not the spirit of Christ hath not Christ to present his Duties to God the Father and to take away the Iniquity of them and then what can he do acceptible to God It s the way of our hearts by nature that if we do any thing that is good for the matter of it we make use of it to keep us at a further distance from Christ and closing with him by faith that we trust to our Duties for Salvation and thus if we do any thing for God it is out of base ends as Jehu did either for applause to be accounted Religious and zealous for God or to stop the mouth of conscience or else we think to make our good works a Ladder to climbe up to Heaven by We are blind in spiritual things having our understandings darkned and alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in us and blindness of our minds Eph. 4. that all the my steries of the Gospel are Riddles to us and till we plough with the Lords Heifer the Spirit of God we cannot understand those Riddles when the Lord came to convert Nicodemus how blind and ignorant did he find him Joh. 3. and when he came to convert the woman of Samaria how ignorant did he find her we may see John 4. It s a wonderful thing how in conversion God makes the ignorant to understand Doctrine how in a month or two God helps them to pray and discourse so knowingly and spiritually that before were perfect sots and almost as ignorant of God as the Beast that perishes And in the Description of our natural estate Tit. 3.3 we are said to be foolish we are like fools and mad men and indeed men will call themselves fools first or last either here if they are converted or in Hell What fools are we to prefer the world before Christ For this the Lord called the rich man fool Luke 12. and what fools are we that having but one precious Jewel our souls that we will fell it for every base lust we are more foolish then Esau was in selling his Birth-right for a mess of pottage And what fools are we to make no provision for Eternity The Ant is wiser that provideth her meat in the Summer but we take no care for the long winter of eternity And what fools are we to set our selves against the Saints of God who are as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye Christ tels Paul its hard for him to kick against the pricks Act. 9. He makes the persecuting of the Saints to be as foolisâ— and dangerous a thing as for a man to kick knock his shins against the pricks And what fools are we that though we will not neglect Fairs and Markets yet will neglect the means of Grace and opportunities of getting Christ And what fools are we that when Christ knocks at our doors will not let in such a blessed guest that brings the Spirit and a new Heart and a pardon and eternal life with him And what fools are we that will build our eternal condition upon the sands of our own Righteousness and not upon Jesus Christ If a man should build a house upon the sands we should say he is a fool indeed the next Tide will wash it away and the ground will sink and give way all this folly and a thousand times more is in our hearts by nature but we see it not There is a strange forwardness and earnestness in us naturally to sin and a lothness to leave sin insomuch that men will be in a rage against those that would stop them in their sinful courses and though God send many afflictions as upon Pharaoh yet men turn not to the Lord indeed when men can scarce turn them in their beds they will say they will leave their wicked courses but when the affliction is over they will be as bad as ever men are so loth to part with their sins naturally that they will undo their souls unto all eternity rather then part with their lusts as Nero's mother enquiring whether her son should be Emperour she was told that he should be Emperour but then he should kill her she out of the pride and ambition of her spirit said Let him kill me so he be but Emperour so the Word of the Lord tels us that if we go on in our sins and are not converted our souls will be damned to all eternity and men say in their hearts Let me be damned so I may enjoy my base lusts O what wickedness is in the heart Men will not fall out with themselves and sins until they come to hell except they be converted but in hell men will fall out with their sins and say O thou cursed pride O cursed drunkenness O cursed uncleanness O cursed unbelief that hath undon our souls for ever And if the Lord never convert us but leave us in a state of Nature to die out of Christ how infinitely miserable shall we be for ever The wages of sin is death Rom. 6.14 Rom. 1.18 Eph. 5.6 The wrath of God like a huge Mountain will lie upon a sinners back in hell to crush him to pieces you will alwayes see God frowning upon you O think of this if thou beest not brought out of the state of Nature and ingraffed into Christ thou wilt be separated for ever from the Lord you shall never enjoy communion with him a glimpse of whose Reconciled face in Christ is worth ten thousand Worlds you will never taste one drop of those Rivers of Gods pleasures for ever of which the Saints shall have their fill O that will be a dreadful word Depart from me ye cursed Depart from me whose Loving kindness is better then Life Depart from me a day in whose Courts is better then a thousand elswhere go among the Devils who like roaring Lions seek to devour you When once men come to Hell there will be no means of Grace for ever Eccles 9.10 No work nor device nor knowledge in the grave No more dealings of Gods Spirit with men no inward nor outward comfort nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth which shews extremity of torment in Hell The Saints indeed when they die their places and Relations know them no more nor they them but then they know a better place Heaven and enjoy better Relations but a natural man leaveth all his outward comforts and goes into infinite torments O thou that are in thy natural condition give ear to this and flee from the wrath to come it may be now thou knowest not how to spend a day without some pastime or other O how wilt thou spend eternity in Hell where thou shalt never have a drop of water to cool thy tongue O consider what heart-distracting heart tormenting thoughts you will have in Hell if the Lord never convert you here how sadly will you remember what great sins you committed and with what hardness of heart how will it torment you
under their convictions remain all their days in a stoutness and sullenness against God and will turn their heels upon duties and means and cry out All is in vain I shall be damned and thus their hearts were never truly humbled to lie at Gods feet Lord if thou damn me thou art righteous but O let me live and I shall praise thee but their hearts rise up against the Lord and are fit to curse God and die thus it is with many And if they perform any duties and use any means of Grace and God do not reveal his Love and pardoning Mercy they will take it ill at Gods hands and say as they did We have fasted and he regardeth it not and so under all legal workings and convictions there remains a desperate proud heart in a man still If mens Convictions arise so high as to see that they are Unbelievers and to be convinced of the greatness of that sin whereas many that have much trouble for sin never go so far then many times if God do not give them true Faith they will content themselves in a faith of their one making which is only a work of their understanding whereby they say that they will be justified by Christ but it will be such a dead faith that for the most part it hath no Sanctification not so much as outward Sanctification accompanying it Neither doth it truly humble the Soul and lay it prostrate at the Lords feet for a pardon meerly from his own good Will and free Grace but the soul is still full of its self and confident in its own qualifications Neither doth this Faith bring joy in the holy Ghost though there be some flashes of Joy as there was in the stony ground Hearers Mat. 13. For men to be convinced of sin both in general and particular is a thing worth the desiring yet this is not the saving work of Gods Spirit But how many are convinced of many gross sins and sins that are more plainly forbidden in the Law and their Consciences are troubled for them but yet it may be all their days never see these more secret sins of trusting in their own righteousness trusting in their own strength speaking evil of the Saints and ways of God quenching the motions of the Spirit neglect of duties and means of Grace These sins many are never convinced of that yet will cry out they are damned for some gross sins CHAP. VI. The ways and Temptations by which many souls miscarry under legal Terrors and a Spirit of Bondage WHen a soul is awakened with a sight of sin and hath legal terrors and warnings to flee from the wrath to come Satan soon takes the Alarum and bestirs himself to keep the Soul still in an unregenerate â—…ate To find out