9. 1 Cor. 10.31 Tit. 2.12 In all refreshments of food or recreation be sober serious and spirituall 10. Upon rovings and wandrings call in thine heart Eccles Prov. and let not thy thoughts be too far dispersed or too long disingaged from communion with God soul-concernments and matters of Eternity 11. Eph. 4.26 Take heed of passions rash anger sudden surprisals or provocations that may be offered Do no wrong take notice of little forgive much forbear retaliation in words or actions in great affronts be not too much disturbed and commit events and returns to God 12. Eph. 6.1 Eph. 5.22 Fill up Relations with relative duties whether as superior or inferior or equall be obedient to the commands of Superiours according to the will of God be respectfull kind and friendly to equals be moderate tender and gentle to inferiors Do evill to none but good to all 13. Beware of your company Eph. 5.7.11 Ps 15. have no more to do with wicked persons then of necessity you must let their presence be your burthen and their profanenesse your abhorrency let them know that you do not like them Let the good be welcome entertaine them as Christians receive from them or give to them what may be spirituall Let your time be pretious Eph. 5.16 and little or none be wasted fill up all with necessary duties that belong unto it or find out something good and commendable to improve it On moments of time depends eternity let not spirituall and temporall duties interfer but let each have their proper seasons run not from thy particular calling to exercises of the generall when unseasonable neglect not the generall for the particular when thou hast thy freedome 15. Let not the world or the things of the world be too earnestly desired eagerly persued 1 Joh. 2.15 Phil. 4.11 affectionately imbraced be thankfull for and content with necessaries what 's more let it be improved in the chearfull service of God in works of piety and charity Keep thine heart at a distance and loose from all and be contented to part with all Heb. 10.34 when called to it knowing that Heaven is thine inheritance and God himself thy portion 26. Observe the waies and methods of God's providence towards thee from day to day consider the graces to be exercised on such occasions Live the life of dependance on God's providence and subjection to his will be thankfull for his mercies and endure his chastisements Let extraordinary dispensations have extraordinary observations 17. Remember to walke with God humbly Mica 6.8 Tit. 2.12 cheerfully obediently and believingly Carry your selves to men respectfully righteously friendly demean your selves sâ—berly gravely prudently bear all injuries patiently receive all Kindnesses thankfully do all Courtesies readily 18. Suffer no guilt contracted to lie long upon you but be often examining your selves Ps 19 Ps 32. beg on sence of sin renew your repentance and faith on the bloud of Christ and returne to Duty 19. Tit. 2.13 Doe something every day towards the last in mortifying corruption strengthning graces increasing knowledge furthering your assurances drawing nearer to Heaven in thoughts on it desires after it preparations for it 20. In the evening of the day Ps 4.4 reflect on what hath past cast up accounts be humble for defects repent of transgressions be thankfull for mercies renew your acquaintance with God as you have opportunity in solemne duties of praier meditation and reading the Scriptures or some good Books performe these duties as also your family duties in good season Ps 3.5 Ps 4. ult see Ps 1 42. 16. When all is done remember Mortality and Eternity Act repentance and faith and commit your soules and bodies and family to God and to his keeping SECT V. Of Communion with God THE Convert may noâ—â— advance to a more especiali 〈…〉 God and that not only as 〈…〉 â—â—iviledge See 1 John 1.3 c. 〈…〉 20. Job 22.21 R For such as have int◠〈…〉 God Rom. 5.1 accesse to God acceptaâ—â—â—â—ith God are beloved of him may 〈…〉 and derive from him This 〈…〉 partly presupposeth and partly requireth what we have in these following particulars and it may be in some other 1. Heb. 10.19 20. It presupposeth reconciliation with God through the mediation of Christ apprehended by faith answered in repentance pursued in obedience and maintained in walking before him 2. It immediately followes union with Christ Eph. 2.18 relation to God and inhabitation of the Spirit 3. It supposes the qualification of the person in conformity to God Ps 15. and assimilations to him 4. Joh. 14.21 It is maintained on Gods part by teachings of the Spirit influences of grace Rev. 3.20 Cant. 5.1 Ps 25.14 testimonies of Love and earnests of his glory On the Christians part by what here followeth 1. Addresses to God in holy duties Ps 73.28 Ps 100. solemn or occasionall through Christ and by the Spirit 2. Apprehensions of God his glory Joh. 17.3 his grace love and goodnesse revealed in his word through Christ and applied by the