sincere because it is constant hee desires the Word at all times and as his appointed foode daily as it is in the bodily appetite though after feeding the stomack may seeme to bee full and satisfied yet the hunger reuiues againe euery day so is it with the heart of a Child of God whereas wicked men regard the Word but by fits and in a passion and then at length fall cleane away from the affection to it Psal. 119. 20. Iob 23. 12. 3. By his loue to them that loue the Word 4. By his sorrow because other men keepe not the Word Psal. 119. 136. 5. By his vnfained estimation of the Word aboue all worldly things accounting it to bee an happy portion to enioy the word in the power and profit of it Psa. 119. 14 72 111. 6. By his desire and delight to exercise himself in it day and night that is constantly Psa. 1. 2. 7. By his griefe either for the want of the m◅ans by which the Word might be taught vnto him with power accounting such want of the meanes to be a sore famine or for want of successe in the vse of the meanes when he doth enioy it Psalm 42. 3. Amos 8. 12. 8. By the extent of his loue to all the Word of God euen the Law that with threatning shews him his sin and searcheth out his most secret corruptions being most affected with that ministery that doth most sharply rebuke sinne 9. By his resolution to labour as hard for the food of his soule as men doe or he would doe for the food of his body Iohn 6. 27. Amos 8. 12. 10. By the cōstant sweet taste he finds in it especially when it is powerfully preached Psal. 19. 10 2 Cor. 2. 15. 11. By the end hee propounds vnto himselfe in the vse of the word which is that hee might not sin and that his wayes might be pleasing to God hiding the word in his heart to this purpose Psal. 119. 11. 12. By his willingnesse and resolution to deny his owne reason and affections his credit his carnall friends his profites or his pleasures in anything when God should so require it of him and vpon any occasion to shew his heartie respect of the Gospell Marke 10. 29. 1 Cor. 1. 18. 13. By the effects of it as 1. When for the loue he bears to the Word hee will seperate himselfe from the wicked that might any way with-draw his heart or endanger his disobedience Ps. 119. 115. 2. When he accounts the Word to be his chiefe comfort in affliction and finds it to be the maine stay and solace of his heart Psal. 119. 23 24 50 51 54 143. 3. When it workes in him effectually the redresse of his wayes and freedome from the dominion of sinne Iohn 8. 32. Psalme 119. 45 9 59 1 Thessalonians 2. 13. 4. When it workes in him certaine and sensible assurance of heart before God This assurance is an infallible signe of the right vse of the Word 1 Thessalonians 1. 5. And thus of the second gift The third gift is the spirit of praier or supplication as the Prophet Zachary cals it Zach. 12. 10. and this gift hee hath aboue all wicked men which hee shewes many wayes as 1. Hee askes according to Gods will 1 Iohn 5. 14. 2. He prayes with perswasion that God will heare him Hee beleeueth in some measure that hee shall haue what hee prayes for Hee prayes in faith Marke 11. 24. Iames 1. 6 7. Psalme 6. 9. 1 Iohn 3. 22. 3. He prayes in the Name of Christ and is affected with the sense of his owne vilenesse and relies vpon the merits and mediation of Iesus Christ Iohn 14 13. Psa. 86. 1 2. and 143. 1 2. 4. He will pray at all times Iob 27. 9. Psal. 106. 3. 5. He is feruent in prayer his heart praieth he hath the affections of prayer Iames 5. 16. Psalm 6. 8. 6. Praier makes him exceeding weary of the world it giues him such a taste of his owne sinfulnesse and of Gods goodnesse and of the glory of Heauen that he is vehemently carried with desire to bee absent from the body that hee might be present with the Lord Psa. 39. 12. 7. When he knowes not how to pray as hee ought the Spirit prepares his heart excites in him holy desires supplyes him sometime with words sometime with affections and sometimes worketh inward vnexpressable groanes which yet it presents to God as effectuall prayers Romans 8. 26 27. 8. Hee findes an holy rest and quietnesse in his conscience and heart with spirituall boldnesse and confidence of trust in God if he heare him graciously and answer him in mercy Psalme 3. 4 5 6. and 116. 17. and 91. 15. Ieremiah 33. 3. 9. He loues the Lord exceedingly for hearing his prayer and desires to keepe himselfe in the loue of God Psalme 116. 1. Iude 20. 21. 10. His prayers proceed from an heart that loues no sinne but desires to depart from iniquitie and to doe that which is pleasing in Gods sight 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Ioh. 3. 22. 11. He loues prayer in others 2 Tim. 1. 21. 12. Hee striues against deadnesse of spirit and distractions as an heauie burthen Psalme 86. 3. 4. 13 He makes praier his chiefe refuge and he will pray though prayer bee in neuer so much disgrace Psalme 69. 10 13. and 142. 25. And thus of the third gift The fourth gift is the loue of his enemies Any Christian may loue such as loue him but to loue his enemies is onely to be found in the true Christian which he proues by these tokens of the sinceritie of his loue 1. He can pray heartily for them yea in some cases he can mourne and humble his soule before God for them in their distresses Psal. 35. 13 14. 2. Hee desires their conuersion so vnfainedly that hee is sure if they were conuered hee could reioyce in them as heartily as in those hee now much delights in 3 Hee can likewise forgiue them their particular trespasses against him being more grieued for their sinnes against God then for the wrongs they doe him Math. 6. 14. 4 He can freely acknowledge their iust praises 5 He cannot onely patiently endure their reuilings but can forbeare when he could bee reuenged by bringing shame or miserie vpon them 1. Peter 3. 9. Rom. 12. 14. 1 Sam. 24. 18 19. yea he doth as he hath occasion striue to ouercome their euill with goodnesse being willing to helpe them or relieue them in their miserie and doe th◅m any good for soule or body The last gift which is found in the true Ch◅istian while he is in the way in this life is His loue of the appearing of Christ which hee shewes 1 By the longing after the time of Christs comming whether by death or iudgement 2 By his gladnesse at the promises or signes of his particular or generall commings 3 By his often meditations of that day and his hearty prayers for the
16. 1 Iohn 2. 2â—… Outwardly he offends That makes an Image to resemble God by it Deut. 4. 12 15. Esay 40. 18. That vseth any gesture of loue and reuerence vnto such Images by whomsoeuer made Hos. 13. 2 That mentions the names of Idols either by way of swearing or apologie Exodus 23. 13. That is present at the Idolatrous feasts and therefore hee much more offends that is present at the seruice of the idoll 1 Cor. 10. 21 22. Exod. 34. 15. Psal. 106. 28. That worshippeth the Image or God in the Image Comm. 2â—… Exod. 32. Iudg. 17. 3. Thus of the sinnes against the meanes of Gods worship CHAP. VI. Shewing how many wayes men sin against the holy manner of Gods worship THe sins against the manner of Gods worship follow And because it were tedious to reckon vp the seuerall sinnes against each part of Gods worship because in diuers things the same offences may bee committed against any one of the parts of Gods seruice Therefore I will briefely touch the generall wayes of offending in the manner of any worship of God and then more specially reckon the sins against those parts of Gods worship that are most vsuall and ordinary It is an offence in any seruice due to God to serue him Hypocritically in shew and not in deed Esay 29. 13. Without repentance to bring the loue of any sinne to any part of his seruice Esay 1. 15. Without delight and willingnesse Ioshua 24. 15. Without constancie to serue him but by â—…its Hosea 6. 4. Without consideration or reuerence Eccl. 5. 1 2. Thus in generall In particular 1. He offends in hearing the VVord That is vnteachable Esay 28. 9 10 11. That hath idols in his heart through lust or malice or couetousnesse Ezechiel 14. 7. Iames 1. 21. That heares without attention and comes for custome sake Eccl. 5. 1. Ezech. 33. 31 32. That is not a doer of the word Matthew 7. 26. 2. He offends in Prayer That praies not at all times or with perseuerance in prayer Iob 27. 10. Luke 18. 1. That prayes without vnderstanding or power of the Spirit 1 Cor. 14. 15. That delights not in the Almighty Iob 22. 26. That regards wickednesse in his heart Psalme 66. 18. Pro. 21. 27. Esay 1. 15 16. That doubts and waâ—…ers or is discontented vpon false surmises that God heareth him not Iames 1. 5 6. Mal. 2. 13. 3. He offends in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper That discernes not the Lords Body 1 Cor. 11. 29. That examines not himselfe before hee eates of that Bread and drinkes of that Cup refusing to iudge himself for known offences 1 Cor. 11. 28. That beleeues not the operation of God Col. 2. 12. That reconciles not himselfe to such as hee hath offended by trespassing against them Mat. 5. That despiseth the Church and people of God 1 Cor. 11. 22. 4 He offends in swearing That sweares by that which is no God Ier. 5. That sweares in common talke and feares not an oath Ier. 23. 10. Math. 5. 34. Eccl. 9. 2. That sweares falsly Zach. 5. 4. That loues false oathes Zach. 8. 17. CHAP. VII Which shewes how men offend in breaking the Sabbath HItherto of the sins against the meanes and manner of Gods worship thetime of Gods worship followes which is principally the Sabbath Now sinnes against the Sabbath are either more secretly or more openly More secretly he offends That remembers not the Sabbath day before it come to vnloade his heart of worldly cares and businesse Comm. 4. That longs to haue the Sabbath ouer-past Amos 8. 5. That spends the day in idlenes That flourisheth not according to the blessings of God in respect of the meanes on the Sabbath day Psal. 92. the title with verse 13 14. That honours not the Sabbath with delight to doe Gods worke on that day Esay 58. 13. That is vnwilling to be informed concerning the authoritie and seruice of the Sabbath This is to hide his eyes from the Sabbath as the phrase is Ezechiel 22. 26. More openly he offends That omits publike or priuate duties or comes in too late or goes out too soone Ezech. 46. 10. Psal. 92. the title with vers 2. Leuit. 23. 3. That doth any manner of worke on that day Exod. 20. 10 11. and 31. 15. And thus he offends That sels wares Neh. 10. 31. and 13. 15 20. That carries burthens Neh. 13. 15 19. Ier. 17. 21. That trauels abroad Exodus 16. 29. Yea he offends That works in haruest on that day Exod. 34. 22. Neh. 14. 15. That workes vpon pretence it is a light worke Exod. 16. 27 28. and 35. 2 3. Numb 15. 32. Matth. 12. 1 c. That employes his cattell or seruants though he worke not himselfe Exod. 23. 12. That finds his pleasures that is that vseth recreations Esay 58. 13. That speakes his own words Esay 58. 13. That hauing power reformes not the abuses of others against the Sabbath Nehem. 13. Ier. 17. The aggrauation is to doe any of these things presumptuously CHAP. VIII The diuision of the sins against the second Table and how men offend in the Familie Church or Common-wealth HItherto of sinnes against God The sinnes against man are to be considered either more specially or more generally More specially we offend against others in respect of that relation wherein we stand as superiours or inferiours to them and so men offend 1. In the Family 2. In the Common-wealth 3. In the Church In the Familie 1. The wife offends That is not subiect to her husband or not in euery thing Eph. 5. 22 24. Col. 3. 18. That is wastfull Prou. 14. 1. That is froward Prou. 21. 9 19. That is idle Prou. 31. 13. 2. The husband offends That loues not his wife Eph. 5. 25. That dwels not with her as a man of knowledge 1 Pet. 3. 7. 3. The childe offends That disobeyes his parents Rom. 1. 30. Tit. 1. 6. Eph. 6. 1. That vseth any vnreuerent behauiour or any way sets light by them Commandement 5. Ezeck 22. 7. That receiueth not rebuke or correction with submission and reuerence Prou. 13. 1. Hebr. 12. 9. That relieues not his parents in their wants Math. 15. 6. The aggrauations are To despise their instructions Prou. 15. 5. To discouer their infirmities Gen. 9. 22. To despise their infirmities either for deformity or infirmity Prou. 23. 22. To shame them or grieue them Prou. 28. 7. and 27. 11. and 10. 1. To mocke them Prou. 30. 17. To curse them Prou. 20. 20. and 30. 11. Exod. 21. 17. To smite them Exod. 21. 15. To waste their estates or chase them away from him Prou. 19. 29. 4. The parents offend In generall that bring not vp their children in nurture and instruction of the Lord Ephe. 6. 4. In particular That restraine not sin in them 1 Samuel 3. 13. That correct them not but leaue them to
cannot haue such force to melt the waxe as the beames of Gods presence haue to melt the heart Iames 4. 6 7 3. 7. The Apostle Paul being a sturdy Pharisee had his heart beaten to power with the feare of the tenth Commandement that told him Hee must not lust The knowledge and consideration of the abundance of sinne-guiltinesse he hath drawne vpon himselfe by the inward fruits of his euill nature kil'd him outright brake his pride and mortified him as hee at large repeates Rom. 7. 8 Remember the passion of thy Sauiour the pouerty banishmēt ignominie temptations the apprehension forsaking arraignment condemning and cruell death which hee suffered for thy sinnes Looke vpon him that was pierced for thy sake Zach. 12. 10. 9. If of thy selfe thou canst not yet attaine vnto sorrow for thy sins get some godly Christian that is endued with the gift of prayer to ioyne with thee in priuate that so the Lord may bee pleased to grant in Heauen what we of him doe aske on earth 10. Lastly If all other meanes faile then set a day a part by fasting for the day of a fast was called the day of afflicting or humbling the soule Leu. 16. 29. both because it was the maine duty to bee driuen after on that day and besides because the Lord vsually did blesse his owne ordinance so as hee gaue an humbled heart to those that sought it of him CHAP. VII Shewing how the Spirit of adoption may bee attained and also how the seuerall gifts of the Spirit may bee framed in vs. THus of humiliation If followeth that I shew how he may attaine to the other sacred gifts which are markes of a godly man as in the first sort of gifts how he may attaine to the loue of the Word the gift of Prayer the f◅are of God the loue of his enemies and the desire of the comming of Christ But before I enter vponthese it is necessary to shew him how he may attain the Spirit of Adoption which is necessary for these al other graces And concerning the Spirit of Adoption if any aske how it may bee attained Or rather how it may bee stirred vp in vs that we may feele his working in vs I answer That hee is had and stirred vp by inuocation God is pleased to declare himselfe willing and ready to bestow his Holy Spirit vpon men If they aske him of him by hearty praier Hee that hath giuen vs his Sonne will not deny vs the Spirit of his Sonne to be giuen into our hearts Gal. 4. 6. And this our Sauiour Christ assures vnto vs in the Parable Luke 11. 