thee Vers 19. And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart to keep thy commandements thy testimonies and thy statutes 2 Pet. 1.12 c. I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my Tabernacle Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance Seventhly If the sick Person seem willing to dye the Minister may prudently endeavour to discover whether his willingness to dye doth proceed from some good and laudable motive or no for it may arise out of either As 1. From a desire to be freed from the troubles and persecutions Men undergo in this life Numb 11.13 14 15. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this People for they weep unto me saying give us flesh that we may eat I am not able to bear all this People alone because it is too heavy for me And if thou deal thus with me kill me I pray thee out of hand if I have found favor in thy sight and let me not see my wretchedness 1 King 19.4 But he Elijah himself went a days journey into the wilderness and came and sate down under a Juniper-tree and he requested for himself that he might dye and said it is enough now O Lord take away my life for I am not better than my Fathers Or 2. To be freed from pain Job 3.11 c. Why dyed I not from the womb why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly Vers 13. For now should I have lien still and been at quiet I should have slept then should I have been at rest Vers 17 18. There the wicked cease from troubling there the weary be at rest There the Prisoners rest together they hear not the voice of the oppressor Vers 20 21. Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery and life unto the bitter in soul which long for death but it cometh not and dig for it more than for hid treasures Chap. 6.8 9. O that I might have my request and that God would grant me the thing that I long for Even that it would please God to destroy me that he would let loose his hand and cut me off Jon. 4.8 It came to pass when the sun did rise that God prepared a vehement eastwind and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah that he fainted and wished in himself to dye and said it is better for me to dye than to live Or. 3. Out of ignorance of man's estate after death in respect of rewards and punishments Eccl. 12.7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it Heb. 9.27 It is appointed unto men once to dye but after this the judgment 2 Cor. 5.10 11. We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Knowing therefore the terrours of the Lord we perswade men Mat. 25.31 32 33 46. When the son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he be set upon the Throne of his glory And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from the other as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats Then shall he say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed Children of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World Then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Luke 16.22 c. And it came to pass that the beggar dyed and was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom the rich man dyed also and was buried And in Hell he lift up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom And he cryed and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame Or 4. Patient submission to Gods will 1 Sam. 3.18 And Eli said it is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good Luke 22.42 Father if thou be willing remove this cup from me nevertheless not my will but thine be done Acts 21.14 And when he Paul would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done Phil. 4.11 I have learned in what estate soever I am therewith to be content Or 5. Well-grounded hopes of Salvation Job 8.20 God will not cast away a perfect man Psal 37.38 Keep innocency and take heed to the thing that is right for that shall bring a man peace at the last Rom. 5.1 2. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoyce in hope of the glory of God 2 Cor. 4.13 14. We having the same spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore speak knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you 2 Tim. 7.8 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judg shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also which love his appearing Heb. 3.14 We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end To each of these fit applications of these or such-like passages of Scripture are to be made For neither willingness nor unwillingness to dye simply considered are tokens of good or bad estate but in relation tâ— the ground or cause from whencâ— they proceed Eighthly When the sick Person complains of the want of sensible joy and inward comfort of the Spirit such passages of Scripture are to be set before him as describe 1. The state of our spiritual warfare Mat. 10.35 38. I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me Joh. 16.33 In the world ye shall have tribulation Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would Eph. 5.11 12 13. Put on the whole armour of God
she loved much Chap. 23.42 43. And he said unto Jesus Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise 1 Tim. 1.15 16. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering for a pattern to them who should hereafter believe on him to everlastinglife Sixthly Examples of fear and desertion in holy men 1 Sam. 27.1 And David said in his heart I shall now one day perish by the hand of Saul Job 7.13 14 15. When I say my bed shall comfort me my couch shall ease my complaint Then thou scarest me with dreams and terrifiest me through visions So that my soul chooseth strangling and death rather than my life Chap. 14.16 17. Thou numbrest my steps dost thou not watch over my sins My transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine iniquity Chap. 30.20 I cry unto thee and thou dost not hear I stand up and thou regardest me not Thou art become cruel to me with thy strong hand thou opposest thy self against me Lam. 5.20 21 22. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever and forsake us so long time Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned renew our days as of old But thou hast utterly rejected us thou art very wroth against us Mat. 27.46 Jesus cried with a loud voice saying my God my God why hast thou forsaken me Fifthly When the Minister doth think there is cause to suspect the considence of the sick person as not safely grounded for greater caution and searching out the truth thereof those passages of Scripture are useful that point at First The deceitfulness of mans heart Job 18.5 14. The light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire shall not shine His confidence shall be rooted out of his Tabernacle and it shall bring him to the king of terrours Isa 5.21 Wo unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight Chap. 58.2 They seek me daily and delight to know my ways as a Nation that did righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice and take delight in approaching unto God Chap. 59.6 Ther webs shall not become garments neither shall they cover themselves with their works Jer. 17.9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Luke 16.15 Ye are they which justifie your selves before men but God knoweth your hearts Rom. 10.1 2. My hearts desire and prayer unto God for Israel is that they might be saved For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledg 1 Cor. 3.3 Whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men Gal. 6.3 4 7. If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself But let every man prove his own work and then shall he have rejoycing in himself alone and not in another Be not decieved God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap James 1.26 27. If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart that mans Religion is vain Pure Religion and undefil'd before God and the Father is this To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world Secondly The subtilty of Satan Gen. 3.1 The serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field And he said unto the woman ye shall not surely dye For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil 1 Chron. 