old man in them which are new made doth decay and decline every day it is every hour growing weaker and weaker and nearer to its grave and utter abolition Regeneration giveth sin its deaths wound though as those that are crucified it dyeth lingringly yet it dieth certainly Sin like a man in a consumption in a converted person is always wasting and dying till at last it 's quite dead One that is mortally wounded sprawleth and moveth for a time but afterwards giveth up the Ghost so sin while Saints live though it be mortally wounded doth rage and stir but it abateth in strength and dyeth with them St. De civit dei l. 8. c. 6. Augustine relateth of the Serpent that when she groweth old she draweth herself through a narrow hole and by this means stripping off her old skin she reneweth her age Ambulare in peccatis est sic versari in pec catis ut iâ— vocaâ—ione sua ordina ria Daveâ— in Col. 3. Truly thus the Christian is made new by putting off the old coat of the old man The Scripture speaketh expresly He that is born of God sinneth not 1 Joh. 3.9 that is constantly sin is not his design or imployment and chearfully sin is not his delight or element for sin is against his new nature now a man can do nothing against his nature cordially or constantly Sin may rebel within him but it cannot reign over him he looks on sin as his greatest enemy and therefore 't is impossible that he should converse with it in a way of amity Nay as fire and water heat and cold never meet but they fight so this new life is in continual war with every lust the new creature is like unto God Of purer eyes then to behold iniquity Hab. 1.13 the evil of sin cannot ordinarily get a good look from him he cannot meet this ugly guest in any corner of his house but his heart riseth against him he considereth what a Lord sin displeaseth what a Law sin transgresseth what a beautiful image sin defaceth what a glorious name fin dishonoreth what a lovely loving Savior sin buffetted shamefully and tortured cruelly what a precious soul and peerless salvation sin was like to have lost him eternally And Oh 't is a killing look which this soul giveth his dearest lust Ah thinks he that ever my nature should hatch and harbour such hideous monsters that ever my heart should be a polluted bed to breed and bring forth such a poisonous brood 'T was my iniquity that bid defiance to the highest Majesty 't was my corruption which scourged the back wounded the head nailed the feet and hands yea pierced the very heart of Jesus Christ my wickedness was the weight which caused his bloody sweat my lust was the murderer which put to death that Lord of life 't was my covetousness which betrayed him my cowardliness which condemned him and my cruelty which executed him and shal I be a friend to that Traytor which was such a foe to my Redeemer Well whatever it cost me through the strength of Christ I le have justice upon these murderers through the help of heaven these brats of hell shall have their
will be so heavy So now thou art born up with the streams of worldly comforts thy sins are easie and light but when thou comest once to touch at land at thy long home they will be so poysonous for their nature and so ponderous for their weight that thou wilt cry out sadly and despairingly what Paul did sorrowfully yet believingly O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Rom. 7.24 The god of this world now blindeth thine eyes that thou neither seest their number nor colour but in that long long night of blackness of darkness all those Ghosts will walk and then they will be gastly indeed Those arrows of sin which now thou shootest out of sight will then fall down upon the head of the Archer 4. It will teach thee the worth of a Saviour when thou feelest the want of a Saviour thou shalt know by woful experience the worth of a Saviour Sickness now probably teacheth thee the worth of health and pain the comfort of ease truly those torturing pains and wracking diseases with which thou shalt be eternally affected will teach thee though 't will be a miserable learning the great price and worth of the Physitian of souls Jesus Christ is more worth to a Saint in this world then the whole world If all the rocks were rubies and all the dust gold or the whole Globe a shining Chrysolite yet he would count all but dross and dung in comparison of Christ nay of one hours or moments communion with him But thou seest here no such vertue in his blood no such value in his passion no such beauty in his person no such excellency in his precepts But when thou shalt feel the wrath of God the curse of the Law the torments of Hell the poyson and sting of sin then a Redeemer will be a Redeemer indeed Now the Son of the ever blessed God tendereth himself to thee with many entreaties goeth after thee up and down night and day knocking at the door of thine heart with all his graces comforts and fruits of his death by the ministry of his word the motions of his spirit multitudes of temporal and spiritual mercies but thou unworthy wretch slightest both him and his precious Attendants and esteemest thy shop and stock thy corn and carnal comforts far before him but when thou shalt see what a weight of glory what Rivers of pleasures others enjoy through the Saviour and thy self feel more torment and pain then thou canst now possibly think or fear for want of a Saviour surely thou wilt have other manner of thoughts of him then now thou hast 'T would be as much worth to thee as Heaven now to know Jesus Christ and him crucified but 't will be the Hell of thine Hell to know him there O how deeply it will cut thine heart with horror to think that that Christ whom thou shalt see at his Fathers right hand waited on thee till his head was wet with the dew and his locks with the drops of the night called frequently and fervently after thee Turn turn O sinner why wilt thou die and run thus upon thy ruin and yet thou wert as deaf as an Adder and wouldst not hear the voice of that sweet Charmer 5. It will teach thee the preciousness of time Eternity will learn thee the value of time when in that long evening and night which shall never have a morning thou shalt remember and consider that thou hadst a day of Grace O Thou wilt think Time was when I had the tenders and offers of all that love and life mercy and merits heaven and happiness of which yonder blessed souls are possessors when mercy came kneeling to me for acceptance Grace came a begging at the door of my heart for admittance it followed me to bed and board abroad and at home beseeching me for the love of God for the sake of my poor soul to turn from lying vanities to the living God how often did the Minister with many entreaties invite exhort beseech me to pitty my dying soul to leave my damning sins 2 Cor. 6.2 and heartily to embrace my loving Saviour with all speed assuring me from the word of the Eternal God that then was the onely accepted time then was the onely day of Salvation but I despised and deferred all I thought I had time enough before me and wo and alas it is now too late the sun of my life is set the gate of mercy is shut I did not work in my day and now the things of my peace are for ever hid from mine eyes Alas alaâ— poor creature what wilt thou do in such an hour Now thou wantest wayes to spend thy time were it not for the Ale-house or good fellowship or some sinful or vain sports thou couldst not tell what to do with thy time Now thou esteemest it as a meer drug that hangs upon thy hand How many a precious hour dost thou throw away though the revenues of the whole world cannot purchase or call back a moment but then thou wilt cry as that foolish Lady on her death-bed who wantoned it away in her life time Plutarch in Pelopid Call time again Call time again but all in vain When thou art once entred upon thine Eternity there can be no recalling of Time I have read of Archias the Lacedemonian that whilst he was carousing in his cups amongst his jovial companions one delivers him a letter purposely to acquaint him that some lay in wait to take away his life and withal desired him to read it presently because it was matter of concernment O saith he Cras seria serious things to morrow but he was slain that night so whilst thou art wallowing in the mire of sensual pleasures a messenger from God is sent purposely to tell thee that Satan and Sin lie in ambushment to murther thy soul and withal intreateth thee to minde it speedily that thou mightest prevent it but thou cryest at least in thy heart and practice Serious things to morrow Repentance Faith and Holiness hereafter but before that hereafter come thou art in Hell and then present time will be precious when its past Thou wilt then remember how exceeding careful thou wast to plough and sow thy ground in its season and how mad and foolish to put off the ploughing up the fallow ground of thy heart and sowing to the Spirit till the season of Grace was past 6. It will teach thee the knowledge of Eternity though indeed this Lesson will be ever learning by thee and never learned Thou shalt suffer the vengeance of eternal fire Jude v. 7. and be tormented day and night for ever and ever Rev. 14.10 Thou wouldst not burn an whole year no not one day in one of thy Kitchin fires for a Kingdom But O then thou shalt be in a ten thousand times hotter fire and for ever Ah! Who can dwell in everlasting burnings who can endure unquenchable flame Isa
33.14 It is written of the Lord Chancellor Egerton that going through Westminster Hall in Terme time he saw written upon the wall by one that was fearful he should be oppressed by a potent Adversary Tanquam non reversurus as though he should never return more Truly when thou art once cast into that prison thou shalt never come out As the cloud is consumed and washed away so he that goeth down into Hell returneth no more Job 7.9 The worm there dieth not and the fire there never goeth out there is blackness of darkness for ever The smoke of thy torments will ascend for ever and ever Matth. 18.10 Jude 7. Rev. 14.10 11. O Friend didst thou but know what this eternity of torment is thou wouldst howl and roar and never rest day nor night whilst thou art unconverted It is an age of ever living in death and pangs and yet never expiring a circle of sorrows which knoweth no end an extremity of pain which shall have no period when thou hast layn under those unconceiveable torments as many millions of ages as there are creatures great and small in Heaven Earth and the vast Ocean thou shalt not be nearer coming out then the first â—oment thou didst go in Now thou thinkest Prayers are long Sermons are long and Sabbaths are long and duties are long But how long wilt thou think Eternity to be Now thou sayst The Preacher is long-winded but ah how long-winded will Hell be when it shall hold thee ever ever ever to feel the stroke of infinite power and anger Thus Reader while thou livest thou art a cursed creature and when thou diest a damned sinner In life thou art cursed in all thou hast in all thou dost after death thou shalt know the vanity of the world the anger of the Lord the woful nature and effects of sin the worth of a Saviour the preciousness of time and what a boundless bottomless Ocean Eternity is Consider this ye that forget God lest he tear you in pieces when there is none to deliver you Psal 50.22 But possibly thou Reader though unregenerate dost not feel this curse nor fear this wrath therefore thou thinkest all is false But answer me this question Doth not the word of God speak more of thy misery both in this and the other world then I have or can speak And canst thou imagine that thine unbelief shall make God a lyar I tell thee the same Scripture of truth which speaketh of thy misery speaketh of thy stupidity 1 Thes 5.3 4. That thou wilt even mock and scoff when thou art told of it 2 Pet. 3.2 truly thy sottish senslesness is the chain by which Hells Jaylor holds thee so fast The sick Patient that feeleth his pain is in an hopeful way of recovery when he that is dangerously sick and senseless is usually given over for dead It is observed of those that are taken with the frenzy the disease being got into the cockloft of reason that the more the disease doth affect them Arist so much the more secure they are careless of any thing presumptuous in all things fearful of nothing as having lost the use of comon sense So is it with thee the more sinful the less sensible the more the dust of sin flies up into thine eyes the more blinde thou art now but when death comes 't will clear up thy sight Pliny saith of the mole Oculos incipit operire moriendo quos clausos habuit vivendo that though she be blinde all the time of her life yet when she cometh to die she openeth her eyes Truly though now thou shuttest thine eyes and art blinde in these things yet within a few dayes thou shalt come to die and then thine eyes will be opened and thou wilt see all these things and very much more as clearly as the Sun at noon-day Therefore Friend what dost thou say now to this first subject of consideration The misery which thou liest under and art liable to whilest thou art unregenerate Would any man that were not mad continue quiet in such an estate one moment Ah who would live one hour under such a torrid Zone for a world Dost thou believe that as they whom God blesseth are blessed indeed so they whom he curseth are cursed indeed When Christ cursed the fig-tree how speedy and effectual was it the Disciples say How soon is the fig-tree withered away Matth. 21.19 20. So will it be to thee as certain though not so sudden like a moth 't will devour thee surely yet it may be secretly that thou shalt take no notice of it Let conscience speak Art thou contented to be night and day where ever thou goest and whatever thou doest under Gods curse in this world if not then acquaint thy self NOW with God and be at peace and good a blessing instead of a curse shall come to thee Job 22.21 But if thou canst bear Gods curse so patiently here not sinking under it being kept above water with the skin-deep bladers of common blessings yet what wilt thou do hereafter when all these shall be parted from thee Canst thou so quietly in the other world hear that voice and feel the execution of that verse Go thou cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels for ever Matth. 25.41 If thou canst not Agree with thy Adversary quickly whiles thou art in the way with him lest at any time the Adversary deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into Prison Verily I say unto thee thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the nttermost farthing Matth. 5.25 26. The second subject of Consideration The felicity of the Regenerate SEcondly Consider the unspeakable felicity which thou mighst enjoy if thou wert one regenerated Thy happiness would be far greater then my tongue can declare or thine heart desire Blessedness is so full a word that it comprehends all the good which the rational creature can wish and truly thou shouldst have it in its full weight As before thou wast above all expressions Cursed so now thou shouldst be beyond all comparison Blessed Thy gleanings should be better then the most prosperous worldlings Vintage the worst estate that thou shouldst ever be in would be far more leligible then the best estate of the greatest Emperour on earth that were unregenerate Every blessing written in the book of God would be thy birthright if thou wert born of God thou shouldst be blessed with the blessings of the throne and of the footstool with all things that belong to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.3 No evil should come to thee there shall no evil happen to the just Prov. 12.21 No good should be kept from thee The Lord shall give grace and glory and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84.11 If earth can make thee blessed thou shouldst be blessed Blessed are the meek for they
