will Rom. 9. 11. 2 To aduance in him the greatnesse of his iustice So also Rom. 9. 3 The riches of his mercy 1. Cor 10.31 Ephes. 2. in bestowing saluation on him 4 And also to aduance his bountie in communicating his goodnesse vnto him And so 5 To manifest and reueale his wonderfull wisedome and power and goodnes in the preseruation and gouernment of him and 6 Thereby to procure the glory and praise hereof to bee giuen to him alone And therefore 1 As wee must not thinke that we were made to serue our owne turnes to eate and drinke and so let vs labour to answer these ends of our creation 1 in striuing to aspire to our first estate by being recreated in Christ 2 sanctifying all things vnto vs by the word 3 returning the strength in obedience to our God These were the ends and caâ—â—â—ses of mans Creation The manner whereof was this 1 In respect of the workeman the whole Trinitie consulted of and concurred therein thereby implying the excellence of the worke 2 Concerning the work consider 1 The Time euen when God had made all the rest for mans vse then the Lord made him to partake thereof 2 And when he had made him rested from all his workes of creating any thing anew that it might appeare how the Lord would euen repose and quiet himselfe in this worke and communicate himselfe especially thereto Pro. 8. the world were laid such as eye neuer saw neither can enter into the heart of man to bee enioyed of vs in an eternall kingdome And comforting our selues in our choyce of God and heauen howsoeuer if wee measure it by the present we may stumble as looking not onely behind to what was prouided for vs before wee were but also looking before vs to what we do enioy nay looking a far off to what is set before vs that so we may not be weary nor faint in our minds And so vsing all good blessings in this life as to lay vp a good foundation by them against the day of Christ. Labouring still if by any meanes we can attaine to the resurrection of the dead Thus of the time 2. Obserue we the Authour of our Creation which was the holy Trinitie hee it is that made vs not wee our selues Psalm 95. no we cannot so much as make one haire of our heads Math. 6. And this 1 Reproueth naturall wisedome which not appreheÌ„ding the omnipotency of God who could make all things of nothing out of that false conclusion that nothing could bee made of nothing inforced a more absurd that the world and man was eternall and so denyed the Creation As also the Atheism of the world which out of these false grounds place onely happinesse in this life denying the resurrection and condition of a better 2 This teacheth to worship this God alone and to haue relation dependance onely to him as being the worke of his hands 2 As also to be implyed in our selues for his glory who of nothing made vs for the same 3 And so depend vpon him for our preseruation and perfection 3 Consider wee the matter of our Creation Which was generally of nothing such is properly Creation Particularly of nothing like to what we are such is properly generation when like begets like as being made of the 1 Dust of the earth concerning our bodies 2 But touching our soules the Lord breathed into vs the breath of life and so man became a liuing soule Genes 2. And this Composition of both body and soule from Such diuers matter Reproueth 1 the Anabaptist which vnder pretence of spirituall liberty denieth subiection to earthly gouernors seeing concerning the body outward earthly things we are bound to man As also the 2. Liberine that onely dreames of such an vse of the soule which might serue to satisfie the flesh as if the happines therof coÌ„sisted only in this as to serue the body for the coÌ„mitting of sin whereas the soule was principally created to serue the Lord and so to informe the body as that the members also thereof might bee giuen as weapons of righteousnesse to serue the liuing God Rom. 6. 2 This teacheth a diuersity of subiection of the same creature as in regard of the body and such things as belong thereto he is ought to be subiect to man but in the soule onely and immediately to the Lord and to man for his sake and yet so as these may not be diuided in either respect wee cannot so giue man the Body but from and by the Soule euen for conscience sake Neither can wee so reserue the Soule vnto God but that it obedience must be expressed in and by the body Rom. 12.2 least our seruice be plaine hypocrisie only the mater is in the diuersity of order respect as the body to man immediatly by the soule the soule to God immediatly expressed in the body yet both immediatly intirely from God and for God Rom. 11. As also this comforteth in this diuersity of subiection 1 That what is yeelded vnto man for Gods sake is not lost but safely put to keeping to the Lord and so by him profited either here to be restored better or to be repaied so at length as to bee onely in subiection to the Lord to be for euer with him 2 What is reserued intirely vnto God in truth though it be not for the present answered with that correspondency of the outward man yet shall this neither be imputed if there bee a willing minde as to challenge the sincerity of the inward man but rather to try and aduance the soundnesse thereof and it shall further still be a meanes of more gratious conformity of the outward that so both at length may concurre in perfect obedience to the Creator Thus of the composition Now if we particularly yet further weigh the seuerall matter of each First that man was made of nothing that is of no pre-existent substance This 1 Confoundeth infidelity that we cannot depend on God without meanes And 2 Informeth faith to restore God beyond without and contrary to meanes 3 Confirmeth the faith of the Resurrection though all may seeme to bee resolued 〈…〉 nothing And 4 Instructeth in the discerning of the nature practise growth of sanctification which as it began of nothing in vs as of our selues so it is daily led forward by denying of our selues that in vs that is in our flesh dwelleth no goodnesse discerning that wee haue to be as nothing both in coÌ„parison of what we shall haue as also in respect of any thing as of our selues furthering thereto but especially emptying our selues of all confidence therein or glory thereby that the Lord alone might bee honoured in his onely worke Secondly in that man was made of the dust of the earth we learne 1 Not to be puffed vp in regard of nature seeing it came from no better then the earth 2 Neither to despise
