appear before the judgement seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in the body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad V. 11. Knowing the terrours of the Lord we perswade men 2 Pet. 3.10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the Heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up V. 11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godlinesse V. 14. Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet Mat. 19.28 And Jesus said unto them verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 16.27 For the Son of man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works Heb. 9.28 So Christ wâ—s once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation Mat. 25.31 When the son of man shall come in his Glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory V. 32. And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats V. 33. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left V. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world V. 35. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink I was a stranger and ye took me in V. 36. Naked and ye clothed me I was sick and ye visited me I was in Prison and ye came unto me V. 41. Then shall he say also to them on the left hand depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon and reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to â—verlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings Luke 19.10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners Mat. 1.21 And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Rom. 3.24 Being justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgivenesse of sins according to the riches of his Grace Jer. 33.6 In his daies Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness 1 Cor. 15.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation V. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him John 1.12 But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of our Faith even the salvation of our souls Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification 1 Pet. 3.18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but quickned by the Spirit Heb. 7.23 And they truly were many Priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death V. 24. But this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priest-hood V. 27. Who needeth not daily as those high Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeem'd us from the curse of the Law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Col. 1.14 In whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins V. 21. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled V. 22. In the body of his flesh through death to present you unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Col. 2.14 Blotting out the hand writing of Ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his Cross V. 15. And having spoiled Principalities and Powers he made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in it Heb. 10.11 And every Priest standeth daily ministring and offering often times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins V. 12. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God V. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified V. 18. Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin V. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus V. 20. By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the vail that is to say his flesh V. 21. And having an high Priest over the house of God V. 22. Let us draw neer with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water To sanctifie their Natures 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thankes alwaies to God for you brethren beloved
hearing 3. What we are to do after we have heard And oh that I might prevail with you to read these Directions often especially on Saturday-nights that so you might come prepared The great reason of the unprofitablenesse of preaching and that Sermons do no more good is because people come without preparation 3. Seeing that Heavenly duty of singing Psalms and lifting up the praises of the most High is now by some question'd as indeed what is not that tends to Gods Glory and mans good I purposely handle that subject and prove it to be a duty under the Gospel answer the Objections against it and give some Directions for the right performing of it 4. Forasmuch as Christians might exceedingly benefit one another by Religious conference thereby warming and enlivening one another and provoking one another to love and to good works In the next place I speak of that duty and set down some Rules concerning it Lastly Because without meditation 't is not to be expected the Word should do much good nor that the soul should ever thrive in Knowledge and Grace I shew the excellency and benefit thereof and give some Directions for the practise of it The Seventh Chapter treats of the danger of frequenting and unnecessarily conversing with bad company whereby many have been everlastingly undone A man that prayes to be delivered from temptations must not wilfully run himself into them And because 't is the duty of all true Christians both for their own peace sake and that they may adorn the Gospel of Christ to serve their generation in some honest and commendable way avoiding Idlenesse that great snare of the Devil In the eighth Chapter I discourse of diligence and conscientiousnesse in our particular places and callings And that the Name of God may not be blasphemed by the ill lives and practises of such as professe themselves Christians In the Ninth Chapter I treat of just and upright dealing in Trading and Commerce giving some Rules both to buyers and sellers and shew the necessity of making restitution of or satisfaction for ill gotten goods The Tenth Chapter contains the duties of Governours of Families which I desire all that are in that relation often to read over and seriously to meditate upon There is a great duty lies upon them and greater than they usually are aware of They may be exceeding instrumental of the salvation of those under their care if they discharge their duties as they ought But through their neglect of the Worship of God in their houses and their ill lives and examples they prove too often an occasion of the ruine of many in their Families And because very much of the life of Godlinesse consists in a faithful discharge of relative duties The Eleventh Chapter shews the duties of Husband and Wife The Twelfth of Mâ—sters and Servants The Thirteenth of Parents and Children The Fourteenth of such as are in office and of Inferiours The Fifteenth of People towards their Pastors and spiritual Guides O what an honour would it be to Christian Religion if all they that call themselves Christians would endeavour to walk uprightly and faithfully in their respective places And seeing it is a real kindnesse and an excellent expression of true Christian friendship to keep one another off from the pit of destruction and to help one another on towards Heaven In the Sixteenth Chapter I treat of that great and hard duty of Christian reproof and admonition which if it were prudently and faithfully discharged would by the blessing of God much abate sin in the world and exceedingly advance Piety The Seventeenth Chapter contains the duties of rich and poor Many duties belong to them both and both have great temptations therefore they had need be careful to discharge the one and avoid the other The Eighteenth Chapter speaks of the duties of Young and Old Ministers find by experience that the Word hath the greatest operation on those that are young who have not contracted such strong habits of sin nor so long resisted the Grace of God nor so much provoked him to give them up to their own hearts lusts as many ancient people have done who have liv'd a great while in an unconverted state under the light of the Gospel I have therefore shewed young persons the danger of delaies the advantages of turning to God betimes and answered the Objections that many are apt to make against it And because a Minister is also to have a care of the souls of the Ancient and to his utmost skill to endeavour their salvation I have laid down several awakening considerations for them to think upon I have shewed them the danger of vain presumptions and groundlesse hopes of Heaven I have set down some of those false grounds and sandy foundations whereon many ancient people build their hopes of happinesse that so they may be undeceived and may look better about them to secure their souls while there is time In the Nineteenth Chapter there are Directions given for the healthy and the sick To deal wisely and faithfully with sick persons in order to their souls welfare is one of the hardest pieces of the Ministerial work and requires much skill to perform it aright And seeing a Minister is not ever at hand to visit such sick persons as may need his help and many times they stand in need of much help and instruction I have drawn up such directions as I judged needful for them which they may mâ—ke use of when they cannot have the help and assistance of a Minister I have shewed how they should examine themselves And that they may not slubber over that great businesse but may come in some measure to discern the multitude of their sins and the manifold waies whereby they have offended God I have set down a Catalogue of the duties commanded and sinnes forbidden in the ten Commandments as also the sins against the Gospel That so people may not only in general say they are sinners and yet when they come and professe to humble their souls and to confesse their sins unto God can find few they are guilty of but may see themselves to be exceeding vile and sinful I know 't is very unpleasing to people to search their own Consciences and find themselves great sinners They had rather sit down with a false peace than arraign and terrifie themselves in this manner But who that is in his right wits would content himself with a shadow of repentance or a shadow of Faith without finding the substance and truth of these Graces in his soul when his everlasting welfare depends upon it Those Directions there mentioned may be of use also to all persons who desire at any time more solemnly to humble themselves before the Lord for the sins of their life past and more especially before the receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper The Twentieth Chapter contains a discourse of the four last things Death Judgment Hell Heaven There I shew the necessity of Learning even in time of health that great art and skill how to die well Next what the Scripture declares concerning the day of
Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments RIGHT KNOVVLEDGE Or the chief things to be Known and Believed in order to Salvation They are reducible to these three Heads Concerning God Man The Mediator between God and Man CHAP. I. Concerning GOD. COncerning God we are to Know three things First His NATURE That there is One onely true God who is a Spirit infinitely glorious and being one in nature is yet three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and the Holy Ghost These are three and one after a wonderful and mysterious manner The Father God the Son God and the Holy Ghost God And yet not three Gods but One God Psal 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Psal 10.4 The wicked through the pride of his Countenance will not seek after God God is not in all his thoughts 1 Cor. 15.34 Some have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Heb. 11.6 But without Faith it is impossible to please him For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Isaiah 44.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts I am the first and I am the last and besides me there is no God Isai 45.5 I am the Lord and there is none else There is no God besides me 1 Cor. 8.4 As concâ—rning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in Sacrifice to Idols we know that an Idol is nothing in the World and that there is none other God but One. V. 5. For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many V. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him Deut. 4.35 Unto thee it was shewed that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God And there is none else besides him Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God is One Lord. Jer. 10.10 But the Lord is the true God He is the living God and an everlasting King At his wrath the Earth shall tremble and the Nations shall not be able to abide his Indignation 1 Thes 1.9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you And how ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection Joh. 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Luke 24.39 A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Rom. 1.23 And they changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible man and to birds and to four-footed beasts and Creeping things V. 25. And worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen Concerning the Trinity Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are One. Mat. 3.16 And Jesus when he was baptized went straightway up out of the water and Lo the Heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting upon him V. 17. And Lo a voice from Heaven saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased 2 Cor. 13.14 The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen Concerning God the Father Luke 23.34 Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ Eph 3.14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Concerning God the Son John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the Onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth V. 18. No man hath seen God at any time The Onely begotten Son which is in the bosome of the Father he hath declared him Heb. 1.2 He hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the world V. 3. Who being the brightnesse of his Glory and the express Image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sinnes sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high V. 8. But unto the Sonne he saith thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousness is the Scepter of thy Kingdome John 10.30 I and my Father are One. 1 John 2.22 Who
Gospel heartily to repent of all their sins seriously to give up their souls unto him resting and relying on the Redemption and Ransome of his Blood for their Pardon and Reconciliation with God And taking him for their onely Lord Saviour and yielding themselves up in sincere obedience to him and to be guided and governed by his Grace and Holy Spirit they do depend on him alone for Justification Sanctification strength to persevere in the ways of Holinesse and at last to be brought to eternall Life And to as many as are thus drawn by the Holy Ghost savingly to repent of their sins and believe in Christ being truly united to him and made branches in him the true Vine and members of his mystical body the true Church whereof himself is the Head God hath promised pardon and Remission of all their sins to write his Law in their Hearts to subdue their Corruptions by his Grace that sin shall not have Dominion over them to bestow on them all such outward blessings as he in his infinite wisdome shall see good for them And when they die their souls shall be received into everlasting blisse and their bodies shall be raised again by the power of Christ at the last day and made partakers of the same Glory And this is Called the Covenant of Grace But such as go on in their sins refusing to accept of Christ for their Lord and Saviour Redeemer and Sanctifier and to give up themselves in sincere obedience to him when they die their Souls shall be adjudged to everlasting punishment and their bodies shall be raised again at the last day and made partakers with their Souls of Everlasting Torments Concerning effectual Calling Rom. 1.6 Among whom are ye also the Called of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the Called according to his purpose V. 30. Moreover whom he did predestinate them he also Called and whom he Called them he also justified and whom he justified them he also glorified 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and Called us with an holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the Heavenly Calling Consider the Apostle and high Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Eph. 1.18 The eyes of your understanding being inlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints V. 19. And what is the greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Acts 16.14 And a certain woman named Lydia a seller of purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvellous Light Eph. 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called 1 Thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you to his Kingdome and Glory John 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day V. 45. It is written in the Prophets and they shall be all taught of God every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to me V. 65. And he said therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 5.25 Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and they that hear shall live 2 Thes 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth V. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ Ezek 36 16. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying V. 17. Son of man when the House of Israel dwelt in their owne Land they defiled it by their owne way and by their doings their way was before me as the uncleannesse of a removed woman V. 26. A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh V 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them Eph. 2.13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who somtimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Rom. 8.2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death V. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his John 3.8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by Faith that is in me Concerning believing the Gospel 1 Cor. 2.12 Now we have received not the Spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God V. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Eph. 1.16 Making mention of you in my prayers V. 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory may give unto you the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him V. 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his Calling and what the riches of the Glory of his inheritance V. 19. And what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power John 8.24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye beleeve not
shall any man pluck them out of my hand V. 29. My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God Jer. 31.3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawn thee Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 1 Cor. 10.12 Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time V. 9. Receiving the end of your Faith even the salvation of your Souls 2 Tim. 2.19 Neverthelesse the Foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the Charge of Gods elect it is God that justifieth V. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us V. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakednesse or peril or sword Rom. 8.37 Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors through him that loved us V. 38. For I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come V. 39. 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. John 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 for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Luke 22.32 But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren 2 Theâ— 3.3 But the Lord is faithful who shall stablish you and keep you from evil Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption Concerning the members of Christ John 15.1 I am the true Vine and my Father is the Husbandman V. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit 1 Cor. 12.12 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ. V. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 1.2 Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus Called to be Saints with all that in every place Call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours 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 with Palmes in their hands Rom. 11.16 For if the first fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 3.15 Of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named Eph. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ V. 13. Till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Mat. 16.18 And I say unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Mat. 23.8 But be not ye Called Rabbi for one is your Master even Christ and all ye are brethren V. 9. And call no man your Father upon the earth for one is your Father which is in Heaven V. 10. Neither be ye called Masters for one is your Master even Christ. Concerning the new Covenant Heb. 8.8 For finding fault with them he saith behold the days come saith the Lord when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah V. 9. Not according to the Covenant I made with their Fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt because they continued not in my Covenant and I regarded them not saith the Lord. V. 10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people V. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesse and their iniquities will I remember no more Mark 16.15 And he said unto them goe ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature V. 16. He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved but he that beleeveth not shall be damned Jer. 31.31 Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah V. 34. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more John 3.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Heb. 9.15 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance V. 16. For where a Testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator V. 17. For a Testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength whilst the Testator liveth Heb. 12.24 And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel Ezek. 36 26 A new heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and will give you an
