from one duty to another from one businesse to another from one place to another to performe the dutys of your particular callings and goe from them to prayer or hearing or meditation or discoursing with the Saints oh my brethren what a priviledge will you have none can be greater then to have the heart disposed unto every good word and worke for God Tit. 3.1 Luk. 12.40 7. Be much and often in the great duty of private prayer take heed of neglecting that spirituall and soule enriching duty it hath been and still it is the Common experience of the Lords people that the neglect of this dutie hath been unspeakably prejudiciall to their soules and beloved the Devill will Labour more to keep Believers from this dutie then I thinke from any other for nothing can prejudice the Devills Kingdome like unto this duty well performed now that your hearts may be the more engaged to this duty I shall intreat you to realize these few considerations and Scriptures Math. 6 6.9 Math. 26.41 Mark 13.33 Luk. 18.1 Luk. 21.36 1 Thess 5.17 1. IT is Gods way his Ordinance appointment to Communicate and â—onvey his choisest soul saving mercys to his People so that if ever you expect much of God be much in private prayer Math. 7.6 7 8 Psal 2.8 2. Cons God hath promised his Spirit to helpe such as shall be faithfull in waiting on God in this duty so that when you intend to pray but meet with great oppositions with much deadnesse and coldnesse of hâ—art many great temptations be not in the least discouraged but go to the Lord and tell him that you intend to pray as he hath commanded you but you cannot unlesse he will helpe you tell God that he hath promised his Spirit to helpe you and that now you Stand in need of him and intreat him to give him to you and take no denyall Rom. 8.26 27. Gal. 4 6. Joh. 14.26 3. Consider that the great God hath condescended to promise to heare the very groans and sighs of your hearts when by reason of the prevalency of your corruptions and temptations you cannot speake out your wants and desires to God Rom. 8 26 27. Psal 79.11 4 Your Heavenly Father invites you to converse with him he intreats you not to be strangers to him God would have his people to be familiar with him call on me saith God I will heare thee you may goe to God in Christs name as friends invited to feast with him and to aske what you will of him Psal 50 15 Math. 11.28 Joh. 15.7 5. Consider that your Heavenly Father Complaines much of his peoples strangenesse to him and tells them they had forgotten him days without number Jer. 2.32 Isa 43 22. 6. Consider that God is your friend and Father he is full of bowells of love compassion and goodnesse he will be exceeding ready to receive you and here your prayers and grant your desires so that when you goe to God to petition him for any mercy remember you goe to the greatest and most real heartedst friend that you have Exod. 34.6 7. Jer. 3.19 Psal 86.5 7. Consider that you have a great faithfull loving and potent friend in Heaven to transact all your businesses in Heaven between God and your soules one who can experimentally sympathize with you your advocate and Intercessor is man as well as God you may open your very hearts to him with as much freedome and holy boldnesse as you may to any friend you have in the world remember what he promised you before he went into Heaven and put him in minde of them and be sure that he will be as good as his word 1 Joh 2.1 2 John 14.13 14 15. John 16 23 24 26. John 15.14 8. Consider prayer is an appointment of God whereby God will hold Communion with his people in his Ordinance God communicates his minde unto his friends and the blessings of the new Covenant and Believers having received of God they give back againe to him by acknowledging his free mercy and grace in blessing and praising of his Name and in resting and relying upon him for further expressions of his Love and by commending his goodnesse and inhauncing it Jam. 4.8 1 and 2. Chapters of the Acts 9. Consider God hath promised to heare and to Answer the desires and requests of his people that are according unto his will and God is ever mindfull of his Covenant Jer. 29.12 13 14. Psal 34.15 10. Consider that if you shall be negligent in this duty you will quickly incurre guilt on your consciences and bring heardnesse upon your hearts you will grieve the holy Spirit and cause him to withdraw from you you will bring upon your selves many feares and doubtings which will greatly perplex and trouble your soules you will loose the exercise and use of all your Graces yea you will have all your spirituall comforts taken from you Psal 30.5 2. Be sure to performe this duty according to the will of God Oh my beloved t is not enough to pray much but take heed how you pray t is not any kind of praying that is a Sacrifice well pleasing to God Mat. 6.9 after this manner therefore pray ye saith Christ 1. Before you begin