richly in all wisdom In some 't is scanty in others 't is not in wisdom though they have variety of Scriptures in their mouths 147. To abstain from grosse Sinns to live civilly to have the shew of Holiness will not serve except we have the power of Godliness 148. He that makes the barren Woman a joyful Mother of Children can make our barren Hearts fruitful in Graces 149. We are as Meat in Summer If it hath not Salt it will stink so unless we have Grace we shall stink before God 150 We are commanded to be Students and all our Study must be for Quietness here and for eternal rest hereafter ponder 2 Thes 4.11 Heb. 4.11 151. When we come to meditate we should first pray to God to tie up Sathan and inable us to minde the onely thing which we are about 152. Reverend Preachers have the tongue of the Learned Isa 50. We should go to such to resolve our Doubts Pride or Ignorance causes the Neglect of this 153. When we see Others of our Rank go before us in Grace we must think they have been more earnest in Prayer then we have been 154. Recreation to our Labour should be moderate like Salt unto our Meat 155. A miserable thing for a man to outlive his Happiness A Wicked man at the End of this Life all his Happiness is gone 156. Our Faith must be examined by our Consolation and Sanctification 157. The tallest Trees have their Roots deepest in the Earth and the greatest men have most earthly Mindes 158. The Grasse-hopper in the Storm flies to the Hedge for Succour but when the Sun shines hopps away so do many in Adversity flee to the Lord but in Prosperity run from Him 159. Set your hearts on your way Hagg. 1.5 We must like Travellers keep our selves in the right way and mind it Set your hearts on your way 160. It must be Death or Villany that makes me cast off an old Friend 161. The ancient Patriarks not affecting gorgeous Buildings were contented to dwell in Tents Heb. 11.9 10. See ch 13.14 162. Our whole Life should be a Life of Faith 2 Cor. 5 7. Gal. 2.20 1 Pet. 1.5 Hab. 2.4 The Just shall live by Faith 163. Faith overcomes all Difficulties in Gods service viz. That may hinder our Obedience Gen. 12.1 to 6. Jos 6.6 Judg. 7.7 Luk. 5.4 5. 164. Outward Worship the Devil may have but I desire to worship God in Spirit and Truth as Joh. 4.34 165. Our God a consuming Fire Our God our good and merciful God a consuming Fire to the wicked 2 Cor. 1.3 Heb. 10.31 and ch 12. ult 166. He that now mokes the Child of God shall one Day be made a laughing-stock to God Men and Angels if unrepentant 167. When once we have felt the power of godliness the Sabbath will not be a burthen to us 168. When I have sinned I find my self troubled in Mind Blessed be God for this Trouble I were miserable without it 169. When publick means fail we must be more earnest in using private as Barge-men labour with Oares when the Wind serves not the Sail. 170. In this World are good men and bad In Heaven all good in Hell all bad 171. Goods be so called not that they make a man good but in regard that he may do good with them 172. We sin oftenest in Company and at Meats Lord let thy Grace assist me when I have most need of thy help 173. Onely by Pride comes Contention I will labour for Humility so shall I have much Peace and Quietness 174. God is wonderful in All his works but the common Vse and Sight of them makes us forget Admiration 175. Worldly men like Spunges all their Life-time receiving in goods at Death All wrung out 176. I am still employed about my Trade but Lord teach me the Trade of my Way the Way of thy Statutes 177. They that reject the Word of the Lord have no wisdom they then that embrace Gods Word are truly-wise 178. The way to an holy Life is not to go from the Company of Men but by labouring to be a new Man 179. Adams Estate was not so good as a regenerate mans Estate for he has a Mediatour which Adam had not 180. We bid our Children not come neer the Brink of the River we our Selves should avoid the Occasions of Sin 181. Psal 55.21 Because they have no Changes therefore they fear not God This makes their Prosperity their ruine 182. In evil Company I am brought to consider Sathans Malice in those where he rules and Gods Mercy in drawing Me from a natural Estate 183. I have a thousand things to grieve for a thousand things to rejoyce in For my Life is spent in the Entercourse of these two 184. I see many men have good civil Parts but are unsavoury for want of true Grace 185. The Devil believes because he feels Wicked men will not believe till they feel 186. Those that fight a single Combate are contrary to Christ Christ died to save mens Lives these live to take away mens Lives 187. The Baptizing of Children