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
42.5 Q. What is it for me to know my self A. Then thou knowest thy self when thou art in thine own eyes a lothsome polluted wretched miserable Sinner and that not any thing done by thee can pacifie God unto thee Job 42.5 Ezek. 20.43 44. Rom. 7.24 Of Confession of Sin Quest YOu have shewed me if I will indeed worship God I must first know him aright now then to the question in hand pray how must I worship him A. In confessing unto him Nehem. 9.1 2 3. Q. What must I confess A. Thou must confess thy transgressions unto the Lord Psal 32.5 Q. Was this the way of the godly of old A. Yes Nehemiah confessed his sins David confessed his sins Daniel confessed his sins and they that were Baptized by John in Jordan confessed their sins Nehem. 1.6 Psal 32.5 Dan. 9.4 Mat. 3.6 Q. What sins must I confess to God A. All sins whatsoever for he that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find Mercy Pro. 28.13 1 John 1.9 Q. But how if I do neither know nor remember all my sins A. Thou must then search and try thy ways by the holy Word of God Lam. 3.40 Psal 77.6 Q. But how if I do not make this search after my sins A. If thou dost not God will if thou dost not search them out and confess them God will search them out and charge them upon thee and tear thee in pieces for them Psal 50.21 22. Q. Where must I begin to confess my sins A. Where God beginneth to shew thee them Observe then where God beginneth with conviction for sin and there begin thou with confession of it Thus David began to confess thus Daniel began to confess 2 Sam. 12.7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Dan. 9.3 4 5 6 7 8. Q. What must I do when God hath shewed me any sin to make right Confession thereof A. Thou must follow that Conviction until it shall bring thee to the Original and Fountain of that sin which is thine own heart 1 King 8.38 Psal 51.5 Q. Is my heart then the Fountain and Original of sin A. Yes For from within out of the heart of Man proceedeth evil thoughts Adulteries Fornications Murders Thifts Covetousness Wickedness Deceit Lasciviousness an evil Eye Blasphemy Pride Foolishness All these evil things come from within and defile the Man Mar. 7.21 22 23. Q. When a Man sees this what will he think of himself A. Then he will not only think but conclude that he is an unclean thing that his heart hath deceived him that it is most desperate and wicked that it may not be trusted by any means that every imagination and thought of his heart naturally is only evil and that continually Isa 64.6 Prov. 28.26 Isa 44.20 Gen. 6.5 Q. You have given me a very bad character of the heart but how shall I know that it is so bad as you count it A. Both by the Text and by Experience Q. What do you mean by Experience A. Keep thine eyes upon thy heart and also upon Gods Word and thou shalt see with thine own eyes the desperate wickedness that is in thine heart for thou must know Sin by the Law that bidding thee do one thing and thy heart inclining to another Rom. 7.7 8.9 Q. May I thus then know my heart A. Yes that is something of it specially the Carnality of thy mind because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 Q. Can you particularize some few things wherein the wickedness of the heart of man shews it self A. Yes by its secret hankering after sin although the Word forbids it by its deferring of Repentance by its being weary of holy Duties by its aptness to forget God by its studying to lessen and hide Sin by its feigning it self to be better than it is by being glad when it can sin without being seen of Men by its hardening it self against the Threatnings and Judgments of God by its desperate inclinings to Unbeleif Atheism and the like Pro. 1.24 25 26. Isa 43.22 Mal. 1.12 13. Judg. 3.7 Jer. 2.32 Psal 106.21 Hos 2.13 Pro. 30.20 Jer. 2.25 Rom. 1.32 chap. 2.5 Zeph. 7.11 12 13. Q. Is there any thing else to be done in order to a right confession of sin A. Yes Let this Conviction sink down into thy heart that God sees much more wickedness in thee than thou canst see in thy self If thy heart condemn thee God is greater than thy heart and he knows all things besides be hath set thy secret sins in the light of his Countenance 1 Joh. 3.20 Psal 90.8 Q. Is there any thing else that must go to a right confession of sin A. Yes In thy confessions thou must greaten and aggravate thy sin by all just circumstances Q. How must I do that A. By considering against how much Light and Mercy thou hast sinned against how much Patience and Forbearance thou hast sinned also against what Warnings and Judgments thou hast sinned and against how many of thine own Vows Promises and Ingagements thou hast sinned these things heighten and aggravate sin Ezra 9.10 11 12 13 14 15. Q. But what need I confess my sins to God see 〈…〉 A. Confession of sin is necessary for many Reasons Q. Will you shew me some of those Reasons A. Yes One is by a sincere and hearty Confession of sin thou acknowledgest God to be thy Sovereign Lord and that he hath right to impose his Law upon thee Exod. 20. Q. Can you shew me another Reason A. Yes By confessing thy sin thou subscribest to his righteous Judgments that are pronounced against it Psal 51.3 4. Q. Can you shew me another Reason A. Yes By confession of sin thou shewest how little thou deservest the least Mercy from God Q. Have you yet another reason why I should confess my sins A. Yes By so doing thou shewest whether thy heart loves it or hates it He that heartily confesseth his Sin is like him who having a Thief or a Traitor in his house brings him out to condign punishment but he that forbears to confess is like him who hideth a Thief or Traitor against the Laws and Peace of our Lord the King Q. Give me one more reason why I should confess my sins to God A. He that confesseth his sin casteth himself at the feet of Gods Mercy utterly condemns and casts away his own righteousness concludeth there is no way to stand Just and acquit before God but by and through the righteousness of another whither God is resolved to bring thee if ever he saves thy Soul Psal 51.1 2 3. 1 Joh. 1.9 Phil. 3.6 7 8. Q. What frame of heart should I be in when I confess my sins A. Do it heartily and to the best of thy power thoroughly For to feign in this work is abominable to do it by the halves is wickedness to do it without sence of Sin cannot