21.1 And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel Job 1.7 The Lord said unto Satan whence comest thou Then Satan answered the Lord and said from going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it 1 King 22.22 I will go forth and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his Prophets Mat. 16.23 Get thee behind me Satan for thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those things that be of men Acts 16.16 17. And it came to pass as we went to prayer a certain damosel possessed with a spirit of Divination met us which brought her Masters much gain by soothsaying The same followed Paul and us and cryed saying These men are the servants of the most high God which shew unto us the way of salvation 2 Cor. 2.8 11. I beseech you that you would confirm your love towards him Lest Satan should get an advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devices Chap. 11.3 14 I fear least by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty So your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light 1 Thes 3.5 For this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain Thirdly Admonition to make a strict search into our hearts Psal 77.6 In the night I commune with mine own heart and search out my spirit Jer. 6.14 They have healed the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly saying Peace Peace when there is no Peace Malac. 3.2 3. Who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a Refiners fire and like Fullers soap And he shall sit as a Refiner and purifyer of silver 1 Cor. 3.13 Every mans work shall be made manifest For the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is Chap. 4.4 I know nothing by my self yet am I not hereby justified but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Chap. 11.28 Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith prove your own selves know you not your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you except you be reprobates Phil. 4.8 Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things Heb. 4.12 13. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the
Mountains Verse 16. And said to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. Verse 17. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Thirdly The State of an Impenitent Sinner 1. In respect of original corruption Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Not one Chap. 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Verse 15. The Heavens are not clean in his sight verse 16. How much more abominable and filthy is Man that drinketh iniquity like water Chap. 25.4 How then can Man be justified with God Or how can he be clean that is born of a Woman Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my Mother conceived me John 3.5 Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Verse 6. That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Rom. 5.18 By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation 2. In respect of actual sin Exod. 32.33 Whosoever hath sinn'd against me him will I blot out of my Book 2 Kings 17.18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight there was none left but the Tribe of Judah only Verse 19 Also Judah kept not the Commandments of the Lord their God but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made Verse 20. And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and delivered them into the hand of spoilers till he had cast them out of his sight Job 4.8 They that plow iniquity and sow wickedness reap the same Verse 9. By the blast of God they perish and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed Chap. 8.11 Can the Rush grow up without mire can the Flag grow without water Verse 12. Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down it withereth before any other herb Verse 13. So are the paths of all that forget God and the hypocrites hope shall perish Jer. 22.24 As I live saith the Lord though Coniah the Son of Jehoiakim King of Judah were the signet upon my right hand yet would I pluck thee thence Verse 25. And I will give thee into the hand of them who seek thy life Verse 26. And I will cast thee out and thy Mother that bare thee into another Country where ye were not born and there shall ye dye Mat. 7.26 Every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish Man which built his house upon the sand Verse 27. And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Gal. 5.19 The works of the flesh are manifest which are these adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness idolatry witcheraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murders drunkenness revellings and such like they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 2 Thes 1.7 The Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Rev. 14.9 10 11. If any man worship the Beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb and the smoak of their torment ascended up for ever and ever Secondly When the Minister finds not in the sick person a total hardness and impenitency he must wisely mingle Threatnings and Comforts together To which purpose such-like passages of Scripture will be useful Deut. 7.9 10. Know therefore that the Lord thy God he is God the faithful God which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love him and keep his Commandements to a Thousand generations And repayeth them that hate him to their face to destroy them He will not be slack to him that hateth him he will repay him to his face Jer. 32.18 19. Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands and recompensest the iniquity of the Fathers into the bosom of their Children after them the great the mighty God the Lord of Hosts is his Name Great in Counsel and mighty in works for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men to give every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Psal 89.31 32 33. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my judgments If they break my statutes and keep not my Commandements I will visit their offence with rods and their sin with scourges Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my truth to fail Rev. 2.4 5. I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come against thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Thirdly When the Sick Person is fallen into the other extream and is sensible of little or no comfort the passages of Scripture relating to such a condition are those which set forth 1. The excellency and goodness of the Divine Nature Exod. 34.6 7. The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed The LORD the LORD GOD merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin Psalm 86.15 16. Thou O Lord God art full of compassion and mercy longsuffering plenteous in goodness and truth O turn thee then unto me and have mercy upon me Give thy strength unto thy servant and help the son of thine handmaid Psalm 103.8 9 c. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy Longsuffering and of great goodness He will not alway be chiding neither keepeth he his anger for ever He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickedness For look how high the Heaven is in comparison of the Earth So great is his mercy also toward them that fear him Look how wide also the East is from the West So far hath he set our sins from us Yea like as a Father pittieth his own Children Even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him For he knoweth whereof we are made he remembreth that we are but dust Hos 11.3 4. I taught
