turn again unto thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Concerning Faith in Christ Acts 16.31 And they said beleeve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house 1 John 5.12 He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life V. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God John 8.24 For if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins John 6.40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and beleeveth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day V. 47. Verily verily I say unto you he that beleeveth on me hath everlasting life Eph. 2.12 At that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world V. 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who somtimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Eph. 2.8 For by Grace are ye saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God V. 9. Not of works lest any man should boast John 12.44 Jesus cried and said he that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me V. 46. I am come a Light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darknesse Rom. 10.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher V. 17. So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God 1 Pet. 2.6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone elect precious and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded John 4 42. And they said unto the woman now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world Heb. 11.13 These all died in Faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name Gâ—l 2.20 I am crucified with Christ neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Acts 15.11 But we believe that through the Grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved even as they Eph. 6.16 Above all take the shield of Faith wherewith ye shâ—ll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Heb. 6.12 That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises Rom. 4.2 For if Abraham were justified by works he hath whereof to glory but not before God V. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace but of debt V. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessednesse of the man to whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works V. 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God Rom. 3.20 Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the Law is the knowledge of sinne V. 21. But the righteousnesse of God without the Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets V. 22. Even the righteousnesse of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God V. 24. Being justified freely by his Grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. V. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through Faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God V. 26. To declare I say at this time his righteousnesse that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus V. 27. Where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of works nay but by the Law of Faith V. 28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by Faith without the deeds of the Law Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ and not by the works of the Law for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified Phil. 3.9 And be found in him not having mine owne righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the righteousnesse which is of God by faith Acts 13.38 Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man is preached forgivenesse of sins V. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses Heb. 12.24 Unto Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Gal. 3.20 Now a Mediator is not a Mediator of one but God is one Rom. 8.1 There is therefore no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. James 2.22 Seest thou how Faith wrought with his works and by works was Faith made perfect John 16.27 For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have beleeved that I came out from God Jude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Ghost V. 21. Keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Concerning Holinesse and sincere obedidience Phil. 1.11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the Glory and praise of God Heb. 13.20 Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant V. 21. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Micah 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord
hearing 3. What we are to do after we have heard And oh that I might prevail with you to read these Directions often especially on Saturday-nights that so you might come prepared The great reason of the unprofitablenesse of preaching and that Sermons do no more good is because people come without preparation 3. Seeing that Heavenly duty of singing Psalms and lifting up the praises of the most High is now by some question'd as indeed what is not that tends to Gods Glory and mans good I purposely handle that subject and prove it to be a duty under the Gospel answer the Objections against it and give some Directions for the right performing of it 4. Forasmuch as Christians might exceedingly benefit one another by Religious conference thereby warming and enlivening one another and provoking one another to love and to good works In the next place I speak of that duty and set down some Rules concerning it Lastly Because without meditation 't is not to be expected the Word should do much good nor that the soul should ever thrive in Knowledge and Grace I shew the excellency and benefit thereof and give some Directions for the practise of it The Seventh Chapter treats of the danger of frequenting and unnecessarily conversing with bad company whereby many have been everlastingly undone A man that prayes to be delivered from temptations must not wilfully run himself into them And because 't is the duty of all true Christians both for their own peace sake and that they may adorn the Gospel of Christ to serve their generation in some honest and commendable way avoiding Idlenesse that great snare of the Devil In the eighth Chapter I discourse of diligence and conscientiousnesse in our particular places and callings And that the Name of God may not be blasphemed by the ill lives and practises of such as professe themselves Christians In the Ninth Chapter I treat of just and upright dealing in Trading and Commerce giving some Rules both to buyers and sellers and shew the necessity of making restitution of or satisfaction for ill gotten goods The Tenth Chapter contains the duties of Governours of Families which I desire all that are in that relation often to read over and seriously to meditate upon There is a great duty lies upon them and greater than they usually are aware of They may be exceeding instrumental of the salvation of those under their care if they discharge their duties as they ought But through their neglect of the Worship of God in their houses and their ill lives and examples they prove too often an occasion of the ruine of many in their Families And because very much of the life of Godlinesse consists in a faithful discharge of relative duties The Eleventh Chapter shews the duties of Husband and Wife The Twelfth of Mâ—sters and Servants The Thirteenth of Parents and Children The Fourteenth of such as are in office and of Inferiours The Fifteenth of People towards their Pastors and spiritual Guides O what an honour would it be to Christian Religion if all they that call themselves Christians would endeavour to walk uprightly and faithfully in their respective places And seeing it is a real kindnesse and an excellent expression of true Christian friendship to keep one another off from the pit of destruction and to help one another on towards Heaven In the Sixteenth Chapter I treat of that great and hard duty of Christian reproof and admonition which if it were prudently and faithfully discharged would by the blessing of God much abate sin in the world and exceedingly advance Piety The Seventeenth Chapter contains the duties of rich and poor Many duties belong to them both and both have great temptations therefore they had need be careful to discharge the one and avoid the other The Eighteenth Chapter speaks of the duties of Young and Old Ministers find by experience that the Word hath the greatest operation on those that are young who have not contracted such strong habits of sin nor so long resisted the Grace of God nor so much provoked him to give them up to their own hearts lusts as many ancient people have done who have liv'd a great while in an unconverted state under the light of the Gospel I have therefore shewed young persons the danger of delaies the advantages of turning to God betimes and answered the Objections that many are apt to make against it And because a Minister is also to have a care of the souls of the Ancient and to his utmost skill to endeavour their salvation I have laid down several awakening considerations for them to think upon I have shewed them the danger of vain presumptions and groundlesse hopes of Heaven I have set down some of those false grounds and sandy foundations whereon many ancient people build their hopes of happinesse that so they may be undeceived and may look better about them to secure their souls while there is time In the Nineteenth Chapter there are Directions given for the healthy and the sick To deal wisely and faithfully with sick persons in order to their souls welfare is one of the hardest pieces of the Ministerial work and requires much skill to perform it aright And seeing a Minister is not ever at hand to visit such sick persons as may need his help and many times they stand in need of much help and instruction I have drawn up such directions as I judged needful for them which they may mâ—ke use of when they cannot have the help and assistance of a Minister I have shewed how they should examine themselves And that they may not slubber over that great businesse but may come in some measure to discern the multitude of their sins and the manifold waies whereby they have offended God I have set down a Catalogue of the duties commanded and sinnes forbidden in the ten Commandments as also the sins against the Gospel That so people may not only in general say they are sinners and yet when they come and professe to humble their souls and to confesse their sins unto God can find few they are guilty of but may see themselves to be exceeding vile and sinful I know 't is very unpleasing to people to search their own Consciences and find themselves great sinners They had rather sit down with a false peace than arraign and terrifie themselves in this manner But who that is in his right wits would content himself with a shadow of repentance or a shadow of Faith without finding the substance and truth of these Graces in his soul when his everlasting welfare depends upon it Those Directions there mentioned may be of use also to all persons who desire at any time more solemnly to humble themselves before the Lord for the sins of their life past and more especially before the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Twentieth Chapter contains a discourse of the four last things Death Judgment Hell Heaven There I shew the necessity
Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments RIGHT KNOVVLEDGE Or the chief things to be Known and Believed in order to Salvation They are reducible to these three Heads Concerning God Man The Mediator between God and Man CHAP. I. Concerning GOD. COncerning God we are to Know three things First His NATURE That there is One onely true God who is a Spirit infinitely glorious and being one in nature is yet three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and the Holy Ghost These are three and one after a wonderful and mysterious manner The Father God the Son God and the Holy Ghost God And yet not three Gods but One God Psal 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 1 Cor. 15.34 Some have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Isaiah 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isai 45.5 I am the Lord and there is none else There is no God besides me 1 Cor. 8.4 As concâ—rning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in Sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the World and that there is none other God but One. V. 5. For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Deut. 4.35 Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God And there is none else besides him Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is One Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God He is the living God and an everlasting King At his wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you And how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Luke 24.39 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Rom. 1.23 And they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man and to birds and to four-footed beasts and Creeping things V. 25. And worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen Concerning the Trinity Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Mat. 3.16 And Jesus when he was baptized went straightway up out of the water and Lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him V. 17. And Lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Concerning God the Father Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning God the Son John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the Onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time The Onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Heb. 1.2 He hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world V. 3. Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sinnes sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high V. 8. But unto the Sonne he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdome John 10.30 I and my Father are One. 1 John 2.22 Who
Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments Concerning effectual Calling Rom. 1.6 Among whom are ye also the Called of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose V. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also Called and whom he Called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and Called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling Consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Eph. 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being inlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Acts 16.14 And a certain woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous Light Eph. 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdome and Glory John 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day V. 45. It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to me V. 65. And he said therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 5.25 Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth V. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Ezek 36 16. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying V. 17. Son of man when the House of Israel dwelt in their owne Land they defiled it by their owne way and by their doings their way was before me as the uncleannesse of a removed woman V. 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh V 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who somtimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death V. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his John 3.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith that is in me Concerning believing the Gospel 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God V. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Eph. 1.16 Making mention of you in my prayers V. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him V. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the Glory of his inheritance V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power John 8.24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye beleeve not
his benefits Psal 47.7 For God is the King of all the Earth Sing ye praises with understanding Col. 4.2 Continue in praier and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me V. 13. I will take the Cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Psal 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy mercy and for thy Truths sake Psal 106.21 They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Psal 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psal 105.2 Sing unto him Sing Psalmes unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works Psal 22.10 I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly Luke 17.17 And Jesus answered and said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine V. 18. There are not found that returned to give Glory to God save this stranger Psal 69.30 I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnifie him with Thanksgiving V. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or Bullock that hath hornes and hoofes Psal 50.13 Will I eat the flesh of Buls or drink the blood of Goats V. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Eph. 5.20 Giving thanks alwaies for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing V. 18. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel V. 20 He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant for with my staffe I passed over this Jordan and now am become two bands 1 Chron. 29.14 But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort for all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white robes and palmes in their hands V. 10. And Cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. V. 11. And all the Angels stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and four beasts and fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God V. 12. Saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 19.1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God V. 3. And again they said Alleluja V. 4. And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sate on the Throne saying Amen Alleluja V. 5. And a voice came out of the Throne saying Praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear him both small and great Thirdly Be frequent and diligent in reading the holy Scriptures When thou readest the Commands the Promises the Threatnings therein contained think God speaks to thee in them And God must needs be true he cannot lie nor deceive Now there is sufficient evidence that the Scripture is his Word and written by the especial inspiration of his holy Spirit and that will appear if we consider these three things 1. The internal Light of its own perfection The holinesse and heavenlinesse of the matter the Majesty of the Stile the Consent of all the Parts the Scope of the whole which is to give all Glory to God and the full discovery therein made of the only way of mans salvation and reconciliation with God Which is a suitable way both to Gods Glory and mans Necessity 2. The many providential attestations and confirmations of the Truth of the things therein contained by real and undeniable miracles such as could not be wrought but by the power of God And surely if the Scripture had been only the device of men God would some way or other have disowned it ere this as a notorious abuse put upon him and not so constantly have preserved it in spight of the Devil and all his instruments who have laboured to banish it out of the world and to weaken the authority of it 3. The great and wonderful efficacy of the doctrine therein delivered to enlighten convince and humble sinners to drive them out of themselves and to draw them to Christ to conform them to the Image of God to subdue them to his will to strengthen them against temptations and corruptions to build them up in Grace to establish their hearts in holinesse and lastly to comfort them through Faith unto salvation As therefore the holy Ghost by special inspiration was the author of the Scripture and by extraordinary endowments was the author of the miracles wrought for its confirmation so also he is the author of the Faith of him that truly and unfeignedly believes it Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasm without any reason or evidence but he enlightens the understanding removing the blindnesse and depravednesse thereof and shews us the credibility of the thing and the evidence of the truth that is to be believed and so perswades the heart to a belief thereof Indeed an historical belief of the Scripture which is true in its kind we may come to by rational perswasions without the special Grace or illumination of the Spirit of God but not that deep and firm belief which shall carry over the will effectually to God in Christ and captivate the whole man to the obedience of the Truth And when such a Faith and belief of the Scripture as this attended with sanctification is wrought in the soul the effect is a good argument to confirm the truth and excellency of such a Faith and belief 1. Labour therefore to work thy heart to a high and reverent esteem of the Word when thou goest to read it We should read it
