Righteousness to justifie thee and the Spirit without measure to Sanctifie thee Isa 45.24 25. Dan. 9.24 Phil. 3.7 8. Joh. 3.34 Q. Is this made mine if I receive Christ A. Yes If thou receive him as God offereth him to thee John 3.16 Q. How doth God offer him to me A. Even as a rich Man freely offereth an Alms to a Begger and so must thou receive him John 6.32 33 34 35. Q. Hath he indeed made amends for sin and would he indeed have me accept of what he hath done A. That he hath made amends for sin 't is evident because God for Christs sake forgiveth thee and 't is as evident that he would have thee accept thereof because he offereth it to thee and hath sworn to give thee the utmost benefit to wit Eternal life if thou dost receive it yea and â—â—th threatned thee with eternal Damnation if after all this thou shalt neglect so great Salvation Ephes 5.1 Rom. 3.24 Mat. 28.19 Act. 13.32 33 38 39. Heb. 6.17 18. chap. 2.3 Mar. 16.16 Q. But how must I be qualified before I shall â—are to believe in Christ A. Come sensible of thy sins and of the Wrath of God due unto them for thus thou â—â—t bid to come Mat. 11.28 Q. Did ever any come thus to Christ A. David came thus Paul and the Jailer came thus also Christ's Murderers came thus Psal 51.1 2 3. Acts 9.6 Acts 16.30 31. Act. 2.37 Q. But doth it not seem most reasonable that we should first mend and be good A. The whole have no need of the Physitian but those that are sick Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Mar. 2.17 Q. But is it not the best way if one can to mend first A. This is just as if a sick man should say is it not best for me to be well before I go to the Physician or as if a wounded man should say when I am cured I will lay on the Plaister Q. But when a poor Creature sees its vileness it is afraid to come to Christ is it not A. Yes But without ground for he hath said say to them that are of a fearful heart be strong fear not and to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembles at my word Isa 35.4 Chap. 66.2 Q. What incouragement can be given us thâ—â— to come A. The Prodigal came thus and his Father received him and fell upon his neck and kissed him Thus he received the Colossians and consequently all that are saved Luke 15. Colos 2.13 Q. Will you give me one more encouragement A. The Promises are so worded that they that are Scarlet-sinners Crimson-sinners Blasphemous sinners have incouragement to come to him with hopes of life Isa 1.18 Mar. 3.28 Joh. 6.36 Luk. 24.47 Act. 13.36 Q. Shall any one that believeth be saved A. If they believe as the Scriptures have said if the Scriptures be fulfilled in their believing Joh. 7.38 Jam. 2.23 Q. What do you mean by that A. When Faith which a Man saith he hath proveth it self to be of the right kind by its Acts and Operations in the mind of a poor sinner Jam. 2.19 20 21 22. Q. Why is there many kinds of Faith A. Yes There is a Faith that will stand with a heart as hard as a rock a short-winded Faith which dureth for a while and in time of temptation such fall away Luke 8.13 Q. Is there any other kind of Faith A. Yes There is a Faith that hath no more life in it than hath the body of a dead man Jam. 2.26 Q. Is there yet another of these unprofitable Faiths A. Yes there is a Faith that is of our selves and not of the special Grace of God Eph. 2.8 Q. Tell me if there be yet another A. There is a Faith that standeth in the Wisdom of men and not in the power of God 1 Cor. 2.5 Q. Is here all A. No there is a Faith that seems to be holy but it will not do because t is not the most holy Faith 2 Pet. 2.20 Jude 20. Q. Alas If there be so many kinds of Faith that will not profit to Salvation how easie is it for me to be deceived A. It is easie indeed and therefore the holy Ghost doth in this thing so often caution us be not deceived let no man deceive you and if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself 1 Cor. 6.9 Eph. 5.6 Gal. 6.3 Q. But is there no way to distinguish the right Faith from that which is wrong A. Yes And that by the manner of its Coming and Operation Q. What do you mean by the manner of its Coming A. Nay you must make two questions of this one that is what is it for Faith to come and in what manner doth it come Q. Well then what is it for Faith to come A. This word Faith comes supposeth thou wert once without it it also supposeth that thou didst not fetch it whence it was it also supposeth it hath a way of coming Gal. 3.23 25. Q. That I was once without it you intimated before but must I take it without proof for granted A. I will give you a proof or two God hath concluded them all in unbelief and again it is said Faith comes And again the Holy Ghost insinuateth our estate to be dreadful before Faith come Rom. 11.32 Chap. 10.17 Gal. 3.23 Q. Why How is it with men before