thy words When love rules in the heart the law of kindnesse is in the tongue 14. Lastly Consider what Solomon saies Prov. 10.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin and he that refraineth his lips is wise Due and befitting silence is many times a great preseâ—ver of innocency but when the tongue runs very fast and speaks more than comes to its share 't is ordinarily a servant either to pride or passion Psal 39.1 I said I will take heed to my waies that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me Psal 17.3 I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgresse Psal 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips Mat. 12.34 O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh V. 35. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things V. 36. But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment Prov. 13.3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction Jam. 1.26 If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain 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 V. 3. Behold we put bits in the horses mouthes that they may obey us and we turn about their whole body V. 4. Behold also the ships which though they be so great and are driven of fierce windes yet are they turned about with a very small helm whithersoever the Governour listeth V. 5. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth V. 6. And the tongue is a fire a world of iniquity so is the tongue amongst our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature and is set on fire of Hell Col. 4.6 Let your speech be alway with Grace seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man Eph. 4.29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace unto the hearers Eph. 5.3 But fornication and all uncleannesse or covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints V. 4. Neither filthinesse nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners Psal 106.33 They provoked his spirit so that he i. e. Moses spake unadvisedly with his lips Prov. 15.28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things 1 Sam. 2.3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Prov. 10.11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked V. 19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin but he that refraineth his lips is wise V. 20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver the heart of the wicked is little worth V 21. The lips of the righteous feed many but fooles die for want of wisdome Prov. 17.27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit Psal 37.30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdome and his tongue talketh of judgment Psal 34.12 What man is he that desireth life and loveth many daies that he may see good V. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile Psal 12 4 Who have said with our tongue will we prevail our lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 140.3 They have sharpned their tongues like a Serpent adders poison is under their lips Selah Rom. 3.13 Their throat is an open sepulchre with their tongues they have used deceit the poison of aspes is under their lips V. 14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse Prov. 16.27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil and in his lips there is a burning fire Prov. 15.4 A wholesom tongue is a tree of life but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit V. 7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge but the heart of the foolish doth not so Prov. 14.3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride but the lips of the wise shall preserve them Prov. 12.18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword but the tongue of the wise is health Prov. 17.5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished Prov. 31.26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse Tit. 3.1 2. Put them in mind c. To speak evil of no man to be no brawlers but gentle shewing all meeknesse unto all men Mat. 5.22 But I say unto you that whosâ—ever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha shall be in danger of the councel but whosoever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell-fire Levit. 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people Prov. 11.13 A tale bearer revealeth secrets but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter Prov. 25.18 A man that beareth false witnesse against his neighbour is a maul and a sword and a sharp arrow Prov. 20.19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips Psal 15.1 Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle V. 2. He that speaketh the truth in his heart V. 3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Jer. 18.18 And they said come let us devise devices against Jeremiah come let us smite him with the tongue and let us not give heed to any of his words Job 5.21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh Psal 31.20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues Prov. 6.1 My son if thou be surety for thy friend if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger V. 2. Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth thou art taken with the words of thy mouth Prov. 12.13 The wicked is snared by the
nor from the rebukes and scourgings of an awakened Conscience which are no small punishments 3. Let it be thy care to suppresse and crush bad thoughts at the very first rising Do not at all consent or comply with them but abhor and abandon them presently and cry out unto the Lord for help against them Take heed of representing or acting sin in thy thoughts If thou wouldst keep thy soul pure beware of speculative sinfulness 4. Be carefull to have a stock of good materials alwaies in readinesse for thy thoughts to work upon Have some good subjects ready to present and offer to thy mind to entertain thy thoughts with A good man hath a good treasure in his heart out of which he bringeth forth good things Mat. 12.35 Let thy mind therefore have alwaies some good heads to meditate on As the evil and danger of sin the necessity of conversion thy absolute need of Christ the vanity of the creature the shortnesse and uncertainty of this life the everlastingness of thy future state c. 5. Avoid Idlenesse and allow not thy self in melancholy If thou dost not employ thy mind about that which is good it will busie it self about evil The mind of man if it be not well emploied will be ranging and roving all over the world and will be intent on things it should not The spirit of man is active and restlesse 'T is like a mill it will be either grinding of that which is put into it or else working upon it self wearing and wearying it self in foolish fruitless and unconcerning thoughts Idlenesse is a grand occasion of impure and impertinent thoughts 'T is the devils hour in which he takes advantage to fill and defile mans mind with wicked suggestions and melancholy disposeth the mind to strange absurd incoherent unreasonable imaginations to many sad perplexing afflicting thoughts Man disquieteth himself in vain saith the Psalmist Psal 39.6 framing many imaginary evils and grievances to himself which God hath not really laid upon him Let it be thy care therefore to keep thy mind well employed either in the duties of Piety or the works of thy particular calling When thou dost relax thy mind at any time from being intent on serious things for thy necessary refreshment be careful to allow thy self onely in innocent cheerfulnesse When the loines of thy mind are ungirt and thy thoughts let loose to run at random and have not Conscience set over them as a Governour thou art in great danger of sinning against God 6. Do not cumber thy self with too much worldly businesse that will overcharge thy mind with solicitude and force too many earthly thoughts upon it it will fill thee with distracting disturbing thoughts and torturing cares When Martha was careful and troubled about many things she neglected the one thing necessary Luke 10.41 42. 7. Leâ—rn to spiritualize earthly objâ—cts and to raise holy meditations from them This will be an excellent and advantageous employment for thy mind This was our blessed Saviours practise and canst thou follow a better example 8. Learn to divert and put by bad thoughts by introducing and bringing in some good thoughts that are contrary to them into their roomes Thus overcome evil thoughts by good thoughts If self magnifying thoughts come in bring in self abasing If distrustful put thy soul upon thinking of Gods Faithfulness If revengefull think how much thou needest forgivenesse from God Thus let one wedge drive out another 9. Beg of God to new mould thy mind and to put it into such an holy and heavenly frame that it may be fit to produce good thoughts as a good tree doth bring forth good fruit Beg that Grace may be the Law of thy mind Rom. 7.23 Pray earnestly act Faith and put thy trust in the power and promise of God for the casting down of all sinful imaginations in thy soul and subduing thy thoughts to the obedience of Christ 10. If thou wouldst keep bad thoughts out of thy mind be ready to entertain the gracious motions of the blessed Spirit of God 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 will sup with him and he with me O do not grieve this holy Spirit do not repell so blessed a guest who knocks at thy heart in many a sermon and by many a providence and sues for entrance that he may make thee happy What! shall the devil with his wicked suggestions be let in and shall the King of glory with his train of Graces be shut out O let it not be 11. Remember that if thou willingly entertainest and lodgest in thy mind wicked thoughts now and diest in an impenitent and unconverted state thy thoughts will be thy executioners and tormenters in Hell As light as thou makest of evil thoughts now they will then prey upon thy soul as so many vultures and be a never-dying worm in thy Conscience And the more to quicken thee to practise these directions Consider This will be a great argument of thy sincerity and of the truth of Grace in thee if thou art conscientiously watchfull over thy thoughts Many restraints lie upon the outward man to over-awe it and keep it from evil but the power of Grace does then much appear when it commands the inward man and laies restraints upon our thinking faculty that we dare not allow our selves in any sinful thoughts Psal 119.97 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day V. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Mat. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies V. 20. These are the things that defile a man Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips V. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Psal 94.11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Psal 49.11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever their dwelling places to all generations they call their lands after their own names Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Prov. 16.3 Commit thy workes unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Secondly Watch over thy
