the seeds plant the slips of grace There is a latter spring but that is not so good In youth are the white houres the Golden seasons Marriages are most in younger time so are Spiritual Contracts with Jesus Christ David was good when young Daniel a young 1 Sam. 17. 23. Dan. 1. 3. 4. 1 Tim. 4. 12. 1 Sam. 2. 18. 1 Kings 4. 3 13. 2 Kings 22. 1 2. Discipulum minimum Christus amavit psurimum Eccles 3. begin Psal 92. â—3 1 Pet. 2. 5. Nullum tempus occurrit Regi Prophet Timothy a young Preacher Samuel began with God betimes Abijah good when a Child so was Jofiah John the youngest of Christs disciples and most beloved for he leaned on Christs bosome There is a season for every thing under the Sun saith Solomon then certainly for grace and Soul-affaires there is a time to be Spiritually born to be planted in the house of the Lord to kill the heart of sin to heal the hurt of the Soul to be built up a Spiritual house to lament for sin to laugh in a sence of Gods love to embrace Christ and refrain from embracing sin to love vertue to hate vice It is true as no place so no time can prescribe against the King of Heaven and Earth yet in this season doth the Spirit usually breed and bring forth its young This is Gods more common order which he can alter when he pleaseth and this time he seemeth to take for these reasons 1. The excellency of firstlings 2. The probability of a change 3. The necessity of service 1. The excellence of firstlings The Lord doth S. 3 this that he may have the first Fruits in which he delighteth First fruits are savoury meat such as the Soul of the Lord loves the first of our Estate our health the first of the day the first of Prov. 3. 9. the week the first of our life the first in regard of time in regard of dignity is to be the Lords In the time of the Law the Lord challenged the Exod. 34. 19 20 23. first of men of Beasts of the Fruits of the Earth How welcome is the Primerose to us because it cometh forth early ye creamy mornings and not the flotten afternoons are of great price we are loath to take into our services of those that have been worn up in others imployments and will the Lord think we accept of our drie bones when the Devil hath sucked R. Jun. out the Marrow as one saith wittily and yet this is the way of the world the common course The first and best not last and worst is to be given to God The morning rather than the evening the Spring rather than autumne Monday rather than Saturday our flourishing rather than our fading dayes are to be devoted to the Lord and such Sacrifices smel sweet in his nostrils The Lord loveth to be served in the first place to have the chief of our strength the choice of our ability The Lord 1 Cor. 7. 36. looketh upon it as uncomely behaviour to himself that we passe the flower of our age and never seek for Marriage with himself It is dearly delightful so purely pleasing to begin with wisedom when we begin with the world that a gracious promise is made to it I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall find me Prov. 8. 17. An early new heart is a rich Pearl timely grace finds great grace in the eyes of the Lord. God calleth and careth for early Piety the Blossomes Buds Fruit of Godlinesse in younger years is grateful to him a young man or woman green all over and putting forth the tender shoots of grace is Jehovah's darling a youth Saint or a Saint youth is the Benjamin the Son of the right hand of the most high his dearest Joseph as the apple of his eye written in his heart and wrought on the palmes of his hand by the engravings of love such indeed are his chosen his choice ones his loved his loving his lovely ones Thus then you see God is in love with early goodnesse to give grace at all times lieth in his hand to receive grace betimes lodgeth in his heart 2. The probability of a change This is the S. 4 second reason Young ones are more likely to be wrought upon grace in youth is most like to be grace in truth soon grace is likest to prove sound grace and early goodnesse hath a probability Quo semel est imbuta testa c. 2 Kings 22. 19. to become ever goodnesse the twigs of youth are more tender when the grown boughes of age are more tough young ones are more plain and simple when old ones are more plicated and subtle The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17. 9. These words are a fit measure for the hearts of all for young hearts and old hearts are hard and naught but yet the older they grow the worse they grow and the more unlikely to be mended as the expression of the Holy-ghost doth warrant Can the Aethiopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil Jer. 13. 23. It is true the spirit of God knoweth the things of a man as well as his own spirit yea more of man than man doth of himself and hath line and lead wherewith it can sound and reach the profundity Jer. 17. 10. of wickedness and hath a clue wherewith it can find a way into the midst of the intricate labyrinth of mans deceitful heart notwithstanding all the windings and turnings that are in it The Lord hath a fountain wherein he can wash Black-moors white he hath soap and nitre wherein he can take out spots of the deepest stain yet aged inveterate customary sinners contract more rust more filth which calls for more rubbing more filing A tree long rooted may be pulled up yet with more ado than a plant of a years growth As Mr. Bridg. a godly Man illustrates this by Christs raising to life several that were temporally dead as Jairus his daughter to which sinners of the Matth. 9. 25. Luke 7. 14. lower form may be resembled and the widdows son of Naim who was carried forth to be buried to whom may be resembled such sinners as have broken out into more notorious wickednesse and have stood in the way of the ungodly and Lazarus who was laid John 11. 41 42. 43. in his grave and nigh unto stinking to whom may be resembled great sinners that have continued in their sins a great while all these Christ raiseth up one as well as other but with various dispensations the first with a touch of his hand the second with a work and a word a touch and a call the third and the last in a more solemn manner first speaking to his living father then to his livelesse friend and that not with a low but
