Mans Chief Guide to SALVATION Wherein is laid down many good Instructions and motives to stir up every poor soul that he may be able in these sinfull days to withstand Satans assaults By Tho. Robins B. of D. T R Cor. 16. 13 14. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit your selves like men and be strong â—rinted for T. Passenger on London-bridge 1666. MANS Chief Guide to SALVATION Matth. 11 28 29. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls MY Beloved here you may sée the great love that our blessed Lord Saviour Iesus Christ bears to poor sinners First of calling us so lovingly Come and to us as I may say Come â—â—to me Secondly we may plainly sée who 〈◊〉 is that should come all ye that be heavy â—den And thirdly the chiefest reason of this why he calls us because he will give us rest I but what rest the everlasting rest for our souls Indéed my brethren I desire you all to take notice that our Saviour Iesus Christ hath a great love to us in calling us so lovingly as he doth here in this place of Scripture I and in many more but alas how many is there that regard it no no we are the more ready for to turn the farthest from him little knowing the danger that may follow for sin is so pleasant unto us that we never regard what any says to us when we be a going to any sin Aâ— for example these thrée sins which I here shaâ— name unto you that is to say Pride Whoredome and Drunkenness which are the thré◠terrible crying sins of the Nation yet let uâ— but busie our selves about one of these thougâ— the Lord himself calls we will not hear In the first place Drunkenness is a moâ— notorious sin and a delightful sin For wheâ— thrée or four more or less are got on the Alâ—â— house bench there to make mery never thinking on the danger that may follow but theâ— they sit quaffing making themselves merâ—â— till they be so much inflamed with it that theâ— forget themselves and so become drunk anâ— then any sin is common with them then thâ— wicked sin of swearing must be maintainâ— by swearing of one great oath or anotheâ— which is a most base and notorious sin and I pray God that every one of us may have a care how we follow any such terrible sin for certainly the Lord is sorely offended at this Land and Nation for the maintaing this sin of drunkenness so much as we do therefore in the name of God I desire every one of you to have a care of this terrible sin of drunkenness for certainly this is a great cause to stay men for coming to our Saviour although he calls us so loving as he doth in this Text as to come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest But certainly my brethren the Lord will punish us for this sin for we may assure our selves that he doth take notice how we do lead our lives I pray you look into the 28 Chapter of Isaiah at the 7 verse and there you may sée that the Lord took notice of the Drunkenness that was among the people But they also have erred through Wine and strong Drink and are out of the way the Priest and the Prophet have erred through strong Drink they are swallowed up with Wine they are out of the way through strong Drink Isa 28. ver 7. By this my brethren you may sée that the Lord takes notice of this wicked sin of Drunkenness and pray God give every one of you grace to have a care that we fall not into this wicked sin for certainly it is one of the greatest sins of the Nation which cries out for judgement against us 2. I desire to exhort you to have a care of that most abominable sin of Whoredome for that is a sin that the Lord joins to pride as you may find in Isaiah 18. vers 1. for there he cries Woe to the Crown of Pride to the drunkenness of Ephraim whose glorious beauty is a fading flower But for all this who is he that doth séek to flie from this sin of Pride No no it hath too much pleasure in the eye nay rather then we would step one foot back from it we had rather set two forward to maintain it But truly good people I must needs tell you this is not yâ— way to bring you into the way of salvation no it will build a strong wall of separation between the Lord and you therefore in the name of God have a care of it for certainly the Lord will have account given him at the latter day Then it is not your Silks and Satten nor your fine apparel that can do you any good No my Brethren then your gay attire will be odious in the sight of our Lord Savior Iesus Christ the rottenness of your hearts will stink in your own nostrils therefore I desire you once more to have a care and to strive by all possible means to refrain from all sin whatsoever and strive to be ready to make answer to the Lord when he calls us to an account as he did the servants in the gospel which he had formerly given the Talents to to see what good use they had made of them some had put them to good use and the Lord did commend them that had put them to good use His Lord said unto him well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast been faithful over few things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord Matth. 