to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Christ shall therefore appear in the proper form and condition of a Judge sitting upon a Throne of judicature 4. There will be a personal appearance of all men before that seat of judicature upon which Christ shall sit For we must all appear and we shall all stand before that judgment-seat Rev. 20.12 And I saw the dead small and great stand before God c. Mat. 25.32 And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats 5. When those who are to he judged are brought before the judgment-seat of Christ all their actions shall appear 1 Cor. 4.5 Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts Eccles 12.14 For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil To this end in the vision of Daniel when the judgment was set the books were opened Dan. 7.9 And in that of St. John The books were opened and the dead were judged out of the things that were written in the books according to their works Rev. 20.12 Divines speak of a threefold book that will then be opened 1. The book of Statutes or the book of Gods Word wherein the Law and Gospel are written with all the duties commanded and sins forbidden in them both 2. The book of Gods Omniscience and remembrance Mal. 3.16 And a book of remembrance was written before him c. 3. The book of Conscience which God maintains as a Register in every mans breast Jer. 17.1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of Iron and with the point of a Diamond it is graven upon the Table of their heart Men will then be awakened to purpose and all their sins with the aggravations of them will be set in the view of their Consciences Hidden things shall be brought to light in that day 1 Cor. 4.5 c. 6. After the manifestation of all their actions the Judge will pronounce his definitive sentence upon all their persons according to their actions The sentence of absolution upon the Godly in these words Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25.34 The Saints of God and the elect will first be acquitted before the ungodly are condemned that they may afterwards joyn with Christ in judging the world according to that in the 1 Cor. 6.2 Where 't is said the Saints shall judge the world i. e. by way of approbation approving and magnifying Christ's just sentence on devils and wicked men giving some such approbation in probability as that of the Angel Rev. 16.5 Thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because then hast judged thus And thus all the Saints shall be Judges But some of them more eminently as Assessors with Christ as is intimated concerning the Apostles Mat. 19.28 Ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel We have shewed what the sentence of absolution will be which shall pass upon the Godly The sentence of condemnation followes that will passe upon the wicked which we find recorded Mat. 25.41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 7. After the promulgation of the sentence followeth the execution and sending of the persons judged to their everlasting state as it is written Mat. 25.46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal We have seen what will be the Judiciary proceedings of this great day 4. It now followes in the fourth and last place that we speak something of the consequents thereof 1. Christs resigning up his Kingdom not his essential but that which he administers as Mediator to the Father having subdued sin and death and put all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.24 Then cometh the end when he shâ—ll have delivered up the Kingdom to God even the Father when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power V. 25. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet V. 26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death V. 27. For he hath put all things under his feet but when he saith all things are put under him it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him V. 28. And when all things shall be subdued unto him then shall the son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him that God may be all in all 2. The burning of the world of which we read 2 Pet. c. 3. v. 12. Looking for and hastning unto the coming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat By this fire 't is probable the world will not be consum'd but renewed clarified and purged For 't is compar'd to a melting fire V. 10. The Elements shall melt with fervent heat And the Apostle saith elsewhere The Creature shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption Rom. 8.21 In the everlasting state God will have all things new even the world it self The use of this renewed world may either be for an habitation for the just or that it may remain as a standing monument of Gods wisdom and power Thus we have seen â— That there will certainly be a day of Judgment 2. That Christ will be the Judge 3. What manner of proceedings there will be in that day 4. The Consequents thereof What now remaines but that we carefully provide for this great and notable day of the Lord as 't is call'd Acts 2.20 By breaking off our sins by true and serious repentance and making our peace with God in and by Christ O let us labour to secure our interest in Christ and our union with him He is the Judge If he be our Advocate we need fear nothing There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 The Head will not condemn his own Members 2. Let us do good and communicate and be merciful to the poor while we have ability and opportunity In the 25 Mat. 35 36. Compar'd with 42 43. Christ hath told us aforehand what questions he will ask when he cometh Have you fed have you visited have you cloathed 'T is good we should be prepared for an answer See the Scriptures concerning the last Judgment in the first part of this Treatise pag. 74 c. Of Hell We h ve seen there will be a day of Judgment and that the Judge will judge the world in righteousnesse We have seen there will be a twofold sentence pronounced by him Of absolution upon the Godly Mat.
a malicious thing to endeavour to save a soul from sin and Hell 10. Take heed of prejudices against a strict and holy walking with God The Lord deliver you from that mad opinion of the world that like not serving God so much nor making so much ado to be saved Consider is there any thing in the world doth better deserve your care and diligence and will better pay you for it I know carnal people think the way of Religion a melancholick and sad way But I must not spare to tell them the truth They will never live a truly safe peaceable and comfortable life till they are converted and have engaged their hearts in an humble holy walking with God They ignorantly flee from Godlinesse as from sorrow and trouble but the truth is they flee from joy and peace What should trouble that man that is a member of Christ and has escaped out of the power of Satan and is freed from the wrath of God and the danger of everlasting misery O Neighbours let not the ignorant scorns and senselesse reproaches of wicked men discourage you He that hath good grounds to believe that he shall live for ever in Glory With God and his holy Angels as soon as his soul parts from his body I think is a happy man and so will be acknowledged by every one that has not lost his reason and understanding There is a time coming when the proudest and most stubborn sinner will be glad to change condition with the meanest Saint Let me therefore intreat all those that have entertain'd any hard thoughts of the waies of Godlinesse but to make triall what a holy life is and if they do not find more comfort in a serious turning unto God and in a sincere endeavour to approve their hearts unto him then in the waies of sin let them take their course let Heaven go 11. Nourish and maintain a tendernesse of Conscience Be very circumspect in your daily walking Look upon sin as the greatest evil Make up every breach between God and your souls betimes Pray earnestly for the guidance of the Spirit of God and to be kept from Temptations 12. Have a care of your Families that true Piety and Godlinesse may be countenanced encouraged and promoted in them Let your houses be Bethels houses of God and not Beth-avens houses of iniquity If you neglect family-duties and the religious observation of the Lords day and private instruction and so let those under your care be nuzled up in ignorance prophanenesse and ungodlinesse provide to answer it to God when he shall call for you Remember I faithfully warned you of the sin and danger of such neglects I cannot expect Religion should ever much thrive among us till Governours of Families be careful to train up those under their Government in the Principles of true Piety and in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Lastly Labour to maintain peace and love among your selves Mark 9.50 Have salt in your selves and peace one with another Labour to get your hearts seasoned with the graces of humility self-denial and true Charity and this will keep you in peace among your selves Let there be no heart-burnings contentions brawlings backbitings or defamings heard of among you Help one another on towards heaven Imitate that which is good wherever you find it but learn evil of no man Encourage one another in the waies of Godlinesse Abhor to draw or intice one another to any sinfull course or practise Do all offices of kindnesse and humanity one for another As you have opportunity let it be your desire and endeavour to do good to every body hurt to no body Learn that hard lesson of forgiving wrongs and injuries and praying for and wishing well to those that are your enemies 'T is a hard lesson but Gods Spirit can teach it you Remember our Saviours Words in Matth. 6.14 15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses And the words of the Apostle Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercy kindnesse humblenesse of mind meeknesse long-suffering V. 13. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye V. 14. And above all these things put on Charity which is the bond of perfectnesse V. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful I shall conclude with that divine and affectionate exhortation of the same Apostle Phil. 4.8 Fâ—nally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue and if there be any praise think on these things And now O Lord thou who hast put into the heart of thy unworthy servant to write these things for the good of this people be thou pleased by the gracious and effectuall working of thy holy Spirit to make them useful to them and to all others into whose hands they shall come for the promoting knowledge Faith and obedience among them and the furthering of their salvation What is here agreeable to thy holy Will write upon their hearts O let it not be in vain that this help is afforded them Grant successe I humbly beseech thee to this poor endeavour and take thou all the Glory Good Lord give this people a right understanding in all things Guide them in the way wherein they should go to attain eternal life Open the eyes of the ignorant among them turn the hearts of the prophane reduce the erroneous and encrease thy Graces daily more and more in the hearts of those whom thou hast savingly wrought upon O let thy blessing be on this people God Almighty blesse them Let Truth and Holinesse reall Piety and the power of Godlinesse Let soundnesse of mind and uprightnesse of heart and life let true Faith and fervent love let charity and good works through the operation of thy holy Spirit abound among them That so living here in thy fear and serving their generation according to the Will of God they may at last through thy infinite mercy and the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour be received into thy Heavenly Kingdom This is the earnest and hearty Prayer of Your very affectionate though unworthy Pastor Samuel Cradock Dr. Reynolds his EPISTLE TO THE READERS AS in humane bodies some parts are vital others only integrall some necessary to the being others to the well being integrity and beauty of them So it is in Theologicall Doctrines some are more fundamental and immediatly necessary to life and Godliness others such as do greatly accomplish and adorn Christians that have attained unto them and are of singular use for the edification of
by Beelzebub the Prince of the devils 1 John 3.8 He that committeth sin is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil V. 10. In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the devil whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother Rev. 12.9 And the great Dragon was cast out that old Serpent Called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world he was cast out into the Earth and his Angels were cast out with him 2 Cor. 11.3 But I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Job 1.7 And the Lord said unto Satan whence comest thou then Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the Earth and from walking up and down in it Luke 22.31 And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat 1 Pet. 5.8 Be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour Mat. 8.29 And behold they cried out saying what have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God art thou come hither to torment us before the time V. 31. So the devils besought him saying if thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine Mat. 4 1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the divel 2 Cor. 6.15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that beleeveth with an Infidel Zach. 3.1 And he shewed me Josuah the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him V. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan the Lord rebuke thee O Satan even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee is not this a brand pluckt out of the fire James 2.19 Thou beleevest that there is One God thou dost well the divels also beleeve and tremble Luke 4.33 And in the Synagogue there was a man which had a Spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice V. 34. Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God Acts 19.15 And the evil Spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye Eph. 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil Acts 5.3 And Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land Psal 78.49 He cast upon them the fiercenesse of his anger wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evil Angels among them Acts 26.18 To Open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse unto Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me The next of Gods works to be considered and understood by us is II. His Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it Heb. 1.3 Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the expresse Image of his Person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sate down on the right hand of the majesty on high Col. 1.17 And he is before all things and by him all things Consist Psal 36.6 Thy Righteousnesse is like the great Mountains thy judgments are a great deep O Lord thou preservest man and beast Mat. 10.29 Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father V. 30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred V. 