and eagernesse to doe more good still and rather want matter and meanes then readinesse and resolution to propagate it selfe And this way now may the poorest Christians bee plentifull in workes of mercy and enrich the richest with spirituall almes Which in the meane time may comfort the bountifull hearts of those who are true of heart to whom the Lord out of his best wisedome hath denied this earthly drosse But yet for all this I would haue you know that I know none not the poorest excepted or exempted from seasonable ministring to the corporall necessities also of their brethren We haue a Precept from blessed Paul Ephe. 4. 28. That we must worke with our own hands that we may haue to giue to him that needeth And a noble president in the poore Widdow Mark 12. 44. who cast her two mites into the Treasurie which was all shee had euen all her liuing And if any heere make a counterplea of their pouertie I would know if there bee any so poore which is not able to giue a cup of cold water onely and yet this from a sincere heart shall bee both graciously accepted and certainly rewarded Matth. 10. 42. And therefore in a second place I infinitely desire and intreate and this is that which in this point I would specially presse and perswade with deepest impression that euery one which hath giuen his name vnto Christ rich or poore according to his power and proportion would with singular care and conscience addresse himselfe to a fruitfull affectionate and constant discharge of this much honoured dutie of almes-giuing in this kinde also properly so called 1. For we are bound to abound in this grace also Therefore saith Paul 2. Cor. 8. 7. As yee abound in euery thing in faith c. see that you abound in this grace also There is no religious Professour of any reputation vpon good ground with the Church of God but takes to heart and desires to bee exact in all commanded Christian duties euery day as Prayer reading Scriptures c. Vpon thy secret then and solitarie reuise and suruey of the day past call thy selfe to a strict account as for others so concerning this dutie also of doing good vnto all men especially vnto them who are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 10. for the discharge of this dutie ought also to bee daily if thy abilitie will beare and the necessities of the poore shall require In the morning sowe thy seed and in the euening withhold not thy hand Giue a portion to seuen and also to eight Eccles. 11. 6 2. and let the sense and consciousnesse of any omission neglect or sloth in performing it wound thy conscience also humble thy soule and quicken thine heart with new life of resolution and more liuely endeuour to mend euery morning and perfume as it were thine euery dayes walking with God and this sweet smelling sacrifice also of mercifulnesse bounty and loue Phil. 4. 18. Let this duty likewise with the rest fall within the compassâ—… of thy seuerest search penitent melting renued vowes in all thy more solemne selfe-examinations before the Sabbath Sacraments vpon dayes of humiliation c. It is a profitable consideration to thinke that a customary grosse neglect of any one Christian dutie in its season of which the conscience is or may be conuinced may iustly dampe and dead the lightsome and fruitfull performance of all the rest For example A willing knowne omission of priuate Prayer or set reading the Word euery day may intercept and restraine the sweet influence of Gods woonted refreshing mercy and the fructifying beames of his pleased countenance from thine heart in the vse of all the other ordinances an affected idlenesse and dis-imployment of any one grace in the soule when seasonable occasion calleth for improouement may blast the comfortable exercise and sensible comfort of all the rest For example If thou suffer thy patience ordinarily to sleepe when thy disauowed passions begin to breake in vpon thee like a torrent and heate thine heart with their swelling poyson or when some crosse doth nettle thy desire of ease no maruaile though thou finde a faintnesse also to seize vpon thy faith brotherly kindnesse loue zeale ioy and peace in beleeuing c. Why then when thou feelest thine inward man to begin to languish and the whole body of Christianitie to grow as it were towards a consumption amongst other inquisitions why doest thou not also feare out of a godly iealousie and labour to finde out whether the coldnesse of thy charity and too much neglect of releeuing the poore members of Iesus Christ may occasion thy spirituall dampe It is the duty and property of euery true-hearted Nathaneel as to haue respect to all Gods Commandements Psal. 119. 6. so though they cannot in perfection and height yet with truth and sincere endeauour to haue respect to a conscionable vse of all the ordinances to the performance of all holy duties and exercise of all spirituall graces in their due seasons 2. If the world hath locked vp thine heart and congealed the bowels of thy compassions towards the poore let the blaze of thine outward profession shine neuer so faire manage the heartlesse representations of externall holinesse neuer so demurely keepe the times and taskes of daily duties with neuer so great austeritie nay though thou bee able to amuse weaker Christians with some affected straines and artificiall feruency in Prayer for by the meere power or rather poyson of hypocrisie and vaineglory a man may pray sometimes to the admiration of others especially lesse iudicious hauing cunningly collected the most moouing passages for that purpose from the best-gifted in that kinde and then giuing an enforced action and life vnto them in the deliuerie as some in other cases act other mens inuentions to the life I say for all this if the holy heate of brotherly loue doth not warme thine heart and vpon occasion worke affectionately and effectually I dare say thou art rotten at the heart-roote there is no true loue of God in thee no grace no hope of saluation Let that terrible and flaming place against all couetous Pharises 1. Ioh. 3. 17. dissolue thy frozen-heartednesse this way and enlarge the bowels of pitie towards the poore brethren of Christ Iesus or else neuer looke hereafter to looke him in the face with comfort or to finde mercy at that Day Marke it well and meditate vpon it Whoso hath this worlds good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth vp his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him 3. But aboue all other motiues of mercifulnesse to the poore which in the Booke of God are very many and most quickening methinkes that argument which Paul presseth to this purpose 2. Cor. 8. 9. should melt the most flinty heart For yee know saith he the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes hee became poore that yee
contempt all the vile raylings and contradictions of Satans Reuellers and Popish insolencie For vainely to affect the acclamations and applause of worthlesse men or to bee deiected vnmanlily with their vniust accusations and anger are both equally ignoble and most vnworthy a man of Honour and vertuous resolution Yours shall bee the Crowne and comfort when all Popery and prophanenesse shall lye buried in the dust and dungeon of Hell In a word the thirstie longing of my heart and heartiest prayer shall euer be That you may shine euery day more and more gloriously in all personall sanctitie plantation of godlinesse in your owne Family and where you haue any thing to doe and in an holy zeale for setting forward the affaires of God when and wheresoeuer you haue any power or Calling That when the last period of your mortall abode in this Vale of teares which drawes on apace shall present it selfe You may looke death in the face without dread the graue without feare the Lord Iesus with comfort and Iehouah blessed for euer with euerlasting Ioy. Thus let all the sauing blessings of our most bountifull heauenly Father through Iesus Christ by the Holy Ghost be plentifully and for euer vpon your Honourable Selfe and all your sweet and Noble Children Your Honours most truely in all seruices for the saluation of your Soule ROBERT BOLTON A Table of the generall heads as they lye in order in the Booke SEruants of God singular from others in Sanctitie Puritie c. pag. 2 Gods free grace the 〈◊〉 of all our good p. 9 His wonderfull mercies to vs our horrible ingratitude p. 12 Personall goodnesse brings comfort and blessings vpon posteritie p. 18 True sauing grace neuer lost p. 22 Câ—…tions and meanes of perseuerance 25. 27 Gods seruants must noâ—… sâ—…ue the times p. 28 Euery Christians duty to walke with God p. 29. The reasons 30 To the performing of this there are 1. Generall preparatiues 1. Abandon resoluedly thy beloued sinne See 1. What it is 35 2. What thine is 36 3. Thine owne imposture in exchanging it 38 2. Hatâ—… Hypocrisie 43. Many here guilty meere pretenders to Religion ibid. Particular calling not to be left 48 3. Build thy resolutions on that maiâ—… principle Selfe-dâ—…iall 51 4. Liue the life of faith 〈◊〉 in all 〈◊〉 53 5. Settle in thine heart a right conceit of the substance power and materials of Christianitie 157 6. Fortifie thy Spirit against the canker of worldly-mindednesse 60 7. Be infinitely rauisht with the loue of God The motiues 61 8. Prize inualuably the fruition of Gods pleased face 62 9. Watch ouer thy heart and keepe it in a spirituall temper 63 10. Meditate on thy future blisse 64 1. Obserâ—…e 〈◊〉 duties and our Carriage after them 69 3. Vse well thy solitariâ—… seasons of Meditation 71 4. And thy company 73. Here Danger of propâ—… company 74 How to conuerse with friends vnconuerted 86 5. Continually ply thy heart by 1. Captiuating it to grace 88 2. Watchfull guard ouer it 9â—… 3 〈◊〉 it toward Heauen 9â—… 6. Labour to represse thy raging passions as Anger the 〈◊〉 Morall 95 Religious 100 feare the Vanity tyraâ—…y of it 104 〈◊〉 10â—… 7. Order religiously thy tongue by Christian reproofe A duty 112 Here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it 114. who dogs 〈◊〉 115 Directioâ—… iâ—… it 118 Extremes fainthearted silence 119 〈◊〉 Zeale 119 Reasons eâ—…orcing it 120 Holding silence 1. From vncharitable 〈◊〉 differenced from the censures of holy men 130 2. Sâ—…dering false accusing 137 3. Vnsauourie communication Hereof Heaâ—…enly discourse 146 8. Manage conscâ—…bly eâ—…ry action thou vndertakest Circumstances requisite iâ—… a comfortable action â—…b particularly 149 1. Thy Recreations See they be not Costly 154 Cruell 155 Wasting of time most precious 157 Incrâ—…aching vpon heauenly comforts 168 Differences betweene ioy spirituall and carnall 170 2. Visitations of great Ones vnsanctified Dangerous 181 Herein cautions 185 3. Naturall actions thus against Gluttony 195 Drunkennesse 200 Excessiue sleepe 205 4. Ciuill affaires Generall Here Doe as thou wouldest be done by 207 Abhorre wrongfull and vnconscionable dealing 210 Desire not delight not immoderately in any earthly thing For This is thy bosome sinnes parent 225 Thou wilt finde thy selfe insatiable vnsatisfiable 219 Particular for Marriage 1. Enter vpon it conueniently 234 2. Vse it comfortably here are duties Common to both 237 Peculiar to the Husband 244 Wife 250 5. Workes of mercy as well Spirituall as 257 Corporall Motiues to almes-deeds 261 Gods children often falsly charged with coâ—…etousnesse worldlinesse occasions of this imputation 276 Earthly mindednesse infinitely vnbecomming an heire of heauen 289 6. Spirituallestate where carefully auoide two extreames 1. Self-admiration proud oâ—…er-prizing of our owne graces 294 Here 1. The mysterie of selfe-deceit opened 299 2. Worke of Grace in the true Conuert 308 3. Sanctified men may be assured of their spirituall safety 317. and how 4. Sound perswasion distinguished from delusion 329 5. Preseruatiues against ouerweening 341 2. Deiected distrustfull vndervaluing of Gods mercies our graces the promises of life Here Against the heauy sad pensiue walking of some Saints 354 Reall causes and motiues of their ioy 359 Conceits and occasions of discomforts remoued 380 FINIS SOME GENERALL DIRECTIONS FOR A COMFORTABLE WALking with God GEN. 6. 8 9. 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9. These are the generations of Noah Noah was a iust man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God IN this dreadfull and dismall story of the old Worlds degeneration and destruction falling away and final ruine here stands in my Text a right orient and illustrious Starre shining full faire with singularitie of heauenly light spiritual goodnes and Gods sincerer seruice in the darkest midnight of Satans vniuersall raigne and amidst the horriblest hell of the strangest confusions idolatrous corruptions cruelties oppressions and lust that euer the earth bore Noah I meane a very precious Man and Preacher of Righteousnesse to whose Family alone the true worship of God was confinde when all the world besides lay drowned in Idolatrie and Paganisme ready to bee swallowed vp into an vniuersall graue of Waters which was already fashioned in the clouds by the angry vnresistable hand of the all-powerfull God who was now so implacably but most iustly prouoked by those rebellious and cruell generations that Hee would not suffer His Spirit to striue any more with them but inexorably resolued to open the windowes or floudgates of heauen giuing extraordinarie strength of influence to the Stars abundance to the Fountaines of the great deepe commanding them to cast out the whole treasure and heape of their waters taking away the retentiue power from the clouds that they might powre downe immeasurably for the burying of all liuing creatures which breathed in the ayre Noah and his family excepted From whence by the way before I breake into my text take this Note Doctr. The seruants of God are men of