Faith comes A. Without Faith or before Faith comes it is impossible to please God for whether their actions be civil or religious they sin in all they do The Sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination and the plowing of the wicked is sin Prov. 21.4.27 Q. Is not this a very sad condition A. Yes But this is not all for their present unbelief bindeth them over to wrath by shutting them up to the Law it also draweth them away from God and will drown them in everlasting damnation if the grace of God prevent not Gal. 3.23 Heb. 3.17 18. John 3.36 Q. What if a man saw himself in this condition A. There are many see themselves in this Condition Q. How came they to see it A. By the preaching and hearing the Word of God Joh. 16.8 9. Q. And what do such think of themselves A. They do not only think but know that in this Condition they are without Christ without Hope and without God in the World Eph. 2.11 12. Q. Are not they happy that see not themselves in this Condition A. Yes If they have seen themselves delivered therefrom by a work of Faith in their Souls else not Q. How do you mean A. I mean if they have seen themselves delivered from this state by being by the Word and Spirit of God implanted into the Faith of Christ Rom. 11.17 18 19. Q. Are not they happy that are never troubled with this sad sight of their condition A. They are just
a burnt-offering which was to him a very great part of Self-denial that he counted that act of his Worshipping God Q. Will you be pleased to read the Text A. Yes And Abraham said unto his young Men abide ye here with the Ass and I and the Lad will go yonder and Worship c. This now was when he was agoing to slay his Isaac Gen. 22.5 Q. What is self-denial A. It is for a Man to forsake his All for the sake of Jesus Christ Q. Will you prove this by a Scripture or two A. Yes Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14.33 Q. Indeed this is a full place can you give me one more A. Yes What things were gain to me those I count loss for Christ yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ c. Phil. 3.7 8. Q. These two are indeed a sufficient Answer to my Question but pray will you now give me some particular instances of the self-denial of them that have heretofore been the followers of Christ A. Yes Abel denied himself to the losing of his Blood Abraham denied himself to the losing of his Country and his Fathers House Moses denied himself of a Crown and a Kingdom and of ease and tranquillity Joseph denied himself of fleshly Lusts Gen. 4.8 chap. 12.1 2 3 4. Heb. 11.24 25 26 27. Gen. 39.7 8 9. Q. But these Men each of them denied themselves but of some things did they A. You see Abel lost all his Blood and all Abraham lost his Country to the hazzard of his Life so did Moses in leaving the Crown and Kingdom and Joseph in denying his Mistress Gen. 12.13 Heb. 11.27 Gen. 39.10 11 12 13 14. Q. Will you discourse a little particularly of Self-denial A. With all my heart Q. First then pray in what spirit must this Self-denial be performed A. It must be done in the spirit of Faith of Love and of a sound mind Otherwise if a Man should sell all that he hath and give to the poor and his Body to be burnt besides it would profit him nothing 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. Q. Who are like to miscarry here A. They whose ends in Self-denial are not according to the proposals of the Gospel Q. Who are they A. They that suffer through Strife and Vain-glory or thus they who seek in their sufferings the praise of Men more than the Glory of Christ and profit of their Neighbour Q. Who else are like to miscarry here A. They that have designs like Ziba to ingratiate themselves by their pretended Self-denial into the affections of the godly and to enrich themselves by this means 2 Sam. 16.1 2 3 4. Q. Are there any other like to miscarry here A. Yes They that by denying themselves think with the Pharisee to make themselves stand more Righteous in Gods eyes than others Luke 18.11 12. Q. Who else are in danger of miscarrying here A. They who have fainted in their Works they whose Self-denial hath at last been overcome by self-Love Gal. 3.4 chap. 6.9 Q. Shall I propound a few more questions A. If you please Q. What then if a Man promiseth to deny himself hereafter and not now is not this one step to this kind of Worship A. No by no means for the reason why this Man refuseth to deny himself now is because his heart at present sticks closer to his Lusts and the World than to God and Christ Q. Can you give me a Scripture-instance to make this out A. Yes Esau never intended for ever to part with the Blessing he intended to have it hereafter but God counted his not chusing of it at present a despising of it and a preferring of his Lusts before it and therefore when