understand his errours Then again for sins of omission thy barrennesse and unfruitfulnesse thy omitting of time that is so precious and omitting of occasions of doing good see Mat. 25. 45. Again let us consider the aggravations of sin first every sin is against the great Majesty of God the greater the person offended is the greater the sin committed is Again we sin against knowledge it was the great sin of the Gentiles that when they knew God they glorified him not as God to sin against knowledge is a resisting the holy Ghost tribulation therefore is first to the Jew that knew the will of God and then to the Gentile Now the Gentiles had but the light of nature see Rom. 2. 9. Again another aggravation of sin is this we have sinned against vowes and covenants made with God now sin after covenant is greater then it was before though in act it be but the same Again we sin against means yea against those means that God hath put as weapons in our hands to resist it as mercies or corrections of God or his word whereby we profit not Now all this that hath been spoken hitherto of our sinfull condition by nature and practise is but a taste of one drop to the Ocean to that bulk and body of corruption that lyeth covered in our hearts as fire under ashes see Psal 19. 12. Who can understand the errors of his life saith David I will set thy sins in order before thee saith the Lord Psal 50. The next thing to be considered is the judgements threatned against those sins Psal 50. 22. Now consider this saith the Lord lest I come and tear you in pieces Cursed is he that continueth not in every thing that is written Gal. 3. 10. and he that keepeth the whole Law and offends but in one point is guilty of all Jam. 2. 10. so that sin and punishment are linked together See the forementioned places Rom. 6 32. Rev. 14. 10. Psal 9. 17. Rom. 2. 9. Deut. 28. 16 17 18. Now when the soul seeth his sin and the judgements due to him for sin then the soul doth begin to make a stop and to consider where it is and whither it is going and as it looks up it seeth an angry Judge ready to pronounce his condemnation and as it looks down it sees hell mouth open ready to receive it If thou look before thee all the world seems in a flame of fire and behinde thee a hideous noise of an innumerable number of thy fellow sinners at their wits ends crying out with the Jaylor What shall I do to be saved or else with the four leapers 2 King 7. 3 4. If we should enter into the city the famine is there and we shall dye and if we sit still here we die also Now therefore let us fall into the hands of the Assyrians if they save us alive we live if not we shall but die Even thus is it with every soul a little convinced of his sinfull life lost and undone condition First if we should look back and enter into the City of all the good that we have done the famine is there and we shall die and if we sit still here in this state of nature not improving the opportunity nor ability that is in our hands we die also now therefore let us fall into the hands of the Assyrians if they save us alive we shall live if not we shall but die This third and last resolution of the Lepers doth shew and fully discover to all men that have their eyes in their heads that a man or woman once convinced of sin both originall and actuall of omission and commission both in flesh and spirit with all its aggravations and denominations this party seeks for healing but it goes to the Assyrians an enemy that could not help themselves so we even we the most of men awakened out of a secure estate of sin the soul seeks and comes to the Assyrian of his own righteousnesse and when he comes to the camp he findes that fled away then he returns to all his friends and relations and finds them unable to help themselves much leste to help him Then the soul comes to the Assyrian of his own duties and ordinances and so rests upon a form without the power and so we wil never come to Christ the true and only physician of the soul untill with the woman in Mar. 5. 25 26 27 28. we have spent all our money time and pains and left no stone unturned no means unattempted to get cuâ—e and healing in something beside the Lord Jesus Christ but when with this woman we have spent all and yet grow worse and worse then the soul begins to make a halt or stop again and so begins to reason with it self If I sit still here in the state of nature I shall die or if I should go into the City of my own works the Lord hath written death upon that no flesh shall be justified by that I will even fall into the hands of God the great Creator of the Assyrians Who can tell but that he may be gracious unto me that I perish not Jonah 3. 9. Joel 2. 14. Nay the Lord may be gracious to me and save me Amos 5. 15. Oh let me and all those my fellow sinners fall into his hands it may be we shall be hid in the day of the Lords wrath It is true we being wicked he may say to us as in Psal 50. 16. What hast thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth But for all this I am resolved saith one I am resolved saith another to go to him and cast my self upon him although it doth seem to be contrary to his law which is our Debt-book yet there doth seem to be a way opened in the Gospell which is the Pay-book where if I mistake not are Receipts for most of my debts if not for all Wherefore as Esther 4. 16. she resolved to go to the King though it was contrary to the Law So am I saith the convinced sinner resolved to go in to the King of Kings and if I perish I perish Now sometimes before the soul comes to this strong resolution even when once it begins to be throughly convinced of sin it makes a stop or halt like a traveller meeting with two waies and knows not which to take he stands still and takes neither of them for the present but continues inquiring of all that passe by and at last having silenced his own thoughts he hears a voice behinde him saying as in Isa 30. 21. This is the way walk in it and so the Lords gives a mighty turn to the soul by that secret voice but before the soul comes thus farre there is wrought in the soul the assenting act of faith but not the applying act now the assenting act is that whereby a man assents to the truth of the Scripture that he is such a miserable wretch as