constant onely in an heartlesse plodding course and coldnesse and many times at length when the motiue of their religious representations and shewes is remooued and the end compassed for which they counterfeited they put off their vizours and appeare againe plaine carnall men and downe-right good-fellowes as they were before The Play being done they are Rogues againe 5. Some there may be who out of a greedy pursuite of a generall applause from all sorts of men and ambitious hunting after a promi◅uous reputation and equall acceptance both with Professours of Religion and men of this world put on a show of religious deportment at least in the company of such as are ready and forward to commend their cōformitie and forwardnesse that way and by relation abroad to enrole their names amongst the number of those who are noted to be on the best side In a word such fellowes as these out of a base and vnblessed ambition to be well spoken of by all though a woe waites vpon such Luke 6. 26. furnish themselues both with a forme of profession to content Christians and flourishes of good-fellowship to please the prophane 6. Others there are who may gloriously pretend and protest with great brauery and confidence their assent and assistance to the best and holiest courses put on a temporary counterfeite profession and fashionable conformity to the communion of Saints that thereby they may passe more fairely and plausibly out of one calling into another from a baser lower more neglected and toilesome Trade into some other of more liberty acceptation and ease or else breake out of all Callings and so by the vnhallowed mystery of a sacred coozening if I may so call it liue vpon their profession and by amusing the tender consciences of weake Christians with the controuling and countermanding tyrannies as it were of an affected furious zeale sucke out of them no small aduantage and prey too plentifully vpon the people of God Such as these are ready to pretend and intimate that such base earthly and worldly imployment and spending of their time is disgracefull and derogatory to the prouidence of God and their Christian liberty that with vnworthy detainments and auocations it interrupts them in the pursuite of their generall Calling disables and hinders them in the discharge of holy duties But let them know that Christianity if sound and true doth not nullifie but sanctifie our particular Callings Thou oughtest to continue with conscionablenesse and constancy in that personall Calling wherein thy calling to grace did finde the◅ if it be warrantable and lawfull See 1. Cor. 7. 20. No comfortable change of a Calling but in case of 1. priuate necessity or 2. common Good and that truly so not hypocritically pretended or for by-respects If any man then vpon giuing his name to Religion shall grow into neglect distaste or dereliction of his honest particular Calling wee may euer strongly suspect him of hollownesse and hypocrisie It is the confident conclusion of a very learned and holy Diuine Though a man bee indued with excellent gifts and bee able to speake well conceiue Prayer and with some reuerence to heare the Word and receiue the Sacraments yet if hee practise not the duties of godlinesse within his owne Calling all is but hypocrisie 1. What sonne or daughter of Adam can challenge and plead exemption from that common charge laid vpon them by the Lord of Heauen In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou returne vnto the ground Either by trauaile of body or toyle of minde or both 2. Diligence in a ciuill Calling is necessary for a comfortable prouision of earthly necessaries 3. Hee is a cursed Drone a child of idlenesse and sloth the very Tennis-ball of temptation most vnworthy the blessings and benefits of humane societie who doeth not one way or other cooperate as it were and contribute to the common Good with his best endeauours in some honest particular Calling 4. A seasonable imployment in a ciuill Calling is a Soueraigne preseruatiue and curbe for preuention of infinite swarmes of idle melancholike and exorbitant thoughts and for restraint from many wicked and vnwarrantable medlings and miscarriages 5. An honest Calling is a Schoole of Christianitie In which a man performing duties for the Lords sake may daily profit in the practise and increase of many heauenly graces Faith Obedience Patience Meekenesse Constancie Truth Fidelitie Inuocation Thanksgiuing experience of Gods prouidence c. A true Conuert therefore is so farre from casting off his personall Calling that after his calling to Christianitie he is woont to discharge the duties thereof with farre more care and conscience though with a better minde more moderate affections and for a blesseder end 7. Some there may bee who seeing the iniquity of these last and worst times lying in weight for the surprize and suppression of forwardnesse and zeale and that they may gaine or grow into credit with the world by some speciall seruice against the forwarder sort serue themselues in the meane time plausiblenesse of profession taking away the sense of their intrusion into the company and communion of the most noted religious people that at length they may doe them the more mischiefe and driue to the head the bitternesse of their lurking malice with a more desperate and deadly sting These are men of great imposture and cunning in their carriage They informe themselues thorowly and exactly in the wayes and zealous behauiour of Profession and so with great satisfaction and contentment apply and accommodate themselues for a time to their desires and deuotions But if once they pry into a point of seeming aduantage which by their wresting outfacing may create matter of molestation and spy their supposed season to winne by betraying they turne Turkes and traitors to those which are true of heart to serue their owne turnes 8. Many there are who out of a fond and groundlesse conceit that onely an outward conformitie to the Word Sacraments and other religious exercises will serue their turne for saluation giue their names to profession and so walke on plodding in the comfortlesse vnzealous formes of a frozen outside Christianity many times euen vnto their dying day These men marre and vnsanctifie themselues by making moderation in Religion a Saint and vndoe their soules by adoring discretion as an Idoll Moderation and discretion truly so called and rightly defined by the rules of God are blessed and beautifying ornaments to the best and most zealous Christians but being tempered with their coldnesse and edged with their eagernesse against forwardnesse and ferue◅cy in spirit which the Apostle enioynes Rom. 12. 11. become the very desperate cut-throates to the power of godlinesse and pestilent consumption of the spirits heart and life of true zeale These fellowes are most insolent and confident in their Pharisaicall brags spirituall security and hopes for Heauen They admire and applaude with much selfe-estimation of ther singular skill
neuer come neere the requitall of the least inch of His infinite loue towards thee which reacheth from euerlasting to euerlasting 1. He bore thee in the bosome of this His free loue from all eternitie and that so dearely that from the same eternity He decreed that His owne deare Sonne should die for thee 2. Hee brought thee out of the abhorred state of being nothing into the ranke of his reasonable and noblest creatures 3. Hee bought thee againe when thou hadst wilfully lost thy selfe with the hearts-blood of His onely Sonne 4. He preserues thee euery day from a thousand dangers a thousand deaths which might seize vpon thee both from within and from without 5 He will shortly crowne thee with euerlasting life fulnesse of ioy and pleasures at his right hand for euermore 3. Thirdly confider the vnquenchable impatiencie of Christs inflamed loue vnto thee now washed with His Blood and beautified with His grace Cant. 4. 9. Thou hast rauished my heart saith He to the Church and by consequent to euery true Christian my sister my spouse thou hast rauished my heart with one of thine eyes with one chaine of thy necke Now loue is of that alluring nature that many times it will draw loue from a man when there is no louely part in the partie louing What a deale of loue then doth the Soueraigne Lord of all goodnesse the well-spring of all beauty excellencie and sweetnesse exact at our hands especially sith wee are his meere creatures in respect both of our naturall being outward state gracious state and state of glory See how His spirituall amiablenesse is shadowed by outward beauties Cant. 5. 10. VIII Prize the fruition of Gods pleased face a neerer communion and acquaintance with His blessed Maiestie the loue and light of His countenance and thereupon a free and frequent accesse with an humble boldnes vnto the throne of Grace at a far higher and more vnualuable rate than heauen and earth as a very reall fruitfull fore-taste of eternall ioyes For to say no more at this time If thou hold an holy familiaritie with thy God and He looke pleasedly vpon thee thou shalt graspe Iesus Christ more sweetly and feelingly in the armes of thy Faith partake more plentifully of the ioyfull freedome presence and communication of His comforting Spirit be garded more strongly and narrowly by His glorious Angels sucke more sweetnesse and heauenly Manna out of the Ministerie and other His blessed Ordinances walke in safetie amongst the creatures like an vnconquerable Lyon Thou shalt bee in a league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee when thou goest thy gate shall not be straite and when thou runnest thou shalt not fall when thou sleepest thy sleepe shall be sweet thou shalt dwell safely and none shall make thee afraid Thou shalt neuer more be afraid of any euill tidings or of destruction when it commeth when thou passest thorow the waters thy God shall bee with thee and thorow riuers they shall not ouerflow thee when thou walkest thorow the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee c. And if at any time thou bee seized vpon with any crosse or calamitie from any of the creatures any trouble or temptation from man or Deuill any lowring or crueltie from the iniquitie of the times or persecuters of the Truth yet the refreshing beames of Gods pleased face shining vpon thy heart through the darknesse of such discomforts will sweetly mitigate reuiue and infinitely make amends for all The poyson and curse of them shall neuer come neere thy soule The Lord in the meane time like an Eagle flutttering about her nest will most tenderly defend and protect thee Esa. 31. 5. and at length most certainly come like a yong Lyon roaring on his prey for thy rescue and glorious enlargement Isa. 31. 4. IX Labour by a constant watch to keepe thy heart in a spirituall temper still and still sweetly content and fruitfully conuersant in the Mystery of Christ and Secrets of His Kingdome which thou shalt more easily doe If thou first reioyce in God his Word Graces as thy chiefest ioy and greatest aduantage 2. By all earthly things be drawne to the loue of heauenly For though God hath appointed but one Sabbath in seuen dayes for his more solemne publike worship yet to a Christian euery day is sanctified to be a rest from all the deeds of the flesh wherein he is to walke with his God and shew forth the religious keeping of his heart and good conscience in euery action of his whole life so making euery passage of his particular Calling a part of Christian obedience and dutie vnto God 3. Let the noblenesse of thine inlarged Spirit as infinitely disdaine to be any wayes vpon any termes in bondage to the corruptions of the times so finde a farre sweeter rellish and take incomparably more contentment in the seruices of thy Lord and his holy Ordinances then in all his outward benefits and fauours of this life For as the best of these abused will most certainly at the Barre of God turne scourges and Scorpions to the worldling conscience and in the meane time there is no man so assured of his honour of his riches health or life but that hee may be depriued of either or all the very next houre or day to come so the other will prooue vnto the Christian hauing beene conscionably and constantly exercised in them as a rich stocke to bring in comfort patience and inward peace in his most neede and greatest extremity 4. Assoone as thou discouerest any spirituall weakenesse or decay any extraordinarie assault temptation deadnesse c. complaine betime cry mightily vnto God giue him no rest neither giue ouer seeking vntill hee returne vnto thy soule with power and life againe If ordinarie meanes will not preuaile presse vpon him with extraordinary if then he doe not reuiue thee with woonted quickning vigour waite with a patient wakefull longing of all the powers of thy soule and then all this while thy soule is still in its true spirituall temper and a most blessed state See Isa. 30. 18. 5. Decline watchfully all occasions of falling from thy first loue feruencie and heauenly-mindednesse as spirituall pride knowne hypocrisie desire to be rich discontinuance of thine intimatenesse with the godly neglect of thy particular Calling or dayly watch ouer thy heart vngodly company forme in religious duties coldnesse and customarinesse in the vse of the meanes c. 6. Suffer not thine affections to bee chained downe and set too much vpon those things which the common sort and greatest part of men seeke after insatiably and slauishly sinke vnder praise profit credit acceptation with the world fauour of great Ones mirth pleasures ease feare sorrow earthly contentment preferment wealth long life or any worldly thing but debase and dis-esteeme all other delights in respect of doing Gods will
