2. Carefull prouision for their soules bodies praying with their families dayly Ps. 127. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 4. 5. Ier. 10. 25. 3. Paying their wages duely with the better Iob. 31 38. 39. 11. Seruants dueties 1. Faithfulnes for their maisters profit with al wisdom as Iacob Eliezer Ioseph 2. Subiection in seruice abiding correction as the Angell bids Hagar Gen. 16. 8. 9. 12. Schoolemasters duties 1. Practising painfully constantly most profitable courses Rom. 12. 7. for the speedier furnishing their schollars 1. Cor. 12. 31 14. 12. with the best learning manners to the greatest good of the 1. Schollers 2. Church 3. Countrie 2. Drawing them on to loue and honest emulation Eph. 6. 4. with rewards Col. 3. 21. vsing moderate correction abhorring crueltie Pro. 12. 10. 3. Indeuouring especially to bee a patterne to them of all vertue Psal. 101. 2 ◠Tim. 4. 12. as being alwaies in their eyes so to procure more true reuerence to themselues blessing to their schollers 13. Schollers duties 1. Strife to excell their fellowes in 1. Learning 1. Cor. 12. 31. 14. 12. 2. Manners 3. Obedience Phil. 4. 8. 9. 4. Loue to their master 6 Commandement Thou shalt not kill commanding by all meanes to preserue life of body Soule Here we are to examine how we indeauour to performe all these duties with more conscience 1. Which may preserue or make this present life more comfortable 1. Procuring and vsing al helpes therunto as holesome diet and clothing 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Holy mirth reioycing in al our labours and at all times in the Lord. Pro. 14. 30. 15. 15. 17. 22. And this by keeping alway a good conscience which is a continuall feast Phil. 4. 4. for the ioy of the Lord is our strength causing good health 2. Co. 1. 12. Neh. 8. 10. Eccl. 3. 12. 13. and a principal part of our portion in this life Rom. 14. 17. and of the begining of the kingdome of heauen Rom. 13. 4. Pro. 22. 3. 3. Seeking all holy meanes of refuge against all violence and danger as our Sauiour especially flying to the Christian Magistrate as to Gods lieutenant 4. Helpe of the Phisitian and surgeon Mat. 9. 12. 5. Exercise 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Auoyding as warily all things hurtfull and perillous as 1. All contagious diseases Pro. 22. 3 2. All euill purposes of offering violence to our selues or naughtie wishes vpon discontentment 1. Pet. 5. 8. 9 and therein flying all prouocations Iam. 4. 7. furtherances and occasions thereof Gen. 3. especiall solitarinesse or reasoning with the temptation or any way harkening thereunto 3. Rash aduentures without a warrantable calling Mat. 4. 6 7. 4. Worldly grief Pr. 17. 22. which dryeth vp the bones and causeth death 2. Cor. 7. 10 5. Anger and enuy which are the rotting of the bones Pr. 14. 30. 6. Surfetting intemperance and excesse which kill more then the sword Pro. 23. 29. 30. being causes of innumerable diseases and griefes 7. Prouoking others to the hurt of our selues as Iosiah did to the king of Egypt 2. Chr. 35. ◠20. 21 22 23 24. 2. Concerning the life and comfort of our neighbour 1. Earnestly seeking peace with all men so farre as is possible as Abraham and Dauid And to this end labouring to attaine to these vertues which are most auaileable to gaine loue euen from our very enemies do much adorne Christianitie 1. Curtesie without dissimulation as Abraham to the Hithits 2. Meekenesse in suffering forgiuing and forgeting wrongs leauing vengance to God Rom. 12. 19. Eph. 4. 32. 3. Labouring to ouercome enemies by kindnesse Rom. 12. 20 21. seeking occasions to gratifie thē at least praying for thē that they may obtaine mercye and haue their hearts changed 4. Dealing iustly with all that we may weare their reproach as a crown as Iob. Samuel Iob. 29 31. 5. Abounding in compassion and good workes as our Sauiour 6. Aduenturing boldly for their defence and deliuerance and much more for the Church of GOD and our country as Abraham for Lot Dauid for Israel 7. Offering seeking reconciliatiō where it may stand with the credit of the Gospell the saluation of the party and others Mat. 5. 