25. 23. And thus you may see what a gallant thing it is for every christian to make good use of their time while they live here on earth that they may be able to give a good account at the latter day when they are called to the judgement-seat as this faithful servant did then may they come to receive the same reward so enter into the joy of the Lord but have a care that you be not found like the wicked and slothful servant for fear the Lord say the same words to you as he did to him in the 28 verse of this Chapter in these words Take therefore the talents from him and give it unto him that hath ten talents Indéed this was a great discouragement to that servant but this did not serve his turn now the worst came after for it was not the loss of his substance which the Lord lent him that could make recompence as you may sée in the 29 and 30 verses of this Chapter For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but for him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath and cast ye
the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Matth. 25. 29 30. verses Even so will it be one day with us for the Lord must and will have account given him then happy is that poor soul that hath any spark of grace in him to bring him into the way of repentance for certainly if you will but labour while you live here on earth for to serve the Lord with a true heart then no doubt but the Lord will give you rest in that blessed kingdom and speak unto us with those comfortable words as he spake to the people in Isa 45. 9 10 ver Thou whom I have chosen from the ends of the earth and called thee from the chief men of the throne and said unto thee thou art my servant I have chosen thee and not cast thee away fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismaid foâ— I am thy God I will strengthen thee I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness O what a comfortable spéech was here to be spoke from a sinner from so good and gracious a God O what man or woman that hath any fear of God before their eyes but they would strive to please so loving a God as we have that is always careful over as caring of us to put us in mind of him nay good people this calling is not all but he makes us any a great promise and all is to win our â—ve to him as you may sée in that 4 verse 〈◊〉 the 51 of Isaiah Hearken to me my people â—nd give ear unto me O my Nation for a Law â—all proceed from me and I will make my judgâ—ents to rest for a light of the people Break â—rth in joy sing together ye waste places of â—erusalem for the Lord hath comforted his â—eople he hath redeemed Jerusalem Isaiah 52. I will declare thy righteousness and thy â—orks for they shall not profit thee when thou â—riest Let thy companions deliver thee but the â—ind shall carry them all away vanity shall take â—em but he that putteth his trust in me shall â—ossess the Land and shall inherit my holy â—ountain Isaiah 57. 12. and 13. verses Here â—e may sée what a love the Lord hath to us â—f we would but love him But alas how â—hould we love him which we did never sée â—nd cannot love our poor Brethren which is â—aily with us We have many days of Fastâ—ng many days of Humiliation which is â—ery good I but how do we Fast to bréed Dissention with our Neighbours and for an â—utward shew and inwardly inventing strife â—nd be bate as the Prophet Isaiah sayes in â—h 58. of Isaiah and about the 14. verse Behold ye fast for strife and debate and fight with the fist of wickedness And I prâ— God that there be not a great many of us thâ— do use to fast after this manner for I am 〈◊〉 fraid there are too many now a days that maâ— a great shew of going to Church to fast aâ— pray and yet bring but an evil heart back â—gain for either they have some grudge some neighbour or one evil thought or otheâ— for if nothing else canker their hearts thâ— will have a grudge towards the poor and tâ— poor should be the chief of their fast as yâ— may find in Isaiah 56. and 7. verse of thâ— Chapter for the Prophet cballengeth the peopâ— about their fast because he saw it was wicâ—ed for says he It is such a fast which I haâ—â— chosen a bowing down his head like a bul-rusâ— and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a Fast and an acceptablâ— day unto the Lord is not