Spirit 3. Adorations of God high thoughts of him with humble worshippings praises Ps 100.4 and acknowledgments 4. Affections to God in Christ Ps 42.1 Ps 63.1 running out in love desire delight and joy 5. Ps 36.7 Cant. 8.5 Affiance in God through Christ in his grace goodnesse truth faithfulnesse power and providence 6 Activity of grace in holy duties Cant. 4.16 proper in times seasonable in manner spirituall in measure fruitfull 7. Ps 16.8 Cant. 2.7 Actuall intentions of God and of his glory and of being well pleasing to him in the frame of our hearts in the course of our lives and especially in our holy duties 8. Applications of his love Cant. 1.2 c. Rom. 5.5 6 c. upon the discoveries of it in his word the shedding of it abroad in our hearts by his Spirit the evidence of it in his graces and the experience of it in his mercies 9. Acquainting him with our necessities Phil. 4.6 Cant. 2.14 desires cases and conditions from day to day provided it be humbly heartily believingly it may be freely and with holy familiarity as a friend with his friend a child with his father and the spouse with her husband and this whatever be our distresses and dangers troubles and sorrows wrongs and injuries wants and weaknesses temptations and infirmities 10. Attendance to the methods of his providence Job Ps 8. Cant. 5.4 and the motions of his spirit with the observation of his works and the opening of our hearts unto his word hearkning to his whispers sensible apprehensions of his approaches to your soules not suffering our selves to be unmindfull of him estranged from him 11. Attributing all our mercies and refreshments Eph. 3. ult spirituall and temporall with the hopes of eternall to his free grace and mercy in Jesus Christ giving him the glory
Mat. 3.8 and if through weaknesse and infirmity thou beest at any time overtaken to reflect upon thy selfe Ps 51. and renew these actings of repentance with particular application to that transgression And 7. Every day whether sin be known or not known to be searching humbling confessing praying resolving labouring to root out and destroy the remainders of thy Corruption Ps 19.12 3. New obedience calls thee 1. To Consider the obligation that lies upon thee by nature and grace to know and to doe the will of God 2. Rem 12.1 Rom. 14.9 To acquaint thy selfe with the mind and will of God revealed in his word as the rule of thy dury 3. Ps 1. Psal 119. Acts 9.6 Deut. 39 Is 56.8 To give up thy selfe in the sence of thy duty and Gods mercy through Christ in a Covenant of sincere free full universall and constant obedience 4. Making Christ thy strength and the Word thy rule Gods Glory and thine own salvation thine end and the spirit thy guide and a good conscience thy principle to apply thy selfe to the exercise of every grace Psal 50.4 Rom. 6.12 and the performance of every duty which God requireth of thee towards himselfe thine own soule and others in thy place condition Phil. 3.8 1 Pet. 2.5 and capacity 5. Making up thy defects when sensible of them by presenting thy person and thy duty to Gods Gracious acceptance according to the Covenant of of Grace through the mediation of Jesus Christ In so doing Com. for thy Comfort understand that God will accept and Christ will help grace shall be thy state God Christ promises pardon peace priviledg shall be thy portion whilest thou art here death judgment hell curse wrath and reall evils shall not come nigh to hurt thee Heaven blessednesse and glory eternall life and joy shall be thine inheritance and possession to all eternity And if thou wouldest not miscarry in this great work Caut. Luk. 19.42 Mat. 11.6 take heed 1 of delaies demurres put offs 2. of taking offence at the strictnesse of duty at the low condition of Christ and Christians and the scandalous lives and actions of Hypocrites and professors who shall beare their burden Acts 2.40 3. of evill company 4. Of discouragements from carnall friends 5. Heb. 3.12 Of an evill heart of impenitency and unbeliefe 6. Of Temptations from Sathan 7. Acts 26.28.29 Of being but almost a Christian resting in convictions confessions humiliations vowes and promises profession partiall change and reformation good esteem with others till the work be perfectly done and thine heart subdued unto God in Christ in faith repentance and new obedience according to the Gospell and the directions now set before you 8. Rom. 14.1 Of troubling your selves with needlesse disputes and questions about things of small moment in Religion or above your reach 9. Of Spirituall pride upon the one hand or unnecessary calling in question your condition upon the other where this work is sincerely done or Gods Grace and mercy for your pardon and acceptance in Jesus Christ 10. Take heed of Apostacy and backsliding in whole or part to corrupt opinions and errours upon the one hand or to sinfull practises and courses upon the other When this work is done Coun. give grace the glory 1 Tim. 1.14 Mat. 18.3 adore its freedome and magnifie its power believe its constancy and live upon its fulnesse till brought to glory 2. Be daily practising and perfecting this blessed work and think not that all is done till thou getst to Heaven 3. For further direction and thy better progresse be much in Holy exercises Acts 9.11 praying hearing meditating conferring with good Christians reading the Scriptures and Sermon notes and good books especially about Conversion and Regeneration Some Sermons I have purposely preached on this Subject in Abington on the severall instances of conversion in the new Testament in Exeter on Joh. 3. at Petrocks on Acts 26.18 at Mary-steps and Edmonds on Matth. 