his dear Consort and welbeloved Children Whose spititual welfare should I tender if not yours I cannot but interest you in this my publike as well as private services FOr thee Dear heart as my love here greeteth thee so thine to me to thy self I question not will put thee on seriously to view and hearken to this discourse as well as my other and former advices Here thou mayst try that grace which the Lord hath given thee to his glory and thine and my comfort and mayst be helped to make sure thy calling and election It is true I am as yet present with thee through mercy and thou with me but it is unknown unless in heaven how soon we may be snatched each out of others bosome for the cloud of death many times overcasts a fair morning and so have opportunity for information direction and counsel according to my talent But this may live when I am dead and by this means thou mayst have an admonishing husband present even when absent However it may prove subservient to thy souls advantage whether our time be less or more in this world As for you my dear Children I judge it not unmeet to commend these collections to you and as a father to command you to study them and to search your selves by them I have formerly had in my thoughts to draw up some admonitions and cautions for the good of your souls which as a father careful of your eternal weal I might leave with you as a fathers blessing as the best legacy I can bequeath to you but those being not hatched and these fledged and compleated I could not but put them into your hands not knowing though my self wtth your loving mother be in the prime of our years having but newly past the noon of Moses Psal 90. his youngest old man how short my time may be with you as also because the subject is of special concernment for you being born and brought forth in sin For what doctrine could I better lay before you than that of effectual calling shewing you what is grace and what not and what duty could I better lay upon you than that of conversion and repentance Young children like young plants had need be shored and underpropped with good admonitions I endeavour it in this Treatise as well as in my private teachings I have six of you in the land of the living Oh that the Lord would make you his So far as I know mine own heart though the heart of man and so mine is very deceitful I profess seriously that how low soever your condition should be for temporals yet if the Lord would be pleased to bestow a new heart upon you I should abundantly rejoyce yea more than to see you sit upon the highest pinacle of worldly advancement I am full of fears and desires in reference to your souls good and though now you be tender and young and so little sensible and not so fit for this or other books yet if it please God to lengthen out the thread of your lives which I pray for then take a word of advice from your father oh that God would bless it to you Study throughly the nature of original sin and that pravity that is diffused throughout your natures Remember that you are born in sin and so will live and die if not changed by grace The Lord change you for his Christ's sake Let the Scriptures be precious in your eyes they are the book of books read them often and heedfully Make great conscience of obedience to your parents and superiors Remember your creator in the days of your youth make good use of your young time flee youthful lusts take heed of the beginnings of sin beware of pride lying vain company c. Be willing to learn and be taught the things of God and your souls good I must contract or mine Epistles will swell too much Jesus Christ wash you with his blood cleanse you from the filth and guilt of sin make you the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty The Lord make thee my dear yoke-fellow a Mother of Saints and more and more an Eunice to the fruit of thy womb So prays An affectionate husband and father tender of your souls good J. V. Heveningham Feb. 4. 1657 8. To his neer relations in the bonds of consanguinity and affinity and to all his loving friends and acquaintance in the City of London County of Suffolk and elsewhere Respected Kinsfolk and Acquaintance RElations and friendship are the pillars of human society great comforts of our lives love is the sinew of friendship and religion is the life of this love What is love without religion but a sensual affection and acquaintance without love but flattery and dissimulation so that religion is the centre to the lines of love and friendship and that wherein they live and have their being Non nobis solum nati sumus We were not born for our selves alone said the Heathen Orator And if for others for their good and if for their good then their best good or their good in the best respects thereof God made and knit us together in bonds not to further or let each other alone in sin which we are apt to do through the corruption of base flesh but to admonish and help each other on towards grace and glory Though I must confess I fail too much in the duty of every of my relations wherein I stand yet I bless God that he hath helped and encouraged me in some measure to deal with divers of you in the way of private admonition which I hope hath not been altogether fruitless It is a precious duty I wish it were more put in use and practice I have had sometimes wishes though the thing can hardly be attained that we might all meet together at some times especially we that are more neerly related to each other not only for civil society but also and principally for spiritual advantage In some measure I may have my desire meeting with you all by counsel and advice in this Book and oh that God would so bless it for which I desire to bend my knees and lift up mine heart every day that we might one day meet with each other in the presence of God in the highest heavens Come let me beg your hearts for the Lord let the words of a Brother Kinsman Friend in the name of Christ prevail with you Who knows but God allied me to and gave me acquaintance with any of you for such an end and purpose as this Some of you may be yet knee-deep and more in the clay of a natural condition standing at a great distance from the father of light The Lord pull your feet out and set them on the rock Christ Others of you may be washed and whited over with civility and common profession but remember that not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven Pardon me that I hint
