Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	apostle_n	day_n	sabbath_n	13,396	5	10.0850	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79826	The abuse of Gods grace: discovered in the kinds, causes, punishments, symptoms, cures, differences, cautions, and other practical improvements thereof. Proposed as a seasonable check to the wanton libertinisme of the present age. By Nicholas Claget, minister of the Gospel at Edmundsbury in Suffolk, M.A. of Magdalen Hall, Oxon.	Clagett, Nicholas, 1610?-1662.; Wilkinson, Henry, 1616-1690.	1659 (1659)	Wing C4368; Thomason E978_2; ESTC R207811	268,515	321

and lives that with the repenting Jaylors they had had heart tremblings then with the secure Sodomites a fair morning a sun-shine of prosperity should usher in fiery avenging stormes of warth How wise and safe had been their estate that at once have peace with sin and as they think with God had they at once seen God and sin their enemy their softest beds had been to them beds of Thornes their sweetest comforts bitter vexations the creatures armed against them feared their very meat might prove their poyson every night might be the last that these awakening driving terrors might chase unquiet afrighted spirits into Jesus Christ that the fear and war of the spirit of bondage might end in the joy and peace of the spirit of adoption that tempestuous soules might hear these sweet calming words Be of good cheere t is I be not afraid Mat. 14 27. Fear not I am thy God Isa 41. 10. My Person Spirit Graces Comforts Glory infinite merits are thine Some in the Wildernesse of their sins feares and sorrowes have at length leaned on their beloved when the false peace of most presumptuous ones hath lur'd them into Hell As many there as have been tempted by secure flattery into their tormenting easelesse bed of Tribulation will have cause to think and say within themselves accursed be that calm of our polluted quiet hearts lives that hath brought us to an eternall storme accursed be that peace that hath cheated us into an eternall war accused be that sweetnesse that hath inticed us into eternall bitternesse accursed be that friendship with the world and Devill that hath betrayed us to an eternall enmity with God SECT 14. 4. The presumption of setting death and Judgement at far distance Sect. 14. The setting of death and judgement at far distance causeth the abuse of Grace 1. Death Resentment of it as of a Traveller thousands of miles off at scores of yeares removes begets through the deceits of the flesh and lyes of the Devill a tolleration yea a resolution to play the wanton not only against Nature but Grace The Epicure that beleeves not the Soules immortality concludes wanton voluptuous life from probable short life Let us eat and drinke for to morrow we shall die 1 Cor. 15. 32. And the Christian though he beleeveth his Soule shall live for ever doth wantonize in carnall delights from probable length of dayes he shall have time enough to get the Grace of Repentance and therefore he abuseth the space and call yea the conviction of returning the vilest of Christians while under the sentence and on the bed of death seeme to have some sober thoughts of the excellency and necessity of Grace and of some complying desires and wishes O that they had it who when they beleeved it yea found it at vast distance from them despised and abused the motions of the spirit and word and of Grace How Saint like is the inlightned Libertine within a few houres of his death how dissolute ten years scores of years before it 2. Judgement Because particular Judgement after death and the generall Judgement of the great day is delayed Therefore The heart of the Sons of men is set in them to do evill Eccles 8. 11. wanton scoffers walke after their own ungodly Lusts saying Where is the promise of his coming 2. Pet. 3. 3 4. That cooling word in the Indulge exple animi cupiditates scito tan dem sis ratio nem Deo red diturus q. d. fac quicquid mali poteris tandem vapu labis aut in manus carnificis incides Mercer l. 5. c. 2. hot chase of sin Remember God will bring thee to Judgement Eccl. 11. 9. is too litle remembred the words of Mercer are observeable Feed and dandle thy lusts with most cockering indulgence coming to every desire of thy carnall mind yet know at length God will reckon with you fill up your measure of sin to your utmost possibilities at length you shall smart for it and fall into the hands of avenging Execution my Lord hath delayed his coming said the loose evill servants and therefore they were intemperate and injurious rioted in drunkennesse and Beate their fellow servants Matth. 24. 48 49. As the wanton whorish woman argued to uncleannesse Come let us take our fill of Loves let us solace our selves with Love for the good man is gone a long journey Prov. 7. 18. So the wanton Christian argues to licenciousnesse he may in the spacious intervalls between his healthy time and the last Judgement bathe his fleshly mind in fleshly loves and delights for it will be long ere the last Assizes come and will it be long what if millions of years it will come at length too soon and too sore upon the injurious slighters of Gods Grace Ah Christians that sport your selves with your own deceivings Irremediabile periculum sit aliquem cupiditatibus fraena laxare ut se rationem Deo non meminerit redditurum Bernard that Gospell Grace and liberty will favour your disordered walking that give your Lusts too large roome under the plain hearing and convincements of strictnesse that stumble in high noone day slacken the Reines to your head strong desires as if God would call you to account Bernard tells you this is an irremedilesse soule danger If the Faith of the last Judgement do not teach men holy Wisdome Repentance Temperance Obedience what will what can weep you said the Apostle James to the rich loose wantons of his time And howle for the miseries that are come upon you Jam. 5. 