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows Dan. 4.34 And at the end of the daies I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto Heaven and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his Kingdome is from generation to generation V. 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing and he doth according to his will in the army of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou Prov. 16.33 The Lot is cast into the Lap but the whole disposing thereof is from the Lord. Psal 103.19 The Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all Acts 17.25 Neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things V. 26. And hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation V. 28. For in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his off-spring 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 Lam. 3.37 Who is he that saith and it cometh to passe when the Lord commandeth it not Isa 45.6 That they may know from the rising of the Sun and from the West that there is none besides me I am the Lord and there is none else V. 7. I form the Light and create darknesse I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Amos 3.6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Psal 135.6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in Heaven and in Earth in the Seas and in all deep places Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good Jer. 31.35 Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a Light by day and the Ordinances of the Moon and the Stars for a Light by night which divideth the Sea when the waves thereof roar the Lord of Hosts is his Name Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the riches of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearcheable are his judgements and his waies
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
appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in the body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad V. 11. Knowing the terrours of the Lord we perswade men 2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up V. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godlinesse V. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet Mat. 19.28 And Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 16.27 For the Son of man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Heb. 9.28 So Christ wâ—s once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Mat. 25.31 When the son of man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory V. 32. And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats V. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left V. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world V. 35. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in V. 36. Naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came unto me V. 41. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon and reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to â—verlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings Luke 19.10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his Grace Jer. 33.6 In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness 1 Cor. 15.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation V. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 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 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of our Faith even the salvation of our souls Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit Heb. 7.23 And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death V. 24. But this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood V. 27. Who needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeem'd us from the curse of the Law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Col. 1.14 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins V. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled V. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Col. 2.14 Blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross V. 15. And having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Heb. 10.11 And every Priest standeth daily ministring and offering often times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins V. 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God V. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified V. 18. Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin V. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus V. 20. By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh V. 21. And having an high Priest over the house of God V. 22. Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water To sanctifie their Natures 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thankes alwaies to God for you brethren beloved
that I am he ye shall die in your sins Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved John 14.6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me John 17.3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Gal. 1.6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel V. 7. Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ V. 8. But though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye beleeved ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise V. 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his Glory Eph. 2.4 But God who is rich in mercy for his great love where-with he loved us V. 5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by Grace ye are saved 2 Cor. 4.13 We having the same Spirit of Faith according as it is written I beleeved and therefore have I spoken we also beleeve and therefore speak Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 1.23 But we preach Christ Crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishnesse V. 24. But unto them which are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdome of God 1 Cor. 3.11 For other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ Concerning Repentance Acts 5.31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand for to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel and forgivenesse of sins Mat. 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent for the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Mark 1.14 Now after that John was put in prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome of God V. 15. And saying the time is fullfilled and the Kingdome of God is at hand repent ye and believe the Gospel Acts 3.19 Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 20.20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publikely and from house to house V. 21. Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 26.19 Wherefore O King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the Heavenly vision V. 20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.9 If we confesse our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Josh 7.19 And Joshua said unto Achan my son give I pray thee Glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession unto him and tell me now what thou hast done hide it not from me Acts 11.18 When they heard these things they held their peace and glorified God saying then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Ezek 18.30 Therefore will I judge you O house of Israel every one according to his waies saith the Lord God repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine V. 31. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will ye die O House of Israel Ezek. 36.31 Then shall ye remember your owne evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your owne sight for your iniquities and for your abominations V. 32. Not for your sakes do I this saith the Lord God be it known unto you he ashamed and confounded for your owne waies O house of Israel Joel 2.12 Therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning V. 13. And rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil 2 Cor. 7.11 For behold this self-same thing that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulnesse it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this matter Rev. 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Luke 13.3 I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Acts 17 30. And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent V. 31. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 1.16 Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil c. V. 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wool Luke 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance Heb. 6.1 Therefore leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ let us go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God Luke 17.3 Take heed to your selves if thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him V 4. And if he trespasse against thee seaven times in a day and seaven times in a day
prepared for them that love him Mark 9.43 And if thy hand offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter into life maimed than having two hands to go into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched V. 44. Where their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched V. 45. And if thy foot offend thee cut it off it is better for thee to enter halt into life than having two feet to be cast into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9.46 Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched V. 48. Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched Jude 21. Keep your selves in the love of God looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal Life 1 Tim. 1.19 Holding Faith and a good Conscience which some having put away concerning Faith have made shipwrack THE Second PART Concerning PRACTICE OR A DISCOURSE containing several usefull Directions to be Practised by those who seriously desire to save their SOULES CHAP. I. Of Consideration 1. AT convenient times use to be alone and laying aside all worldly cares businesses spend now and then a secret hour in strict Self-examining and Considering how the case stands between God and thy soul Ask thy self these two serious Questions First What is it thy heart is most set upon What is thy great care thy main designe What is it that doth most deeply and most frequently possesse thy thoughts What is it that thou dost most love and prize and most desire to enjoy Is thy mind so spiritually inlightened as to see the lovelinesse of God and the greatnesse and excellency of that Glory that is to be had with him so as the main drift and bent of thy heart is after the enjoyment of God and to be happy with him forever Or dost thou find that the main bent of thy heart is to the things of this World to the Profits the Pleasures the sensual satisfactions of this life and these things thou most mindest regardest and labourest for these thy thoughts and heart most run upon Secondly Ask thy self whether ever thou didst feel and apprehend thy self in a lost and undone condition by reason of thy sins Hast thou not seen thy selfe in danger of everlasting misery Hast thou ever put this serious question to thy selfe what shall I do to be saved Hast thou in this or the like manner ever discoursed with thy self O my soul how stands the case with me What am I Am I a true Convert a real Penitent a new Creature one born again Have I an interest in Christ And is my peace made with God through him or am I as yet in the state of Nature under the guilt of all my sins with the wrath of God abiding on me If so is this a Condition to be rested in Let me advise thee as thou lovest thy soul to deal faithfully and in good sadnesse with thy self Let me advise thee to review and seriously to reflect upon the whole course of thy life past And besides thy natural vilenesse Consider how many actual sins failings miscarriages and violations of Gods righteous Law omissions of good commissions of evil thou hast been guilty of in the several parts of thy life and in the several places where thou hast lived Believe it few people do reckon up one sin of ten that they are guilty of Allow thy Conscience therefore a liberty to speak freely to thee and to set thy sins in order before thee And if thou findest thy self for the present in a bad condition and that the case is not with thee as it should be consider whether it will not be an extream folly and madnesse to go on in that course not minding nor regarding speedily to turn to God and to settle the great affairs of thy soul while thou hast time O Remember remember thou hast a precious and immortal soul that must be shortly either in Heaven or Hell either in unconceiveable Joyes or in endlesse easelesse and remedilesse torments Doth it not therefore concern thee to consider and cast about how to attain the one and escape the other Doth it not behoove thee to look to the securing of the main Chance and to deliver thy self from the wrath to come Believe it nothing undoes mankind more than want of due and serious Consideration than want of frequent examining the state of their Consciences and often pondering and thinking of their everlasting Concernments 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith prove your owne selves know ye not your owne selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies V. 60. I made hast and delaied not to keep thy Commandements Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Deut. 32.29 O that they were wise that they understood this that they would Consider their latter end Hag. 1.5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts Consider your waies Lam. 3.40 Let us search and try our waies and turn again to the Lord. Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his owne work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself and not in another V. 5. For every man shall bear his owne burden Psal 77.6 I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine own heart and my Spirit made diligent search Rom. 14.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God Ezra 8.22 The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him CHAP. II. Of Repentance HAving seriously examined thy Conscience and impartially considered thy waies and course of life and the state of thy soul towards God The next duty I would advise thee beging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of is true and serious and unfeigned repentance I shall therefore for thy benefit 1. Open the nature of true repentance 2. Give some directions about it 3. Some motives to it Repentance unto life is an Evangelical Grace wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God And the parts of it are these six 1. Conviction 2. Contrition 3. Hating and loathing sin 4. Confession of sin 5. Forsaking sin 6. Conversion and turning the bent of the heart towards God First Conviction The Spirit of God first opens a sinners eies before he breaks a sinners heart The soul of a true penitent is convinced and made apprehensive of these three things 1. The evil odiousnesse and filthiness of sin 2. The danger desert and mischievous effects and consequents of it 3. It s own deep guiltinesse both of Original and Actual sin I. The evil of sin appears in these seven particulars 1. 'T is contrary to Gods holy Nature 2. To his righteous Lawes 3. It
the world he declared that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24.47 3. The Angels in Heaven rejoyce at the repentance of a sinner Luke 15.10 Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth 4. Consider who are for thy repentance and who are against it God the Father Son and holy Ghost good Angels and glorified Saints all good Ministers and sincere Christians are for it None but the Devil and his Instruments are against it And which of these two parties wilt thou encline unto 5. Consider 't is not onely a Gospel duty but a Gospel priviledge The Law allowes no place for repentance 'T is an high favour God will pardon us upon our repentance and Faith in his Son 6. Consider All will sooner or later commend true repentance Be not thou one of them that will commend it when it is too late 7. Consider there is no other remedy For Without RepentaÌ„ce t is not consistent 1. With Gods justice we should be pardoned though repentance does not satisfie his justice yet sins unrepented of continued in cannot be pardoned without injustice 2. With his Mercy God is very merciful but 't is to penitent humbled sinners not obdurate impenitent transgressours 3. With the undertaking of Christ who came to call sinners to repentance to seek save those that were lost in their own eies He was exalted to be a Prince a Saviour to give repentance remission of sins Act. 5.31 8. If thou dost seriously and in good earnest repent of all thy sins it will be a great foundation of comfort to thee in time of distress If the Devil in time of temptation or the hour of death shall bring thy sins to thy remembrance and charge them upon thy Conscience to drive thee to despair O what a comfort will it be if thy Conscience can then truly answer though I have been guilty of such and such sins yet through the riches of Gods Grace I have in time of my health particularly humbled my soul for them I have retracted and undone them again by a serious repentance Believe it he that has truly repented of all his sins and has the bent of his heart turned towards God and is walking in a new course of life a steady course of Godlinesse has a surer foundation of comfort in his own soul than if an Angel should come from Heaven and tell him he should be saved Upon all these considerations let me advise thee begging the assistance of the Spirit of God to set upon the speedy practise of this so great so necessary yea so comfortable a duty Let not the deceitfulnesse of sin the cunning of Satan the hope of long life a vain presumption on the Mercy of God or any mistakes or prejudices against the Doctrine of repentance keep the off but laying aside all pretences excuses demurs whatever set upon it seriously and speedily and thou wilt find thereby through the blessing of God abundance of ease comfort satisfaction and settlement to thy Mind and Conscience Psal 32.5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee and mine iniquity have I not hid I said I will confesse my transgression unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prâ—sper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 9. If we confesse our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errours cleanse thou me from secret faults Psal 90.8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all Job 13.26 For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth Psal 38.4 For mine iniquities are gone over my head as an heavy burdeÌ„ they are too heavy for me Job 34.32 That whiâ—h I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Psal 51.1 Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindnesse according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions V. 2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin V. 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me V. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me V. 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow V. 9. Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all mine iniquities V. 10. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me V. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me V. 16. Thou desirest not sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering V. 17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise See more Scriptures concerning repentance pag. 102. CHAP. III. Of Faith in Christ. UPon serious consideration of the evil and danger of thy sins renouncing all Confidence in thy self or any thing thou canst do to procure thy pardon and peace with God deliberatly and advisedly betake thy self unto Christ Jesus the only Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man who once offered up himself a sacrifice on the Crosse for sin and is now in Heaven making intercession and presenting the Merits of his Obedience Sufferings and Death in the behalf of all such who being lost and undone in themselves do flie to him for help and relief and take him for their only Lord and Saviour With judgment and understanding give up thy self to this Saviour Cast thy penitent soul at his feet Rest and rely on him wholly and alone to be justified acquitted and discharged of all thy sins by his Merits to be sanctified by his Spirit to be commanded and disposed of by him and to be enabled by his Grace to persevere in the waies of Truth and Holinesse all thy daies and at last to be brought to Eternal life Intrust all thy hopes of pardon only on him Enter into a real Covenant with him to be for ever his resolving to live and die his faithful Disciple and servant And because really to close with Christ and savingly to believe on him is a matter of such exceeding high Concernment I shall 1. Explain the Nature of it 2. Lay down some Conclusions about it 3. Give some Motives and Incouragements to it Know therefore there is a two-fold Act of Faith 1. Of Adherence 2. Of Assurance I. When a poor sinner doth cast himself wholly on Christ crucified for pardon and life upon the warrant of
the promise although he hath no assurance in himself how the Lord will dispose of him This is commonly called Faith of Adherence or Recumbency II. When a soul that hath thus cast himself on Christ reflects upon what he hath done and comparing it with the Gospel promises becomes by the assistance of the Spirit bearing witnesse with his Spirit confidently perswaded of his interest in Christ and that he shall be saved by him This is call'd Faith of Assurance Now the former is that Faith which is the Condition of the new Covenant by which a sinner is freely acquitted of all his sins and accounted as a righteous and just person in Gods sight To this Faith there are these six things required 1. A real firm belief of the truth of the Gospel a true historical Faith concerning Christs person undertaking and performance and that he came to be a Mediatour and Peace-maker between God and man 2. A deep sense and feeling of the heavy burden of sin with true sorrow and humiliation â—hereupon The soul is brought to see its undone condition by sin before it closes with Christ 3. A firm perswasion that there is no other way of salvation but by Christ alone 4. A clear knowledge that Christ is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him and willing to save and ready to receive such as do own him for the true Messias and unfeignedly give up themselves unto him 5. An earnest desire a real thirsting after an Interest in this Saviour 6. An actual giving up the soul to Christ depending on him wholly and alone for pardon and life firmly trusting in him to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him This is the soul truly and really united unto Christ And being by Faith and Love thus joyned to the Lord as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 6.17 is one Spirit i. e. is governed by one and the self-same Spirit The Scripture sets forth this admirable spiritual union by these four earthly resemblances By the union 1. Of the Husband and Wife Eph. 5.23 The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body 2. Of the Head and Members Eph. 1.22 23. Hath put all things under his feet and given him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body 3. Of the stones in the bullding with the foundation whereon they rest and are built Eph. 2.22 In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.11 4. Of the Vine and the Branches John 15.5 I am the Vine ye are the Branches So that when we do willingly betroth our selves to Christ and consent to take him for our Lord and Husband and to be his loyall spouse when we are willing to be in subjection to him and to be ruled by him as the members of the body are by the head when we depend and rest and rely on him alone for our salvation as the stones rest on the foundation Lastly when we derive Grace and Holinesse from him as the branches derive juice vertue and sap from the root and stock and do bring forth fruits in him and to him then is there a real and spiritual union wrought between Christ and our soules Thus much concerning the Nature of saving Faith The Conclusions I shall lay down concerning it are these 1. Though Christ hath paid down a sufficient price on the Crosse for the ransoming and buying in of lost and undone sinners yet we are not justified and absolved from the guilt of our sins till we do actually close with him by Faith 2. True saving Faith is not a strong perswasion that all a mans sins are pardoned by Christ's Merits and that he is in Gods Favour and in a good state and condition For 't is evident many of Gods dear servants are exercised with doubts and feares concerning themselves and many Gracelesse wretches that never felt the burden of sin nor ever made much Conscience of walking holily are most confident of their own good condition Therefore this confident ungrounded perswasion cannot be true Faith for then hardnesse of heart would make the best Faith and he that could presume most and be most secure and free from doubts would be the truest believer For a man to be confident of his good condition while he lies under the power and reign of sin is the grossest unbelief in the world 'T is to believe the flat contrary to what God hath revealed in the Word 1 Cor. 6.9 Know ye not saith the Apostle that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of God Be not deceived neither