all the stratagems of this cunning and long experienced enemy the devil is a difficult thing his ways are like the way of a Serpent upon a rock or like the way of a ship upon the sea which leave no fotsteps to trace them by Were it not that our Lord Jesus knows all his divices and wiles and is able to prevent all his designs no flesh would be saved but all by one means or other would be devoured by this roaring Lion yet by the Light of the word and by the observation that Believers are helped to make of the motions of Satan we are not wholly ignorant of his divices not to speak here of the way he taketh to keep them from Christ who are wholly ignorant and had never any common workings nor to speak of the innumerable temptations upon Believers and those who are sealed by the Spirit of God whereby he endeavoureth to pluck them out of Christs hands only that they are kept by the mighty power of God through faith to Salvation only here to speak of the ways and temptations by which Satan endeavoureth to ruin them that are awakened with a sight of sin and are under legal terrors and fear of the wrath to come 1. Satan endeavoureth to keep such as are thus awakened and troubled for sin ignorant of the righteousness which is by faith in Christ Jesus that free Justification of a sinner which is by the blood of Christ insomuch that Satan the god of this world doth so blind the eyes of many that have been much awakened by the sight of sin that they never understand all their days the remedy that is provided for them no not so much as in a notional way with brain-knowledge but they set themselves in their own strength to reform their lives and think that God will accept of their doings for satisfaction for the wickedness of their former life and they have a kind of peace and satisfaction in their Spirits that God is at peace with them thus many are everlastingly cheated never knowing the things that belong to their everlasting peace and being ignorant of Gods righteousness under all their zeal of God and legal performances go about to establish their own righteousness where none but Christs will be accepted and so never submit to the Righteousness which is of God by faith Rom. 10.3,4 2. Satan endeavoureth to perswade such that those legal terrors and breakings are true conversion that they bless themselves in their legal humiliation as if it were Gospel-repentance and the heart of flesh that is promised in the new Covenent 3. Satan otherwhile puts those that are thus convinced and troubled for sin upon some way of opinion and Judgement and there by his delusion and the deceitfulness of their own hearts they find much peace and quiet their sore is skinned over and they are so far now from questioning their own Salvation as they did a little before that they now question every bodies Salvation but their own that do not fall in with that opinion that they are fullen upon 4. If the Gospel be preached in the hearing of men under legal terrors Satan will endeavour to make them rest in a bare notion of Christ and a faith of their own making that they will either conclude Christ and all his benefits is theirs because they have been so humbled and broken with the Law and have so reformed and amended their ways or else they will resolve in their own strength to believe in Christ and so though it may be they were convinced that they could not keep the Law in their own strength yet they think that its an easie thing to believe in Christ and so never saw themselves so fully undone that as they could not keep the Law so they could no more believe in Christ then they could raise the dead that now they were undone for ever if the Lord did not work faith by an Almighty power 5. It is commonly known and observed how Satan doth give ease to many in these troubles and terrours by turning their thoughts to something else sending them to company and pleasures to be cured of their wound which so cures them that they are no
changed their God for that which cannot profit O shall the Heathens be constant to their dumb Idols and shall not we be constant to the living God 8. Slighting of God after we have had some acquaintance with God is quite contrary to the course of his dealings with us Ezek. 36.11 God promises to be better to us in the end then in the beginning He will give us more Communion with him and glory afterwards then he hath done yet and if God be better and better to us shall we grow worse and worse to him God forbid Now O that we might recover that we might remember from whence we are fallen and Repent and do our first works 1. Bathe our selves by faith in the blood of Christ for the pardoning of all our backslidings look upon God in Christ as not ready only to pardon our sins when we were in gross ignorance but to heal all our back-slidings because he loveth us freely Hos 14.4 Jer. 3. the beginning Look upon our Father as having a best Robe to put upon a poor Prodigals back and shoos to put upon his feet though the poor backsliden soul hath scarce a shoo to his foot as we say he hath worn out all 2. O look for fresh and new workings of Gods Spirit upon our hearts to create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us It s said of the Lord that he reneweth the face of the earth that he doth every Spring when Winter hath made the earth to look as if it were cloathed with sackcloath the Lord in the Spring putteth on a new face and dress upon the earth the Birds sing the Trees flourish the grass grows this is our case in our Winter of backsliding a Winter indeed O look that God now should bring a spring time upon thy heart is there not need 3. O look at the heart to be renewed a clean heart saith David good Lord after his backsliding Psalm 51.10 O I would have that bone set right that I may walk in thy Statutes that instrument well tuned Dauid doth not say only Lord let me never commit Murder and Adultery again but Lord give me a clean heart O that hath bred all this mischief the foulness of my heart Lord therefore cleanse that 4. If ever the Lord quicken us again be more watchful and keep close to God if we recover out of this dangerous disease let us have more care of our souls health have a care of spiritual surfets 5. And look that our Recovery be through that the humour be not only diverted but purged away 6. Count all our outward enjoyments nothing but sit mourning in Sion until God graciously visit us 7. Labour to see not only in general that we have backslidden but particularly wherein that we may return no more to folly And those who yet have thriving spirits keep in with that God that smiles upon you say not that it is impossible that thy soul should wander as a Bird from her Nest but watch and pray lest you enter into temptation Often consider that these last times will be times of much backsliding of Professors 2 Tim. 3. O get particular and distinct Knowledge wherein Professors do commonly backslide and get your hearts deeply affected with them and remember what special notice God takes of those that keep close to him in a time when many fall off Thus he took notice of Noah Gen. 7.1 and of the sons of Zadock Ezek. 44.15 Expect to be tempted and tried by an hour of temptation and look not only to be tryed as to conversation but as to Judgement as to Opinions Sathan will have a bout with you with that Weapon of Error How many are fallen off that way but labour to have more grounds out of the Word and clearer light for all you hold Let plain Christians who have no skil in Controversies yet furnish themselves with Scriptures for every point as for the Godhead of Christ Justification by Christ and the like and labour to have your hearts given up to the Truth you know put not your selves upon Temptations in hearing every body suspect those Opinions that neither further your Communion with God nor his most holy People but straiten you in both stick close to the Word and not move a hairs breadth from it Don't love to dispute against that which you are convinced to be Truth to shew your parts and reach Take in the benefit of other light in your doubts and look up to the Spirits guidance to lead you into all Truth CHAP. IX Of Assurance and peace of Conscience ALL Believers have not Assurance some Believers walk in darkness and see no light Esay 50.10 A true Saint may be in great doubtings so great as Heman complains that his troubles were so great that they did as iâ— were distract him yea a Believer may be a long time in that condition Psalm 88.15 Heman was so exercised from his youth up There are several causes why many Believers are in great doubts about their spiritual estates as 1. want of constant meditation upon Gods free Grace in Christ 2 Falling into great sins 3. The often prevailing of the same corruption 4. Want of answers of prayers 5. Some great cross and affliction that is befallen them that they are tempted to think would never have befallen them if the Lord