1. why Ye have lived in pleasure in the earth and have been wanton ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slangther v. 5. The coming of the Lord draweth nigh As if he had said you play the wantons with creature mercies forgetting God and your duties but the accounting day is nigh Faciat jructū qui potest adest dominus qui fructum requirit faecundos vivificet steriles depre hendet Am. Super Luc. The Judge is at the doore They are good words of Ambrose Let every one bring forth the fruit of Grace the Lord is present in his word to faith who will require fruit will not be put off with leaves He will give eternall Life to fruitfull trees will take and cast barren ones into Hell SECT 15. 5. The presumption of time enough to repent hath brought 15. The presumption of time enough to repent doth cause the abuse of Grace forth this uncomely Monster The abuse of Grace There are not a few incurable instances in the other World who have first delayed and then everlastingly lost the space and Grace of repentance Those words of Christ concerning Jerusalem may be truly and sadly said of Grace-refusing and abusing Christians Hadst thou known in this thy day the things belonging to thy Peace but now they are hidden from thine eyes Hannibal bewailed the loss of his opportunity to master Rome when he would have

and filthy will be so still Rev. 22. 11. ye will revolt more and more Isa 1. 5. Evil men under the Abuse of grace will wax worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 13. and under the form of godlyness increase the power of wickedness 2 Tim. 3. 5. continue in sinne because grace abounds Rom. 6. 1. It is here also as it is with two men that abuse their friends One doth it and seeth the ungrateful disingenuitie of it and mends the fault another doth it and loads his dear friend with more disgraceful insolencies So a gracious man wrongs his best friend Jesus Christ and sayes of his abuses as Ephraim of his Idols what have I to doe any more with them A gracelesse Professor wrongs the Lord Jesus his owned friend and multiplyes still ungratefull injuries SECT 5. 5. DIfference A real Christian wrongs Gods grace and as 5 A Regenerate repents and is pardoned it is repented of so it is pardoned This iniquity proves not his ruin There is pardoning grace for the abuses of pardoning grace The blood of Christ washes away beleevers wanton abuses of the blood of Christ Gospel grace like the Sun blots out the thin and thick clouds of sin A pretended Christian wrongs Gods grace and as he hath no repentance so no pardon He is not cleansed by the blood of sprinkling that hath been without ceasing and remorse abused by a prophane wanton heart and loose life The contrary events of Abusing Gods grace are like the different issue of two Subjects abusing their King The one doth it is humbled for it accepted and pardoned the other doth it is hardned rejected and hanged Be vailed pardoned Abuses of grace hinders not heirs of glory from their eternal Inheritance Unreformed wrongs of grace in vessels of wrath not blotted out by the blood of Christ will cast them into hell CHAP. XIV Containing an Vse of Exhortation 5. VSe is Exhortation in these things Observe the Use 5 for Exhortation helps to escape this great sin the Abuse of Gods grace Blesse God for Perservation Be alwaies jealous of the sin long for a riddance from it and joy in the hope of it SECT 1. 1. LEarn of the gracious and precious heart and life of Jesus Christ 1. Learne of the gracious and precious heart life of Jesus Chr. Fulnesse of grace dwelt personally in him Hee never in the least playd the wanton with his Fathers grace sought not himself in pleasing his own will nor glory had nothing of the loose spirit of the world in him was not taken with its empty pomps ever went about doing good Acts 10. 38. was his Father and his Churches faithful servant Isa 42. 1. busie in saving work while in the flesh Luk. 2. 49. wrought by did not idle and play away his light Joh. 9. 4. was solid weighty serious in all his affaires with God and men To bee still writing after his fair copy would mend the loose Errata of Christains lives 'T is the Apostles counsel Let us walk decently as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness Rom. 13. 13. If it be said how the next words shew But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill it in the lusts thereof v. 14. Christ is two waies put on By Justification when the chief Robe of his imputed Righteousnesse is put on and by Imitation when the Garments of his communicable graces are put on Put on as the Elect of God bowels of mercy kindness c. Col. 3. 12. Did wee learn the truth as it is in Jesus and trace the steps of his Faithfulnesse Zeal Meekness Humility Heavenly mindedness Divine communion Self-denial Spiritualitie we neither should nor could be such wantons with the Gospel as our loose spirits tempt us to doe Christian set before thee the heavenly purity gravitie soliditie of the Lord Jesus it will awe thy daring insolent spirit What is Christianity but a transcript from the original copy Jesus Christ Should not servants that goe in their Masters Livery doe his work Really put on the cloaths of Heaven and thou wilt not do the work of Hell What an horrid incongruitie is it to pretend to be like Christ and act like the Devil The lazy Philosopher talked of virtue but did it not and the lazy Christian can discourse of the grace of Christ and Quid inter se simile habeat Philosophus Christianus Graeciae discipulus caeli Tertul. in Apolog c. 46. act it not As the Greeks professed Philosophy so doe Libertines Christianity The real imitation of Jesus Christ would be a prevention of loosenesse These daily thoughts would do well I am a professed Disciple of Christ Did he think as I think Reason as I doe Were his affections like mine Did such words come from his mouth Were such designs driven by him SECT 2. 