9. And I say vnto you Aske and it shall bee giuen you Seeke and ye shall find Knocke and it shall be opened vnto you 10. For euery one that ask◅th receiueth and hee that seeketh find◅th and to him that knocketh it shall be opened 11. If a Sonne shall aske Bread of any of you that is a Father will he giue him a Stone Or if he aske a Fish will he for a Fish giue him a Serpent 12. Or if hee aske an Egge will he giue him a Scorpion 13 If yee then which are euill can giue good gifts vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the Holy Ghost to them that desire him 2 Wee must waite vpon the preaching of the Gospel where the Holy Ghost vsually falls vpon the hearts of men 3 When we feele the motions of the Spirit knocking at our hearts or any way surprising vs we must with all readinesse open the doores of our hearts that the King of Glory by hi◅ Spirit may enter into vs. The next question is then What wee should doe to get and preserue in vs the constant loue to the Word 1 The answer is First That we should seeke to settle our selues vnder the powerful preaching of the Word euen such a ministerie as doth set out the glory of the truth and of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ. 2 Wee must make conscience of it to pray vnto God to quicken vs and inflame our hearts to the loue of his Lawes as Dauid often did Psa. 119. 3 Take heed of excessiue cares and the ouer-reaching of desires in the emploiments of the world or the immoderate vse of worldly delights for those choake the seed of the Word and alienate the affections from it and so doth any grosse or beloued sin Heb. 3. Math. 13. 4 Take heed also of personall discord with such as feare God especially with thy Teachers for this doth by secret degrees make the heart carelesse and negligent and in some things wilfull and if it be not looked to in time will bring men from the liking of the Word as they haue been drawne from the liking of such as loue the Word 5 Take heed of vngodly companie For in such companie is quenched the sparkles of liking when they are kindled yea and the flames of affection are much dulled in whom they are best excited Psal. 119. 115. 6. Such as find some beginnings of desire after the Word and liking to it must take heed that they estrange not themselues from the exercises thereof For if they heare or reade but now and then either the heart will neuer bee throughly heated or if it bee it will easily waxe cold againe and yet herein some are to bee warned to take heed of disordered excesse for that will breed dulnesse as well as neglect As when they will reade daily for diuers houres or when they prouide vnto themselues an heape of Teachers as some that liue in great Cities thinke it Religion to heare all sorts of men and all the Sermons can bee come vnto As if the power of godlinesse lay onely in the vse of the meanes of godlinesse 7. We must practise what we heare and labour to shew foorth the fruit of the doctrine He that would bee in loue with husbandry must sow his seed in his ground and then the gaine of the Haruest will still allure him to like the Trade If wee be fruitlesse hearers of the Word wee cannot loue it or if we doe it will be but for a flash or small time Thus of the loue to the Word He that would learne to pray must follow these directions 1. He must goe to God in the Name of Christ and beseech him to giue him words and by his Spirit teach him to pray It is God onely can make a man speake a pure Language For hee onely can instruct the heart of man and endue it with this heauenly gift Romans 8. 26 Ephesians 6. 18. 2 It will much helpe him to ioyne himselfe to such as call vpon the N◅me of the Lord with a pure heart ◅specially in the dayes of their humiliation 2 Timothy 2. 22. 3 There are three distinct things which a man may with singular profit propound vnto himselfe in his prayers
to bee our God 2. By prouiding him a place to dwell with vs. 3. By louing Iesus Christ. 4. By walking with him which hath fiue things in it 5. By honouring God and we honour him By seeking his kingdome first By open profession of his Truth By grieuing for his dishonour By directing all our actions to his glory By suffering for his sake By honouring such as feare him By hating his enemies By speaking of his truth with all reuerence By free-will offerings By praising him where diuers Rules 6. By trusting in him and this trust in God we shew By relying vpon his mercie for our saluation By committing all our workes to his blessing By beleeuing what he saith By staying vpon him in all distresses praying to him and casting our care vpon him and relying vpon his helpe Without leaning to our owne vnderstanding Without murmuring Without feare Without care Without vsing ill meanes 7. By obeying him In the manner also of our manifesting our loue to God wee must doo it 1. With feruencie 2. With feare and our feare of God we shew By awfull thoughts of God By departing from euill By all reuerence of minde By not fearing men By remembring his presence By trembling at his iudgements By humilitie in the vse of his Ordinances By the reuerend vse of his very Titles Chap. 7. p. 515. to 522. THus of the manifestation of our loue to God for the preseruation of our loue to God 1. We must separate our selues from all others to be his 2. We must beware that we forget not God 3. Wee must edifie our selues in our holy faith 4. Wee must pray in the holy Ghost 5. We must waite for the comming of Christ. 6. Wee must seeke his speciall presence in his Ordinances 7. We must preserue the Truth he hath deliuered to vs. 8. Wee must studie his praises 9. Wee must study to reioyce in God which containes in it 4. things where eight rules to obtaine this ioying in God Chap. 8. p. 522. to 525. THus of our loue to God his seruice followes and the rules about the seruice of God concerne either the parts of his seruice or the time of it The rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship and either generall to all parts or speciall Nine things to be remembred in all parts of Gods worship 1. Preparation 2. Godly feare 3. Penitencie 4. Griefe that others serue not God 5. That all be done in the name of Christ. 6. Precedencie before other businesses 7. That wee serue him with all our hearts 8. Desire to please him 9. Detestation of what might draw vs from his seruice Chap. 9. p. 525 to 531. THe speciall Rules concerne either his publike seruice or the particular parts of his seruice Vnto the publike seruice All must come With speciall reuerence And zeale and this zeale to be shewed sixe wayes And with our consent With speciall gladnesse before God And trusting in his mercie And thankefulnesse for all successes Chap. 10 p. 531. to 536. THe speciall parts of Gods worship are 1. Hearing where the rules concerne vs. 1. Before hearing A resolution to deny our owne wits and affections A meeke and humble spirit 2. In the time of hearing Speciall attention Prouing of the doctrine 3. After hearing 1. Meditation 2. Practice Chap. 11. p. 536. to 543. 2. THe Sacraments which are either Baptisme or the Lords Supper Concerning Baptisme wee haue diuers things to doe 1. About our children to present them to Baptisme In due time In faith With thankefulnesse 2. About our selues to make vse of our owne Baptisme In case of doubting In the case of temptation to sinne where our Baptisme serues for vse three wayes In the case of doubting of our perseuerance 3. About others to acknowledge the Baptized Chap. 12. p. 543. to 546. COncerning the Lords Supper we are charged with 1. Examination 2. The discerning of the Lords Body 3. The shewing forth of the death of Christ. 4. The vowes of louing the godly 5. Reconciliation 6. Vowes of holy life Chap. 13. p. 547. to 550. 3. PRayer about which the Rules are 1. Thy words must be few 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp which hath three things in it vnderstanding freedome from distractions and feruencie 3. Thou must vse all manner of prayer 4. Thou must perseuere in prayer 5. Thou must be instant without fâ—…inting or discouragement 6. With supplications for all sorts 7. In all things thou must giue thankes Chap. 14. p. 550. to 554. 4. REading the Scriptures the rules are 1. Reade daily 2. Meditate of what thou readest 3. Conferre vpon it 4. Resolue to obey Chap. 15. p. 554. 555. 5. Singing of Psalmes the rules are 1. Teach one another by Psalmes 2. Sing with the heart 3. Sing with grace 4. Make melody to the Lord. Chap. 16. p. 555. to 558. 6. VOwes the rules are 1. Before thou vow consider 2. When thou hast vowed defer not to pay 7. Swearing the rules are 1. Sweare not by any thing which is not God 2. Sweare in truth 3. Sweare in iudgement 4. Sweare in righteousnesse Chap. 17. p. 558. to 560. 8. FAsting the rules concerne 1. The strictnesse of the abstinence 2. The humbling of the soule Chap. 18. p. 560. to 566. HItherto of the parts of Gods worship The time followes which chiefly is the Sabbath and the rules about the Sabbath concerne 1. The preparation to it End thy worke Auoide domesticall vnquietnes Cleanse thy selfe 2. The celebration of it where is prescribed 1. Rest from all worke 2. Readinesse and delight 3. Care and watchfulnesse 4. Sinceritie to be shewed By doing Gods workes with as much care as our owne By obseruing the whole day By ausiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath 5. Faith by trusting vpon his blessing 6. Discretion Chap. 19. p. 566. to 570. HItherto of the Rules that concern our carriage towards God Towards man followes and so either towards all men or towards some men The Rules that order vs in our carriage towards all men concerne either righteousnesse or mercy The Rules that concerne righteousnesse either order vs in company or out of company In company we must be ordered either in respect of Religion or the sinne of others or the way how to carry our selues inoffensiuely For matter of Religion looke to it 1 That thou take not vp the name of God in vaine 2 That thou auoid vaine ianglings about doubtfull disputations or curious questions or vnprofitable reasonings 3 If thou be asked a reason of thy hope answer with all reuerence and meekenesse 4. Let thy communication bee yea yea and nay nay Chap. 20. p. 570. to 574. AS for the faults of others 1. Iustifie not the wicked nor condemne the righteous 2. Conuerse without iudging 3. Walke not about with tales 4. Reprooue but hate not 5. Passe by frailties 6. Giue soft answers Chap. 21. p. 574. to 582. THat thou mayest conuerse inoffensiuely thou must looke to three things
my soule be still impure Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 4. Acts 13. 24. Thirdly by Baptisme I was assured of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in me and shall I not beleeue the operation of God that he can deliuer mee from the powerfull temptations or inclinations to any sinne Shall I not seeke strength of Christ or shall I betray my selfe to the diuell and the flesh In Christ I am dead to sinne and shall I yet liue therein Rom. 6. 1 3. Col. 2. 12. Thirdly our Baptisme must bee vsed against the doubts of perseuering or whether we shall be kept vnto saluation and whether our body shall be raised againe at the last day for God hath assured all this vnto vs in our Baptisme that we haue our part not onely in the death of Christ but also in the resurrection of Christ and if Christ be raised in vs Christ can dye no more either in himselfe or in our hearts and the same power that raised him out of the graue will also raise vp our bodies at the last day as is pleaded Romans 6. 10. c. Galat. 3. 27 28. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 3. 21. If we be baptized and beleeue we shall certainely be saued Mark 16. 16. Thus as it concernes our selues 3. In respect of others we are bound to the good behauiour in Baptisme as to acknowledge the communion of Saints so are we tied to preserue our selues in all brotherly loue with the godly who weare the same Liuery with vs and are Souldiers prest to the same warre and haue taken vpon them the same holy Vow with vs we are bound in Baptisme to loue them to stand for them aboue all other people and to liue with them in all holy loue to our liues end Eph. 4. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12. 1â—… 1. 13. Gal. 3. 27 28. CHAP. XII Rules about the Lords Supper HItherto concerning Baptisme The rules that concerne the Lords Supper follow Now concerning this Sacrament we are charged with these things First Examination 1 Cor. 11. we must examine our selues and so eate and drinke Examine our selues so as we be sure there bee no sinne in our hearts and liues which we haue committed but we are desirous to forsake and doe vnfainedly iudge our selues for it being as desirous to forsake as we desire God should in the Sacrament forgiue it Secondly The diseerning of the Lords Body and Blood so comming to partake of these outward signes of Bread and Wine as we withall know and beleeue the presence of Christ and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer as he giues Bread and Wine to his body yea we must thus discerne and beleeue that he is there offered and giuen vnto vs also and that God doth not delude vs but as truly giues vs the Body and Blood of Christ as he doth by the Minister giue vs the Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 11. Thirdly The shewing forth of the death of Christ This is a solemnity where we must intend to make a solemne remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Sauiour not onely in being present at the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine but in raising vp in our heart a thankefull remembrance of his grieuous sufferings and death for our sins Math. 26. 1. Cor. 11. Fourthly Fellowship and louing communion with the godly which we both signifie and vow in the Sacraments and testifie before God and men that we wil cleaue vnto them aboue all the people in the world as being the same bread with vs euen members of the same mysticall Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10. Fifthly speciall reconciliation with such as we haue offended bearing malice to no man and desiring and seeking peace with all sorts of men Matth. 5. Rom. 12. Sixtly and lastly The vowes of sincerity resoluing to keepe this feast all our life in the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and truth euen to spend our daies in all vprightnesse of heart and vnfeigned hatred of all sinne and hypocrisie 1 Cor. 5. 8. CHAP. XIII Rules about Prayer THus of the Sacraments The Rules concerning prayer follow where besides the generall Rules that belong to all worship these things in speciall must be heeded concerning prayer 1. Thy words must be few Eccl. 5. 1 2. and the reason is because God is in heauen and thou art on earth He is full of maiesty and wisedome and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God without vaine repetitions and bablings pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God as affectation is ill in any thing so much more ill in prayer This rule may be vnsauory to the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale but let them take heede of wil-worship the words are so plaine in the text as they must informe themselues about them The Lord knew what was fittest for vs when he gaue vs this charge 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this dutie this is often imported in diuers Scriptures and this lifting vp of the heart hath diuers things in it 1. Vnderstanding thou must bee aduised what thou prayest for and know thy warrant that what thou askest is according to Gods will 1 Cor. 14. 15. Ioh. 5. 30. 2. Freedome from distractions thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts thy prayer must bee without wrath 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must be auoided so must al other distractions 3. Feruencie or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer thou must expresse the affections of prayer for God lookes at the prayer of thy heart not at the prayer of thy lips onely 3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer according to the occasions of prayer Thou must pray at thy set times daily and thou must pray also with eiaculations as the Diuines call them that is those sudden and short speeches to God when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion Thou must vse Supplications Deprecations Intercessions Confessions giuing of thankes or the like according to thy necessities or the other occasions of thy life Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine owne words as may best expresse the desires of thine heart Eph. 6. 18. 4. Thou must continue and perseuere in prayer without ceasing prayer must be the worke of thy whole life not an exercise for a fit for a day or two or a weeke or two or a moneth or two thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will thou must be instant and not faint or be discouraged Thou must pray without doubting and wauering as resolued neuer to