the holy Trinity the Catholick Church the Sabbath of the New Testament with many other things be proved by Consequence not expressed directly in Syllables 188. The way to get honor is to honor God but most men take a contrary Course 189. The forgetfulnesse of Gods Presence the main cause of all Sin and Wickedness the Perswasion of Gods Presence the Ground of true Holiness and Obedience 190. When I consider Gods Mercies when I consider my Sins I say 'T is thy Goodness I am no destroyed 191. Christ is Alpha and Omega Be not like the worldling to make him Omega only but let him be to thee Alpha begin all things in his Name 192. In the things of this World we chose the best So we should in Spirituals The best God the best Book the best Company the best Knowledg herein we are Wise or Fools in our Choice 193. In Prayer we must have a Feeling of our wants and Earnestness Earnestness makes our Prayer availeable 194. A man may be banisht from good Books and good company but never from private Prayer 195. Envy is Contrary to Charity it weeps at others Prosperity and rejoyces at others Adversity 196. Jer. 6.16 Enquire for the old way not the old Religion of cursed Antichrist but the way of the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles the way of Holiness 197. Job 22.30 The innocent deliver the Island but the wicked pull down Gods judgments with violence Add Strength O Lord to our zeal Prayers and Holiness of Life 198. I have been unconstant in good things but He that is Jehovah and changes not can make me like Himself 199. To him that hath shall be given Lord give me true Grace though at first it be little I know it will not long be so 200. The Afflictions of the Godly are but for a Time light momentary ending at Death But the wicked shall be
tormented beyond Time Their misery begins at Death 201. Judas his Repentance was not true for it was worldly sorrow in the Apprehension of Justice without Hatred of sin or desire to glorifie God I desire all the contrary 202. Many mock at Professors and in Disgrace call them men of the Spirit These are far from Grace for if any man have not the spirit of Christ the same is none of his Rom. 8. 203. Take heed at Death you do not merit An heavy doom to scoff at Spirit 204. Restraint from Liberty is grievous to our Nature we should therefore be thankful for our Liberty pity those in Bonds and remember them in our Prayers c. Heb. 13.3 205. David used Study Prayer Conference All good Means which made him a good Man so should we do if we would be men after Gods own Heart 206. The consideration of Gods Power is an help in Misery And they that depend thereon shall have a blessed Issue So Abraham 207. Mortification is not in restraining Grace nor in Contemplation nor in hard usage of the Body but in subduing self will 208. They that fight a single Combate are both murtherers He that is killed in affection the other in action the one goes to Hell speedily the other goes after without unfeigned Repentance 209. To look up to God for assistance in all good Duties and to give God all the Glory when they are performed is the part of a sound Christian 210. Private Prayer a note of a true Christian few Hipocrites open their Corruptions to God fewer pray earnestly and heartily against Hypocrisie 211. The same Ends that make Hypocrites profess Christ the same Ends shall make them fall from their Profession Whatsoever I have Lord give it me in Truth 212. They that mind earthly things their End is Damnation What care ought I to have of my Mind and Thoughts that the World choke not the good seed of Gods Word 213. While I have time I will do all the good possibly I can for I am not sure of to morrow Lord make me wise to Salvation Teach me so to number my Dayes that I may apply my Heart unto Wisdome 214. Dartings of Satan are without our Inclination and without Premeditation 215. A lazy Jade would rather have a foul Stable then a fair Way And sometimes a better Horse too 216. Many bewail their Losses but never any Loss to be compared to the Loss of Gods Image which Adam had but lost by Sin 217. All our Care should be to repair Gods Image t is Knowledge Coll. 3.10 Righteousnesse and true Holiness Eph. 4.24 218. We see divers good Men of divers Opinions t is because in Adam we lost our knowledge and the best know but in part 219. Whetting makes the Knife hot bright and sharp and Exercise makes a Christian amiable zealous and serviceable 220 That is a good Religion whose Foundation is true Humility whose Building up is in Sincerity and whose Conclusion is with Perseverance 221. Many times we fail of our intended choice as we say The grey Mare is the better Horse 222. If we cannot fit our wives to our mindes we must fit our mindes to our wives 1 Cor. 13. lat end 223. Sound Faith is Applying Gal. 2.20 Justifying Rom. 5. Sanctifying Act. 26 Saving Eph. 2. 