â—â—ce intollerably proud or froâ—â—ard or earthly or a jolly and â—â—ainly merry soul what ground â—â—ast thou gotten of those very corâ—uptions under which thou most â—â—groanedst How is it with thee with â—espect to temptation Dost thou â—ear and fly from temptation and â—o what thou canst to keep thy self out of harms way and when thâ— fallest into temptation when thâ—â— art actually tempted to Pride 〈◊〉 Covetousness when thou art prâ—voked to passion or impatience hoâ—â— goes it with thee then how stanâ—est thou in the day of temptationâ—â— How is it with thee in regard 〈◊〉 thy wonted evils in thy converâ—â—tion Hast thou sounded a retreaâ—â— from thy eager chase after the greaâ—â— things of the world Thou haâ—â— been a zealot for increasing thinâ—â— eartâ—ly Substance art thou now become more moderate Thou wertâ— once a slothful lazy soul in the matters of God art thou now more diligent and industrious art thou 〈◊〉 servent in spirit serving the Lord 〈◊〉 Thou once livedst a jolly frothy and merry life dost thou now carry it with more seriousness Hast thou left thy lying and deceitful dealing Thou hast been a self-seeker and a flesh pleaser but canst say through the Grace of God I have now betaken my self to a self-denying life â—â—d doest thou deny thy self in those â—â—ry things wherein thou wert us'd â—â—st to seek thy self Put thy self â—â—on a close and severe trial here â—â—d know that if the strong hold 〈◊〉 not battered and broken if thine 〈◊〉 lusts do still hold their power in â—â—ee if the old sore be still issuing 〈◊〉 the old stream be still running 〈◊〉 course if thou canst not say I â—â—ave kept me from mine iniquity 〈◊〉 at least am fighting more resolâ—â—edly against it if thou still stickest where thou wert wont to stick whatsoever flush thou seemest to have of good affections whatsoever confidence thou hast of thy good condition 't is a sure sign it is not so well with thee Look to what degree of success thou hast attained in those things wherein thy great difficulty lay to such a degree of soul-prosperity thou hast attained and no more Direct 5. Measure your hopes of the answer of your Prayers for the publick by your experience of their speeding in your own particular cases If thy sin can stand before all thy prayers thine enemies and fears and dangers are not like to fall ever the sooner for such praying what God may do upon the prayers of others thou knowest not but nothing is like to go the better for thee If thou hast run with the foot-men within thee and these have been too hard for thee how wilt thou contend with them that ride upon horses If thon canst not stop the muddy streams of thine own cistern how wilt thou stand before the swelling of Jordan If thy prayers prevail so little to the setting thine own heart or thine own house in order how canst think they will do any thing against the hosts of the uncircumcised God heareth not sinners not only such sinners as are in a state of sin and totally alienated from the life of God but even such also who though for the main they have been once washed in the blood of Christ are again fallen into and wallowing in the mud and mire of any one allowed sin they are all like to be but miserable comforters in the day of distress Remember that Scripture mentioned before Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity iu my heart God will not hear my prayer But on the other side if thou dost obtain if thou dost prevail in thine own personal case this hath good hope in it 'T is an argument that thy prayers are accepted with God and if the Lord accept thee when thou prayest for thy self or for thine house thence the greater hope will spring that he will accept thee when thou prayest for his own house and people And if he doth accept thee for them he will either deliver them out of their distress and thou shalt have the honour to be one of those for whose sake deliverance comes or if he should not grant thy request as to the publick yet he will not fail to give thee thine own soul for a prey though he do not give thee the lives of them that sail with thee in the Ship And now you see the best way that is open to you to help at a pinch to save the poor distressed Churches of God in this time of their need such praying as may have its fruit unto holiness in your selves by this you may do much to promote the holiness and happiness of the people if any thing this will do it Wherefore gird up your loyns and set in in good earnest upon this seasonable and mighty duty Go into your closets lift up your hearts draw forth your souls pour out your tears weep in your prayer weep over you own and the peoples sins and fears and bow your selves with your might before the Lord this once try what you can do try the strength of prayer Pray all to rights within you and at home and then seek and cry and wrestle and trust and wait for the Salvation of God to be revealed in due time upon his people Let us at length hear the conclusion of the whole matter what shall be the fruit of all this what