have lived by him nor had communion with him had he not been sorely beaten and kept under A quartan Ague had so shaken his head that he scarce ever recovered it again He had some fearful apprehensions of death and no wonder when God was so dark to him I observed him often to make use of the saying of a godly man in his Town I think it was on his death-bed To dye is a work by it self When his turn came to go off the Stage I observed his frame was very heavenly several times as I sate by he would cry out O glorious Redemption but for that full assurance and joyes which some that had not the tenth part of his grace have expressed he found not as I understood by discoursing with him but that which he so much feared he was not sensible of for the Disease taking his brain in a fit he went off and fell asleep I have wondered sometimes to see and hear how joyfully some weak poor Christians have entertained death what assurance they have expressed when men of great parts and eminent in grace have been more timorous and as for some I have not much delighted to hear their Assurances nor their Joyes there can be no more in the Conclusion then was in the Premises if there be the Syllogisme is fallacious A mans life doth but lay down the Premises for death the Conclusion And to find great joyes and great assurances of Gods love in death when a mans life hath not expressed grace proportionable I much suspect such joyes and assurances I do value at a far higher rate blessed Austin's broken and repenting heart with the Penitential psalms about his bed than the joyes and raptures of these kind of Christians where grace in their life time hath been but low I hope the Reader will not be offended at the little account I give of this man so eminent in parts and grace As for that description of Faith which that holy man Mr. John Rogers hath given in his Book the first that ever I heard opposed it in his own Pulpit was his own Son Mr. Nathaniel Rogers a man so able and so judicious in Soul-work that I would have betrusted my Soul with him as soon as with any man in the Church of Christ when his own Son thus in his Fathers own place opposed it as I have been informed his reverend old Father who dearly loved him stood by and heard him with great attention the people they heard him with some amazement and got him to preach over the Sermon again the next Sabbath Now though it is true this Head of Divinity is cleared already by more able men yet being it is that wherein for many years I found trouble my self in reference to my own state I hope it will not be unpleasing to the Reader to give him an account upon what grounds I was setled my self after many years enquiry Honourable respects I hope the Reader shall find I give to these men from whom I dissent whose parts and grace I am sure I esteem far beyond my own As to the Socinians the thread of my discourse leading me to speak of the Person of Christ briefly I thought it not amiss to put in one or two things which I had been meditating upon and which I found not in others not intending in the least any Controversie but only to leave a word or two as I passed by fearing that Doctrine did spread in England but before I had finished I heard of publick disputes I heard of one and saw another Socinian book newly printed I understood that they in Polonia sent over some of their Scholars to learn our Language and are lately returned Now our Nation is like to be filled with these Books and it will be the spreading Heresie I did ever fear it and now that which I feared is come to pass The consequence of this is terrible for it overthrows our Christian Religion raseth the very foundation God told the Serpent Gen. 3.15 The seed of the woman shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel The Serpent is not content with bruising his heel but now is endeavouring to put forth the utmost skill and power he hath to break his head he hath taken the right method if he can but null his Divinity cut off that and he cuts off his head What the thoughts of other Divines are about these Socinian Doctrines I know not for my own part I never blessed God for help in any Controversie as in this for the Popish Controversie that is for that part which is meerly Popish wherein they stand alone by themselves I ever thought it to be stuffed with such pitiful dunghill questions as Doctor Whitaker called them that they were not worthy for a rational learned man to spend his time and thoughts about them What should allure a man to embrace that Religion I could not tell until I did read the Mystery of Jesuitisme then I saw there was something to perswade a man given up to his lusts to give up himself to that Religion I know there are Questions among them which deserve the thoughts of the most able learned Christian but in those they do not stand alone Others who renounce Popery in a strict sense do yet embrace those Doctrines and have fetched their strength from the Jesuites School But the Socinians are as high in those points as any other As this is not a place so neither have I time or intention to meddle with that Controversie only two or three things I will say concerning it knowing how some are troubled about it First It implies no contradiction nor is contrary to any principle of right reason that the infinite Creatour and Soveraign Law-giver in revealing his Mind and Will should give to his Creature Propositions or Articles to be assented to barely upon his Authority revealing them though his Creature is not able by his created reason to demonstrate how these Propositions can be true I read indeed the Socinians affirming the contrary all of them in effect and in particular Schlichtingius Nothing can be believed which cannot be apprehended and understood by reason saith he And again It implies a contradiction while he that is Meisner against whom he disputes affirms it exceeds the reach of reason and yet owns it for an Article of Faith But I wish he had proved it as he hath said it What Contradictions are whether Topical or Axiomatical I know but how this should imply a Contradiction That I assent to this Proposition of my infinite Creator and Soveraign Law-giver because he hath spoken it I believe it therefore and receive it for an Article of my Faith though my Reason is not able to grasp it or demonstrate how it is true I cannot yet understand I challenge all the Socinians Logick to make it good That the Socinians can impose upon us Contradictions to be assented to and those gross ones too is well known Christ