not hid I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin Selah V. 6. For this shall every one that is Godly pray unto thee in a time that thou maist be found surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him Psal 17.1 Hear the Right O Lord attend unto my Cry give ear unto my Prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips Phil. 4.6 Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest Praiers unto thee shall all flesh come Mich. 7.18 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 Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth V. 19. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them Psal 50.15 And call upon me in the day of trouble I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Dan 9.14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil and brought it upon us for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doth for we obeyed not his voice Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you V. 21. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven 1 John 5.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God V. 14. And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us V. 15. And if we know that he hear us whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions we desired of him Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear Eph. 6.18 Praying alwaies with all praier and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort therefore that first of all supplications praiers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men V. 2. For Kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlinesse and Honesty Jam 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed the effectual fervent praier of a righteous man availeth much Maâ— 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you 2 Sam. 7.29 Therefore now let it please thee to blesse the House of thy Servant that it may continue for ever before thee for thou O Lord hast spoken it and with thy blessing let the House of thy servant be blessed for ever 1 John 5.16 If any man see his Brother sin a sin which is not unto death he shall ask and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto unto death there is a sin unto death I do not say he shall pray for it Gen. 18.27 And Abraham answered and said behold now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but dust and ashes Luke 18.13 And the Publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eies unto Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner V. 14. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted Psal 51.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise Job 22.27 Thou shalt make thy praier unto him and he shall hear thee aad thou shalt pay thy vowes 1 Sam. 1.15 And Hannah answered and said no my Lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 1 Cor. 14.15 What is it then I will pray with the Spirit and will pray with understanding also I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding also Mark 11.24 Therefore I say unto you what things soever ye desire when ye pray beleeve that ye receive them and ye shall have them Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed Psal 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him to all that call upon him in truth 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting Mat. 26.39 And he went a little farther and fell on his face and praied saying O my Father if it be possible let this Cup passe from me neverthelesse not as I will but as thou wilt Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Acts 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but praier was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him Mat. 6.9 After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Luke 11.2 And he said unto them when ye pray say Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done as in Heaven so in earth Thanksgiving Col. 3.17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his Name Psal 67.2 That thy way may be known upon earth thy saving health among all Nations V. 3. Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Psal 86.12 I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart and I will glorifie thy Name for evermore V. 13. For great is thy mercy towards me and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Hell Psal 103.1 Blesse the Lord O my Soul and all that is within me bless his holy Name V. 2. Blesse the Lord O my Soul and forget not all
to escape that ye may be able to bear it Rom. 5.3 But we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience Rev. 13 10. Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints 5. As thou must continually depend on God for a supply of all those Graces and comforts thy soul stands in need of so likewise thou must depend daily on his Fatherly care to be furnished and supplied with all such outward mercies as thou standest in need of for this life Mat. 6 11. Give us this day our daily bread Psal 84.11 For the Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly 1 Tim. 4.8 For bodily exercise profiteth little but Godliness is profitable to all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2 Pet. 1.3 According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto Life and Godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called us to knowledge and vertue 6. Humbly depend on him for direction and guidance in all thy lawful waies and to be counsell'd in difficult cases and matters of great concernment to thee Prov. 3.5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding V. 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths Psal 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved 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 Prov. 16.9 A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Psal 32.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go I will guide thee with mine eie Psal 17.5 Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not Psal 73.24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterwards receive me to Glory Jam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him V. 6. But let him ask in Faith nothing wavering c. 7. Daily trust in him to be protected and preserved from dangers evils and mischiefes as far forth as he shall see it good for thee and that his holy Angels may have charge over thee and may perform all those good offices for thee which he hath appointed them to do for those who shall be heirs of Salvation Heb. 1.14 Are they not all ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation Psal 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in Heaven their Angels do alwaies behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven Psal 91.1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty V. 4. He shall cover thee with his Feathers and under his Wings shalt thou trust V. 10. There shall no evil befall thee neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling V. 11. For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy waies V. 12. They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone 8. Trust in him to be blessed and made successeful in all thy lawful endeavours For though man do his endeavour yet successe is only his to give Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Psal 62.5 My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord keep the City the watchman waketh but in vain V. 2. It is in vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrowes for so he giveth his beloved sleep 9. Look up to him and humbly depend on him to have all lawful enjoyments and possessions sanctified to thee that they may be sweetned to thee with a sense of his love and favour in Christ and then they will be blessings indeed Prov. 10.22 The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Psal 37.16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Prov. 15.16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 10. Humbly trust in him for the assistance of his holy Spirit to enable thee daily to grow in Grace and to persevere and hold out in the waies of truth and holinesse till thou attainest the end of thy Faith even the salvation of thy soul 2 Pet. 1.5 And besides this giving all diligence adde to your Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge V. 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience Godlinesse V. 7. And to Godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse charity 2 Pet. 3. ult But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen 1 Cor. 10.12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand Jude 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy V. 25. To the only wise God our Saviour be glory and majesty dominion and power now and ever Amen 1 Cor. 1.8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end that ye may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ V. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation Luke 22.32 But I have praied for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the authour and finisher of our Faith c. John 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 for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God 1 Pet. 5.7 Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you 1 Cor. 7.35 This I speak for your own profit that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction Psal 119.49 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Psal 25.10 All the paths of the â—ord are mercy and truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Psal 89.33 Neverthelesse my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail Psal 62.9 Surely men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lie to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter than vanity 2 Chron. 14.8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and speares out of Judah three hundred thousand and out of Benjamin that bare shields and drew bowes two hundred and fourscore thousand all these were mighty men of valour V. 11. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God and said Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power help us O Lord our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name we go against this multitude O Lord thou art our God let not man prevail against thee 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God! wilt thou not judge them for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us neither know we what to do but our eies are upon thee Rom. 4.19 And being not weak in Faith he considered not his own body now dead when he was about one hundred years old neither yet the deadness of Sarahs womb Psal 73.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works Isa 26.3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staied on thee because he trusteth in thee Isa 50.10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeieth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the Name of the Lord and stay upon his God Psal 1â— 14 The poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the helper of the Fatherlesse Psal 62.5 My soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him V. 6. He only is my rock and my salvation he is my defence I shall not be moved 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen unto the Glory of God by us Josh 21.45 There fail'd not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to passe Heb. 13.5 Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with such things as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Rom. 8.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose Mat. 6 30. Wherefore if God so cloath the grasse 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 Psal 34.9 O fear the Lord ye his Saints for there is no want to them that fear him V. 10. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing Psal 84.11 For the Lord is a Sun and a shield the Lord will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Isa 54.17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousnesse is of me saith the Lord. 2 Chron. 16.9 For the eies of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him John 11.40 Jesus saith unto her said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst see the Glory of God Sixthly Observe all the passages of his Providence towards thee whether of justice or mercy Take notice of every frown and every smile from God and that will much direct thee how to order thy services of praier and praise and teach thee submission to his holy will Many duties depend on the consideration and taking notice of Gods Providential dispensations How blame worthy then are they that do not care to observe or regard the works of God Certainly it is our duty to observe and acknowledge Gods soveraignty and dominion in the world and over all events here below not a sparrow not a hair fals to the ground without our Heavenly Father And where we cannot understand the waies of God let us with an humble reverence believe and admire the wisdome of them The deep and unsearcheable waies of God are not to be judged before the Tribunal of mans reason Labour therefore to get a firm belief of this great truth setled in thy soul that God governs all humane affairs and thou wilt find it of great efficacy against those damps and dejections of mind that in afflictions we are too prone unto and it will be a singular antidote against all murmurings and repinings How did this consideration quiet and compose the heart of old Eli 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord. And David on the same account saies I was dumb and opened not my mouth because thou didst it Psal 39.9 So when a sore and terrible affliction fell upon Aaron his two sons Nadab and Abihu being consumed by fire from Heaven all that the Scripture reports of his carriage and demeanour is this And Aaron held his peace Lev. 10.3 As therefore thou art dilgently to observe and mind Gods Providential dispensations towards thee so remember it is thy duty and ought to be the posture of thy Spirit that whatever he takes from thee or whatever he does unto thee perfectly and absolutely to submit to his will Remember there is no resisting the Almighty Shall a Grashopper contend with an Eagle Shall we that are wormes contend with our maker If we consider our sinfulnesse and guilt we have reason to admire he afflicts us no more If as the unjust steward in the Gospel for one hundred set down but fifty so if God for an hundred stripes due to us inflicts but fifty nay but ten have we not reason to be patient and to say He punisheth lesse than our iniquities deserve Labour therefore to be patient under his hand Murmuring and repining does but increase our guilt and provoke God to double our punishment The Parent takes up the child for whimpering and crying as well as for any other fault not patiently to let God have his will is the way to beg another
corrupt wills no guide but their own blind passions and humours But if thou wouldst order thy actions aright take the Word of God for thy Rule 3. Look to thy aim and end Thy main and ultimate end must be Gods Glory A Christians whole life should be a living unto God Gal. 2.19 All that is done be it an act of Piety Justice Temperance or Charity it should be done with this aim that God might be glorified thereby In all thy actions therefore whether natural civil or spiritual thou must still designe the Glory of God But of this we have spoken more under the fourth particular of this Chapter Jam. 2.12 So speak ye and so do as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty 1 Pet. 1.15 But as he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 2 Pet. 3.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and Godlinesse Mat. 7.22 Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works V. 23. And then will I professe unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. Tit. 2.14 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works 1 John 3.3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Eph. 5.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly not as fooles but as wise V. 16. Redeeming the time because the daies are evil Col. 4.5 Walk in wisdom towards them that are without redeeming the time 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the Grace of God we had our conversation in the world and more abundantly to you wards Isa 38.3 And Hezekiah said remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Acts 24.16 And herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a Conscience void of offence toward God and toward men Jam. 1. ult Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world Jam. 2. ult For as the body without the spirit is dead so Faith without workes is dead also Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Prov. 16.17 The high way of the upright is to depart from evil he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul Ezek. 36.27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them 1 Cor 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and of a good Conscience and of Faith unfeigned 2 Tim. 2.19 Neverthelesse the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal the Lord knoweth them that are his and let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Eph 4.1 I therefore the Prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called Luke 3.8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance 2 Cor. 5.10 For 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 Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God Phil. 2.15 That ye may be blamelesse and harmlesse the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as Lights in the world Phil. 4 8. Finally 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 and if there be any praise think on these things Having now dispatched those four things thou must watch over namely thy Thoughts thy Affections thy Words and thy Actions I come now in the second place to speak of those six things thou must especially watch against 1. Against those sins thou art most enclined to by temper and natural constitution The weakest part of the City must have the strongest guard Some Affections are predominant in one Age some in another There are youthful lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 as well as infirmities proper to old Age. 'T was a great Argument of Davids sincerity that he could truly say Psal 18 23. I was upright before thee and kept my self from mine iniquity Study therefore thy heart and consider what sins thou art most prone unto All sins fight against the soul but thy Master sin is the Goliah endeavour through the aids of Grace to slay that and the whole Army of the Philistines will be easily vanquished 2. Against the sins thou art most obnoxious to by reason of thy particular Calling Condition State and Course of life A man by reason of his calling or condition of life may have more frequent and stronger inducements to some sins than to others which he is therefore the more especially to keep watch against 2 King 5.18 In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant that when my Master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there and he leaneth on my hand and I bow my self in the house of Rimmon when I bow down my self in the house of Rimmon the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing 3. Against the sins of the times and places wherein thou livest We must be careful of being carried away with the evil of the times 'T is a description of wicked men Eph. 2.2 that they walked according to the course of this world i. e. according to the Age as the manner of the times went But of righteous Noah we have another kind of Character Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man upright in his generation Noah walked wtih God And so in 2 Chron. 17.3.4 We read that the Lord was with Jehosaphat because he walked in the first waies of his Father David and sought not unto Baalim but sought to the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandments and not after the doings of Israel And the Apostle exhorts the Philippians Chap. 2. v. 15. that
thanksgiving 1 Thes 5 6. Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Rev. 3.2 Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God V. 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent if thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee Rev. 16.15 Behold I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments Eph. 6 10. Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might V. 11. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil V. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places V. 13. 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 V. 14. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breast-plate of righteousnesse V. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace V. 16. Above all things taking the shield of Faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked V. 17. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God V. 18. Praying alwaies with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance c. CHAP. VI. CArefully make use of all good means God hath appointed for the begetting and increasing saving Knowledge and Grace in thee Under this head I shall treat of these five Particulars 1. The Observation of the Lords day 2. Hearing the Word 3. Singing Psalmes 4. Religious Conference 5. Retired holy Meditations 1. Concerning the Observation of the Lords day Be careful religiously to observe the Lords day the Christian Sabbath The Law of Nature dictates to us that there ought to be a due proportion of time set apart for Gods solemn Worship and Service God hath in his Word appointed one day in seaven to be kept holy to him which was the last day of the week from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ and the first day of the week ever since and so to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath and in the new Testâ—ment call'd the Lords day I shall here do two things 1. Shew the Reasons why we should observe this day 2. The Manner how we should observe it The first I shall shew in these Particulars following I. We find a Sabbath instituted by God himself from the beginning Gen. 2.2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Before we read of the fall of Adam we read of a seventh day blessed and sanctified by God himself God blessed the seventh day that is dispensed a peculiar favour towards it exalted that day above the rest which is intimated in the next words he sanctified it that is he separated and consecrated it to his own holy Worship and annexed a blessing to the observation of it Adam did not need a day of rest in innocency by reason of any bodily wearinesse that would have betided him upon his six daies labour in his calling of husbandry yet God saw it convenient to enjoyn him to set apart one day in seven to enjoy more especial communion with his Creator Now if Adam in innocency when he had no sin in him had need of a Sabbath to take him off from the works of his calling that he might converse with God more immediatly in holy duties and exercises How much more need have we in this corrupt estate who are so prone to sin and had need of all helps against it Well then we find in the very beginning that the Law concerning the Sabbath was given while the whole Nature of mankind was in our first Parents even before they fell They might have lived here on the earth without sin but they were not to live without a Sabbath After the fall when Enos was born of Seth the son of Adam it is said that then men began to call on the Name of the Lord Gen. 4. ult That is as I take it to call upon his Name in publick Assemblies And most like it is the day they observed was the same that Abel and Seth and Adam observed before them and the rest of the Patriarchs after them Namely that day of the week in which God himself rested having finished the great work of the worlds creation Even before the Law saith learned Mercer upon Gen. I doubt not but this day by Gods teaching was solemn and sacred to those primitive Fathers Neither did the observation thereof saith Peter Martyr loc com cap. 7. begin with the giving of the law in Sinai but it was celebrated before Of the same opinion is the judicious Rivet who answers all Arguments brought to the contrary in 2 Gen. Exerc. 13. And indeed there is no reason to think otherwise For besides that in Adams heart the Law of Nature was perfectly imprinted and to consecrate some time to the Worship of God was and is a member of that Law 'T is more than probable God did dictate and prescribe to Adam all circumstances of his Worship which by tradition past to his posterity and were in their several Families until Moses observed II. We find a Sabbath observed by the Patriarchs in Exod. 16. Before the giving of the Law we find there an expresse charge touching the observation of it and two such Miracles to ratifie and set a value upon it v. 22 27. as seldom we read of greater The Manna fell in great plenty on the six daies and on the seventh none 2. Being gathered on the sixth day it remained sweet to the seventh and not so on any other day Observed therefore it was at this time and surely in obedience to Gods command For we must not impute will-worship to these holy men I shall end this with the words of the learned Paraeus in Com. on Gen. God sanctified the Sabbath in the very prime creation and doubtless that sanctification was observed in the Patriarchal Families III. After all this we find the day again for the better observation of it proclaimed on Mount Sinai Exod. 20. and that in a very dreadful and glorious manner having a more solemn entrance into it and more solemn reasons to hedge it in and confirm it than any of the other Commandements God being to give his moral and
