are good or bad by this if we are more apt to pray read heaer c. then our Anger Joy Sorrow and Care is good else away with these Affections fight against them 87. An heavenly Affection and an heavenly Conversation make a man fit for Salvation 88. He that commits his weightiest Affairs to God by humble fervent Prayer is very like to speed or else the more patiently to bear his Cross 89. The Preservation of a wicked man is but a Reservation unless he repent 90. There is as much Difference between a sound Christian and a meer Worldling as there is between a glass of cold water and a glass of Aqua vitae 91. There is nothing so sure as God and his Promises 92. The cause of Distraction in Prayer is because our Mindes at other times are too much estranged from God the remedy is to walk more closely with God in Affection then shall we pray with less Distraction 93. It is necessary to bid one another Take heed 94. If two men walk in a Room they see no Motes except the Sun do shine and then they espy many so before the Holy Ghost do shine into our Hearts we see not our sinfulness and manifold Corruptions 95. Pride and Wantonness Envy and Covetousness are four Diseases in a carnal mans Eyes 96. Some men are feasted and made much of a little before they are destroyed as Haman Amnon Belshazzar c. 97. The way to get Compassion is deeply to meditate on the Distresses of Others and go to visit them 98. Some cry out of shew yet come short of Hypocrites that have shew these both want soundness 99. The Reason that there is such a general Coldness in Religion is because there is so little holy Conference 100. Humility lets other Graces into our soul take away Humility and farewel all Life of Grace 101. The Thoughts of our blessed God do surmount other Thoughts as God Himself surmounts other Things 102. This Life is miserable the godly see their spiritual Miseries wicked men see onely bodily Miseries 103. A through Change in Heart and Life and Fruitfulnesse in Grace gives a good Evidence of Sincerity 104. When we meditate of Heaven let us stay and rest our Thoughts there being loath to let them sink to Earth again 105. Our Hearts should be so set upon God that we should break through All impediments to come unto Him 106. It is better to obey doubtfully then to disobey doubtfully 107. We hate Punishment because it is contrary to our Nature but love Sin which is contrary to Gods Nature by this we may try our selves whether we love best God or our selves 108. Spiritual Pride causes the Lord to withhold his Graces from us 109 Ministers are to be reverenced in the Hearts of men for their Holiness not for their Silks nor Titles nor great Livings 110. The best Man in the Parish is not the richese Man but the holiest Man 111. We are to put difference between Reproofs to amend and Reproaches to shame 112. The Conscience of a wicked Worldling we know not how it pricks Him no more then we do the Shoe that wrings his Foot or the Tingling in the Ear which none but a mans Self hears 113. He that makes haste to be Holy hath an holy Hastiness 114. T is a matter of Commendation to have Knowledge and Speculation 't is a matter concerns Salvation to have good Conscience and Conversation 115. God reserves his Consolations till we need them as we keep Aqua vitae 116. We can hardly speak of Godâ— Essence unlesse we name some of his Properties also as holy great good blessed c. 117. The World is a very dangerous Enemy it makes of a Professor a Demas nay a Judas if it conquer 118. The godly are jealous of Themselves and suffer Others to try them the ungodly do neither 119. Then are our Prayers good when we begin begging in the sense of our Wants and end in finding Gods Mercy 120. To pray and hope for to love and long for the Appearing of Christ is the Property of a Saint 121. Ignorance of God is accompanied with Unthankfulnesse how can he be truly thankful that knows not God 122. We are to labour to have a share in Gods Mercy then All His Attributes are for us else they are against us 123. Love endeavours to enjoy the thing beloved here is Comfort if once we can find God loves us there will be Enjoyment 124. Often Prayer with God and seldom company with wicked men is the onely way to thrive 125. The strong are to pray for the weak that they fail not the weak are to pray for the strong that they fall not 126. The Justice of God takes place when his Mercy is abused 127. Some men act the part of two men in profane Company they would not be thought to be religious in religious Company they would not be thought to be profane 128. Virtue stands between two Extremes 129. Hypocrites have no Approbation of themselves for want of Sincerity nor of others because of Inconstancy for they break out One time or Other 130. There is Mercy to be shewed both in Giving and Forgiving and for Giving 131. There is a Love of Mercy of God to us and a Love of Duty of us to Him 1â—2 Wrangling Persons are offensive to whomsoever they jar withall to the learned they are a Grief to the ignorant a Snare to the indifferent a Trouble of Conscience 133. A good Affection makes a good Construction 134. We must love bad men with a love of good will wishing their good we must love good men with a love of Approbation approving their Courses and desiring their Company 135. When men look on Eternity then they begin to be wise 136. 'T is the Property of Love to descend rather then to ascend 137. There is Knowledge in the Brain but saving Knowledge is joyned with Care and Conscience for example most know Gods Name should not be taken in vain but few know this with Care and Conscience 138. Inward Sincerity and outward Integrity must go together 139. If we read the Scripture without distinctions we do as they that walk in the dark they know not whether they go for example God hears not Sinners John 9. We must distinguish Sinners penitent and impenitent and so in divers Other things 140. We are to take Counsel lest we neglecting it do smart 141. The Children of God have more joy then Worldlings Psal 4.3 last 142. The invisible God hath an invisible secret Curse for the Wicked and an invisible secret blessing for the Godly which we see not with the Eye 143. Vnfeigned Thankfulness is the Property of a Saint Psal 145.10 144. God hath given us Understanding and Affections to help these he gives Instruction and Exhortation Instruction breeds cleer Understanding Exhortation breeds good Affections 145. Learning lives and Virtue shines Folly beggs and Ignorance pines 146. Christs Word should dwell in us
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