and quenched let a Christian but for a while abandon his holy conference and comfortable communion with Gods children and plunge himselfe into the company of those who are but cold and carelesse lazie and luke-warme Professors and he shall in very short time find his zeale to be very much cooled his forwardnesse abated the tendernesse of his conscience too much qualified with worldly wisedome much dulnesse of heart deadnesse of spirit drowzinesse and heartlesnesse in his affections to holy things and an vniuersall decay of his graces insensibly to grow vpon him In this respect many Christians doe themselues much wrong and afflict their soules with many vnnecessary spirituall miseries For they doe sometimes vnaduisedly by reason of kindred for old acquaintance aduantage and carnall contentment because of the worldly wisedome immunity from grosse sinnes and other good parts of the parties hold a too neere intimate and delightfull correspondence with such as are but onely ciuill men or Pharises at the best with whom spending most of their time and they wanting both heart and skill to vphold any holy conferences or to affoord any reciprocall or mutuall helpe in the feeling passages of sanctification are occasions to put Gods Children out of vse and vre with the language of Canaan from the embracement of many ioyfull considerations and exercise of those comfortable Meditations and holy conuersation aboue which Christian company would occasionally and seasonably put into them and keepe fresh and working in their mindes and by consequent bereaue them thereby of much zeale comfort feelings of Gods fauour ioyfull springings of heart boldnesse in their wayes cheerefulnesse in the exercises of Religion and that comfortable fruition of other prerogatiues of Christianity which many other of their brethren doe and they by the benefit of religious companions and delightfull conuersing with the Saints might plentifully enioy Apprehend this passage aright I say a Christian may be much worsened and weakened in his graces by companying too much and conuersing delightfully with the meere ciuill man or Whited Tombes For he may spend with such men whole weekes nay moneths and yeeres and haue not one word of sanctified discourse and holy talke ministred vnto him Scarce a word to bee had from them of the Word of God and way to heauen no conference of the secrets of Sanctification of perplexities of conscience of their euerlasting abode together in the Mansions of heauen Motions that way would bee very irkesome and tedious vnto them such talke would quickly beget silence melancholy sadnesse and a desire to breake off company Now the Christian by this meanes neither hauing his tongue exercised nor his eares much acquainted with edifying Christian discourse growes neglectiue of storing his memory with holy things vnzealous and cold in the apprehensions of heauen dull and heartlesse to godly duties If thus what infection then from notorious and lewd companions But aboue all in this point the fellowship of the Papist is most pernicious for by him a man is in danger both of hauing his vnderstanding and iudgement corrupted with heresie and his life and conuersation infected with impiety There are two steps and passages as it were out of the state of prophanenesse into the Paradise of Christianitie 1. Illumination of the vnderstanding with sauing knowledge 2. Sanctification of the heart with speciall grace Now the Papist labours to peruert and impoyson both For commonly you shall finde the Papist to be stigmatized and branded with a double marke Hee receiues one immediately from the Beast a brand of Idolatry And Satan commonly fastens vpon him another speciall marke some notorious and scandalous sinne in his conuersation as swearing lying vncleannesse the vanities of good-fellowship Sabbath-breaking or such like For we must know that Antichristianisme cannot produce sanctification and therefore you shall commonly finde euery Papist to lye in some raigning sinne howsoeuer formall deuotion is the highest perfection attainable in that Antichristian state By Popish company then a man is in danger of corruption both in his vnderstanding and conuersation By the lewd which yet make profession of Gods Trueth of infection with notoriousnesse in conditions By meere ciuill honest men and formall Professors of defection from zeale and forwardnesse at the least 2. As the Christian incurres by the company of prophane men euident hazard either of infection with their sinnes if they bee notorious or defection from zeale and forwardnesse if they be something more tolerable and formall so he is euery houre which hee is in their company without a warrantable calling and iust dispensation out of the Word and from a good conscience in great danger of being inuolued within the flames of the iust confusions and inwrapt within the compasse of those outward curses and plagues which Gods indignation inkindles and inflicts vpon wicked men All prophane men being vnreconciled to God are euery moment liable to all those miseries and fearefull iudgements which either man or deuill any of Gods creatures or his owne immediate hand can bring vpon them They are onely respited and reserued by Gods mercy and deferred onely vnto those opportunities and seasons which seeme best and fittest to his holy Wisedome Now if when they light vpon them as they may iustly at any time any of Gods Children bee found amongst them vnwarrantably and delightfully it is righteous with God that he receiue his portion amongst them at that time and bee fearefully infolded within the fury of the greatest temporall visitation It is righteous with God that if his owne Child will needs bee vnwarrantably familiar with his enemy that he also bee partaker of any temporall plague especially with his enemy euen to the losse sometimes of his naturall life Take then I beseech you the holy counsell of the blessed Apostle Eph. 5. 7. Bee not therefore companions with them And let his reason fright you out of their company Let no man deceiue you saith he with vaine words for for such things commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience For such things to wit fornication vncleannesse couetousnesse filthinesse foolish talking iesting and such like Take heed therefore of conuersing with the practisers of these vncomely things 2. Secondly there must very shortly bee an euerlasting separation betweene the Christian and prophane men at the farthest they must part vpon their death-beds and neuer see one another againe vnto the day of Iudgement and then they must shake hands for world without end For there is set betwixt them by Gods immutable and irreuocable Decree a vast and immeasurable gulfe which stands as fast and vnremooueable as God Almightie in his Throne of Maiestie so that they can neuer possibly meete Betweene vs and you saith Abraham to the rich man in hell there is a great gulfe fixed so that they which would passe from hence to you cannot neither can they passe to vs that would come from thence If it be so then that after an inch of
and dignitie or to conuerse intimately with his deadliest enemie Would any great Man in the State retaine any as a speciall fauourite who should bee inward with his greatest counter-factionist What ingenuous child would delightfully digest that company wherein hee should heare his father in a foule and shamefull manner disgraced and rayled vpon How then should Almighty God hold him his friend who is familiar with strangers to the life of God and enemies to his Grace How can that man looke for the prerogatiues and protections of a child of God who haunts such company with delight where he heares daily his Almightie Father foulely and shamefully dishonoured perhaps with oathes and blasphemies with obscenities and raylings at least with many idle and prophane speeches 6. Sixthly conuersing with prophane men doth crosse and ouerthrow a common Christian dutie which is this In all companies either doe good or take good or both For in this case the Christian both takes hurt and doth hurt he hurts 1. himselfe because he throwes himselfe vpon temptation and hazard of being infected with notoriousnesse if his companions be very lewd and prophane or at least with formalitie and coldnesse if they be but only ciuilly honest or formall professors 2. He hurts also others 1. Hee hardens his companions in their vnregenerate courses because they thinke he would not so familiarly conuerse with them except hee were well conceited of their spirituall state and so they rest with securitie and confidence in their vnregeneration 2. Hee is a stumbling blocke to the weake Christian who by looking vpon his example may bee led awry from the straight path of his profession and by taking thereupon libertie of imitation may haue his young beginnings of Grace choaked and smothered by the delightfull vanities of good fellowship in the presse of prophane company 3. He grieues also strong and vnderstanding Christians to see him so far forget himselfe and disgrace his profession as to conuerse with the enemies of God and by his practise to perswade the world that the base fooleries of good fellowship are more sweet and tastefull then the glorious pleasures of the communion of Saints 7. There is another reason which though it be not very obuious to mens apprehensions or much taken notice of yet in my vnderstanding it should be very powerfull and of very great weight to driue Christians out of the company of vnregenerate men to restrain them from a familiar and delightfull correspondence and conuersing with them except they haue a warrantable Calling and the testimonie of their consciences to conuerse with them for their conuersion and spirituall good It is this when an vnregenerate man obserues that a Christian presseth into his company desires to spend time with him and is well enough content to exchange mutually many offices of intimate kindnesse hee presently conceiues and concludes that sure hee sees in him matter worthy of Christian company and endowments sufficient to ranke him amongst the Saints else hee could not take such contentment in his conditions and conuersation Whereupon hee is fearefully hardned in his present courses and settles with resolution confidence and security vpon the plausible deceitfulnesse of his vnregenerate state and thinks himselfe well that hee may both enioy the pleasures of the present and also a good testimony and hope of his rightnesse in the way to Heauen because it is well knowne and acknowledged that his companion both knowes and walkes in the right path And sith he hath one to take part he takes it not much to heart that other Christians are more vnfamiliar and strange vnto him for hee imputes it onely to their sowrenesse and vnsociablenesse Assuredly there are many Christians very faulty this way and haue very much to answer for in this kind They familiarly conuerse with vnregenerate men and because they would not displease and bee distastefull they say nothing vnto them of the cursednesse of their condition towards God and of the fearfulnesse of their case in respect of saluation Hereupon they grow into a conceit that they are well conceited of their spirituall state and so walke farre more resolutely and confidently towards Hell by reason of the societie and silence of their Christian companions I thinke verily that prophane men doe not onely sometimes desire the company of Christians to win reputation from the better sort and to guild ouer the rottennesse of their conuersation with some little tincture and lesser splendour reflected from the glory of their Christianitie but also to purchase some counterfeit comfort to their consciences and false hope vnto their hearts that their case is the better towards God because Gods children vouchsafe to keepe company and conuerse more familiarly with them 8. But aboue all for this purpose peruse often and ponder well 1. The effectuall prohibitions in Gods Booke 2. the protestations and practise of the Saints 3. and punishments inflicted for familiaritie with the vngodly For the last see 2. Chron. 19. 2. and 20. 37. For the second see Psal. 26. 4 5. Ier. 15. 17. 2. King 3. 14. For the first see 1. Cor. 5. 11. Ephes. 5. 11. Prou. 14. 7. 2. Thes. 3. 6. where he solemnnely commands them in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ that they withdraw themselues from euery brother that walkes inordinately c. Hee aimes specially in that place at idle persons by consequent then and good proportion at more notorious fellowes If wee must withdraw our selues from those who haue leasure to bee for all companies at all times vpon all occasions and are therefore accounted the onely companions how fast must wee runne from lyers swearers whoremongers drunkards scorners reuellers and fellowes of such infamous ranke Prou. 4. 14. where iteration of the same sence in variety of phrase argues the necessity of the dutie and earnestnesse of the Diuine Penman to perswade Enter not saith he into the path of the wicked and goe not in the way of euill men Auoide it passe by it turne from it and passe away Deepe apprehensiuenesse of the excellencie and worth of the matter or extraordinarie seruencie to impresse and perswade the point doth many times in Scripture clothe the same thing with diuers formes of speech and varietie of phrase 2. Now in a second place If thou desirest to conuerse with some of thine vnconuerted kindred friends neighbours old acquaintance c. for their spirituall good obserue these three rules 1. Let there bee good probabilitie proportionably of more power of grace knowledge sanctification spirituall wisedome Christian resolution c. in thee to conuert them then poison of vnregenerate stubbornnesse sensuall malice sinfull wit worldly wisedome Satanicall sophistrie in them to peruert thee 2. See that thy heart be sincere and that in the singlenesse thereof thou seeke truely their conuersion and not thine owne secret contentment for in this point thine owne heart will bee ready to deceiue thee Thou mayest offer thy selfe into such company with