loue 15 He must couet the best gifts 16. He must often humble his soule be fore God 17 He must watch for the oppor tunities of wâ—…-doing 18 Hee must be 〈◊〉 of sanctifying the Sâ—…bbath 19. Hee must often thinke of â—…he example of the godly that haâ—…e excâ—…lled 20. He must daily seek 〈◊〉 way of God He must â—…oide 1. Carelesnessâ—… Rashnes 3. Carnall confidence 4. Hast to be rich 5. Distrustfull 〈◊〉 6 Adding to or ta king from the Word of God 7 Coâ—…teÌ„p of reproof 8. Beholding vanity 9. The be ginning of sinne There are 5 things to be still remembred which concerne the manner of wel-doing Zeale with continual willingnes and feruen cie 1. Sinceritie which hath in it fiue things 1 Truth 2 Respect to al Gods commandements 3 Right end 4. Obedience with out expostulation 5. Obedience in all places The third thing required in the maner of well-doing is constancie And hee is constant that doth good duties 〈◊〉 Without discouragement 3. Notwithstanding impediments 4 Without wauering 5. Without declining 4. Feare Simplicitie which is 1 To rest vpon the Word for the formes of holines and happines 2 To bee harmelesse 3 To bee simple concerning euill 4 To loue goodnesse for it selfe 5. To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. Feare God and not enuie the wicked The sixth is circumspection which hath fiue things in it The 7 is growth or increase Which hath three things in it 1 Abounding in goodnes 2. Perfecting of holinesse 3. Progresse 〈◊〉 Tâ—…m 4. 2. 1 8. Faith The last is moderation The place in Eccles. 7. 16. expounded The diuision of the particular rules The subdiuision The rules that con cerne the right knowledge of God of 〈◊〉 sorts That wâ—…e â—…ay conceiue â—…right of Gods nature 1 Wee must cast 〈◊〉 all likenesses 6. Wee must conceiue of him according to his prayses 3. Wee must beleeue the Trinity of Persons 4. Thou maist conceiue of God in the Humane Nature of Christ. 5. Thou must resist Atheistical thoughts 2. Of acquaintance with God That thou maiest bee aquainted with God 1. Thou must prepare thy heart 2 Thou must beg it by prayer 2. We must beleeue the Trinitie of Persons 3. 4. Thou must giue thy selfe to God Other things about our knowledge of God Rules about the exercise of our loue to God Sâ—…en wayes to manifest our loue to God 1. By auouching him to be our God 2 By prouiding him a place to dwel where wee dwell 3. By shewing our loue to Iesus Christ. 4. By walking with God Men walke with 5. wayes 6. By honouring God to waies of honoring God Rules about the praise of God When wee commend God diuers things are to be obserued 6 By trusting in him How wee must shew it that wee â—…rust God How wee may proue that wee trust God in distresse In relying vpon God in affliction We must auoid fiue things 7 By obeying him 2 Things in the manner of shewing our loue to God 1. Feruencie 2. Feare Eighâ—… wayes by which wee shew our feare of God About reioycing in God What it is to reioyce or delight our selues in God What wee must doe that wee might bee able to ioy in God Ruleâ—… about the seruice of God 9. Things to bee remembred in euâ—…ry part of Gods worship Rules about the publike worship of God 1. All must come 2. With all possible reuerence 3. And zeale And this zeale wee shâ—…uld shew sixe wayes 4. With one consent Three other rules gathered out of the Ps. 52. 8 9. Rules that order vs in hearing the Word of God 1 Before we come 1. In the time of hearing Noâ—… 3. After we haue heard Rules about Baptisme 1. Abouâ—… our children 2. About our selues In 〈◊〉 thingâ—… How Baptisme may help vs against sin 3. In respect of oâ—…hers Rules about the Lords Supper 1. We must examine our selues 2. We must discerne the Lords Supper 3. We must shew forth Christs death 4. We vow to cleaue to the godly 5. We must be reconciled 6. We vow an holy life Rules about prayer Thy words must be few 2. The heart must bee listed vp 3. Vse all manner of prayer 4 Thou must perseuere in prayer 5. Thou must be instant without fain ting or discourage â—…tat 6. With supplication for all Saints 7 In all things giue thankes Rules about reading the Scripture 1 Reade daily 2 Meditate of what thou readest 3. Confer vpon it 4. Resolue to obey Rules about singing of Psalmes The rules about vowing Rules about swea ring The rules about a religious fast Rules about the Sabbath 1. The preparation to it 2. Of the celebration of the Sabbath Rules that direct our carriage towards men Towards all men And so 1 in company Wâ—…th due râ—…spect of Religion Auoiding vaine ianglings in three thingâ—… How wee must behaue our selues in company concerning the faults of others Note Reproue but hate not Passe by mâ—…re frailties Rules that concerne the inoffensiuenesse of our carriage in company An humble behauiour hath three things in it 1. 2. 3. Note 8 Rules that concerne discretion in our behauiour Three rules that concerne the purity of our conuersation 1. The rules that order vs out of company 8. Things required in shewing mercy 1. Willingnesse 〈◊〉 Labour 3. Liberalâ—… ty 4. Humility Humility shewed fiue waies in doing workes of mercy 5. Faith in two respects 6. Discretion in 4. things 7. Sympa thy 8. Sinceritie in fiue things Needlesse socretie with them must bee auoyded Great wisdome required in conuersing with them Diuers things that affect the hearts euen of the worst men are 1. A mortified life 2. Reuerend speech of Religion 3. Meekenes of wisdome 4. Reseruednesse in foure things 5. Mercy 6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause 7. Patience in affliction Sixe waies of manifesting our loue to the godly 1 By courtesie 2. By receiuing them 3. By bearing their bur thens Note 4. By prouoking them to good duties 5. By faithfulnesse in all their businesse 6 By enioying our gifts for their good What wee must do to prâ—…serue our loue to the godly We must labour to be of one iudgement with them 2. We must 〈◊〉 peace 〈◊〉 We must couer their weakenesse 4. We must confesseour faults one to another 10. Things to be auoided 1. Suits in Law 2. Dissimulation 〈◊〉 Conceitednesse 4. Reioycing in iniquitie 5. Worldlinesse and selfe-loue 6. Ficklenesse 7. Vaine-glory 8. Iudging 9. Euill words and complaining 10. Forsake not their assembly How we must carry our selues towards such as are fallen from God How wee must carry our selues towards such as trespasse against vs. How wee must carry our selues towards weake Christians How wee must carry our selues towards the strong How wee must carry our selues towards our special friend How we must carry our selues in our â—…enerall calling 1 In matters of faith 2 About thy repentance 3 About thy hope 7. Things to be auoi ded in our particular calling 〈◊〉 Vnfaithfulnâ—…sse 3. Rashnes 4
else those sinnes so spared may buffet thee a long time after thou hast finished this course and besides they may get head and preuaile against thee in practice if by this course they bee not brought vnder Now that thou oughtest thus seriously to examine and call to minde thy sinnes and that this is one of the things God requireth of thee to bee distinctly done these places of Scripture do euidently proue and withall shew that God doth take euen this beginning of thy repentance well Lament 3. 40. Psal. 4. 4. Ezec. 16. 43 61. 20. 43. 36. 31. Ier. 8. 6. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Gal. 7. 3 4. Iob 11. 13. While thou art doing this thou shalt do well to doe no other exercise of Religion at that time but onely to attend this The second thing that God requireth of thee distinctly to be done is the confession of those sins thus gathered into the Catalogue and for the performance of this dutie set sometime apart and present thy selfe before the Lord and if thy memory will not carrie all the particulars of thy offences take with thee the written enditement and as Hezechiah did with his letter spread thy Catalogue before the Lord and then take vnto thee words in the best manner thou canst to iudge thy selfe for those offences Let the Lord know that it is thy hearts desire to pleade guiltie to each of those sins and in speciall vrge against thy selfe those sinnes wherein thou hast more especially offended Be not ouer-carefull for words the Lord requireth thee but to doe it in the best words thou canst onely let thy words bee the true voice of thy heart and thou maiest bee sure the Lord vnderstandeth the meaning of thy heart Let no obiection driue thee off from the practice hereof but doe it so as thine owne conscience may witnesse with thee that thou hast done it in the best manner thou canst Now that it is a dutie necessarily required these Scriptures plainly shew Hos. 14. 2 3 4. Pro. 28. 13. Leuit. 16. 21. 26. 40 51. Iob 33. 27 28. Psal. 32. 5. Ier. 3. 12 13. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 19 18. Dan. 9. Neh. 9. 2. Rom. 10. 10 1 Cor. 11. 1. Ioh. 1. 8 9. This is the second dutie The third thing thou must labour for distinctly is to conceiue true mourning and sorrow for these sinnes thus confessed This is that sacrifice is so well pleasing to God and this is euery where in Scripture expresly required and the promises fastened diuers of them vpon this condition as these places manifestly shâ—…w Mat. 5. 4. Iam. 4. 9. Ioel. 2. 12 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isai. 1. 16. Psal. 31. 9 10. Isai. 61. 1 2 3. Ier. 50. 4. Ier. 31. 18 19. Now that thou mayest attaine vnto softnesse of heart I aduise thee to take this course Resolue with thy selfe to set some time apart at least once euery day for this businesse and when thou doest stand before the Lord with thy former mournefull inditement while thou striuest to iudge thy selfe and to keepe an assise vpon thy owne soule begge of God to giue thee that soft heart he promised Ezech. 36. 26. begge it I say of God but let thy prayers bee without limitation for the time If the Lord heare thâ—…e not the first time yet pray for it the next time againe and so the third day and so still till the Lord doe heare thee and make thee feele thy heart to melt and if it may bee teares to trickle downe thy châ—…kes before the Lord yea put on this resolution that thou wilt neuer stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts but thou wilt remember this Petition to beseech him to giue thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sinnes It may bee the Lord will heare thee at the first or in the beginning while thou art preparing thy selfe to speake vnto him or while thou callest vpon him at the first or second time but yet if he doe not persist thou thy sute is iust and importunity will ouercome the Lord and this very desire to sorrow being resolute is a degree of true godly sorrow But yet that thou maiest be sure of it giue not ouer till the Lord heare the letter of thy desire if it may be And withall striue against the perplexities of an vnquiet heart feare not but that time of the day which thou setst apart for religious duties bee as earnest as thou canst and when that is done goe chearfully about the works of thy calling Hang not downe thy hâ—…ad like a bulrush as if thou must do nothing else but sigh and bemoane thy selfe and shew a troubled mind in all things Euen the freer and readier thy mind is the more fit thy heart will be for this or other holy employments And further know that the vse of this Catalogue is not for euer nor do I require this speciall mourning all the dayes of thy life but in this case of first repentance by which the body of sinne may be remoued Thereforâ—… thou oughtest so long to vse the Catalogue of thy confessions of sins till thou feele in some measure this sorrow and melting of heart which when thou hast attained eithâ—…r sooner or later then addresse thy selfe to the fourth rule The fourth râ—…le concernes the 〈◊〉 of the Promises especiâ—…lly the Promises of two sorts First sâ—…ch as shew that God hath giuen Iesus Christ to make satisfaction for the sinnes of men and then in speciall such promises as shew that through the merit of Christ hee that hath thus confessed and felt sorrow for his sin shall be receiued to fauour Now for this purpose thou must get thee a distinct Catalogue of promises made to such as confesse their sinnes with sorrow and mourning and in them thou shalt see most plainly vnto how much riches and treasure thiâ—… entrance vnto godlinâ—…sse hatâ—… brought thee For the conditioâ—… of the Promises being alreadâ—… formed in thee by this grace 〈◊〉 God thou maist safely assure thâ—… soule of so much fauour froâ—… God in particular as is expresâ—… contained in those promises Marâ—… it thou as yâ—…t dar'st not claimâ—… all the prerogatinâ—…s or gooâ—… things contained in any Promisâ—… in Scripturâ—… et thou maist safely lay vp as treasure so mucâ—… as the Promises that concernâ—… confession and godly sorrow dâ—… assure and estate vpâ—…n thee anâ—… so thou shalt finde tâ—…at thâ—…u hasâ—… 〈◊〉 in Câ—…rist already for 〈◊〉 and rich fauours and maist shâ—… Gods expresse Word to warraâ—… thy claime as for example Goâ—… hath assurâ—…d thee First that thou shalt not bee damned thou maist rest vpon it thâ—…se be plaine Scriptures 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. Iob 13. 18 19. Secondly that God will haue mercy vpon thee and loue thee freely and take away his anger from thee Prou. 28. 13. Ioel 2. 12 13. Hos. 14. 3 4. Ierem. 31. 18 19 20. Thirdly that all thy
