the cause of drawing any man to wickednesse There are tryals of proofe indeed the Lord may try his as hee did Abraham Gen. 22.1 A man doth not hurt his armour if it be good when as hee prooves it so God intends no evill to a man when as hee thus deales with him Q. In what manner doth God lead us into temptation A. Hee doth it three wayes 1. When the Lord withdrawes not those nets that are laid for us when GOD removes not our stumbling blocks nay God may put an object of temptatiō before us Thus a master may lay a baite for his servant by putting money in a corner now it is lawfull thus for a man to leave his money to discerne whether his servant be faithfull or no he desires not that he should steale but that he may try his fidelity So God justly permitteth occasions There must be heresies for the triall of Gods servants They that pitch their net first let it fall and then take it up this is to raine snares The favour of God accidentally is but a baite to a wicked man his prosperity is his ruine it is just with God to deale so because wicked men desire it So Iudas would faine have gotten something by the ointment it is just with God to suffer the Pharisees to give him 30. pence and ruine too Now his mind is pleased hee hath 30d. and damnation too 2. As God suffers occasions so hee lets sinne and Sathan loose a mans hart would faine bee hankering and God gives him up to his hearts lusts saying take him sinne and Sathan let him have field roome 1 King 22.22 Ahab would faine goe to warre it was a thing not allowed but hee desired it therefore God sends the Divell God askes who will prevaile over Ahab the Divell saith I will goe then God saith goe and doe it Abimelech and the men of Sichem did very ill Jud. 9.23 then God sent an evill spirit that is hee let loose the spirit of contention and they destroyed him and hee laboured to destroy them so God Rom. 1. is said to give them up when they departed from the government of the truth no saith God will you not be ruled by holines then take uncleanenesse many a man that hath a wrathfull disposition take him envy saith God let him bring blood on others and so ruine to himselfe thus God tooke away his spirit from Saul and gave him up to sinfull distempers of all plagues there is none that is like this 3. God leaves a man to himselfe and lendes him not the assistance of his grace but suffers him and Sathan to grapple together Thus he dealt with He-Zechiah 2 Chron. 32.31 who because he had a lease of his life begā to bee proud now God left him to himselfe to see what was in him hee thought himselfe a brave man therfore God leaves him as a father lets a child goe when hee will not be held so saith God see what thou canst doe try thine owne strength But deliver us from evill Hence observe that though God would doe nothing against us yet we are not able to deliver our selves from our corrupt heart Q. What is meant by evill A. Not so much trouble or punishment as sin in it are three things 1. The breach of the Law 2. The guilt that a man gets by this breach and so is liable to this punishment 3. The vigour of sinne which rules over the soule the two former wee pray against in the fifth petition because we stand guilty of the breach of the Law Therefore wee pray that hee would not enter into judgement with us wee pray now against the power of sin and that is in three particulars 1. Sinne would be a comander over the soule it is the King Sathan is the Jaylour it hath a Kingly soveraigne authority and would rule over him sin is often compared to a King his servants are his obeyers sinne is a master at least it would bee it is so in every naturall foule and it would bee so in the godly the law of life saith the Apostle hath freed mee from the law of death Rom. 8.2 sinne gives parliament lawes and edicts to the soule and as the Centurion bad one servant goe and hee went and another come and hee came so doth sinne say pride it is my pleasure you should bee proud therefore I would have you imperiall and snappish sayes anger I would have you spleneticke and rage sayes the soule then I will it shall be done thus sinne sets up it selfe as supreame in the soule hence a proud heart saith I will doe that I list say God what hee will tell not mee of lawes it is my mind Thus your proud heart sets you lawes and you yeeld to them Now wee pray here that how soever sin bee in the soule yet that God would snib it that it may bee an underling and daily bee subdued in us 2. As sinne desires to set up a master like rule and a supreame soveraigne Lord-like dominion so sinne carries the soule and sometimes separates it frō God whereas the command of God should be a guide to us and take place in our hearts this authority takes up armes resists and stands in defiance against the rule of the spirit hence came these phrases they forsooke God and turned their backs to his Commands What saith pride shall I be a slave that the world should awe mee and snub me I will never yeeld it while I live I will dye first this is a Divell that drawes you from God and will carry you to hell Rom. 7.23 That is the meaning of this