THE CHRISTIANS Daily Sacrifice CONTAINING A daily direction for a setled course of Sanctification The third edition corrected and enlarged with a thousand spirituall rules tending to Perfection Diuided into threâ— Bookes by TH. COOPER LONDON Imprinted by N. O. for WALTER BVRRE and are to bee sold in Paules Church yard at the signe of the Crane 1615. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE AND TRVELY NOBLE LAdies my very bountifull Patronesses the Lady LVCIE Countesse of Bedford the Lady HARINGTON Barones of Exon grace and peace from God the Father through our Lord Iesus Christ bee multipleed RIght worthie Ladies As there is nothing that better becommeth the righteous then to bee thankefull vnto the Lord for his great mercies bestowed vpon vs. So I am perswaded in nothing more hath our gratious God aduanced his wonderfull goodnesse vnto our sinfull nation Then in that great deliuerance of our Prince and people from that hellish plot of the Gunpowder Treason For as the Redemption of mankind by the pretious blood of Iesus Christ hath therefore the priuiledge to be of all other benefits the most excellent farre exceeding our Creation or any other blessing of God because thereby mankind was restored to a more excellent estate then it lost in Adam so how soeuer the Lord in mercie vouchsafed vnto this Nation as it were a new creation by the Ministerie of good Queene Elizabeth of happy memory who restoring vnto vs the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ we were thereby euen pluckt out of the fiery fornace of Antichrist and new borne again to the hope of eternall glory yet because we haue not receiued the loue of the truth and did not gloryfie our blessed God in our obedience therunto therfore did we iustly forfaâ—â—â—te our right in that great blessing and so deserued vtterly to bee depriued thereof And was not this our general fere in those dayes when the Light of our eys grew dimme and the sunne of our happines was set in these parts that together therewith the light of the Gospel also should haue bene taken from vs surely if the Lord had not them beene on our side when the arme of the flesh failed vs. If hee had not reserued an â—â—â—â—â—â—ly seed to stand in the gappe wee must needs haue bene as Sodome and Gomorrha But blessed be the name of our God for euer that in his eternall mercie had reserued a Ioseph for vs euen a royall Branch of that holy seede to renue and maintaine our glorious light And haue wee walked worthie of so great saluation surely if there were nothing else to condemn our vnthankefulnesse for so great a blessing Euen that accursed Powder Plot in steed of all other arguments is sufficient hereunto For as the vnthankefulnesse of the Papists was here noâ—â—â—oâ—â—â—iously discouered that hereby intended the subuersion of the state which had so gratiously vouchsafed lâ—â—â—fe and peace vnto theÌ„ So did this also conuince the vnprofitablenesse of the Protestant who for the abuse of his Talent was hereby summoned to his account and in his owne desert must needes haue beene ouertaken with this iudgment And therefore was it not the free mercie of the Lord that wee were not vtterly consumed Were wee not plucked euen as a brand out of the fire were wee not wonderfully redeemed euen by the mightie power of God from that horrible pit Did not the Lord thereby raise vp a mightie saluation for vs euen by his owne immediate arme that he alone may haue the glory And shal we not theÌ„ take vp the cup of saluation giue thanks vnto the name of the Lord. Surely as there remaines no more sacrifice for sin for such that do treade vnder foote the blood of the Son of God So I am perswaded that if we shall despise so great saluation and forget this wonderfull worke which our God hath done for vs we shall in vaine hope of the like deliuerance The Lord will do no more such great workes among vs because of our vnthankefull and vnbeleeuing hearts And therefore seeing the gratious Lord as he sanctified that deliuerance vnto me his vnworthie seruant by a speciall deliuerance from the malice of vnreasonable men which in the verie instant of our reioycing had layde a snare to entrappe my soule so hee hath hitherto giuen me my life for a pray from many other extremities Can I do better then I haue begun so still to imploy it in the meditation of Gods great mercies Ought I not do my vttermost to awaken this secure age and prouoke the Saints to an holy entertainement of so great saluation Can I do lesse then take occasion hereby to testifie my thankefulnesse vnto those that haue bin instruments for the maintenance of my life and studies Surely deare ChristiaÌ„ Ladies as I must acknowledge my selfe hereby bound for euer vnto your Honours so accept I beseech you this vnfained pledge thereof and bee prouoked herby to a wise redeeming of the time that so you may be prepared to a blessed eternitie Take these holy rules herein contained as a true guide to leade you safely in all occasions thereunto and make account of my best deuotions and endeuour here after to further to the same And so I commend your Ladiships to the grace of God in Iesus Christ. Resting in him To your Honours euer deuoted TH. COOPER The Preface to the Christian Reader describing the occasion and seuerall vses of this Treatise THE many excellent treatises and larger discourses concerning the power of godlinesse which it hath pleased the Lord of glory to furnish his Church withal in these later daies as they haue made good the faithfulnes of our God vno vs of our Church of England therein auouched against all schismaticall spirits that yet there is an holy seed among vs so if they shall not bee a witnesse against vs doe they necessarily require in the right vse thereof that we be transformed into the same image from glory to glory And therfore howsoeuer it may seeme both needlesse and preiudiciall after so many graue and experimentall rules concerning sanctification to adde any more in this kinde yet seeing it hath pleased God to direct mee to a further labour herein weigh with me I pray thee in equitie these reasons hereof First I doe hereby professe my thankefulnesse vnto God for those excellent labors of his Saints that now rest from their labours and their fruits follow them Secondly I would haue thee know that I am not ashamed of this foolishnesse of preaching and practicke Diuinitie which is such a mystery to the world and stumbling blocke vnto the wisedome thereof Thirdly howsoeuer I do professe that I am not able to attaine such perfection as I haue here in conceiued yet I would haue thee know further that I would rather haue a rule to condemne sinne in the flesh and so to confound the old man that thereby the new man may follow hard after the marke then not to giue testimonie to that light
