for vs in Heauen Let vs not be like the foolish Iewes who loued the place of their banishment in Babel better then their Home Now our life is hid with God in Christ and wee know not yet what wee shall be but wee know when hee shall appeare wee shall be like him The Lord shall carry vs by his Mercie and bring vs by his Strength into the holy Habitation He shall plant vs in the Mountaine of his Inheritance euen the Place which hee hath prepared and Sanctuarie which hee hath established Then euerlasting ioy shall be vpon our head and sorrow mourning shall flie from vs for euer The Lord strengthen our Faith that through these mystie clouds of Affliction which now compasse vs wee may see that comfortable end which God in his Word hath discouered vnto vs. So that this Seâ—d thus prolonged and carryed for a long season is nothing else but Tentations continuing and succeeding one after another one still following vpon another But what is the end of this continuance euen this that they shall possesse eternall ioy and felicitie As the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes doth notably declare Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be ioyous Heb. 12.11 but grieuous here you heare of Teares neuerthelesse afterwards it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousnesse vnto them that are exercised thereby Here you heare that they shall returne with ioy Albeit then that this Seed is prolonged and deferred yet it is not so for euer but the ioy that shall follow is euerlasting Thus the Kingdome of Christ consisteth not in the power and riches of the World but in eternall Redemption which wee must attayne vnto through great Afflictions and infinite Crosses wherein notwithstanding wee are supported by the Word and Prayer vntill we come to the fulnesse of our saluation in the Kingdome of Heauen Therefore euery day should we gird vp our Loynes remembring that Warning which the Angell gaue to Eliah as most pertinent vnto vs Arise and walke thou hast yet a great Iourney to goe 1. Kin. 19.7 Of the children of God sayth Theophilactus some are at home in their owne Countrey some are in the Iourney homeward but woe vnto them who are neyther in their owne Countrey neyther in the way vnto it We are not therefore to settle our selues here as if wee had no â—urther to goe but must walke forward through this valley of teares from strength to strength till at last we appeare before the face of God in Sion Wee are still detayned in Egypt wee haue not yet obtayned the Land of Promise Psal 84.7 How then shall I sing the Songs of the Lord in a strange Land Wee are not yet past the Red Sea nor the waste Wildernesse nor the fierie Serpents what shall we doe but water our Couch night and day with teares and with feare and trembling walke on the rest of the way which yet is before vs Seeing our life is walking take heed wee keepe the right way And seeing we are in a Iourney let vs take heed that wee keepe the way otherwise our life shall be a wandring from God not a walking toward God The way is Christ I am the way Iohn 14.6 if we abide in it we shall walke with God as Enoch did before God as Abraham did toward God as Dauid did O happy turne wherein Christ is both the End the Way and the Guide Let vs walke after Christ Bernard because hee is the Truth let vs walke toward Christ because hee is the Life If yee looke to the companies of men in the World yee shall see some in stead of following Christ flying from him for he who doth euill hateth the Light Others where they should follow him runne before him not waiting vpon his Light and Direction in matters of his Worship but follow their owne Spirit doing that which is good in their owne eyes they runne with zeale but not in the right way And we haue so much the more to take heede vnto the way For he that walketh after the flesh shall at length encounter with death Gal. 6.8 because euery mans course declareth what kinde of man hee is whether carnall or spirituall and what will be his End Hee that soweth to the Flesh of the Flesh shall reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life euerlasting I am perswaded there is no man among vs who will not say hee would be at the best end which is eternall Life But here is the wonderfull folly of Men the proposed end of their Pilgrimage whereat they would be is Heauen but the way wherein they walke is the way that leadeth close to Hell Who will not esteeme him a Foole who in word sayth his Iourney is toward the South and yet for no mans warning will refraine his feet from walking toward the North but more foolish is hee who professing himselfe a Pilgrim trauelling towards heauenly Ierusalem keepes notwithstanding a contrarie course hauing his backe vpon Heauen and his face toward Hell walking not after the Spirit but after the Flesh O pittifull Blindnesse and Folly How many Witnesses of God haue forewarned thee in thy life all crying to thee with a lowd voyce This way wherein thou walkest O sinfull man is the way of Death Hee who liues after the Flesh shall die assuredly Yet wilt thou not returne nor change the course of thy life to walke after the liuing God that thou mayest be saued And hauing once found the right way Three profitable helps of a godly life which may leade vs vnto God let vs strengthen our