place sin carries a man captive when the soule sees it selfe so ruled by him a gratious hart would teare it selfe off if it could but a naturall man is a slave to sinne and dares not affect any good in another nor labour for it himselfe 3. Sinne leaves a kind of blemish and staine upon the soule after the Commission of it there is a kind of jarring to the heart and of running wrong in the soule Peter after his deniall of Christ was averted from Christ so a man after sinne shall find himselfe so dull to any good and prone to any evil this is the staine of sin when a mans arme is put out of joint besides the fall there is a bruise so after a man hath broken the commandements of the Lord the law unjoints him hee is more awke to any good then ever Gal. 6. If any man be unjointed by sin so that of the Romans wound their owne soules this sin doth Now these wee pray against partly against the power of sin partly against the authority of sinne partly against the staine of sinne But deliver us from evill To deliver from evill implies three things 1. Wee pray that the Lord would prevēt those occasions and stragglings of sinne that trouble us wee pray that hee would take off these distempers whereby sinne would lay siege against
the Law of sin and death saith Paul Sinne makes Lawes but we entreate the Lord that hee would prevent corruption that he would assist us in temptations ordinarily and extraordinarily that hee would discover the enemy before hee come that hee would entrench about us vouchsafe us armour and weapons to resist give us dominion over our enemies and if we bee overcome that he would rescue and recover us out of them all this is the summe of this petitioÌ„ Now wee come to the frame of heart that wee should bring before God that so wee may bee fit to receive the good wee sue for from his hands Q. First wherein doth this appeare A. The frame of heart and disposition of soule that best beseemes us in the putting up of this petition appeares principally in foure things 1. When wee truly desire that the Lord would not let us bee drawne asâ—â—â—â—â— or lead into temptation we must labour to auoid all such occasions as may be too strong for us or prevaile over us In vaine wee desire to be delivered from evill when wee rush into evill as if a man should take pitch into his hands and desire not to bee defiled or put fire into his bosome and pray not to be burnt this is a slighting of Gods mercy and provoking of him to wrath rather then a begging of favour Wee would count it a madnes for a man to cast himselfe into the sea and then desire to bee saved to make our selves sicke that God may make us whole againe it is nothing else but as wee may say so to make God worke thus to run into evill and then to pray the Lord hee would deliver us from evill it is a provoking mocking of the Lord the wise mans rule is here memorable Prov. 23.2 3. If a man bee given to his appetite Let him put a knife to his throate if thou lovest the wine looke not upon it if a man be given to his appetite it is in vaine to pray against it yet cate but put thy knife to thy throate absteine therefrom please not thy appetite The promise and the providence of God goe together Psal 90. hee will succour and relieve us but it must bee in the way of his providence hee that goes out of the way and craves Gods assistance shall never have it but hales on evill to himselfe Matth. 18. Our Saviour speaking of offences saith If thy hand cause thee to offeÌ„d cut it off and if thy eye cause thee to offend plucke it out that is were thy sinnes as deare to thee as thy right hand in regard of profit or thy right eye in regard of pleasure cut them off pluck them out fling them away rather then bee foiled by them In vaine wee crave the assistance of the Lord and in the meane time lay blocks before us It is meere presumption No marvell then if many times the Lord leaves a man because hee strives not after that hee prayes for It is enough to cause the Lord to curse us when wee doe not avoid the occasions of evill hee that will not fall into the pit let him not come neere the brinke of it hee that will not be snared by evil let him shunne and avoid all the occasions of evill 2. If wee bee weake of our selves and cannot prevern the occasions of evil yet bee carefull to seeke all such meanes as may be succourable and holpefull to us if wee cannot help out these wil surprize us Let us seeke the meanes to succour us in our need the sicke man that craves succour of the Lord must use the meanes the Lord hath appointed happily thou findest temptations pressing on in thy calling thou canst not avoid it the more the occasions are the more seeke for meanes that may fortifie thee hee that will bee healed let him seeke the Physician hee that is out of the way and would bee set in the right way let him enquire it out and not sit still and say Lord have mercy upon mee but seeke It was that which Ioshua did Jos 7. he called yet the Lord did not help him but said Why dost thou so Israel hath sinned looke out the execrable thing Israel hath sinned looke to that It is in vaine to pray that