23. 24. 2. Auoyding as carefully all occasions of the contrary as 1. In heart Vnaduised anger Eph. 4. 27. whereby wee first giue place to the Deuill to enter into our hearts 2 Malice or hatred 1. Ioh. 3. 12 which is murther before God especially Cains hatred for the good things we see in men although we pretend other causes of our hatred This is the ordinary sin of the world Mat. 10. 22. Ioh. 15. 19. 1. In wordes 1. Bralling and rayling as Shemey and Rabsakey 2. Crying out against others or reuiling vncharitably Eph. 4. 31. 3. Threatning or skoffing at thē Esay 58. 9. 2. In deeds 1. Fighting blowes maymes danger Leuit. 24. 19. 2◠2. Crueltie 1. Punishing vnmercifully Deut. 25. 3. 2. Oppressing the poore to make them wearie of their liues Iere. 22. 17. Tit. 14. 2. Titus 3.2 3. Denying helpe or reliefe as the priest and Leuite Luke 10. 31. 32. 4. Betraying other as Iudas 3. Sheading innocent bloud Gen. 4. 8. which defileth the land and cryeth for vengeance Num. 35 33. By 1. A weapon as Ioab slew Abner 2. Sam. 2. Poyson inchantment destroying the conception or any secret practise Num. 35. 31. 3. Consent as Saul to Stephens death 1. King 2. 31. 4. Sauing the wilfull murtherer 2. Concerning our soules or spirituall life wee are to examine how we increase in care 1. For the sauing our owne soules by 1. Walking more warily in this narrow way of life Pro. 16. 17. 2. Auoyding all those things which tend to the destroying of our soules that so much more carefully as the soule is more excellent then the bodie eternal life then this and eternal death more fearefull as 1. To liue in any one knowne sin Rom. 6. 23. for the wages of the least is death eternall Gal. 3. 12. will certainly destroy the soule Psa. 34. 12. 13 14. if it be liued in with delight Pro. 11. 19. Ezek. 18. 11. Iam. 2. 10. Mat. 5. 19. 1. Iohn 3. 8. 2. To neglect any meanes ordayned to saluation Heb. 2. 3. as hearing the word preached ordinarily c. whereby men become dead Apoc. 3. 1. hauing a name to liue or at least loose their ioy or feeling Psa. 51. 10. 11. 12. 2. Concerning the saluation of others 1. Taking euery occasion which the Lord offereth for procuring or furthering the saluation of others 1. Cor. 10. 33. and so pleasing all in that which is good to edifie Pro. 11. 30. because he that winneth soules is wise Dan. 12. 3. and shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euermore Iam. 4. 17. but hee that
marking the text and how they were gathered out of it 4. Proofes of the seuerall doctrines 5. Vses 6. Applying it better to our selues trying what worke euery part had in vs. 2. Conferring of the same in the same order with our families or others The benefit whereof is most euident by experience both herein and in euery trade and science for those who conferre most Mal. 3. 16. are euer most expert besides that hereby the godly do kindle zeale in one another Luk. 24. 14 and contrarily without it are made drowsie and vnprofitable hearers Mar. 4. 25. letting Sathan steale away the seede out of their hearts Mat. 13. 19. 3. Meditation vpon the creatures 1. Generally to behold the Lord in euery one of them Rom. 1. 10. that is his 1. wisdome 2. Power 3. goodnes 4. prouideÌ„ce 2. Specially by considering these things more fully in their seueral ends and vses or as the Scriptures apply them 4. Priuate reading scriprures holy bookes 5. Singing Psalmes Acts 8. 28. 17. 11. Iam. 5. 13. 6. Excercising then principally the workes of mercy visiting others by 1. Instructing 2. Exhorting 3. Admonishing 4 Reprouing 5. Comforting 6. Collecting 7. Relieuing Auoyding as warily all the breaches of the Sabath as 1. Doing any worke more then holy and necessarie whether taking iourneyes as to sayres wakes or whatsoeuer for pleasure profit Esa. 58. 13. 14. 