to pray set a part a little time to prepare by considering 1. What your wants are what you stand most in need of 2. Whether it be your duty at that time it is an easy matter to be mistaken and to pray when we should doe some other thing I assure you friends 't is a great thing yea a choise mercy indeed for a Believer to do all duties in their season 3. Whether God hath promised to give such things as you intend to aske whether there be any generall or paticular promise to be a foundation for your faith 4. Consider with whom you have to doe in prayer a God who is Justice Goodnesse Wisedome Strength Mercy Love Omniscient Omnipresent and a Spirit and then 5. Consider what frame of heart is or may be most suitable to these glorious Attributes of God 6. Consider your own unworthinesse how infinitely unworthy you are of such a priviledge 7. To consider your own insufficiency that you can do nothing without the assistance of the Holy Spirit and that he hath promised the Spirit to them that in sincerity aske him 8. To consider what encouragements you have from God to pray and other considerations you should use to prepare your hearts 3. When you go to God believe for much and expect much of God take heed of doubtings and of low and narrow expectations open your mouths wide that is your faith that God may fill your hearts Jam. 1.5 Psal 8.10 4. Be sure that you get your hearts affected with your wants and with the greatnesse preciousnesse of those mercys that can supply them that so your hearts may hunger and thirst earnestly after them Math. 5.6 5. Go to God the Father in Christs name go in
such things for they are lawfull and others have done such things that have been holy wise men others have spent much time in seasting and merry meetings in jestings and merry discourses in sleeping and idlenesse and why not you also why these things are not altogether unlawfull and many other such wayes he hath to seduce you 3. Be sure to keep a strict watch when you are in vaine evill company for then you will be in great danger of being betrayed your hearts will soon be drawn to close with them at least to a conniving at them or to speak something that may manifest too much of your consenting to them and make them the more bold in their practises and betray your own hearts Psal 39.1 2. 4. Observe your hearts when providence calls you to change either your places or businesses or both for then you will be in great danger of loosing your hearts and your God too many gracious hearts have found it true by sad experience that have kept close to God for the most part after they have been converted so long as they have lived in the same places and followed the same imployments but in and after some considerable changes they have miserably fallen and departed from God 2 Sam. 11. 5. When you meet with any great disappointments and crosse providences or God at any time gives you your hearts desires then be sure to have a strict eye over your hearts for if you are not exceeding carefull at such times you will backslide from God for then your thoughts will be taken up about making some carnall advantag by the one or in looking too much on the second causes in the other at such times either your hearts will be too high or too low Job 1. 1 Sam. 1. 6. Watch when God calls you to the solemne performance of any spirituall duty either privately or publiquely least when you come to the performance you come without hearts or without hearts that will rather hinder you then help you 1 Pet. 4.7 7. Be sure to watch your hearts when you are in holy duties especially when you pray or speak before others or when you joyne with others in prayer your hearts will be like the fooles eyes in every corner of the earth at such a time or pride and selfe exalting will arise in your hearts 1 Cor. 3. 8. When you have performed any spirituall duties and you have met with God in it you have been filled with joy and enlargements of heart your hearts are warme and chearfull you can read your names written in the Book of life oh then especially watch then you have more need then at any other times 1. Because your hearts will rest upon your enjoyments and set them up in the room of Christ I doe assure you that I have found my heart readier to rest upon these broken reeds and to neglect Christ then at any other time now you should endeavour to see it Jer. 2.13 2. Because your hearts will attribute that which only is due to God to the Creature and say my own hands have done this or by the excellent gifts and graces of such a man who prayed and Preached admirably and so forget that the holy spirit did all for you and in you Isa 26.12 Phil. 2.13 3. Because the heart is very apt to grow secure and carelesse then more then at another time then Satan and your own hearts will tell you that now all is well and therefore eat drink and be merry untill you have so provoked the spirit