this the Fast that have chosen to loose the hands of wickedness to undoe the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoak Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry anâ— that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thinâ— house when thou seest the naked that thoâ— cover them and that thou hidest not thy seâ— from thine own self Indéed good pâ—ople yoâ— may sée here this is the Fast that we shoulâ— make if we should fast to please God then wâ— must féed the hungry clothe the naked seek comfort the afflicted but indeed I am afraid â—t here is but a few here that can say with a â—e conscience that they do make such a fast 〈◊〉 this But indeed my brethren all that I 〈◊〉 say unto it is this I pray God give every 〈◊〉 of us grace to fear him and to love the 〈◊〉 and needy and seek to relieve them as 〈◊〉 Lord hath enabled us For as Solomon â—h Prov. 14. 20 21. verses The poor is hated â—â— of his own neighbour but the rich hath â—y friends He that despiseth his neighbour â—eth but he that hath mercy on the poor â—py is he And happy is he that can keep â—se Commandments for he that will strive â—eep these Commandments the Lord will â—p him for just as we keep Gods Comâ—ndments so will the Lord keep us thereâ—e as Moses said to the people in Deut. 11. 27 28. verses so say I unto you that be â—e present Behoâ—d I have set before you this a blessing and a curse a blessing if you obey Commandment of the Lord your God which â—ommand you this day Here you may see danger that belongs to us if we keep not Commandments I and the blessing that â—ongs to all such as doth keep them And I â—y God give us all grace to choose the good 〈◊〉 forsake the evil These Commandments Lord give every true Christian grace to kéep them and séek to refrain those wicâ— sins which I here have named concerniâ—â— Drunkenness and Pride And Thirdly I desire you to have a câ—â— of that wicked sin of Pride for certaiâ— it is a sin that the Lord is sorely displeased as you may peruse by that place of Scrâ—â—ture in the 28 of Isaiah and the 1 verse these words Woe to the Crown of Priâ—â—â— Nay there is many more places in Scrâ—â—ture that gives us warning enough of thâ—â—â— sins and as the Apostle Paul said to Philippians so I say to you Finally Brethrâ—â— whatsoever things are true whatsoever thiâ— are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoeâ—â—â— things are pure whatsoever things are love whatsoever things are of good report if thâ—â—â— be any vertue and if there be any praise thâ—â—â— on these things Philip. 4. 8. That you miâ—â—â— walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasâ—â— being fruitful unto every good work incrâ—â—sing in the knowledge of God strenst theâ— with all might according to his glorious Poâ—â— unto all patience and long-suffering with 〈◊〉 fulness Colos 1. 10 11. verses Set your â—â—â—fections on things above and not upon the thâ—â— of the earth for ye are dead and your liâ— hid with Christ Colos 3. 2 3. verses Beloved here you may sée the
perfest way 〈◊〉 find Christ for if you would go to him you â—ust set your affections on things above and â—ot on things below for things on the earth â—e but dead and of no value no no it is the â—ings above that we must set our affections 〈◊〉 if we mean to have life eternal it is Christ â—r Lord Savior that sits upon the Throne â—at we must set our affections on if ever we â—ean to have peace with him in glory then 〈◊〉 Paul said to the Colossians Put on therefore â—s the elect of God holy and beloved bowels â—f meâ—cy kindness humbleness of mind meekâ—ess long-suffering forbearing one another â—nd forgiving one another if any man hath a â—uarrel against any even as Christ for gave you 〈◊〉 also do ye and above aâ—l things put on charity â—hich is the bond of perfectness as you may â—nd in the 12. 13. and 14. verses of this Chaâ—ter and as the Apostle says here we ought â—o forbear one another and if any man wrong â—s as Christ forgave sinners so we ought â—o forgive one another But alas my Breâ—hren it is not so with us now adays now if â—ny wrong one another there is no forgiveness with a great many but straight to law or else séek to do thrée ill turns for one by one means or other for if a poor man do anywrong to a rich man then straight he goes to Law and if a rich man do any wrong to a poor mâ—â— then he will strive to do him one ill turn or â—ther I but this is against Gods Commaâ—â—ment as you may see by this place of Scrâ—â—ture for God commands us to love one aâ—â—ther and forgive one another and so we mâ—â— do if we look that Christ should forgive us 〈◊〉 you may find in that 14. ver Above all thiâ— we should put on charity and that is a woâ— which is but little used now adays and aâ— this is for want of love for if we did love oâ— another then Charity would be used a greâ—â— deal more then it is and certainly we mâ—â— strive to put on both these garments if 〈◊〉 do desire to be one of Gods perfect servantâ— For charity is the bond of perfections Col. 