2. HElp is a cleansed purged heart Legal pollutions the 2 A cleansed purged heare is a special help to avoid abusing of the grace of God Types of Moral debarred from serving the holy God An impure heart serves not God but abuseth him The purging of the conscience from dead works and serving the living God are put together As well may a dead man ferve a living Prince as a polluted heart with dead works serve the living God To the pure all things are pure to the impure all things are in their use impure Tit. 1. 15. An impure heart makes an impure use of the holy God his Prayers Confessions Confidences Hopes are impure whose heart is so Cleanse your hearts said James then draw nigh to God Jam. 4. 8. It is with a pure heart as with a pure fountain it will work out mire and dirt It is with a clean heart as with a clean stomack it turns good meat into nourishment not ill huniour Christian purge thy heart by the wholsome working Phys●ck of Gods grace of self-love worldly lusts voluptuousness covetous proud filthy desires vain-glory vanity of mind folly ca●nal securitie and then wholsome meat the food of blessed Angels will not accidentally prove as hurtful to thee as the carrion food of Devils 'T is a sweet truth Beleeve●s draw nigh Absque cruore domini nemo appropinquat Deo Hier. to God by the blood of Christ Ephes 2. 13. Without a bloody skreen God would be a consuming fire to every sinner for the least sin But what doth the impure unwashen heart co●nt of the blood of the Covenant but as an unholy thing Heb. 10. 29. when not used in a way of gracious cleansing but emboldning allowance of sinne A cleansed heart will neither prophane the blood spirit nor word of Christ SECT 3. 3. HElp is the fear of God It is a Soveraign remedy against all 3 The fear of God is a help against abuse of Grace Religio esse non potest ubi ●imor nullus Lact. filth●nesse of the flesh spirit

a wanton loosenesse and daring licentiousnes in sin This being done in the times and places amongst the persons of Gospell light that owne the name of Christian The Doctrine will be hat In Gospell times the Grace of God hath such high abuse as to Doctrine be turned into wantonnesse In handling this sad truth I shall enquire into six things Method of handling the Doctrine 1. What are the kinds of Turning Gods Grace into wantonness 2. When it is Turned into Wantonness 3. Why it is Turned into wantonnesse 4. How great is the sin thereof and 5ly What is the Punishment God usually followes this sin withall 6ly and lastly What improvement we may make of it by some usefull Application CHAP. III. Shewing in how many ways or kinds the Grace of God may be Turned into Wantonnesse 1. PREDESTINATING grace is Turned 1. Predestinating grace is turned into wantonnesse into Wantonness It is a wrested Conclusion from this glorious principle God hath chosen me to life therefore though I live as I list I shall be saved A bastard inference and practise that this chast truth never begat The Contrary deduction flowes from the grace of Election As the Elect of God holy not loose Col. 3. 12. He hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the spirit 2. Thes 2. 13. through it as a part of our salvation execution of Gods decree ornament of the saving Gospell fitnes for eternall life not through the filthines of flesh and spirit as if wickedness were the way to happines and God had from Eternity designed an everlasting rest to the industrious services of the Devill He hath chosen us in him that we should be holy Ephes 1. 4. That Holynesse which lay hid in the womb of Gods eternal purpose is infallibly brought forth in time in all vessels of honour The Apostle inferred Sobriety Faith and Hope in the children of Gospel light from Gods appointments not a loose sleeping in sinne Let us be sober c. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 9. God hath not appointed us the Word nor put us or set or placed us in a state of avenging 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrath but gracious salvation He puts us in this blessed estate by predestinating calling drawing regenerating and justifying not by a fearlesse carelesse living and dying in reigning sin Musculus well taxeth this abuse The contempt of Gods Non dicas nihil peri●uli quomodocunque vivam contemptus gratiae Dei iram illius gravissimam reddit Muscul Absit ut peccem in gratiam et voluntatem dei ac peream potius accommodabo me gratiae illius ut salver Geram me sicut homini convenit non ethnico sed christiano Muscul Annon ejusmodi verba dementis Muscul grace incurrs his heaviest wrath Wherefore say not There is no danger however I live God hath put me into a state of salvation his positive decree is firme I cannot be damned I shall be saved Rather say Farre be it that I should sinne against Gods gracious purposes and perish rather I will a commodate my self unto his gracious will and be saved He hath designed me for this would have me be a Christian therefore I must live the gracious life of a Christian not the infamous of an Heathen Ho● irrationall and ungodly is the inference of wickednesse from Gods pure purposes If a sick patient should say under mortall diseases It matters not what I doe I will eat and drink and doe what I list my Physician hath not appointed me to death but recovery Would you not think him a mad man and self-destroyer O impure disputer against the holy purposes of God it will appeare to be thy folly and madnesse because God thou thinkest hath not appointed thee to Hell but Heaven to live as a vessel of wrath and yet hope to be saved when the direct way to the North leads to the South shalt thou goe to glory in the way of Gods reproach the contempt of Christ and thine own damnation Gods gracious promises and decrees tune with each other As he never promised so he never purposed eternall salvation to an unregenerate heart and a loose life His Predeterminations to a blessed end involve suitable meanes As he never intended man should live by poyson but by bread so it is absolutely distant from the thoughts of his heart that a man should live to God and with God for ever by an indulgence to the flesh in its lusts and affections sensualities and Vides nautarū ministeri is opus fuisse ut divina promissio adimpleretur Granaten delights God appointed Paul and his company to escape shipwracke but it was by swimming on boards and broken peeces of the ship Act. 27. 