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
of Learning even in time of health that great art and skill how to die well Next what the Scripture declares concerning the day of judgment and the everlasting state both of the righteous and the wicked And methinks the serious consideration of these weighty matters should hugely affect us O did people oftener think and consider of those things they would live at another rate than usually they do All the businesses of this life would seem small and little even like childrens play in comparison of securing the soul to all eternity Thus My Loving Neighbours and Friends I have given you a short draught and scheme as it were of my whole Book What entertainment it will find with you I know not I can in some measure of sincerity say that an hearty desire of your eternal happiness first set me upon this work And now throw the assistance of God it is finished my prayers shall not be wanting that it may do you good yea much good If any of you will not afford leisure to read it nor time to consider of the things therein contained but after you have had it a little while shall throw it aside then I desire you seriously to think before hand what account you will be able to give to God of this your wilful neglect when you shall stand at his dreadful Tribunal For my part I have no other design upon any of you but that you may attain eternal life My great desire is that true Plety and Godlinesse that that Religion that saves souls may flourish among you My desire and endeavour is that where the saving work of Grace is begun upon any of your hearts it may be carried on daily and that you may encrease and abound more and more in the fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse to the praise and glory of God And where this blessed work of conversion is not yet begun my hearts desire and prayer to God is that it may be wrought if it be his holy will You see the plot and design I have upon you is of so innocent a nature that you have no reason in the world to go about to defeat me in it 'T is my duty to shew sinners the evil and danger of ignorance and ungodlinesse 'T is my duty to perswade intreat and be earnest with them to leave the tents of sin and Satan and to come in to Christ that by him they may have pardon and life And O that I could even compel them to come in Luke 14.23 Were it in my power not a soul among you should refuse or stand out But if notwithstanding all my prayers intreaties and endeavours many among you will still prefer a life of bruitish sensuality before the life that consists in righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost If Satan that cursed murderer who you know labours to ruine you soul and body for ever must still be preferr'd before that blessed Saviour who suffered and endur'd so much to redeem mankind and offers you salvation on so fair terms If neither the joyes of Heaven nor the torments of Hell can affect you but the pleasures and profits of this world must still ingrosse your minds and hearts remember what I say unto you it will one day cut you to the very soul to consider that you were shewed the way to eternal life and invited perswaded and intreated to walk in it but you would not O Neighbours think with your selves I beseech you that 't is but a short time and your souls must be either among Saints or Devils Does it not concern me therefore to be earnest with you and in all seriousnesse to call upon you to work out your salvation now while you have time For the Lords sake as ever you intend to see Gods face with comfort remember these few following directiōs 1. Take heed of a loose conversation of living to the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof If ye live after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8.13 Now the works of the flesh are manifest Gal. 5.19 Which are these Adultery fornication uncleannesse lalciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murders drunkennesse and such like Of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Never comfort your selves with the hopes of Gods mercy in Christ if ye live in known and wilful sins The holy nature of God will never be reconciled to sinners while they go on in their sins And Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil He came not to save men by bringing them to Heaven in their ungodlinesse or to Glory in their sins but to destroy their sins that would keep them out of Glory If he save us his Grace must have dominion in our hearts Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 2. Take heed of worldly-mindednesse I do not go about to perswade you to idlenesse or negligence in your Callings but to take you off from the eager and inordinate love of this world which duls and deads the heart to Heavenly things Beware lest ye be the thorny ground Look to it that the cares of this life do not choak the good seed that is weekly sown among you Some people give up themselves wholly to the world and thrust God out of their hearts and houses Take you heed of that Believe it that man that hath the main bent of his heart set upon pleasing God and whose great end is to be happy with him for ever will be careful only so to converse with this world and only so to mind things temporal as he may not lose things eternall He will first and chiefly seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousnesse He will look upon all outwartd things as accomodations only in his passage but at Heaven as his home and happinesse He will cordially desire and endeavour so to walk in his particular Calling as he may be faithful also in his general and may secure his soul to eternal life 3. Be careful to get a distinct and clear knowledge of the things that concern your salvation Ignorance will not excuse any man when 't is caused by his own negligence The main things that concern salvation you may know if you will give your minds to it God hath not left you in darknesse take heed of shutting your eyes 4. Take heed of neglecting or slighting the publick Ordinances and means of Grace To have no appetite to the Word to apprehend no great need of it and to find no profit by it is a mark of a dead and gracelesse heart 5. Take heed of formality and resting in a meer outward performance of religious services Learn to distinguish between Religion the end and Religion the means Religion the end is To attain a gracious frame of Spirit to enjoy God to fear him love him and have our natures conform'd unto him
unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate V. 16. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shal be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee V. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life V. 18. Thornes also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the hearb of the field V. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return 1 Tim. 2.13 For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety 2 Cor. 11.3 For I feare least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Gen. 5.3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty yeares and begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image and called his name Seth. Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Job 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he which is borne of a woman that he should be righteous V. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water Job 14.4 Who can bring a Clean thing out of an unclean Not one Rom. 3.9 What then are we better then they no in no wise for we have before proved both Jewes and Gentiles that they are all under sin V. 10. As it is written there is none righteous no not one V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse 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 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken Captive by him at his will Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 7. Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sin V. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members V. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and Desperately wicked who can know it Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vaine The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins V. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience V. 3. Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 5.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Hos 14.1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God V. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him
And that thou maist the better practise this excellent lesson of living by Faith take these further Directions Direction 1. Labour to strengthen thy assent to the truth of the word of God Unbelief it is a mother sin There was a faultring of assent in our first parents to the truth of Gods commination concerning eating of the forbidden tree else they had not fallen so sadly and still 't is the ground of all miscarriages of hardness of heart and apostacy Heb. 3.12 13 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sin He that beleeveth not the judgments and threatnings of the Word will not stick to do any evil and he that doth not believe the promises will not be forward to any good All neglect and coldnesse in holy duties cometh from the weaknesse of our Faith there is a decay at the root Did we firmly believe the Glory of Heaven and the happinesse of the life to come we would be earnest and zealous for the obtaining of it Direction 2. Labour to be well acquainted with the promises of God and learn to stay thy soul upon them If an able potent friend promise help in troubles how are we cheared with it Ought not the promises of God then to be a strong consolation to us The proper life of a Christian is to take his comforts and supports from the promises of God and not only from his outward providences God many times alters the dispensations of his Providence but does not alter his promises The promises are the Saints inheritance Isa 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the Servants of the Lord Whilst Christ is at Gods right hand and the Bible in the hand of gracious persons they need not be dejected in any condition Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me So David chides his soul and rebukes his feares Psal 42.5 and Psal 77.10 This is my infirmitie He bewailes his unbelief and chides his heart for dejection and distrust of Gods Providence Direction 3. Live upon God and account him all in all even in thy highest and fullest enjoyment of the creature Let not the creature be the object of thy trust at any time Trust and dependance is the greatest homage and respect we can yeeld to the Creatour Therefore Job Chap. 31.24 saies If I have made Gold my hope or have said to the fine Gold thou art my confidence V. 25. If I have rejoyced because my wealth was great and because my hand had gotten much c. V. 28. I should have denied the God that is above Men are very apt to make riches the staffe of their lives and the stay of their posterity and so their hearts leaning on them are taken off from God The great danger of riches is the trusting in them Mark 10.23 Jesus saith unto his Disciples how hardly shall those that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God V. 24. And the Disciples were astonished at his word But Jesus answereth again and saith unto them children how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdome of God How many rich men are there that look upon themselves as it were intrenched within their estates and so promise themselves security against all dangers Thus God is not regarded but their wealth and worldly greatnesse is made their rock and fortress therefore covetousness is called Idolatry Col 3.5 And the covetous man an Idolater not so much for his love to riches as his trust in riches Take heed therefore of making an Idol of the creature do not build thy happinesse or felicity on any thing thou dost here enjoy When God affords thee creature comforts trust not in them Live upon God in the use and live upon God in the absence of the creature Direction 4. Use lawful and fair means for accomplishing and bringing about thy lawful