Had he studied a thousand years for a name he could not have called it by a worse name then its own sinful sin Luther saith that could a man but see perfectly the evil of his sins on earth it would be an hell to him such a frightful ugly monster is sin Look on sin which way thou wilt and it is exceeding sinful the evil of evils Take it in its nature it is a deviation from Gods Law a wandring from his word a casting his Law behinde the back the Law is strait sin is crookedness Psal 125.5 The Law is holy sin is defilement Rom. 7.12 2 Cor. 7.1 The Law is just sin is unrighteousness 1 John 1.7 The Law is liberty sin is bondage Jam. 2.8 12. 2 Tim. 2.26 Sin is a defacing of Gods image it blots and blurs that fair and beautiful writing not onely meritoriously as it provokes God to withdraw his Grace but physically Numb 15.30 Rom. 2.23 24. 2 Sam. 12.12 as one contrary expels another Hereby it dishonours Gods name and reproacheth his Majesty for what greater disgrace can be done to a Prince then to tread his orders under foot and tear and scratch and deface his picture Nay Lev. 22.26 Zec. 11.8 Rom. 8.7 Rom. 1.30 1 Sa. 15.23 Isa 1.2 Rom. 6 16. Psal 14.1 it s a defying and fighting against God a walking contrary to him a daring of him it is enmity against him loathing him hatred of him contrariety to him it is against his Soveraignity and so is rebellion against his mercy and so is unkindness against his justice and so is unrighteousness against his wisdom and so is folly against his will Omne seccatu est deicidium and so is stubbornness Were it strong enough it would ungod him were the sinners power according to his corrupt heart he would pluck God out of Heaven I would I were above God saith Spira When the body of sin is nailed as a thief on the Cross yet even then it will rage as he and spit out poison against Heaven Reader Canst thou finde in thine heart to hug and embrace such a Traytor against the gracious and blessed God! To stretch out thine hand against God as every sinner doth and strengthen thy self against the Almighty Vid. Car. in loc 10 this purpose Job 15.25 Stretch out thine hand against God! No man should lift up a word against God our mouthes should shew forth his praise Stretch out thine hand against God! no man should lift up a thought against God our meditations of him should be for him Stretch out thine hand against God every man should bow down and worship before God and be satisfied in what ever he saith and doth Stretch out thine hand against God! thou art bound to stretch out thine heart and hand and tongue to think and speak and act and all for God and all little enough Take sin in its effect and what evil is like it Eccl. 1.3 it is the cause of all other evils Dost thou consider the emptiness vanity and vexation in the creatures the heavens fighting against man the earth bearing thorns and briars the diseases in mens bodies the burning Feavor watery Dropsie aking teeth running Gout wracking Stone renting Collick the quivering lips trembling loins gastly looks of dying men The horrors of conscience flashes of the infernal fire curses of the Law wrath of God torments of Hell all these are the fruits of sin All misery calleth sin mother this is the root of bitterness upon which they grow the wages of sin is death Rom. 6.21 ult and 5.12 that big-bellied word Death hath all these woful brats in its belly and Sin is the father that begat them Sin turned Adam out of Paradise Angels into Devils Sodom and Gomorah into ashes flourishing Families Cities Kingdoms into ruinous heaps Sin shuts heaven against man laid the foundation of that dark vault of hell Sin kindled the fire of hell Sin feeds it with fuel and will keep it burning for ever Oh what an evil is sin who would not hate it more then hell Is it good to play with such fire as sin is didst thou believe sin to be the cause of all this thou wouldst never open thy heart or mouth more for it Dost thou know that as where the effect is good the cause is better so where the effect is bad the cause is worse Can there be worse effects then eternal separation from God and suffering the vengeance of eternal fire how bad is sin then which is the cause of them Take sin as a punishment and 't is the evil the only evil there is no suffering like to this to be given up to a course of sining Reader take heed of continuing an hour longer in thine ungodly practices it may be thou hast been ready to think it a great happiness to sin without controle to run in the road of the flesh and to meet with no rubs to prosper though thou art wicked I tell thee and think of it the longest day thou livest for it highly concerneth thee that the infinite God never claps a more dreadful curse on any man or woman on this side hell then to give them up to sin If God should give thee up to the sword famine most painful diseases to thy most cruel potent and malicious enemies to be wrackt by them at pleasure these were nothing to this to be given up to one sin When God hath used his rods scourging men and they will not reform then he takes this ax and presently execution followeth to be delivered up to the power of men may be the lot of Gods sons but to be delivered up to the power of sin is the portion of Rebels of Reprobates This is the stinging whip with which God punisheth Ephrahim 2 Tim. 3.13 2 â—hess 2.10 11. Ephraim is joyned to Idols there is his impiety but what grievous punishment shall he have for his God-provoking Idolatry Let him alone Hos 4.17 It is not I will send the raging pestilence or cruel famine or bloody sword but he is joyned to idols let him alone I will not have him disturbed or molested but he shall have his will though it prove his everlasting woe Rom. 1.21 22. Psal 81.11 12. Hos 8.11 It is a woe with a witness 1 Cor 5. comp with 2 Cor. 7. for God to let thy lusts like so many ravenous Lions loose upon thee and to lay the reins of thy sins upon thy own neck We read of one delivered up to Satan yet he was saved but never of any delivered up to their sins but they were damned It was a sad sight which Abraham saw when he beheld flakes of fire rained from heaven upon the Sodomites but it was a sadder which Lot beheld when he saw the fire of hell burning in their hearts and breaking out in their lives and his righteous soul was vexed therewith Reader have a care that thou never in thy heart plead more for
thy dying soul What more weighty busines hast thou to do then to set upon those things whereby thou mayst avoid unquenchable burnings and arive at fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Is thy ploughing or sowing thy buying or selling nay thine eating and drinking half so necessary as the Regeneration of thy soul without which the everliving God hath told thee over and over that thou shalt not be saved O that thou didst but believe what it is to be in heaven or hell for ever ever ever I have read of a woman that when her house was on fire she was very busie and wrought hard in carrying out her goods but at last bethought her self of her onely child which she never minded before for eagerness about her goods but had left it burning in the flames and then when it was too late she cryeth and roareth out sadly O my child Ah my poor child Truly thou art in danger thine everlasting estate is every moment in jeopardy if thou now busiest thy self wholly in scraping and carking and caring for thy body forgetting thy poor soul leaving that to the fire that shall never go out consider there is a time I would say an eternity coming when thou wilt think of it though then t will be too late and then O then how sadly how sorrowfully wilt thou sigh and sob howl and roare and screech out O my soul Ah my poor soul how wretchedly have I forgot my precious soul It is an unconceivable mercy that yet thou hast a day of grace wherein thou mayst think of and indeavour the good of thy soul For thy souls sake for the Lords sake O dear friend mind it speedily hear God now he calleth or then though thou callest loud and long he will never never hear thee When the mother of Thales urged him to marry Diog. Laert. he told her that t was too soon she continuing still importuning him he told her afterwards that t was too late Regeneration is thine espousal unto Jesus Christ the father of eternity calleth upon thee wooeth beseecheth commandeth thee now while it is called to day to accept of his own Son for thy Lord and husband do not O do not say T is too soon I will do it hereafter I assure thee before to morrow night God may say T is too late and then thou art lost for ever Hear counsel and receive instruction that thou mayst be wise in thy latter end lest thou mourn at last when thy flesh and thy body are consumed when thy soul is in hell tormented and say How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers nor inclined mine care to them that instructed me Pro. 19 20. Pro. 5.11 12 13. An Exhortation to the Regenerate First to give God the glory of that good work which is wrought in them Secondly to do what good they can to the souls of others especially of their relations I Come in the last place to a word of exhortation to the regenerate If without Regeneration none can attain salvation then O new born creature it highly concerneth thee to be thankeful to God and to be faithful to men First be thou thankful to God What wilt thou render to the Lord for this great inestimable benefit Is not thine heart ravished in the consideration of that good wil which took such notice of thee a poor worm Praise saith the Psalmist waiteth for thee in Sion Psal 65.1 and well it may for of Sion it may be said This and that man was born in her Psa 87.5 6. An heathen had three reasons for which he blessed God One of them was that he had made him a man a rationall creature I am sure thou hast more cause to blesse God that he hath made thee not onely a man but a Christian not onely a rational but a new creature They that are new born in Sion have infinite reason to honour God with the songs of Sion If David praised God Psa 139.14 15. because he was wonderfully made in regard of the frame of his body what cause hast thou to praise him for the curious workmanship of grace in thy soul Thou canst never give too great thanks for whom God hath wrought such great things Do thou say The Lord hath done great things for me whereof I am glad Ps 125.3 What joy is there at the birth of a great heir or a prince What ringing of bels and discharging of guns and making of bon-fires when those infants are born to many crosses as well as to crowns nay and their Scepters wither and crowns moulder away O the joy which thou mayst have in God who art born a child of God an heir of heaven of a kingdom which can never be shaken Do wicked men keep the day of their natural births with so much pleasure and delight when they were therein born in sin and brought forth in iniquity when by reason of those births they are obnoxious to eternal death and wilt thou not keep the day of thy spiritual birth with joy whereby thou art purified from thy natural pollution and assured of entrance into the purchased possession where thou shalt be perfectly purified It was the speech of Jonadab to Ammon Why art thou lean from day to day being the Kings son so say I to thee Why art thou sad who art Gods son Rejoyce O Christian thy name is written in the book of life thy soul hath the infalliable token of special and eternal love It was matter of great joy that Christ was born at Bethlehem Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy For to you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luk. 2.10 11. but I tell thee it may be matter of greater joy to thee that Christ is born in thine heart For notwithstanding the birth of Christ in Bethlehem thousands and millions go to hell but Christ was never formed in any ones heart but that man went to heaven It is reported of Annello who lately made an insurrection at Naples that considering how mean he was before and to what greatness he was raised he was so transported that he could not sleep O how shouldst thou be transported with the thoughts of that infinite happiness of which thou art an heir Serve the Lord with gladness come before his presence with singing for it is he that hath new made us and not we our selves enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise be thankeful unto him and bless his name Psalm 100. per tot Give thanks to God in thine heart by an humble admiration and in thy life by an holy conversation First Give thanks to God in thine heart by an humble admiration of his bottomless mercy If David when he considered the glorious heavens which God had made for man cryeth out so affectionately What is man that thou art mindful of