24. Thus God hath appointed some to escape the wrath to come but it is by faith and mortification getting on the planck of repentance swimming through by the strength of Christ not drowning in the sea of the world God appointed Noah to salvation from the worlds deluge but it was by getting into the Arke A Loose heart and life is no accommodation to execution of predestinating grace but opposition The eternall Predestinatio Dei multis est Cauta standi nemini causa labendi Aug. de Predestinatione Sanctorum saving discriminating Counsels of God are to many the cause of their standing to no● chosen vessell the cause of their falling The doctrine of absolute and free election rightly understood powerfully revealed in the evidences of grace well used hinders no vessell of glory but helps him to heaven They that can without any Scripture warrant any choise worke of the spirit easily and presumptuously write their names in the book of life and as the Israelites wantonly played about their golden Idol so in a lascivious mirth are loose flesh-pleasers and feast their Corruptions will have a dreadfull demonstration after death in judgment and to eternitie that their names were written in the black book of death not the white of life The most holy and righteous Judge of the world will never say Come yee blessed eternally prepared by a free choise to an heavenly kingdome to those that lived and died in their indulged cursed natures and lives but to those select happy ones whose hearts were gloriously transformed and conversation really fashioned after the Gospell pattern O the sad confutation of them that build prophane libertinisme on this firme and pure foundation Predestinating grace their pretended interest in it and pleasing conceits of it will vanish like a golden dreame They will not rise as Elect but reprobate The Lord will say with hottest indignation against unreformed Carnall Gospellers Goe yee cursed workers of iniquitie Sect. 2. 2. SParing Grace is turned into Wantonnesse It was Gods 2 Sparing grace is turned into wantonnesse complaint of the house of Israel They despised my judgements and walked not in my statutes

in low temporall allowances sowest in penitentiall teares they in high enjoyments even to surfet impiety and Atheisme sow in carnall merriments thine Harvest and theirs will be as different as Thornes and Wheat thou shalt reap in joyes they in sorrows Christian Repentance is incomparably above carnall pleasing voluptuousnesse This is the mother of wordly laughter that of Christian teares this inlargeth the flesh that strengthens it this puts a leaden weight upon the Soule that wings it to fly to Heaven this serves the flesh in every thing that crucifies the flesh and brings the body into subjection this calls off a man from God that calls him back again to God his Saviour this obeyes the Devill that is devoted unto God SECT 17. 2. TEmptation to wrong Gods grace is evil company What 17 Evil company is a temptation to wrong the grace of God more unworthy abuse than a ransomed captives ungratefull denyal of their Redeemer Self-destroying Hereticks doe thus deny the Lord that bought them They goe not to Hell alone with their wanton loose wits argue others into their company and make them fellow wantons of damnation for so the Greek Text and word in the Margin will bear it Many shall follow their damnations or destructions the abstract for the concrete their damnable wayes Our English is pernicious waies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Margin in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the English lascivious waies The import of the Original is That lascivious Hereticks are very fruitful some Masters of Heresie beget numerous Scholars which argue and beleeve themselves out of their Faith into Damnation Their word frets as doth a Gangreen 2 Tim. 2. 17. The leaven of loose wits did spread abroad in the purest times of the Apostles to speak perverse things and draw away Disciples after them Act. 20. 30. Chapmen of error will bring custome to the Devils stall Have any of the Pharisees beleeved in him Joh. 7. 48. The fast brotherhood of Antichristian Pharisaisme was Argumentative to despise and oppose the Grace of Jesus Christ Thus the dissolute walking of a pack of Hypocrites imbolden one another to frequent indignities unbecoming the Gospel the society of Mammonists sainted by their faith in Gods mercy and Christs merits bow down to Money their Idoll and while they professe God their portion and Christ their Lord and pay to both some easie and cheap religious formalities they dishonor both by paying that adoration estimation and affection they owe to both to their worldly gain Reputed devout godly mens covetousnesse is infectious Thus professed Christians follow worldlings reason such and such are devout godly men that keep the Sabb●th they fear God and will go to heaven and yet doe so and so and we do no worse Thus a company of earthly minds that have grace and heaven in their pretensions but the world in their hearts sow pillows under one anothers elbows He that will goe about to drive the world out of his heart and life by following the instances of some eminent Professors will never do it but in the issue fall short of heaven The herd of Swine too tipling good fellows can lick one another clean by the grace of God and the allowance of Christian liberty yea Gods beneficence that he made the creatures for mans use and hence they