〈◊〉 14. For it is sanctified by the Word of Gâ— and Prayer if thou put thy brethren in â—â— inembrance of these things thou shalt be 〈◊〉 good Minister of Iesus Christ nourished 〈◊〉 in the works of good Doctrine whereunâ—â— thou hast attained 1 Tim. 4. 5 6 verses 〈◊〉 any man teach other ways and consent not to thâ— wholsome words even the words of our Loâ—â— Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is aâ—cording to godliness he is proud and knowinâ— nothing doting about questions and strifes 〈◊〉 words whereof cometh envy strife railingâ— evil surmisings perverse disputings of men oâ— corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness from such withâ—â— thy self 1 Timothy 5. 3 4 5. verses â—hat every one of us would but strive to â—hdraw from such people and strive to set 〈◊〉 hearts and minds upon the true knowâ—â—â—ge of God meditate upon these things â—e thy self wholly to them that the profit â—y appear to all 1 Tim. 4. 15. O that every 〈◊〉 of you would but have a strong confidence â—he Lord and carry a patient mind so may 〈◊〉 come to receive our reward Hebrews 10. 36. Cast not away therefore your confiâ—â—â—ce which hath great recompence of reward 〈◊〉 ye have need of patience that after ye have â—â—â—e the will of God ye may receive the proâ—â—â—e Let your conversation be without coveâ—â—â—sness and be content with such things as you â—e for he hath said I will never leave thee forsake thee so that we may boldly say â—â—â—e Lord is my helper I will not fear what man 〈◊〉 do unto me Hebr. 13. 5 6. verses O â—â—t every poor soul had but so much confiâ—â—nce in the Lord as to say that he is conâ—ted without covetousness and that he is â—ll content with such as the Lord hath sent 〈◊〉 then I say happy is he for the Lord â—â—â—h promised he will never forsake them nor â—â—â—e them If it be so that the Lord hath â—omised that he will never forsake us O let 〈◊〉 strive to do our best endeavours never to forsake him for he is a gracious God aâ—â— merciful Saviour to all such as love him 〈◊〉 kéep his Commandments for look into the 〈◊〉 of James at the last verse and there you 〈◊〉 find the pure Religion before the Lord is â—â—ving the widows and the fatherless but trâ— I cannot sée but they be the least looked aâ— now adayes and then how can we say 〈◊〉 our Religion is pure Pure Religion and 〈◊〉 defiled before God is this to visit the widâ—â—â— and fatherless in their affliction I pray 〈◊〉 consider this if there be no pure Religioâ— us but what doth visit the Fatherless and 〈◊〉 Widows in their affliction truly it is to 〈◊〉 feared we have but little pure Religioâ— the Land for let them be what they will they be poor there is little looking on them 〈◊〉 if they be rich they shall be feasted the 〈◊〉 must stand back I but you may sée your seâ— that yâ— Lord is not pleased at such doings 〈◊〉 look into the second of St. James and there 〈◊〉 tells us that it is not a Christians professionâ— regard the rich and dâ—spise the poor Buâ— there come into your Assembly a man witâ— gold Ring in good Garment and there coâ—â—â— in also a poor man in vile raiment and yâ— have respect to him that hath the gay cloathiâ—â— and say unto him sit thou here in a good plaâ—â—â— and say to the poor stand thou here or sit unâ— my foot-stool are you not then partial in yoâ— selves and becomes Judges of evil thoughts Hearken my Brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdome which he hath promised to give them that love him but ye have despised the poor James 2. 2 3 4 5 6. verses And as Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim. 17. 18. so I say to you all charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in yâ— living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that thâ—â— do good that they be rich in good works which the Lord give us all grace so to do And now I desire to give you a word of Exhortation concerning these perillous times we live in our Saviour hath given us fair warning in many places of Scripture concerning this as in Mark 13. beginning at the 5 verse Jesus answering them began to say Take heed lest any man deceive you for many shall come in my Name and deceive you Nay he had told his Disciples he told them when the people should come as you may sée in the 4 verse of this Chapter And when you hear