on more then God himself but pray to him for the prosperous use of them 134. Love all things for Gods sake and God only for his own and look you make him your friend whosoever be your enemy for 〈◊〉 this you shall do if as an obedient Child you always live in the eye of your heavenly Father 135. Give no offence to any man justly whether within or without for wo to them by whom offences come 136. Carry your self unto all so as the weak may be won the strong may be comforted and the wicked be ashamed 137. Delight to do all the good you can to Gods Children and to receive all the good you can from them 138. Think it the greatest work in the world to die well which to do you must inure your self to die before hand 1. By dying to your sins 2. Learning the word of affection before it actually leave you 3. In your last learning of if do it willingly yea joyfully whensoever wheresoever or howsoever God shall call you 139. Greive for nothing so much in the world as for your own sins and in them for nothing so much as for offending so loving a God 140. Let your meat apparel and recreation be lawful needful and moderate 141. Labour alwaies to learn to die defie the world deny the Devil despise the flesh and delight your self in the Lord be penitent for your sins past and present and yet despair not be strong in Faith and yet presume not Desire with the great Apostle to be dissolved and to be with Christ with whom even in death there is life 142. Use your life and keep it with as much quietness as you can so that you offend not God that ease that cometh with his displeasure turneth at length to an unspeakable pain and the gain of the world with the loss of his favourâ— is extream beggary and wretchedness 143. The greatest honour that man can give to God is to confess his truth truly and faithfully in time of trouble and affliction 144. It is but a folly for any one that truly professeth Christ crucified to look for the love of the world 145. Infidelity is the cause of all our misery which causeth us to fear man more then God and to esteem things present more than things to come 146. Love is that flower which shall never fade but shall flourish more and more till it be made perfect in that place where Faith and Hope shall have no office but shall then fully possess that which they have so long patiently waited for in this world 147. After the Lord hath made a Christian to know what he is in himself he will doubtless shew him comfort and declare to him what he is in Jesus Christ his Son 148. The mind of man cannot be contented patiently to bear the troubles either of Soul or body until it be regenerated and possessed by Gods spirit 149. Why should we Christians fear death can death deprive us of Christ who is all our comfort our joy and our life 150. Let us tarry with Christ one hour in Tribulation and affliction and doubtless he will keep us for ever with him in joys everlasting 151. Patience and Perseverance under great tryals are the proper notes whereby Gods children are known from counterfeits they that persevere not were alwaies but Hypocrites 152. If Christ be our Captain we must follow him as good Souldiers if we keep company with him in afflictions we shall be â—â—re of his society in Glory if we forsake not him he will never forsake us if we confess him he will confess us if we be ashamed of him he will be ashamed of us Therefore as he forsook Father Heaven and all things to come to us so let us forsake all things to come to him being most sure and certain that we shall not lose thereby 153. Afflictions are in separable but not infallible notes of Salvation for none shall be saved but he must suffer afflictions but all that are afflicted shall not be saved 154. Wealth is not the way to heaven but the Contrary let all our care be how to live well and then to be sure we shall never dye poor 155. Afflictions and sufferings are sometimes the way to Glory in this world Joseph had never been a Courtier had he not first been a prisoner 156. Gods children are ever the better for being miserable It is good for me that I was afflicted let God use us how he will on Earth so that we may have what he hath promised to those that love him in Heaven who would not be a Lazarus for a day that he might sit in Abrahams bosome for ever Some Heavenly Meditations Exhortations and Consolations of that blessed Martyr Mr. John Bradford and other Martyrs written out of prison to several Friends To Mr. J.H. COnsider what this life is Consider what death is Consider what is prepared for you after death 1. Concerning this life know it is full of misery vanity and wo it is a plain banishment and hath nothing in it that hath continuance it is therefore compared to a vapour to smoak to a shaddow yea to a warfare to a vail of misery wherein we are compassed about on every side with most fierce and fearful