when the Devils Factors are abroad whose whole work is to unsettle people and make them fall off from that former strictness in Religion which they have professed 'T is much to be lamented to see Christians 1. Wavering in Religion How many do we see desultorii ingenii unresolved and unsteady Like Reuben unstable as water Gen. 49. 4. These the Apostle fitly compares to waves of the Sea and wandring Stars Iude 13. They are not fixed in the principles of godliness Beza writes of one Bolsechus his Religion changed like the Moon Such were the Ebionites who kept the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Many Professors are like the River Euripus ebbing and flowing in matters of Religion they are like reeds bending every way either to the Mass or the Alchoran They are like the Planet Mercury which doth vary and is seldome constant in its motion When men think of heaven and the recompence of reward then they will be godly but when they think of Persecution then they are like the Jews who deserted Christ and walked no more with him Iohn 6. 66. Did mens faces alter as fast as their Opinions we should not know them to be thus vacillant and wavering in Religion argues lightness Feathers are blown any way so are feathery Christians 2. 'T is to be lamented to see men fall from that godliness which once they seemed to have they are turned to worldliness and wantonness the very mantle of their Profession is fallen off and indeed if they were not fixed stars it is no wonder to see them falling stars This spiritual Epilepsie or falling-sickness was never more rife this is a dreadful sin for men to fall from that godliness they-seemed once to have Chrysostom saith Apostates are worse than they who are openly flagitious they bring an evil report upon godliness The Apostate saith Tertullian seems to put God and Satan in the ballance and having weighed both their services prefers the Devils service and proclaims him to be the best Master in which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open shame He. 6. 6 This will be bitter in the end Heb. 10. 38. What a worm did Spira feel in his Conscience How did Stephen Gardiner cry out in horror of mind upon his Death-bed that he had denied his Master with Peter but he had not repented with Peter That we may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stedfast in godliness and persevere let us do two things 1. Let us take heed of those things which will make us by degrees fall off from our profession 1. Let us beware of covetousness 2 Tim. 3. 2. Men shall be covetous ver 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver bait Covetousness will make a man betray a good cause and make shipwrack of a good Conscience I have read of some in the time of the Emperour Valens who denied the Christian Faith to prevent the confiscation of their goods 2. Beware of unbelief Heb. 3. 12. Take heed least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God No evil like an evil heart no evil heart like an unbelieving heart why so It makes men depart from the blessed God he that believes nor Gods mercy will not dread his Justice Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasie therefore unbelieving and unstable go together Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God ver 41. They turned back and tempted God 3. Take heed of cowardliness he must needs be evil who is afraid to be good Pro. 29. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare They who fear danger more than sin to avoid danger will commit sin Origen out of a spirit of fear offered Incense to the Idol Aristotle saith the reason why the Camelion turns into so many colours is through excessive fear Fear will make men change their Religion as often as the Camelion doth her colour Christian thou who hast made a profession of godliness so long and others have noted thee for a Saint in their Kalendar why dost thou fear and begin to shrink back The Cause is good which thou art imbarqued in thou fightest against sin thou hast a good Captain which marcheth before thee Christ the Captain of thy Salvation Heb. 2. 10. What is it thou fearest Is it loss of liberty What is liberty worth when Conscience is in bonds Better lose thy liberty and keep thy peace than lose thy peace and keep thy liberty Is it loss of Estate Dost thou say as Amaziah 2 Chron. 25. 9. What shall we do for the hundred Talents I would answer with the Prophet The Lord can give thee much more than this He hath promised thee in this life an hundred-fold and if that be not enough he will give thee life everlasting Mat. 19. 29. 2. If you would hold fast the profession of godliness use all means for perseverance 1. Labour for a real work of Grace in your soul Grace is the best fortification Heb. 13. 9. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace Quest. What is this real work of Grace Answ. It consists in two things 1. It lies in an heart-humbling work The thorn of sin pricked Pauls Conscience Rom. 7. 9. Sin revived and I died Though some are less humbled than others as some bring forth Children with less pangs yet all have pangs 2 Grace lies in an heart-changing work 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed but ye are sanctified A man is so changed as if another soul did live in the same body if ever you would hold out in the waies of God get this vital principle of grace why do men change their religion but because their hearts were never changed they do not fall away from grace but for want of grace 2 If you would hold on in godliness be deliberate and judicious weigh things well in the ballance Luke 14. 28. Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not dow◠first and counteth the cost Think with your selves what it will cost you to be godly you must expect the hatred of the world Ioh. 15. 19. the wicked hate the godly for their piety 't is strange they should do so do we hate a flower because it is sweet the godly are hated for the perfume of their graces is a Virgin hated for her beauty the wicked hate the godly for the beauty of holiness which shines in them and secret hatred will break forth into open violence 2 Tim. 3. 12. Christians must count the cost before they build why are people so hasty in laying down Religion but because they were so hasty in taking it up 3 If you would hold fast your profession get a clear distinct knowledge of God know the love of the Father the merit of the Son the efficacy of the Holy Ghost Such as know not God aright will by degrees renounce their
David though a King yet looked upon himself as a worm Psal. 22. 6. I am a worm and no man Bradford a Martyr yet subscribes himself a sinner Iob 10. 15. If I am righteous I will not lift up my head Like the Violet a sweet flower but hangs down the head 2. An humble soul thinks better of others than of himself Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem others better than themselves An humble man values others at an higher rate than himself and the reason is because he can better see his own heart than he can anothers he sees his own corruption and thinks sure it is not so with others their Graces are not so weak as his their corruptions are not so strong sure thinks he they have better hearts than I An humble Christian studies his own infirmities and anothers exellencies and that makes him put an higher value upon others than himself Pro. 30. 2. Surely I am more bruitish than any man And Paul though he were the chief of the Apostles yet he calls himself the least of Saints Eph. 3. 8. 3. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties Pride is apt to breed in our holy things as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit and forth comes from the most generous wine An humble person doth not only deny his sins but his duties when he hath prayed and wept alas saith he how little have I done God might damn me for all this he saith as good Nehemiah Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this and spare me Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul but spare me and pardon me he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light therefore he desires Christs Merits may be put into the Scales The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy he sees he cannot write even nor without blotting this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs he drops poyson upon his sacrifice Oh saith he I dare not say I have prayed or wept those which I write down for duties God might write down for sins 4. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself he complains not of his condition but his heart O this evil heart of unbelief Lord saith Hooper I am hell but thou art heaven An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is Paul that high-flown Saint who was caught up into the third heaven how doth this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am c. Holy Bradford subscribes himself the hard-hearted sinner The more knowledge an humble Christian hath the more he complains of ignorance the more Faith the more he bewails his unbelief 5. An humble man will justifie God in an afflicted condition Nehem. 9. 33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us If men oppress and calumniate the humble soul acknowledgeth Gods righteousness in the midst of severity 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo I have sinned Lord my pride my barrenness my Sermon-surfeiting hath been the procuring cause of all these judgements when Clouds are round about God yet righteousness is the habitation of his Throne Psa. 97. 2. 6. An humble soul is a Christ-Magnifier Phil. 1. 20. he gives the glory of all his actions to Christ and Free-grace King Canutus took the Crown off his own head and set it upon a Crucifix so an humble Saint takes the Crown of honour from his own head and sets it upon Christs and the reason is from that 〈◊〉 he bears to Christ Love can part with 〈…〉 to the object loved Isaack loved 〈…〉 and he gave away his Jewels to 〈…〉 humble Saint loves Christ intirely therefore can part with any thing to him he gives away the honour and praise of all he doth to Christ let Christ wear those Jewels 7. An humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin a wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof The Prophet Micaiah used to tell King Ahab of his sin and saith he I hate him 1 Kin. 22. 8. Reproof to a proud man is like powring water on lime which grows the more hot a gracious soul loves him that reproves Pro. 9. 8. Rebuke a wise man and he will love thee The humble-spirited Christian can bear the reproach of an Enemy and the reproof of a friend 8. An humble man is willing to have his name and parts eclipsed so Gods glory may be more encreased he is content to be out-shined by others in gifts and esteem so that the Crown of Christ may shine the brighter This is the humble mans Motto Let me decrease let Christ encrease 'T is his desire that Christ should be exalted and if this be effected let who will be the instrument he rejoyceth Phil. 1. 