18.3 at Mary-moores c. besides collaterall applications had I been more in this work and method successe would have been through grace proportionable These following are choice Books though not all that may be read upon this subject get and read what you can of them Baxters Call to the unconverted Baxter Of Conversion Baxters Directions to prevent miscarrying in conversion His Saint or a Brute His Sermons on Death and Judgment His Everlasting Rest Whately of Regeneration Hooker's Soules preparation for Christ Soule 's Humiliation with severall other Treatises of his contracted in Ambrose his prima or first things Dike of Repentance morning Exercise at Giles London Morning exercise at Cripplegate the Sermons in them on this Subject Ob Sedgwick on Rev. 3.20 his treatise of faith c. SECT II. Of Mortification HAving seen the Conversion of the Sinner let us proceed to the worke and exercise of the Saint and the first thing that presents it self to our consideration for the improvement of his conversion is the Mortification of his corruption and therein note 1. That there is an indwelling Body of sin and corruption that remaineth in the converted and regenerated person It is perfectly pardoned but not perfectly purged out and destroyed while in this body of flesh See Romanes 7th per tot 2. It is the duty and property of every truly converted and regenerated person to proceed in the mortification of corruption and to endeavour through grace the compleat destruction of that body of sin that is about him and every branch and member of it See Rom. 6. 7. 8. Col. 3. Gal. 5 c. throughout R. 1. Remaining sin is remaining enmity to God and to the Christian himselfe Rom. 8.7 1 Pet. 2.11 Gen. 17.1 and must not be let alone 2. Conversion and true Repentance is only sincere and true as it intends perfection 3. It must be perfectly done by Grace upon us 1 Cor. 15.50 ere we can be fit subjects of the Kingdome of Heaven Rom. 6.6 4. The Death of Christ intends our perfect freedome and deliverance by degrees and in due time as from the guilt of sin and the punishment of sin so from the dominion of sin in our conversion Rom. 6.12 Rom. 7.25 Gul. 5.26 the abiding power of sin in our progressive mortification and at last the presence and being of sin in our dissolution what Christs death intends in its Merit Example Argument and Influence the same should we intend in our purpose and progresse for communion with him and conformity to him in his death and crucifixion Take these Directions for it 1. by way of COnsideration 2. by way of Operation and Practise 1. Ps 16.8 Ps 119.11 Gen. 39.9 Ps 18.21 22. Rom. 7.13 Set before thine eyes continually especially upon the motions of sin and temptations unto sin the Holinesse of God in his Name Nature Word and Will his Holy Eye his Holy Law 2. Set before thine eyes
him you have interest in him you may apply your selves to him and there need no question but you shall receive abundantly from him only you must enlarge your desires and heighten your faith and use the means châ—rishing the spirit weeding out corruptions and exercising your graces Be much in prayer Mat. 25. put in suit the promises beg for influences take heed of pride and be humble take heed of worldly mindednesse and be heavenly Phil. 3.20 be not careless in duties but servent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. Converse much with the Scripture warme and enlarge your hearts with the sence of the love of God and Christ 2 Cor. 5. Rom. 5.5 Heb. 11. lock often towards the promised reward keep in your eye the examples of the best Christians Heb. 12.1.2 but especially Christ Jesus as your great example rest not in measures Phil. 3.10 intend towards perfection and the state of the resurrection from the dead Neglect the improvement of no grace Jude 20.21 but especially lay out in vitall graces and for others be most carefull for the most needfull in your capacity and condition the like where you are most weak Be nothing in your selves be all in Christ Rev. 3.2 Phil. 4.13 This is the way to encrease it in the habit only further know Eph. 1.21.22 that as grace abounds in the heart so it need to do in the life 1. In the frequent actings of the same graces Eph. 4.7 as they are required 2. In