Ephraim to go taking them by the Arms but they knew not that I heal'd them I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love Jonah 4. Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repentest thee of the evil Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy He will turn again he will have compassion upon us he will subdue our iniquities and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depth of the Sea Malac. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Eph. 2.4 5. God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins and trespasses hath quickned us together with Christ by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus Secondly His incomprehensible love declared in giving his Son to dye for the sin of the World Isa 52.9 10. Break forth into joy sing together ye wast places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his People he hath redeemed Jerusalem The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all Nations and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God Chap. 53.4 5 6. Surely he hath born our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Chap. 55.1 3. Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price Incline your ear and come unto me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Chap. 61.1 2 3. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion to give unto them beauty for ashes the oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they might be called trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Ezek. 34.22 23 24 25. I will save my flock and they shall be no more a prey And I will set up one shepherd over them and he shall feed them even my servant David he shall feed them and he shall be their shepherd And I the Lord will be their God and my servant David a Prince amongst them I the Lord have spoken it And I will make with them a covenant of peace Malac. 4.2 Unto you that fear my Name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings and ye shall go forth and grow up as Calves of the stall Luke 1.76 77 78 79. Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways To give knowledg of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace Chap. 4.17 18 19 21 And when he Jesus had opened the Book he found the place where i◠was written The Spirit of the Lord 〈◊〉 upon me And he began to sa◠unto them this day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Joh 1.29 John seeth Jesus comin◠unto him and saith Behold th◠Lamb of God which taketh awa◠the sin of the World Chap. 3.16 17. God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Chap. 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his Friends Act 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Rom. 3.23 24 25. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by his grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood Rom. 5.8 9. God commendeth his love towards us in that whilest we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Much more then being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him 1 Joh. 2.1 2. If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous And he is the propitiation for our sins Rev. 5.9 And the Elders sung a new song saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and people and tongue and Nation Thirdly His faithfulness in keeping his promise Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forget her sucking Child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands thy walls are before me continually Jer. 33.20 21. Thus saith the Lord if you can break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night and that there should not be day and night in their season Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne Joh. 10.28 29. I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater than all And no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand 1 Cor. 1.9 God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Cor. 1.21 22. He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed is God Who hath also sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his Heb. 6.17 18. God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an Oath That by
thoughts and intents of the heart Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do James 1.25 Whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed Rev. 3.1 2. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain that are ready to dye for I have not found thy works perfect before God Verse 17. Thou sayest I am rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Fourthly Calling upon God for assistance 1 Sam. 16.7 The Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart Psal 139.23 24. Try me O God and seek the ground of my heart prove me and examine my thoughts Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me and lead me in the way everlasting Jer. 10.23 O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Chap. 17.10 I the Lord search the heart I try the reins even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings James 1.5 If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him The examination and Trial of his State must be governed by such rules of Scripture as relate to the consideration First Of his life past with respect First To the Law of God as it is opened and expounded by our Blessed Saviour in the 5th 6th and 7th Chap. of St. Matthew Secondly The duty of furnishing his soul with Divine graces and habits of virtue Psal 45.14 The Kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought Gold Jer. 31.33 34. I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts For they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them Mat. 5.3 to 13. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Chap. 13.12 Whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that he hath Chap. 18.3 Verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven 2 Pet. 1.5 to 11. Besides this giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledg And to knowledg temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness And to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins Wherefore the rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall Thirdly The Performance of particular duties in his several Relations and Profession Acts 13.36 David after he had served his own generation by the will of God fell on sleep and was laid unto his fathers Rom. 12.4 5 6 7. As we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith Or ministry let us wait on our ministring Or he that teacheth on teaching Ephes 6.1 4 5 6. Children obey your Parents in the Lord. Fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants be obedient to them that are your Masters Not with eye-service as menpleasures but as the servants of Christ Masters do the same things to them 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake Chap. 3.1 7. Wives be in subjection unto your Husbands Likewise Husbands dwell with their Wives according to knowledg giving them honour as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the grace of life Secondly His present condition in reference to their duties 1. Of Restitution and Satisfaction Gen. 43.12 Take double money in your hand and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks peradventure it was an oversight Exod. 22.5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten and shall put in his beast and shall feed in another mans field of the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard shall he make restitution Levit. 24.18 And he that killeth a Beast shall make it good Beast for Beast Nehem. 5.9 10 11. It is not good that ye do I likewise and my brethren and my servants might exact of them money and corn I pray you let us leave off this usury Restore I pray you to them even this day their lands their vineyards their oliveyards and their houses also the hundred part of the money and of the corn the wine the oyl that you exact of them Then said they we will restore it Isa 61.8 I the Lord love judgment I hate robbery for burntoffering Mich. 2.1 2. Wo unto them that devise iniquity They covet fields and take them by violence and houses and take them away So they oppress a man and his house even a man and his heritage Hab. 2.6 Wo unto him that increaseth that which is not his Zech. 5.1 3 4. I looked and behold a flying Roll. This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth and it shall enter into the house of the thief and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my Name and it shall remain in the middest of his house
grave in peace neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same Isa 26.20 Come my People enter thou into thy Chambers and shut thy doors about thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast Chap. 57.1 2. The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds each one walking in his uprightness Rom. 14.8 Whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we dye we dye unto the Lord whether we live therefore or dye we are the Lords Rev. 14.13 I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me write blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works follow them 4. The Joys to be revealed hereafter Psal 16.9 12. I have set God always before me for he is on my right hand therefore I shall not fall Thou shalt shew me the path of life in thy presence is the fulness of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore Psal 36.8 9. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures as out of the river For with thee is the well of life and in thy light shall we see light Isa 51.11 The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads they shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away Chap. 64.4 Since the beginning of the World men have not heard nor perceived by the ear neither hath the eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Dan. 12.1 3. At that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Mat. 25.23 His Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful over a few things I will make thee Ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Luke 16.25 Abraham said son remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented Joh. 17.24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me Phil. 1.21 23. To me to live is Christ and to dye is gain I am in a strait betwixt two having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Rev. 7.9 After this I beheld and lo a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb clothed with white robes and palmes in their hands And cryed with a loud voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. 5. The presence of God with his hildren in all conditions Psal 41.3 The Lord comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed make thou all his bed in his sickness Isa 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness Chap. 43.1 2 3. Fear not I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel thy Saviour Rev. 3.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation Sixthly That such spiritual remedies may do good the Minister must endeavour to understand and consider from whence that unwillingness to die proceeds and to the several causes thereof his applications of Scripture must be suitable If 1. It be from that aversation which every Creature naturally hath to dissolution the best men have not been altogether free from that fear Joh. 21.18 19. When thou wast young thou girdest thy self and walkest whither thou wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not This spake he signifying by what death he should glorify God To this must be opposed 1. The conquest of Death by Christ Heb 2.14 15. Forasmuch as the Children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage 1 Cor. 15.56 57. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ Vers 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 2. The pattern of a true Christian temper of mind 2 Cor. 5.1 c. We know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have a building with God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens For in this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from Heaven For we that are in this Tabernacle do groan being burdened not for that we would be unclothed but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing is God who hath also given unto us the earnest of the spirit Therefore we are always confident knowing that whil'st we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord For we walk by faith not by sight we are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Secondly If from love of this World The vanity of all earthly things and the danger of such love of the World must be considered Eccl. 2.4 c. I made me great works I builded me houses I planted me vineyards I made me gardens and orchards and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees I got me servants and maidens and had servants born in my house also I had great possessions of great