fornicatours nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Therefore a confident resting on Christ for salvation if it be not a resting according to the Word will not serve the turn 3. Fiducially and savingly to believe on Christ is not an act of mans power but wrought in the soul by the Spirit of God who doth effectually enlighten perswade and draw the heart and assist and enable the soul to give up it self unto Christ Beg therefore the assistance of this blessed Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that ask him Luke 11.9 And in the aid of his Grace give up thy self unfeignedly unto Christ to be justified sanctified and everlastingly saved by him 4. A true believer may fear and be in doubt that he hath not given up himself to Christ unfeignedly and this fear may proceed from the abundance of his love to Christ and earnest desire to be assur'd of an interest in him which makes him think he can never be certain enough of him Love is sollicitous and full of fears lest it should misse the person beloved 5. They that truly close with Christ do take him for their Lord as well as for their Saviour None come to Christ by Faith and savingly believe on him but they cleave to him by love also and live to him by obedience True Faith on Christ will beget love to Christ and love will bring forth obedience 6. The surest mark of true believing in Christ is a new and holy life 'T is the property of Faith to purifie the heart and so to work a change in the life and conversation Dost thou make Conscience therefore of all Christ's commands And art thou careful to refrain thy feet from every evil way Who ever is in Christ is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 Hath the love of Christ shed abroad in his heart and that love constraines him to yeeld sincere obedience Hath the Spirit of Christ Rom 8.9 not only to comfort him but to counsel and direct him to lead him in the paths of truth and holinesse and to uphold him from taking any desperate and irrecoverable falls either in matter of judgment
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
affection any rebellious lust that rises up in thee Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Gal. 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Tit. 2.12 Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present world Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Eph. 2.3 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 Prov. 25.28 He that hath no rule over his owne spirit is like a City that is broken down and without wals Prov. 16.32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a City Eph. 4.26 Be ye angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath V. 27. Neither give place to the devil V. 30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption V. 31. Let all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice V. 32. And be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you 1 Cor. 14.20 Brethren be not children in understanding howbeit in malice be ye children but in understanding be men Eccles 7 9. Be not hasly in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools 1 John 3.15 Whosoever hateth his Brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him 2 Cor. 12.20 For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not lest there be debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swellings tumults Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Jam. 1.20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Luke 9.55 But he turned and rebuked them and said ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another 1 Pet. 3.4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price Thirdly Watch over thy words Gods servants in all ages have seen a great deal of reason to resolve within themselves to take heed of offending with their tongues and to pray earnestly to the Lord that he would please to set a watch before their mouths and to keep the door of their lips 'T is a great part of Religion rightly to govern and bridle the tongue If any man seemeth to be religious and bridleth not his tongue this mans religion is vain Jam. 1.26 And the transgression of the tongue is the rather to be watched against because of the natural pronenesse that is in us to offend in that kind We are exceedingly apt to fall into this sin partly because of that quick intercourse that is between the tongue and the heart so that we sin in an instant partly because speech is an Act we perform without labour and so we the more easily offend this way And lastly because the sins of the tongue are very pleasing and compliant with corrupt nature Therefore St James saith Jam. 3. v. 2. If any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man i. e. Not only a beginner but one that is come to some ripenesse and growth in Christianity his care and watchfulnesse over his words argues him to be a sound sincere and upright Christian Oh how much reason have we to be seriously humbled for the errours and miscarriages of our tongues Divide the sins of man into two parts saies Nazianzen and one half of them are the sins of the tongue One reckons up twenty four sins of the tongue and yet possibly he hath not reckoned all 1. Taking Gods Name in vain in ordinary communication 2. Unlawful swearing 3. Lying 4. Cursing 5. Perjuâ—y 6. Blasphemy 7. Rash and unlawful vowes 8. Heartlesse and hypocritical praying 9. False accusing 10. Open railing reviling and reproaching 11. Secret defaming backbiting and whispering 12. Scoffing jeering scorning giving biting quips and girds 13. Ribaldry filthy speaking scurrulous jesting rotten communication 14. Menacing and threatning revenge 15. Deceiving and cheating 16. Proud boasting and self magnifying 17. Rash judging and censuring 18. Vain and idle tatling 19. Flattering and soothing in evil 20. Enticing and alluring to sin and wickedness 21. Seducing into errour 22. Murmuring and repining 23. Disclosing secrets contrary to promise To all which may be added 24. Sinful silence Of which more afterward Oh how vile are we if one member be guilty of so much sin Not without reason therefore hath St. James in his third Chap. v. 6. described an evil Tongue to be a fire a world of iniquity and set on fire of Hell i. e. from the Devil the Father of lies malice and virulency They that nourish an evil tongue nourish that which comes from Hell and which will carry them thither without serious and timely repentance The tongue can no man tame as he goes on v. 8. that is of himself without the concurrence of Divine Grace Pray therefore for this Grace that thou maist take heed to thy words that thou offend not with thy tongue And for the better regulating and governing of it observe these Directions 1. Begin at thy heart if thou wouldst rightly govern thy tongue Pray as David did Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Mat. 12.34 The disorders of the tongue usually proceed from the distempers of the heart Idlenesse of words from vanity of thoughts Rashnesse of speech from hastinesse of Spirit Boasting and proud brags from pride of heart Reviling and open reproaching from inward malice The foul stomack betraies it selfe in a stinking breath The naughtinesse of the heart vents it self by the tongue A heart stor'd with wisdom and grace will discover it self in savoury discourse 2. Let thy end and aim in speaking be to glorifie God and to do good to others That word is an idle word and utterly lost which tends to no good purpose Either speak somthing better than silence or
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
this duty there usually they are in a most thriving condition both as to knowledge and holinesse As Countreys that maintain a trade and commerce together do inrich each other 5. 'T is a good way to prevent seduction into errour Christians are better able to resist errours by their united forces and mutual counsels than singly and alone The Church is said Cant. 6.10 to be terrible as an Army with banners But straglers and such as go alone are often snatcht up How easie is it to pervert and draw one single person into any dangerous errour who neglects the benefit of other Christians advice and counsel 6. It will be a good means to increase love in the hearts of Christians one towards another And Love is Christ's Livery John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Thus much of the Arguments to perswde to this duty The Directions follow I. Let Christians in their Religious Conferences have this principally in their aim to edifie one another to further one another Heaven-ward to do good to one another soules II. Let them labour for those Graces that are requisite for this duty Such as these 1. Sobriety of judgment 2. Humility and lowlinesse of mind 3. Ingenuity acknowledging and prizing the Gifts and Graces they see in each other 4. Self-denial condescending to them of low parts going a slow pace rather than outgoing the young and tender lambs 5. Love affability encouraging weak beginners 6. Inoffensivenesse 7. Sincerity and plain heartedness III. Let them avoid censuring or judging the Spiritual state of others Such persons meet together for the worse and not for the better IV. Let them decline controverted points such things usually gendring strife and variance and apply themselves to speak of things that are practical As of God and his Goodnesse Of Christ his Person Offices and Merits Of the Covenant of Grace Of the Doctrine of justification Of the patience and self-denial of those that are gone before us Of Heaven and the Glory of that Kingdom How did the Martyrs in prison by such ravishing discourses set one another at liberty from the fears of death How did holy Bradford's sweet and cheerful company make the very dungeons lightsom and palace-like to his fellow-prisoners as themselves confessed These and such like practical matters will be the fittest subjects for Christians to discourse of when they meet together V. Let them impart their experiences and the methods of Gods dealings with themselves or others How they got rid of such a corruption vanquished such a temptation attain'd to a facility in such a duty Let them impart what may tend to the advancement of Holinesse VI. Let them provoke and stir up one another to Holinesse to Love and to good works admonishing and exhorting one another to watch and take heed to their waies seeing so many watch for their haltings like those the Prophet speaks of Jer. 20.10 All my familiars watched for my halting c. VII If any fallings out or jars shall happen among them at any time let them be prudently and seasonably healed and made up And in this case praying together and for one another is of singular use Let them as the Apostle speaks in another case Jam. 5.16 Confesse their faults one to another and pray one for another that they may be healed if their minds have been distempered and ill-affected one towards another 5. Retired holy Meditation Holy Meditation is the acting of the mind upon some Divine Object in order to the working upon the affections and raising fome fit resolutions in the soul therefrom tending to Gods Glory and the furtherance of Holinesse How many Christians are there that live in a constant neglect of this so exceeding useful duty by which all other duties are improved and by which the soul digesteth truths and draweth forth their strength for its nourishment and refreshing Certainly Meditation rightly mannaged doth exceedingly tend to the advancement of Piety I shall therefore 1. Give some Reasons why we should practise it 2. Give some Directions as to the manner how we should perform it I. Consider this was the practise of many of the eminent Saints of God recorded in the Scriptures Isaac and David were much in this Duty II. Consider the great benefit of it duly performed T is an excellent means 1. To encrease knowledge and to make the mind serious and solid None are more knowing setled established Christians than such as are much in Meditation 2. To stir up and awaken the Graces of Gods Spirit in us Hereby we awaken our Faith inflame our love strengthen our hope enliven our desires encrease our joyes in God we loosen our affections from the world and fore-acquaint our selves with the Glory that is to come 3. To make the Word profitable Meditation is the digestion of the soul 'T is not the taking in of food but the stomacks concocting of it that makes it turn to blood and Spirits For want of this How many Sermons are lost and do no good The Word will not profit us except we take time to think upon it 4. To prepare the heart for prayer and other holy duties Meditation tunes and prepares and fits the heart for solemn Worship 5. To antidote and fortifie the soul against sin and temptation If men would but often consider of the evil and danger of sin it would be a great means to deter them from the practise of it 6. 'T is an excellent help and means of Communion with God 'T is the souls perspective whereby it sees something of the Glory and happinesse of that Kingdom that is above Thus much of the Arguments for it I come now to give some Directions how it should be managed I. Pitch upon some convenient time of the day for this duty A Christians timing his duty aright is a great help to him in the right performance of it Some have chosen the morning for this duty and some the evening We have examples of both in Scripture Of our Saviour we read Mark 1.35 And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Gen. 24.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide II. Pitch upon some convenient retired place The wise man tels us Prov. 18.1 Through desire a man having separated himself seeketh and intermedleth with all wisdome First he separates himself then intermedleth with wisdom There is nothing the Devil more spights than this that a man should often retire and separate himself from the world to meditate on his everlasting concernments The Devil cannot endure a man should consider whether he be journeying towards Heaven or Hell III. Get a good stock of profitable materials to meditate on as the Attributes of God His promises of remission sanctification reward The love of Christ The evil and danger of sin The vanity of the Creature The