required as absolutely necessary to salvation Joh. 17. 3. Joh. 3. 36. 8. 24. Psal 2. 12. Luk. 19. 27. So that election and reprobation are not in any sense causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation so that election and reprobation they are but precedent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the decrees and the execution thereof So then if we consider men in themselves and without Christ they are dead in their sins without any spirituall strength and having neither will nor spirituall power neither in themselves nor of themselves either to beleeve or to doe any good work from any true principle or for any good end therefore Gods grace prepareth us before we can be able and worketh in us that we may be able nay the Lord doth work all our works in or for us as well after beleeving as before beleeving Take a man that is quickned inlightned converted and impowered by the Spirit of God in the inward man this man hath need of a continuall supply Phil. 1. 19. of the Spirit of God of renewed strength for we read of Peter that he rested upon some old received strength and so fals before a new temptation So again Paul I can doe all things through Christ enabling me he knew he must not rest upon what he was inabled to doe but expect a continuall enabling by the same Spirit that at first enabled him Eph. 6. 10. Be strong in the Lord that is be ye strengthned daily more and more by the power of the Lord that is be ye encouraged to doe the thing required of the Lord by that union ye have with him by faith drawing from him all the strength ye stand in need of 1. Consider thou hast a power already given thee by which thou art able to doe the thing required 2. Or else with the command the Lord conveyes a power to inable thee to do the thing commanded Thirdly when thou lookest upon the command on thy left hand then look upon the promises on thy right hand wherein the Lord God hath promised to inable thee and not not not faile thee nor nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. It is observed that there are five Negatives in these words although our Translation doth expresse but one but for more carefull practising doing and observing all the commands of our God consider these few things as incouragements 1. He requires no more of us then he hath inabled us to doe or at least promised to inable us to doe 2. For our encouragement he hath promised to reward us for doing our duty so that to every precept there are two Promises the one to reward us the other to inable us and both to encourage us And in case of slothfulnesse and negligence in leaving undone what we ought and might have done First he complains on us Secondly he exhorts us Thirdly he threatens us Fourthly he tells us that he did put a prize into our hands but we like fools had no heart to it and so our cloudings eclipsings mis-givings and doubtings are but the effects of our negligence See Isa 59. 2. Isa 1. 15. Jer. 5. 25. Psal 107. 17. 34. The Lord doth protest we are not straitned in him he is not wanting to us what could I saith the Lord have done more for my Vineyard Isa 5. 4. And when I looked for Grapes it brought forth wilde Grapes wherefore judge are not my wayes equall and yours unequall Heare O Heavens and give eare O Earth be astonished I have furnished a people with strength to obey me and they have rebelled against me What will no man believe me did I ever say seeke mee in vaine did not your Fathers trust in me and were saved are not my wayes equall and yours unequall do I reap where I have not sown do I require much where I have given little is not my promise before you and my presence with you is not my blessing upon you and my Angels guarding you dost thou want strength ask of me dost thou want wisdome ask of me Have not I said in my Word that I do give liberally and upbraide not have I not said I will withhold no good thing from thee and have I not promised to work faith in thee and protested I will never faile nor forsake thee Why dost thou not take hold of my Covenant and assure thy self I will never faile thee The soul having all its stumbling-blocks removed it begins to clear up and solace it self in the apprehension of Christ and application of his promises and so breaks forth into these or the like words Ever blessed be the name of God that hath removed these terrible stumbling-blocks that lay in my way now I see that I never saw now I know that I never knew he hath anoynted mine eyes he hath scattered all my doubts he is my God and I will prepare him a habitation in my soule and the chiefest roome in my heart God told Moses he could not see his face and live If I cannot see his face and live then let me dye that I may behold him as he is and have full injoyment of him O I am sick for the love of him that dyed for the love of me I was ignorant as a beast before him but now I know him and have experience of him he hath avouched himselfe to be mine and I have avouched my selfe to be his Jacobs life was bound up in Benjamins but my soule is bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord my God so that for me to live is Christ and to dye is gaine he hath overcome me with his love he hath made knowne his minde to me in removing these stumbling-blocks from me I am overcome with admiration and replenished with exceeding consolation 21. The last stumbling-block that I shall name is this And saith many a poor soul with-within it self I know not with what Society or Assembly to joyne with there are so many opinions viz. Presbytery Independency Anabaptist Arminians Antinomians Ranters Quakers Seekers I know not with whom to sit downe O tell me O thou whom my soule loveth where thou feedest thy flock that so I may be able to discerne betweene him that serveth God in pretence or in truth Ans My advise is That thou wouldst own all men and women let them go under what name soever if thou seest any thing of the appearance of Christ in them and know no man after the flesh 2 Cor. 5. 16. that is do not so much take notice of mens outward appearances viz. kindred quality honour wisdome or eloquency but meerly know them after the spirit that is according to the spirituall power vertue and grace that is in them the true Church then are a people created in Christ Jesus or begotten and born to God in the faith and knowledge of his Son by the