and small cattel above all that were in Jerusalem before me I gathered me also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of Kings and of the Provinces I got me men-singers and women-singers and the delights of the sons of men as musical instruments and that of all sorts And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them I withheld not my heart from any joy for my heart rejoyced in all my labours and this was my portion of all my labour Then I looked on all the works that my hand had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sun 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as though they had none And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it for the fashion of this World passeth away Rev. 18.16 17. Alas Alas that great City that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet and deckt with gold and precious stones and pearls For in one hour so great riches is come to naught 2. The danger of it Mat. 19.23 24. Jesus said unto his Disciples verily verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And again I say unto you It is easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God 1 Tim. 6.9 10. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of money is the root of all evil 1 Joh. 2.15 16 17. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love thâ— world the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world And the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Luke 12.16 c. Jesus spake this Parable The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully And he thought within himself saying what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits And he said this will I do I will pull down my Barnes and build greater and there will I bestow my fruits and my goods And I will say to my soul soul thou hast much goods layd up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry But God said unto him Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Thirdly If from a Conscience burdened with the guilt of sin to the former Applications p. 22 23. may be added the tender regard of our Blessed Saviour for penitent sinners foretold by the Prophets Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young And proclaimed by himself Mat. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and and ye shall find rest unto your souls Vers 30. For my yoke is easie and my burden is light Joh. 7.37 Jesus stood and cryed saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink Chap. 11.25 26. Jesus said unto Martha I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye Fourthly If from solicitude and over-great care for Wife and Children the Scriptures pertinent are such as set forth 1. The All-sufficiency of God Gen. 17.1 And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect And I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly Chap. 18.14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord At the time appointed will I return unto thee and Sarah shall have a son 2 Chron. 25.9 Amaziah said to the man of God but what shall we do for the hundred Talents which I have given to the army of Israel And the man of God answered the Lord is able to give thee much more than this Isa 59.1 Behold the Lord's hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear 2. His promises to his Children and to their seed Gen. 17.19 Sarah thy Wife shall bear a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my Covenant with him for an everlasting Covenant and with his seed after him Vers 7. I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Exod. 2.24 25. God heard their groaning and God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. And God looked upon the Children of Israel and God had respect unto them Jos 21.25 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass 2 Sam. 7.24 Thou hast confirmed to thy self thy People Israel to be a People unto thee for ever and thou Lord art become their God Psal 68.5 He is a Father of the fatherless and defendeth the cause of the Widows even God in his holy habitation Psal 112.1 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord he hath great delight in his commandments His seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the faithful shall be blessed Rom 8.32 38 39. He that spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Heb. 13.5 6. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me 3. His performance of them even by the mighty working of his Power Gen. 31.29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt but
the God of your Father spake unto me yesternight saying take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad Chap. 50.20 Joseph said unto them ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much People alive Exod. 1.12 The more they afflicted them the more they grew and they were grieved because of the Children of Israel 1 King 17.3 4 6. Hide thy self by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan and I have commanded the Ravens to feed thee there And the Ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and bread and flesh in the evening and he drunk of the brook Vers 13.14 15. Elijah said unto her Thus saith the Lord God of Israel the barrel of meal shall not wast neither shall the cruse of oyl fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth And she and he and her house did eat many days 2 King 4.1 to 8. Now there cryed a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the Prophets unto Elisha saying Thy servant my husband is dead and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord And the Creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen And Elisha said unto her what shall I do for thee tell me what hast thou in the house and she said thy handmaid hath not any thing in the house but a pot of oyl Then he said go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours even empty vessels borrow not a few And when thou art come in thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons and shalt pour out into all those vessels and thou shalt set aside that which is full So she went from him and did shut the door upon her and upon her sons who brought the vessels to her and she poured out And it came to pass when the vessels were full that she said unto her son bring me yet a vessel And he said unto her there is not a vessel more And the oyl staid And she came and told the man of God and he said go sell the oyl and pay thy debt and live thou and thy children of the rest So Dan. 3.17 Chap. 6.21 22. Joh. 6.5 7 c. When Jesus saw a great company come unto him he saith unto Philip whence shall we buy bread that these may eat Philip answered him Two hundred peny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may take a little Andrew saith unto him There is a lad here that hath five barley loaves and two small fishes but what are they among so many Jesus said make the men sit down So the men sate down in number about five thousand And when Jesus had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples and the Disciples to them that were set down and likewise of the fishes as much as they would See Acts 5.19 20. Ch. 12.6 7 8. Chap. 16.25 26. Deut. 8.4 Psal 78.14 to 30. 4. The danger of such solicitude Mat. 13.22 He that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word of God and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he becometh unfruitful Luke 12.20 God said unto him Thou fool this night shall thy soul be required of thee then whose shall these things be which thou hast provided Chap. 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares 1 Cor. 7.35 This I speak for your own profit that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction And the unprositableness of it Psal 127.1 2 3. Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it Except the Lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain It is but lost labour that ye hap to rise up early and so late take rest and eat the bread of carefulness Mat. 6.27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature Luke 10.39 c. Martha had a sister called Mary which also sate at Jesus feet and heard his word But Martha was cumbred about much serving and came to him and said Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone bid her therefore that she help me And Jesus answered and said unto her Martha Martha thou art careful and troubled about many things But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that one good part which shall not be taken away from her 6. Weakness of Faith discovered thereby Mat. 6.30 If God so cloth the grass of the field which to day is and to morrow is cast into the Oven shall he not much more cloath you O ye of little faith Chap. 8.26 Why are ye fearful O ye of little faith Chap. 14.31 Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God 1 Pet. 5. Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you 7. The duty of commanding them we leave behind to serve God faithfully that they may be blessed Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Jos 23.14 This day I am going the way of all the earth and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof Chap. 24. And if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord chuse you this day whom you will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. 1 Chron. 29.10 David blessed the Lord before all the congregation and David said blessed be the Lord God of Israel our Fathers for ever and ever Vers 11. Thine O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty for all that is in the Heaven and the earth is thine thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as a head above all Vers 12. Both riches and honour come of thee and thou reignest over all and in thine hand is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all Vers 17. I know also my God that thou triest the heart and hast pleasure in uprightness Vers 18. O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the imaginations of the thoughts of the heart of thy People and prepare their heart unto
that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against Principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution 2. The complaints of holy men Job 3.25 26. The thing which I greatly feared is fallen upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me I was not in safety neither had I rest neither was I quiet yet trouble came Chap. 6.4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God do set themselves in array against me Psal 77.7 8 9. Will the Lord absent himself for ever and will he be no more entreated Is his mercy clean gone for ever and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore Hath God forgotten to be gracious and will he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure Psal 88.6 Thine indignation lieth hard upon me and thou hast vexed me with thy stormes Vers 15. I am in misery and like unto him that is at the point to dye even from my youth up thy terrours have I suffered with a troubled mind Jer. 15.17 18. I sate alone because of thy hand for thou hast filled me with indignation Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable which refuseth to be healed 2 Cor. 12.7 c. Lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to busset me lest I should be exalted above measure For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me And he said unto me my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 3. The return of the light of Gods countennance Psal 30.5 His wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye in his pleasure is life heaviness may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Vers 12. Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness Psal 71 18. O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me and yet didst thou turn and refresh me yea and broughtest me from the depth of the earth again Jer. 29.11 I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end Micah 7.8 Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Job 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid 4. The practice of Holy men in like Cases Psal 42.6 7. Why art thou so full of heaviness O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me Put thy trust in God for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance Psal 119.52 I remembred thine everlasting judgments O Lord and received comfort Psal 14.3 Hear my Prayer O Lord c. Acts. 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Jam. 5.13 Is any among you afflicted let him pray 5. Promises of deliverance Job 5.17 18 19. Happy is the man whom God correcteth therefore despise not thou the chastning of the Almighty For he maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his hands make whole He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee Psal 34.18 Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Jer. 15.11 Verily I will cause the enemy to treat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction Chap. 39.16 18. Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian saying I will surely deliver thee and thou shalt not fall by the sword but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee because thou hast put thy trust in me saith the Lord. Joel 2.32 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be delivered for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call Zeph. 3.14 17. Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and daughter of Jerusalem The Lord thy God in the middest of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will joy over thee with singing Vers 19. Behold at that time I will undo all that afflict thee I will save her that halteth and gather her that was driven out and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations 5. Endeavours of strengthning our Faith I Sam. 30.6 And David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved every man for his sons and for his daughters but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God Psal 56.2 3. Mine enemies are dayly in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight against me O thou most high Nevertheless though I am sometimes afraid yet put I my trust in thee Psal 146.2 to the end O put not your trust in Princes c. Prov. 3.5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding In all thy ways acknowledg him and he shall direct thy path Isa 12.2 Behold God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song he also is become my salvation Mic. 2.7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob is the spirit of the Lord straitned are these his doings do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly Hab. 2.4 The just shall live by faith Chap. 3.17 18. Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the vine the labour of the Olive shall fail and the field shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation Mark 5.25 27 28 29. A certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years when she heard of Jesus came in the press behind and touched his garment For she said if I may but touch his clothes I shall be whole And straitway the fountain of her blood was dryed up and she felt in her body that she was healed of