those under his charge do the like Every Governour of a Family should resolve with pious Joshuah Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Observe it True Religion and the power of Godliness hath there usually most flourished where the Lords day hath been most conscientiously observed And many direful judgments have befallen the violators and prophaners of it Gen. 2.2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had made V. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made Lev. 23.3 Six daies shall thy work be done but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest an holy convocation ye shall do no work therein it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings Nehem. 13.19 And it came to passe that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day Isa 58.13 If thou turn away thy feet from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own waies nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Luke 23.54 And that day was the preparation and the Sabbath drew on V. 56. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandement Exod. 23.12 Six daies shalt thou do thy work and on the seventh day thou shalt rest that thine Oxe and thine Asse may rest and the son of thine hand-maid and the stranger shall be refreshed Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eies from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them Ezek. 23.38 Moreover this they have done unme they have defiled my Sanctuary in the same day and have prophaned my Sabbaths Amos 8.4 Saying when will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth wheat c. Lam. 1.7 Jerusalem remembred in the daies of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the daies of old when her people fell into the hand of the enemy and none did help her the adversaries saw her and did mock at her Sabbaths Ezek. 20.20 Hallow my Sabbaths and they shall be a sign between me and you that ye may know that I am the Lord your God Isa 56.2 Blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing evil V. 4. For thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuches that keep my Sabbaths and chuse the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant V. 6. Also the sons of the stranger that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love the Name of the Lord to be his servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of my Covenant V. 7. Even them will I bring to my holy Mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt Offerings and their Sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine Altar for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people Mark 2.27 And he said unto them the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath V. 28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath Psal 92. Title A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Luke 4.16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read Acts 20.7 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 16.1 Now concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia even so do ye V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay up in store as God hath prospered him that there be no gatherings when I come Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day Psal 118.24 This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it 2. Hearing the Word We live in an age wherein through the rich mercy of God there is much good preaching but 't is a general complaint there is so little profiting We see not those gracious effects of the Word that were to be desired and wished And certainly one main reason of it is few take care to hear in a right manner as they ought to do That therefore thou maist so hear as to profit I shall shew thee 1. What thou art to do before thou hearest by way of preparation 2. What thou art to do in time of Hearing 3. What after thou hast Heard For the First Thou must prepare thy heart before thou comest to hear Rash entring on duties is seldom successeful If the ground be not prepared the seed is lost that is sown therein Plow up the fallow ground of your hearts saies the Prophet Jer. 4.3 and sow not among thorns In a fallow piece of ground you know thorns and briers weeds and thistles use to grow And such a thing is mans heart naturally which if let alone and no paines taken with it will quickly be overgrown with hurtful cares stinking lusts and distempered affections And therefore St. James adviseth Jam. 1.21 That before we go to hear the Word we should lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse i. e. all evil frames of heart And how hard a matter that is I appeal to the experience of every true and sincere Christian That holy man Gerson professes he many times spent some hours before he could get his heart in tune for solemn duties Gods children have entred comfortably on duties â—hen they have been serious and careful in their preparations for them To help thee therefore to prepare thy heart for the Word take these Directions 1. Lay aside as much as possibly thou canst all worldly thoughts cares and businesses that thy mind may be free for God and the impressions of his Word and holy Spirit On Saturday night shut up the gates of thy heart against the world as Nehemiah Chap. 13. v. 19.20 did the
seems to have regard principally to that which we call the common Worship of God i. e. the right carriage of our selves for his honour in all the common affairs of our life as well as in the exercises of Religion so far forth as we have any thing to do with him therein The sins against this Commandment are 1. Light irreverent using naming the name of God Deut. 28.58 Not fearing this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God 2. Customary swearing and in ordinary communication 3. Swearing falsly or perjury not swearing in truth judgment and righteousnesse Jer. 4.2 when lawfully called thereunto 4. Blaspheming 5. Cursing 6. Charms and Exorcisms 7. Prophane jesting on Scripture 8. Unlawful and unwarrantable vowes 9. Calling on God with our lips when our hearts are far from him The fourth Commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set time as he hath appointed in his Word expresly one whole day in seven to be a Sabbath unto the Lord. The sins against this Commandment are 1. Not preparing for it by taking care so to dispatch and dispose our worldly businesses that we may be more free and fit for the duties of the day 2. Not resting from worldly employments and servile works excepting necessary and charitable offices to men and beasts to our selves or others 3. Neglect of or a carelesse heartlesse performance of the private and publick duties that concern the sanctification of it 4. Being weary of the Sabbath not delighting in it nor the duties of it but wishing it were gone 3. Prophaning the day by Idlenesse vain thoughts worldly discourse making it a day of carnal rest of feasting jollity immoderate eating and drinking visiting a day of sports and recreations which alienate the mind more from God than the ordinary labours of our callings 6. Not taking care that those under our charge do sanctifie the day and keep it holy to the Lord but by our carelessenesse or connivance and ill example encouraging them in the prophanation of it So much of the duties commanded and sins forbidden in the first Table The second Table enjoyns the duties of Charity and Justice towards our Neighbour Against this we sin when we do not love our neighbours with such a true unfeigned love as our selves when we do not so deal with them as we desire they should deal with us The fifth Commandment requires the giving of that honour and performing those duties which belong to every one in their several places and which we mutually owe in our several relations as Inferiours Superiours Equals By Father and Mother are meant not only natural Parents but all Superiours in age and gifts and especially such as by Gods Ordinance are over us in place of authority whether in Family Church or Common-wealth The Sins of Inferiours against Superiours are 1. Not paying them due reverence in heart word and behaviour 2. The envying at contemning of or rebelling against their persons places lawful commands counsels or corrections 3 Not praying for them not imitating their Graces and vertues 4. Cursing mocking and all such scandalous and refractory carriage towards them The sins of Superiours are 1. Neglecting the duties of their respective places 2. Seeking themselves and their own Glory 3. Commanding things unlawful 4. Counselling encouraging or favouring that which is evil and discouraging that which is good 5. Undue correction 6. Dishonouring themselves and lessening their Authority either by too rigorous or too remisse a behaviour The sins of Equals are undervaluing the worth envying the gifts grieving at the advancement or prosperity or esteem one of another and usurping preheminence one over another The sixth Commandment requires all lawfull endeavours to preserve our own life and the life of others The sins against this Commandment are 1. Murder 2. Striking maiming or hurting the body of our neighbour 3. Sinful unadvised anger 4. Hatred envy desire of revenge 5. Railing reviling contumelious speeches quarrelling threatning scorning and provoking 6. Sowing strife and contention among neighbours 7. Drunkennesse surfetting uncleannesse or drawing any to those vices which are sins against the body and may bring diseases and death 8. Inordinate passions worldly grief immoderate carking and caring or whatever else tends to the destruction of the life of man The seventh Commandment requires chastity of body mind affections words and behaviour and the preservation of it in our selves and others It forbideth 1. Lodging or entertaining in our minds unclean thoughts and fancying unclean matters with delight 2. Unclean desires affections and lusts though they come not into act which is the adultery of the heart 3. Wanton looks 4. Not shutting our eares against unclean talk 5. Filthy discourse 6. All unclean acts and sinful pollutions 7. Idlenesse intemperance and pampering the body 8. Wanton immodest attiring 9. Light behaviour and society with light persons 10. Lascivious gestures revellings dancings plaies pictures amorous books songs or whatever else tends to foment the fleshly concupiscence which we ought to labour by all good means to quench and suppresse The eighth Commandment requires the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of our selves and others It forbids 1. Violent taking or withholding from our neighbour what justly belongs unto him 2. Fraudulent dealing false weights and measures over-reaching in contracts 3. Unfaithfulnesse in matters of trust 4. Covetousnesse and inordinate love of money 5. Discontent at our own estates distrust of Gods Providence 6. Not paying what we borrow and what is justly due from us if we be able 7. Exaction extortion oppression and not making restitution of ill gotten goods where there is ability The ninth Commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man and of our own and our neighbours good names especially in witnesse-bearing It forbids 1. Giving false evidence and suborning false witnesse and all forgery 2. Wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause outfacing and overbearing the truth 3. Credulity sinister suspitions rash belief a ready listning to tale-bearers receiving and countenancing ill reports that tend to the defaming of others misconstruing intentions words and actions and interpreting doubtful matters in the worst sense 4. Lying speaking untruth of any man a readinesse to speak ill and spread the faults of others when it does no way concern us nor is like to benefit others Slandering raising false rumours backbiting detracting talebearing whispering scoffing reviling rash harsh and partiall censuring and uncharitable judging 5. Speaking too highly or too meanly of our selves or others 6. Undue silence when we ought and may defend the innocency of our neighbour The tenth Commandment requires purity and integrity of thoughts desires and wishes contentment with our own estate and condition and the portion God hath given us and a right charitable well-wishing frame of spirit towards our neighbour and all that is his The sins against this Commandment are 1. Discontent with our own estate 2. Having and harbouring in our minds
KNOVVLEDGE PRACTICE Or a PLAIN DISCOURSE of the CHIEF THINGS necessary to be Known Believ'd Practised in order to Salvation Drawn up and Principally intended for the Use and Benefit of NORTH-CADBVRY in SOMERSETSHIRE By SAMUEL CRADOCK B. D. PASTOR there Sometime Fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in CAMBRIDGE August lib. 15. de Trin. cap ult Domine Deus quaecunque dixi de tuo agnoscant tuit Siqua de meo tu ignosce tui LONDON Printed by J. Hayes for John Rothwell at the Fountain in Goldsmiths-row in Cheapside 1659. John 17.3 This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid Jesus Christ Act. 20.20 21. I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but have shewed you and have taught you publickly and from house to house Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ Eccles 12.13 Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord. John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them 2 Pet. 1.12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you alwaies in remembrance of these things though ye know them and be established in the present truth John 5.39 Search the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 Which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation V. 16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousnesse TO THE REVEREND Doctor DILLINGHAM THE Master and his worthy Friends the Fellowes OF EMMANVEL-COLLEDGE in CAMBRIDGE Honoured Sirs IT may seem strange that I should adventure to dedicate so plain a Discourse calculated for this meridian to so Learned a Society But the Providence of God having by your free choice placed me in this Charge wherein I stand I take my self obliged to render an account to you above any others of this my undertaking I have found by sad experience in those few years I have here lived what extream need my people have of some such help as this to be ready at hand to admonish them of those things they are to Know Believe and Practise in order to their salvation As also to acquaint them with such Scriptures collected together under severall Heads as declare Gods mind and will concerning those particulars I could not therefore satisfie my self without endeavouring to minister to their necessities in this kind according as I was able especially being perswaded that a Book of this nature left in every family might through the blessing of God be a very proper means of their instruction for the present and might teach them also hereafter when my mouth will be stopp'd with dust This consideration among others engaged me in this work in which at first I did not intend to be so large but handling such variety of Subjects it hath swelled to the bulk you see You may perceive by the whole that the great Master-Builder hath appointed me to labour in the foundations And blessed yea for ever blessed be his Holy Name that he hath accounted me worthy to be employed any way about his spirituall building I shall not need to make any apology for the plainnesse of my work if it be but sure and well laid Such as it is I humbly present unto you as an evidence of the great desire I have according to my poor ability to feed the people committed to my care with knowledge and understanding and to guide them in the way wherein they should go As also to testifie to the world my great Obligations to that Religious and Eminent Society God Almighty blesse your Colledge with his choicest blessings and grant that Reall Piety and all Vseful Learning may flourish within your wals from Generation to Generation This is the earnest Prayer of Honoured Sirs Your much obliged Servant SA CRADOCK North-Cadbury May 5th 1659. TO THE INHABITANTS OF NORTH-CADBVRY in SOMERSETSHIRE My loving Neighbours and Friends OUR Blessed Saviour intending to give Peter a charge of his Lambs and Sheep enquires first concerning his sincere love to him John 21.15 16 17. Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him feed my Lambs V. 16. He saith to him again the second time Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he saith unto him feed my Sheep V. 17. He said unto him the third time Simon sonne of Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him feed my Sheep Which words plainly intimate thus much unto us that Ministers who are called to take charge of Christs Flock had need of much love unto him no service about them being approved if it flow not from this fountain but be undertaken for by-respects and there being no possibility without this love well to endure the many blasts and storms they will meet with from without in the discharge of their calling nor the much toil they will have even from the flocks themselves The truth is the paines and labour and sufferings of the Ministerial Function are so great where 't is conscientiously discharged and there are so many other waies wherein we might make our lives more comfortable as to worldly contentments that he must needs be a man of great ignorance and inexperience or intends not to be over-diligent and faithful in his Ministry that takes on him that sacred Calling meerly for temporal advantages But whoever lifts up his heart to think how much our dear Lord and Saviour hath done for him who endured the Crosse and despised the shame to redeem mankind and shall consider what glorious rewards he propounds to those who turn many to righteousnesse surely cannot grudge to be employed in the work of so gracious a Redeemer or to spend and be spent in his service This consideration hath drawn me often to think with my self by what means I might best promote your everlasting welfare And after many serious thoughts I have judged it exceeding expedient for your benefit to draw up a discourse of this nature and to give to every Family among you one of them And I blesse God that hath put it into my heart to set about it and hath enabled me to perform it 'T was your benefit and the winning of your souls to Christ that was the grand motive to this undertaking And if that great businesse through the blessing of God may be any way advanced thereby I shall never repent of my pains but shall very much rejoyce that the
judgment and the everlasting state both of the righteous and the wicked And methinks the serious consideration of these weighty matters should hugely affect us O did people oftener think and consider of those things they would live at another rate than usually they do All the businesses of this life would seem small and little even like childrens play in comparison of securing the soul to all eternity Thus My Loving Neighbours and Friends I have given you a short draught and scheme as it were of my whole Book What entertainment it will find with you I know not I can in some measure of sincerity say that an hearty desire of your eternal happiness first set me upon this work And now throw the assistance of God it is finished my prayers shall not be wanting that it may do you good yea much good If any of you will not afford leisure to read it nor time to consider of the things therein contained but after you have had it a little while shall throw it aside then I desire you seriously to think before hand what account you will be able to give to God of this your wilful neglect when you shall stand at his dreadful Tribunal For my part I have no other design upon any of you but that you may attain eternal life My great desire is that true Plety and Godlinesse that that Religion that saves souls may flourish among you My desire and endeavour is that where the saving work of Grace is begun upon any of your hearts it may be carried on daily and that you may encrease and abound more and more in the fruits of holinesse and righteousnesse to the praise and glory of God And where this blessed work of conversion is not yet begun my hearts desire and prayer to God is that it may be wrought if it be his holy will You see the plot and design I have upon you is of so innocent a nature that you have no reason in the world to go about to defeat me in it 'T is my duty to shew sinners the evil and danger of ignorance and ungodlinesse 'T is my duty to perswade intreat and be earnest with them to leave the tents of sin and Satan and to come in to Christ that by him they may have pardon and life And O that I could even compel them to come in Luke 14.23 Were it in my power not a soul among you should refuse or stand out But if notwithstanding all my prayers intreaties and endeavours many among you will still prefer a life of bruitish sensuality before the life that consists in righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost If Satan that cursed murderer who you know labours to ruine you soul and body for ever must still be preferr'd before that blessed Saviour who suffered and endur'd so much to redeem mankind and offers you salvation on so fair terms If neither the joyes of Heaven nor the torments of Hell can affect you but the pleasures and profits of this world must still ingrosse your minds and hearts remember what I say unto you it will one day cut you to the very soul to consider that you were shewed the way to eternal life and invited perswaded and intreated to walk in it but you would not O Neighbours think with your selves I beseech you that 't is but a short time and your souls must be either among Saints or Devils Does it not concern me therefore to be earnest with you and in all seriousnesse to call upon you to work out your salvation now while you have time For the Lords sake as ever you intend to see Gods face with comfort remember these few following directiōs 1. Take heed of a loose conversation of living to the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof If ye live after the flesh ye shall die Rom. 8.13 Now the works of the flesh are manifest Gal. 5.19 Which are these Adultery fornication uncleannesse lalciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murders drunkennesse and such like Of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Never comfort your selves with the hopes of Gods mercy in Christ if ye live in known and wilful sins The holy nature of God will never be reconciled to sinners while they go on in their sins And Christ came to destroy the works of the Devil He came not to save men by bringing them to Heaven in their ungodlinesse or to Glory in their sins but to destroy their sins that would keep them out of Glory If he save us his Grace must have dominion in our hearts Without holinesse no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12.14 2. Take heed of worldly-mindednesse I do not go about to perswade you to idlenesse or negligence in your Callings but to take you off from the eager and inordinate love of this world which duls and deads the heart to Heavenly things Beware lest ye be the thorny ground Look to it that the cares of this life do not choak the good seed that is weekly sown among you Some people give up themselves wholly to the world and thrust God out of their hearts and houses Take you heed of that Believe it that man that hath the main bent of his heart set upon pleasing God and whose great end is to be happy with him for ever will be careful only so to converse with this world and only so to mind things temporal as he may not lose things eternall He will first and chiefly seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousnesse He will look upon all outwartd things as accomodations only in his passage but at Heaven as his home and happinesse He will cordially desire and endeavour so to walk in his particular Calling as he may be faithful also in his general and may secure his soul to eternal life 3. Be careful to get a distinct and clear knowledge of the things that concern your salvation Ignorance will not excuse any man when 't is caused by his own negligence The main things that concern salvation you may know if you will give your minds to it God hath not left you in darknesse take heed of shutting your eyes 4. Take heed of neglecting or slighting the publick Ordinances and means of Grace To have no appetite to the Word to apprehend no great need of it and to find no profit by it is a mark of a dead and gracelesse heart 5. Take heed of formality and resting in a meer outward performance of religious services Learn to distinguish between Religion the end and Religion the means Religion the end is To attain a gracious frame of Spirit to enjoy God to fear him love him and have our natures conform'd unto him