Psal 16.8 I have set the Lord alwaies before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved Gen. 5.24 And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Heb. 11.5 By Faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and upright in his generation and Noah walked with God Prov. 5.20 And why wilt thou my Son be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosome of a stranger V 21. For the waies of a man are before the eies of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings Gen. 39.9 There is none greater in this house than I neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee because thou art his wife how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 42 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day this do and live for I fear God Job 34.21 For his eies are upon the waies of man and he sees all his goings V. 22. There is no darknesse nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves Job 27.6 My righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live Isa 38.3 And Hezekiah said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore 1 John 3.20 For if our heart condemn us God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things V. 21. Beloved if our heart condemn us not then have we confidence towards God 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the Grace of God we have had our conversation in the world but more abundantly to you-wards Psal 32.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile Psal 78.34 When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God V. 35. And they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer V. 36. Nevertheless they flattered him with their mouth and they lied to him with their tongues V. 37. For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety yeares old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Eph. 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Amen Fifthly Labour daily to live by Faith Having given up and committed thy penitent Soule into the hands of Christ to have thy pardon and peace procur'd by his merits and intercession learn also daily to trust and depend on the goodnesse of God and his gracious promises for a supply of all such blessings both spiritual and temporal as thou standest in need of I shall shew thee what it is to live the life of Faith in these ten particulars 1. Seek unto the Lord and daily trust and depend on him for the assistance of his holy Spirit for Grace and strength effectually to enable thee to subdue thy corruptions and to mortifie all sinful vile affections in thee Luke 11.9 And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 10. For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened V. 11. If a Son shall ask bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a Serpent V. 12. Or if he ask an egge will he offer him a Scorpion V. 13. If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Jam. 4.5 Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy V. 6. But he giveth more Grace wherefore he saith God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace to the humble 2 Cor. 12 9. And he said unto me my Grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Rom. 6.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 2. Trust in him to enable thee to resist and overcome the temptations wherewith thou shalt be assaulted from the Devil or the world Mat. 6.13 Lead us not into temptation 2 Chron. 32.31 Howbeit in the businesse of the Ambassadours of the Princes of Babylon who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the Land God left him to try him that he might know all that was in his heart 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour V. 9. Whom resist stedfast in the Faith Jam. 4.7 Resist the Devil and he will flee from you 1 John 2.15 Love not the world nor the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him V. 16. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eies and the pride of life is not of the Father 1 John 5.4 Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith John 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil V. 20 Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word 3. Humbly depend on him to assist and enable thee to perform all the duties both of thy general and particular calling with sincerity diligence and delight 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Phil. 4 13. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me Psal 87.7 All my Springs are in thee 4. Trust in him to enable thee to bear all the afflictions he shall please to lay upon thee with patience affiance in his mercy and submission to his will Col. 1.11 Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse 1 Cor. 10.13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able but with the temptation will also make a way
to escape that ye may be able to bear it Rom. 5.3 But we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience Rev. 13 10. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints 5. As thou must continually depend on God for a supply of all those Graces and comforts thy soul stands in need of so likewise thou must depend daily on his Fatherly care to be furnished and supplied with all such outward mercies as thou standest in need of for this life Mat. 6 11. Give us this day our daily bread Psal 84.11 For the Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 1 Tim. 4.8 For bodily exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto Life and Godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to knowledge and vertue 6. Humbly depend on him for direction and guidance in all thy lawful waies and to be counsell'd in difficult cases and matters of great concernment to thee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding V. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Prov. 16.9 A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eie Psal 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to Glory Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him V. 6. But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering c. 7. Daily trust in him to be protected and preserved from dangers evils and mischiefes as far forth as he shall see it good for thee and that his holy Angels may have charge over thee and may perform all those good offices for thee which he hath appointed them to do for those who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation Psal 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven Psal 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty V. 4. He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust V. 10. There shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling V. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy waies V. 12. They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone 8. Trust in him to be blessed and made successeful in all thy lawful endeavours For though man do his endeavour yet successe is only his to give Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain V. 2. It is in vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrowes for so he giveth his beloved sleep 9. Look up to him and humbly depend on him to have all lawful enjoyments and possessions sanctified to thee that they may be sweetned to thee with a sense of his love and favour in Christ and then they will be blessings indeed Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 10. Humbly trust in him for the assistance of his holy Spirit to enable thee daily to grow in Grace and to persevere and hold out in the waies of truth and holinesse till thou attainest the end of thy Faith even the salvation of thy soul 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence adde to your Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge V. 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity 2 Pet. 3. ult But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy V. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen 1 Cor. 1.8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation Luke 22.32 But I have praied for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the authour and finisher of our Faith c. John 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my Glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world