was to make me an oratour not to make me a Christian I am confident many a child bemoans that now he is damned in hell which the Father did when he was converted on earth I cannot condemn the education of children according to the quality of their parents nor their bringing up to particular callings this latter I am sure is a duty but that which is first should be last and that which is last should be first Your greatest care and that in the first place should be to seek the Kingdom of God for your selves and children and then other things shall be added to you Caleb gave his daughter the upper and the neather springs O labour that yours may with Jacob have the dews of heaven as well as the fatness of the earth Elisha wept when he saw Hazael 2 Kings 3.12 13. and foresaw that he would slay young men and dash the children against the wall do nor some of you give far far greater occasion of weeping if possible teares of blood in slaying and murdering the souls of your dear children teaching them by your patterns to live like Heathens and Atheists Believe it God committeth the charge of and will account with you for all the souls in your families Gen. 4.3 10 11. When Cain had flain his brother Abel God called to him Where is thy Brother Abel And Cain said I know not am I my Brothers keeper And the Lord said What hast thou done the voice of thy brothers blood cryeth unto me from the ground And now thou art cursed from the earth which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother blood at thine hand So suppose God should whisper one of you in the eare Cruel Father Careless Master Where is thy child or servant that dyed so many months or years ago You may possibly think what Cain spake Lord I know not whether in heaven or hell Holy Greenham saith that many mens children shall follow them up and down in hell cursing them and crying out of them for neglecting to instruct them Was I their keeper O think of it with speed and reform May not God reply very truly Cursed sinner vile wretch What hast thou done The voice of thy child of thy servants soul-blood cryeth to me from hell And now thou art cursed from hell which hath opened her mouth to receive thy sons thy servants soul at thine hand Friends Friends what will you do when God shall thus deal with you for your neglect of relative duties Possibly ye may think I deal too sharply but truly the reason is because I know that sin will not deal mildly either with you or yours And should I not give you warning the blood of your own and childrens souls would be required at my hands Good Lord that ye did but believe what it is to be guilty of others blood Heathens and Infidels provide for the body and temporall well-being of their children and what do many of you more Bears that bring forth mishapen whelps will by licking them bring them to a better form Your Children are brought forth enemies to God and are by nature children of wrath and heirs of eternal death doth it not behove you to strive that by religious nurture they may become children of the promise and heirs of eternal life Thirdly Make sure of Regeneration be never satisfyed till ye can upon Scripture grounds affirme that your natures are regenerated This this is the one thing necessary Your All hangs upon this hinge If this be not done ye are undone undone eternally All your profession civility priviledges guifts duties are cyphers and signify nothing unless Regeneration be the figure put before them It is Regeneration that will make you the sons of God the members of Christ the temples of the Spirit that will give you an holy improvement of all providences a right to all the promises and at last the purchased possession It is Regeneration that will teach you to live like men like Christians like Angels in the love and fruition of the infinitely blessed God O the price of this pearl is not known in this beggerly world A grave and wise Counsellour of France being desirous in his old age to retire himself was intreated by the King to write down some directions and leave with him for the more prosperous government of his Realm The Counsellour took some paper and wrote on the top Moderation in the middle Moderation at the bottom Moderation Demosthenes being asked what was the chief thing in an Oratour answered Elocution and being demanded the same question three times what made an Oratour he still gave the same answer Aug. â—pist 56. ad Di osc Augustine being demanded what was the greatest requisite of a Christian What was the first second and third still answered Humility Humility Humility Truly what the Counsellour said of Moderation the Grecian of Elocution and the Father of Humility I shall say of Regeneration If you ask me what is the chiefest thing in the world for a man to mind What is that which is worthy of all his time and strength and thoughts and words and actions I answer Regeneration If you demand What is that which is of greatest necessity and excellency that bringeth in the greatest profit delight and happiness I answer Regeneration He that hath this hath all that is worth having the having of this is heaven He that wanteth this hath nothing the whole world cannot make up the want of this the want of this is hell O Sirs your everlasting making or marring dependeth upon your sincerity or hypocrisie in this Of what infinite consequence is it therefore to you in whatsoever ye come short to make sure here Alas when ye come to throw your last cast for eternity how will the stoutest of you do to look death in the face without Regeneration in your hearts God hath in an hundred texts of Scripture devoted all unregenerate ones to the unquenchable fire and can any of you think to make him a lyer Believe it as soon as death landeth you at the other world you will have other thoughts of God and his Truths then now ye have For your help in this work which is of such absolute indispensable necessity unto your never dying souls I commend to you this Treatise beseeching the blessed God to make it serviceable unto your salvations Ignatius when he heard a clock strike would say I have one hour more to answer for I must tell you that ye have eighteen hours eighteen Sermons more to answer for When they were preached they had from some of you a favourable attention now they are printed it is not unknown what providence brought them to the press I wish they may have within you all an effectual operation that both the Author and his labors may appear to your joy at that great and terrible day These things being signified Act. 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of
his grace which is able to bring you home who are out of Christ and to build you up who are in Christ and to give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified And subscribe myself Your Servant for Jesus sake GEORGE SWINNOCKE Ianuary 10. 1659. THere is now published two excellent Treatises of Mr. Jeremiah Burrough's one on the fifth of Matthew being many Sermons preached at Cripple gate upon all the Beatitudes And Gospel-Revelation in Three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The excellency of Christ And 3. The excellency of Mans Immortal Soul Both published by Will. Greenhil Will. Bridge Philip Nye John Yates Matthew Mead Will. Adderly Both sold by Tho. Parkhurst in Cheapside TO THE READER Christian Reader AS there are two things which commend a place the fruitfulness of the soil and the pleasantness of the situation the one suiting the necessities and the other the comforts of life So there are two things which commend a Book the worthiness of the Matter therein handled and the skilfulness of the hand that contrived it upon both accounts this gracious Treatise justly deserveth with good men acceptation and value The matter thereof viz. The Doctrine of Regeneration being of most absolute necessity to the being of a Christian and the manner of handling it being so quick and elegant as cannot but convince the Judgement and gratifie the Palate of the most serious Reader It being like the Land of Canaan full of milk and honey a sweetness which doth both nourish and cleanse And as once David did consecrate the Spoils of the Gentiles to the building of the Temple So hath the Authour adorned this his Spiritual Treatise with a sanctified application of many pertinent Histories in humane Authors to the attempering thereof the better unto the most delicate minds I shall not detain the Reader by any discourse on Regeneration the Nature and the Necessity whereof I finde so fully handled in this Book but shall commend the perusual thereof unto all sorts of Readers It being so written as may by Gods blessing be very likely to Convince and Convert those who are strangers to Regeneration if they will bring but Self-love to the reading of it and as may fill the mouths and hearts of those who are partakers of so great a benefit with praises unto God their heavenly Father by gracious Adoption and unto the Lord Christ their Second Adam and spiritual Father by powerful Regeneration to whose blessing I commend the Work the Author and the Reader ED. REYNOLDS January 31. 1659. To the READER Christian Reader IF there be any thing of importance it is the working out of Salvation Phil. 2.12 if there be any way or method to work it out it is by Sanctification 2 Thes 2.13 Which Sanctity begins in Regeneration and ends in Glorification The first of these is the subject of this ensuing Discourse Regeneration or the New birth hath various titles and appellations in Scripture yet all pointing to the same thing as it was the same Messiah though represented by severall types sometimes Regeneration is called the new creature Gal. 6.15 t is indeed a creation because it is beyond the sphere of natural causes to produce and it is a New creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to the old man yet it is not new for substance Ipsam sane animam esse nemo sanae mentis ignorat Bern. but qualities Somtimes Regeneration is called a Resurrection Rev. 20.6 It is a rising from sin b Aug. Tom. there can be no rising to glory till there be first a rising from sin Somtimes it is called a transformation Rom. 12.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind In the incarnation Christ did assume our humane nature in Regeneration we partake of his divine nature by Baptism we have Christs Name by the new birth his image the change wrought in the new birth is wonderful the man is alter idem like Caleb of another Spirit It is said of Alex. Severus that he could play on the viol he could carve or paint but after he was Emperour he was never seen to do any of these things it was below him So though man by nature be proud malitious expert in all the works of the flesh yet when once he is begoten of the seed of the word Jam. 1.18 now he is quite altered ad changed from what he was 1 Cor. 6.11 but yet every change doth not denominate the new birth there may be an external partial temporary change yet all these may be false conceptions then â—birth implyes a new heart Habet suos impetus pietas Quin tiâ—s dec 6. the will like the primum mobile is caryed with an holy violence heaven-ward and the affections as the other orbes move along with it before this new birth there are spiritual pangs though there is magis minus all have not the like pangs all feel the same hammer of the Law though some are bruised more by it then others Regeneration hath an universal influence Grace perfumes and consecrates the whole soul though the Saints are Regenerate but in part yet in every part 1 Thes 5.23 This New birth is not arbitrary but necessary Jo. 3.7 you must be born again other things are for conveniency this is of necessity a Generatus damnatus nifi regeneratus Austin better never have been born if not born again Generation damnes without Regeneration the new birth is a glorious birth it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from above Joh. 3.7 A true Saint is of the blood royall he is born of God 1 John 3.9 That is the best pedigres which is fetched from heaven Regeneration is the signature and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the soul the new born Christian is decked with the spangles of holiness the Angels glory the new birth is a victorious birth Whatsoever is born of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 overcometh the world 1 Joh. 5.4 It conquers the worlds musick and fornaoe The new birth is an happy and a joyful birth at our first birth we come weeping into the world but at our new birth there is cause of joy now we are begotten unto a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 How may we leap for joy when Christ is formed in our hearts t is matter of joy that Christ took our flesh but it is greater joy that we partake of his spirit we are to calculate our nativity from our new birth The Persians did solemnize with triumph regum natalitia the birth days of their Kings oh how may Christians with gladness remember and celebrate their spiritual birth day I mean that time when they began to be born of water and the spirit To conclude this new birth is an everlasting birth 1 Joh. 3.9 His seed remains in him he who is truly Regenerate dies not the Second death The new born creature never growes old he outlives death Rev. 20.6 on
thee for these ends Thou wilt disrelish all spiritual prayers and conference especially when they discover and condemne thy unsanctifyed carnal state And thou wilt secretly or openly have a malignant distaste or opposition against the Regenerate that live by that renewing sanctifying Spirit to which thou art a stranger and wilt look on them as a people that condemne thee by their lives unless thou canst cheat thy self into a perswasion that they are but a company of singular proud selfconceited people and really no otherwise regenerate then thy self And all the Religion and wisdome and good â—arriage which thou hast without this spiritual change may easily be thy delusion but will never serve for thy Salvation yea heaven it self would be to thee no heaven if it were set open to thee and thou hadst not the heavenly nature to suit to the heavenly employment and felicity This is the business of a converting and confirming Ministery and of the spirit and grace that works by them and this is the business that above other business lyeth upon thee in this present world even to work now in thy soul that holy love to the most blessed God who is love it self which may cause thee here to thirst after his presence and to seek his favour and to do his will and may fit thee delightfully for ever to enjoy him and everlastingly to be solaced in the beholding of his glory in the feeling of his love and in his heavenly praises and the fulfilling of his will An unregenerate unholy soul is as unfit for this as thy mortal enemy to lye in thy bosome or as toads and serpents to be the familiar companions of men or as thy Ox or Ass is to feed with thee at thy table and lye with thee in thy bed Employments and Enjoyments must have a suitable nature if the Spirit fit thee not here for heaven in this life which is given thee purposely for that end its pernitious folly to hope for a heaven for which thy unsanctifyed nature is unfit and to promise thy self a felicity of which thou art uncapable and which indeed thy very heart doth hate Thou lovest not holiness here nor the very imperfect Saints that have it how much less couldst thou love the infinite holiness of God who hateth thy sins ten thousand times more then the most severe and sharp reprover hates them If thy eyes cannot look upon the smallest candle without offence how then would they endure to look upon the Sun and that in the nearest access unto its glory And if here thy enmity to the holy will of God be such that thou pleasest not him and he and his waies are displeasing unto thee how uncapable art thou of Heaven which is a state of mutual full delight where the Saints do perfectly please the Lord and are perfectly pleased in him and his pleasure Rom. 8.5 6 7 8. They that are after the flesh do mind or savour the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace Because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God And that which is born of the flesh is but flesh As that which is born of the spirit is spirit Joh. 3.6 It is therefore undenyable that till