the Church though not so primarily belonging to the very vitals and essentials of Faith and Holinesse Now because multitudes of ordinary Christians either through the exigence of their particular callings or through the narrownesse of their capacities want both time and strength to procure such plentiful measures of knowledge as many others whose leisure is greater and intellectuals stronger have attained unto Therefore the Lord hath from time to time stirred up zealous and faithful men to commit unto writing those primary and most necessary Doctrines of Faith and Duty which are common to great and smal and of principal use for ordering their conversations aright in every relation wherein they stand towards God and men Of this sort were Basil's Moralia Regulae Ambrose his Book De officiis Augustin's Enchiridion Bernards Tractats De interiore domo De Conscientia De ordine vitae De Dilectione Dei De modo bene vivendi and other the like writings of the Ancients Amongst our selves in this age several Books of this nature have been written Mr. Rogers his seven Treatises Mr. Paul Baine his Directions for a godly life Mr. John Downham his Guide to Godlinesse and Christian warfare The Practise of Piety Mr. Scuddars Christians daily walk Mr. Boltons Directions for comfortable walking with God with divers others of the same kind Of which some possibly may be of too great a price for every poor man to procure and too large for him to read quickly over However the same materials managed by the different gifts of several â—nstruments and pressed by new Arguments and Motives do bring to the Conscience a fuller evidence and awaken the heart unto a more serious consideration of the importance of them Amongst Books of this Nature I commend unto the Christian Reader this Manual which I have read with great satisfaction and delight It hath many things to render it acceptable to such judicious Palats as are best pleased with savoury and serious things 1. The variety and necessity of the matters therein handled Such as are self-knowledge and examination Repentance and self-judging living by Faith watchfulnesse over our hearts words and waies communion with God in spiritual duties faithfulnesse in our particular callings and relations c. 2. The pertinency of the Scriptures produced for confirmation of the Truths which they refer unto 3. The graciousnesse savourinesse and wholsomnesse of the Language becoming the weight and holinesse of the matter 4. The strength of the Arguments whereby the duties are pressed 5. The Brevity of the whole which rendreth it the fitter for memory meditation and practise In all which the Reverend Author hath shewed himselfe a workman which needeth not to be ashamed Some Learned men have chosen some one or other Book which they have resolved to read over once every year I could wish that serious Christians would single out some one or other choice Book fraught with variety of most wholsom and necessary Doctrine to read frequently over for daily quickning and preserving their hearts in an healthy and spirituall frame Of which sort I should commend 1. Summaries and Compendiums of sound Doctrine such as Mr. Crooks guide to true blessednesse and others of that sort 2. Summaries of the most weighty and necessary duties A mixture of both which we have in this little Book By this means with Gods blessing the hearts of men might be established in the love and obedience of the Truth and be preserved from being tossed about with every wind of Doctrine the great sin and shame of these daies Your Servant in the furtherance of the common salvation ED. REYNOLDS THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST PART of this TREATISE CHap 1. Concerning God Of the Nature of God Pag. 1. Of the Trinity Pag. 4 Of the Attributes of God Pag. 9 Of the Works of God Pag. 16 Of Creation ibid. Of good Angels Pag. 16 19 Of bad Angels Pag. 16 22 Of Providence Pag. 26 Chap. 2. Concerning Man Of the happy condition in which he was made Pag. 30 Of his Fall Pag. 33 Of the blessed way of his recovery by Christ Pag. 41 Chap. 3. Concerning the Mediator between God and man Wherein are handled these seven things 1. What manner of Person he was Pag. 44 God ibid. Man Pag. 46 2. How he became man Pag. 48 3. How he lived Pag. 51 4. How he died Pag. 54 5. What became of him after his death Pag. 62 He was buried Pag. 63 Rose again Pag. 64 Ascended into Heaven Pag. 68 Sits at Gods right hand Pag. 70 Is Head of the Church Pag. 73 Shall judge the quick and dead Pag. 74 6. What was the end and intent of his coming into the world Pag. 80 To procure pardon and reconciliation for lost sinners Pag. 81 And to sanctifie their natures Pag. 84 To this end he commanded the Gospel should be preached Pag. 87 Instituted Baptism and the Lords Supper Pag. 92 7. What they are effectually called unto and through the assistance of the Spirit enabled to perform who shall receive remission of sins by Christ Pag. 95 Scriptures concerning Effectual Calling Pag. 96 Believing the Gospel Pag. 100 Repentance Pag. 102 Faith in Christ Pag. 106 Holinesse and sinceâ—e obedience Pag. 111 Perseverance Pag. 117 The Members of Christ Pag. 119 The new Covenant Pag. 121 The state of the soul after death the resurrection of the body the day of judgment and life everlasting either in joy or misery Pag. 124 The Contents of the Second Part. Chap. 1. Of Consideration Pag. 131. Chap. 2. Of Repentance Pag. 135 Chap. 3. Of Faith in Christ Pag. 145 Chap. 4. Of the new nature and reformed life Pag. 151 Chap. 5. Of daily communion with God 1. Of awaking with God in the morning Pag. 160 2. Of secret prayer and thanksgiving Pag. 164 3. Of reading the holy Scriptures Pag. 182 4. Of living continually as in the view of God Pag. 190 5. Of living by Faith in ten particulars Pag. 196 Directions concerning it 6. Of diligent observing the Providences of God Pag. 219 7. Of daily watchfulness Pag. 229 Of Watching 1. Over our Thoughts Pag. 231 Remedies against sinful thoughts ibid. 2. Over our Affections Pag. 237 Directions how to govern them aright Pag. 238 3. Over our Words Pag. 244 The manifold sins of the tongue Pag. 246 Directions for the governing of the tongue Pag. 247 4. Over our Actions Pag. 260 Rules for the right ordering of them Pag. 263 Of Watching 1. Against the sins we are most enclined to by temper and natural constitution Pag. 267 2. Against the sins our particular callings and conditions of life most expose us to Pag. 268 3. Against the sins of the times and places wherein we live ibid. 4. Against temptations tending to sin Pag. 269 5. Against dishonouring God in the use of lawful things Pag. 270 6. Against Errour Pag. 271 Preservatives against Errour Pag. 272 Of watching for opportunities of doing and receiving good Pag. 288 Motives
who is a Spirit infinitely Glorious and being One in Nature is yet Three in Persons or Subsistences The Father The Son and The Holy Ghost These are Three and One after a wonderfull and mysterious manner The Father God The Son God And the Holy Ghost God and yet not three Gods but one God Secondly His Properties or Attributes God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Thirdly His Works which are principally two 1. Creation 2. Providence I. Creation Concerning which we must know 1. That God made the world and all the Creatures therein both visible and invisible by his Almighty power and Created them all very good 2. The chief of his Creatures are Angels Men. 3. All the Angels were at first made holy and happy Spirits Some continued in their obedience to God and are still Angels of Light Others fell from God through Pride or some other sin and are become Devils of Darknes Concerning the Creation of Man see farther in the next Chapter II. Providence As God Created the World and all the Creatures therein by his Almighty Power So he upholds directs disposes and governs them all by his Providence Nothing so Casual but he disposes of it No Agent so free as to be exempted from his Controule No affliction or Evil of Punishment but he hath a hand in it But as for sin he neither is nor possibly can be the Author or Approver of it CHAP. II. Concerning Man COncerning Man we are to know and understand these three things 1. The happy Condition in which he was made 2. His Fall 3. The way of his Recovery by Christ 1. The Holy and happy estate in which God created man at first Namely after his own Image in Knowledge Holinesse and Righteousnesse with Dominion over the Creatures here below writing his Law on mans heart requiring perfect obedience from him and giving him power to perform it promising the continuance of him in that happy estate if he obeyed and threatning him with death if he disobeyed which is called the Covenant of works 2. The miserable Condition into which man threw himself by sin Our first Parents by the temptation of Sathan disobeyed God broke his righteous Law and Commandement and thereby cast themselves out of the Favour of God became the Slaves of Satan and liable to the curse of the Law and brought a great depravation of soul and body upon themselves And such as our first Parents were such must their posterity needs be For who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean says Job Chap. 14.4 They having lost the Image of God themselves the holinesse and happinesse in which they were made could not conveigh it to their posterity So that the nature of man is now become corrupt prone to evil backward to good And this miserable condition is derived to us from Adam by our immediate Parents and as men come to be born in several Ages and generations so they actually participate of the sap that comes from the first root we being therefore all of us in so bad a Condition by nature and by custome and practice in sin having made our selves much worse and more abominable in the sight of God more guilty and liable to his wrath we are to know and consider that this woful state of sin and misery is by no means to be rested in But seeing we are fallen into so lamentable a condition we must speedily endeavour to get out of it And therefore let us remember that without Conversion there is no hope of Salvation Except a man be born again and made a new Creature he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God 3. The blessed way found out and appointed by God for mans Recovery out of this miserable state which is by the undertaking and mediation of his onely Son CHAP. III. Concerning the Mediator between God and Man COncerning the Mediator between God and man Christ Jesus We must know and understand these seaven things 1. What manner of person he was He was God and Man in the same person The Eternal Son of God The second Person in the Trinity took to himself our humane Nature a humane soul and body and united it after a wonderfull manner to his Godhead And so God and Man became one person 2. How he became man He was born about sixteen hundred and odd years ago of the Virgin Mary who was of the seed of Abraham and of the Family of David as was foretold in the Scriptures being Conceived in her by the Almighty power of the Holy Ghost without the help of man and without sin and was Called Jesus Christ 3. How he Lived He Lived about three and thirty years here upon Earth a most holy innocent sinless Life performing perfect obedience to the Law of God And as the great Prophet of God who was promised Deut. 18.15 Acts 3 22. he declared his Fathers will in his heavenly discourses and Sermons and wrought many miracles to confirm his doctrine and to prove himself the true Messias and the Eternal Son of God 4. How he Died Being betrayed by Judas forsaken by his Disciples scorned and rejected by the World through the malicious prosecution of the Jews and unjust sentence of Pilat he was Condemned to be Crucified and being tormented by his persecutors and having conflicted with the Terrors of Death and felt and born Gods wrath He endured the painful shameful and cursed death of the Crosse there as a Priest offering up himself a Sacrifice to God and a Ransome and Propitiation for our sins 5. What became of him after his Death He being buried rose again the third day and after Fourty days continuance on the earth in which time he frequently appeared to his Disciples and others teaching the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God he ascended into Heaven and is now in Glory with the Father where he intercedes for and presents the Merits of his Death and Sufferings in the behalf of all them that unfeignedly repent of their sins and do truly beleeve on him And being made King and Head of his Church and Lord of Angels and Men he shall come from Heaven again in great Glory to judge the quick and the dead at the Last day 6. What was the End and Intent of Christs Coming into the world The chief End and Intent of his Coming into the world was to save Lost and undone sinners to procure their pardon reconciliation with God by his Merits to Sanctifie their Natures by his Holy Spirit and to bring them to everlasting Life And to this end he appointed his Ministers to preach the Gospel unto the world and instituted the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper to signifie and keep in remembrance the great and inestimable benefits of his Death and Sufferings 7. What they are effectually Called unto and through the assistance of the
is a Lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ He is Anti-Christ that denieth the Father and the Son V. 23. Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also Rom. 9.5 Whose are the Fathers And of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever Amen Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God Acts 7.59 And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying Lord Jesus receive my Spirit V. 60. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their Charge 2 Thess 2.16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himselfe and God even our Father which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting Consolation and good hope through Grace V. 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work Concerning God the Holy Ghost Acts 5.3 But Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost V. 4. Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God John 14.16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever V. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you John 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me Gal. 4.6 And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Phil. 1.19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.9 But ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Eph. 4.30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed to the day of Redemption 1 Cor. 2.13 Which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdome teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual Acts 7.51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost As your Fathers did so do ye 2 Pet. 1.21 For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Rom 8.26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered V. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Acts 13.2 As they ministred to the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have Called them Titus 3.5 Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 3.6 Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 What know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own Rom. 5.5 And hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Mat. 12.31 Wherefore I say unto you all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men V. 32. And whosoever speaketh a word against the son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come Secondly His PROPERTIES or ATTRIBUTES God is Eternal or without any Beginning or End Omnipotent or Almighty Omnipresent or every where present Omniscient or All-knowing Infinitely Wise Holy Just Mercifull Eternall Psal 90.2 Before the Mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God Deut. 33.27 The Eternal God is my refuge and underneath are the everlasting armes Omnipotent Gen. 17.1 And when Abram was Ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect Isa 40.17 All Nations before him are as nothing and they are counted to him lesse than nothing and vanity Rev. 1.8 I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 19.6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thunderings saying Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Omnipresent 1 Kings 8.27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much lesse this house that I have builded Jer. 23.24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill Heaven and Earth saith the Lord Psal 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence V. 8. If I ascend up into Heaven thou art there If I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there V. 11. If I say surely the darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be Light about me V. 12. Yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darkness and the light are both alike to thee Omniscient 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind for the Lord searcheth all hearts understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts if thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever 1 King 8.39 Then hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place and forgive and do and give to every man according to his ways whose heart thou knowest for thou even thou knowest the hearts of all the children of men Heb. 4.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do Psal 139.2 Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thoughts afar off V. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my waies V. 4. For
unto the woman what is this that thou hast done And the woman said the Serpent beguiled me and I did eate V. 16. Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children and thy desire shal be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee V. 17. And unto Adam he said because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life V. 18. Thornes also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee and thou shalt eate the hearb of the field V. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread till thou return unto the ground for out of it wast thou taken for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return 1 Tim. 2.13 For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety 2 Cor. 11.3 For I feare least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Gen. 5.3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty yeares and begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image and called his name Seth. Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evill continually Gen. 8.21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for mans sake for the imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done Rom. 5.12 Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned V. 18. Therefore as by the offence of one Judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life V. 19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Job 15.14 What is man that he should be clean and he which is borne of a woman that he should be righteous V. 16. How much more abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water Job 14.4 Who can bring a Clean thing out of an unclean Not one Rom. 3.9 What then are we better then they no in no wise for we have before proved both Jewes and Gentiles that they are all under sin V. 10. As it is written there is none righteous no not one V. 23. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive Acts 26.18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me 2 Tim. 2.26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devill who are taken Captive by him at his will Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace V. 7. Because the carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be 1 Cor. 2.14 But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Rom. 7.14 For we know that the Law is spirituall but I am carnall sold under sin V. 18. For I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I find not V. 23. But I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of sin which is in my members V. 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and Desperately wicked who can know it Jam. 4.5 Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vaine The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins V. 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the Aire the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience V. 3. Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Gal. 5.17 For 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. 4.18 Having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart 1 John 1.8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us V. 10. If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us Jam. 3.2 For in many things we offend all if any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Eccles 7.20 For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not Hos 14.1 O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Eph. 4.22 That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts V. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind V. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is Created in righteousnesse and true holinesse 1 Cor. 15.49 And as we have born the Image of the earthly we shall also bear the Image of the heavenly John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdome of God V. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him
