Calling unto our eternal Glorification 2. A second great Promise of the Covenant of Grace is That God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that he will remember no more our sins and iniquities it is a promise of mercy in the free pardon and forgiveness of all our sins this is an exceeding great and precious promise without which there were no access for us unto God no attaining eternal happiness no escaping eternal misery guilt would shut us out of Heaven and sink us into Hell without a pardon This Promise is of vast extent it reacheth to all sort of sins Unrighteousness Sins Iniquities no sin is too great for God to pardon if the sinner doth believe 3. A third Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will give us the knowledge of himself they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest they shall not teach one another the knowledge of God that is they cannot or they shall not be able to do it they may and ought to teach one another instrumentally it is the duty of some to teach and the duty of others and they have need to learn but they shall not be able to teach effectually they may give instructions to one another concerning God and his wayes but they cannot give light they may set the light before them but they cannot set up the light in them they may open Truths but they cannot open the Understanding this is the work of God only to do and this he hath undertaken by Promise to do they shall all know me they shall be taught of God by his Spirit the knowledge of himself he teacheth by men instrumentally but he will teach us by his Spirit effectually 4. A fourth Promise of the Covenant of Grace is that God will put his Laws into our hearts and write them in our minds the Law was written before on Tables of Stone but here he promiseth to write them on fleshly Tables of the heart which is done not with Pen and Ink but by the Spirit of the living God 2 Cor. 3.3 this Promise is very comprehensive it includes not only the giving of a spiritual discovery of the minde and will of God but also the giving of spiritual dispositions affections and strength to perform it and by consequence the removal of indispositions the purging out of corruptions the mortifying of lust the taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh the giving a new heart the putting the Spirit within us and causing us to walk in his Statutes and to keep his Judgements and do them as this Promise is branched forth Ezek. 36.25 26 27. These in brief are the chief Promises of the Covenant of Grace labour to understand them and apply them that you may be saved Direct 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant to God if you would be saved God hath put his hand and seal to the Covenant which he hath made through his Son with you and you should put your hand to the Covenant and engage your selves unto the Lord you were dedicated to the Lord by your Parents when you were bâ—ptized then you understood not what was done now you are arrived to years of understanding you should make it your own act and dedicate your selves to the Lord and the more solemnly you enter into Covenant with God the more strong Obligation it may be upon you to walk closely with God all your dayes Some have directed to do it under hand-writing subscribing the name and some have put words into your mouths which you may do it in if you are not so well able to express the terms your selves you have this done in Mr. Guthry and Mr. Allen's books if those Books be not at hand I shall set before you this Platform which you may make use of in entring solemnly into Covenant with God I A.B. do acknowledge my self to be the Creature and Subject of the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth in whom I live move and have my being and from whom I receive every good thing which I receive and therefore am obliged to conform my minde will and affections to order my words wayes and whole conversation according to his most wise and good most righteous and reasonable Laws Besides which natural Obligation however born in sin and thereby disenabled yet being born in the Church and Baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and by my Parents dedicated unto God when I was an Infant I am further obliged by Covenant to be the servant of the Lord. But having proved a Rebel and Traytor against the Highest Majâ—sty breaking his Laws and Covenant-ties which have been upon me spending years of my life in a state of strangeness and enmity to God in the service of the Devil and my own Lusts I do now solemnly reâ—ew my Covenant with God that the breach may be made up which sin hath made between God and my Soul Being in the First place convinced of the guilt of my sins whereby I have affronted and offended the highest Majesty whose Iustice must be satisfied and withall convinced of my own utter inability to make the least satisfaction either by doing or suffering and that my Righteousnesses are as filthy rags and therefore altogether insufficient to procure for me the pardon of sin the favour of God and the peace of Conscience as also fully perswaded that no meer Creature is able to give unto me any help and relief in this case And being informed by the Word of God what the Lord Iesus is hath dâ—ne and suffered for poor sinners That there is no Name undâ—r Heaven given amongst men whereby we can be saved but only the Name of Iesus Christ that he is able to save all them unto the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing be ever liveth to make intercession for them that he is a mercifull and faithfull High-priest in things pertaining to God to make Reconciliation for the sins of the People that whosoever cometh unto him he will in no wise cast out and finding a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that God will be mercifull unto our unrighteousness and that our sins and iniquities he will remember no more which Covenant is of full force through the death of Christ the Testator thereof and having Christ set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in his blood and his Righteousness declared for the remission of sins which are past through the forbearance of God and this Christ freely tendered unto me and being invited earnestly yea entreated that I would be reconciled unto God through him and by the Spirit being perswaded of the truth of these things and hereby encouraged to apply my self unto Christ and the Promises through him unto my self I do now grieving that I have offended God groaning under the burden of sin renouncing
preach that they may preach the more feelingly that they may speak as if they were in earnest as those that believe and know those things to be true which they deliver unto others Cold or lukewarm preaching usually makes little impression upon the hearers when the Word doth little affect the heart of the Minister it doth seldom affect the heart of the people When Ministers preach Sermons as Scholars speak Orations in which they have no concernment only to shew their good language and ingenuity they may possibly gain applause amongst some of a slight and trivial spirit but they are not like to gain souls the Word must come from the heart that is likely to reach the heart Ministers must preach warmly if they would preach affectingly 7. Ministers must preach the words of salvation Earnestly Ministers must be very earnest in their preaching with souls to endeavour after their salvation they must use all the persuasive arguments and motives they can think of that they may prevail tell them of the necessity hereof of the manifold advantages of the honour they shall attain hereby and the unspeakable pleasures tell them of the great evils they are under and the greater evils they are exposed unto whilest they are out of a sâ—ate of salvation And then they must urge arguments as fully and press upon them as homely as they can and use the greatest importunity with them as if they were begging for their own lives as if their own salvation and happiness were bound up with their hearers they should take no denyal if possibly a grant may be obtained they must call and cry and pray invite and wooe and intreat that sinners would come to Christ that they