you are born of the spirit and so made spiritual all your Religion and civility leaveth you but enemies to God and in a state of Rebellion against his will and consequently in a state of death Baptism which is the Sacrament of Regeneration doth signifie this change and containe your profession and engagement to the Lord. But if you have not the Regeneration of the Spirit as well as of the water and the answer of a good conscience as well as the washing of the flesh you differ from Heathens and Infidels but as covenant-breakers differ from them that never entered into covenant with Christ at all But I must not stand too long instructing you at the door when my business is to call you in and to tell you that here is a Message to you from the Lord A Treatise of Regeneration the most necessary Subject in a stile so clean and close in words so pertinent plain powerful and pressing that undoubtedly by a serious impartial perusal joyned with sober consideration and prayer thy soul may receive unspeakable commodity Though I know not the Author I am so far acquainted with the spirit appearing in this Discourse that I dare assure thee he had very much help from heaven and dare encourage thee to study this savoury Treatise as that which containeth most certain sound and necessary doctrine directly tending to the saving of thy soul without any tendency to Heresie Schism or uncharitable cenforiousness A Doctrine necessary for the learned or unlearned the rich and the poor the honorable and the base and for men of all degrees and ranks which if it had been more heartily studied and inculcated in publick and in private by all Preachers of the Gospel instead of the humane inventions and Canons and Opinions and interests of their several Sects the Church and the consciences of the Pastors and their Flocks had been now much wholer and sounder then they are Believe it whatever thou art thou shalt never be saved for being a Lord or a Knight a Gentleman or a rich man a learned man or a well-spoken eloquent man nor yet for being a Calvinist or a Lutheran an Arminian an Anabaptist a Prelatist a Presbyterian an Independent or a Protestant formally and meerly as such much less for being a Papist or of any such grosly deluded Sect but as a Regenerate Christian it is that thou must be saved or thou canst have no hope If once this renewing Spirit have taken possession of thy soul and thou art made partaker of the Divine and Heavenly nature and art become a living Member of Christ thou shalt be saved though thou know not whether Diocesan Bishops Metropolitans Primates and Patriarks or onely Parochial Bishops be most agreeable to the minde of God and though thou know not whether any other Book than the Bible should contain the Liturgy of the Church and though thou know not in a hundred controversies of the times about Orders and Forms and Ceremonies and smaller points of doctrine which party it is that is in the right Holiness will save thee without the formalities of this party or of that but formalities will not save thee without holiness To you that are Regenerate I shall say but this keep very honourable and thankful thoughts of your spiritual birth Live now as the sons of the Eternal God and as the heirs of everlasting life Set your faces now towards Heaven as those that see the grave at hand and the vanities of this world all vanishing into
smoak and as those that are resolved to have heaven or nothing Away with the sins the baits and company that formerly were your desire and delight And seeing even the first hour of your conversion there is joy in heaven before the Angels for your sakes for shame walk not in too much dejectedness and despondency but keep a harmony and concent with heaven seeing you are so highly concernd in the matter of their joy And pray still to the Lord of the harvest that he will mind the forsaken nations of the earth and continue his kindness to this unworthy Island in sending forth more such Labourers into his harvest as this reverend Author is here manifested by his works to be and that he will double his spirit on the messengers of grace that with faith they may speak the words of faith and with life may speak the words of life and that the immortal seed which is sowen by their hand may bring forth many sons to God and spring up plenteously unto eternal life And among others remember him then whom scarce any is more obliged to be thankful for the prayers of the Saints even The most unworthy Servant of the Lord among them that have found mercy to be faithful RICHARD BAXTER January 31. 1659. ERRATA PAge 2. line 21. for unto read into p. 21. l. 29. dele a p. 46. l. 9. for is r. in p. 64. l. 19. for power r. porter p. 93. l. 7. for there is much r. though much p. 102. l. 21. for at r. of p. 147. l. 22. for list r. lift THE Door of Salvation OPENED BY THE Key of Conversion JOHN 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God AS Isaiah is called the Evangelical Prophet because he doth so lively describe and foretel the death of Christ so John may not unfitly be called the Prophetical Evangelist for though in his Epistles he shews himself an Apostle in his Gospel an Evangelist yet in his Revelation he is a Prophet The Antients do aptly ascribe the Eagle to him for his Ensign because when the other Evangelists begin with the Mediators Incarnation and Humanity proving him to be the Son of Man he doth at first flye out of sight and beginneth with the Saviors Deity proving him to be the Son of God And his whole Gospel indeed is a demonstration of Christs Divinity which was occasioned as Ecclesiastical Historians record by the heresie of Ebion and Cerinthus who denied it In this third Chapter we have first Christ teaching Nicodemus to vers 21. Secondly John â—s testimony concerning Christ to the end The Text is Christs speech to Nicodemus Nicodemus had seen Christs miracles and thereby was convinced to come unto him Christ lets him hear his oracles that thereby he might be converted and come unto him Nicodemus in the second verse had called Christ Rabbi and confessed him to be a Teacher sent from God Christ in purfuance of that Office sets him his lesson assuring him that he must learn it in the School of earth or he can never be removed to the University of Heaven In the words we observe two general parts First An Affirmation or the necessity of Regeneration Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Secondly Its confirmation or the certainty of that assertion Verily verily I say unto thee In the Affirmation we may take notice of two particulars 1. The universality of the persons A Man that is every man the proposition is indefinite and so equivalent to one that is universal 2. The quality of the thing affirmed Be born again mending will not serve the whole man must be new made Non unius partis correctionem sed totius naturae renovationem designat saith Calvin It speakes not the reparation of one part but the renovation of the whole man In the Confirmation of it there are likewise two things considerable 1. The manner of the expression Verily verily 2. The Author of it I say unto thee The meaning of the words Verily verily that is Amen faithfully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 compara Mar 13.43 tum Luk. 21.3 Luk. 9.27 cum Mat. 16.18 Mar. 9.1 truly the word cometh from the Hebrew Aman which signifieth True Faithful It is used by the people as a ratification of their prayers and testimony of their desires to be heard Jer. 11.5 1 Cor. 14 16. And when it is doubled as here by the great Prophet it is a vehement asseveration or strong confirmation of the thing asserted As if Christ had said Nicodemus Thou mayst believe me for truly assuredly it is so except thou art a new creature thou canst never enter into the new Jerusalem All Gods sayings are of equal truth but to some there is affixed a special note of certainty because of their extraordinary weight and mans infidelity Private Soldiers may go with a common pass but Generals and Commanders in chief have Trumpets sounding before them Verily verily All Orders and Warrants of Kings have not their seals annexed but those that be of greatest weight I say unto thee I who am the Prophet of my Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Teacher sent from God the true and faithful witness fer whom it is impossible to lie I deliver thee this doctrine as a certain unquestionable truth that unless thou hast a new being it had been better for thee to have had no being for thou canst never see the Kingdom of God Except a man Let him pretend never so much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let his performances be never so many let his priviledges be never so great and his profession never so glorious yet if he be not born again all these will do him little good for he can never see the Kingdom of God The assertion as I hinted before is general as every man is born of the flesh so every man must be born of the spirit or it had been happy for them if they had never been born Be born again that is be renewed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and turned by the Holy Ghost from Nature to Grace from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 Except a man be inwardly and really altered from what he was except he become a new creature Put off the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephes 4.22 24. Except he be turned up-side-down and walk Antipodes to his former way except the stream of his heart and life run in another channel carry him towards another haven he can never arrive at Heaven Except the image of the Devil be razed out and defaced and the image of God be imprinted on him he can never be saved Except he be throughly and universally changed his Understanding by illumination his Will by renovation his
Affections by sanctification and his Life by reformation he can never obtain Salvation He cannot see that is enjoy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Drusâ—animad lib. 2. cap 2. he cannot have his portion in it or ever attain the enjoyment of it Videre est frui Vision in Scripture is frequently put for fruition as Psa 27.13 Heb. 12.14 Isa â—3 11 Psa 34.12 Matth. 5.8 The Kingdom of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods Kingdom is twofold 1. The Kingdom of Grace here Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is not meat aâ—â— drink but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Matth. 6.33 2 The Kingdom of Glory hereafter 1 Thess 2.12 Now except a man be born again he can have no right to the priviledges of the Kingdom of Grace nor to the possession of the Kingdom of Glory The Text being thus briefly explained I shall glean some few ears by the way before I come to the full sheaf which will afford through the blessing of God much spiritual food to our souls 1. Observe That Christ is very willing to instruct them that come to him notwithstanding their many weaknesses Nicodemus was short in his confession of Christ and faulty in his coming to him only by night yet the meek Master overlooketh this and presently falls upon teaching his untoward Schollar The tender Father doth not turn his weak childe out of doors but lends him his helping hand wherby he might be enabled to go As when a soul is in him he doth not refuse its gold because it wanteth some grains nor its honey though it be mingled with wax Cant 5.1 so when a soul is in the way to him he doth not reject it for its imperfections nor twit it with its corruptions as those flies that love to feed on sores but as the loving parent beholdeth the Prodigal while he is afar off runneth more then half way to meet him and as the true Turtle chirpeth sweetly that he may cluck sinners nearer to himself 2. Observe A man may be a noble knowing person and yet ignorant of and a stranger to regeneration Nicodemus was a Ruler of the Jews either one of the Sanhedrim or great Council or one of the Rulers of their Synagogue one that taught others and yet was himself untaught in this rudiment this A B C of Christianity how childishly doth he talk of this weighty truth vers 4. How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born How deep may a man dive into the mysteries of Nature how sharp-sighted may he be there and yet as blind at a Mole in the things of Grace Nature may in some men be dung'd with industry art education and example and thereby shew fair spread far and overtop others but yet manured to the utmost it is but Nature still Its grapes will be the grapes of Sodom and its clusters the clusters of Gomorrah The natural man like Zacheus is too low of stature to see Jesus he discerneth not the things of God neither indeed can he for they are spiritually discerned Cor. 2.14 The wisest Philosophers that could cunningly pick the lock of Natures Cabinet and behold much of her riches and treasure were meer Ideots and fools in the things of the Spirit and understood no more of these mysteries of Divinity then a Cowherd doth of the darkest precepts of Astonomy Water riseth no higher then its fountain the light within us or Nature is but a rush candle and cannot enable us to see the Sun of Righteousness the light without us or Scripture is the star to the wise men leading us to the place where the Babe of Bethlehem lieth As the eye without the optick vertue is but a dead member so all humane wisdom without divine inspiration is but learned folly and elaborate wickedness 3 Observe That regeneration is one principal thing which Pastors ought to instruct their people in Jesus Christ though the wind of Nicodemus words verse 2 seemed to blow towards some other coast yet he waves all other discourse and speaks directly and home to this as the one doctrine necessary for his unregenerate Disciple to learn Regeneration and Salvation by Christ are the two substantial dishes which the faithful Stewards of God set constantly before the Families committed to their charges Those that preach notions instead of such doctrines do cursedly cozen their guests with flowers instead of meat which may fill the eye of the wanton but not the heart of the hungry soul Oh what a blessed pattern have we here for our practices when our Parishoners come to us or we go to them what more weighty subject can we treat of then their Conversion without which they must be punished with everlasting destruction Alas how boundless and endless is that wrath to which they are liable though their hearts are insensible therefore though their mouths do not call yet their miserie doth cry aloud to us to instruct them in Regeneration as ever we desire they should escape Damnation BUt the Doctrine which I principally intend is this Doctrine That without Regeneration men and women can never obtain Salvation Verily Verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God He or she that is not experimentally acquainted with the Second Birth cannot possibly escape the Second Death Make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye dye O house of Israel Ezek. 18.31 The old heart will unquestionably carry thee to hell the place of the old Serpent He must have a new spirit that will go to the new Jerusalem Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God Matth. 18.3 There must be a change from Nature to Grace before there can be a change from Grace to Glory Heaven is the Fathers house Joh. 14.2 provided for none but his children such as are born of him a man must be taken out of the wilderness of Nature and planted in Eden the Garden of the Lord before he can be transplanted into the true Paradise For the illustration of this truth I shall shew first what this Regeneration or New Birth is and then give you the Reasons why none can avoid the Second Death unless they are acquainted with the Second Birth For the first Regeneration is a work of Gods Spirit whereby he doth out of his meer good pleasure for his own glory and the salvation of his Elect at first renew the whole man after his own image by the Ministry of the Word I shall explain this definition by taking it in piece and observing in it the several causes of Regeneration When Arras hangings are opened and unfolded their richness will appear First I call it a work of Gods Spirit here is the efficient principal cause of it The Babe of Grace in this respect calleth none on earth Father It is by the Spirits overshadowing