the Scripture might be fulfilled John 1.1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God V. 2. The same was in the beginning with God V. 3. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made 1 Cor. 15.47 The first man is of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord from Heaven Col. 2.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Christ Man Heb. 2.14 Forasmuch then 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 V. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham V. 17. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people Isa 9.6 For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Councellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace Phil. 2.6 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equall with God V. 7. But made himself of no reputation and to k upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men V. 8. And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Crosse 1 John 4.3 And every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of Anti-Christ whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world 2 John 7. For many deceivers are entred into the world who confess not that Jesus is come in the flesh this is a deceiver and an Anti-Christ John 5.27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Sonne of man John 1.14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his Glory the Glory as of the Onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and Man the man Christ Jesus Mat. 16.13 When Jesus came into the Coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his Disciples saying whom do men say that I the Son of man am V. 14. And they said Some say that thou art John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremias or one of the Prophets V. 16. He saith unto them but whom say ye that I am V. 15. And Simon Peter answered and said thou art Christ the Son of the living God V. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven 2. How he became man He was born about sixteen hundred and odd years ago of the Virgin Mary who was of the seed of Abraham and of the Family of David as was foretold in the Scriptures being Conceived in her by the Almighty power of the Holy Ghost without the help of man and without sin and was Called Jesus Christ Gal. 4.4 But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law V. 5. To redeem them that were under the Law that we might receive the adoption of Sons Mat. 1.18 Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost V. 20. But while he thought on these things behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying Joseph thou son of David Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost V. 22. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet saying V. 23. Behold a Virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son and they shall Call his Name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Luke 1.26 And in the sixth moneth the Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a City of Galilee named Nazareth V. 27. To a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the Virgins name was Mary V. 28. And the Angel came in unto her and said Hail thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women V. 30. And the Angel said unto her fear not Mary for thou hast found favour with God V. 31. And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son and shalt Call his name Jesus V. 32. He shall be great and be Called the Son of the Highest and the Lord shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David V. 33. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever and of his Kingdome there shall be no end V. 34. Then said Mary unto the Angel how shall this be seeing I know not a man V. 35. And the Angel answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luke 2.7 And she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling Clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inne V. 8. And there was in the same Countrey shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night V. 9. And Lo the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the Glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid V. 10. And the Angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people V. 11. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. V. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you ye shall find the babe wrapped in swadling Clothes lying in a manger V. 13. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying V. 14. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will towards men V. 15. And it came to pass as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven the shepherds said one to another Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to passe which the Lord hath made known unto us V. 16. And they came with hast and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger Rom. 1.3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made of
the seed of David according to the flesh V. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead Col. 2.3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge John 3.34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oile of gladnesse above thy fellows Col. 1.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell Acts 10.38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed with the Devil for God was with him 3. How he Lived He Lived about three and thirty years here upon Earth a most holy innocent sinless Life performing perfect obedience to the Law of God And as the great Prophet of God who was promised Deut. 18.15 Acts 3.22 he declared his Fathers will in his heavenly discourses and Sermons and wrought many miracles to confirm his doctrine and to prove himself the true Messias and the Eternal Son of God 1 Pet. 2.22 Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth Heb. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens Heb. 4.15 For 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 Psal 40.7 Then said I Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me V. 8. I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy Law is within my heart Gal. 4.4 But when the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman made under the Law Mat. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy brethren like unto mee unto him ye shall hearken Acts 3.22 For Moses truly said unto the Fathers a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you John 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you John 2.11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his Glory and his Disciples beleeved on him V. 23. Now when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover in the Feast day many beleeved in his name when they saw the miracles which he did John 6.14 Then those men when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did said this is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world John 10.41 And many resorted unto him and said John did no miracle but all things that John spake of this man were true John 15.24 If I had not done among them the works which no other man did they had not had sin but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father John 5.36 But I have greater witness than that of John for the works that the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witnesse of me that the Father hath sent me John 10.25 Jesus answered them I told you and ye beleeved not the works that I do in my Fathers name they bear witnesse of me V. 37. If I do not the works of my Father beleeve me not V. 38. But if I do though ye beleeve not me beleeve the works that ye may know and beleeve that the Father is in me and I in him John 14.11 Beleeve me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else beleeve me for the very works sake Acts 2.22 Ye men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you as ye your selves also know 4. How he Died Being betrayed by Judas forsaken by his Disciples scorned and rejected by the World through the malicious prosecution of the Jews and unjust sentence of Pilat he was Condemned to be Crucified and being tormented by his persecutors and having conflicted with the Terrors of Death and felt and born Gods wrath He endured the painful shameful and cursed death of the Crosse there as a Priest offering up himself a Sacrifice to God and a Ransome and Propitiation for our sins Matth. 26.3 Then assemhled together the Chief Priests and the Scribes and the Elders of the People unto the Palace of the High Priest who was Called Caiaphas V. 4. And Consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him V. 47. And while he yet spake Lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief Priests and Elders of the people V. 48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a signe saying whomsoever I shall kisse that same is he hold him fast V. 49. And forthwith he came to Jesus and said Hail Master and kissed him V. 50. And Jesus said unto him Friend wherefore art thou come then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him V. 56. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled then all the Disciples forsook him and fled V. 57. And they that laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiphas the high Priest where the Scribes and the Elders were assembled V 59. Now the Chief Priests and Elders and all the Councill sought false witnesse against Jesus to put him to death V. 60. But found none yea though many false witnesses came yet found they none at the last came two false witnesses V. 61. And said this fellow said I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to build it in three days Mark 14.61 But he held his peace and answered nothing again the High Priest asked him and said unto him art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed V. 62. And Jesus said I am and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven V. 63. Then the High Priest rent his Clothes and saith what need we any further witnesses V. 64. Ye have heard the blasphemy what think ye and they all condemned him to be guilty of death Mat. 26.67 Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb stain from the foundation of the world Acts 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood 1 John 2.2 And he is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 5. What became of him after his Death He being buried rose again the third day and after Fourty days continuance on the earth in which time he frequently appeared to his Disciples and others teaching the things appertaining to the Kingdome of God he ascended into Heaven and is now in Glory with the Father where he intercedes for and presents the Merits of his Death and Sufferings in the behalf of all them that unfeignedly repent of their sins and do truly beleeve on him And being made King and Head of his Church and Lord of Angels and Men he shall come from Heaven again in great Glory to judge the quick and the dead at the Last day Buried Mark 15.42 And now when the even was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath V. 43. Joseph of Arimathea Mat. 27.57 A rich man Mark 15.43 An honourable Counsellour Luke 23.50 A good man and a just V. 51. The same had not consented to the Counsel and deed of them who also himself waited for the Kingdome of God John 19.38 Being a Disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews Mark 15.43 Came and went in boldly unto Pilat and craved the body of Jesus V. 44. And Pilat marvailed if he were already dead and calling unto him the Centurion he asked him whether he had been any while dead V. 45. And when he knew it of the Centurion he gave the body to Joseph V. 46. And he brought fine linnen and took him down John 19.39 And there came also Nicodemus which at the first came to Jesus by night and brought a mixture of myrrhe and aloes about an hundred pound weight V. 40. Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in linnen Clothes with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury V. 41. And in the place where he was crucified there was a Garden and in the Garden a new Sepulchre wherein was never man yet laid Mark 15.46 which was hewen out of a Rock John 19.42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews preparation day for the Sepulchre was nigh at hand Mat. 27.60 And rolled a great stone to the door of the Sepulchre and departed Mat. 12.40 For as Jonas was three daies and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three daies and three nights in the heart of the earth 1 Cor. 15.4 And that he was buried and that he rose again according to the Scriptures Rose again Mat. 17.22 And while they abode in Galilee Jesus said unto them the Son of man shall be betraied into the hands of men V. 23. And they shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised again and they were exceeding sorry John 2.19 Jesus answered and said unto them destroy this Temple and in three daies I will raise it up Rev. 1.5 And unto Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood V. 18. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification Acts. 2.24 Whom God hath raised up having loosed the paines of death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it Luke 24.39 Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my self handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have V. 40. And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his hands and his feet V. 46. And said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day Rom. 6.9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him Acts 13.32 And we declare unto you glad tidings how that the promise which was made unto the Fathers V. 33. God hath fulfilled the same unto their Children in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalme thou art my son this day have I begotten thee V. 35. Wherefore he saith also in another Psalme thou shalt not suffer thine holy One to see corruptition V. 36. For David after he had served his owne generation by the will of God fell on sleep and was laid unto his Fathers and saw Corruption V. 37. But he whom God raised again saw no Corruption Acts 4.33 And with great power gave the Apostles witnesse of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great Grace was upon them all 1 Pet. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead Acts 26.22 Having therefore obtained help of God I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come V. 33. That Christ should come and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew Light unto the people and to the Gentiles John 20.24 But Thomas one of the Twelve called Didimus was not with them when Jesus came V. 25. The other Disciples therefore said unto him we have seen the Lord but he said unto them except I shall see in his hands the print of the Nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not beleeve V. 26. And after eight daies again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said peace be unto you V. 27. Then saith he unto Thomas Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithlesse but beleeving V. 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and My God Acts 1.3 To his Apostles also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them fourty daies and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God Rom. 1.4 And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holinesse by the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.4 And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures V. 5. And that he was seen of
of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and beliefe of the Truth Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit V. 9. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Rom. 6.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection V. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin V. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace Eph. 5.26 That he might Sanctifie and Cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Gal 5.24 And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Eph. 3.16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his Glory to be strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man V. 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love V. 18. May be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height V. 19. And to know the Love of Christ which passeth Knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fulnesse of God 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the fear of God Heb. 12.14 Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see the Lord 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace Sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 5 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh V. 17. For 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 V. 25. If we live in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul 2 Pet. 3.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be Glory both now and for ever Amen 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure He commanded his Disciples to preach the Gospel and instituted the two Sacraments viz. Baptism and the lords-Lords-Supper Mark 16.15 And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature V. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned 1 Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God John 4.1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more Disciples than John V. 2. Though Jesus himself baptized not but his Disciples Mat. 28.19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost V. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and Lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world Amen Mark 1.4 John did baptize in the wildernesse and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Rom. 6.3 Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death V. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Mat. 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire John 1.33 And I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 Not by works of righteousnesse which we have done but according to his mercy he saveth us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth now save us not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 10.1 Moreover brethren I would not that ye should be ignorant how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud and all passed through the Sea V. 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea V. 3. And did all eat the same spirituall meat V. 4. And did all drink the same spirituall drink for they drank of that spirituall Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ Rom. 4.11 And he received the signe of Circumcision a seal of the righteousnesse of the Faith which he had yet being uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all them that believe though they be not Circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also V. 12. And the Father of Circumcision to them who are not of the Circumcision onely but also walk in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham which he had being yet uncircumcised Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are Circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ V. 12. Buried with him in baptisme wherein also ye are
risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Gal. 3.27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls Acts 16.33 And he took them the same hour of the night and wash d their stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway Acts 8.37 And Philip said if thou beleevest with all thine heart thou maiest and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God V 38. And he Commanded the Chariot to stand still and they went down both into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him Gal. 3 14. That the blessing of Abrahâ—m might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through Faith Acts 2 38. Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost V. 39 For the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall Call 1 Cor. 7.14 For the unbeleeving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbeleeving wife is sanctâ—fied by the huâ—band else were your Children unclean but now are they holy Mark 10.13 And they brougâ—t young Children to him that he should touch them and his Disciples rebuked those that brought them V. 14. But when Jesus saw it he was muâ—h displeased and said unto them suffer the lit le Chiâ—dren to come to me and f rbid them not for of such is the â—ingdome of God V. 15. Verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the Kingdome of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein V. 16. And he took them up in his armes and put his hands upon them and blessed them Luke 7.30 But the Phaâ—isees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not baptized of him Acts 8.13 Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondred beholding the miracles and signs which were done John 3 5. Jesus answered verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Eph. 5.25 His bands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it V 26. That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word Lords Supper Mat. 26.26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to his Disciples and said take eat this is my body V. 27. And he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it V. 28. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins V. 29. But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine untill that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdome Mark 14.22 And as they did eat Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to them and said take eat this is my body V. 23. And he took the Cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them and they drank all of it V. 24. And he said unto them this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many Luke 22.19 And he took bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying this is my body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me V. 20. Likewise also the Cup after Supper saying this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you 1 Cor. 11.20 When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper V. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread V. 24. And when he had given thankes he brake it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me V. 25. After the same manner also he took the Cup when he had supped saying this cup is the new Testament in my blood this do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me V. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come V. 27. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ the bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ V. 17. For we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread V. 21. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table and of the table of devils 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit Acts 20.17 And upon the first day of the week when the Disciples came together to break bread Paul preached unto them ready to depart on the morrow and continued his speech untill midnight 1 Cor. 5.6 Your glorying is not good know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump V. 7. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump as ye are unleavened for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soules V. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers 2 Thes 3.6 Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us V. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed V. 15. Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother 7. What they are effectually Called unto and through the assistance of the Spirit of God enabled to perform that shall receive Remission of sins by Christ They that shall be made partakers of that great and inestimable benefit the Remission of all their sins by Christ are effectually called and enabled by the assistance of his Grace unfeignedly to believe the
