perfect gift but sin was not created by him can receive no approbation from him God cannot possibly sin for hee may work besides his rule who may sin But Gods Rule is his most just and wise will which hee cannot but work after no more than hee can deny his own nature God cannot bee the author of sin in and with his creature as hee is of every good word and work for that which the creature doth God being the author and principal worker of it hee must inform the manner of it by his Commandement and work it in him by his Spirit But it is impossible for the creature to sin in working after that which is commanded him of God God cannot so far will sin as to approve it for good in it self it hath no proportion to his nature It is such a thing as hee cannot bee author of in the creature nor yet the creature work while it keepeth communion with him wherefore God cannot allow it as good in it self The Lord perswadeth to obedience threatneth the sinner commandeth the practice of holiness punisheth the disobedient Hee is just and holy in himself in all his waies and cannot bee tainted with the least spot or blemish Jam. 1.13 Thou oh God temptest no man as thou canst not bee tempted of evil and if it bee not of God it cannot bee good for hee is the absolute original goodness from whom cometh every good by participation The cause of sin is some voluntary agent that worketh besides Rule and comes short in goodness required Sin it self is an aberration the subordinate and deficient cause of sin is Satan or man himself revolted from God Satan soliciteth the flesh inticeth the will consenteth and so sin is finished The Devil was made an Angel of light but hee abode not in the truth and being fallen from Heaven ceaseth not to draw others into the same perdition God made man righteous but hee found out many inventions this is the cause but what is the end of sin Of evil there is no end for that is never good No gain to bee gotten by that which is naught and vile the poisoned stalk can bear no wholesome fruit Satan in tempting aimeth at mans perdition Man in sinning intendeth the satisfaction of his lusts The Lord doth by his providence order it to the glory of his name but of sin properly there is no end to the sinner God takes occasion by sin to give the promise of the Mediatour Hee can use sin for a punishment Rom. 1.24 for the exercising of his children No speech from Shimei but sinful reviling speech was Davids exercise but yet the goodness that cometh by sin is not of nor through it by nature but from the infinite wisdome of God who knoweth how to work good out of evil Let us somewhat inquire into the properties of this poison every sin is mortal in its own nature it deserveth and bringeth death endless and easeless of soul and body for it is a turning aside from God who is the life of the soul it is a breach of his Law an offence against his infinite Majesty If a man sin against the Majesty of an earthly Prince hee is punished with temporary death or perpetual imprisonment if hee could bee supposed to live alwaies hee should lye in for ever How much more deservedly am I subject to eternal death who have sinned against an eternal God Every sin in its own nature is accompanied with final impenitency Hee that sinneth once can never cease to sin by any natural power sin is a running leprosie that cannot bee stayed the soul that is once distempered must go amiss for ever if it bee not rectified by supernatural power It is of grace that sin is pardoned it is of supernatural power that any soul is set free from the power and tyranny of it For being once enthralled by voluntary submission wee cannot after draw back and work deliverance Sin is of a soiling nature and defileth all it toucheth Every good work and holy ordinance To the unclean all things are unclean The Word Prayer Sacraments Alms every thing is polluted by that touch Corrupt qualities are more apt to hurt than sound to heal one rotten sheep may infect the whole flock but cannot bee cured by them One filthy ragg stained with the plague may infect a whole pack but the clean garment cannot purifie it If a common garment touch holy flesh the garment is not sanctified but the flesh polluted The prayer of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Sin mixed with Gods ordinances is like poison mingled with wholesome meat that corrupteth it for our use and nourishment Mark and consider well the effects of sin O my soul the waters of this fountain are bitter the fruits of this tree unsavoury They that sow iniquity shall reap vanity and they that follow vanity forsake mercy Affliction pursueth sinners and shall overtake them to their cost without question the wages of sin is death Look as it is with men if they turn themselves from this aspectable light they are forthwith environed with darkness So man turning away by his sin from God the Father of lights from whence every good gift cometh hee cannot but bee forthwith in outward and inward darkness By reason of sin the soul is dead in ignorance and lust So that they have in them a seed apt to bring forth every sin Our bodies have mortality as a worm corrupting them our conditions are exposed to a thousand vanities and wearisome courses and these are the beginnings of evil Despair darkness fear horrour and shame are the companions of sin disgrace sickness poverty loss of goods the best fruit it beareth Hast thou lost any blessing sin hath robbed thee of it dost thou want any good thing sin keepeth thee from it art thou annoyed with evil thy perdition is of thy self sin sets man at odds with God the Law his own conscience all creatures and with himself Oh what a drudge is man made to his lusts by sin what confusion vexation bitterness doth lodge in the heart continually Look into the world and see what desolations it hath made How are the mighty slain and glorious Kingdomes laid on heaps Is not sin the cause of all disorders wars confusions bloodsheds famines and pestilences that ever were in the world The sorrows of this life are many and grievous but nothing comparable to spiritual and eternal miseries that sin bringeth with it Oh that thou didst behold how miserably the soul is mangled defaced wounded imprisoned by it the light of nature terrour of conscience power of grace is not able to set forth or comprehend the desert and fruit of sin for the full wrath of God which shall bee executed upon the ungodly exceedeth all that can bee imagined If the wicked prosper for a time sin turneth their blessings into curses The Table and by proportion the wealth strength and honour of the wicked are dangerous