will and can fit any ground to bring forth a good crop not but that the Lord can go against the stream and throw down strong Towers and break through Walls of Steel and Brasse I go not about to weaken the hand or to shorten the Arm of the Lord Is there any thing too hard for the Lord Gen. 18. 14. But the Lord worketh by means of his own appointment and hath no other bonds than what he hath been pleased to put upon himself I speak now not of the skill but of the will of God not what he can do but what he doth do not of his extraordinary power but his ordinary providence in Spirituals not of his special and unusual operations but of his general and more common dispensations The Lord can do more than he will or doth do Nor do I mean that all of the middle sort and ranke are called but amongst them doth God pitch his Tabernacle more than among others nor by the middle sort do I mean those that are next Neighbours to the wealthiest but rather those that dwell upon the Borders of meannesse and so for wisedom and nobility they think themselves too high to put their shoulders to the work of the Lord and would be ready to think God were beholding to them for their service Doth not the Scripture and experience manifest this all along Doth not Christ himself speak the same I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Matth. 11. 25. The Disciples of Christ were not rich nor ragged were not the Wise ones of the world nor the witlesse ones This that I have now laid down doth not dash nor jarre with what we spake in the former Head The temperate Zone is most inhabited by converts and changed ones Grace loves to make it's nest in this climate to hatch and brood in this Region Oh then that the rich were lesse careful the poor more cared for and all more contented with mediocrity CHAP. X. IX The time of effectual calling when God doth call 1. MOre generally In the time of this S. 1 life while we have a natural life we must have a Spiritual life if ever we have any As Christ saith so must we I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day the night cometh when no man can work John 9. 4. This life is our Market our fair day when this life is ended time is no more with us but hath taken wing and is fled away This is Gods Preaching day now he speaks pleads calls invites when life is done then is the glasse out the time is spent the Preacher ceaseth and never shall we hear him again in that way Therefore to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8. Those that live not now shall never live those that die not now shall never die I mean to grace to sin Those that are not effectually called now shall never be Now is the day of grace the season of Salvation the acceptable time in this sence as well as otherwise 2 Corinth 6. 2. And care you not though you Quidam antè desierunt vivere quà m inciperen◠die before you live how shall you then live when you die after this life there is no Sacrifice for sin no grace to be had no calling voice to be heard Therefore whatsoever thine hand findeth to do for thy Soul do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisedom in the grave whither thou goest Eccles 9. 10. We may now and we will not we would hereafter and we shall not when this life is ended we may say the Summer is past the Winter is come the time of the singing of birds is gone and the voice of the Turtle is heard no more in our Land the time of this life is the time of our marring or making for ever 2. More especially In the time of youth S. 2 The Lord can convert and bring home to himself at all times in middle age in old age at the very last as the Thief upon the Crosse you know the saying One that none might despaire but one that none might presume The Lord is tender hearted and ready to reach out Conversio nostra semper inv niet Deum paratum Aug. Ezek. 18. 21 22. Nunquam sera conversio vera R. Jun. his Armes of love to a returning mourning believing Soul whensoever True repentance is never too late but late repentance is seldom true but for any upon this account to run on in excesse of riot and to resist the Holy-ghost is most desperate and sad and yet many do thus presuming upon the last but as one saith wittily this is as if a man should break his neck willingly to trie the skill of the Bone-setter The time of your youth is the choice time therefore saith Solomon Remember thy Creatour now mark now in the dayes of thy youth and illustrates it by the contrary Eccles 12. 1. c. Some have observed the time of effectual calling to be between the years of eighteen and thirty most commonly Though but few can speak punctually as to the particular time and means of their conversion as a parted pious man observeth yet I do believe Master Baxter of Baptisme Jer. 2. 2. that most Saints experience saith that the Lord wrought upon them in their younger dayes and therefore the Lord tells his people he remembers the kindnesse of their youth though youth there may be otherwise understood and this early conversion is meant of those that sit under the dewes of grace the distillings and droppings of Heavenly Doctrine as for Heathens and such who never heard of Christ and his Laws and their sins when they come under the sound of the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel though in old age their conversion may be more likely because they never had the means before I limit not the Holy one of Israel if he can convert at all times yea even then when thou hast worn up thy body and yet will not and doth not use it What is that to thee Follow thou his present call as Christ said to Peter in another case Prize John 21. 22. then your youthful time when those dayes are gone you shall never see such dayes again You may be twice a Child but you can never be twice a young man The morning Aurora Musis amica is observed by Schollers to be best for study The morning of our age is the best time for Spiritual study for studying the condition and state of our Souls The spring of youth is the best time to take Physick Heavenly Purgations in for the working out of sin the cleansing of our Soules the making of our Spirits whole It is the best time for the digging up the Garden of our hearts then doth the Lord sow