conclude that there is a latitude allowed them The excessive gaudinesse of apparrel grows in fashion with the Christians of the higher form as they pretend by Christs licence As if forsooth no bravery nor splendid gallantry could be too good for Christs disciples High-flown wantons in the nation should rather follow Christ in his contempt than courting of the world He is their president in the glory of Grace not in vain wayes indecent habits The gaming away of time and money mispending companions if they look to the throne of Grace in a few cold heartless desires and be devout a Christmass day or Good Friday it may be hear weekly Sermons yet may be utterly strangers to the mysterious way of walking with God and spiritual recreations yet notwithstanding can judge one another as excellent Christians aun doubt not by Gods grace to be saved as wel as the most mortified strict beleevers O the horrid abuse to the Gospel and Grace of God that is too frequent in our times by evil examples and instigations There are not a few soul-murdering presidents under Christian profession What is said of the heathenish guides of their Mortifera sacra Suarum alienarum interfectores animarum Lact. l. 5. c. 20. Religion whose deadly idolatrous worship did ruin their disciples is true of many Christian guides and followers in looseness they are their own and others soul-killers Were the question put to the prophane generation of the Age that hate the power yea scorn the form of godlynesse whose loose wits jeer and Atheistical religion neglects family-duties who speak dung but drop not the honey-comb vent rotten not gracious words Doe you think to be saved Yes the Answer would be by the grace of God and merits of Christ Thus in loose company Profani homines multos sua petulantia in similem contemptum inducunt Calv. in Is 50. Plus exemplo quam peccato nocent the grace of God is at once contemned and trusted to and that of Calvin is sad experience Prophane men by their wantonness invite others to the same contempt O the sad consequence of exemplary sinne what mischief doth it in Families Churches Common-wealths the world the Leaders in sin under profession of grace are doubly blameable and pernicious to themselves and others by their sinne and their example yea more guilty by their example then their sin Dear Christians of more shining and obscure profession take heed of that root of bitterness that is in you for your own sakes but let it not spring forth for others sakes If it be kept within you and wither not you loose your own souls If it spring forth without and defile many Heb. 12. 15. you ruin others Satans Kingdome is too much in Christs Perditi spiritus solatium perditionis suae pe●dendis hominibus operantur The visible subjects of Christs kingdom too much promote Satan work the damnation of soules 'T is the solace of lost Apostate spirits to increase fellows in destruction If they be capable of any feli●ity 't is in others everlasting misery We read of heaps upon heaps the bloody ●ork of Sampsons body-slaughter Judg. 15. 16. So heaps upon heaps is the bloody businesse of the Vtinam soli errare soli desipere vellent Alios etiam in consortium sui mali rapiunt quasi habituri solatium de perditione multorum Lact. l. 5. c. 20 Devils soul-slaughter He goeth about seeking whom he may devour And loose destroying instances promote his work The wish of one concerning professed seducing Heathens may be used concerning professed seduced Christians O that their error were solitary they were

am betrayed by a professed Friend A tearm of Exprobration and just Condemnation Christ forgave not this false Friend He dyed impenitently in the abuse of his grace and had not Faith to believe his betrayed innocent blood should heal the Traytor 3. Question Shall I have the heaviest wrath in Hell Capernaum Bethsaida's high abuse of Grace should have more intolerable vengeance then Sodoms wantonnesse against nature Mat. 10. 15. The least of Hell will be intolerable If I perish under grosse abuse of Grace the Oven of Eternal fiery Wrath will be heated seven times hotter for me then for Heathens Ah soul-hater and self-destroyer Shall I cast my self into hottest eternal flames 4. Question Shall my mouth be stopt in the accounting-day Can these thoughts be born without Spirit-woundings when inlightned conscience shall say I wanted not offered convincing means of the necessity beauty advantage of Grace I hated the life of garce and consumed the time of grace in playing the wanton not working by the light of grace All under means of grace are invited to the Gospel Wedding-feast of the Son of God and to come in fitting Wedding-cloaths that the Feast-maker and the Feast be not disparaged Every guest pretends to come handsome in sitting Ornaments but the abusive guest that is found without his Wedding-garment will be speechlesse Ista vestis nuptialis quasi Bicolor rubra sanguine Alba sanctitate Matth. 22. 12 15. This Wedding-garment is party-coloured red and white Red in the Blood of the Lamb White in the sanctifying grace of the Spirit 5. Question Shall I be kicking against the Bowels of mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At ille Capistratus Piscator It was a sad charge I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me Isa 1. 2. Is there nothing for wanton feet to spurn at but a Fathers Bowels Do you say Our Father which art in Heaven and when ever you say so professe God your Father and spit in his loving face 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What thou my Son Caesars Son st●b him in the Senate Shall Gods Sons in large profession stab his name and cause him to be reproached in the world by gross abuse of his grace 6. Question Shall I make sport and triumph for Devils It was Davids grief by Saul and Jonathans death the uncircumcised Philistines would rejoyce and triumph 2 Sam. 1. 