pretence and purpose to sollicit them for saluation and preuaile with them about the best things and yet before thou be aware bee plunged and insnared in the woonted vnwarrantable delights of good fellowship pleasant passages of wit idle and impertinent follies and familiarities which thou wast accustomed to exchange and enioy with them in thy vnregenerate time So that in stead of the discharge of a Christian duty thou mayest both hurt thy selfe and harden them 3. As Physicians of the body arme and animate themselues with strong repercussiues preseruatiues and counterpoysons when they visit contagious and pestilentiall patients so in such cases be thou sure to furnish and fortifie thy selfe before-hand with prayer meditation the sword of the Spirit store of perswasiue matter strength of reasons and vnshaken resolution to repell and beate backe all noysome insinuations of spirituall infection 3. Into Christian company which thou shouldest prize thine only Paradise and Heauen vpon Earth the very flowre and festiuall of all thy refreshing time in this vale of teares euer bring 1. A cheerefull and lightsome heart Me-thinks though thou shouldest come amongst the Saints with a sad heart and something ouer-cast with mists and clouds of heauinesse and discomfort yet the presence and faces of those whom hereafter thou shalt meet in Heauen and there with incomparable ioy behold for euer clothed and shining with eminencie and eternitie of glory should disperse and dispell them all and infuse comfortable beames of heauenly lightsomnesse and spirituall mirth I know them who being cast sometimes full sore against their wils amongst profane company are quite out of their element all the while strucke dead in the place as they say as solitary as in the silentest Desart But let them come amongst Christians and they are quite other men as full of lightsomnes and life as full of heart and Heauen as if they had the one foot in the Porch of Paradise already-Sadnesse is not seasonable where such precepts as these haue place Be glad in the Lord. and reioyce yee righteous and shout for ioy all yee that are vpright in heart 2. A fruitfull heart full as the Moone with gracious matter to vphold edifying conference and sanctified talke Being forward and free without any hurtfull bashfulnesse or vaine-glorious aime both to communicate to others the hidden treasures of heauenly knowledge which thou hast happily digged out of the precious quarry as it were of the great mystery of Grace also by moouing of questions and ministring occasion mutually to draw from them with an holy greedinesse the waters of life for a reciprocall refreshing and quickning of the deadnesse and vnheauenlinesse of thine owne heart And here it will bee a profitable wisedome to take notice of and obserue each others singularitie of gifts and seuerall endowments and thereafter with wise insinuations to prouoke and presse them to powre out themselues in those things wherein they haue best experience and most excellency Some are more dexterous and skilfull in discussing controuersed points others in resoluing cases of conscience some in discouering the Deuils depths and treading the Maze of his manifold temptations others in comforting afflicted spirits and speaking to the heart of mourners in Zion c. I am perswaded many times many worthy discourses lie buried in the brests of vnderstanding men by reason of the finfull silence I think I may say so and barrennesse of those about them And therefore Christians ought to be more forth-putting actiue and fruitfull this way 3. An humble heart ready and reioycing to exchange and enioy common comforts soule-secrets heauenly consultations with the poorest and most neglected Christian. If thou bee haunted with the white Deuill of spirituall pride it is likely thou wilt bee either too prodigall and profuse and so ingrosse all the talke which is sometimes incident to new conuerts or counterfeits or else too reserued and curious and so say no more then may serue to breed an applause and admiration of thy worth which is a very filthy and fearefull fault There is no depth of knowledge no height of zeale no measure of Grace but may be further inlarged more inflamed blessedly encreased by conference with the poorest faithfull Christian See Rom. 1. 12. and 15. 24. how Paul that great learned and diuinely inspired Doctor of the Gentiles stood affected in this point V. But aboue all bee most busie with thy heart for it is the roote that either empoysons or ensweetens all the rest that is the fountaine which causes all the streames of thy desires purposes affections speeches and the whole current of thy conuersation to runne either muddy or cleere Ply therefore amongst others these three points of speciall and precious consequence for the present purpose with all seriousnesse and zeale 1. Captiuation and conformitie of the thoughts and imaginations of thy heart to the soueraignty and rules of grace If thy change in words actions and all outward carriage were Angelicall yet if thy thoughts were the same and vnsanctified still thou wert still a limbe of Satan Purity in the inward parts is the most sound and vndeceiuing euidence of our portion and interest in the power and purity of Christs sauing Passion and sanctifying Blood-shed See Ier. 4. 14. Isa. 55. 7. Now that thou mayest the better conquer and keepe the thoughts of thy heart in subiection and obedience vnto Christ be perswaded and acknowledge 1. The pestilencie of that wicked Prouerbe Thoughts are free It is true the immediate inuisible productions and proiects of the heart lie not within the walke of humane Iustice neither are liable to the censure of earthly Courts and Consistories But there is an All-seeing and Omniscient Eye in Heauen to which the blackest Mid-night is as the brightest Noone-tide Psal. 139. 12. which sees our secretest thoughts afarre off ver 2. and sets them in the light of his countenance Psal. 90. 8. Hence it is that many humble soules sensible of their secret prouoking the glory of Gods pure Eye are more grieued setting aside the ill of example and scandall ordinary attendants vpon open and visible miscarriages for the rebelliousnesse of their thoughts then the exorbitancie of their actions For the sting of these is something eased and lessened as they thinke by the absence of Hypocrisie and because the world sees the worst But concerning the other it cuts them to the very heart that they are not as well able to preserue their inward parts in puritie toward the All-searching Eye of that God who stretched foorth the heauens and laid the foundations of the earth as their words and actions in plausiblenesse towards man who shall die and the sonne of man which shall be made as grasse Whereas then the naturall man is woont to let his heart runne riot and at randome into a world of idle imaginations without remorse or restraint doe thou make thy sanctification sure vnto thy selfe by this infallible signe That thou sufferst the consideration of Gods
euer since 2. Resist and crush euery exorbitant thought which drawes to sinne at the very first rising Encounter it with this dreadfull Dilemma Say vnto thy selfe If I commit this sinne it will cost mee vnvaluably more heart-breake and spirituall smart before I can purchase assurance of pardon and peace of conscience then the sensuall pleasure is worth If I neuer repent it will bee the death and damnation of my soule See what a world of misery man brings vpon himselfe by giuing way to the first wicked thought Disc. of true Happinesse pag. 150. 3. Entertaine euer with all holy greedinesse and make exceedingly much of all good motions put into thy heart by the blessed Spirit howsoeuer occasioned whether by the Ministery of the Word mindfulnesse of death Christian admonition reading some good Booke some speciall crosse extraordinary mercy any way at any time Feede enlarge and improoue them to the vtmost with Meditation Prayer and Practise So thou shalt preserue thine heart in a soft holy comfortable temper and heauenward which is a singular happinesse 3. Eleuation and often lifting vp of the heart towards heauen What Christian heart can indure to discontinue its sweet familiaritie and humble entercourse with God for one day Let thy broken heart therefore euery day besides solemne and ordinarie eiaculations Euening and Morning and vpon other speciall occasions bee sure 1. To bathe it selfe deliciously in the blisfull depths of Gods boundlesse mercies in Christ that it may bee happily kept spiritually merry thankefull and in heart to all holy duties 2. To kisse sweetly the glorified Body of our crucified Lord with the lips of infinitely dearest and vnexpressably affectionate loue though the distance bee great yet the hand of Faith will bring them easily together that it may be preserued in peace puritie and reuengefull opposition vnto sinne for as the application of his meritorious Blood is a soueraigne Plaister to heale the wounded conscience to turne Crimsin and Scarlet into snow and wooll so me-thinkes a serious and compassionate commemoration of the deare effusion thereof should bee both a precious corrosiue to eate out the heart of corruption and a speciall preseruatiue to keepe from sinne sith sinne was the principall in slaughtering the Lord of life 3. To cast the eye of hope vpon the glory euerlastingnesse and vnutterable excellencies of that immortall shining Crowne aboue which after this life and this life is but a bubble a smoake a shadow a thought shall be set vpon thy head by the hand of God a very glimpse of the goodly splendour and rauishing beauty whereof is able both to sweeten the bitterest villanies and basest wrongs from the world and wicked men and to dispell those mists of fading vanities and hurtfull fumes of honours riches and earthly pleasures which this great dunghil of the world heated by the fire of inordinate lusts is wont to euaporate and interpose betwixt the sight of mens soules and the blisse of Heauen VI. Be very watchfull ouer thy most predominant and troublesome passion whether it be feare sorrow loue anger c. All of them are vnruly and raging enough but yet commonly one ouer-rules all the rest and playes Rex as they say in the vnregenerate man nay too often offers to rise in rebellion euen against the most sanctified soule Whatsoeuer it be 1. In thy priuate morning sacrifice be sure to lay on loade of deepest groanes and strongest cries for mortifying grace against it and comfortable conquest ouer it Let that period and passage of thy prayers bee enforced and enlarged with an extraordinarie pang of feruencie and feelingly sealed as it were with the most Seraphicall Selah 2. Cut off all occasions whatsoeuer it cost thee which may any wayes stirre awaken and kindle it Withdraw the fewel that ministers food vnto that passionate flame though it should bee as painefull vnto thee as the plucking out of thy right eye or the cutting off of thy right hand Assuredly the pleasures of inward quiet and sweet spirituall calmnesse of thy so vnderstanding Soule will infinitely recompence any paines in oppositions and resistances in that nature 3. Consider seriously before-hand what a deale of disturbance and vnsettlednesse the visible exorbitancy and breaking of it out will breede and bring vpon thy inward man It will be like a dead Flie in a boxe of precious oyntment disgrace all thy graces and full foully darken the glory of thy profession It will be like fire in the Thatch and for the while cast into combustion as it were the whole frame of thy spiritual building and turne the heauenly peace of thy appeased conscience into a bitter tempest Tell mee whether after a lawlesse transgression of those bonds of moderation to which thy Christian resolution hath confinde it and that it hath preuailed against thee with any notorious excesse I say whether at night thou finde not thy spirit quite downe and much deaded to the exercise of prayer or any other euening duty And if vpon thy waking in the night there should be any terrible winde dreadfull thunder or other affrighting accident whether thy heart would not smite thee vpon that occasion with much more feare and apprehensions of horrour I will suppose thy raigning or rather rebelling passion for I speake to the Christian to be choler and anger and then first listen to the counsell which the very morall Sages minister against this spirituall maladie and to the rules and remedies which the light of reason leades vs vnto 1. Cut off say they the causes and the effect wil vanish Quench the firebrands which enrage this fury and thou shalt be at quiet They are such as these 1. Weakenesse of spirit vnmanlinesse of minde Hence it is that old men infantâ—… and sicke folkes are commonly more cholericke then others Impotency and excesse of passion euer argues the disgrace and inferiority of the vnderstanding part the noblest power of the soule And therefore if we would be armed against the sallies and assaults of this domineering raging distemper we must suffer the hiest and heauenliest part of our soule to know and exercise its place and strength Wee must not make our vnderstandings vnder-lings but giue reason his right and regiment 2. Selfe-loue a foolish doting vpon and adoring our selues which springs from the cursed root of Selfe-ignorance and quite puts out that light of Natures law in our consciences Doe as thou wouldest be done by If before thou lose the reines to that short phrensie thou wouldst suppose and set thy selfe in the place of the party with whom thou art angry and then say and doe no more then if thine owne person were the patient it would bee a notable meanes to curbe thy choler and keepe the credit of dipassionatenesse and moderation and make thee patiently suffer that which perhaps thou hast often confidently offered to others 3. An ouertendernesse and delicate nicenesse in bearing wrongs an impetuous impatiencie for being abused Whereas insensibilitie and