gifts from God who never have the gift of God John 4.10 The Raven was an unclean creature yet she was serviceable to zealous Elijah Gifts may be in their eminency where sin is in its predominancy the Toad hath a pearl say some in its head when the whole body is poisonous The Devil can speak excellently We know thee O thou art the holy one of God and these are the servants of the most high God for natural parts and gifts questionless he surpasseth all the men on earth and yet he is a devil still The Panthar hath a sweet-sented breath but a rotten heart It is possible to pray like a Saint to preach like an Angel and yet to practice like a Devil The course of thy life will speak much more for thee then the discourse of thy lips Though thy gifts be never so great and thy parts never so glorious though thou speakest with the tongue of men and Angels and hast not grace this new birth thou art like sounding brass and a tinckling cymbal Thy parts may flow from Nature not from Saving-grace men indeed as blades are all made of the same mettal yet differ much by means of temper some are more soft and smooth more keen and sharp others more dull and blunt more stiff and stuborn for though it be confest the soul of Solomon as created and infused differeth nothing from the soul of Nabal yet being to work by bodily organs her actions resemble her instruments a man cannot make such good letters with a blotting scragged as with a good pen the better the tool is the better the work is done with it Some children take more after their parents then others Though Nature hath little to give yet she deals more bountifully with some then with others Now what a gross mistake is this for thee to take the crabs which grow in the common hedge-rows of Nature to be fruits of the Spirit as if they grew in Gods own nursery Knowest thou not that the false Prophets were admired by men for their parts and abhorred by God for their impiety Friend thou mayst like the ten Spies go over the promised land in thy contemplations view the Country taste the fruit and commend it highly to others tell them that the land is good it floweth with milk and honey and for all this never enjoy one foot of it Parts and piety differ specifically gifts like the moon have some glimmering borrowed light but no enlivening heat when Grace like the Sun hath a clearer native light and a quickening refreshing heat Men indeed like the true mother may have the dead child of gifts put into their arms whilst they are asleep in the night of this life and think that they have the living child of grace but when they awake in the morning of death they will find the contrary For though thy gifts glister like gloworms in the dark night of this world yet if separated from grace in the day of the other world they will all vanish and disappear oh then 't will be known that one dram of grace is more worth then a world of gifts Fifthly Thy sacred performances are not a sufficient evidence for heaven Observe Reader I shall not condemne nay I do highly commend thy external obedience to the divine precepts though thou shouldest be unregenerate because few come so far Athanasius wished That all were hypocrites and that there were none but such as at least resembled Saints It is good to wait at the Pool Christ may come as he did to the Cripple and heal thy diseased soul It may be as much worth as thine eternal weal to ly as the blind man did in Christs way he may speak and begin such aspiritual sight in thee as may end in seeing God as he is But I am now telling thee that 't is ill trusting to bare duties as signes of thy salvation for thou mayst mind personall relative secret family publike duties and yet be unregenerate and perish He that doth not these things is certainly not good but he that doth them cannot thence conclude his estate to be gracious Thou must do all as to the outside which a Saint can do or thou canst not be an hypocrite for an hypocrite is the perfect picture of a godly person now because an hypocrite which is unregenerate may go so far therefore these things are not sure signs of saving grace The Pharisees gave alms made long prayers fasted and some of them twice in a week and yet you know what Christ saith That except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees we should not inherit the Kingdome of God Matth 5.20 They were some especially so frequent at their duties towards God so righteous in their dealings with men to the eyes of others that the Jews had a common saying That if but two in the world were saved the one should be a Scribe the other a Pharisee and yet if thou wilt believe the Lord Jesus he that goes not beyond them both shall come short of heaven And the reason is plain because they were not regenerated Their practices were seemingly good but their principles really bad The tree was corrupt and therefore could not bring forth good fruit Mat. 7.17 The Israelites did seek God daily saith the Prophet they delighted to know his wayes they asked of him the Ordinances of Justice and they delighted in approaching to him Isa 58.2 they there heard and prayed and both with seeming delight nay they joyned fasting to prayer verse 3. farther they adde mourning to fasting Zac. 7.4 5. and yet all this was but the face the shell the appearance of Religion and thereby of no acceptance with God If any beast were sacrificed by heathens without an heart 't was accounted ominous to the person for whom it was offered as in the case of Julian now all the sacrifices of hypocrites are without an heart Isa 29.30 It is recorded that in a certain Island to the Southward of Celebes night by night among the trees do shew themselves swarms of fiery worms which make a shew and give such light as if all the twigs of the trees were lighted candles and the place the starry sphere and yet all this is but an appearance truly thus formal persons may seem by their duties both lightsome and fiery and yet be but a semblance and flourish Low moorish grounds bring forth some course grass but 't is from springs from below when the high meadows bring forth fine grass being fed with the clouds from above The hypocrite may bring forth some course fruit as Egypt from the overflowing of Nilus from the earthly springs and the overflowing of a natural conscience which will be by no means pacified when duties are omitted but the Regenerate man bringeth forth better fruits like Canaan he floweth with milk and honey being fed with the showrs of heaven and watered with the dews of Divine grace Thou mayest imitate the actions of
much pleasure so when a man is a young sinner conscience is tender like a a queasie stomach troubled much with the least thing that offends it but continuance in sin makes conscience seared and brawny that afterwards the sinner like the Ostrich can digest iron and like the Turkish slaves feed on Opium and his stomach not at all recoil or complain It is reported of the Cretians that when they cursed their enemies they did not wish fire in their houses nor a dagger at their hearts but that which would bring greater wo ut mala consuetudine delectentur that they might delight in an evil custom for custom is not another nurture but another nature and that which is natural is not easily reduced Some say there is no transplanting trees after seven years rooting I am sure it is hard to transplant them out of a state of nature into a state of grace who have been seventy years rooting in the earth old servants will not easily leave their masters they will many times have their ears boared and be everlasting slaves rather then be made free T is with old sinners saith one as with them who have lived long under a Government Gurnals Armour they like to be as they are though but ill rather then to think of a change or like those who in a journey have gone out of their way all day such will rather take a new path over hedge and ditch then think of going so far back to be set right Old sinner for the sake of thy soul proceed no further knowest thou not that every step thou takest in thine unconverted state maketh thy condemnation more deep thy condition more dangerous and thy conversion more difficult Is it not high time for thee to begin to work out thy salvation when the sun of thy life is setting Ah 't is one of the saddest spectacles in the world to behold a man full of silver hoary hairs that is void of a golden sanctified heart surely of all men alive thou hast cause to abound in sorrow who doest to this day abide in thy sins THe second Use which I shall make of this doctrine shall be by way of Examination If without the second birth thou canst not escape the second death nor obtain eternal life Then Reader Try whether thou art new born or no commune with thy heart and see whether this work be done that thou mayst know how thou shalt fare in the other world Wherefore brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 The first fountain of our felicity is election and the manifestation of this is our calling by vocation God bringeth to pass in time what he appointed from eternity As a word is an outward thought and a thought an inward word so vocation is outward election or election put into act and made visible and election is inward vocation or Gods intention to convert and save Election is eternal calling Calling is a temporal election so that by ensuring thy calling thou ensurest thy election make thy calling sure be not satisfied to let thy salvation hang in suspence to follow Christ as the people followed Saul trembling not knowing how it shall fare with thee but strive for full assurance that an abundant entrance may be ministred unto you into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1.11 I have read of an old wicked Usurer who had nothing in his mouth but It is good to be sure if his servant went to receive money he would follow after him and being asked the reason would answer It is good to be sure If he had told his money once he would do it a second yea a third time saying It is good to be sure If he locked his door himself he would arise out of his bed to feel it locked still pleading for his reason It is good to be sure It came to pass that this man fell desperately sick his servant calleth to him desirous to make him sensible of his sins Master have you been at prayers yea John saith he Sir said the servant go to prayers again you know 'T is good to be sure That 's more then needs saith the Usurer I am sure enough of that Truly this mans heart is the resemblance of most men they are all for security in bargains sales and purchases if they buy an inheritance on earth how sure will they make it the tenure shall be as strong as the brawn of the Law or the brains of Lawyers can devise what Bonds Deeds Fines Recoveries Leases Evidences and if any scruple collateral security are there to ensure it but alas who ensures the inheritance above how few are there that take any pains to secure their right to those everliving pleasures Like Jacob though in another sense men put their right hand of care caution and diligence upon the younger Son the body and their left hand on the elder the soul How few make their calling and election sure But Reader if thou wouldest make sure thy predestination and fore-appointment to glory it must be done by making sure thy Regeneration and translation into a state of grace Thou canst not ascend into heaven and see thy name written in the Lambs book of life but thou mayst descend into thine own heart and see it by the seeds and principles of a spiritual life as if any man would know whether the sun shineth or no he need but look on the ground and see the reflection of its beams and not on the body of the Sun which will but the more dazzle his eyes the pattern is known by the picture the cause by the effect the original by the copy Election by regeneration the soul that is conformed to Gods Law may know that he is inrolled in Gods list If I have chosen God I may safely conclude that God hath chosen me The Historian reporteth how a Senator relating to his son the great honors decreed to a number of Souldiers Tacitus whose names were written in a book the Son was importunate to see the book the Father shewed him the out-side it seemed so glorious that the son desired him to open it by no means saith the Father it is sealed by the Council then saith the son Tell me if my name be there the Father saith The names are secret to the Senate the Son studying how he might get some satisfaction desired his Father to declare the merits of those inscribed Soldiers which the Father doing and the Son consulting with his own heart found himself to be none of them Reader though the Book of life which includeth the names of those whose heads are destined to glorious Diadems be secret yet the deserts of those inscribed there are open they are as a chosen generation a peculiar people so also an holy nation a royal Priesthood a called company a sanctified society a regenerated remnant they are culled out of the world called by the word