in the garden besides and being strictly charged upon pain of death not to taste of it The just and good Law of God was a blameless occasion of mans sin as it did forbid an act in it self indifferent that it could not bee done without sin The Law and Sin as well as the Law and Obedience work together though in a distinct manner for of Obedience the Law is a principal cause but of sin an accidental as working besides his own scope and main drift which is to savour nothing but life and also as a contrary to sin The Lord in his wise providence did work in the fall of man as the Law by accident was occasion of it but hee is not the author of his sin hee did not constrain him to offend not withhold from him any grace that by Covenant or otherwise hee was bound to give him The principal inward cause of this transgression was the will of man freely turning from the Commandement of God which hee might and ought to have obeyed but would not and willingly hearkening to the suggestion of Satan which hee should have resisted but did not The sin of man was the eating of the forbidden fruit not absolutely considered in it self but in respect of the Commandement and charge whereby God had severely forbidden the tasting of the fruit of that tree and had threatned punishment to them that should transgress In evil actions no end can properly bee assigned for the end is of a good thing and to be desired But Satan in that temptation aimed at the dishonour of God and the damnation of Man Man being deceived by the old Serpent proposed this end to himself but obtained it not that hee might satisfie his superiour affection to the Image of God and his inferiour to the fruit of the tree The Lord who bringeth light out of darkness out of his infinite wisdome did order this evil to the setting forth of his mercy and justice and the utter confusion of Satan contrary to his purpose and intendment In this their disobedience wee may observe these degrees The impression of the suggestion obscuration of their thoughts concerning the excellency of God forgetfulness of what was done before and what God commanded doubting of the truth of God tickling of ambition whereby the woman affected great power dignity credit to the flatteries and allurements of Satan and familiarity with him and inclination of will to the forbidden fruit First This was the first sin committed by man in it self most hainous the fountain of all other evils both of sin and punishment Many things do shew the greatness of this sin 1 It was the transgression of that precept which God had given for the trial of mans obedience and so was an absolute denial of subjection and renouncing of obedience As the performance of it had been an open profession of submission and due obedience It was not a breach of some particular Commandement but an universal denial of all the branches of obedience 2 It was intollerable that man being inriched with so many graces priviledges and blessings should presently forget God being so much indebted and bound unto him in love for his inestimable favours 3 Amongst so many trees in the Garden it was easie for man to forbear the pursute of one and being made after the Image of God hee might have resisted the temptation of Satan Wherefore to suffer himself to bee drawn away in that manner was an hainous offence 4 This sin was committed in Paradise where the tree of life stood in their sight and God had manifested himself unto them familiarly In respect of God the Law the Offender this sin was hateful and notorious Secondly This sin was not the proper sin of our first Parents but the common sin of all their posterity who were in their loins when they did offend and afterwards by natural propagation descended from them for they did represent all mankind which was propagated from them as the root Thirdly The effects of this sin stayed not in the first authors of it but spread and stretched themselves over all mankind For if they whose Parents are infected with any disease their children do possess it by inheritance how is it possible that our first Parents being deprived of the Image of God wee their posterity should spring of them perfect and without maim For the beginnings of all things are all that in power which doth spring from those beginnings for the virtue that is in the beginnings is communicated to the things which receive beginning from them Like egg like bird what is in the root will bee in the branches and the vice or fault that is in the beginning is common to the thing begun The punishment of this sin doth degenerate into sin As the want of holiness and proneness to evil is not only a judgement inflicted for sin but it is sin and the cause of sin One sin begets another and the second is an effect of the former both properly and accidentally The effects of this first sin are bitterness it self to wit in respect of mankind in general wrath blame guilt deprivation of Gods Image corruption of nature spiritual bondage subjection to death temporal and eternal God is offended in that his Commandement is despised to the derogation of his soveraignty sin is vile and naught deserving blame man is guilty and tied to punishment whence issueth griping of conscience fear of the angry Judge and dread of punishment The loss of original Justice followed the act of sin in whose room succeeded corruption of the whole man in every power and faculty Thus the liberty of man was turned into miserable servitude and hee became bondslave to sin-revenging justice as his principal Lord to the Devil and his Angels and to the power of his accusing and condemning conscience as the Lords Ministers Moreover the natural man hath no spiritual liberty to do any thing spiritually good as hee did before sin entred but is led as a slave by lusts by passions by objects which please him So that hee is in a brutish bondage And death entred into the world by sin Rom. 5.12 and is gone over all men for as much as all men have sinned In respect of Adam and Eve the effects are common to both or particular to either 1 The common are sense of nakedness shame fear of the angry Judge slight and desire to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord ejection out of Paradise into the cursed Earth and stopping the way that they might not enter to eat of the tree of life 2 The particular effects in respect of Adam are that the Earth is accursed to bring forth briars and thorns that he should till the ground in labour and eat his bread in the sweat of his brows till hee return unto the dust The woman was sentenced to conceive and bring forth in forrow and to bee in painful subjection to her husband Satan intended the dishonour