the enemy may not prevaile if wee labour not to roote him out of the Camp doe that throughly and then the overthrow of thine enemies will be easy to thee 3. When we have found the meanes labour to bee content to bee ordered by all the meanes and helps that God hath been pleased to ordaine for our good It is a madnesse to crave as Balaam Oh that I might dye c. and yet see the way and will not walke in it Ier. 42. They said to the Prophet enquire at the word of the Lord and what ever hee commandeth we wil do but when they heard and knew it they would not obey the same In vaine it is to crave the pardon of sinne when we looke not to the promise to desire sinne to bee subdued yet cannot abide the meanes that should doe it When a man saith I will not be counselled but will have my proud heart and will walke in mine owne wayes how can such a one say deliver me from this proud heart when he wil not let counsell take place when a man is in horror of heart when conscience flyes in his face it is in vaine to whine then and yet wilt not thou bee ruled by the word of God but doe as vaine as ever as loose as ever as idle as ever thou beggest one thing dost practise another thing so long let us never put up this petition 4. We must rely on the Lord for a blessing on all a successe in all so use the meanes as if there were no promise to help and yet so depend upon God for all as if the meanes could doe nothing observe all thy occasions say counsell and advice is good but the Lord must set them on man lives not by bread onely but by the blessing of God in the meanes goe to the spirit of the Lord and see there a greater power then in all meanes 2 Kings 2. If thou canst see mee taken up then shalt thou have my spirit doubled upon thee If thou seest the God that takes mee up then hee wil give thee his Spirit looke to God above all meanes and hee that is thus disposed that man prayes aright to bee delivered For thine is the Kingdome We have done with the six petitions three concerning God his name Kingdome will three concerning our selves coÌ„cerning things of this life of a better Justification Sanctification wee come now to the conclusion and in it consider two things 1. The thanksgiving 2. The conclusion of faith in the word Amen In the thanksgiving is included both a reason of the petition as also a forme of thanksgiving as who should say wee doe not presume wee can doe
we have obtained mercy 3. The testimony of Gods Spirit which assureth Gods children their sins are pardoned Q. What is meant by resting upon God A. It is discovered by two particulars 1. Casting our selves upon the Promise 2. A perswasion that they shall be fulfilled to us Q. What is lustification A. When a beleeving sinner is accounted just in Gods sight through Christ according to the Law Q. Why say you accounted A. Because Justification puts nothing into us nor findes nothing in us Q. Doth God justifie wicked men as they are in themselves A. God provided another to be their surety for whose sake he accepts them Q. Can one mans wisedome understanding and holinesse be accounted to another A. Yes if one mans offence be imputed to another then may one mans righteousnesse but Adams sinne was imputed to us Rom. 5. therefore Christs Righteousnesse may be accounted ours If the Law be that the surety may be punished for the debt as well as the debtor then may the sureties satisfaction be accounted to the debtor both because the surety and the debtor tooke upon them the same thing and subjected themselves to the same condition Q. What doe we learn out of these words according to the Law A. No man can be just except he be in some measure answerable to the rule of justice Q. What did the Law require A. Two things 1. Dying for sinne 2. Doing that wee may live Q. Was our sinne made Christâ— by commission A. No onely by imputation for when Christ dyed to save us did we dye also no onely his death was imputed to us Q. What doth Christ receive from us A. Guilt and punishment Q. What doe we receive from Christ A. His merits and obedience Q. Doth faith it selfe justifie a man A. We are not justified by faith for it s but an instrument whereby we lay hold upon Christ and so are justified Q. Must justification be joyned to sanctification A. Yes for justification goeth before and sanctification followes after Q. Wherein lyeth the difference A. lustification putteth nothing into a man nor findeth any thing in a man Sanctification puts a new frame of he art into us Q. But doth not God put grace into a justified sinner A. Yes but he doth it by sanctification not by justification We receive justification all at once and that neither admits of increase or decrease but holinesse is usually increased and decreaseth many times Q. What is sanctification A. It s the restoring of a justified man into the image of God wherein he was created Not a making new faculties in the soule but putting them into right order as when a clock falls in pieces the wheels being not broken the clock hath not new wheeles set into it but they are new made againe Q. How many things be there in sanctification A. Two