the diverse actings of severall graces as the case may command it Col. 1.10 And in the lively and vigorous actings of all You have a reward enough to encourage all 1 Cor. 15. you have waies enough to put forth all you shall have grace of influence to furnish all Heb. 13.20 21. â— Thes 1.11 12. you have ingagements enough from the love of God the grace of Christ the gift of the spirit the promises of the Gospell the priveledges of Grace the hopes of glory to provoke to all Such things considered and such meanes used will also serve to keep up your hearts in a lively frame of spirit and readinesse for duty and service this will quicken you when dull enlarge when straitned and set all the wheeles of your soules on going Lastly Look to your standing and perseverance 1 Thes 3.8 Pro. â—ep Heb. 6. Rev. 2. Heb. 10. Ps 51. Apostacies are dangerous some are desperate the least is too bad though you loose not your crown yet loose not your comfort your communion with God your evidences your earnests no nor your graces themselves Ps 51.29 thougst in the least degrees you may loose your Jewels though not your crown and the sparks of diamonds the shings of gold and the minute degrees of grace are too precious to be lost Therefore reglect not the meanes Rev. 3.1 takâ— heâ—a of omissions watch against your temptation sit 〈◊〉 loose from Christ abate not in your exercise here withall remember that you stand not by your own strength Rom. 11. 1 Pet. 1.25 3 4 5. but by the love of the father the blood of the 〈◊〉 the power of the spirit and the performance of the promise For this reflect on Sâ—rmons of regeneration John 3. at Petrocks Walking in the lighâ— at Mary-Moores on Joh. 12.35 and on Phil. 3 2. last v. and Noahs walking with God on Gen. 6 at Mary Arches c. you may find much more in Ball of Godliness Love of grace Burges his Spirituall refinings Burroughs gracious spirit Burroughs Conversation becoming the Gospell and his Heavenly Conversation Bolton's Walking with God T. Taylor circumspect walking and Bishop Taylors Holy living Gouge Of Relative duties whole duty of man Ambrose Media Goodwins growth in grace c. Cripplegate Exercise Reyner Henner Reynolds life of God SECT IV. Of the Christians daily walk EVery day hath its duty in Common and ordinary Heb. 3. and some daies in extraordinary actings of grace and performance of duty to the Glorifying of God and to the working out of our salvation for this take and practise these directions following the word be your rule the spirit be your guide and Christ Jesus be your strength 1. Psal 5.3 In the Morning when you awake lift up your heart to God be thankfull for the mercies of the night desire the guidance grace mercy and providence for the day send up some Holy Ejaculations Consider what may be most likely the duty and temptation of the day set your spirituall watch ingage your hearts with God and warme it with the thoughts of his love and the hopes of his kingdome 2. Psal 1.2 Season your hearts with some portion of his word read first what may next come to your hands proceed then in your ordinary course for your morning reading of the Scriptures work what you have read upon your heart Ps 5.3 by serious meditation and then address your selfe to God as you have place and opportunity in solemne prayer from thence in fit season ere the occasions of the world fall in discharge the duties in your family 3. Rom. 12.11 Eph. 6.7 Apply your selfe with diligence to the duty of your Calling in the fear of God with a good Conscience depending on his presence favour and blessing 4. Keep upon your hearts Gen. 17.1 the sence of the eye of God that sees all the ear of God that heares all and the hand of God that records all especially the word of God that is to rule all and his providence to blesse all do nothing that may displease him do every thing according to his will and to his glory 5. In temporall employments and secular occasions act spirituall graces mind eternity your spirituall concernments Phil. 3.20 send frequent holy ejaculations towards Heaven and so maintaine Communion with God throughout the day and in the midst of your employments 6. Watch against the temptations of the day the occasions to sin and the first motions and stirrings of corruptions and those either rooted in thy disposition 1 Pet. 5.8 1 Pet. 2.11 or occasioned in thy calling 1 Pet. 5.8 2.11 Take heed of sinning 7. Take not only care of sinning but be found as occasion is offered in all well-doing Is 1.16 Tit. 2.12 Mica 6.8 Adorne the Gospell and approve thy self a Christian by acts of Righteousness Justice and Equity in all thy dealings and withall of mercy and charity as it lies before thee 8. Take care of thy words let none be profane Math. 12.36.37 1 Pet. 3.10 sinfull frothy uncharitable but true and seasoned with grace administring grace to the hearers use not too many words in buying and selling hear few stories that little concern you and tell less Think before you speak remember there is an account to be made of words by these also thou shalt be justified Math. 12.37 and by them thou mayest be condemned