selues to walke in it by those three most notable helpes of a godly Life deliuered vnto vs by the Prophet Dauid in three Verses of the 119. Psalme Psal 119. Verse 57. O Lord I haue determined to keepe thy Word 58. I haue made my Supplication in thy presence with my whole heart 59. I haue considered my wayes and turned my feet vnto thy Testimonies 1. Determination Determination is the first It is a good thing by settled resolution to conclude with thy selfe that thou wilt liue godly 2. Supplication Supplication is the second Except by continuall Prayer our Determination bee confirmed and strengthened by grace from God our conclusion which wee take to day shall vanish tomorrow 3. Consideration Consideration is the third and it is profitable to reduce vs againe into the way of God so often as of weakenesse we wander from it contrarie to our first determination These are the three helpes to keepe our heart in the way of God so necessarie that if without them wee doe any worke it is not possible but wee shall be snared And therefore as in a Ship which is readie to sayle so soone as the Sayles are hoysed vp presently some skilfull Mariner starts to the Rudder so euery morning wherein wee rise from our rest and make our selues
the wine in a cup. We must watch ouer our selues both alone and in company and not run into bad company least we come home by weeping crosse as Peter did Secondly we must not lye in our fals a man in his iourney if hee fall and lye still shall neuer come to his wayes end and if hee rise quickly though it hinder him a little it shall not bee much The Saints all of them recouered themselues out of their fals by renewing their Faith and Repentance A man out of his way must come backe againe the sooner he returnes the lesse is his labour Peter presently went out and wept bitterly and so was restored to Christs fauour Thirdly suppose thy fals be grieuous and often into the same sins yet let them not hinder thee still out of the way For as the Childe of GOD must neither presume nor purpose sinne so must he not despaire of rising hauing fallen into sinne seeing the promise is that If a mans sinnes for hainousnesse be as red as scarlet vpon his true repentance they shall bee made white as Snow And the parable teacheth that if a sinner offendeth seuenty times seuen times in a day and as often truly repent he shall be as oft forgiuen Fourthly after such falls we must be more warie and careful least we fall in the same manner A man yea a beast will be more carefull when it comes by the same place where it caught a fall yee cannot get it into the same hole againe Dauid no doubt would not count the Tribes againe after that fall in numbring them Thirdly hold on in this way constantly with perseuerance for the end of a worke crowneth it and the end of a way gladdeth and resteth the wearie traueller and this rest is without end Many set forth on this way but are discouraged by the hardnesse of the entrance whereas if they were a little entred the way would be pleasant and the yoake of Christ easie and sweete Others haue gone yet further but at length looke backe yea goe backe when a man would haue thought they had escaped the filthinesse of the world and these haue lost a great deale of labour and comfort Others yet farther then they as the bad earth euen so farre as a man could perceiue no difference betweene them and sound Christians and apparent difference was there none but in perseuerance and yet wanting soundnesse haue suffered shipwracke euen at the hauen and so their former righteousnesse is all forgotten a great deale of way they had gone and much worke had they rid whereof they shall neuer see crowne nor comfort Oh beware of wearinesse and relapse As towards the end of his way the traueller is most cheerefull so should we and the rather because first euery one affects a good end euen Balaam and will we not endure a little difficultie for it Fourthly seeing there are a number that deceiue themselues about their estate in which they are thinking that their waies are right when God knowes they are the pathes that leade to hell they boast of their supposed good when indeed it is nothing but a meere delusion of the Diuell to blinde the eyes of their minds to make them seeme that which they are not they boast and bragge of Iustification and yet liue without Sanctification Such people are out of the way and all this while they doe nothing else but deceiue their owne soules for he that is Iustified is also Sanctified and after Iustification there will follow Sanctification Wouldst thou then know whether thou hast throughly and effectually remembred thy fals and art conuerted and that God hath Iustified thee in pardoning and forgiuing thee all thy sinnes and acquitting thee from the guilt and punishment of thy sinnes and that God accepts thee through Christ as righteous before him and that thou shalt neuer be condemned for thy sinne then examine thy Sanctification Doest thou leaue thine waies and walke in the waies of GOD Doest thou vse all good meanes to come to saluation and auoide all occasions which might draw thee to destruction In a word doest thou deny thy selfe and wholy resigne vp thy selfe to bee guided by Gods Spirit in all things then thou art Sanctified and so maist approoue thou art Iustified else