as a seal or undenyable confirmation of our relation unto and interest in Christ and the promises for a Christian must be well grown in grace before he can be well assured that he was elected before the world and since called out of the world although these things be sure enough in its selfe by Gods decree and immatability 2 Tim. 2. 19. Mal. 3. 6. Joh. 6. 40. Rom. 11. 29. VIII Well saith the fainting misgiving soul you have holpe me over this stumbling block touching my election I see I have no just ground to question that no more no nor yet so much as that woman of Canaan had Mat. 15. 24 26. so that I am gotten over that stumbling block and have for a few weeks had a little peace and comfort and me thought my soule began steadily to rest upon the mercy of God through the merits of Christ and whiles I was thus solacing my selfe behold another stumbling block was cast in my way viz. That I am not one of Gods children neither doe I belong to him because I have fearfull thoughts suggested unto me as to blaspheme God his Word the Lord Jesus Christ and to make away my selfe or to kill some other body Answ This temptation is no other then what is common to man nay the best of men have had their share in these and the like things see Heb. 4. 15. the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe was not free from temptations for the text saith We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sinne Mat. 4. 6 9. Job had the same temptations upon him Job 7. 15. So that my soul chooseth strangling and death rather theâ—… life Now strangling was one of those punishments used amongst the Jewes for the punishment of Capitall offenders such as struck Father or Mother or that prophesied in the name of an Idoll and such as committed folly with a Priests daughter c. and when the Romans overcame the Jewes they brought in Crucifying in stead of it In a word there is no ground for any man or woman to thinke they are not Gods children nor belong to him because he permitteth the Devill thus to tempt and trouble them 2 Cor. 12. 7. Paul had the messenger of Satan to busset him Luke 22. 31. Satan doth sift the best as well as the least Christians I say he doth sift them as wheat James 1. 12. Blessed is the Man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the crown of life And that the Lords own beloved ones have been in all ages thus troubled with inward and outward temptations it will yet further appear if you read these insuing Scriptures 1 Cor. 10. 13. Gen. 3. 15. Rom. 16. 20. Revel 2. 10. Eph. 6. 12. Revel 12. 17. Luke 4. 13. Isa 50. 10. Psal 88. throughout Psal 6. 3. Prov. 3. 11 12. Heb. 12. 6 7 8. Revel 3. 19. The dearest Saints and servants of God may be buffeted and sifted with such sad temptations and horrid thoughts against God the Father Sonne or holy Ghost blasphemous thoughts arising in our hearts yet not consented to by us but rather abhorred these are the Devils sinnes not our sinnes they be our sorrowes afflictions and miseries but not our sinnes an upright heart is no more guilty of them then Benjamin of Josephs cup put into his sack fearfull thoughts not consented to by us are not our sins but the Devils and Satan must answer for that himself IX The ninth stumbling block is this Surely if the Lord did love me and intend mercy to me he would not continually follow me with afflictions wrath and misery for so it hath been with me for a long time as one hour passeth away and another cometh so doth one crosse after another come upon me like hail and if the Lord doe intend good to me why is it thus and thus with me was any sorrow like my sorrow Answ Thou maiest be dearly beloved although sorely afflicted for Gods house of Correction is his Schoole of instruction he had one Sonne without Corruption but no Sonne without Correction God had one Sonne without sinne but no Sonne without sorrow the Almighty can look sowrely and chide bitterly and strike heavily and even where and when he loves dearly for there may be true grace where there is not one drop of comfort nor one dram of joy It is true the mercies are thine but the time of giving them to thee is the Lords Was not Job the justest man then alive fought against by the terrours of the Lord Job 6. 4. Was not David a man after Gods own heart so washed with the grief of his heart that his moisture was turned into the drought of the summer Psal 32. 3 4. Must Hezekiah who walked before the Lord in truth and with a perfect heart have the anger of the Almighty break his bones like a Lion Isai 38. 13. Nay must the Sonne of God himself by bleeding upon the Crosse cry out in the bitternesse of his Spirit My Ged my God why hast thou forsaken me and doest thou think to bee brought out of the state of nature into a state of grace and grow up in that state without afflictions and temptations Doest think that the Devill will let goe a prisoner and send no Hue and Cry after him or doest think he will lose one of his goats and not endeavour to look after him and finde him and bring him home again No surely he will leave no stone unturned no means unattempted to betray thy soul he will throw out his golden bait and hide the hook and if that will not doe then he throwes out his golden bait and transformes himself into an Angell of light that he might draw thee and others again into a state of darknesse he doth spread his nets and cast forth his baits in all places and in all companies he hath snares for the wise and snares for the simple snares for the rich and snares for the poor snares for the aged and snares for the young in a word he tryeth all opportunities to bring us back again and to break our peace to wound our consciences to lessen our comfort to impair our graces to slurre our evidences and to damp our assurances for he knowes if he can trip up our heels by yeelding to the least sinne willingly it will cost us more grief sorrow heart-breaking and soul-bleeding be fore conscience will be quieted Divine Justice satisfied and our comforts and enjoyments restored our evidences cleared and our pardon in the Court of conscience sealed see Judg. 6. 13. and Gideon said If the Lord be with us why then is all this befallen us but the Lord was with Gideon notwithstanding as appears in that Chapter so that these and the like troubles is no signe of Gods hatred but rather of his love Isai 48. 10. I have chosen thee