you of sin and the danger of a natural condition it was mine own condition once and whether I have yet fully passed it I have much cause to fear I find my heart so carnal sold under sin Others of you may have some early glimmerings of the spirit dawning upon your souls The Lord cause the sun of righteousness to rise upon you with healing under his wings and bring your bloomings and buddings to ripeness and maturity Some others may have a through work of grace upon their hearts the Lord make such thankful for it is an inestimable mercy and keep their feet that they fall not Various are your conditions in regard of temporals and spirituals various are your relations to and acquaintance with me whatsoever the one or the other be let nothing be a bar to keep you from accepting the counsel of the holy Ghost which is sent in love let it therefore be so taken I would not these things should be a witness against you or me another day The Lord therefore for his Christ's sake so sanctifie these truths to us and us by these truths that we may all attain to grace and increase thereof to the comfort of our own souls to the praise and glory of God by Christ So prays Your dayly Orator at the throne of grace J. V. The Epistle to the READER Christian Reader THou mayst wonder to see me add to the pile and heap of books Not glory nor gain unless of God of souls though my heart be very evil and have the seeds of all sin in it are the wheels on which I move in this labour Not affectation but affection to my heavenly Father to my earthly Friends put me on to this Some years since in my publike preaching I went through the chief heads in Divinity and when I came to this of Effectual Calling I insisted the longer upon it because it was very practical and of great concernment I found it then making some impression I hope it may do so now if but one soul be thereby turned in to the Lord it is worth my pains though a thousand times more I was desirous to communicate it to my friends to whom I dedicated for their good if the Lord be pleased to bless it It had been a weary task to have transcribed many copies I was resolved therefore to take the shortest cut It is a complaint that the Press is oppressed and not without cause yet much Printing I think is no more to be indicted then much Preaching if so be the matter be sound and savoury That feminine toleration that Midwives so many spurious births into the world and that licentious liberty whereby any one and any thing may preach and be preached are well worthy of censure and sharp animadversions it is hard to say which more Much reading is a weariness to the flesh and so may much hearing yet if either be rendred under God a means of conviction and conversion to the spirit it is no matter Daniel got knowledge of things of concernment by books Dan. 9. 2. I see the Lord owneth and blesseth reading as well as hearing printing as well as preaching though of all means of grace I take preaching to be the King Mine own soul through the mercy of God for ever blessed be his name hath received some good if it be not presumption to say so that way as well as by the preaching of the word and though this be drawn up by a weak worthless creature yet God I see sometimes makes use of and blesseth a wooden as well as a golden instrument And though hereby I expose my self who am weak to the acute judgement of parted and learned men yet I weigh it not if but one soul may be gained and brought in to God by this service as I hope there shall and the Lord raiseth mine heart to some comfortable expectation thereof What a rejoycing would it be to me if my poor labours might tend to the enlargement of my soveraigns Kingdom Reader I shall no further apologize for or give an account of this undertaking though more might be said I desire thine earnest prayers that while I give these counsels and cautions to others my self may not be a cast-away as thou hast mine If thou be a sinner the Lord conform thee to his will if a Saint the Lord confirm thee in his ways The Lord be with thy spirit and his who is Thine as he hopes for thy souls good J. V. Imprimatur Edmund Calamy A SURVEY OF EFFECTUAL CALLING THE FIRST PART CHAP. I 8. Rom. 30. vers the begin Moreover whom he did Predestinate them he also called IN the first part of this Chapter Paul endeavours to comfort the Roman Saints against the Remainders of sin yet with this proviso and caution that they remain not in sin In this Second Part which begins at the seventeenth Verse he Sect. 1 prescribes an antidote to fortify their Spirits against adversity which is made up of many ingredients the last whereof though not the least is in the 28. vers viz. that God like a skilful Chymist will extract good out of evil and by his wise disposing cause advantage to grow upon the stalk of affliction which is proved in the two next Verses because nothing can break that Golden Chain wherein foreknowledge Predestination Vocation c. are Cohaerence linked together so that the words which I have pitched upon fall out to be the middle linke of this Chain which reacheth from Eternity to Eternity viz. from fore-knowledge and Predestination to Glory For the opening of the words Predestination Explication is a fore-ordaining or appointing even from Eternity in reference to the reasonable Sect. 2 Creature and is sometimes taken largely so as the twins of Election and reprobation lye in the Womb of it and sometimes strictly and synecdochically that it and Election are identified and so is it here used Them hath he called We know what it is to call to or upon another to do this or that so God calls them to Sanctity obedience conformity to his will yet so it is to be understood that he opens their ear to hear and inclines their heart to submit to this call He hath called The Preterperfect tense used for the Future Bez. in loc tense after the manner of the Hebrews and to denote a continued Act But I should rather think he so speaks in reference to those that are called already and so in them Personating all others that are the Children of Predestination or else to shew that those that are Predestinated shall as certainly be called as if they were already called for it is the manner of Scripture Sic narrare futura tanquam praeterita Haym to call the things that are not as if they were In the words are two parts Divis 1. The Subject 2. The Predicate Or 1. The Appointment to the end 2. The first step of the means to the end Viz. 1.