separated for the service of the Lord they are born of the Spirit brought up in the Spirit and they walk after the Spirit The tast therefore which I now set thee is to try whether thou are one of these whether thou art born again without which thou canst not see the Kingdom of God Now though the commandment of God be argument and reason enough to a Christian why he should examine himself whether he be in the faith or no 2 Cor. 135. for a true subject dares not deny any coyn which hath the image and stamp of his Sovereign upon it yet I shall give thee two or three thoughts to stir thee up to the tryal of thy self First Consider that thy All hangs on this hinge of regeneration All that thou art worth for thine unchangeable estate in the other world dependeth on this This is the foundation of that hope that building which reacheth to heaven now t is dangerous to err in fundamentals the stability of the building depends on the strength of the foundation For a man to go out of his way at the first setting out is saddest of all Regeneration is the beginning of Christianity in thee nay thy interest in all the unsearchable riches in Christ standeth on this if regenerated then thy sins are pardoned thy person accepted God is thy Father Jesus Christ thy Husband and Saviour the Spirit thy Comforter the Promises are thy portion Heaven thy home but if thou art not adorned with the pious fruits of Christs Spirit thou art not interested in the precious fruits of his merits therefore make sure here God will deal with thee to eternity according to thy having or wanting this Now doth it not concern thee to beware of cozening thy self here when a mistake in this will make thee miserable for ever if ever any tresses had need be strong then surely they which draw such a weight as thine endless welfare Where men intend to dwell long thy build strong Soldiers use tents which have no foundation because they intend but a short stay in them thou lookest for a City which hath a foundation Friend hath thy expectation of it any foundation wouldst thou build sleightly for a dwelling of eternity Zeuxes being asked why he was so exact in painting answered Because he painted for eternity Lines which concern eternity had need be exactly drawn and deeds and marks and all things indeed which concern eternity had need to be exquisitely done If a Merchant venture all his estate in one vessel and where there is much hazard in the voyage how full of fear and care will he be lest the ship should miscarry himself and his family be ruined many a sad thought will he have in the day as sowr sawce to his food and possibly many an aking heart in the night to keep him waking He is even like to be beside himself so much is he perplexed and ask him the reason he will tell you I think I have cause All that I am worth is ventured in that bottom should it be lost and perish we are all lost my wife self and children must all perish Thus the man lives in little ease both day and night till at last he considereth with himself of what concernment the safety of that vessel is to him he resolveth and accordingly goeth to the Ensurers Office and ensureth his whole estate and then he is satisfied those fears which like weights hung on the clock of his heart and would not suffer it to rest are now taken off and he eats his bread with chearfulness and drinks his wine with a merry heart he can in all conditions be contented because his All is ensured Thus Reader Regeneration is the vessell in which all that thou art worth not for this present perishing but for the other everlasting world is ventured if that be sound thine endless welfare is safe if that be feigned and lame thou art lost for ever How caust thou take any comfort in the abundance of fading creatures whilst thy All thine Eternity is in danger O go to the Ensuring Office bring thy riches thy silver to the ballance of the Sanctuary and thereby try whether it hath its full weight Man what sayst thou to this reason for self examination is it not of unspeakable weight and I shall shew thee that t is of unquestionable truth Doth not the living God tell thee that except thou art born again thou shall not see his Kingdom Doth he not say expresly that without are dogs Rev. 22.15 The fathers house is onely for children Dogs must be without doors Pharaohs court admitted of vermine but I can assure that Gods will not Into it can in no wise enter any thing that is defiled or unclean Rev. 21. ult Impure persons can never get into the most holy place Heaven must be in thee before thou canst be in heaven It was a good inscription which a bad man wrot on the door of his house Per me nihil intret mali Let no evil passe through me whereupon said Diogenes Quomodo ingredietur dominus How then shall the Master get into his own house That inscription without question agreeth with the celestiall habitation There is nothing there but what is holy The Creatour is essentially infinitely and eternally holy the father is holy John 17.11 the holy child Jesus Acts 14.27 the holy Ghost Acts 21.11 the creatures there are holy the holy angels Mark 8.38 the saints or holy men and women Heb. 12.23 The work and eternall imployment there is holyness the servants wait on their Master without sinning as well as without ceasing the song there is Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty Rev. 4.8 canst thou therefore think without holiness to get thither Secondly Consider that God will try thee He knoweth now what thou art whether dross or gold and he will shortly bring thee to the fire and make thee known both to thy self and others Though the waters of thy corruptions may run for a time under ground and be hidden from the eyes of men yet they will at length appear Thou art at present all Chrystal to God he needeth not as Momus would have a window into thy breast for he seeth thee throughly he seeth thy inwards more perfectly then thou and others can see thy outward parts The fining pot is for silver the furnance for gold but the Lord tryeth the heart Prov. 17.3 He hath a thread which leadeth him unerringly through the labyrinth of thy heart He needeth no serious inquisition about thee for he knoweth thee by immediate intuition He walks through the road of thy heart every hour therefore it concerneth thee not to balke it He will try thee probably in life but certainly at death and judgment and shouldest not thou then try thy self God may trie thee in life by prosperity he may give thee strong meat and thereby examine thy stomach whether it be good or bad he may let the world flow in upon thee
through the streets of London with twenty mules laden to show his pomp but as the triumph passed through Cheapside the beasts stumbled brake their collars cast their coffers and then the lids flying open discovered his riches to be nothing but old shooes and boots torn stockings old iron and totter'd rags I tell thee Reader though now thou mayst be wonder'd at for thy spiritual wealth yet as soon as thou stumblest into the other world 't will be tried 't will be known whether they be real or imaginary riches Paul told his Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.19 I will come to you shortly and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up but the power for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power What will ye shall I come to you with a rod or in love O Friend not Paul but Jesus Christ himself will come to thee by death shortly and will know not thy speech in being puffed up with a shadow of profession but the power and try whether thou hast the substance of Religion Now man what wilt thou shall he come to thee with a rod or in love shall he send good Angels to guard thee to Heaven or evil Angels to drag thee to Hell When David was going to encounter with Goliah he told Saul that he could not go with the armor which Saul had put on him because he had not proved it 1 Sam. 17.39 And darest thou enter the list against a far greater enemy even death with that armor which was never proved be confident if thou fightest without armor of proof death will foil thee The day of Judgement will try thee then naked breasts will be in fashion and God will rip thee open before the world nay if thou wilt not now examine thy self to thy conversion he will examine thee then to thy confusion When the Judge shall be a consuming fire and the whole world be in a flame and thou be tried by a fiery Law Hebr. 12.28 2 Peter 3.10 Deut. 33.2 'T was a sharp kind of examination by which Paul was examined Acts 22.14 The chief Captain commanded that he should be examined by scourging 'T is a sad kinde of examination by which many Countreys examine Malefactors upon the wrack putting them to exquisite pains Reader Remember that if thou dost not examine thy self at this day God will examine thee at the last day and 't will be an examination upon the wrack an examination with scourging it will be a word and a wound every blow will fetch blood every interrogation will be a stabbing stinging killing question When Christ shall say to thee Sinner how didst thou dare thus to cozen and undo thy soul what madness possessed thee thus to dally about matters of infinite and endless moment Hadst thou examined thy self according to my word and found thy self lost there had then been some hopes of life but I tell thee now 't is too late Well I le rip thee open before Angels and men and cause thy conscience with its gnawing worm and stinging gripes to examine thee eternally The fire of hell shall try what mettal thou art that will prove thee to purpose O friend think of this seriously and speedily for that day of Christ will declare thee and Alas alas who shall abide the day of his trial or who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like refiners fire and as fullers sope All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom thou shalt then have to do If thou art afraid to venture a trial in the low Court of Conscience where his Word shall be thy Judge with what fear and trembling wilt thou appear at his bar when he that searcheth thine heart trieth thy reins and will reward thee according to thy works shall sit upon the Bench Therefore cast up thy accounts before God and thy soul whilst there is hope of making all even lest thou do as some Tradesmen who neglect so long to cast up their books till at last their books cast them up Thirdly consider it is possible to know whether thou art new born or no. I do not set thee to beat the air or to work at the labour in vain A Christian may be assured of his regeneration and thereby of his salvation They which have the law of God written in their hearts may be able to read it David when his deeds and evidences were not blotted with his foul offences could discern them clearly Thy law is within my heart Psalm 40.8 When the Sun ariseth he bringeth his naturall light with him whereby he is discovered to the world A diamond set in a gold-ring bringeth such an orient sparkling with it that it causeth men to discern it truly so the Sun of righteousness when he ariseth in the soul bringeth a spiritual light along with him which helpeth the new creature to behold him and the Diamond of Grace casteth such a sparkling lustre in the heart of a Christian that it thereby becomes visible Regeneration makes a wonderful change and alteration now great alterations of State are not without observation Doth a Kingdom change its Governor a cruel arbitrary Tyrant that fleeced them and slew them at pleasure for a mild merciful peaceable Prince that ruleth them with a righteous scepter and not take notice of it Can a creature change his master sin and flesh for Christ and his Spirit his work of serving divers lusts and pleasures Tit. 3.3 for serving the Lord with singleness of heart and not observe it When the man is new made Christ cometh into his heart with his Spirit Graces Gospel great Guests when they come into an house have many eyes upon them the King of Glory doth not come with such a train and retinue in secret the gradual change from grace to grace is not so visible but a specifical change from nature to grace is undoubtedly sensible when the ground that before brought forth nothing but weeds and thistles comes to bring forth wheat an ordinary person may perceive the difference though how this wheat groweth is not so perceptible Every new creature doth not know the time nor manner nor means of his conversion but every one may know that he is converted The mother doth not know how she comes to be quick but she knoweth that she is quick for the feeleth the childe to stir in her womb how the shadow moveth on the dial we cannot see but that it moveth we see plainly in that its opposite at night to the place where it was at noon Though conversion be not ever sensible in the act yet it is sensible enough by its effects and the reason why it is not in all alike visible is because it is not in all alike violent God converteth some by Boanerges sons of thunder others by a Barnabas a son of consolation to some he comes as on Mount Sinai Exod. 19. with thundrings lightnings and a great noise to others as to
the difference between party and party next they hear the evidence and proofs on both sides After that they are shut up together and have neither fire nor candle nor bread nor drink allowed them till they are agreed on their verdict which when they have done they bring it into the Court and there 't is entred and recorded Go thou and do likewise when thou art got into thy chamber first make thine heart to engage and promise before the Judge of the whole earth that it will through the strength of Christ be true and faithful in determining this weighty controversie between God and thy soul Whether the land of promise belong to thee or not next let conscience be called which is as ten thousand witnesses and speak what it knoweth of thy right and title to that estate according to the known Laws of the Lord and if thou lovest the life of thy soul do not wink upon that witness or fee him underhand to make him to mince the matter and be partial in his testimony Foolish pity here is soul-damning cruelty but tell him he is upon his oath and in the presence of the infinite God and charge him to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth O do but give conscience leave to be faithful at this time and t will be thy friend to eternity When the evidence is thus examined let nothing hinder a verdict call upon thy heart again and again whether it be resolved for thee or against thee till this be done give thy self no rest if one day will not serve take two never give over till it come to an issue one way or other Of what infinite concernment is this to thee when all that thou art worth for the other world dependeth on it When thou art agreed of a verdict let it be entred and ingrossed in the Court of Conscience namely that such a day thy title to the inheritance of the Saints in light was tried before the Judge of quick and dead and upon a full hearing of evidence on both sides such or such a verdict was brought in If thy heart find for thee how may this fill thee with joy that thy name is written in the book of life it may keep thee steddy in the greatest storm that thou art an undoubted heir to the eternal weight of glory When the waters of affliction overtake thee and the Devil throws his stones into them to trouble them and make them muddy that thou mayst doubt and distrust thine eternal felicity how quickly may the remembrance of such a verdict upon full evidence settle them again and how clearly mayst thousee thy