15. Some preach Christ of envy They preached to get away some of Pauls hearers Well saith he Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce ver 8. An humble Christian is content to be laid aside if God hath any other tools to work with which may bring him more glory 9. An humble Saint likes that condition which God sees best for him a proud man murmures he hath no more an humble man wonders he hath so much Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies when the heart lies low it can stoop to a low condition A Christian looking upon his sins wonders it is no worse with him he doth not say his mercies are small but his sins are great he knows the worst piece God carves him is better than he deserves therefore takes it thankfully upon his knees 10. An humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person and the lowest office he will visit the poorest member of Christ Lazarus his sores are more precious to him than Dives purple he doth not say Stand by come not neer to me for I am holier than thou but condiscends to men of low estate Rom. 12. 16. Use 1. Is Humility the inseparable Character of a godly man let us try our hearts by this Touch-stone Are we humble alas where doth their godliness appear who are swelled with pride and ready to burst But though men are proud they will not confess it This Bastard of Pride is born but none are willing to father it therefore let me ask a few questions and let Conscience answer 1 Are not they proud who are given to glorying 1 Cor. 5. 6. Your glorying is not good 1 VVho glory in their riches their hearts swell with their estates St. Bernard cals Pride the rich mans couzen Ezek. 28. 5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches 2 VVho glory in their apparel Many dress themselves in such fashions as they make the devil fall in love with them Black-spots gaudy attire naked breasts what are these but the flags and banners which Pride doth display 3 VVho glory in their beauty
of a Christians condition mercy interlined with judgement here is the rod and Manna 3 Patience evidenceth much of God in the heart patience is one of Gods titles Rom. 15. 5. The God of patience thou that hast thy heart cast into this blessed mould it is a sign God hath imparted much of his own nature to thee thou shinest with some of his beams Impatience evidenceth much unsoundness of heart as it is in the body if the body bee of that temper that every little scratch of a pin makes the flesh to rancle you will say sure this mans flesh is very unsound so for every petty cross to flye out in impatience and quarrel with providence it is the sign of a distempered Christian if there be any grace in such an heart they must have good eyes that can see it but he who is of a patient spirit is a graduate in Religion and doth much participate of the divine nature 4 The end of affliction is glorious the Iews were captive in Babylon but what was the end they departed out of Babylon with vessels of silver with gold and precious things Ezra 1. 6. So what is the end of affliction it ends in endless glory Acts 14. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 17. how may this rock our impatient hearts quiet who would not willingly travel through a little dirty way and ploughed lands at the end whereof is a fair Meadow and in that Meadow a golden Mine Quest. How shall I get my heart tuned into a patient frame Answ. 1 Get faith all our impatience proceeds from unbelief faith is the breeder of patience when a storm of passion begins to arise faith saith to the heart as Christ to the Sea peace be still and there is presently a calm Quest. How doth faith work patience Answ. Faith argues the soul into patience faith is like that Town-Clark in Ephesus who allayed the contention of the multitude and argued them soberly into peace Act. 19. 35 36. So when impatience begins to clamour and make an hubbub in the soul faith appeaseth the tumult and argues the soul into holy patience Saith faith Why art thou disquieted O my Soul art thou afflicted is it not thy Father hath done it he is carving and pollishing thee and making thee fit for glory he smites that hee may save what is thy tryal is it sickness God shakes the Tree of thy body that some fruit may fall even the peaceable fruit of righteousness Heb. 12. 11. Art thou driven from thy habitation God hath prepared for thee a City Heb. 11. 16. Dost thou suffer reproach for Christs sake a spirit of God and glory rest upon thee 1 Pet. 4. 14. Thus faith argues and disputes the soul into patience 2 Pray to God for patience patience is a flower of Gods planting pray that it may grow in your heart and send forth its sweet perfume Prayer is an holy charm to charm down the evil spirit prayer composeth the heart and puts it in Tune when impatience hath broken the strings and put all into a confusion Oh go to God prayer delights Gods ear it melts his heart it opens his hand God cannot deny a praying soul seek to him with importunity and either he will remove the affliction or which is better he will remove thy impatience SECT XVII 17 A Godly man is a thankful man praise and thanksgiving is the work of heaven and he begins that work here which he shall bee alwaies doing in heaven The Iews have a saying the world subsists by three things the Law the worship of God and thankfulness as if where thankfulness were wanting one of the Pillars of the world were taken away and it were ready to fall The Hebrew word for praise comes from a radix that signifies to shoot up the Godly man sends up his praises as a volly of shot towards heaven David who was modelled after Gods heart how melodiously did he warble out Gods praises therefore was called the sweet singer of Israel 1 Sam. 23. 