as that he will take his leave of your hearts secretly you shall not know when nor how he departs 1 Kings 9.2 compared 11 chap. 1.4 4. Because if you should depart from God after such sweet expressions of his love you will more dishonour and grieve him then before and God will take it as a very proud affront to his Majesty that when he hath sweetly and gratiously answered your desires you should so much slight and undervalue him as not to endeavour to keep what he hath given you 1 King 11 9. Psal 85.8 5. Because when you were waiting and depending on God for such or the like favours as you have received you promised and vowed that you would improve them when the Lord should grant them now you cannot possibly make good your promises and vowes except you be very watchfull Psal 76.11 Eccl. 5.4 5. 6. Because then you have power your faculties and graces are prepared you have divine strength put into your hand to walk with God and to doe some singular thing for God for the farther advantage of your soules more then at another time Psal 36.9 Psal 30.5 Therefore be much in this blessed duty especially at such times and know that 't is not your duty only at such times though especially then but at all times in all places in all businesses in all companies in all your conversings with men and in all your conversings with God 1. NOw to quicken you to this great duty consider these few things first if you shall carefully faithfully and constantly practise this duty you will be able to see and clearly to discerne all passages between God and your soules you will see his comings in and goings out you will know the method of the spirits workings you will be ready to imbrace and receive all his benefits you will quickly see a clear difference between your own spirits and the spirit of God your own wisdome and strength and his you will see the worth of divine assistances 2 Pet. 4.9 the 4 5 6. Chapters of the Cant. 2. You will be well provided to wage warre with the Divell your Lusts and the World you will be able to see your enemies a farre off you will not be surprised but be able to fight with them at a distance and then you will have a very great advantage when you shall be able to fight with your enemies at the swords poynt I can say that when I have fought with sin and Sathan at a distance that I never was conquered but was still a conqueror through the Lord Jesus that strengthened mee 1 Pet. 5.8 Eph. 6. 3. Consider that God hath pronounced such blessed God blesses you even in the very performance of it besides what soule advantages you will have thereby as you have heard Revel 16 15. Math. 24.42 46. 4. Consider that it is your duty to watch therefore do it in obedience to Gods command make Conscience of performing this duty as well and as much as of any other Mark 13.33 34 35 36 37. 5. You will make your passage to Heaven the more comfortable you will make the way easy and plaine you will not be so often at a losse as others are that neglect it you will be able to runne when others can hardly creep you will rejoyce when others mourne Psal 51. 6. God will enable you hereby to be ready to every good worke you will be able to go
Judging the twelve tribes of Israel Then your enemies will be confounded and ashamed then they shall bow and bend to you Oh you that now suffer from your relations you shall then be perfectly delivered and separated from them it will not then grieve your hearts to see them rebellious your naturall affections shall then cease you will be then wholly swallowed up in glorifying the blessed God then all your teares shall be wiped away your sorrow shall flee away you shall be swallowed up of life Oh how welcome will you be to Saints Angells Oh then you will a dmire free Grace you will crie Grace Grace thon you shall have your hearts filled with love to God then all your prayers sighs groâ—ns and teares shall be answered then you shall rejoce without ceasing then you shall be crowned with Glory and Honour and you shall never be reproached any more Oh you beloved of Gods soule you shall never complaine of a dead heart any more Never crie out of a hard heart of a streightned narrow heart any more then your hearts shall be enlarged and you shall forever sing for joy of heart oh therefore be willing to follow Christ a litle while he that shall come to put you into the full possession of your promised happinesse will come and will not tarrie unspeakably blessed shall you be if your blessed Saviour should come and find you so doing which is the prayer of Your servant in the Gospell of Christ S. F. A short Preface touching the occasion of Printing-these following Rules WHen I saw that the blessed God had by the Preaching ing of the glorious Gospell turned the hearts of many sinners from sin unto himselfe from resting on their own Righteousnesse to an earnest enquiry after an interest in Christs Righteousnesse