sincerity like a true diamond sparkling gloriously at the bottom of those waters thou mightest gather Once in Christ and ever in Christ and I was once in him therefore I can never be out of him O Friend thy priviledges are high and unspeakable and therefore thy practices should be holy and answerable But I cannot stay to speak farther to thee here my work groweth in my hands already much beyond my thoughts yet I shall speak to thy dignity and happiness in the second subject of consideration under the first Use of Exhortation and to thy duty and holiness in the second Use of Exhortation if the book swell not too big But Reader if thine heart find against thee that thou art not born again what canst thou say for thy self why sentence of eternal death should not be awarded and executed upon thee according to Law yea according to the Gospel Hast thou read the reasons of the Doctrine and the first use of Information and dost thou not see the absolute indisponsable necessity of Regeneration in all that would be saved Hath not the God of truth as it were confirmed it with an oath Verily verily I say unto thee that except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Canst thou think to make the author of this Text a liar by getting to heaven in an unregenerate condition Dost thou believe that the thoughts of his heart stand for ever and the counsels of his majesty be established to all generations Suppose thou shouldst dye this day Alas how many diseases attend thee the feet of those that carried others to their long homes are ready to carry thee also Good Lord what will become of thee for ever ever ever Art thou able to dwell in everlasting burnings canst thou endure unquenchable flames For the sake of thy precious soul hasten out of this Sodom this natural estate which will undoubtedly be punished with fire and brimstone For thine help herein I have written the next Vse which I earnestly beseech thee as thou wouldest leave this world with comfort and look into the other world with courage that thou give it the reading thou knowest not what an hour may bring forth and the Lord give it his blessing THirdly This doctrine may be useful by way of exhortation and that to two sorts of persons 1. To the unregenerate If without regeneration men and women can never obtain salvation then it exhorteth thee Reader if in a state of nature to minde and labor for this second birth as ever thou wouldst escape the second death Dost thou not perceive by the word the living God That except thou art converted thou canst in no wise enter into the Kingdom of God! Matth. 18.3 Alas what then is like to be thy case shouldst thou die in this condition Assure thy self that all thy Friends and Lands honors and pleasures yea all the help which this whole world can afford thee cannot keep thee one quarter of an hour out of Hell This Law this standing Law of Heaven That except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God is like the Law of the Medes and Persians which cannot be altered By their Law That which was written in the Kings Name and sealed with the Kings seal might no man reverse Esth 8.8 Friend is not this written not onely in the name but with the very hand of the King of Kings I say unto thee and sealed with his own seal Verily verily and doest thou think poor worm to reverse it to turn the truth of the Eternal God into a lie I tell thee and I would speak it with reverence to the highest Majesty that God himself cannot do it 'T is his perfection that it is impossible for him to lye Tit. 1.2 His hand cannot but make good what his mouth hath spoken His will and word have joyned regegeration and salvation together and his faithfulness and truth will not suffer them to be parted asunder Therefore think of it timely and turn to God truly otherwise there is a necessity of thy perishing everlastingly Thou doest not know as strong and lusty as thou art how soon death may come behinde thee and throw thee and O 't will be thine eternal overthrow though as on Sodom thy morning be Sunshiny yet thou canst not tell
shall not so much as taste of Thou mayst see a Cherubim there with a flaming sword to guard that tree of life and keep thee out of that pleasant Paradise Nay thou mayest behold there the plagues and judgements the pain and punishments which the righteous God threatneth against and will execute upon thee and all in thy condition In a word thou mayst as it were find thy very self mentioned in the forlorn hope for Hell 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Rev. 21.6 7. While thou livest thou art fed like a beast by a common providence and art a meer stranger to all the saving promises If at any time thou fingerest the unsearchable riches in Christ like the riches which Solomon speaks of they make themselves wings and flye away from thee thou goest every day without thy guard being turned naked into the wide world amongst legions of Devils and soul-damning lusts to be rent and torn in pieces like a silly Hare amongst a pack of Hounds and none to shelter thee or call thee off Many dangers attend thee every day many miseries every moment when thou goest out or comest in liest down or risest up still are those frightful hel-hounds watching for thee and waiting only for leave from God O that his long-suffering might be unto thee salvation to drag thy soul into the lake of fire There is but an hairs breadth as it were between thee and hell And O when thou diest man what wilt thou then do as soon as that Captain death strikes the first stroak whole Armies of woes will fall upon thee Reader I have told thee somewhat of thy lamentable portion in this life though none can give thee a full Inventory of thy personal wretched estate One would think that every line under this head should be as a dagger stabbing thee at the heart and that if there were nothing else but these small guns I call them so comparatively of miseries in this world the fear of them should cause thee to flie as the distressed dove to the clifts of the rock the wounds of a crucified Christ But this is not all the murdering-piece the great Ordnance is yet behind I must hasten to write of thy misery in the other world which thou poor wretch though now without fear yet art hastning to feel As while thou livest thou art a cursed sinner so when thou diest thou art a damned creature Here I confess I shall fail much more then before for no pen can describe no pencil can delineate though both did it in blood to the utmost of humane wit and Art the thousand thousandth part of that pain which thou shalt there undergo I have read of a Court where it was made death to mention death Surely the word Death must needs sound dreadfully in thine ears because when it comes it will strike and that home 't will both kill thee and damn thee 't will part thy body and soul for a time and God and the soul to eternity 't will send thy body to the grave and thy soul to hell Thy condition now is lamentable and dangerous but then O then 't will be irrecoverable and desperate Thy deaths-day will be thy dooms-day wherein the guilty prisoner of the soul shall be fetched out of the noisom goal of the body and appear before the Judge of the whole earth and from him receive a sentence of eternal death and then be hurried by frightful Devils to execution It is storied of Charls King of Sweden a great enemy of the Jesuites that when he took any of their Colledges he would put the younger sort of them into his Mines saying That since they had wrought hard above ground he would now make trial how well they could work under ground Truly thus Satan will serve thee when thou hast wrought hard for him on earth he will pay thee thy wages in the dark vaults of hell and make trial how well thou canst work there Ah who would serve such a Master Look to it and remember that thou wast warned of it For if thou diest naturally before thou livest spiritually thou diest eternally Austins prayer was Hack me hew me burn me HERE but spare me HEREAFTER Spare me hereafter Alas what will thy condition be Thou art in hell upon earth for thou livest without God whose gracious presence is heaven and in hell after death thou shalt never be spared here nor hereafter now thou art a cursed sinner and then thou shalt be a damned creature thy best is past and thy worst to come though thy best portion is a poor pittance a few brutish pleasures I come now to thy misery in the other world ETernal death will teach thee six lessons though now neither mercy nor misery neither fair means nor foul means can prevail with thee to learn them First It will teach thee the vanity of this world Thou now seest it written with the finger of God in his word in capital letters Vanity of Vanities all is Vanity Eccles â— 3 yet thou wilt not believe it As 't is reported of a Gentlewoman that being told so answered 'T is true Solomon said so but he tried the world first and so will I Thou wilt try the world also before thou wilt trust the Word But be confident in the other world thou wilt find God true to thy cost when thine honor which now is but the breath of thy neighbor a thin cabinet of air which every one hath a key to but thy self shall be blown away when thy wealth which hath great eagles wings to flie from thee here shall not have so much as a small Sparrows wings to follow after thee there and when all thine earthly comforts for which thou sellest thy soul and thy Saviour shall as the Pharisees did Judas leave thee in the greatest extremity and bid thee look to thy self Then possibly thou wilt say as Cardinal Wolsey when he was out of favour with his Prince and left by him to the rage of his enemies If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served my King he would not have served me thus So thou wilt think If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served the world he would not have served me thus to leave me in my greatest need to the rage of scorching flames to the fury of roaring lions and tormenting devils if I had served my Saviour as faithfully as I have served my sins I should have received other manner of pay But for all thy faithful service to the world and thy flesh they will forsake thee Thou mayst then cry to the things of this world which have so much of thy time and heart and trust and which are indeed thy god as those Idolaters did to their Idolgod O Baal hear us O riches hear me O friends hear me O pleasures hear me O merry-meetings hear me O relations hear me yea if thou shouldst continue crying never so long thou couldst not have the least help Were
shall inherit the earth Matth. 5.5 If heaven can make thee blessed thou shouldst be blessed Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5.3 If all things could make thee blessed thou shouldst be blessed Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. two last verses Reader I shall do my utmost so to set forth the felicity of the regenerate which no pen can fully that thou mayst admire it How goodly are thy tents O. Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel Numb 24.5 and not only as Balaam desire their deaths Let me die the death of the righteous and let my latter end be like his Numb 23 10. but also endeavour to live their lives and to have thy conversation like theirs While thou continuest in this world thou shouldst be a blessed soul and when thou entrest into the other world thou shouldst be a glorions Saint In this world thou shouldst be a blessed soul in every condition into which thou couldst come in every relation in which thou dost stand at all times and in all places whatsoever All the Providences of God should be profitable to thee If Gods hand were enlarged in mercy thy heart should be enlarged in duty If God should prosper thee in temporals the streams of his bounty should lead thee as the water course either upward to the spring or downward to the ocean to the source and fountain of all thy happiness Thy heart would still be in heaven where thy best things were even then when thy body were busied among earthly good things 1 Cor. 7 29 30 Phil. 3.19 Some observe of the seed called Henbane that it killeth all birds save sparrows and to them it is nourishing food and they give this reason because their veines are so narrow that the fumes of the seed cannot passe through them to their hearts truly thus t would be with thee though thou sands of others are poisond with their worldly portions because the fumes thereof penetrate into their vitals but if riches increase thou shouldst not set thine heart upon them nay thou shouldst get nourishment from them As Jehosaphat the more honour and wealth thou hadst the more thy heart would be lifted up in the ways of God 2 Chro. 17.5 6. If thine estate were but little yet t would be perfumed with love and that lump of sugar in thy cup would make the liquor sweet be it never so small As the waters which flow from the hils of some of the Islands of Molacca taste of the Cinamon and Cloves which grow there so should thy guift though it were but water taste of the good will and special grace of the giver Thy little with the fear of the Lord would be better then the riches of many wicked men Psal 37 15. As a little ring with a very costly Diamond in it is far more worth then many great ones without it so thy estate though it were but a penny should be joyned with the pretious jewel of that love which is better then life and enjoyed by special promise and thereby be infinitely more worth then the thousands and millions of others bestowed meerly from common bounty and enjoyed onely by a generall providence If the black frost of adversity overtake thee thou shouldst as Conies thrive the better thy soul being hail thou wouldst become thereby the more healthy By affliction thou shouldst be partaker of Gods holiness Heb. 12.10 The waters of affliction should wash out the diri of thy corruption and the more they increased they would raise thee as the flood the Arke higher above the earth and mount thee nearer to heaven Torches burn the better for beating Spices smell the sweeter for pounding Vines bear the more for bleeding and the more thy soul were kept down by those weights like the Palm-tree the more thou shouldst grow That scouring and rubbing which fretteth others should make thee shine the brighter Psal 94.12 Divine corrections should make thee learn thy sacred lessons It is said of the Lacedemonians that when all other people were undone by war they onely grew rich Truly thus when ungodly ones are the worse for outward miseryes and wants like Ahaz in their distress they sin more against the Lord thou shouldst thrive the better grow the richer in grace and good works The diminution of thy temporal should be an addition to thy spiritual estate Job 36.9 10. As spring-water smoaketh when other waters are dried up because that is living and these are dead nay t is observed waters arising from deep springs are hotter in winter then in summer the outward cold keeping in and doul â—â—g the inward heat So the waters of thy graces should not onely continue having a living principle when the Sun of calamity scorcheth and drieth up the dead ponds of unregenerate professors Mat. 13.21 but also increase in spiritual heat Job 17.8 9. Philip. 1.14 If the Devil assaulted thee with temptations they should never be for thy perdition but probation Rev. 2.10 The Captain of thy Salvation would so strengthen thy soul with the Shield of Faith and Sword of the Spirit that thou shouldst not onely defend thy soul from all deadly wounds but offend thine Enemy and be more then a Conqueror over Principalities and Powers through him that loveth thee It would possibly be grievous and terrible to thee to be tempted but if God did not see it needful he would not suffer it nay if he could not make it useful he would not send it by those thorns of the flesh he would prick the vein and let out the ranck blood of thy spirit It is said of Telephus that he had his impostume opened by the dart of an Enemy which intended his hurt Truly so God would make to thee the fiery darts of the Devil though they were intentionally mortal to be eventually medicinal 1 John 5.18 The evil one should not touch thee that is with a mortal or deadly touch As a sound tree shaken with the winde thou shouldest not fall but root thy self the â—â—â—ter thou shouldest like Sampson fetch meat out of the Eater and out of the Strong sweetness thou shouldst get honey even out of this roaring Lion thy Regeneration like Pollium would be a special preservative against the poyson of that croocked Serpent Nay when thou shouldest fall into the evil of sin even that should turn to thy good God no thanks to thee like the skilful Apothecary would make wholsom treacle of such poisonus drugs If thy corruption should at any time get the mastery and break out in thy life thou shouldst be so well purged by the Physician of souls with the bitter Aloes of Repentance that as those who have had ill humors of their bodies getting head and breaking out in the small-pox and do well thou shouldst be the healthier in thy soul