Affections the motions and stirrings of thy will the out-goings of thy heart Rightly to order our Affections is one of our principall businesses in this life When they are rightly ordered and governed they do much further help on our course in Godlinesse Whereas disordered passions blind the judgment hurry away the will fill the heart and mind with disquiet and interrupt prayer and other holy duties Keep an especial watch theâ—efore over thy Affections Be careful they be not set on wrong objects nor suffered to grow unruly and exorbitant Grace doth not extinguish but rectifie affections Christ who was free from all sin was not without affections He was angry did grieve rejoyce Let it be thy care therefore to look to the right regulating of these powers and these affections that God hath placed in thee And to help thee in this work observe these Directions 1. Beg of God a sound mind a right understanding a clear judgment that thou maist be able rightly to discern between good and evil and maist not take shews and appearances for realities There is great danger in misapprehensions for as the apprehensions of the mind are weaker or stronger so the affections are hotter or cooler 2. Labour to bring thy will sense and appetite under subjection to right reason If sin do seem pleasant to thee as the forbidden fruit to Eve let reason tell thee 't is forbidden fruit and therefore thou must not touch it A man is Lord of himself when reason rules him but his own slave when wilfulnesse appetite or passion bear sway in him When the Coachman cannot rule the horses but is hurried violently away with them there is nothing but confusion to be expected so it is with a man whose reason is overborn or hurried away by his headstrong passions Affections are like fire and water good servants but very bad Masters Fire does well while 't is kept in the chimney water is useful while 't is kept within its banks if they break out they are veâ—y mischievous Elements Affections while they are moderated kept within their due bounds they are very serviceable but if they overflow those banks and bounds what a world of mischief follows 3. Labour to foresee such things before they come which may prove great provocations to thee and are like to kindle and excite thy passions Use precaution and wisely avoid such occasions as much as thou canst Passions are far moâ—e easily prevented than moderated And here premeditation is of singular use whereby the mind may fortifie strengthen it self against the exorbitancy of pâ—ssion before it arise by considering the unreasonablenesse of it and the bitter fruits and effects of it 4. Resist evil affections at the beginning before they grow high and headstrong Dash Babylons brats against the wall If they once get strength they may be too hard for thee Lusts and vile affections let alone do often end in grosse sins There are works of the flesh that follow lusts of the flesh Gal. 5.19 Love of pleasure if uncontroâ—l'd may end in drunkennesse or uncleannesse Envy and malice if uncheck'd may end in muâ—der or violence Judas allowing himselfe in Covetousnesse that brought him to deny his Master 5. Temperance and keeping under the body is an excellent means to mortifie lusts passions and vile affections He that pampers his flesh feeds his enemy And how much better is it to endure the pains of mortification here than the horrours of everlasting darknesse hereafter 6. Remember that when thy blood and Spirits are moved and thy passions are up whatever is presented to thy imagination tends to the delusion of thy soul Passions like some kind of glasses represent things falsely somtimes of a mountain they make a mole-hill and somtimes a mole-hill they magnifie into a mountain Therefore if it be possible in passion make no resolutions Let it be one of thy main cares then to suffer thy spirit and blood to cool and thy passions to sink and melt away and then thou wilt come to right apprehensions Many have grievously overshot themselves in passion and repented of it at leisure 7. Consider the root of all inordinate passion is self-love The larger the branches of passion the deeper the root of self-love Therefore labour to dig up the root and do not only lop off the branches Inordinate self-love ought to be subdued and mortified 8. Meditate often on the abasings sufferings death and passion of our Lord and Saviour Christ suffered for us leaving us an example saith the Apostle 1 Pet. 2.21 that we should follow his steps Was he crucified for us and shall not we crucifie our vile affections for him Did he renounce his own will to accomplish our salvation and shall not we deny our wills for him our corrupt wills The wills of the flesh and of the mind as the Apostle calleth them Eph. 2.3 The lustings of the lower and the upper soul Was he made of no reputation for us and shall we be proud Did he lay down his very life for us his enemies and shall not we forgive an enemy for his sake O labour from the consideration of Christs sufferings to mortifie thy lusts and vile affections 9. By earnest Prayer even the prayer of Faith seek for succour from Heaven against all thine inordinate affections Humbly plead that promise before the Lord Rom. 6.14 Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 10. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Eph. 6.17 and therewith labour to slay thy inordinate affections Apply the Commands and Threatnings of Gods Word to thy self when thou findest any strong passion or lust stirring in thee As suppose Anger be up in thee take that sword of the Spirit thou wilt find Eph. 4.26 27. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath â—â—ther give place to the devil If hatred against thy Brother be working in thee take that sword 1 John 3.15 Whoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him If thy heart be pestered with revengeful thoughts take that sword in Mat. 6.14 15. If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses If lust be stirring in thee take that sword in Mat. 5.28 But I say unto you whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart If pride take that sword 1 Pet. 5.5 God resists the proud and gives Grace to the humble If Covetousnesse take that sword Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of covetousness for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth And 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evil Thus if thou art well acquainted with the word of God thou maist find a sword to slay any inordinate
they should be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and a perverse nation among whom saies he ye shine as Lights in the world 'T is a high point of Grace not to be snared with the evils of our own times 4. Against all occasions and temptations thou foreseest are likely to endanger thy soul We that pray to God not to lead us into temptation must not run our selves into it A prudent man should therefore forethink and consider in the morning what temptations he is like to be encountred with that day that so he may if possible decline them or else set his guards the stronger against them A weak temptation that takes us unawares will prevail more than a stronger forseen A prudent man saith Solomon Prov. 22.3 foreseeth the evil and hideth himself but the foolish go on still and are punished 'T is a point of true spiritual wisdom to foresee sin afar off in the occasions and temptations that lead to it and by avoiding the one to prevent the other 'T is easier and safer for the Fowl to passe by the snare while she is yet out than it is to wind her self out again when she is once in Watch and pray saies our Saviour to his Disciples Mat. 26.41 that ye enter not into temptation If ye do rashly enter the lists of temptation a thousand to one such is mans naturall weaknesse you will not come out without some foil 5. Against dishonouring God in the use of lawful things such as meat drink apparel lawful refreshments c. Remember that 't is in the use even of things indifferent that Satan most usually setteth his snares for Gods servants for here the snare is not so visible as in grosser sins and he prevaileth more often against those that be not grossely prophane and ungodly by the immoderate or undue use of things in themselves lawful than by drawing them to such things as are simply evil and unlawful The Devil knowes well that he that will do all he may do will soon be drawn to do somwhat he ought not to do 'T is dangerous to come near the borders and confines of sin Those that will go to the utmost extent of their Christian Liberty and venture themselves so near the brink do many times fall into the pit of sin All things saith the Apostle are lawful unto me but all things are not expedient 1 Cor. 6.12 and 10.23 All things i. e. not all things absolutely but all things in their own nature indifferent are lawful to me yet all such things are not alwaies expedient 'T is better for us many times to forbear many things we may do it will never be grief or offence of heart to us as was said to David in another case 1 Sam. 25.31 than be once overtaken in what we should not do 6. Watch against Errour As thou must be careful to keep thy heart from sinful lusts and thy life from being spotted and stained with sinful practises so thou must be vigilant also to keep thy judgment sound and thy mind from being tainted and fly-blown with Errour Thou must take heed of a corrupt judgment as well as a rotten heart and a wicked life 'T is a great judgment to be given up either to an erroneous mind or to vile affections Some there are that seem very strict in their lives and pretend as much tendernesse in matter of morality as Lot did of his guests Gen. 19. yet are very loose as to their judgments exposing them as he his Daughters to be defiled with any corrupt Doctrine that comes to their doors Julian the Apostate was a just temperate strict man but a bitter enemy to Christ Some that are sober in their lives are yet drunk with Errour But let such consider that as they say of fish they begin to stink at the head so a corrupt judgment is very frequently a beginner and introducer of a depraved conversation Men in this age are wanton and play with opinions but believe it 't is not of small moment what opinions we hold and whether we be sound in the Faith or no. Grace and Truth use to thrive together The way of truth is the way of life and errour tendeth to death The Apostle tels us of pernicious Doctrines and damnable Heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 that bring swift destruction Truth