he would God would not but reject both him and his tears Gen. 25.30 31 32 33. Heb. 12.14 15 16. Q. How and if a man shall say thus I am willing to deny my self in many things though he cannot deny himself in all is not this one step in this part of this Worship of God A. No in no wise for this man doth just like Saul he will slay a part and will keep a part alive the Kingdom must be taken from him also 1 Sam. 15. Q. How if a man be willing to lose all but his Life A. He that will save his life shall lose it but he that will lose his life for my sake saith Christ shall save it unto life Eternal Mat. 16.25 Joh. 12.25 Q. How if a man has been willing to lose all that he hath but is not now will not God accept of his willingness in time past though he be otherwise now A. No for the true Disciple must deny himself daily take up his Cross daily and go after Jesus Christ Luk. 9.23 Q. But how if a man carrieth it well outwardly so that he doth not dishonour the Gospel before men may not this be counted Self-Denial A. No If he be not right at heart for though man looketh on the outward appearance God looketh at the heart 1 Sam. 16.7 Q. But if I be afraid my heart may deceive me in this great work if hard things come upon me hereafter is there no way to find out whether it will deceive me then or no A. I will give you a few answers to this question and will shew you first whose heart is like to deceive him in this work Q. Will you befriend me so much A. Yes 1. He that makes not daily Conscience of Self-Denial is very unlike to abide a disciple for times to come if difficult Judas did not deny himself daily and therefore fell when the temptation came Joh. 12.6 Q. Will you give me another Sign A. Yes He that indulgeth any one secret lust under a profession is not like to deny himself in all things for Christ Q. Who are they that indulge their lusts A. They that make provision for them either in apparel or diet or other-wise Rom. 13.12 13 14. Isa 3.16 17 18 19 20. Amos 6.3 4 5 6. Q. Who else do so A. They that excuse their sins and keep them disguised that they may not be reprehended as Saul did c. 1 Sam. 15.18 19 20 21. Q. Who else are they that indulge their lusts A. They that heap up to themselves such Teachers that will favour their Lusts 2 Tim. 4.3 4. Isa 30.10 Q. Who else do indulge their sins A. They that chuse rather to walk by the imperfect lives of professors than by the holy Word of God or thus they that make the miscarriages of some good men an incouragement unto themselves to forbear to be exact in Self-Denial these eat up the sins of Gods people as men eat bread Hos 4.7 8 9. Q. Will you now shew me who are
be acceptable and to confess it with the mouth and to love it with the heart is a lying unto God and a provocation of the eyes of his Glory Q. What do you mean by feigning and dissembling in this work A. When men confess it yet know not what it is or if they think they know it do not conclude it so bad as it is or when men ask pardon of God but do not see their need of pardon this man must needs dissemble Q. What do you mean by doing it by the halves A. When men confess some but not all that they are convinced of or if they confess all yet labour in their Confession to lessen it or when in their Confession they turn not from all Sin to God but from one Sin to another They turned but not to the most high none of them did exalt him Prov. 28.13 Job 31.33 Jam Q. What is it to confess Sin without sence of Sin A. To do it through Custom or Tradition when there is not guilt upon the Conscience now this cannot be acceptable Q. What is it to confess it with the mouth and to love it with the heart A. When men condemn it with their mouth but refuse to let it go when with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their Covetousness Job 20.12 13. Jer. 8.5 Ezek. 33.31 Q. But I asked you what frame of heart I should be in in my Confessions A. I have shewed you how you should not be Well I will shew you now what frame of heart becomes you in your Confessions of Sin Labour by all means for a sence of the evil that is in Sin Q. What evil is there in Sin A. No man with Tongue can express what may by the Heart be felt of the evil of Sin but this know it dishonoureth God it provoketh him to wrath it damneth the Soul Rom. 2.23 Ephes 5.5 6. 