loved them this mistake hath disturbed the peace of many a Child of God 6. The not meeting with communion with God in Duties if God loved me saith the soul would he let me come and go from his Ordinances and take no notice of me 7. The subtile Disputes of Satan against our Sincerity in the ways of God many times baffle us and make us fit to give up the cause 8. The observing that a Hypocrite may go far strikes many a Child of God into a great fear whether he be gone beyond a Hypocrite or no 9. Unacquaintedness with Gods workings upon our hearts we know but in part as we know not all the evil in our hearts so a Saint doth not know all the good and Grace that God hath put into them 10. The weakness of Grace but like a graine of mustard seed in our hearts the least of all seeds so Faith and Sincerity lies like a small mustard seed among huge clods of corruption and the soul hath much ado many times to see this grain of mustard seed among these clods Thus and many other wayes a true Child of God may fall into great doubts and fears about his spiritual estate indeed if men know of no workings that have been upon their spirits it s a sign they are yet in a natural estate the Saint of God knows that there have been workings of the Spirit and convictions upon him but he feareth that they were but common workings such as are upon Hypocrites and Reprobates and not the saving work of Gods Spirit that he questions whether he hath gone beyond the stony-ground hearers
the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith CHAP. XVIII The true Humility that is in the Lords People ALL Saints have more or less a humble frame of heart that whatsoever Grace or Gifts God bestoweth upon them they have low thoughts of themselves 1. How a humble frame of heart is shewn towards the Lord. 2. How a humble frame of heart is shewn in our carriage towards other Saints I. Towards the Lord. 1 When after all our duties and performances we look upon our selves but as unprofitable servants and infinitely unworthy that God should deal so graciously with us but we look upon all as free grace without this a man hath no Gospel humility but is a proud Pharisee whose heart is puffed up with his own righteousness and doth not glory only in the Lord. Where there is true humility of heart the Soul saith with Jacob Genesis 32.10 I am not only unworthy of of Christ and Heaven but I am less then the least of all the mercies and faithfulness which the Lord hath shewn to his servant but a man under legal workings only hath a desperate proud heart against God still and is fit to stand upon terms with God that he hath no cause to damn him though he in words confess he might do it 2 This is true humility of heart when a man can loath and abhor himself for sin as David Psalm 51.3,4 Job 42. But when a man can think of old sins and new sins and no way affected it s a sign of a proud unhumbled heart 3 When a soul is in some measure submitted to all Gods dealings to all chastisements and afflictions as David Psalm 39.9 I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it there is much humility of heart seen in this when we are willing God should do with us our Estates Relations and enjoyments as it seemeth good in his own eyes a proud heart will not bear to be crossed but saith a humble heart Though it be a grievous affliction that is befallen me yet it is from the Lord and I will be dumb and not open my mouth against it because he doth it 4 When a soul goes on to wait for a mercy and beg for a mercy when God delays a mercy and seemeth to slight the soul and yet now for the soul to wait and not to stir from the door of Mercy but beg the Alms more humbly and submissively this is like the woman of Canaan indeed she doth not go away in a snuff let Christ call her dog and she saith Truth Lord I am no better yet Lord give the dog a few crums but hearts that have not been truly humbled will fling up praying and hearing presently if they cannot find Comfort soon like a sturdy Beggar that if the Alms do not come presently goeth away in a rage O but there is many a humble heart waits and prays many a year for a mercy 5 When a soul can submit to God when he takes away a mercy that he had given us but a little before O saith a proud heart when God takes away a mercy If God had never given me it it had been better I could have been content to have been without it but did God give me Estate Children Honour to take them away so presently again O but saith an humble heart I was unworthy to have this mercy at all I have cause to bless God that I have had any sun-shiny weather in my jorney 6 It shews humility of heart when after God hath made great use of a man and God will now lay him aside that yet now we are well content and take great care that Gods work may go on though we be not imployed in it as Moses Num. 27.14,15,16,17 when the Lord told him that he should die and not lead the people into Canaan because of that sin at the water of Meribah he doth not stand upon terms and say After I have done such great service wilt thou be angry for such an offence that I who have had such a great deal of care and trouble with this people should not see the end of the work No No he doth not say a word to excuse his sin or to shew the least discontent that he was laid aside but takes care for the work going on when he is laid aside saith he Lord set a man over the Congregation that may go in before them and go out before them that the Congregation of the Lord be not as sheep without a Shepheard a proud heart would have been so offended that he would not have cared what became of the work if he were laid aside So secondly Humility of heart is seen in our carriage towards other Saints As 1 when we look upon our selves as the least of all Saints as Paul saith of himself saith an humble heart Though it may be I can discourse better yet I cannot pray so well as younder poor Saint or I cannot trust God in straits and difficulties so well as he or I have not that Gospel simplicity that he hath or I am not so forward to heavenly discourse as he is or saith an humble heart Younder Saint can submit better in affliction then I or surely he hath not so vain a heart as I or surely he hath not such distractions in duties as I so that an humble heart in one respect or another doth truly look upon himself as the least and unworthyest of all Saints 2 When we can take a reproof from the meanest Saint in the world the meanest for Estate or Gifts whereas a proud heart saith If such a one had told me of my fault I could have born it but for such as you to reprove him he cannot take it well but saith an humbly heart Lord I bless thee that thou openst the mouths of any to deal faithfully with my soul 3 Where there is an humble heart we are desirous to partake of the Light and gifts of others as well as shew our own 4 An humble heart doth not envy others that out go him in Gifts and Grace and success and are more honoured then he is as John did not envy Christ that he out-stripped him John 3.26,27,28 but could cheerfully bear witness unto Christs deserts though he ecclipsed him 5 An humble heart can condescend to the meanest office to be serviceable to poor Saints a proud heart is fit to think it a disparagement to go to the houses of poor Saints and to be seen with such mean people but saith an humble heart It s a great Mercy and favour that I may enjoy Communion with the Lords people or be any way serviceable to them though they be never so mean and poor 6 An humble heart is not so delighted and tickled and puffed up with applause and commendation from others but many times is the more humbled upon it and is more sensible of his own unworthiness All Saints have cause enough to be humble