his benefits Psal 47.7 For God is the King of all the Earth Sing ye praises with understanding Col. 4.2 Continue in praier and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Psal 116.12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me V. 13. I will take the Cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. Psal 115.1 Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy mercy and for thy Truths sake Psal 106.21 They forgat God their Saviour which had done great things in Egypt Psal 66.16 Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psal 105.2 Sing unto him Sing Psalmes unto him talk ye of all his wondrous works Psal 22.10 I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my mothers belly Luke 17.17 And Jesus answered and said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine V. 18. There are not found that returned to give Glory to God save this stranger Psal 69.30 I will praise the Name of God with a Song and will magnifie him with Thanksgiving V. 31. This also shall please the Lord better than an Oxe or Bullock that hath hornes and hoofes Psal 50.13 Will I eat the flesh of Buls or drink the blood of Goats V. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Eph. 5.20 Giving thanks alwaies for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing V. 18. In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you Eph. 1.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give praise Psal 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord I will sing praises to my God while I have my being Isa 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Ass his masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not Consider Psal 147.19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob his statutes and his Judgments unto Israel V. 20 He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they have not known them Praise ye the Lord. Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy Servant for with my staffe I passed over this Jordan and now am become two bands 1 Chron. 29.14 But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort for all things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee 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 cloathed with white robes and palmes in their hands V. 10. And Cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb. V. 11. And all the Angels stood round about the Throne and about the Elders and four beasts and fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God V. 12. Saying Amen Blessing and Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 19.1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven saying Alleluja Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power unto the Lord our God V. 3. And again they said Alleluja V. 4. And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sate on the Throne saying Amen Alleluja V. 5. And a voice came out of the Throne saying Praise our God all ye his Servants and ye that fear him both small and great Thirdly Be frequent and diligent in reading the holy Scriptures When thou readest the Commands the Promises the Threatnings therein contained think God speaks to thee in them And God must needs be true he cannot lie nor deceive Now there is sufficient evidence that the Scripture is his Word and written by the especial inspiration of his holy Spirit and that will appear if we consider these three things 1. The internal Light of its own perfection The holinesse and heavenlinesse of the matter the Majesty of the Stile the Consent of all the Parts the Scope of the whole which is to give all Glory to God and the full discovery therein made of the only way of mans salvation and reconciliation with God Which is a suitable way both to Gods Glory and mans Necessity 2. The many providential attestations and confirmations of the Truth of the things therein contained by real and undeniable miracles such as could not be wrought but by the power of God And surely if the Scripture had been only the device of men God would some way or other have disowned it ere this as a notorious abuse put upon him and not so constantly have preserved it in spight of the Devil and all his instruments who have laboured to banish it out of the world and to weaken the authority of it 3. The great and wonderful efficacy of the doctrine therein delivered to enlighten convince and humble sinners to drive them out of themselves and to draw them to Christ to conform them to the Image of God to subdue them to his will to strengthen them against temptations and corruptions to build them up in Grace to establish their hearts in holinesse and lastly to comfort them through Faith unto salvation As therefore the holy Ghost by special inspiration was the author of the Scripture and by extraordinary endowments was the author of the miracles wrought for its confirmation so also he is the author of the Faith of him that truly and unfeignedly believes it Yet he doth not cause us to believe by Enthusiasm without any reason or evidence but he enlightens the understanding removing the blindnesse and depravednesse thereof and shews us the credibility of the thing and the evidence of the truth that is to be believed and so perswades the heart to a belief thereof Indeed an historical belief of the Scripture which is true in its kind we may come to by rational perswasions without the special Grace or illumination of the Spirit of God but not that deep and firm belief which shall carry over the will effectually to God in Christ and captivate the whole man to the obedience of the Truth And when such a Faith and belief of the Scripture as this attended with sanctification is wrought in the soul the effect is a good argument to confirm the truth and excellency of such a Faith and belief 1. Labour therefore to work thy heart to a high and reverent esteem of the Word when thou goest to read it We should read it
nor from the rebukes and scourgings of an awakened Conscience which are no small punishments 3. Let it be thy care to suppresse and crush bad thoughts at the very first rising Do not at all consent or comply with them but abhor and abandon them presently and cry out unto the Lord for help against them Take heed of representing or acting sin in thy thoughts If thou wouldst keep thy soul pure beware of speculative sinfulness 4. Be carefull to have a stock of good materials alwaies in readinesse for thy thoughts to work upon Have some good subjects ready to present and offer to thy mind to entertain thy thoughts with A good man hath a good treasure in his heart out of which he bringeth forth good things Mat. 12.35 Let thy mind therefore have alwaies some good heads to meditate on As the evil and danger of sin the necessity of conversion thy absolute need of Christ the vanity of the creature the shortnesse and uncertainty of this life the everlastingness of thy future state c. 5. Avoid Idlenesse and allow not thy self in melancholy If thou dost not employ thy mind about that which is good it will busie it self about evil The mind of man if it be not well emploied will be ranging and roving all over the world and will be intent on things it should not The spirit of man is active and restlesse 'T is like a mill it will be either grinding of that which is put into it or else working upon it self wearing and wearying it self in foolish fruitless and unconcerning thoughts Idlenesse is a grand occasion of impure and impertinent thoughts 'T is the devils hour in which he takes advantage to fill and defile mans mind with wicked suggestions and melancholy disposeth the mind to strange absurd incoherent unreasonable imaginations to many sad perplexing afflicting thoughts Man disquieteth himself in vain saith the Psalmist Psal 39.6 framing many imaginary evils and grievances to himself which God hath not really laid upon him Let it be thy care therefore to keep thy mind well employed either in the duties of Piety or the works of thy particular calling When thou dost relax thy mind at any time from being intent on serious things for thy necessary refreshment be careful to allow thy self onely in innocent cheerfulnesse When the loines of thy mind are ungirt and thy thoughts let loose to run at random and have not Conscience set over them as a Governour thou art in great danger of sinning against God 6. Do not cumber thy self with too much worldly businesse that will overcharge thy mind with solicitude and force too many earthly thoughts upon it it will fill thee with distracting disturbing thoughts and torturing cares When Martha was careful and troubled about many things she neglected the one thing necessary Luke 10.41 42. 7. Leâ—rn to spiritualize earthly objâ—cts and to raise holy meditations from them This will be an excellent and advantageous employment for thy mind This was our blessed Saviours practise and canst thou follow a better example 8. Learn to divert and put by bad thoughts by introducing and bringing in some good thoughts that are contrary to them into their roomes Thus overcome evil thoughts by good thoughts If self magnifying thoughts come in bring in self abasing If distrustful put thy soul upon thinking of Gods Faithfulness If revengefull think how much thou needest forgivenesse from God Thus let one wedge drive out another 9. Beg of God to new mould thy mind and to put it into such an holy and heavenly frame that it may be fit to produce good thoughts as a good tree doth bring forth good fruit Beg that Grace may be the Law of thy mind Rom. 7.23 Pray earnestly act Faith and put thy trust in the power and promise of God for the casting down of all sinful imaginations in thy soul and subduing thy thoughts to the obedience of Christ 10. If thou wouldst keep bad thoughts out of thy mind be ready to entertain the gracious motions of the blessed Spirit of God Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me O do not grieve this holy Spirit do not repell so blessed a guest who knocks at thy heart in many a sermon and by many a providence and sues for entrance that he may make thee happy What! shall the devil with his wicked suggestions be let in and shall the King of glory with his train of Graces be shut out O let it not be 11. Remember that if thou willingly entertainest and lodgest in thy mind wicked thoughts now and diest in an impenitent and unconverted state thy thoughts will be thy executioners and tormenters in Hell As light as thou makest of evil thoughts now they will then prey upon thy soul as so many vultures and be a never-dying worm in thy Conscience And the more to quicken thee to practise these directions Consider This will be a great argument of thy sincerity and of the truth of Grace in thee if thou art conscientiously watchfull over thy thoughts Many restraints lie upon the outward man to over-awe it and keep it from evil but the power of Grace does then much appear when it commands the inward man and laies restraints upon our thinking faculty that we dare not allow our selves in any sinful thoughts Psal 119.97 Oh how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day V. 113. I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Mat. 15.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness blasphemies V. 20. These are the things that defile a man Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Psal 63.5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips V. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches Psal 94.11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man that they are vanity Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Psal 49.11 Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue for ever their dwelling places to all generations they call their lands after their own names Psal 119.59 I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Prov. 16.3 Commit thy workes unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life Secondly Watch over thy
sing Davids Psalms 3. Answer the Objections made against it 4. Give some Rules and Directions how Christians may practise this Ordinance to the Glory of God and to their own great benefit and spiritual advantage For the First Singing of Psalms was once an Ordinance of God in the Church and a part of Divine Worship and never repealed under the Gospel Psal 95.1 2. O come let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to him with Psalms And 't is sorted with other duties that are of a perpetual obligation as Prayer Hearing the Word c. v. 6. 7. 'T was practised by those eminent Saints of God Moses Deborah Barak David the sweet Singer of Israel Solomon and others whose Songs and Hymnes we have recorded in the old Testament 2. The Prophesies in Scripture that foretel the state of the Church under the Gospel do speak of Psalms to be used as a part of Gods Worship and Service then Compare Rom. 15.9 with Psal 18.49 Rom. 15.9 And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy as it is written for this cause I will confesse to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy Name Psal 18.49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the Heathen and sing praises unto thy Name 3. We have several exhortations to it in the New Testament Eph. 5.18 And be not drunk with wine wherein is excesse but be filled with the Spirit V. 19. Speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymnes and Spiritual Songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdome teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spirituall Songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Jam. 5.13 Is any among you afflicted let him pray is any merry let him sing Psalms 'T is spoken generally Is any merry let him sing c. not that it is unlawful to sing at other times for then it might be argued as well that 't is not lawful to pray but when sad but as prayer is the best remedie for sorrowes so thanksgiving or singing to Gods praise is the proper duty in the time of Mercies and Comforts In Misery the proper duty is prayer In Prosperity giving thanks 4. We have Directions and Rules given us how to sing in a right manner Namely with Grace in our hearts unto the Lord Which directions were needlesse if singing of Psalms were not a duty under the Gospel 5. We find it practised by our blessed Saviour and his Disciples Mat. 26.30 And when they had sung an Hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives And by Paul and Silas Acts 16.25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them 6. In the primitive times it was frequently practised insomuch that the Heathens took notice of this use and custome among the Christians Pliny writing to Trajan the Emperor tels him of the Christians morning Hymns or Psalms to Christ and God as an usual practise in their solemn Worship I come now to the Second thing That 't is lawful and warrantable to sing Davids Psalms 1. Because no composures can be equal to those of Gods Spirit If any Psalms therefore are to be sung then surely such as are given by Divine inspiration as Davids were Those excellent composures being part of the Word of God and full of Heavenly matter tending to instruction and consolation and being consigned to the use of the Church ought to be preferr'd before the composures of private persons ordinarily gifted and not infallibly assisted Observe that 2 Chron. 29.30 Moreover Hezekiah the King and the Princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David and Asaph the Seer and they sang praises with gladness As for that extraordinary gift of composing Psalms by the sudden suggestion of the holy Ghost which was given to some of the members of the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 14. it is now ceased with other extraordinary gifts as that of Tongues and Healing c. 2. The Apostle in those two places before mentioned Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 by using those three words Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs does seem plainly to point at Davids Psalms for they answer exactly to those three Hebrew words Shirim Tehillim Mizmorim whereby Davids Psalms were called divided and distinguished 3. 'T was the custome of the Jewes to sing some of Davids Psalms in the night of the Passeover as Scalliger Buxtorfius and others skill'd in their customes inform us Those Psalmes were those six from the 113th to the 119th which were call'd the great Hallelujah And 't is more than probable Christ with his Disciples followed their custome herein because in other things he observed their usual Passeover Rites I come now to the Third thing to answer the Objections usually made against this duty Obj. 1. Some scruple to sing in a mixt Congregation where wicked men joyn that praise not God in a right manner Ans To render praises is a duty all men owe to God David cals on all creatures to sing praises to God Psal 145. And all the Kingdomes of the Earth are bidden to praise the Lord Psal 68.32 Though therefore wicked men do not praise God as they should yet they sin more in not doing it at all then in not doing it in a right manner 2. In Exod. 15. We find Moses and the Children of Israel sang praises to God together And yet surely there were some wicked persons among them Paul in the ship Acts 27.35 gave thanks to God before Infidels and professed Heathens If the presence of wicked men should hinder the acceptation of those that are sincere the people of God were in a most sad condition being never certain but some secret Hypocrite may be in the most pick'd Assembly But the best is God will accept us according to our integrity not our company God will hear the bleating of one sheep though in the midst of a thousand wolves If the wicked take the Name of God in vain sin lies at their own doors We warn them against it If they do not their duties as they should must we therefore neglect ours Obj. 2. Why should we sing Psalms Cannot we read them for our instruction Ans Singing will affect and raise and quicken the heart to praise God more than reading The voice is a great matter to quicken our hearts both in prayer and singing The people of God formerly did not think it enough to say what God had done for them but they did sing it that their hearts might be more affected warmed raised enlivened and lifted up in the praises of God Obj. 3. Some are offended we sing on daies of fasting and humiliation Ans All Psalms are not fit for all occasions There ought to
hereafter Can they be content to train them up for the Devil to be for ever tormented with him in Hell And yet so they must be if they live and die in ignorance impenitencie and unbelief Where are their bowels III. In respect of Church and Common-wealth A Family is the first society and a seminary of the rest 'T is made up of single persons in several relations And Towns Congregations Cities Countries all are made up of several Families Particular Families are as it were the hives out of which swarms go forth into the world To make Families good and religious is the way to make good Magistrates good Husbands good Wives good Masters good Servants good Neighbours Families are the Nurseries of Church and State Now if the Canker take the young trees in the Nursery they are never like to be good when they are transplanted The want of Family reformation is the cause of most of the miscarriages in Church and Common-wealth If there be Ignorance prophanenesse errour ungodlinesse in particular Families we shall soon hear of it in Church and State As therefore Elisha heal'd the naughty waters by casting in salt at the spring head 2 King 2.21 So let us labour to season our Families with true Piety if we would keep disorders out of Church and State 'T is true when all care is used there may be some bad in the best Families In the first Family there was a Cain in the best Family a Judas in Noahs Family the only Family then on earth a Cham yet ordinarily God is pleased so to bless the care and endeavours of religious Governours that their Families are Schools of Piety and Vertue and both Church and Common-wealth reap the fruit of it IV. In respect of our selves 1. The benefit is great that will come to us thereby There is no such way to bring children and servants to be obedient and faithful as to infuse principles of true Piety into them and to plant the fear of God in their hearts Then they will do their duties for Conscience sake And besides such persons in a Family are a great blessing to it Potiphar's Family was blessed for Josephs Labans for Jacobs sake 2. 'T is a great honour to a Family to be truly religious Let prophane scoffers talk what they will Is it not a greater honour for any Christian to have his house to be a Bethel a house of God than a Beth-aven an house of iniquity Religious Families are dignified by the Apostle with the title of Churches Rom. 16.3 Greet Priscilla Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus v. 5. Likewise greet the Church that is in their house Col. 4.15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and Nymphas and the Church which is in his house 3. It will bring much comfort to us both here and hereafter What a joy must it needs be to any serious Christian to see his Family through the blessing of God on his care and labour to thrive in Piety and to walk in the way leading to Heaven And with how much comfort may be leave them when he comes to die having this testimony in his own bosome that he hath been faithfull this way We know Eli was charged with and severely punished for the sins of his Children 1 Sam. 2.29 Because he had been too remisse in reproving of them I shall conclude this with the words of Mr. Rogers a learned Divine of our own Believe it saies he Every Governour of a Family is as deeply charged with the souls of those under his Government as any Pastour is with the souls of that Flock which is committed to his charge Nor will the publick Ministry become fruitful if that which is sown in publick be not watered in private by conference examination and good instruction What can we more impute the unprofitablenesse of our Ministry to than to Masters and Parents neglect of their duties You call our Congregations our charge and so they are so are your Families also your charge Thus he So much of the first Particular the Reasons why Governours of Families should be careful that those under their Government do faithfully serve the Lord. I come to the second to give some Directions for the right performance of this Duty I. Let Governours of Families begin at themselves labouring to reform what is amisse in themselves that so they may be exemplary in wisdom and Holiness to those under their care Let them humbly beg of God those Graces and abilities that may fit them for the discharging of their places Inferiours mind more what superiours do than what they say He that walks disorderly himself cannot expect to reform his children or servants or keep his Family in order II. Let them be careful about the constitution of their Families Let them look well to it that those they admit into their house as neer as they can guesse be hopeful and tractable as to Religion Psal 101. v 6. Mine eies shall be upon the faithful that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me III. Let them set up the practise of true Religion in good earnest in their Families Let them worship God together morning and evening offering up the spiritual Sacrifice of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving For let them consider 1. Is it not the duty of all sincere Christians to make Religion the main businesse of their lives Should not Governours of Families endeavour to make their Families Godly to win the souls of those under their Government to Christ And can this be done by them who neglect to pray in their Families 2. Does not the very light of Nature seem to suggest we should begin and end the day with God 3. Was not Family Worship the first Worship performed to God in the world for a long time 4. Did not God declare his pleasure under the Law by the evening and morning Sacrifice And does not the Apostle in Analogie to this continual and daily sacrifice bid us pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 Col. 4.2 5. Is not the neglect of prayer made a branch of Atheism Psal 14.4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread and call not upon the Lord. And are not Heathens described to be Families that call not on Gods Name Jer. 10. ult Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not on thy Name c. 6. If Job offered Sacrifice and prayed for his Children when they were absent Is it not more then probable he did the like with them when present seeing 't is said thus did Job continually Job 1.5 7. Did not Queen Esther and her maids pray and fast together Esth 4.16 Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three daies night nor day I also and my maidens will fast likewise 8. Did not Christ pray with