Mortification and Vivification Q. What is mortification A. The first part of sanctification whereby sinne is killed in us by the power of Christs death applied unto us Q. Can sinne be wholly subdued in a man A. No but it may be lessened and filed away Q. Wherein lyes the difference between sin in a wicked and a godly man A. There is the neerest union that may be between sinne and the soule of a wicked man Sinne beareth greatest rule here and the soule yeelds greatest subjection unto it He hath a secret resolution to sinne in spight of God and his Ordinances But in a godly man the power of sinne is loosened and the union broken sinne is not in him as a King though it may be as a Tyrant Q. Can mortification and vivification bee severed A. No where God bestowes Mortification there hee likewise bestowes vivification Q. Which goeth first A. Mortification for before we can receive Christ we must make roome for him by casting out all wickednesse Q. What is meant by this word vivification A. It is that part of sanctification whereby wee are quickned to newnesse of life by Christ his Resurrection applyed unto us Q. How is this wrought by Christs Resurrection A. In sinne wee must conceive there is 1. The guilt 2. The punishment 3. The power of it the guilt and punishment Christ by his Death removed Q. But how did he take away the power of them A. We having sinned Christ dyed and rose again for us whereas sin and Satan would have kept him in still if they could but hee came out by force The fift Principle Faith commeth by hearing and is strengthned by the Word and Prayer Meanes to get and increase Faith Quest How may we get faith Answ By the hearing of the Word preached Q. Why is Faith wrought by the Word A. Because God hath promised a speciall blessing thereunto and the holy Spirit accompanies the same for this purpose Q. Why by the Word preached A. Because the Word preached doth evidently reveale truths to the soule and works more effectually upon a mans heart Q. How is Faith encreased A. By the Word Sacraments and Prayer The Word addeth fuell unto Faith provoking a man to come to Christ by shewing 1. the need we have of him by reason of our daily wants and infirmities 2. The all-sufficiency of Christ to supply us 3. And his willingnesse to receive all commers Q. When is Faith strong Ans 1. When it grasps as it were a whole handfull of Christ a little child can grasp but a little of any thing 2. When it holdeth firmly that it catcheth hold upon Q. How doe the Sacraments strengthen saith A. 1. They present Christ neerly and visibly to the soule 2. They shew Christs merits obedience inflaming our hearts with love to him Q. What is Prayer A. It is a going out of our selves to God craving things answerable to his will Q. How a going to God A. Not a bodily going but the mind affection and understanding stirting up themselves to present their suit to him Q. Can a wicked man pray A. No 1. Because true Prayer is from the Spirit and a sanctified heart 2. These men oppose what they beg for Q. How many parts be there in Prayer A. Two Petition which is a craving of that we want and Thanksgiving which is a giving God thanks for that we have Q. What is the pattern of Prayer A. The Lords Prayer which Christ gave to his Disciples Q. Into how many parts is it divided A. Into three 1. A Preface 2. Six Petitions 3. A Thanksgiving Q. What doe you meane by Father A. The first Person in the Trinity who is the fountain from whence all we have floweth Q. How is God said to be a Father Ans 1. In regard of Christ 2. In regard of us Q. How is God the Father of Christ Ans 1. By naturall generation 2. By personall union Q. How is God a Father in regard of us Ans 1. In regard of Creation so the Angels are sons of God 2. In regard of Adoption which is the taking one in stead of a child
the soule that hee would remove those things that would remoove us from him This wisdome promiseth Prov. 6.21 That shee will walke with them that walke with her shee will keep them from the way of the wicked woman sinne is like an harlot therefore the Lord is pleased to expresse it after that manner Now it is the mercy of God that hee will turne our eyes from beholding of vanity that there may not bee violence of sinne assaulting us now wee pray therefore that wee may not come into the battaile if it be possible and that sin may not come in against us 2. That the Lord would assist us in the temptation that the temptation may not prevaile It is a mercy not to bee tempted but if wee must needs bee it is a great mercy not to be overcome by temptation if he will not wholly prevent us by his grace yet to assist us gratiously in it It is mercy not to bee assaulted and though assaulted yet assisted Now this assistance of God is twofold either extraordinary or mediate by the meanes wee speake not so much of the first though that be true but wee crave both at the hand of the Lord. 1. Sometimes we crave for the extraordinary help and assistance of the Lord to assist us even above meanes in the meanes wee know the Lord in the time of Queene Mary did help wonderfully their temptations were