I have been speaking to XVIII The next stumbling block is or may be this I fear saith another poor stammering soul that I shall never be saved for Christ tels me plainly Mat. 5. 20. that except my righteousnesse doe exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees I shall not be saved and I have examined my self and doe finde that my righteousnesse is so farre from exceeding theirs that theirs doe much exceed mine Answ The Scribes and Pharisees sought righteousnesse only by the works of the Law which made none perfect in that the Scriptures saith it was weak through the flesh Rom. 8. 3. none were able to fulfill it therefore Israel attained not to the Law of righteousnesse because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law Rom. 9. 31. our righteousnesse must exceed this as doth the righteousnesse which is of faith in Jesus who perfectly fulfilled the Law for us or you shall not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven For by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified Rom. 3. 20. and we are justified by faith only without the works of the Law Now if by righteousnesse was meant works of mens own acting as temperance obedience mercy and justice and upright dealing then we finde in Scripture that Heathens have outstript many if not most of us 1. For temperance King Ahasuerus Hester 1. 8. a Heathen King made a law that no man should be compelled to drink and yet many that call themselves Christians can hardly lay aside their drinking of healths 2. For Obedience when King Abimelech took Abrahams Wife no sooner did the Lord command him to deliver her to Abraham again but he obeyed the command of the Lord. Jonah preached at Niniveh to the Heathen and no sooner did they hear him but they did beleeve and repent 3. For Mercy when Paul and the rest of the company suffered ship-wrack the Heathen came and did receive them See Act. 28. 1 2 3. 4. For Justice and upright dealing the King of Sodome a Heathen when Abraham had overcome the four Kings and brought home the Sodomites the King of Sodome said unto him Give me the men and take thee the goods for thy pains Belshazzaâ— see how he kept promise with Daniel for when he saw the hand writing on the wall he said unto Daniel If thou wilt interpâ—et it for me I will make thee the third ruler in my kingdome Daniel told him that it tended to the ruining of him and all his house and notwithstanding this Heathen King kept promise with him and made him the third ruler in the land Dan. the 5. from the 16. to the 29. vers Again consider well this Scripture Ezek. 5. from the 6. verse to the end of that chapter the Lord doth send heavie judgements upon his people for being out stript by Heathens Vers 6. Shee hath changed my judgements into wickednesse more thâ—n the Nations and my Statutes more then the Countries round about therefore Vers 7. Thus saith the Lord God because ye multiplyed more then the Nations that are round about you and have not walked in my Statutes neither have kept my Judgemenâ—s Vers 8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God Behold I even I am against thee and will execute Judgements in the midst of thee in the sight of the Nations and I will doe in thee that which I have not done and whereunto I will not doe any more the like because of all thy abominations Vers 12. Therefore a third part of thee shall die with the pestilence and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee and I will scatter a third part into all the world and I will draw out a sword after them Verâ— 13. Thus shall mine anger be accomplished and I will cause my fury to rest upon them and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal when I have accomplished my fury in them c. From all which we may clearly learn that God will not spare a sinfull people but let out his fury to the full to the highest degree stirre up all his wrath pour out his full vials upon a disobedient people although they were known by the name of the Lords owne inheritance if their righteousnesse doth not exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees But on the contrary if their wickednesse doe exceed the wickednesse of the Heathen then there is no escaping from Gods judgements one or other will overtake them 1 King 19. 15. The Lord will scatter them into Babylon Moab Ammon Egypt Psal 44. 12. So that if we look only upon the externall performance and judge according to the outward appearance you shall finde many civilized men and women out-strip some of the Saints but yet for all that we are exhorted by Christ in some cases not to judge according to the outward appearance but to judge righteous judgement Joh. 7. 24. Now the righteousnesse of a Christian doth exceed the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees and all Heathens in the world in these two things 1. By faith in Christ whereby all the righteousnesse of Christ is made his 2. In works done in faith which the other cannot doe one thing done in faith is better then a thousand in unbelief Rom. 14. 23. 1. Every Christians righteousnesse doth exceed that of the Pharisees by saith in Christ whereby the righteousnesse of Christ is made his by faith the poor creature seeth all his sinnes which the Spirit of God had convinced him of laid upon Christ Isai 53. 6. Again by faith he cometh to see Christ made unto him wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. And so by faith in him he can say the Lord our righteousnesse and hear the Lord say unto him in me is thy fruit found So the soul looking upon Christ in whom he is accepted Ephes 2. 13. and so he seeth all is of grace nothing of debt election is the election of grace vocation is according to the good pleasure of his will 2 Tim. 1. 9. regeneration was of Gods own will Jam. 1. 18. Faith the gift of God Phil. 1. 29. Justification is freely by grace Rom. 3. 24. and a free gift Rom. 5. 15 18. and forgivenesse of our sins according to the riches of his grace Ephes 1. 7. Eternall life the freest gift of God Rom. 6. 23. Act. 15. 11. even the life of glory is the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. Christ himself was a token of free love from the Father to mankinde and as his whole work was to love so his whole love was free and as we said before there is not one soul that ever be loved but it was poor and empty sick and impotent unamiable and filthy regardlesse of him and opposite to him The language of the Law is Doe this and live if not die no work no