a Wife so comely that few Women like her He answered Yea were she not my Wife I could love her It seems had she been his Whore he could love her he thought none like her but because she was his Wife hedged in by God now he did not care for her I do not say what a heart had he but good Lord what hearts have we Let God deal exceeding well with us better then that our corrupt hearts chuse yet if God hath by his holy Will tyed us up to that which is better and a mans own reason yield it to be better Sin takes occasion by the Law and works all manner of Concupiscence Rom. 7.8 that is best which is cross to God So true is that which that Divine Poet Herbert hath sung concerning this very Sin If God had laid all common certainly Man would have been the Incloser but since now God hath impal'd us on the contrary Man breaks the fence and every ground will plow O what were man might he himself misplace Sure to be cross he would shift feet and face Still we see God and we part only upon inordinacy So we may go on in any other Sin Profit Gain Riches are great things in mens eyes and doth God deny these likewise to his people It may be you will say few of these Precisians Puritans Fanaticks as now called thrive in the world we must not look for Riches amongst them in the way they take And what I pray do profit and riches follow all those who are strangers to God and follow after the world that make Mammon their God Do we not see the contrary How many of those who have kept close to God hath the Lord blessed and given them power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 when others have sunk and come to nothing If a mean condition be the common portion of his people yet a little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 Sure I am The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and be addeth no sorrow with it Prov. 10.22 This is your Bible you say which we little regard we will believe our senses for all your Bible and you may believe your senses if you please and see if you do not feel the truth of what our Bible saith There was one in London a Broaker who was resolved for Gain and had it seems a secret and sinful way in his Trade to attain his end Coming under the ministry of one with whom I was acquainted and who told me the story it seems the Word met with him and set Conscience upon his back which made the man so troubled that he could not tell what to do to let go this secret way of gain he could not yield to that to follow it he could not with quiet his Conscience did so gall him he comes to the Minister oft-times and talks with him fain would he have found a way to conjure down his Conscience that he might have gone on quietly but could not for a long time he would follow the Minister sometimes in the street with these words Good Sir let me alone but one half year and then I will give up this course Friend said the Minister I meddle not with thee I speak not to thee But it seems the man found that true that it was not the blessing of God made him rich and he found sorrow with his Riches and so have many hundreds more while others have found Profit and Riches coming in with the enjoyment of God with them So that still God withholdeth no good thing from them that walk uprightly Psal 84 11. Fourthly May not a man be as well without these lusts as with them I appeal to any mans experience even thy self who makest this Objection let the corruption be what it will If a man be intemperate following his pot and companions one day the next day he keeps sober sollows his Calling is he not as well this day when sober as yesterday when intemperate Doth he not see intemperance may be spared without any dammage or hinderance to a mans content Take any other lust is not the chast person as well as he that is unclean Is not a man when meek as well as when he is passionate and froward Doth not experience teach us there is no need of these lusts How often have Christians and those that do not fall into sins to blemish their Profession been angry with themselves yea almost stampt with vexing must I cross the Will of so great and glorious a Majesty offend so sweet a Saviour trouble my peace hinder my comforts for that which I can as well spare as the dirt of my shooes have no more need of it and yet this body of death how it clogs me Fifthly We will grant it that thy lust or idol which thou so lovest doth give delight to thy corrupt heart but is the good so great that it countervails the evil that attends it We say and that truly a man may buy gold too dear so may men buy pleasures and profits too dear How quickly are the pleasures of sin over pass away in the act some of the strongest of them Pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11.25 but the evil that attends sin hath the word Never attending it The Worm never dies Should a Prince give a Subject leave to fill himself with what pleasures his heart could desire his mind invent and enjoy them to the height the longest day in Summer but at night he must go lie in an Oven fiery hot would any man chuse the pleasures of one day upon this condition A plain similitude but illustrates the thing in hand If thou shouldest live the longest measure of time that any man hath done and spend all that time in nothing but pleasures which no man ever did but met with some crosses afflictions or sickness but at the evening