20. The uncircumcised infernal Philistines rejoyce and triumph at the wrongs of grace Davids enemies watched for and were glad at heart at his halting Psal 38. 16 17. His wellfare was their grief his falls their Songs These invisible enemies of Mankinde triumph when any that own the Christian name and the grace of the Gospel grosly prophane both 7. Question Shall I tread under foot the Son of God Heb. 10. 29. Strong thriving wanton lusts are the impure feet that tread under foot the Son of God in his humbling Incarnation who came into the world to destroy the works of the Devil in his bitter Passion who died as a Ransome to redeem from the reign of his Sin in his Soveraign Dominion who is a ruling Lord over all he saves The gross abuse of his Grace plainly what in it lyeth declares that he was Man in vain died in vain and that he is but a Precarious titular Lord and King 8. Question How shall I look the Judge in the face The time is coming when he shal appear in terrible flames of Wrath How dreadfully will he judge when the precious ends wherefore in his Fathers Counsel and his own Covenant he was judged to death are not obtained but abused If David commenced a War against Hanun the King of the Ammonites because he abused the Message and Messengers of kindnesse sent in Embassage to comfort him who instead of loving entertainment were shaved had their Garments cut off in the midst shamefully and ungratefully dismissed 1 Chron. 19. 4. What a dreadful and eternal War will the Lord Jesus commence against those Hanunites unworthy the name Christian who abuse the Messages and Messengers of Gospel-kindnesse and grace to open prophane licentiousnesse Lay all these Queries to heart and let them stick on O grosly loose Reader till they have produced Fears Astonishments Prayers for Amendment and Resolutions by the help of Gods grace not to live a notorious Libertine for the future against the call and honor of Grace SECT 5. 2. Vse of Caution is concerning the close wronging of Gods 5. Second part of the use against close wronging of grace grace 1. Take heed of wresting Gospel-grace to the allowance of the least sin Holy Paul durst not do it in his own person The grace of God was abundant in him through Faith and Love 1 Tim. 1. 14. and though through the power of this grace he was no absolute Perfectist yet an universal Enemy of sin the root and branches of it least and greatest had his disallowance and abhorrence Rom. 7. 15. David too that had a large share in Gods grace his sweet experience Thou art my Portion O Lord Psal 119. 57. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant according to thy word 65. was so devoted to the fear of God 38. as this produced an hatred of vain thoughts 113. and every false way 128. and therefore hid Gods Word in his heart that he might not in the least willingly sin against him The choice subject of saving grace may not continue in the least sin because grace abounds When Believers finde inward perswasion in their spirits to adventure on little sins on vain thoughts small inordination in Creature-desires and affections yielding to dulness and deadness in Holy Duties pride of Apparel self-lifting thoughts of spiritual Precedency This perswasion cometh not of him that calleth them Gal. 5. 8. The grace of God doeth neither father nor nurse the least sin but commands and inables to be holy in all maner of conversation SECT 6. 2. BEware of judging wantonness against Grace by a false 6. Beware of judging wantonness against grace by afalse rule rule The example of the best Others good Opinion The judgement of thine own heart are not true Rules to judge abuse of Gods grace by 1. Not the example of the best Though the Apostle bad the Philipians be followers of him and them that traced the Apostles steps Phil. 3. 17. yet elsewhere he limits his counsel Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. They are both joyned 1 Thess 1. 6. Ye became followers of us and of the Lord of us as we followed the Lord The Lord is sub-joyned to correct the easie common error of following the best of men sometimes in Doctrinal sometimes in practical Error Even Paul the brightest Star in the Churches Firmament had his Eclipse He is not to be followed in all things though the wariest goer he stept awry He that wrote in his Epistles against bitterness of spirit yet in the difference

purified your heart by the spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. The spirit mortifieth the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. Let us walk in the spirit not desirous of vain glory provoking envying one another Gal. 5. 25 26. Quantumvis se Christianum vel millies glorietur He that hath not the spirit of Christ saith one belongs not to him although he should a thousand times over glory he is a Christian Where Christ with his Spirit dwelleth there is a proof of his inhabitation the guidance of his Spirit is followed the body of sin is gradually destroyed The spirits walks are clean principles are holy motions are pure Much wantonness in Religion is entertained from the spirits allowance and is guilty of this real blasphemy as if the holy Spirit were an unclean one It is not because men live in the Spirit but because they live not that they live and speak so loosly in filthy Ranterism in odious Libertinism When the Apostle prayed that the Colossians might be filled with all spiritual Wisdom and Understanding have inlightned mindes and renewed wills and affections Col. 1. 9. his meaning was that they might walk holily and strictly not uncleanly and loosly That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing ver 10. not by a Popish worthinesse of Merit but by a Gospel-worthinesse of fitnesse decency and non-repugnance to Gospel-grace walking worthy a Christians call Eph. 4. 1. Worthy of God 1 Thess 2. 