designes but let thy main trust be on God Do thy duty and commit thy self and thy affairs to him in quietnesse of heart For a man to say he trusts in God and yet neglects to do his duty this is but to mock God a moderate care in the management of our affâ—irs is very commendable which puts a man upon praier and an humble diligence in the use of lawful means that once done a Christian should labour after a holy moderation and composednesse of Spirit and should take heed his heart be not fixed too much on any thing here below to his disturbance He should put all his waies and affairs into Gods hands He should wait patiently how God will cast his affairs and then submit and acquiesse in the issues of Providence O how sweet a life leads that Christian who lives in continual dependance on God! This kind of life discharges the creature of all that is burdensom of all carking cares and tormenting fears It leaves nothing upon him but a conscionable use of the means no life makes us so humble so lowly so nothing in our own eies as this life of Faith which fetcheth all from God Faith useth means but trusteth in God alone In all thy affairs therefore still seek to the Lord and apply thy self unto him and trust in him We are dark creatures and easily overshoot our selves we have not wisdome enough to manage our own affairs God can counsell us when we know not how to give counsell to our selves And God takes it well to be advised with by us Hereby we acknowledge our subjection to him when we will nor stir a foot without advising with him when we desire not to be ordered by our own wisdome but trust in the Lord with all our hearts and do not lean to our own understanding as Solomon advises Prov. 3.5 Take heed therefore of inordinate carefulnesse and distrusting God Consider the evil of rhis sin in these four particulars 1. No sin more dishonours God and robs him of his Glory than this sin doth It cannot indeed rob God of his essentiall but it does of his declarative Glory We glorifie God declaratively when we trust in him and thereby declare to the world that we own and acknowledge those his excellencies of wisdome power mercy faithfulnesse which his Word ascribes unto him And therefore 't is said of Abraham Rom. 4.20 That he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God V. 21. As being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform ver 22. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Unbelief doth blemish all those four attributes of God before mentioned his Wisdom his Power his Goodnesse his Faithfulnesse 't is an
those under his charge do the like Every Governour of a Family should resolve with pious Joshuah Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Observe it True Religion and the power of Godliness hath there usually most flourished where the Lords day hath been most conscientiously observed And many direful judgments have befallen the violators and prophaners of it Gen. 2.2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Lev. 23.3 Six daies shall thy work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings Nehem. 13.19 And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day Isa 58.13 If thou turn away thy feet from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own waies nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Luke 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on V. 56. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Exod. 23.12 Six daies shalt thou do thy work and on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thine Oxe and thine Asse may rest and the son of thine hand-maid and the stranger shall be refreshed Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eies from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them Ezek. 23.38 Moreover this they have done unme they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have prophaned my Sabbaths Amos 8.4 Saying when will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat c. Lam. 1.7 Jerusalem remembred in the daies of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the daies of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her the adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Ezek. 20.20 Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall be a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Isa 56.2 Blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing evil V. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths and chuse the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant V. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my Covenant V. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt Offerings and their Sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people Mark 2.27 And he said unto them the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath V. 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Psal 92. Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Luke 4.16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 16.1 Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay up in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it 2. Hearing the Word We live in an age wherein through the rich mercy of God there is much good preaching but 't is a general complaint there is so little profiting We see not those gracious effects of the Word that were to be desired and wished And certainly one main reason of it is few take care to hear in a right manner as they ought to do That therefore thou maist so hear as to profit I shall shew thee 1. What thou art to do before thou hearest by way of preparation 2. What thou art to do in time of Hearing 3. What after thou hast Heard For the First Thou must prepare thy heart before thou comest to hear Rash entring on duties is seldom successeful If the ground be not prepared the seed is lost that is sown therein Plow up the fallow ground of your hearts saies the Prophet Jer. 4.3 and sow not among thorns In a fallow piece of ground you know thorns and briers weeds and thistles use to grow And such a thing is mans heart naturally which if let alone and no