bee cast in their way I meane a seasonable reproofe ministred vnto them they trample it in the mire and with a bruitish basenesse tread it vnder foote because indeed they hate to be reformed and are sottishly and stubbornly resolued not to exchange these worldly pleasures which they haue in present possession and pursuite for the glory of an hundred heauens which Preachers so much talke of but they cannot taste of or tell when to come thither 2. Other Swine there are as it were both in practise and profession who besides their hating to bee reformed and obstinate resolution not to forgoe their present pleasures or forsake their former wayes are also possessed with a spirit of scoffing These are rather wild Boares for with a furious and Giant-like insolency and outrage they prouoke and challenge the mighty Lord of heauen about the truth of his Iudgements and Promises making a mocke of them Let all sensuall and Swinish wretches consider this and tr◅mble who with sinnefull greedinesse feed vpon earthlinesse and Epicurisme and hate to be reformed who wilfully wallow in the mud and filth of vanishing pleasures and will not be washed who many and many times come vnto continue at and depart from the house of God with a settled purpose and resolution not to suffer their hearts to bee mastered by the power of the Ministery or to change their old fashions say the Preacher what he will but to liue and end their dayes in their ordinary former courses of prophanenes and good-fellowship They may reade their doome and vengeance that dogs them at the heeles Psalm 50. 21 22. Cursed also is the condition of all you that are scoffers at godlinesse and good men You haue wearied your selues so long in walking and standing in wicked wayes that you are not set downe at rest in the chaire of scorners And therefore all those that stand on the Lords side are commanded by Christ there to leaue you in your damned case and to disquiet you no further And what an horrible depth of spirituall misery is this That you runne furiously towards the pit of hell and must haue no body to stay you not a man to call and cry vnto you to tell you that the fiery Lake is a little before you Though we haue thus much light from the natural properties of Dogs and Swine to descrie and delineate those fellows to whom by Christs commandement Pearles and holy things admonitions and reproofes are not to be vouchsafed yet Christians are sore troubled many times how to behaue themselues whē to speake when to hold their peace whom to repute Dogs and Swine whom not when vpon some vnauoidable necessitie or by the exigency of their Calling they are vnwillingly and vnawares plunged into the company of prophane wretches whose ordinary talke is the language of Hell oathes scurrill iests iesting vpon the holy conuersation of the Saints slandering good men disgracing the wayes of sinceritie and such other base and Bedlam-discourse But I do not see how any constant rules or immutable direction can be giuen for Christian carriage in this case it is so variable and clothed with such varietie of circumstances and constancy of alterations The aduice which I would giue in this point to the Christian is this when he is perplext what to do in this regard amongst prophane company let him consult with these bosome counsellours looke vnto his spirituall wisedome to his heart and to his conscience These must bee his guides and informers in these cases and they are counsellors euer at hand he carries thē in his bosom 1. His spirituall wisedome is to guide him in a right apprehension and discretion of circumstances and to define the opportunitie and seasonablenesse when hee is to interpose and in what manner to oppose against their furious and rotten speeches It must tell him secretly and suggest vnto him when the cause of God or the innocency of a good man calls specially vpon him for an apologie and at what time he hath a calling thereunto It must informe him how he must reprooue whether directly and downe-right or by intimation and indirectly whether personally or in the generall whether in a faire and milder manner or with a more bold and resolute spirit whether presently vpon it and in hot blood as it were or afterward to take occasion to censure the same sinne with aggrauation of the odiousnes and damnation of it whether only by discountenance or discourse by a silent disapplause which I think may be sufficient for some men at some times in some companies or with solemne protestation a professed opposition and dislike c. 2. Let him also looke to his heart That his reproofe spring not from any imperious humour of censuring and medling with his brethren from a proud veine of contradicting and controlling others out of a Scoical sowrenesse and commanding surlinesse from any purpose to disgrace and grieuethe partie from a formall affectation of Pharisaicall seuerity from a secret ambitious desire of purchasing an opinion and reputation of forwardnesse by being forward in finding faults or from any other by-respect but from an heart truly humbled with ◅ight and sence of its owne infirmities zealously thankfull vnto God for preseruing him from the like outrage and excesse in sinne graciously resolued into compassion and commiseration of the offender lifted vp in a secret supplication for the pardon of its owne sinne successe of the reproofe and saluation of the party all at once vnto the Throne of Grace c. 3. His conscience must guide and hold him in the right path and golden meane betweene two extremes which ordinarily in these cases men are very apt to incurre I meane faint-hearted silence and furious zeale 1. Men many times by reason of a sinfull irresolution and vnchristian cowardlinesse would gladly make all such offenders Dogs and Swine that thereby they might challenge the priuiledge of exemption from the discharge of that Christian dutie of reproofe Though their eares be filled with the oathes and blasphemies of those that are about them and grated vpon with gracelesse raylings against good men and foule disgracements of the wayes of God yet they neuer open their mouth as though there could bee any nobler obiect or exercise of their best eloquence and greatest courage then the iust defence of Gods glory and Christians innocency Oh! these are vile cowards in good causes and a kind of traitors to the state of Christianitie By such sinfull silence they labour to purchase a name of No-meddlers in other mens matters of mercifull men to their Brethrens infirmities of plausible companions of wiser and more moderete Christians But let them know that such No-medling is a kind of soule-murthering such mercifulnesse is crueltie such plausiblenesse is pernicious such wisedome is not that of the Serpent commended by Christ but the wilynesse of that great red Dragon suggested by Hell Nay some men are so strangely lewd and gracelesse that they can
heare and digest with patience and silence the oathes and rotten speeches of their seruants and perhaps their sonnes without any contradiction or correction In their owne families some perhaps sweare others talke filthily some raile against the Ministry others iest vpon the sinceritie of the Saints c. and yet the wicked Gouernor ◅ayes neuer a word But in this point my purpose is principally to counsel Christians I meddle not at this time with such Synagogues of Satan and dennes of Atheists 2. Some others it may be but they are not neere so many may runne into the other extreme and out of a spirituall foole-hardinesse as it were and furious zeale with an imperious and vnwarrantable boysterousnes flie in the face of some desperate Swaggerer with an vndigested and vnseasonable reproofe whereby they both incurre the guilt of giuing an holy thing vnto a Dog and vnnecessary danger from the gracelesse fury of the partie Or else for want of spirituall wisedome and an holy discretion of circumstances they may tender an admonition to some such contemptuous swinish wretch which will passe ouer and put by the precious seuerity of the Word of Truth with a scurrill iest or with a dull and scornefull sottishnesse trample vnderfoote that sacred Pearle Though it be no constant character of Dogs and Swine yet commonly those desperate wretches to whō by Christ s commandement we must giue no holy things are fellowes of dogged sowre and contracted countenances especially towards true Christians and haue a kinde of desperate furiousnesse impressed vpon their foreheads which is then most visible when they are crost in their villanies and heare of any contradiction or condemnation of their gracelesse courses and contemptuous carriages And those Swinish Gadarens before whom we must cast no Pearles are fellowes of a ◅leering gibing and scornefull carriage especially towards good men and godly exercises they are so drowned in sensualitie and glued to the earth that they doe not onely despise but also deride the precious things of Heauen As I take it sensualitie and earthly mindednesse mingled with a great deale of Atheisme begetteth in men this sottish swinishnesse and brutish contempt of the blessings of Grace and directions to euerlasting blisse These premonitions and cautions premised and obserued euery Christian ought to addresse himselfe with resolution and conscience to discharge this Christian duty of reproouing when a iust occasion and a calling thereunto doe require and exact it at his hands For these reasons First in respect of the party offending 1. A seasonable reproofe mingled and sanctified with the spirit of inuocation and compassion may by the blessing of God be an occasion of conuersion to the offender And let him know that he which conuerteth the sinner from the errour of his way shall sa◅e a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And it is the most glorious worke in the World and the noblest imployment vnder the Sunne to haue an hand in the holy businesse of sauing a soule Let hope then of doing spirituall good to thy brothers soule be the speciall aime and a principall motiue of performing this dutie There is a Law Exod. 23. 4 5. that if a man meete his enemies Oxe or Asse going astray he must bring him againe If he see his enemies Asse lying vnder his burden hee must helpe him vp againe How much more deare and precious in our eies should the immortall soule of our Brother be then the Asse of our enemie If we must turne backe the straying Oxe of our enemie and lift vp his Asse when he is crusht vnder his burden with what eagernesse and zeale ought wee to labour to stop the furious course of a reasonable creature towards the pit of Hell and to put our helping hand to raise vp that silly foule which by reason of the heauy weight of its finne is full sorely bruised and bleeding ready euen to breathe out it last and sinke into the misery of endlesse horrour Speake then boldly in the cause of God when thou hearest thy brother blaspheme his Name iest with his Word talke filthily raile against holines slander good men pleade for prophane pastimes c. for they are so many mortall stabs into his owne poore soule besides the naturall infectiousnesse of rotten speeches which may doe much mischiefe to the standers by Though thy reproofe preuaile not at the present yet thou knowest not what impression and working it may haue afterward vpon his hard heart whereby perhaps he may happily thinke vpon a new course and of conuersion to God and so thou be a blessed instrument of sauing a soule 2. But if it haue not so happy a successe vpon his soule yet it may be thou mayest thereby tame and take downe his insolency so cut his combe by a seasonable contradiction that he doe not carry it away brauely so coole and confound his swaggering humour that he doe not glory in his villany that hee doe not pride himselfe in his blasphemies and bloody oathes in his contempt of Grace and other outragious carriages Answer a foole saith Salomon according to his foolishnesse lest he be wise in his owne conceit lest hee bee too proud If a desperate and prophane wretch will needs sweare and swagger and raile against the seruants and seruices of God yet let him know that all the while hee fights against God damnes his owne soule and pleases none but Deuils Drunkards and deuilish men If he will needs labour to be famous by a surious opposition to the Ministery and wayes of God let him know that his name shall rot after him as vilely as his carkeise in the graue and himselfe burne in Hell euerlastingly if hee hold on in that humour without timely repentance and reformation 3. Thirdly at the least thou shouldst thereby increase and aggrauate his inexcuseablenesse and so glorifie the Tribunall of Gods Iustice when it shall there appeare that besides many other meanes afforded and offered vnto him by Gods mercies thou also diddest lend him thine hand to haue puld him out of the fire gauest him one call to haue stayed him in the furious and wilfull pursuit of his owne damnation But because he still hated to be reformed because varietie of meanes for his amendment made him more malicious and obstinate in his owne wayes and that contradiction and counsell to the contrary inflamed and set on fire the lustfull viciousnesse of his corrupt nature to hunt more greedily after forbidden pleasures therefore I say hee will bee more and more fearefully ashamed and confounded at that great and fearefull Day and the moe occasions he hath had of his conuersion the iuster cause then will he see of his deserued confusion and by consequent more glory will accrew vnto the glorious Tribunall of Gods Iustice. Secondly in such cases the Christian must speake in respect of himselfe 1. When the aire is impoysoned with any infectious vapour men vse to fill their