for Christs sake hath forgiven us there will be something amiss in our carriages towards our Brethren and if we do not forgive where will our love be Minister to the wants of the Saints according to our abilities freely without grudging do not unsaint our Brethren because of some ignorance and error The Patriarcks are supposed to have been ignorant that Polygamy the having of more wives then one was a sin the disciples ignorant of Christs death and resurrection at the first visit the Saints those that are the poor especially when they are under afflictions not only to comfort them but because then usually there is much good to our selves in converse with them 21. If God hath made our days hitherto days of outward prosperity compassed us about with fulness of the creature watch against sin the more David committed those three great sins of murder adultery numbring the people when he was in prosperity and greatness And do good while we have estates or oppornity and look and prepare for afflictions don 't think God will always use thee to such fair weather and if God continue prosperity learn heavenlyness not to stick in the creature learn moderation not to surfer on the creature and daily make wise observation of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature 22. If Afflictions come see if thou canst find out the particular cause of them which sometimes may be known by the time when it comes As for Nebuchadnezar Daniel 4. to be struck just when he had been saying Is not this great Babel which I have built it was easie to know that his pride and vain glory was the cause of that woful affliction that came upon him and so Herod Act. 12. to be just smitten with death when the people cryed it was the voice of a God and he took that to himself it was easie to see that that was the cause of his death so also we may sometimes know the cause of our afflctions by that way of affliction that God useth to us it may be so like our sin as Davids affliction in the â—…eath of the Child that was by Bathsheba Vriah's wife 1 Sam. 12. it was easie to know that that sin was the cause of the childs death and so Adonibezeck Judg. 1.6,7 when he had his Thumbs and great Toes cut off he presently was convinced what was the cause of the affliction because he had served threescore and ten Kings so himself Sometimes God shews us the cause of our afflictions by setting it up upon the hearts of our Brethren among whom we live Sometimes he sets it home upon our own Spirits that such a sin is the cause of it but if the Lord never let us know all our days the particular cause of many afflictions yet we are to kiss the rod submit to his hand search and trie our waies humble our selves under his hand and walk more closely with him in the whole course of our lives 23. Take heed that we offend not with our Tongues let our words be few take not up most of the time in discourse when better gifts are present but be swift to hear let our discourse be seasonable to time place company if they be wicked such discourse as may awaken and convince if they be strong Saints such discourse as may be sutable to them sometimes it is not fit to speak in the company of weak trembling Saints what horrible temptations other Saints have unless it be to comfort them that they are not alone but others of Gods children are tempted as well as they otherways weak Saints many times fall into great torment of spirit that they shall be tempted as they are and that they shall sink under the Burthen Do not use to commend your selves neither affect in discourse to give others occasion to commend you do not delight in rough and harsh speeches be wary to whom we open our hearts in secret matters not unless they can keep Councell and give Councell use heavenly discourse among godly men for want of that makes their company to be little better then other mens in discourse be not silent when there is cause to speak out of affected gravity nor speak out of for wardness or indiscretion when our silence is better 24. Prize the Scriptures as the word of God so they are called over and over Blessed is he that heareth the Word of God and keepeth it Now the Lord is revealing light out of the Scripture more and more Satan tempts many to deny the word of God all Scripture is given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the breathing of God 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God wrote the Scriptures and they wrote them as they were moved by the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 forcibly carried out of themselves and above themselves by the holy Ghost By the word of God when the Scriptures are so called is meant that which God hath spoken that which he hath said and therefore for men to boggle at the expression and say the Scriptures are not the Word of God but only Christ is the Word of God it is as much as to say the Scriptures are not what the Lord hath spoken and what holy men wrote as they were moved by the holy Ghost as the holy Ghost indited this is a horrible temptation it is true Christ is called the word so is he the Eternal Word of God but the Scriptures also are the Word of God the written Word of God Where this temptation prevails upon men that they question the Scriptures being the word of God by degrees they throw up all Religion all truths one after another and though they do it at first under the notion of living in the spirit and of the Light within them yet at last they turn very Atheists and thus after a generation of grosly ignorant and superstitious persons there is risen up a multitude of deluded and erroneous persons even in the fundamentals of Religion But O let those that are the Lords people study the word of God day and night try all things by the Word get sutable hearts to the Word that we may understand it the better look up to the Spirit that indited the Scripture to be our Expositor and comment upon them and often try our selves by the word and take heed to all our ways according to the word read it ofner then other books and give up our hearts to all the Truths of it 25. Lay up experiences which are better then Cabinets of Jewels lay up experiences of the comfortings of the Spirit of his gracious influence in prayer and other duties lay up experiences of the ravishing consolation that flows from Christs blood lay up experiences of the vanity and emptiness of the Creature and of Gods care over us to keep us from many sins and errrors when we have had great temptations to them take special times to meditate of all the special experiences we
I can be Answ The Lord knows how to make use of the poorest child or servant that he converts sometimes he converts a child or servant and so brings Religion into a Family his Love is not grounded upon our serviceableness we bring glory to Gods Grace by our coming to Christ and the poorer creatures we are the more glory redounds to the free Grace of God in saving us Besides The weakest Saint when he comes to Heaven shall be able to sing Praises and Halleluiahs to God as well as the most eminent and if God had only looked at serviceablness he had made choice of the fallen Angles before us who could have done more service then any of us God can make the poorest Creature an eminent Saint and though it may be you may not have such gifts and opportunities of service in an outward way yet you may do God much service in an inward way fearing him loving him trusting in him admiring of his Love And let those that are in Christ and justified freely by Grace watch against any thoughts that may arise in their hearts of any worthiness in themselves as if they had any form or comliness for which they should be desired but only that God hath been gracious because he would be gracious and this is certain that the more a man grows in Gospel-grace the more wonderfull will the Love of God in Christ be to him that the souls of Believers are oftentimes astonished at the free Grace of God to them and cry out in the warmth of their Spirits Never love like to this Love let all the Angels in Heaven wonder at it to eternity CHAP. V. The Convictions and Workings that are oftentimes upon men that are never converted MAny men that are never converted have mighty Convictions upon them that they see they have been very sinfull and are ready to despair as Judas did Mat. 27. they are so troubled in their Consciences sometimes men are convinced of the vanity of the world which they have set their hearts so much upon they will cry out with Severus the Emperour Omnia fui nihil mihi profuit I have had honour and riches and those things and never the better and they will sometimes say Now none but Christ O give me Christand I have enough this is in some worldly disappointments and discontents and in the trouble and confusion of their Spirits How mightily was Balaam inlightned and convinced Num. 23. and Num. 24. he was convinced of the blessed Estate of the Saints and desired in his way to die the death of the righteous There are many that are so inlightned that they get a great deal of knowledge and shall tell Christ at the last day Mat. 7. We have prophesied in thy name that they have preached Christ to others and yet are shut out for ever from the presence of the Lord. Indeed Those that are not savingly wrought upon and yet are much inlightned commonly they fall into great Errors and if they be in Church-fellowship they will usually go out from the Saints because they were not of them joined as Members in Christs mystical body 1 Joh. 2.19 This last age wherein Gifts and Knowledge are more common then heretofore afford many sad instances of this that many have had only common inlightning and because they never received the Truth and ways of God that they seemed to own in the Love and Power of them therefore God giveth them up to strong delusions and errors 2 Thess 2.10,11 And these in Gifts go beyond many of the true Members of Christ but they are kept when the Lord leaveth others with their parts and gifts to be deluded with error God knows how to make use of the parts and gifts of Hypocrites and those that have only common