a Calling 1. Let the consideration of your espousals to the Royal Bridegroom Jesus Christ be a holy check to your Affections that they do not inordinately run out after any strange Lovers 2. As you are a Child of God a Son or Daughter of the King of Heaven let it be your care to Love Honour and Obey your Father make addresses to him with a Child-like Confidence with a holy and humble Boldness actual dependance upon him for a supply of all Wants Bodily and Spiritual for this Life and that which is to come 3. As your Body is honoured to be a Temple for the Holy Ghost see that no sinful uncleanness or pollution be found upon it 1 Cor. 6.19 and 3.17 he that defileth the Temple of God him shall God destroy 4. As you are listed among the Lamb's followers look to the great Captain of your Salvation Heb. 2.10 Write after his Copy and follow his Example wherein it is imitable acquit your self as a good Soldier having on the whole Armour of God Ephes 6. for it is not with Flesh and Blood but with Principalities and Powers and spiritual Wickednesses in high Places you wrestle 5. As you have enter'd your self under the Tutorage of the great Prophet Jesus Christ be still taking out new Lessons from his Word and Spirit 6. As he is the High Priest of your Profession make use of him to lead you by the Hand into the Holy of Holies as often as you have occasion to go thither Ephes 2.13 18. Hebrews 2 end and 4 end 7. As you are a Subject of so glorious a Kingdom swear Fealty and Allegiance to your Sovereign be true and loyal to him keep the King's Laws for in so doing you may expect spiritual Peace Gal. 6.16 Psal 119.165 and protection from all Enemies 1 Pet. 3.13 Who is he that will harm you if ye are followers of that which is good 8. As you are a Fellow Citizens with the Saints Ephes 2.19 Let your Heart be united in the strictest Bond of Christian Love and Charity to all Heaven-born Ones Be not ashamed to own for your Equals and Companions such as are of the same Blood-royal with your self Psal 16.3 David though a Prince counted it no disparagement to familiarize himself with such whose Fellowship was with the Father and the Son Psal 119.63 9. As you are elected and redeemed from among Men Revel 14.3 4. be careful to keep you Garments clean from the pollutions of the World James 1.27 Be not partaker of other Mens Sins 1 Tim. 5.22 Shun all unnecessary converse with them that are visibly wicked Evil Communication corrupts good Manners 1 Cor. 15.33 10. As you are an Heir of Glory Born to an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and such as fadeth not away reserved for you in the Heavens 1 Pet. 1.3 4. mind Heavenly and not Earthly things set your Affections on things above not on Sublunaries Col. 3.1 Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear 1 Pet. 1.17 1 John 3.3 Every one that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as God is pure 2 Pet. 3.11 12 13 14. Wherefore Brethren seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless and be crucified to the World through the Cross of Christ looking upon all its perishing Glory to be but a Toy and Trifle not worthy once to be named in comparison of that Glory to be revealed Seventhly consider more particularly what the special Duties are which you owe unto God unto others and in respect of your Self studying faithfulness and conscionableness in the performance and practice of each of them the Summary of all is comprehended in that of Tit. 2.12 Holiness towards God Righteousness towards others and Sobriety in respect of your self To enlarge here according to the amplitude of the Subject might prove too teedious study the Decalogue or Ten Commands exactly reading Divine Dod's Exposition upon them with two other small pieces call'd The Marrow of modern Divinity and there you will find much more than I can in a few Lines in such a Compend as this communicate I 'le only give you a brief hint of things The main things you owe to God are Worship Service Suffering with what else his Word and Works of Providence do require His Worship is either inward spiritual and moral and so 1. You are bound to study the Knowledge of God Why do you think did the Lord create the World but that the Heavens might declare his Glory and the Firmament shew forth his Praise Psal 19.1 What were the Scriptures written for but that in Judah God might be known and his Name great in Israel Psal 76.1 What did Christ come from the Bosom of God for but to give forth Declarations of the Father John 1.18 and 14.6 7. What is the Law written in our Hearts for Rom. 2.15 and what is the Spirit promised for but that thereby we might attain to the Knowledge of the Almighty John 14.26 And has not the Gospel brought Life and Immortality to Light 2 Tim. 1.10 All things considered your ignorance of God now will be inexcusable and Knowledge is an indispensable requisite 2. You are to fear God having a high reverential esteem of him in your Heart dreading to offend him not only because of his greatness and justice but also and especially because of his goodness and Mercy Hos 3.5 Levit. 19.14 Deut. 6.13 Psal 2.11 Isa 8.13 Heb. 12.28 3. Love him with all your Soul Strength and Mind Matth. 22.37 he will admit of no Rivals or Co-partners in your Affections he and he alone must have your Heart the whole of your Heart and that in the most intense Degrees and always 4. Give a credential assent to every Tittle that proceeds out of his Mouth relying also upon and trusting in him as one in whom there is everlasting Strength Isa 26.4 Psal 2.8 and 11.1 5. Thankfulness for every Mercy and Patience under all Afflictions is that which you owe unto God 1 Thess 5.18 Psal 107.1 Luke 21.19 Heb. 10.36 Ephes 5.20 James 1.4 6. Sincerity of Heart and Zeal for his Glory are Duties indispensable what you do in matters of Religion must not be to be seen in Men or for any other base sinister selfish ends but do all for the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Phil. 2.3 11. 7. Be cloathed with Humility having always a low esteem of your self notwithstanding of Honours Riches Birth Beauty Breeding Parts Perfections Priviledges Performances Gifts Graces Experiences Enjoyments Doing and Suffering Rom. 12.2 Coll. 2.12 8. Perseverance in the Faith and way of Well doing is an ingredient of this inward Spiritual Worship you must not begin in the Spirit and end in the Flesh for then your last Estate will be worse than the Beginning 2 Pet. 1.20 21. So run that you may obtain 1. Cor. 9.24 Rev. 2.7 11 17 26 27 28. and 3.5 10 12 21. Or 2dly His Worship