224. We should labour for heavenly knowledge because 1. The things we learn are excellent 2. They are holy and pure 3. We are naturally blind and ignorant 225. Three great Comforts to the godly in Trouble 1. Nothing is without Gods Providence Mat. 6. and Chap. 10. Again God will lay no more on then he will enable us to bear 1 Cor. 10. and All shall work for the best Rom. 8. 226. There are four helps against hard Censuring of others and five to preserve our Neighbours good Name 227. 1. To pass by Infirmities as God himself doth Mic. 7. 2. To do as we would be done by Mat. 7 3 To look on the good in them which we are about to conceive or sprak evil of 4. To stand for a mans Innocency behind his Back 5. And to consture things doubtful Charitably 228. Three ways to get a good Name 1. To seek Gods Glory 2. To avoid Sin and 3. Not to Censure others unjustlie 229. Our Exercise in Trouble is 1. To walk by Faith 2 Cor. 5. 2. To Pray for Comfort Psal 51. 3 To remember the Dayes of Old Psal 77. And 4. To wait on God Psal 123. Psal 130. 230. In holy Conference 1. Our Corruptions are mortified 2. Our Graces encreased 3. Our Affections enflamed 4 Our Prayers furthered 5. Our union strengthened 6. Our Purpose of godly Life sweetned 231. The Providence of God is 1. His taking notice of all things 2. His upholding all things 3. His disposing all things 232. True Christians differ from Others 3. In their Priviledges 4. In their Rewards 233. Carnal joy is like Lightening four ways 1. 'T is but a flash 2. It blasts our Graces 3. A Darkness follows it 4. After it runs an Horrour like Thunder 234. Godly resolutions are 1. conditional as if God gave Grace c. 2. They proceed from Love 3. They are Sincere and Lasting 235. There are four ends marre a good work when 't is done 1. For Vain-glory. 2. For Merit 3. For Feaer onely 4. For hope of Worldly Reward we may super-add 5. when t is repented of 236. By Six Reasons it appears there is a God and by seven Arguments Atheisme is damned for ever 237. 1. By the Conscience in Man 2. By the Devotion in Man 3. By Gods glorious works 4. By Gods fearful judgments 5. By Gods numberless and precious Mercies 6. By the due and timely accomplishment of the Prophesies and 7. By the Consent of all men well in their wits 238. In the Spiritual Combate observe we 1 The Certainty of the On-set 2. The Power of the Foe 3. Our own weakness 4. The Danger if overcome 5. Gods Ayd 6 our Assurance of Conquest 7. The Reward of Perseverance 239. Outward things not over-eagerly to be sought 1. Often-times 't is hard to get them 2. 'T is as hard to be content with them 3. 'T is uncertain we shall keep them 4. 'T is sure we shall be taken from them 240. I may superadd they are by care a Burthen to our Minds a Snare to our souls hindring us from better things Our greater store makes our Grief the Greater at Parting And we have the more to be accountable for 241. We are to rejoyce at the Conversion of rich men because 1. They may shelter Others 2. They may read hear and study more and get Knowledg to do good 3. Their Example may draw Others to love and embrace Religion 242. A three fold Rule for good Works they must be done 1. In Faith Rom. 14.23 2. In Uprightness of Heart 1 Sam. 12.24 3. Aiming at Gods Glory 1 Cor. 10.31 243. Natural men are dead in four Respects 1. bound as
Lazarus Job 11.44 2. Without spiritual Motion 3. Insensible of their Sins or Gods Wrath 4. Stinking So be Wicked men in the Eyes of God and the godly 244. God hears not his Childrens Prayers immediately that they may be seven times the better by their Afflictions as Gold by the Fire 245. 1. To try their Faith â—â—d Patience 2. To make them more humble 3. More earnest in Prayer 4. More weaned from the World 5. More fellow-feeling of Others Grief 6. To esteem his Grace more 7. To give Him the more Glory 246. Our Preparation for CHRIST stands in four things 1. Watching 2. Believing 3. Repenting 4. Diligence 247. We ought to serve God upon a three fold Obligation for he hath 1. Created us 2. Redeemed us 3. Preserved us 248. We ought to serve God upon a four fold Advantage 'T is 1. Honourable 2. Profitable 3. Comfortable at Death and 4. Easie Mat 11. last 249. Without the Fear of God we cannot serve Him The Fear of God is to depart from Evil and to do Good 250. Three marks of true Fear 1. It is clean Psalm 119. 2. It springs from Love 3. It makes us eschew secret Sin like Joseph who had Privacy Importunity and Opportunity Gen. 39. 