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
to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness 2 Pet. 3.10 11. Of Prayer Q. WEll I am glad that you have shewed me that I must worship God by confession of sin and Faith in Jesus Christ Is there any other thing a part of the true Worship of God A. Yes several I will mention only two more at this time Q. What are they A. Prayer and self-denial Q. Is Prayer then a part of the worship of God A. Yes a great part of it Q. How do you prove that A. O come let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Psal 95.6 Q. Is there another Scripture proves it A. Yes Then she came and worshipped him saying Lord help me Mat. 15.25 Q. What is Prayer A. A sincere sensible affectionate pouring out of the Soul to God in the Name of Christ for what God hath promised Prov. 15.8 Jer. 31.18 19. Psal 42.2 3 4. Joh. 14.13 14.1 Joh. 5.14 Q. Doth not every body pray A. No the wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts Psal 40.4 Q. What will become of them that do not pray A. They do not worship God and he will destroy them Pour out thy fury said the Prophet upon the heathen and upon the families that call not upon thy name Psal 79.6 Jer. 10.25 Q. But seeing God knoweth what we want why doth he not give us what we need without praying A. His Counsel and Wisdom leadeth him otherwise Thus saith the Lord I will yet be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them Ezek. 36.37 Q. Why will God have us pray A. Because he would be acknowledged by thee that he is above thee and therefore would have thee come to him as the Mean come to the Mighty Thus Abraham came unto him Gen. 18.27 30. Q. Is there another Reason why I should pray A. Yes For by Prayer thou acknowledgest that help is not in thine own power 2 Chron. 20.6 12. Q. What Reason else have you why I should Pray A. By Prayer thou confessest that help is only in him Psal 62.1 Q. What other Reason have you A. By Prayer thou confessest thou canst not live without his Grace and Mercy Mat. 14.30 Heb. 4.16 Q. Are all that pray heard of the Lord A. No They looked that is prayed but there was none to save them even unto the Lord but he answered them not 2 Sam. 22.42 Q. To What doth God compare the Prayers which he refuseth to answer A. He compareth them to the howling of a Dog Hos 7.14 Q. Who be they whose Prayers God will not answer A. Theirs who think to be heard for their much speaking and vain repetition Mat. 6.7 Q. Is there any others whose Prayers God refuseth A. Yes There are that ask and have not because what they ask they would spend upon their lusts Jam. 4.3 Q. Is there any other whose Prayer God refuseth A. Yes If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my Prayer Psal 66.18 Q. Is the regarding of sin in our heart such a deadly hindrance to Prayer A. Son of Man saith God these men have set up their Idols in their heart and have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face should I be enquired of at all by them I will set my face against that man and will make him a Sign and a Proverb And I will cut him off rom the midst of my people Ezek. 14.3 8. Q. Whose Prayers be they that God will hear A. The Prayers of the Poor and needy Psal 34.6 Isa 41.17 Q. What do you mean by the poor A. Such as have poverty in Spirit Mat. 5.3 Q. Who are they that are poor in Spirit A. They that are sensible of the want and necessity of all those things of God that prepare a Man to the Kingdom of Heaven Q. What things are they A. Faith Hope Love Joy Peace a new Heart the Holy Ghost Sanctification see Jam. 2.5 2 Thes 2.16 Ezek. 36.26 27. Q. What do you mean by the needy A. Those whose Souls long and cannot be satisfied without the injoyment of these blessed things Psal 63.1 Psal 119.20 Q. Will God hear the prayers of such A. Yes For he satisfieth the longing Soul and filleth the hungry Soul with good things Psal 107.9 Q. How shall I know that I am one of those to whom God will give these things A. If thou seest a beauty in them beyond the beauty of all other things Psal 110.3 Q. How else shall I know he heareth me A. If thou desirest them for their beauties sake Psal 90.14 17. Q. How else should I know I shall have them A. When thy groanings after them are beyond expression Rom. 8.26 Q. How else should I know and so be incouraged to pray A. When thou followest hard after God in all his Ordinances for the obtaining of them Isa 4.31 chap. 64.5 Q. How else should I know A. When thou makest good use of that little thou hast already Rev. 3.8 Q. Is here all the good signs that my Prayers shall be heard A. No There is one more without which thou shalt never obtain Q. Pray what is that A. Thou must plead with God the Name and Merits of Jesus Christ for whose sake only God giveth thee these things If we ask any thing in his name he heareth us and whatsoever you ask the Father in my name saith Christ I will do it Joh. 14.13 14. Q. Doth God always answer presently A. Sometimes he doth and sometime he doth not Isa 30.19 Dan. 10.12 Q. Is not God's deferring a sign of his anger A. Sometimes it is not and sometimes it is Q. When is it no sign of his anger A. When we have not wickedly departed from him by our sins Luk. 18.7 Q. When is it a sign of his anger A. When we have backsliden when we have not repented some former miscarriages Hos 5.14 15. Q. Why doth God defer to hear their Prayers that have not wickedly departed from him A. He loves to hear their voice to try their Faith to see their importunity and to observe how they can wrestle with him for a blessing Song 2.14 Mat. 15.22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Luk. 11.5 6 7 8. Gen. 32.25 26 27. Q. But is not deferring to answer Prayer a great discouragement to Praying A. Though it is because of our unbelief yet it ought not because God is faithful Therefore men ought always to Pray and not to faint Luk. 10.1 2 3 4 5 6. Of Self-Denial Q. I Am glad you have thus far granted my request But you told me that there was another part of God's Worship pray repeat that again A. It is Self-denial Q Now I remember it well pray how do you prove that Self-denial is called a part of God's Worship A. It is said of Abraham that when he went to offer up his Son Isaac upon the Altar for
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