fauourable construction Wee are to be so farre from a greedy hunting after a spitefull misinterpretation of mens speeches and violent wresting of their actions and carriage to the worst sence that if matters be but probable poized with equal circumstances and with euen waight of reasons interpretable both wayes wee are euer to suffer our conceits and censures to be caried the more charitable way 3. By adding vnto the truth or detracting from it or intermixing false adulterate Glosses or some impertinent Parenthesis of a mans owne Christs false accusers were deepely and damnably faulty this way And in this kinde many who are their Crafts-masters as they say in malice will first of all giue good men in their absence their due and deserued attributions with many magnificent and plausible speeches but afterward at the cloze premising some formall counterfeit protestation and Pharisaicall Preface as I am very sorry to heare it I would it were otherwise come in with a But steept in very gall and vineger which bites most bitterly and cuts like the sharpest razour As thus A man of very good parts great worth extraordinary endowments But something proud Hee is one that is very well reformed of late of much knowledge and growne marueilously forward in Religion But a little couetous And thus they speake not out of any loue vnto the party impartialitie of censure or that the imputation is true but out of a cunning tricke to bring their owne credit to their owne doore a peruerse humour of measuring another by their owne foote an enuious impatiencie of being surpassed in any sufficiencies or rather than all this from a base an irregular and dung-hill desire of hauing the best men especially euery forward Professour branded with one notorious But or another For hypocrites and enemies to Gods grace would rather then their liues haue the liues of all Gods people stained with some grosse sinne Rather then faile they will fasten vpon them many a lewd slander that way hammered onely vpon the forge of falshood and by the midwifery of malice in their own crafty pates or broched vpon an Ale-bench or snatcht from the distempered tongue of some pedling Tell-Tale whence they may supply themselues with imaginary matter both of insolencie and triumph against forwardnesse and zeale and also nourish a Pharisaicall perswasion that howsoeuer there may bee a profession and showes to the contrary yet others are as corrupt censurable as themselues 4. By relating all the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth but either with a malicious and spitefull heart towards the partie or in a contemptuous scornefull and insulting manner or to a lewd end and vpon purpose to bring into hatred and disestimation or some way or other without any warrantable and comfortable calling thereunto Heere therefore it will be seasonable for help and direction against this more plausible but also pestilent kinde of slandering to tell you that telling the euill that is true of another in his absence doth brand you with the guilt and staine of Back-biters saue in such cases as these 1. First of profit and good to the partie absent For instance Thou informest thy friend of a third man telling him that hee begins to breake out into bad courses ill companie infamous haunts and houses and so proceedest to a more particular and punctuall discouerie of his lewd pranks and exorbitant carriage but all this purposely for the benefit of the partie And therefore thou intreatest thy present friend that he would interpose ingage and improoue the vtmost of that power and interest which he hath in his affections dependance or some neerer relation for his reclaiming and amendment 2. Of expediencie for him that heareth when he is any way in danger of iniurie or infection from the cunning or corruption of the partie spoken of For instance Thou discernest and obseruest some slie smooth companion vnder a cloake of Profession and formall colour of conformitie to the best things to insinuate into liking and acceptation with thine vsuspecting Christian friend whereupon thou foreseest that if hee goe on without notice and discouerie and get once within him a thousand to one at length hee will either cunningly prey vpon him or cursedly betray him Now in this case thou maist lawfully lay out such a counterfeit in his colours and for preuention of the mischiefe which might ensue vpon such a dangerous insinuation disclose vnto thy friend his hollownesse and halting and that lewdnesse and knauerie which he guilds ouer in the meane time with a vaile of seeming and vernish of hypocrisie but is woont when once hee hath attained his end or acted his villany to throw away his vizor For such fellowes there are abroad in the world who purposely mixe and ioyne themselues with Gods children hang vpon and adhere vnto true Christians as men from whom by reason of the singlenesse of their hearts and charitable vnsuspiciousnesse they may either directly or by accident sucke out the greatest aduantage 3. Of necessitie for him which speaketh That hee may be preserued from guiltinesse and accessarinesse to the sinne which by silence and saying nothing hee should incurre and bring vpon himselfe For instance There comes to thy notice some notorious villanies which concealement and impunitie would mightily animate and easily transport to further excesse and outrage but seasonable aduertisement giuen to authoritie as to a Magistrate Minister Tutor Father Master Gouernour of Family might bee a meanes to cut the knot and heart of such cursed good-fellowship and stay the torrent of that scandalous insolencie In this case thou hast a calling to reueale informe and implore superiour assistance for suppression of sinne And therefore those of the house of Cloe did well to certifie Paul of the disorders and dissentions amongst the Corinthians And Pauls sisters sonne to acquaint the chiefe Captaine with that deuillish plot of desperate conspiratours against Paul Otherwise both thou and they by cowardly and cruell silence in such cases might in some sort iustly incurre the guilt and accountablenesse euen for other mens sinnes so vnhappily concealed 4. Fourthly when a seasonable warrantable occasion is giuen thereby of performing some Christian duty as 1. Of instruction and forewarning to others thus or in the like manner Thou hast a friend whom thou seest and fearest is entring a licencious course which at length is like to breed his confusion Whereupon thou tellest him that such or such a man iust as he begins from contempt of the Word profanation of the Sabbath disobedience to Parents fell fearefully into a desperate knot of lewd companions then to Alehouse hanting after to gaming at last to the gallowes and therefore thou aduisest him to take heed in time to let such wofull precedents of sinne and shame stand still in his eye to stay him from breaking his necke at the bottome of the same staires for if he continue the reines but a while
longer vpon the necke of his rebellious nature and still hold on so desperately with such wilde colts the deuils Dromedaries to the â—…ame excesse of riot hee shall finde no more power in himselfe to stay vntill from the height of sin he fall into the bottome of hell then a man hauing begunne to run down the steepest hill can stop before he comes at the bottome He that layes his foundation with fire-worke must look in the end to be blowne vp he that premises prophanenesse and rebellion shall bee sure to conclude in cursednesse and confusion 2. Of praising God for the ruine and rooting out of some implacable impenitent persecutor thus or in the like manner A remarkeable vengeance hath seized vpon such a scornefull caytife who hath been a perpetuall bloody Goade in the sides of the Saints all his life long Vpon which occasion thou discouerest vnto thy friend many passages and plots of his cruelty and hate against the Kingdome of Christ and his precious people and that purposely to minister matter also vnto others of more heartily magnifying the glorie of Gods iustice which at length hath happily strooke downe Antiochus with an incurable and inuisible plague eaten vp Herod with vermine made Pashur a terrour to his friends Zedekiah to run from chamber to chamber to hide himselfe For you must know that the hearts and tongues of all good men and friends to the Gospell are woont to be filled with much glorious ioy and heartiest songs of praise at the downefall of euery dogged opposite when the reuenging hand of God not without speciall terror hath tumbled from the top of malice and pride any Antichristian and enraged enemy So the Iewes feasted after Haman was hanged But in such cases looke vnto thy heart with extraordinarie watchfulnesse and search That he be an enemy indeed I meane to Christianity that thou doe it not out of spleene humour faction personall enmity for the destruction of the creature or the like but simply and sincerely out of zeale to the glory of Gods Iustice prosperitie of the Gospell and peace of the Church Otherwise in stead of a Christian dutie it will prooue to thee a cursed cruelty 3. Of Prayer Thus or in the like manner Thou art acquainted with the secret plots of some plausible Tyrant against the people of God whose words perhaps may bee as soft as Butter or Oyle and outward deportment promise faire but his thoughts and inuisible intendments against the better side composed all of blood bitternesse of Gall and Gunpowder whereupon as occasion is offered thou vnmaskest his malice amongst thy Christian friends to the end that they may communicate and contribute their prayers for the confusion and infatuation of all his deuilish depths and deuices of hell Teares patience and prayers were euer the defensiue weapons of Gods people Let Powder plots Parisian Massacres inuincible Armadoes slaughtering of Kings and such like horrible and hellish combustions brand with an euerlasting staine of cruelty and blood the Popish religion and persecutors of Heauenly truth But let the sonnes of the Gospell be euer content to confront and beate backe the implacable rage of all Gods enemies and haters of sincerity and grace onely with the cutting edge and sharpened poynt of feruent prayer Which weapon they may discharge hree wayes 1. Indefinitely against all desperate enemies to God his Church and Gospell without intimation so much as by thought of any particular persons So Dauid Psalm 129. 5. Let them all bee confounded and turned backe that hate Zion Deborah Iudges 5. 31. So let all thine enemies perish O Lord but let them that loue him be as the sunne when hee goeth forth in his might 2. Conditionally when they perceiue some insulting Shebnaes and insolent Hamans to persist and hold on in persecuting the Saints and opposing the power of Godlinesse they may entreate the Lord if they belong vnto him to humble them in their places and giue them repentance but if hee purpose to giue them ouer finally to a Reprobate minde and to the impetuous rage of their owne cruell dispositions to cut them off and vtterly confound them that they bee no longer a burden to the Church and vexation to his people 3. Abstractiuely against their extreme oppressions and malicious plots without any relation at all â—…o their persons So Dauid 2. Sam. 15. 31. O Lord I pray thee turne the counsell of Achitophel into foolishnesse Or thus Thou obseruest some one to haue continued long a worthy and noted Professour but now vnhappily begins to fall off from his former forwardnesse to grow flacke and negligent in Family duties cold and cowardly in good causes heartlesse and hanging downe the head in godly company to dis-regard and vnderprize the powerfull meanes to entertaine but ordinarie affections if not some kinde of strangenesse towards other Professours especially of greater eminencie and acceptation for their grace to suffer immoderate imployment and entanglement in the world to waste his heauenly-mindednesse so that in all likelihood God will shortly giue him ouer vnto some scandalous fall as a punishment of his back-sliding whereupon thou discouerest vnto thy Christian friends his declining state onely that they may ioyne with thee in prayer that the Lord would bee pleased to stay him in time and re-establish him in his first loue lest by his further falling the credit of the Gospell also receiue a bruize and blemish profession bee ill spoken of and the enemies of sinceritie blaspheme 4. Of vindicating the power and truth of Religion from the mistakings of Ignorants and Vnder-prizers Thus or in the like manner Thou art in company where thou hearest a meere ciuill man or a formall Professor at the best whom the Church neuer discouered or acknowledged to bee any of Hers and thy selfe canst auerre out of thy certaine particular knowledge that hee neuer set himselfe to seeke God with any conscience or constancie but is vtterly vnacquainted with the mysterie of godlinesse family-exercises sanctification of the Sabbaths contributions to the Saints exercises of mortification selfe-deniall I say Thou hearest such a man commended for his Religion forwardnesse and the feare of God which commendation if hee carry away without contradiction the rest of the company may be very greedy to apprehend such a precedent and resolue not to passe his Pitch of profession as vnaccompanied with such paine and precisenesse and yet approoued by wise and vnderstanding men as hopefull and comfortable Now in this case it may concerne thee but with as much wisdome discretion and charitie as thou canst possibly to disroabe such a fellow of his vndeserued attributions and the reputation of that holinesse which he neuer had lest both the By-standers bee hartened to come short of Heauen and the power of Christianitie bee disparaged by an ignorant and hurtfull vnder-ualuation 3. Thirdly bee silent from all vnsauoury communication as lying swearing prophane foolish filthy iesting iesting out of Scripture mocking and