Enemies and should we desire to dwell there should we be fond to live in this toylsome and laborious world should we wish to continue in this wretched estate should we take pleasure to remain in this dangerous condition Daniels den was not so dreadful as is this Dungeon we dwell in 2. Concerning death to Gods dear children what other thing is it then the dispatcher of all displeasure the end of Travil the door of desires the gate of gladness the port of Paradise the heaven of Heaven the entiance into rest and quietness the path-way into Felicity and the beginning of all blessedness It is a very bed of Down and therefore compared to a sleep for the bodies of Gods people to rest out of which they shall arise and awake most fresh and flourishing to everlasting life It is a passage to the Father a chariot to Heaven the Lords messenger a leader unto Christ a going to our home a deliverance from prison and bondage a dismission from war a security from all sorrow and a freedom from all misery Should we be dismay'd at it should we be afraid of it should we trouble to hear of it should such a freind as this is be unwelcome should the foulness of his face fear us from his good conditions should the hardness of his husk hinder us from his sweet kernel should the roughness of the Tyde tye us to the bank and shore should the hardness of the saddle set us on our feet to perish by the way rather then leap up and endure the same a little and so to be where we would be 3. Concerning that which is prepared for you after death if I should go about to express it the more
13.26 Mat. 20.6 4. Pray that thy last days and last works may be best and that when thou comest to die thou maist have nothing else to do but to die 5. 'T is very hard to behold our own gifts without pride and the gifts of others if they excel ours without envy 6. Do not commend thy friend nor discommend thy soe too much least thou be judged to be partial 7. Oh my Soul will neither great Love great Mercy great Forbearance great Intreaty great Patience great Promises nor great Wages prevail with thee to serve Christ free better and more constant and self-denying 8. A deep sence of sin begets deep sorrow for sin and true sorrow for sin leads to well-grounded faith and from hence flows inward Peace Joy and Holiness 9. A Passionate and troubled spirit is like a little Rill of water which every shower of rain changeth the colour of it and makes it muddy 10. The fear of death is ingrafted in the common Nature of all men but faith works it out of Christians 11. Nothing will be terrible where the love of God is apprehended and nothing grievous where love to Christ is excercised 12. Careless hearing makes carnal hearts and carnal hearts makes cursed lives 13. Oh my Soul look for death hourly long for it greatly prepare for it carefully meet and welcome it joyfully for it is Christs servant to direct his spouse the Soul to him and thy friend that comes to set thee at liberty from thy sins It will discharge thee from thy prison dismist thee from thy sorrows and bring thee at once to enjoy all thy desires 14. Christians though disagrecing in opinion should agree in affection and though differing in controversie yet should agree in charity 15. He that cannot pitty the sinner and hate sin doth not reprove out of love to Christ nor from a gracious spirit 16. God makes Christians feel him or his hand that he may hear them strokes makes crys and whippings mournful complaints to him 17. My Soul bear up with Christ bear off from Sathan and the world bear down thy corruptions and bear forth thy Testimony 18. Clear knowledge of Christ in the understanding begets fervent love in the heart and both godliness in the life 19. He that would live for himselfe only or cheifly in the world is not worthy to live a day in it 20. I would be glad to be out of the world when I have no service to do for God in it 21. God hath set the tongue between the brains and heart that it may advise with both and guarded it with Teeth to keep it in and yet how unruly it is 22. A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should always Study his duty more then his safety for if he will take care to please God God will take care to preserve him 23. The love of the Master the sweetness of the service and the greatness of the reward are sufficient encouragements to serve Christ 24. The heaviest afflictions on earth are but light in comparison of Christs sufferings sins desert or the punnishment of the wicked in Hell 25. Lay in lay up lay out for Christ and remember that you will shortly reach immortallity but never Eternity 26. Oh Christian why should not he please thee who art but finite that pleases God who is infinite even Jesus Christ 27. A Christian should desire to dye that he may be fully freed from sin and have a full fruition of Christ that he may be above all fears and doubts and may be able to serve the Lord incessantly and unweariedly 28. A true Christian when he goes from hence changes neither his work nor company but his place and condition only 29. Be still imployed in doing good and you shall not be much tempted or troubled with evil for the Devil hath great advantage both against those that are idle or ill-imployed David was found guilty of the first 2 Sam. 11.2 and Jehosophat in the last 2 Chron. 