gathered unto his People Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season Luke 2.29 Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation Chap. 23.46 When Jesus had cried with a loud voice he said Father into thy hands I commend my spirit And having thus said he gave up the ghost Acts 7.59 They stoned Steven calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my spirit Vers 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge And when he had said this he fell asleep Rev. 22.20 He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus THe Minister must not fail to press the sick person to receive the Holy Eucharist and to open to him the comfortable Doctrine the Scripture holds forth in that blessed Ordinance this being the fittest close for the life of him whose constant business it hath been as of all good Christians to labour for pardon and grace the Benefits sealed to Believers in that Sacrament by Him who purchased them for us with his most precious blood as in that Commemorative Sacrifice is most lively represented to us The Institution whereof so nearly preceding the Passion of our Blessed Redeemer doth recommend the use of these Holy Mysteries unto Christians as very seasonable at that time when they are upon putting off their earthly Tabernacles their corruptible Bodies in expectation of a joyful Resurection and Exaltation unto life Eternal whereof this Holy Sacrament was by the Primitive Fathers of the Church esteemed a sure and sacred Pledg A most comfortable Preparative whereunto if heartily desired and cantiously and reverently administred is the Benefit of Absolution Which deserves not to be the less esteemed or the more neglected for whatsoever abuses it hath heretofore been liable unto when both Priest and People believed more of the Sacerdotal Power than was consistent with so great a Trust committed to the one and so strict a disquisition required from the other lest the Minister might be Partaker of other mens sins 1 Tim. 5.22 and the People delude themselves with unsincere and fruitless Repentance 2 Cor. 7.10 11. A Prayer to be used in a state of Health O Father of lights from whom cometh every good and perfect gift Thou art he who tookest me out of my Mothers womb and by thee have I been holden up ever since I was born The blessings of health and strength that I enjoy are from thy goodness and bounty And for them and all thy other mercies I bless and praise thy ever-great and glorious Name Most humbly beseeching thee to add to these that blessing of blessings the right use of all thy blessings That through the comfort and assistance of that health and strength thou hast given me I may become the more diligent and faithful in the practice of those several duties of piety justice and charity which thou requirest at my hands And suffer me not O Lord to deceive my self by a false account of the time of my Pilgrimage but so teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom that I may readily discern the vast difference between this span of life and the infinite spaces of eternity between the pleasures of sin for a season and the everlasting fulness of joy in thy presence And for this end remove far away from me all those vices to which health and ease are apt to betray me especially all carnal security lust pride anger want of compassion misspending my time forgetfulness of thee and of thy ways and works And implant in my mind the daily remembrance of death and judgment the necessity of working out my salvation with fear and trembling and the misery of being surpriz'd by the coming of our Lord in my sins or fruitless repentance So that the health of my body may through thy blessing promote the health of my Soul and thy augmenting the number of my Talents increase both my labour and reward That passing the time of my sojourning here in fear I may treasure up for my self such spiritual strength and consolation as may stand me in stead when I shall lye down on my bed of sickness and death administring comfort to my soul in the conscience of well doing which thou hast promised us to accept and reward through thy mercies in Jesus Christ our only Saviour and Redeemer Amen A Prayer when one perceives himself to be sick O Lord my God I have learn'd from thy Holy Word and by daily experience in this vale of misery that dust I am and unto dust I shall return that I must put off this earthly Tabernacle and that thou wilt bring me to death and the house appointed for all living And now Lord I feel in my self the usual summons thy good providence doth give us to review our accounts and to sit our selves for death and judgment Blessed be thy Name for this thy mercy that thou hast not taken advantage of me whil'st I was thine enemy to cut me off suddenly in my sins and hurry me hence in mine iniquity but hast given me the time means and I trust grace for repentance and amendment of life And though I have not improved such hath been my negligence and sloth these rich favours to that great advantage I might and should have done yet I beseech thee O Lord for thine infinite mercies in thy son Christ Jesus that thou wilt not be extream to mark what I have done amiss and to lay my sins to my charge but that thou wilt deal mercifully with me thy most unworthy servant blotting out all my sins and transgressions that none of mine iniquities may be mentioned unto me in that great and terrible day of Recompences And forasmuch as thou alone in whose hands our times are dost know what will be the issue of this my present distemper and sickness cause me to reflect on it as proceeding from thy Will and Wisdom and cheerfully and thankfully to submit to this chastisement as a means appointed by thee for the benefit and comfort of my Soul and vouchsafe unto me that grace which may enable me to receive profit thereby and from experience of thy goodness towards me to gain hope and confidence of thy love And if thou hast reserv'd for me the blessing of restoring me to my former health which I beseech thee to do direct me to the use of such means as thou wilt make effectual for that end But if the days of my warfare are accomplished prepare me O Lord for a safe quiet and comfortable departure out of this life and fit me for thy prefence and glory O Lord strengthen me against all the malicious practices and devices of my subtil and implacable enemy against all errours and delusions of my understanding the allurements of this World inordinate love of this miserable Life and
and for others and for thy whole Church for the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Redeemer Amen For a Family BLessed Lord God the Father of all the Families of the Earth who art no respecter of Persons but requirest every one to walk faithfully in that vocation wherein thou hast placed him we humbly beseech thee for thy blessing on every member of this Family that each of us may perform his duty in that integrity and uprightness of heart as becometh them who profess the same Gospel of thy son Christ Jesus O drive away and keep off from hence as all other so especially the sins of this corrupt Age. Let not Atheism Drunkenness Swearing Pride Idleness Hypocrisy Unclean Lusts Covetousness Lying or any other sin whatsoever become a fretting Leprosie in the walls of this House But as thou hast given us a Blessing above many other our Brethren so give us grace to express a more special performance of duty in acknowledgment thereof Let the hand of thy good providence be stretcht forth to defend us in all dangers of Soul and Body give us wisdom to discern and courage to withstand all assaults of the Flesh the World and the Devil Let thy Fatherly corrections of us be always an advantage to our Religious Conversation Give us thankful hearts for all thy Blessings And so guide us in all things with thy merciful hand that finally we may be brought to the land of everlasting Life there to reign with thee World without end through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen An Evening Prayer O Most Powerful God and Merciful Father to whom the light discovereth nothing