may be saved by him 8. And lastly Ministers must preach the words of salvation Frequently they must lay hold on all opportunities to call sinners to Christ they must be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.2 on the Sabbath-day on the Week-day In the Morning they should sow the seed of the Word and the Evening they should not with-hold their hand because they do not know which the Lord will prosper Thus you see how Ministers are to tell people Words whereby they may be saved SECT XI 4. THE Fourth thing is to shew Why Ministers must tell people Words whereby they may be saved Reas. 1. Because they have a Commission to do it Mark 16.15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel unto every Creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned They are the words of our Saviour who being the King and Head of the Church had power to make Church-officers and to give Commissions he commissioneth his Apostles in the first place to preach the Gospel of salvation and in them all his other succeeding Ministers unto the end of the World with whom he promiseth to be so long as the Sun should endure Math. 28.20 Ministers they are Christs Ambassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 and they have a Commission from Heaven to declare the glad tydings of salvation to give notice to the World out of the Word of the Saviour which God hath provided for fallen lost sinners and the way of salvation by him to make known the Covenant of grace which the Lord hath made with men through his Son and the exceeding great and precious promises of pardon and grace and salvation all which promises are yea and Amen in Christ who hath purchased with his blood whatever is promised in the Covenant Ministers have a Commission to preach the Gospel and they may do it authoritatively and they ought to do it it being their duty and the great work they have to do in the World Reas. 2. Because the Lord hath qualified them for this work not only by bringing them into a state of salvation but also by pouring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them and bestowing ministerial gifts upon them utterance in preaching prayer c. for this end that they might shew men the way of salvation Reas. 3. Because they must give an account of the souls which are committed to their charge and wo be to them if they do not preach the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.16 Ministers that neglect to shew men the way of salvation will have a fearfull account to give they draw upon themselves the guilt of the blood of Souls They are the Lords Watchmen and if they do not blow the Trumpet and tell sinners of their sin and danger and how they may be saved by Jesus Christ sinners indeed will dye in their sins but their blood will the Lord require at the Watchmans hands Ezek. 33.8 Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.10 knowing the terrour of the Lord not only in respect of the people which we preach unto how terrible the Lord will be unto them at the last day if they be found under the guilt of sin but also knowing the terrour of the Lord in respect of our selves how terrible the Lord will be unto us â—f we be found unfaithfull we perswade men to endeavour their salvation and to flee from the dreadfull wrath which is to come Reas. 4. Because by telling people words whereby they may be saved Ministers may be instrumental not only to save themselves but also to save them that hear them God is most glorified in the salvation of Souls and it is the greatest glory of Ministers to be made instrumental herein it is better to be the Father of one Soul than to be Heir to the largest Revenues upon the Earth But if they be instrumental to turn many to Righteousness they shall receive a Crown of glory which fadeth not away at the appearance of the great Shepheard 1 Pet. 5.4 they shall shine not only as the brightness of the Firmament but also like Starrs for ever and ever Dan. 12.3 SECT XII Vse 1. ARE Ministers to tell People Words whereby they may be saved Hence learn what a Priviledge such People enjoy that have liberty to hear such Ministers as are faithfull in declaring the glad tydings of salvation We read of some temporal blessings which render a people subordinately happy Psal. 144.12 13 14 15. when their Sons spring and grow up like pleasant Plants in their Garden when their Daughters are like the polished Corner-stones of a Palace when their Garners are full and replenished with all manner of store when their Sheep increase in their Fields by thousands and ten thousands when their Oxen are strong to labour when there is a hedge about their substance without any breaches when there is no complaining in the streets through wrong and injury happy are the people saith the Psalmist that are in such a case but far more happy are the people that enjoy spiritual priviledges that hear the joyfull sound of the Gospel that have Ministers to shew them how they may be saved from
the Temple which kept the people off the Holy of Holies was rent from the top to the bottom of it and then the way into the Holy of Holies was made manifest and Christ by his appearance abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Then darkness did pass away and the true and marvellous light did shine upon the Church 1 Ioh. 2.8 And now with open face believers do behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord 1 Cor. 3.18 The scope of which places is to shew the obscurity of former revelations and the clearness and evidence of the revelation of the Gospel in these latter daies In other places this salvation is not made known so clearly unto many it is not made known at all unto the most in the world a thick darkness of ignorance doth overspread the greatest part of the face of the earth and even amongst those that call themselves by the name of the Church of Christ there are in many places such fogs and mists of errour and heresie that the truths of salvation are darkened and peoples minds are blinded but now unto you this salvation is made so clear and evident the thing and way of it is made so manifest that it is a great encouragement to seek after this salvation 7. This salvation is a Free Salvation it will cost you no money you may have it for nothing you may have it for accepting If you were taken captive by men if you were slaves to the Turks possibly you might not be delivered without some considerable summ for your ransom but you may be delivered from the slavery of the Devil and your own lusts you may be saved from sin and Hell without money Indeed a price hath been paid for your ransom not silver or gold but that which is ten thousand times more precious and that was the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed upon the Cross for you yet though your salvation cost Christ dear it is free unto you it will cost you nothing pardon is free and grace is free and eternal life unto you is a free gift you are invited to come unto the waters and to buy wine and milk but it is without money and without price Isa. 55.1 The Spirit saith come and the Bride saith come and whosoever is a thirst let him come and take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 There is sufficiency of grace in God for the salvation of you all and you may come and partake of this grace in your salvation freely You may have it without money if you be poor the gifts of God cannot be bought and you may have it without merit if you conceit that you deserve any thing you shall be sure to have nothing if you are sensible of your unworthiness and apply Christs merits and righteousness through him you may have salvation freely 8. And lastly This salvation is a Sure Salvation you have the promise of God for it and there can be no greater certainty of a thing than the word of God especially if you consider that God is infinite in power and therefore can do whatever he will and that God is infinitely true and therefore will do whatever he hath promised God is most powerful and therefore able to save you there is strength sufficient in his Almighty Arm to bring salvation unto you and God is most faithfull in the promises of salvation which he hath made in the Covenant of Grace if you get faith