will you now do If I should only ask Who among you will join in and pray pray for the peace of Jerusalem the Church of the living God every one would readily answer I will be for one I for another God forbid I should hold my peace I will pray for the peace of Jerusalem Let them prosper that love thee Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces For my brethren and companions sake I will pray Peace be within thee because of the House of the Lord our God I will seek thy good If it be asked further and who will pray for the destruction of Babylon O every one of us that have an heart for the peace of Jerusalem Down with it down with it even to the ground Remember O Lord the Children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said Raze it raze it even to the very foundation O Daughter of Babylon that art to be destroyed happy let him be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us But would you that your prayers should be heard Then arise out of your places and fall every man upon a personal Reformation Down with your sin and out with the world list up Christ in your own hearts is you would have Antichrist â—all in the earth let Christ have a name within you above every name and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity from his own iniquity feek not for corn and for wine or for freedom to sit down every man under his own Vine and under his own fig-tree where none shall make them afraid but seek the Lord that the Lord God may dwell
your holy design Now is a time wherein you have your hearts at the advantage having such weighty arguments before you and the opportunity 〈◊〉 doing two such great things more as the saving of your selves and also of the people both from iniquity and calamity Direct 3. Do all you do in pursuance hereof in the Name of the Lord Jesus Be not discouraged at any prospect of difficulty trust in him for his help Encourage your hearts with the words of the Apostle Phil. 4. 13. I shall be able to do all things through Christ that strengthens me Direct 4. Keep your eye and your heart much upon God and the other world Be able to say with the Apostle Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in heaven that is there the business of our life lies and that not only above spiritual and heavenly things but with God himself Live at the fountain and spring-head thence all your light and 〈◊〉 and holiness and strength must flow down Be much in looking upwards and beholding in a glass the glory of the Lord you will be changed from glory to glory into the same Image 2 Cor. 3. 18. Look much and often upon the things that are not seen if ye would be delivered from the power and malign influence of the things that are seen let your eye be upon the Sun and you will see a dimness and darkness upon the earth get you cloathed with the Sun and you will get the Moon under you feet Direct 5. See that there be no allowed sin in your heart or practice Psal 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in mine heart God will not hear my prayer nor help me An allowed sin is as the dâ—â—â— flesh in the wound whatever methods or medicines be taken there will be no healing till the dead flesh be eaten off you may profess and pray and hear all your life long and yet will never prosper whilest you are privy to any one indulged sin Direct 6. Be constant and instant in dayly secret and family Prayer Let not extraordinary Prayer excuse your ordinary and let not your neglect of ordinary Prayer unfit you for extraordinary Let not your way to your Closet be untrod He that holds his acquaintance in Heaven by being often with God will be the most like to prevail with God in the most pressing and difficult cases those that are much in Prayer those are the men that use to be mighty in Prayer Direct 7. In all your praying both ordinrry and extraordinary let your eye be I say not chiefly but firstly upon the case of your own Souls What improvement you obtain here will be of this double advantage 1. There will be the more hope of your â—â—ing heard for the publick 2. If â—â—e Lord be not prevail'd with for â—â—blick mercies and deliverances â—â—t you will be the better prepar'd â—â—r sufferings If God should shew â—ercy as to the publick should scatâ—â—r our clouds and blow over our â—â—orms should cause our light to â—reak forth as the morning and our â—â—ghteousness also as the noon-day 〈◊〉 what would all this be to thee â—â—ho art unrighteous What would â— be to thee if in all the Land of â—â—oshen there should be light and â—â—ou in the midst thereof shouldest 〈◊〉 covered over with the darkness 〈◊〉 Egypt if there should be dew 〈◊〉 all the grass of the field and thy â—â—ece only should be dry if thou â—â—ouldest live to see thy people a faâ—â—d people and an holy and fruitful â—â—ation and thou should'st stand as a â—ithered and dry Tree amongst all â—â—e flourishing Cedars Get up â—â—ine own heart into good proof 〈◊〉 whatever spiritual plenty thou maist see in Israel yet thou wilt 〈◊〉 eat thereof Talk no more of thiâ—â— hopes of seeing good days how â—â—tle would that be to thee unlâ—â—â— thou get thee a better heart Direct 8. Let your Prayers followed with a constant care of yâ—â—â— wayes Let not your prayâ—â—â— serve you instead of repenting aâ—â— reforming but let it quicken you 〈◊〉 your whole duty let your entriâ—â— into your Closet be your ascendiâ—â— heavenwards and let not your 〈◊〉 turns thence be the falling down 〈◊〉 your Souls from Heaven to Earâ—â— Let your duties and ways be all oâ— piece live like praying Christiaâ— Let not the spirituality of yoâ— mornings and evenings countenaâ—â— or encourage you in your all-dâ—â— carnality Be in the fear of the Loâ—â— all the day long Prov. 23. 