THE Christian Directed IN HIS RACE to HEAVEN OR A Short ACCOUNT of that Knowledge and Practice that leads thither By JAMES FORBES Minister of the Gospel at Glocester LONDON Printed by J. Brudenell for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three-Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1700. THE CHRISTIAN Directed IN HIS Race to HEAVEN FIRST Consider often the Great End of your Creation and Redemption by Christ The great Jehovah was no more a Debtor to you than to the most worthless Worm that creeps upon the Earth the Distinguishing you from Brutes Sensitive and Imanimate Creatures is a meer Act of Favour in Furnishing you with such an Excellent Immaterial Immortal Spiritual and Divine Substance the Soul consisting of Understanding Will Conscience Memory and Affections whereby you are capable of the Knowledge of and Communion with the High and Lofty One that Inhabits Eternity Your Body is also wonderfully framed Ps 139.14 and fitted by the hand of an infinite Skilful Artificer both for Services and Sufferings I beseech you therefore by the Mercies of God that you Consecrate your selves Souls and Bodies a Living Holy and acceptable Sacrifice to the Author of your Being which is your Reasonable Service Rom. 12.1 And Glorify him with both as knowing you are not your own you are Bought with a Price 1. Cor. 6.20 O remember you were sent into the World for Higher Ends than meerly to Eat Drink Sleep and satisfy the Lusts of the Flesh Study to Answer the Ends of your Creation and Redemption The Second Thing I commend to you is in the Words of the Wise Man Prov. 2.3 4 5 6. If thou Cryest after Knowledge and liftest up thy Voice for Understanding if thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hid Treasures then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledge of God For the Lord giveth Wisdom out of his Mouth cometh Knowledge and Understanding Be well Grounded in the Infallible Assurance of a Deity s being the first Letter in the Alphabet of Christianity Believe that there is a God Heb. 11.6 Give Credit to Scripture-revelations concerning him that he is such a one as is there Described and let the Knowledge of his Incomprehensible Perfections leave some suitable Impresses upon you Spirits Contemplate often the Infathomable depth of the Divine Glory of his Attributes and you will find it to be an Exercise both Pleasing and Profitable John 17.3 This is Life Eternal to know God 1. Look upon him as an Eternal Being which knew no beginning and shall have no end the Alpha and Omega the First and the Last Gen. 21.33 Isa 44.6 and 57.15 Rom. 1.20 Revel 1.8 Such an Antiquity as is Eternity is truly Honourable This will make you have an undervaluing Esteem of the Choicest Creatures which are of Yesterday and at best but Breathing nothings in Comparison of him Ps 103.15 16. As for Man his Days are as Grass as a Flower of the Field so he flourisheth for the Wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more but the Mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting to them that fear him and his Righteousness to Childrens Children And 102.25 26 27. Of old hast thou laid the Foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands they shall Perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax Old like a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou Change them and they shall be Changed but thou art the same and thy Years shall have no End The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee 2. Survey his Glory as he is the being of beings both as to their original and continuance Acts 17.24 25. The Apostle there brings a practical inference from this Position that seeing God is the Being of Beings all acts of Adoration should be sutable to so glorious a Being God that made the World and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands neither is Worshipped with Mens Hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things v. 29. For as much then as we are the Offspring of God we ought not to think that the God-head is like unto Gold or Silver or Stone graven by Art and Mans device John 4.24 God is a Spirit and they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and in truth 3. Take some view of the Infiniteness of his Wisdom Prov. 3.19 20. The Lord by Wisdom hath founded the Earth by Understanding hath he established the Heavens by his knowledge the Depths are broken up and the Clouds drop down the Dew Such a Survey will cause a Soul-humbling reflection upon your own folly and ignorance Prov. 30.2 3. Surely I am more brutish than any Man I neither learned Wisdom not have the knowledge of the Holy Who hath ascended up to Heaven or descended Who hath gathered the wind in his fists Who hath bound the waters in a garment Who hath established all the ends of the Earth What is his name and what is his Sons name if thou canst tell This will make thee believe that he can make thee wise unto Salvation notwithstanding of all that darkness and folly that 's upon you Job 12.13 With him is wisdom and strength he hat counsel and understanding And you must needs break forth into admiration Rom. 11.33 O the depth of the Riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! And into that Apostolical Doxologie 1 Tim. 1.17 Now unto the King Eternal Immortal Invisible the only wise God be Honour and Glory forever and ever Amen Jude 25. 4. Survey him in the Glory of his Immensity Ubiquity Omnipresence and Omniscience And your great care will be at all times and in all places to walk as under his All-seeing eye saying with the Psalmist Psal 139.2 3. Thou knowest my down-sitting and my up-rising thou understandest my thought afar off whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence If I say surely the darkness shall cover me even the Night shall be light about me yea the darkness hideth not from thee but the Night seemeth as the Day the darkness and the light are both alike unto thee 1 Sam. 16.7 1 Chron. 28.9 The Lord searches all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts Psal 7.10 Heb. 4.13 Acts 17.27 28. God is not far from e-every one of us for in him we live This also would much heighten your apprehensions of God in all addresses to him as being one that filleth Heaven and Earth Jer. 23.24 1 King 8.27 Will God indeed dwell on the Earth Behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee how much less this House that I have built Is 66.1 with Acts 7.49 Thus saith the Lord the Heaven is my Throne the Earth is my Footstool
of it accordingly maintain a civil concord with all that are Members of the same Body Politick with thy self Envy not Superiours walk humbly towards Inferiors let every one of us praise his Neighbour for his good to edification Rom. 15.2 and 14.19 Duties of Ministers 1. Retain a deep sense of the weightiness of this Soul-concerning work to which you are called 2 Cor. 2.16 Who is sufficient for these things 2. Let the Sense of self-insufficience and weightiness of the work put you upon driving a great Trade with Heaven in acting dependance upon and making frequent addresses unto God for supplies suitable 2 Cor. 2.3 5. We are not sufficient to think any thing of our selves but our sufficience is of God he that doth not fetch his Sermons by Prayer from Heaven is never like to reach the Hearts of others 3. Study the Scriptures your own Hearts Providences the Hearts tempers constitutions customs and conversations of others much using all other mens diligently and industriously whereby you may be able and apt to Teach upon all occasions 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. Give attendance to Reading to Exhortation to Doctrine meditate on these things give thy self wholly to them 4. Deliver no Message but what you receive from the mouth of God in the Holy Scriptures keep back no part of the Counsel of God speak as the Oracles of God in the Name and Authority of the Son of God as Ambassadors of Christ representing his Person as such that believe the Truths which you commend to others Ezek. 3.17 Acts 20.27 1 Pet. 4.11 2 Cor. 5.20 and 4.13 Psal 116.10 5. Manage Christ's work with Christ's Spirit not your own His Spirit is a Spirit of Wisdom shew your selves Workmen that need not be ashamed dividing the Word of God aright 1 Tim. 2.15 His Spirit is a Spirit of self-denial and Zeal To get a livelihood or great name to your selves must not be your principal nor ultimate end in preaching the Gospel for that were not to preach Christ but your selves 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Thes 2.4 5 6. As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which tryeth our Hearts for neither at any time used we flattering words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is witness nor of Men sought we Glory nor of you nor yet of others 9. Shew all tenderness of compassion love and pity to the Souls of Sinners 1 Thes 2.8 So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted not the Gospel of God only to you but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us 1 Cor. 2.19 20 21 22. Psal 1.8 2 Tim. 4.25 26. 