12. Worthy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. All which is done by following the guidance of the spirit and not serving the lusts of the flesh which is the fruit of spiritual Wisdom and Understanding Sensual not having the spirit Jude Ep. ver 19. Will be a condemning evidence that wanton Sensualists were but pretended Spiritualists and real Carnalists The Spirits way is a way of holinesse a clean way Impure Libertines never walked in it Get in it and the dirty miry pathes of the worlds pollutions will be avoided SECT 7. 7. HElp is serious thoughts what it is to crucifie lusts The 7. Serious thoughts what it is to crucifie lusts is an help to prevent the abuse of grace not understanding of nor submitting to the crucifying work of grace is an experienced grand omission in all loose delicate Christians They choose and like onely that Religion that gives most liberty ease and life to the flesh Crucifying grace hath three irksome terrible and unpleasing severities which carnal wisdom and wantonness abhors Restraint Pain and Death 1. Restraint The Roman Malefactors that were fastned to the Crosse had not the free use of their members So when the Body of sin is Crucified its earthly Members are as it were nailed fastned to the Wood that they cannot have liberty to move as formely The Spirit never crucifieth but the flesh is nailed Carnem nostrā clavis in crucem agamus ut etiam invita s●iritui subjecta essecogatur to the Cross and is compelled to be subject to its dominion 2. Pain Piercing with nails Hanging bleeding on the Cross was a tormenting penalty when the Grace of God crucifieth it torments the flesh It s spiritual arms puts corruption to pain When it is vexed and afflicted it is as it should be No crucifying without pain 3. Death The kinde of death Christ died was Crucifixion He gave up the Ghost on the Crosse Crucifying grace is killing grace it at length utterly destroys this grand Malefactor the old man The same spirit of grace that is said to crucifie is also said to mortifie Rom. 8. As the Apostle Characterizeth true Christians by this They have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts Gal. 5. 24. so he exhorts Mortifie your earthly members Coloss 3. 5. For want of serious and solid pondering what the hard and rigorous work of Christian ●eligion is it gives no liberty to the flesh but nails it to the Crosse of grace puts it to pain and at length to●tures it to death it comes to pass that effeminate pleasant carnally jo●und flesh-pampeing professed Christians in their indulgent wantonnesses are as far off from the severities of repentance as if they had never read nor believed Christ was crucified and that on pain of damnation the old man must be crucified also Take this wholsome counsel O loose Reader If thou wouldst repent of thy wantonnesse Be informed in and submit to the power of Crucifying grace when thou art loth to pinion and imprison thy lusts this is not to crucifie C●nst not endure to torment thy covetous vain-glorious malicious unclean intemperate lusts this is not to crucifie When thou doest reprieve them and deliver them as they that did Barrabas this is not to crucifie But when corruption would have a large room restrain it rather this is crucifying When thy heart is vexed and grieved to part with a dear lust it is great inward pain and smart to thee the rather smite and asslict deeply wound thy corrupt nature this is to Crucifie When it is death to thee to deny thy wisdom will and part with thy money delights carnal ease and interests yet to deny these things this is to Crucifie As Papists deal with their Crucifixes they please themselves with a painted Crucifix that have not the vertue of Christ crucified in their hearts and lives So loose Pro●estants have a fancy Crucifix imagine their old man is crucified not a real Crucifix Their flesh is not at all crucified in their spirits and conversations SECT 8. 8. HElp is a thankful spirit It becomes the upright to be 8 A thankfull spirit is a special help to prevent the abuse of grace thankful Sincerity is the lustre and glory of every grace Hypocrisie keeps mercy returns it not uprightnesse will Can that heart be upright in it self that returns sin for grace nay makes grace to serve and lacquey to sin Do ye thus requite the Lord O●●e foolish people and unnise De●● 32. 6. Do you give him Straw for Pearls Dirt for Gold ●re ●●●bellions good thanks for p●●dons Are sparing no ●llowan●es to Justs good ans●ers of sparing ●●ace Is long 〈…〉 an high hand without remorse a good requital to long-suffering grace Deal you ingenuously with the despised and rejected offers of grace when at the same time you close with the offers of sin Deal you kindly with the gifting purifying sealing spirit of Grace when you turn you turn your back upon him and be●●ay a spirit of pride worldlinesse and security Well doth the Apostle joyn together Unthankful and Unholy The Libertine is unthankful and unholy The ●entiles were unthankful and wantons against nature Pretended Christians are unthankful and wantons again●t Grace That thanks for the infinite goodnesse of God in Christ that would give up body and soul a reasonable sacrifice unto God would not dishonor the dominion of Christ and Temples of the spirit by loose wantonnesse Study and practice that of the Apostle What soever