2. All vaine delights and sports hindring godlinesse immoderate feeding or whatsoeuer may make vs heauie or vnfit for the seruice of God Rom. 12. 11. Deut. 28. 47. 3. That ordinarie good fellowship in tipling vaine talke void of edification Eph. 4 29. much more all open profanesse Col. 4. 6. The 2. Table commaunding dewties of loue to our neighbour 5. Commaundement Honor thy father and thy mother c. wherein the Lord takes order for preseruing the honour and dignitie which he hath bestowed vpon euery one Here we are to examine how wee performe these duties 1. Towards Superiors 1. Honour belonging to theÌ„ 2. Obedience belonging to theÌ„ Ro. 13. 1. 7. 1. Pe. 2. 13. 14. 3. Thankfull requiring at least in 1. Acknowledgment 1. Sam. 10. 26. 2. Hearty affection 2. SaÌ„ 21. 17 3. Prayer 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2 2. Towards Equalls 1. Reuerent estimation as of brethren or sisters RoÌ„ 12. 10. preferring them before our selues 3. Towards our selues 1. Mainteinance of our reputation according to our places Phil. 4. 8. walking vprightly in euery duty to grace our professioÌ„ For our honor is in this walking religiously towards God righteously towards men soberly in regard of our selues and so without reproofes Tit. 2. 12. 4. Towards Inferiours 1. Shining before them in a holy conuersation with all grauity according to our place Mat. 11. 29 as our Sauiour and Paul Phil. 3. 17. 2. Yeelding to them in good things as Naaman 2 Kings 5. 13 14 3. Afraid to wrong or despise the basest of them as Iob. Iob. 31. 13. 1 Magistrates speciall dueties 1. Promoting the religion of God with all their power Ezr. 7. 23. ad 27. defacing the contrary and discountenancing all vngodlinesse 2. Chr. 15. 12. 13. as Dauid Iehosaphat Hezekiah Iosia Nehemiah Nehem. 13. 17. and 22. 2. Procuring each way the good of the people committed to them as tender nursing fathers repressing the wicked Esay 49. 23. Rom. 13. 4. Being 1. Men of courage 2. Fearing God 3. Dealing truely 4. Hating couetousnesse Exo. 18. 21 5. No accepters of persons Deut. 1. 17. 2 Dueties of them that are vnder authority 1. Acknowledgement of the authority from God though the persoÌ„ should be wicked as Dauid of Saule yea an infidell as our Sauiour of Caesar. 2. Paying performing chearefully vnto them all subsidies seruices and dewe impositions Mat. 22. 21. Ro. 13. 6. 7. 3. Excelling in any guifts outward inward 1. That our hearts be not puffed vp by them Deut. 17. 20. but that wee acknowledge them to be from God and so bee more humbled by them as hauing more to be accountable for Luke 12. 48. giuing God all the glory as Iacob Gen. 32. 9. 2. That we imploy them carefully Mat. 25. 26. 27. as may be most to Gods glorie Iob. 29. 12. 13. 31. and the benefit of his people as Iob. The primitiue Church Acts 2. 44. 45. 4. 32. 4. Ministers duties 1. Waiting for a lawfull calling Heb. 5. 4. 2. Applying their guifts as may bee most to Gods honour the good of their people 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. watching ouer euery one faithfully by teaching admonishing exhorting comforting publickly priuatly Acts 20. 20. 31. 3. Labouring to go before them in all holy ensample 1. Pet. 5. 3. in conuersation and sufferings 1. Tim. 3 4. both in themselues and familie 2. Tim. 3. 10. afraid of giuing the least offence but framing themselues to all 1. Cor. 9. 19. 20. 22. to become all to all viz. in all things in their power the more easily to win all 5. Peoples duties towards their pastor 1. Submission Heb. 13. 17 to be taught and guided by him Iohn 10. 4. 27. knowing his voyce imitating as Christs sheepe his holy doctrine and conuersation 2 Giuing him double honour Gal. 4. 14. 15. as the Galathians to Paul with all necessaries Gal. 6. 6 1 Cor. 9. 6. 7. 8. 3. Not following strangers Ioh. 10. 5. 6. Husbands duties 1. Wise gouernment as the head and Christ ouer the Church honoring the wife as the weaker vessell Gen. 3. 16. especially in couering and bearing with her infirmities as Abraham 1. Pet. 3. 7. 