17. Direct 9. Whatever incomes 〈◊〉 receeive from God into your own Souâ—â— â—e free in dispersing to others I mean in a way of holy discourse and conference Dispersing and communicaâ—ing is the best way to thriving Pro. 11. 24. There is that scattereth and â—et increaseth there is that withholdeth and it tendeth to poverty 'T is true with respect to spirituals as well as to temporals There are none that grow more rich towards God than those who by bringing forth what they have received labour to make others rich also Give the holy fire within you a vent and it will burn the clearer Keep not â—our Religion to your selves let your full cup run over let your lips drop as the honey-comb let your mouth be a well of life and your â—ips feed many Prov. 10. 11. Build up one another in the most Holy Faith provoke one another to love and to good works let your Famiâ—ies your Wives and Children your Neighbours and Acquaintance have â—ight from your Candle and be warmed by your Fire Doubtleâ—â— it s one special part of Gods quarrâ—â— with Christians That they are â—â— very many of them of such carnâ—â— and unsavoury converses Is it thy case hast thou this to charge upoâ— thy self O! amend amend anâ— see that thou continue not such â— barren Soul as low as 't is with thâ— in grace think not to rise high unless thou wilt make better use 〈◊〉 what thou hast 2. Particular Directions Direct 1. Consider what it is wher to you have already attained and bâ— thankful and thence be encourageâ— to press on and hope for more Haâ— thou obtained Grace from the Lord and hath he caused his Grace to abound towards thee and in thee 〈◊〉 and hast thou a witness within theâ— that thou hast not received thâ— Grace of God in vain But doâ—â— thou study to walk worthy of thaâ— Grace wherein thou standest O rejoyce in the Lord and let all within thee bless his Holy Name and take what thou hast thus received as an earnest of more Set thy foot upon the neck of every mortified lust take the more heart to thee to go on in the fight and rejoyce in hope of a total and final victory The Soldier when one Wing of his Enemies Army is routed or they do but give ground and begin to fall this raises his courage and he falls more smartly on Go thou and do likewise and let thy beginning much more thy growth in Grace and thy experiences hereof be the â—oiling of thy wheels for
thy more â—igorous following on after yet a greater increase Direct 2. Consider what your special corruptions infirmities wants neglects temptations or your most ordinary falls are 1. What your special corruptions are how far forth you have conquered them and where you stick In some professors Pride in others Covetousness in others Sensuality in others Slothfulness in others Peevishness or Frowardness or the like may have gotten such head in them that these weeds overtop and even choke up all their flowers 2. What your special wants or weaknesses are in point of Grace what graces they are whether Faith or Love or Peacefulness or Meekness or Humility or Patience c. wherein you are most deficient or weak 3. What Duâ—ies they are as either Prayer Meditation Communing with your own hearts c. which you are most apt to neglect or find most difficult to go comfortably through 4. What Temptations they are by which you are most commonly assaulted or foiled 5. What your most ordinary Falls are in point of practice And here let Professors of Religion be warned to consider if they be not overtaken besides many others by some of these three evils 1. An over-eager and greedy following after the World The zeal of some mens spirits after riches hath eaten up all their zeal of God O! into what poverty hath thy Soul fallen whilst thou hast been so busie in the world and hast felt the prosperities thereof come crouding in upon thee Some rich Professors may remember the days of old and be troubled This thought When I was but a little one in this world then was it better with me than now this thought may be an Arrow in their hearts and kill the joy and let out the juice and sweetness of their greatest abundance I remember the kindness of my youth and the love of mine espousals but O where am I now my very rising hath given me the fall 2. A liberty for carnal jollity a jovial and vainly merry life such there are who have left off to walk mournfully before the