dispensations of it Heb. 1.1 gradually revealing Christ and Grace First to Adam Gen. 3.15 then to Noah Gen. 6. then to Abraham severall times Gen. 12. and 15. and 17. c. then to the Patriarches to Moses Exod. 3. to Israel on the mount Exod. 20. and 24. to David 2 Sam. 23.5 and in many of the Psalmes Ps 89. c. Psal 2. Ps 110. c. after that enlarged in choice promises in the Prophets For Israel in captivity Jer. 31. Jer. 32. Ezek. 11. and Eze. 36 c. So in Zach. 9. c. and at last the New Testament by Christ Heb. 8. Heb. 10. read your Sermon Notes upon this subject and those Scriptures many of them at M. Arches and other books as Ball of the Covenant of Grace Bulkly Rutherford Morning exercise Giles Roberts Cotton and others Leigh promises SECT VIII Of Temptations THe best of Gods Saints and Servants may be subject to Temptations Gen. 3.15 and those of all sorts not only to doubtings sinnings Luke 22.30.31 and such sometimes the most abominable and diabolicall For Sathan is their enemy because they belong to God are gotten out from his Kingdome and are irreconcileable enemies to his interest Sathan is an Old Malicious Subtle Powerfull 1 Pet. 5.8 Cruell and deadly enemy to them their graces their comforts and their persons and God suffers it so to be for his own glory and his peoples good in the exercise and evidence of their graces in the supports of their soules and experience of his favour for their conformity to Christ and in order to the reward when they overcome Their comfort in that their Temptations without their consent are not their sinnes Heb. 2.18 2 Cor. 12.5 Rev. 2.10 Christ himselfe hath been tempted God and Christ compassionate them God is with them to help them their temptations are limited Sathans head-plot is broken Heb. 2.14 their soules shall besaved and their conquests rewarded Their duty is to be acquainted with the nature of temptations 2 Cor. 2.11 Eph. 6.12 c. to watch and pray against them to resist them to put on and use their spirituall armour to live upon Christ by Faith and to look and long for their deliverance Remember Math. 4. and discourses on Christs Temptation Bishop Hall Capell of Temptations Downams Warfare Gouge Robinson and Gurnals Spirituall armour Dr Owen of Temptation and Bridges Brooks c. Ball of Faith c. SECT IX Of Divine Desertions GOds people may be sometimes for a time and in part deserted Psal 22.1 Is 63.17 2 Sam. 11. Ps 51. as to illuminations influences and comforts they may not see their way may fall into sin loose much grace want comfort Ps 88.6 be sorely tempted Ps 8.9 and feel sensible impressions of Gods fatherly displeasure This is sometimes for the punishment of their sins Ps 7.7 Cant. 5. Cant. 3. and sometimes for the triall of their graces God hath also therein a designe for his own glory and their good in preventing and mortifying of sin provoking to duty enriching their experience and for the discovery of the freedome of his grace the worth of his love and the necessity of his presence Psal 22.1 Jer. 31. Heb. 8. John 10. c. Their comfort is they are not alone they are never totally nor finally rejected God is still their God in covenant and Christ is their head in union and the Spirit their sanctifier supporter if not actually their comforter in Communion Cant. 5. beginning Christ leaves sweetnesse behind him and though absent yet drawes them towards him in good time will be found of them and in Heaven at last abide forever with them Their duty is to shake off security Cant. 5. throughout to enquire into the causes to hear Christs voice to rellish his sweetnesses to desire his favour to follow after him in all good meanes to speak well of him to cleave to their Choice to take Gods way and to wait Gods time for their comfort and recovery and when they find him to be more carefull to please him Cant. 6. and for ever to beware of wandring from God parlying with Temptation Spirituall pride and security under Gospell enjoyment Read Symonds Deserted soules case and Cure Sibbes Soules conflict Boltons Instructions Rutherfords Christs Dying c. And for Church-desertions in the visible tokens of Gods presence Read Sermons on Luk 19.42 Rev. 2.4.5 Rev. 3.1 6. John 12.35.36 and Cant. 5.2 c. The Epistles in the Revelation to the Churches of Asia Brinsleyes Watch Burroughes on Hosea Cripplegate Exercise 26. and apply to them the foregoing comforts and counsels SECT X. Of Afflictions and Trialls AFflictions and Troubles Joh. 16.33 are the lot of Gods chosen for correction or probation or purification or testimony Heb. 12.6 or it may be altogether Zach 13.9 c. 1 Pet. 4.12.17 1 Pet. 1.5 6. c. Rev. 2.10 Psal 42. Psal 102. Heb. 12.6 They may be manifold great lasting and sometimes inward and outward both together Their Comfort is They are from God their God their Father in love though with displeasure their good is intended together with Gods glory in purging out sinne Is 26. trying and exercising their Grace weaning them from the world and conforming them to Christ 1 Pet. 4.13 they have speciall promises God orders them Mal. 3.3 2 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 5.5 1 Pet 5.6 proportions them to strength gives sufficient grace sheds abroad his love is present with them will preserve them deliver them and bring them home to Glory 1 Cor. 4. latter end 1 Pet. 1.5 6. Rom. Lam. 3.39 Ps 51. 