251. God often takes from his Children that which is their Chiefe joy but Faith will overcome natural Affections 252. The Examples of the Saints are three-fold 1. Extraordinary as Phineas and Elias 2. Sinful as their failings 3. Good as in holy Duties in these last onely they are imitable 1 Cor. 11.1 253. The fals of the Saints teach us 1. No man is without Sin 2. We must with them repent of Sin 3. We must be Watchful because they fell 4. We must be Merciful as our Heavenly Father to forgive them that offend us 254. Examples do shew us that Godliness is no Novelty 2. No Impossibility 255. Pleasures must be used for God viz. 1. To fit us for our general or particular Calling 2. To raise our minds higher 3. To fit us to leave this World seeing its Vanity 256. We should Catechize Children because 1. Without a Foundation no Building can be raised 257. 2. That they may be able to give a Reason of their Faith 258. 3. That they may be fit to prâ—fit by Sermons after-ward 259. 4. God sets down the Manner of a Catechisme Heb. 6.2 3. 260 5. If we do not teach them Gods Catechisme The Devil will teach them his to be sure Apocrypha is not canonical Scripture upon a Various account 261. The End of Malachy speaks of John the Baptist and Matthew next of all speaks of him Mal. 4.5 Mat. 3.1 ch 11.14 262. The Apocrypha is erro … Tobit 6. The Devil is said 〈◊〉 … ven away with Smelling The story of Judith is fabulous Eccl. 46.13 Samuel prophecyed after his Death 263. The Apocrypha is impious the Book of Machabees commends a man for killing Himself 264. 'T is mendacious and tels lyes In the Song of the three Children the Flame ascended fourty nine Cubies And in the story of Susanna Daniel is termed a young Child 265. The Church of God hath not received them for Canonical though Antichrist hath to uphold his Filthiness 〈◊〉 Devil has five notable devices 266. If he can he labours to keep us in Ignorance 267. If he fail therein he will keep us from Practice 268. If he fail therein he will keep us from Reverence and make us presumptuous 269. If he fail therein he will keep us from Cheerfulness 270. If he fail therein he will keep us from Perseverance that we may fall short of our Work and our Wages 271. Many hope well yet would be non-plust if any should ask them What Ground have you for your Hope 272. Hope is taken three wayes 1. For the Object of Hope 2. For the Grace of Hope 3. For the Ground of Hope 273. Three sorts have no Hope 1. Those in a natural Estate 2. Those which are Hypocrites 3. Presumptuous Sinners 274. Four sorts have Hope 1. Those who rely on God though Means fail 2. Who will not use Vnlawful means 3. Who rest on God in the use of means 4. That leave the things present for Hope of things future 275. Means to get Hope are 1. To repent of our Sins 2. To acquaint our selves with Scripture Rom. 15.4 3. To look to former Experience 4. To Pray to the God of Hope 276. Effectual Prayer must be thus 1. We must not regard Wickedness 2. We must be true Worshippers 3. Feele our Wants 4. Be Fervent 5. Pray in Christs Name 6. With zeal for Gods Glory Psal 79.7 Be Merciful to the Poor and hear their Cry 277. God will hear his Children 1. Because of his Goodness 2. Because of his Promises 3. Because all Flesh shall come to him Psal 65. 278. God hears 1. Our Prayers 2. Our Desires 3. Our Meaning 4. Our Miseries 5. Others for us 6. Us for Others 7. Christ for all 279. The way to grow in Grace is 1. To use the pure Means 2. With a pure Heart 3. Vnweariedly 280. A man thinks his Jesting a witty Ornament but God accounts it foolish and uncomly Eph. 5. 281. I see in some Wicked Swearers the Tyranny of Sin I thank God for freeing me not only from Hell but also from the Cruelty and Dominion of Sin 282 After I have Prayed me thinks God saith According to thy Faith be it unto thee I therefore labour to believe that God will grant what I desire nay more then I can ask or think upon 283. Oh! That I could alwayes have an humble Soul Then God would dwell with me yea in me and I should be capable of Grace and content with any thing I should be Wise Gracious Peaceable Gentle Holy Heavenly-Minded LORD give me humility and then I shall sincerely serve THEE 284. The Charriots of Israel and the Hors-men thereof are the Faithful whose Prayers and Tears prevail more then Weapons of War Therefore an Ancient sayes Better is one Saint Praying then twenty Souldiers fighting Job sayes the innocent shall deliver the Iland How much then is every Nation beholding to the godly that live amongst them 285. Some hear much reform nothings Profess Religion but deny the Power thereof LORD give me Soundness that I may walk uprightly before thee though with much Hardness I know I shall not want Opposition the Devil my Corruption and the Scoff of the Wicked Yet I desire Courage and Resolution for thy Yoak is easie and thy Burthen Light unto him that has thine holy Spirit Mat. 11. last 286. I have lost and forgot many sweet Meditations for want of Writing I therefore will hence-forth Write them for fear of Forgetting I will Write them for the good of Others But LORD write THOU them in my Heart by the Blessed Spirit that I may have Good of them my self 287. As I walked through the Corn-Field I considered thy Bounty of God towards Man the great Increase God gives