usually they love not strictness nor the power of Godlinesse thinking it more ado than needs And by frequent familiar converse with such thou wilt be in danger to content thy self with a little goodnesse and seem some body in thy own eies having no better patterns before thee as he that hath but half an eie is a King among them that are blind Whereas among wise holy spiritual improv'd Christians thou wilt still have matter of imitation and provocation to aspire to a greater perfection in goodnesse He that walks with the wise shall be wiser saith Solomon but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 VI. Consider our company will be part of our happinesse in Heaven Communion of Saints here is the lower Heaven of Saints O what comfort what benefit may we reap from good society How many thousands have cause for ever to blesse God that ever they liv'd neer or came acquainted with some persons seriously Godly From such company a Christian comes away revived quickned encouraged to walk in the waies of Holinesse He finds a good relish on his Spirit and his heart drawn Heaven-ward He finds himself provoked to presse forward towards the mark of his high calling But from wicked company 't is ten to one but either a man brings away a guilty Conscience or a sad heart or both Upon all these considerations labour to make thy acquaintance and familiar converse with those here who must be thy companions in Heaven if ever thou comest thither Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this world c. 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excesse of riot speaking evil of you 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour but the way of the wicked seduceth them Isa 3.10 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings V. 11. Wo unto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Mal. 3.18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Prov. 19.29 Judgments are prepared for scorners and stripes for the back of fools Isa 28.22 Now therefore be not mockers lest your bands be made strong Mat. 18.6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me it were better for him that a Mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Prov. 23.20 Be not amongst wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of flesh V. 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and drowsinesse shall cloath a man with rags 1 Cor. 5.9 I wrote unto you in an Epistle not to company with fornicators V. 10. Yet not altogether with the fornicatours of this world or with the covetous or extortioners or with Idolaters for then must ye needs go out of the world V. 11. But now have I written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat 2 Thes 3.14 And if any man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed Zeph. 1.12 And it shall come to passe at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles and punish the men that are setled on their lees that say in their heart the Lord will not do good neither will he do evil 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turn away Isa 3.9 The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not Wo unto their soul for they have rewarded evil unto themselves Heb. 6.12 Be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises CHAP. VIII VVAlk conscientiously in thy particular calling according to these Directions following I. Avoid idlenesse and sloth Remember Adam in innocency had a calling appointed him by God And after the fall Gen. 3.19 't is Gods decree upon man in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread till thou return unto the ground No man has a priviledge to live idly and lazily but either by labour of body or toil of mind either by the sweat of his browes or of his brains ought to be serviceable and profitable to humane society Idlenesse exposes a man to many sins and many punishments When the Devil finds men idle and not employed in Gods service he entertains them into his If thou hast nothing to do the Devil will be ready to employ thee David when idle fell into the heinous sin of adultery A lawful calling is an excellent preservative against a multitude of sins and temptations 1 Cor. 7.20 24. Let every man abide saies the Apostle in the same calling wherein he was called When God cals us to be Christians he cals us out of the world as to our affections but not out of the world as to our employment An idle professor is a scandalous professor and walks inordinately II. Be diligent in thy calling for Conscience sake Many take pains enough but not out of Conscience to Gods Command nor with an eye to his Glory Whatever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord saies the Apostle Col. 3.23 Thou must be diligent in thy calling on a religious account performing the duties thereof in obedience to God studying both for matter and manner to approve thy self to him Think with thy self this is the calling wherein the Providence of God hath set me I am but his servant in my own shop or at my plow To him I must give an account of my diligence and faithfulnesse III. Seek and pray earnestly to the Lord for his blessing on thy lawful labours and endeavours 'T is an irreligious course to engage in any thing without prayer Thou must be fervent in prayer as well as not slothful in business All lawful businesse is sanctified by the Word and prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 When we do that which the Word of God alloweth and by prayer humbly beg his blessing upon our endeavours we take a right course to prosper 'T is Gods blessing maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Pro. 10.22 'T is his blessing that giveth thee power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 If his blessing be wanting which thou art not like to have except thou cravest it all thy labours are to little purpose Psal 127.1 2. Except he blesse thee 't is in vain to rise early to sit up late and eat the bread of carefulnesse c. IV. In the management of thy Calling labour to exercise these Graces 1. Faith affiance in the goodnesse of God casting thy self on
in all the crosses and troubles that the Providence of God shall cast upon them 3. She must be a chearer and comforter of him in health and sicknesse What shall we think then of those women who in stead of being a comfort are a continual disquiet to their husbands Like Eve in stead of being helpers prove tempters and hinderers and drawers off from God and Godlinesse Certainly there is no outward condition in this world so comfortable as the married when things are carried between man and wife with pietie wisdom and love and none more miserable where things are otherwise Gen. 2.18 And the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone I will make him an help meet for him V. 21. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in stead thereof V. 22. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made be a woman brought her unto the man V. 23. And Adam said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man V. 24. Therefore shall a man leave his Father and his Mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth V. 19 Let her be as the loving Hind and pleasant Roe let her breasts satisfie thee at all times and be thou ravished alwaies with her love Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it V. 28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he that loveth his wife loveth himself V. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church V. 31. For this cause shall a man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joyned unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh V. 33. Neverthelesse let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband Col. 3.19 Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them 1 Pet. 3.7 Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the Grace of life that your prayers be not hindred Eph. 5.22 Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. V. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body V. 24. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing V. 33. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself the wife see that she reverence her husband Col. 3.18 Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives V. 2. While they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear V. 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of apparel V. 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price V. 5. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands V. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any amazement 1 Tim. 2.11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection V. 12. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence V. 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 Holinesse with sobriety Tit. 2 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their Children V. 5. To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Prov. 19.14 House and riches are the inheritance of Fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord. Prov. 12.4 A vertuous woman is a Crown to her husband but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones Prov. 18.22 Whose findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Prov. 19.13 A foolish son is the calamity of his Father and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping Prov. 27.15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentions woman are alike Prov. 21.9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top than with a brawling woman in a wide house V. 19. It is better to dwell in the wildernesse than with a contentious and an angry woman Prov. 31.10 Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubies V. 11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil V. 12. She will do him good and not evil all the daies of her life V. 13. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands V. 14. She is like the Merchants ships she bringeth her food from afar V. 15. She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her houshold and a portion to her maidens V. 16. She considereth a field and buyeth it with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard V. 17. She girdeth her loins with strength and strengtheneth her arms V. 18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good her candle goeth not out by night V. 19. She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaffe V. 20. She stretched out her hand to the poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy V. 21. She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold for all her houshold are clothed with Scarlet V. 22. She maketh her self coverings of tapestry her clothing is silk and purple V. 23. Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the Elders of the Land V. 24. She maketh fine linnen and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the Merchant V. 25. Strength and honour are her cloathing and she shall rejoyce in time to come V. 26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse V. 27. She looketh well to the waies of her houshold and eateth not the