from all stormes of violence oppressions and wrong nay and perhaps by their countenance procure them a great deale of credit and esteeme if not obseruance and awfulnesse from those amongst whom they liue 3. To call to mind out of too many wofull experiences that in the frownes and angry foreheads of great men are infolded many times many secret complots of cunning cruelty and plausible malice which when time serues fall full heauy vpon the hearts and heads of inferiours which are not in all poinis pliable to their humours And out of such carnall considerations as these by a rash vnaduised yeeldingnesse they too often plunge themselues hand ouer head into vnworthy engagements and become instruments of ill offices the basenesse and iniquitie whereof doth afterward in cold blood strike full cold vnto their hearts and leaues a gash and grieuous wound in their consciences comforts and Christian reputations 4. At such entertainments and tables of Great men not friends to the truth thou wilt be ready to vomit thy morsels and shalt loose thy sweet words Thy dainty fare may bee sawced perhaps with many bitter girds much rotten talke enforced healths if not empoisoned with blasphemies obscenities and horrible oathes Thy musicke wil be merry lies fained iests scofs scurrilities against Gods best seruants and the Kings best subiects commonly calumniated as pestilent fellowes For so the Church complaines Lam. 3. 63. I am their musicke Few feasts where the founder is not Gods friend but after his good-fellow guests bee well heated with variety of dishes and strong drinke as their faces are inflamed with fiery reflections one from another so their hearts will be enraged with mutuall infection of furious malice to belch out most prodigious dunghill villanous lies hammered by the very foulest Fiend in the darkest nooke of hell against those that are true of heart Lord thou knowest The complementall formes and flourishes of thy welcome may prooue as a pitfall to plunge thee into some dishonourable imployment or one way or other to betray thee to an vncomfortable entanglement of thy conscience So that if thy generous spirit will nobly rise against such froth and folly ribaldry and railing the vnworthy degenerations of these worst times if it bee sensible of Gods dishonour the disgrace of the Saints and thine owne danger thou canst not choose but be wearie of such good cheere Nay besides the resolution of thy iudgement that in such a case thou wouldest farre rather haue stayed at home with a dinner of greene hearbs then to haue thine eares so grated and heart grieued all the while at a great table euen in nature thou shalt fare worse For thy iust indignation discontentment and sadnesse vpon such ground will naturally contract thine heart thicken thy blood chill thy spirits that naturall heare will faint and faile in the ordinary current and course of concoction No maruaile then though thou be readier to vomit thy morsels then to reioyce in those high entertainments or variety of messes which are dissweetened with such distastfull and bitter mixtures And thou shalt loose thy sweet words both of humanity and Christianity For the first out of the ingenuous simplicitie and honesty of thy heart thou wilt returne reall sincere affectionate demonstrations of thankfulnesse for meere dissembled formall ceremonies of entertainment and welcome For the other thou shalt be so farre from finding a free and comfortable vent and entertainment to any good talke that if thou meddle that way thou marrest all the mirth Mention of heauenly things our last account the life to come iudgements against sinne priuiledges of the Saints happinesse of the holy Ones c. which might sweetly season and as it were sanctifie their meeting and those good creatures of God they so plentifully enioy would presently cast all the company into dumps of melancholy The Word of God writ vpon the wall in the very height and ruffe of their greatest iollitie and reuelling did make the heart ioynts and knees of that mighty King Belshazzer to tremble as the leaues of the forrest when they are shaken with the winde How often may we obserue many goodly and gracious discourses buried in the bosomes of men of vnderstanding and worth placed below by reason of the domineering talkatiuenesse and imperious ignorance of some silken Idoll sitting at the head of the table Horses and Hounds Hawks deuoure full often and eate vp not onely spirituall and holy but euen all morall and manly talke For the more conuenient declining and preuention of any ensnarement and inconuenience in this kinde let mee commend to the Christian such cautions and considerations as these 1. Euer before thou enter out of thy doores vpon any occasion businesse iourney visitation weigh well with due deliberation in the ballance of an holy wisedome all circumstances concurrents company probabilitie of all euents and consequents on both sides of staying at home or going abroad visiting this or that friend vndertaking that or the other businesse and euer constantly encline and resolue that way which in all likelyhood will bring most glory vnto God good vnto others and comfort vnto thine owne conscience Let it onely bee the sinfull libertie of hopelesse worldlings to waste their time and labour for the needlesse expence of euery moment of the one and motion of the other they must very shortly be full dearely accountable at Gods strict Tribunall in those impertinent vagaries and idle visitations which haue no other motiue but a desire to be rid of time and to feede a gadding and restlesse humor no other end but vanity or vaine-glorie no issue but temptation and greater disabilitie to good duties But let euery wisely resolute and truly iudicious Christian disdaine howsoeuer worldly wisdome deride it to step ouer his threshold without a warrantable Calling aime at some honest end probable foresight of some good to come thereon honour to God furtherance of some good cause good vnto our brethren discharge of some dutie of our Calling performance of Christian offices of charitie humanitie naturall affection mutuall comforting confirming refreshing and building vp one another in our most holy faith and the like Otherwise hee shall bee in great danger to returne home farre worse then when he went out laden both with more personall guiltinesse and accessarinesse to others sinne bleeding with some fresh bruise of conscience by falling scandalously or failing in some Christian dutie growne into a further disacquaintance and estrangement from God deepelier sunke perhaps into some sinfull societie and sensuall conformities with men of this World Some actions I confesse and vndertakings in their owne nature and in respect of the obiect as the Schoole men speake are indifferent but cloathed with circumstances and indiuiduated by the actuall working of a particular Agent are not so but necessarily become morally good or euill to the doer And therefore the assertion of Catarinus in the Councell of Trent to this purpose
canst euer possibly harme thine opposite 5. A great deale of spirituall good doth by accident accrue to the Christian by the malice of his enemies The raging and rayling enemies of Gods people serue as scullions to scowre the Lords Vessels of Honour as Shepheards Dogs to hunt Christs Sheepe into order and to purer pastures 1. Their narrow watching ouer his wayes to take him tripping and prying into all passages of his life vpon purpose to disgrace his profession should make him walk more precisely and to hold a continuall counter-watch ouer all his courses that hee giue no iust cause of offence or any true matter of cauill or calumniation Whence it is that Dauid prayeth Psa. 27. 11. Leade me in a plaine path because of mine enemies or those which obserue mee 2. Their hitting him in the teeth with the reproch of his former sinnes should serue as a remembrancer vnto him to reuise and renew more effectually and feelingly the great worke of his first repentance and to open afresh a fountaine of penitent teares or at least of new griefe hee can grieue no more for those particular sinnes which any dogged Shimei or slanderous Doeg brings into his mind vpon such occasion For it is the woont of ignorant enemies to Gods holy wayes to charge vpon his children euen with much bitternesse and insultation the faults and follies of their vnregenerate time Though God Almighty hath buried them for euer in his mercy yet they will neuer suffer them to dye out of their malice Though the blood of Christ hath couered them euerlastingly from the sight of God and search of Satan yet their base and dunghill spite will euer and anon rake into them againe to their disgrace Thus were Austin and Beza two great Lights of the Church in their times and so are many other moderne Worthies and Champions of Christ dayly dealt with In which case learned Austin sweetly replyed to the Donatists vpbraiding him in such an vnworthy fashion with the impiety and impuritie of his former life Looke said he how much they blame my fault so much I commend and praise my Physicion And blessed Beza to a fellow obiecting vnto him his youthfull Poems This man vexeth himselfe because Christ hath vouchsafed mee his Grace And King Dauid with whom I should haue begun when Shimei rayled vpon him and called him murtherer Let him alone and let him curse for the Lord hath bidden him And yet besides this I doubt not but vpon these occasions Dauids heart bled afresh for his bloody sinne Augustines for his former heresie and sensualitie Bezaes for the vanitie of his youth 3. Their blazing abroad some speciall visible scandalous infirmitie of his and yet to which he is haled and as it were hurried by the impetuousnesse of some sudden passion or violent temptation and which is one of his greatest griefes and much matter of mourning in secret should cause him to strengthen his watch and improoue all his spirituall valour against the assaults and insinuations of it 4. Their malicious fathering vpon him by false reports those faults he yet neuer fell into and yet to which hee may bee naturally much inclinable should furnish him with more then ordinarie care and courage wisdome and watchfulnesse to preuent the scandall of any such guiltinesse 5. Their slanderous laying to his charge the things hee neuer did nor euer like to doe which is also an hellish humour and deuilish tricke of prophanenesse against profession should leade him to a strict enquirie into his heart and life to find out some other sinne of which vpon that occasion God would haue him take notice and mortifie It may be thou art falsely charged with hypocrisie looke that thou bee not earthly-minded with pride looke that thou be not passionate with worldlinesse looke that thou be not luke-warme c. Thus haue I somewhat inlightned and insisted longer vpon this point purposely to stirre vp and quicken the spirits of all Gods people to a fruitfull constant exercise of Christian charitie and bounty towards their poore brethren to bee aswell plentifull in workes of mercy as precise in duties of pietie God loues mercy aswell as sacrifice nay in some cases hee preferres the other before this to be so much more mindfull and apprehensiue of all opportunities for a sincere discharge of this much vrged and honoured duty as the wicked are malicious and Pharises forward to charge vpon them the contrarie For you know that carnall men are extremely greedy of casting aspersions and disgraces vpon the innocencie of religious Professours No excellencie of parts singularitie of worth eminencie of zeale height of holinesse integritie and puritie of life can possibly priuiledge the best man that euer breathed the life of grace in the bosome of the Church from the scourge of tongues The only Worthies vpon earth of whom the world was not worthy were vexed with cruell mockings Paul that precious Pillar of Gods Church was called A pestilent fellow nay Christ Iesus himselfe in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt bodily was said to haue a Deuill And no marueile though they deale thus with his Children that daily blaspheme the mighty Lord of heauen and earth blessed for euer Daily experience tracts them in fiue pestilent passages this way It is their woont with all their cunning and vpon all occasions 1. To lessen disgrace and disparage all they can the graces worth and good parts of good men 2. To report true things maliciously and vpon purpose to bring them into hatred and disestimation so Doeg dealt with Dauid 3. To charge vpon them with much credulity and confidence things they neuer did neuer knew neuer thought vpon or dreamed vpon 4. With whorish foreheads and very impudencie of hell to fasten vpon them by slanderous imputation those sinnes and vices in the contrary graces and vertues whereof they are many times very eminent and remarkable Elijah was slandered to be a troubler of the State whereas in truth hee was the strongest Pillar of the kingdome the very chariots and horsemen of Israel 5. Nay and which is yet more to father vpon them those faults wherein themselues hatefull hypocrites are grosly and notoriously guilty Tertullus tels Felix that Paul was a very plague for so is the Originall whereas not onely Paul was one of the best men vpon earth but also himselfe a cursed cutthroate of all goodnesse and furious opposite to the glorious Gospell His lewd Mistresse charged Ioseph with an assault vpon her chastitie whereas not onely he was most free that way but also her selfe notoriously naught Ahab called Elijah a troubler of Israel whereas not only that blessed Prophet was the very strength of that State but also himselfe by his abominable couetous Idolatrous villanies brought confusion and misery vpon the whole kingdome Now out of this cunning malicious humour carnall men lye at the catch and are most eager to apprehend any shadow of