to apply the promises you shall certainly have the thing There is an uncertainty in every thing else in the world but there is a certainty in this salvation that there is such a thing is certain from the revelation of the Word of God who cannot lye and that you may have it if you will accept of it is certain from the nature and firmness of the promises and when you have attained unto any degrees of this salvation the perfecting of it will be most sure for he that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 Thus I have laid before you the properties of this salvation it is a great salvation it is a rare salvation it is a necessary salvation it is a possible salvation it is a near salvation it is an evident salvation it is a free salvation it is a sure salvation all which being laid together may be a strong motive and inducement to you to labour that you may attain a share in this salvation SECT XVII FRom the consideration of the Damnation of all such as do not obtain salvation The damnation of all such persons will be Dreadfull and Certain 1. The Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful 1. The Day of their damnation will be dreadful 2. The Sentence of their damnation will be dreadful 3. The Execution of their damnation will be dreadful 1. The Day of the damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful and that is the last day the day of judgement O how dreadful will this day be to you that are wicked and ungodly when the Heavens shall be opened and the Lord Jesus Christ the Judge of the world shall descend with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and the loud sound of a Trumpet when the Earth shall be opened and you shall be raised out of the dust and summoned to appear before Christs Tribunal and the Books shall be opened and all your sins shall be made manifest before the whole world when the Heavens shall be on fire and melt down upon you and pass away with a great noise and the Earth shall be on fire and burn under you and every Mountain and Hill shall flee away before Christs face and Christ shall be on fire and come in flames of anger to take vengeance upon you for your sins Think O think how dreadful this day of damnation will be unto all such of you as shall not then be found in a state of salvation O what dread will seize upon you so soon as your eyes are opened and you find the predictions of the word which you formerly slighted to be true and perceive that now indeed the day of Gods wrath is come when you shall be dragged like so many malefactors before the Judgement-seat and there stand naked horribly lashing your selves in the reflections of conscience upon your fore-past wickedness how will you be ready to tear your selves to pieces for your folly and madness that you did not provide for this day and flee from this wrath of God which then you will not be able to escape how willingly would you creep into some rock or under some mountain or abide still in your grave or cast your selves into the Sea if possibly any place could be found to hide you in this terrible day but shall be able to finde no hiding-place for your selves Think what hideous thoughts what
sinking fears what horrible perplexity of mind you will on this day be filled withall it will be a dreadful day 2. The Sentence of the damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful when the Books are opened where your sins are recorded and you are convicted by the Judge then he will proceed to pass sentence upon you Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Matth. 25.41 O dreadful words the voice will be loud with which they will be pronounced such as shall reach the ears of all the wicked together of all generations and how will they all quake and tremble at the sound thereof You may cry it may be to the Lord for mercy but it will be in vain you may say Lord open to us and receive us into thy Kingdom that we may participate in the joyes thereof but he will say unto you Depart from me I know ye not all ye workers of iniquity But if you must depart you may wish for his blessing as Esau though it were but an inferiour blessing no depart ye cursed depart with a curse If then you must depart with a curse you may wish for some convenient place of abode and good company as Cain when he went forth from the presence of the Lord with a curse he built a City to dwell in and took some comfort it may be in his habitation and wife and children no depart into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels you must dwell in devouring fire and inhabit everlasting burnings and your companions will be the Devil and his Angels and fellow-damned sinners in whom you will not find the least comfort which leads to the third particular 3. The Execution of the Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadful and this will be in Hell when the irreversible sentence of damnation is passed upon you immediately the execution will follow and you will be haled from the Judgement seat and the everlasting doors of the prison of Hell will be lifted up where a horrible fire is burning which can never be quenched into which you must enter and be shut down and shut in to take up your eternal abode in that place of torment there every part will be tormented every member of your bodies every faculty of your souls and that in the highest degree of extremity beyond your now capacity and your torments will have no intermission neither will you have any hopes of their conclusion I have already treated in my Book of Judgement of the universality extremity and eternity of the torments of the Damned and therefore shall not here inlarge From what hath been said you may evidently perceive that the Damnation of such as are not saved will be dreadfull which should awaken you to endeavour after your salvation especially if withall you consider 2. That the Damnation of such as are not saved will be Certain where there is no Salvation there will be unavoidable Damnation because between these two hereafter there will be no middle condition such as are not saved will most certainly be damned Heaven or Hell eternal happiness or eternal misery will be the portion of all the Sons and Daughters of Adam I might shew that Gods Justice and Holiness and Truth doth require the Damnation of all such as do not obtain Salvation by Jesus Christ so that either God must prove unholy and unjust and false in his Word which is impossible or you which are not saved must be damned therefore this is most certain there is no escaping of the damnation of Hell by such as neglect the great Salvation of the Gospel Heb. 2.3 And methinks by this time I should hear some of you cry out as the Iews when Peter preached or the Jaylor O what shall we do to be saved SECT XVIII III. I Am to tell you Words to guide you in the way to attain Salvation And here I shall 1. Direct what things you must do that you may be saved 2. Shew what Means you must make use of to help you in those things 1. What Things you must do that you may be saved Take this in these Ten Directions 1. You must see your selves lost 2. You must mourn for sin 3. You must turn from sin 4. You must believe in Iesus Christ. 5. You must get a new Nature 6. You must lead a New Life 7. You must resolve upon sufferings for Christ if called 8. You must study and apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace 9. You must give up your selves in Covenant unto God 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the Wayes of God unto your lives end Direction 1. You must see your selves lost if you would be saved Luk. 19.10 our Saviour telleth us that he came to seek and save that which was lost You must be lost if you would be found We read Luk. 15. of the lost Sheep the lost Groat and the lost Son all which were found again and that with joy When sinners perceive themselves to be lost and undone and know not what to do then they are neer to be found and saved by Jesus Christ O then as ever you expect Salvation by Christ you must see and be sensible of your lost estate whilest you are in a state of Nature And for this end you must get a Conviction 1. Of your sin 2. Of the Punishment you have deserved for your sin 3. Of your Insufficiency to satisfie Gods Iustice. 