2 Thes 2.12 Q. What else would you advise me to in this great work A. When we confess sin tears shame and brokenness of heart becomes us Jer. 50.4 Isa 22.12 Psal 51.17 Jer. 31.19 Q. What else becomes me in my Confessions of 〈…〉 A. Great detestation of sin with unfeigned Sighs and Groans that expresseth thou dost it heartily Job 42.5 6. Ezek. 9.4 Jer. 31.9 Q. Is here all A. No Tremble at the Word of God Tremble at every Judgment lest it overtake thee Tremble at every promise lest thou shouldest miss thereof for saith God To this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and that trembles at my Word Isa 66.2 Heb. 4.1 2. Q. What if I cannot thus confess my Sins A. Bewail the hardness of thy heart keep close to the best Preachers remember that thou hangest over Hell by the weak thread of an uncertain life And know God counts it a great evil not to be ashamed of not to blush at sin Isa 63.17 Jer. 6.15 Chap. 8.12 Q. Is there no thanks to be rendred to God in Confessions A. O Yes Thank him that he hath let thee see thy sins thank him that he hath given thee time to acknowledg thy sins thou mightest now have been confessing in Hell thank him also that he hath so far condescended as to hear the self-bemoaning sinner and that he hath promised Surely to have Mercy upon such Jer. 31.18 19 20. Of Faith in Christ. Quest I Am glad that you have instructed me into this part of the worship of God pray tell me also how else I should worship him A. Thou must believe his Word Q. Is that worshipping of God A. Yes after the way which ye call heresy so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets c. Acts 24.14 Q. Why should believing be counted a part of Gods worship A. Because without faith 't is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 Q. Why not impossible to please him without believing A. Because in all true Worship a man must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Besides he that worships God must also of necessity believe his Word else he cannot worship with that reverence and fear that becomes him but will do it in a superstitious prophane manner for whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14.23 Q. But do not all believe as you have said A. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit And again the Children of the flesh these are not the Children of God but the Children of the promise are counted for the Seed Joh. 3.6 Rom. 9.8 Q. What do you mean by that A. Thou must be born twice before thou canst truely believe once Joh. 3.3 5. Q. How do you prove that A. Because believing is a Christian act and none are true Christians but those that are born again But I mean by believing believing unto Salvation Q. Can you prove this A. Yes They that believe in the Name of Christ are such which are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Joh. 1.12 13. Q. What is believing A. It is such an act of a gracious Soul as layeth hold on Gods Mercy through Christ Act. 15 11. Q. Why do you call it an act of a gracious Soul A. Because their minds are disposed that way by the Power of the Holy-Ghost Rom. 15.13 Q. If such a poor sinner as I am would be saved from the wrath to come how must I believe A. Thy first question should be on whom must I believe Joh. 9.35 36. Q. On whom then must I beleive A. On the Lord Jesus Christ Act. 16.31 32. Q. Who is Jesus Christ that I might believe on him A. He is the only begotten Son of God Joh. 3.16 Q. Why must I believe in him A. Because he is the Saviour of the World 2 Pet. 1.1 1 John 4.14 Q. How is he the Saviour of the World A. By the Fathers designation and sending for God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved John 3.13 Q. How did he come into the World A. In Mans flesh in which flesh he fulfilled the Law died for our sins conquered the Devil and Death and obtained Eternal Redemption for us Gal. 4.4 Rom. 10.3 4. chap. 8.3 Heb. 2.14 15. chap 6.20 chap 9.12 24. Q. But is there no other way to be saved but by believing in Jesus Christ A. There is no other name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved and therefore he that believeth not shall be damned Act. 4.12 Mar. 16.16 John 3.18.36 Q. What is believing on Jesus Christ A. It is a receiving of him with what is in him as the gift of God to thee a sinner Joh. 1. 12. Q What is in Jesus Christ to encourage me to 〈…〉 A. Infinite
like to do this part of Gods Worship acceptably A. Yes He whose heart is set against sin as sin is like to deny himself acceptably Rom. 7.13 24. Q. Who else A. He that hath the sence and savour of forgiveness of sins upon his heart 2 Cor. 5.14 Q. Who else is like to deny himself well A. He that hath his affections set upon things above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 2 3 4 5. Q. Who else is like to deny himself well for Christ A. He that seeth a greater treasure in Self-Denial than in self-seeking 2 Cor. 12.9 10 11. Heb. 11.24 25 26. Q Is there none other signs of one that is like to do this part of Gods worship acceptably A. Yes He that takes up his Cross daily and makes Christ's Doctrine his Example Luk. 6.47 48. Joh. 12.25 26. Q. But how do you discover a Man to be such a one A. He keepeth his heart with all diligence he had rather die than sin Ill carriages of professors