2 Tim. 4.1 2. Comfort the feeble minded and support the weak 1 Thes 5.14 Be tender of troubled and afflicted Consciences Heb. 12.12 13. Lift up the Hands which hang down and the feeble Knees and make streight paths for your Feet lest that which is lame be turned out of the way but rather let it be healed Gal 6.1 If a Man be overtaken in a fault restore such a one in the Spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted 7. To Soundness in Doctrine add Holiness of Conversation being Exemplary in all works of Piety and Charity Tit 1.7 8 9. A Bishop and a Minister of the Gospel must be blameless as the Steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to Wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of Hosptiality a lover of good Men Sober Holy Just Temperate holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers And Tit. 2.7 In all things shewing thy self a patern of good works in Doctrine shewing uncorruptness gravity sincerity sound speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed having no evil to say of you 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee youthful Lusts but follow Righteousness Faith Charity and Peace with them that call on the name of the Lord with a pure Heart 1 Tim. 6.11 12. and 4.12 Be thou an example of the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity and 3.7 1 Pet. 5.1 2. Feed the Flock of God which is among you not as being Lords over God's heritage but as being examples to the Flock 8. Be painful and laborious in the Lord's Vineyard for the Harvest is great and the Labourers are few 1 Thes 2.9 2 Cor. 12.14 15. I will very gladly spend and be spent for you though the more abundantly I love you the less I am loved 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach in season and out of season Acts 5.42 Daily in the Temple and in every House they ceased not to Preach Jesus Christ Much unlike many Loyteres among us who count it a great matter to Preach or rather Read an old rusty Homiley once a Month or six Weeks Watch over the Souls of your People as Remembring-that you must give an account Heb 13.17 And therefore habit constant coaation and frequent familiar converse with them will be necessary Acts 20.28 Take heed to your selves and to all the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he has purchased with his own Blood Non residents never had their Commission from Christ and they will have but few or none to present unto him as their Crown and Glory in the great day of accounts 9. Look well to the government both of your own House and of the House or Church of God 1 Tim. 3.4 5. One that ruleth well his own House having his Children in subjection with all gravity for if a Man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take care of the Church of God Let nothing be seen in your selves or those that belong unto you that may give just occasion of offence to others whereby the work of God may be hindred Be Faithful Impartial and Authoritative in the administration of Censures as an Ordinance of Christ The Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven are a great trust shâ—â—â— not Heavens Gate or the Door of the Church against the weakest visible believer whom Christ and his People would have admitted And keep in none that are scandalous and obstinate whom Christ and his People would have excluded in nothing aming at the destruction of any but the edification of all 2 Cor. 10.4 5 6. The weapens of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled Lastly if you have a clear providential Call to suffer persecution for any truth of the Gospel or Ordinance of Christ decline it not 2 Tim. 2.3 Endure hardness as a good Souldier of Christ v. 8 9 10. Remember that Jesus Christ of the Seed of David was
for it is a good thing that the Heart be established with Grace not with Merits which have not profited them that have been occupied therein 2 Cor. 2.11 2 3 4. I am zealous over you with a Godly jealousie for I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chast Virgin to Christ but I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his Subtilty so your Minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ For if he that cometh perceiveth another Jesus whom we have not prepared or if ye receive another Spirit which ye have not received or another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed Contend for the truth against all that shall corrupt or oppose it Jude 1. Let no Ordinance be lost or adulterated with your good will restore all to their primitive purity and keep them in it Let the word of the Lord also go forth from you unto others that you being the Lord 's Holy Mountain may be a rich Blessing to all places round about Ezek. 34.26 Psal 110.2 Think your selves of some expedient how to propagate the Gospel according to your capacities abilities and as present Providences will permit after the pattern of the Church of Thessalonica 1 Ep. 1 Chap. v. 6 7 8. Yea become followers of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost so that ye were examples to all that were at Macedonia and Achaia for from you sounded out the word of the Lord. 6. God has fenced you with many Hedges and strong Fortifications to wit with his own Power Providence Spirit Word Angels and other Creatures insomuch that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against you Let therefore Mount Zion be glad and the Daughters of Judah be glad walk about Zion go round about her tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks consider her Palaces that ye may tell it to the Generations following for this God is our God for ever and ever he will be our guide unto Death Ps. 48. to the end Isa 4.5 6. The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the Assemblies a Cloud and Smoke by Day and shining of a Flaming Fire by Night for upon all the Glory shall be a defence and there shall be a Tabernacle for a Shadow in the Day-time from the Heat and for a place of Refuge and for a covert from the Storm and Rain And 41.10 11 12. Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea I will uphold thee with the Right Hand of my Righteousness behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded They shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish Thou shalt seek them and shalt not find them even them that contended with thee they that were against thee shall be as nothing and as a thing of nought 7. As God has made many Promises to you my indeed all Promises are Yea and Amen to you that believe 2 Cor. 1.20 So suck the Breasts of these Consolations and let the Word of Christ dwell Richly in you in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 Chuse Promises as a part of your Portion Psal 119.111 Acting Faith and Patience for the accomplishment thereof and comforting your selves therewith in all your Affictions Distresses and Tribulations Get some compendious Catalogue not only in your Heads but also in your Hearts of such promises especially which may afford you some comfortable relief against the temptations and troubles that do ordinarly attend a Church-state â—â—le instance in a few to shew you how to make improvement of the rest 1. Are you at any time under perturbation of Mind fearing the Rage and Rejection of the Men of the World for your separation not walking with them in the same way of visible Worship Let that of 2 Cor. 6.17 18. be ready at hand as a present remedy Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father to you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty It s true this Scripture is principally understood of separation from Idolatry and Idolaters but not exclusive of other separations where there is visible Righteousness and Unrighteousness Light and Darkness Christ and Belial Piety and Tolerated Profaness As you may see v. 14.15 2. Is the want of able Officers or being de prived of such as ye had your grief Make use of Ezek. 34.15 16. I will feed them in a good Pasture and upon the high Mountains of Israel shall the Fold be I will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and strengthen that which was sick Jer. 3.14 15. I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion and I will give you Pastores according to mine Heart which shall feed you with Knowledge and Understanding If it be for God's Glory and your good you may believe that some time or other that of Isa 30.20 21. shall be fulfilled I limit not the Holy One to Days Weeks Months or Years Though the Lord give you the Bread of Adversity and the Water of Affliction yet shall not thy Teachers be removed into a Corner any more but thine Eyes shall see thy Teachers and thine Ears shall hear a Word behind thee saying this is the way walk ye in it when ye turn to the Right Hand and to the Left 3. Are you a reproach to Neighbours vile and contemptible in the Eyes of all that are round about See Isa 28.5 The Lord of Hosts shall be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty to the residue of his People And 62.3 Thou shalt also be for a Crown of Glory in the Hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the Hand of thy God 〈◊〉 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be Married Isa 51.7 Hearken un to me ye that know Righteousness the Peoplâ— in whose Heart is my Law Fear ye not the reproach of Men neither be afraid of their Revilings for the Moth shall eat them up as a Garment and the Worm shall eat them as Wooll but my Righteousness shall be for ever and my Salvation from Generation to Generation Isa 54.4 5. Ezek. 36.15 â— 4. Is it so that Ordinances do you but little good your Souls are still Barren and Unfruitful
speak it shall be given you in that same hour For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you 10. If the Lord should suffer you to be Imprisoned or Banished be comforted from Jer. 15.11 The Lord said Verily it shall be well with thy Remnant verily I will cause the Enemy to entreat thee well in the time of Evil and in the time of Affliction Psal 12.5 For the oppression of the Poor for the Sighing of the Needy Now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs and Everlasting joy upon their Heads they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Jer. 30.18 19. 20 Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacob's Tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry I will Multiply them and they shall not be few I will also Glorifie them and they shall not be small Their Children also shall be as aforetime and their Congregation shall be established before me and I will punish all them that oppress them And 33.10 11. 11. Are you afraid that you may so Apostatize and fall away as cease to be a Church and God's People See Isa 54.9 10. As I have Sworn that the Waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so have I Sworn that I would not be Wrath nor Rebuke thee For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy one thee Jer. 31.35 36 37. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a Light by Day which divideth the Sea when the Waves thereof Roar If those Ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then the Seed of Israel also shall cease from being a Nation before me for ever Thus saith the Lord if Heaven above can be measured and the Foundations of the Earth be searched out beneath I will also cast off all the Seed of Israel for all that they have done Joh. 10.27 28 29. My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and they shall never perish neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand Lastly Would you be comforted with some grounded assurance that God's work in the latter Days shall go on and prosper maugre all oppsition The Kingdom of Christ shall be advanced i. e. There shall be a glorious reformation in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Antichrist and Antichristianism shall gradually be extirpated God's ancient People the Jews shall be converted and a more abundant measure of the Spirit of the Lord shall be poured forth See Isa 2. Begin Micah 4. Begin In the last Days it shall come to pass that the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the Mountains and it shall be exalted above the Hills and People shall flow unto it and many Nations shall come and say Let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths For the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem v. 5 6 7. All People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever In that Day saith the Lord will I assemble her that halteth and I will gather her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted And I will make her that halted a Remnant and her that was cast far off a strong Nation and the Lord shall Reign over them in Mount Zion from hence forth even for ever Psal 2.6 7 8. 2 Thes 2.8 9. Then shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming Rev. 14.6 7 8 9. Rom. 11.25 26. Rev. 11.15 Would you know how to demean your selves to them that are over you in the Lord 1. You owe them Love and Respect for their Office and Works sake as they are the representeves of Christs Person 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly for their works sake Gal. 4.13 14. Ye know how through infirmity of the Flesh I Preached the Gospel to you at first and my temptation which was in the Flesh ye despised not nor rerejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus I bear you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your own Eyes and have given them to me 2. Be not too credulous of every calumny and report that 's raised against them without due Examination of the truth or falshood thereof 1 Tim. 5.19 Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses 3. Walk according to their example so far as they are followers of Christ Phil. 3.17 Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example 1 Cor. 4.15 16. Though ye have Ten Thousand instructors in Christ yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel therefore I beseech you be followers of me And 11.3 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Thes 1.5 6 Jam. 5.10 Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience 4. Pray heartily for them Ram. 15.30 31 Now I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the Love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea And that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the Saints that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed with you Ephes 6.19 20. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my Mouth holdly to make known the Mistery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak 2 Thes 2.1 2. Brethren pray for us that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked Men for all Men have not Faith Heb. 13.18 19. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live
lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves Rom. 12.16 Mind not high things but condescend to Men of low Estate 5. If any difference in Principles or Practices fall out among you persue after Peace notwithstanding thereof especially if it be not in fundamentals of Faith and if it be visible that what the parties that differ from you do is from a Principle of Conscience and are in all other things conscientious Rom. 4.2 3. One believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not v. 17 18 19. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Phil. 3.15 16. Let as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same Rule let usmind the same thing Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. 6. Harbour not suspicious thoughts of one anothers Hypocrisy Rom 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up v. 10. Why dost thou judge thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ Jam. 4.11 12. Speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law but if thou judge the Law thou art not a Doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another Matth. 7.1 2. Judge not that ye be not Judged for with what Judgment ye Judge ye shall be Judged and with what Measure meet it shall be Measured to you again 7. Be very tender of doing any thing that may give just cause of offence to your Spiritual Relations especially in matters indifferent Rom. 14.13 14. Let no Man put a stumbling-Block or an occasion to fall in his Brother's way I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self i. e. none of those Meats which were unclean under the Law are so now made under the Gospel but to him that esteemeth any thing unclean to him it is unclean If thy Brother is destroyed with thy Meat thou walkest not charitably destroy not him with thy Meat for whom Christ Dyed 1 Cor. 9.10 11 12 13. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling Block to them that are Weak For if any Man see thee which hast knowledge sit at Meat in the Idols Temple Shall not the Conscience of him that is weak be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols And through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish for whom Christ Died But when ye sin so against the weak Brethren and wound their weak Conscience ye sin against Christ wherefore if Meat make my weak Brother to offend I will eat no Flesh while the World standeth lest I make my weak Brother to offend 1 Cor. 10.23 24. All things are Lawful for me but all things are not expedient all things are Lawful for me but all things edifie not let no Man seek his own but every Man another Wealth v. 32.33 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all Men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved Matth. 18.6 7. Gal. 5.13 1 Pet. 2.16 8. Visit one another as frequently as your occasions will give leave and let your Visits be as Acts of Charity When you come together spend not your time in talking of News Trifles or against others but fall upon some Soul-edifying discourse Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that Day when I make up my Jewels Ephes 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace to the hearers Col. 4.6 Let your Speech be always with Grace seasoned with Salt 9. Pray one for another Ephes 6.18 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for all Saints 10. Shew a tender Sympathy with each other in your several conditions 1 Pet. 3.8 Have compassion one of another and be pitiful 1 Cor. 12.26 If one of the Members do suffer all the Members should suffer with it If one Member be Honoured all the Members should rejoyce with it Gal. 6.2 Bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ 11. Confess your faults one to another and forgive one another even where there has been not only supposed but real injuries Jam. 5.16 Col. 3.12 13. Put on as the elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Longsuffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Matth. 5.23 If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy gift 12. If there are such among you as are really Poor Sick Aged and Infirm not able to work for themselves or impoverished by the Hand of Providence contribute to their necessities out of that which God has lent you 1 John 3.17 Who so hath this World's Good and seeth his Brother need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him Read the whole Eighth Ch. of the 2 Epistle to the Corinthians Where the Apostle exhorts them unto a liberal distrubition to the poor Saints at Jerusalem from the example of the Macedonians from the commendation of their former forwardness from the example of Christ and the Spiritual profit that would redound to themselves thereby Moreover Brethren we do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia how that in a great tryal of Affliction the abundance of their Joy and their deep Poverty abounded unto the Riches of their liberality For to their Power I bear record yea and beyond their Power they were willing of themselves praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of Ministring to the Saints Therefore as ye abound in every thing in Faith in Utterance in
things be with Prudence and Discretion admit them to a copartnership with your selves in the administration of domestical and familiar affairs Let them have Power over Children and Servants Gen. 16.6 Make use of their advice and assistance in common concerns Gen. 21.12 Correct their misdemeanours with gentle and seasonable admonitions If any difference happen let there be a speedy reconciliation study one anothers tempers and bear with one anothers infirmities 7. Give Honour unto them as unto the weaker Vessels and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hindred 1 Pet. 3.7 It s duty to pray together as Husbands and Wives and consequently your demeanour in all things should be such that you may be ready upon all occasions to go Hand in Hand to Heaven and to the Throne of Grace together 8. If you are providentially Yoaked with carnal and ungodly Wives you are not to leave them nor put them away how cross or untoward soever if they are willing to continue with you The same also I say or rather the Apostle concerning Godly Wives that have wicked Husbands 1 Cor. 7.12 13. If any Brother hath a Wife that believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away and the Woman which hath a Husband that believeth not if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him for the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband But if the unbelieving depart let him depart a Brother or Sister is not under Bondage in such cases But God hath called us to peace for what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt savâ— thy Wife 9. Get your Hearts every day more and more weaned from such dear Relations that when ever God shall be pleased to cause a divorce you may be able to bear it with such patience and contentation as becometh Christians 1 Cor. 7.29 This I say Brethren the time is short it remaineth that they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not for the Fashion of this World passeth away 1 Thes 4.13 14. I would not have you ignorant Brethren concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him Duties of Wives 1. Let it be your great care