in the mind preserveth an awe of God in the heart But false Doctrines blind the mind harden the heart deprave the conversation destroy the Churches peace and provoke the Lord to have a controversie with a people where they are tolerated Rev. 2.14 15 20. And we should be the more watchful over our selves in this particular because Errours are so agreeable to corrupt Nature and Conscience does usually lesse regret a man for Errour than for unholinesse and many times also they sute a corrupt interest namely profit and worldly advantage and then people are in great danger to be caught by them To keep thee therefore from Errour take these few Directions 1. Labour to be well-grounded in the truth Let the foundation be laid sure else the building with every ruffling wind will be apt to totter Ungrounded Christians who never understood the true grounds of the Religion they have taken up and how it is built on the Scriptures when they meet with Arguments against it which they never heard of before and which they through their unskilfulness cannot answer they presently yield to errour and think because they cannot answer them therefore no body else can But if thou wouldst not be carried away with every wind of Doctrine Labour rightly to understand the true grounds of Christian Religion And to this end study the Scriptures with humility and be much in prayer that God would guide thee by his holy Spirit into all saving truth and keep thee from falling into errour And remember that what has been commonly received by the people of God and embraced and practised by the Saints in all ages is not lightly to be rejected and deserted Can any rational man think God would leave the generality of his people to errour and seduction of mind Consider with thy self therefore whether it be not safer to follow the footsteps of the flock of Christ than to be led away by pretenders to new light the Scripture having given so many cautions to beware of seduceâ—s 2 Pet. 3.17 18. 2. Rest not in a bare knowledge of the truth but reduce thy knowledge into practise Be sincere in the Religion thou professest and let the truths of God like leaven season thy mind will and affections and have a powerful influence on thy life When men are in love with Gospel-truths for the goodnesse sweetnesse and benefit they tast in them they will labour to hold them fast Those that have any experience in their own hearts of the comfort and efficacy of the Doctrines of Repentance Faith in Christ and daily watchfulness will not easily throw them
off and exchange them for new opinions But they that care not to practise the great and necessary truths of the Gospel no wonder if they prove Apostates and fall off from them Labour therefore to practise the truths thou professest holding the mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience 1 Tim. 3.9 The more thou growest in Grace the more thou shalt be kept from falling into the errour of the wicked Heb. 13.9 He that doth what he knowes of the will of God shall know more of it John 7.17 If ye know these things saith our Saviour happy are ye if ye do them John 13.17 Happinesse doth not lie in the meer knowing or assenting to the principles of Christian Religion but in living according to them and expressing the power and efficacy of them in our lives For a man to be of an orthodox judgment and an haeretical life an orthodox swearer an orthodox drunkard a prophane person and yet zealous against Hereticks an antinomian in practise and yet a declamer against the opinions of the Antinomians O how sadly do these things sound A right belief should have a powerful influence on the heart and life But they whose hearts are rotten and deceitfull under truth 't is no wonder if they be deceived by errour Believe it if the heart be corrupt and love sin it will easily encline a man to entertain such corrupt principles as will give liberty to sin Men would fain have that true which is most accomodate to their corrupt interests Take heed therefore of harbouring any secret lust or sin in thy heart 'T is sin provokes God to give men up to errour God does many times out of a secret judgment suffer those to fall into errour who held the truth in unrighteousnesse They who are not sound in the fear of God soon prove unsound in the Faith of God Hymeneus and Alexander first put away a good Conscience and then made shipwrack of Faith 1 Tim. 1.19 20. The women that were led away by seducers 2 Tim. 3.6 were such as were laden with divers lusts What Solomon therefore saies of a strange woman may be applied to a strange Doctrine whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her but the sinner shall be taken by her Eccles 7.26 3. Take heed of pride conceitednesse confidence in thine own judgment and understanding The humble God will teach but he resists the proud 1 Pet. 5.5 Pride usually 't is the mother of Heresies 'T was of old the condemnation of the Devil 1 Tim. 3.6 the ruine of our first Parents and therefore no wonder if it ruine so many soules in these daies Proud persons may carry it high for a time but commonly God suffers them at last to fall into the ditch of errour or prophanenesse And 't is just it should be so that when the understanding of these high-flown ones returnes unto them if God have such a mercy in store for them they may with Nebuchadnezzar see their folly and bless the most High 4. Beware of the itch of noveltie and affecting new Doctrines He is half gone into errour that vainly covets after novelties and listens after every new-fangled opinion New Doctrines like new fashions do usually take with unstable minds We read of itching eares 2 Tim. 4.3 and following after another Gospel Gal. 1.6 But Christ tels us but of one way to Heaven and that is by himself I am the way the truth and the life John 14.6 There is no new way thither True Repentance Faith in Christ and sincere obedience this is the good old way that we must walk in if we intend to come thither 5. Expose not thy self to the temptations of seducers 'T is in vain for any to pray to God to keep them from the infection of errour if they wilfully against the expresse Word of God and without any just warrant and call run into the company of seducers and read their Books The Scripture bids us To beware of them Matth. 7.15 Not to go after them Luke 21.8 To avoid them Rom. 16.17 To turn away from thē 2 Tim. 3.5 If they come to us not to receive them or bid them God-speed or encourage them in their way 2 ep Joh. 10. But possibly some will say Are we not commanded to prove all things 1 Thes 5.21 Ans Will you try poison whether it will kill you or no Therefore the meaning of this place must needs be that we are to examine the Doctrines that are delivered unto us by the Scripture whether they are built thereon or no. Like those noble Bereans Acts 17.11 who searched the Scriptures whether those things were so that were delivered to them for the Truths of God And let that place Rom. 14.1 be considered by all such as are not throughly grounded in the principles of Christianity Him that is weak in Faith receive but not to doubtful disputations Every private Christian is not fit to cope with hereticks and such as are skilfull to destroy the Faith of others You would not allow a man to come and undermine the foundation of your house This do they and worse that go about to undermine your Faith and labour to shake and unsettle you in the grand truths of the Gospel Surely they that rob and rifle soules of Truth are worse felons than they that rob and rifle houses 6. Forsake not the publick Ordinances nor faithful Ministers of Christ whose endeavours God hath born witness to by the real conversion of many thousand soules 'T is not safe to balk the known and ordinary waies wherein God uses to dispense his spiritual blessings Wisdom's dole is to be expected at wisdom's gate Eph. 4.11 And he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers v. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the body of Christ v. 14. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men cunning craftinesse whereby they ly in wait to deceive 7. Remember thou art not only to be stedfast in the truth and to hold fast the truth as to thine own particular but also to be valiant for the Truth Jer. 9.3 To contend for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jude v. 3. Thou must shew thy self a Champion for Truth when it is opposed Truth 't is one of the choicest treasures and greatest priviledges that ever God bestowed on any people And shall we so easily and tamely part with it Shall we suffer crafty persons that are now abroad to rob us and steal from us our best treasure Shall we suffer them to cheat us and our posterity of our richest Jewell Not long ago the great bickerings were about discipline Now the Doctrine of the Gospel is in danger And shall we suffer the interest of our Lord and Master to be troden under foot Indeed we are not to be bitter against the persons of the