Soul is praying repenting hearing reading believing speaking good doing good to it self to others to body and soul advising and Prov. 13. 20. 2 Pet. 1. 10. Phil. 2. 12. counselling it's charge it's Friends It walketh with the wise is giving all diligence to make its calling and Election sure is working out its Salvation with fear and trembling is watching against evil to good and seeking opportunities Phil. 1. 27. of glorifying God Labouring to have its conversation as becometh the Gospel endeavouring to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and having Col. 1. 10. named the name of the Lord striveth to depart from Iniquity This is a most choice Fruit of effectual calling to be Holy and gracious in ones wayes and carriages it is such a Priviledge that but few in the world do attain unto viz. to have on the cleane linnen of the Saints to have Holinesse written even upon the Horses 1 Pet. 1. 15. Bridles to be Holy in all manner of conversation as he is who hath called them A converted Soul rejoyceth much at this and is very glad of it to find a tincture of Holinesse on all it's wayes that the clear waters of Sanctity should run through the Channel of his thoughts words deeds and that all his actions through the help of the Spirit are enamelled with Piety 8. Afflictions or Persecutions And is it S. 8 you will say a comfort a Priviledge to be afflicted to be persecuted yea when for Christs sake a good conscience and the Gospels sake it is a great honour sinners account nothing worse and it so imbitters Godlinesse grace and conversion to them that they spit out with detestation though sometimes in their mouths by verbal resolutions but Saints have so great an esteem of suffering for Christ that they put it in their armes yea glory to bear it as their Crest And they departed from the presence of the Councel rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name Acts 5. 41. Is it not the great Commendation of Moses that he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the Treasures in Egypt Heb. 11. 26. Till effectual calling none will suffer rightly for Christ after effectual calling some suffer more some lesse and every Saint though not drawn out yet is habitually disposed to sufferings How did the Martyrs go to the flames as to their Bed and made their torments matter of true Triumph and the crosse their Crown The French Martyr when he saw the Rope about his Fellows neck desires to be dubbed a Knight of that Noble Order and Babylas would be buried with his Chain accounting it most dear and what saith blessed Pauls From henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus It is true Thieves and vile Persons suffer c. But there is a great deal of difference between the sufferings of the one and other These are brands of impiety those are badges of honour these are for unrighteousnesse those for righteousnesse sake these make infamous those famous these are a curse those but a crosse and such as is a blessing for so saith wisedom it self Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile and persecute you and for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad Matth. 5. 10 11 12. This is a Paradox yet Orthodox the name of trouble scareth a great many but there is no reason for it if you account it an happinesse to do Christs will you must needs account it an Addition of happinesse to suffer for so doing shall a Souldier glory in his wounds received in a just War and shall not a true Christian glory in what he undergoes for Christ Wounds Scarres nick-names spoilings for Christ sake are honourable glorious praise-worthy matters of great dignity and renown 9. Perseverance Those that are effectually S. 9 called shall persevere and hold out to the end they shall never finally and totally fall away they may fall away for a time but not for ever in part but not in whole Though they fall yet they shall rise again Their Apostasy gives way to an Anastasy and their declination to a resurrection they may have the fall of the Leaf but not of the Root of the Act but not of the Habit They may loose grace ex parte sui but not ex parte Dei in regard of their own weakness but not in regard of Gods power because they are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. They are espoused to perseverance which is Perseverantia est filia summi Regis called the Daughter of the Great King grace and their hearts shall never be divorced the knot of love between them is tied so fast by the hand of Heaven The Gates of Hell shall never be able to prevail against them they are a Rock in the midst of the Sea which stands immoveable notwithstanding the rage of winds and waves They are Eternal like their Father a parte post they have begun Incassùm bonum agitur si ante vitae terminum deseratur Vid. Bez. in loc and they shall hold out to the end of their race I pray God saith the Apostle that your whole Spirit and Soul and Body that is the powers of your Soul reason and affection and the parts of your body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 23. They are like the Laurel or the Bayes Tree whose Leaves are alwayes green not onely in the Summer of youth but also in the Winter of old age They shall still bring forth Fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Psal 92. 14. And therefore they shall carry away the bayes and the Crown from others The Heavenly fire that is kindled in them shall never go out those Wells that God hath digged in them shall never be stopt by the Philistins those flowers of grace he hath planted in their hearts shall never be spoiled or rooted up by the subtle Fox of corruption within nor the wild Boar of temptation without Their grace may be sick but it shall never die it may lurke but shall never be lost it may fade but shall never fall They shall never desert their colours nor forsake the Captain of their Salvation Deare Friends and Reader who ever you are you will never endure the shock of assaults if you have not a principle of true grace within If you be not rooted in Christ by Faith in effectual calling every little puffe will blow you down If you put the action of your hand and not the affection and resolution of your heart to the Plough you will soon look back and so become unfit for the Kingdom of God you may have a form of Godlinesse and an outside profession and well complexioned face