and from whom the Night cannot conceal us but the darkness and the light to thee are both alike leave us not we pray thee to the dangers and discomforts of this Night but let thine eye which slumbereth and sleepeth not watch over us for the good both of our Souls and Bodies O let not the darkness of the night nor the privacy of our retirements betray us to do any thing unworthy of our Christian calling and that inaccessible light in the presence and by the power of which we live and move and have our being But sit and prepare each of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit to a constant and sincere obedience of thy Holy Will that both in publick and in private we may do as becometh an holy seed and a People zealous of good works endeavouring in all things to shew our selves mindful of that inestimable price which our Lord Jesus Christ hath paid for us vile and miserable sinners And we humbly pray thee O Lord to pardon as all other so the sins and imperfections of which we have been guilty this day That if any of us shall be summon'd from the bed of our rest to that of our death we may through thy mercy have a comfortable and cheerful passage from this life of misery and mortality unto a life of everlasting happiness and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour Amen FINIS A Brief Catalogue of Books newly Printed and Reprinted for R. Royston Bookseller to his Most Sacred Majesty THE works of the Reverend and Learned Henry Hammond D. D. containing a Collection of Discourses chiefly Practical with many Additions and Corrections from the Author 's own hand together with the Life of the Author enlarg'd by the Reverend Dr. Fell Dean of Christ-Church in Oxford In large Folio Σ Υ'МВΟΛΟΠΘЕΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ'ΠOr a Collection of Polemical Discourses addressed against the Enemies of the Church of England both Papists and Fanaticks in large Folio by Jeremiah Taylor Chaplain in Ordinary to King Charles the First of Blessed Memory and late Lord Bishop of Down and Conner Animadversions upon a Book Intituled Fanaticism Fanatically imputed to the Catholick Church by Dr. Stillingfleet and the Imputation Refuted and Retorted by S. C. The Second Edition By a Person of Honour In Octavo A Serious and compassionate Inquiry into the Causes of the present Neglect and Contempt of the Protestant Religion and Church of England In Octavo Reflexions upon the Devotions of the Roman Church With the Prayers Hymns and Lessons themselves taken out of their Authentick Authors In Three Parts In Octavo New The Christian Sacrifice and the Devout Christian and Advice to a Friend these last three Books written by the Reverend S. P. D. D. in 12.
two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us 1 Joh 1.9 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Fourthly His encouragements and promises to the penitent 1. In the Law Levit. 26.40 41 42. If they shall confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their Fathers with their trespass which they trespassed against me and that also they have walked contrary to me And that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember and will remember the land Deut. 4.27 29 30 31. The Lord thy God shall scatter you among the Nations But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul When thou art in Tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou come to the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice for the Lord thy God is a merciful God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee nor forget the Covenant of thy Fathers which he sware unto them Chap. 30.3 The Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all the Nations whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee In 2. The Prophets 1 Sam. 12.20 22. Samuel said unto the People fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Names sake because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his People Isa 1.18 19. Though your sins be as red as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red as crimson they shall be as wooll If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land Cha. 44.22 I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sins return unto me for I have redeemed thee Chap. 57.16 17 18. I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the spirit should fail before me and the souls which I have made For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his ways and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners Jer. 3.1 13 14. Thou hast played the harlot with many lovers yet return again unto me saith the Lord. Only acknowledg thine iniquity that thou hast transgrest against the Lord thy God Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you Chap. 31.19 20. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even consounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Chap. 33.8 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon aâ—l their iniquities whereby they have sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why will ye dye O house of Israel In 3. The Gospel Mat. 1. 21. Thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Chap. 18.11 The son of man is come to save that which was lost Luke 15.10 There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth John 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Heb. 4.15 16. We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Chap. 7.24 25. This man Christ Jesus because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood Wherefore he is also able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them Chap. 8.12 I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more Fifthly The performance of those promises in several Instances of mercy Judg. 2.18 When the Lord raised them up Judges then the Lord was with the Judg and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the Judg for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them Chap. 10.15 16. The children of Israel said unto the Lord we have sinned do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee deliver us only we pray thee this day And they put away the strange Gods from among them and served the Lord and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel 2 Sam. 12.13 David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David the Lord also hath put away thy sin thou shalt not dye 1 King 21.29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me because he humbleth himself before me I will not bring the evil in his days but in his sons days will I bring the evil upon his house 2 Chron. 33.12 13. And when he Manasseh was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers And prayed unto him and he was intreated of him and heard his supplication and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom Nehem. 9.31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies sake thou didst not utterly consume them nor forsake them for thou art a gracious and merciful God Jonah 3.10 And God saw their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the evil that he had said he would do unto them and he did it not Mat. 18.26 27. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him saying Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all Then the Lord of that servant came moved with compassion and loosed him and forgave him the debt Luke 7.47 Her sins which are many are forgiven for