3. 15. and 13. compared together 2. Neither did ye enquire after me till the Decree came forth Zeph. 2. 1 2 3. Now my fierce anger is comming upon you c. 3. It shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorrah then for you Mat. 10. 15. and Mat. 11. 24. Good had it been for you if ye had never been born or at least if ye had not been invited or waited upon by me 4. Ye sought not unto me untill ye had abused my patience so as to weary me so as that I could bear no longer Jer. 15. 6. Thou hast forsaken me saith the Lord and gone backward therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee and destroy thee for I am weary with repenting Jer. 44. 22. So that the Lord could no longer beare because of the evill of their doings 5. They did never heartily seek to me untill I had said none of those which were bidden should tast of my Supper Luke 14. 24. and sworn surely they shall not enter into my rest Psal 95. 11. and therefore Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Mat. 25. 41. Do ye think ô ye rebellious souls that I would have cast the Angels out of Heaven for one sin and spare you who are guilty of so many millions of sins did not one sin make Saul lose his Kingdome and Esau his Birth-right And how can ye escape seeing ye have judging your selves unworthy of eternall life in neglecting so great salvation I am sure I have waited upon some of you ten twenty thirty fourty fifty years or upwards ô ye stout-hearted sinners that are far from righteousness O ye damned souls I will set your sins in order before your sight with the number nature aggravations and circumstances that ye may be your own Judges and so despaire with Cain and hang your selves with your Cousin Judas Are ye come now it is too late to my Supper without a Wedding Garment Go mine Angels binde them in chains and cast them into utter darknesse where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 22. 12. 17. For they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and have digged themselves pits even broken pits that can hold no water Jer. 2. 13. If ye would then if ye could give all the world to recall one day againe that ye have mispent ye cannot have it your sins against mercy will bring the greatest misery ye have spun fair threads in going on from folly to folly untill ye are ripe for eternall misery from which there is no redemption for sin and punishment are linked together Ye have been wicked and ye must be tormented Oh condemned souls Did ye never read that in all ages I have severely punished sin in mine own people in Covenant with me and as dear to me as the apple of mine eye and yet think ye that I would spare you did ye never read Mat. 12. 36. That For every idle word that men shall speake they shall give an account at the day of Judgement And do ye think to be freed who are guilty of the breach of every command 1. Consider to your torment That whereas I have promised to pardon the sins of my people so I have pronounced that your sinnes shall not be pardoned Isaiah 22. 14. Surely this iniquity shall not be purged till ye dye saith the Lord God of Hosts Ezek. 24. 13. Because I would have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthinesse any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee See Heb. 10. 29. and Numb 15. 31. 2. Whereas the Lord is able to bring in the mercy promised to his people as we have held forth at large so he is able to bring all the plagues threatned upon all unbelievers Mat. 10. 28. to destroy soule and body 3. And whereas the Lord is mindfull of the mercies promised to his people so he is as mindfull of the judgements threatned against his enemyes See Eccles 8. 12 13. 4. Whereas he is faithfull to do all that he hath said for his people so he is as just in pouring out the vialls of his wrath upon obstinate stout-hearted sinners 1 Sam. 3. 14. 5. Whereas the Lord hath covenanted to and with his people to assure them that he will not faile them so also hath he entred into Covenant with all unrighteous people that he will ease himselfe of them his adversaries and avenge himselfe on his enemyes Isaiah 1. 24. and bring upon them all the curses of the Covenant as in Deut. 29. 21. 6. Whereas the Almighty God hath sworn that he will make good all things to his people in Covenant with him and withhold no good thing from them So he hath sworne that the iniquity of those wilfull opposers and neglecters of him shall never be purged with Sacrifice nor Offerings for ever 1 Sam. 3. 14. Yea The Lord hath sworne in his wrath that they shall never enter into his rest Psal 95. 11. Behold here is the portion of all filthy dreamers Jude ver 8. Loe here is the reward of all Raging waves of the Sea foming out their owne shame wandring Starrs to whom is reserved the mist of darknesse for ever Jude 12 13. Loe these are those naturall bruite-beasts made to be taken and destroyed Speaking evill of the things that they understand not and so shall utterly perish in their own corruptions These are those wells without water clouds that are carryed with every tempest to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever 2 Pet. 2. 12. 17. c. Ye Serpents saith Christ how can ye escape the damnation of Hell Mat. 23. 