a loud voice As our Saviour saith in another case this kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer Matth. 17. 21. the like may we say of sins riveted by custome and time they may be loosed but with much a do the Ice of a months freezing may be broken as well as the Ice of a nights freezing though with more knocks Many shifts and evasions do people find for themselves by continuance of time whereby they keep sin in and grace out by use sin groweth strong sense of sin weak and their hearts little affected with the word being like the people that dwell by the water falls of Nilus who regard not the great noise thereof whereas it is troublesome to strangers so they being accustomed to the sound of the word little regard it 3. Necessity of service Therefore doth S. 5 God use to convert mostly in the spring for all that are sanctified in conversion are to serve him in their conversation Those that are called are called not to loyter but to labour not to be truantly but trusty not to play in the open field of the world but to ply his work in the walled vineyard of his Church not to sit with folded hands in our bosomes but to run the way of his commandments Much there is for a Christian to do for God for himself for his relations for his neighbours for Gods praise for his own and others peace for the illustration of Gods glory for the salvation of his own and others Ars longa vita brevis souls and the time of people upon earth at longest is but short at most is but little and if they begin not betimes what can they do a long journey from earth to heaven we had need take the morning and set out by Sun a great deal of business to do and it must be done in the day of this life we had need then be stirring very early the good housholder which may well be an emblem of Gods calling sinners is said to go out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard Matth. 20. 1. As the whole man so the whole time doth the Lord require as our spirits soul and body so our youth middle and old age death often comes sooner than old age and if nothing be done before nothing can be done after Much work and many works hath a Christian to do There is the fostering of faith the renewing repentance subduing of sin conquering corruption guarding his grace fearing his falling watching his walking studying the Scriptures perusing the promises conversing with converts admonishing acquaintance defying the Divel growing in grace and in all glorifying his God and as the Apostle saith in another case 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient for these things so may we in this What time is sufficient for these things Besides in youth there is bodily strength for the task of duties for the body as well as the soul is to be and do for God and spiritual services take a tincture from the bodies temper Though the spirit be willing yet the lesse will be done if the flesh be weak fervent prayer frequent meditation of God his works his word of it self its ways its wants solemn fastings whether publike or private much reading often hearing self examining for which and many more is requisite the vigor of the souls powers the vivasity Meus sanein corpore sano of the bodies parts which in age do age lurk and languish grow feeble and faint the former whereof are evacuated in regard of spirits the latter enervated in regard of strength CHAP. XI X. The means whereby the Lord doth effectually call IN the next place we are to speak of those ways and means which the Lord maketh use of for the calling home wandring creatures lost sheep to himself and they are either of a lower or of an higher form Of the lower form 1. Works Of the lower form 2. Word Of the higher form The Spirit 1. By works The Lord many times makes common works and ordinary providences S. 1 to be especial instruments of grace All things are in Gods hands and those things that are of an inferiour nature can he so blesse and dispose that thereby they shall be suited for the attaining of highest ends Now those providences which the Lord hath used this way and countenanceth in reference to this work are these seven following which carry Scripture authority at their backs 1. By providing yoke-fellows the Lord S. 2 makes temporal marriages sometimes means of spiritual and in this regard it may be well said that matches are made in heaven when for heaven marrying proves to many a making to all eternity sometimes a man when he hath prevailed with a woman afterwards woes and wins her for Christ and many a woman that takes her husband much with her person takes him more with her piety How doth the wisedom and goodnesse of God much appear in this he brings those together that were most unthought of most unlikely he bringeth those together that were farthest distant from each other thus he makes grace out of nature as it were and a spiritual union to grow upon a fleshly conjunction by means of making one flesh he sometimes makes one spirit and doth not the Apostle use this as a reason why he would have the Corinthians not to leave but to shew love to their unbelieving yoke-fellows For what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband or how knowest thou O man whether thou shalt save thy wife 1 Cor. 7. 16. And doth not Peter counsel wives to be in subjection to their own husbands and to what end is it Why That if any obey not the word they also may without the word be wonne by the conversation of the wives 1 Pet. 3. 1. Many an one may say to their yoke fellows in some sort as David 1 Sam. 25. 32 c. to Abigail Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which gave me such an Husband such a Wife and blessed be thy advice my dear heart and blessed be thou which hast told me of my sin admonished me of my State and so hast kept me from Iniquity for in very deed had it not been for thee under the Lord I had perished in my transgressions though there may be carnal love and a peaceable life between yoke-fellows yet no well-bottomed affection if there be not mutual care for each others Eternal welfare They should seek by exhortation and conversation by counsels and commerce by prayer by pattern to bring each other into the bosome of Christ within the bounds of the Covenant The Apostle condemnes and blames the weaknesse of the Galatians That having begun in the Spirit sought to be made perfect by the Flesh We may congratulate and blesse the Gal. 3. 3. wisedom of God that causeth that which is begun in the Flesh to end in the Spirit Sometime a good Husband makes a good Wife and