the Vnitie and Trinitie he deserueth to bee worshipped in many respects As First As he is Iehoua our Lord so he requireth worship of vs as his seruants Malach. 1.7 So we are his creatures and owe him all homage SecoÌ„dly as he is God our Father so are we his children and therefore owe him all spirituall loue and holy reuerence 3 As he is Redeemer so he hath both deserued our worship enableth vs hereunto and therfore wee cannot but worship him the Restorer of our life and Recouerer of our happinesse 4 As he is God the holy Ghost sanctifying and preseruing of vs so are we bound to worship him in Spirit and Truth So can we not but glorifie him in our bodies spirits because they are his wee we must needes being led by the Spirit abound in well-doing to the praise of our glorious God And therefore 1 This condemneth all Athiests and prophane beasts that make no conscience of this worship of the Lord seeing the Gentiles the Diuels shall one day condemne them 2 As also this reproueth all Ignorant and idle persons that worship they know not what nor how seeing none can worshippe whom they know not they cannot worship him aright whoÌ„ they cannot discerne by the Vnitie in Trinitie and Trinitie in Vnitie 3 And so it vtterly condemnes all Popish worships which is ignorance and voluntary deuotions not onely not from any sound knowledge but euen in defiance and detraction of it as if it were the greatest enemy to deuotion 2 This instructeth that wee â—â—â—hould labour after this knowledge of God as he is reuealed in the word not contenting our selues with generall notions and Traditions concerning the diuine nature 3. And so commendeth and enioyneth that most excellent and necessary dutie of Catechizing wherby we attaine to this particular knowledge 4 And withall condemneth the neglect and contempt of this dutie especially in the elder sort laying it onely on Children which can yet make little vse thereof and accounting it their shame to bee taught the grounds of religion so dwelling and dying in palpable and obstinate ignorance 5 And comforteth vs that wee haue both a certaine rule to worship by to preuent distraction so worthie a God to worship as that we need not bee a shamed nor repent of his seruice Thus it appeareth That God is to be worshipped Let vs now further consider Of whom hee is principally to be worshipped CHAP. VII Of whom God is to worshipped Howsoeuer the Lord created all things for himselfe so that euery inferiour Creature in it place and nature yeeldeth homage vnto the Creator in doing his will and by the same attaineth his preseruation and perfection yet neither is this seruice competent to the nature of God as being carnall and vnreasonable neither can it bee accepted of him as being without Christ without faith in his blood Onely man is that Creature who as he was 1. Created of God fit to performe this acceptable worship so was he 2. restored by Christ to renue and continue the same and so is 3. kept by the mightie power of God to saluation that so hee may attaine the benefite of his true and constant seruice And therefore Howsoeuer the Angels behold alwaies the face of God and do perform acceptable seruice vnto him in Iesus Christ by whom thogh they are not redeemed froÌ„ sin into which they neuer fell yet are they preserued through Christ in their happy estate and by him are gathered together and vnited to their head yet seeing these haue already attained their perfection therefore as they are aboue the compasse of our direction so are wee rather to admire and propose them as pictures for imitation then any way to admit them in comparison herein Onely man is that Creature who being redeemed by Christ Iesus from the guilt power and punishmeÌ„t of sinne hath yet the tainture and corruption of sin remaining in him 1 That the vertue of his sauiour might dayly appeare in the healing thereof 2 And the free mercy of his God might be aduanced in the pardon thereof 3 That the might be dayly exercised in the worke of repentance and so haue truely experience of the true worke of grace 4 That hee might maintain the fellowship in hauing more compassion of others out of the sence of his owne infirmities so make sure encrease his consolation in plucking others out of the fire 5 That his corruptions may be a means to quicken and prouoke to the performance of faith patience humility many excelleÌ„t graces which heerby are maruellously exercised and increased 6 That hee might haue experience of the admirable wisedom of God in turning about al to his good bringing light out of darknesse Rom. 8.29 2. Cor. 4.6 7 That the power of God may be manifested and perfited in his infirmities as preseruing so wonderfully contraries by contraries 8 And vsing some corruptions to preuent or purge out others 2. Cor. 12.7.8 9 That the Lord might haue the onely glory of all his meanes in the experience of our owne inability and disproportion ence whereby our growing in grace and following hard after the marke and thereby hunger more earnestly after perfection 11 And seeing in this life wee cannot be perfect therefore wee might by the dayly sence of corruption be weaned from the loue hereof and so 12 Prouoked to hunger after our dissolution 13 To looke vp still to that Citie which is aboue 14 And to prepare therto 15 And in all these performe a constant and spirituall worship vnto our God 16 Vsing the holy means of the word and to discouer conquer such corruptions And so 17 Approue our hearty obedience to our God who hates iniquitie that we serue him of loue because wee would not displease him subduing and weakning sin that wee might in all things bee conformable to him then either for feare of any punishment due to or any benefite may redound vnto vs for the same aboue this that wee endeauour to obey our God in all things 18 And so might haue herein experience not onely of the admirable bountie and wisedome of our God in accepting our willing mind euen aboue our outward abilitie 2. Cor. 8.12 but also might haue triall of the sinceritie of our obedience as being rather inward and spirituall in our purpose and striuing against sin then any glorious outward shew of perfection which we can attaine vnto Thus hath the Lord disposed of the manner of our sanctificatioÌ„ and to this ende haue I framed this daily direction that wee may the better be led forward in the worke of grace And seeing to this end the Lord created man euen for his glory Therefore now in the next place let vs consider of This Creation CHAP. VIII Of the Creation of Man AS the Lord created al things for his glory so especially to this end created hee man as to manifest in him 1. His free Election and absolute power and