erroneous yet we are to be sensible how God is dishonoured and thousands of soules endangered by their pernicious errours And therefore it deeply concerns us to have a care of our selves to preserve our owne soules from this infection and not of our selves only but to have a regard to our posterity also that we transmit truth down to them We would be willing to leave our estates to our children And shall we not be more careful to leave them truth Believe it we are to perform the part of faithful Trustees and to keep the Doctrine of salvation pure and unmix'd as much as in us lies and so to leave it to those that are to come after us 8. and Lastly Consider how the Scripture has forewarned us there must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11.19 Now there is a twofold necessity Absolute Conditional 1. Absolute when a thing cannot possibly be otherwise as God must needs be just 2. Conditional when a thing must be supposing such another thing to be before As suppose the Sun be risen it must be day so here upon supposition of these two things 1. Satans malice 2. Mans Corruption there must be Heresies Far be it from us ever to think that God imposes a necessity on any to be Hereticks but he permits them suffers them to spring up in the Church and that for these three reasons 1. That his glorious truths may be the more cleared up and evidenced and strongly confirmed and maintained Many parts of true Doctrine have been but slenderly guarded till assâ—ulted by Hereticks then old evidences have been searched and found out Many truths have been occasionally most cleared and setled by the opposition of the Adversary 2. That they that are approved may hereby be made manifest This is an effect the Devil never intended by raising Heresies But 't is the Chimistry of Heaven to bring good out of evil That is pure gold that endures the trial of the fire A quick smart wind severs the solid grain from the chaff They are but chaff who are blown away with every wind of Doctrine The good wheat remaines still in the floor of the Church When you see an Army march you know not who is valiant and who not when the enemy approaches then is the trial 3. That the obstinate may be rendred inexcusable who wilfully shut their eies against these more open manifestations and greater clearings up of the Truth which occasionally by the opposition of the adversary God is pleased to afford his Church Jude v. 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints V. 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousnesse and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 2.1 But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction V. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of V. 3. And through Covetousnesse shall they with feigned words make marchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation slumbreth not 1 Tim. 4.1 Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils V. 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron 2 Tim 2.17 And their word will eat as doth a Canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus V. 18. Who concerning the truth have erred saying the Resurrection is past already and overthrow the Faith of some 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching eares V. 4. And they shall turn away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables Acts 20.29 For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock V. 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them 2 Tim. 3.6 Of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts V. 7. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth V. 8. Now as Jannes Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith V. 13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves V. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits Mat. 24.11 Many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many V. 24. There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders in so much that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect 1 John 4.1 Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world 1 John 2.18 Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Anti-Christ shall come even now are there many Anti Christs whereby we know it is the last time V. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them V. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Gal. 4.17 They zealously affect you but not well yea they would exclude us that you might affect them Tit. 1.10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the circumcision V. 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject V. 11. Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ V. 4. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached or if ye
will give thee the Crown of life saies our Saviour Rev. 2.10 'T is to no purpose therefore for a man to do well for a spurt and then to give over break off that good course he was entred into for 't is perseverance in well doing that carrieth away the Crown 'T is true Gods called and sanctified people are preserved and kept in their state of Grace and Holiness by the power of God by their close union with Jesus Christ by vertue of his merits and constant intercession for them and also by a continued influence from the Spirit maintaining the essence life and seed of Grace in them so that they shall neither totally nor finally fall away Yet observe these four things 1. Seeming Grace may be lost Take from him that which he hath Mat. 25.28 In Luke 't is Take from him that which he seemeth to have Chap. 8. v. 18. Blazing Comets and Meteors are soon spent and fall from Heaven while true Stars keep their Orbe and Station 2. The common work of the Spirit may fail Such as is spoken of Heb. 6.4 5. viz. Illumination external reformation temporary Faith a slight tast of the comforts of the Gospel a weak glance upon the Glory of Heaven which may possibly stir up such a wish as was in Balaam O that I might die the death of the righteous Nay further there may be a partaking of the gifts of the Holy Ghost i.e. of abilities for holy duties though not of his renewing Graces And yet such plenty of blossoms as here are may somtimes be without fruit 3. True Grace may suffer a shrewd decay the leaves may fail though there may remain some life in the root We read in Scripture of a decay both of Faith Love and Obedience Some left their first Faith 1 Tim. 5.12 Others left their first Love Rev. 2.4 And as for obedience we read of the first waies of David as distinguished from his latter 2 Chron. 17.3 because David in his latter time fell into scandalous sins In temptations Gods children may be sorely shaken Their heel may be bruised as Christs was though their head be not crushed The operations of Grace may be obstructed for a time and yet a seed remain as in the case of David 4. True Grace if left to us would soon be lost Adam shewed a sad example of this in innocency But the best is our security lies in Gods power and promises and our union with Christ as was said before not in our own strength Christ hath a charge to keep the Saints safe and to conduct them safe to everlasting Glory John 10.28 I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish c. v. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one God and Christ are engaged in the keeping of them But observe it Those whom God causes to persevere he makes to persevere in the use of meanes as 't was in their case Acts 27.31 All shall come to land but except ye abide in the ship ye cannot be safe No believer is so sure of his continuance in a state of Grace as that he needeth not be very wary and watchful and jealous over himself 1 Cor. 10.12 Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall There is a fear of caution as well as a fear of diffidence and distrust 't is good to weaken and abate the security of our flesh though not our confidence in Christ Our Saviour had prayed that Peters Faith should not fail yet together with the other Apostles he bids him watch Luke 22.40 46. The fear of God is a preserving Grace Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me This fear will make us watchful not diffident of Gods power and goodness And in this sense Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies as Solomon saies Prov. 28.14 And as our Saviour adviseth Luke 22.46 that watcheth and prayeth that he enter not into temptation We see then that to perseverance there is a concurrence of our care and diligence required Jude v. 21. Keep your selves in the love of God Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh in you c. Indeed the main work is Gods he is the beginner and he is the perfecter Phil. 1 6. He is the author and he is the finisher Heb. 12.2 But may we then be idle and sit still be careless and negligent No in no wise For God worketh in us and by us If therefore there be no Grace working in us nor working by us and exciting and quickning and enabling us to sincere obedience and a careful and watchful carriage towards God we may justly suspect our state for the present to be very bad A Christians life is never exempted from care We must be watchful and diligent to the very last Satan is alwaies busie we have corruptions within and the world is full of snares And many times where there seems to be least danger there is most cause of fear Lot that was chast in Sodom miscarried in the mountaines where there were none but his own Family David's example may warn the holiest persons to the worlds end to be jealous over themselves Who would have thought that he whose heart smote him for cutting off the lap of Sauls garment should after fall into uncleannesse and murder Peter also is a sad instance of confidence in a mans own strength Upon all these considerations let me advise thee to watch and pray to pray and watch continually Hast thou begun to make profession of Religion O do not fall off and bring an ill report upon the waies of Holinesse A house begun and not finished is a habitation of shreek owles Hold out to the last that so thou maist obtain that honourable title that Mnason had to be an old disciple Acts 21.16 I shall conclude this Head of watchfulnesse and this whole Chapter of maintaining a daily close communion with God with two further Directions which with Gods blessing will much conduce to the carrying on of the whole work Direction 1. Inure thy soul besides thy daily solemn prayers to send up frequent mental ejaculatory prayers unto God These holy liftings up of the heart unto the Lord as they are very pleasing to him so they are exceedingly advantageous for the fetching speedy aid from Heaven for the quenching of a lust resisting of a temptation the better performing any service delivering us out of any present straits enabling us to bear any affliction or in case of any failing to beg mercy and pardon speedily while the heart is smitten and tenderly affected with a sense of its miscarriage As when Davids heart smote him for numbring the people 2 Sam. 24.10 we find him lifting up his heart unto the Lord in this manner I have sinned I beseech thee