sinners saies we should snatch such out of the fire v. 23. Obj. 6. But does not our Saviour say we must not give that which is holy to dogs nor cast pearls before swine Mat. 7.6 And what are lewd sinners but such Sol. Every disorderly liver is not to be accounted as a dog or a swine in the sense our Saviour useth the word For of some such Paul speaketh 2 Thes 3.15 And saith We must not account them as enemies but admonish them as brethren Whom therefore we are to account as dogs and swine appears by our Saviours own words in that place even such as not only out of a swinish basenesse trample under foot the precious Word of God offered to them in a reproof but out of a doggish rage and fierceness are ready to fly at the throats of such as out of good will to their souls offer to loosen them from the devils thraldom and to help them on towards Heaven Lest saies our Saviour they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you If you meet then at any time with such desperate wretches that you are in danger of violence from if you stop them in their course of sin you may forbear medling with them And seeing they will be filthy let them be filthy still Seeing there is no other remedy let them swear on swagger on drink on and at last despair die and be damned O sad condition Whose bowels do not turn within him that thinks of their woful misery But as for others as we have opportunity let us endeavour their amendment and salvation Thus much for the Second thing the removing the prejudices and answering the Objections that are conceiv'd against this duty I come now in the third place to give some Directions for the right practise of it I. Labour to walk circumspectly thy self look well to thy own life and conversation that it may be as much as in thee lies blameless and harmlesse that so thou maist be more capable of performing this duty with advantage towards others II. Look well to thy own heart that thy ends and intentions be upright and sincere in this businesse Take need thou be not moved to this duty out of any proud humour of contradicting or controlling others or of purpose to disgrace others or out of vain glory and a secret ambitious desire of purchasing to thy self a Name or for any such by and base end but let thy motive be an earnest desire to discharge thy duty to God to abate sin and advance holiness in the world and to save thy brothers soul III. Look well to it that the thing thou offerest to reprove be a fault in it self and a fault that he is guilty of to whom thou addressest thy reproof else thou mistakest thy mark IV. Before thou settest upon this work send up fervent prayers either solemn supplications if thou hast time or secret mental ejaculations unto the Lord for the pardon of thy own sins and to direct assist and blesse thy endeavours to his own Glory and the amendment and salvation of the party to whose benefit thy admonition is design'd V. Let the reproofs thou dost minister be usher'd in with prefaces of good will and mannaged with evidences of love pity and real affection to the party reproved Reproof is a bitter pill and sometimes must be lapt up in Sugar and Pap but not so neither as to make it lose its operation When we reprehend the faults of men 't is not amisse many times to commend what is good in them that they may see we are as forward to take notice of what is good and commendable in them as to reprehend what is evil And this will make them take reproof the better VI. Be serious in reprehending others A loose and trifling reprehension between jest and earnest usually doth more harm than good and rather confirms the sinner in his sin than reforms him Well may he think it matters not much whether he leave his sin or no when he sees others make but a jest at it Solomon saies fools make a mock at sin Prov. 14.9 Let thy heart therefore be deeply affected with the dishonour done to God the danger the parties soul is in if he go on in his sin and then shew him plainly and seriously the evil of it VII Back and confirm thy reproofs with plain places of Scripture that the party may see and feel that 't is God reproves him rather than thou and that thou dost but mind him what God hath declared concerning men in his condition Tell him 't is not as thou wilt nor as he will who shall be sav'd and who shall not but as God will Now God hath reveal'd that such as live thus and thus shall never enter into his Kingdom Therefore entreat him to consider where such courses will end and what must needs become of his soul if he do not timely repent and forsake those evil waies VIII Be discreet in ministring reproofs Call in prudence to assist Charity Distinguish prudently between person and person For though all are to be reproved except they be dogs or swine or obstinate obdurate Hereticks Tit. 3.10 yet all are not to be dealt with in the same manner This Caution St. Jude gives us Jude v. 22. Of some have compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Some are of a more flexible nature and therefore fair and loving admonitions are likeliest to work upon them Some are hardned and obdurate sinners these should be rebuk'd sharply Tit. 1.13 when gentler means will not do and with fear must be pull'd out of the fire i. e. must be terrified with Gods Judgments that they may fear him who is able to cast both soul and body into Hell IX Be impartial in reprehending those it is thy duty to repâ—ehend Do not do in reproving men as Saul did in executing the Command he had against Amalek who spared the fat and chief and destroyed only the refuse Put on a truly noble and Christian resolution and fear not the face of men in performing thy Duty to God God is dishonoured by one mans sins as well as by anothers and sin is destructive to the soul of one man as well as another Therefore one should be admonish'd as well as another Great men should be admonish'd because their temptations are great and because they may do great good or hurt by their example And the meanest should be admonish'd also because their souls are as precious as the others and poor creatures they are many of them very insensible of their sin and danger X. Do not strive to make any man more guilty than he is If he denies the charge and pleads his innocency fairly and friendly lay open the grounds upon which thou speakest but at no hand stand much upon doubtful proofs nor wrest things to the worst sense but accept of the most favourable construction of words and actions
Hosts I will even send a curse upon you and will curse your blessings c. Yet notwithstanding such is the basenesse of mans Nature that the more God gives to some the lesse they own him and if they attain to a fulnesse 't is ten to one if they do not plainly deny him and ask who is the Lord III. They ought to be exceeding humble Charge them saies the Apostle that they be not high minded Of most men the Proverb is true Their good and their blood rises together Prosperity is to many a kind of intoxication it makes their heads giddy It argues a great deal of Grace to carry a low mind in a high condition to be lifted above others in the world and not to be so in a mans own spirit And yet if the matter be well considered what little reason have rich men to be proud Have they not all as stewards and therefore should be thinking how to make their accounts rather than pride themselves in their receipts Does not God declare himself very frequently in Scripture the proud mans professed enemy Jam. 4.7 He resisteth the proud Prov. 6.16 A proud look is an abomination to the Lord And Prov. 8.13 Pride and arrogancy do I hate And V. 18. Pride goeth before destruction And he that has so great an enemy as God engaged aginst him is like to smart for it to purpose IV. They ought to be sober and temperate in the use of their estates not lavishing out their wealth excessively upon their backs and bellies How many with that rich man in Luke 12.19 are ready to say to themselves Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years eat drink and be merry How many rich people live like Epicures letting out their hearts inordinately to sensual delights studying to please all their appetites spending their estates in riot and luxury neither remembring the account they are to make to God of their talents nor considering that want and beggery by the just judgment of God is usually heir apparent to riot and prodigality Such persons should think what became of that Gentleman in the 16th of Luke Who was clothed with Purple and fared deliciously every day c. Certainly as a late Author saies well One plain Coat put upon a poor mans back will better become a wealthy man than twenty rich ones put on his own V. They ought not to sqander away their precious time in Idlenesse and sloth or immoderate following of recreations but should employ themselves so as they may honour God and be serviceable to the world How many are there that verifie that vulgar definition What is a Gentleman but his pleasure What a sad thing is it that many such know not what to do with their time Their hours lie upon their hands neither have they discretion to improve so precious a Talent Certainly they can never want businesse who are to work out their salvation and to secure the state of their souls to all eternity I confesse indeed sometimes we may have a just title to recreations and moderate refreshment when we have tir'd our minds or bodies in some honest employment But then we must be carefull that our recreations have these qualifications 1. They must be lawful not dishonourable to God nor injurious to our neighbour 2. Expedient not such as usually minister occasion to sin and scandal 3. Seasonable at fit and convenient times not on the Lords day 4. Moderate not spending too much time upon them What a sad account will they give to God who spend whole daies and nights at Cards and Dice or other Sports who possibly never bestow a quarter of so much time in secret upon their Souls 5 The end of recreation must be only to give us a moderate refreshment and to fit us for businesse and not to be it self a businesse to us Therefore here two things are to be noted as one well advises 1. We are not to use sports only to passe away or drive away our time as the worlds wicked phrase is which we should study to redeem and well improve Surely we have little reason to study waies of driving away that which flies away so fast of it self and which 't is so impossible to recall 2. Covetousness must have nothing to do in them The end of our Recreation should be meerly to recreate our Spirits and not to win money They that do so run themselves into two great dangers The one of coveting and greedy desiring their brothers money And how such upon sober consideration can make their peace with the tenth Commandment I see not The other of rage and anger if they happen to lose Both which are apt to draw on other sins Covetousnesse will tempt to cheating and cozening Anger to swearing and cursing as common experience shews And how carefull should every sincere Christian be to avoid the occasions and temptations leading to sin Those that mind the salvation of their souls will consider these things Those that do not I know will slight them To conclude this Particular Let all those whom God hath raised to wealth and riches in this world remember what were the sins of Sodom that they may carefully avoid them And those the Prophet tels us Ezek. 16.49 were pride fulnesse of bread and abundance of Idleness neither did they strengthen the hands of the poor and needy VI. They should take heed of trusting in their riches as the Apostle adviseth 1 Tim. 6.17 And the Psalmist to the same purpose If riches encrease set not thy heart upon them Psal 62.10 'T is hard to possess riches or estates and not to confide in them How many are there that make Gold their confidence as 't is Job 31.24 That think their mountain so strong it shall never be moved Psal 49.11 When alas Who knows what a day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 Riches have wings and flie away Prov. 23.5 And Experience of late years hath taught us that even Lands are moveables Therefore they that have estates should take heed of trusting in them They should labour to get weaned hearts from their present enjoyments and prepare their minds to be willing to part with any thing God calls for They should live upon God and account him all in all even in their fullest and highest enjoyments of the Creature Trust and dependance is the greatest homage we can yeeld to God But of this I have spoken more largely pag. 207. VII They ought to be very charitable and open-handed to the necessities of the poor and liberal to good and pious uses They that have riches have a multitude of tools to work with as one of the Ancients spake wisely and may do God much service with them Such ought to endeavour not onely to be good themselves but to do good to be rich in good works They should as the elect of God put on the bowels of compassion Col. 3.12 Holy Job could comfortably say The blessing of him that was ready
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