1. Take a Christian at the worst yet hee is thankful The Prophet Ionah who was homo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man of a waspish spirit the sea did not so work with the tempest as Ionahs heart wrought with passion yet through this cloud you might see grace appear he had a thankful heart Ionah 2. 9. I will Sacrifice to thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that which I have vowed For the clearer illustrating of this I shall lay down these four particulars 1 Praise and thanksgiving is a Saint-like work we finde in Scripture the godly are still called upon to praise God Psa. 135. 20. Ye that fear the Lord bless the Lord. Psa. 149. 5. Let the Saints bee joyful in glory let the high praises of God be in their mouth praise is a work proper to a Saint 1 None but the godly can praise God aright as all have not skill to play on the Lute so every one cannot sound forth the harmonious praises of God wicked men are bound to praise God but they are not fit to praise him none but a living Christian can tune Gods praise wicked men are dead in sin how can they lift up Gods praises that are dead Isa. 38. 19. The grave cannot praise thee A wicked man stains and eclipseth Gods praise if a foul hand work in Damask or flowred Sattin it will slur the beauty of it God will say to the sinner what hast thou to do to take my name into thy mouth Psa. 50. 16. 2 Praise is not comely for any but the godly Psa. 33. 1. Praise is comely for the righteous A prophane man stuck with Gods praises is like a dunghill stuck with flowers praise in the mouth of a sinner is like an Oracle in the mouth of a fool how uncomely is it for him to praise God whose whole life is a dishonouring of God it is as undecent for a wicked man to praise God as it is for an Usurer to talk of living by faith or for the Devil to quote Scripture the godly only are fit to be queristers in Gods praises 't is called the Garment of praise Isaiah 61. 3. this garment sits handsome only on a Saints back 2 Thanksgiving is a more noble part of Gods worship our wants may send us to prayer but it argues an heart highly ingenuous to bless God the Raven cries the Lark sings in petition we act like men in thanksgiving we act like Angels 3 Thanksgiving is a God-exalting work Psa. 50. 23. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me though nothing can adde the least cubit to Gods essential glory yet praise exalts him in the eyes of others praise is a setting forth of Gods honour a lifting up of his name a displaying the trophy of his goodness a proclaiming his excellency a spreading his renown a breaking open the box of oyntment whereby the sweet savour and perfume of Gods name is sent abroad
of Christ we will be willing to help others to a part in him that which we esteem excellent we are desirous our friend should have a share in If a man hath found a Spring of water he will call others that they may drink and satisfie their thirst Do we commend Christ to others Do we take them by the hand and lead them to Christ This shows how few prize Christ because they strive no more that their Relations should have a part in him They get land and riches for their posterity but have no care to leave them the Pearl of Price for their portion 8. If we are prizers of Christ then we prize him in health as well as in sickness when we are inlarged as well as when we are straitned A friend is prized at all times the Rose of Sharon is always sweet He who values his Saviour aright hath as precious thoughts of him in a day of prosperity as in a day of adversity The wicked make use of Christ only when they are in straits as the Elders of Gilead went to Ieptha when they were in distress Iudg. 11. 7. Themistocies complained of the Athenians that they ran to him but as to a Tree to shelter them in a storm Sinners desire Christ only for a shelter The Hebrews never chose their Judges but when they were in some imminent dangers Godless persons never look after Christ but at death when they are in danger of hell Use 3. As we would evidence to the world that we have the impress of godliness on us let us be prizers of Jesus Christ he is Elect Precious Christ is the wonder of beauty Pliny saith of the Mulberry Tree there is nothing in it but what is medicinable and useful the fruit leaves bark So there is nothing in Christ but what is precious his Name is precious his Virtues precious his bloud precious Et precium mundi sanguiser at Domini Oh then let us have endearing thoughts of Christ let him be accounted our chief treasure and delight This is the reason why millions perish because they do not prize Christ Christ is the door by which men are to enter into heaven Iohn 10. 9. If they do not know this door or are so proud that they will not stoop to go in at iâ— how can they be saved That we may have Christ-admiring thoughts Let us consider 1. We cannot prize Christ at too high a rate we may prize other things above their worth that is our sin we commonly over-rate the creature we think there is more in it than there is therefore God withers our gourd because we over-prize it But we cannot raise our esteem high enough of Christ he is beyond all value There is no Ruby or Diamond but the Jeweller can set a just price upon it he can say it is worth so much and no more but Christs worth can never be fully known No Seraphim can set a due value on him his are unsearchable riches Eph. 3. 8. Christ is more precious than the Soul than the Angels than Heaven 2. Jesus Christ hath highly prized us he took our flesh upon him Heb. 2. 