not Rom. 8.1 Now there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ Iesus There is Iustification who are such as walke not after the flesh Ephe. 2.10 but after the Spirit there is Sanctification It is the end of our new Creation and second birth Psal 125.5 which God hath ordained viz. to walke in good works Lastly in a word vtterly to renounce all sinne to hate loath detest and abhorre it so as to haue nothing to doe any more with it but to vow and resolue against it and so leaue it and forsake it and daily more and more to be out of loue with it and our selues for it is a most true signe of him that hath rightly searched himselfe and is truly conuerted Pro. 28.13 and such a man shall obtaine mercy at Gods hand in this world and euerlasting mercy in the world to come Wherefore seeing we haue these promises 2. Cor. 7.1 let vs cleanse our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit and finish our sanctification in the feare of God Signifying that it is not sufficient to purge our selues in part but it must be both from internall corruptions of the soule as also the externall pollutions of the body and to labour for the feare of God without which wee are impudent and bold in committing of vncleanenesse which wee would not dare to attempt if the feare of God were firmely setled in our hearts teaching vs also not to make a shew of holines for a time but to goe on constantly and to finish our Sanctification dayly proceeding in a holy course adding more holinesse still to more that so holding out vnto the end we may receiue the end of our Faith the saluation of our soules For he that continueth vnto the end 1. Pet. 1.9 he shall be saued PSALME 126. When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Sion wee were like them that dreame The Argument of the Psalme TOuching the Captiuitie whereof the Prophet speaketh in this Psalme The Interpreters doe not agree Some vnderstand it to be meant of the Captiuitie of Babylon some of the Captiuitie vnder the Romans other some do thinke that the Prophet meaneth heere all the Captiuities and deliuerances of the Prophet according to that promise that if they should at any time be led into Captiuity for their transgressions and by repentance should returne vnto the Lord Of what manner of Captiuitie this Psalme treateth he would shew mercy vnto them and bring them home into their land againe but in mine opinion they go neere to the sence and true meaning of the Psalme which doth referre it to that great and generall Captiuitie of mankind vnder Sinne Death
themselues redeemed but those who are cleansed from sinne and haue a care to forsake sinne so it is as true that none doe more keepe themselues from sinne then those that doe dayly meditate of and remember their Redemption it being the speciall end of our Redemption to cease from sinne and to serue God in righteousnesse and true holynesse all the dayes of our liues Lu. 1.74 75. As our Sauiour Christ when hee had cured him that had beene sicke thirtie eight yeeres meeting him in the Temple hee like a good Physician giueth him wholesome counsell and bids him Sinne no more But first prepares him to this dutie by calling to remembrance his mercie and fauour towards him in healing of him Iohn 5.14 Behold sayth Christ thou art made whole Sinne no more So if we would seriously remember the loue and mercy that God hath shewed in redeeming vs by his Sonne and the vnspeakable loue and care that Christ had on vs to die such a cursed Death for vs it would make vs breake forth with a full resolution of heart and say by our selues Behold I am made whole I am redeemed I will therefore defile my selfe no more I will leaue all sinne I will sinne no more lest a worse thing happen to me and it would make vs practise the contrary vertues When Paul would haue the Ephesians not to haue any fellowship with vnfruitfull works of darknesse but to walk as children of the light he doth first put them in mind of their new estate and makes them to consider of it seriously as being a notable means against sinne saying Ephes 5.8 9 10 11. Yee were once darkenesse but now are light in the Lord walke as children of the Light approouing what is pleasing to the Lord and haue no fellowship with vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse but rather reprooue them It is a manifest note of one redeemed Rom. 6.2 to be dead to sinne and if we are dead to sinne how shall wee any longer liue therein Forget not therefore this wonderfull benefit of Redemption Psal 103.2 3 4. sayth Dauid to his Soule And surely if this loue of Christ were truly remembred it could not be that we should sinne so commonly against him and so cruelly handle him by our sinnes euen by crucifying him afresh againe as wee doe First this Meditation as it is a notable meanes to preserue vs from all sinne so especially it keepeth vs from these and stirreth vs vp to the practise of the contrary vertues First it banisheth all vnthankfulnesse and stirreth vs vp to blesse and praise Gods Name who hath done so great things for vs. This was Dauids Meditation and practise Psal 103.4 Luke 1.68 1. Cor. 15.57 My soule praise thou the Lord and all within mee shall praise his holy Name and forget not all his benefites who redeemeth thy soule from destruction c. This did Zacharias