2. Tender loue as in Christ towards his church Eph. 5. 25. Pro. 5. 18. 19. 3. Good husbandry in prouiding wisely al necessaries for the hole house and dispensing them aright 1. Tim. 5. 8 7. Wiues speciall dueties 1. Subiection to her husband as to her head and as the church to Christ Eph. 5. 22. 24. Gen. 3. 16. 2. Loyalty or faithfull loue Pro. 5. 19. desirous to giue al holy contentment to her husband 3. Helpe for this better life Genesis 2. 18. 8. Parents duties 1. Education of their children in the feare of God Eph. 6. 4. some honest trade painfully 2. prouision for children for time present to come and so taking care by wil to leaue their houses in order 2. kin 20. 1. else they are worse then infidells 1. Tim. 5. 8. 3. Moderate correction by word Pro. â—3 14. 22. rod. 15. 23. 13. 29. 15. 9. Childrens duties 1. Reuerent and louing obedience Eph. 6. 1. Psa. 127. 4. 5. 2. Thankfull requiting By 1. Being a crowne to their pareÌ„ts by their good behauiour Prou. 17. 6. so coÌ„forting them 2. Ayding them as Ioseph 3. Carefull for their honour in life death 10. Maisters dueties 1. Dealing equally with their seruaÌ„ts as hauing themselues a maister in heauen as Iob. Eph. 6. 9. Iob. 31. 13.
a marke of an vngodly man for the godly should owe nothing but loue and that to euery one Psal. 37. 21. Rom. 13. 8. 4. The hirelings wages a sinne crying for vengeance Iam. 5. 4. Ier. 22. 13. 14. 5. Thinges found if wee can know the owner Leu. 6. 23. Deut. 12. 1. 6. That which we haue vniustly gotten from others and not making restitution thereof with the better if wee be able as Zachaeus Phil. 4. 8. Leu. 6. 1. ad 8. Luke 19. 8. 5. Theftes whereby we rob our selues and those who depend vpon vs disabling vs to performe the duties which wee owe to them and others 1. Vnthriftines not regarding to saue that which God hath giuen but wasting without reason or regard vppon lewde companions or vaine delights as the prodigall sonne Luk. 15. 13. 2 Eph. 4. 28. Liuing inordinately without painfulnes in our calling the Pismire shall condemne such vnprofitable seruants Prou. 6. 6. 3. Rash suretishippe without regard of the circumstances so oft forbidden by the wise Salomon Pro. 17. 18. 6. Other ordinarie thefts in getting goods by vnlawfull meanes 1. Remouing our neighbours markes or bounds to inlarge our owne which is accursed Deu. 27 17. 2. Vncharitable inclosure to the hurt of the common wealth or of any one without sufficiēt satisfactiō for which the Lord threatneth a wo. Esa. 5. 8. 3. Peruerting the law or corrupting iudgement by bribes friendship or craft to wring the poore as Iezabell did Naboth for his vineyard 4. Man-stealing viz. stealing away or inticing children or seruants a farre worse theft then stealing any goodes inasmuch as these are more precious 1 Tim. 1. 9. 10. 5. Practise of vnlawfull arts as such as haue no warrant by the lawe of God or nature as magicke coniuring playing the wiseman for no such ought to be found amongst Gods people being abhominable to the Lord. Deu. 18. 9. 10. 11. 12. 6. Gaming for more then we may cōueniently spend or could be cōtent to giue especially at vnlawfull games or vnfit times Phil. 4. 8. or falsely A matter of badde report to the hurt of our selues or our neighbour or both accompanied commonly with many disorders brawles grudges couetousnesse oaths fraud and the like 7. Falsifiyng the will of the dead a sin against the Lawe of nature Gal. 3. 19. 8. Pilfering the least matter or cosening 1. Thes. 4. 6 for God is the auenger of all such things 9. Conspiring or any way fauouring or consenting to any such fact he that doth this hateth his owne soule Pro. 29. 24. 9. Command Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour inioyning vs to seeke all means to maintaine our own good name and our neighbours 1. For our owne good name wee are to examine how we grow 1. Seeking a good name by liuing religiously walking in al the commandements of God without reproofe Luk. 1. 6. as Zacharie and Elizabeth Act. 10. 