little purpose we must never think to be any body for Christians while we suffer these to Lord it over us The Devil knows this well enough and so he will give us leave to do almost any thing else while we will but keep far enough from these but touch these and we touch the Apple of his Eye he cannot endure it knowing that if we do it in good earnest his Interest in us is then like to go down apace as ever we desire to be thriving Christians we must endeavour to get rid of these 5. These Sins of ours slew our Lord Jesus Christ and then surely if we let these go if we let these live we are not Jesus his Friends this should be a very moving Consideration to us the pardon of any one of our Sins could not have been obtained but at the expence of that precious Blood of his and if we may suppose that some of our Sins gave him our dearest Lord a deeper Wound a Sore or Bruise then others of them they were these and do they not deserve a Wound from us Should we not endeavour to give them a deadly crush for this Yea it was one special End of his Death to destroy these And shall he die for us and as to us loose his labour when he hath done 6. We should be quicken'd to our Work here especially at such a time as this is for England's sake and for the Ark of God amongst us Matters seem to be at a very tickle trembling Point what the Lord intends to do we know not but really many things looks very threatning and God's faithful Ministers who are like to know most of his Mind are often droping such hints as would make a sensible Heart tremble Now this is the best way that we can take to prevent England's Ruine nay if God save us not by his Prerogative Royal it is the only way and it is unquestionably the duty of each of us to be fighting for our Country at home and thus we may do it and England hath not a worse Enemy then Sin nor better Friends at this pinch then such as do heartily and vigorously ply their work here and now shall England's Ruine ly at our doors Or shall deliverance come and we do nothing to set it forward on its way 7. This work though it be hard and difficult yet it is not impossible nay if we do sincerely apply our selves to it in God's way and strength the Victory is certain it is very true our Enemies are many and mighty but it s also as true that they are all such as have been baffled and conquered it must be confessed that we are poor weak things But withal it must be granted that our Captain is strong we may venture to set one Lord Jesus against them all this is a mighty encouragement to our work but no argument for sloth for he requires we should be active in it though in a manner he doth the work to our hands He hath overcome all the Enemies of our Souls and hath purchased that Grace for us whereby we also shall be enabled to overcome and how many Saints are there now triumphing in Heaven with Palms in their Hands who were once as deeply engaged in the Conflict and it may be under as discouraging Circumstances as we can be we have the same Captain that they had and what he hath done in and for them he is ready to do yea and will certainly and shortly do for and in us if we belong to him abide in him and continue with him so that difficulties should not be pleaded by us as discouragements in a Matter of this nature and necessity For 8. And lastly There is no other way for us here but we must either kill or die Sin as some of us lately heard is such a tyrant all whose Laws are written in the Blood of Souls It is Sin that brought Death into this World and that hath digged Hell in the next nothing so deadly as Sin and suppose but one Sin allowed and spared that one would as infallably undo us for ever as a thousand And farther suppose our Hearts be sincere and so prevailingly for God and therefore safe in the main yet if we neglect our Duty here those Sins of ours will not only keep us short both as to Grace and Peace here as was hinted before but which is a necessary consequent they will also cause us to fall short of those Degrees of glory which otherwise we might hereafter have attained unto the least degree of which should be of more account with us then all our worldly Interests laid together yea then all this whole World and will be so to us if we are indeed such as have laid up our Treasure in Heaven where we are truly our selves QUESTION III. How is the Duty of giving and receiving reproof to be managed THAT it is the Duty not only of Ministers to reprove Sin in others though to do it Ministerially is peculiar to them by Vertue of their Office and their Commission and Charge thereupon But yet that it is also the Duty of private Christians is plain Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer Sin upon him Now in answer to the Question how this Duty is to be managed I shall give my thoughts 1. By laying down some things which I take to be necessary Qualifications in the Person that would be a right successful Reprover 2. Some needful Cautions 3. Some general Rules and Directions The Qualifications are as follows 1. Wisdom and Prudence these are necessary because the right management of this Duty is a work of no small difficulty and for want of these some well meaning Persons marr the Work and instead of doing good do harm this way light and heat should go together otherwise the Motion will be irregular we need these to direct us in suiting our Reproofs 1. To the Persons we Reprove And that 1. With respect to their different Estates For though we must be Faithful to all yet we may not use the like freedom of Expression with all Job 34.18 Is it fit to say to a King thou art wicked Or to Princes ye are ungodly 1 Tim. 5.1 Rebuke not an Elder but entreat him as a Father 2. With respect to their Disposition and Temper For some are naturally more stubborn and hard to work on others more soft and tender Jude 22 23. And of some have compassion making a difference And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire I know it there are some of that temper and especially where any of them are also under that distemper which renders them more capable of impressions of this sort take such ordinarily I say and one shall wound them deeper with the softest Word nay with a silent Reproof in a look then some others with the most sharp and cutting Reproof 2. We need