Lord of Hosts and have given themselves to live merrily with the world who have given over to weep with them that weep and are fallen in to laugh with them that laugh to jest and sport and be vain with the vain ones yea and it may be to drink and to sit by it with those that drink It 's now grown too creditable to frequent drinking Houses Tradesmen that are Professors especially in Cities or great Towns how ordinarily do they upon pretence of dispatch of business sit many hours over a dish of Coffee or a cup of Ale or a glass of Sack and carry it so that they can hardly be distinguished from the good Fellows of the world but perhaps by this only That they are not down right drunken into Beasts If there be a liberty of such Houses and meetings in them â—â—metimes necessary as perhaps it â—â—y yet let not this liberty be â—â—d as an occasion to the flesh 〈◊〉 Gaudiness or over-costliness in â—pparel wherein some of them â—itter and shine amongst the greatâ—â— Gallants of the earth Some â—â—ongst professors do not only shun â—â—t disdain and despise the old selfâ—â—yal that was wont to be among â—ristians in these and the like parâ—â—ulars as if they were set at liberby the Gospel from the Laws of â—â—rist as well as from the Law of â—â—ses To these three let me add 〈◊〉 evil more 4. A neglect of 〈◊〉 Families of the Instructing â—â—chising and due disciplining 〈◊〉 the consequents of which â—â—lect are very sadly to be seen in â—ignorance errors rudeness and â—rderliness abounding amongst â—â—y of them there are not a few 〈◊〉 take some care of themselves 〈◊〉 leave the bridle on the necks of â—â—irs and reap many heart-breaking crops in them as the fruits 〈◊〉 their own negligence O let hoâ—â— Joshua's resolution be yours 〈◊〉 for me and mine house we will serâ— the Lord Josh 24. 15. Now diligently search and consiâ—der thy self in all these things aâ—â— when thou hast faithfully studiâ—â— thy self and thy ways and hâ—â— found what it is that thou art mâ—â— peccant or wanting in and mâ—â— prejudiced and hindred by thâ—â— conclude here my great difficuâ—â— lyes and therefore here my grâ—â—â— work lies if ever I would prospeâ—â— to get this or that corruption to 〈◊〉 mortified this or that grâ—â— strengthened such and such temâ—â—â—tations to be shunned or providâ— against and such and such faults be amended now I have fouâ—â— what hinders me and that whâ—â— doth hinder will hinder till it 〈◊〉 taken out of the way Direct 3. Bend the main force of 〈◊〉 your Religion upon those very 〈◊〉 wherein you are most failing or â—â—lty The Devil will allow us to 〈◊〉 busie in other matters of Religiâ—â— so he can but keep us off from â—â—ose things where our great stresses 〈◊〉 And the deceitful heart will 〈◊〉 up with that which is most easie 〈◊〉 pleasant that there by it may 〈◊〉 better shift it self of that which 〈◊〉 more hard and would go to the â—â—ck with it We never purge or 〈◊〉 to purpose till we hit upon 〈◊〉 right humour and strike the 〈◊〉 vein This is to act rationally and in â—â—gment to bend our great â—â—gth there where our great â—â—culty or weakness lies When 〈◊〉 have by searching found out 〈◊〉 you mostly stick at let it be 〈◊〉 first grand errand in every â—â—ver whether ordinary or exâ—â—â—ordinary to beg special help in 〈◊〉 particular case your weakness in any particular grace or duty thâ— power of any particular lust coâ—ruption or temptation your mâ—â— ordinary and common falls in poiâ— of conversation let these have 〈◊〉 special place in every prayer yoâ—â— make And also let them be moâ—â— heedfully watched and laboured 〈◊〉 against in your lives Turn in 〈◊〉 strength of prayer and watchfulnâ—â— upon the strength of sin let yoâ—â— main batteries be against the stronâ—â— holds and where your walls 〈◊〉 weakned there set the strongâ—â— guard and watch Direct 4. Measure your profâ—â—ency in Religion by the power 〈◊〉 get in those particulars wherein 〈◊〉 have been most deficient or faulâ— Judge not your selves by thâ— things which are most easie in Reâ—â—gion but by your coming off 〈◊〉 your most difficult case Some professors may at tiâ—â—eem to be full of good affectioâ—â— â—â—rangely elevated and enlarged in â—â—eir prayers yea and to live in so â—â—eat peace as to take themselves 〈◊〉 have attained to the riches of full â—â—ssurance and yet for all this may 〈◊〉 but very poor Christians all the â—â—hile Let them be asked How â—â—it with your Soul O! I bless the â—ord I find it very comfortable I â—â—ve sweet communion with God in â—rayer and I live in the sweet and â—â—freshing light of his countenance 〈◊〉 washeth my steps with Butter â—â—d his Sun shineth upon my paths 〈◊〉 thank the Lord I go comfortably 〈◊〉 But stay man How is it with â—hine old corruptions Thou wer 't