16. He made his Soul an offering for us Isa. 53. 10 How precious was our Salvation to Christ Shall not we prize and adore him who hath put such a value upon us 3. Not to prize Christ is high imprudence Christ is our Guide to Glory 't is folly for a man to slight his Guide he is our Physitian Mal. 4. 2. 'T is folly to despise our Physitian What to set light by Christ for things of no value Mat. 23. 17. Ye fools and blind How is a fool tryed but by showing him an Apple and a piece of Gold if he chuse the Apple before the Gold he is judged to be a fool and his Estate is begged How many such Ideots are there who prefer Husks before Manna the gaudy empty things of this life before the Prince of Glory Will not Satan beg them at last for fools 4. Such as slight Christ now and say There is no beauty in him that he should be desired There is a day shortly coming when Christ will as much slight them he will set as light by them as they do by him he will say I know you not Luk. 13. 27. What a slighting word will that be when men shall cry Lord Jesus save us and he shall say I was offered to you but you would none of me you scorned me and now I will set light by you and your Salvation Depart from me I know you not This is all that sinners get by rejecting the Lord of Life Christ will slight them at the day of Judgement who have sâ—ighted him in the day of Grace SECT VIII 8. A godly man is an Evangelical weeper David did sometimes sing with his Harp and sometimes the Organ of his eye did weep Psal. 6. 6. I water my couch with tears Christ calls his Spouse his Dove Cant. 2. 14. The Dove is a weeping creature Grace dissolves and liquifies and Soul causing a spiritual thaw The sorrow of the heart runs out at the eye Psa. 31. 9. The Rabbins report that the same night Israel departed out of Egypt towards Canaan all the Idols of Egypt were broken down by Lightning and Earthquake So at that very time men go forth out of their natural condition towards heaven all the Idols of sin in the heart must be broken down by Repentance A melting heart is the chief branch of the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 36. 26. and the product of the Spirit Zac. 12. 10. I will powre upon the House of David the Spirit of Grace and they shall look on me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him Quest. But why is a godly man a weeper Is not sin pardoned which is the ground of Ioy Hath ot he had a transforming work upon his heart why then doth he weep Answ. A godly man finds matter enough of weeping 1. He weeps for the in-being of sin the Law in his members Rom. 7. 23. The ebullitions and first risings of sin his Nature is a poysoned Fountain A regenerate person grieves that he carries that about him which is enmity to God his heart is like the wide Sea wherein there are creeping things innumerable vain sinful thoughts A Childe of God laments hidden wickedness he hath more evil in him than he knows of There are those Meanders in his heart which he cannot trace a terra incognita an unknown world of sin Psalm 19. 12. Who can understand his errors 2. A godly man weeps for the adherency of Corruption if he could get rid of sin there were some comfort but he cannot shake off this Viper Sin cleaves to him as the Leprosie to the wall Lev. 14. 39. Though a Childe of God forsakes his sin yet sin will not forsake him Dan. 7. 12. Concerning the rest of the beasts they had
comes from a broken heart Psa. 51. 17. The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit The Incense was to be beaten to typifie the breaking of the heart in Prayer 'T is not the voluble tongue but the melting heart God accepts Oh saith a Christian I cannot pray as others as Moses said to the Lord I am not eloquent But canst thou weep and sigh Doth thy soul melt out at thy eyes God accepts broken expressions when they come from broken hearts I have read of a Plant that bears no fruit but it weeps forth a kind of Gum which is very costly So though thou dost not flourish with those gifts and expressions as others yet if thou canst weep forth tears from a contrite heart these are exceeding precious to God and he will put them in his bottle Iacob wept in prayer and had power ever the Angel Hos. 12. 4. 5. A spiritual Prayer is a believing Prayer Mat. 21. 22. Whatever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive The reason why so many Prayers suffer shipwrack is because they split against the Rock of unbelief Praying without Faith is shooting without bullets When Faith takes Prayer by the hand then we draw neer to God we should come to God in Prayer as the Leper Mat. 8. 2. Lord if thou wilt thou canst heal me 'T is a disparagement to Deity to have such a whisper in the heart that Gods ear is heavy and cannot hear What is said of the people of Israel may be applyed to Prayer It could not enter in because of unbelief 6. A Spiritual Prayer is an holy Prayer 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wherefore lift up pure hands Prayer must be offered upon the Altar of a pure heart sin lived in makes the heart hard and Gods ear deaf sin stops the mouth of Prayer it doth as the Thief to the Traveller puts a Gagg in his mouth that he cannot speak sin poysons and infects prayer A wicked mans prayer is sick of the Plague and will God come neer him The Loadstone loseth its virtue when it is bespread with Garlick so doth prayer when it is polluted with sin Psa 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me 'T is foolish to pray against sin and then to sin against prayer a spiritual prayer like the spirits of Wine must be refined and taken off the Lees and dregs of sin Mal. 3. 