you doe in Word and deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the father by him Col. 3. 17. And this will secure against loosnesse in the duties of our Relations worldly enjoyments Ordinances of Grace Talents committed to us SECT 9. 9. HElp is godly sorrow Those ill humors that are contracted 9 Godly sorrow is an help against abuse of grace Indicium re fipiscentiae sollicitudo securitatis excussio metus ne nevo peccato implicarentur Dickson by carnal mirth godly sorrow will help to cure as in Nature so in grace contraries cure Fasting is one remedy of distempering feasts Godly sorrow is the spirits sack-cloth and fast for sin When it wrought in the Corinthians repentance it wrought carefulnesse which shook off security and fear of relapse into the old sin by fresh temptation By the sad●ess of the countenance the heart is made better Eccles 7. 3. True sorrows eat out the love and liking of sin Men lay not to heart the abuses of grace and then adventure them The three principal things that God requires are Justice Mercy Mourning The last is a singular help to the two first Could we walk mournfully before the Lord we should love Mercy and do justly Mic. 6. 8. The Jews were wanton in their marrying Idolatrous Wives and their mourning ushered in their reformation Ezra 10. 1 3. Good natured childrens ingenuous sorrows for their soose pranks are Preservatives against like disorders In Malachy the pr●●●ical Atheists did look upon Religion as vain serving God keeping his Ordin●nces and walking mournfully before the Lord of Hoast Mal 3. 14. Those mock-Gods and loose Libertines that laugh at mournful walking with God and are ever irreligious they keep not his Ordinances nor serve him at all The tears of repentance do sweetly water the seed of grace Zions mourners are the most th●●ving Christians None are further off from the dangerous snares of soul-ruining wantonnesse then humble souls that so●e in tears They reap in Grace and Joy while others that so● in carnal security and delights reap in sin and wrath It is told in Gath and published in Askelon that many that seemed to set their faces Heaven-wards are loose ●ibe●tines They d●re to think speak and act what once to think on would make them tremble They dare sin without ●emo●se and count it their perfection And whence this sad ●postacy Surely as in part from an ungrateful glut of and formality in the ●rdinances of Grace partly from the spiritual pride of high attainments and partly from exchanging the house of mourning for the house of mirth walking mournfully before the Lord with them is Apochrypha sorrow for sin is legal and antiquated The holy Spirit exhorts rich Wantons to change their mirth into mourning Jam. 4. 9. But what Spirit it is that moves them to change their mourning into mirth you may easily guess It is just with God that when dissolute ones in sinful hardness have laid by sorrow for sin in judicial hardnesse they should be not more merry then mad jocund Wantons The Pulpit is no place The Sabbath no time to speak vainly I hope I speak the words of Truth and Soberness of all the holy frames of the Spirit I would desire of God in my sinful Pilgrimage of imperfection this choice g●●cious indowment That the top-power of the Spirit in me might be in the Gospel-humblings of brokennesse of heart and contrition of spirit Pelievers are called should be little ones Matth. 18. 6. are ever best and safest yea nearest God when lowest SECT 10. 10. HElpe is close union to God The whorish woman at distance 10 Close union with God is a special help against abuse of grace Pe. didisti fornicantem abs te aliquid supra te amantem Pelican from her husband played the wanton Prov. 7 19. and impure soules fornicate when they thrust themselves out of Gods presence wanton spirits distance from God their choice and delight Job 21. 14. Is their damnation Lo they that are afar from thee shall perish Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee Psal 73. 27. They that love any thing above God leave Heavens bed of Loves for Earthly delights and shall pay dear for their wantonnesse The remedy against it was close union to God But it is good for me to draw nigh to God 28. As if he had said Unchast Fornicators that leave God the Fountain of living waters for lying vanities to their eternall losse shal be indited for whoredome but my soule enter not into their secret though they are Wantons behind Gods back I see it is s●fe it is happinesse to me to get neer his F●ce in his presence is A●e Purity and Joy I dare not be loose while I see him besore mine Eyes wil a promoted favourite abuse his Prince wrong his grace before his Face the close union of Gods Reverence Love Purity Joy● Contentment Admiration will not be abusive Appropinquatio ad Deum elongatio ab omni corruptione Parisiensis The neerer to the Holy God the further from corruption as the neerer the fire the further from cold the neerer the sun the further from darknesse it is sinners turning their backs upon God which makes them wantons the true vision fruition of and delectation in Gods face is grave serious holy and heavenly What Christian that ever had sweet tasts and close viewes of the blessed God but his experience is sweet testimony hee feared to thinke desire do say that evil in close addresses to God which at other tims of distance hath had too sinful allowance The happinesse of the next life wil be divine sweet vision and union without darknesse and separation eternal closures betweene God souls wil shut out wantoness so much as there is of spiritual conjunction now there is provision against sinne SECT 11. 11. HElp is a constant subduing the first depraved motions 11 A constant subduing the first depraved motions is a special help to prevent abuse of grace to carnal desires and affections he that denyes the first parly and specious offers of a trecherous enemy prevents consent when we give the subtil motions of sin audience and listen to their pleasing arguments it is a thousand to one but we grant them wanton indulgence and ready obedience turning the deaf side to the whorish flatteries of sweete corruption is a soveraign Antidote against Libertinisme Are we sure an enemy knocks at the door we lo●k and bar against him but open not unto him spirituall Judgment sayes the loose motions of sin knocks at the door sayes open not O my soule open not they are Theeves and Robbers My Son saith Solomon If sinners intice consent thou not Prov 1. 10. So say O my Soul if that great Pandor to all the Wantons of flesh and spirit corrupt nature intice consent thou not when lust hath conceived in consent it is ready to bring forth in Execution