as to answer the end of your Creation so also of this institution of Marriage which was that you should be meet helps in all things and hindrances in nothing to your Husbands Gen. 2.18 The Lord said it is not good that Man should be alone I will make him an help meet for him Be helpful to them in their Souls Bodies Families and Estates 2. Let your Husbands have a reverential respect from you being studious how to please and loath to displease them Eph. 5.33 And the Wife see that she reverence her Husband 1 Pet. 3.6 Sarah called her Husband Lord 1 Cor. 7.34 The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be Holy both in Body and Spirit But she that is Married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband 3. Be subject and obedient to all their Lawful commands Tit. 2.4 5. Teach the Young Women to be Sober to Love their Husbands to Love their Children to be Discreet Chast keepers at home obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not Blasphemed Col. 3.18 Submit your selves to your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord Ephes 5.22 23 24. The Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church therefore as the Church is subject to Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing 1 Pet. 3.1 Likewise ye Wives be in subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the Word they may be won by the conversation of the Wives while they behold your Chast Conversation coupled with fear v. 5.6 For after this manner in the old time the Holy Women who trusted in God were in subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sarah obeyed Abraham 4. Be of a quiet and meek Spirit counting that your chief Ornament rather than costly Attire or gaudy Apparel according to the Fashion of the World 1 Pet. 3.4 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and wearing of Gold or putting on of Apparel 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 1 Tim. 2.9 10. Let Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel not with broidered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Aray but which becometh Women professing godliness with good works Read Isa 3 from v. 16. to the end Duties of Parents to Children 1. Instill Scripture-principles into them from their Infancy be teaching them according to their capacities to know God and themselves Instruct them of the Works of God of Man's original happiness before the Fall of his misery now by Sin of Redemption by Christ and the glory of the World to come Psal 75.3 4 5 6. which we have heard and known and our Fathers have told us we will not hide them from their Children shewing to the Generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful works which he hath done For he established a Testimony in Jacob and appointed a Law in Israel which he commanded our Fathers that they should make them known to their Children that the Generation to come might know them even the Children which should be Born who should arise and declare them to their Children 2 Tim. 3.14 15. Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I commend thee this Day shall be in thine Heart and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children Psal 34.12 Prov. 4.1 2 3 4. Psal 44.1 2. 2. Use the Rod in Love and with discretion when no other means will make them mend Prov. 13.24 He that Spareth his Rod hates his Son but he that Loveth him chasteneth him betimes And 19.18 Chasten thy Son while there is hope and let not thy Soul spare for his crying And 23.13 14. And 29.15 17. Heb. 12.9 10. 3. Bestow Breeding and Education upon them at School and otherwise if you are able that so they may be fitted for some calling whereby to serve their Generation being useful both to Church and State Observe their Genius
Nature Temper Talents Disposition and Inclination Prov. 20.11 Even a Child is known by his doings what way he is inclined whether to good or evil 4. Provide Temporals for them by all Lawful and Honest ways without wronging your own Consciences or others Prov. 19.14 House and Riches are the Inheritance of Fathers 2 Cor. 12.14 The Children ought not to lay up for their Parents but the Parents for their Children 1 Tim. 5.8 If any provide not for his own specially for those of his own House he hath denyed the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 5. As much as in you lieth transmit a Blessing to your Posterity with Temporals being chiefly Sollicitous that they may become the Children of God having true Grace wrought in their Souls Prov. 8.10 11. Receive my Instruction and not Silver and Knowledge rather than choice Gold For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Psal 37.16 6. Improve not your parental Authority with too much rigour lest they be driven to take desperate courses Col. 3.21 Fathers provoke not your Children to anger lest they be discouraged When once they are of Age deal with their Consciences convincing them of the sinfulness of their ways mixing lenity and tenderness with your Authority Ephes 6.4 Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Charge them to serve the Lord God of your Fathers 1 Thes 2.11 Gen. 18.19 I know Abraham that he will command his Houshold and his Children after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice an Judgment Deut. 32.46 Set your Hearts unto all the words which I testifie amongst you this day which ye shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law 7. Provide fit matches for them being carefull that they Marry in the Lord Gen. 24.2 3 4. Abraham said to his Servant thou shalt not take a Wife unto my Son of the Daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell but thou shalt go to my Country and to my Kindred and take a Wife unto my Son Isaac 8. Be much in seeking the Lord for them that they may be abundantly Blessed with all Blessings Spiritual and Temporal Parents Prayers may prove their Childrens best Portion even a Treasure laid up in Heaven for them Children of many Prayers seldom miscarry Be affected towards your Children as Paul to the Galatians Chap. 4. v. 19. My little Children of whom I Travel in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Job sent and sanctified his Children Chap 1. v. 5. i.e. He sent up Prayers to God for them he offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all Duties of Children to Parents 1. Give them all due Reverence and Respect Ep. 6.2 Honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the Earth 2. Obey their counsels and commands Prov 23.22 Harken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is Old And 30.17 The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Col 3.20 Ephes 6.1 3. Submit to their correction Heb. 12.8 We have had Fathers of our Flesh which have corrected us and we gave them reverence v. 7. What Son is he whom the Father chasteneth not 4. Trace the steps of your godly Parents Joh. 8.39 If ye were Abraham's Children ye would do the works of Abraham 1 Pet. 3.6 Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well 2 Tim. 1.5 When I remember the unfeigned Faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also Rom. 4.11 12 19 20 21.22 5. Dispose not of your selves in Marriage without their consent Where Parents consent is wanting as one saith there God's blessing is away Yea a Curse comes often upon such Matches Seth's Sons Marrying with Cain's Daughters without the consent of their godly Parents had a wretched Posterity Juda Marrying a Canaanite without his Father's advice contrary to the principle of the pious Patriarchs which was against the mixed Marriages of an Israelite with a Canaanite had two such Sons that God would not suffer them to live but slew them himself Gen. 38.2 3. and 26.34 34. with 27.46 Esau marrying after the same manner his Wives were a grief of mind to his Father and Mother Rebecca said to Isaac I am weary of my life because of the Daughters of Heth if Jacob take of them for a Wife what good shall my life do me 6. If Providence do so impoverish your Parents that they have not a competence for a subsistence you ought to provide for them and supply their wants 1 Tim. 5.4 If any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite the Parents for that is good and acceptable before God v. 16. If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed Joseph nourished his Father with all his houshold and Brethren Gen. 47.12 Ruth gave of her gleanings to her Mother-in-law Naami ch 2.18 Matth. 