1 Cornelius Act. 16. 1. 2. Timothic a yong man Pro. 10. 7. For the memoriall of the iust being as a pretious ointment shall bee blessed but the name of the wicked shall rotte Eccl. 7. 3. 2. Keeping narrow watch against euery sinne continually because euery fault is to the godly man Eccl. 10. 1. as the dead flie marring the sweetest oyntment a litle leuen to the whole lumpe besides the malice of Sathan and the wicked to blaze vs blaspheme our religiō for any one fault passing by al the good things in vs as in Dauid for Vriah 2. Sam. 12. 14. Euen this is a staine to the worthiest kings of Iuda that yet the high places were not taken away 3. Seeking in euery thing Gods glorie alone and not our owne more then for him for then hee will giue vs glorie aboundātly but seeking our own glory he will turne it into shame 1. Sa. 2. 30. 4. Carefull to iudge and speake the best of all other professing godlinesse for God will cause others to measure so to vs againe Eccl. 7. 24. Mat. 7. 2. 5. Vsing but few and wise speeches for in many wordes are much vanitie Pro. 10. 19 but such speech in due time are like apples of gold with pictures of siluer Pro. 25. 11. 6. Striuing to cheerefulnesse and affability in all our speeches as our Sauiour Matth. 11. 17. 19. 7 Indeuoring to be sincere in word and deed abhorring dissembling so we shall haue the commendation of Nathaniel euen of the wicked at least in their heartes to be right Christians in whome is no guile Ioh. 1. 47. 2. Concerning our Christian neighbours good name whereby God is glorified 1. Reioycing at it as Iohn for the elect Ladie and her children 2. Ioh. 1. 4. 2. Defending their credit by publike or priuate testimony according to our perswasion of them as our Sauiour did of Iohn and of his owne disciples they againe giuing testimony to him Mat. 11. 2. 7. 3. Gladly acknowledging all the gifts of God in them as our Sauiour of the 7. Churches and Paul of the Christians to whom he writ 4. Couering their faulty so much as we may without sin as Shem and Iaphet their fathers nakednes for which they are blessed yet not approuing of the least of their sinnes but seeking priuately in all loue the reformation of them Eph. 5. 11. 5. Readily receiuing euery good report of them for that is the nature of true loue Act. 16. 3. yet not committing our selues ouer hastely vnto them 1. Cor. 13. 7. vntill sufficient triall Ioh. 2. 24 as our Sauiour 6. Expounding each doubtfull matter in the better part if there be any probability thereof as Iacob the death of Ioseph and his dreames for loue thinketh not euill 1. Cor. 13. 7. 7. Shewing a dislike to whisperers and talebearers which wil driue away the slaundering tongue Psa. 15. 3. Pro. 25. 23. 8. Vsing all good meanes for the mainteinance of the good name of euery one professing the feare of God by admonishing exhorting or directing them in loue and wisdome by our selues and others Abhorring these contrary vices 1. Enuie at the worthy credit of any as the pharisyes against our Sauiour 2. Euill suspition without euident cause as the Barbarians against Paul Act. 28. 4. 3. Itching eares to heare our owne commendations with the discredit of others or at least to be flattered as Ahab by the false prophets 4. Speeches sauouring of malice or disdaine at the credit of others as Corah and the Pharisies 5 Boasting seeking our owne glory though with the disparagement of others as the proud Pharisie 6. Vncharitable iudgeing of others for some slipps infirmities euill reports crosses or some other accident as Hely of Hanna Iobs friendes of him to be an hypocrite much more to iudge so for good things or such as may be well taken as the Pharisies of our Sauiour eating with the Publicans 7. Aggrauating small faults or slaūders without care to couer or amend them 8. Reporting