break his heart nothing is so dear to him as the Glory of Christ Prov. 4.23 Numb 11.15 Phil. 3.18 Act. 20.24 Q. Pray can you give me some motive to Self-Denial A. Yes The Lord Jesus denied himself for thee what sayest thou to that Q. Wherein did Christ deny himself for me A. He left his Heaven for thee he denied for thy sake to have so much of this World as hath a Fox or a Bird and he spilt his most precious Blood for thee Joh. 6.38 Luk. 9.58 2 Cor. 8.9 Rev. 1.5 Q. Can you give another motive to Self-Denial A. Yes What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Luk. 8.36 Q. But why doth God require Self-Denial of them that will be saved A. God doth not require Self-Denial as the means to obtain Salvation but hath laid it down as proof of the truth of a mans affections to God and Christ Q. How is Self-Denial a proof of the truth of a mans affections to God A. In that for the sake of his service he leaveth all his injoyments in this World Thus he proved Abraham's affections thus he proved Peters affections and thus he proved their affections that you read of in the Gospel Gen. 22.12 Mat. 4.18 19 20 21 22. Luke 9.57 58 59 60 61 62. Q. What reason else can you produce why God requireth Self-Denial A. Self-Denial is one of the distinguishing Characters by which true Christians are manifested from the feigned ones for those that are feigned flatter God with their mouth but their hearts seek themselves but the sincere for the love that he hath to Christ forsaketh all that he hath for his sake Psal 78.36 37. Ezek. 33.31 32. Q. Is there yet another reason why God requireth Self-Denial of them that profess his name A. Yes because by Self-Denial the power and goodness of the Truths of God are made manifest to the incredulous World For they cannot see but by the Self-Denial of Gods people that there is such Power Glory Goodness and desirableness in Gods Truth as indeed there is Dan. 3.16 28. Phil. 1.12 13. Q. Have you another Reason why God requireth Self-Denial A. Yes because Self-Denial prepareth a man though not for the pardon of his sin yet for that far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory that is laid up only for them that deny all that they have for the Lord Jesus his name and cause in this World 2 Cor. 4.8 9 10 17. 2 Thes 1.5 6. Q. Before you conclude will you give me a few instances of the severity of God's hand upon some Professors that have not denied themselves when called thereto by him A. Yes Willingly Lot's Wife for but looking behind her towards Sodom when God called her from it was stricken from Heaven and turned into a Pillar of Salt therefore remember Lots Wife Gen. 19.17 26. Luk. 17.31 32. Q. Can you give me another instance A. Yes Esau for not denying himself of one morsel of Meat was denied a share in the Blessing and could never obtain it after though he sought it carefully with Tears Gen. 25.32 33 34. Heb 12.14 15. Q. Have you at hand another instance A. Yes Judas for not-denying himself lost Christ his Soul and Heaven and is continued the great Object of God's Wrath among all Damned Souls John 12.5 6. Luke 22.3 4 5 6. Mat. 26.14 15 16. Act. 1.25 Q. Will you give me one more instance and so conclude A. Yes Ananias and Sapphirah his Wife did for the want of Self Denial pull upon themselves such Wrath of God that he slew them while they stood in the midst before the Apostles Act. 5.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11. The Conclusion BEfore I wind up this discourse I would lay down these few things for you to consider of and meditate upon I. Consider That seeing every one by nature are accounted sinners 'T is no matter whether thy actual sins be little or great few or many thy sinful nature hath already laid thee under the curse of the Law II. Consider That therefore thou hast already ground for humiliation sins to repent of wrath to fly from or a Soul to be damned III. Consider That time staies not for thee and also that as time goes sin increaseth so that at last the end of thy time and the compleating of thy sin are like to come upon thee in one moment IV. Bring thy last day often to thy bed-side and ask thy heart if this morning thou wast to die if thou be ready to die or no. V. Know 't is a sad thing to lie a dying and to be afraid to die to lie a dying and not to know whither thou art a going to lie a dying and not to know whether good Angels or bad must conduct thee out of this miserable World VI. Be often remembring what a blessed thing it is to be saved to go to Heaven to be made like Angels and to dwell with God and Christ to all eternity VII Consider how sweet the thought of Salvation will be to thee when thou seest thy self in Heaven whilst others are roaring in Hell The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy Spirit THE END