inlightnings that while they are in the Churches of the Saints God may make their parts and gifts of use to the Saints God makes use of their falling away to shew his people by whom they are kept and how excellent the Grace of Christ in the hearts is above parts and common inlightnings When this sort of Professors have been most flourishing and best in appearance and high in the thoughts of many for Religion some of eminent Grace and acquaintaince with the ways of God have seen the rottenness of their hearts and have said that they were but Hypocrites as their falling away did afterwards manifest And this sort of Professors have usually a mighty itch upon their Spirits after novelty of opinions that they rove from one opinion to another and are seldom setled in any thing but take up and lay down and if they have found an opinion wherein they stick they presently pass sentence upon all Professors be they never so eminent in Grace that agree not with them in that Thus many that have common inlightnings will for a time make profession of Religion and perhaps have high notions afterwards turn very Atheists neither pray nor hear nor discourse of heavenly things but grow as proud and covetous prophane as any other and so the Scripture speaks of them that they have Consciences seared with an hot Iron return with the dog to his vomit being but dogs yet in the sight of God and with the swine after all their outward washing and reformation to their wallowing in the mire O What deep convictions have many men and cry out of their sins and the people of God rejoyce and hope that these are the pangs of the new birth and yet these men either pacifie their Consciences many times with legal Reformation with their own righteousness and leaving those particular sins which have so galled their consciences without ever becoming new creatures or else time wears out their trouble and they grow more prophane and wicked then ever they were before and among other sins that they are given up to by the righteous hand of God they will fall to mighty opposition and rage against the Saints of God But were these men united to Christ by faith No in no wise as the Heaven is higher then the Earth so is the work of the Spirit upon a true Believers heart above all the convictions and inlightnings and profession and outward reformation of those that fall away Nebuchadnezzer had great convictions yet we do not know that ever he was converted however not before he was driven from men to the beasts of the field Dan. 4.31,32 yet before that he had great convictions First By Daniels interpreting of his dream Dan. 2.47 He told Daniel that his God was the God of Gods and the Lord of Kings yet presently he fell to Idolatry Dan. 3. and commanded all to worship the golden Image which he set up and was so impudent as if he had lost all his former conviction saying verse 15. to the three Children when they would not worship his Image What God is there that can deliver you out of my hand But this is observable that many
to sin as it hath been that is a sign of a backsliding heart I do not say if the Conscience be not so scrupulous but if it be not so tender for when a man comes from under the Law and the Spirit of bondage he shall not have such a scrupulous conscience as he had before as people in that condition many times will scruple Whether they may eat or drink because they are unworthy of the creature with iunumerable other Scruples of that kind and it is a great Mercy to be freed from a scrupulous conscience it s one way by which God doth in a way of Judgement deprive men of the use of the lawfull comforts of this life when they have them in possession but I speak of true tenderness of Conscience a heart standing in a holy fear and aw of Gods word such a tender Conscience as Joseph had Gen. 39.9 How shall I do such great wickedness and so sin against God 2. Sign If there be a general neglect of secret Duties or constant deadness or formality in them this is a sign of a backsliden heart when a soul could have watcht for opportunities to pray and could have prayed with groans and sighs that can not be uttered and now duties are generally neglected or we have nothing but hard hearts and dry eyes in them 3. Sign If there be a general neglect and carelesness of assembling our selves with the Saints and holding communion with them its rare to see a man that hath left meetings and Communion of Saints that doth not fall wofully either as to error of conversation 4. Sign If there be an itch upon the Spirit after novelty of opinions and teachers and a disregard of those whom the Lord hath made Instruments of good to us heretofore thus the people forsook Paul 2 Tim. 1.15 Were not the Galathians much backsliden that now slighted Paul whom God had made an Instrument of so much to them that they would have parted with any thing to him 5. Sign of backsliding is If Professors grow worldly and earthly who have sat loose from the world heretofore Do we see a Professor that now holdeth his hands from doing good to poor Saints and grows now an oppressor and is all for racking and that which is called now in these days by the fine word Improvement know that that man is backsliden and gone back 6. Sign If men grow careless of offending their Brethren and will grow touchy with a whole Church Men usually when they break with God in some secret way they are never well till they have broken with his People time was when they could have born more from a single brother then now they can with a whole Church 7. Sign If men quite leave off using means to convert their Relations and Neighbours to draw them to Christ time was when thou hadst a heart to be speaking of the ways of God to thy friends and neighbours and now thou canst come into their company and nothing but Complements or Worldly discourse If men leave off to take care of the publique cause and interest of Christ and mind not whether Religion get ground in the town and country this is a sad sign of a backsliden heart 8. Sign If men grow careless of Gospel-institutions as hearing the word Church-fellowship breaking of bread O sometimes you counted it above all earthly things to have a name in Gods house and to see the Lords goings in the sanctuary and now you have no stomack it s a sign of want of Spiritual health 9. Sign If that though there be some stirring affections now and then yet if the constant frame of the heart be worse then formerly this is a sign of a backsliden heart A man through obstructions may have flushings in his face which may make him look wel but if his constant complexion be pale and wan we say he is not right so here if our hearts are grown dead in duties hard after the commission of sin backward to duties and our thoughts generally vain it shews some great distemper though at times by fits we have some stirring Affections 10. Sign When we grow high and are puft up with our knowledge that now all the Saints in Town and Country are nothing to them and all their gifts they think are nothing to theirs 11. Sign When we grow intimate companions of wicked men the falling at ods with the Saints and the falling in with wicked men is a sad sign of a backsliden heart they are both put together Mat. 24.49 eating and drinking with the drunken and smiting our fellow servants 12. Sign If we cannot bear opposition from the world in our Christian course as we have done but are fit to comply time was when we made nothing of scoff and jears and now we can scarce bear them but are fit to suit our ways to the world that they may let us alone this is a sad saln Spirit 13. Sign If a mans heart is not affected with the thoughts of Gods free Grace in Christ as heretofore this is a sad sign of a spiritual consumption time was when a Sermon of free Grace was like the honey and the hony comb but if ever God recover us the Doctrine of Gods free Grace in Christ will be the sweetest Doctrine in all the world to us I shall not stand to aggravate this backsliding and revolting from the Lord the Lord aggravate it upon our Spirits only that 1 Though the sould be recovered and come safe to heaven yet it hinders our present serviceableness to God and now is our working time Heaven is the time of receiving our time of enjoying 2 The backsliding of professors grieves the Spirit of God more then the sins of other men 3 They bring an evil report upon the ways of God that those that are without will say See what their Religion is it s only a little heat a sudden passion such a one hath done going to Sermons and Meetings now 4 It s a mighty dis heartning to young Beginners to see old Professors backslide and grow so dead Satan perswades them that they will do so too and therefore you had as good never enter upon the profession of Religion you see the ways of God are so strict that they soon grow weary of them thus Satan temps many young Beginners 5 Backsliden Professors are dangerous company for any body wicked men are hardened by their company and thriving Saints are deaded and offended 6. That is a great aggravation of our sin herein that it is without all cause as the Lord said Jer. 2.5,6,7 What iniquity have your Fathers found in me that they have forsaken me Doth not God keep a good house and doth he not bountifully reward that we run away from him 7. Wicked men are constant they don't fall off from their wayes and shall we fall off from the wayes of God Jer. 2.11,12,13 Have the Nations changed their Gods but my people have