grievous and afflictions great yet the Lord did help them extraordinarily hee did let in abundance of sweetnesse but wee passe this and come to the other 2. Wee pray especially for such meanes as may help us and that appeares in foure particulars 1. That the Lord would discover the enemy before hee come that hee would make knowne unto us the engins wiles and depths of Sathan and the subtilty of our owne corrupt hearts which are ready on every hand to surprize us For to be surprized before wee are aware is great danger Therfore wee pray that the Lord would give us the spirit of Revelation that wee may take notice of the engines of Sathan and that hee may be discovered to us The discovery wee know of an evill is a meanes to prevent it not foreseeing misery we cannot prevent it he that sees not an evill before it comes wil be overthrown by it when it comes Many a man perisheth by pride knowes not what hurts him this corruption blowes up the soule This the Lord promised Isay 30.21 Thou shalt heare a word behind thee saying this is the way that GOD may keep a man from sinne hee sends the Spirit of Christ to say this is the way walke in it The text saith 2 Cor. 2. there speaking of the incestuous man wee are not ignorant of the methods of Sathan so we pray the Lord that hee would discover the methods of Sathan to us Matt. 26. When the great skirmish was to come our Saviour forewarned Peter said I wil smite the shepheard c. And saith watch and pray for the houre is come hee gives him the warning peece wee pray thē that God would make knowne to us the engines of sinne and Sathan before they come Wee know it is a great help in warre to know the quarters orders of enemies that so a man may order his according thereunto So wee must know where the Divell and our corruptions lye quartered know what be the haunts of our wretched harts so order the helps God hath put into our hands for the resisting of them 2. That the Lord as it were would entrench about us if wee bee not foretold of the enemies that if wee should not see sinne to prevent it yet that God would lay some heavy impediment upon us and build some trench about us that wee may not commit those evills wee are tempted unto that though hee doth not reveale the policy of Sathan yet that hee would lay some snares that wee may not commit that sin which otherwise wee would doe and this is a marvellous mercy Gen. 20.7 Abimelech tooke Sarah and thought she had been Abrahams sister as hee himselfe told him and no question hee had a purpose to take her to be his wife but the Lord laid an impediment the LORD kept Abimelech from Sarah hee tooke off the edge of his desire and laid a barre betweene them Hos 2.6.7 The Church was running after her abominations now how did the Lord prevent her The text saith I will hedge thy wayes with thornes and build a wall about thee the lovers were corruptions and the following of them was the eager pursuite of thē Now God hedges the wayes with thornes that is hee layes afflictions on her that she had no liberty to sinne so that shee hath enough to doe to mind her owne miseries sometimes a man is addicted to base company and then the Lord layes sicknesse upon him to prison him and keep him from that sinne this is Mercy 3. The Lord puts armour and weapons on them to fight against their enemies that are opposite to his grace and children Ephe. 6. from the 10. to the 18. bee yee strengthned in all might putting on all spirituall abilities to bee strengthned in every good worke God saith hee covers the head of his 1. Pet. 15. God keepes them by the power of his grace God gives his the whole armour the sword of faith the brest plate of righteousnes to quench the firy darts of Sathan and to resist him 4. God gives a dominion over and a conquest of all our enemies and over all our victorious corruptions hee gives a happy issue and successe with the fight hee gives issues with the victory Rev. 1.6 hee hath made us Kings that is hee hath given us a Kingly authority over all our corruptions So Rom. 6. sinne shall not have dominion over you and Psal 119.133 Let no iniquity have dominion over mee thus the Lord assists his in trouble 3. As wee pray that the Lord would prevent the occasions of evill and if they come to assist us in them So lastly if we bee foyled and brought under by the temptations of Sathan and our owne corruption that the Lord would rescue us from thē that have had too much power over us and too too much prevailed against us This wee know was the request and desire of the Prophet David Psal 39. O spare me that I may recover strength before I goe away hence and bee no more seene as who should say my base lusts are too strong for mee These hands were stout but now feeble therefore good Lord give mee that former strength his sins were as sickenesse therefore hee saith I knew the time when I had a broken heart for my transgression but now a hardned therefore O Lord spare mee a little while before I goe hence and be no more seene that I may recover my former zeale and strength againe Rom. 8.2 The law of the spirit of life in Christ hath made mee free from