euidence for their interest in Gods loue or their hope of a better life For looke how godly men in Scripture haue proued that they were not hypocrites euen so may any Christian proue that he is not an hypocrite neither As for example Iob being charged to bee an hypocrite and lying vnder the heauy hand of God pleades his cause and proues that hee was not an hypocrite by his constancie in Gods wayes and by his constant estimation of Gods Word and desire after it as after his appointed food Iob 23. 10 11 12. More of this kinde thou maist find in the proofes of particular signes Now whereas some signes are general and thou mightest doubt of the exposition namely how that signe is infallible in such and such sences for thy establishment heerein thou mayest obserue that I expound the signe as it is expounded in other seuerall Scriptures As for example The loue of the brethren is a generall signe Now how shall I know that I haue the right loue of the brethren This I explaine by flying to diuers other Scriptures wherein the particular explications of this signe are pleaded CHAP. III. The tryall of a Christian by the signes of true humiliation THe first way then by which a Christian may trie himselfe is to examine himselfe about his humiliation for sinne whether it bee right or no. For vnder this head is comprehended the explication of the doctrine of pouerty of spirit and godly sorrow and so in generall of repentance for sinnes Now the true Christian in this matter of humiliation shewes himselfe to haue attained that which no reprobate could euer attaine and that in diuers particulars as First Hee hath a true sight and sence of his signes Hee discernes his sinfulnesse of life both past and present and is affected and payned vnder the burthen of his daily wants and corruptions and sees his miserie in respect of his sinnes Ier. 3. 12. Mathew 11. 28. Mathew 5. 4. Secondly He trembles at Gods Word and feares his displeasure while it yet hangs in the threatnings Esay 66. 1 2. Thirdly He renounceth his owne merits and disclaimeth all opinion of true happines in himselfe or in any thing vnder the Sunne as being fully perswaded that he cannot be saued by any worke of his own or be happy inenioying any worldly things and therefore is fully resolued to seeke for the chiefe good in Gods fauour in Iesus Christ onely Fourthly He mournes heartily and secretly for his sinnes and so he doth 1 For all sorts of sinnes for secret sinnes as well as knowne sinnes for lesser sinnes as well as greater for the present euils of his nature and life as well as sins past yea for the sinnes he hath loued or haue beene gainfull and pleasing to him Yea he grieues for the euill that cleaues to his best workes as well as for euill workes Esay 6. 5. Rom. 7. Esay 1. 16. Matth. 5. 4. 2 For sinne as it is sinne and not as it doth or might bring him shame or punishment in this life or in Hell 3 He is as much troubled for his sinnes as hee was wont or now should be for crosses in his estate Hee mournes as heartily for the sorrowes that fell vpon Gods Sonne for his sinne as if hee had lost his owne and onely Sonne Zach. 12. 10 11. or at least this he striueth for and iudgeth himselfe if worldly afflictions doe trouble him more then his sins Psalme 38. 5. Fiftly hee is truely grieued and vexed in soule for the abominations that are done by others to the dishonour of God or slander of true religion or the ruine of the soules of men Thus Lot 2 Pet. 2. 7. and Dauid Psal. 119. 136. and the mourners marked for Gods owne people Ezech. 9. 4. Sixtly he is heartily affected and troubled and grieued for spirâ—…tuall iudgements that reach vnto the soules of men as well as wicked men are wont to bee troubled for tempâ—…rall crosses and so he is greiued and perplexed for hardnesse of heart when he cannot mourne as hee would and for the famine of the word or for the absence of God or for the blasphemie of the wicked or the like Psalme 42. verses 2. 3. and Psal. 137. Nehemiah 1. 3 4. Esay 63. 17. Seuenthly he is most stirred vp to abase himselfe and mourne for his sinnes when hee feeles God to bee most mercifull The goodnesse of God doth make him feare God and hate his sinnes rather then his iustice Hos. 3. 5. Eightly his griefes are such as can be asswaged onely by spirituall meanes It is not sport or merrie company that easeth him his comfort is onely from the Lord in some of his ordinances As it was the Lord that wounded him with the sight of his sinnes so to the Lord onely he goeth to bee healed of his wounds Hos. 6. 1. 2. Psal. 119. 23 24 50. Ninthly in his griefs hee is inquisitiue he will aske the way desire to know how hee may bee saued Hee cannot smother and put off his doubts in so great a businesse He dares not now any longer be ignorant of the way to heauen He is not carelesse as he was wont to bee but is seriously bent to get directions from the word of God about his reconciliation sanctification and saluation c. Ier. 50. 4 5. Acts 2. 37. Tenthly he is fearefull of being deceiued and therefore is not slightly satisfied He will not rest vpon a common hope nor is hee carried with probabilities nor doth it content him that other men haue a good opinion of him nor is hee pleased that hee hath mended some faults or begun to repent but repenting he repents stil that is he takes a sound course to bee sure his repentance be effectually performed Ieremie 31. 16. Eleuenthly he is vehemently carried with the desires of the sound reformation of his life His sorrow is not water but washing nor is it euery washing but such as maketh cleane Worldly sorrow may haue much water but it maketh nothing cleane whereas godly sorrow alwaies tendeth to reformation sound amendment Twelfthly in all his sorrowes he is suppored by a secret trust in the mercie and acceptation of God so as no miserie can beate him from the consideration and inward affiance and hope in the mercie of God In the very disquietnesse of his heart the desire of his soule to the Lord and before his presence though it be neuer so much cast downe yet hee waits vpon God for the helpe of his countenance and in some measure condemnes the vnbeleefe of his owne heart and trusts in the name of God and his neuer sailing compassions Psalme 38. 9. and 42. 5 11. Lam. 3. 21. Zepha 3. 12. 13. He is wonderfully inflamed with loue to God if he at any time let him know that he heareth his prayers In the midst of his most desperate sorrowes his heart
the Gospell as accounting them the happy companions of this life Psal. 16. 3. 3 Iohn 8. Phil. 1. 5. 4. He hath a fellow feeling of their miseries he is in some measure affectioned to weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially he is glad when their soules prosper Rom. 12. 15 16. 3 Ioh. 3. 5. His desire is to walke inoffensiuely as being loth any way to be an occasion of stumbling or scandall to any Christian 1 Ioh. 2. 10. 6. He can beare their infirmities take things in the best sense suffer long and is not easily prouoked hee hopeth all things and boasts not himselfe nor enuies not them nor will receiue an euill report against them 1 Pet. 3. 8. 1. Cor. 13. 4 5 6. but rather makes apologie for them 7. Hee easily praiseth them in all places for their grace or obedience Rom. 16. 19. 3 Iohn 6. Psal. 15. 4. 1 Thess. 1. 8. 8. His wel-doing extends it selfe to them to his power he is bountifull pitifull and tender hee hath bowels of mercy according to the occasion of mercy either corporall or spirituall He gladly receiueth them and with a ready mind communicates to their necessities Philemon 7. 1 Pet. 3. 8. 4. 8. 1 Iohn 3. 17. 3 Iohn 5. 9. He loues all the brethren He hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons Iames 2. 1 2. Ephes. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. Hee can make himselfe equall to them of the lower sort Rom. 12. 16. 10. Lastly hee loues them at all times euen when they are in aduersitie disgrace sicknesse or any other miserie Hitherto of the godly mans triall by his gifts CHAP. VII The triall of the godly man by his workes of obedience THE fourth way to trie him is by his workes or by his obedience in his life and conuersation and so his workes excell all the workes of vnregenerate men many wayes as 1. Because what he doth riseth out of the loue he beares to God and goodnesse and therefore hee doth good heartily and not by constraint or with repining or delay yea he is so stirred vp with the sense of Gods goodnesse to him that hee is much humbled when he hath done his best that hee cannot bring more glory to God Deut. 30. 20. Ios. 22. 5. Math. 4. 19 20. Rom 6. 17. 2. In doing good he hath respect vnto all Gods Commandements there is no part of an holy life but he desires to practise it and therefore he will obey Gods will in some cases when it is against his profit credit ease or the liking of carnall friends preferrings God 's commandements aboue all things yea life it selfe Ier. 35. Heb. 11. 8. Gen. 22. 12. Prou. 7. 2. Act. 5. 29. Mat. 16. 25. Exod. 15. 26. 1 King 9. 4. Ierem. 11. 4. Iohn 15. 14. 3. He will do good at all times and not for a fit making conscience of his wayes in all companies as well as any absent as well as present before meane Christians as well as before the best at home as well as abroad Philip. 2. 12. Gal. 5. 7. 2 Kings 28. 6. Psal. 106. 3. 4. Hee makes conscience of the least commandement as well as the greatest Mat. 5. 19. Iames 2. 10. 5. He comes to the light that his deeds might be manifest that they are wrought in God Iohn 3. 21. Hee is desirous in all things to bee guided by the warrant of the Word of God 6. He exerciseth his faith in the very discharge of the duties of his outward conuersation Hee liues by the faith in the Sonne of God and commits his way to God and trusteth vpon the Name of the Lord Gal. 2. 20. 7. Hee knoweth that his obedience is right because God heareth his prayers and entertaines him gratiously when he calls vpon him in secret whereas God heareth not sinners and if wickednesse were in his heart God would not regard his prayers Iohn 9. 31. Psalme 66. 18. And thus of his workes CHAP. VIII His tryall by the entertainment hee hath from God THe fifth way by which hee may bee tryed is by the entertainement that God vouchsafeth him in this life which hee neuer vouchsafeth to wicked men There are diuers specialties of fauour which God sheweth to him and not to any vnregenerate man As 1. His election in time is a manifest token of Gods election of him before time the Lord shews â—…hat hee hath chosen him from enerlasting when by the power of the Gospel hee seizeth vpon him particularly and effectually perswades him to leaue the world and the sinfull society hee liued in and to deuote himselfe as a liuing sacrifice vnto God 2. He is baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire the baptisme by fire is onely proper to Gods Elect the Holy Ghost at some times falls vpon him sets him all on a fire on a fire I say both of sudden and violent indignation at sinne as it is sinne as also the fire of holy affections with which from God hee frequently and on a sudden is enslamed while he stands before the Lord. For besides the affection which a godly man bringeth with him to Gods worship he doth feele his heart oftentimes on a sudden surprised with strange impressions sometimes of sorrow sometimes of feare and awefull dread of God sometimes of feruent desires after God sometimes of strong resolutions of holy duties to be done by him and the like Matthew 3. 11. 3. He feeles at sometimes in the vse of Gods ordinances a maruellous work of the Holy Ghost in respect of much assurance and strange establishment of his heart both in the certaine perswasion of Gods loue and the infallible beliefe of the truth so as at that time no danger of death could amaze him but hee could willingly witnesse his confidence by vndergoing any thing could befall him 1. Thessalonians 1. 5. 4. He feeles at some times the vnspeakeable and glorious ioyes of the Holy Ghost which are differing from the carnall ioyes or illusions may bee found in wicked men because they are such ioyes as hee feeles onely in the vse of some ordinances of God and such as by effect make him more humble and vile in his owne eies and doe inflame him to an high degree of the loue of God and goodnesse which illusions can neuer doe 5. The sanctification of his afflictions is another infallible signe of Gods loue to him For God makes his crosses to become blessings vnto him and worke his good so as hee may plainely see that it was good for him to be afflicted and besides God giues him many times the experience of his goodnâ—…sse both by vnexpected consolation in his distresses and gratious deliuerance out of them Rom. 8. 28. Psal. 119. 6. Lastly To this place I may referre Gods hearing and answering of his prayers whereas God doth not heare sinners as was shewed in the end of the former Chapter CHAP. IX His
iudged of him call to minde particularly whatsoeuer thou canst remember by thy selfe consider thy want thy omissions and commissions of euill in youth or riper age in heart or life in things that concorne God or man or thy owne soule and disposition thoughts affections words or deeds Thou mayest then see an armie of rebellious euils thou hast beene guilty of By booke thus Procure thee the labour of some reuerend Diuine that hath briefly gathered the sins of euery commandement from thence gather out so many sins as thou knowest by thy selfe that thou hast beene guilty of lay those sins daily before thy conscience and consider how many wayes thou hast made thy selfe guilty Secondly consider then the iustice of God how he hateth all sinne which thou maiest be assured of if thou remember how he plagued our first parents the old world Sodom and Gomorrha how fearefully he neglected the Gentiles cast off the Iewes yea how he spared not his owne Sonne Iesus Christ when he became a surety for other mens sinnes Thirdly thinke of the terrible woes and threatnings and curses which are denounced euery where in Scripture against such offences as thou art guilty of Fourthly force vpon thy selfe the remembrance of thy latter end and thy appearance before the tribunall seat of Christ to receiue according to all that thou hast done in thy flesh Fifthly obserue with what iudgement the Lord euery day fights against wicked men in all parts of the world sometimes by common plagues sometimes by speciall particular calamities Sixtly aboue all things marke with all thy heart Gods goodnesse to thee in particular in enduring all this at thy hands his blessings of all sorts daily bestowed vpon thee chiefely his mercy offered to thee in Iesus Christ that can be content to forgiue thee all thy debts so thou bee sorry and weary of offending Nothing can more breake thy heart then to obserue how God dealeth with thee euen with thee in particular that hast deserued so much euill at his hands Seuenthly Try thy selfe by a particular examination of thine owne estate by euery particular of the signes of Gods children and then thou mayest see what a poore creature thou art what shew soeuer thou makest in the world and what naturall gifts or prayses soeuer thou hast for then thou shalt find how exceeding emptie thy heart is of solid gifts and the best graces and that many a poore creature that maketh little shew in the world hath an heart better graced by farre then thine Eightly thou must beg hartily an humble heart of God and a greater discerning of thine owne vilenesse The Lord wil be sought vnto and he is ready to be found if thou seeke him constantly and diligently It is not a small worke to breake the pride and stoninesse of thy heart it needs power from aboue Ninthly Pruoide to liue if it may bee vnder a forceable ministery where thou mayest heare such doctrine daily as will search thy heart and ransacke thy life where thou maist feele the Word of God go downe into thy heart and reynes Tenthly Marke what things they are which by nature thou art proud of and labour seriously both by arguments and restraint to alienate thy affection from them In particular take heed of the snare that is in gay Clothes delicious fare worldly titles and the like Eleuenthly Shun and auoide with detestation the flatterer and seeke vnto thee a righteous companion that may smite thee for thy fallings and reproue thee and not hate thee in his heart Twelfthly Labour to keepe in thy memory and thoughts six or eight or more or fewer of thy faults that thou wouldest be more ashamed of and hast more offended in and compell thy selfe daily to remember them this will wonderfully doe thee good and tame thy pride make thee more meeke and more tractable and mercifull all the day after thou hast duly thought of them Thus of the way how to get thy spirit to bee truly poore and humble The next question is What a man should do to get a soft heart and true godly sorrow that hee might be able to mourne for his sinnes before God 1 Hee must first consider of Gods promises who hath bound himselfe by couenant to take away the stony heart and giue an heart of flesh vnto them that seeke vnto him for it Ezech. 