a good Wife makes a good Husband not but that suitable matches are best I think as for parentage portion proportion so for piety and that as I conceive the Apostle meanes marrying not onely with one that is a Christian but also with one that is Christs 1 Cor. 7. 39. where he speakes of marrying in the Lord yet when they are unequally yoked and pared they are to pray and endeavour for an Extract of vertue from a Contract of necessity some of you that read this unworthy piece may have found providency improving your match to your Soules advantage and you that are married and have a Godly yoke-fellow ear their precepts eye their practice listen to their counsels learn their good customes mind their sayings mark their goings observe their works obey their words Husbands and Wives do not forward each other to Hell but further each other to Heaven Let not your hands be imbrued in each others Soules blood but let your hearts be set for each others Eternal good and strive by your prayers single and sociated that ye may be heires together of the grace of life Some out of fancy and vanity have endeavoured to maintain that a woman hath no Soul but both men and women have immortal Soules and that ye shall know to your cost and woe or cure and neal The Lord grant the latter 2. By granting good education Grace in S. 3 age many times hath it's foundation in the training of youth Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart Prov. 22. 6. from it Good Parents good Tutours good Masters good Guardians good Hosts with whom Children boord are a great mercy and many thank God for the time that ever they saw the faces of and had to do with such Did not Abraham Gen. 18. 19. read Divinity Lectures to his Family and did there not grow upon the stalk of his Instructions watered with the Dew of Heavenly grace Fruits of as eminent obedience to the Father of the Flesh and the Father of Spirits as ever was when Isaac was willing to offer his Gen. 22. throat to the Sacrificing knife Was not Isaac's Faith great as well as Abraham's the Sons as well as the Fathers Was not Isaac's life as dear to him as Abraham's Son to him and was he not coheir with his Father to the promises Was not Monica a fervent beads-woman and humble suppliant at the throne of grace for her Son Austin and was not the successe sweet A woman much in prayers and much in teares she was for him and without doubt Motherly-preachings went along with her prayers and teachings did accompany her teares and had she not the desire of her Soul Seeds of Instruction and teaching cast upon the heads of young ones under our charge may through the mostnings and irrigations of the Spirit sink into the heart take root and bring forth a great crop and large increase of saving knowledge and grace if not for the present yet for the future if not in the time that now is yet in the time that is to come even when Parents are dead and rotten Children while very young are to be learned the word of God though they know not the work of God experience sheweth that it is not in vain nor void Did not Timothy's being instructed in his Childhood in all pobability by his Grand-mother as well as Mother for Parents remote are many times as much conversant with and indulgent to their mediate Children as their immediate Parents and her indulgency was rectified by grace to seek his good in the best things Help to make him a Faithful man and a fervent Preacher 2 Tim. 1. 5. 3. 15. Nay were there not twins in the womb of Lois her care And was not the effect of it double She taught her Daughter Eunice and she learned of her Mother to teach her Son Timothy How careful were the Heathens that Children might have education morally good and shall Christians sit in the same forme with them Now how many Christians by name may sit at their feet and be taught more of their duty from them than yet they have learned to practice Plutarch wrote a little 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 treatise of this on purpose Plato would have Nurses speak no foolish words to their little ones least such breath should infect them and such bad aire have influence upon them yet who regards this work or considers that from the neglect thereof as from a root of bitternesse springs that general Prophanenesse that is in the Christian world Master Baxter Third part cap. 12. S. 11. c. speaks very well of this in his Saints everlasting rest which is a very choice Book The Gentry teach their Children to follow pleasure the commonalty their Children to follow profit and young ones are ready to follow old ones This their way is their folly yet their posterity approve their sayings Selah It is to be noted Psal 49. 13. The very Heathens condemn this and yet Christians mend it not Crates the Philosopher said that if possibly he might he would willingly mount to the highest place of the City and there cry aloud in this manner What mean you my Masters and whither run you headlong carking and caring all that ever you can to gather goods and rake riches together as you do whiles in the mean time you make little or no reckoning at all of your Plut. Children unto whom you are to leave all your riches and do not most care more for the wealth of their Childrens outward man than for the health of their inward man such as one saith are like those that have great regard Ibid. to their Shoo but take no heed to their Face Some are headlesse and cannot others are heartlesse and will not By Generation men are temporal Fathers by education they come to be Spiritual Fathers and though it In anima sit extraduce be a question whether the Soul and Body come both one way or no yet it is out of doubt many times that the grace of the Soul may come from the Parents I mean yet Parents counsel teaching and tutouring may be Instrumental in the hand of the supream efficient thereunto Did not Hannah get her Samuel by praying And may we think that he that was brought in by earnest supplication was not brought up by early education That he 1 Sam. 10. 27. whom she took paines for before she had him she did not takes pains with when she had him That for whom she petitioned him she did not principle If you that read this can say by experience it is so blesse God for your Friends if not begg of God to make them your Friends Oh that Parents would bring up their Children in the nurture of the Lord and Children obey them in the Lord. 3. By procuring services By this means also S. 4 doth the Lord many times