to be lead by the Spirit By Nature we are all Men and Women of another Spirit lead and acted by that contrary Spirit which works in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2.2 Rom. 8.14 For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Gal. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit There must be Spiritual Life before there can be any Spiritual Motion 2. That they Regenerate themselves tho' they are renewed in every part yet they are renewed but in part They have in them while they are in this Life Flesh as well as Spirit and while we have Sin in us it will be acting its Part the flesh will be lusting against the Spirit Rom. 7.21 I find then a Law that when I would do good evil is present with me Gal. 5.17 For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the stesh and these are contrary the one unto the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would 3. That as men easily may so they are very prone to mistake in this Point 1. Bad Men Saul when in his persecuting Course before his Conversion he verily thought that he was in the way of his duty and so following the Motions of Gods Spirit Act. 26.9 But we see how his Mind was changed afterwards that which before he took for Holy Zeal a Fruit of the Spirit he then saw to be no better than exceeding madness 2. Good Men when they seriously consider what depends upon this Point Rom. 8.9 Now if any Man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 13. For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye And when they think of the deceitfulness of their own hearts Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And when they further consider how prevalent the remaining fleshly interest is in their hearts and lives this makes many a gracious Soul tremble when it comes to decide the Point and sometimes to bring in a false Judgment against it self unless that blessed Spirit shine upon it 4. That mistakes here are very dangerous and mischievous That Man who thinks he hath and is lead by the Spirit and is not woe to him for he is a lost Man if he find not out his mistake before Death and Judgment undeceive him And then a mistake on the other hand will cause the poor Soul to drive on but heavily and uncomfortably in the way of its duty tho' its Estate in the main may be safe Have none of us cause to know the Heart of such in this matter Now to the Case propounded I would answer in general thus I think that Man and he alone is lead by the Spirit the habitual and prevailing bent of whose Heart the main Scope and drift of whose Life is Spiritual As for particular marks I shall content my self with a very few which I take to be safe and scriptural so 1. Such as are lead by the Spirit of God they are by him free from the ruling Power of the Flesh Rom. 8.1 2. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death Gal. 5.16 This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh Walking after the Spirit and walking after the Flesh are directly opposed in Scripture such they sin still alas that is a sad truth which cannot be denied for there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Ecl. 7.20 yet he that is born of God he doth not he cannot commit Sin Joh. 1.3 9. He lives not in the ruling Love and practice of Sin He can in some Measure say what the Apostle For that which I do I allow not for that which I would that do I not but what I hate that do I Rom. 7.15 2. They are such as have solemnly taken the holy Spirit for their Guide and given up themselves to his Conduct They were baptized into his Name Mat. 28.19 And every time they do renew the Covenant they do sincerely and afresh renew their Obligations to obey and follow him Before Conversion they rejected him his Counsels and Ways and were only for following the Inclinations of their own evil Hearts and the Course of this World But now they have made a better choice They desire he would teach lead and guide them such Expressions are very frequent And they have an Ear to hear and an Heart to follow him Joh. 10.3 4. And the Sheep hear his Voice and he calleth his own Sheep by Name and he leadeth them out and when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his Voice By the Spirit it is that great Shep-heard teacheth his Sheep to know his Voice by him he calleth them both to and after him 3. They are such as have chosen the Word of God for their Rule In the Word it is that the Spirit Speaketh to the Churches Rev. 2.7 In the Word he hath chalked out the Paths of Holiness wherein he leadeth such as he hath made willing to follow him And they pray with David Lord teach me thy Statutes Psal 119.12 Let me not wander from thy Commandments Indeed the Flesh will be resisting and rebelling endeavouring to stop them in or to turn them out of the way which will cause them to take many a false Step But yet as Rom. 7.22 They delight in the Law of God after the inward Man In the bent of their renewed Mind and will they delight in it and desire to obey it perfectly and allow not themselves in the breach of any part thereof 4. Such as are lead by the Spirit their Motion is free and voluntary not by force and constraint They are lead not haled or driven Joh. 10.3 4. He calleth them by Name and leads them out and goeth before them and they follow him They are a willing People Psal 110.3 1 Cor. 4. Draw me and we will run after thee Indeed a Partical Unwillingness will be found in the best while here while we have Flesh in us it will be drawing another way But yet Holiness is this Mans choice And when he is in a holy Frame and Course he is as in his Element The habitual prevailing bent of his Heart is for a Course of Holiness and this appears in the main Scope and drift of his Life and this I think doth denominate us what we are and that therefore by it we may safely judge of our selves QUESTION II. How may we come to find out and know what are our special sins and what means are to be used for the Mortification of them The question before us Consists of two Parts 1. How may we