33. The Lord in Scripture giveth a man a name suitable to his nature The Scripture calleth them Lyons for their fiercenesse and Bears for their cruelty and Dragons for their hideousnesse and Doggs for their filthinesse and Wolves for their subtilenesse In a word the Spirit of God styleth them Scorpions Vipers Thornes Bryars Thistles Brambles Stubble Dust Chaffe Dirt Drosse Smoak Scumme Loe here are your titles of honour O ye great ones that stand so much upon your gentility and look so big to jet up and down the Streets Isa 23. 9. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed to stayne the pride of all glory and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth Oh ye that fare deliciously every day ye must goe to Hell with your Brother Dives Oh ye that adorne a stinking carcase with the best aray and Lord it over your brethren ye are most of you the poorest men in the world for all that ye thinke your selves rich A wicked man though a Gentleman is the poorest needyest man in the world for he wanteth trust in God Christ the Spirit the Promises the Covenant of grace he wanteth peace of Conscience and peace with God he wanteth acceptation and reconciliation with God he wanteth righteousnesse justification adoption
rich and miserable with Dives Oh! I see I see that one storm at Sea one coale of Fire one false Friend one unadvised word one false Witness may make a rich man a Beggar and a Prisoner altogether Surely if this had been considered some things had been reformed that were not Did you never read Psal 12. 5. Now for the oppression of the needy and for the sighs of the poore I will up saith the Lord and will set at liberty c. And in Psalm 146. 9. The Lord keepeth the Stranger he relieveth the Fatherlesse and Widow c. Did you not know that the oppression of the poor which was so great in the midst of us would pull down the judgement of God upon the heads of those that had power to relieve them and would not May not many of you hereafter say as Philip the third of Spain whose life was free from gross evils being in the Agony of death fear struck into him and these words burst from him Oh would to God I had never reigned Oh that I had lived a solitary life with God and not opprest the people What doth all my honour profit me but that I have so much the more torment in my death My day of account is very neere and all men shall know and feel that the sleeping of vengeance causeth the overflowing of sin and the overflowing of oppression causeth the overflowing of vengeance Abused oportunity will most certainly turn into fury for Gods long forbearance is no acquittance the day is at hand when he will pay negligent men and women for mispending precious time and for the abuse of new and old mercies in the day of account Mens actions are all in print and they shall be read aloud in the eares of all the world that all the righteous Nation that shall enter in may say Amen to that righteous Sentence that Christ shall pass upon all those that had a prize put into their hands to mind his glory and to unload his people of their heavy burthens that the oppressed might go free but they had no heart to it as in the Proverbs But instead thereof sought great things for themselves as in Jer. 45. 5. Nay though Moses and Aaron two choice Christians and Champions did lead and govern Israel for a long time notwithstanding many dangers and difficulties yet they were at last shut out of Canaan because they did not sanctifie the Lord God at the water of Meribah Deut. 32. 15. and Numb 27. 14 15. For ye were disobedient unto my Word in the strife of the Assembly c. A word of Advice to the present Supream Authority of ENGLAND c. Most noble and honoured Sirs WHom God even the God of the spirits of all flesh hath at present intrusted with the highest places not only in the Field but also in the seat of Justice My prayers to God for you are that the Lord would make you rather gracious and inwardly holy then outwardly happy and give you a spirit of divine wisdome and valour suitable to the work that lyeth before you that ye may improve the present oportunity that is put into your hands for the glory of God that gave it you Consider the presence of the Lord is in the midst of you the prayers of his Saints and Servants are continually poured out for you the eyes of the people are upon you all expecting some great things to be done by you yea and the other parts of the world look upon you if ye go on in a way of righteousness they will follow you It will be a glory for the English Nation to give a blessed example to all the people of the earth to free themselves from tyranny and slavery If a worm might be thought worthy to advise you then give me leave to tell you there is but one thing in the main that God and his people doe expect from you viz. That ye would eye the Lord Jesus in all your actings and advance his Kingdome as much as in you lyeth and if this be uppermost in your hearts first in your thoughts and most constant in your purposes so that ye do in your judgements prefer and in your wills deliberately mind the glory of God the advancement of the Kingdome of his dear Son by the assistance of his holy Spirit then shall the work of the Lord prosper in your hands and the day shall be light before you and his footsteps that are not yet known shall be discovered to you and ye shall see your work before you Christ was once humbled that we might be exalted let him now be exalted that we might willingly be humbled by him although he be willing to give you grace yet his glory he will not give to any other Let it be a comfort for you that he hath exalted you in the hearts of his people although you are a table-talk and a by-word and a scorn in the hearts and by the tongues of his enemies Well would you stand your selves now others are fallen and not only keep but also add to the honour which God hath given you Then make it your business to exalt the Kingdome of Christ not only in your selves but also in this and the neighbouring Nations and remember that the rock of ages pulleth down some to the end that others might not exalt themselves when they are in power for the Lord hath decreed to stain the pride of all earthly honour and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth that so all flesh might be humbled and the Lord alone exalted therefore seek not ye great things for your selves as many of those that went before you lest ye be laid aside and no eye pitty you Provide nothing more for your selves then ye have I beseech you but to seek for the honour of Christ and the freedome of the Saints and these Nations wherein your owne freedomes and safeties are involved Consider that the Lord hath hitherto made some of you friends to his people and a terrour to their and his enemies and our prayer to the Lord is that he would teach you as once he did good Nehemiah to do many years hard service freely because the payments were heavy upon their fellow creatures as you may see in Neh. 5. 