defray the charge Otherwise to beginne and not able to make an end were but to lay a ground-worke of his disgrace and scorne in the losse of his cost and paines A Prince which would wisely make Warre must first haue a true triall of his owne and dexterity to discouer his enemies strength otherwise to bid him battaile were but to incense him more and thrust a title into his hands to defeate him of all hee hath Hee that seriously sets himselfe to seeke God in truth and to saue his soule indeed must cast vp his reckonings before-hand what will be required at his hands and consult with his owne heart whether willing to forgoe all such contentments hopes pleasures preferments worldly comforts which are incompatible with a good conscience and the path that is called holy and to endure all those troubles and indignities from the angry world which ordinarily are wont to crowne the heads of all Christs Souldiers else most certainely he will shrinke in the wetting Hee must resolue by the inuincible noblenesse of his Christian courage to digest the hate and opposition of dearest friends neerest kindred the raylings and reproaches of men most abiect and contemptible in respect of those whom they reuile he must bee content to become the drunkards song table-talk to those that sit in the gate and the byword of basest men viler then the earth c. In a word he must prize and preferre his sweetest Sauiour His truth cause and seruice infinitely before the whole world Now besides my blessed change thus qualified and this glorious worke of the Holy Ghost vpon my soule by the helpe of God I haue stood at the staues end with the darling pleasure and minion delight of my former damned time euer since I was new borne I haue euer since made conscience of all sinne and to performe all holy duties I haue had respect to all Gods Commandements and all his Ordinances I haue loued dearely my blessed Lord and all things that belong vnto him His Titles Attributes creatures workes of Iustice and Mercy His Word Sacraments Sabbaths Ministers Seruices Children Presence Corrections Comming I haue since delighted in the Saints the onely excellent Ones vpon earth whom I heartily hated before I haue dayly with as great earnestnesse and feruency as my poore dull heart could possibly complained and cryed vnto my God in Prayer against mine owne sinnes passionate distempers rebellious risings the malice of Satan the allurements of the world corruptions of the times the cruelties of strange iniections and horrible temptations my many and often faylings frailties and imperfections Vpon due and impartiall examination I haue happily ridde mine hands of all that consuming pelfe which any way crept into mine estate by wicked wrongful meanes in the dayes of mine iniquitie For scarce any man in the state of nature but deales falsly in one kind or other I haue desired and endeauoured to adorne my profession as well with workes of iustice mercy and truth as by the outward acts of pietie Herein I haue exercised my selfe to haue alwayes a good conscience void of offence toward God and toward man c. And in all these passages and particulars both of my conuersion and conuersation had I onely reposed vpon the outward act and rested in the worke wrought I had vtterly fainted and beene quite vndone in the day of aduersitie But truth of heart was the touchstone and sinceritie is the sinew of all my assurance and comfort this way I haue beene I confesse yet full sore against my will and the hearty desire of my soule haunted and hindred in passing thorow the pangs of my new birth and managing my Christian businesses with the violent intrusion and insinuating mixture of many imperfections distractions temptations wants weakenesses infirmities and faylings priuie pride secret hypocrisie distrusts and deadnesse of mine owne naughty heart I was much wanting by reason of the naturall rebellion of mine hard heart to those workings of the Law and Gospell mentioned before I haue come farre short of that sorrow for sinne which I desired and of that heauenly-mindednesse in performing holy duties which was required But then I haue from time to time grieued and groaned vnder those too many frailties and defects as vnder an heauy burthen I haue many a time bitterly bewailed them in secret they haue made mee walke more humbly before my God and towards men I haue continually complained heartily against them at the Throne of Grace I haue sincerely desired and endeauoured after all those meanes which might restraine and mortifie them and made conscience to discouer and decline their vnwelcome insinuations and so I haue gone on still in the holy Path with sincerity of heart and in obedience vnto God still vpholding mine heart with consideration of the sweet and mercifull disposition of my dearest heauenly Father who euer if the heart be vpright and truely humble takes the will for the deed and accepts vs according to that which we haue and not according to that which we haue not And therefore I am most sure neither by the helpe of God shall all the deuils in hell driue me from this hold that they are all buried for euer in the righteous and meritorious blood of my blessed Sauiour And so I hold vp my head still against all contradiction of carnall reason naturall distrust Satans cruell suggestions being well assured That hearty humiliation and grieuing vnder weakenesse in well-doing is as true a fruit of sanctification and marke of true conuersion as spirituall abilitie to doe well It is not so much the muchnesse and quantitie as the truth of grace not so much the exactnesse of the outward act in performing holy duties as sincerity of heart which qualifies a broken hart for comfort in the promises of life and assurance of Gods loue Though I know well there was neuer any who tasted truely grace but hee sincerely thirsted and endeauoured after more Neuer did any man well in the worship and seruices of God who did not bewaile his wants and faylings therein and truely desire and labour to doe better It is the propertie of Pharises and formall professours to conceiue that they are spiritually rich enough already and haue need of nothing but the better the Christian is the more sensible hee is and heartily complaining of his spirituall pouertie naughty heart and manifold imperfections Heere now then may wee see in this Discourse of the true Conuert comforting himselfe in the point of his spirituall estate other kind of stuffe sincere matter sounder grounds more speciall workings of the holy Ghost then any one of the fore-mentioned deluded Ones was euer practically and experimentally acquainted with Neither is this all The true Christian hath yet more noble immediate and demonstratiue euidences to strengthen his heart in the assurance of Gods euerlasting loue vnto him through Christ and present possession of his fauour For with submission to better
forgerer and murtherer I would little doubt but to get the day It is proportionably so in this present point I meane betweene my regenerate illightned conscience and Satan Nay in this case should all the Deuils in Hell sweare the contrary did carnall reason naturall distrust or any other aduersary power cauill and contradict with neuer such irksome tediousnesse yet by the mercy of God I will not withstand that heauenly light standing in my conscience like an armed man I will neuer take away mine innocency from my selfe vntill I die But how do you know that you truly beleeue We may know perhaps that we haue some kind of faith but not that we haue the true liuely faith which will serue the turne for saluation I answer Saint Paul bids vs try and prooue our selues whether we haue that Faith by which Christ dwelleth in our hearts which is the faith of such as are accepted with God 2. Cor. 13. 5. Now it were strange if the blessed Spirit should bid vs examine and search for that which could not possibly be found out Againe if a man cannot be certaine that he beleeues with all his heart that is truly and sincerely Philips interrogatorie to the Eunuch Act. 8. 37. had beene in vaine and the Eunuchs reply rash and vnaduised Austin was cleerely of this mind that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith There is saith he a kind of glorying in the conscience when thou knowest thy faith is sincere thy hope certaine thy loue without dissembling But many say they beleeue and are deceiued thinking they haue that which they haue not How then can a man be certaine Answer So thousands amongst vs by the false spectacles of presumption making the bridge of Gods mercy broader then it is and larger then his truth which confines it onely to broken hearts are wofully deluded and ready euery moment to be drowned in the dungeon of fire and brimstone must therefore those few who are sincerely humbled for their sinnes truly beleeue and vpon good ground haue part in it be also deceiued Because mad men and men asleepe know not well that they are asleepe and rage must therefore men truly waking and wise not know certainely they are awake and in their wits The common people generally conceiue of the Sunnes magnitude that it is not past a foote round must therefore the certainetie of knowledge that it is many times bigger then the Earth be denied to the skilfull Astronomer Some men dreame that they are rich tumble themselues amongst their golden heapes and it is not so indeed when they awake doth no man therefore certainely know whether he be rich or no Conceiue proportionably of repentance an inseparable companion and effect of true faith which is then sauing when it is serious sincere and without hypocrisie and that may be manifest and cleerely discerneable to the heart that hath it Doe you thinke the seriousnesse of the Niniuites repentance was not certaine vnto them We haue receiued the Spirit of God saith Paul that we might know the things that are freely giuen vs of God which are not onely life euerlasting c. but iustification sanctification and such like I say sauingnesse of repentance as of faith consists not in the measure and muchnesse but in the sincerity and truth of which the true penitent may bee certaine as well as of his sorrow But now whereas the Popish Doctors being blind guides leade their hoodwinkt followers into such perplexed mazes of vncertainties and indeed impossibilities about contrition in respect of extension intension appretiation equiualence to sin no maruell though they pleade pertinaciously for the point and purgatory of doubting 3. By the effects and fruits growing from the roote of grace in the heart But there may be in the hypocrite an exact outward conformity and obedience I answer true it is that for the outside and carkasse as it were the workes of vnsactified men may be like to those of the godly but they are without the soule life and spirit which is in the worke of a true beleeuer to which he is no lesse priuy in his heart then to the outward worke which passeth thorow his hands And wee hold that workes done in vprightnesse of heart onely are they which truly testifie in this case Let euery true-hearted Nathaneel then comfortably conclude pardon and peace vnto his owne soule from all such fruits so qualified For instance in one Wee know that we haue passed from death to life because wee loue the Brethren 1. Ioh. 3. 14. I loue the Brethren therefore I am translated from death to life But is it possible for a man to know that he loues his Brethren as he ought and as the Apostle requires Saint Iohn makes it a signe of our being so translated therfore it may be knowne For signes manifesting other things must themselues be more manifest And Austin tels vs that a man knowes more the loue with which he loues then his brother whom he loues Thus may the Christian infallibly collect the sanctifying Spirit iustifying Faith sauing Grace to dwell in his heart by all good deeds holy duties inward or outward fruits springing from an vpright heart For as it followes and may be inferred infallibly and demonstratiuely from the effect to the proper cause in other things For example It is day therefore the Sunne is risen because day cannot be caused but by the Sunnes rising so in this point also explained as before If wee pursue and ply with true hearts the whole Trade of Christianity If we be sincerely exercised in the workes of holinesse iustice mercy and truth and walke humbly with our God we may build vpon it that we are truly blessed All such sound fruits of Faith are euident signes and demonstrations of our spirituall safety and standing fast for euer If ye doe these things saith Peter yee shall neuer fall 4. By the testimony of the Spirit which sometimes as in the time of more feruent prayer holy retyrednesse of mind heauenly meditation or in some quickning exercises of extraordinary humiliation or after some speciall important seruice done to God and his Church with humble sincerity and in true zeale or vpon the soule-searching passage of some well grounded Sermon of comfort and seasonable application of mercy or in the beginning of spirituall and end of naturall life as most needfull times or in the time of martyrdome and sincere sufferings for the Name of Christ c. I say at such times the Spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified conscience with a secret still hart-rauishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the Child of God Thou art in the number of those that shall be saued Thou shalt inherit life euerlasting And that as certainely and comfortably as if that Angell from Heauen should say to thee as he did to Daniel Greatly beloued And why should any Popish cauiller contradict this sith