that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come again to my fathers house in peace then shall the Lord be my God Gen. 28.20 21. Truly do thou say as he did Since the Lord is the God that keepeth me in all my wayes that gives me bread to eat and raiment to put on he shall be my God O do not give him ever cause to complain Hear O heaven and give ear O earth I have nourished and brought up a child and he hath rebelled against me Deut. 32.15 Thirdly Is there not all the reason in the world that wares or houses or any other thing should be for the use and service of him that paid a dear price for them If thou shouldst buy a beast at an high rate thou wouldst think thou couldst never have service enough of him Friend Thou didst cost the blood of the Son God Jesus Christ bought thy service at a dear rate Thou art not thine own thou art bought with a price therefore glorifie God in thy body and spirit for they are his 1 Cor. 6.20 Thou needst not grudge the Lord Jesus thy time and talents thy thoughts and words and estate and the utmost which thou art able to do Alas he paid dearly for it He died that he might be Lord of dead and living that whether we live we should live unto the Lord or die we should die unto him Rom. 14â— 8. O how little is thy service worth that Christ should purchase it with such an infinite sum We say of some children they had need to be dutiful children they cost their mothers dear many sharp throws and great danger of death O how dutiful hadst thou need to be who didst cost Christ such hard labour such throws from God and men death and divels thou art never able to conceive what a price thy Redeemer paid what pain he suffered to procure thy service and wilt thou deny the Lord that bought thee Plinie saith that blood will quench fire should not the blood of Jesus Christ quench the fire of thy lusts In all countries the ransomer of a bondman is to be his Lord no slavery so great as thine was no price ever paid so great for liberty therefore no service so great as that which thou owest If thou hadst done all that he commandeth thee thou hadst done but thy duty and mightst say thou wert an unprofitable servant what art thou then that never didst any thing O think of it seriously Redemption by the blood of the Saviour is a bloody obligation to service and if thou continuest a rebel t will be a bloody aggravation of thy sin What evil hath Christ done to thee that thou walkest contrary to him Ah friend to render good for evil is divine but to render evil for good is divelish Fourthly Is there not all the reason in the world that he who hath bound himself Apprentice to a Master promised solemnly to be his faithful servant sealed Indentures before witness engaged himself by vows covenants protestations and oaths should perform his promises and walk in every thing answerable to his bonds and obligations Wast not thou in Baptism solemnly dedicated to the service of God Did not thy parents seal the Indenture on thy part before the Lord Angels and Men that thou shouldst live according to the Laws and for the glory of the Father Son and Holy-Ghost Hast not thou listed thy self under the colours of Christ the Captain of thy Salvation and sacredly tied thy self to obey his commands and to fight under his banner against the devil world and flesh and wilt thou run from thy colours and turn to thine enemies and conspire and fight against Jesus Christ It was a custom in the Primitive times that such as were baptized did wear a white Stole a ceremony signifying the purity of life which the baptized were to lead Now there was one Elpidophorus Fulgentes animas vestâ—s quoque candida signat who after his baptism turned a persecutor Muritta the Minister who baptized him brought forth in publick the white Stole which Elpidophorus had worn at his baptism and cried unto him O Elpidophorus This Stole do I keep against thy comming to Judgement to testifie thy apostacy from Christ So be thou assured the water with which the Minister by whom the people before whom thou wast baptized will rise up against thee in Judgement if thou dost not walk in newness of life Luther speak of one that when tempted by the devil to sin answered that she was baptized and could not yield to him Remember that thou hast received thy Saviours press-money and therefore mayst not fight Satans battels Wast thou never partaker of the Lords Supper Didst thou not then with John stand by the cross of Jesus Christ and behold his blessed body bleeding under the knife of his Fathers wrath how 't was wounded for thy transgressions bruised for thine iniquities when thou didst take a sacred oath to be the death of those sins which were the death of thy Saviour and to live to him that died for thee when thou didst espouse Christ and his quarrel to thy self and engage to live and die with him and canst thou like a dishonest wife run a whoring after thy heart-idols and forget the Covenant of thy God Was there not a time when thou didst lie upon a sick bed and in thine own apprehension wast nigh the gate of death when thy sinful fleshly life began to flie in thy face and O the thoughts which thou hadst concerning thine appearance before God in the other world and thine endless estate there when thou didst pray hard O spare me a little Lord spare me a little that I may get some grace some spiritual strength before I go hence and be no more seen when thou didst promise O if God would then hear thee and try thee a little longer in this world thou wouldst turn over a new leafe lead a new life forbear thy former corruptions evil companions mind the service and glory of the infinite God and thine own eternal good And is all this nothing now God hath heard thee and delivered thee shouldst not thou now hear him and obey him Did thy sik-bed promises die when thou didst recover Psal 66 13 14. 116. 3 4 9. O follow Davids practice I will go into thy house with burnt-offerings I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in distress Theodoricus Archbishop of Colen Aenâ—â—d Sylv lib 2. com de reb Alphon. when the Emperor Sigismund demanded of him the most compendious way to happiness made answer in brief thus Perform when thou art well what thou didst promise when thou wast sick Friend look back upon the time when the guilt of thy sins perplexed thee the fear of death surprised thee and the horror of Hell began to lay hold on thee and remember the promises
the way to save a soul Reader didst thou never know of any that were in a journey and coming to some deep dirty pochy lane they thought to avoid it and broke over the hedge into the field but when they had rod round and round they could finde no way out but were forced to go out where they got in and then notwithstanding their unwillingness to go through that mirie lane or else not to go that journey Truly so it is in thy journey to Heaven thou art now come to this deep lane of humiliation through which all must go that will reach that City whose builder and maker is God do not think to avoid it no not the least part of it for this is the narrow way and strait gate that leadeth to life Suppose thou shouldst run to the world or any thing here below now thou beginnest to be sensible of thy sickness and pain and so in an hopeful way of recovery First 't is impossible that any of those things can cure thee Miserable comforters are they all and Physitians of no value Can a silver Slipper cure the gout or a golden Crown the head-ach or the greatest Empire in the world the pain of thy teeth much less can these things cure the diseases of thy soul All the wrapping of thy foot that hath a thorn in it though with never such fine scarlet cloth will be altogether ineffectual to ease thee of thy pain for the thorn must be pulled out so must sin be pluck'd out its guilt removed before thou canst possibly be eased But my great reason is which I desire thee to consider seriously shouldst thou throw off this medicine of thy spiritual Physitian because it is somewhat sharp and run to the Empericks and Mountebanks of the world thou wilt provoke thy tender able Physitian to leave thee for what man will bear such affronts and where art thou then what will become of thee for ever Those that work in Coal-mines finde by experience that the earth sendeth up damps which quench and put out their candles and what then becomes of the men that are there they are often slain Shouldst thou like Jonah run from the presence of the Lord to more pleasing employments then the work of a thorow humiliation either he will bring thee back again to the same business by storms and tempests or else such damps will arise from thine earthly interruptions as will quench Gods Spirit and eternally ruine thy spirit The evil spirit I know will be busie to perswade thee to smother and put out the sparkes which the good Spirit hath kindled within thee by heaps of worldly rubbish and dirt but take heed what thou dost for thy soul is at stake if those sparks should die thou art like to live in hell fire for ever Observe how it fared with unhappy Felix He was a Prisoner to his Prisoner and in a ready way to have been one of Christs freemen but now hells jaylor was like to lose one of his captives for I question not but Satan for fear of losing him trembled more then he what therefore through the Divels advice must Felix do He must needs cure himself of his convulsion by an abruptdiversion When the Spirit struck in with the word and caused him to tremble he sendeth Paul away till another season and we never read when that time came Had Felix struck in with the Spirit when the iron of his heart was hot he might have been happy indeed but he quencheth those motions which were so likely to recover his soul and thereby in all probability misseth salvation Some say that Samsons mother was forbidden wine and strong drink all the while she was with child of him partly because that wine and strong drink are naught for the child in the womb I am confident that carnal diversions that To put back thy pangs by earthly affaires much more by wine and strong drink is infiniely prejudicial to the babe of grace and many to one but it may cause thine eternal miscarriage Friend that which in this case I would advise thee to do is to betake thy self to thy closet or chamber and there to fall down before the most high God and to accuse indict and condemne thy self for thy sins poure out thy soul before the Lord in acknowledging the pollution of thy nature the transgressions of thy life with all their bloody aggravations confessing the righteousness of the law and thy obnoxiousness thereby to the infinite and eternal wrath of the Lord. O now is the onely time to repent with that repeniance which is never to be repented of if ever thou wouldst draw water and pour it out before the Lord it must be now the spirit hath thawed the tap neglect this season and it may freeze again speedily When Nathan came from God to David after his fall when he had lain in his impenitency many months and told him of his sins and convinced him that he was worthy to die what doth David do doth he run to his crown or honour or power in the world No. Doth he hastily snatch at the promises No but he goeth to God as appeares by the title and body of the 51. Psalm bewaileth his original and actual sins condemneth himself justifieth God offereth up the sacrifice of a broken heart beggeth hard for pardon and holiness O do thou follow this blessed pattern if thy body were sick of a violent feaver and nature were so far thy friend as when thou wast in thy bed to put thee into a fine sweat and thereby give thee hope of evacuating the ill humours which cause thy disease through the pores what wouldst thou do in this case wouldst thou rise presently and run into the cold aire or wouldst thou not rather abide still in thy bed and if need were call for more cloaths to increase thy sweat whereby thy body might be perfectly cured Thus it is in the state of thy soul thou art sick unto death the Spirit of God is so much thy friend as to help thee to sweat out thy distemper by humiliation and godly sorrow t were a madness in thee now to run to the open air of the world or to do any thing which might hinder this sweating thy onely way is to encourage and increase it by betaking thy self to thy chamber and there to look into thy heart and consider how full it is of unholiness to look back upon thy life and consider how contrary it hath been to the Divinâ—law to look up to God and consider the Majesty holiness and mercy which are in him whom thou hast provoked this is the way to continue and increase thy humiliation and thereby for the spirit delighteth to proceed in assisting those that thus cherish his motions to be perfectly healed Duties now are the Spirits pleasant garden in which he will delight to walk with thee they are like bellows to blow up the heavenly fire into a flame or as