8.17 Phil. 1.29 2 Thes 1.8 c. Their duty is if for sin to enquire the cause to humble themselves to justify God to returne to him 1 Sam. 15. to submit to his will and to seek his favour to mind their duty and to live by faith And for trials to expect them prepare for them and approve themselves in them giving glory to God by the exercise of grace and submission to his will And in Testimonies to Truth 1 Pet. 4.12 Cant. 8. Matth. 16.24 Heb. 12.2 1 Pet. 4. ult 2 Cor. 4. ult 2 Cor. 5. be Heb. 10.38 2 Pet. 1.1 c. Prov. 142. to strengthen their faith to inflame their love and to manifest their obedience to deny themselves to take up the Crosse to look to Christ their example comfort and strength and to referre all to God committing their soules to him in well doing and to live by faith Heb. 11. Heb. 12.1 c. Read Cases Correction instruction Burroughes Moses choice and selfe deniall and courage Hughes dry rod. Strongs Submission to Gods will Histories of the Church In sufferings see 1. That you have a good cause and suffer not as evill doers in Church or state see 1 Pet. 2.20 1 Pet. 4.15 2. A good call Math. 10. 3. Exercise a good conscience Mark
5.43 and 4. keep then a good courage Math. 10.28 SECT XI Of Spirituall Retirements REtirements are sometimes from necessity through the providence of God Cant. 2.14 Is 26. ult the rage of Sathan and the malice of the World Rev. 12.6 14. and sometime from choice for privacy in duty and freedome from distraction Math. 6.5 6. Improve such for meditation prayers reading and maintaining communion with God Leave the world behind you desire God's presence and believe his promise SECT XII Of Meditation MEditation is necessary comfortable but difficult Take these Directions for it 1. Make conscience of the duty Ps 1. Ps 119. not only occasionally but solemnly and frequently 2. Take the fit and freest times for it 3. Lay aside for that time worldly occasions and thoughts 4. Set your self in God's presence 5. Begin with Prayer to God for direction presence and blessing 6. Pitch your thoughts on some suitable and seasonable heart-affecting subject as the excellency and use of the Scriptures the Attributes of God the state of Innocency Sin state of nature covenant of grace Christ his Offices excellencies c. death satisfaction c. the love of God the love of Christ faith and other particular graces c. Meditate often of the sinfulness of sin the vanity of the creature the love of God the excellency of Christ death the resurrection judgment heaven and helâ— sometimes When you would meditate on these understand first the doctrine of them and what is considerable in them for that purpose read in some doctrinall book on such a subject and after that by meditation consider and work upon your hearts to affect them without this help you will be able to do little on most subjects For subjects and books on those subjects Dr Wilkin's Ecclesiastes may direct you for this use as others for another 7. Observe if you can a good method for which see directions in books If you cannot follow their methods follow Davids in the Psalms Ps 116.5 Ps 42. Sometimes let it be prayerwise sometime by way of Soliloquie or discourse with your selves or take some good bock and work what you read upon your heart 'till you have discerned the truth tasted the sweetnesse and felt the power of it The briefe Notes in these Sections are intended for your help on those heads and are left to your inlargements on purpose or take the Scriptures and meditate on what you read 8. Keep your hearts to the work quicken them when dull 9. Intend heart-work especially in this exercise the quickning of grace strengthning of faith and stirring of affections 10. Close up with prayer and as opportunity is afforded solemne and with respect to the subject of your meditation Read Bp Hall's directions for meditation and Baxter in his Everlasting Rest and Whites and Ambrose in his Middle things SECT XIII Of Prayer I Need not set before you its necessity and excellenny Rom. 8.15 16. the spirit of Adoption will reach you to cry Abba Father Gal. 4 6. 1. 