in all the crosses and troubles that the Providence of God shall cast upon them 3. She must be a chearer and comforter of him in health and sicknesse What shall we think then of those women who in stead of being a comfort are a continual disquiet to their husbands Like Eve in stead of being helpers prove tempters and hinderers and drawers off from God and Godlinesse Certainly there is no outward condition in this world so comfortable as the married when things are carried between man and wife with pietie wisdom and love and none more miserable where things are otherwise Gen. 2.18 And the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone I will make him an help meet for him V. 21. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in stead thereof V. 22. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man made be a woman brought her unto the man V. 23. And Adam said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man V. 24. Therefore shall a man leave his Father and his Mother and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth V. 19 Let her be as the loving Hind and pleasant Roe let her breasts satisfie thee at all times and be thou ravished alwaies with her love Eph. 5.25 Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it V. 28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies he that loveth his wife loveth himself V. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church V. 31. For this cause shall a man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joyned unto his wife and they two shall be one flesh V. 33. Neverthelesse let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence her husband Col. 3.19 Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them 1 Pet. 3.7 Likewise ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honour unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel and as being heirs together of the Grace of life that your prayers be not hindred Eph. 5.22 Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. V. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body V. 24. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing V. 33. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself the wife see that she reverence her husband Col. 3.18 Wives submit your selves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord. 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the Word they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives V. 2. While they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear V. 3. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of apparel V. 4. But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great price V. 5. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands V. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any amazement 1 Tim. 2.11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection V. 12. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence V. 13. For Adam was first formed then Eve V. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression V. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child-bearing if she continue in Faith and Charity and Holinesse with sobriety Tit. 2 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober to love their husbands to love their Children V. 5. To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Prov. 19.14 House and riches are the inheritance of Fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord. Prov. 12.4 A vertuous woman is a Crown to her husband but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones Prov. 18.22 Whose findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Prov. 19.13 A foolish son is the calamity of his Father and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping Prov. 27.15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentions woman are alike Prov. 21.9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top than with a brawling woman in a wide house V. 19. It is better to dwell in the wildernesse than with a contentious and an angry woman Prov. 31.10 Who can find a vertuous woman for her price is far above Rubies V. 11. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her so that he shall have no need of spoil V. 12. She will do him good and not evil all the daies of her life V. 13. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands V. 14. She is like the Merchants ships she bringeth her food from afar V. 15. She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her houshold and a portion to her maidens V. 16. She considereth a field and buyeth it with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard V. 17. She girdeth her loins with strength and strengtheneth her arms V. 18. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good her candle goeth not out by night V. 19. She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaffe V. 20. She stretched out her hand to the poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy V. 21. She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold for all her houshold are clothed with Scarlet V. 22. She maketh her self coverings of tapestry her clothing is silk and purple V. 23. Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the Elders of the Land V. 24. She maketh fine linnen and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the Merchant V. 25. Strength and honour are her cloathing and she shall rejoyce in time to come V. 26. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse V. 27. She looketh well to the waies of her houshold and eateth not the
bread of Idlenesse V. 28. Her children arise up and call her blessed her husband also and he praiseth her V. 29. Many daughters have done vertuously but thou excellest them all V. 30. Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised V. 31. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates CHAP. XII Of the Duties of Masters and Servants First Of the Duties of Masters MAsters ought to be careful of these things I. To instruct their Servants to inform them in the right knowledge of God and the things that concern their salvation To Catechize them to pray with them and for them to bring them to the publick Ordinances and cause them to observe the Lords Day To exhort them to private prayer and reading the Word and to be diligent and conscientious in their places c. Gen. 18.19 I know that my servant Abraham will teach his Family But of this I have spoken more in the Tenth Chapter of the Duties of Governours of Families II. To give them a good example A wife Carriage and a pious honest unblameable Conversation does much tend to the bettering of servants If the Master be a swearer a company keeper a prophaner of the Lords day have no prayers in his Family be a slighter and neglecter of Gods Worship and Service 't is madnesse for such an one to expect a sober Family III. To command them onely just and lawful things things equal as the Apostle speaks Col. 4.1 and to require of them only such service as they may well do with moderate care and industry and that which other servants of like condition with them usually perform A Master must not overtask his Servants nor oppress them with labours so that they shall have no time to bestow on their souls which is a ruling over them with rigour as 't is called Lev. 25.43 IV. To allow them wholsom fitting and sufficient food convenient rest and moderate refreshment that they may do their work with the more cheerfulnesse V. In time of sicknesse to take care that things necessary for their recovery be not wanting to them such as fitting Diet Physick and Attendance A Master at such a time is in place of a Parent Mat. 8.5 6 The Centurion went to Christ to heal his servant VI. To encourage them in well-doing by using them with that kindnesse and bounty which their Piety faithfulnesse and diligence deserves VII To admonish and reprove them when they do amisse and that not only in faults against themselves wherein few Masters are backward but also and more especially in faults against God whereat every Master ought to be more troubled than at those which tend only to his own losse or inconvenience The dishonour of God or the hazard of the meanest mans soul being infinitely more worthy our disquiet than any thing of the other kind can be Therefore when Masters or Mistresses are presently on fire for any little negligence and fault of a servant towards themselves and yet can without trouble see them run into great sins and miscarriages against God 't is a sign they consider their own concernments too much and Gods Honour and their servants souls too little But as 't is the duty of Masters to admonish and reprove their servants in case of fault so they must also look to do it in a due manner i. e. so as may be most likely to do good not in passion and rage which can never work the servant to any thing but the despising and hating of them Their rebukes must be just sparing moderate Eph 6 9. Forbearing threatning or moderating threatning as some render the Word They must reprove in such a sober and grave manner as may convince them of their faults and may plainly shew them that 't is love and good will to their souls and a desire of their amendment that makes them thus reprove them But if no warnings nor reproofs will restrain them from ill courses neither will they be corrected by words as 't is Prov. 29.19 then in due circumstances moderate correction of another sort may not be inexpedient VIII To listen to their just grievances and redresse them Job 31.13 If I did despise the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant when they contended with me v. 14. What then shall I do when God riseth up and when he visiteth what shall I answer him IX And Lastly to pay them their wages and justly to perform to them those conditions on which they were hired And that Masters may be the more careful and conscientious in these things let them consider 1. They have a Master in Heaven who is Omniscient righteous and just to whom they must give an account of the usage of their meanest servant on earth Eph. 6.9 And ye Masters do the same things to your servants farbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of persons with him Do the same things i. e. That which is good and right and shall be rewarded of the Lord. For Service give due recompense for good will in serving return good will by encouraging if Servants be faithful be ye good and gentle if they obey you in the Lord do ye command them in the Lord i. e. Only things just equal and pleasing to God 2. They and their Servants are of the same mould all of the earth as to the body and their Servants have reasonable souls capable of Grace here and Glory hereafter as well as they They should not therefore use them like slaves They should not carry themselves imperiously harshly churlishly and Nabal-like unto them 3. Those Servants that are truly gracious are Gods freemen and so fellow servants with their converted Masters in respect of God They are members of the same mystical body whereof Christ is the Head and may have a greater measure of Grace here and so a higher place in Heaven a greater degree of Glory hereafter than their Masters 4. And Lastly let them consider how easily God could have set them in their servants place and their servants in theirs And therefore let them give them such usage as themselves would think fit and reasonable had God disposed them into the condition of Servants Psal 101.2 I will behave my self wisely in a perfect way I will walk within my house with a perfect heart V. 6. Mine eies shall be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me V. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Col. 4.1 Masters give unto your servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven Eph. 6 9. And ye Masters do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of
I confesse 't is a very sad thing to see any that seemed Lights in the Firmament to prove Meteors and falling stars But though some fall yet through Grace many stand and continue faithful to the end There was a Judas among our Saviours own Disciples and yet it followes not from thence that any of the rest were such The fals of some professors should teach us not to be high-minded but continually jealous over our own hearts We should be exceeding humble and cease from trusting in our selves and put all our trust in God to be kept by his power through Faith unto Salvation The Devil aimes all he can to foil professors If he can but foil one of them he blurs their profession makes others shie of it and so advances his own Kingdom mightily Therefore the fall of some should not discourage us but make us more humble and watchful and cause us often to examine our hearts whether Gods Glory be our aim and end and whether we do in humility and integrity walk before him Obj. 8. God is merciful We see Mercy was afforded to the thief on the Crosse a little before his death Sol. 1. 'T is an example without a promise Here is an example of a late repentance but where have we a promise that God will give repentance at last to such as go on in a long course of sin 'T is not examples but the promises of God that is a foundation for Faith to build upon 2. This was an extraordinary time What if our Saviour on this extraordinary occasion was pleased by this rare Miracle of Mercy to honour his Crosse will this afford any ground of hope that he will do so ordinarily and especially to wilfull sinners 3. We do not find that this thief had ever known Christ before or had ever neglected or refused any offers of Grace made unto him Thou hast little reason to plead this who sittest daily under the calls and intreaties of the Gospel This case will minister little comfort to thee if thou goest on in thy sins I come now in the third place to give some Directions to such as are willing to be advised in this matter of so much concernment to them I Let them take heed of those things that usually undo young people Such are 1. Carelesnesse want of consideration and laying to heart the things that most concern them going on in a dissolute negligence without ever asking themselves what their state and condition to God ward is 2 An eager following youthful lusts and sensual pleasures Therefore the Apostle exhorts 2 Tim. 2.22 To flee youthful lusts 1 Pet. 2.11 As pilgrims and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul Let them consider that the feet of those lusts that have carried away and buried millions of other young persons in perdition stand ready to carry them the same way if preventing Grace come not in to deliver them 3. Pride of wit parts strength beauty c. 4. A headinesse and wilful obstinacy against good counsel Carnal reason flesh and blood are usually young mens counsellors and very bad Ones 5. Slighting religion and whatever is serious as too strict for them 6. Putting the day of death far from them and flattering themselves with hopes of long life 7. Ill company that great snare of the Devil 8. Comparing themselves with such as are worse than themselves thinking that an excuse for them that others are worse II. Let them be especially careful to be well grounded in the Principles of Christian Religion If there be a good foundation of saving knowledge laid in their minds betimes so that they throughly understand how the Religion they professe is grounded on the Scriptures they will not be like children easily tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine as too many now a daies are And for this purpose I refer them to the first Part of this Treatise containing the Principles of right Knowledges III. Let them labour to understand betimes wherein the chief happinesse of man consists namely in the pardon of his sins a gracious frame of heart and communion with God Every one naturally desires to be happy but people commonly mistake the way to it Therefore it highly concerns all young persons to be early acquainted and deeply possessed how they may steer a right course both to be happy here and hereafter IV. Let them acquaint themselves well with the Scriptures be much in secret prayer and self-reflexion keep close to the publick Ordinances and listen to the awakenings of Gods Spirit they shall meet with in them V. Let them take heed of sinning against Conscience When Conscience saies do it not let them listen to that voice let them labour to keep their Consciences tender VI. Let them decline such occasions and temptations as they foresee are like to ensnare them and especially ill company which hath ruin'd Thousands VII Let them acquaint themselves with serious sober minded and experienced Christians From such they may reap exceeding great benefit VIII And Lastly Let them take heed of Spiritual pride which hath thrown down many young professors from a great hopefulnesse Let them remember the Devil will attempt if it be possible to foil them by drawing them either into some erroneous Doctrines or some scandalous practices Let them therefore be sure to set the Glory of God before their eyes and endeavour to walk humbly with God suspecting themselves and leaning on his goodnesse to preserve them from falling Eccles 12.1 Remember now thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth while the evil daies come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Prov. 22.6 Train up a child in the way which he should goe and when he is old he will not depart from it Psal 119.9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Tit. 2 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee also youthful lusts but follow righteousness faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart 1 Kings 18.12 But I Obadiah thy servant fear the Lord from my youth 2 Chron. 34.3 For Josiah in the eighth year of his reign while he was yet young began to seek after the God of David his Father c. 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation 2 John v. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy children walking in the Truth as we have received a Commandment from the Father Psal 32.9 Be ye not as the Horse or as the Mule which have no understanding whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle lest they come neer unto thee Jer. 22.21 I spake unto thee in thy prosperity but thou saidst I will not
his appearing CHAP. XIX Directions to the Healthy and to the Sick LET such as enjoy health of body the right use of their understandings entirenesse of limbs and senses humbly blesse God for so great a mercy Few people value their health enough 'T is an ancient saying He that is in health is rich and knowes it not Want would teach us the worth of mercies Let such therefore often call to mind and consider how many distracted diseased maimed deformed people there are in the world and 't is Gods peculiar mercy that they are not such or worse Let this consideration make them very humble and thankful Let them be often lifting up their hearts to the Lord and saying with holy David What shall I render to the Lord for all his Benefits towards me Psal 116.12 Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits Psal 103.1 2. Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give glory Psal 115.1 And let their main care be in time of health to work out their Salvation to secure their state in Grace and their title to Glory and to lay a good foundation against the time of sickness 'T is sad exceeding sad when a dying person is then to be instructed in those Graces he should now exercise He that prepares not for death before his last sickness as one saies well is like him that begins to study Philosophy when he is going to dispute publickly in the faculty In health while a man has a right and steady use of his reason before the Acts of his understanding are disturbed with pain or his mind clouded or his heart annoyed with fear and amazement he should apply himself to learn this great Art and Skill how to die well Let the following Directions therefore that are given to the sick be carefully minded and regarded by them that are in health To turn to God in health to seek reconciliation with him in and through Christ to devote and consecrate our hearts then to him to walk in a steady course of sincere obedience before him and to do all this out of judgment and choice out of love to God and a desire to please him before death seem to make any neer approach unto us will be a huge argument of sincerity and a great foundation of comfort when sickness attaches us Whereas they that are negligent and carelesse of these things must needs run themselves upon such desperate hazards and such great incertainties that a wise and considering man would not for all the world be in their condition Directions to the Sick There is hardly any thing wherein a Minister is at a greater losse than what to say to sick persons the condition of most being such that they need a serious awakening and rouzing out of the deep sleep of carnal security and to be made sensible of the great danger they are in as to their everlasting state But while we do this the sick party and those that attend are apt to think we go about to drive them to despair not understanding the true nature thereof For to despair I mean utterly and finally is this when a man shall conclude that his sins are greater than cna be forgiven that God is irreconcileable to him and therefore 't is in vain to set himself to repent or humble his soul or turn from his sins but seeing his condition is desperate resolves to go on in his former course to enjoy the pleasures of sin here while he may have them seeing when this life is done nothing remaines for him but certain damnation Such a man as this may be truly said to despair But for any person to be so awakened as to see himself for the present in a lost condition and under the wrath and curse of God by reason of his sins to see his own utter inability to help himself to be enquiring and earnestly sollicitous what he must do to be saved to have his heart full of doubts and fears and troubles concerning the state of his soul this is such a despair as is usually the forerunner of a saving conversion And therefore for people that have spent their time in sin and vanity in ignorance and worldlinesse in living to themselves and to the flesh and have never felt any work of Grace upon their hearts nor ever have been truly humbled under an apprehension of the evil and danger of their sins to expect a Minister should speak comfort to them is to desire to be sooth'd and flattered to their own destruction The Directions therefore I think needful for sick persons are these following I. Let them consider that no sicknesse disease or distemper of body comes by chance but by the wise and orderly guidance of the hand of God that 't is his messenger and sent by him unto them And therefore let them hear the rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 II. Let them set themselves before the Tribunal of Christ before whom they may for ought they know shortly appear And let them consider he is a Judge that cannot be deceived nor will be mocked That he is just as well as merciful righteous as well as gracious and all their sins original and actual of omission of commission against the Law and against the Gospel against mercies against judgments against promises and vowes of better obedience all their sinfull thoughts and sinfull affections and motions of their hearts all their sinful words and sinfull actions with the several aggravations of all these are known unto him yea their secretest sins are set in the light of his countenance III. Let them seriously examine themselves and put these six questions home to their Consciences First What abiding sense they have had upon their hearts in the whole course of their lives of their own vilenesse and wretchednesse by nature the odiousnesse and defilement of their sins their just desert of wrath their natural impotency and inability to good their pronenesse to evil Whether they have ever been deeply sensible of the darknesse of their minds stubbornnesse of their wils deceitfulnesse of their hearts inordinatenesse of their affections sinfulnesse of their practise If they have what effects has the consideration of these things produced what sorrow what fear has been stirred in them What course has it put them upon for remedy What industry have they used what pains have they taken to be delivered out of this miserable estate Let their Consciences have liberty to speak freely to them and to tell them the truth whether ever they have been affected in any considerable degree with these things or no. Secondly Whether they ever rightly apprehended what are the conditions of the new Covenant the Covenant of Grace Most will grant Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are necessary to salvation but then their apprehensions and conceptions are different