the most vnlikely contemptible meanes for our good seeing the Lord made vs of such 3 Neither to seeke after great matters in the world seeing our originall was so meane 4 Neither to set vp our hearts in this life but rather to prepare to death seeing to the earth we must 5 Comforting our selues that our misery in this life is not eternall seeing we are of the earth 6 And seeing this corruption must put on incorruption therefore learne we to follow hard after the marke if by any meanes we may attaine to the resurrection of the dead looking by faith a farre off for the changing of these vile bodies And comforting our selues in our better part that the soule is immortall and therefore labouring to haue our conuersation in heauen and to be made meete for that glorious inheritance Thirdly that man was made a liuing soule immediatly breathed from the Lord eternally to liue with him This teacheth 1 That the soule is immediatly subiect vnto God ought onely to bee bound by him principally must depend on his blessed will 2 That it must be exercised in heauenly things agreeable to the nature and end thereof 3 That it is subiect to eternall punishment for sinne and therefore ought to saue it selfe from that fearefull vengeance Matth. 3. 4 That eternall hapinesse is due thereto for wel-doing and therefore should not faint nor be weary thereof 5 That as the creation is immediate from God though the body be from man so also is the Recreation and Renuing of the soule immediatly from his meere mercy in Christ without any help or concurrence from man 6 And therefore we are not to rest in any naturall faculties of the soule as if they were sufficient to saluation or could further thereto but rather discerne wee wisely That the wisedome of the flesh is enmity against God 7 And so let vs deny our selues that we may be found in Christ not hauing our owne righteousnesse Phil. 3.8.9 Yet so 8 As that seeing we haue free-will in naturall and morall actions concerning the outward act though not for the truth or manner or end of well-doing therefore do we what is ours in entertaining the meanes of saluation As come wee to the word and though we cannot discerne it naturally neither propose the right end therein least if wee forsake God in not doing so farre as wee may he may iustly forsake vs in denying a blessing to the means that so our condemnation may be iust and inexcusable 9 That the soule was breathed into the nostrels not into the eares or mouth or eyes this argueth the imbecillity and frailty of our life as if it depended on our nostrels Esay 2 22. Thus of the matter Fourthly consider we the manner of our creation and therein the Excellencie and ends thereof For the manner we were created in Gods Image not that either wee were made of the Essence of God or that God must bee like to vs hauing humane shape although if we respect the second person in Trinity it might wel be that as he was to take flesh in the fulnesse of time so euen at the present when man was made hee assumed extraordinarily an human forme and so also after that forme and Archetype made man But we were created after the Image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse that is The soule being breathed into the body from the Lord was indued with diuine and heauenly qualities As 1 Immortality 2 Excellent light of reason and vnderstanding acknowledging God and his will discerning the nature and essence of things 3 True righteousnesse of the minde and heart and all the faculties thereof in which was inflamed true loue and feare and confidence in God 4 Most absolute consent of the will obeying the iudgement of right and reason from compulsion bondage and misery 5 Excellent strength and vigor of body free from all infirmitie diseases troubles death And 6 Admirable glory and maiesty 7 Destinated to eternall life in heauen 8 Which should haue propagated an immortall kinde according to the Image of God 9 Yet all this mutably 1 That so if Man had ouercome the Tempter his glory had beene the greater 2 That way might bee made hereby to the reuelation of the eternall mercy of God to his elect in Iesus Christ as also of his Iustice in the condemnation of the wicked for the refusall of the Messiah and in him of their saluation And hence ariseth the excellency of Man 1 By the consideration of his creation especially that in respect of the mutability thereof hee was to be interessed in the Messiah so to be restored preserued by him vnto saluation Hence also arise the ends of mans creation 1 To aduance the goodnesse and bounty of the Lord in ordaining saluation for him by his sonne 2 That the Lord hereby might haue the onely glory of all his mercies 3 That Man might haue the dominion ouer all the Creatures 4 That also he might bee as it were a sweet Companion with the Lord in eternall glory and happinesse And 5 That hee might bee made meete hereunto by the knowledge of his Creator and Redeemer Ioh. 17. And by spirituall and bodily worship according to his knowledge 1. Cor. 6. Whence we may learne 1 To admire and conceiue worthily of this loue of God in making vs thus like vnto himselfe and so to expresse our loue vnto him in striuing to bee like vnto him 1. Ioh. 4. 2 To magnifie his admirable wisedome in making our estate such as in regard of our free-will to be subiect to change and so to rest content with the will of God in things more contrary to nature and vnlikely for our God seeing the Lord out of this mutable estate raised so much good euen to aduance his holy sonne Iesus and in him to renue and establish our formerly mutable condition 3 And seeing the Lord did ordaine this condition to be therefore mutable that so man being left to himselfe might bee the chooser and author of his owne fall therefore learne we to iustifie God and to condemne our selues that so we may not be iudged of the Lord. Lastly seeing the Lord as hee ordained the fall of man mutable so hee ordained a Redeemer before the fall to recouer the same Therefore let this comfort vs in all our troubles whether vpon vs or expected that vndoubtedly we may expect a good issue therein seeing we were first apointed to glory so to deliuerance from thē and so appoynted to afflictions to make vs sit for glory And we are here taught to loue the person of man as bearing Gods Image though we may hate the sinne Thus of the Creation CHAP. IX Of the fall of Man WHerein man continued not as being left to himselfe and so fell away from God in obeying the suggestion of the Serpent and so fell away from his former estate of Innocencie and happinesse through disobedience of the Commandement plunged himselfe and