4. Of your inability to make resistance and defend your selves 5. Of the Impossibility of your fleeing and escaping Gods wrath 6. That as yet you have no Interest in Christ who alone is able to deliver you from the wrath to come 1. That you may be sensible of your lost estate you must get a Conviction of your sin your eyes must be opened to see your selves guilty of sin before God and your mouths must be stopped so as to have nothing to say if the Lord should condemn you You must not only understand the nature of sin in the general that it is a transgression of the holy and righteous and good Law of the holy and glorious God of Heaven and Earth but also you must be particularly and thorowly convinced that you have transgressed this Law of God you must be convinced of your particular sins As to the kinds of your sins you must 1. See your selves guilty of Original sin of Adams first transgression by a just imputation you being in his loyns and parties in the first Covenant and then you must see what inherent sin there is in your nature that you were conceived and born in sin that you are a viperous brood a Seâ—pâ—ntine generation a seed of evil doers that the Toad is not fuller of poyson than your natures are full of sin that your natures are contrary unto the nature of God and have an enmity in them against the Law of God Rom. 6.7 You must be
they would find mercy Prov. 28.13 The wicked must forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and turn to the Lord and then he shall have pardoning mercy abundantly Isa. 55.7 When men cease to do evil and learn to do well then though their sins have been as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be like woâ—ll Isa. 1.16 17 18. Sinners turn from your evil waies you have done iniquity do so no more you have gone on hitherto in a way of sin proceed no further it is the way to Hell turn out of it Let him that hath stoln steal no more and him that hath been filthy be filthy no more and him that hath been unjust be unjust no more Drunkards forbear your drinking swearers refrain swearing lyars teach your tongues to speak truth Break off your course of sin turn from all gross sins as to the practice and turn from all sins as to the affection Direction 4. You must believe in the Lord Iesus Christ if you would be saved This is the direction which Paul gave to the Jaylor when under conviction of sin he came in to him and cryed What shall I do to be saved he saith to him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. So in Peter's Sermon Act. 10.43 To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Saviour but by Christ and there is no salvation by Christ bâ—t by faith and therefore we are said to be saved through faith Ephes. 2.8 As faith is the instrument to apply the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Let me then exhort you to get faith which is absolutely necessary unto salvation Get faith of the right kind there is a general common historical temporary hypocritical dead and ineffectual faith but do you labour after a special lively unfeigned effâ—ctual justifying and saving faith and that you may not be mistaken in this great point on which your salvation doth depend I shall describe that faith which is of the right kind and will certainly save you if you obtain it Faith is a grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God whereby a poor sinner being made sensible of the guilt and power of his sins and the utter insufficiency of himself or any creature in the world to give him any help or succour and having in the Gâ—spel a discovery and proffer made unto him of the Lord Iesus Christ as an all sâ—fficient most merciful and faithful Advocate and Saviour doth go quite out of himself and accâ—pt lay hold rely and rest vpon him and him alone for pardon and grace and eâ—erlasting happiness Or more brâ—efly thus Faith is a grace of God wherâ—by the humilâ—d sinner doth accept and rely upon Christ alone for salvation as he is held forth in the Promises of the Gospel If you would attain this grace of Faith take these Directions 1. You must be fully perswaded that the Scriptures which reveal Christ are indeed the word of God this is the foundation of all faith therefore I shall briefly suggest some Arguments to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures As 1. Because of that majesty purity holinâ—ss heavenliness which doth appâ—ar in the Sâ—râ—ptures beyond all other writings 2. Because of the design and drift of the Scriptures to debase man and exalt God and his glory above all 3. Because of the admirable contexture and contrivance and sweet harmony of the Scriptures in all the parts thereof though written by so many several men in several ages and places which sheweth that they were all acted by the same Spirit of God 4. Because of the wonderfull work of mans Redemption there set forth at fiâ—st more darkly afterwards more clearly which no mortal bâ—ain could have invented much less could any created power have effected 5. Because of the great power which this word hath to convince convert and comfort 6. Because of the confirmation of the Scriptures by miracles 7. Because of the acknowledgement of the Scriptures to be Gods Word in all ages 8. Because of the many millions of Martyrs who have sealed the Truths of the word with their blood 9. Because of the witness of the Spirit in and with the word which doth bear testimony to the hearts of Gods people that the Scriptures are his Word and were indiâ—ed by his Spirit Whence it followeth that the Scriptures are true because God the Author of them is true and cannot lye and whatever is there revealed is as certain as those things which are most demonstrable to sense or reason This is the first step to your believing in Christ who is made known in the Scriptures to believe that the Scriptures are Gods Word 2. If you would attain a saving faith in Christ you must be convinced and fully pâ—rswaded of your lost estate without Christ and your absolute need of him of which before 3. You must be perswaded that it is not in your own power to believe that it is not of your selves but is the gift of God Ephes. 2.8 and therefore must apply your selves to God that he would not only give you his Son but also give you the hand of faith to lay hold on him that he would work in you this grace of faith by his Spirit 4. You must consider those Arguments of Scripture which encourage faith As for instance I shall mention four heads of Arguments for faith from the consideration 1. Of God 2. Of the Promises 3. Of Christ. 4. Of the Saints 1. From the consideration of God who hath given his Son to save sinners it is an encouragement to â—aith to consider 1. That God is mercifull and therefore willing to pardon and save otherwise he would not have sent his Son he doth not delight in the death of sinners Ezek. 18.23 but delighteth to shew mercy see Micah 7.18 19. Exod. 34.6 7. Psal. 103.8 9 c. 2. That God is faithfull in his Promises of salvation which he hath made through his Son in his Covenant of Grace God needed not have made the Covenant nor promised mercy to any sinners but having made the Covenant he is engâ—gâ—d to make it good 3. That it is for his glory to save sinners through his Son the glory of his free grace yea and justice too which hath been fully satisfied by Christs death 2. You have encouraging Arguments for faith from the consideration of the Promises which are 1. Large made to all sorts of persons and all sorts of sinners none are excluded 2. Full they extend to all sorts of sins though never so many and great Isa. 55.7 3. Free nothing is required on your part but accepting 4. Sure being the Promises of God in Christ. 3. You have encouragement to believe in Christ for salvation from the consideration of Christ the proper object of faith 1. The quality of his