1 Thes 5.17 Be frequent in prayer often in solemne and even constantly in ejaculatory and occasionall 2. Be fervent and spirituall Rom. 8.26 Rom. 15.30 3. Be humble and lowly Gen. 18.27 Ezr. 9.6 4. Believing 5. Importunate Luk. 18. More particularly 1. Keep your hearts in a praying frame Eph. 6.18 Ps 5.3 Math. 6.9 2. Mind the occasions and opportunities 3. Prepare your selfe to it by meditation 2 Sam. 7.27 4. Take right apprehensions of God as your father in heaven as a spirit great and glorious but your God and Father in Christ take up suitable apprehensions to your occasion as God shall direct 5. Humble your soules in sence of sin to be confessed 6. Affect your hearts with the mercies to be desired 7. Jacob. Hos 12.3 4. Wrestle with God with Arguments proper 8. Content not your selfe with the bare performance without affection of heart and enjoyment of God 9. Keep close to the duty as near as you can without distraction Math. 6.7 Eccl. 5.2 Rom. 8.26 Phil. 4.6 Math. 6. Eph. 6.19 10. Affect not words nor length 11. Joyn praises with praiers 12. Be not private spirited in prayer but remember others especially the Church of God 13. Take delight in this duty 14. rest not in prayer but in Christ Eph. 3.12 John 14.13 through whom present your person and prayers unto God with faith 15. Look after your prayers Ps 5.3 and God's answers to them Read Cobbet of Prayer Gee of Prayer Ambrose his Directions ia his middle things T. Goodwins return of prayer Ford of Adoption Cripplegate exercise 14.17.19 SECT XIV Of Sanctification of the Lords day 1 BE setled in the doctrine of the Morality of the Sabbath 4th Comm For this purpose read Sermon Notes and books especially Cawdry and Palmer Shepheard and Whites appendix to his directions for reading the Scripture 2. Prepare for it desiring the day Exod. 20. composing your worldly affaires and laying them aside in the evening before set your heart in order towards a Sabbath and desire God's presence and blessing for the day approaching 3. In the morning awake with God proceed to private and family duties be more large and solemne in them then at other times spend intervals in meditation holy conference reading and prayer 4. Is 2.3 Ps 122.1 Ps 100. Hasten to publique ordinances lay aside prejudices and take care to give God your hearts See Burroughes of Gospell worship and other treatises of that Nature 5. Lev. 26.42 If you want publique opportunity enquire into the cause if sin be in it humble your soules justify God and accept of the punishment of your sin pray for pardon act repentance with faith in the bloud of Christ lament after the Lord. 1 Sam. 3. Ps 42.84.63 6. Rev. 12.14 Ps 42. Make up your want in private worship 1. Begin with prayer confession of sin and supplication for a blessing with praise to God 2. Read much of the Scripture Psalmes Old and New Testament Meditate upon it draw your observations and worke them on your hearts observe Gods teachings and impart them to any with you 3. Pour out your hearts more largely in prayer 4 Take some good Sermon Notes or some choice book and spend a Sermon time in it and suppose you were hearing it in the publick congregation 5. Close up with prayer and praises desiring a blessing In intervals of time take refreshments naturall with spirituall affections thoughts discourses Let the rest of the time be spent as in the morning in meditation reading Is 56.6 Is 58.13 conference and prayer In the afternoon at the solemn time do again as in the morning After that as in the intervals reflecting on what you read observed and were taught of God that day renew your family and your closet duties as in the morning and be much in Thanksgiving Let the day be improved for God and with him Keep out the
world Get some speciall acquaintance with God with Christ and Heaven Do good to the soules and bodies of others as you have opportunity especially in your family Blesse God much for Christ and the worke of Redemption and look and long for Heaven See Goodwin of sanctifying the Sabbath Expos or 4th Comm. Shepheard c. SECT XV. Of Fasting and Humiliation 1. AS necessity requireth and opportunity is offered be often in the duty of self-examination soul-humiliation with fasting and prayer 2. Improve publick daies for that purpose 3. Keep some private in your family and in your Closet because of family and personall necessities Zach 12.12 And for direction in it having considered your necessities set a fit and free time apart put your heart into a posture and sought God's presence set about the work 1. Jach 12.12 Dan. 9. Lam. 3.39 Let your private and family duties of daily course look towards it 2. Sit down and examine your hearts and lives and find out your speciall sins and transgressions in every age in every relation place c. 3. Dan. 9. Having found them out set them home upon your hearts in the consideration of their nature number and aggravations 4. Draw up against your selves the sentence of the law of God Gal. 3.10 5. 1 Joh. 1.9 Put your selves into the presence of God and make large free and ingenuous confessions of sins both of nature and life Ps 51.17 6. Get your hearts humbled under them in God's sight and desire him to work you to it 7. Dan. 9.7 11. Acknowledge your deserts of death and damnation and of your particular affliction 8. 