Scripture this work is ascribed to the Father * Act. 2.24 who is said to raise his Son and to the Son a Rom. 1.4 Joh. 10.18 who by his Divine power or as the Apostle speaketh by the eternal Spirit raised up himself I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it Of his infinite love towards his Elect hee laid down his life and of the same love and affection toward them hee rose again which is more evidently seen in this that hee did vouchsafe to call them brethren with which sweet name full of love hee had not before saluted any man As hee suffered the most grievous torment for the salvation of the Elect his chosen people so for the glorification of his Spouse that is the Church hee rose again that hee might inrich and beautifie her with spoils taken from the enemy The Causes lead us to consider of the End why Christ rose again for every proper efficient intendeth an end which is ever good and that most excellent as the worker is of greatest wisdome and excellency Now therefore since Christ rose in special love to his peculiar people it must needs tend to their special exceeding great good By his Resurrection the glory of Christ which hee had with the Father before the foundation of the world was manifested which the world would not acknowledge by his Sermons nor by miracles confirming his Doctrine By his Resurrection he obtained those glorious Titles with which the Prophets foretold that the Messias should bee adorned such as bee Act. 3.15 1 Cor. 15.20 Col. 1.15 18. Apoc. 1.5 Rom. 14.9 The Prince of life the first-fruits of them that sleep the first-born of every creature the first-born from the dead and the first-begotten of the dead and the Lord of Dead and Living By his Resurrection hee shewed himself to bee the Conquerour of Death Sin and Satan meritoriously hee triumphed over our enemies upon the Cross actually hee began his triumph at the Resurrection Col. 2.23 24. Now when the powers of Hell could no longer hold him under it is manifest that they are subdued and conquered By his Resurrection hee declareth that his satisfaction is fully absolute Had the least penny of our debt remained upon the score not discharged hee could not have loosed the sorrows of Death Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification By the Resurrection hee prepared himself to the glorious function of a Mediatour As hee suffered without the gate to pay the price of our Redemption So did hee enter into Heaven to appear before the Father for us Hee died once for our sins and now liveth for ever to make intercession for us By his death hee purchased life and salvation for his people and now sitting in glory at the right hand of the Father hee doth communicate the blessing that hee hath procured for them Christ rose that wee might rise For hee that raised up the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4.14 shall raised up us with Jesus and set us together with him Early in the morning upon the third day after hee was buried our Saviour rose out of the Sepulchre in which hee was laid at which time there was a mighty Earthquake and an Angel descended from Heaven to rowl away the stone at which glorious apparition the souldiers that kept the Tomb were sore affraid and became as dead men The death of Christ wanted not signs of Majesty nor his Resurrection tokens of exceeding glory when the Earth was moved at his presence and the Angels descended from Heaven to do him service The effects of this Resurrection are far more glorious than the signs that did accompany it for unless his Resurrection had followed his cruel death all his benefits appropriated to us had layen buried together with him 1 Cor. 15.17 Rom. 6.8 9 1 Cor. 15.55 1 Pet. 1.3 1 Cor. 15.21 22. The Resurrection of Christ is a notable confirmation of his Doctrine the abolition of sin and death regeneration unto life eternal and vivification of our bodies are the fruits of it It was necessary that Christ should rise in regard of the excellency of his person for being the proper Son of God it was impossible hee should bee held of the sorrows of death being just and innocent as man it could not bee that hee should lye under the power of the grave and dying to overcome hee could not bee vanquished of the enemies It was also necessary in respect of the Covenant hee had made with the Father the dignity of his high office of eternal Mediation and that the truth of those things which were foretold concerning the glory of the Messias might bee fulfilled Many admirable things are spoken touching the Messias and the glory of his Kingdome who was first to lay down his life and then to take possession of his Kingdome in glory where hee shall live for ever to make intercession for his people which hee could not have done if hee had not risen It cannot bee that the Word of God should take none effect but it was foretold that the Messias should rise again in which respect his Resurrection was necessary Christ not as a private person but as a publick person Hee died for his Elect and virtually they rose in him when hee rose from the dead of whose Resurrection they partake actually when by lively Faith they are made one with him This Resurrection was exceeding glorious in respect of the power by which it was effected the life into which hee rose and the things that accompanied or followed