immediately to do with sincerity having a sincere respect to Gods glory therein and that you might be accepted by him and meet with him with vigilancy watching the sittest time in regard of the thing and the temper of your Bodies and Souls and the breathings of Gods Spirit with humility sensible of your sinfulness unworthiness weakness emptiness neediness with diligence before to prepare your hearts and in Ordinances to engage them and resist the Devil and the contrary workings of the flesh with frequency laying hold on all the opportunities as you can without neglecting other businesses which for that time you may be more necessarily called unto with fervency getting your hearts if you can raised and enlarged labouring that they may burn within you with love to God with delight and complacency in God and above all with Faith in Jesus Christ through whom alone it is that you can have strength to perform duties and that you can have any acceptance in them by the Father Direction 7. You must resolve upon sufferings for Christ if called if you would be saved you must bear the Cross if you would wear the Crown remâ—mbring that if the Cross be weighty it will work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 you must reâ—kon upon sufferings for Christ before hand and resolve that you will stick to him and his wayes though you should lose esteem by it and become the Drunkards Song and be reproached amongst men though you lose liberty by it and be thrust into Prison though you should lose Estate by it and be brought to pinching want though you should lose Friends by it and have none to stand by you though you should lose Life by it and be cut off in the midst of your years otherwise you cannot be Christs Disciples indeed and obtain this salvation which he hath purchased See the terms which our Saviour propounds Luk. 14.26 27. If any man come unto me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life he cannot be my Disciple This we are to understand that a man must choose to displease Father Mother Wife Children the nearest and dearest Relations and part with any thing in the world yea with Life it sâ—lf rather than to displease and part with Jesus Christ and that we must resolve to bear the Cross whatever it be that God hath allotted for us otherwise we do not accept of Christ upon Gospel-terms you must resolve to be partakers of the affliction of the Gospel if you would obtain the salvation of the Gospel you must resolve to suffer with Christ and for his sake when called if you would reign and be glorified together with him Whatever profession you make of Christ and his wayes in time of peace and prosperity when the Sun of persecution doth 〈◊〉 upon you with burning heat you will wither and fall away and turn fearfull Apostates and then your last estate will be worse than your first and as your sin will be greater here so your punishment will be more dreadfull hereafter in Hell where you will confess that the light sufferings which you have declined for Christs sake here are not worthy to be compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of wrath which you must endure for your Apostacy unto all eternity Direct 8. You must study and apply the Promises of the Covenant of grace if you would be saved without the Covenant of grace there had been no possible salvation for any of the fallen Children of Men the Covenant of Works which God made with Man at the first being broken by sin it doth condemn all that are under it it is by vertue of the Covenant of Grace that any are brought into a state of salvation therefore study and apply the Promises of this Covenant Now you must know that all the Promises of the Gospel which are scattered up and down the Scripture do belong unto this Covenant but I shall spread before you those few more general Promises which the Apostle doth make mention of where he treats of the New Covenant Heb. 8 10 11 12. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Lawes into their minde and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least to the greatest for I will be mercifull unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Here are Four great Promises which the Lord hath made to his People which I shall explain though not in the order of the Text that you may the better understand and apply them 1. God promiseth that he will be to them a God and they shall be to him a People this includes all the rest It is a full and sweet promise that God will be our God it hath a great deal more in it than we can conceive we may look and look again and though our Faith have never so piercing an eye never so large and deep reach yet we cannot look to the bottom and fathom the depth of this Promise we may suck and suck again at this breast and though we draw never so hard we can never draw forth all the sweetness that is in this Promise To have God to be our God it is very great it is very sweet Indeed God is the God of all his Creatures yea of his enemies and the vilest sinners but to be our God in this place sounds and signifieth more than that which is common to all it speaketh a peculiar relation a special interest and propriety in God in this promise God doth make over himself and all that he hath to us so far as we are capable of receiving he giveth himself to be our portion he engageth his Power Wisdom Goodness Mercy Love and all his Attributes to be employed for our good he promiseth to be our God here and to be our God for ever it signifieth that he will be our Father to love and cherish us to preserve and provide for us whilest we live and to take our Souls to himself when we dye and to raise up our bodies at the last day and make both perfectly glorious and happy in Heaven when time shall be no more He promiseth also that we shall be his People we cannot make our selves so but he promiseth that he will make us so he will make us his Children he will adopt us he will regenerate us give us the title and give us the disposition of Children all this and much more is contained in this Promise That God will be our God and we shall be his People even the whole work of our salvation from our effectual
all my own righteousness hungring after the Lord Iesus Christ and his righteousness upon the bended knees of my soul come unto him and cast my self wholly upon him I choâ—se him for my only Advocate to plead my cause in the Court of Heaven to procure for me Pardon and Reconciliation that being justified by Faith I may have peace with God through my dear Lord Iesus Christ. Next repenting from the bottom of my heart of my sins grieving that I have such a sinfull Nature such a deceitfull heart that I have so adulterated my affections and gone a whoring from God to the Creatures that I have so indulged my flesh and satisfied its irregular desires that I have given ear to the Devil and complyed as I have done with his temptations I now renounce all allegiance and service to the World to the Flesh and to the Devil these enemies of the Lord and of my peace which warr against my Master and against my own soul covenanting and promising never to give away my heart any more from the Lord unto any person or thing in the World to refuse the World for my portion and chief happiness to deny my flesh its sinfull desires and demands to resist the Devil and his Temptations not to live and allow my self in any known sin and to make use of all the known means which the Lord hath prescribed for the crucifying of the World for the mortifying and utter extirpation of sin for the resisting and overcoming the Devil And being perswaded of the power and interest the subtilty and deceitfulness of these enemies and withall sensible of my own imprudence folly weakness and inconstancy I humbly and earnestly implore and beseech the highest Majesty who is infinite in wisdom power and goodness that he would give me counsel and discretion in the use and management of all means and helps that I may not neglect any nor through sloth and imprudence sâ—ffer a lesser duty to justle out a greater that he would give me courage strength and constancy in the maintaining my spiritual warfare against these my spiritual enemies unto my lifes end And if ever I should fall through unwatchfulness and weakness which the Lord grant I may never do I do promise in the strength of the Lord to arise again by Faith and Repentance And because of the Body of sin within me and remaining corruptions I shall be subject during my abode here unto daily failings and infirmities I do promise to pray watch and strive against them beseeching the Lord to strengthen