paines taken with it will quickly be overgrown with hurtful cares stinking lusts and distempered affections And therefore St. James adviseth Jam. 1.21 That before we go to hear the Word we should lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse i. e. all evil frames of heart And how hard a matter that is I appeal to the experience of every true and sincere Christian That holy man Gerson professes he many times spent some hours before he could get his heart in tune for solemn duties Gods children have entred comfortably on duties â—hen they have been serious and careful in their preparations for them To help thee therefore to prepare thy heart for the Word take these Directions 1. Lay aside as much as possibly thou canst all worldly thoughts cares and businesses that thy mind may be free for God and the impressions of his Word and holy Spirit On Saturday night shut up the gates of thy heart against the world as Nehemiah Chap. 13. v. 19.20 did the
that is set on every table God hath not done so for every Nation as for this No Island so far from Jerusalem had the light of the Gospel so soon as this And I know not any particular promise whereby the Gospel is entailed on this or any other Nation If we slight the Gospel for ought I know we may quickly forfeit it and provoke God to take it from us When the Israelites despised Manna God quickly sent serpents among them If we despise the Manna of his Word and count it light food God may justly send Serpents among us I mean such deceivers as with their pernicious Doctrines may poison many souls to their everlasting destruction 7. Lastly Consider though the Gospel may continue to the Nation yet thou or I may quickly be deprived of our personal opportunities of enjoying of it I have heard of one lying on his deathbed that cryed out Call time back Call time back Thou maist shortly cry out call Sermons back call Sabbaths back and all in vain if thou neglectest the present opportunity and season of Grace Consider the Spirit of God will not alwaies strive with the children of men Consider this may be the last Sermon that ever thou maist hear Some one Sermon will be the last And think thus with thy self such a gale of the Spirit as now I feel may never be afforded me again Shall I be so foolish then as not to yeeld to these blessed motions To day while it is called to day hear his voice and harden not thy heart Luke 8.18 Take heed therefore how ye hear Eccles 5.1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the House of God and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools for they consider not that they do evil 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. 15. And how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever Jam. 1.21 Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word which is able to save your souls V. 22. But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves V. 23. For if any man be a hearer of the Word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glasse V. 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was V. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 1 Pet. 2.1 Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisie and envies and evil speakings V. 2. As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby John 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods Words ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God 1 Cor. 2.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me Prov. 2.3 Yea if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding V. 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Mat. 13.3 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Luke 8.5 The parable of the sower and the four sorts of ground Mat. 13.14 And in them is fulfilled the Prophesie of Esaias which saith by hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive V. 15. For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their ears are dull of hearing and their eies they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eies and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them V. 16. But blessed are your eies for they see and your ears for they hear 1. Thes 2.13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us ye recieved it not as the Word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Luke 10.16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 1 Sam. 8.7 And the Lord said unto Samuel they have not rejected thee but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them 1 Thes 4.8 He therefore that despiseth despiseth not man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit Luke 24.32 And they said one to another did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures Psal 119.162 I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil Jer. 6.10 To whom shall I speak and give warnning that they may hear behold their ear is uncircumcised and they cannot hearken behold the Word of the Lord is to them a reproach they have no delight in it Heb. 2.1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip Prov. 4.4 He taught me also and said unto me Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandements and live V. 21. Let them not depart from thine eies keep them in the midst of thine heart Deut. 11.18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my Words in your heart and in your soul c. Isa 48.17 Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer the holy One of Israel I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go 3. Of Singing of Psalmes Neglect not that excellent and Heavenly Ordinance of singing Psalms and lifting up the praises of the most high singing with understanding and making melodie to God in thy heart Many people in this age not understanding the reasons and grounds of the duties of Religion they perform when they are questioned are apt to lay them aside I shall therefore here do these four things 1. Shew that Singing of Psalms is a Gospel-duty 2. That it is lawful and warrantable to
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-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