2 Cor. 7.11 Worke your hearts to hatred and abhorrency of your sin and expresse it sincerely 9. Look upon God in Christ as gracious Exod. 34.6 and mercifull willing to pardon sin 10. Dan. 9.19 Plead hard for pardon in the bloud of Christ 11. Present Christ Jesus as your sacrifice Levit. Rom. 3.25 once offered upon the crosse ever presented in Heaven let faith apprehend it apply it and present it unto God 12. Ps 51.7 Beg God's cleansing and sanctifying grace 13. Ps 51.13 Renew your covenant for better obedience in the bloud of Christ with a sincere heart and desire God's acceptance and grace 14. Pray for the removall of the judgment with submission to Gods will Dan. 9.16 effectually pray for the sanctification of it and for support under it with patience to bear it pray then too for the blessings to be desired as it may be for your good and God's glory 15. Remember then your family relations friends those that have desired your prayers the needy sad tempted and afflicted servants of Christ 16. Ps 51.18 Dan. 9. Ezek. 9. Enlarge in your prayers for the whole Church for the Land King Magistrate Ministers and People Confesse Nationall sins considering your share in them mourn for them strive with God for mercy c. wrestling with God in Christ 17. Towards the close confesse your failings in the present duty John 14.13 14. beg acceptance through Christ and conclude with blessings If it may be continue in this order while strength lasteth but be sincere fervent and affectionate in all 18. Then read some portion of Scripture to the purpose Ezra or as God shall direct spend some considerable time in so doing with reflection and meditation upon what you have read 19. Proceed again to Prayer bewailing your defects in the duty of the day looking over your confessions and making them up in renewed acknowledgments The like in the other parts of the duty Ex. 33.4 5 6. Jona 3.6 Joel 2.15 16. 20. Abstaine from ornaments accomodations and refreshments as long as you are able to help you in Humiliation or to expresse it and to quicken you to prayer 21. Is 58.7 10 In the close devote your selves to God and give something as you are able to the poor 22. Be often in such duties Dan. 10.2 3. as occasion requireth and while God is afflicting you or his people walke humbly and lay aside your ornaments and abate your refreshments and be much in prayer SECT XVI Of Spirituall feasting on Christ CHrist Jesus his body broken and his bloud shed affords spirituall nourishment with plenty life and sweetnesse to the soule that is interested in him Joh. 6.51 to 63. and lives upon him There is a Spirituall and a Sacramentall feeding on Christ For the Spirituall see Joh 6.54 for the Sacramentall see 1 Cor. 11.23 1. As often as you can receive and improve the Sacrament There are many good and Books to direct as Roberts Dike Bolton Pemble Bradshaw c. 2. When you cannot Sacramentally see that spiritually you feed on this body and bloud of Christ For Directions take these 1. Rom. 3.2 3. Consider your necessities sins wants and weaknesses to sharpen Hunger and Thirst for Christ Joh. 17.3 2. Call forth at solemne times for that purpose your know ledge of Christ especially in his death Zach. 12.10 Is 53. tot Ps 22. Math. 27. 1 Cor. 2.3 3. Let â—aith set a dying Christ before you in your thoughts and meditations with your sins and God's wrath upon him 4. Put in practice by godly sorrow what is set before you Zach. 12.10 Zach. 12. while you look on him whom you have pierced let sin then appear exceeding sinfull because besmeared with the bloud of Christ 5. Apprehend and apply by faith the love of God and the love of Christ in dying for you Gal. 2.20 Rom 5.6 Gal. 2.2 and John 3.16 and 1 Joh. 3.16 6. Look upon Christ in dying as your surety Heb. 7.22 Eph. 5.2 and as your sacrifice in your name and steed Rom. 6 7. Gal. 3.13 Rom. 3.25 Dan. 9.24 Look on Christ in his death as answering the Law satisfying justice taking away sin bringing in everlasting righteousnesse establishing the covenant of Grace and making a purchase of grace and glory Heb. 9.15 Eph. 1.14 Rom. 6.6 giving a deadly stroke to sin and breaking the Serpent's head c. Heb. 2.14 8. Draw by faith all manner of virtues from him to mortify sin to quicken grace to strengthen faith and refresh your souls 9. Eph. 1.3 4. Be much in thansgiving to God for his Son and adore the Love 10. 2 Cor. 5.14 Improve all to Argument against corruption temptation and the world See Rom. 6.3 Titus 2.14 2 Cor. 15.14 11. 1 Cor. 6.20 Give up your selves again in an everlasting Covenant to be the Lords to live to him and if need be to dy for him 12. Depend upon the satisfaction of Christ Heb. 9. ult and expect the vertues of his Death till he come again in glory and take you up with himselfe that you may be for ever with him Long for his immediatee presence and hasten to it See Bp Taylor Rev. 22.20 latter end of his