together with this comfort I both perceiue all the creatures thus ready to helpe me Exod. 16. 25. 35. 17. 6. especially in time of triall when ordinary meanes fayle 2. Tim 4. 5. and also feele a holy care wrought in mee to vse the creatures aright sanctifying them by the word and prayer Eph. 2. 6. and that my affections are sette on heauenly things Col. 3. 2. 2. Article And in Iesus 1. This is my faith Psal. 51. 5. 1. 39. 1◠that though I am guiltie of innumerable sinnes both originall and actuall euen the breach of the whole law Rom. 3. 10. 11. 13. 19. 20. 21. 22. and euery part thereof and so am worthy to bee damned and haue al the plagues of God dewe to my sinne cast vpon me 2. Tim. 2. 26. yea though I was a bondslaue to sin and Sathan yet I beleeue that Iesus is my Sauiour Luke 4. 18. hath deliuered me from al my sins both the guilt satisfactory punishment of them Psal. 1. 21. as also from the power of sinne and Sathan Iob. 1. 29. Rom. 6. 12. 14. 2. This saith is my comfort and moreouer that all my sinnes and enemies shall not hinder my saluation Rom. 8. 39. 3. This is also for my ful assurance thereof Luk. 1. 47. because besides that I feele my soule reioycing in God my Sauiour I perceiue my selfe also deliuered from the tyranny of Sathan and power of sinne euen of those sinnes which before led me captiue Rom. 6. 12. so that no sinne hath any more dominion ouer mee Rom. 7. 24. 25. that I doe serue it in the lusts thereof and for that I am withall deliuered from the terrors of conscience for my sinne Christ. 1. This is my faith Dan. 9. 24. that though I was in the kingdome of darknesse a stranger from God by my sinne yet Christ was anoynted for me with all the gifts of the spirit to bee my mediatour my King Heb. 1. 9. Priest Psal. 45. 7. Prophet Mat. 23. 10. Act. 3. 22. 23. Apoc. 1. 5. 2. This is my cōfort Col 1. 13. Ioh. 10. 28. 29 30. that he being my king hath and will fully deliuer mee from the kingdome of Satan giue vnto mee his heauenly kingdom Rom. 3. 24. 25. Secondly being my Priest hath first recōciled mee to his father 1. Ioh 2. 1. by the sacrifice of himselfe Heb. 7. 25 9. 24. and keepes me since in fauour by his perpetuall intercession Thirdly being my Prophet Rom. 8. 34. will proceede to teach me all the will of his father necessary to eternall life Heb. 8 10. 11. 3. This is for my assurance hereof Apo. 1. 6. because I feele my selfe to haue receiued of the anoynting of euery one of these from Christ the fruit of them 1. Cor. 9. 27 1. of his kingdome 1 Ioh. 3. 3. inabling me to begin nor onely to subdue my synnes euill affections but also to rule so sar ouer my selfe as to bring my verye thoughts and all committed vnto mee into some obedience to Christ. 2. Cor. 10. 5 2. Of his Priesthood whereby I am made able to offer to the Lord my selfe 1. Pet. 2. 5 supplications Rom. 12. 1. thankes and works of mercy Heb. 13. 15 16. with all that I haue to serue him 3 Of his Prophesy Rō 15. 16. making mee to growe in the knowledge of himselfe 2. Ioh. 2. 20. 27. and in care to instruct others therein Ioh. 6. 45. His onely sonne 1. This is my faith that hee beeing the onely sonne of the Father by nature Ga. 4. 4. 5. 6 hath made mee a child and heire by the grace of adoption Eph. 2. 3. who was by nature a child of wrath and perdition 2. This comfort I finde herein Gal. 4. 7. that to mee belongs the inheritāce of Gods sonnes Rom. 8. 17. Gal. 47. Rom. 8. 17. 3. This also is for my assurance for that he hath sent the spirit of his sonne into my heart whereby I can call him father with comfort which is my witnesse and seale Romans 8 16. 2. Cor 1. 22. Our Lord 1. This is my faith Ga. 4. 5. 6. 7 that though I was vnder the Prince of darkenesse 1. Pet. 1. 19. hauing Sathan my Lord Ioh. 10. 29 vntill I belieued in Christ yet since I am Christs and he is my onely Lord By 1. Purchase with his bloud 2. Gift from his father Ephe. 5. 32. 3. marriage cōtracted to be cōsumate at his appearing Hos. 2. 20. 2. This is my comfort that being thus purchased and giuen to him as a peculiar guift Ioh. 10. 28. I shall neuer perish and being thus contracted to Christ my Lord the bond thereof is in such faithfulnesse Hos. 2. 