many times So that there is great need of the witness of the Spirit besides all our evidences to put the matter out of doubt that we are effectually called and so it is writen Rom. 8.15 The Spirit himself witnesses with our spirits that we are the sons of God He makes a heart-affecting discovery of the love of God in Christ to the soul Rom. 5.5 excites and stirs up Faith in the heart to act afresh upon the Lord Jesus works some joy in the soul from the apprehension of our Acceptance in Christ The Holy Ghost sometimes in assuring us of Gods love in Christ takes Promises in the Scriptures and sets them with power upon the heart as I am He that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own Names sake and will remember thy sins no more Not that all words of Scripture that are cast into our minds are from the Spirit of the Lord but sometimes from Satan sometimes Promises come into our minds in an ordinary way as other things come to mind that we have read or heard but when any word of Scriptute is given in and applied in a way of comfort to our spirits from the Spirit of God 1. It will take some Impression though it may be that when the Spirit comes to comfort and witness he many times comes not with such irresistibility as when he comes to sanctifie yet some Impression it will have upon the heart if not to fill it with joy and Triumphing of spirit yet some way to support it and bear it up 2. If it come from the Spirit it will be suitable and seasonable to our condition as if a poor Saint be in affliction and the Holy Ghost should give in such a word as that in Heb. 12.9 He afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness this is a seasonable word but many will say that such a Scripture was given in to them in such a condition when as the Scripture was nothing suitable to their condition but they mistook the meaning of the place 2. When the Spirit giveth in Scripture usually though not alwayes it is when the soul is in some strait some great strait and then he giveth them in some word upon which he causeth them to hope 4. Such words of Promise as the Spirit applies thus to a soul are very dear to the soul ever after yea it makes the whole Word of God more dear to them and such words do abide upon the memory very long 5. They raise up thankfulness in the heart 6. They do not cherish us in any way of sin if you thought you had any word from the Lord to put you upon any thing that the Word saith is sin then you were mistaken Somtimes the Spirit of God in comforting and witnessing to us doth not make use of any particular places and Promises but makes a general Discovery of the Gospel and New Covenant and applies that to the soul and shews him that he hath an Interest in the New Covenant that he is one of those whose Names are written in heaven and is sprinkled with the blood of Christ which cleanseth him from all sin This also I would here note that the Spirit of God doth speak peace to the consciences of many Believers that yet think they have no peace and question the truth of Grace in their hearts I say though it comes not so high as Ravishments of spirit yet the Holy Ghost in some more secret way hath quieted their hearts How comes it to pass else that those Believers notwithstanding all their doubtings yet do really and experimentally find that they can go to God as to a Father in prayer they are carried out to put all their cases to God and trust him with all their concernments and they find that the rancour of their spirits is taken off against the Lord these things declare plainly that in some secret way the Spirit of God hath quieted their hearts and given them some satisfaction concerning their sincerity and Truth of Grace though it hath not been so plain as to some other Saints that have had full assurance and abundance of joy in the Holy Ghost thereupon Let not the Saints be impatient and fret to do evil if the Spirit don't presently give them assurance neither let them think that they shall never have assurance because they have been long without it The Lord oftentimes lets things come to the worst before he sends help Peace and Assurance may be very near when thou thinkest that there is almost now no hope yea this is observable that when the Holy Spirit shall give assurance after much doubting that assurance oftentimes is more lasting then others that have had comfort sooner But God lets some even spend their dayes in sighing and their years with heaviness and even mourn out their eyes and hearts and find no rest and peace in Believing the Lord makes known to us by such examples the bitterness of sin the power of his Terrours the danger of backsliding and that he only can speak peace Let Christians beware of getting a habit of complaining and doubting as I have known some have got such a habit of complaining that upon all occasions and in all company they must be laying out their doubtings not but that Christians should make known their troubles and fears in suitable times one to another both that others seeing the straits that they are in may pray the more for them and might comfort them with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God but I say many have such a habit of complaining that I had almost said whether they have doubts and troubles upon their spirits or no they think it not well if they have not some complaint to make and think that their godly friends expect it alwayes from them Some not considering what Faith is viz. the souls being brought off from all other things to depend and relie upon the Lord Jesus for eternal life they bear false witness against themselves that they do not believe in Christ thinking that faith is nothing but some high Ravishments and almost perfection whereas ask such souls Hath the Lord convinced you of your miserable estate by nature both in respect of the damning and domineering power of sin and they can truly say yea the Lord hath convinced me of this Ask them further Hath the Lord shewn you that all your own Righteousness can never save you nothing but a crucified Christ can do it the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath powerfully convinced me of this ask the soul further Hath the Lord ever made you truly sensible that you could not believe in your own strength but Faith was the Lords free gift and the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath made me sensible of this and you ask further Did you ever find an Almighty power of Gods Spirit drawing your heart to Christ to take him for the Lord your Righteousness so that
to it but the Name of Mass and to call it the Sacrifice of the Mass there are many Promises in the Scripture that there shall be much light in the last dayes Knowledge shall abound 7. A particular Church is a company of visible Saints that join themselves voluntarily together to enjoy the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus among themselves and to build up one another in their most holy faith this appears by the Epistles to the Church of Rome Corinth Ephesus the rest where they are called Saints faithful Brethren sanctified in Christ Jesus such as the Lord had begun a good work in Phil. 1.6,7 The Apostle saith it was meet to think so of every member of that Church yea he calleth the members of the Church of the Thessalonians Elect 1 Thes 1.4 and giveth the Reason ver 5. because that the Gospel came to them not in word only but with power and the Holy Ghost and much assurance not but that in those Churches there might be some that in the sight of God might be unbelievers but when they were taken into to those Churches they had such knowledge and Grace that so far as the Church could judge they could own them to be effectually called Many shifrs may be found out to withstand the Truth but if the Epistles to the Churches be weighed and the practice of the Apostles in the first Churches they are of no weight 8. Whatsoever corruption crept into the Church of Corinth other Churches doth no way alter the case for they were all visible Saints when they were first gathered and the Incestuous person and such were to be Excommunicated 1 Cor 5. else their Church-state would soon have been destroyed for such leaven would soon have leavened the whole lump and though that incestuous person was suffered a while yet upon the Apostles writing to them he was cast out and God so blessed that dreadful