after the Resurrection For the graves did open and many bodies of them that slept in the earth arose Whereby the grave did witnesse that its power was taken away and clean vanquished Jonah's deliverance out of the Whales belly was wonderful and miraculous the Lord was gracious in sparing Isaac and raising him as it were from death who was a slain Sacrifice in his Fathers account But these were only types and shadows of Christ his Resurrection the life and glory of the other The elect and faithful shall rise to glory at the day of judgement but they shall rise by the power of Christ Christ arose by his own power they shall rise as the Members of Christ but Christ rose as the first-fruits of them that sleep they shall rise as private persons but Christ arose as a publick They shall arise from corruption but Christ his body did not see corruption They shall rise to immortality and glory for themselves but Christ rose to glory that hee might govern his Church in glory and bring his Elect unto himself that where hee is there they might bee for ever Quest How are these things to bee pressed upon the heart Answ Wee must stir up our selves to behold and rejoyce in the Lords love towards us and fly unto Christ by Faith that wee might feel the power of his Resurrection quickening us to newness of life and comfort our selves against the fear of death and rotting in the grave with an assured hope of Resurrection to immortality and eternal glory FINIS Courteous Reader These Books are printed for and sold by Henry Mortlock at the sign of the Phoenix in Pauls Church-yard near the Little North-door Folios A Commentary upon the whole Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians wherein the Text is learnedly and fruitfully opened with a Logical Analysis spiritual and holy Observation Confutation of Arminianism and Popery By Mr. Paul Bain A Commentary on the Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the Major Prophets By John Trap M. A. Quartos An Exposition of the Prophecy of Ezekiel By William Green-hill The dividing of the Hoof or seeming Contraditions throughout sacred Scriptures distinguished resolved and applied By William Streat M. A. Some Sermons preached upon several occasions By Peter Sterry Large Octavos A Treatise of the Divine Promises in five Books In the first A general Description of their Nature Kinds Excellency Right Use Properties and the Persons to whom they belong In the four last A Declaration of the Covenant it self the bundle and body of all the Promises and the special Promises likewise which concern a mans self or others both temporal spiritual and eternal By Edw. Leigh M. A. of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford The Hypocrites Ladder or Looking-glass or a Discourse of the dangerous and destructive nature of Hypocrisie the reigning and provoking sin of this age wherein is shewed how far the Hypocrite or formal Professor may go towards Heaven yet utterly perish by three Ladders of sixty steps of his Ascending By John Sheffield Minister of the Word at Swithins London An Improvement of the Sea upon the nine Nautical Verses in the 107 Psalm wherein among other things you have a very full and delightful Description of all those many various and multitudinous Objects which they behold in their Travels through the Lords Creation both on Sea in Sea and on Land viz. All sorts and kinds of Fish Fowl and Beasts whether wilde or tame All sorts of Trees and Fruit All sorts of People Cities Towns and Countries By Daniel Pell Preacher of the Word Small Octavos Several Treatises useful for Christian Practice viz. Warning to Backsliders The way to true Happiness Mercies Memorials A Sermon preached on the fifth of Novemb. Milk and Hony first and second Part Orthodox Paradoxes The New Commandement Divine Similitudes or Mysteries and Revelations By Ralph Venning The Exceeding Riches of Grace advanced by the Spirit of Grace in an Empty Nothing-Creature viz. Mris. Sarah Wight Published by H. Jessey A Servant of Jesus Christ A Latin and English Grammar By Charls Hool M. A. Physical Rarities containing the most choice Receits of Physick and Chirurgery for the Cure of all Diseases incident to mans body Hereunto is annexed the Physical Mathematicks of Hermes Trismegistus Published by Ralph Williams Practitioner in Physick and Chirurgery Twelves The Saints Desire or Divine Consolations being a Cordial for a Fainting Soul containing Observations Experiences and Counsels The Saints daily Duty the Life of Faith and how a Soul may live in the sweet enjoyment of the Love of God c. By Samuel Richardson A Receipt for the State-Palsie or a Direction for setling the Government of the Nation delivered in a Sermon upon Proverbs 25. v. 5. FINIS
of the mind bee not diminished Although for want of proof wee count all afflictions hard yet when wee have experience of the fruit and benefit that comes by them confidence in God will make them easie if our cause bee good Wee shall never want somewhat to exercise us sin or trouble we shall have neither is it unprofitable for us to the end wee may bee ever in the combate for our life is a warfare Fifthly Wee seldome keep unlawful commodities or rejoyce too much in lawful but the Lord doth cross us in them The things of this world are too sweet and pleasant to our corrupt taste but the Lord doth season them with bitterness vain liberties breed much sorrow and unchearfulness Sixthly The most vexations in our life become annoyances unto us through our own fault in that wee either prevent them not when wee may or bear them not as wee ought or make not use of them as wee might do Seventhly When matters of more importance than our salvation come into place let us bee occupied with more fervency in them than in that but not before Prov. 3.14 The practice of godliness is a rich and gainful trade but if it bee not well followed it will bring no great profit Eighthly To have a willing mind to bee well occupied and matter about which wee may and time to bestow therein and freedome from lets therefrom is an estate to bee much made of and yet for the most part they which have most outward incouragements cannot tell what to do with them Ninthly Whatsoever