3. That they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness If the heart be holy this Altar will sanctifie the gift 7. A spiritual prayer is an humble prayer Psa. 10. 17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble Prayer is the asking of an Alms which requires humility Luke 18. 13. The Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner Gods incomprehensible glory may even amaze us and strike an holy consternation into us when we approach nigh to him Ezra 9. 6. O my God I blush to lift up my face to thee 'T is comely to see a poor nothing lye prostrate at the feet of its Maker Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes The lower the heart descends the higher the prayer ascends 8. A spiritual prayer is when we pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is not only to name Christ in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of Christs mediation as a Childe claims his Estate in the right of his Father who purchased it so we come for mercy in Christs Name who hath purchased it for us in his bloud unless we pray thus we do not pray at all nay we rather provoke God as it was with Uzziah when he would offer Incense without a Priest God was angry and struck him with Leprosie 2 Chron. 26. 16. So when we do not come in Christs Name in prayer we offer up Incense without a Priest and what can we expect but to meet with wrath 9. A spiritual prayer is when we pray out of love to prayer A wicked man may pray but he doth not love prayer Iob 27. 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty A godly man is carried upon the wings of delight he is never so well as when he is praying he is not forced with fear but fired with love Isa. 56. 7. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer 10. A spiritual prayer is when we have spiritual ends in prayer There is a vast difference between a spiritual prayer and a carnal desire the ends of an Hypocrite are secular and carnal he looks asquint in prayer it is not the sense of his spiritual wants that moves him but rather lust Iam. 4. 3. Ye ask amiss that ye may consume it upon your lusts The sinner prays more for food than Grace this God doth not interpret praying but howling Hosea 7. 14. They howled upon their beds they assemble for corn and wine Da modo lucra mihi Prayers which want a good aim want a good answer A godly man hath spiritual ends in prayer he sends out his prayer as a Merchant sends out his Ship that he may have large returns of spiritual blessings his design in prayer is that his heart may be more holy and that he may have more communion with God A godly man drives the Trade of prayer that he may encrease the stock of Grace 11. A spiritual prayer is accompanied with the use of means there must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Hezekiah was sick he did not only pray for recovery but he laid a lump of figs to the boyl Isa. 38. 21. Thus it is in case of the soul when we pray against sin and avoid temptations when we pray for Grace and improve opportunities this is the laying a fig to the boil which wil make us recover To pray for holiness and neglect the means is like winding up the Clock and pulling off the weights 12. A spiritual prayer is that which leaves a spiritual frame behind upon the heart a Christian is better after prayer he hath gotten more strength over sin as a man by exercise gets strength The heart after prayer keeps a tincture of holiness as the Vessel savours and relisheth of the Wine that is put into it Moses having been with God on the Mount his face shined so having been on the Mount of prayer our Graces shine and our lives shine This is the sign of a godly man he prays in the spirit This is the right kind of praying the gift of prayer is ordinary like Culinary fire but spiritual prayer is more rare and excellent like Elementary fire which comes from heaven Use 1. Is a godly man of a praying spirit then this excludes them from being godly 1. Who pray not at all
my Throne A Throne denotes Honor sitting denotes rest 7. Walking with God is the most safe walking Walking in the ways of sin is like walking upon the edge of a River The sinner treads upon the banks of the bottomless Pit and if Death gives him a jogg he tumbles in but it is safe going in Gods way Pro. 3. 23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely He walks safe who walks with a Guard he that walks with God shall have Gods Spirit to guard him from sin and Gods Angels to guard him from danger Psal. 91. 11. 8. Walking with God will make death sweet It was Augustus his wish that he might have an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quiet easie death without much pain If any thing make our Pillow easie at death it will be this that we have walked with God in our Generation Do we think walking with God can do us any hurt Did we ever hear any cry out upon their Death-bed that they have been too holy that they have prayed too much or walked with God too much No that which hath cut them to the heart hath been this that they have walked no more closely with God they have wrung their hands and torn their hair to think that they have been so bewitched with the pleasures of the World Close walking with God will make our Enemy Death to be at peace with us King Ahashuerus when he could not sleep called for the Book of Records and read in it Esther 6. 