me herein and grant that my sinfull infirmities may be lesse every day than other in the mean time looking upon those disallowed miscarriages contrary to the settled bent and resolution of my heart as insufficient to make my Covenant void Furthermore being convinced of the vanity emptiness and utter insufficiency of any or all the Creatures in the World to make me happy had I the most desireable enjoyment of them and having a discovery of the infinitely blessed God made unto me in his Works chiefly in his Word as being the chief good of man and withall a Promise in the Covenant of Grace that he will be our God yea our Father through Christ and that we shall be his people his Sons and Daughters I do here with deep veneration of Soul and chief estimation of minde choose the thrice Blessed Iehovah for my Portion and chief good beyond all persons and things in this World and do avouch him this day to be my God I humbly accept of the relation of a Servant and a Son or Daughter which he hath called me unto I put my self under his wing and commit my self to his care and Tuition and henceforth shall be bold through my dearest Lord to call him and look upon him to be my God and Father and humbly shall expect from him Protection and Provision in his way and work Correction Audience of Prayer and the fulfilling of all those Promises unto me which he hath made unto his Children Moreover being perswaded that none can come unto the Father but by the Son nor share in any spiritual priviledge but through Christs death and intercession and being perswaded of the infinite amiableness of Christs person the greatness of his love and affection unto the children of men as also of his infinite desireableness in regard of those offices and relations which he hath vouchsafed to take upon him and enter into for the good of his people I do avouch the Lord Iesus Christ to be my only Saviour and choose him in all his Offices and Relations I choose Christ to be my High-Priest to intercede and procure for me daily pardon access unto God acceptance of my person and service audience of my prayers and supply of all my wants I choose Christ to be my Prophet to teach me by his Word and Spirit the will of the Father I choose Christ to be my King to rule and govern me to command my whole man into the obedience of himself I choose Christ to be my Captain to go before me and to tread down my spiritual enemies under my feet I choose Christ to be my Friend and Brother to counsel and advise me to stand by me in all the difficulties and straights of my life I choose Christ to be my Husband and beloved humbly accepting of this near and sweet Relation which he calleth me unto I joyn and espouse my self unto the Lord Iesus and do promise to be for him only and with full purpose of heart to cleave unto him to love honour and serve him never to deny nor leave him whatever reproaches and distresses I may meet withall for his sake though Persecution should arise and that even unto death I do promise to own his Name and Cause and Truths and Wayes so long as I have breath in my Body But knowing that I am utterly insufficient to do any of these things in my own strength therefore upon the knees of my Soul I earnestly beseech that I may have strength for all these from himself alone Further because God my Father is invisible to the eye of sense and incomprehensible by the grasp of Reason and because my dearest Lord Iesus Christ who alone hath declared him in regard of his bodily presence is now in Heaven absent from his people and because whatever spiritual light or life grace comfort or spiritual communion with the Father and with his Son is vouchsafed unto the people of God it is by the Holy Spirit who is appointed by Office hereunto and graciously promised unto them in the Word Therefore I avouch and choose the Holy Ghost to be my Teacher and Guide to be my Sanctifier and Comforter to help my infirmities in duties to strengthen me with might in my inner man against sin and Satans Temptations to cleanse me from all filthiness of flesh and spirit to heal me of all my spiritual distempers to revive me under all my faintings to supply
be acquainted with God in Christ you must acquaint your selves with the Scriptures Read the Scriptures daily and search them Ioh. 5.39 read not only the history of the Word but labour to understand the mystery of Godliness therein revealed 1 Tim. 3.16 endeavour after a spiritual discerning of the things of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 when you meet with Doctrines in your reading the Word labour to understand and believe them when you meet with Precepts labour to obey them when with Prohibitions and Threatnings be cautioned against sin by them when you meet with promises labour to apply them to draw vertue from them Read this Book as the Word of God and hide it in your heart lay it up there as a choice treasure get your hearts cast into the mould of it get it written upon your hearts and let it have an influence upon your whole conversation and that you may the better understand and apply the truths of the Word read as you have time other good books which open the Scriptures and treat of needfull points of Religion especially such as direct in the great work of Conversion and give Rules out of the Word for the ordering of your whole conversation but above all Books read and study the Scriptures Means 3. Hearing the Word Preached It is by the foolishness of Preaching that God saveth such as do believe 1 Cor. 1.21 however the preaching of the Word is to them that perish foolishness yet unto Believers it is the power of God unto salvation therein God doth put forth his power and maketh bare his arm in bringing salvation to lost souls Hear and thy Soul shall live Isa. 55.3 Faith cometh by hearing Rome 10.17 Lydia's heart was opened whilest she attended upon the Word preached by Paul Act. 16.14 Attend therefore diligently upon the Word preached by Christs Ministers as an Ordinance of his own institution for the working and increase of Grace Look upon Ministers as Christs Ambassadours he that heareth them heareth Christ and he that turneth away his ear from hearing them turneth away his ear from Christ who by his Spirit in them speaketh from Heaven unto men and how impossible it is for such to escape the wrath of God see Heb. 12.25 Much more shall not they escape that turn away their ear from him that speaketh from Heaven Hear the Word with reverence as the Word of God as if the Lord should speak to you from Heaven with an audible voice hear the Word with diligence and attention as for your lives as for the salvation of your Souls hear the Word with faith and love without which it will not profit and work effectually in your hearts and in hearing look not so much for those things which may please as for that which may edifie I mean do not regard so much mens fancies as the wholsom Truths of the Word which tend most to conviction edification to the killing of sin quickning and increase of Grace and nourishment of the spiritual life Means 4. Meditation The Word like Food must be digested by Meditation that it may turn to spiritual nourishment you must ponder and consider in your mindes the Truths of the Word that you may both understand them and get your Hearts affected with them and your Lives ordered by them Meditation is a great help in Heavens way such as are remiss herein cannot walk so steddily nor chearfully accustome your selves unto this duty set apart time for it I know that some complain of barrenness in their thoughts when they endeavour to meditate such I would advise if they have not that fruitfulness of thoughts themselves to supply them with matter that they would make use of others help let them meditate on the Scriptures they read on the Sermons they hear moreover I would offer some general heads for Meditation which you may make use of 1. Sometimes meditate on God his Attributes his infinite Majesty power holiness omnipresence omniscience eternity unchangeableness his infinite wisdom truth faithfulness justice goodness mercy and loving-kindness his Councels especially his eternal decree of Election which is of most sweet consideration to Believers his works of