not calling Lord when meanes faile ibid. 5. resting in him Prou. 14.32 Rom. 4. 5 Reuerent obseruing of the workes of God Psalme 40.4 Psalm 115.11 6 Depending on the trueth of Gods promises though we see theÌ„ not accomplished Psal. 46.5 Psal. 130.9 Prou. 16.20 7 Expecting the Lords leasure contrary to sense and reason Psal. 69.4 Esay 26.8 8 Abasing and renouncing our selues before the Lord. Psal. 131.3 Zeph. 3.12 9 Submitting our selues to the ministery of the Gospel Es. 50.10 10 Waiting further vpon God then this life can counteruaile 1. Cor. 15.19 The last part of this spirituall armour is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Hebrew 4 Psalme 149. c And this must be had First To discerne 1 The deceitfulnesse of sinne Heb. 3.13 2 The poyson of error and heresie 1. Tim. 6.3 3 The corruption of our owne hearts Heb. 12. 4 The manifold subtilties and deepenesse of Satan Apoc. 2.24 2. Pet. 1.19 5 The riches of Gods mercie Eph. 3.18 Ephes. 1.18 Secondly to confirme maintain 1 Faith against infidelity and discontentment 2 Hope against despaire Ro. 15.4 3 Truth against error and humane wisedome Iames 1.18 Christ against Antichrist 4 God against man Thirdly To captiuate and subdue 1 Euery imagination that exalts it selfe against God 2. Cor. 10.4 2 To cut off the power and cords of sinne Hos. 6. 3 To repell the impudencie and importunitie of Satan Mat. 4. Fourthly To purge 1 Zeale of ignorance selfeloue 2 Religion of hypocrisie 3 Profession of vaine glory 4 Weldoing of wearisomnesse 5 Faith of carnalnesse 6 Afflictions of impatiency c. Fiftly To confound 1 Satans kingdome Mat. 4. 2 The fleshes tyranny Tit. 2.11 3 The worlds deceitfulnesse Ps. 119.95 Our hearts doubtfulnesse Psal. 73.17 5 Mans inuentions Psal. 119.113 This armour is obtained and put on 1 By prayer 2 Studie and meditation 1. Tim 4.13 3 Submitting our selues to the word preached Iam. 1.21 These meanes how wrought effectually 1 When our vnderstanding is illightened and delighted with the sauing knowledge thereof 2 Our iudgements confirmed established in the same Ep. 1.9 3 Our consciences conuinced and quieted therein Romans 5.1 4 Our wil and affections subdued captiuated thereto Ps. 40.6 5 Our desire enflamed and vnsatiable thereof Mat. 5.6 6 Our minde satisfied and contented therewith aboue all treasures Psal. 119.97 Psalme 19.10 7 Our liues reformed amended thereby Psal. 119.9 8 Our faith quickened daily nourished by the same 2. Pet. 1. 9 And we enabled to ouercome tentations to finish our course with ioy Psal. 119.7.9 And this armour is kept on 1 By recording and rehearsing the same vnto other so to labour their conuersion Lu 22.23 2 By spiritual experience of the power therof in putting our knowledge into continuall practise 3 By cleauing constantly to an effectuall ministery Iohn 10.5 4 By suffring afflictions for the Gospel Heb. 10. Act. 21. 5 By labouring to haue it to dwell plentifully among vs to haue the power thereof more and more abound in the mortifying of our affections and speciall sins Col. 3.16 Tit. 2.11 Thus farre of the parts of the Christian armour Now the necessitie in generall of it is that without it First In respect of our selues 1 Our whole life must needs be subiect to many feareful breaches and distractions 2. Pet. 1. 2 We shall passe it very ildy and vnprofitably 3 Wee shall bee deceiued with many false shadowes and apparances of good and bee much to seeke in that good which wee doe desire either in the knowledge of it or desire to the same 4 Our course at the best will be most vncertaine Iohn 11.10 In regard of others 5 Wee shall not so shine before them as lights by our good examples Mat 5.16 6 Nay wee shall necessarily in respect of our euil example be stumbling blockes vnto them 7 We shall cause our profession to be euill spoken of Ephes. 5.4.3 8 And our God and his Religion and word blasphemed Timothie 6.1 But with this Armour we shall be 1 Certaine of what we do Iohn 11.9 2 Enabled in some measure to do it Psal. 119.104 3 Strong to encounter all oppositions and victorious therein Psal. 119.6 4 Assured of the acceptance of what we doe Phil. 1.21 20. 5 Ready for all occasions whatsoeuer Phil. 4.12 6 And willing to yeelde vp â—â—â—his due vnto God when hee shall require it Acts 7.1 Cor. 7. And thus much concerning the spirituall Armour CHAP. V. Of the pursuit of God and the auoyding of euill Now being thus armed we are prepared to encouÌ„ter such occasions as occurre in the day which are generally and necessary 1 To auoyde euill Esay 1.16 17. 2 To prosecute that which is good Concerning the auoyding of euill First we must labor to haue our iudgement rectified Concerning 1 The euil it selfe 2 Our owne estate in respect of it· 3 God who hates it and yet orders it That which wee are to be informed concerning euil is that there is euil 1 By nature and such is whatsoeuer is against or besides the law of God and this is properly called sinne 2 By accident so a good thing may be made euill Psal. 69.22 Malach 2.2 3 Opinion so afflictions are counted euils yea the trueth and power of good in the censure of the world vsually is counted euill Esay 5.20 The vse hereof is 1 That we may discerne things that differ not stumbling vpon euill in stead of good nor auoyding good in stead of euill not fearing afflictions wheÌ„ they come for good nor distrusting our goodnesse though it bee accounted euill Phil. 1.10 2 We must vnderstand the true authour of euil which is not God but our selues that so wee may blame none but our selues Iames 1.13 3 That euill is not only a meere priuatiâ—â—â—n of good but a qualitie inherent and defiling the soule 1. Iohn 3.4 4 That it is not only committed in act but in thought though consent come not thereto Exod. 20. 5 That it is as well committed in omitting what we should do as in doing what we should not 6 That sinne is seene in the least that is forbidden as well as in the greatest 1. Iohn 3.4 That the least sin breaketh the law of God and maketh vs guilty of the whole Iam. 2.12 Ephes. 5.11.12 Rom. 6.21 8 That sinne is filthie and lothsome euen in the greatest pleasure and act thereof 9 That the end thereof is bitter and the inward parts most abominable Rom. 6. And this knowledge serueth 1 To conclude all vnder sinne Rom. 3.9 2 To lay the fault iustly where it is 3 To preuent diminishing and encreasing of sinne 4 To auoyde the custome and punishment thereof Concerning our owne estate in respect of sinne we are to learne 1 That if we neuer committed sin yet we are not free from it as being guilta of the sinne of another deriuing it from the loines