36. 16. 2 Hee must daily in the best words hee can keepe a constant course in the confession of his sinnes before God begging of God with all importunitie this mercie that hee would melt and soften his heart and resolue that hee would neuer stand before the Lord but hee would remember this petition alwayes iudging himselfe giuing glory to God It may bee the Lord will heare at the first or second time of prayer but if he doe not thou must resolue to watch and pray still without limiting God to the time of effecting thy desire as knowing that it ought not to seeme grieuous vnto thee that the Lord doth not presently worke what thou prayest for considering how long the Lord hath called vpon thee and thou didst not answere and withall the Lord is well pleased with these preparations in thy heart and excepts thy endeauour to mourne because thou canst not mourne 3 Hee must obserue how the Lord deales with him in prayer and be sure with all thankfulnesse to acknowledge any mercy God shewes him in prayer as if hee make him willing to pray or giue him words in prayer or let him feele any ioy in the time of prayer or that hee find his heart in any degree to melt he should be wonderfull thankfull if he can get but one teare in prayer or that hee find his heart in any degree to melt and this obseruation of Gods goodnesse letting him know that hee regards his particular requests will melt his heart indeed further and perhapâ—… set him all on a flame in desires to praise God and to abase himselfe euen to the dust before thâ—… Lord Hos. 14. 3. 1. Thes. 5. 18. 4. That rule of the Apostle Iames is sometimes of singular vse in this case of breeding softnesse of heart and that is acknowledging your sinnes one to another when in secret wee make our moanes to wise and mercifull Christians and shame ourselues for our speciall offences it many times hath melting of heart ioyned with it so as that heart that before seemed hardned and dry now easily dissolues into teares Iam. 5. 16. 5. To goe into the house of mourning may bee in this case profitable resort to such as be in sorrow for the hand of God vpon them especialy such as mourn through the affliction of their spirits conuerse with humble tender-hearted Christians Ecc. 7 2. 6. â—…n all the seruices of God be sure to draw neare to God and keepe thy mind from distraction and hypocrisie The Sun
though grace bee but in thâ—… buâ—… yoâ—… his blâ—…ssing shall bee upon â—…r budâ—… and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grâ—… as the will owes planted by the water-courses The hopes of increase should stay vs against the present sense of weakenesse Esay 44. 2 3 4. 6. There are many things comfortable to bee thought vpon in Christ. For first He makes account to find vs sicke and sinners he doth not expect to find vs righteous altogether Hee came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Marke 2. 17. Secondly Wee haue such an High Priest as knowes how to haue compassion vpon those that are out of the way Hee is touched with our infirmities hee doth rather pitty vs then hate vs for our weakenesses Hebr. 4. 15. Thirdly His intercession couers our infirmities If any man sinne wee haue an Aduocate euen Iesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sins He takes an order in Heauen that God shall not bee turned away from vs he makes daily intercessâ—…oÌ„ for vs. Fourthly His blood will powerfully cleanse our conscience from the deadnesse which is in our works Heb. 9. 14. Fiftly Hee is the Lord our righteousnesse that is his name by which hee will bee called Ier. 23. 6. His perfect righteousnesse is as truly ours as if we had performed it our selues So as although we be most vnperfect in our selues yet in Christ God can find no fault in vs nor see any trangression though our sanctification be spotted yet our iustification hath no blemish in it 7 The helpes God hath affoorded vs in his Ministers may bee some ease vnto vs though for weakenesse we be but â—…ambs yet God hath prouided for vs hee hath giuen vs Shepherds to feede vs and giuen them a charge to looke to his Lambes as well as his Sheepe The Church is compared to a nurse with brests and we haue a promise to suck out of the brests of her consolations Ierem. 23. 4. Esay 56. 11 12 13. Iohn 23. 19. 8 Wee should especially bee refreshed with the consideration of diuers particular fauours God hath assured vs of in his Word as First That he will not deale with vs after our sinnes nor reward vs after our iniquities Psal. 103. Secondly That he wil spare vs as a man spareth his sonne that serueth him No father can shew compassion like to that which God will bee bound to shew to his children Mal. 3. 17. Thirdly that the smoking flax shall not be quenched the bruised reed shall not bee broken though grace were in vs but like the heate in the weeke of the Candle when the light is out yet God hath taken order that it shall not bee extinguished Esay 42. 3. Fourthly That in all times of need wee shall haue accesse vnto the Throne of Grace and obtaine a supply of all our wants so as we may goe boldly to aske what we need in the Name of Christ and it shall be giuen vs Hebrewes 4. vlt. Fifth That hee will accept of our desires and our will to doe his seruice shall be taken for the deed so as he will reckon of so much good to be done by vs as wee desired and endeuoured to doe our workes are as good as wee desired to haue them to be The preparations of our hearts are reckoned with God as great things Esay 55. 1. Ierem. 30. 2. 2 Cor. 8. 12. Sixthly That in all his dealing with vs he will vse vs in all compassion with a tender respect of our weakenesse Our weeping and supplication shal be accepted before him and hee will cause vs to walke in a straight way in which we shall not stumble Ier. 31. 9. In all our afflictions hee is afflicted In loue in care in pittie hee will redeeme vs and carry vs as in the dayes of old Esay 63. 9. As he hath borne vs from the wombe so will hee bee the same still vnto old age euen vnto the gray haires He will carry vs in the armes of his compassion Hee hath made vs he will beare euen he will carry and will deliuer vs Esay 46. 3 4. He will gather the Lambes with his armes and carrie them in his bosome and gently leade those that are with young Esay 40. 11. Seuenthly That he will supply all our necessities out of the riches of his glorie Psa. 4. 19. Eighthly That he will passe by our meere frailties and take no notice of the errours of our liues that arise from meere infirmities There is no God like vnto him for passing by transgressions Mich. 7. 18. Ninthly That he will strengthen vs and make vs grow in the gifts bestowed vpon vs The Lord will bee the hope of his people and the strength of his Children of Israel Ioel 3. 16. He giueth power to the faint and to them that haue no might he increaseth strength they that waite vpon the Lord shall renew their strength Esa. 40. 29 31 He will be as the dew to his people They shall grow as the Lilly and cast forth their rootes as Lebanon Their branches shall spread and their beautie bee as the Oliue tree and their smell as Lebanon They shall reuiue as the Corne and grow as the Vine Hosh. 14. 5 6 7. And to assure all this God would haue vs to know that hee hath married vs vnto himselfe and holds himselfe tyed in the couenant of marriage with all kindnesse and faithfulnesse to take the care and charge of vs for euer Hosh. 2. 19. 9. To conclude the first sort of promises what knowest thou what God may bring thee vnto notwithstanding thy weaknesse Hee can make thee to multiply as the bud of the field He can make thee increase and waxe great He can make thee attaine vnto excellent ornaments Ezech. 10. 7. Since thou art the branch of his planting the worke of his hand hee may greatly glorifie himselfe in thee so as thy little one may be as a thousand and thy small one as a strong Nation God can performe it in his due time Esay 60. 21 22. Though thou haue but a little strength God hath set before thee such an open doore as no man can shut and God can make thee stand in the loue of the truth without denying his Name when the houre of temptation comes vpon the World and many of great vnderstanding fall Reu. 3. 8 9 10. Hitherto of the principall consolatioÌ„s in the case of infirmities CHAP. XII Diuers obiections are answered IT followeth that I should answer certain obiections which do vsually depresse the hearts of men and by the trouble of which they neglect the former consolations Ob. Some one may say My infirmities are the more grieuous because I find affliction of spirit ioyned with them These terrors and passions vpon my heart doe dismay me and make me doubt those comforts do not belong vnto me Sol. God may afflict thy spirit and yet be wel pleased with thee yea
and hee shall heare thee and thou shalt render thy vowes Iob 33. 26. He shall pray vnto God and he will be fauourable vnto him and he shall see his face with ioy for he will render vnto man his righteousnesse Psal. 34. 15 17. The eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eares are open vnto their cry The righteous cry and the Lord heareth them and deliuereth them out of their troubles Psal. 50. 15. Call vpon mee in the day of trouble so will I deliuer thee and thou shall glorisie mee Iohn 15. 16. That whatsoeuer ye shall aske of the Father in my name he may giue it you Iohn 16. 23. And in that day shall ye aske me nothing Verily verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer ye aske the Father in my name hee will giue it you For the second it may much comfort vs if we consider that God will not onely heare our praiers in generall but our voice Psal. 5. 3. Our very desires Psal. 10. 17. Our teares Psalme 29. 12 The very naming of Christ shall not be done without regard 2. Tim. 2. 19. Our groaning Psal. 102. 20. When we are destitute of words to expresse our selues our groaning our teares yea the very desires of our hearts is an effectuall prayer to God He doth not looke what wee doe say but what wee would say If we come like little children and but name our Fathers name and cry making moane it shall bee heard 3. But in the third point appeares the wonder of his compassion For 1. God will heare without despising their prayer Psalm 102. 17. 2. He will not reproach them nor hit them in the teeth with what is pâ—…st or their present frailties Iam. 1. 5. 3. He will prepare their hearts too he will as it were helpe them to draw their petitions Psal. 10. 17. 4. He takes delight in hearing their prayers Prou. 15. 8. 5. Hee lookes from heauen of purpose to heare their groanes Psal. 102. 19 20. his eares are open there is not the least impediment in his hearing Psal. 34. 15. It is his very nature to be a God that heareth prayers It is not contrary to his disposition Psal. 65. 1 2. 6. Hee thinkes thoughts of peace to giue an end expectation Ier. 29. 11 12 13. 7. He will be plenteous in mercy to them that call vpon him Psal. 86. 5. Iam. 〈◊〉 5. He giueth liberally 8. He will answer them and sometimes shew them wonderous things which they know not Ier. 33. 3. 9. Hee will refresh them also with much ioy and comfort of heart He will be many times as the dew vnto their hearts Iob 33. 26. 10. It is a singular compassion that he will heare euery one that comes with petitions to him he will except no man all shall bee heard whosoeuer asketh shal haue Mat. 7. 7. Luke 11. 10. 11. It is yet more compassion that God will heare them in all they aske whatsoeuer they desire of him in the Name of Christ They may haue what they will Marke 11. 24. Iohn 15. 7. 12. The Spirit shall helpe their infirmities when they know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26. 13. God will crowne the praiers of his Seruants with this honour that they shall be the signes both of their sanctification and of their saluation Iohn 9. 31. Rom. 10. 13. If God heare their prayers hee will receine them vp to glory 14. Lastly The Lord shewes a wonderfull compassion in the very time of hearing prayer he will heare in the morning Psa. 5. 3. In the very season the due time when wee are in trouble yea so as hee will in our affliction in a speciall manner let vs know that hee is our God and that hee will deliuer vs Zach. 13. 9. Psa. 50. 15. and 91. 15. He is ready to be found Psal. 46. 1. Daniels praiers were heard from the very first day he made them Daniel 10. 12. Yea God will heare vs while we speake vnto him and answer vs before we can expresse our selues vnto him many times Esay 65. 24. Yea the Lord heareth the prayers of his people euen when they thinke they are cast out of his sight Psalme 31. 22. FINIS THE RVLES OF A HOLY LIFE OR A TREATISE CONTAINING the holy order of our liues prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage Towards God Towards men Towards our selues With generall Rules of Preparation that concerne either the helpes or the manner of a holy conuersation By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX Psalme 50. vlt. To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt for Robert Allot at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE NOBLE AND RELIGIOVS Lady the Lady Mary Vere increase of ioy and peace in beleeuing MADAM IT was most truely said by the Apostle of the Gentiles Godlinesse is great gaine Importing thereby that if a man would be incited to the care to get any thing for the profit might come thereby it should bee godlinesse No skill in the world being comparable to that skill of beeing able to lead a godly life for the sure and speedy and matchlesse gaine it will bring vnto a man For besides that it only hath the promise of a better life godlinesse were to bee desired and with all possible diligence to be sought after for the very gaine of it in this life For to omit the consideration of the fauour it breeds with God and the vnspeakeable treasures of the grace of Christ which alwayes goe with it it were to be desired for the immediate effects it workes vpon men in it selfe For if men loue themselues what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselues perfect What should it aduantage a man to haue all things good about him if himselfe bee ill and vile If men that were onely guided by the light of nature could some of them see clearely that nothing was so good for a man as to liue well when yet they knew no other liuing well then what was prescribed in their naked and naturall Ethickes then how much more happy must it be for a man to liue a Religious life by which he is brought more neere to God himselfe and farre aboue the condition of any naturall man Yea if there were no more to be had by it but the peace and rest it brings vnto a mans heart it were aboue all outward things to bee desired For no man walkes safely that walkes not religiously nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity and rest of heart but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion What shall I say If for none of these yet for it selfe were a godly life to bee had in singular request For if men with much expence of outward things seeke but the skill of diuers naturall and artificiall knowledges and thinke it worth their cost but