14. 18. That ye may say as that servant of Christ did to the glory of God and the shame of the former self-seeking powers ver 15. But the former Governours that had been before me were chargable unto the people and had taken of them their Bread and Wine besides fourty shekels of Silver but so did not I said this good man because of the feare of the Lord. I have but a few things more to begg of you as upon my bended knees and with weeping eyes which if ye will but hear and grant it may make much for the glory of God the honour of the three Nations and the Comfort of your owne Souls The first thing is that
ye would set some time and persons apart to heare and receive the private petitions and grievances of the poor Widows and Fatherless so much neglected by the former power for they have poured out their complaints in the midst of their wants and their cry came up before the Lord before the dissolving of the late Parliament Consider I request you That the earth and all thereen is the Lords not our Store-house and ye are at present his Stewards wherefore as in Prov. 3. 7. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due when it is in the power of thine hand to doe it So in the end ye shall be able to say with Job That ye have not withheld the poore from their desire nor caused the eyes of the Widow and Fatherless to faile nor seen any perish for want of cloathing nor seen any poore in the streets without covering I could almost say to you as once Abraham did to the Lord Gen. 18. 27. Behold now I have taken upon me to speak which am but dust and ashes I would begg leave to present a few things more to your serious consideration The next thing is That when ye make inquisition for ravening wolves prophesied of by Christ and his Apostles Mat. 7. 15. compared with Acts 20. 29. that come to us in Sheeps cloathing that ye would not do as the late Parliament did stop the Wolf's mouth in one Town and let him go and devour or at least deceive the Sheep in another if he be adjudged unfit to bite or devour in one place let him be held as unfit in another lest ye should do as if in effect they did put out the fire in Canne and send it to Marlborough or endeavour to stop the plague in Bristoll by sending the infected persons to London The next thing that I would begg of you for this poor nation is That whereas the last Power did promise much and perform little be ye more like God I both humbly and earnestly request you by promising less then ye intend to perform that ye may appeare to us in very deed to be like him He promised the Children of Israel only the Land of Canaan but besides that he gave them two other Kingdomes which he never did promise to give them And to Zacharias Luke 1. 20. He promised to give him his Speech again at the Birth of the Child but beside that he gave him the gift of prophesie so that as Paul saith He can give and do abundantly above all that we are able to ask or think And yet that say ye abide in him ought so to walk as ye have him for an example See Eph. 3. 20. 1 Joh. 2. 6. The next thing I would beseech of you most noble and honoured Senators is this That ye would endeavour to unite all the Saints sound in the Faith to an union in the spirit of Love Though England be but as a garden to the whole world all the people in it but a handfull and scarce one of twenty of this handfull godly men yet were these few Saints united by the blessed Spirit so as their hearts might agree together as touching any thing they ought to ask and were so well affected to lift up one voice and one heart according to the will of God they would have the things they ask so as nothing should be too hard for them to do all the world could not stand before them nor undermine them for they would be wise in the Lords wisdome and strong in him and in the power of his might Shall Herod and Pilate agree Turks and Pagans agree Beares and Lyons agree Tygers and Wolves agree and shall not Saints agree If the Saints were but once united Antichrist would soone be destroyed Oh let not our Supream Power under God be angry and I will speak but this once Oh let me then say to you as once Mordecai did to Hester Hest 4. 14. If thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall their enlargement come and deliverance arise from another place or power but thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdome for such a time as this And under correction let me tell you the work is the Lords and if ye will not carry it on he will lay you aside with shame and raise up those that he will own and bless And whereas most of the Godly people in England are crying mightily to God for you to purge out self-seeking and to plant a spirit of Government in you and to furnish you with naturall and spirituall abilities suitable to the work that lyeth before you but if ye begin to flag as the former power did and so let the work stick in the Birth and every one minding his owne things not the things of Jesus Christ then let me tell you that all the Lords people in England and the other Nations will be praying to him and wrestling with him and give him no rest night nor day till the Lord turne you also out of doores and bring in those that he will own and bless FINIS A Table shewing the principall things in this TREATISE OF the state of Nature 1 Of the state of Grace ibid. The severall degrees in each of these states ibid. How a soul yet