15.5 Be not more unnatural than the Stork which feeds her aged Parents carrying them on her Shoulders into the Meadows and bringing them back again Duties of Masters to Servants 1. Be Christianly affectionate both to the Souls and Bodies of your Servants Catechise and Instruct them in the knowledge of God Exhort them to serve God with their Souls as well as your selves with their Bodies Allow them time for Reading the Scriptures and Private Prayer See that they Sanctifie the Sabbath in hearing Sermons and in other religious exercises craving an account how they have profited Be not too rigorous in imposing hard labour upon them which they cannot perform Do not over-task nor over-work them like the Egyptians to the Israelites Exod. 5.7 8. A righteous Man is merciful to his Beast how much more to his Servant If they fall Sick in your service be wanting the use of no means that may be for their recovery not like the hardhearted Amalekite that left his Servant in the Field because of Sickness 2 Sam. 30.13 but like the Centurion who besought Christ to cure his paralytick Servant Mat. 8.5 6 7. 2. Give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing also that you have a Master in Heaven Col. 4.1 Let them have Food an Rayment Meat Drink and Wages according to their deserts and your agreement with them Luke 17.8 Gird thy self and serve me till I have Eaten and Drunken and afterwards thou shalt Eat and Drink Prov. 31.15 And 27.27 Mt. 20.8 The Lord of the Vineyard saith unto the Steward call the Labourers and give them
their hire beginning from the last unto the first To withold the Labourers Wages is a crying sin Deut. 24.14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired Servant that is poor and needy thou shalt give him his hire at his Day neither shall the Sun go down upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee Jam. 5.4 Behold the hire of the Labourers which have Reapt down your Fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cryes of them which have Reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoths 3. Bear with many infirmities and small faults in Servants not being too couriosly sollicitious to pry thereinto Eccl. 7.21 22. Take no heed to all words that are spoken lest thou hear thy Servant curse thee for often times also thine own Heart knoweth that thou thy self hast cursed others 4. Do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Ephes 6.5 Deal by them as you would have your Heavenly Master deal by you and as you would have Earthly Masters deal by you if you were Servants They are to obey you in the Lord so command them only in the Lord command them nothing against their own consciences You would have them serve you not with eye-service but sincerly and in singleness of Heart so shew your selves kind to them not dissemblingly or fraudulently but uprightly and conscionably You would have them leave nothing of your work undone so leave nothing of their Wages unpaid Carry not your selves Imperiously Harshly Churlishly nor Nabal-like to them give them not provoking or irritating Language 5. Walk exemplarily in all Holiness and Righteousness of conversation before them especially in the performance of Family-duties The eyes of Servants are much on their Masters and Mistresses to mark what they say and do Prov. 29.12 If a Ruler hearken to Lyes all his Servants are wicked Ps 101.2 3 4. I will walk within mine House with a perfect Heart mine Eyes be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my House he that telleth Lyes shall not tarry in my sight Let not wickedness dwell within your Tabernacles that so God may make the Habitation of your Righteousness prosperous Job 8.6 Col. 4.12 Masters continue in Prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Duties of Servants 1. Honour your Masters 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke count their own Masters worthy of all Honour that the name of God and his Doctrine be not Blasphemed 1 Pet. 2.18 2. Do in all things Lawful according to their command Ephes 6.5 And Col. 3.22 Obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh Tit. 2.9 3. Do their work chearfully and readily at all times when their eye is off as when upon you and as remembring you are still under God's eye Col. 3.22 23 24. Not with eye-service as Men-pleasers but in singleness of Heart fearing God And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Ephes 6.5 6 7 8. Doing the Will of God from the Heart with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bound or free 4. Disclose not their secrets neither discourse of things out of the Family to their prejudice Servants must not be as spies in the House nor Tale-tellers out of it for such are worse than Thieves 5. Be diligent in the quick dispatch of their bussiness and speedy execution of their commands Gen. 24.31 Abraham's Servant vvould not eat till he had told his errand and as soon as he had done he sayes thus v. 54. Send me away that I may go to my Master 6. Do for them as for your selves nay prefer their business before your own Gen. 30.30 The Lord faith Jacob to Laban hath Blessed thee since my coming to thee and now when shall I provide for mine own House also See Gen. 37.38 Do not Purloin Steal or Wast their Goods by riotous Eating Drinking or any unnecessary expences you must not wittingly or willingly cousen them of a Farthing Tit. 2.10 Not purlonging but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Mat. 25.23 7. When you are Rebuked or Chid for your faults do not return any proud or sawcy replies but rather answer with silence Tit. 2.9 Not answering again Prov. 15.1 A soft Answer turneth away Wrath but grievous words stir up Anger 8. If Providence cast you upon such as are harsh and untoward who both in words and deeds do misuse you carry it meekly and patiently towards them 1 Pet. 2.18 19. Servants be subject not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward for this is thankworthy If a Man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully for even hereunto were ye called 9. If ye are Servants to such as are Godly shew them not the less but rather more respect upon that account 1 Tim. 6.2 3 4. They that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them service because they are Faithful and Beloved partakers of the benefit These things Teach and Exhort if any Man Teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is Proud knowing nothing but doating about questions and strifes and words whereof cometh envy Thus you have had some delineation of the Duties which you owe unto God and others The Conclusion of all shall commend some few things which concern every particular Christian in reference to the right orderâ—ing of his own Conversation 1. Let God have the first Fruits of your thoughts every Morning you will find it profitable and advantageous to your Souls to begin and end every day with some Godly meditations As soon as you awake let this or some such thought enter into your Heart O what mercy is it I am yet out of Hell that the Lord has given me any comfortable refreshment this last Night my awaking thus after Sleep and rising after a lying down may serve as an Ebmleme to put me in mind of the Resurrection of the Body after it hath slept the sleep of Death in the Grave for some season O how comfortable to the Eye is the Light of the Sun after a dismal Darkness but how much more comfortable would the Light of God's countenance prove to my dark and disconsolate Heart shewing himself as a reconciled God to me in the Blood of a Saviour What is the end of God