10.31 30. Sence of Misery must precede sence of Mercy and the more we feel and fear Misery the more we desire seek for and prize Mercy 31. It is the least of afflictions to be afflicted by men for they can afflict but the outward man only and of all Eâ—emies man is the â—â—akeâ—t Eâ—â—my But God 〈…〉 yea Satan and 〈…〉 do afflict the 〈…〉 is more intollerable 32. That Christian is most in prayer that hath most sence of his own wants and is most comfortable ordinarily that is most penitent and the same word in the Greek signifies to want and to pray and the same word in Hebrew to repent and to comfort 33. Be more thoughtful and careful how to use what you have to Gods glory then to gain more 34. Take heed of being humbled and yet unhumbled that is of being brought outwardly Low and yet the heart continue still high 35. Sometimes Ejaculations or short and suddain pantings and breathings out of desires to God may be more acceptable to him and more prevailing with him then long prayers 36. Never reckon what thou hast of outward worldly things unless it be to praise God for them or to serve God better with them 37. It is the property of a true Christian to justifie God and to judg himself under the greatest afflictions 38. Learn to know sin to disallow of it to dispise it to overcome it inwardly and to put it from thee to fear its return and to be more estranged toward it more watchful to avoid Temptations and wise to shun occasions that lead to it 39. To dye should be no more to a Christian then to breath or to pass over a great River on a sure Bridge or in a safe Boat or to return from a field where a man hath been working to his own house to take his rest 40. Make hast to do thy work Christian and God will make hast to give thee thy wages 41. The hardest dutys in Christianity are to deny self and to destroy sin 42. A heart unconverted is contented with nothing but what is helping it on to Hell and it hath never enough of that to wit sin and a heart converted is never satisfied but with what helps it toward heaven and yet thinks he hath never enough thereof to wit Christ and Grace 43. To take pains about unnecessary and unprofitable things is laboriously to mispend time 44. Get Christ O Christian to bind thy conscience to the peace and thy affections and flesh to the good behaviour 45. Be not ambitious of love and greatness and thou shalt not be so soon an object of Envy 46. He that converts a sinner covers a world or multitude of sins and gains more then a world to wit a Soul Jam. 5.20 Pro. 11.30 47. Take heed of covering any mans good with his evil but let the one plead for him as well as the other against him 48. One of the chiefest works of the soul is selfe
soul should redeem some special time for secret and private duties 85. It is the will of Christ that Christians should rejoyce more in what Christ hath done for them then in what they have done or can do for him 86. Christ kept the Law legally Christians kept it evangellically He kept it perfectly they kept it with full purpose and endeavour 87. Ask thy soul O Christian whether he be willing to receive Christ upon his own Terms and for his own sake and to accept of pardon and life through him freely without looking at all upon thy own righteousness Art thou contented that Christ should be honoured in and by thee and that thou shouldst be despised and dishonoured for his sake 88. God doth never out-speak or out-promise his Power Truth and Faithfulness 89. He is a strong Christian that seeks Gods Glory more then his own salvation but he is no Christian that seeks neither 90. It is a great ease to and an unburtherning of the to confess sin sensibly humbly brokenly and with hatred to it 91. Christ and sin are most magnified in the eyes of believers in their affliction but in a very different manner and to a different end For Christ appears as the greatest good and sin as the greatest evil and then Christ will be most desired and sin most despised 92. It is the duty of a Christian to suspect and search himself when he doth not know evil by himself 93. Account the least spiritual thing better then the greatest and best of outward and temporal things 94. Keeking from sin is Soul-preservative Physick but repentance for sin is Soul-Restorative Physick 95. Strive greatly to have and excercise a good conscience toward God and men to commit thy Soul Life and condition to the