Creation and Providence 2. Sometimes meditate on Christ his near relations of Friend Brother Husband his needfull Offices of Priest Prophet and King 3. Sometimes meditate on the Spirit his way and workings on the minde and heart how he enlighteneth enliveneth strengtheneth comforteth c. 4. Sometimes meditate on the Covenant of Grace and the rich free suitable sure Promises of pardon grace salvation therein 5. Sometimes meditate on the Gospel and its priviledges Justification Adoption Sanctification Assurance of Gods love peace of Conscience Joy in the Holy Ghost communications of grace c. 6. Sometimes meditate on the four last things namely Death Judgement Heaven and Hell 7. Sometimes meditate and that frequently daily of such Arguments as tend to the mortifying of your particular sins which are most strong and prevalent and to the strengthening of your graces which you finde most weak and deficient Means 5. Prayer Pray secretly retire your selves from company into your Closets or some private place and there confess your sins and make known your requests to God that seeth and heareth in secret and hath promised an open reward to such as secretly and sincerely seek him Pray frequently be often upon your knees give your selves unto Prayer begin the day conclude the day with Prayer and recover some other time to visit and speak to God at least mingle ejaculatory Prayer with every other work and labour that your minds may be always in a praying frame and do not withdraw but be glad when an opportunity offereth it self to come to the throne of grace Pray fervently pour forth your hearts before God in the duty wrâ—stle with God in Prayer like Iacob be earnâ—st in your Petitions as for your lives be instant and importunate take no denyal follow hard after God stir up your selves to take hold on him use arguments in Prayer to plead with him Pray believingâ—y mingle your prayers with Faith make use of the name and mediation of Jesus Christ and make application of the Promises which God hath made to his People which he hath made to Faith and which he hath made to Prayer Means 6. Christian Conference Take heed of the company of the wicked from such turn away if â—â— and when you are there labour to mourn for sin which hath pierced the Lord to hunger after his righteousness to receive him by Faith to apply the Promises of the Covenant of Grace whereof the Sacrament is a Seal endeavour after a burning love to him whose love hath been so great as to dye for you and let your hearts be filled with joy and your mouths with Praises and deliver up your selves in Covenant unto the Lord in this Ordinance After you come from the Lords Table reflect upon your carriage towards the Lord if you have been straitened endeavour to find out the cause mourn and by after-pains and application of Christ endeavour to get some benefit and prepare better against the next time if you have been enlarged be humble be thankfull be watchfull live up to Obligations draw vertue from Christs death for the crâ—â—cifying more and more of your flesh with its affâ—ctions and lusts and fetch influences of grace and spiritual nourishment that you may encrease with the encreases of God Finally be diligent in the use of these and all other means and helps and so at length you shall attain the ultimate end for which they are appointed even your Salvation and Eternal Happiness FINIS Motive 3.
Earth and hath put all things under his feet and all power into his hand and appointed him to be head over all unto his Church He is the King of Saints whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and whose Scepter is a Scepter of Righteousness he hath given Laws to his people with great wisdom and ruleth in their hearts with great power and whosoever will not submit to his Sceptâ—r to be ruled by his Laws he will break them in pieces with his Iâ—on Rod. Thus concerning Christs Vâ—ction to his Offices 2. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Life that he went about doing good His Life was holy free from sin he did no evil no injury to any man he was harmless his whole employment was to do good Never was there such a man living upon the face of the Earth who never committed any sin in his life neither in thought word or deed Some indeed have said they had no sin but they have lied for no man liveth that sinneth not but Christ was born without sin and lived without sin he was perfectly good and righteous and he did good His Life was exactly according to the Rule he fulfilled the Law not only by his passive but also by his active Obedience 3. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Miâ—acles whereof they were witnesses instance is given of his casting out Devils likely he told them of more of his calming the Winds and Sea with a word his feeding five thousand with five Loaves his opening the eyes of them which were born blinde his raising the dead that had been buried several dayes and the like which works were a testimony of his Divinity and that he came from the Father 4. Peter speaks to them concerning Christs Death Him they slew and hanged upon a tree Christ humbled himself not only to take upon him our Humane Nature to be born of a mean Virgin and live in a low condition when he was Lord of all and God equall with the Father to take upon him the form of a servant but he humbled himself further to become obedient unto Death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.6 7 8. It was a cursed disgracefull lingering and painfull death which he endured and however it was inflicted upon him by the hands of cruel blood-thirsty men yet it was according to the fore-appointment of God for the satisfaction of Gods Justice for the expiation of Mans sin it was not only for an example of suffering to men but in the room and stead of sinners who otherwise must all have unavoidably perished and for the ratification of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace So that the salvation of Man from sin and Hell and the Inheritance of glory and happiness doth depend upon the Death of Christ which was the purchase hereof 5. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Resurrection Him hath God raised from the dead and shewed openly Though Christ dyed and was buried yet the bands of death could not hold him and the Holy One did not see corruption his body was not so long in the grave as to putâ—â—fie but within three dayes he arose again from the dead and was seen of Mary Magdalen first after of two Disciples as they went unto Immaus after of Peter and all the Apostles after of above five hundred Brethren at once He was declared to be Man by his death he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness in him which raised him from the dead forty dayes he remained upon the Earth after his Resurrection and then was caught up to the Throne of God in the presence of his Disciples and there he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore whose Resurrection as it hath an influence upon the spiritual Resurrection of his people from sin who when dead in sin are quickened by the same Spirit which raised him up So it is the first fruits of the resurrection of his people from the grave who in their order and Gods appointed time shall be awakened out of their long sleep of death and come forth of the dust and be caught up to meet him in the Air at his last appearance to Judge the World which is the next thing Peter speaketh of Christ. 