19. as shal neuer be dissolued vntill I be brought into the bride-chamber and fully glorified 3. This increaseth my assurance for that together with this comfort Apoc. 5. 9. 24. 4. I feele my selfe redeemed from the earth viz. my earthly conuersation doe delight to heare the voice of my bridegroome 3. Article Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary 1. This is my faith that though I was conceiued in sinne Psal. 51. 5. and borne in iniquitie and so corrupted in all the parts both of my soule and body yet that both the conception birth and whole nature of Christ my Sauiour Rom. 8. 2. 3 was fully sanctified by being vnited to his Godhead Luke 1. 35. to bee imputed vnto mee 2. This is my comfort that my God hath giuen me this holines of his son 2. Co. 5. 21. as a robe to couer all my sinfulnes Phil. 3. 9. and wherby I doe both presently and shal euer stand most gloriously in Gods sight chiefly at the great day 3. This is my further assurance hereof because I can mourne for this totall corruption in mee and being humbled in the fense of it Rom. 7. 14. 15. 18. 23. 24. am driuen daily to put on Christ by faith and for that I feele also the newe birth in me by a change begun in all the powers both of my bodie and soule Rom. 7. 22. wrought by vertue hereof since I was conceiued and borne in the Church by the power of the holy Ghost 4. Article Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 13. that besides all the euills which my Sauiour indured for mee in all the course of his life he also indured that most shamefull and accursed death which I had deserued to satisfie his fathers instice for me to pacifie his wrath towards mee 2. This is my comfort hence Gal. 3. 13. that I am deliuered from the curse of the law he beeing thus accursed for mee that whatsoeuer sufferings I
indure in this life are sanctified hereby to be to me Fatherly 1. Exercises 2. Chastisements 3. Trialls 4. Fulfilling of Christs afflictions 5. Meanes to confirme mee to Christ my head Rom. 5. 3 Heb. 12. 11 6 7 8. Apo. 3. 10. Col. 1. 24. Rom. 8. 29. 6. Examples to others 3. This also warrants the soundnes of my faith herein Gal. 6. 14. 1. Because I feele my selfe to profit in Christianity by my afflictions and crosses Psa. 119. 67 71. 2. I desire to take pleasure in such suffrings for Christs sake 2 Cor. 12. 20. 3. Because the old man in mee beginnes to bee crucified with Christ Gal Phi. 1. 29. 2. 19. 5. 24. Dead 1. This is my faith 1. Cor. 15 55. 56. 57. that Christ hath died for my sin and by dying hath ouer come death and so taken away the sting thereof that it cannot hurt any of those that beleeue in him 2. This comfort I finde hereupon that death shal be so far off from hurting mee Phi. 1. 23. 2. Cor. 5. 1. 2. that it is already sanctified by this death of my Sauiour to be to mee the gate of life 3. This also increaseth my assurance that my faith is sound herein because I finde together with this comfort that euery sinne hath receiued his deaths wounde in me each beginning to dye and for that I feele a power by Gal. 2. 19. Christs death Phil. 3. 10. to triumph against the terrors of death Col. 3 2. waiting for it when I haue finished my course Phil. 1. 21. 23. wishing to bee dissolued and to bee with Christ. Rom. 7. 24. And buried 1. This is my faith that Christ was buried for me both to assure me of the certaintie of his death for me and that all my sinnes are buried in his graue yea withall to bury sinne in mee Rom. 6. 3. 4 and to sanctifie my graue to bee a sweete bedde for my body to rest in vntill the resurrection Esay 57. 2. 2. This very faith is my ioy and moreouer that my sinnes thus buried shal neuer come into remembrance to accuse or condemne mee Rom. 8. 34. 35. or to hinder Gods euerlasting mercy loue from me 3. This also furthers my assurance for that together with this ioy I feele many sinnes buried in me Col. 2. 11. 12. and consuming daily by the vertue of this death and buriall of my Sauiour especially Rom. 7. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. the strength and delight I tooke in euery sinne He descended into hell 1. This is my faith that Christ suffered not only in his body the punishment due to my body but in his soule also the tormēt due to my soule which I should haue indured for euermore Mar. 14. 33. 34. and that not onely vppon the crosse Luke 22. 44. but also in the garden as appeareth by his speeches his pravers Heb. 5. 7. his crie his agony and bloody sweate and so hath for me triumphed ouer hell 2. This is my comfort that though I stood euer in danger of eternal death for all my sinnes yet now by my Sauiour I am deliuered from the terrours thereof Heb. 2. 15. 3. This is further for my assurance hereof Ioh. 3. 14. 15. for that I haue receiued comfort in this onely Num. 21. ◠euen then when the paines of hell haue gotten hold vpon mee for my sinnes and because I feele a desire to saue others also from that place of torment by leading them to this my Sauiour Ioh. 3. 18. 36. and haue now entred the narrow way to heauen following my Sauiour therein Mat 7. 13. 14. hauing left the broad way going to destruction 5. Article The third day he rose again from the dead 1. This is my faith that my Sauiour hath fully satisfied the iustice of his father for my sinn euen to the vttermost farthing Rom. 4. 25. in that he rose againe because any one sin of his elect not satisfied for had kept him in death 1. Cor. 15. 15. 56. 57. seeing he tooke vpon him to become surety for them all 2. This is my ioye that thorough him I am iustified and stand as righteous in the sight of my God all my sins being vtterly done away Rom. 4. 25. and couered hereby 3. This helpeth my assurance hereof for that besides this comfort Eph. 2. 5. 6. I feele my selfe also raysed vp to a desire of a perfect holinesse Phil. 3. 10. Apo. 20. 5. 6. 6. Article He ascended into heauen 1. This is my faith that when my Sauiour had fulfilled all things in the earth for the redeeming of his church he went vp into heauen Luk. 24. 51 both to prepare the way Act. 1. 9. and also to take possession and to keepe it for mee Ioh. 14. 2. 2. This is my ioy that none can hinder mee from thence Ioh. 17. 24 but where my Sauiour and head is there shall I bee also This ratifieth my assurance for that my affections are already ascended beeing set on things that are aboue Col. 3. 2. And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty 1. This is my faith Mat. 28. 18 that my Sauiour hath all power giuen him ouer all sorts Iohn 17. 2 to giue eternall life to whom he will Eph 4. 8. 10 and condemne the rest sittes as King at the right hand of his Father filling his Church with his gifts guiding it by his word and spirit vntill he haue glorified it Esa. 54. 10 59. 21. and subdued all his enemies 1. Cor. 15 24. 25. conuincing them by the light of Nature his workes 1. creatures 2. iudgmēts 3. mercies word 2. This is my comfort that he will guide me by his word spirit continually Phil. 1. 6. ouer-rule whatsoeuer Sathā or the wicked can doo against mee 1. Pet. 1. 5 to serue for my good Esa. 8. 16 against thēselues 3. This is also for my further assurance herein because I feele my selfe desirous to be guided by the direction of his holye spirit speaking in the word and moreouer Esa. 30. 21. I heare a voyce behind mee saying This is the way Esa. 59. 21. walke in it when I turne to the right hand or to the left 7. Article From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead 1. This is my faith Ioh. 5. 22. that my Sauiour shal come to be the iudge of the whole world Ro. 14. 10. to iudge euery one according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. 10 2. This is my ioy that though I did and doo naturally quake so oft as I heare or thinke of the terrible iudgement Act. 24. 26 yet remembring the iudge 2. Thes. 1. 10. who hath by himselfe satisfied for all my sinnes so taking them on himselfe and giuen me his owne absolute righteousnesse I can