of this life must take up thy lodging in the everlasting burnings and devouring fire Isa 33.14 were those pleasures answerable to these everlasting burnings An English Merchant that lived at Dantzick now with God told us this story and it was true A friend of his a Merchant also upon what grounds I know not went to a Covent and dined with some Fryars his entertainment was very noble after he had dined and seen all the Merchant fell to commending their pleasant lives Yea said one of the Friars to him we live gallantly indeed had we any body to go to hell for us when we die Were the evils that follow sin no other then what some feel even in this life and for many their lusts have brought them upon them yet he were a fool who would give up himself to the pleasures of any lust to lie under such evils at last What wants poverty and misery have some come to who had once good Estates but spent them in serving their lusts What torments do many feel in their bodies by the French
Grace those who are exempted from those woful sinking troubles and temptations which others labour under those who have benign kind Aspects from God these may hold longer and delight more in meditation than those whose Grace received is but little and influence of second Grace but little every day lye groaning and oppressed under vile temptations or corruptions can see but little if any thing of Gods favour towards them For some men God kills the fatted Calf Luke 15. puts on the Robe the Ring they have their Musick when other Christians may say as once a good Christian did though not in a murmuring way as the elder Brother the Lord was never pleased to give them one Kid to rejoyce How heartily have we seen poor people at the door feeding upon the Scraps which these within at the Feast have left upon their Trenchers How thankful would some poor Christians be might they but enjoy the scraps of other Christians that is such things as they neither ask God nor thank God for yet though they have begged them ten years and ten twice told could not prevail with God for such favours These may meditate indeed but what do they meditate Thy heart shall meditate terror Isai 33.18 They do so they meditate terrors sorrows despondencies Alas little do we know what others go through and it is impossible we should know unless we were in their conditions and felt what they do So that the question is not whether a man be poor or rich a servant or free as if they who are rich and free might as well hold their minds fixed long in the meditation of the Joyes of Heaven as they can spare time better than the poor or the servant to hear a Sermon What God enioyns what he commands that must be pressed there is no speaking of that but what we enjoyn what Rules we give Christians and urge them to the observance of them as being-much conducing to the leading of a holy life and conversation if Christians can reach them I humbly conceive much prudence had need be used here lest we deal like some imprudent School-master that hath a Boy who is willing to be a Scholar his Master sets him a long and hard Lesson which if the Boy can learn it will prove the Boyes part to be good that is true but if the Boy be not able to learn it sets him down with discouragement if not take off his mind from being a Scholar It is but a profane spirit which thinks the holiness the conversation which God requires in his Word is only fit for Ministers that have nothing else to do but sit in their Studies mind their Books and contemplate Yet again if all sincere hearted Christians most of which for their natural parts and grace are but ordinary and in comparison of some but weak involved also in family cares perplexed with other cares which unavoidably attend some mens employments tired with the troubles and labours of their particular Callings tormented with the thoughts of debts and how to keep clear with all men which things those who sit only at their studies and can chuse their company where they please when they have a mind to go abroad cannot understand nor any others but those who are actually in such conditions If all these Christians I say can put in practise all those Rules which some men of eminent parts and grace have charged upon Christians as helps to attain that which God hath commanded and enjoyned then I say there are better Christians in England than I was aware of or do ordinarily meet with yet I meet with many whom I cannot but judge that they are sincere hearted Christians and will to Heaven To argue thus I can observe all these Rules therefore other Christians may observe them all will not follow in practical Divinity I had much rather be tied to Gods Book than to some good mens Books whether ancient or modern especially in some particular cases of practise in which I doubt not to say that some while they go about to take men off from sin they do but lay a snare for the Devil to make use of to bring men into sin When Esau bad Jacob put on that Jacob his Wives Children and Flocks must go Esau's pace Gen. 33.12 13 14. Jacob answers him My Lord knoweth the Children are tender and the Flocks and Herds with young are with me and if men should over-drive them one day all the Flock would dye c. Certainly in driving the Lords Flock there is wisdom to be used there are Children and those who are with young in his Flock and to over-drive these if it doth not produce their death yet it will cause great discouragement He that leadeth Joseph like a Flock Psal 80.1 leadeth his people as Jacob led his Flock Isai 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young The sum is this saith Calvin on the Text God in governing his people will be mild gentle placid merciful that those who are weak he will not urge them beyond the measure of their strength With whom Forerius agreeth Gently lead them that are with young as Jacob did his Flock saith he he will not drive them too fast nor make them take great journeys The words commend to us the care the prudence and love in Christ our Lord and I shall ever wish saith Forerius that the Ministers of Christ would manifest the same When they would have the Disciples of Christ put upon hard duties Matth. 