6. Peter speaketh to them concerning Gods ordination of Iesus Christ to be the Iudge of quick and dead God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the World in Righteousness and hath ordained Jesus Christ to be the Judge who will so soon as the mystery is finished and the Elect are gathered come down from Heaven where now he is with a great shout and the sound of a Trumpet and awaken all the dead and summon the whole world to his barr and render unto all according to their works to them that have repented and believed and by patient continuance in well-doing have sought for glory and honour and immortality he will give eternal life but to them which have been impenitent and hard-hearted and disobedient to the Gospel he will give indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish and sentence them to eternal Death 7. Peter speaketh to them concerning Christs Mission of them to preach He sent the Apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins in his Name and he hath appointed the Office of the Ministry to continue to the end of the World for the calling and conversion of those which belong to the Election of Grace and the building up and perfecting the Saints which are called untill they all come into the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.12 13. Thus the Apostle Peter preacheth Christ unto Cornelius and them which were with him SECT IX 4. AND lastly Peter speaks to them concerning the Way of Salvation by Christ vers 43. To him gave all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him should receive remission of sins There is no Name under Heaven whereby we can be saved but the Name of Christ Act. 4.11 and there is no salvation by Christ but by Faith When the Jaylor with trembling enquired of Paul and Silas What shall I do to be saved they tell him Believe in the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Act. 16.30 31. There are three Arguments which will evidently prove That all such as truely believe in Christ do receive remission of sins and consequently are in a state of Salvation The First may be drawn from Christs Satisfaction The Second from Christs Intercession The Third from the Promises of the New Testament I. First from Christs Satisfaction If Christ hath fully satisfied Gods Justice for the sins of men and this satisfaction be accepted by the Father in the behalf of sinners and this satisfaction be imputed unto all them that truely believe in Christ as if they bad made it themselves Then all those that
me with all Graces as to kinde and measure as shall be needfull for me in my place and work to testifie Gods love to my Soul to give me earnests of Glory and to seal me up unto the day of Redemption And O that I might have the presence and abode of the Spirit of God with me and never grieve quench resist and drive away the Spirit any more Also because the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God endited by the Holy Ghost the Epistle of Iesus Christ wherein he hath given notice of his love and will because they are the only sufficient and in themselves a perfect Rule for Faith and a holy Life and so fully do declare the way and means unto everlasting happiness Therefore I choose the Word of God to be the Rule of my Faith and Life and the Ordinances of God therein prescribed to be the means of my acquaintance and converse with my God so far as I am capable of and he shall vouchsafe and to be the means also of preparing of me for the full and perfect enjoyment of him beyond my present capacity And because the Ordinances are but dark glasses to see the Lord in because ignorance and unbelief do exceedingly vail God from mine eyes flesh and corruption do damp my love to God and my spiritual Ioy in him and interrupt my communion with him because of the sins sorrows temptations and afflictions which I cannot be wholly free from and therefore cannot be perfectly happy here in this World and having life and immortality brought to light by the Gospel a discovery and promise of eternal Life made unto me in the Word and withall a command of my Lord to lay up my Treasure in Heaven Therefore I choose Heaven for my Treasure and Inheritance for ever to live there in the company of all the holy Angels and Saints in the blessed sight love and enjoyment of the infinitely blessed God to see and share in the glory of my Dearest Lord Iesus Christ whither I hope my Soul shall be transported by the Angels so soon as it is separated from my Body and that my vile Body when awakened and raised in the Morning of Chrisâ—s coming shall be fashioned like unto Christs most beautifull and glorious Body and both inherit the Kingdom prepared and promised by my Father Lastly being perswaded of my Duty and encouraged by Gods promise of assistance and acceptance I now dedicate and deliver up my self fully freely and for ever unto the Lord I yield and resign up my Soul with all its powers and faculties my Body with all its senses and members to be the instruments of righteousness unto God I resign up my Minde to think upon the Lord and those things which concern his Interest and Glory to receive embrace and maintain his Truths I resign up my Memory to be a store-house and receptacle chiefly of the great things which do belong to his Kingdom and other things of a more inferiour rank as they may have a reference unto his Glory I resign up my Conscience to receive light and purity from his Word and Spirit and desire that it may act faithfully as the Lords Deputy I resign up my Will unto the Will of God to submit to his Precepts to embrace his Promises to oppose what he hath forbidden to comply with all the dispensations of his Providence towards me to be willing that I should be and do and bear and choose and lose what God would have me I resign up my Heart and Affections to fear and reverence the Lord to believe and trust in the Lord to desire and seek after the Lord to love and delight in the Lord and desire to put them all under his Government and to have them exercised according to his will I resign up my Fancy to be governed and employed by my Reason in the service of my Master I resign up my Sensual Appetite after meat and drink sleep and any pleasures to be subsâ—rvient to my Rational Appetite and no further to have satisfaction than will tend to the glory of the Lord. Iâ— sign up my Hands to work for God my Feet to walk for God my Ears to hear for God my Eyes to see for God my Tongue to speak for God I resign up all my Graces all my Gifts all my Talents to be used for the Glory of my Lord and Master and my whole Man to be ruled and governed by his Laws Promising though my Flesh do contradict and rebell that I will endeavour to order my whole conversation according to his Word humbly looking up to him for strength so to doe that I may be enabled by him to every duty And now I look upon my self no longer my own or that any thing I have is at my own dispose but I wholly belong unto the Lord And therefore blessing and praising and giving thanks unto the Lord for vouchsafing to enter into Covenant with me and enclining my heart to enter into Covenant with him Bending my neck under the feet of the most glorious Iehovah I subscribe my self Witness my Hand and Seal The devoted Servant of the Lord A. B. Direct 10. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of God unto your lives end if you would be saved And here you must be stedfast 1. In the wayes of Truth 2. In the Wayes of Gods Commandements 1. You must be stedfast and persevere in the wayes of Truth in the belief of the Truths of the Word without turning aside into wayes of Errour there are wayes of Errour which will lead you as certainly and more securely to Hell than the wayes of open profaneness The Apostle tells us of damnable errours as well as open damnable sins 2 Pet. 2.1 and we read of some that are damned for believing a lye that their delusion hath been the cause of their damnation 2 Thess. 2.11 12. The Devil leads as many as he can in the cords of more gross and known sins towards the place of endless misery but if any of them begin to perceive their thraldom and danger if their eyes be a little opened and Conscience awakened and hearts affected and they are perswaded to look after their salvation then he endeavours to draw them into wayes of Errour he hath his Agents and Ministers who are very subtle and crafty and lye in wait to deceive who with good words and fair speeches insinuate poysonous doctrines and pretending more glorious discoveries higher and more excellent wayes draw them out of the way of the Word and Ordinances into paths of darkness where they wander and lose themselves for ever where they are tossed up and down and beaten to and fro with every winde of doctrine unto the shipwrack of their Faith and their Souls As you hope for salvation you must take heed of Errour diligently inquire after Truth search for it as for silver and digg for it as for hidden treasures digg for it in the golden Mines of the