Ordinance of Excommunication to him that he repented and was taken in again And for their disorders at the Lords Supper they so repented and reformed upon the writing of that Epistle that the Apostle charges them not with those disorders in his second Epistle to them yea the Apostle in his second Epistle to the Corinthians giveth them great commendations as Ch. 7.12,13,14 Ch. 9.14 he speaks of the exceeding Grace of God in them 9. The more evidence of Grace and satisfaction in every member the purer the Church is at its first gathering 10. Most people amongst us make not so much as an outward profession of Religion how many either hold fundamental Errors or are grosly ignorant or are prophane and scoffers at the Spirit of God and power of godliness yet the Apostle giveth a direction to Timothy to teach the Church what they should do in case of profession that if men have a Form of godliness and deny the power of it declare themselves plainly by their conversations to have no Grace in their hearts he bids us from such to turn away 2 Tim. 3.5 11. The creeping in of corrupt members into Churches the best Churches is so far from being an Argument to lay aside all Rules and care of the Church in admitting members that its a strong Argument to put them upon all Christian care if so many enemies get into the Garrison when every man that cometh in is questioned what will there be when there is no watch nor care at all because that Believers after all their watching praying and believing have some sinful weaknesses should they neglect all care and duty this were a strange Argument Nay but therefore watch and pray and strive and believe for power against corruption 12. The way to come out of confusion into Church order is by godly mens joyning together as a Church of Christ upon good satisfaction of one anothers Grace and so to chuse their Officers that are to be their Overseers in the Lord the choice of whom by the Church is part of their liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free that society of people is no longer fit to be called a Church that must have their Officers imposed on them 13. In the common way there is little like Church-fellowship instead of watching over one another to keep one another up there is watching for one anothers halting rejoycing in them instead of Heavenly Discourse swearing and cursing 14. Though the generality of people amongst us do not in words deny Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel but in words agree to it as it is the Religion of their country commonly here professed yet they no otherwise profess it then they would do any other Religion if it should be publiquely commanded as the main Body in King Henry the eighths time and Edward the sixt Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth turned four times in twelve years therefore let not wise and gracious men lay weight upon such a sandy verbal Profession of men that hath no signs accompanying it of Grace and sincerity in their hearts 15. When Believers enter into Church-fellowship what can be said against a Holy Covenant thereby professing and declaring the full purposes of their hearts to walk in all the Ordinances of Christ and in the fellowship of that Church as God shall give them light assistance and opportunity such engagements in all Politique Bodies have their use 16. Although living together be convenient for those that joyn in Church-fellowship especially some of them for to manage Church Affairs that they may be alwayes present yet rather then to live without the Ordinances all our dayes in a way satisfying to our own consciences we may joyn to the nearest Churches till God open a door of opportunity for us at home 17. The Church is not the Officers but the Body of the Saints Acts 15.4 And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Elders so that the Apostles and Elders were not counted the Church and ver 22. then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church so the Apostle in his Epistles to Rome Corinth and the rest calleth the Body of the Saints the Church I know not how any Officers of the Churches can be the Church Representative as some phrase it except they be Deputed and appointed by a Church to be their Messengers to transact any business for them and in their stead and of Messengers of the Churches in that sense we read in the Scripture 18. If that one thing were done among the godly in the Nation that visible Saints embodied together and chose their Officers to go out before them in the Lord all other differences about the power of particular congregations and the jurisdiction of Synods and the like would either by light or love among the Churches be sweetly composed but while many godly Ministers stand so stiff upon their former ordination that will look for no solemn Call from those Churches they count themselves Pastors of and observe no way of
and very low in their own eyes aâ— for the sins of our unconverted Estate which we should often think of so as to admire Gods free Grace in calling of us out of darkness and to have new sorrow for old sins so as to put forth fresh acts of Faith for pardon so as to avoid all Occasions and Temptations to draw us to those old sins again so as to rely mightily upon Christs strength to keep us and so as to be humble and very low all our days The Lord many times sets on old sins upon the Consciences of his people with some terror but then it is usually when we are either in danger of falling into those sins again or have our hearts grow proud and puffed up forgeting what we were formerly but that God hath loved us freely And so our daily sins after Conversion our deadness and formality and unserviceableness all call for great humility of heart and self-abhorrence CHAP. XIX Some directions for Believers in their walking with God and their conversation in the world 1. LEt all Saints be well acquainted with Gods workings upon their souls the time and manner and be sensible of the backwardness and opposition of their own hearts to all the grace that God hath wrought in them that God hath magnified his Grace exceedingly in all the good that he hath done them Our Iniquities and the stubborness of our hearts testifie against us but God hath made it appear that he hath done all that he hath done for us for his own names sake 2. Be sensible of the corruption of our hearts remember all the iniquities of our youth get sound Repentance for the sins of our unregenerate estate when we knew not God observe our great backslidings since our Conversion and the sins that do most easily beset us and loath our selves for them and beg special Grace and strength from Christ where we are most weak and tempted 3. Renew our Faith daily upon Christ and meditate upon Gods free Grace in Christ which is notonly to be taken as a cordial in some swooning fits but our daily food for we live by the faith of the Son of God Gal. 2.20 4. Getting Intimacy with the spirit of God and wait daily for his comforting teachings strengthnings and sanctifying influences and seasonable bringing of Scriptures and truths to our remembrance refuse not his light when he would teach us any thing though it be a despised persecuted Truth and never so contrary to our former apprehensions quench not his motions when he would put us upon any duty resist not his motions to stop us in any way of sin be thankfull for all his visits for his visitations preserve our Spirits we will thank a godly man for a visit much more the blessed Spirit count all our Prayers and services but as dead carcases if there be not the Spirits breathings and influences in them grieve him not who is our Comforter and makes us glad be not proud of his enlargements but let him have the praise of them 5. Be constant in all duties and Ordinances private and publique and be carefull that we neither be dead nor formal nor rest in our duties pray against distractions in duties which is a sin that is very hardly mortified 6. Watch against errors in judgement be not taken with the outward appearance of those that bring opinions knowing that Deceivers will come in Christs name Mat. 24. and will transform themselves into Ministers of righteousness Nay follow not men that are really godly without light out of the word for godly men know but in part do not reject every thing that seemeth to be new for many Truths especially about Discipline are revealed in these last times which godly men in former times were ignorant of that though God revealed to them the necessary Truths to Salvation yet in other things they are mistaken 7. Expect Temptations every day and be sensible of our own weakness to stand in an evil day labor to know that our Temptations are Temptations don 't venture upon Temptations don't come too near the devils forts and think we can retreat when we wil don't think that the devil plays only one game at once he hath many stratagems at once