to be able to attaine these skills how much more ought man to bee at the paines yea and cost too if it were required to get this admirable Skill to liue a religious life This most gainefull subiect is intreated of in this little Volume I may truely say that almost euery sentence in this little Treatise leads vs to much and rich treasure if the promises belonging to each dutie were annexed thereunto And therefore no Christian that loues his owne soule should thinke much of the paines of learning or practising these Rules I shall not need to exhort your Ladiship to the hearty care of those things you haue beene taught of God long since to profit haue learned Iesus Christ as the truth is in him your sincere profession and practise hath many witnesses and since you beleeued the Gospel of Saluation and were sealed by the Spirit of promise you haue a Witnesse within your selfe which will not faile in life or death to plead your aboundant consolation When I intreate of pietie righteousnesse mercie and temperance I intreate of things you haue aboue many profited in I haue presumed to dedicate these Directions to your Ladiship and not without reason You haue heard the preaching of them with speciall attention and haue bin a principall perswader to haue them published for the common good Being many wayes bound to acknowledge your Ladiship amongst my best hearers and friends I cannot but beseech your Ladiship to accept of this small testimonie of my vnfained obseruance of your many prayses in the Gospell and as a pledge of my thankefulnesse of all your workes of loue to mee and mine The God of Glorie and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ make you abound yet more and more in all the riches of his grace in this life and fill you with the comforts of the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ. Your Ladiships in the seruice of Iesus Christ to be euer commnaded N. BIFIELD THE Contents of the whole Booke Chapter 1. page 441. to the 448. THe Scope of the whole Booke is to shew briefly the choysest Ruâ—…s of life of all sorts Some obiections against this course answered and the warrant and profit of it shewed The easinesse of the course with some generall Directions Chap. 2. p. 448. to 470. THe Rules are either generall or particular The generall Rules concerne either the helpâ—…s to an holy life or the manner of well-doing Hee that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life must doe diuers things and auoide diuers things The things he must doe are these 1. He must bee sure hee hath repeuted and doth beleeue 2. He must get knowledge how to doe well and that he may attaine knowledge 1. He must esteeme it 2. He must not consult with flesh and blood 3. He must redeeme the time 4. Hee must bee wise for himselfe 5. He must be swift to heare 6. He must study onely profitable things 7. He must striue to increase in knowledge 8. Hee must propound hâ—… doubts 9. He must be rightly ordered towards his Pastor to pray for him and obey him and not discourage him 3. Hee must auoid ill companie 4. Hee must resolue to practise these rules 5. Hee must order his outward calling so as he be freed from all needlesse incumbrances 6. He must keepe companie with such as doe liue well 7. He must not be a seruant of man 8. He must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ. 9. He must not regard what the multitude doth 10. He must carefully remember to be in all things thankefull to God 11. He must studie to be quiet 12. He must be carefull to go on in a direct course 13. He must reade the Scriptures dayly 14. He must be carefull to preserue his first loue 15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him more excellent in his place and calling 16. He must be often in the duties of mortification 17. He must obserue the opportunities of well-doing 18. He must be carefull of keeping the Sabbath 19. He must often meditate of the examples of the godly that excell in holinesse 20. He must daily pray God to direct him Chap. 3. p. 470. to 475. THus of what ee must doe what he must auoid followes and so he must take heed 1. Of 〈◊〉 2. Of rashnesse 3. Of carnall confidence 4. Of â—…asting to be rich 5. Of distrustfull fâ—…ares 6. Of adding to or taking from the Word of God 7. Of contempt of reproofe 8. Of beholding of vanitie 9. Of the beginnings of sinne Chap. 4. p. 475. to 491. NIne things to bee euer in our minds that in generall concerne the manner of well-doing for in all good workes wee must shew 1 1. Zeale 2 2. Sinceritie which hath in it Truth Respect to all Gods commandements A right end Obedience without obiâ—…cting Obedience in all companies 3. Constancie when wee doe good Without wearinesse Without discouragement Without resistance Without wauering Without declining 4. Feare 5. Simplicitie which is To rest vpon the word for the forme of holinesse and happinesse To be harmelesse To be simple concerning euill To loue goodnesse for it selfe To be meeke and lowly minded So to feare God as not to enuie the wicked 6. Circumspection which hath in it A respect of lesser commandements Abstaining from appearance of euill Obseruation of the circumstances of things Vnrebukeablenesse Auoyding euill when good might come of it 7. Growth which hath in it Abounding in goodnesse Finishing of holinesse Progresse 8. Moderation to bee neither iust nor wicked ouermuch which is expounded at large Chap. 5. p. 491. to 499. THus of the generall Rule the particular rules concerne either God or other men or our selues Our whole dutie to God concernes either his loue or his seruice The loue of God must be considered either in the foundation of it or in the exercise of it The foundation of the loue of God is the knowledge of God The Rules about the knowledge of God concerne either the right conceiuing of his Nature or our acquaintance with God That we may conceiue aright of the Nature of God 1. Wee must cast out all likenesses 2. We must striue to conceiue of him according to his speciall praises in his Word 3. Wee must bring with vs the faith of the Trinity 4. Wee may helpe our selues by the thinking of the Godhead in the humane Nature of Christ. 5. We must get cure for Atheisticall thoughts That we may be acquainted with God 1. Wee must prepare our hearts 2. We must begge acquaintance by prayer praying with all our hearts and early and constantly 3. Wee must giue our selues to God Chap. 6. p. 499. to 515. THus of the foundation of the loue of God the Rules that concerne the exercise of our loue to God either shew vs how to manifest our loue to God or how to preserue it We manifest our loue to God 1. By auouching him
preserue affection this spirituall loue in his heart and watch against and resist the first beginnings of decay or coldnesse or declining in his heart and take heede of suffering his heart to be drawne away by the deceitfulnesse of sinne or the enticements of the world 15. He must couet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12. vlt. There are some duties in piety or Mercie or Righteousnesse which in respect of our places doe most concerne vs would in a more speciall manner adorne our particular profession so are there some gifts which do aduance our communion with God and doe make vs more profitable amongst men Now these things we should study and earnestly labour to frame our selues to to expresse them more effectually in our conuersation This no doubt is the reason why the holy Ghost doth in the Scripture make Catalogues of certaine speciall duties or graces singled out from the rest and sitted to the cōditions of the people who are written to and this would be a singular aduantage to vs if we also would single out to our vse some few of the chiefest vertues or duties which we would daily set before vs an◅ striue by prayer and all holy endeauour to fashion them to the life in our hearts a◅d liues 16. He must renew often his mortification mans heart is like fallow ground which is not fit to receiue seed till it be broken vp and at best it is like a garden which will often need weeding If wee doe not at some times in speciall manner humble our soules before God worldly cares or carnall delights will ouer-grow our desires and our practice and choake the seed of the Word receiued by vs wee must keepe vnder our bodies and bring them in subiection and be often dragging our lusts to the crosse of Christ there to crucifie them Our practice is like to sowing which presupposeth plowing before Ier. 4. 3 4. Hosh. 10. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 27. 17. We must watch for the opportunities of well-doing and take heed of procrastination he must seeke righteous◅esse and haste to it he must not put it off till to morrow Esay 6. 8. Prou. 3. 28. and 2. 4. Amos. 5. 14. 18. Hee must remember the Sabbath Day to sanctifie it The commandement concerning the keeping of the Sabbath to sanctifie it is placed in the midst betweene the two Tabels of purpose to shew that the keeping of the Sabbath is a singular helpe to all piety and righteousnesse and God hath promised a speciall blessing to the obseruers of the Sabbath and giues strength by the rest of that day ◅he better to performe holy duties all the weeke after Commandement 4. Esay 38. 1◅ 19. Hee must meditate much on the example of the godly of all ages and striue diligently to learne their wayes and to quicken himselfe by the thought of their care zeale and sinceritie And thus hee may also profitably set before him the examples of such of his owne acquaintance as excell in the gifts of Christ and fruits of weldoing The example of good men should be as forcible to draw vs to good as the example of euill men is to incline others to euill wee haue beene compassed about with a cloud of witnesses who haue liued in all ages of the Church wee must therefore stand in the wayes see and aske for the old way to walke in it and with all gladnesse follow any that are fit to bee guides to vs therein Hebr. 12. 1. Ier. 12. 19. 6. 16. 20. He must go daily to him that teacheth to profit begging of God to shew him a way and to leade him by his Spirit vnto the right practice of euery holy duty euen to guide him in the plaine path Esay 48. 17. ◅sal 27. 11. Thus I haue s◅t downe those rules which are generall helpes vnto godlinesse and must be attended by a Godly Christian. CHAP. III. Shewing the things that are to bee auoided by such as would order their conuersation aright NOw before I proceed vnto the rules that concerne the manner of weldoing I will adde to the former directions nine Cautions or nine things which a Christian must take heed of in his practice of holy duties As First hee must take heed of wretchlesnesse or a scornefull carelesnesse of his owne wayes he must not despise his wayes as if he cared not how hee liued or rested satisfied to bee still as he was this carelesnesse proues the bane of many a soule whereas Hee that keepeth his soule keepeth his way Prou. 19. 16. and 2◅ 8. 2. He must take heed of precipitation or rashnesse or too much haste this is the ground of much false zeale and the cause of strange euils in the presence of some Christian but the godly Christian must learne of Salomon to prepare his worke in the field and then build his house he must get sound knowledge of the warrant of his actions guide his affaires by aduice and with serious preparation fit himselfe to the doing of what hee is sure is good Hee that hasteth with his feete sinneth what is done rashly cannot be done well Prou. 19. 2. As procrastination is a great vice so precipitation is no vertue Prou. 24. 27. 28. 26. 3. Hee must haue no confidence in the flesh he must not rely vpon his own wit memory reason desires vertues praises or power but all his comfort and affiance must be in the merits intercession vertue and assistance of Iesus Christ his Sauiour Phil. 3. 3. 4. He must not haste to be rich for the desire of money is the roote of all euill and they cannot be at leasure for good duties that are so eager to compasse great things in the world Pro. 23. 4. 28. 20. 5. Hee must take heed of the snares that rise from distrustfull feares There is a snare in feare Pro. 29. 25. There are many feares will assault a man that resolues to liue well as the feare that he cannot doe good duties the feare that God will not accept what he doth the feare lest men should scorne him or contemne him or lest he should lose the fauour of his friends or such like Now against all these must the godly minde be armed and take heede that those feares proue not great hinderances to him and especially take heed of that vnbeliefe or counterfeit humilitie by disabling himselfe or mistrusting God contrary to his nature and prom◅ 6. Hee must take heed of adding to or detracting from the word of God Hee must not imagine more sins then God hath made that is not trouble himselfe with feare of offending in such things as God hath not in his Word forbidden and so likewise hee must not impose vpon his owne conscience or other mens the necessitie of obseruing such rules of practice as God neuer prescribed This caution would ease the hearts of many Christians if it were