disposition in every man We are very prone to harden when the storm is over 3. Let them renew often upon their souls the remembrance of the sharpness and bitterness of their afflictions Let them call to mind their sad discourses and reasonings their fears and tremblings the mis-givings of heart and sad apprehensions they had in time of their distresse Let them remember their aptnesse to impatience and to hard thoughts of God Let them recall how happy they thought those that were free from their troubles and paines These remembrances kept alive will make them humble and thankful 4. Let them remember their vowes and promises made to God in time of their sicknesse and distresse Let them labour to be such out of sicknesse as they promised God themselves and possibly others they would be when they were in it The Emperor Sigismond demanded of King Alphonsus what was the directest course to be happy Perform saies he when thou art well what thou promisedst when thou wert sick 'T is very remarkable what is recorded of the mariners Jonah 1.15 16. And the Sea ceased from her raging then the men feared the Lord exceedingly and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord and made vowes Then when the Sea ceased here is the wonder Had they made vowes in the midst of the tempest the matter had not been great but now when the tempest was over then to make vowes is worthy of our observation and worthy of our imitation One vow made and kept after the tempest is worth a thousand promised in the same 5. Let them pity and pray for those that are under affliction Lord teach them as well as correct them that they may be blessed let them come forth out of affliction as Gold purified seven times let them lose nothing in that furnace but their drosse let them be purified from their sins and purged from their iniquities strengthen their Faith and Patience and in thy due time if it be for thy Glory and their good vouchsafe them a gracious deliverance Psal 119.67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy Word V. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Isa 27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Zach. 13. ult And I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tried they shall call on my Name and I will hear them I will say it is my people and they shall say the Lord is my God Heb. 12.11 Now no chastning for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous neverthelesse afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse unto them which are exercised thereby Prov. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small Rev. 13.10 Here is the patience and the Faith of the Saints Heb. 6.12 Be ye followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises Psal 9.10 And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Lam. 3.26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. V. 27. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth Psal 146.5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose hope is in the Lord his God Psal 56.3 What time I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. 2 Cor. 5.6 Therefore we are alwaies confident knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. V. 7. For we walk by Faith not by sight John 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Luke 21.19 In your patience possesse ye your souls Job 13.15 Though he slay me yet will I trust in him 2 Chron. 16.12 And Asa in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign was diseased in his feet untill his disease was exceeding great yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians Psal 41.4 I said Lord be merciful unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Psal 107.17 Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities are afflicted Neh. 9.33 Howbeit thou art just in all that thou hast brought upon us for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly Psal 119.75 I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulnesse hast afflicted me Micah 7.9 I will hear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him Hab. 3.2 O Lord in wrath remember mercy Job 34.31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born chastisement I will not offend thee any more Psa 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more Heb. 12.6 For whom the Lord loveth he chastneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth Prov. 3.12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth even as a Father the son in whom he delighteth Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore and repent 2 Cor. 4.16 For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day V. 18. While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Psal 41.1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble V. 3. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of his languishing thou wilt make all his bed in his sicknesse 2 Chron. 32.24 In those daies Hezekiah was sick to the death and prayed unto the Lord and he spake unto him and he gave him a sign V. 25. But Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him for his heart was lifted up therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem Jonah 2.6 Thou hast brought up my life from corruption O Lord my God V. 7. When my soul fainted within me I remembred the Lord and my prayer came in unto thee into thine holy Temple V. 9. I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving I will pay that that I have vowed salvation is of the Lord. Psal 50.14 Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most High Psal 66.13 I will go into thy House with burnt offerings I will pay thee my vows V. 14. Which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble Psal 56.12 Thy vows are upon me O God I will render praises unto
thee Psal 116.13 What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me V. 13. I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. V. 14. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people CHAP. XX. Of the Four last things Death Judgement Hell Heaven I. Of Death ONE of the main businesses of our life should be to prepare for death In order hereunto observe these directions First Meditate often and seriously on thy death and dissolution even in time of thy health Joseph of Arimathea made his Sepulchre in his garden that in the midst of his delights he might think of death Often retire and take thy self alone and walk in the valley of the shadow of death Do not start from the thoughts of it Do by thy soul when thou findest it shy of such meditations as we do by our horses that are given to boggle and start when we ride them when they fly back and start at a thing in the way we do not yield to their fear and go back that will make them worse another time but we ride them up close to that they are afraid of and so in time break them of that ill quality So do thou bring up thy heart and inure it to look upon death and to handle that Serpent Consider death is making its approaches to thee and may be upon thee before thou art aware O therefore prepare for it that when it comes and attaches thee thou maist be found in such a gracious state with such a frame of Spirit and walking in such a holy way of life that thou maist bid it welcom and be able to say with blessed Paul I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ The frequent meditation of death will be an excellent means 1. To quicken thy soul to a deep humiliation and repentance for thy past sins 2. To represse the eager and insatiable desire of riches and the love of this world 3. To antidote thee against sin for time to come 4. To make thee improve time and carefully to work out thy salvation Think often of death and it will keep worse company from thee Secondly Labour to take away from thy own death the power and strength thereof The Philistims seeing Sampson so exceeding strong laboured to know wherein his power and strength principally consisted and when they understood it to lie in the hair of his head they ceased not till it was cut Consider therefore wherein the strength of death lies The Spirit of God teacheth us that in 1 Cor. 15.56 The sting of death is sin The power and force and sting of every mans particular death lies in his own sins Death cannot hurt us but by the force of our own sins A man may safely handle a Serpent when the sting is out If death be disarmed of its sting and poyson it cannot hurt us It concerns us therefore to use effectual means that our sins may be removed and pardoned and to labour before we die to abolish the strength of death Now the way to do this is 1. To humble our souls unfeignedly before the Lord and to repent of all our sins 2. To fly to Christ and to close with him for pardon and Grace 3. In the strength of his Grace to amend our lives and to walk in the waies of holinesse The sting of death is taken away by Christ Jesus as to all real converts and true believers so that it cannot hurt them nay will be an advantage to them It will be only a dark and short passage to a glorious Palace to the blisseful mansions above So that they may triumph as Paul did O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory Thanks be to God who giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. But now to all impenitent unpardoned sinners how deadly how incurable is the sting of death Death is death with a witnesse and Hell into the bargain to them that die in their sins No sight in the world more dreadful than to see a dying sinner with his Conscience newly awakened conflicting with death and sin and the Law and Gods Curse together O how sad how intollerably sad is it to see a man that hath gone on in a long carelesse obstinate course of sinning now at the point of death to have his eies first opened and to see himself on the brink of the dreadful pit unavoidably falling into the lake of fire and brimstone To such a person death brings its poysoned arrow and executes him with its venemous sting Thirdly Give all diligence in this life to lay hold on eternal life 1 Tim. 6.12 That is to enter into the first degree of life eternal Eternal life may be look'd upon under three considerations As Initial as Partial as Perfectional 1. The eternal life initial is that which is obtained in this life and is an earnest of that which is to follow 'T is the life of Grace Of this our Saviour spake Joh. 5.24 Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life And Joh. 3.36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life 2. The Partial life eternal is that which belongeth though to the nobler yet but to a part of man namely to the Soul The happinesse which the Souls of Saints enjoy between the time of their death and the last day is the partial life eternal 3. The Perfectional life eternal is that which shall be conferred on the Saints immediatly after the blessed reunion of their souls and bodies and that gracious sentence pronounc'd come ye blessed of my Father receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world So that we see we must in this world enter into the first degree of eternal life if ever we intend to be partakers of the other two We must be raised from the death of sin to the life of grace We must as the Apostle speaks Col. 1.13 Be delivered from the power of darknesse and translated into the Kingdom of our blessed Saviour We must with Paul be able to say Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me i. e. By his Spirit guides and governs my will affections and all the powers both of my soul and body Whoever would be saved when he is dead must begin to be saved while he is living We must begin to live that blessed and eternal life before we die Fourthly Inure thy self to die to this world and the enjoyments of it every day more and more Paul tels us he died daily 1 Cor. 15.31 If we would learn to do so it would not be so hard to die when we come to it in good earnest Death is not so strong to him whose natural strength has been wasted with a long pining sicknesse as to
usually they love not strictness nor the power of Godlinesse thinking it more ado than needs And by frequent familiar converse with such thou wilt be in danger to content thy self with a little goodnesse and seem some body in thy own eies having no better patterns before thee as he that hath but half an eie is a King among them that are blind Whereas among wise holy spiritual improv'd Christians thou wilt still have matter of imitation and provocation to aspire to a greater perfection in goodnesse He that walks with the wise shall be wiser saith Solomon but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13.20 VI. Consider our company will be part of our happinesse in Heaven Communion of Saints here is the lower Heaven of Saints O what comfort what benefit may we reap from good society How many thousands have cause for ever to blesse God that ever they liv'd neer or came acquainted with some persons seriously Godly From such company a Christian comes away revived quickned encouraged to walk in the waies of Holinesse He finds a good relish on his Spirit and his heart drawn Heaven-ward He finds himself provoked to presse forward towards the mark of his high calling But from wicked company 't is ten to one but either a man brings away a guilty Conscience or a sad heart or both Upon all these considerations labour to make thy acquaintance and familiar converse with those here who must be thy companions in Heaven if ever thou comest thither Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this world c. 1 Pet. 4.4 They think it strange that you run not with them to the same excesse of riot speaking evil of you 1 Cor. 15.33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupt good manners Prov. 12.26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour but the way of the wicked seduceth them Isa 3.10 Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings V. 11. Wo unto the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him Mal. 3.18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not Prov. 19.29 Judgments are prepared for scorners and stripes for the back of fools Isa 28.22 Now therefore be not mockers lest your bands be made strong Mat. 18.6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me it were better for him that a Mill-stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Prov. 23.20 Be not amongst wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of flesh V. 21. For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty and drowsinesse shall cloath a man with rags 1 Cor. 5.9 I wrote unto you in an Epistle not to company with fornicators V. 10. Yet not altogether with the fornicatours of this world or with the covetous or extortioners or with Idolaters for then must ye needs go out of the world V. 11. But now have I written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat 2 Thes 3.14 And if any man obey not our Word by this Epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed Zeph. 1.12 And it shall come to passe at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles and punish the men that are setled on their lees that say in their heart the Lord will not do good neither will he do evil 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof from such turn away Isa 3.9 The shew of their countenance doth witnesse against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not Wo unto their soul for they have rewarded evil unto themselves Heb. 6.12 Be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and patience inherit the promises CHAP. VIII VVAlk conscientiously in thy particular calling according to these Directions following I. Avoid idlenesse and sloth Remember Adam in innocency had a calling appointed him by God And after the fall Gen. 3.19 't is Gods decree upon man in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread till thou return unto the ground No man has a priviledge to live idly and lazily but either by labour of body or toil of mind either by the sweat of his browes or of his brains ought to be serviceable and profitable to humane society Idlenesse exposes a man to many sins and many punishments When the Devil finds men idle and not employed in Gods service he entertains them into his If thou hast nothing to do the Devil will be ready to employ thee David when idle fell into the heinous sin of adultery A lawful calling is an excellent preservative against a multitude of sins and temptations 1 Cor. 7.20 24. Let every man abide saies the Apostle in the same calling wherein he was called When God cals us to be Christians he cals us out of the world as to our affections but not out of the world as to our employment An idle professor is a scandalous professor and walks inordinately II. Be diligent in thy calling for Conscience sake Many take pains enough but not out of Conscience to Gods Command nor with an eye to his Glory Whatever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord saies the Apostle Col. 3.23 Thou must be diligent in thy calling on a religious account performing the duties thereof in obedience to God studying both for matter and manner to approve thy self to him Think with thy self this is the calling wherein the Providence of God hath set me I am but his servant in my own shop or at my plow To him I must give an account of my diligence and faithfulnesse III. Seek and pray earnestly to the Lord for his blessing on thy lawful labours and endeavours 'T is an irreligious course to engage in any thing without prayer Thou must be fervent in prayer as well as not slothful in business All lawful businesse is sanctified by the Word and prayer 1 Tim. 4.5 When we do that which the Word of God alloweth and by prayer humbly beg his blessing upon our endeavours we take a right course to prosper 'T is Gods blessing maketh rich and he addeth no sorrow with it Pro. 10.22 'T is his blessing that giveth thee power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 If his blessing be wanting which thou art not like to have except thou cravest it all thy labours are to little purpose Psal 127.1 2. Except he blesse thee 't is in vain to rise early to sit up late and eat the bread of carefulnesse c. IV. In the management of thy Calling labour to exercise these Graces 1. Faith affiance in the goodnesse of God casting thy self on
his gracious promises and providence in the use of lawful means expecting successe from him alone according to that of the Psalmist Psal 37.5 Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe 2. Moderation of affections Be not over-eager nor inordinately bent on thy worldly affairs Remember our Saviours precept Let not your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse and the cares of this life Luke 21.34 Pursue not thy worldly business with too much anxiety and fervour of mind 3. Contentation Be content with that portion little or much which God upon thy honest labours shall please to allot thee quietly acquiesce in his wise disposal 4. Patience Be not dismaid neither fret nor repine at those crosses and troubles which befall thee in the way and course of thy calling considering God doth often exercise his own dearest children with many afflictions V. Let not thy particular calling too much incroach upon thy general The world is of an incroaching nature 'T is hard to converse with it and not come into bondage to it Worldly employments will be apt to justle out Spiritual duties if thou hast not a great care Now the true Christian should especially look to these two things 1. That his worldly businesse do not eat up and devour that time which should be set apart every day for communion with God and for the exercise of religions duties 2. That his worldly employments do not blunt the edge of his affections to Spiritual things Thou maist use the world but take heed of loving the world 1 John 2.15 16. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the 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 eye and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of this world VI. Labour carefully to avoid the temptations that thy particular calling is most liable unto Every calling and condition of life hath its peculiar temptations And a great deal of care and Christian prudence is required to foresee them and avoid them that so we be not insnared with them VII In the mannaging of thy worldly affairs endeavour to carry a Heavenly mind Be often lifting up thy â—â—â—rt in Spiritual and Heavenly meditations Think how little it will profit thee if thou shouldst gain the whole world and loose thy soul Think how Godliness is profitable for all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Remember thou art but a pilgrim and a stranger here upon earth Heaven is the proper Country of holy souls VIII When success crowns thy faithful endeavours in thy calling let God have all the Glory If thou speed well thrive and prosper sacrifice not to thy own net to thy wit parts industry or any second cause but ascribe the Glory wholly to him in whose hands alone it is to give successe 1 Thes 4.11 Study to be quiet and do your own businesse and to work with your own hands as we commanded you V. 12. That ye may walk honestly towards them that are without and that ye may have lack of nothing 2 Thes 3.11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busie bodies V. 12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietnesse they work and eat their own bread Prov. 18.9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a greaâ—â—aster Prov. 21.17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man he that loveth wine and Oil shall not be rich Prov. 28.19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough 1 Tim. 5.8 But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Prov. 26.13 The slothful man saith there is a lion in the way a lion is in the streets V. 14. As the door turneth upon his hinges so doth the slothful upon his bed V. 15. The slothful hideth his hands in his bosom it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth V. 16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason Prov. 6.6 Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her waies and be wise V. 7. Which having no guide overseer or ruler V. 8. Provideth her meat in the Summer and gathereth her food in the harvest V. 9. How long wilt thou sleep O sluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep V. 10. Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep V. 11. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man Mat. 25.26 His Lord answered and said unto him thou wicked and slothful servant c. Psal 128.1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his waies V. 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands happy shalt thou be and it shall be well with thee Prov. 10.4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent maketh rich Prov. 22.7 The rich ruleth over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender Prov. 31.27 She looketh well to the waies of her household and eateth not the bread of Idlenesse Eph. 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more but rather let him labour working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth CHAP. IX Concerning just dealing in Traffick Trading and Commerce OBserve a strict integrity and uprightness in all occasions of intercourse matters of traffick commerce and bargaining making Conscience to be true in thy words faithful in thy promises punctual in thy performances and in all things dealing justly and uprightly doing to others according to our Saviours Golden rule Luke 6.31 As thou wouldst that others should do to thee Mat. 7.12 Whatsoever ye would with a rectified judgment and an honest heart that men should do to you even so do ye to them for this is the Law and the Prophets In all contracts and acts of commerce with others 't is good to put our selves in their stead and to make frequent appeals to our own Consciences and to ask our selves Would I be thus dealt with Would I be content to have this measure measured to my self Should I if it were my own case think this fair dealing if used towards my self Paul saies Gal. 5.14 All the Law is fulfilled in one word that is all that part of the Law which concerns our duty towards man Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self This expression prescribes the manner of our love not the measure of it a parity or likenesse for kind not for degree or