be of Gods granting or their own framing whether they have any warrant or promise from Gods Word that they shall be sav'd Or whether they do only strongly presume it without any sufficient ground Oh what loose and sandy foundations do many build their hopes of Heaven upon such as these 1. Their outward profession of Christianity and a formal performance of religious duties But as the Apostle speaks Rom. 2.28 29. He is not a Jew who is one outwardly who has onely the circumcision of the flesh but he is a Jew who is one inwardly whose heart is circumcised So he is a true Christian upon whose heart the saving work of conversion hath pass'd who hath felt the power of Grace upon his soul really turning it unto God The fair and broad leaves of an outward profession will nothing avail if the fruits of real holiness and sanctification be wanting Gal. 6.15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature 2. Their moral and civil deportment their fair and honest conversation in the world and freedom from grosse sins Now though outward righteousnesse be not only exceeding commendable but also necessary to Salvation yet 't is a dangerous thing to rest upon and by that only we cannot conclude any man to be in a good state and condition to God ward For 1. You shall find it many times accompanied with ignorance or very little savoury knowledge of God and spirituall things 2. Such persons usually see no necessity of regeneration and the new birth but content themselves with a meer moral change and freedom from gross sins and the practise of some morall vertues no new nature being wrought in them but the old nature only varnished over with civil education 3. There you shall not find for the most part any great prizing of Christ or labouring to get an interest in him and yet if the soul be not really united to him no justification sanctification or salvation can be expected 4. The chief care is usually about an outward fairnesse and unblameableness of conversation little care about mortification of inward lusts right tempering the affections True Grace presseth upon us heart-duties as well as externall obedience prohibits inward and heart-sins as well as outward filthinesse 2 Cor. 5.18 If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new 5. The Glory of God is not the chief aim and end as it should be in whatever we do 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God 6. There is usually a greater care to perform the Duties of the second Table then of the first You shall have some men very just in their dealings good neighbours and of a commendable conversation as to the world who yet may be are very negligent and carelesse of Gods Worship of Family duties of the Lords day c. Nay many times are professed haters and enemies to the practical power of Godlinesse So that we see more is requir'd than meer civility and an outward moral uprightness to ground a hope of salvation upon Paul before his conversion was concerning the righteousnesse of the Law blameless Phil. 3.6 Yet when God had savingly enlightened his soul what a doom doth he pass upon himself and cals his self righteousnesse dung which he accounted Gold before 3. Some reformation that is wrought in them They have left some sins they were formerly given to But 't is not only the forbearing of some sins but an inward loathing hating abhorring and forsaking all known sins that is a good evidence of a gracious state There must be a care to mortifie inward lusts and the corruptions of the heart as well as to abstain from outward acts of sin To mortifie our sins is a Sacrifice well-pleasing to God In a Sacrifice these two things were requir'd 1. That it should be slain not die of it self If thy lusts and sins rather leave thee than thou them or abate and die meerly through age or the decay of natural vigour this change is wrought in thee not by Grace but by age 2. A Sacrifice was to be offered to God If thou do leave thy former sins and do it not out of obedience to God but for thy credit sake or profit or some temporal advantage this is not the Sacrifice God delights in 4. The good opinion others have of them Others think them good Christians why should not they think so of themselves But let them consider that which is a sufficient ground for another to think well of us is not a sufficient ground for us to think well of our selves A fair outward deportment free from scandal and offence is a sufficient ground for another to think well of us but we must feel some inward saving work of Grace upon our hearts before we judge our own condition to be good 5. Comparing themselves with others they find they are not so bad as many others But 't is no security to any mans soul to be better than others except those others be in a safe condition 6. The untroublednesse of their Consciences All untroubledness of Conscience is not an Argument of a safe condition Some peace of Conscience arises from ignorance security sleepinesse deadnesse 'T is one of Gods greatest judgments to afford a man an untroubled Conscience in a sinfull course To be like Jonah ready to be drown'd and yet fast asleep But now the peace of a good Conscience usually followes upon humiliation and sorrow for sin and closing with Christ and resigning the soul up to him for pardon and Grace Such a Conscience does not only not accuse as the slumbring Conscience of a wicked man may do but acquits and discharges and comforts upon Gospel grounds 7. They thrive and prosper well in the world So they may and yet have all their portion in this life if they have no other evidence of Gods favour 8. God is merciful and ready to pardon 'T is true the King of Heaven is a merciful King pardoning iniquity transgression and sin But upon what terms hath he promised pardon to sinners for our hope of pardon must have some promise in the Word for its bottom and foundation or else we do but meerly delude our selves And we must also know that God is just as well as merciful and his threatnings are the object of our Faith as well as his promises Try your hopes therefore before you trust them Examine and prove whether you are such to whom God hath promised pardon or no Has God in the Scriptures declared he will pardon sin to any that go on in their sins that repent not of them nor betake their souls to Christ for pardon and Grace But possibly most ancient people will here tell me they do repent they do believe on Christ with all their hearts and hope to be sav'd by him But alas how miserably
his appearing CHAP. XIX Directions to the Healthy and to the Sick LET such as enjoy health of body the right use of their understandings entirenesse of limbs and senses humbly blesse God for so great a mercy Few people value their health enough 'T is an ancient saying He that is in health is rich and knowes it not Want would teach us the worth of mercies Let such therefore often call to mind and consider how many distracted diseased maimed deformed people there are in the world and 't is Gods peculiar mercy that they are not such or worse Let this consideration make them very humble and thankful Let them be often lifting up their hearts to the Lord and saying with holy David What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits towards me Psal 116.12 Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Psal 103.1 2. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory Psal 115.1 And let their main care be in time of health to work out their Salvation to secure their state in Grace and their title to Glory and to lay a good foundation against the time of sickness 'T is sad exceeding sad when a dying person is then to be instructed in those Graces he should now exercise He that prepares not for death before his last sickness as one saies well is like him that begins to study Philosophy when he is going to dispute publickly in the faculty In health while a man has a right and steady use of his reason before the Acts of his understanding are disturbed with pain or his mind clouded or his heart annoyed with fear and amazement he should apply himself to learn this great Art and Skill how to die well Let the following Directions therefore that are given to the sick be carefully minded and regarded by them that are in health To turn to God in health to seek reconciliation with him in and through Christ to devote and consecrate our hearts then to him to walk in a steady course of sincere obedience before him and to do all this out of judgment and choice out of love to God and a desire to please him before death seem to make any neer approach unto us will be a huge argument of sincerity and a great foundation of comfort when sickness attaches us Whereas they that are negligent and carelesse of these things must needs run themselves upon such desperate hazards and such great incertainties that a wise and considering man would not for all the world be in their condition Directions to the Sick There is hardly any thing wherein a Minister is at a greater losse than what to say to sick persons the condition of most being such that they need a serious awakening and rouzing out of the deep sleep of carnal security and to be made sensible of the great danger they are in as to their everlasting state But while we do this the sick party and those that attend are apt to think we go about to drive them to despair not understanding the true nature thereof For to despair I mean utterly and finally is this when a man shall conclude that his sins are greater than cna be forgiven that God is irreconcileable to him and therefore 't is in vain to set himself to repent or humble his soul or turn from his sins but seeing his condition is desperate resolves to go on in his former course to enjoy the pleasures of sin here while he may have them seeing when this life is done nothing remaines for him but certain damnation Such a man as this may be truly said to despair But for any person to be so awakened as to see himself for the present in a lost condition