and to bee acquainted with him Ier. 9. 24. CHAP. VI. Rules that order vs about the manifestation of our loue to God HItherto of the Rules that concerne the knowledge of God as the foundation of our loue to God The Rules that should order vs in the exercise of our loue to God follow those are of two sorts for either they concerne the manifestation of our loue or our preseruation in the loue of God we must shew our loue to God and we must keepe our selues in the loue of God Iude 21. In our manifestation of loue to God wee must looke to both the matter as the thing whereby and also the manner how wee should expresse our loue to God For the first there be diuers excellent Rules to be heeded of vs in our practice in obseruing whereof we may soundly proue the truth of our loue to God if we say we loue God wee must shew it by these things following 1. We must auouch God to be our God Deuter. 26. 27. and so we doe if we do not onely make choise of God aboue all things to set our hearts vpon him but also maintaine our choise by a constant refusall of all idols in the world euen all things which might entice vs to loue them in stead of God by sound affection and practice declaring our resolution to cleaue to God as our sufficient happinesse though all the world follow their profits or pleasures c. 2. We must prouide and prepare a place for God that he may dwell with vs wheresoeuer wee dwell Exod. 15. 2. It is a signe of our true loue to God why wee cannot liue without him Hee that can be content to liue in any place where he is not powerfully present in his ordinances shewes no loue to God It should be our chiefe care to seate our selues so in the world as the Lord and his presence may bee prouided for that he may reigne amongst vs by the Scepter of his word 3. We must shew our loue to God by our loue to the Lord Iesus the Sonne of God we must kisse the Sonne Psal. 2. vlt. And if any man loue not the Lord Iesus hee hath not the Father 1. Cor. 16. 22 Wee shew that wee loue God when wee highly esteeme Iesus Christ and make much of him in our hearts and striue to fire our affections towards him and this must bee our care through the passages of our life to forme in vs the loue of the Lord Iesus that we may long after him and haue the desires of our soules after him and his comming 4. We must shew our loue to God by walking with him Gen. 17. 1. Mic. 6. 8. The Lord doth not account it a signe of loue to offer to him a thousand rams or riuers of oyle but this is it that pleaseth him To humble our selues to walke before him Now we walke with God diuers wayes 1. When we set the Lord alwaies before vs remembring his holy presence and not daring to goe alone without thinking of God Psal. 16. 8. 2. When we nourish the motions of the Spirit and retire our selues of purpose to entertaine them 3. When wee daily haue recourse to those meanes by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with men and not rest in the base vse of the meanes but striue to finde out the Lord in his holy presence in euery ordinance of his Psalme 63. 1 2. When we vse our selues to Soliloquies with God taking all occasions to speake to God by prayer and priuate meditation of things offered to vs out of which we could extract matter for frequent ciaculations lifting vp our hearts vpon the very first motions of good vnto God Psal. 63. 5 6. 5. When our hearts are fired with longing desires after his presence of glory in heauen 2. Gor. 5. 8. Thus of our walking with God 6. We should manifest our loue to God by honouring him For this is one speciall way by which God requires to haue our loue shewed to him Mal. 1. 6. Now there are many wayes by which in our conuersation we may declare our desire to honour our God as 1. By performing the care of businesses that concerne his Kingdome aboue all other businesses and shewing our respect of the duties of the first Table that concerne God before the duties that concerne men in the second Table wee honouring him by seeking his kingdome first First I say in the precedencie of time and first in respect of the measure of our affections Math. 6. shewing a desire to please him rather then all the world 2. By making a bold and open profession of Gods truth vpon all occasions without feare of oppositions or snares of the world 3. By grieuing heartily for the dishonour done vnto him by the blasphemies or profanenesse of his enemies Psal. 42. 3. 4. By directing all our actions to his glory striuing in all things to order them so that some way God may be praised by vs or others 1. Cor. 10. 31. 5. By our willingnesse to suffer any thing for his sake though it were extremities euen the losse of all worldly things yea and life it selfe if it were called to it 6. By honouring them that feare his Name and are begotten of him and beare his Image receiuing them and making much of them and defending them for the loue we beare to God himselfe Psal. 15. 4. 1. Ioh. 5. 1. 7. By hating them that are his enemies as if they were our own conceiuing more dislike of them for dishonouring God then for any wrongs they could doe vnto vs Psal. 139. 21 22. 8. We honour God when we speake of the Oracles of God with all reuerence as may become the nature and glory of them Commandement 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 9. We honour him by gifts bestowed vpon him when we bring to him our free-will offerings such as are the first fruits of all our increase when out of all things wherin God hath prospered vs wee with gladnesse consecrate a part for the furtherance of his worship or the maintenance of his poore Prouerbs 3. 6. Esay 60. 6. 10. We honour him when we praise him One vsuall way by which we honour great persons in the world is by taking all occasions to magnifie them by commending their vertues or their worthy acts And this is likewise one great way of honoring God and therefore with sorrow for our neglects herein we should study his prayses for the time to come and striue for language to be able readily to do so Now God is praysed diuers wayes some of them belong not properly to this place and therefore I will but touch them We praise God 1. When wee keepe and obserue carefully the solemnities set apart for his prayse as when wee celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is therefore called the Eucharist because it is to be performed as a thanksgiuing and praysing of God 2. When
may continue in our loue to God wee must obserue these rules 1. We must separate our selues from all others to be his Leuit. 20. 26. auoyding fellowship with the seruants of a strange god that might any way entice vs from the loue of God yea we should so much alienate our heart◅ from all idols that wee should not make mention of their names and therefore daily confirme our hearts in that purpose to cleane to God alone Mal. 2. 11. Exod. 34. 11 14 15. and 23. 13. Act. 11. 23. Iosh. 23. 8. 2. We must beware that wee forget not God nor goe too long without effectuall remembrance of him They that can liue whole dayes and weekes without any care to thinke of God may bee sure their hearts are voide of the loue of God and as euer wee would continue to loue God we must be carefull euery day to remember him and thinke vpon him Deut. 6. 12. 32. 18. 3. We must labour to edifie our selues in our most holy faith wee must build vp our hearts in the assurance of that wonderfull loue God hath shewed to vs and this will preserue and keepe vs in our loue to him againe Iude 20. 4. Wee must pray in the holy Ghost as is shewed in the same place prayer preserues acquaintance with God and exceedingly quickens the heart and besides drawes from God new pledges of his loue to vs which may serue to kindle our affections towards him 5. In the same place another rule is imported and that is the daily expectation of the comming of Christ for the terrour of that Day will mooue vs to shew all possible loue to God and so will that singular glory we are assured to receiue in that day 6. In the vse of all Gods Ordinances we must be carefull to seeke out the face of God which is that speciall presence of his grace For the loue of God will decay in vs if once we come to vse the meanes only for forme and an outward shew Psal. 105. 4. And if we misse of God in his Ordinances we must neuer be quit till we finde him whom our soule loueth Cant. 3. 1. Psal. 63. 1. 7. We must preserue the truth he hath deliuered to vs yea we must contend for it for sound do◅rine laid vp in our hearts will preserue in vs soundnesse of affection to God Iude 3. 8. We must get Catalogues of Gods praises in particular and fill our hearts with the knowledge and contemplation of them 9. If we would be preserued in the loue of God we must labour to attaine to the abilitie to reioyce in God and delight our selues in God A wife that would increase her loue to her husband must striue to solace her selfe often with her husband and to forme in her heart a speciall delight in him So must wee doe to God This is miserably neglected and yet exceedingly necessarie Nor is it an ordinarie ioy we should take in God but we should ioy in him first with all our hearts secondly not for a time but alwaies euery day nor with common but with exceeding ioyes Phil. 4. 4. Psa. 37 4. and 68. 3 4. 105. 3. Now that this point may bee the better vnderstood I will consider of two things first what it is to delight and ioy in God secondly what we should do that we might delight and take pleasure in God For the first this delight in God hath in it foure things distinctly First a spirituall satisfaction or contentment arising from the assurance of Gods loue to vs as ◅ing enough that hee regards vs thus Dauid saith his soule was ◅tisfied as with marrow Psal. 63. 5. and 149. 2. Secondly a ioyfull entertainment of all passages of loue betweene God and vs especially in the vse of his Ordinances Thirdly a delightfull contemplation of God and his mercies Fourthly a glorying in God and extolling of his praises as by discourse so by singing of Psalmes 1. Cor. 1. 31. Psal. 33. 1. 105. 3. 68. 3 4. Now for the attainment of the ioying in God 1. We must mourne often for our disabilities herein and pray to God to forme this delight in vs. 2. We must restraine carnall ioyes and cares for the excesse of both doth exceedingly dull the heart and withdrawes it care of delight in God Phil. 4. 4 5 6. 3. Wee must exercise our selues with all the ioy wee can in the Word of God Psal. 119. 14 16. 4. We must take heed of listening to Obiections against the loue of God to vs whether they arise from Satan or our owne flesh 5. Wee must often obserue the miseries of the wicked in comparison of our happy estate in Christ Hab. 3. 17 18. 6. We must seeke a delightfull conuersation with the godly 7. We must take heede of domesticall euils our home sinnes the corruptions that would daily preuaile in vs Iob 22. 23 26. 8. Wee must restraine our owne beliefe about the acceptation of the good duties wee performe and to this end wee must take heed that we bee neither iust ouermuch by attributing too much to our selues nor yet wicked ouermuch in condemning all wee doe as hatefull to God For this last doth maruellously hinder vs from ioying in God CHAP. VIII Containing generall Rules about Gods seruice HItherto of the first sort of Rules that concerne o◅r carriage towards God namely those tha◅ concerne our loue to God Now the second sort of Rules follow and that is those that cōcerne the seruice of God and these may bee cast into two rankes for they either concerne the parts of Gods worship or the time of Gods worship The Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship are either generall which binde vs to the good behauiour in all parts of Gods worship or else certaine specialties of Direction that concerne some part of Gods worship onely Now for the generall rules we should know and remember that there are nine things to bee looked to and brought to the practice of euery part of Gods ◅orship The first is preparation wee must i◅ some sort conferre with ◅ur owne hearts and prepare ◅m before we goe before God to doe any seruice Iob 11. 13. Psal. 4. 4. Ezech. 7. 10. Secondly we must come with ◅ll reuerence and godly feare Heb. 12. 28. Psal. 2. 11. Thirdly wee must performe the seruice in repentance for our sinnes Wee must not come before God in the loue of any sinne if wee doe wee lose our labour and God will loathe our workes Esay 1. Iob 11. 14. Wee must haue cleane hands and a pure heart or else no seruice of God will be accepted Psal. 119. 11. 24. 4. Fourthly it must grieue vs that others will not serue God Psal. 119. 139. Fifthly wee must performe euery seruice in the name of Christ or else it cannot be accepted b◅ r◅ason of that euill that cleane to our best workes whether w◅ pray or giue thanks or whatsoeuer we doe we
Confâ—…ssion of sinnes Petition for grace and thanks-giuing for mercies receiued Nâ—…w the weakest Christian may be through Gods blâ—…ssing comfortably furnished for his owne particular if hee take such a coâ—…e as this to goe aside and with all sâ—…cie and attention of heart before the Lord aske himselfe these three Questions 1 What sinnes haue I committed which either now do trouble me or if I were to dye would make mee afraid Let him set them downe in a paper or in his memory distinctly till hee can can bethinke himselfe of no more It is no great matter for the order how hee sets them downe so hee be sure he haue the chiefe sinnes in which hee daily offends or hath offended 2 What would I haue the Lord doe for me if I might haue what I wish let him set the particulars downe till he can remember no more As for example I would haue him forgiue mee my sinnes and I would haue him giue mee strength against such and such sins and I would haue him giue mee faith and assurance and I would haue him giue me Heauen when I dye and so goe on with all the things he feeles a desire in his heart to seeke of God till he can remember no more and if at any other time hee remember some speciall thing which hee would further haue which hee hath not in his Catalogue let him set it downe as from time to time he sees cause 3 What speciall fauours hath God shewed to mee which I see I ought to take special notice of Let him set them downe distinctly whether they be deliuerances or such and such spirituall or outward mercis preseruing the memorie principally of the chiefest of them Now when hee hath thus furnished these three heads with things that in particular concerne himselfe they being all matters of weight hee must now carry these things or the chiefe of them in his mind and frame his heart to speake to God in the best words he can get to signifie his detestation of those sinnes his humble requests for those graces and his vnfained thankefulnesse for those blessings Howsoeuer hee may be rude or vnperfect in his Language about these at the first yet exercise will bring him to a ripenesse and by this course hee shall be sure to speake of things that concerne himselfe neerely and that God which hath taught Parents to regard the vnperfect language of their little Children when they begin to speak vnto them will himselfe much more delight to heare the desires of his Seruants that are grieued that they cannot speake in a better sort vnto him The profit and comfort of this course will appeare by experience to be exceeding great besides it is an easie way where there is in any a true desire to bee at the paines to learne this Language of speaking to God by prayer and Gods Spirit will helpe and teach the poore Christian and draw his petitions for him and prompt him both with words and affections And the Christian must know this that when hee hath confessed his sinnes and shewed what hee should haue God doe for him with the best words hee could in the truth of his heart he hath made a most effectuall prayer to God Thus of prayer The awefull of God and the reuerent dreading of God may bee begotten and increased in vs if we throughly remember and deepely ponder vpon 1. The surpassing glory and transcendent excelleÌ„cie and perfection of his Nature his absolute purity and exact lustice and Holinesse 2. The wonderfull workes of God especially those standing miracles shewed in the hanging of this mighty earth and those huge heapes of water in the cloudes and the bounding of these mighty Seas and such like 3. His fearefull threatnings of all sorts of woes against the transgressions of men 4. The terrour of the last day and the dreadfulnesse of death and Iudgement 5. The fearefull and sudden iudgements which haue fallen vpon wicked men either recorded in Scripture or reported in Histories or obserued in experience 6. Especially if wee thinke much and seriously of the great goodnesse of God to vs how hee hath striuen with vs to ouercome vs with his mercies Thus of the feare of God We should striue to stirre vp in vs affection and loue to our very enemies by such considerations as these 1. Because Christ to whom we are infinitely bound hath expresly charged vs to look to this That we doe loue our enemies and therefore for his sake wee should deny our selues and our owne corrupt desires and affections and striue to shew the truth of our loue euen towards them that hate and persecute vs. 2. There is none so wicked but they haue something good in them and worthy to be respected 3. Our enemies doe vs good though they intend it not wee ought to like the very rod that mends vs and regard the water that washeth vs white and make much of the stone that tries vs and the glasse that shewes vs our spots and not mislike the tents that search our wounds 4. If euer God turne their hearts they will be effectuall instruments of our praise Gods glory in the day of their visitation they will not willingly beare the shame of their owne sinfull oppositions I forbeare to set downe the directions for the attainement of the loue of the appearing of Christ because I haue at large handled that point in the Treatise of the Cure of the feare of Death CHAP. VIII Thus of the directions that concerne the first sort of gifts concerning the attainement of the other graces the directions now follow AND first for the attainment of sauing knowledge and the increase ofâ—… these directions are of excellent vse 1. In hearing or reading the Scriptures hee must bee wise for himselfe that is marke distinctly what he heareth or readeth that may especially concerne himself Prou. 〈◊〉 12. 2 He must study those things exactly which most concerne him auoiding vaine questions and fruitlesse contemplations and vaine ianglings and controuersies he must especially labour to know Gods Nature aright and the distinct manner of Gods true worship how he may serue him he must studie to know his owne particular offences and Christ crucified as his Sauiour with the benefits of his mediation and the necessary things that concerne his owne Iustification Sanctification and finall Saluation 3. He must redeeme the time and by forecast and order prouide so that some time may be daily allowed for holy studies to recouer his former time lost 4. Hee must enquire and take counsell hee must take heed of smothering his doubts but must carefully seeke satisfaction to his conscience as occasion ariseth There is more profit in this rule then many Christians are aware of 5. Hee must take heede of consulting with flesh and blood he must not regard other mens opinions or his owne carnall reason but resolue to giue the glory to Gods Word so