appoynted to manifest his more admirable power and wisedome and to try our faith and patience our industry and wisedome in encountring our courage in conquering the same 4 And so bee daily ready to yeeld vp our selues vnto our blessed God both resigning our wayes and liues vnto his holy hands And 5 Preparing our selues vnto our ends so shall nothing be strange or vnwelcome vnto vs. Thus shall we bee prepared to each occasion And that we be not distracted and discouraged with the multiplicity contradictions herein know we that as it were infinite to lay downe direction for each particular so shall it be needlesse to descend thereto because what is laid downe for the well-managing of some principall will giue light to the better ordering of the rest And therefore my purpose is onely to stand vpon some principals and the Lord giue a blessing hereunto CHAP. II. Of rising with God and awaking in his peace And these Principals are FIrst to arise with God and as wee laid our selues downe in peace so to awake with the comfort thereof Psa. 23.6 Lam. 3.23 Psa. 139.18 Psa. 119.147 The reason whereof is Because 1 Wee maintaine hereby constancy in wel-doing 2 Wee renue that soundnesse wherewith we lay downe 3 Wee preuent that no roote of bitternesse breake out at the first 4 Wee prouide for our more setled courses all the day after and so beginne a new to liue the daily life of grace 5 We make our hearts merry in the Lord 6 Wee are made principally more apt to prayer which is the next occasion to be entertained of vs. This is performed 1 By meditating of the true life of God and day of the resurrection 1. Cor. 1. and so our arising to iudgement 2 By magnifying our sweete repose and resting in the bosome of Gods protection Psalm 3.5 3 Taking occasion by the light that appeareth to consider of the Armour of light or by the outward darknesse that compasseth to blesse God for the inward light and to mourne for the ignorance and blindnesse that is yet in vs and others yea to resolue the casting away of the workes of darknesse c. Roman 13 12. 4 Praising the mercie and patience of the Lord that yet wee liue to praise him and are spared to make our Election more sure and thereto especially meditating on the constancie of Gods loue towards vs. Iohn 13.1 Psalm 19.2 Psalm 102.27 Ieremie Lament 3.23 as being renued euery morning And this is furthered if we perceiue dulnesse 1 By striuing euen in the night when we awake to sigh for sinne and hunger after mercy Psal. 16.7 Cant. 3.1 2 By opening our hearts if occasion serue to our Chamber-fellow if such fellowship bee enioyed and so shaming of our selues Iam. 5 3 By auoiding ouermuch sleep yea scanting stinting our selues thereof and rowsing vp our selues from drowsinesse by checking our hearts and complaining of them to our blessed God Pro. 24 32.33 4 Taking occasion by our dreames or nocturnall infirmities to magnifie Gods mercy that it is not so as we dreamed or to checke our infidelity in relying superstitiously vpon dreames or to condemne our security and prophanesse in neglecting them vtterly And if we haue beene assaulted with terrors and corruptions yet either they haue not preuailed or shal not be imputed vnto vs. 5 Calling to minde some place of the word for our better stirring vp as Rom. 13.11.12.13.14 Eph. 5.14 1. Thess. 5.4.5 c. And prouoking our selues by the examples of the Saints who haue risen early to praise the Lord Psa. 5.34 c. To this end cut we off all idle worldly and contentious speeches 1 By conferring of the sweete conferences and accidents that haue befallen in the night with our blessed God 2 Meditating and reioycing together in those gratious victories that wee haue had ouer our secret lusts and corruptions in the night 3 Strengthning our faith in the speciall prouidence of our gratious father in giuing vs such sweet and satisfying rest c. 4 Stirre wee vp each other to the payment of our vowes And 5 Put wee each other in minde of our particular corruptions to helpe each other by prayer and to maister them And 6 Faile we not to record and so communicate to posterity such extraordinary feelings and accidents of tentations or deliuerance as haue befallen vs in priuate 7 Examining our true contentment in God and labouring to confirme the same 8 Trying our affection to death euen now our life is renued that so wee may beginne to dye daily 1. Cor. 15. 9 And faile wee not to satisfie each other in whatsoeuer doubts may distract or not encrease sound peace to the Conscience And so rising with the Lord wee shall bee fitted to entertaine the next speciall occasion of the day which is Prayer CHAP. III. Of Family and priuate Prayer THe necessity and right vse thereof you haue before Onely here obserue these poynts for direction herein As First that howsoeuer this duty of prayer in Families bee neglected and not esteemed necessary yet the not vse thereof at all argueth irreligion and contempt of God Psal. 14.4 Secondly that not once but oftentimes in the dâ—â—â—y wee must performe the same Daniel 6·10 Thirdly And that not onely in priuate in our Closets c. but publickly with our Families Gen. 18.19 Iob. 1.5 Fourthly that the Maister of the Familie is fittest to bee the mouth of God for his people as beeing therein their Priest and Prophet Reu. 1.6 Fiftly that to this end set times are to be appointed kept constantly vnlesse by sicknesse or other more inuincible occasions we be interrupted Sixthly And that with the soonest taking the opportunity of the morning our reuiuing and quickning ioyes in our conferences with our God and each other concerning former comforts in the night Seuenthly that wee keepe our selues in an holy temper peace of minde by a constant course in all occurrents and so prepare our selues to praier 1 Fixing our hearts on God and meditating of his Power and Maiesty to worke reuerence in vs. 2 Looking vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith to breed affiance Heb. 12.2 3 Considering examining our wants to breed humility and patience Psa. 39. Psa. 4.6 4 Labouring not so much about the matter of our prayer how wee are illightned with knowledge as how we are affected 1 With the Maiesty of God 2 The sence of our wants 3 Benefite by Christ. 4 Assistance of the spirit 5 Excluding worldly cares which may hinder deuotion Luk. 8. Mat. 6. 6 Not fretting at the prosperity of the wicked Psa. 37.1 7 In Patience bearing the wrongs of enemies and leauing reuenge to God Rom. 12. 8 Doing all things as in Gods presence 9 Auoiding euill for conscience sake 10 Meditating stil on the day of iudgment least we be vnfitted or interrupted in prayer 2. Pet. 3. 2. Cor. 5.11 7 Codsider wee the manifold