and I was made mindful of the Resurrection Our Bodies must first Dye before they quicken 288. Some thinking to come by Riches a more speedy way then God hath appointed come to lose their Lives and some thinking to come to Heaven a more easie and broad way then God hath appointed lose their Souls 289 Moses lift the Serpent in the Wilderness that the Israelites being stung might look up to it and be cured Moses was therein as in other things an Instrument of their temporal good as well as spiritual so should the godly be to each other mutual Helps for this Life as well as for a better 290 There were Serpents in the Wilderness even amongst Gods Israel Are there Serpents biting Serpents even in Gods Church I will not look to live at case I will labour to be Watchful He that flies from our Church to Amsterdam because we have Corruptions is like one in Gravesend-Barge who because there is swearing filâ—hy talk and idle Songs he leapes into the Thames Every regenerate man has Remainders of Sin so no doubt shall every Reformed CHURCH till that time come that no unclean thing shall enter Let me enjoy the Means be sorry for things amiss and pray for what I cannot help 291. Singing Psalms is a Duty of every Christian because it stirs up zeal is a Part of Gods Worship I will therefore make Conscience of this Duty which Christ himself practised If through Forgetfulness or Lumpishness I omit it yet I will not mock at Others that do it 292. We must Sing with Grace exercising the Graces of God wrought in our heart we must shew the desires of our Hearts and Remember Gods Benefits Our Songs must be Spiritual such as are penned by the Holy Spirit such as are for our spiritual good such as will make us more spiritual we cannot but be more spiritual if we use to sing Psalms aright we must sing to God with Reverence of His Presence which understanding and aiming at Gods Glory 293. I have run into an Errour for want of taking heed having been told of my Errour I have been taught what to eschew another time Quae nocent docent Those things that hurt me shall instruct me One fault shall prevent Another not fore-run Another so I shall grow the better for my Failings 294. When I come in the Countrie and hear the Faults of Citizens spoken of or any where hear the Faults of professors mentioned then I learn what to eschew I would gladly deal by Religion as men by their Wares Perswade men to it 295. I find when I err in Judgment or am loose in Speech or seem to countenance profaneness in Company the Bites of my Conscience drives me to Humiliation my Humiliation breeds Peace I gain by my Sins but shall I therefore Sin God forbid I may not do evil that good may come of it I desire to make a good use of my Sins past that they may prevent Sins to come 296. I have oft discoursed with them that had good Knowledg in the works of Nature as also of Curious Arts This I do not discommend I would I could come near them But there is One thing Necessary which I have a longing desire to Know which is JESUS CHRIST and Him Crucified 297. Gods Gifts be without Repentance Whom He loves he loves to the End If once I have Assurance He doth favour me I may be sure He will not utterly at any time forsake me 298. The coming of Christ among the Secrets of God more necessarily Concealed then Revealed For the godly are the better prepared but the wicked will not take warning though an Angel should warn them from Heaven 299. I expect after my Health Sickness after Sickness Death â—fter Death Judgment My only Desire is to give the LORD all my Heart in Health that Hâ— may be my Comfort in Sickness my Life in Death and my Saviour at the time of my Account 300. LORD Teach me to number my Dayes LORD Teach me to number my Sins LORD Teach me to number thy Mercies LORD Teach me to number thy Judgments LORD Teach me to number thy Promises The First shall teach me Wisdome The Second shall teach me Humiliâ—â— The Third shall teach me Thankâ—â—lness The Fourth shall teach me Fear The Fifth shall teach me Hope FINIS