and under the wrath and curse of God by reason of his sins to see his own utter inability to help himself to be enquiring and earnestly sollicitous what he must do to be saved to have his heart full of doubts and fears and troubles concerning the state of his soul this is such a despair as is usually the forerunner of a saving conversion And therefore for people that have spent their time in sin and vanity in ignorance and worldlinesse in living to themselves and to the flesh and have never felt any work of Grace upon their hearts nor ever have been truly humbled under an apprehension of the evil and danger of their sins to expect a Minister should speak comfort to them is to desire to be sooth'd and flattered to their own destruction The Directions therefore I think needful for sick persons are these following I. Let them consider that no sicknesse disease or distemper of body comes by chance but by the wise and orderly guidance of the hand of God that 't is his messenger and sent by him unto them And therefore let them hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 II. Let them set themselves before the Tribunal of Christ before whom they may for ought they know shortly appear And let them consider he is a Judge that cannot be deceived nor will be mocked That he is just as well as merciful righteous as well as gracious and all their sins original and actual of omission of commission against the Law and against the Gospel against mercies against judgments against promises and vowes of better obedience all their sinfull thoughts and sinfull affections and motions of their hearts all their sinful words and sinfull actions with the several aggravations of all these are known unto him yea their secretest sins are set in the light of his countenance III. Let them seriously examine themselves and put these six questions home to their Consciences First What abiding sense they have had upon their hearts in the whole course of their lives of their own vilenesse and wretchednesse by nature the odiousnesse and defilement of their sins their just desert of wrath their natural impotency and inability to good their pronenesse to evil Whether they have ever been deeply sensible of the darknesse of their minds stubbornnesse of their wils deceitfulnesse of their hearts inordinatenesse of their affections sinfulnesse of their practise If they have what effects has the consideration of these things produced what sorrow what fear has been stirred in them What course has it put them upon for remedy What industry have they used what pains have they taken to be delivered out of this miserable estate Let their Consciences have liberty to speak freely to them and to tell them the truth whether ever they have been affected in any considerable degree with these things or no. Secondly Whether they ever rightly apprehended what are the conditions of the new Covenant the Covenant of Grace Most will grant Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are necessary to salvation but then their apprehensions and conceptions are different
from and inconsistent with the nature of these Graces There is a great deal of danger in mistaking about these things Therefore let them ask themselves seriously whether they do indeed understand that true repentance follows upon a clear and full conviction of the evil odiousnesse and filthinesse of sin as that which is contrary to Gods holy Nature and is flat rebellion against his Lawes and Authority as that which defaces his Image depraves defiles pollutes the soul weakens its powers disenables it for holy operations and conforms it to the Image of Satan Whether they rightly apprehend the danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of sin how it exposes the sinner to judgments spirituall temporal and eternal Whether ever they apprehended their own deep guiltiness both of Original and a huge number of actual sins Whether there ever has been wrought in them any deep contrition and hearty sorrow for their sins and that upon Gospel-grounds because they have so exceedingly dishonoured God pierced our dear Lord and Saviour grieved the holy Spirit brought a stain and defilement upon their soules and rendred themselves justly liable to the wrath and curse of God Whether their hearts have been wrought to a hatred and loathing of sin and to a forsaking of every known sin and are now really turned unto God Whether they have cleerly and without guile of spirit confessed bewailed their sins unto God their particular known sins particularly and all secret undiscovered unknown sins with a general confession And here that the sick person may the better examine himself and awaken his Conscience and may understand in some measure the number of his sins the several kinds of them and the various waies of offending God let him consider and ponder seriously of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments and the special sins against the Gospel For the more particular his repentance is the more pungent and afflictive it will be and so the more sincere and effectual Of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the Law or ten Commandments The first Commandment requireth us to own and acknowledge Jehovah to be the only true God and our God and to adore worship and glorifie him accordingly The sins against this Commandment are 1. Atheism not believing there is a God or so living as if there were no God in the world to be obeyed and worshipped 2. Idolatry in having or worshipping more Gods than one or any with or in stead of the true God praying or giving any religious worship to Saints Angels or any other Creature 3. All compacts and consulting with the Devil all resorting to Witches and Conjurers which is in effect to go to the Devil himself 4. Making men the Lords of our Faith Consciences 5. Ignorance misapprehensions misbelief concerning God not labouring after the true knowledge of God nor endeavouring to understand aright his nature properties and works 6. Infidelity not believing his word or not believing it effectually practically so as to live according to our belief not beleeving his threatnings so as to be afraid of them nor his promises so as to be invited by them unto obedience and newnesse of life 7. Diffidence and distrust of his care and providence not depending on him for the supply of our wants not looking up to him for a blessing on our lawful endeavours tempting him by using unlawful means in stead of waiting his leisure Creature-confidence trusting in wit wealth friends c. and thereby withdrawing our hearts and dependance from God 8. Want of love to God Not cleaving to him with a fervent love apprehending him the chief good not loving him for his own infinite excellencies and for his goodnesse to us not loving him with all our affections and might but loving our selves our pleasures or profits or credit before him inordinate setting our minds and affections on other things besides God 9. Want of zeal and forwardnesse to promote his Glory Lukewarmnesse indifferency in the things of God not sorrowing for those raigning sins whereby his honour is eclipsed 10. Not fearing God so as to keep from any wilful offending of him timorousnesse fearing man more than God by committing sin to shun some outward suffering 11. Not rejoycing in God nor in his waies and Worship counting his waies grievous and burdensom Apostatizing from him forsaking his Worship and Service 12. Presuming groundlessely on his mercy while we go on in any wilful sin or despairing of it so as to neglect duty 13. Unthankfulnesse for those great mercies he hath so freely bestowed upon us not acknowledging them or letting them slip by without any regard or notice being too apt to ascribe Gods blessings to our deserts or endeavours sacrificing to our own net to our own wit or parts not ascribing all Glory to God 14. Insensiblenesse under his judgments or discontent at his dispensations Impatience under his Fatherly chastisements not accepting the punishment of our iniquities without murmuring or repining not amending by his corrections but either fainting despairing and charging God foolishly 15. Not yeelding such sincere and universal obedience to him as we ought both in heart and life 16. Not having a high and an adoring esteem of God not demeaning our selves humbly before him according as our vilenesse and his infinite surpassing excellencies do require The second Commandment shews the manner how the true God must be worshipped and requires the observing and keeping pure entire all such religious Worship and Ordinances as he hath appointed in his Word Inward Idolatry is opposed to the first Commandment outward to this The true God is to be worshipped only in that way that he himself hath appointed Therefore Idolatrous and superstitious Worshippers of him he cals haters of him and expresses a very fervent zeal for his own Worship and a revengefull indignation against all false Worship as being spiritual whoredom The sins against this Commandment are 1. All will-worship superstition or corrupting the Ordinances of God by mans inventions 2. Making any Images for a religious use either of the true God or of false 3. Making any representation of God of all or any of the Three Persons in the Trinity either inwardly in our minds or outwardly in any kind of Image or likenesse of any creature whatsoever or worshipping of it or God in it and by it 4. Worshipping of God any way not agreeable to his Nature and not warranted by his Word which requires he should be worshipped in Spirit and Truth with uprightnesse and sincerity he being a spiritual and most pure Being without any visible form or shape Therefore all formality unspiritualnesse and meer bodily Worship is that which he cannot away with The third Commandment requires we should honour and reverence the most holy and glorious Name of God and that all his Titles Attributes Ordinances or whatever else he is pleas'd to make known himself by be holily and reverently used by us This Commandment