evil fancies roving and ranging lusts and covetings of that which is our neighbours arising from our corrupted natures and accompanied with delight and pleasure though our wils do not consent to the accomplishing of them Before in the other Commandments the deed was condemned that was hurtful and injurious to our neighbour as also the setled will and resolved determination to act it but here evil thoughts and stirrings in the soul the first bublings of concupiscence the very desire and lust and loose hankering after any thing that is our neighbours is forbidden though there be no full consent given thereto 3. Envying and grieving at the good of our neighbour and rejoycing at his sufferings 4. All inordinate motions affections and desires of heart after any thing that is his 5. Not endeavouring to suppresse evil thoughts and the first motions to sin but favouring and entertaining them rouling them with delight in our minds not labouring to keep our hearts with all diligence and to subdue lust and concupiscence which is the root and fountain of all sin and wickednesse The sins against the Gospel are reducible to these two Heads Unbelief Impenitency Unbelief hath several degrees I. Not labouring to acquaint our selves with the History of the Gospel nor with the duties promises and priviledges thereof though it contains the best glad-tidings and of the greatest consequence to us that can be imagined II. Not assenting to it so firmly as we should but being apt to be carried about with every wind of Doctrine with any new erroneous phansie and so to have our minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ and to prove unsound in the Faith III. Not so loving esteeming and highly valuing of it as we should not sufficiently admiring that miracle of Divine bounty wherein the love of God was so wonderfully manifested towards us in sending his only begotten sonne into the world that we might live through him IV. Making light of Christ and undervaluing the great love of our blessed Redeemer treading under foot the Merits of the Sonne of Gâ—d and prophaning the blood of the Covenant and thereby labouring to render Christs passion of none effect not counting all things losse and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord not counting him all in all not rejoycing and glorying in him and him crucified by whom alone we receive atonement not esteeming his favour and loving kindnesse better than life it self V. Not living by Faith in all estates and conditions not embracing the promises of the Gospel with so much readinesse and adhering to them with so much stedfastnesse as the excellency and certainty of them does require not improving nor applying this rich treasure of Gospel-promises unto the various occasions of this temporal life not looking upon them as our Heritage and esteeming them the joy of our hearts VI. Being apt to rely on our own righteousnesse our own services or Graces and thereby endeavouring as much as in us lies to deprive Christ of his Saviourship VII Not owning Christ in all his offices not being willing to accept of him as well for our Lord as our Saviour for our Prophet to guide us as well as for our Priest to make atonement for us not being willing to be obedient to his Lawes and Precepts to be sanctified by his Grace and holy Spirit as well as to be saved by his merits this heart of unbelief does prove many times a root of apostacy and departure from the living God The second sin against the Gospel is Impenitency which hath several degrees also I. When notwithstanding God hath in some measure discovered to us our miserable and lost condition by reason of the Covenant of works which admitted of no repentance we have not yet humbled our selves in any proportion to the multitude and greatnesse of our sins though the Gospel and Covenant of Grace call us to it and require it of us as that without which we are not to expect pardon II. Not being inquisitive after our sins nor endeavouring to examine and find out our particular failings but rather to hide and excuse them III. Not being humbled and grieved for them considering the great injustice folly unkindnesse we have expressed by them IV. Not resolving and striving against them not improving advantages for the avoiding and subduing of them V. Refusing to repent though God vouchsafe time and means hardning the heart by a custome and delight in sin being prone to maintain justifie or extenuate sin And thus much of the sins against the Law and against the Gospel Upon these Heads not only sick persons but such as are in health also should examine themselves when they intend more solemnly to humble their soules before the Lord. And they may have further helps herein from Dr Wilkins's discourse concerning the gift of prayer When sick persons therefore have advanced thus far let them then in the next place ask themselves Thirdly Whether they do indeed rightly understand and firmly believe the history of the Gospel who Christ was what manner of person what were his Offices what he did and suffered for what ends and purposes he came into the world Whether they understand that he came not only to save and deliver from Hell and everlasting punishment but also to destroy sin undo the works of the Devil to crucifie and subdue our lusts mortifie our earthly members turn us from darkness to light to illuminate our mind to give repentance to work Faith to make us alive to God to enable us to serve him in righteousness and holinesse to recover Gods interest in us and to bring us back to him again And let them consider how their hearts have been affected with these things Fourthly Whether they have and how long they have in truth and sincerity applied themselves to Christ to receive from him these great and glorious benefits namely to have their pardon procured by his Merits and intercession to have a supply of all Grace from him and their natures sanctified Whether they have sought to him as to a Physitian to heal their soules and rid them of their distempers Whether they have accepted him as their Prophet to guide them as their Lord and King to govern them as well as their Priest to make atonement for them Whether they do not believe in him and trust in him groundlessely and presumptuously as carnal people do only to be delivered and freed from Hell and wrath to come without yielding up their hearts in sincere obedience to him desiring unfeignedly to be guided and governed by his holy Spirit and to be sanctified by his Grace Fifthly Whether they have received power and strength from Christ by the effectuall operation of his holy Spirit to mortifie the old man the old Adamical nature to crucifie the flesh with its affections and lusts to fight with and to subdue pride earthly-mindedness sensuality self-love malice envy and other vile affections so that they
also refer this one thing more that at such a serious time no vain idle frothy books should be read to them or by them as is by many used to make them merry but such Treatises as may better them to God-ward and further them in the way to Heaven To meditate and seriously ponder on the four last things treated of in the next Chapter will not be unprofitable for them VII Let them consult with and take the advice of their spiritual guides while they have some strength of body and the right use of their understandings before their Spirits are so spent that there is no conversing with them VIII Let them consider Gods aim and design in sending sicknesse upon them Let them enquire into the meaning of it This Direction is usefull not only for such as are under sicknesse but under any other affliction and consider what God now cals them to let them hearken to the voice of the rod Let them consider what corruptions they are especially to mortifie what sins to leave what duties to perform what Graces to exercise And though they may and ought to use lawful means for the removing of their sicknesse seeking to the Lord for his blessing thereupon yet let them not forget to pray as earnestly to have their sicknesse sanctified as removed Blessed is the man whom thou correctest and teachest Psal 94.12 Afflictions alone are not enough to evidence a man to be blessed and in a happy condition except they prove teaching sanctifyed afflictions Evidences of Grace and the favour of God consist in inward impressions not outward dispensations 'T is not said Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest and deliverest out of trouble but whom thou corectest and teachest When God takes away the disease and does not take away the guilt and dominion of sin does not pardon and sanctifie the sick person 't is not a compleat deliverance but only a reprieval from present execution Bare deliverance is not the blessing thou shouldst desire The blessing of affliction is Divine Instruction Therefore those who are put by God into the School of affliction should seriously apply themselves to learn those lessons which in that School they ought to learn And they are such as these 1. Obediential submission to the will of God We must not dispute our Crosse but take it up Aaron held his peace Lev. 10.3 We may indeed and ought to seek unto the Lord and to use lawful means as I said before for deliverance from a sickness or other affliction but yet with resignation of our selves to his holy will Patience is not a stupidity or insensiblenesse of Gods hand but a calmnesse of mind upon wise and holy grounds And therefore if the sicknesse he sends upon us prove either very long or tedious and painful yet we must take heed of murmuring or repining or charging God foolishly For God is so just he is not to be question'd so good he is not to be suspected and so strong he is not to be resisted Impatience therefore will but augment our pain and encrease our guilt 'T is indeed a hard matter when we are afflicted in patience to possesse our souls But we should consider not so much what we feel as what we deserve Any thing on this side Hell is mercy and will so appear to a truly humbled soul 2. To pray more earnestly and fervently They that were wont before to content themselves with cold short slight sleepy formal devotions will by sanctified afflictions learn to pray better more heartily and fervently and to cry mightily unto God for pardon and Grace for help and relief 3. To be better acquainted with our own hearts Afflâ—ctions sanctified discover the unknown and secret corruptions of the heart Deut. 8.2 The Lord thy God led thee these fourty years in the wilderness to humble thee and to prove thee to know what was in thine heart 4. To understand these three things more clearly and experimentally 1 The evil and danger of sin 2 The emptinesse of the Creature 3. The preciousnesse of Christ and what a high value we ought to set upon his sufferings 5. To mind and esteem the promises of God more Through distractions without in time of health and corruptions within people many times neglect to study the promises of God But in time of sicknesse or other distress there are no cordials like unto them 6. To enquire into and examine our evidences for Heaven not to venture our soules on general ungrounded hopes and sinking foundations 7. To live by Faith Faith takes the soul off from creature-confidences and teaches it to stay it self on God alone The right course to obtain mercies from God is in the way of an humble trust When we see and apprehend our own insufficiency and Gods All-sufficiency and cast our selves on his wisdom power and goodness then he usually affords help and succour to us 8. To prize communion with God more and to be more Heavenly minded In the glaring of prosperity we are too apt to forget God and to content our selves with Creature-enjoyments But in the night of adversity and in sad dispensations Oh how delightful is a beam of his love and favour 9. To be more humble By afflictions God takes down the pride of the heart and makes it humble and soft and pliable to his will 10. To be more thankful for the mercies we enjoy We seldom are sufficiently sensible of the worth of our mercies till God begin to deprive us of them 11. To set a high value and price upon time Sicknesse cries aloud in our eares redeem time O redeem time for praying for meditating for clearing our evidences for Heaven c. How many are there who when their time is almost done have their great work then to begin O in what a sad condition are they These and such like lessons should be learned in the School of affliction But now they whom God shall please to bring forth out of their troubles to deliver from their sicknesse and renew the lease of their lives should be exhorted to these five things 1. Let them consider what they have learned in the School of affliction What the Spirit of God hath taught them If they find they have learned in some measure those lessons before-mentioned then let them study to be thankful Let them consider God hath done more for them thâ—n if he had never brought them into affliction He hath given them deliverance and instruction both He hath turned their water into wine 2. Let them take heed of forgetting the lessons they have learned Let them labour to keep alive the teachings of Gods Spirit upon their hearts Let them study to maintain that sweet gracious humble frame of spiâ—it into which God brought them by their afflictions If they be not exceeding watchful they will quickly find a great deal of difference between their hearts under afflictions and when the affliction is taken off There is much of a Pharaoh-like