measure of graces wee have gotten yet it is certain that God hath much more than wee can think of if those bee the matters which we have in greatest price but being set light by and the means neglected which preserve them they dye That is a good state when wee have not onely joy in heavenly things at the first hearing of them but increasing in joy as our knowledge and experience increaseth and when wee are not onely delighted in the present duties of Gods service but also as joyful to think of them that are to come accounting that the more they bee the better they are The flesh is apt to take the smallest occasions that may bee to favour it self but our study must bee to increase in goodness and to delight more in walking with God in a Christian course Tenthly Love of the world makes death terrible and surfetting in pleasure lulleth us asleep Seeing it pleaseth the Lord to let us know that wee have this precious liberty all the day long to bee with him to enjoy his presence by Faith and solace our selves in bold affiance in him and that for all good things and to bee free from the fear terrour and anguish which haunteth the ungodly It were pity wee should for some deceivable folly deprive our selves of such happiness and peace as hee alloweth us even here to be partakers of Eleventhly The more sure thou art of Gods favour by Faith Mat. 15.27 the more humble thou art also One special point of profiting is to know our own vileness and misery better daily that so wee may come to know the inestimable bounty of God the better and what wee are beholding to him for as receiving increase from him multiplied pardons of sin and daily increase of grace Twelfthly They are worthy of great punishment who set light by the plenty of grace the crumms whereof Gods hungry servants do set great store by Look what care conscience zeal love and reverent estimation of good things thou hadst when first thou embracedst the Gospel the same at least retain and bee sure thou keepest still afterwards The more knowledge that thou hast take heed thou beest not more secure for thus it is with many at this day who therefore do smart for it wee shall not injoy the grace we had at first except wee bee as careful now to keep it as wee were then to come by it Thirteenthly When wee are afflicted and the wicked spared our estate seems to them most vile when wee are both in prosperity they seem more happy when they and wee bee both afflicted then they account our estate happier than their own but especially when they bee afflicted Exod. 14.25 and wee spared Wee may not assign the Lord in what place and state in what condition and company we should live but as strangers wait on him even as the handmaid on her Mistress for whatsoever hee will allow us wee are ready most commonly to bee called away by death before wee have learned how to live Fourteenthly Keep down carnal liberty and the spiritual liberty shall bee great rest on God and it shall make thee overcome the hardest things If thou wilt finde Christ sweet thou must ever finde sin bitter Fear ever to offend God and thou a Psal 32.7 91.11 needest not to fear any other peril No good thing abideth long with us in its strength and beauty without new quickning When wee feel any weariness in a godly course by what occasions or weighty dealings soever it bee the Devil hath met with us therefore wee must speedily take shame and sorrow and turn unto the Lord. Fifteenthly Wee must remember to serve and walk with God Psa 90.12 by daies not by weeks and months onely A great difference there is betwixt the observing and viewing of our life from day to day and the doing of it by fits now and then in the one wee are safe chearful and fruitful in the other rash offensive and often unquiet for it walking in fear and with little comfort Sixteenthly As husbandmen wait for their fruit so should wee for that which wee pray and hope for and that would make us joyful when wee obtain it If a man can rejoyce at the conversion of a sinner Luke 15.6 then is hee the friend of Christ Seventeenthly It is a folly yea a madness to bee heavy to the death for any earthly thing when yet a man desireth nothing more than life They who can neglect and set meanly by a little vain glory and credit with men may gain and injoy much peace with God All our life ought to bee a providing for a good end and a keeping away of woe which cometh by sin fear not the pain of death for God can make it easie or tollerable Eighteenthly The flesh would fain please it self in some unlawful liberty when we have pleased God in some duties but a wise man will keep him well while hee is well Nineteenthly Where there is wilfulness in sinning there is great difficulty in relenting and also no power nor boldness in beleeving many beginning well in godliness have fainted and quailed or been justly reproached before their end that others may the more fear their own weakness where new knowledge is not sought there is the less savour in the old and when men make not good use of the old the seeking of the new is
but an enquiring after novelties Twentiethly Men having experience of Satans malice and continual dogging of them to do evil it should move them to trusse on their armour to trust better in the Lord and less to themselves Corruption grows when it is not suspected and where it is suspected to grow if we go not about to pull it out and pluck it up it will bee too deeply fastened in a short time The like may bee said of conceitedness though a man pray and meditate and keep a better course in his life than some do yet if hee do it but sleightly that the flesh prevaileth much in hindering the well performing of it all will soon come to nought It may bee perceived in the sway it beareth in other parts of the life and then let it bee speedily amended Oneantwentiethly It is good so to task our selves with duties one or other at all times and in all places that wee may cut off occasions of much sin Men have never so much wealth but more is ever welcome Why should wee not do the like in spiritual things even whosoever hath most and greatest part therein when wee bee come to the highest degree of seeking God with much travail yet wee abide hardly and