seem light I will endeavour to pray for you as hard as I can do you endeavour to pray down more of the Spirit of Prayer into my Heart and then my poor Prayers may stand you in more stead I desire a plainer Account of your Circumstances as soon as you can who am your Loving Brother I. B. LETTER XIII To S. E. May 6. 1685. Dear S. I Receiv'd your's and cannot but sympathize with you in your Troubles I have been under those inward Troubles lately that have taken off my Thoughts from other things otherwise I have been and am under Circumstances much like your own I have more and more experience of the vanity and deceitfulness of the Creature O how vain a thing is Man But I must tell you Sister as I tell my own Heart I am afraid we expect too much from the Creature we meet with disappointments in and from the Creature who bid us look for better Not our Bibles The Lord will sooner or later make us know the Creature as the Creature if we belong to him that we place not too much of our Happiness in it and we have cause to bless God for the crossest Providences that are blessed by him to that End O let us learn to live more upon God! And let us learn not to be too much concerned at such things they are without us and unless we open them the door they cannot get into our Hearts to sink them God is a true and faithful Friend remember that indeed we live far below our selves as I trust we are Heirs according to the hope of eternal Life if we suffer such little things to distract and deject us I had written sooner but that I hoped before this to have seen you I shall be contriving for an opportunity as soon as I can who am your Loving Brother I. B. LETTER XIV To C. H. Dear Cozen METHINKS our ill husbanding the means of Grace hath brought us to this that we must either beg or starve the Lord hath formerly afforded us rich means to live upon How have we been feasted in his publick Ordinances Many a poor hungry Soul would have got a good meal out of our livings but now alass we have almost run out of all now we have but hungry Sabbath's God knows what will become of our poor Souls now Well but here is a way whereby you and I may get a good living still by the right improvement of this Duty we may be thriving Christians still shew me a praying Soul I dare say that is a happy Soul that Soul hath many a sweet morsel from Heaven that others taste not of that Soul is growing rich but then we must acquaint our selves with the divine Art and Mystery that there is in this Duty alass our Souls cannot live upon the Wind words in Prayer are but wind but in the lively exercise of Grace and in Communion with God there is nourishment for our poor Souls for your help him accept of this small Sheet which about two Years since I receiv'd from one that is as well skilled in this spiritual Mystery as any Christian that I know and when you are with God in this Duty then remember me a poor wretch that after so many years Practice of it to my Sorrow still find many roving wandring Thoughts much deadness of Spirit and inactivity of Grace I am confident you are many times in my praying Thoughts when you think not of it may I not beg the like from you for a requital Your's I. B. LETTER XV. To C. W. Dear Friend YOUR Soul is very precious in my sight my hearty desire and prayer for you is that you may be saved and O that I could do any thing to promote it it pleases me much to think in how hopeful a way you are for Heaven and O how I should rejoyce to see you crowned there but alass we are yet but in the Fight with our Enemies yet faint not hold on and the day is our own conquer and we are crowned yet be we jealous of our selves I am ready to tremble when I think of our danger by our Enemy the World it is a very Cheat and how ready we are to be imposed upon by it For my own part I never thought there had been so much Carnality in my Heart as I lately discovered and O I am afraid there is much more abominable wickedness that I have not yet discovered O methinks I would have something besides God for my Portion I am loath to cast all my worldly hopes over board O my Folly Well my love to you inclines me to impart some of my Thoughts to you in this Matter God and the World are presented to our Choice and this is our choosing time now that you and I may make a wise Choice 1st Let us seriously consider the excellency of God O happy Souls indeed whose Portion the Lord is O wonderful wonderful That the ever blessed God should be wiling to become the Creatures portion a portion for such Wretches as we are Let all the Angels and Saints of God admire and adore him for this his matchlefs Condescention and God-like Bounty Now think what God is and can we not be content with him for a Portion What not with God Why what is there that our Souls can reasonably desire that is not eminently in him O there is enough in God to make us compleatly and eternally Happy and what would we have more 2dly Think we seriously of the Vanity of the Creature O what trifles are these that Men make such a hurry about Such as are projecting most throngly for the World alass what have they when they have got it but a little Vanity for which they many time loose an eternal Crown O woful Choice When such come to die they will put another estimate upon the World I dare appeal to your own Experience when you have any serious thoughts of Death and Judgment and the Life to come then O how little you regard the World I find it thus with me now let us learn this project to set one Enemy against another to set Death against the World as one saith frequentiy lie down in our own Graves and thence take a prospect of the World let us take our Coffin into the Field with us when we go to fight the World And farther to make us serious let us consider it is for everlasting that we choose here choose God in Christ for our portion and he is our own for ever choose Sin and the World and we loose him and Hell must be our portion and our loss herein will be everlastingly imparable the Lord help us to act like reasonable Creatures but I must take leave if I have any interest in you I would entitle a dear Redeemer to it Will you choose him I hope you have but will you renew and confirm your choice and never rest till you can my beloved is mine and I am his I