thus did Paul and so will all doe that do finde and feele their part in this redemption Secondly this Meditation will keepe vs from fainting vnder the Crosse and make vs constant to vndergoe affliction and without this we cannot doe either Consider and remember therfore Christ Heb. 12.3 which endured such contradictions of sinners against himselfe lest yee bee wearied and faint in your minds Verse 1.2 and that we may cast aside euery sinne that hangeth on so fast and runne with patience the race set before vs let vs looke vnto Iesus the authour and finisher of our Faith Heere we see this is a great meanes against any sinne as well as impatiency inconstancy and the like and holds vs in a continuall course of doing well and walking aright in our Christian race Thirdly this is a speciall dutie enioyned vs in the right participation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper without which wee cannot receiue as fit guests but vnworthily eating and drinking our owne damnation And therefore Christ himselfe in his first Institution gaue vs this in speciall charge saying 1. Cor. 11.24.25 Doe this as oft as ye doe it in remembrance of mee repeating the same to shew vs the necessitie of it Fourthly this giueth vs comfort in sicknesse and at our death and stayeth vs against despaire of Gods mercy and at our death assure vs of endlesse mercy in the world to come besides al Gods blessings in this life temporally For if we remember that he dyed for vs and rose againe for vs Some shall also rise with him from the death of sinne vnto newnesse of life here and to immortall glory hereafter For where our head and member Christ is there also must we his members redeemed bee also And if when wee were enemies to him Christ died for vs Rom. 5.10 much more being now reconciled Rom. 8.1 shall we bee saued by him as Paul saith Now there is no condemnation to vs. Fiftly it maketh vs constant in all good duties stedfast and vnmoueable it maketh vs rich in all good workes when with Iob we can say I know that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19.25 This is that which Paul remembred with thankfulnesse and remembring it did stirre vp himselfe and others to abound in good workes which none can doe but those that cease from sinne 1. Cor. 15.57.58 Thankes bee vnto God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christ therefore bee yee stedfast and vnmoueable alwaies abounding in the worke of the Lord. For as much as ye know that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. Sixtly in way of thankfulnesse beware of turning backe to the seruice of sinne and obey the precept giuen to the blinde man as hath bene shewed before Luke 7.47 Thou art made whole sinne no more Seuenthly loue him much who hath forgiuen so much Eightly studie to please him in all things Psal 116.8 Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death mine eyes from teares and my feet from falling I will walke before the Lord in the land of the liuing Lastly magnifie and speake of this great deliuerance and saluation as the Church did Psal 126.1 Luke 1.49 The Lord hath done great things for vs whereof we reioyce and say with Marie He that is mightie hath done great things for me and holy is his Name Verse 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with ioy THis Psalme hath in it a singular Maiestie and therefore the Prophet vseth here many figuratiue or borrowed speeches By laughter he signifieth the voyce of the Gospel for the Gospel should be to vs nothing else but ioy and gladnesse especially if we compare it with the Law for the Law terrifieth and killeth whose vse and office is to breake and mollifie the hard and stonie hearts of the impenitent as Ezechiel saith for they must bee broken with this iron Scepter as it were and beaten downe to hell as the Psalmist prayeth Let the wicked be turned into hell Psal 9.17 and all
vndefiled as the Temple of the Holy Ghost and that our Soules may be defended cherished and tendered as the apple of thine Eye Keepe vs Lord this Night from all euill which may happen eyther to our Bodyes or our Soules extend thy Goodnesse toward all those that depend vpon vs or wee on them Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest and when wee shall awake let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy Meditations on thee and thy Law Blesse vs O Lord all the Nights and Dayes of our Life and at the end thereof send vs a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto Life eternall Graunt vs these good things most mercifull Father and all other needfull Graces not onely vnto vs but vnto all thy deare Children throughout the whole World euen for Iesus Christ his sake in whose Name we further call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. ¶ A priuate Morning Prayer O Blessed Lord God great in Power fearefull in Iudgement and rich in Mercy which bindest and no man looseth and looseth and no man bindeth I yeeld thee most humble and heartie thankes for that of thy fatherly Goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed me this last Nights sleepe in peace and rest and againe loosing the bands wherewith I was tyed hast giuen me power to see this Morning Light Now O Lord I beseech thee powre vpon me this Day the Dew of thy Blessing that through