Lord and then expect the worst of men and the steb of Christ 96. Thou must die once whether thou suffer or no and thou canst but die once if thou suffer 97. The sins of Christians are new sufferings to Christ and the sufferings of Christians are wounds of Christ Eph. 1.30 Ezek. 6.9 98. Labour to act those Graces chiefly that are most contrary to your Master-sins 99. A Christian may know the weight of sin by the sufferings of Christ for if that strong Bar of Steel did bend under the weight of our sins what shall poor weak man do who is but a reed or rush 100. Sathan accuses God to men and men to God but Christ excuses and answers all his accusations against his people 101. He that will not take example from others shall make an example himself 102. O Lord as a sign that I shall be able to die for thee let me find my corruptions dying in me by power from thee 103. He that loves not Christ more then his life is like to lose Christ and his life but he that loves Christ more than his life will be sure to save and keep both Mark 10.49 Luke 14.26 104. Christians should account restraints from sin great mercys to them but Recoveries out of sin with spiritual advantage greater 105. Sin hath no Mother but a mans heart nor Father but Satan 106. Satan draws the Soul into it either by Power or Policy by Force or by Fraud 107. A Christian should desire to have his heart tyed to the Lord and to be strong in faith upon Christ in Love to Christ and in Resolution for him 108. The reason why men do not more magnifie Gods grace is because they do not behold their own vileness and the reason why men do not see their own vileness more is because they do not apprehend Gods goodness more clearly and fully 109. When a Christian comes to be as weary of his sins as of his afflictions God will certainly put an end to them 110. There will be a reviving of old sins if there be not effectual repentance for them and a care by faith through all duties and ordinances to get new strength against them and a constant watch kept over them 111. A Christian comes not to know the weakness of his grace till the spirit ceases to work in and by it nor the power of his corruption till Satan works therein by his Temptations 112. It should trouble a Christian much to have such Graces as he receives from God beget so little good in him 113. The Lord would soon turn from his wrath if men were turned from their wickedness 114. He commands most and best that commands in love humility and self-denyal 115. The world is a great nothing deluding the bad and disturbing and distracting the good 116. The Holy Law of God teaches a man to see his own deformity and requires from a man Conformity to it self 117. Sathan works more upon men by slight then by might avoid therefore his cunning and thou wilt avoid his cruelty 118. He hath not learned to rule well that hath not learned to obey well 119. An even through-paced self-fearing heart-melting Christian is always best 120. Rusling opinion-souring and Church-renting persons and professors have commonly more self then grace if any at all 121. The less a man strives for himself the more will Christ strive for him 122. Thoughts of our own death will much tend to deaden sin 123. Prayer is a good preparative to suffering when Christ had prayed he went out to meet Judas Joh. 18.4 124. Be never at peace with sin Satan or Christs implacable Enemies 125. In two cases 't is hard to act Faith 1. When there is nothing sensible or visible to second and support it 2. When there is very much of these outward things to fill and take the senses withal 126. As Christ was saved from death though he died Heb. 5.7 So are true Christians when they overcome death by their resurrection through Christ 127. Learn by lighter crosses to look and prepare for heavier 128. As our good works and â—â—rformances should have an operation upon our souls and hearts to strengthen faith so should our weaknesses and sins to work Repentance 129. No power can keep him in Bond whom truth and innocency acquits 130. If thou hast faln into sin through violent temptations seek speedily for Repentance for it recovery out of it and Reformation under it If God hath kept thee from falling still fear watch pray and live by faith in Christ 131. Prepare your self for death and pull out its sting 1. By bewailing sins past 2. Turning to God in time to come 3. Purposing a new life none can dy ill that hath had a care of living well perswade your self if you live well you shall die well and if you die well doubt not but you shall have Eternal Happiness 132. Wish not for a long life so much as for a good life he hath lived long who hath lived well a short life in grace endeth in an everlasting life of Glory 133. Distrust not Gods providence in any matter although you see the means wanting neither when you have them let them be reâ—â—ed