be better than you are and yet for all this you are the same man and woman It hath convinced you of Christ's readinesse to espouse you and yet you have not been willing to give your sins a Bill of divorcement and to put them away it hath made conscience its deputy your bosome Friend that knows you well and should have great interest in you Conscientia est cordis scientia and hath set it on work to speak to and to deal with you but all will not do The spirit hath visited you every day upon this account and hath spoken to you enticing words and intreated you not to be so unruly like an Heifer unaccustomed to the yoke and hath said come soul hearken to the voice of God obey the call of Christ you do not know how much it may be for your good why will you not be gracious and holy Do you not know that to be Godly is to be Godlike The great God that can grind you to powder the good God that can save your soul calls upon you invites you and will you say nay The spirit hath opened the Lord's love Letters and read them to you and descanted upon them but you regard not To sin against such shinings of the spirit is no small matter affronts offered to the spirit will sit heavy upon the soul when time shall be Hath the Dove come and have not you Spiritus Jesus spiritus bonus Sanctus rectus c. Isai 63. 10. opened the window to let it in Hath the holy good pure spirit of Jesus Christ thus parlyed with you and do you stand out against its sweet assaults This is to vex and rebel against the spirit which is a great provocation to the Lord and aggravation of thy sin whereby thou doest incurre his displeasure procure thy destruction 5. The Longitude of your life The thred S. 14 of your life hath been spun out to a great length you have lived many a year in the world you have lived to see your glasse run and turned up again when others have died before their glasse hath been half run The day of your life hath been not a Winter's but a Summer's day You have followed many of your relations and acquaintance to the grave who have been younger than you but you live still The Lord hath made you a long lease and it is not yet expired He hath cut down some assoon as they have budded and blossomed but he letteth you stand still He hath stopped the breath of some soon after he hath given it them but thy breath is still in thy nostrils Thy radical heat is not put out thy radical moisture is not yet dried up He hath caused thy Sun to stand still in the Firmament and hath kept it from going down at noon day he hath lengthened thy time from the spring of youth to the autumne of ripe and mature years And yet thou hast brought forth no clusters of Grapes no ripe fruit It was the aggravation of Jezebel's sin that the Lord gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not Revel 2. 21. It is sad that thy Virtutes faciunt dies bones dayes have been great but not good that thy dayes have been many and thy grace but mean Thou hast through the Lord's clemency renewed thy youth as the Eagle but though the Lord hath been calling thy heart is not renewed The Lord hath added years to thy daies as he did to Hezekiah but thou hast 2 Kings 20. 6. not yet added sanctity to thy civility nor piety in the power to thy profession in the forme Thou art well stricken in years but thou hast never yet fully stricken a Covenant with the Lord. Thou art entred a great way into the scores but wouldest never yet enter cordially into the School of Christ The Lord hath cut off many in their sins while they have been acting unrighteousnesse as the drunkard that said he should never die yet fell down a pair of staires presently and died while you have escaped and your life hath been given you for a prey and yet all this while you have gotten no grace You have seen of the fruit of your body it may be to the third generation and yet the Lord hath seen no fruits of grace from your soul you have been fruitful according to the flesh but barren according to the spirit You have lived so long as to have an hoary head but not so long as to have an holy heart Hath the Lord lengthened out your daies to a longer date than the daies of many of your stock and Family and yet are you without grace Are you ancient in years and yet have not come in to the ancient of dayes Is invaluable time of no value with you Is it nothing think you to live thirty fourty fifty Nihil pretiosius tempore heu nil hodiè eo vilius invenitur nay sixty yea almost four-score years without a change without conversion after so many callings The Lord giveth you time to turn in and will not you turn in time The Lord deferres as doomes-day so death's-day out of long suffering because he is not willing that thou shouldest perish but that thou shouldest 2 Pet. 3. 9 come to repentance Hast thou stood all this while in the Lord's orchard and is not the time of Figs yet with thee What will Christ say when he comes finds nothing but leaves on thee at these years Age and years aggravate Mark 11. 13 14. failings of infirmity because such should have more discretion much more then the fault of impenitency because they should have had true contrition It is not because others are worse then you that while they after a little time have withered in the grave you for a long time have walked on the Earth but it is that you might be better then they It is not because you shall not die to nature but it is because he would have you live to grace and yet are you dead while living no life nor love to this day Ah poor soul is it not a very great evil that the Lord hath been laying siege to thine heart these thirty fourty fifty years or more and yet thou hast stood up and stouted it out against him that thou hast so long been called by him and yet thy deaf vile heart hath not hearkned to him nor closed with him length of time overcomes many things but thou hast been little Nihil est quod longinquitas temporis efficere non possit the better for thy long time There hath been an extension of thy daies but no intension of thy desires a lengthening of thy season but no loathing of thy sins 6. The latitude of your comforts Your S. 15 daies have had breadth as well as length Your daies have been fair not foul clear not cloudy delightful with Sun-shine not darkned with sadnesse some have had a continued but not a
the godly p. ibid. Sect. 21. Another Objection answered Sect. 22. 2 Caution 1 Of Satanical delusions p. ibid. Sect. 23. 2 Of sinful communion p. 319 Sect. 24. 2 Consider the manner 1 With seriousness p. ibid. Sect. 25. 2 With soundness p. ibid. Sect. 26. 3 With Speediness p. ibid. Sect. 27. 3 One motive viz. The necessity thereof p. 320 Sect. 28. The conclusion of the whole p. ibid. Errata PAge 7. 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