1. So when the violence of sickness causeth sleep to depart from our eyes and we can call for Conscience that Book of Records and find written in it such a day we humbled our souls by fasting such a day our hearts melted in prayer such a day we had sweet communion with God what a reviving will this be How may we look death in the face with comfort and say Lord now take us up to thee in Heaven where we have so often been by affection let us now be by fruition 9 Walking with God is the best way to know the minde of God friends who walk together impart their secrets one to another Psa. 25. 14. The secrets of the Lord is with them that fear him Noah walked with God and the Lord revealed a great secret to him of destroying the Old World and saving him in the Ark. Abraham walked with God Gen. 24. 40. and God made him one of his Privy-council Gen. 18. 17. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do God doth sometimes sweetly unbosome himself to the soul in Prayer and in the holy Supper as Christ made himself known to the Disciples in the breaking of bread Luk. 24. 35 10 They who walk with God shall never be wholly left of God the Lord may retire himself for a time to make his people cry after him the more but he will not quite leave them Isa. 54. 8. I hid my face for a moment but with everlasting kindeness will I have mercy on thee God will not cast off any of his old acquaintance he will not part with one that hath born him company Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him Gen. 5. 24. He took him up to heaven as the Arabick renders it Enoch was lodged in the bosome of divine Love Quest. How may we do to walk with God Answ. 1 Get out of the old road of sin hee that would walk in a pleasant meadow must turn out of the road The way of sin is full of Travellers there are so many travelling in this road that hell though it be of a great circumference is fain to enlarge it self and make room for them Isa. 5. 14. This way of sin seems pleasant but the end is damnable I have saith the Harlot perfumed my bed with Mirrhe Aloes and Cinamon Prov. 7. 17. See how with one sweet the Cinamon there were two bitters Myrrhe and Aloes for that little sweet in sin at present there will be a far greater proportion of bitterness afterwards Therefore get out of these briars you cannot walk with God and sin 2 Cor. 6. 14. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness 2 If you would walk with God get acquaintance with him Iob 22. 21. Acquaint now thy self with him Know God in his attributes and promises strangers do not walk together 3 Get all differences removed Amos 3. 3. Can two walk together except they are agreed This agreement and reconciliation is made by faith Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood When once we are friends then we shall be called up to the Mount as Moses and have this dignity conferred on us to bee the favourites of heaven and to walk with God 4 If you would walk with God get a liking to the vvaies of God They are adorned vvith beauty Prov. 4. 18. svveetned vvith pleasure Prov. 3. 17. fenced vvith truth Rev. 15. 3. accompanied vvith Life Acts 2. 28. lengthned with eternity Hab. 3. 6. be enamoured with the way of Religion and you will soon walk in it 5 If you would walk with God take hold of his arm such as walk in their own strength will soon grow weary and tire Psal. 71. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God We cannot walk with God without God let us press him with his promise Isa. 36. 27. I will cause you to walk in my statutes If God take us by the hand then we shall walk and not faint Isa. 40. 31. SECT XXIV 24 He who is godly labours to be an instrument of making others godly he is not content to go to heaven alone but would bring others thither Spiders work only for themselves but Bees work for others A godly man is both a Diamond and a Load-stone a Diamond for the sparkling lustre of grace and a Load-stone for his attractiveness he is ever drawing others to the embracing of Piety Living things have a propagating virtue where Religion lives in the heart there will be an endeavour to propagate the life of grace in those we converse with Philemon v. 10. My son Onesimus whom I have begotten in my bonds Though God be the fountain of grace yet the Saints are pipes to transmit living streams to others This thirsty endeavour after the conversion of souls proceeds 1 From the nature of Godliness it is like fire which assimilates and turns every thing into its own nature where there is the fire of grace in the heart it will endeavour to inflame others grace is an holy leaven which will be seasoning and leavening others with divine principles Paul would fain have converted Agrippa how did he court him with Rhetorick Act. 26. 27. King Agrippa beleevest thou the Prophets I know that thou beleevest his Zeal and Eloquence had almost captivated the King ver 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian. 2 A godly man attempts the