a short time therein at least much unprofitableness and barrenness will meet with us again afterwards by means of our corrupt hearts which being so wee need not think that wee bee too forward when wee bee at the best Twoantwentiethly Let no sin bee sleightly passed over or boldly committed for when it commeth to remembrance in trouble it will bee an heavy burden and pinch us to the very heart Quest What other Observations fit to bee meditated upon shall wee finde in the writings of godly men Answ These and such like First That wee keep a narrow watch over our hearts 1 Pet. 1.15 Psa 39.1 Eph. 5.15 words and deeds continually Secondly That with all care the time bee redeemed which hath been carelesly and idlely Eph. 5.16 Col. 4.2 and unprofitably spent Thirdly That once in the day private prayer at the least and meditation if it may bee used Luke 14.15 16. Fourthly That care bee had to do and receive good in company Fifthly That our family bee with diligence and regard instructed watched over and governed Sixthly That no more time or care bee bestowed in matters of the world than must needs Deut. 4.9 6.7 Seventhly Gen. 18.19 That wee stir up our selves to * Gal. 6.10 liberality to Gods Saints Eighthly That wee give not the least liberty to wandring a Col. 3.5 lusts and affections Ninthly b Mat. 16.24 That wee prepare our selves to bear the cross by what means soever it shall please God to exercise us Tenthly That wee bestow some time not onely in mourning for our own sins but also for the sins of others Dan. 9.3 4 of the time and age wherein wee live Eleventhly That wee look daily for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.7 Tit. 2.13 for our full deliverance out of this life Twelfthly That wee use as wee shall have opportunity at least as wee shall have necessity to acquaint our selves with some godly and faithful persons with whom wee may confer of our Christian estate James 5.16 and open our doubts to the quickening up of Gods Graces in us Thirteenthly That wee observe the departure of men out of this life their mortality Eccl. 7.4 Rev. 22.20 the vanity and alteration of things below the more to contemn the world and to continue our longing after the life to come And that wee meditate and muse often on our own death and going out of this life how wee must lye in the grave which will serve to beat down the pride of life in us Fourteenthly Deut. 17.19 20. Josh 1.8 Psa 1.2 Dan. 9.2 That wee read somewhat daily of the holy Scriptures for the further encrease of our knowledge and understanding if it may bee Fifteenthly That wee enter into Covenant with God that wee will strive against all sin especially against the special sins and corruptions of our hearts and lives wherein wee have most dishonoured the Lord and raised up most guiltiness to our own consciences Neh. 9.38 2 Chron. 34.32 that wee carefully see our Covenant with God kept and continued Sixteenthly That wee mark how sin dieth 1 Pet. 1.14 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. 1 Thes 5.22 and is weakned in us and that wee turn not to our old sins again but wisely avoid all occasions of sin Seventeenthly That wee fall not from our first love but continue still our affections to the liking of Gods Word Rev. 2.4 James 1.19 Rom. 2.13 and all the holy exercises of Religion diligently hearing it and faithfully practising it in our lives and conversations that wee prepare our selves before wee come meditate and confer of that wee hear either by our selves or with others and so mark our daily profiting in Religion Eighteenthly That wee bee often occupied in meditating on Gods Works and benefits Eph. 5.20 Psal 116.12 13. 118.15 and sound forth his praises for the same Nineteenthly That wee exercise our faith by taking great comfort and delight in the great benefit of our Redemption by Christ Phil. 1.23 2 Tim. 4.7 8. and the fruition of Gods presence in his glorious and blessed Kingdome Lastly That wee make not these holy Meditations and such like practices of repentance common or customary in time neither use them for course Quest What place is fit for Meditation Answ It is indifferent whether it bee in the house Gen. 24.63 Deut. 6.6 7 Act. 10. or in the field at home or abroad walking sitting or lying but a solitary place is fittest for this exercise as our Saviour hath taught us Mat. 6.6 Luk. 11.1 When thou prayest enter into thy closet and pray privately that being alone not distracted with noise or company wee might with more freedome and quietness talk with God Wee cannot bee too wary in avoiding all occasions of disturbance because every small thing will soon break us off in this service But some men can bee more solitary at the Market-cross or in the midst of a throng than some others in their closets when they bee furthest removed from company Moreover it is not amiss to use one place often for wee finde fewest Impediments there where wee are most accustomed to meet the Lord Joh. 18.2 then wee can best recollect our thoughts and being gathered keep them together without distraction Quest What say you of them that have no room to bee alone Answ First They must bee diligent to redeem the time and watch all opportunities not making their wants a cloak for their negligence Secondly Though all men cannot be fitted as they desire for secrecy and solitariness to withdraw themselves from company and noise yet there is no man that hath an unfeigned desire to