in the state of Nature may be brought to Christ 2 Which is first in the soul Faith or Repentance fully discovered 12 A great question answered why doth the righteous God promise life to him that doth believe and threaten eternall death to them that do not believe seeing that it is not in the power of the Creature to believe And there are five reasons for it 17 Conviction goeth alwayes with Conversion 18 Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins go together ibid. Many sweet promises made to a soul convinced of sinne 19 20 One and twenty stumbling-blocks cast in a Christians way to Heaven by the World Flesh and Devil 21 What those blocks are and how to remove them 22 The first stumbling-block cast in the way is to cause a soule to question whether the Scriptures be the Word of God 23 Proved by five Arguments that they are the Word of God 24 The second stumbling-block is that the Scriptures are corrupted by a spirit of ignorance and self-ends in the Translators 25 Proved that the generality of Scriptures are truly clearely faithfully translated ibid. The third stumbling-block cast in the way is that the promises were made to the Jews and Gentiles heretofore in being What hath any man to do to apply them now 26 Proved by severall Testimonies in holy writ that the people now in being may and ought to apply the promises as well as they 27 The fourth stumbling-block cast in the way is that I know not what the Scriptures mean they are to be understood in a spiritual sence the Book is sealed 28 Proved that the same God that hath commanded us to read
them hath promised to open our understanding that we may be able to understand and apply them ibid. Three questions answered concerning the Promises by whom and to whom they are made 29 The fift stumbling-block cast in the way is that I know not how to apply the Promises saith a mis-giving-heart 32 Means to help a soul to apply the Promises understandingly orderly particularly and strongly 32 Means to help us to forgive all injuries done to us 37 The sixt stumbling-block cast in the way by the World Flesh or Devil is to perswade the poor drooping soul that the Day of Mercy is past his Glass is run out his Sun is set the Doore of Mercy is shut the Golden Scepter is taken in 39 This stumbling-block also is removed and the doore of the Kingdome of Heaven opened 40 The seventh stumbling-block cast in the way is I feare I am not elected to Salvation 44 This block is removed and the nature of Election and Reprobation discovered 45 The eight stumbling-block cast in the way is that I fear I am none of Gods Child because I have so many fearfull thoughts cast into me one after another 46 This block is also removed and the way to Heaven cleared 47 The ninth stumbling-block cast in the way is that surely saith another I am none of the Lords beloved because he followeth me with affliction wâ—ath and misery 49 Proved by many instances that a man may be dearly beloved although sorely afflicted And so this block is fully removed 50 The tenth stumbling-block cast in the way of many a pâ—ecious Châ—istian is that I have been a Blasphemer my selfe and caused many others to blaspheme therefore no hope for me 52 This block also is removed and Satan concerning the same foyled 53 The eleventh stumbling-block cast in the way is Oh Sir I have fallen into one and the same sin often 54 This block is removed and many scruples of conscience answered 55 The twelfth stumbling-block cast in the way is that I have according to the command of Christ examined my selfe whether I were in the Faith and finde I am not 56 This block removed and assurance of salvation discovered 57 The thirteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is that I have been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and am fallen away 60 This block also removed and falling away distinguished 63 The fourteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is Oh saith a poor misgiving soule I cannot believe 65 This block removed and ability to believe is promised 66 The fifteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is that I feare I have sinned against the Holy Ghost 70 The nature of this sin discovered and this feare removed 71 The sixteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is all a mans sins may be set in order before him and the judgements of God due unto him for them and he despairing under them 79 For the removing of this block consider all thy sins put together are but finite but the mercy of God is infinite 82 The seventeenth stumbling-block cast in the way is oh Sir there is no hope of me for I am ignorant of the Trinity I do not know God he will come in flaming fire against me 88 This block is removed and the Trinity revealed or the blessed mystery thereof in some good measure unfolded 89 The eighteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is that I have no hope of being saved because many Heathens have out-stript me in the way of civil obedience 106 This block also removed and the compleat righteousness and obedience for Christians unfolded 107 The nineteenth stumbling-block cast in the way is O Sir I feare I have but only a form of godlinesse withouâ— power 121 This block removed by a clear distinction of a power in and with a form and a form without a power 122 The twentieth stumbling block cast in the way is oh Sir I have no power to doe any thing that you have laid before me 136 This block removed and the power that the Creature received from the Creator declared 137 The one and twâ—ntieth stumbling block cast in the way is that there are so many Opinions and Societies all pretending to bâ— in the right way that I know not with whom to joyn 147 This block also removed and the true Church of Christ from all false Churches discovered 148 A word of friendly reproofe to the scattered and dâ—scontented Members of the late Parliament 191 And a word of advice to the present Supream Authority of England Scotland and Ireland 197 There are many other particulars held forth in this liâ—tle Book very seasonable and usefull the heads whereof for some reasons I forbeare to mention in this Table FINIS