receiue vs into euerlasting habitations Luk. 16. An vnprofitable life is attended with a seruile feare of death 6. It would master this feare but to force our selues to a frequent meditation of death To learne to dye daily will lessen yea remooue the feare of dying Oh this remembring of our latter end and learning to number our daies is an admirable rule of practice It is the forgetfulnesse of death that makes life sinfull and death terrible Deu. 32. 29. Psa. 90. 12. And wee should begin this exercise of meditation betimes Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccles. 12. 1. This is that is called for when our Sauiour Christ requires vs and all men so to watch and here in lay the praise of the fiue wise Virgins Matth. 25. 3. Thus Iâ—…b will waite till the time of his change come Iob 14. 14. And of purpose hath the Lord left the last day vncertaine that we might euery day prepare It were an admirable method if we could make euery day a life to begin and end as the day begins and ends 7. Lastly because yet we may find this feare cumbersome and our natures extremely deceitful there is one thing left which can neuer faile to preuaile as farre as it is fit for vs and that is hearty prayer to God for this very thing Thus Dauid prayes Psal. 39. 4. and Moses Psal. 90. 13. and Simeon Luke 2. 19. And in as much as Christ dyed for this end to deliuer vs from this feare wee may sue out the priuiledge and by prayer striue with God to get it framed in vs. It is a suite God will not deny them that aske in the name of Christ because it is a thing that Christ especially aimed at in his owne death To conclude then wee haue prooued that it is possible to be had and most vncomely to want it and likewise the way hath beene shewed how both by meditation and practice this Cure may be effected If then it be not wrought in any of vs we may here finde out the cause in our selues For if wee would hereby be soundly aduised and ruled we might attaine to it all the dayes of our life to sing with the Saints that triumphant Song mentioned both in the Old and New Testament Oh death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victory so as we are now the conquerors through him that loued vs and gaue himselfe to death for vs euen Iesus Christ the righteous to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all praise in the Churches throughout all ages for euer AMEN FINIS The Contents of this Treatise 2. The contents of the second booke 3. The Contents of the third booke 4. The Contents of the fourth booke 5 The contents of the fift booke * Touching tâ—… Treatise of the Principles reade the Aduertisement printed at the end of the Rules of Life pag 640. 6 The contents of the last booke Whom these Treatises concerne 〈◊〉 to the sâ—…y of tâ—…se 〈◊〉 Generall directions by way of preparation 2 3 4. Note The course to be rid of sinne Motiues 3 Things he must be resolued of in his iudgement 1 2 3 If we do 4 things wee are râ—…d of the danger of all sins past 1 Make a Catalogue of thy sins How our sins are innumerable Look to a things The proof 2 Secondly thou must confesse thy sinnes particularly in the best words thou canst Note The proofes 3. Thirdly thou must seek godly sorrow not giue outr till thou feele thy heart melt within thee How it may bee attained 4. Fourthlâ—… thou must thâ—… lay hâ—…ld vpon the promises distinctly 〈◊〉 Sorts of promises How this may bee done Note 1. A taste of the 〈◊〉 hapâ—…e of sâ—…ch as haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…arte 2. 3. 4. 5. How thâ—…se promises are to bee vsâ—…d How wee may know whether our confession bee tighâ—… 1. 2. 3. 4. Note this well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. This direction concernâ—…s three sortâ—… of men Other vsâ—…s of the Catalogue Tâ—…e misery of such as will not bâ—… 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—…ir 〈◊〉 1. 2. 3. 4. The first sâ—…rt of sin Originall sinne Ignorance Procrastination Vainglory Security Incorrigiblenesse Carnall feares Hypocrisâ—…e Selfe-loue Luke warmnesse Vnchearefulnesse Inconsideration Inconstancy 1. Naturall Atheisme 2. Epicurisme 3. Defects 4. 〈◊〉 of our affections 5. 4 Sorts of pride 6. How many waies men sin against Gods mercy 7. 8. 9. 10. Offences against the fâ—…re of God 11. Offences against the trust in God 12 1. Not worshipping The aggrauations 2 Will worship The aggrauations 3. Idoll worshipping Sins in any part of Gods worship 1. Sinnes in hearing 2. Sinnes in Prayâ—…r 3. Sins abouâ—… the Sacraments of â—…he Lordâ—… Supper 4. About swearing More secret offâ—…nces against the Sabbath The open breaches Note The sins 1. Of wiues 2. Of husbands 3. Of children The aggrauations 4. Of Parents 5. Of seruants The aggrauations 6. Of Masters 1. Of subiects 2. Of Magistrates 1. Of hearers 2. Of Ministers 1 By omissi on The aggrauations 2. By commission 1. Enuie 2. Anger 3. Hatred 4. Worldly sorrow Sinnes externall 1. In gesture 2. In words The aggrauations 3. In wâ—…rks Sinnes against the body Sinnes against the soule The means of vncleannesse 1. In witnesse bearing 2. Lying The aggrauations 3. Slandering The aggrauations 4 Censuring 5. Vainglory 6. Flaterie 〈◊〉 Sins against Christ. 2. Sinnes against repentance The aggrauations 3. Sinnes against Faith The aggraâ—…ations 4. Against the graces of the Spiriâ—… Two Catalogues of signes The shorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter 1 He auâ—…ides the company of the wicked 〈◊〉 Hee is sâ—…rrowfull for his sin 〈◊〉 Hee is â—…hroughly reformed â—…n his con â—…ersation 4 He maketh conscience of lesser â—…ns as well as greater 5 Hee loues preaching 6 He esteemes the goâ—… aboue all men 7 He is carefull of the sancti fication of the Sabbath 8 He is not in loue with the world 9. He loues his enemies 10. He is constant in good courses though opposed 11. He serues God in his family The occasion of this Treatise The signes refâ—…rred to six heads The infallibility of the signes 3. Wâ—…ies to find out the signes of a godâ—…y man in Scripture â—…6 Signes of true humiliation 1. Hee sees his sinnes 2. He feares Gods displeasure 3. He trusts not vpon the merits of his own workes 4. Hemours For all sorts of sins For sin as it is sinne As much as for crosses 5. And for the sinnes of others 6. And for spirituall iudgemeÌ„ts 7. And is moued 8 And â—…ee is eased onely by spirituall meanes 9 And is carefull to learne how to be saued 10 And is fearefull of being deceiued 11 And earnestly desires to lead an holy life 12 And trusts vpon Gods mercy in his griefe 13 And is in loue with God if he heare his praiers 14 And daily iudgeth himselfe for his sinne 15 And prayers in the holy Ghost 16 Desiring to be rid of
all sinne Note this 17 And is willing to suffer affliction 18 He dislikes sinne in all 19 Sinne reignes not in him 20 Hee humbles himselfe for sin euen in his prosperitie 21 And in aduersitie his heart is vpright 2â—… He accouâ—…ts of spirituall things as thy best things 23. He doth not fauour the things of the slesh and the world 24. He is much grieued if God hide himselfe 25. Of a Lyon hee becomes a Lambe 26. His spirit is without guile Why wee should try out faith The drift is to shâ—…w how faith may bee proued not how it may bâ—…e bred A second câ—…ueat Theâ—… note by way of preface The true fâ—…ith 1. Was wrought by the Word preached 2. Esteems Christ aboue all things 3. Receiues the testimony of Gods Ministers before all the world 4 Casts out by pocrisie 5. Will abide triall 6. It beleeues all things 7 Will not make hast 8. Is accompanied with a pure conscience 9. And a spirit of discerning 10. And the witnesse of the Spirit of adoptioÌ„ 11. Beareth those fruits following 1. Loue 2. Purity of heart 3. Victory ouer the World 4 Humility 5 Confession 6 Application of Christs righteousnesse 7 A very spring of grace Two sorts of graces in a Christian The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tryed by foure signes His tryall by his loue to the Word 13. Signes to try his affection to the Word by His triall by his gift of prayer 13. Rules of tryall His loueto his enemies tried His tryall by the loue to the appâ—…aring of Christ. The triall of his knowledge And so he differs from wicked men In the things hee knowes 2. In the cause of his knowledge 3. In the effects of his knowledge 4 In the properties of his knowledge His loue to God tried by nine signes His loue to the godly tried by ten signes 5. Six fauours God bestowes vpon him which the wicked neuer feele 1. Election in time 2. The baptisme by fire 3. Much assurance 4. Ioy vnspeakeable 7. The sanctification of his afflictions 6 The answer of his prayers Sixe Rules of his trial about the Sacrament Note Why wicked men neglect the triall of their estates 〈◊〉 Because they are afraid all is noâ—… well 2. They are slothfull 3. They rest vpon the common hope Or 4 vpon their outward profession of Religion Or 5. they 〈◊〉 euâ—…l opinions 〈◊〉 assurancâ—… 6. They are lettâ—…d by their beloued sins Why soâ—…e that are godly neglect the triall of their estates 1. Euill opinions 2. Ignorance 3. Smothering of doubts and temptatioÌ„s They are wicked o uermâ—…ch 5. Melancholy 6. Passions 7. Neglect of the meanes 8. A barren life 1 Cor. 15. 58 9. Too much loue of earthly things 10. Secret sin 1 He is a wicked â—…an 1 That liues without God 〈◊〉 That auoids the societie of the godly 3. That sauours oâ—…ly earthly things 4. That iâ—… discernes not the things of God 5. That sorts with wicked men 6 Thaâ—… of malice persecuteth the truth 7. That allowes himselfe in Atheisticall thoughts 8 That cals not vpon God 9 That is not chastened of God 10 That neuer examines himselfe â—…n knowne sinnes 11 That applaudes himselfe in knowne sinne 12. That lothes the Word of God constantly 13. That allowes himselfe in hypocrisie 14. That refuseth knowledge 15. That in great distresses humbles not himselfe 16. That care not for the afflictions of the godly 17. That will not vnderstand to do good 18. That is â—…esensible of spiritual iudgemeÌ„ts 19. That is an ordinary swearer 20. That is carelesse of Gods Sabbath 21. That is a worker of iniquity 22. That beleeues not in Christ. 23. That hates to be reformed 24. That hath not the Spirit of Christ. 25. That cannot forgiue his enemies 26. That loues not God 27. That â—…ares not God â—…8 That is dead in sin 29. That is guiltie of any of his sinnes in the Apostles Catalogue 30. That cannot repent Two sorts of these signes 〈◊〉 Signes of hypocrisie 16 Signes of an vnsound Professor Note Arguments of hope 1 Gods oath 2 Gods Patience 3. The offer of grace to al 4. Suffiâ—…ient satisfaction made by Câ—…st 5. The meanes continued 6. One only sin vnpardonable 7. As grâ—…t sinners saued Quest. Answ. 1. He must consider of Gods promises 2. He must take notice of Gods commandement to beleeue 3. Hee must pray for faith 3. He must renounce his owne righteousnesse 5. He must waite vpon the Word preached 1 Gather a Catalogue of thy sins either by memory Or by booke 2. Consider Gods iustice 3 Think of his threatnings 4 Remember thy latter end 5. Obserue Gods iudg ments vpon the wicked 6. Especially Gods goodnesse to thee 7. Try thy selfe by the signes 8. Beg an humble heart of God 9. Liue vnder 〈◊〉 searching ministery 10. Wâ—…tch against the things â—…hou art naturally proud of 11 Auoide the flatterer 12 Thinke still of some of thy worst fruits Quest. Answ. 1 Consider Gods promise about a soft heart 2 Daily confesse thy sinnes to God and beg sorrow 3 Bee thankefull for euery mercie in prayer 4 Acknowledge thy faults to otheâ—… 5 Go into the house of mourning 6 â—…e heed of distraction in Godâ—… seruice 7 Study the tenth commanment 8 Remember the sorrowes of Christ for thy sinne 9. Get others to pray for thee 10. Vse fasting Quest. How the Spirit of Adoption may be had Answ. 1 He must pray for it 2 Waite vpon preaching 3 Cherish the motions of the Spirit Quest. How wee may get a loue to the Word Answ. 1 Sâ—…ttle vâ—…der a powerfull mi isterie 2 Pray God to quicken thee 3 Take heed of worldly cares 4 And of personall discord with such as feare God 5 And of vngodly companie 6. And of neglect of the increase thereof Or excesse 7. Practise what thou hearest To attaine the gift of prayer 1. Pray God to teach thee 〈◊〉 Ioyne wâ—…h such as can pray 3 How he â—…y 〈◊〉 himsâ—…lfe in euerâ—… part of prayer Three Questions How the feare of God may bâ—…â—…gotten in vs. How loue to our enemies may be excited How to increase sauing knowledge 1 He must be wise for himselfe 2 He must study only profitable things 3. He must redeeme the time 4. He must propoundâ—… his doubts 5 He must not consult with flesh and blood How the loue of God may bewrought in thee 1. Thou must auoid forgetfulnesse of God and the loue of the world 2. Thou must study Gods praises 3 Thou must frequent his house 4 Thou must study Gods mercies 5Thou must obserue thy daily infirmities 6 Thou must pray much 7 Thou must râ—…sort to experienced Christians 8 Thou must behaue thy selfe louingly towards the godly What wee must do to get the loue of the godly 1 Auoide the company of the wicked 1. Meditate much of Gods loue to vs. 3. Consider Gods Commandemét For the preseruatlon of our loue three things must bee looked to How sound sincerity of