doth look to God when hee sendeth persecution war sickness or any other calamity God is to bee loved in Christ in whom hee is well pleased greatly delighted in us If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him bee accursed Christ hath redeemed us unto God and reconciled us being enemies Hee is ordained of God to be our Lord and King advanced at the right hand of his Father to give salvation unto Israel Love is a supernatural gift or Grace whereby wee * Psa 63.8 Josh 22.5 Deut. 4.4 cleave to God in Christ and desire to possess him with joy and comfort The acts or effects of Love presupposed or comprehended under it are these First To acknowledge God to bee the chief good and with most earnest desire to bee carried towards him that wee might bee united to him Secondly To rest delight and rejoyce in him and to desire nothing above him nothing against him nothing equal unto him Thirdly To seek the advancement of his glory and to think will speak or do what is acceptable in his sight whether wee have to deal immediately with his Majesty or others pertaining to him Hee that loves God will love what the Lord loveth and hate what hee hateth do what hee commandeth and forgo whatsoever is forbidden Whose keepeth the Word 1 Joh. 2.5 in him verily is the love of God perfected Fourthly To neglect no occasions which are or may bee offered for the exercise of piety Love is diligent and laborious Fifthly To love them that fear God for his sake and to draw as many as possibly they can to the knowledge and obedience of the truth If wee love one another 1 Joh. 4.12 God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us The Properties of Love are First It cannot bee lost the act of Love may bee intermitted but the grace cannot bee lost for the gifts of God are without repentance the life of grace is everlasting Secondly It is imperfect in this life and ever wanting somewhat that may bee added to it for as long as wee live here it is far short in degree to that the Law requireth Thirdly It is sincere and entire for nature though for degree defective True love is not maimed in parts though it bee not come to full growth Fourthly It increaseth by degrees in this life and shall bee perfected in Heaven When Faith shall cease then Love shall come to full strength and glory Not that the Saints can love God in measure answerable to his goodness and excellency for a finite virtue cannot infinitely love the infinite God the infinite Beloved but their love shall bee preserved so far as a creature is capable Fifthly It is most pure and comfortable free from all mixture of sorrow and vexation Men though never so loving are compassed with infirmities subject to passions and many things may befall them they may do somewhat that is to us occasion of grief and pain but in the Lord each Christian heart shall ever finde matter of solace and refreshing never of vexation and discomfort if the fault bee not in himself Oh the excellency of Love what is it but the gate of Heaven the beginning of everlasting happiness not the least portion of that glorious inheritance which wee shall then fully possess when love is grown to perfect ripeness The degrees and kinds of love are diverse Wee love God for good things received or benefits past wee love him also for the good wee expect that is eternal happiness with the comforts of this life and wee love him for himself and for his own glory God is to bee loved for himself and not for another end form or efficient for hee is the last end of all things his essence is perfect goodness his goodness is from himself and not from an external efficient but nothing hinders why God should not bee loved for his blessings received or hoped for Each grace of the Spirit is for original divine in nature excellent for use necessary bending towards Heaven but if comparison bee made love must have the preheminence for use and continuance The dignity and sweetness of love will appear by the baseness of what is opposite That is best whose contrary is the worst Now what is more abominable hateful pernicious so full of vexation and horrour as the love of sin love of the world and hatred of God As continual fear unquietness discontent doth accompany these with eternal confusion in the latter end So unspeakable joy peace contentment security do wait upon it and the end shall bee everlasting glory and full fruition of God in Heaven Quest How must these things bee applied to the heart Answ Wee must stir up our hearts to the hearty intire love of God by examination taking shame to our selves for our manifold slips and great slackness complaining of our great bondage and inability to raise up our souls hearts wishing and longing to bee fired with the love of God calling upon our selves to bee more hot and fervent and seeking unto the Lord by earnest and hearty prayer Love the Lord Oh my soul and all that is within thee love him with all thy strength and let his glory bee dear unto thee for hee is the object of love gracious Affectus amoris pro objecto habet pulchrum bonum merciful long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth hee is thy Father thy God thy Husband thou art bound unto him by covenant his love to thee is free and of meer grace thy love to him is debt many waies due from thee deserved by him Hee loves thee for thy profit thou art to love him for thy own good for in his love stands thy perfection Hee is the chief good absolute all-sufficient the rest and stay of the mind beyond which it can desire nothing in whom it findes incredible joy and comfort and shall possess everlasting consolation when it is immediately united to him by vision and love The former blessings thou hast received the future good things thou dost expect and look for do challenge this duty at thy hand Publicans and sinners love those that love them and for kindness return affection God hath loved thee first loved thee when thou wast not when thou wast miserable Hee hath laden thee with his benefits given thee more than thou wouldest desire and prevented thee with favours which thou never didst ask hee made thee of nothing hee is thy preserver redeemer Saviour who hath delivered thee from death and hell and vouchsafeth unto thee life and mercy his blessings upon thee are innumerable pass all thought and reckoning What canst thou render less than hearty affection for these inestimable favours Oh my soul thou canst not love thy self truly if thou love not him above all things for thou art coupled to him by love in whose presence is fulness of joy without whom to bee is to bee most miserable Thou canst not but desire happiness but happy thou canst