if he cannot prevail to draw to sinfull lusts he will endeavour to draw to Error if he cannot sink the soul with terrors he will labor to puff it up with Gifts be not confident when we have gotten a victory over Satan and think we have routed him he will not leave us so but will rally his forces again and give us open battell or lie in ambush for us Sometimes Satan only feigns himself to be overcome and comes afterward with more success yea a soul that hath got the better through the strength of Christ in some great temptation wherein Satan hath seemed to fight with all his forces yet may be worsted in a less temptation if Christ the Captain of our Salvation do not lead us on 8. Be well skilled in the Promises and meditate in them day and night and go not to the Promise upon legal terms close with the Promises of free Grace such as Ezek. 36.27,28 Jer. 31.32,33 before we close with the Promises that are made to Grace already wrought such as are made Mat. 5. to such as are poor in Spirit and hunger thirst after righteousness close with Christ before we close with the promises for all the Promises are Yea and Amen in him and through him to them that are in him 2 Cor. 1. And they are made first to Christ Gal. 3.16 as the head of the Elect let every Promise be as a stream to lead us to Christ the head and wel-spring of the Promises who hath all that in him that all the Promises put together do contain 9. Though in our young time we have been carried out in holiness in some comfortable measure yet be careful least in our old age and when we have been Professors a great while we do not fall off from our first love and zeal and tenderness of Conscience we read of Asa 2 Chron. 15. what great things he did for God in his young time yet in the next Chapter we see how much he fell and Solomon in his young time was fearfull of Idolatry but in his old age he was mightily carried away with it not only young Christians but old Saints of twenty or thirty years standing had need walk circumspecty 10. Practice that great duty of self-examination daily and desire of God to search us and try us and make us to know our iniquities and give us sound humiliation for them for godly men may lie a great while in a sin before they be truly sensible of it as David before he was truly sensible of that sin of Adultery as appears by 2 Sam. 12. that it could not be less then three quarters of a year for when the Prophet Nathan came to him the child that he had by
the Spirit abroad we may want such opportunities of secret duties as we have used at home which may put the heart much out of frame 16. It s a great matter in Religion for Saints to walk with God in our relations if our Parents be alive we are to honor them and be subject to them so was Christ to his Parents for our example Luke 2.51 yea the Apostle would have Children requite their Parents for all their care and cost and not be stuborn and undutifull if they don't do for them as they would if God brings into the Relation of a Husband he is to love his wife and not be bitter and harsh and like a Nabal that the wife may not miss her other dear relations that she hath left to cleave unto him but find all made up in his love yea if the wife be barren the husband must not think much with her when Hannah 1 Sam. 1.6,7,8 was troubled because she bare no Children to her Husband Elkanah he comforted her and said Why art thou grieved Am not I better then ten Sons If God calls to the relation of a Wife we know what directions the Scripture gives for the Wife to be subject to her Husband yet many godly women that are close walkers and tender-conscienced otherways yet do not seriously consider enough lay that Duty upon their consciences but though their Husbands through their Love may cover it yet they must look upon it as a sin before the Lord. Let Husband and Wife beg of God to give them suitable affections one to another and mingle all their conjugal love with spiritual If God call to be a Father then the Scripture tells us that we must bring up our Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord be not an Eli to our Children he though he was a good man yet failed much in this 1 Sam. 2.22,23,24,25 he was too indulgent to them for he should not only have spoken as he did but he should have reproved them more sharply and should have put his sons out of their office in which they were so wicked bless God if he work Grace in our Children for he is not bound to them he hath no need of our posterity but can take out of the prophanest families if he please the most eminent Saints have had prophane Children care not only for outward things for them but that they may be the Lords that when we are dead and gone they may know the God of their Fathers and when we are rotten in our Graves they may stand up in our steads to own and love and walk with that blessed God that we in our pilgrimage walked with If God call us to be maisters of Families and have servants then we are as David to walk in our houses with a faithful heart instruct our servants and family in Gods ways as God knew Abraham would do and forbear threatning and give them that which is right for their service and if they be sick not to throw them off to shift for themselves but as the Centurion went to Christ for the cure of his servant so should we look out for cure for them If we be to marry we are to marry in the Lord not to marry carnal yoak-fellows for their beauty or riches some have paid dear for that for while they have married carnal yoak-fellows they have either been carried too much away with their sins or have lost so much of their Liberty in Gods ways that they have gone with sorrow to their graves Be well acquainted with the Covenant of Grace get distinct knowledge of it Many Professors are very dark in the blood of Christ insomuch that they loose their peace almost upon every sinning and so have legal repentance for sin when they should have Gospel-repentance which is the Repentance that Believers should have called Zach. 12.10 mourning over Christ crucified and mourning as for an only Son which is not only great mourning but mourning out of Love 18. Count upon opposition from the world and never think if we walk with God to escape the worlds censures the thoughts of this to frame our actings in Religion so as to keep peace with carnal people hath made some comply so far as to lose their zeal and be a shame to Religion 19. When we have any orderly opportunities put into our hands in any thing to lift up the name of God in our generations let it not slip but put our necks to the work if we are clear in the work and our call to it for it may be there will never such an opportunity of service to God be put into our hands all our days again now is our working time now we have opportunities for Reformation and converting others which we shall not have in the Grave whether we are going 20. Walk in love with the Saints break not with them upon every small difference of Judgement if you see some truth that they are dark in it may be they see much more in other things then you do watch against the Beginning of differences Do not every thing you may when you are in the presence of weak Saints 1 Cor. 10.32 consider the tempers of these Saints we converse with their natural tempers their education temptations corruptions and walk tenderly and wisely towards them carry our selves humbly towards all Saints especially when we differ in any thing from them for many times not so much the thing wherein we differ from others breaks love between and us as our high and proud carriage in that matter In all our care to walk in love with the Saints and not to give them offence look up to God to send a Spirit of love between you for somtimes when a godly man hath it in his eye to order a business so as to give no offence to his Brother yet not looking to God in it offence is taken whereas at other times when we have done that which might justly give offence to our Brethren and our heart looks up to God to prevent offences and breaches God covereth wonderfully these things and holds our Brethrens eyes and thoughts from looking upon them and so graciously prevents the folly and rashness of our spirits in making a breach with our Brethren for God can send an evil spirit of discord between men as he did in a way of Judgement between Abimeleck and the men of Sechem Iudg. 9.23,24 And God can send forth a Spirit of Love that brethren may live together in Unity give always the respect that is due to godly men according to their age and condition that God hath placed them in the world beware of vanity and unprofitable converse with godly men God oftentimes punishes that with foolish and causless breaches let all our reproofs to our brethren be with tenderness and a Spirit of meekness else they will provoke forgive our brethren freely and from the heart what may be amiss in their carriage towards us as God