for his Glory and Honour tempering your Zeal still with Knowledge anda Holy descretion Eighthly Let your hopes for Heaven be well bottomed not the Hypocrites hope and persist in a patient waiting to the end for what is wrapt up in the promise and for what Faith has believed so as never to be swallowed up in a distrustful despair Pet. 1.13 8. Be frequent in self-examination try the truth of your Graces by the Touch-stone of the Word 2 Cor. 13.15 Lament 3.40 Ps 119.59 Ps 4.4 Interrogate your selves sometimes whether yet there be an effectual change wrought upon your Hearts whether at this instant God is present with or absent from you whether you are Dead and Lumpish or Lively and Active in the present temper of your Spirits whether you are going backward or forward there will be no time lost in communing with your selves about Soul-concerns for if upon search you discover an advance and growth in Grace it will occasion praises and thanksgivings if otherwise humiliation and reformation 9. In every Ordinance of Worship mind the sanctifying of God's Name the furthering your Souls communion with God and the increase of Grace in you 1. Peruse the Scriptures as a Love-Letter sent from Heaven wherein you may Read as in Letters of Gold engraven with the point of Diamond the eternal purpose and counsel of God concerning your Salvation Be of David's mind Ps 19.10 The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired than Gold yea than much sine Gold Sweeter also than Honey and the Honey Comb. Always with Reading joyn Prayer and Meditation Observe some order and method Be constant in it using it as your Souls daily Food 1 Pet. 2.2 Let them that are able and can spare time Read the Bible with some helps for better understanding the literal sense thereof I humbly commend Jackson's Annot from Genes to Isa and the Dutch Annot. from Isa to the end To them that would Read Practical Observations Piscator and the Scotish Divines so far as they have gone in commenting thus on the Scriptures 2. Where the Word is Preached in the Name of Christ as an Ordinance of God by such as are Authorized from Heaven make conscience of hearing it not as it is the Word of Man but as it is the Word of God which effectually worketh in them that believe 1 Thes 2.13 3. When you have occasion to sit down at the Lord's Table as a fellow-communicant with the invited guests of the King of Glory Come First self-examination being previous according to the command of Christ 1 Cor. 11.28 Secondly With a more than ordinary edge upon your Appetite 3ly With Knowledge and Faith to discern the Lord's Body 4ly With such a penitential frame of Heart that you cannot tell how to look upon him whom you have pierced with dry Eyes 5ly Let Sacrament seasons be solemn renuals of your Covenant with God coming under a sacred Oath that you will with full purpose of Heart cleave unto him and his ways all your Days 6ly Study to answer the ends of Christ in this institution in experiencing it to be a Soul-sanctifying Love-feast in respect of the sweet communion you have with himself therein and with those that are visible Members of his Body mystical 7ly What Kisses of Christ's Mouth and Embraces of Bosom-Love are there communicated be chary of them walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing not turning Grace into wantonness 4. Let the Lord's Day be your delight First Set it apart wholly for the service of God in works of Piety and Charity Isa 58.13 14. Let it be a Holy Day indeed to you on which you are not to think your own thoughts speak your own words nor do your own works or use recreations at other times Lawful Secondly Observe it as a time of Triumphant Joy and Thankfulness for the Glorious work of our Redemption by Christ Thirdly As a significative memorial of your celebrating an eternal sabbatism in the Heavens 10. Learn contentation with every condition studying the duties that are proper both for a prosperous and an afflicted state so as to be found in the practice thereof Duties of a prosperous State 1. When you are high in Estate be humble in Mind having low thoughts of your selves as being less than the lest of all God ' s mercies Gen. 32.10 Secondly In fulness deny not God saying Who is the Lord Prov. 30.9 Thirdly Acknowledge him with Thankfulness as the Author of all your Enjoyments 4ly Testifie your Thankfulness in Honouring him with your substance and with the first fruits of your increase Prov. 3.9 Fifthly Despise not the poor neither shut your Bowels against them Sixthly Take not encouragement to sin the more against God because his Grace abounds towards you but fear him because of his goodness Hos 3.5 Seventhly Read Pray Hear Meditate watch over your Hearts maintain a constant communion with God in Holy walkings and perform all Holy duties as much then as ever Eighthly When you are at the highth and top of prosperity expect and prepare for a change every Day that it may never surprize you unawares but that with Job you may say there 's no evil come upon me but what I feared 9ly Be so far from Glutting and Surfeiting your selves with Creature comforts and Enjoyments terminating your satisfaction and content wholly therein that you shall rather thereby be made to long for Heavens Glory the more saying often thus within your selves If a little Water that comes from the Cistern now be so sweet and refreshing O what will a full draught of the Water of Life Drunk at the Fountain and Well-Head be to all eternity If there be so much comfort in Creatures O what is in the Creator himself when he shall be all in all to us and in Christ when we shall see him and be as he is Come Lord Jesus even so come quickly Duties of an afflicted State 1. Eye the Hand of God in all cross ocurrences as considering there 's no evil in the City but what is of him Amos 3.6 Secondly Consider what in your selves may be the cause of the crosses search till you find out the plague of your own Hearts Thirdly Be humbled for whatever has provoked the Lord to deal thus by you and turn unto him that smites you with a hearty and thorough Reformation 4ly Is any Man afflicted let him pray Jam. 5.13 If ever there was a time for you to pour out your Souls into the Bosom of God It s when his chastening Hand is upon you Isa 26.16 Hos 5.15 Fifthly Harbour not any thoughts of repining at God's good pleasure but bear his indignation patiently 6ly Be Thankful not only for former mercies but also for the present temperature and mixture of mercy with justice Lam. 3.22 Say with Job the Lord gives the Lord takes Blessed be the Name of the Lord for ever Job 1.21 Seventhly Act Faith upon particular promises made