9.14 Christ auswers them ver 17. Men do not put new wine into old bottles The meaning is saith that solid and learned Mr. An. Burges No Minister that is wise will suddenly press high and more sublime duties to those that are yet weak Spirit Refin 2. part 187. and through custom and education are not fit to receive such strong meat but they must be prepared by degrees With whom agree Doctor Sibbs Mr. Burroughs Cornelius a Lapide and others There are many new Creatures who are old bottles not able I fear to hold that new Wine which some pour into them they are but children weak yet crying after Christ and are so all their dayes they are with young travelling and bringing forth as those under terrors are * Dr. Goodwin Child Light p. 224. in the pangs of a loaded Conscience as it were in Fits of breeding or in the travail under some affliction †Dr. Reynolds Ps 110. p. 226. they are loaded pressed and oppressed unfit to walk or go through sinking temptations and bitter afflictions In the little Flock of Christ many will be found of this number who will sit down discouraged if they cannot go that pace their Shepherds drive them I had some other things in my thoughts which concerned this sort of Christians supposing while I did read the works of men eminent for grace and parts with which
God hath blessed our English Nation abundantly Satan might deal with them as he hath dealt with others before take occasion from some things written to fill some with perplexing thoughts and put others upon some practises in which they shall wurry and tire themselves and when they have done so be never the nearer But I have exceeded already and gone beyond what at first I intended Leaving this work for more able men and well acquainted with varieties of temptations I shall add no more but Blessed be the Lord for the discoveries of the riches of his Grace in a Covenant of Grace Blessed be the Lamb upon whose blood this Covenant is founded and of which he hath undertaken to be the Mediatour and Surety Blessed be that good Spirit that brings our Souls under this Covenant and keeps us in it This is all our salvation this is all our desire Those who can find salvation any where else let them take it But by the faith of this we live in the strength of this will dye FINIS These Books with several others are printed for and to be sold by Dorman Newman at the Chirurgions-Arms in Little Britain near the Hospital-gate Folio THe Exact Politician or Compleat Statesman By Leonard Willan Esquire Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa Or the History of the Cardinals of the Roman Church from the time of their first Creation to the Election of the present Pope Clement the Ninth with a full account of his Conclave Written in Italian by the Auth. of the Nipotismo di Roma Eng. by G. H. A Relation of the Voyage and Residence of Charles II. K. of Great Britain c. in Holland By Sir W. Lower Knight Memoires of the Lives Actions Sufferings and Deaths of those Noble Reverend Personages that suffered for the Protestant Religion and the great Principle thereof By David Lloyd A. M. sometime of Oriel Colledge in Oxon. Mr. Knox his History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland A Treatise of Justification By George Downam D. D. Spencers History of Ireland Brathwaites English Gentleman and Gentlewoman Austins Meditations Review of the Council of Trent Babingtons Works Jermin on the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes Quarto THat excellent Piece of Mr. George Swynnocks Christian mans Calling in three Volumes Faiths Universal Usefulness with the excellency of a Spiritual life By Mr. Matthew Lawrence of Ipswich Mr. Elborough's Sermon on the Fire Gospel Remission By Mr. Jer. Burroughs lately extant The Virtue and Value of Baptism By Mr. Zach. Crofton Mr. Durham's Exposition upon the Canticles Doctor Hamptons Sermon before King James Lesley's Sermon tending to Unity Hampton's Three-fold State of man A Serm before K. James Hist of Gentle Craft Dod and Clever on the Commandments Souls Sentinels Spiâ—ers Elogy on Sir Arth. Chester Octavo THe Life of Cardinal Woolsey L. Chanc. of England c. A guide to Ladies Gentlewomen and Maids how to behave themselves in all Estates Relations and Conditions By Hannah Wolley A guide to the true Religion By J. Clapham M. A. The Christians great Interest By W. Guthry late Minister of the Gospel in Scotland The fifth impression Justification only upon a satisfaction or the necessity and verity of the satisfaction of Christ as the alone ground of remission of sin asserted and opened against the Socinians By Rob. Firgirson Minister of the Gospel in London The Pastors Love to a loving People By M. William Thomson Minister of the Gospel in London A Synopsis of Quakarisme or a Collection of the Fundamental Errors of the Quakers With a brief Refutation of them By Thomas Danson sometime Minister of the Gospel in Sandwich in Kent The Laws and Canons drawn up and agreed upon by the General Assembly or Meeting of the Head of the Quakers from all parts of the Kingdom Phanatick Primer for the instruction of little ones in order to perfect reading By H. Adis Rebukes for sin by Gods burning Anger By T. Doolittle The Life of Doctor James Vsher late Arch-bishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland A most comfortable and Christ Dialogue By W. Cooper Spare Minutes or resolved Meditations and premeditated Resolutions By Arthur Warwick Clarissimi Viri Adriani Heereboordi Philosophiae professoris Ordinarii Disputationum de Concursu Examen à Jo Stearne M.D. Institutum ad Amicum suum Jo. Rawlineum An excellent Oration of that Learned J. Raynolds DD. Archers Jests Sejanus Heaths Transubstantiation Owens Epigrams