High Priest Heb. 2. 17. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity every bruise of the soul goes to his heart none refuse Christ but such as do not know him He is nothing but love incarnated He himself was bruised to heal them that are bruised 3. See then what encouragement here is for Faith Had Christ said he would break the bruised reed then indeed there were ground for despair but when Christ saith he will not break a bruised reed this opens a door of hope for humble bruised souls Can we say we have been bruised for sin why do we not believe Why do we go drooping under our fears and discouragements as if there were no mercy for us Christ saith He will heal the broken in heart Psal. 147. 3. No saith Unbelief he will not heal me Christ saith he will cure the bruised soul No saith Unbelief he will kill it Unbelief as it makes our comforts void so it goes about to make the Word void as if all Gods Promises were but forgeries or like Blanks in a Lottery Hath the Lord said he will not break a bruised reed can Truth lie O what a sin is unbelief Some think it dreadful to be among the number of drunkards swearers whoremongers let me tell you it is no less dreadful to be among the number of Unbelievers Unbelief is worse than any other sin because it brings God into suspition with the Creature it robs him of the richest Jewel of his Crown and that is his truth 1 Ioh. 5. 10. He that believeth not hath made God a lyar Oh then let all humbled sinners go to Jesus Christ Christ was bruised with desertion to heal them who are bruised with sin If you can show Christ your sores and touch him by faith you shall be healed of all your soul-bruises Will not Christ break thee then do not undo thy self by despair Use 2. Will not Jesus Christ break a bruised reed then it reproves those who do what in them lies to break the bruised reed and they are such as go about to hinder the work of Conversion in others when they see them wounded and troubled for sin they dishearâ—en them telling them that Religion is a sowre melancholly thing they had better return to their former pleasures when an Arrow of Conviction is shot into their Conscience these pull it out again and will not suffer the work of Conviction to go forward Thus when the soul is almost bruised they hinder it from a thorow bruise This is for men to be Devils to others If to shed the bloud of another makes a man guilty what is it to damn anothers soul Use 3. This Text is a spiritual hony-comb dropping consolation into all bruised hearts as in the body when there is a Lipothimy or fainting of the vital spirits we apply cordials so when sinners are bruised for their sins I shall give them some cordial-water to revive them This text is comfortable to a poor soul who sits with Iob among the Ashes and is dejected in the sense of its unworthiness Ah! saith the soul I am unworthy of mercy what am I that ever God should look upon me those who have greater parts and Graces perhaps may obtain a look from God but alas I am unworthy doth thy unworthiness trouble thee what more unworthy than a bruised reed yet there is a promise made to that a bruised reed he will not break the promise is not made to the Fig-tree or Olive which are fertile plants but to the Bruised reed Though thou art despicable in thy own eyes a poor shattered reed yet thou mayest be glorious in the eyes of the Lord let not thy unworthiness discourage thee if thou seest thy self vile and Christ pretious this promise is thine Christ will not break thee but will binde up thy wounds Quest. But how shall I know that I am savingly bruised Answ. Did God ever bring thee upon thy knees hath thy proud heart been humbled didst thou ever see thy self a sinner and nothing but a sinner didst thou ever with a weeping eye look upon Christ and did those tears drop from the eye of faith This is a Gospel-bruising canst thou say Lord though I do not see thee yet I love thee though I am in the dark yet I cast Anchor this is to be a bruised reed Object 1 But I fear I am not bruised enough Answ. 'T is hard to prescribe a just measure of humiliation it is in the new birth as in the natural some bring forth with more pangs some with fewer but would you know when you are bruised enough when your spirit is so troubled that you are willing to let go those lusts which did bring in the greatest income of pleasure and delight when sin is not only discarded but disgusted then you have been bruised enough then the Physick is strong enough when it hath purged out the disease then the soul is bruised enough when the love of sin is purged out Object 2 But I fear I am not bruised as I should be I finde my heart so hard Answ. 1 Wee must distinguish between hardness of heart and an hardâ—heart the best heart may have some hardness but though there be some hardnesse in it it is not an hard heart denominations are from the better part if we come into a field that hath Tares and Wheat in it we do not call it a field of Tares but a Wheat-field so though there be hardnesse in the heart as well as softnesse yet God who judgeth by that part which is more excellent looks upon it as a soft heart 2 There is a great difference between the hardnesse in the godly and the wicked the one is natural the other is only accidental the hardnesse in a wicked man is like the hardnesse of a stone which is an innate continued hardnesse the hardnesse in a childe of God is like the hardnesse of Ice which is soon melted with the Sun-beams perhaps God hath at present withdrawn his spirit whereupon the heart is congeal'd as Ice but let Gods spirit as the Sun return and shine upon the heart now it hath a gracious thaw upon it and it melts in love 3 Dost not thou grieve under thy hardnesse thou sighest for want of groans thou weepest for want of tears the hard reed cannot weep if â—hou wert not a bruised reed all this moisture could not come from thee Object 3 But I am a barren reed I bring forth no fruit therefore I fear I shall bee broken Answ. Gracious hearts are apt to overlook the good that is in them they can spye the worm in the leaf but not the fruit Why dost thou say thou art barren if thou art a bruised reed thou art not barren The spiritual reed ingrafted into the true Vine is fruitful there is so much sap in Christ as makes all who are inoculated into him bear fruit Christ distils grace as drops of dew