among you may delight in you and be exalted by you that you may indeed become the people of his Holiness and the people of his Prayer seek to be made partakers of his holiness and follow after holiness and so follow after that ye may obtain Let there be such a heart in you and such an holy design heartily taken up and zealously pursued by you and the Lord will certainly accept you and answer your prayers and your profane enemies will then learn to take heed how they again mock or boast themselves against the prayers of the Saints It was reported of a great Church-man that when several Ministers were turn'd out of their places for non-conformity he said in disdain Wee 'l turn them out and let them see if they can pray them in again Once lift up holy hands to the Lord and God will give such Answer that they will take heed of boasting again against prayer And if yet they should take unto them the hardiness to say where is your God Doubt not but in a little time you shall have this song put into your mouths Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he will save us this is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation But if it must suffice you to pray and you will still go on to traverse your old ways suffering your sins and the world to hold the head of you let not such men think they shall receive any thing of the Lord. Wherefore once again be exhorted to come to a point in this matter and determine what ye will do If yet will not heartily come in in this necessary design of advancing in holiness you may even stand aside and sit out from that of Prayer for any good we can expect from you But if you are resolved on the former and that with all imaginable seriousness you will the more prosper in the latter let both go together in one and thenceforth look for good speed in either Well shall this Decree immediately go forth Say the word once but let it be with an unalterable resolution at least be advised to this which I pray forget not from the day of your next solemn appearing before God in this duty of Prayer for the publick let your Decree be dated and if need be let the very day be written down and so go and let it be heedfully prosecuted and upon each return of this solemn service let it be actually and expresly renewed O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people and prepare their heart unto thee FINIS Books Printed and Sold by Tho. Cockerill at the Three-Legs over against rhe Stocks-Market THE Morning-Exercise at Cripplegate of several Cases of â—onscience practically resolved by â—â—dry Ministers in Quarto A Supplement to the Morning-â—xercise at Cripplegate or several â—ore Cases of Conscience practicalâ—â—â— resolved by sundry Ministers 〈◊〉 4to Speculum Theologie in Christo 〈◊〉 a View of some Divine Truths â—hich are either practically exâ—â—plified in Jesus Christ set forth 〈◊〉 the Gospel or may be reasonably deduced from thence 〈◊〉 Edward Polhil of Burwash in Susseâ—â— Esq 4to Precious Faith considered in nature working and growth 〈◊〉 Edward Polhil Esq c. 4to Christus in Corde Or the Mysâ—cal Union between Christ and Belâ—â—vers considered in its Resemblanceâ— Bonds Seals Privildges and Marks by Edward Polhil Esq 8vo The Faithfulness of God coâ—â—dered and cleared in the grâ—â— events of its works or a secoâ—â— part of fulfilling the Scripture 〈◊〉 the same Author in 8vo De Causa Dei Or a Vindiâ—â—tion of the Common Doctrine 〈◊〉 the Protestant Divines concerâ—â—ing Predetermination i. e. 〈◊〉 Interest of God as the first Cauâ—â— in all Actions as such of all â—â—tional Creatures from the Inâ—â—dious consequences with which 〈◊〉 burthen'd by Mr. John Hoâ—â— in a late Letter of Postcrâ—â— Gods Prescience in 8vo A Dialogue between a Romish â—riest and an English Protestant â—herein the Principal Points and â—rguments of both Religions are â—ruly Proposed and fully Examined 〈◊〉 Matthew Pool Author of Synopsis â—riticorum in 12s The Spiritual Remembrancer 〈◊〉 a brief Discourse of those who â—â—tend upon Preaching the Gospel 〈◊〉 Samuel Wells in 8vo God a Christians Choice comâ—â—ated by particular Covenanting â—â—th God wherein the Lawfulâ—â—ss and Expediency is clared 〈◊〉 Samuel Winney in 12s The Court of the Gentiles in 〈◊〉 parts by Theophilus Gale 4to Poese â—s Grecae Medulla in qua â—â—tinenter Insigniores Poetarum â—â—aecorum gnome versus Proverbiâ—â—s Epigrammata quaedam seâ—â—a in memoriae subsidium Alâ—â—beticae disposita cum reisione latina in usum Scholarum per Johannem Langston 8vo Poems in two parts first an Interlocutory Discourse concerning the Creation Fall and Recovery of Man Secondly A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul by Samuel Slater in 8vo Mr. West's Legacy being a Discourse of the Perfect Man in 12s ☜ Geography Rectified or a Description of the World in all its Kingdoms Provinces Cities Towns Seas Rivers Bays Capes Ports Their Ancient and Present Names Inhabitants Scituations Histories Customs Governments c. As also their Commodities Coins Weights and Measures compared with those of London Illustrated with above Sixty new Maps The whole work performed according to the more accurate discoveries of modern Authors in 4to A Renuncitation of several Popish Doctrines because Contrary to the Doctrine of faith of the Church of England by R. R. B. D. in 8vo