the operation of thy gracious Beames I may bud forth and beare the fruits of true Faith in my life and conuersation Continue this goodnesse and mercie towards me and by thy power rayse me from the deepe sleepe of all vnrighteousnesse Discharge me from the works of Darknesse and cloath me with the armour of Light that I may walke honestly as in the Day and liue soberly righteously and godlily in this present World Mortifie O my God all corrupt affections in me pardon my innumerable sinnes Fill mee this day with thy grace that I may spend it to the honour of thy Name Set a watch before my mouth and order my lips that I may vtter nothing vnaduisedly eyther before thee or men Keepe my senses within their limits direct my will to that which is good and order my iudgement for the accomplishing of those things that appertaine to my Vocation O Lord I beseech thee preserue and keepe my senses safe and sound that I be neyther corrupted by prosperitie nor cast downe by aduersitie nor be too fearefull of thy Iudgements or too bold vpon thy mercy but graunt me grace O mercifull Lord that I may apprehend all things that come from thee with a Religious contented Minde and in the end of my dayes by a liuely Faith may ioyfully arriue in the Land of Promise the Kingdome of Heauen through the merites of Iesus Christ my onely Sauiour and Redeemer Amen Amen ¶ A priuate Euening Prayer O Most holy Father and my gracious God which giuest vnto all sorts of men the chearefull light of the Day that in thine assistance they may follow their honest Vocations and likewise sendest the silent Night that then they may rest their wearied Limbes and busied Mindes and so returne their due thankes for thy Goodnesse I sinfull Creature adore and prayse thee for the totall summe of all thy Mercies whereof I haue beene this Day partaker O Lord I am vile looke not vpon mine vnworthynesse folly and wickednesse but appease thy anger iustly conceiued against me and forgiue what hath beene amisse in me this day or at any other time euen for his sake who is thy welbeloued Sonne and my deare Aduocate Pardon the sinnes and offences which I haue committed this Day in thought word and deede eyther against thee or my Neighbour Giue me grace to water my Couch with Teares in vnfayned Repentance for all my former sinnes and grant that I may so passe the residue of my life as that in regard of thy Iustice I may retaine a holy feare to stand alwayes in awe of thee and in regard of thy Mercy conceiue sure hope neuer to despayre or distrust in thee O Lord keepe me this Night both in Soule and Body that I may with the next Light ioyfully rise againe bee thankefull vnto thee and carefully walke in my Vocation and Calling to the glory of thy holy Name and the good of my Brethren amongst whom I liue for Iesus Christ his sake in whose Name I further pray vnto thee saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. FINIS A TABLE DIRECTING where to finde the chiefe Matters contayned in this Booke A. ACcesse The godly haue free accesse to the King of Heauen when they please Pag. 322 Accomplishment Wee must looke as well to the accomplishment and end as the beginning of Gods workes 392 Aduersarie See Enemie Aduersitie See Trouble Afflictions Turne to the good of the godly 97. They humble vs for Sinne 99. Gods Name a Sanctuarie for vs in them 115. The fruits of them 122. They are but short 190 196 355. God hath set a time how long they shal last 192. which should worke patience in vs 193. Impatience in them dangerous 198. We must endure them constantly 199. Our Nature abhorreth them 326. They are no testimonies of Gods anger 334. Comfort against inward affliction 340. and outward 341 Amendment The amending of our liues brings endlesse comfort 131 Apparrell The vanitie of Brauerie gay Attyre and Apparrell 78. Fashion followers therein taxed 80 B. BAckward It is dangerous to goe backward in matters of Religion 204 Baptisme What a solemne Vow we haue made in it 10. wherein wee are made sworne Seruants of God 10 11. And haue receiued Wages aforehand of seruices to bee done 12. which God will require at our hand 14 Beginning A godly beginning without going forward auayles vs nothing 202. The end of a Christian better then his beginning 330 Beleeue The endlesse comfort of those that beleeue in Christ 131. The separation Christ will make betweene Beleeuers and Vnbeleeuers 143. Where a few true Beleeuers are for their sake all the multitude are called Gods people 155 Blessing The way to true blessednesse 152. They are blessed that keepe Gods Commandements 224. The godly make least esteeme of outward Blessings 170 Body See Preseruation Brauerie See Apparrell C. CHild of God neuer at one stay 210 Christ a powerfull Sauiour 56 Christian Different courses of the Christian and Worldling worth noting 329 Church The Rage of the Churches Enemies described 45. To what the Church may be compared 46. Gods prouidence limitteth the time in which it shal suffer and no longer 113. None can hurt it 159. What the state thereof is 161. since the Apostles time there haue been deceiuers in it 241. The troublesome estate of the Church causeth mourning in the godly 370 Cittie See Beleeue Commandements They are blest that keepe Gods Commandements 224 Come The wicked come farre different from the godly