I was much pressed in Spirit to endeavour to bring the said Converts into Gospell order and accordingly shewed that it was their duty and Priviledge to enter into a Church state and as soon as they heard that it was their duty they wayted on God by fasting and prayer for wisedome and strength to walke in that way that God had appointed them to walke in and after they had spent many days in asking helpe of God the Lord so satisfyed their hearts as that they declared their desire to walke in that way that I had through grace made known unto them and desire to be farther instructed in their dutys in order thereunto and also of their dutys in a Church state whereupon I wrote these following Rules which I judge to be according to the revealed will of God and proposed them unto the said persons who freely gave their consent and resolved to endeavour to the utmost of their abillitys to walke by the said Rules Now the Saints in their place being many and all of them besides many of the Lords people that live in other places dâ—sired to have the said Rules by them many of them not being able to read any mans writing which could not be except their said Rules were printed where fore being also exceedingly importuned by the Church I thought good to have them printed which I hope will be offensive to none and prositable to many Certaine Scripture Rules which Iesus Christ hath given to his Churches to walke by which are approved of and consented to by all the Members of the Church of Christ walking in Gospell-fellowship in Chippin-Norton THE matter of a visible Church of Christ are Visible Saints such as in the Judgment of rationall Charity according to the revealed will of God appeare to be Saints Luke 22.14 Act. 1.15 16. Act. 2.37 to the end Act. 4.32 Act. 5.14 Act. 9.26 27. Act. 8.37 Act. 14.22 23. Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1.4 Eph. 1.1 Phil. 1.1 Coll. 1.2 1 Thess 1.1 4. 2 Thess 1.1 2 3. To these Scriptures may be added the Judgements of many Godly and learned divines both Presbyterian and Independent the Assembly in their confession of Faith M. Hooker of new England M. Cotton M. Norton M. Ainsworth D. Owen D. Goodwin M. Jer. Burroughs M. Nye M. Bridges M. Greenhill M. Wellman M. William Bartlet M. Stuckly M. Châ—shull M. Palmer and the Ministers that joyned with him in Answering M Humphâ—ys Book for free Admission M. Robinson and many more mighâ— be added to these 2. The formall cause of a visible Church of Christ are Saints united in Gospell ordâ—r For a certaine number of true Beliâ—vers walking at a distance from each other and scattered up and down in a Towne or Parish living as strangers to each other doe not properly and formally make a visible Church but only such as walke together accoridng to Christs appointment so then that which gives being to a true visible Church of Christ is when seaven or more Believers do freely and voluntarily give up themselves to each other promising in the strength of God to walke together in the same individuall ordinances of Christ and in the practice of the same dutys according to the Gospell Deut. 29.1 9. 2 Cor. 8.5 Gal. 2 9. Nâ—h 9 38. Neb. 10.1 29. Josh 24.21.28 3. For the Fathers kniting of the hearts of all the members together in mutuall love which is the bond of perfectnesse among Saints also that they may performe all dutys the more freely to each other for many other reasons it is needfull that all that at first imbody together all that afterwards shall be added that they be satisfied in each others fitnesse to be Church members upon such grounds as Paul others in the primitive times did conclude mens Sainiship from they did not conclude that men were Saints because they were not prophane but upon such grounds as these that they did bring forth fruits of Righteousnessâ— Phil. 1.1 compared with v. 11. that they did trade for Heavenâ— Phil 3.20 from such notes of true conversion as they had in Act. 2.37 to the end such as David speakes of in Psal 15.1 2. and Paul Rom. 8.1 who walked after the Spirit and their Love unto and delighting in the Saints Eph. 1.15 Psal 15.4 also such grounds as we read of in 2 Cor. 7.10 11. and such as waited for the coming of Jesus Christ 1 Cor 1.7 which none but Saints can really do by their understanding of spirituall things Spiritually as such doe understand whom God loves 1 Cor. 2.9 10 14. being such as had made a publik profession of their subjection to Christ 2 Cor. 9.13 and also by their Sanctification and Holinesse 1 Cor. 6 11. by the fruits of their Faith they were known to be Saints as Paul calls them upon that ground 1 Coll. 1.6 1 Thess 1.3 now upon these and the like grounds we are to Judge charitably of men and to conclude that they are Saints though possibly some of them may be Hypocrites and to receive them into fellowship as brethren and to performe all offices of love towards them as members of Christ 4.