27 Yet acknowledge we before God that wee are not cleare and so abhor we our selues in sackcloth and ashes Iob. 11. 28 If we suffer as euill doers yet remember we that the crosse is not so much sent as a punishment for sinne as a remedie against it Psal. 119.77 And comfort wee our selues that the Lord helpeth the abiect and vnworthy 29 Moue we the Lord from the senee of our owne weakenes Iob. 6 vtter inability as of our selues Psal. 6. 30 Protest we our faith in God Iob. 13.15 and patience in waiting vpon him Psalme 123.2 Mich. 7.9 And aboue all things vse wee feruent prayer Iam. 5.13 And this shall most steed vs in the time of trouble And possesse our soules in patience Mat. 10. 31 Bind we the Lord to vs from the manifestation making good of his fauour in that he suffers not our enemies to triumph ouer vs. Psal 41.11 32 Meditate we of the shortnes of life and so of the end of troubles The triall of our right vse of afflictions Is 1 That the power of sinne bee weakened and our corruption purged out 2 That we be more powerfull in spirituall duties and yet humbled in them 3 And more compassionate towards our brethren and yet more zealous against sinne 4 That wee bee more wained from the loue of the world and in prosperitie be amended by the afflictions on others selues and so submitting to the wisedome of our superiours yet so 9 As that we do nothing against a truly informed conscience lest in seeking to auoyd troubles from men we cause our conscience to become our scourge and then God which is greater then the conscience shall much more condemne vs. 10 And yet rest wee not vpon a scrupulous or erroneous conscience lest hereby throgh obstinacie we thrust our selues vpon the edge of authority 11 So vsing diligence and con science in our places and withall 12 Labouring to giue mild and soft answers Thus may we preuent vnnecessarie troubles c And seeing the wiseman sees the plague and hides himselfe Therefore seeing the Lord wiâ—â—â—l visite a sinfull nation so as that hee will reserue a remnant from the common desolation Therefore here First learne wee how to foresee a plague 1 By faith resting on the word denouncing the same 2 By experience comparing the sinnes present with the sinnes of former ages and so collecting from the constancie of Gods prouidence that as he hath punished like sinnes formerly so will he also meet with like sinners 3 By the qualitie and measure of the sinne we may guesse at the time and nature of the scourge Secondly And wee haue also these markes when the plague stands at the doore 1 When sinne is ripe that is 1 When the sinner sits in the seate of the scorner 2 When he is drowned in securitie 3 When hee hath made vp his measure by persecution Math. 23.32 4 Where in his carnall wisedome hee chooseth the rod that Lord that wee may not be condemned with the world 2. Cor. 11.31.32 7 Hereby wee are kept in the life of grace and power of weldoing kept gratiously 8 From securitie and 9 Apostasie as also 10 From spirituall pride and 11 Hypocrisie the causes therof 12 By these wee are prouoked to more compassion towards our brethren and so 13 To maintaine the fellowship and to auoyd separation Heb. 10. Gal. 6.1 And are 14 Deliuered from generall iudgements Psal. 94.13 15 And so being fitted for comforts we are pertakers of them in more aboundance 2. Cor. 6.7 16 And can vse them more spiritually 17 Hereby wee are dayly raised out of sinne and so renue our repentance Os. 5. 18 As also are sent vnto our gratious God in prayer that wee may be partakers of his assistance Esay 26. Os 5. 19 And so our Faith is quickened in the expectation of the promises 1. Pet. 1.5 Iam. 1. 20 And we more gratiously exercised in humilitie and patience Iam. 1.2 21 And so prouoked to hunger after Christ Iesus and to wait for the glorious appearance of the sonnes of God 22 And being by afflictions dayly scoured and purged we are made meet partakers of that glorious inheritance with the saints in light Col. 1.12 23 And so are gratiously hereby not onely taken away that we shal not see the euils to come Esa. 57.1 as Iosias 24 But wee are euen taken vp by these as in a fierie chariot to partake of that vnspeakeable and eternall weight of glory which is reserued for vs in the heauens 2. Cor. 4. CHAP. XII Thus are we to behaue our selues in afflictions and trie our estates thereby ANd to this end seeing each day as it brings it trouble with it so it wants not it comfort to sweeten and season the same And aboue all our conscionable performance of family duties and priuate exercise of prayer and a vaile hereto Therefore bee wee carefull to obserue and performe such duties conscionably Which are 1 Priuate examination prayer thereupon to begin the day withall 2 Reading of the word to stirre vs vp to 3 Family Prayer with the household 4 Catechising of the Family 5 Singing of Psalmes Gen. 18. Of which in particular in the second generall part of the Helpes God willing And these are dayly to bee performed 1 Because we are yet ignorant of what we should know and forgetfull of what wee haue knowne 2. Pet. 1.13.15 2 New tentations and occasions require new strength and meanes thereto Luke 9 3. 3 Hereby we maintaine the life and power of grace cherish the spirit and grow dayly 4 And are better fitted to the Sabaoth Act. 13. 5 And renue and encrease our sweet communion with God Ioh. 5.39 Gen. 18.17 The maner of performance is 1 Wee must appoint and keepe set times for the same 2 Preparing thereto with some premeditation of our owne inabilitie former abuse and necessity thereof 3 If by ordinary occasion wee haue bene interrupted or preuented for once recouer we our selues at the next opportunitie against the day of the Lord Iesus 5 Wee procure stabilitie and constancy for the time to come 6 Wee yoake and diminish our dayly tentations 7 We keepe sin from sleeping with vs. 8 By repentance remouing it our sleepe becomes more sweete and comfortable 9 Our labours afterward proue lesse irkesone 10 We walke with God and expresse the true pilgrimes life Ge. 4 11 The carnal and worldly minded will otherwise condemne vs. 12 And we leaue our hearts to be buffeted with much infidelity and distraction Now that we may the rather performe this dutie Consider we 1 That the very heathen in some sort by the light of nature practised it 2 That if trouble here bee it is to the flesh to which wee are not debtors Rom. 8.12 3 That it is no more then God commands and Christianitie requires at our hands Psal. 4.6 4 That when wee haue done all we can wee are but vnprofitable seruants therefore we had need strâ—â—â—ue