of God and destruction of mankind by that temptation but it turned to his confusion and overthrow The seed of the woman hath bruised the Serpents head his power is crushed and his devices frustrated Nor did the instrument of the Devil escape unpunished the Serpent is accursed above all the beasts of the earth most wretched and ashamed to appear abroad hee is adjudged to creep upon his belly with pain to eat the dust for meat a grievous diet And the Lord hath put enmity betwixt him and the woman All sin especially prophanation and contempt of the Sacrament is like to this of our first Parents in some sort but this was the first sin the fountain of all sin the sin of man and his posterity for Adam received and lost integrity both for himself and us Quest How are these things to bee applied unto the heart Answ Wee must work our heart to humiliation stir up our selves earnestly to seek help and deliverance and acknowledge the justice of God in correcting and his incomprehensible mercy in vouchsafing means of recovery unto man How is man fallen from his first dignity and good estate hee was created holy and happy furnished with grace and set in place of high renown Thou Lord didst crown him with glory and honour and gavest him a patent for his posterity that they should live in blessedness before thee But wo is mee what alteration do I finde Man hath sinned and God is displeased Man that was the beauty of the world the beloved of God is now the map of misery the object of divine revenging justice His mind is besotted his conscience unquiet his will and affection poisoned with sin fear dread horrour and trembling possesseth his reins his body is naked deformed subject to annoyance of heat cold distemper many waies The Free-man of God the Lord of the creatures is brought into most miserable and sore bondage unto Satan sin his own conscience who can comprehend the miseries of this life whereunto hee lyes open No words can describe the spiritual plagues that are seized upon the soul already nor the dreadful torments that are prepared for him in hell for evermore Oh my soul enter into thy self consider and bewail thy natural estate thou art exposed to suffer a thousand evils to wearisome vanity in every thing yea through fear of death the upshot of evils thou art in bondage all thy dayes while in that state thou abidest Pharaoh did never put Israel to such hard service as the Devil putteth thee to while thou art under his power Thou art sick filthy naked crooked fallen from the love of God more odious in his eyes than the stink or filthy savour of a dead corps in the nostrils of man exposed to the torments of Hell shut up under the curse of the Law abidest under wrath How do men of the world take on when they have lost a great friend upon whom all their hopes depended when they bee cast from the top of honour into the gulf of misery poverty and disgrace weep oh my soul and pour out tears in secret for thou hast lost thy glory art spoiled of thy ornaments and hast provoked the Lord to anger by thy inventions The brute beasts take it as a grievous thing to bee insnared and taken and wilt thou laugh in the midst of bondage and count it liberty to bee a slave of Satan Death is terrible and wilt not thou fear Hell which followeth after it as a desert of thy transgression Ah miserable man and the more miserable that thou art senseless of thy misery yet now that I know my disease I will seek for remedy The sick person will take bitter pills to recover health the bondman desires liberty the captive freedome the condemned a pardon My present case is very wretched and in no case to be rested in Nature teacheth all creatures to shroud themselves from dangers or being in distress to seek help without delay much more am I to bee moved with mine estate who am subject to eternal death which hath already seized upon mee in a spiritual death of soul and mortality or dying state of the body wee will meet a disease betime labouring to rid our selves of it if any thing threaten our name and estate wee will indeavour quickly to free the one and the other But whither shall I fly for succour where shall I finde the Physician that is able to cure and redeem mee from the tyranny of Satan Set mee free from the fear of Hell I am even at my wits end not knowing which way to turn Oh Lord I am utterly destitute of all means to help my self it is not in my power to satisfie thy justice overcome death or deliver my soul out of the hands of the Devil I cannot think a good thought I know not nor of my self can know the way of Life or means of my recovery Blessed God as of thine infinite mercy thou hast ordeined so I pray thee reveal unto mee the way how I may escape eternal death deserved by my sin and bee made partaker of everlasting happiness through thy special grace Righteous art thou oh Lord and just are thy judgements I know that in very faithfulness thou hast afflicted mee and that I have deserved much more than ever I felt from thee Thou mightest have cast mee for ever out of thy presence and given mee my portion with the Devil and his Angels But loe thou dost correct mee in measure for my good to purge mee from sin and bring mee unto repentance that I might bee saved Oh my God I will magnifie thy name for thou hast redeemed my soul from death my darling from the power of the doggs This mercy was not shewed to the Angels Creatures more excellent than man Should one redeem us from the state of villanage or ransome us from the Gallows wee would think wee could not bee thankful enough But Lord thou hast redeemed mee from revenging Justice from the power of the Devil holding mee under the curse from the power of conscience justly condemning mee from the power of sin commanding as King How great is thy mercy towards mee I am not able to comprehend it As my sin and misery hath abounded thy mercy hath abounded much more Quest Let us now hear what order is to bee observed in Meditation of sin Answ Wee must call to minde and discourse with our selves of the causes ends properties and effects and kinds of sin what is contrary unto it what like and what unlike O my soul what is sin wherewith thou art beset and stained yea miserably besotted since the fall of Adam what is it but the privation of Gods Image and corruption of the soul an aberration from the rule of perfection an evil disposition of the subject turning aside from the path of life and swarving from the mark and end that all should aim at God is the fountain of all good things the giver of every good and