to the vtmost Luke 17.10 And for our better direction herein learne we 1 First that the fittest time for performance hereof is after the euening prayer Secondly For the manner hereof begin we 1 From the cogitations of the first awaking from sleepe 2 So proceede we to consider of our morning actions how wee haue conferred with our God in priuat how sanctified our families 3 Meditate wee on Gods patience in sparing vs hitherto 4 How wee haue bene humbled in the sence of our own others sinnes 5 Especially how we haue bene employed in the sence of Gods graces 27 If thou shalt find the testimony of a good conscience peace so reioyce and praise thy God If thou findest thy failings so bee humbled and cast thy selfe vppon Iesus Christ in prayer 28 Recounting vnto God as neare as thou mayest thy particular slips and so acknowledging thy self an vnprofitable seruant seeke thy peace in the merits of thy Sauiour and so lie downe in his bosome and so thou shalt find rest for thy soule The benefite hereof is 1 We obey Gods commandment and so are kept within his protection for the night comming 2 We attaine to the certainty true mesure of our estate in grace and so thereby preuent securitie which carnall rest might cause prouoke an hungring after perfection 3 Wee are better prepared to death and so to iudgement 4 Wee gaine much encrease to the assurance of saluation and so 5 Obtain in this life a more sweet and heauenly conuersation Ph. 3.20 And by these rules wee may try whether wee haue performed this dutie conscionably or no. 1 If this casting vp of our account hath cast vs out of our selues and cast vs wholly vpon Christ. 2 And herein Christ hath sent vs home againe to our selues not to riot in sinne because the score is cleared but to weaken and diminish sinne that the new score may be lessened 3 And therefore if now we shal bee more fearefull to offend our blessed God and 4 More fearefull of our selues euen when wee stand most firmelie 5 And yet can take faster hold on Christ when wee fall that so we may rise againe and yet 6 If our rising shall bee more constant and our falles more seldome And 7 If wee shall bee more carefull to cleere the score with others by seeking peace and maintaining the fellowship And also 8 Shall further helpe others to wipe off the score both by example and councell prouoking to repentance 9 And still from looking abroade shall returne home againe beeing humbled not so much because we can do no man good as when we haue done our best 10 And yet being comforted that our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord and therefore 11 Shall not measure our payment by what is present but rather by that which is promised 12 And so shall liue by faith in the expectation thereof 13 And so shall follow hard after the marke for the high price of our Calling in IESVS CHRIST 14 Waiting with patience the accomplishment of the promise And 15 Suffering afflictions as the good Souldiers of Iesus Christ that our patience may be perfited and our faith tried 16 And so patience shall bring forth the perfect worke still to humble vs that we may bee fitted for glory 17 And our humility shall bee throughly tryed by our perseuerance in well-doing in our obedience to our blessed GOD and thankfulnesse to his Maiesty 18 As considering that doe wee what wee can it can neuer bee sufficient to returne thankefulnesse vnto our God for what he hath done 19 And therfore not chalenging what hee will doe for any thing what we haue or can do 20 But rather accounting our selues when wee haue done our best to bee but vnprofitable seruants Luk. 17.10 21 And so esteeming our selues rather much more bounden vnto our God for accepting that poore and poluted seruice we haue done vnto him then that our GOD should bee bound vnto vs to recompence our finite seruice with so infinite a reward Rom. 8. And yet 22 Still liuing by Faith in the apprehension of the promise And so 23 Giuing glory vnto our God in beleeuing his Word And so 24 Preparing our selues to the enioying of those pretious promises by hauing our conuersation in heauen 25 And so looking for our Redeemer to change these our vile bodies Phil. 3.20 26 And so cleering the eye of our Faith by casting away euery thing that may obscure or presse downe that wee may more sensibly discerne the brightnesse of that Glory and may runne with more ioy and patience the Race that is set before vs. Hebr. 12.1 27 Looking still vnto IESVS the Author and finisher of our faith Hebrewes 12. still returning thankefulnesse vnto him as the Author and hoping in him as the finisher of his owne worke And so 28 Still resting vpon his Word for our daily direction and encouragement therein And 29 Maintaining the fellowship by encouraging each other in publique duties 30 And yet still labouring especially to preuaile with our gracious GOD in priuate dueties of Prayer Meditation c. Sanctifying and trying the publique by these priuate 31 And yet sanctifying both by labouring to bee found in Christ. And 32 Still seeking Christ in the things which are aboue Coloss. 3. 33 And yet still labouring to haue our life hid with CHRIST in GOD more resting on the acceptance of our persons and endeuours of the hidden man in the heart And yet 34 Still liuing by Faith in the Sonne of GOD aboue all present feeling that neither present sence of ioy may puffe vp and so coole and interrupt the current of our faith nor absence of present comfort may quench in vs zeale of obedience And yet 35 Still quenching all strange fire and carnall mattter which may neither accompany our obedience or kindle the same by bounding our selues within our Callings and CHRISTIAN liberty and aiming at the right end the glory of our GOD and our owne saluation subordinate thereto that so possessing our soules in sobriety and meekenesse wee may both auoyd vnnecessary troubles and better wade through such as necessarily will oppose vs. 36 And being hereby enabled to be more fruitfull in doing and receiuing good 37 Hereby wee shall make sure our Election with more comfort 38 And so bee more ready to giue vp our general account CHAP. XIIII Containing a Conclusion of the present and promise of future light AND thus shall wee make Triall of our daily Reckonâ—â—â—ngs and so performing conscionably this Daily Sacrifice wee shall approue our selues right NATHANAELS and true Israelites And so by the mercie of God walking after this Rule growe in grace and abound in euery good worke perseuering with all patience through the mightie power of GOD that so hee may perfect the worke which hee hath begun in vs. To this end seeing according to our necessitie the Lord hath supplyed vs with many gracious helpes and furtherances to informe